US07935444B2
Disclosed herein is a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, in particular, including a lithium transition metal oxide with a layered crystalline structure in which the transition metal includes a transition metal mixture of Ni, Mn and Co, and an average oxidation number of all transition metals other than lithium is more than +3, and specific conditions represented by the following formulae (1) and (2), 1.1
US07935440B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly where a negative plate and a positive plate are arranged by interposing a separator therebetween, and a can mounting the electrode assembly therein. A cap assembly is fitted to the can to tightly seal the can, and is electrically connected to the positive plate. A pin is inserted into the electrode assembly, and it contacts the negative plate and the can to electrically interconnect the negative plate and the can.
US07935434B2
An organic electroluminescent element including at least an emission layer sandwiched between an anode and a cathode, wherein the emission layer comprises at least a compound represented by Formula (A),
US07935430B2
A bonding structure and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The bonding structure of a substrate and a component include an electrode formed of metal powder and a resin component on the substrate. A low melting point solder that bonds the component to the electrode. The metal powder contains at least spherical metal powder and flake metal powder. The low melting point solder is infiltrated from the surface of the electrode into the electrode.
US07935422B2
Unsymmetrical polyurethane polyol prepolymers are disclosed for use in the formation of coating compositions. The prepolymers are prepared as a reaction product of a diisocyanate with a short chain aliphatic dial and a long chain polymeric diol. The prepolymers are intended as the first component for reaction with a second component polyisocyanate in a two-component coating composition. The coating compositions exhibit excellent abrasion resistance and weatherability, and are particularly useful as coatings for polymeric window transparencies.
US07935419B1
Colloidal nanocrystal quantum dots comprising an inner core having an average diameter of at least 1.5 nm and an outer shell, where said outer shell comprises multiple monolayers, wherein at least 30% of the quantum dots have an on-time fraction of 0.80 or greater under continuous excitation conditions for a period of time of at least 10 minutes.
US07935417B2
A melt-kneading method for filling material and elastomer or resin, characterized in that a filling material constituted by a filler, and an elastomer or resin (thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin), are introduced from a material introduction part at the end of a melt-kneading part having a cylinder with a screw and a heater, and the molten elastomer or resin and filling material constituted by a filler are kneaded under the conditions of 1000 to 3000 rpm in the rotation speed of the screw and 1500 to 4500 sec−1 in shear speed to feed the mixture from the rear edge to tip of the screw to be trapped in a space provided at the tip of the screw, after which the mixture is moved from the space to the rear edge of the screw through a hole provided at the center of the screw, with the cycle process performed for a specified period based on recirculation using the screw.
US07935415B1
An electrically conductive composite material includes metallic nanostrands distributed throughout a matrix constructed of a polymer, ceramic, or elastomer. The nanostrands may have an average diameter under four microns and an average aspect ratio over ten-to-one. Larger fibers may also be included to enhance electrical conductivity or other properties. The nanostrands and/or fibers may be magnetically oriented to enhance electrical conductivity along one direction. A pressure sensor may be formed by utilizing an elastomer for the matrix. Electrical conductivity through the composite material varies in proportion to deflection of the elastomer. A composite material may be applied to a surface as an electrically conductive paint. Composite materials may be made by cutting a blank of the nanostrands to the desired shape, inserting the matrix, and curing the matrix. Alternatively, a suspension agent may first be used to dispose powdered nanostrands in the desired shape.
US07935412B2
A buoyant cable tie formed from a composition that includes a plastic material and metal particles. The average density of the composition is less than 1.25 g/cm3, preferably less than 1.15 g/cm3, and the cable tie floats. In one embodiment, the plastic material has a first melting point and the plastic carrier material has a second melting point. The first melting point is lower than the second melting point so that the plastic material can be melted without melting the plastic carrier material. The cable tie floats and the metal particles allow the cable ties to be easily detected by metal detection devices. Some embodiments can also be detected by X-ray, sonar, optical or visual detection devices.
US07935410B2
A method of thermally insulating an object that requires a Class A standard insulation material, said method comprising suitably locating a metallized polymeric reflective insulation material adjacent said object, wherein said polymeric material is selected from a closed cell foam, polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam, expanded polystyrene foam, multi-film layers assembly and a bubble-pack assembly. The object is preferably packaging, a vehicle or a residential, commercial or industrial building or establishment. The polymeric material may contain a fire-retardant and the bright surface of the metallized layer has a clear lacquer coating to provide anti-corrosion properties, and which maintains satisfactory reflectance commercial criteria.
US07935407B2
A decoration includes a main body. The main body forms an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion. The outer edge portion is formed around a periphery of the inner edge portion. The inner edge portion has at least two disconnected coil cutting lines. The cutting lines equidistantly wrap around to a center of the main body and connect with each other, for the main body separately forming adjacent corresponded first convolution and second convolution by the cutting lines. By means of the convolutions being respectively pulled out toward opposite sides of the outer edge portion along an axial direction for positioning, making the convolutions respectively form conical revolutions at opposite sides of the outer edge portion, achieving tri-dimensional decoration.
US07935393B2
Embodiments of a method and system for improving the consistency of a layer or a plurality of layers with a desired profile in a deposition system are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07935390B2
A lubricant dispensing system is provided. The dispensing system includes a lubricant supply, a lubricant dispensing nozzle and a control panel. The dispensing nozzle includes a nozzle body with a fluid passageway therein which is in fluid communication with the lubricant supply, an electrode assembly for electrostatically charging lubricant in the fluid passageway and at least one discharge orifice through which electrostatically charged lubricant can be discharged. The discharge orifice is defined by at least one spray needle having a first end in fluid communication with the fluid passageway and a second end that extends outward of the nozzle body. The control panel directs the flow of lubricant from the lubricant supply to the lubricant dispensing nozzle and controls the electric power supplied to the electrode assembly.
US07935376B2
This invention relates to a storage stable buoyant waxy grain wherein the waxy grain is waxy triticale and waxy wheat. The starch in the waxy grain is gelatinized throughout and the cooked waxy grains of this invention can be stored for prolonged times in air tight or conventional cereal containers having a liner without acquiring rancid odors or tastes even in the absence of preservatives that inhibit the development of rancidity. Preferably, the waxy wholegrain is a waxy wheat having a protein content of no more than 14% by dry weight. The processes for preparing the waxy wholegrain food products of this invention are also described.
US07935375B2
The shelf life of fresh harvest produce is extended by coating the exterior surface of freshly harvested produce with a coating composition comprising an aqueous emulsion of polyvinylidene chloride copolymers containing from about 0.25 to 25% by weight of copolymer solids to water and between 0.001 and 20% plasticizer preferably a polyethylene oxide based additive such as Triton-X to weight of copolymer solids in the emulsion. The coating may also contain biocides as well to control bacteria and fungal growth on the post harvest produce during storage, shipping, distribution, and sale of the product. The coating composition is effective in extending the shelf life of produce.
US07935374B2
Methods of imparting functionality to a food surface are described. In general, a tubular food casing having a surface coated with a polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer is contacted with a food surface. The functionality is imparted onto the food surface, and in some instances, the polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer is subsequently removed.
US07935366B2
A new prophylactic mixture is prepared for the effective decorporation of *Cs, *Sr, *I from affected subjects in the event of an accidental release of the radioisotopes in the environment due to any nuclear accident. The prophylactic mixture comprising: 1) Calcium Potassium Ferrocyanide [CaK2Fe(CN)6] 2) Calcium Iodate, and 3) Calcium Carbonate, can be formulated in the form of a single tablet, capsule or suspension for easy administration to the radiation affected subjects in cases of emergency or nuclear fallout. Also claimed are the compound calcium potassium ferrocyanide (CaK2Fe(CN)6) and the use thereof for decorporation of *Cs in subjects affected by nuclear radiation.
US07935362B2
Methods and products for delivering a medicament or agent to an individual are provided as well as methods for producing the product. The product includes one or more coatings having a medicament or agent. The coatings can further comprise one or more fat-based confectioneries to provide a coated product that has an improved aesthetic and taste appeal to a consumer. The medicament or agent is present within a coating that surrounds a consumable center. By chewing the coated product, the medicament or agent is released from the product within the buccal cavity.
US07935350B2
Provided are methods and compositions for treating cancer in humans, the cancer being characterized by expression of Her-2/neu. The methods involve vaccinating a patient with an Ii-Key/MHC class II hybrid construct and thereby stimulating an immune response to the native Her-2/neu protein. The construct may be in the form of an Ii-Key hybrid peptide or a nucleic acid encoding an Ii-Key hybrid peptide. Methods are described wherein the cancer being treated is breast cancer. Also claimed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an Ii-Key/MHC class II hybrid construct with and without an adjuvant. The adjuvant can include GM-CSF. The Ii-Key hybrid construct includes the LRMK (SEQ ID NO: 2) residues of Ii-Key protein and an MHC Class II epitope of a protein or portion thereof which is used in the vaccine or a DNA encoding the same hybrid peptide.
US07935338B2
Compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer, particularly melanoma, myeloma, small cell lung cancer, thymic lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma, osteosarcoma, and acute T-cell leukemia, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions include one or more anti-ganglioside antibodies and polynucleotides that encode such anti-ganglioside antibodies. These antibodies may be for example, hamster antibodies, chimeric human/hamster antibodies, or humanized antibodies. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the treatment of cancer and can be used to induce apoptosis in a cancer cell.
US07935334B2
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes feeding animals with probiotic microbes encapsulated in a mixture of xanthan gum and chitosan, or in gelatin, specifically Pediococcus acidilactici and Saccharomyces boulardii. Such encapsulation protects the viability of the probiotic microbes against unfavorable temperatures. An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes methods of using viable probiotics in therapy of birds and mammals infected with infectious diseases. Probiotics acted as adjuvants in stimulating antibody reaction and stimulated a cellular immunity response. In particular, probiotics were shown to reduce the number of viable oocytes from fecal samples, stimulate antibody production, and stimulate of proliferation of splenocytes in chickens infected with Elimeria. In addition, probiotics were shown to relieve symptoms of parvovirus infection in dogs.
US07935332B2
This invention effects a change in the accommodation of the human lens affected by presbyopia through the use of various reducing agents that change accommodative abilities of the human lens, and/or by applying energy to affect a change in the accommodative abilities of the human lens. This invention both prevents the onset of presbyopia as well as treats it. By breaking and/or preventing the formation of bonds that adhere lens fibers together causing hardening of the lens, the present invention increases the elasticity and distensibility of the lens and/or lens capsule.
US07935328B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing scorodite in which scorodite may be obtained at high production efficiency and a high As concentration ratio. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing crystalline scorodite from acidic aqueous solution containing pentavalent As and trivalent Fe, the method comprising a step for adding a basic sodium compound to the acidic aqueous solution such that the sodium concentration in the acidic aqueous solution becomes larger than 0 g/L and equal to or less than 4 g/L.
US07935325B2
Rare earth-activated aluminum nitride powders are made using a solution-based approach to form a mixed hydroxide of aluminum and a rare earth metal, the mixed hydroxide is then converted into an ammonium metal fluoride, preferably a rare earth-substituted ammonium aluminum hexafluoride ((NH4)3Al1-xRExF6), and finally the rare earth-activated aluminum nitride is formed by ammonolysis of the ammonium metal fluoride at a high temperature. The use of a fluoride precursor in this process avoids sources of oxygen during the final ammonolysis step which is a major source of defects in the powder synthesis of nitrides. Also, because the aluminum nitride is formed from a mixed hydroxide co-precipitate, the distribution of the dopants in the powder is substantially homogeneous in each particle.
US07935323B2
The invention describes a system and method for hydrogen sulfide decontamination of natural gas using a scavenging reagent. The system uses a scavenging reagent within two reactors wherein the consumption of scavenging reagent is optimized by the control of flow of clean and partially-consumed scavenging reagent within and between the two reactors.
US07935312B2
An integrated microfabricated instrument for manipulation, reaction and detection of microliter to picoliter samples. The instrument is suited for biochemical reactions, particularly DNA-based reactions such as the polymerase chain reaction, that require thermal cycling since the inherently small size of the instrument facilitates rapid cycle times. The integrated nature of the instrument provides accurate, contamination-free processing. The instrument may include reagent reservoirs, agitators and mixers, heaters, pumps, and optical or electromechanical sensors. Ultrasonic Lamb-wave devices may be used as sensors, pumps and agitators.
US07935311B2
An air purifier according to the present invention includes: a tubular main body 2 having an inner space 3 surrounded by wall portions 6, 7, 8 having a plurality of air movement holes 12, 17; and a light applicator 4 in the inner space for throwing light toward inner surfaces of the wall portions. The inner side of the wall portions exposed to the light is made of a formed porous member. The formed porous member includes an inner surface having a surface part carrying a powdery photocatalyst capable of performing a photocatalytic reaction caused by light. The air purifier allows the carried photocatalyst to perform its catalytic action to a maximum, with a very simple construction.
US07935307B2
A disposable glucometer is disclosed which includes a testing region for receiving a test strip and electronic components to perform blood glucose monitoring, a cell phone interface for relaying test results to a monitoring station or server (which can be through a Bluetooth radio), and a multi-strip test strip holder. The glucometer includes a mechanism to automatically load test strips, one at a time, from the multi-strip test strip holder into the testing region, and a mechanism to eject the strip from the testing region after the test is complete. The test strip holder is preferably encased in a transparent material or otherwise includes a visual indicator so that the number of strips remaining strips and available for testing can be determined. In one embodiment, the entire unit is disposable, and is discarded when all of the strips have been used. In another embodiment, the test strip holder portion of the unit is removed and replaced with a new test strip holder which is loaded with test strips.
US07935302B1
An automatic dross processing system has a pivotably-mounted reaction vessel and a vertically movable motor and impeller. A microprocessor controls the operation of the motor and a series of actuators that move the motor vertically, move a probe that removes a plug to drain collected metal from the reaction vessel, and move the reaction vessel between a loading-and-processing position and a dumping position. The microprocessor coordinates the actions of these elements to complete a dross processing cycle to recover metal from a dross without requiring the attention of an operator throughout the process. The reaction vessel can have an inner shell and an outer shell that are bolted together with a gap therebetween to accommodate insulation, which can include a felt overlying one or more pieces of rigid material. A drain tube can be attached to the inner shell by an accordion-like structure to reduce thermal stresses in service.
US07935301B2
A method of thermoforming comprises the steps of providing a film, heating the film, and forming the heated film onto a mold. The film comprises a propylene/ethylene copolymer skin layer having a melting point of from about 130° C. to about 150° C. and a interior polyamide layer having a melting point of from about 125° C. to about 230° C.
US07935299B2
A method and apparatus for forming a wad of particulate material which may be used in an absorbent article. The apparatus may include a laydown drum having a plurality of vacuum zones, a plurality of fence zones, and a plurality of blow-off zones. The plurality of vacuum zones may be substantially permeable to permit vacuum air to pass through and into the laydown drum. The plurality of fence zones may be substantially impermeable to inhibit air to pass through. The plurality of blow-off zones may be substantially permeable to permit blown air to pass out of and through said laydown drum. The apparatus may also include a deposition chute for depositing particulate material on a web of material in close proximity to the laydown drum. A shield may also be attached to the deposition chute.
US07935297B2
A method of forming an array of pointed structures comprises depositing a ferrofluid on a substrate, applying a magnetic field to the ferrofluid to generate an array of surface protrusions, and solidifying the surface protrusions to form the array of pointed structures. The pointed structures may have a tip radius ranging from approximately 10 nm to approximately 25 μm. Solidifying the surface protrusions may be carried out at a temperature ranging from approximately 10 degrees C. to approximately 30 degrees C.
US07935285B2
The invention provides a method of manufacturing a golf ball composed at least in part of a spherical elastomeric body. The method includes the steps of extruding a bar of an unvulcanized rubber compound for obtaining the elastomeric body, cutting the extruded bar into slugs of a given length, and coating the slug with a saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid metal salt in powder form having a melting point at or below a vulcanizing temperature. This method prevents the slugs from clumping together and improves mold releasability.
US07935276B2
The present invention relates to novel composites that incorporate carbon nanospheres into a polymeric material. The polymeric material can be any polymer or polymerizable material compatible with graphitic materials. The carbon nanospheres are hollow, graphitic nanoparticles. The carbon nanospheres can be manufactured from a carbon precursor using templating catalytic nanoparticles. The unique size, shape, and electrical properties of the carbon nanospheres impart beneficial properties to the composites incorporating these nanomaterials.
US07935263B2
The invention relates to a method of producing a porous semiconductor film and the film resulting from such production. It furthermore relates to an electronic device incorporating such film and to potential uses of such film.
US07935261B2
A method is provided of recycling and cleaning up oil-based waste drilling mud and cuttings contaminated with oil-based waste drilling mud. A facility for performing the method is also provided. The method includes removing the coarse solids from the mud, breaking the emulsion, separating the hydrophobic phase from the water phase and the solid phase, vaporizing all residual oil and water from the solids, and burning off the vaporized oil. The method produces a solid “soil” product that is free from oil contamination, an oil product that is fit for reuse, and clean air emissions. A thermal desorber can be used to efficiently vaporize the oil at low temperature. Optionally the water fraction of the mud can be vaporized, solutes and salts can be captured as evaporite and then be mixed with the soil product. The method has the unique advantage of producing no persistent hazardous waste. The method has the further advantage of requiring no external input of energy if the reclaimed oil is used to provide energy for the process. The method has the further advantage of recycling portions of the drilling mud that would otherwise be subject to disposal.
US07935256B2
A method for the treatment of waste water from florfenicol production is provided, which mainly comprises the steps as follows: adding iron chips or steel slag to waste water from a copper salt workshop, regulating the pH value, filtering, then adding limestone, lime or Ca(OH)2 and having a solid-liquid separation; blending the treated waste water and waste water from a splitting workshop, oxidizing the residual reductive matter by ozone and removing NH3-N by blowing; blending the treated water and waste water from esterifying or florfenicol workshops and diluting the blended water, adding phosphate and microelement, regulating the pH value, then having an anaerobic treatment in an anaerobic reactor; diluting the treated waste water, then having an aerobic treatment in an aerobic reactor. The method also can comprise the steps as follows: blending the waste water from all workshops, adding phosphate and microelement, regulating the pH value, blending the treated waste water with recycling anaerobic water and having a settling treatment, then having an anaerobic treatment in an anaerobic granular sludge bed reactor, diluting the treated waste water and having an aerobic treatment in a SBR.
US07935249B2
A blood purification apparatus includes a blood circuit, a blood purifying device, a first valve, a discharge line, a second valve, and a detection device. The blood circuit has an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit. The first valve opens and closes the venous blood circuit. The second valve opens and closes the discharge line. The detection device detects whether a priming solution is replaced with blood in an end portion of the venous blood circuit at an upstream side from the first valve. The blood purification apparatus automatically turns the first valve from a closed position to an open position and the second valve from an open position to a closed position, respectively, when the detection device detects the priming solution being replaced with the blood.
US07935242B2
An electrolyte solution, methods, and systems for selectively removing a conductive metal from a substrate are provided. The electrolyte solution comprising nanoparticles that are more noble than the conductive metal being removed, is applied to a substrate to remove the conductive metal selectively relative to a dielectric material without application of an external potential or contact of a processing pad with the surface of the substrate. The solutions and methods can be applied, for example, to remove a conductive metal layer (e.g., barrier metal) selectively relative to dielectric material and to a materially different conductive metal (e.g., copper interconnect) without application of an external potential or contact of a processing pad with the surface of the substrate.
US07935240B2
The present invention generally relates to apparatus and methods for plating conductive materials on a substrate. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for plating a conductive material on a substrate. The apparatus comprises a fluid basin configured to retain an electrolyte, a contact ring configured to support the substrate and contact the substrate electrically, and an anode assembly disposed in the fluid basin, wherein the anode assembly comprises a plurality of anode elements arranged in rows.
US07935238B2
Electromechanical filtering unit having a conduit capable of conducting electricity, at least one first electrode connectable to a high voltage power supply (EHT) and at least one second electrode having a plurality of discrete openings which is earthed. The electrodes are positioned within the conduit and connected to the conduit such that electricity can pass between the electrodes via the conduit.
US07935236B2
A system and method for de-watering porous material, e.g., concrete. In select embodiments, durable, dimensionally stable anodes (DDAs), preferably configured as arrays on a strip, are impressed into the concrete and a pulsed signal is provided by a DC power supply to the DDAs and cathode rods inserted in soil. The DDAs comprise a valve metal substrate mesh having a semi-conductive coating of a precious metal, cement or ceramic. In select embodiments, conducting grout of a hydraulic cement-based mineral-aggregate may be used to emplace the DDAs. In select embodiments, a single cycle of the signal comprises a pulse train consisting of an initial positive pulse followed by a shorter duration negative pulse and ending with a short off period before re-cycling. The cycles continue until the porous material has been sufficiently treated.
US07935234B2
A planar electrochemical gas sensor is provided with at least one working electrode (4), at least one counterelectrode (4″), at least one electrolyte-filled planar electrolyte carrier (10), at least one planar housing upper part (3) and at least one planar housing lower part (2). The electrodes (4, 4″) are arranged such that they are in two-dimensional contact with the electrolyte carrier (10). The housing upper part (3) and the housing lower part (2) are connected with one another such that the electrodes (4, 4″) and the electrolyte carrier (10) are pressed against one another in such a way that they are secured against displacement. The housing upper part (3) and the housing lower part (2) are partially in direct two-dimensional contact with one another, and the connection of the housing upper part (3) and the housing lower part (2) in the area of the direct two-dimensional contact is present at least along a closed figure, which surrounds the electrodes (4, 4″) and the electrolyte carrier (10).
US07935224B2
The invention discloses a pre-assembled self-supporting unit (1) for a twine wire forming section. The unit comprises an integrated save-all tray (25) and other integrated elements such as cross walkway (17), piping beam (10), connecting arms (8). The rolls (2) for supporting at least one forming clothing loop (4) and the other elements are mounted onto this separate unit instead of being mounted onto the same machine frame. The unit provides a diminished foot print for the forming section, and it is dimensioned to fit in a standard transport container.
US07935222B2
A method for making an opacity relevant grade paper or paperboard product, such as a communication type paper used for printing and writing applications, utilizes an effective amount of quaternized alkanolamine fatty acid ester compounds as an opacification aid to control the optical properties of the paper or paperboard product as a wet-end additive to a papermaking operation. Using the quaternized alkanolamine fatty acid ester compound can improve the opacity of the paper or paperboard product, maintain the opacity of the paper while reducing the use of other opacification aids, such as inorganic fillers and/or pigments, and allow for a reduction in paper grammage without a compromise in opacity. The improvements in paper optical properties are achieved without adversely affecting other characteristics of the paper product such as bulk value, tensile strength, tear index, and the like.
US07935220B2
A process for making absorbent cellulosic paper products such as sheet for towel, tissue and the like, includes compactively dewatering a nascent web followed by wet belt creping the web at an intermediate consistency of anywhere from about 30 to about 60 percent under conditions operative to redistribute the fiber on the belt, which is preferably a fabric. In preferred embodiments, the web is thereafter adhesively applied to a Yankee dryer using a creping adhesive operative to enable high speed transfer of the web of intermediate consistency such as a poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyamide adhesive. An absorbent sheet so prepared from a papermaking furnish exhibits an absorbency of at least about 5 g/g, a CD stretch of at least about 4 percent, and an MD/CD tensile ratio of less than about 1.1, and also exhibits a maximum CD modulus at a CD strain of less than 1 percent and sustains a CD modulus of at least 50 percent of its maximum CD modulus to a CD strain of at least about 4 percent. Products of the invention may also exhibit an MD modulus at break 1.5 to 2 times their initial MD modulus.
US07935219B2
Methods of treating wood and wood products include irradiating untreated wood having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation to cause an increase in the molecular weight of a cellulosic component of the wood to a second, relatively higher molecular weight.
US07935217B2
A bevel unit comprises CCDs and processing liquid nozzles, and the CCDs take an image of a circumferential edge surface of a substrate. An image processing part detects the distances between the circumferential edge surface of the substrate and the processing liquid nozzles by image processing the signals from the CCDs. A control unit compares thus detected distances between the circumferential edge surface of the substrate and the processing liquid nozzles with set distances from the circumferential edge surface of the substrate to the processing liquid nozzles which are set in a recipe so as to be a desired rim etching width, and calculates an amount of displacement between the detected distances and the set distances. In accordance with the amount of displacement, the control unit activates motors and accordingly positions the bevel unit.
US07935215B2
Presented is a heat-activatedly bondable 2D element having a first adhesive and a second adhesive, which is suitable for bonding objects with a metal surface to objects with a plastic surface, and which enables a stable and mechanically robust bond even at low temperatures. This is achieved through the use of particular combinations of different adhesives, tailored to one another and based on synthetic nitrile rubbers and reactive resins.
US07935211B2
A method of welding a window frame provides a welding system (10) having movable head fixtures (16). Certain of the head fixtures include cutting structure (37) and each head fixture includes heat supplying structure (40). A one-piece lineal (20) has first and second ends and notches therein. The lineal is loaded with respect to the head fixtures, with portions of the lineal being folded about the notches to define folded corners. Head fixtures are moved to clamp on the lineal. The cutting structure cuts the lineal generally at each notch to separate each of the folded corners from the lineal, with each corner of the lineal being defined by a pair of ends. The head fixtures are repositioned so as to provide a space between each pair of ends. A heat supplying structure is inserted into the space to heat each pair of ends and then removed. The head fixtures are moved so that each pair of ends contact and join in a thermally welded manner.
US07935206B2
A pressure vessel is provided including an inner tank formed from a tank liner surrounded by a wound layer of composite filaments. A protective jacket is disposed on the inner tank that facilitates stacking and portability of the pressure vessel and helps to define an air passage for convective heat transfer between the hybrid tank and the environment.
US07935194B2
An automatic dishwasher comprises a housing defining a wash chamber for holding utensils to be washed, a movable sensor for determining a utensil load within at least one preselected location within the wash chamber, and a controller operably coupled to the movable sensor to control the direction of movement of the movable sensor to determine the presence and size of a utensil load in the at least one preselected location within the wash chamber.
US07935186B2
A plasma processing apparatus is described and which includes a chamber having at least two processing stations which are separated by a wall. At least one channel is formed in the wall, and wherein the channel has a width to length ratio of less than about 1:3.
US07935185B2
A clean gas circulates to pass through a loading area provided below a vertical heat treatment furnace. The clean gas unidirectionally flows through the loading area. After completion of wafer processing, a wafer boat lowers from the heat treatment furnace to the loading area, where the wafers are removed from the wafer boat. Subsequently, a clean gas jetting nozzle arranged in the loading area jets a clean gas toward the emptied wafer boat. Fragment of thin film which may readily peel off are blown away from the wafer boat, and are discharged out of the loading area together with the unidirectional flow. Thus, it is possible to avoid wafer contamination due to the unexpected peel-off of thin film fragments from the wafer boat.
US07935177B2
The present invention relates to a novel method of purifying a gas stream contaminated by CO2, hydrocarbons and/or nitrogen oxides, in particular a gas stream based on air or a syngas, by adsorption on a bed of aggregated zeolitic adsorbent based on an LSX zeolite or LSX and X zeolites, of which at least 90% of the exchangeable cationic sites of the LSX zeolite or of the LSX/X zeolite blend are occupied by sodium ions, and the inert binder of which represents at most 5% of the weight of the adsorbent.
US07935174B2
The invention concerns a method for treating iron-and-steel plant sludge comprising adjusting the available CaO content of the sludge so as to obtain an available CaO content of 3% to 8% based on the sludge weight, adding a carbon-containing fuel, introducing the sludge onto one of the upper stages of a multistage furnace, heating the multistage furnace, gradually transferring the sludge onto the lower stages, and adjusting the temperature of the exhaust gases of the multistage furnace to at least 500.degree. C. and that of the treated sludge at the output of the multistage furnace to a temperature ranging between 700.degree. C. and 800.degree. C.
US07935170B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing copper-based nanoparticles, in particular, to a method for manufacturing copper-based nanoparticles, wherein the method includes producing CuO nanoparticles by mixing CuO micropowder and alkylamine in a nonpolar solvent and heating the mixture at 60-300° C.; and producing copper-based nanoparticles by mixing a capping molecule and a reducing agent with the CuO nanoparticles and heating the mixture at 60-120° C.According to the present invention, copper-based nanoparticles can be synthesized using CuO, but not requiring any inorganic reducing agent, in a high yield and a high concentration, so that it allows mass production and easy controlling to desired oxidation number of nanoparticles.
US07935167B2
A method for manufacturing a composite ceramic body with occluding a plurality of pores that are open at its surface of a porous ceramic body, the method includes the steps of impregnating a polysilazane solution including polysilazane having a repetition structure of fundamental units of at least one of [—Si(H)(CnH2n+1)—NH—] and [—Si(CnH2n+1)2—NH—], and a predetermined organic solvent, into the plurality of pores of the porous ceramic body, and heating the porous ceramic body to convert the polysilazane in the plurality of pores into ceramic material.
US07935165B2
An inertial gas-liquid separator and method is provided, including variable orifice jet nozzle structure having a variable orifice area dependent upon axial movement of a plunger relative to a housing sleeve, and in another embodiment having first and second flow branches, with the first flow branch being continuously open, and the second flow branch having a variable flow controller controlling flow therethrough.
US07935164B2
The present invention provides a vortex generator that may be used in systems for separating oil from air oil mixtures. The vortex generator comprises a rotating disk having a rim having a plurality of passages extending through it and a cavity formed by the rotating disk and a cavity wall wherein a vortex is created when there is a flow through the plurality of passages into the cavity.
US07935150B2
A replacement device for resurfacing a joint surface of a femur and a method of making and installing such a device is provided. The custom replacement device is designed to substantially fit the trochlear groove surface, of an individual femur. Thereby creating a “customized” replacement device for that individual femur and maintaining the original kinematics of the joint. The replacement device may be defined by four boundary points, and a first and a second surface. The first of four points is 3 to 5 mm from the point of attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament to the femur. The second point is near the bottom edge of the end of the natural articulatar cartilage. The third point is at the top ridge of the right condyle and the fourth point at the top ridge of the left condyle of the femur. The top surface is designed so as to maintain centrally directed tracking of the patella perpendicular to the plane established by the distal end of the femoral condyles and aligned with the center of the femoral head.
US07935149B2
An interbody spinal fusion implant made of a material other than bone adapted for placement across an intervertebral space formed across the height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has a leading end that is curved to form a portion of a circle from side to side, sides that are at least in part straight, and a trailing end with a bone screw receiving hole for receiving at least one bone screw to engage the vertebral bodies.
US07935147B2
The present invention provides methods and devices for enhancing the delivery of treatment devices for treating the annulus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices may employ delivery support elements to delivery tools used to deliver expandable treatment devices to the intervertebral disc. Fixation devices and methods are also disclosed, which may help to secure the treatment device in place.
US07935146B2
A minimally invasive method of performing mitral annuloplasty is disclosed. An implantable device is positioned within the coronary sinus and tightened around the mitral annulus. Mitral valve regurgitation is monitored before, during, and/or after the tightening step. An on-going drug therapy may be determined, taking into account post-implantation hemodynamic function.
US07935141B2
A delivery system for deploying a medical device, such as a stent, at increasing deployment speed is described. The system comprises a catheter comprising a catheter shaft, a retractable sheath slidably mounted on the catheter shaft, and the device in a compressed state sandwiched between the shaft and sheath. A control handle is included with a housing and knobs for a user to apply a rotary or other force to retract the sheath. The sheath is attached to a slider that is mounted on a slide rod and attached to a drive belt. A take up pulley is provided in the housing and connected to the belt input knob, so that the pulley turns when the knob is turned. The belt is attached to the pulley so that the drive is wound onto the rotating pulley. As the belt winds upon the pulley, the overall outside diameter of the pulley increases, thereby increasing the deployment speed.
US07935130B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical tool having opposing jaws, the working element of the robotic surgical tool is made of a different material from the drive element of the robotic surgical tool. The two elements may be manufactured independently and assembled together at a later stage. The material comprising each element may thus have properties more appropriate to the function each element plays in the robotic surgical tool. For example, the metal selected to comprise the blade of a surgical scissor may be corrosion resistant and capable of being sharpened to a high degree.
US07935129B2
A device for engaging tissue having a preexisting opening includes a generally annular-shaped ring having a width disposed about a longitudinal axis, and at least two staple members extending from the ring. Each of the at least two staple members have a thickness and at least a distal portion formed of an elastic material. The distal portions of the staple members have a first configuration, where the distal portions are separated by a first distance and wherein the distal portions are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second configuration, where the distal portions are separated by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance, and the at least two staple members engage tissue surrounding the preexisting opening. The annular-shaped ring has a width that is greater than the thickness of the at least two staple members.
US07935124B2
This invention relates to methods and instruments for performing disc space preparation and implant insertion from a unilateral approach to the spine through a posterior lateral opening to the disc space. The instruments include spreaders, distractors, reamers, scrapers, cutters, chisels, rasps, pushers and implant inserters. A surgical procedure is provided that allows bilateral support of the adjacent vertebrae with at least one interbody fusion device inserted into the disc space via a unilateral approach. Implants for insertion into the disc space are also provided.
US07935121B2
The present invention relates to a device for providing spongy bone with bone substitute and/or bone reinforcing material, wherein at least one perforating device (4) is provided for making at least one hole (5) in the spongy bone (1) and wherein at least one flushing or rinsing device (6) is provided for flushing or rinsing the hole (5) with a rinsing agent (7). At least one vacuum source (9) is provided for generating a vacuum in the hole (5) in the spongy bone (1) for sucking and/or facilitating insertion or feeding of the bone substitute and/or bone reinforcing material (3) into said spongy bone (1). The invention also relates to bone substitute and/or bone reinforcing material and methods in connection with the invention.
US07935117B2
A reamer for reaming a portion of a long bone cavity for use in implanting a joint prosthesis. The reamer is used in cooperation with a portion of an orthopaedic implant component and includes an expandable body that is adapted to adjust between a plurality of diameters. A plurality of cutting edges are also included and extend outwardly from the body, the edges adapted for cooperation with bone, and the cutting edges expanding as the expandable body expands.
US07935116B2
An electrical bone growth promotion apparatus for the delivery of electrical current to an implant surgically implanted between adjacent bone masses to promote bone growth to areas adjacent to the implant is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a self contained implant having a surgically implantable, renewable power supply and related control circuitry for delivering electrical current directly to the implant and thus directly to the area in which the promotion of bone growth is desired. The desired areas of bone growth promotion may be controlled by conducting negative charge only to the desired location of bone growth promotion.
US07935112B2
An electrosurgical instrument is disclosed for simplifying making incisions and other treatments using electrosurgery. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a body having at least one conductive element that is surrounded by an insulation layer except at a conductor edge portion of the conductive element. The conductor edge portion and insulation layer each having unique geometric shapes and composition of the parts to reduce or eliminate the production of smoke and eschar and reduce tissue damage. The outer profile of the insulation layer and conductive element are configured to facilitate the flow of electrosurgical decomposition products away from the conductor edge where they are formed.
US07935111B2
An electrosurgery pencil having a bent or angled portion which enables a physician to easily perform surgical procedures without his or her hand obstructing the view of the surgical site.
US07935109B2
A multifunctional telescopic monopolar/bipolar electrosurgery pencil is disclosed for use with an electrosurgery unit (ESU). The monopolar/bipolar electrosurgery pencil includes a bipolar electrode having an insulator sandwiched between an active electrode and a return electrode wherein the bipolar electrode is connected to a handpiece capable of alternately effectuating cutting and coagulation with the bipolar electrode. The monopolar/bipolar electrosurgery pencil is capable of functioning as both a monopolar and bipolar device and can be used for open and closed laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures. Telescopic means for adjusting the length of the bipolar electrode is also provided as are means for smoke evacuation and suction/irrigation. The multifunctional telescopic monopolar/bipolar device can also be adapted for use with an ESU argon beam coagulator.
US07935103B2
A syringe assembly comprises a syringe barrel having an elongated body defining a chamber for retaining fluid, an open proximal end, a distal end and a frusto-conically shaped tip extending from the distal end and having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. The chamber has an inside diameter of at least 13.5 mm. A stopper is in fluid-tight engagement inside the barrel. An elongated plunger rod extends proximally from the stopper through the open proximal end of the barrel. A flange is positioned at the proximal end of the plunger rod. The flange is shaped and positioned to limit the distal motion of the plunger rod in the barrel by contacting the proximal end of the barrel. A tip cap is releasably connected to the tip for sealing the passageway and the chamber contains injectable liquid.
US07935100B2
A light sensitive media packaging with unique shrink-wrap light protection label that works as a light barrier to protect media from light damage.
US07935097B1
This patent discloses a colostomy bag belt to be worn by a person to help secure a colostomy bag to that person in an environment. The colostomy bag belt may include a liquid permeable layer fixed against a liquid impermeable layer to form a waste channel. An absorbent core may be located in the waste channel. The colostomy bag belt may include a colostomy bag hole and the absorbent core may be exposed to the environment through a belt top, belt bottom, and a perimeter of the colostomy bag hole. An adhesive layer may be located on the liquid permeable layer around the hole to adhere to the colostomy bag.
US07935094B2
The invention provides a surgical vacuum device including a vacuum cup sized for attachment to and manipulation of a target tissue. The device further includes a vacuum hose for applying a vacuum to the interior of the cup, and structure for applying a tensioning force to the cup once it has been placed and a vacuum applied. The vacuum device may be utilized with minimal or no trauma to the target tissue or surrounding tissues.
US07935083B2
An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suture. An anchoring system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes a channel into which the medical article to be retained is placed. The retainer is attached to an anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A medical article is secured within a channel by retaining at least one axially extending member on the medical article.
US07935078B2
A multi-chamber syringe 10 which can be manufactured at a low-cost and high-productivity is provided. The syringe 10 includes a generally cylindrical barrel 12, a push member 14 and a plug 16, both of which are disposed to fit the inner side surface 12a of the barrel 12 and slidably on the inner side surface 12a. The plug 16 has a main surface 16a provided with a projection 34 having a top 34a which is eccentric to the main surface 16a. When the push member 14 slides in the direction indicated by Arrow A, the plug 16 comes under pressure from the side on the open end 18. When the projection 34 of the projection 16 makes contact with the choked end 20, the pressure from the side on the open end 18 acts to turn the plug 16 in the direction indicated by Arrow B. This causes a bending deformation in a main body 30 and flanges 32a, 32b of the plug 16, to form a first gap 38 and a second gap 40 between the inner side surface 12a of the barrel 12 and the plug 16.
US07935076B2
Some embodiments of a wearable infusion pump system can include a pump device having a drive system to dispense a medicine to a user, an activity sensor that detects a possible change in an activity level of the user, and a controller to activate the drive system to dispense the medicine to the user. The controller device can query the user to indicate whether a detected activity level of the user represents an actual change in the activity level of the user. The controller device can alter the medicine dispensing schedule based on the user indicated changes in activity level.
US07935073B2
Method and apparatus for limiting absorption of food products in specific parts of the digestive system is presented. A gastrointestinal implant device is anchored in the stomach and extends beyond the ligament of Treitz. All food exiting the stomach is funneled through the device. The gastrointestinal device includes an anchor for anchoring the device to the stomach and a flexible sleeve to limit absorption of nutrients in the duodenum. The anchor is collapsible for endoscopic delivery and removal.
US07935069B2
Devices and methods are disclosed for achieving control and stabilization of bone fractures in mammals, most specifically humans. Stabilization and traction is often required to support fractured bones of the arms or legs. The devices and methods disclosed herein are especially useful in the emergency or military setting. The devices utilize a collapsible frame or inflatable member that may be expanded and locked into position. The frame or inflatable member is fabricated primarily from polymeric materials with low radiodensity. The limb contact regions are adjustable to fit a wide variety of limb sizes and fracture locations. The traction applied by the splint is adjustable, controllable and measurable. The traction splint is sufficiently compact that it will fit in a compartment of most ambulances and emergency rescue vehicles, thus making it more available for use than standard traction splints in use today. The traction splint is either a separate device or integrated into a backboard.
US07935052B2
An endoscopic forceps for treating tissue includes a handle assembly having a elongated shaft extending therefrom that is movable relative to the handle assembly by an actuator. The forceps also includes an end effector assembly with first and second jaw members that are movable about a pivot for clamping tissue. Each of the jaw members include: an insulative housing having an electrically conductive, inwardly facing tissue contacting surface and a flange with a camming surface. The flange includes a spring-like tail that mounts at least partially within the distal end of the elongated shaft to bias the jaw members in an open configuration. A proximal portion of the spring-like tail is biased radially outward within the distal end of the elongated shaft. The actuator is movable to actuate the elongated shaft to cam the flanges to pivot the jaw members to clamp tissue.
US07935039B2
A muscle toning exercise device adaptable from a stationary configuration wherein the device is capable of 360° rotation about a vertical axis, to a movable configuration wherein the device is capable of movement in all directions on a planar surface in addition to 360° rotation. The exercise device includes a handle that extends out from a base that supports the weight of a user. The base of the exercise device contains a series of rolling members that protrude out from the bottom to allow the device to move along the surface upon which the exercise is being performed so that the entire exercise device can be rotated a full 360° about an axis that extends through the center of the device, while further allowing for the displacement of the base, and subsequently the entire exercise device in any direction along a planar surface. A separate cup-shaped base member that rests on the planar surface and in which the exercise device may be selectively installed in covering relation with the rolling members. The cup-shaped member includes a vertically projecting generally cylindrical side wall extending around the base of the exercise device thereby limiting the linear displacement of the device along the planar surface and allowing only for the rotation of the device about a central axis.
US07935036B2
A portable exercise system includes a customizable pouch for positioning proximate the upper torso of a user, as well as customizable resistance bands. The resistance bands may detach from the pouch and be selected based upon a user's height, age, girth, preference, etc. The system may also include interchangeable handles for additional muscle training and memory, and therapeutic benefits. For instance, handle attachments may be squeezable and/or simulate a baseball. A back support and belt mechanism may be included where desired. The system may include attachments to facilitate exercise while sitting, e.g., traveling.
US07935035B2
A gyroscopic exercise device has a pair of handles attached to a housing. A user holds and rotates the handles along cone-like paths causing precession of a rotor, which is rotating about its spin axis, to provide resistance to the user. The device has an axle disc that holds ends of an axle of the rotor. The periphery of the axle disc and the ends of the rotor axle are within a circular race in the housing. A retracting spool allows pull starting. An optional motor attached to the axle disc has a wheel for rotating the rotor about a spin axis by a temporary supply of power from included batteries in one of the handles. An optional abdominal rolling ring provides abdominal exercise.
US07935034B2
Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to a martial arts training device including a first paddle and a second paddle. Each of the first and second paddles have a proximal end and a distal end, the first and second paddles being coupled together at the proximal ends for forming a handle and being separated at the distal ends so that a recess is provided between the distal ends of the first and second paddles. The training device produces a clapping noise when a user strikes the distal end of at least one of the first and second paddles, and a noise enhancement mechanism is disposed in the recess to enhance the clapping noise. A reinforcing member is disposed between the top edges or the bottom edges of the first and second paddles for supporting the recess. The interior surfaces of the distal ends of the first and second paddles include radial supporting ribs extending from an outer region of the interior surfaces towards an inner region of the interior surfaces and protruding from the interior surfaces towards the recess.
US07935031B1
A baby walker is disclosed, comprising a base, having an adjustable link at each of its two laterals and a plurality of rollers at its bottom; and a surround, having two regulators sustained by the top ends of the adjustable links, where the two regulators are adjusted until a width is reached to accommodate each riding infant child, and some fixing members are used to encircle the child for holding his/her body, which is just like holding by somebody's hands, where the child's weight is fully sustained and his/her body is kept in a balanced gesture, which brings about good sense of security and comfort to the child whenever he/she is learning to walk.
US07935028B2
An armrest for an exercise device which is arranged to be attached to a frame structure of the exercise device. The armrest is provided with a separate moving handle which is arranged to move in at least one direction with respect to the armrest during exercise.
US07935025B1
Methods and systems are provided for pressurizing a hydraulic circuit comprising a hydraulically actuated transmission component and an accumulator. One example method comprises, during an engine idle-stop, adjusting actuation of the hydraulically actuated transmission component over a duration. The method further comprises, during the duration, isolating the accumulator from the hydraulically actuated transmission component when a pressure in the hydraulic circuit is above a threshold, and coupling the accumulator into the hydraulic circuit when the pressure is below the threshold.
US07935016B2
An automatic transmission includes a planetary gear mechanism, an engagement element group including a particular engagement element having first and second pressure chambers, a pressure control valve to regulate the fluid pressure for the particular engagement element, and a selector valve arranged to connect the second pressure chamber with the pressure control valve at a first valve position, and to disconnect the second pressure chamber from the pressure control valve at a second valve position. A shift control section is configured to command a shift operation from a first gear position, to a second gear position, by controlling the selector valve to the second valve position and to supply the fluid pressure to the first pressure chamber, and to judge the selector valve to be in an abnormal state, in accordance with a parameter in the shift operation.
US07935015B2
In a vehicle driving apparatus including a differential mechanism capable of executing a differential action, a control device can make the driving apparatus small-size, improve fuel consumption, and increase output torque. A transmission mechanism can be switched to a continuously variable shifting state and a step variable shifting state, by a switching clutch or a switching brake. Also, with a switch control bringing the switching clutch into a half-engaged state, during an engine startup/running, while the differential portion is allowed to operate as the electrically controlled continuously variable transmission, a reaction force against an engine torque is generated by the half-engaged switching clutch. Thus, the engine torque not less than the torque bearable by a first electric motor can be inputted into the differential portion, thereby increasing the output torque.
US07935013B2
This invention refers to the structure for a ball or ball cover that comprises a plurality of interconnected panels comprising first and second groups of panels which combined form a sphere. The first group of panels define at least two different surface areas of the ball or ball cover disposed at polar extremes on the surface of the sphere and the second group of panels define an area of the surface in the form of a ring, with at least three undulations and disposed in the equatorial zone of the surface of the ball or ball cover, creating a separation between the polar extremes defined by the first group of panels; whereby the width of the ring is modified to improve the sphericity of the ball or ball cover and obtaining a ball of a selected measurement (C).
US07935000B2
Golf club heads which include an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face, a rear surface opposite the ball striking face (e.g., including a perimeter weighting member) and an indicator which indicates the location of the center of gravity of the golf club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are provided.
US07934998B2
Golf club head 2 is provided including face member 4, crown member 6, sole member 8 and recessed part 10. The recessed part 10 is provided around the sole member 8. The recessed part 10 has a maximum height Hm of equal to or greater than 10 mm. The projected area S1 of the sole member 8 projected on the reference plane accounts for 40% or more and 65% or less of the projected area S2 of the crown member 6 projected on the reference plane. The head 2 is hollow. Preferably, the maximum angle θm formed between the margin F1 of the recessed part 10 and the sole edge E1 in proximity thereto is equal to or greater than 45 degrees. Preferably, the curvature radius of the sole face in a toe-heel direction is 9.0 cm or greater and 11.5 cm or less. Preferably, the head 2 has a volume of 400 cc or more and 500 cc or less.
US07934994B2
A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of the game outcome presentation. To add excitement to the game, a 3-D position of the 3-D object and other features of the 3-D gaming environment may be controlled by a game player. Nearly an unlimited variety of virtual objects, such as slot reels, gaming machines and casinos, may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.
US07934988B2
A gaming apparatus which is equipped with a basic game and bonus games and is improved in entertainment value by means of adoption of new type of game development. The gaming apparatus has a display having a plurality of display areas on which areas are symbols are to be displayed, and a controller. Under specific requirements irrelevant to a result of another bonus game, there is performed a corresponding bonus game matching the requirements. Further, when at least one of a plurality of bonus games (i.e. a second bonus game) is executed when the specific requirements have been satisfied or when a specific result has been accomplished through another bonus game (i.e. a first bonus game).
US07934979B2
A retaining ring has a generally annular body with a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner diameter surface, and an outer diameter surface. The outer diameter surface includes an outwardly projecting flange having a lower surface, and the bottom surface includes a plurality of channels.
US07934971B2
Mechanical and electromechanical components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus may include components that are reconfigurable into other construction set components, and that have at least one demarcation defining adjacent segments thereof. The demarcations facilitate reconfiguration of the components to produce other construction set components. Openings to substantially prevent sharp edges from being formed during reconfiguration may be included in the components. An electromechanical drive assembly having an integrated speed control and operable to receive interchangeable, non-circular drive shafts may be provided. The electromechanical drive assembly may be configured to attach to and self-align relative to other construction set components. One or more of the components may be provided with openings through which the non-circular drive shafts may rotate. The drive shaft may be locked in relation to openings of components that allow the drive shaft to rotate via a lock plate. A bearing plate may also be included.
US07934968B2
A method of fabricating a pixel structure for use in an electroluminescent panel includes the following steps. A substrate is provided. Three shadow masks having a plurality of first, second, and third openings patterned in an array of T shaped are respectively provided, and three evaporation processes using the three shadow masks are subsequently performed to form a plurality of first subpixel units, second subpixel units and third subpixel units respectively. One first subpixel of the first subpixel unit, one second subpixel of the second subpixel unit adjacent to the first subpixel unit, and one third subpixel of the third subpixel unit adjacent to the first subpixel unit form a display pixel unit.
US07934954B1
In one example embodiment, a coaxial cable connector for terminating a coaxial cable is provided. The coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, an insulating layer, an outer conductor, and a jacket. The coaxial cable connector includes an internal connector structure, an external connector structure, and a conductive pin. The external connector structure cooperates with the internal connector structure to define a cylindrical gap that is configured to receive an increased-diameter cylindrical section of the outer conductor. The external connector structure is configured to be clamped around the increased-diameter cylindrical section so as to radially compress the increased-diameter cylindrical section between the external connector structure and the internal connector structure. The conductive pin is configured to deform the inner conductor.
US07934948B2
A telecommunications patch panel is provided having a plurality of connector modules rotatably mounted to a frame member. Each connector module has a front face and an opposite facing rear face, and each front face includes a plurality of connector jacks. Each rear face includes a plurality of wire termination blocks. The wire termination blocks are electrically connected to the connector jacks. Each connector module is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the frame member. A lock selectively locks each connector module to the frame member as desired. The connector jacks and the connector modules are arranged in linear arrays perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
US07934940B2
A ground connection system for electronic components that are exposed to vibrations, wherein the system is mounted on a ground carrier, has a metal bushing and an elastic damping element. One or more electrically conductive spiral springs are fitted inside the metal bushing together with the elastic damping element. The springs form an electrically conductive connection between the electronic component and the ground carrier.
US07934938B2
A connector for connecting with a serial ATA socket is described, the socket having end walls and an indent in each end wall. The connector has an insulated elongated member, the member having a first wall, an opposite second wall, first and second side walls and an insertion end. A plurality of contacts within the insulated elongated member extend in the direction of the insertion end. A locking member is located at least at one side wall for securing the connector to a socket. The locking member comprising a latching finger attached to the side wall. The latching finger extends in the direction of the insertion end of the insulated elongated member. The latching finger has a ridge directed towards the opposite side wall in the extended portion of the latching finger.
US07934936B2
An electrical connector (1) for receiving a daughter card having a plurality of conductive surfaces is described. The connector has an elongated housing (5) having a slot (8) for receiving, the daughter card; the slot has electrical terminals (9) for engaging the plurality of conductive surfaces on the daughter card and for electrically connecting the daughter card to the connector. An arm (6, 7) extends from at least one end of the elongated housing; a latch (3, 4) is pivotally connected to the arm. The latch is pivotal about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (401) of the housing; the latch is rotatable between a first position at which the daughter card is retained within the elongated slot and a second position at which the daughter card is unrestrained. The longitudinal axis of the connector is not increased when the latch is in the second position.
US07934935B1
An electrical socket with a locking protective door may comprise an upper cover comprising first and second upper ports, and a bottom case configured to couple with the upper cover. The bottom case may comprise a pair of socket terminals. A middle frame may be between the upper cover and the bottom case. A protective door may be between the upper cover and the middle frame. A lock mounting guide plate may be coupled to the middle frame and may comprise first and second guide plate ports. The first and second upper ports may vertically align with the pair of socket terminals. The first and second guide plate ports may vertically align with the pair of socket terminals. When the protective door is in a first position, it prevents access to the first and second guide plate ports. And, when the protective door is in a second position, it provides access to the first and second guide plate ports.
US07934917B2
A spinneret format, an electric-field reversal format and a process for post-treatment of membranes formed from electro-spinning or electro-blowing are provided, including a cleaning method and apparatus for electro-blowing or blowing-assisted electro-spinning technology.
US07934916B2
A system for making custom earpieces is disclosed. The system can include a two-component dispensing container such as a two-component syringe or a two-component squeeze bulb. The two components stored in the two-component dispensing container are kept separate until they are dispensed. The two components can be dispensed into a balloon disposed within the ear canal of a user. The two components can define an earpiece after they are dispensed into the balloon. A mixer mixes the two components as they are dispensed. The balloon can be attached to the two-component dispensing container such that two components enter the balloon after the two components are mixed. In this manner, a more comfortable and effective custom earpiece can be made more safely and more conveniently.
US07934914B2
A balancing system for different compressors utilizes a counterweight having a common exterior configuration. The mass of the counterweight is optimized for each compressor by changing the size of a recess located in the counterweight. In one embodiment, the recess is an arcuately shaped recess; and in another embodiment, the recess is a plurality of holes.
US07934913B2
The invention concerns a piston compressor, particularly a hermetic refrigerant compressor, with a compression chamber, which is limited by a valve plate arrangement having a valve plate with a suction gas opening and a pressure gas opening, a suction valve plate with a suction valve element, and a pressure valve plate with a pressure valve element. It is endeavored to achieve a good efficiency combined with a simple assembly. For this purpose, it is ensured that the pressure valve plate and the suction valve plate are located on the side of the valve plate facing the compression chamber.
US07934905B2
The invention relates to wind energy systems. A wind energy system is provided having an insect sensor. The insect sensor is adapted for measuring the insect density in the air. Further, a method for operating a wind energy system taking into account the insect density in the air is provided. The wind energy system is curtailed during times with a high insect density. Hence, in periods following times with a high insect density, the wind energy system can be operated without the aero-dynamical performance of the rotor blades being spoiled by smashed insects.
US07934900B1
A nozzle guide vane for a gas turbine engine comprises a hollow ceramic vane member which includes an aerofoil portion and ceramic platforms. The ceramic vane member is supported by engagement of its interior surface with external supporting surfaces on a metallic load-bearing spine adapted to be supported from fixed structure of the engine.
US07934873B2
A tapered roller bearing includes bearing rings including an inner ring and an outer ring, a roller rolling between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a cage having a pocket holding the roller and located adjacent to the outer ring. A radial clearance δ between the cage and the outer ring when the cage is in a neutral position, a radial clearance δpr between the roller held in the pocket and the cage, and a circumferential clearance δpc between the roller held in the pocket and the cage satisfy relations δpr>δpc and −2≦(δ−δpr)/(δpr−δpc)≦0.
US07934868B2
A thermal sensor in which, when an object to be measured is a water-based liquid, attachment of air bubbles to the external surface of the sensor is reduced to improve measurement accuracy. The thermal sensor has a sensing element (21a) including a heat producing body and a temperature sensing body, a resin mold (23) for sealing the sensing element (21a), and a heat transmission member (21c) for transmitting heat between the sensing element (21a) and a water-based object to be measured. A part of the heat transmission member (21c) is exposed from the resin mold (23) to form an exposed surface section. A hydrophilic film (50) formed of a silicon oxide film is applied to the exposed surface section and to that part of the surface of the resin mold which is positioned around the exposed surface section.
US07934860B2
A lighting fixture includes a light unit, a supporting frame pivotally coupling with the light unit, and an angle adjustment arrangement including a first gear member provided at the light housing, and a second gear member provided at the supporting arm. The first gear member has a first teething face to match and engage with a second teething face of the gear member. When the first gear member is moved apart from the second gear member, the light housing is adapted to pivotally move with respect to the supporting frame so as to selectively adjust the projecting angle of the light unit. After the projecting angle of the light unit is set, the first gear member is moved back to re-engage with the second gear member to lock up the light unit at the projecting angle.
US07934854B2
A light fixture (100) comprises a base (101) and at least a first arm (102) having a first end (103) that couples to this base. A housing (105) then couples to the second end (203) of this first arm and can serve to house both a light source (901) (such that emanated light will tend to be directed towards a primary area of coverage) and an animate object detector (902) (such that the latter will be aimed towards, and will tend to be sensitive to, objects that move within the primary area of coverage). By one approach, this arm couples to the base and/or the housing in a manner that permits an end user to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the base without requiring any hand tools. The housing can comprise a heat sink (906) if desired.
US07934839B2
The image projection apparatus includes a light source lamp including a discharge light emitting tube and a reflector, the discharge light emitting tube including a light emitting portion disposed inside of the reflector and an electrode portion disposed outside of the reflector, a cooling fan, and a duct configured to guide a cooling air flowed by operation of the cooling fan toward the light source lamp. The duct includes a first air guiding portion and a second air guiding portion that cause parts of the cooling air to respectively proceed toward a first area and a second area opposite to each other on an outer circumferential surface of the light emitting portion, and a third air guiding portion that causes another part of the cooling air to proceed toward the electrode portion.
US07934837B2
In a projection display device which includes a light source for outputting a light and a plurality of light modulating devices for modulating the light from the light source based on an input image signal, the projection display device comprises: a plurality of light quantity adjusting devices disposed on respective incidence sides of the light modulating devices and serving to adjust the quantity of light incident on the respective light modulating devices; and a controller unit for controlling the respective light quantity adjusting devices based on the input image signal.
US07934824B2
An image forming apparatus has: an ejection head which ejects droplets of liquid toward a recording medium in accordance with image data; a hold device which holds the recording medium; a conveyance device which conveys the recording medium relatively to the ejection head while the recording medium is held by the hold device; a heating device which is provided with the hold device and is capable of heating a part of the recording medium selectively; and a control device which controls the heating device in accordance with the image data so that, before the droplets of the liquid are ejected by the ejection head, the recording medium is heated by the heating device in accordance with a heating pattern in which a first temperature not greater than an allowable temperature of the recording medium is set for a first region of the recording medium where a liquid ejection rate is not less than a first threshold value while a second temperature less than the first temperature is set for a second region of the recording medium where the liquid ejection rate is not greater than a second threshold value not greater than the first threshold value.
US07934818B2
A manipulating rod is provided on an air intake valve so as to project through an air intake port. A protective member is provided with a projection, which causes the manipulating rod to move so as to open the air intake valve, in response to a motion for detaching the protective member from an ink cartridge.
US07934817B2
Provided is print engine controller of a printhead assembly having a plurality of printhead modules. The controller includes a memory buffer to receive rasterized page data from a computer system, a page image expander for expanding the page data to retrieve page images, and dithering means for dithering a continuous tone (“contone”) layer over the page data. The controller also includes a compositor for compositing a black bi-level layer of the contone layer, rendering means for rendering infra-red tags over the contone layer, and an output driving the printhead modules to print the composited page data.
US07934814B2
A droplet ejection head according to the present invention includes a layered body made up of a plurality of metal plates, and an ejection face. The plurality of metal plates in the layered body include n metal plates whose lengthwise directions form the same angle with a rolling direction thereof. The n metal plates include a first stress plate and a second stress plate. The first stress plate has internal stress which forces the metal plate to bend along its lengthwise direction so as to make it protrude toward a ejecting direction. The second stress plate has internal stress which forces the metal plate to bend along its lengthwise direction so as to make it protrude toward a direction opposite to the ejecting direction.
US07934807B2
A printhead integrated circuit comprises a substrate having drive circuitry and a plurality of nozzle assemblies positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle assembly has a moving portion moveable relative to a stationary portion for ejection of ink. The printhead integrated circuit is covered with a polymeric layer. The polymeric layer covers a gap defined between each moving portion and each stationary portion.
US07934804B2
A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. Each heater element includes an elongate conductor, in turn, having at least one arcuate portion. Each elongate conductor is of substantially uniform diameter and terminates in a pair of enlarged contacts at either end.
US07934802B2
A light irradiation device that is capable of good irradiance uniformity in the lengthwise direction and that is applicable to an inkjet printer. A light-emitting portion of a short-arc type discharge lamp is positioned at the first focal point of a reflector that has a reflecting surface in the shape of an ellipsoid of revolution, and the light from the discharge lamp is reflected by the reflector and is focused at the second focal point; after which the light is incident on multiple, columnar rod lenses 14. Of the light that is incident on the rod lenses, the light along the axial direction is focused at the second focal point of an elliptical reflector without being affected by the rod lenses, and the light along the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is focused by the rod lenses and then spreads and irradiates the light irradiation surface.
US07934801B2
A method of manufacturing a recording head according to the present invention includes a plurality of steps to describe as follows. In a solder paste application step, solder paste bodies are partially applied onto a plurality of terminals. In a heating step, each of the plurality of solder paste bodies is heated, to thereby form a plurality of solder layers on the plurality of terminals. In a covering step, the plurality of terminals and the plurality of solder layers are covered by an uncured synthetic resin layer. In a contact step, a plurality of bumps formed in a bump forming step and the plurality of solder layers are contacted with each other, by pressing regions of the synthetic resin layer covering the solder layers and the bumps to each other. In a curing step, the uncured synthetic resin layer is cured.
US07934796B2
A printer is provided having, supported by a support structure, a print assembly and feed mechanism for feeding print media though a printing zone. The print assembly has an elongate carrier mounted to the support structure which mounts printhead integrated circuits and control circuitry connected to the printhead ICs. The elongate printing zone defined by the printhead ICs is at least 914 mm. Each printhead IC incorporates nozzle arrangements having a nozzle, ink chamber, ink inlet, actuator, and drive circuit to achieve ink ejection at more than one billion ink drops per second. The printhead ICs are each positioned at a common angle of greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees with respect to a straight line extending at right angles to a feed direction of print media, with consecutive ends of the printhead integrated circuits overlapping to ensure continuous printing in the printing zone.
US07934794B2
An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.
US07934790B2
An image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises an inkjet head which includes a nozzle plate where a plurality of nozzles that shoot ink are arranged in a column and an ink chamber which retains ink and is connected to the plurality of nozzles, at least one maintenance suction section which has a suction area larger than the nozzles, a suction section driving mechanism which causes the suction area to face the nozzles and moves the suction section relatively in the nozzle arrangement direction; and a positive pressure applying section which applies a positive pressure to the ink chamber. The maintenance suction section sucks in ink near the nozzles as moving in the nozzle arrangement direction, while the positive pressure is being applied to the ink chamber.
US07934789B2
A drive mechanism of a printhead cradle is provided which has a motor, a rotor element drive assembly coupled with the motor for operating a rotor element of a printhead received by the printhead cradle, a print media transport assembly coupled with the motor for transporting print media past the received printhead, a controller for controlling the motor, and a rotor element angle sensor in signal communication with the controller for sensing an orientation of the rotor element.
US07934786B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head including pressure generation chambers communicating with nozzle openings for ejecting a liquid and pressure generation units which cause pressure variations in the pressure generation chambers. A driving unit supplies, to the pressure generation units, a driving signal including an expansion element for expanding the pressure generation chambers. A contraction element contracts the pressure generation chambers and a re-expansion element expands the pressure generation chambers before the liquid is ejected from the nozzle openings by the contraction element. The re-expansion element includes a primary expansion element at the contraction element side that expands the pressure generation chambers. A secondary expansion element has at least a variation portion having a voltage variation ratio different from a voltage variation ratio of the primary expansion element in continuation to the primary expansion element and expands the pressure generation chambers.
US07934785B2
A coating system comprises a high gloss coating ink supply source, and a low gloss coating ink supply source. The system includes a coating module configured to receive the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a first group of nozzles configured to emit the high gloss coating ink, and a second group of nozzles configured to emit the low gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a mixing reservoir configured to receive the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink and to commingle the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink to form an intermediate gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a third group of inkjet nozzles configured to emit the intermediate gloss coating ink.
US07934777B1
A vehicle wheel assembly includes a vehicle wheel, a disc brake rotor, and a rotatable hub in which the rotor is securely clamped to the hub independently of the clamping of the wheel to the hub providing a desirable rigid coupling of the rotor and wheel without any physical contact between the wheel and rotor. The hub functions as an intermediate member for supporting both the rotor and the wheel while precluding direct contact therebetween to reduce any rotor deformation which might be induced by the more conventional technique of clamping of the rotor between the wheel and the hub.
US07934774B2
In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a vehicle seat assembly comprising a cushion having an “A” surface and a “B” surface, a central portion, and two bolster areas, with each bolster area being adjacent the central portion, with the cushion having a hardness gradient between at least one of the bolster areas and the central portion of between 8% to 25%.
US07934772B2
A lower enclosure supports and protects a child's lower body and legs, and an upper enclosure supports and protects a child's head and shoulders. The lower and upper enclosures each have a bottom and each bottom is fixed to two side walls. A hinge connects the bottoms of the lower enclosure and the upper enclosure. Positioners position the enclosures relative to each other in a sitting position, with the bottoms making an obtuse angle, and a lying position, with the bottoms approximately in one plane. The positioners have a brace supporting the side walls and the bottoms.
US07934770B2
A bicycle seat is provided having a small front-end section formed by a bifurcated nose with a longitudinally extending gap therebetween, the bifurcated nose having elongated protrusions being substantially parallel to each other and having a substantially constant width and providing a substantially flat pubis bone support surface. The small front-end section can transition to a medial section having a top, a bottom, and sides and the medial section can transition to a rear-end section that is substantially flat. The seat can widen from the transition of the front-end section to the medial section as the seat extends to the rear-end section and the longitudinally extending gap can be approximately 30% to less than approximately 40% of a total length of the seat.
US07934761B2
A storage compartment for a motor vehicle is provided. The storage compartment includes a wall and a supporting frame for supporting the wall. The wall can be varied in height, at least in some sections, by at least one winding shaft. The supporting frame has at least one receiving device with at least one connecting piece. The winding shaft is mounted on the connecting piece such that the winding shaft forms part of the supporting frame.
US07934754B2
A lock assembly that includes a push button assembly manually movable from an unlocked position to a locked position, a biasing member that biases the push button assembly toward the unlocked position, and a retaining member that engages the push button assembly and a lock member to retain the push button assembly in the locked position. The lock assembly further includes an exterior handle, a driver, and a cam member coupled to the driver for rotation with the driver. The push button assembly engages the cam member to rotate the driver toward a locked position when the push button assembly moves from the unlocked position toward the locked position and the push button assembly engages the cam member to rotate the driver toward an unlocked position when the push button moves from the locked position toward the unlocked position.
US07934752B2
An image forming method is provided to attain a higher security for preventing forgery and falsification of information by using an optical diffraction structure. In a body (10) whereupon a layer is to be transferred, printing information (2) is recorded. On the body (10), a layer (20d) including a hologram and a diffraction lattice provided on an optical diffraction structure transfer sheet (20) is transferred, and an image including recorded printing information (2) and optical diffraction structures (3, 4, 5) is formed. The layer (20d) including the optical diffraction structure is transferred so that the diffraction lattice (5) to be transferred forms diffraction lattice information (5) showing a prescribed regularity in a corresponding relationship between the printing information (2).
US07934746B2
A motor vehicle with a passenger compartment is provided with an A-column, which is arranged to the side of a windshield of the motor vehicle, as well as a cross strut joined with the A-column. The A-column and cross strut are spaced apart from each other and joined with a lateral wall section of the passenger compartment. A cladding section is further arranged on the side facing the vehicle interior, which is joined with the A-column. The A-column accommodates an airbag that is arranged between the A-column and the first cladding section, and extends toward the front until over the area where the cross strut engages the A-column.
US07934732B1
A knuckle for a vehicle suspension system interconnects portions of a vehicle steering system, a vehicle brake, and a vehicle suspension system, and includes a knuckle body having a hub and bearing opening formed through the body. The hub and bearing opening define a substantially cylindrical inner wall. A cap is disposed within the hub and bearing opening. A recess is formed in the inner wall of the hub and bearing opening, and the cap includes a radially outwardly extending anti-rotation member disposed within the recess.
US07934723B2
A pusher game machine 1 includes: a medal feeder 9 which feeds a medal on an upper game board 20; and an upper pushing member 22 which is arranged on the upper game board 20, and performs reciprocating movement, wherein a medal feedable region 61 by the medal feeder 9 is set on the deep side of the upper pushing member, viewing from the medal feeding side by the medal feeding means.
US07934722B2
An image scanning apparatus includes a paper thickness detection unit arranged to detect a paper thickness of an original document based on a reception signal, and a multiple-feeding detection unit arranged to detect, based on the reception signal, whether or not the original document that is being transported has been multiply fed. Based on a detection result obtained by the paper thickness detection unit and the multiple-feeding detection unit, the transportation speed is adjusted.
US07934713B2
A sheet alignment mechanism includes a stacking tray on which a sheet or sheet bundle transported along a sheet transport path is stacked, a pair of side fences that are movable in a sheet width direction and align edges of the sheet or sheet bundle, stacked on the stacking tray, in the sheet width direction, a single drive source that moves the side fences, and detecting units that detect home positions of the respective side fences.
US07934697B2
In some embodiments, apparatus for releasably gripping at least one elongated item and being used in pulling the elongated item(s) through at least one space includes a body and at least three gripping members associated with the body. The gripping members are moveable relative to the body and capable of engaging at least one elongated item.
US07934692B2
An apparatus for support a handbag from the edge of a table or other structure is presented. The apparatus includes a segmented arm that can be collapsed to allow for compact storage of the apparatus.
US07934687B2
An appendage elevation support structure is disclosed. The appendage elevation support structure includes a platform defining a central axis. A plurality of legs is secured to the platform in a substantially radial configuration about the central axis to support the platform above a surface. A frame having a plurality of support members is carried by the platform. A plurality of slings is carried and supported by the frame. The slings are adapted to cooperate to cradle and support a human appendage.
US07934686B2
A vortex ring generator adapted to be associated with a body subjected to fluid flow, the vortex ring generator being adapted to produce a fluid flow in the form of a vortex ring with the fluid flow moving over the body from the vortex ring generator.
US07934674B2
A yarn traverse guide in which a plurality of yarn guides having yarn introducing openings and yarn introducing passages formed continuously from the yarn introducing openings are disposed at intervals so that the positions of the yarn introducing openings are not overlapped with each other.
US07934673B2
To obtain a webbing take-up device that can not only transmit to a take-up shaft only rotation from a motor by a clutch but is also simple and compact.A clutch of this webbing take-up device has a simply configuration where sliders 144 of a clutch body portion 114 are caused by frictional force to be retained in a case, whereby the sliders 144 and lock bars 154 are caused to relatively move and the lock bars 154 are caused by this relative movement to move to positions where they engage with or disengage from a ratchet 134. Consequently, the overall configuration of a clutch 100 can be made significantly compact (thinned) in comparison to a configuration that causes a pawl to move using an inertial disk that is large and has weight as in a conventional clutch. Thus, the overall configuration of a webbing take-up device 10 can be made compact.
US07934672B2
A refiner blade comprising a blade surface for defibrating a lignocellulose-containing material, the blade surface comprising blade bars and blade grooves provided therebetween. At least one blade groove provided in the blade surface is formed by removing material from the blade surface by water cutting.
US07934670B2
A grinding machine (20) for use in grinding materials, the grinding machine (20) comprising: a grinder assembly (22) for receiving material therein; at least one removable hopper (24) attachable proximate to the grinding assembly (22) for dispensing material to the grinder assembly (22); a passage (22) defined in the hopper being cooperatively placed in communication with the grinding assembly (22) for dispensing material from the hopper (24) to the grinder assembly (22); a displaceable shutter (70) being positionnable in an open position when the hopper (24) is placed on the grinder assembly (22) and being positionnable in a closed position when the hopper (24) is removed from the grinder assembly (22); and a slide gate mechanism (42) including a slide gate (42) and a mover linked to the slide gate for controllably opening and closing passage of material from the hopper (24) to the grinder assembly (22) for grinfind material therein.
US07934656B2
A system for digitizing a freehand graphic. The system comprises: a base including a surface; a position-coding pattern printed on the surface with first and second areas. The system further comprises an optically imaging pen including for detecting a position in the position-coding pattern; and a transmitter for transmitting interaction data to a relay device. The relay device communicates the interaction to a processor, which is adapted to determine if the detected position is in the first area or the second area. If the detected position is in the first area of the surface, then the processor interprets the position as a point in the freehand graphic. If the detected position is in the second area of the surface, then the processor interprets the position as a selection of a property for the freehand graphic.
US07934655B2
An input arrangement for controlling an electronic device. The arrangement comprises a substrate have a position-coding pattern printed thereon. The position-coding pattern codes first and second sets of absolute positions on spatially separate areas of the substrate. The first and second sets of absolute positions are mutually exclusive and coded by first and second subsets of the position-coding pattern. A handheld image-recording device comprises an image sensor for recording images of the position-coding pattern a processor is configured for deriving an absolute position from the position-coding pattern in the recorded image and providing an instruction to the electronic device to perform a first function when the absolute position belongs to the first set and a second function when the absolute position belongs to the second set.
US07934654B2
A method of enabling recorded audio to be associated with a position on a surface. The surface has coded data printed thereon. The coded data is indicative of a plurality of locations on the surface. The method comprises the steps of: (i) interacting with the surface using a handheld audio player incorporating an optical image sensor for reading the coded data and a microphone for recording audio; (ii) reading the coded data; (iii) initiating recording of audio using the handheld audio player; (iv) determining a position of the handheld audio player using the read coded data; and (v) associating audio data with said position.
US07934653B2
A device for strengthening a card reader including a slot at least partly delimited by a base and two lateral walls and extending along a longitudinal direction, the slot being intended to receive a card moving along the longitudinal direction while bearing on the base, the device including a wire of substantially circular cross-section arranged at the level of the base and on which the card is intended to slide.
US07934649B2
A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.
US07934645B2
An access control system for sensing exposure to items of interest for a person associated with a unique identifier of a fare card or ticket is disclosed. The access control system includes the unique identifier, an exposure detector and a processor. The unique identifier associated with the person that is flagged when exposure is detected. The exposure detector detects exposure to items of interest by the person. The processor is coupled to the exposure detector. The message is communicated away from the processor to a remote location when the unique identifier is flagged.
US07934640B2
A method, system, and computer program product for implementing personal identification number (PIN)-based data transfer activities is provided. The system includes a transfer system that includes a processor and a PIN processing application and decryption engine executing thereon. The PIN processing application and decryption engine implement a method. The method includes receiving an instrument identifier for an instrument upon which a data transfer is requested, and receiving a PIN input at the transfer system by a holder of the instrument. The PIN includes encrypted data elements that include the instrument identifier, a data value for the data transfer, a transfer system key of the transfer system, and a seed value associated with the instrument. The method includes decrypting the PIN to retrieve the data elements embedded therein. In response to successful validation of the data elements, the method includes encoding the instrument with the data value.
US07934638B2
A golf counter includes a disk-like body member, which has a center opening, a series of symbols marked on the top wall and equiangularly spaced around the center opening, and a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the symbols, a magnet secured to the bottom side of the disk-like body member, and a rotating faceplate, which is rotatably secured to the disk-like body member by the magnetic attraction force of the magnet and has a through viewing hole for showing one of the symbols of the disk-like body member, and two raised portions protruding from the bottom side and selectively engaging the positioning holes of disk-like body member to let the through viewing hole show one of the symbols.
US07934637B2
A packaging container capable of reducing a tensile or compressive stress in the paper container caused by folding the pleat portion thereof to maintain the strength characteristics thereof, and providing a wide roof portion on one side thereof so that a large-sized spout can be fitted thereto. The packaging container including a pouring spout fitted thereto is characterized in that the top part thereof formed by folding the pleat line is formed of a surface tilted forward on the front side of the top part and a substantially flat surface adjacent to the tilted surface on the rear side of the top part and that a flap derived from the formation of the top part is allowed to abut on the container side-walls adjacent to the top part by the folding of the pleat.
US07934635B2
A body has at least one first metallic body part and one second metallic body part. The first body part is coated with a nickel-phosphor layer. The first and second body parts are assembled. The first and second body parts are heated such that a soldered connection is produced between the first and second body part as a result of the nickel-phosphor layer.
US07934628B2
A surgical stapling device for sequentially applying a plurality of fasteners to body tissue and simultaneously incising tissue is provided. The surgical stapling device is adapted to receive disposable loading units having staples in linear rows whose length can be between about 30 mm and 60 mm. The disposable loading unit includes a proximal body portion, a mounting assembly and a tool assembly. The mounting assembly is secured to the proximal end of the tool assembly and pivotally mounted about a pivot axis to the distal end of the proximal body portion. A support member or blow-out plate assembly is positioned on opposite sides of the pivot axis and extends between the proximal body portion and the mounting assembly. An axial drive assembly is slidably positioned between the support members and is translatable through the cartridge assembly to eject staples from the cartridge assembly. The support members prevent outward buckling of the axial drive assembly during actuation of the device especially when the tool assembly is articulated. Preferably, a protrusion is provided in the proximal body portion of the disposable loading unit at a position to frictionally engage an articulation link. Engagement between the protrusion and the articulation link retains the articulation link at a fixed position within the proximal body portion to maintain the tool assembly in a desired orientation until a predetermined axial force is applied to the articulation link. The disposable loading unit also preferably includes a locking member which is operably connected to the axial drive assembly. The locking member provides an audible and/or tactile indication that the device has been actuated.
US07934623B2
A washing agent dispenser has two washing agent distributors controlled by a same actuation system that comprises a driving member, a driven member and an actuator device. The driven member has a seat in which there is operatively inserted, with possibility of relative movement, an engagement part of the driving member. According to the invention, also the driving member has a seat which, in at least one position of the actuation system, at least partially faces the seat of the driven member. The actuation system further comprises a floating body, able to displace in a controlled way between the two seats when said seats at least partially face one another.
US07934617B2
A container is provided comprising a casing, a set plate closing the lower end of the casing and a lock ring that fastens the set plate onto the casing. The casing is provided with a radial outer flange formed around an open end of the main body thereof. The radial outer flange and the outer periphery of the set plate are each provided with three stop projections and three notches. The radial outer flange is further provided with three biasing projections and the outer periphery of the set plate is further provided with three engagement rims. The members of each threesome are arranged at a regular angular interval and each threesome is arranged at different angular phase positions from those of the other threesomes. The outer periphery of the lock ring is provided with three engagement lugs that project inwardly at a regular angular interval.
US07934616B2
A flip-top closure for composite and cardboard packaging, which permits the automatic opening of a package by flipping open the lid of the closure, includes a frame base element, which is designed to be welded by its level underside to composite or card-board packaging, and has a continuous peripheral overhang that protrudes upwards in order to form a pouring neck with an interior opening. A cover that flips open and closes is fixed to the base element. A guide, or tongue, element is pivotally mounted on the base element extends over the interior expanse of the overhang and friction-fit elements act between the tongue, or guide, element and the cover to pivot the tongue downwardly by force when the cover is flipped open for tearing and pivoting away a piece of the packaging lying below the tongue or guide element.
US07934614B2
A two-piece seal vial assembly. The first piece is a vial defining an aperture adapted to contain a liquid. The vial has a base, a crown disposed opposite the base, and an upright side wall extending from the base to the crown and including a tapered inner diameter and a flange located proximate the crown. The second piece is a seal top defining an opening that runs through the length of the seal top. The seal top has a top portion providing a neck finish and, when the seal top and the vial are assembled, a snap groove releasably receiving the flange of the vial and a tapered portion that frictionally engages the tapered inner diameter of the vial. Although not one of the two main components of the assembly, a cap may be included to releasably engage the neck finish of the seal top to close the seal top.
US07934612B1
A bottle has a closed bottom, an open top and a peripheral cylindrical side wall. A nipple has a lower section in the shape of a truncated hemisphere, an intermediate section in the shape of a cylindrical, and an upper section in the shape of a hemisphere. The nipple has a hole, an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface includes a plurality of spaced hemispherically shaped projections including a plurality lower projections on the lower portion, a plurality of upper projections on the upper portion, and a plurality of intermediate projections on the intermediate portion. An adaptor removably couples the nipple to the bottle.
US07934608B2
A collapsible rack for transport and storage, includes a first and a second panel and a plurality of distance bars. The first and second panel include a groove side including at least one groove. A first and a second edge is arranged on opposite sides and adjacent to these, a third and a fourth edge. The third and fourth edges each include at least one hole that extends parallel to the first and second edges. The hole has a non-circular shape. The distance bars at each of their ends includes a hole coupling mechanism. The hole coupling mechanism extends perpendicular to the extension of the bar. The hole coupling mechanisms include clutching sections that match the hole, wherein pivoting between the bars and the first and second panel is prevented where the hole coupling mechanism and hole are fully mated.
US07934603B2
The delivery system of the present invention is comprised of at least two chambers which store, individually, an activated blood component and an inactivated blood component. The first chamber comprises an activating agent and a filter which may be one in the same thus allowing the formed clot to be triturated thereby isolating the thrombin from the clot. The second chamber stores the inactivated blood component that when mixed with thrombin will produce a gel. The first or second chamber may further contain agents which are desired to be delivered to a specific site. The unique design of the delivery system allows for ease in operation of combining two agents at a specific time and place.
US07934591B2
A check-in system for receiving and transporting luggage from a passenger comprising a conveyor for transporting luggage. The conveyor having a top surface on which luggage is received and which extends from a front end to a rear end, a floor being adjacent to the front end of the conveyor for supporting a passenger. The top surface of the front end of the conveyor is substantially flush with the floor such that luggage may be slid from the floor onto the conveyor.
US07934584B2
A device for attachment to a conventional type of ladder for holding tools and other diverse items in a position for convenient access by a workman on the ladder is described in two embodiments. In both embodiments the device includes a rigid, linearly elongated member carrying a pair of projections having free ends in opposing, spaced relation, the distance between the free ends being selectively adjustable by relative movement of the projections along an axis parallel to a spaced from the axis of the elongated member.
US07934581B2
An apparatus comprising includes a conduit portion having a conduit inner surface and a conduit outer surface, and a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with the conduit portion. The chambers include a first chamber defined, at least in part, by a first outer housing and a first chamber volume. The first chamber is in fluid communication with the conduit portion. A fluid is permitted to flow between the conduit portion and the first chamber through a first flow area. The chambers also include a second chamber defined, at least in part, by a second outer housing and a second chamber volume. The second chamber is in fluid communication with the conduit portion. A fluid is permitted to flow between the conduit portion and the second chamber through a second flow area. The first chamber volume is generally equal to the second chamber volume and the first flow area is greater than the second flow area. The chambers further include a third chamber defined, at least in part, by a third outer housing and a third chamber volume. The third chamber is in fluid communication with the conduit portion. A fluid is permitted to flow between the conduit portion and the third chamber through a third flow area, wherein the first chamber volume is greater than the third chamber volume.
US07934579B2
A suspension assembly includes an axle and a resilient member. The axle includes a first end and a second end and is movable with respect to a vehicle's frame between an unloaded position and a loaded position. The resilient member is configured to be spaced from at least one of the axle and the frame when the axle is in the unloaded position. The resilient member is also configured to selectively progressively bias the axle towards the unloaded position. A vehicle including a suspension assembly is also provided.
US07934577B2
The invention relates to an improvement in a breath alcohol test devices includes within the handheld unit containing a fuel cell, a miniaturized self calibrating test device thereby avoiding the need for 30, 60 and 90 day calibration testing. It also relates to various tamper or circumvention improvements that may be used alone or in combination with the self calibration improvement, including cameras to record a driver providing a breath sample and to verify the location of the driver within a vehicle.
US07934576B2
The present invention concerns a bicycle frame, including a number of frame elements, preferably tubes, where the frame elements are interconnected and constitute a construction with so great rigidity that the cycle frame does not change its geometrical shape under usual load, where an electric battery system is at least partly embedded in the frame, including at least one battery pack for storing electric energy for use in connection with equipment, such as comfort equipment and/or safety equipment on a bicycle, including an electric auxiliary motor, where the part of the frame adapted to mounting a battery pack is constituted by a hollow section, the hollow section being a multiple chamber section, where a battery pack is predominantly arranged in a cutout in the multiple chamber section so that at least one chamber in the multiple chamber section is substantially intact. Thus is obtained a cycle frame with a cutout for a battery pack, where the frame has great rigidity.
US07934574B2
A rotation table frame for a working vehicle including, a portion rearward of both sides of the rotation table frame being substantially within a width of a traveling device and circular in a plan view, a front portion of the rotation table frame is rectilinearly cut in a left-right direction in the plan view, and the rotation table frame has a stepped portion formed at a right side relative to the advancement direction and recessed rearward.
US07934573B2
A method for regulating the state of charge of an energy accumulator in a vehicle having a hybrid drive unit, a motor vehicle in particular, including an internal combustion engine and at least one electrical machine which can be coupled or are coupled to a power train of the vehicle. It is provided that a state of charge of the energy accumulator is regulated by a charge controller as a function of the vehicle's velocity.
US07934569B2
A method of stabilizing a core sample is described, and an agent for use in the stabilising method. The method involves injecting a foam around a core sample in a cylindrical liner. The foam comprises mixture of a first pressurized polymerisable-based fluid and a second pressurized fluid, which are simultaneously injected as a foam into an annulus between the core sample and liner. The foam preserves the sample and cushions it for transportation. The foam can include a dye or colorant to distinguish the foam from other materials in the core sample.
US07934567B1
A driving apparatus is disclosed for planting a vertically oriented shaft into a granular base. The driving apparatus includes an anvil integrally formed at an intermediate location on the shaft. A weight is attached on the shaft, above the anvil, in freely slidable engagement. The shaft is provided with a tapered lower end. With the lower end positioned adjacent to the granular base, the weights may be repeatedly propelled against the anvil, by sliding along the shaft in a hammering motion, to drive the shaft into the base. The shaft may serve to support an article such as a beach umbrella.
US07934561B2
A depth compensated passive eave compensator comprises a first cylinder connected at its upper end to a vessel. A piston rod extends from a piston located within the first cylinder through the lower end thereof and is connected to subsea equipment. A second cylinder contains a compressed gas which maintains pressure beneath the piston of the first cylinder. The upper end of the first cylinder is connected to the upper end of a third cylinder having a piston mounted therein. A piston rod extending from the piston of third cylinder extends through the lower end thereof thereby applying the pressure of the sea to the piston of the third cylinder.
US07934558B2
A perforating apparatus (100) used to perforate a subterranean well. The perforating apparatus (100) includes a generally tubular gun carrier (106) and a charge holder (104) rotatably mounted within the gun carrier (106). At least one shaped charge (102) is mounted in the charge holder (104) and is operable to perforate the well upon detonation. A dynamically adjustable weight system (124) is operably associated to the charge holder (104). The dynamically adjustable weight system (124) is operable to adjust the center of gravity (120) of the charge holder (104) such that gravity will cause the charge holder (104) to rotate within the gun carrier (106) to position the at least one shaped charge (102) in a desired circumferential direction relative to the well prior to perforating.
US07934556B2
A method well treatment includes establishing fluid connectivity between a wellbore and at least one target zone for treatment within a subterranean formation, which is intersected by a wellbore. The method includes deploying coiled tubing into the wellbore and introducing a treatment composition into the wellbore. The method includes contacting a target zone within the subterranean formation with the treatment composition, introducing a diversion agent through the coiled tubing to an interval within a wellbore and repeating the introduction of the treatment, the contacting of the target zone and the introduction of the diversion agent for more than one target zone.
US07934548B2
An embodiment of a system for preventing the loss of a spooled device into a wellbore comprises a housing defining an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture sized for allowing the spooled device to pass therethrough, a sensor to measure at least one condition of the system, and a gripper device to engage with the spooled device and the housing to prevent the loss of the spooled device when the condition of the system is a failure condition.
US07934544B2
An electric plasma arc apparatus and method produces nitrogen compounds, solely using ambient air extracted in proximity to the apparatus. The nitrogen compounds are brought into contact with a water processing system, forming nitrate on-site. Hydrogen sulfide present in the water processing system is removed, and the production of hydrogen sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is eliminated by introducing nitrate into the system, whereby denitrifying microorganisms, using the nitrate, outcompete the sulfate-reducing bacteria for the available carbon nutrients, thus preventing the SRB from producing hydrogen sulfide. Nitrate ions generated in the water processing system which contains the denitrifying microorganisms can enhance oil recovery by means of microbial enhanced oil recovery mechanisms. Further, the electric plasma arc apparatus and methodology eliminate major costs of conventional treatment techniques, including the transportation and storage of nitrate and the need for a continuous supply of natural gas and water.
US07934538B2
A plurality of first joint tubes 40 connected to a plurality of heat transfer tubes 3 and a plurality of second joint tubes 50 provided at a header 5B are connected to each other at joints J. The joints J include at least one slide joint Ja at which respective ends of the first and the second joint tubes 40 and 50 are fitted to each other slidably in a predetermined direction. The joints J further include at least one butt joint Jb at which an end of either one of the first and the second joint tubes butts against a sealing surface provided at the other one of the first and the second joint tubes. The butt position of the sealing surface and the end is variable in a direction crossing the predetermined direction. With this arrangement, the influence of an error in the arrangement of the first and the second joint tubes 40 and 50 is reduced, so that the header 5B is properly connected to the heat transfer tubes 3 detachably, and the maintenance of the heat exchanger HE is facilitated.
US07934534B2
To produce moulds or cores for foundry purposes from a mixture (M) of moulding material or sand and a binder, the mixture (M) is shot using a shooting unit (2) or from a shooting tube (3) and a shooting head (4) through at least one discharge opening (7) arranged on a shooting plate (5) into a moulding or core tool (8). The region of the discharge opening (7) is moistened and/or kept moist by a liquid between at least two shooting operations, where the liquid (15) used for moistening is atomized by at least one ultrasonic atomizer (16) to form an aerosol capable of suspension and is fed to the discharge opening (7) directly or indirectly, for example, via one or more lines (18, 23).
US07934533B2
A window shade for motor vehicles having a shade of approximately trapezoidal shape. An extension profile or pull rod of the shade, the ends of which are guided in guide rails, is arranged on the shortest transverse edge of the shade. In order to compensate for a varying distance between the guide rails, the extension profile is divided into a center section, on which the shade is fixed, and two end sections that move in the guide rails. Centering devices are provided in order to prevent transverse creases in the shade when it is completely extended. The centering devices, which are effective when the shade is completely extended, act upon the center section.
US07934531B2
A method for applying a heat activated transfer adhesive includes preheating a first part for bonding to a second part using a heat activated transfer adhesive form removably adhered to a liner, picking up the heat activated transfer adhesive form using the first part by pressing the preheated first part against the heat activated transfer adhesive form to adhere the heat activated transfer adhesive form to the first part, removing the liner from the heat activated transfer adhesive form adhered to the first part, heating the heat activated transfer adhesive form adhered to the first part, and pressing the heated heat activated transfer adhesive form on the first part against a second part to bond the first part to the second part.
US07934523B2
A forestry machine includes a frame, and a felling saw carried by the frame. The felling saw includes a saw head. A tree counter associated with the saw head includes an audio sensor providing an output signal representing an audio parameter associated with a cutting action of the saw head. An electrical processing circuit is coupled with and receives the output signal from the audio sensor. The electrical processing circuit determines a tree count associated with the saw head, dependent upon the output signal from the audio sensor.
US07934518B2
Disclosed is a device for sensing the opening degree of a valve, which can easily determine the upper and lower limits without using upper and lower limit switches so that, besides simplifying the mechanical structure, the device can be easily installed, maintained, and repaired. The device can avoid basic errors and improve the opening degree sensing performance without using upper and lower limit switches, cams, and a spline so that, by simplifying the mechanical structure, the device can be manufactured, installed, maintained, and repaired at a low cost, and its long-term durability is improved. The device has a main gear adapted to disengage from the meter gear when the main gear is rotated excessively so that any damage to the meter gear and potentiometer, which may occur during installation or use, is prevented.
US07934510B2
A wrapper for a smoking article includes nanoparticle spinel ferrite catalyst and a web including cellulosic fibers and an optional web-filler. The web-filler can be a modified web-filler which incorporates the spinel ferrite catalyst. The nanoparticle spinel ferrite catalyst can be a nanoparticle manganese-copper-iron oxide catalyst incorporated in the wrapper and/or a tobacco cut filler. Also provided is a smoking article including a cigarette tobacco rod having a wrapper including a web, a web-filler, and a nanoparticle spinel ferrite catalyst, the web-filler optionally supporting the nanoparticle catalyst. A method of making the wrapper and a method of making a smoking article utilizing the wrapper are also provided.
US07934492B2
A method and apparatus for improving recirculation of exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine having an exhaust-gas turbocharger, in particular in a diesel engine, determines operation parameters of the engine in order to determine exhaust gas pressures, supplies compressed air in a controlled manner based on the exhaust gas pressures in order to generate a vacuum in a supply section of a gas supply device, thereby inducting a partial quantity of exhaust gas from the engine into the supply section using the vacuum, and recirculates the partial quantity of exhaust gas into the engine via an induction line connected to the gas supply device.
US07934487B2
A control system for an engine having N cylinders in first and second banks includes a catalyst heat module and a fuel control module. N is an integer greater than two. The catalyst heat module selectively operates the engine in a catalyst heat mode to heat a catalyst. The fuel control module, throughout a fuel injection sequence for each of the N cylinders, adjusts a first air/fuel (A/F) ratio for the first bank to a rich value and adjusts a second A/F ratio for the second bank to a lean value.
US07934484B2
In a method for controlling an internal combustion engine (10) during which two operating modes (OPMOD) are switched between under the permissible variation of at least one first and one second torque manipulated variables if, as a result, a torque-neutral changing over into the target operating mode (OPMOD_F) can be achieved within a cylinder segment. If the predetermined changing over condition is fulfilled, a torque-neutral changing over occurs while varying the at least first and second torque manipulated variables. If the predetermined changing over condition is not fulfilled, the initial operating mode (OPMOD_I) is maintained and at least one of the at least first and second torque manipulated variables and an at least one third torque manipulated variable are torque neutrally varied until the change over condition is fulfilled.
US07934480B2
A sealing member 14 has a main seal 15 and a sub seal 21. The sub seal 21 is integrally formed with a first connecting element 20 that extends from the main seal 15. The first connecting element 20 has an upper bent portion 23a and a lower bent portion 23b. The sub seal 21 is at a higher position than the main seal 15 due to the upper and lower bent portions 23a, 23b. The first connecting element 20 has a rib 24 that extends along a longitudinal direction of the first connecting element 20. An upper thick portion 26a and a lower thick portion 26b are formed on the upper bent portion 23a and the lower bent portion 23b of the first connecting element 20, respectively. The rib 24 and the upper and lower thick portions 26a, 26b improve the rigidity of the first connecting element 20.
US07934471B2
A vivarium and assembly for maintaining an aquatic area, wetlands, and dry land. The assembly is an enclosure for adhering to a transparent sidewall of an aquarium tank to provide sidewalls, a dry wall and a dividing wall positioned between the dry wall and the aquarium tank wall to define an aquatic area by the aquarium tank wall and a wetlands area by the dry wall. The enclosure can be surrounded by dry land area. A filtering system includes a water passage between the aquatic area and the wetland area; a water pump connected for pumping water out of the wetland area and back into the aquatic area; a particulate filter between the wetland area and the pump; and an organic filter in the wetland area, the organic filter being a living wetland plant rooted in a growing medium.
US07934468B2
Microwaves propagated through the waveguide 30, a plurality of slots 31 and the dielectric members 33 in this order are supplied into the processing chamber U where they are used to excite a gas to plasma to be used to process a substrate G. Alumina 50 fills an area inside the waveguide 30 near an end surface C thereof, and the remaining area inside the waveguide is filled with Teflon 35. Since the alumina 50 has a smaller guide wavelength λg compared to the Teflon 35, the mechanical length measured from the end surface C of the waveguide 30 to the center of the closest slot is reduced compared to the mechanical length of a waveguide filled only with Teflon 35 while maintaining the physical characteristic length from the end surface C to the closest slot center at λg/4.
US07934467B2
An apparatus and method of preparing and coating a large structure such as a ship's hull while in a dry dock wherein a plurality of spray guns disposed in an array are positioned by a robotic arm in a spaced relationship along the surface to be treated so that their spray patterns overlap. The array of spray guns is traversed downwardly a thus painting a strip whereupon the spray guns are secured, move horizontally and then activated to be moved upwardly until another strip adjacent to and overlapping the first strip is painted. These steps are repeated until the surface area is substantially entirely painted. A shroud is provided for collecting paint oversprays and other excess paint is mounted in the array assemblage. An auxiliary spray gun may be positioned and its spray pattern adjusted to apply paint to areas which were missed by the original spray pattern emanating from the array of spray guns. Travel of the system along the work surface is accomplished by a reference track, which may be virtual or actual along which an unmanned platform travels. An articulated computer controlled arm is carried by the unmanned platform which in turn carries the assemblage. Other tools may be selectively operatively connected to the arm for cleaning the hull before a coating is applied thereto.
US07934465B1
As adhesive applicator head for use on an assembly line apparatus dispenses adhesive in a non-contact manner to produce a wide band of adhesive on a moving substrate. The applicator head comprises an upper body secured to a lower body and at least one nozzle mounted therewithin. An adhesive manifold within the applicator head ensures a steady flow of adhesive to tips of the nozzles. An air manifold within the applicator head is in communication with opposed pin holes positioned alongside each nozzle and oriented so that high velocity air exits the pin holes and flows along a nozzle tip of the nozzle. The high velocity air encounters freshly dispensed adhesive at the nozzle tip and causes it to leave the tip in a back-forth manner to result in a scribble pattern on the substrate. The scribble pattern's width is well defined. It is determined primarily by side to side placement of the nozzles in the applicator head at about the adhesive band width desired.
US07934464B2
A batter applicator with an adjustable coating mechanism is disclosed which includes a frame, a main batter tank, a structure comprising a submerger or an overflow structure positioned proximate the main batter tank and actuatable means for positioning the structure vertically relative to the main batter tank. The actuatable means for positioning the structure vertically relative to the main batter tank includes a rotatable shaft operably coupled to a gear box, a screw lift assembly operably coupled to the gear box and a hand wheel operably coupled to the shaft.
US07934452B2
At least several spaced apart storage compartments are provided in a plate storage device. These compartments can receive used printing forms from a printing cylinder or new printing forms that are to be supplied to the printing cylinder. At least one positioning assembly is utilized to adjust at least one mouth region of two of the storage compartments to the same spaced position, with respect to the printing cylinder, at different times in the operating cycle of the plate storage compartments. This mouth region is situated facing the printing cylinder. In another embodiment, at least one printing form, that is being received from the printing cylinder, can be stored in at least one storage compartment. At least one conveying apparatus is provided and includes an entraining mechanism for gripping the printing form that is to be removed. Alternatively, the conveying apparatus can be used with a new printing form that is to be fed to the printing cylinder and which is stored in at least one of the storage compartments. At least one advancing mechanism is provided and is comprised of a slider that can grip the printing form that is to be fed. A positioning assembly lifts and lowers the storage compartment, relative to the entraining mechanism and/or the slider or lifts and lowers the entraining mechanism and/or the slider relative to the storage compartment.
US07934446B2
The invention relates to a firearm (10), in particular a single or multi-shot repeating rifle comprising a stock (11), a barrel (30) axially displaceable relative to the stock (11) and resting on or in a linear guide (20), a cartridge chamber to receive a cartridge being constituted in said barrel, further a breech (40) fitted with a breech cap (41) to seal the cartridge chamber and axially affixable in the barrel end (32) when the firearm (10) is closed, and further a locking unit (80) to lock the firearm into the closed position. The linear guide (20) comprises at least one guide rod (21), guide fork or the like linked or linkable to the barrel (30) and guided in sliding manner within the stock (11). This design leads to a compact and easily manufactured firearm with a slender and attractive appearance. The firearm (10) furthermore is made of fewer parts, resulting in simple disassembly and small shipping size.
US07934433B1
An insert meter can be run into an inverse venturi on wireline and make use of the existing pressure taps to allow accurate measurement of reduced flow rates that could not be accurately measured with the inverse venturi meter. The insert meter has seals and can lock into position with peripheral sealing to direct the new and lower flow rate into the throat of the insert meter that is preferably a standard venturi. The venturi devices can be in meter or eductor service and located downhole, subsea or on the surface.
US07934429B2
A stress-distribution detecting semiconductor package group includes multiple stress-distribution detecting semiconductor packages each formed by resin-encapsulating a stress detecting semiconductor chip of the same size using an identical resin encapsulation structure. Each stress detecting semiconductor chip includes a piezoelectric element for stress detection and at least two electrode pads electrically connected to the piezoelectric element to measure an electrical property of the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric elements of the stress detecting semiconductor chips are respectively disposed on the corresponding stress detecting semiconductor chips to be located at different positions from one another.
US07934404B2
The present invention relates to mechanical apparatuses, such as washing machines or dryers, for washing or drying laundry, and more particularly to a door on a mechanical apparatus, in which a window (76) of the door can be mounted on a frame (72) thereof fit thereto, and which can prevent the window from hanging down by gravity. The door includes a formed door frame (80), a rear door frame (90), and a door window. The door window (76) may be a door glass of glass, or transparent plastic. There is a flexible seating rib (102) formed on the front door frame (80) or the rear door frame (80) or the rear door frame (90) for seating and supporting an edge portion (77) of the door window (76).
US07934399B2
A control panel of a drum type washing machine is disclosed. The present invention includes a cabinet, a control panel assembled to the cabinet, a plurality of operational buttons provided to the control panel, a deco panel assembled to the control panel, and a display unit provided to the deco panel. Accordingly, the present invention facilitates the deco panel to be assembled to the control panel despite a flesh formed on a rim of the deco panel and sustains the assembled state.
US07934395B2
This invention relates to a cut-resistant knit glove comprising a) cut-resistant composite yarn having a core comprising at least two core yarns and at least one first wrapping yarn helically wrapped around the core, the core yarns including at least one 50 to 400 denier (56 to 440 dtex)glass fiber filament yarn and at least one 200 to 800 denier (220 to 890 dtex) para-aramid yarn, the first wrapping yarn including at least one 100 to 800 denier (110 to 890 dtex) yarn selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyamide, polyester, and mixtures thereof; b) companion yarn of 200 to 1600 denier (220 to 1800 dtex) selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyamide, polyester, natural fiber, cellulosic fiber, and mixtures thereof; and c) lining yarn comprising a composite yarn of from 500 to 1200 denier (560 to 1300 dtex) comprising aliphatic polyamide fiber, polyester fiber, natural fiber, cellulosic fiber, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the cut-resistant composite yarn, the companion yarn, and the lining yarn are co-knit in the glove with the lining yarn plated on the interior of the glove and the cut-resistant composite yarn and companion yarn forming the exterior of the glove.
US07934389B2
An ice tray assembly for a refrigerator is provided, which includes a case; at least one ice tray disposed in the case; a water box provided at a lateral surface of the ice trays to supply water to the ice trays; and at least one discharge hole provided at the water box corresponding to the number of the ice trays. According to the present invention, the ice tray assembly for the refrigerator is capable of supplying water to the plurality of ice trays at once, of easily supplying water to the ice trays disposed at an upper layer portion in general, as the water box is disposed at the lateral surface of the ice trays, and of uniformly supplying water to each of the plurality of the ice trays.
US07934383B2
A power generation system (100) and a method of generating power. In one embodiment of the system shown in FIG. 1, a gasification subsystem (1) is configured to convert a carbonaceous fuel to fuel suitable for combustion in a gas turbine (48). A first power generation cycle (2) includes the gas turbine (48) coupled to receive fuel from a gasifier (24). A first Rankine cycle (3) is coupled to receive thermal energy from at least the first power generation cycle (2) and generate power with a first vapor turbine (58). A second Rankine cycle (4) is coupled to receive thermal energy from the gasification subsystem (1) or the first power generation cycle (2) and generate power with a second vapor turbine (82). In an associated method, syngas (26) is generated and processed to remove components therein. Power is generated in a first turbine (48) with the processed syngas (33). Power is generated in a second turbine (58) with heat recovered from exhaust produced by the first turbine (48). Power is generated in a third turbine (82) with heat recovered from the syngas (33).
US07934381B2
A fuel lance for a gas turbine installation with sequential combustion, in which hot gas is produced in a first combustion chamber and expanded in a subsequent turbine, and then flows through a subsequent second combustion chamber in which the fuel lance for injecting fuel into the hot gas is arranged. The fuel lance has a lance section which extends in the flow direction of the hot gas and includes at least an outer tube which is arranged concentrically to a lance axis, and a center tube which is concentrically arranged in the outer tube and in which the fuel is guided to the lance tip and is injected through first injection openings in the region of the lance tip into the hot gas. The fuel lance is modified for operation with syngas by the first injection openings being arranged directly on the lance tip, and by the first injection openings being oriented so that the fuel jets which emerge from them include an acute angle with the lance axis.
US07934376B2
An assembly for the hydraulic actuation of safety equipment includes a hydraulic pump disposed between a fluid feed line and a supply line in fluid communication with the safety equipment. A pump valve in the supply line downstream of the hydraulic pump is adjustable between open and closed positions for providing hydraulic fluid to supply line. A fluid source communicates with a bypass line in fluid communication with the supply line. A bypass valve is disposed between the fluid source and the supply line and is lockable between open and closed positions for providing other hydraulic fluid to supply line.
US07934372B2
In an exhaust gas purification system (1) for conducting control of raising temperature of a DPF (12b) by supplying an unburned fuel to an upstream side of an oxidation catalyst to oxidize it, a minimum value (Qumin) of a first upper limit value (Qu1) acquired by subtracting a fuel injection amount (Qe) for in-cylinder combustion from a first combustible fuel amount (Qa1) limited by an air/fuel ratio, a second upper limit value (Qu2) acquired by subtracting the fuel injection amount (Qe) for in-cylinder combustion from a second combustible fuel amount (Qa2) limited by an atmospheric pressure, and a third upper limit value (Qu3), which is a third combustible fuel amount (Qa3) which can be oxidized by the oxidation catalyst limited by a catalyst temperature index temperature (Tg1, Tg2) and an engine speed (Ne) is set as an upper limit value (Qu) for the unburned fuel supply amount (Qp). By this arrangement, at forced regeneration of the DPF (12b), the unburned fuel supplied into an exhaust gas is surely oxidized and generation of white smoke is prevented regardless of an operation state of an internal combustion engine (10).
US07934367B2
A device for detecting breakage of a gas turbine engine shaft and for reducing the rotational speed of the turbine includes a rotor of a turbine or of a first stage turbine driving the shaft. The rotor has a turbine disk with a rim. A stator that the rotor rotates inside or a nozzle guide vanes assembly of the first turbine stage is provided. A temperature sensor is positioned on the stator or on the nozzle guide vanes assembly, immediately downstream of the rim. The sensor is located to sense temperature on a portion of the stator that contacts the rotor, or on a portion of the nozzle guide vanes assembly that contacts the first stage rotor, in the event of shaft breakage. An engine fuel control member connects to the sensor and can interrupt fuel supply to the engine, when the sensor emits a signal above a predetermined threshold.
US07934366B2
A wire wrapping device that includes a turntable assembly that is made up of a turntable and a driver adapted to rotate the turntable. Also, a set of payout carriers are mounted on the turntable, each payout carrier adapted to let out wire to be wrapped. A driver is adapted to turn each payout carrier relative to the turn table, the driver being user adjustable to turn each payout carrier by a selectable amount, per each complete rotation of the turntable.
US07934365B2
Tines (1) attached to a supporting body (2) have a gripping element (3) and a fastening element (4). The gripping element (3) has a bar-shape design and is made from plastic. The fastening element (4), made from spring steel, has a connecting section (11) connected to the gripping device (3). Also, the fastening element (4) has a fastening section (12) that fastens to the supporting body (2). An elastically resilient spring section (13) is arranged between the fastening section (12) and connecting section (11).
US07934359B2
A blank for producing a package of tobacco articles; the package of tobacco articles has a group of tobacco articles wrapped in a tubular inner sheet of packing material closed axially by two end folds, and an outer package, which is formed by folding the blank, surrounds the group of tobacco articles, is parallelepiped-shaped, and has a top wall contacting a first end fold of the inner sheet of packing material, a bottom wall contacting a second end fold of the inner sheet of packing material, and a number of lateral walls; and the blank has two transverse fold lines, and a number of longitudinal fold lines defining, between the two transverse fold lines, a first panel forming part of a first minor lateral wall, a second panel forming a first major lateral wall, a third panel forming a second minor lateral wall, a fourth panel forming a second major lateral wall, and a fifth panel forming the rest of the first minor lateral wall.
US07934358B2
A method for producing a ready-to-distribute distribution assembly comprising a data carrier in a single production line is disclosed. The method includes providing a foldable cover panel having a basin for receiving a data carrier, inserting a data carrier, folding the cover panel, sealing the cover panel, and printing identification information on the cover panel.
US07934350B2
A security screen comprising a frame having an outer edge which defines the outer perimeter of the frame and further having an inner edge (12) which surrounds an open portion of the frame, the outer edge of the frame being dimensioned such that in use the security screen is receivable across an opening to close the opening, a perforate sheet element (29) received in the open portion of the frame to close the open portion, the edge of the perforate sheet element being formed with a lip (31) extending from one face of the perforate sheet element, the inner edge of the frame formed with a recess (13) having an entry extending across at least a portion of the width of the inner edge, the recess extending along the inner edge, the recess having two opposed side faces (15, 16) extending from the inner edge, one side face (16) of the recess having a zone (23) located inward of the inner edge and extending laterally from the recess, the edge of the perforate sheet element received within the recess such that the lip is located within the zone and the one face of the perforate sheet element adjacent the lip overlies the one side face, a locking member (33) fixed within the recess between the other face of the perforate sheet element and the other side face of the recess to close the space between the perforate sheet element and the other side face.
US07934347B2
A coupling beam, and method for constructing multi-story buildings. A coupling beam design using multiple rebar groups is provided for use in coupled shear walls in multi-story buildings. First and second sets of a first rebar group have first ends extending into adjacent sheer walls, and second ends within the coupling beam. First and second sets of a second rebar group have first ends extending into adjacent sheer walls, and second ends within the coupling beam. The first and second sets of the first group of rebar, and third and fourth sets within a second group of rebar, are provided in a configuration that ends at or near the middle of the coupling beam, providing an open or partial-X configuration of reinforcing steel. Such coupling beams may also include transverse reinforcement, such as stirrups, hoops, or cross-ties, to restrain the concrete and to provide a confined beam structure, as well as vertical reinforcement elements. A method is provided for constructing multi-story buildings having a core and adjacent space, using such coupling beams. In such buildings, increased floor space is provided at reduced cost, yet the earthquake resistance is as good as or better than conventionally constructed designs.
US07934343B2
An anchor for embedment into a concrete component, has a head via which load is applied to the anchor in use and an anchoring formation provided by at least one leg extending from the head and profiled along an edge thereof so as to lock into the surrounding concrete. The profile is formed by a series of longitudinally spaced formations each of generally saw-toothed shape with a leading edge of each formation inclining towards the head such that on application of a pulling load to the head the leg will lock tighter into the concrete with increasing load.
US07934342B2
A sliding window assembly for a vehicle includes first and second fixed panels and upper and lower fixed panels with an opening defined between the fixed panels. At least one track member is attached to at least one of the fixed panels. A sliding unit is slidably engagable with the track member and slidable between an open position and a closed position. The sliding unit includes a carrier component having an outer face and a flange portion extending from the outer face. A sliding panel is attached to the flange portion. The sliding panel and the fixed panels form a substantially flush outer surface. A U-shaped seal is disposed on the fixed panels adjacent to and encircling the opening. The seal engages the outer face of the carrier component when the sliding unit is in the closed position.
US07934339B2
A fishing lure having a head portion with a first side and a second side. A first eye socket is positioned on the first side of the head portion and a second eye socket is positioned on the second side of the head portion. Each of the first and second eye sockets is substantially semi-spherical shape and each of said first and second eye sockets is coated with a fluorescent substance of substantially uniform application. A first eye component is fixedly secured in at least a portion of the first eye socket and a second eye component is fixedly secured in at least a portion of the second eye socket. Each of the first and second eye components comprise a transparent, substantially spherical material.
US07934333B1
A pistol is concealed and stabilized by filling in an area below the barrel and in front of the grip with a spacer. The result is a rectangular shape similar to a wallet, which shape conceals the presence of the pistol when carried in a pocket (i.e., de-prints the pistol shape), and stabilizes the pistol in the pocket. The spacer may be attached to a trigger guard, to a portion of the pistol frame beneath the forward end of the barrel, or be integrated with the pistol grips, creating the rectangular shape. The spacer may further include a laser aiming device. In one embodiment, the spacer securely grasps a curved portion of the trigger guard and includes a contoured rear surface which is urged against a lower leading edge of the grip, thus firmly establishing a position for the device relative to the pistol.
US07934332B2
A composite barrel for a firearm and method for forming by forging. The barrel includes at least two materials joined together by forging. In a preferred embodiment, at least one material is preferably lighter in weight than the other material. The barrel may include an inner tube and an outer sleeve. The inner tube defines a bore that provides a bullet path and in one embodiment may be made of steel or alloys thereof. The outer sleeve surrounds the inner tube and in some embodiments may be made of aluminum, titanium, or alloys of either thereof. The tube preferably includes an exterior surface containing recessed areas therein for receiving material displaced from the outer sleeve by the forging process. The preferred barrel forming method generally may include inserting the tube into the sleeve, striking an outer surface of the sleeve, and deforming the sleeve to force material to flow into the recessed exterior surface of the tube to bond the tube and sleeve together. The method of forming may be used to produce long and short barrels for rifles and handguns respectively, and more broadly to produce other composite components unrelated to firearms.
US07934328B2
There is provided a v-plow including a first blade and a second blade. Each of the blades are pivotably connected about an axis and moveable through a range of movement. The v-plow includes a pair of wearstrips with one wearstrip coupled to each of the first and second blades. A wearstrip cylinder is coupled to at least one of the wearstrips, with the wearstrip cylinder aligned with the axis. The orientation of the first and second blades, the wearstrips, and the wearstrip cylinder minimize a gap defined between the two blades, throughout the range of movement. Each of the wearstrips include a flange coupled to each of the wearstrips and defining an angle between the flange and the wearstrip. In one embodiment one flange is coupled to the wearstrip cylinder and the other flange is closely adjacent to the wearstrip cylinder, throughout the range of movement of the blades.
US07934321B2
The invention relates to a form of a tilt switch that solves the problem of poor electrical contact, excessive/unpredictable hysteresis, high contact resistance, short life and/or electrical bounce. The tilt switch uses conventional ball-in-tube construction and adds a graphite powder film to all electrically conductive surfaces in the switch. This non-mercury tilt switch provides additional features such as enhanced electrical contact, reduced or eliminated hysteresis, lowered contact resistance, increased contact life and eliminates electrical bounce.
US07934320B2
A razor handle having a front end, a back end opposite the front end, an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a length in a longitudinal direction defined between the front and back ends. The razor handle includes a head portion and a body portion for hand grasping of the razor handle. A first cross-sectional shape of the upper surface is arcuate and has a radius of curvature that increases along the length of the razor handle, from the back end towards a median location located at approximately half the length of the razor handle, and that decreases along the length of the razor handle, from the median location towards the front end. The first cross-section defined by a plane extends from the back end to the front end and is substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces.
US07934315B2
A method of repairing a damaged notch fillet radius of a turbine blade shroud includes a replacement notch fillet radius and a hardface nugget. The damaged notch fillet radius is blended out and a hardface structure positioned proximate the damaged notch fillet radius is removed. A replacement notch fillet radius is formed with weld filler and the hardface nugget is welded to at least a portion of the replacement notch fillet radius.
US07934313B1
A fabrication method of a package structure includes: preparing a metal plate having first and second surfaces and defined with an active region; forming a wiring layer with conductive traces and first electrical contact pads on the first surface; forming third electrical contact pads corresponding to the first electrical contact pads on the second surface; forming a first encapsulant on the first surface; forming on the second surface an open area to penetrate the metal plate, wherein the metal plate form conductive posts between the first and third electrical contact pads; mounting in the open area a chip electrically connected to the wiring layer; forming a second encapsulant in the open area, the wiring layer and the third electrical contact pads; forming first and second openings in the first and second encapsulants to expose the third electrical contact pads, respectively; and cutting the metal plate to remove the metal layer.
US07934297B2
A twist off tamper-proof fastener having an elongate flexible strap defining a plurality of parallel adjacent transverse teeth in opposing planar surfaces. First end portion of elongate strap is tapered to a rounded tip for insertion through a “T” slot defined in a dimensionally larger head portion carried at opposing end of the elongate strap. A fixed tooth and plural angulated teeth carried by a flexing arm irremovably engage with the teeth defined in the elongate strap. The head portion is elliptic with opposing spaced apart rounded ends and opposing planar sides to facilitate grasping and twisting by a user, and for identifying indicia. A circumferentially extending notch is defined in the elongate strap immediately adjacent the head portion. Twisting the head portion creates shearing forces that are focused at the circumferential notch breaking the fastener and allowing removal without tools.
US07934291B2
Various embodiments for magnetic detent assemblies provide for detent devices with improved performance and manufacturability. In one embodiment, magnetic detent assemblies provide for custom detent positions and custom force profiles by including a pair of unitary magnetic components each having a special geometry. In an embodiment, the changing area of overlap (and hence magnetic flux) between the magnetic components can give rise to the custom detent positions and custom force profiles. In a specific embodiment, the magnetic components can comprise an N-point star shaped geometry, where the number and distribution of the start wings can be varied to define customized detent positions and the contour of the star wings can be varied to create customized force profiles. In other embodiments, devices such as laptop computers and docking stations for handheld electronic devices can implement multi-position detent hinges with the magnetic detent assemblies.
US07934289B2
Disclosed is a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle and a bag having the same. The pull-handle includes a folding means having a first link assembly and a second link assembly connected to an end of the first link assembly so that the folding means can be folded and retracted or unfolded and extended, the first link assembly having two links connected to each other so that the links cross each other at a center portion, a first end of the second link assembly being supported on a bag; and a handle means mounted on a second end of the folding means and grabbed by a user with hand. Due to the structural characteristics of the link assemblies constituting the folding means, the length of the bag handle can be adjusted variously by folding or unfolding it, and the bag handle can be installed in a reduced space.
US07934278B2
Disclosed are a washing method of a washing machine capable of preventing a phenomenon that remaining detergent is collected into a space where a heater is positioned or a specific space during a washing operation of laundry, capable of minimizing a generation of washing water unnecessarily supplied to the washing machine, and capable of fast heating corresponding laundry before a washing operation for an efficient washing operation, and an apparatus thereof. To this end, the method comprises the steps of: generating steam by heating washing water supplied into a washing machine; injecting the generated steam into laundry inside of a drum of the washing machine; and rotating the drum after injecting the steam into the laundry and thereby washing the laundry.
US07934275B2
A collapsible suspension bed comprising a bed bottom, a bed wall including at least one end wall and at least two side walls, at least one support structure for the bed, and at least one suspension means connected to the support structure for suspension of the bed. The distinctive characteristic of the bed is that the volume of the bed is adjustable for volume-adjustment of the bed.
US07934273B1
Methods of relieving the suction force in a swimming pool or spa. A first method may include the steps of closing an aperture in a hydraulic suction fuse through magnetic force and opening the aperture by increasing suction force within the hydraulic suction fuse. Implementations of hydraulic suction fuses may also utilize a method of adjusting the fuse point of a hydraulic suction fuse. The method may include decoupling a magnet assembly from a first step having a first height, the first step contained in a fuse body contained in the hydraulic suction fuse. The method may also include rotating the magnet assembly and coupling the magnet assembly with a second step having a second height, the second step contained in the fuse body.
US07934271B2
Toilet bowl treating/cleaning assemblies are provided. In one form the toilet seat lid has mounted on it a dispenser in a fashion so that pivoting of the lid assists in controlling dispensing of a solid pill containing a treating chemical. Also, structures are provided to avoid dispensing when a consumer determines that bowl treatment is not needed, and to facilitate dispensing in response to manual activation.
US07934269B1
The present invention is directed to an article of clothing and a method for accessing a portion of a patient's body for treatment that permit an area of treatment to remain substantially covered. In one embodiment, a shirt/jacket is provided that has a first closeable opening in the front of the shirt/jacket that extends from the bottom of the shirt/jacket to the top of the collar or neckline and a second closeable opening extending from the outer cuff of a sleeve to the neckline at the outer top side of the collar. The second closeable opening is preferably opened and closed by a hook and loop fastener. This permits tubing to be routed through the second closeable opening to be attached to an intravenous access device in a patient's arm and for the shirt sleeve to remain substantially closed and cover the patient even when treatment is being provided to the arm. In another embodiment, the shirt/jacket includes an additional closable opening that extends from the top of the neckline or collar to a point in the chest area of the shirt/jacket and where the closable opening is preferably opened and closed by a hook and loop fastener. This permits tubing to be routed through the additional closable opening to be attached to an intravenous access device in a patient's chest and for the shirt to remain substantially closed and cover the patient even when treatment is being provided to the chest area.
US07934268B2
An odor absorbing system includes a lower body covering article of clothing configured to be worn by a person. The lower body covering article of clothing includes a base layer comprising a crotch section and leg sections, each of which are connected to the crotch section. The crotch and leg sections are respectively configured to substantially cover the crotch and legs of the person wearing the article of clothing.
US07937757B2
A trusted computer system that offers Linux® compatibility and supports contemporary hardware speeds. It is designed to require no porting of common applications which run on Linux, to be easy to develop for, and to allow the use of a wide variety of modern development tools. The system is further designed to meet or exceed the Common Criteria EAL-5 or higher rating through incorporation of required security features, as well as a very high level of assurance for handling data at a wide range of sensitivity (e.g., classification) levels in a wide range of operational environments. This is achieved through the implementation of a well-layered operating system which has been designed from the ground up to enforce security, but which also supports Linux operating system functions and methods.
US07937756B2
An embodiment of an apparatus that facilitates network security and traffic monitoring for input network traffic includes a plurality of microcode controlled state machines, each of which includes a computation kernel. A plurality of rules applied to a network traffic segment are distributed across the computation kernels. Each of the computation kernels includes condition logic configured by microcode stored in an associated control store to evaluate a unique configured rule in the microcode to produce an associated output. A distribution circuit routes the network traffic segment to each of the plurality of microcode controlled state machines. An aggregation circuit generates a decision on which forwarding of the network traffic segment is based, where the decision is a logical combination of the associated output of each of the computation kernels.
US07937752B2
A system and method for sharing files securely includes server software on a first device configured to communicate with server software operating on one or more other preauthorized devices, such as a second device. The servers communicate with each other securely using cryptographic information exchanged during a preauthorization phase using a range-limited communication channel. The server on the first device obtains file information from the other preauthorized device(s) and combines the information with local file information from the first device. This combined file information is sent to client software operating on the machine, which presents the combined file information to users.
US07937749B2
A network management method and system is provided that issues a digital certificate easily and safely. A digital certificate is issued to a personal computer that is to newly join a network by the following method. A provisional authentication server issues a first digital certificate that is a provisional certificate of the personal computer. The personal computer enters the first digital certificate and a private key corresponding thereto. The personal computer and a formal authentication server establish a connection for encryption communication based on the first digital certificate. After establishing the connection, the formal authentication server generates a second digital certificate that is a formal digital certificate of the personal computer. Further, an experimental network independent of the network is prepared and participation of a personal computer having the first digital certificate into the experimental network is allowed.
US07937743B2
A method for rapid application switching at a mobile station includes authenticating, in response to selection of a first application, a first network access identifier (NAI) assigned to the first application using an authentication server, registering the first NAI using a home agent, and requesting application switching by selecting a second application for execution. The method further includes deregistering, upon detection of the application switching request, the first NAI using the home agent without deactivation of protocol programs below an application layer for a period of time after deregistration, authenticating a second NAI assigned to the second application using the authentication server; and registering the second NAI using the home agent.
US07937739B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method, device and/or system for communicating over a wideband distribution network. The device may include, for example, a downstream conversion module for converting a legacy downstream electrical signal of a legacy downstream frequency band into an extended downstream optical signal of an extended downstream frequency band; and/or an upstream conversion module for converting an extended upstream optical signal of an extended upstream frequency band into a legacy upstream electrical signal of a legacy upstream frequency band. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07937738B1
A system is described that consists of a variable modulation unicast system that utilizes multiple modulation schemes in a cable network for unicast applications and is capable of assigning users to different channels of differing modulation schemes in the network based on a feedback signal received in response to a transmitted probe signal. The system may also, in response to the feedback signal from a remote device in the network, assign a channel from a plurality of channels having differing carrier frequencies and modulation schemes to the remote device and may also modify the carrier frequencies of the channels.
US07937735B2
The invention relates to the generation of video displays on a display screen from video data which is received as an encoded MPEG stream of data and then decoded and processed to be displayed. In the invention the video display can be generated in a conventional format or at least one use selectable alternative format, known as trick mode stream, such as a fast forward or fast cue display. The method of the invention allows the amount of data to be placed into the buffer memory prior to decoding and display of the data in the alternate format, to be calculated without reference to the MPEG stream information which is unavailable in the trick mode stream of data. The method therefore minimizes delay in the commencement and end of the display of the trick mode stream display format when selected by the user.
US07937723B2
One embodiment of a system and method may include communicating visual content via a visual content signal to an electronic visual display for displaying between a start time and an end time. The visual content signal may be displayed between the start and end times, and an operational parameter (e.g., voltage or current) of the electronic visual display may be sensed between the start and end times. An indicator indicative of the sensed operational parameter may be recorded. The recorded indicator provides for verification of the visual content being displayed by the electronic visual display. Signature analysis may be performed on the sensed operational parameter to determine that the visual content signal was properly displayed. In addition, a visual content signal may be uniquely identified based on the signature analysis.
US07937703B2
Methods, computer programs, and systems for processing a request through a web service on a server are provided. The method includes receiving a batch request from a client. The batch request includes a plurality of sub-requests that each specifies an operation to be performed by the web service. The method further includes processing the batch request through the web service including performing the operation specified by each of the plurality of sub-requests and generating a corresponding plurality of sub-replies. Each sub-reply contains result data of the processing of a corresponding sub-request. The method further includes constructing a batch reply including the plurality of sub-replies, and returning the batch reply to the client.
US07937699B2
A method and apparatus for upgrading a network appliance. In one embodiment, the method includes determining that an upgrade of the network appliance is needed using versioning information of the network appliance and upgrade versioning information, and determining, based on upgrade criteria, whether the network appliance should be upgraded using a full install image. If the network appliance should be upgraded using the full install image, the full install image is downloaded to the network appliance.
US07937688B2
An intelligent tool for assisting a developer during the creation or maintenance of software generates an icon when triggered by input. Upon selection of the icon, options are displayed for potential selection. Upon selection of an entry, event associated with the entry are deployed.
US07937687B2
A system receives a design document, parses the design document into voice extensible markup language (VXML) elements, and creates a VXML document from the parsed VXML elements.
US07937685B2
A global framework multi-layer computer based architecture is provided. The global framework may include a single set of libraries that contains common source code applicable to substantially all business processing systems using the global framework. The global framework may include individual source code libraries that contain modifications specific to a business processing system to meet the local needs of that business processing system. The business processing systems may execute the custom and base libraries through concatenation of the libraries.
US07937676B2
In positioning assist features on a photomask pattern to improve the image quality of the main features, the method includes deriving an h-function in a first process which represents a contribution of an assist feature with respect to image intensity at a main feature. In a continuation of the method, the position of the assist features are determined in a second process using the h-function derived in the first step. The assist features are then formed on the mask at the positions indicated. Also included is a computer readable medium having instructions for performing the h-function calculations, and the mask apparatus itself with both main and assist features positioned according to the h-function.
US07937666B2
Techniques for collecting data via a display page are disclosed. A data entry field that does not display a current value associated with the data entry field is provided in the display page. A display field configured to display at least a portion of the current value associated with the data entry field is included in the display page selectively, e.g., at a time when a display criteria is satisfied.
US07937663B2
An integrated collaborative user interface for a document editor is provided. The integrated collaborative user interface includes a document pane, document details pane and a section details pane. Document details and section details are obtained and provided to authors. A collaborative author views the document details, section details and provides updates to a document in the document editor. Changes are then refreshed to the authors to provide a consistent and up-to-date status of the document.
US07937662B2
A method for implementing remote control functionality with a mouse in a video playback system includes the steps of identifying all selectable buttons within the page, depressing a key on a mouse device while the mouse is positioned over a first button currently selected, dragging the mouse device in the direction of a second button to be selected while depressing the key, and releasing the key on the mouse device once the mouse device is positioned over the second button to select the second button.
US07937647B2
A method and apparatus are provided for an error-correcting FPGA. ECC data for configuration is generated and programmed into the ECC rows in the configuration memory. While booting, it is determined whether an integrity-check bit is set. If so, an integrity check is performed. If a single-bit error is detected, if the bit error is an erroneous “0” value, the memory location containing the erroneous “0” value is reprogrammed to a “1” value. If the bit error is an erroneous “1,” value, the memory block data is saved in a non-volatile memory block, the configuration memory block containing the error is erased and reprogrammed using the corrected bit. If there is more than one error, an error flag is set. The user reads the status of the error flag through the JTAG port. If the error flag is set then a full reprogramming cycle is initiated.
US07937644B2
An apparatus, system and method for detecting errors in a physical interface during the transmission and/or receipt of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for generating error-detection codes in a physical interface for the transmission of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) includes an N-bit-to-N+2-bit (“N bit/(N+2) bit”) physical layer (“PHY”) encoder configured to insert a physical interface error detection bit with N application data bits to form N+1 unencoded data bits, and encode said N+1 unencoded data bits to yield N+2 encoded data bits. The apparatus further includes an error-detection code generator configured to generate a number of bits constituting an error-detection code that includes said physical interface error detection bit, wherein N represents any integer number of data bits.
US07937642B2
An apparatus and method of receiving a signal in a communication system are provided, in which a signal is received and decoded by a PPS scheme being an LDPC decoding scheme in which an order of performing a node operation is scheduled.
US07937636B2
The invention provides an inspection method of a semiconductor device which receives a test program wirelessly. As an inspection method of the semiconductor device, a test program is transmitted as a communication signal for every test. By transmitting a test program as a communication signal wirelessly in the case of an operation test, test contents are changed as required. As a result, a test program can be easily changed and an inspection circuit or the like is not required. In this manner, manufacturing cost of a wireless chip can be reduced.
US07937630B2
A semiconductor memory in which arbitrary operation mode information is set in a plurality of CRs at test time and by which a test cost is reduced and a method for testing such a semiconductor memory. The plurality of CRs hold operation mode information. When a CR control circuit detects write commands to write to an address for register access or read commands to read from the address for register access in a predetermined order, the CR control circuit updates the operation mode information for each of the plurality of CRs on a time division basis. A command generation section generates the write commands, the read commands, or a test start command by which write operation or read operation does not occur, in response to a control signal from the outside. In addition, the command generation section regenerates the test start command each time the plurality of CRs are updated. A data pad compression circuit changes the operation mode information to be written to the plurality of CRs by using test data inputted to part of data pads, after inverting the test data or in its original condition according to a code, as data for a rest of the data pads, the code represented by part of an address inputted at the time of the test start command being sent.
US07937626B2
A data processing apparatus and method are provided for generating a trace stream. The data processing apparatus comprises logic for producing data elements, and trace logic for producing a stream of trace elements representative of at least some of the data elements. The trace logic has trace generation logic operable to generate trace elements for inclusion in the stream, and is further arranged to generate trace timing indicators for inclusion in the stream. Each trace timing indicator indicates the elapse of one or more processing timing intervals, the processing timing interval being a predetermined plurality of clock cycles.
US07937618B2
A method and system for achieving highly available, fault-tolerant execution of components in a distributed computing system, without requiring the writer of these components to explicitly write code (such as entity beans or database transactions) to make component state persistent. It is achieved by converting the intrinsically non-deterministic behavior of the distributed system to a deterministic behavior, thus enabling state recovery to be achieved by advantageously efficient checkpoint-replay techniques. The method comprises: adapting the execution environment for enabling message communication amongst and between the components; automatically associating a deterministic timestamp in conjunction with a message to be communicated from a sender component to a receiver component during program execution, the timestamp representative of estimated time of arrival of the message at a receiver component. At a component, tracking state of that component during program execution, and periodically checkpointing the state in a local storage device. Upon failure of a component, the component state is restored by recovering a recent stored checkpoint and re-executing the events occurring since the last checkpoint. The system is deterministic by repeating the execution of the receiving component by processing the messages in the same order as their associated timestamp.
US07937614B2
A SAN manager acquires configuration information from devices constituting a SAN and produces a corresponding relationship between a host computer and a virtual volume (virtual volume mapping) and a corresponding relationship between the host computer and a real volume (real volume mapping). Based on those pieces of mapping information, the SAN manager outputs a corresponding relationship between virtual and real volumes. Meanwhile, the failure notification messages received from the in-SAN devices are construed to detect and output an influence of the failure upon the access to a real or virtual volume. Furthermore, when receiving a plurality of failure notifications from the devices connected to the SAN, the plurality of failure notifications are outputted with an association based on the corresponding relationship between real and virtual volumes.
US07937612B1
A system, method and computer program product for migrating a server include creating an image of a storage device of a first server; during execution of a boot loader on a second server, starting an initialization application that at least partially restores, to a storage device of the second server, operating system data from the image; analyzing a hardware configuration of the second server; modifying at least one driver of an operating system based on the analyzed hardware to enable the operating system of the second server to interface to the storage device of the second server; rebooting the second server using the at least partially restored operating system data; and restoring unaltered portions of remaining data from the image. The second server identification and/or authentication data stored on the image is updated before the rebooting. Identification data of the second server is at least partially replaced with corresponding data stored on the image. The image is unchanged until completion of the restoring step. The restoration step uses an incremental image of the storage device. A boot loader is started in case of failure of the first server.
US07937606B1
Generally, the present disclosure concerns systems and methods for shadowing status for a circuit with a shadow unit. In one aspect, a system comprises a first circuit in a first dynamic clock domain of a plurality of dynamic clock domains, a processor configured to execute software instructions to generate a request for a status of the first circuit, and a second circuit coupled to the first circuit and to the processor. The second circuit, outside the first dynamic clock domain, is configured to shadow a status of the first circuit and to respond to the request for the status of the first circuit with the shadowed status.
US07937604B2
A method for generating a skew schedule for a clock distribution network generates a schedule that accounts for both the timing requirements of the memory elements at the endpoints of the clock distribution network and the timing requirements of the gating signals that feed clock gates and other clock control elements within the clock distribution network. The method provides a total solution to the skew scheduling problem by way of a two-phase iterative process. The two phases of the process alternately keep track of the schedule generated by first taking the gating elements of the clock distribution network into account, followed by balancing any remaining skew that may exist on the memory elements of the same clock distribution network. Finally, the method describes a procedure to post-process the skew schedule to ensure that it can be implemented using a clock tree generation tool.
US07937600B1
A network interface includes a medium access control (MAC) device that operates at a first voltage level during an inactive mode and a second voltage level during an active mode. A physical layer (PHY) device communicates with the MAC device and that includes an energy detect module that detects energy on a medium during the inactive mode, and an energy save module that starts timing a first period after the energy is detected and that causes the MAC device to transition to the second voltage level when the energy is detected during the inactive mode, wherein external communication with the MAC device is enabled after the first period.
US07937594B2
A digital logic circuit comprises a programmable logic device and a programmable security circuit. The programmable security circuit stores a set of authorized configuration security keys. The programmable security circuit compares the authorized configuration security keys with an incoming configuration request, and selectively enables a new configuration for the programmable logic device in response to the configuration request. In another exemplary embodiment, a programmable security circuit also stores a set of authorized operation security keys. The programmable security circuit compares the authorized operation security keys with an incoming operation request from the programmable logic device, and selectively enables an operation within the programmable logic device in response to the operation request.
US07937557B2
A computer array (10) has a plurality of computers (12) for accomplishing a larger task that is divided into smaller tasks, each of the smaller tasks being assigned to one or more of the computers (12). Each of the computers (12) may be configured for specific functions and individual input/output circuits (26) associated with exterior computers (12) are specifically adapted for particular input/output functions. An example of 25 computers (12) arranged in the computer array (10) has a centralized computational core (34) with the computers (12) nearer the edge of the die (14) being configured for input and/or output.
US07937549B2
A storage subsystem, method of automatically maintaining the subsystem hardware configuration up to date and program product therefor. The storage subsystem automatically initiates hardware discovery in response to a triggering event. Subsystem hardware information is collected during hardware discovery and checked against a current configuration to identify hardware changes. Whenever hardware changes are identified, the subsystem configures the hardware and calibrates newly configured hardware. So, hardware changes may be automatically discovered, configured and calibrated free from operator intervention.
US07937546B2
When there is a change in a group of volumes managed by a host computer, data duplication processing is immediately carried out against the changed volume. The host computer includes a volume-managing portion, a data duplication-controlling portion which executes the data duplication of data stored in a volume in a main data center, and a data duplication storing portion which stores data necessary for the data duplication. The data duplication-controlling portion compares data held by the volume-managing portion with the data in the data duplication storing portion, and updates the data in the data duplication storing portion based on the data held by the volume-managing portion.
US07937541B2
Disclosed are a method, information processing system, and computer readable medium for scanning a storage medium table. The method includes retrieving location information associated with at least one other storage medium table scan. A storage medium table scan is started at a location within a storage medium table based on at least a location of the one other storage medium table scan. A weight is assigned to at least one storage medium block based on at least a current scanning location within the storage medium table relative to the location of the one other table scan. The method determines if a distance between the current scanning location and the location of the one other table scan is greater than a first given threshold. A current scanning operation is delayed, in response to the distance being greater than the given threshold, until the distance is below a second given threshold.
US07937539B2
A memory controller to provide memory access services in an adaptive computing engine is provided. The controller comprises: a network interface configured to receive a memory request from a programmable network; and a memory interface configured to access a memory to fulfill the memory request from the programmable network, wherein the memory interface receives and provides data for the memory request to the network interface, the network interface configured to send data to and receive data from the programmable network.
US07937528B2
Aspects of the innovations herein are consistent with a storage system for storing variable sized objects. The storage system may be a transaction-based system that uses variable sized objects to store data. The storage system may be implemented using arrays disks that are arranged in ranks. Each rank may include multiple stripes. Each stripe may be read and written as a convenient unit for maximum performance. A rank manager may be provided to dynamically configure the ranks to adjust for failed and added disks by selectively shortening and lengthening the stripes. The storage system may include a stripe space table that contains entries describing the amount of space used in each stripe. An object map may provide entries for each object in the storage system describing the location (e.g., rank, stripe and offset values), the length and version of the object.
US07937525B2
Embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems for decoding a virtual machine control structure identification are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a virtual machine control structure to decode a virtual machine control structure identification data. The virtual machine control structure identification data is decoded into an address of a virtual machine control structure field and an offset. The offset is to help identify a micro-operation associated with a virtual machine architecture instruction to be executed.
US07937518B2
A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code are disclosed for migrating a virtual adapter from a source physical adapter to a destination physical adapter in a data processing system where multiple host computer systems share multiple adapters and communicate with those adapters through a PCI switched-fabric bus. The virtual adapter is first caused to stop processing transactions. All in-flight transactions that are associated with the virtual adapter are then captured. The configuration information that defines the virtual adapter is moved from the source physical adapter to the destination physical adapter. The in-flight transactions are then restored to their original locations on the destination virtual adapter. The virtual adapter is then restarted on the destination physical adapter such that the virtual adapter begins processing transactions.
US07937509B2
According to one embodiment, a content processing apparatus has an interface circuit connected to one or more external devices, and a control circuit which executes plural kinds of content processing to access the one or more external devices simultaneously and in parallel. The control circuit includes a CPU configured to set an order of priority for plural kinds of content processing, and limit processing operation sequentially from lower priority content processing, as load increases and disables simultaneous parallel execution of plural kinds of content processing.
US07937505B2
A proposal is discussed that facilitates exchanging parameters for a link layer that allows a variable number of parameters without changing a communication protocol. Likewise, the proposal allows for both components connected via the link to negotiate values for the parameters that are exchanged without a need for external agent intervention or redundancy.
US07937503B2
An apparatus for maintaining a limit value of a resource for use in a concurrent limit checking system comprising: a resource having an associated limit value; a plurality of request handlers having access to a plurality of sub-limit values, wherein the sub-limit values when summed equal the limit value and wherein each request handler is operable to check a request value of a request for consuming the resource against its associated sub-limit value, in order to determine whether the request can be satisfied. The apparatus comprises a coordinator, responsive to the first request handler determining that the first request cannot be satisfied, for generating a coordination request comprising a coordination request value required to satisfy the first request, a receiver for receiving a coordination response from the second request handler; and an updater for updating the sub-limit values in accordance with the coordination request value.
US07937499B1
Methods and apparatus for processing packets in a computer system including an operating system and a network interface card (NIC) are disclosed. The NIC having a plurality of ring buffers is configured to operate in either a polling mode or an interrupt mode for a particular ring buffer. When the NIC is in the polling mode for a ring buffer, the NIC is periodically polled to determine whether one or more packets have been received by the ring buffer. When the NIC is in the interrupt mode, the operating system is capable of receiving an interrupt indicating that the ring buffer of the NIC has received one or more packets. The operating system is capable of instructing the NIC to change its mode from the polling mode to the interrupt mode for a particular ring buffer, and from the interrupt mode to the polling mode for a particular ring buffer.
US07937495B2
A technique modifies data transferred from a source to a destination on an intermediate node in a network. According to the technique, a processor of the node issues commands to modify the data. The commands are held in a data structure and not performed on the data until the data is transferred from the source to the destination. As the data is transferred the commands contained in the data structure are performed and the data is modified as directed by the commands.
US07937493B2
Runtime connection load balancing of work across connections to a clustered computing system involves the routing of requests for a service, based on the current operational performance of each of the instances that offer the service. A connection is selected from an identified connection pool, to connect to an instance that provides the service for routing a work request. The operational performance of the instances may be represented by performance information that characterizes the response time and/or the throughput of the service that is provided by a particular instance on a respective node of the system, and is relative to other instances that offer the same service.
US07937474B2
A system and method for offloading network processes from main processors of a storage system and performing them on parallel processing modules. Embodiments of the present invention improve performance of a clustered storage system by performing certain network processes in an accelerator module of a storage system node. The accelerator module receives multi-protocol protocol data units (PDUs) from a network interface, performs protocol operations on the PDUs to form file system requests and passes the file system requests to a local D-module. If a file system request is directed to a non-local D-module in the cluster, the accelerator module repackages the request for transmission to the appropriate D-module and passes it back to the network without using local D-module processing resources or passing data over the system bus.
US07937466B2
A method, system, and storage medium for collecting bandwidth data is provided. The method includes producing master and slave text files in response to simultaneous collection of data samples from a network device by servers. The method also includes generating a clean data file by sorting data in the master and slave text files by the network device port, sorting data samples for the port by collection time, and for each of the samples: adding a designated interval of time to a time on the network device resulting in a target network device time whereby the time on the network device corresponds to a time the data sample was collected, examining data samples in the master and slave text files corresponding to the time the respective data samples were collected, selecting from one of the master and slave text files the sample with a collection time most closely matching the target network device time, and storing the selected sample in the clean data file.
US07937464B2
A modified form of the UDP multicast protocol is disclosed to implement a one-way download progress notification method between a server and one or more clients. The UDP multicast download progress notification method enables UDP messages to be sent only to registered clients, not broadcasted to all clients. This architecture minimizes network traffi c and enhances system security, since only registered clients receive the UDP message. The configuration of the UDP multicast download progress notification method does not require the configuration of network devices in order to support a UDP multicast. Furthermore, any number of the clients may be on a different network domain than the DCM engine.
US07937463B2
The invention concerns a method for invoking at least one service application server (AS) during a communication between an originating user agent (O_UA) and end user agent (T_UA). It consists at least in opening (A) two separate dialogues, between a service selecting function (SIF) and, respectively, the originating agent (O_UA) and the end agent (T_UA). The function (SIF) is substituted to the user agent (T_UA) in its dialogue with the user agent (O_UA) and to the user agent (O_UA) in its dialogue with the user agent (T_UA). The messages from the user agents during the two opened dialogues are stored (B) and at least one service conditional triggering criterion on the two dialogues is verified (C). If the triggering criterion is verified, at least part of the messages is restored (D) to the server so as to trigger the invocation thereof. The invention is useful for invoking application servers in a SIP network.
US07937459B2
The invention relates to a method and a system for collecting counter data from a set of counters in a network element. According to the present invention, the updating block updates an accounting file, and the changed counter data is collected from said accounting file by a centralized counter handling block for writing into a transfer file. The collecting of said counter data is controlled using collecting information from a control file, wherein the specific counters are to be taken into account by changing said information in said control file. Information in said control file also specifies the user interface by specifying the format of the counter data which is to be written to the transfer file.
US07937458B2
An on-demand software and service access system has a remote processing system or remote service provider accessible via the Internet or other network, and a local system which runs on a user's local device. The remote system has a plurality of different software applications, operating systems, and central data storage means for selective access by authorized users from their local computer via a network or the Internet, as well as a profile manager for providing user registration, user login, and loading of user selected settings and services onto the local system. Usage of the selected software applications is provided on a subscription basis for applications required by users on a daily basis, as well as on a one-time purchase basis, for one time use, for use only for a specific time period, or permanently.
US07937438B1
Techniques are described for providing managed virtual computer networks that may have a configured logical network topology with one or more virtual networking devices, with corresponding networking functionality provided for communications between multiple computing nodes of the virtual computer network by emulating functionality that would be provided by the networking devices if they were physically present. In some situations, the emulating of networking device functionality includes receiving routing communications directed to the networking devices and using included routing information to update the configured network topology for the managed computer network. In addition, the techniques may further include supporting interactions with devices that are external to the virtual computer network, including remote physical networking devices that are part of a remote computer network configured to interoperate with the virtual computer network, and/or specialized network devices that are accessible via a substrate network on which the virtual computer network is overlaid.
US07937425B2
A two-plane rotation (TPR) approach to Gaussian elimination (Jacobi) is used for computational efficiency in determining rotation parameters. A rotation processor is constructed using the TPR approach to perform singular value decomposition (SVD) on two by two matrices yielding both eigenvalues and left and right eigenvectors. The rotation processor can then be replicated and interconnected to achieve higher dimensioned matrices. For higher dimensional matrices, the rotation processors on the diagonal solve the 2×2 rotation angles, broadcast the results to off-diagonal processors, whereby all processors perform matrix rotations in parallel.
US07937423B2
Information management systems for clinical research, and related methods, are disclosed. The management system may have a database of biometric sample information. At least some of the pieces of sample information in the database may have been received from a test-subject in a first clinical research effort, and each piece of sample information may have a related pointer stored in the database. Each pointer may identify the location of clinical research information obtained during the first clinical research effort.
US07937422B1
A first collection of content that includes digital assets is maintained on a host computer. Based on a determination that a portable media device becomes connected to a client computer that is separate from the host computer and that interacts with the host computer, initiation of a synchronization of the first collection of content resident on the host computer with a second collection of content on the portable media device is automatically triggered. The synchronization of the first collection with the second collection includes a transfer of at least one of the digital assets from the host computer to the client computer to the portable media device and is triggered and conditioned upon the determination that the portable media device has become connected to the client computer.
US07937418B2
A method and system for enhancing software documentation and help systems. In one embodiment, a virtual library for a selected combination of tools is created. The virtual library is then linked to the tools in the selected combination of tools. In another embodiment, a combination of tools for designing a complex software system is selected from one or more software releases. The one or more software releases comprises a plurality of available tools. The selected combination of tools comprises less than all of the plurality of available tools. Each of the plurality of available tools is associated with one or more documents. Access to only those one or more documents associated with tools in the selected combination of tools is provided.
US07937400B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for information sharing are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating metadata associated with content stored in a content repository accessible to a community having a plurality of members, wherein the metadata which is stored in the community's registry, is utilized by a community member to determine attributes associated with the content and its subcontents, such that the community member is provided with access to a compilation of information in the subcontents according to a category of interest and based on information in the metadata, and preferably, the community member generates more metadata which is stored in another community's registry associated with the content such that another community member is provided with access to a second compilation of information in the subcontents.
US07937399B2
A searching method for tree data structure topology employs an array generated as a search key array representing a tree serving as search key to represent a parent-child relationship between nodes. The array has the node identifier assigned to a parent node associated with a corresponding non-root node. Non-root nodes are nodes other than a root node, and the node identifier assigned to the parent node corresponds to the node identifier assigned to associated non-root nodes. An offset is applied to node identifiers in the search key array, the node identifiers to which offset is applied are compared with corresponding node identifiers contained in a portion in a C-P array, the portion determined according to the offset, and a vertex node list indicating a search result is stored, wherein the search result contains node identifiers included in a portion of the C-P array whose all nodes matched in comparison.
US07937394B2
A method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has a name including one or more words. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query comprises a prefix substring of at least one word in the name of the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more words in the names thereof matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. They system also orders the one or more items of the group in accordance with given criteria. The names of the one or more items of the identified group are output to be displayed on the device operated by the user as ordered with the characters of the one or more words in the names corresponding to the prefix substring of the search query being highlighted.
US07937392B1
Classifying Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) expression using one or more XPath expressions. A request comprising a URI expression and additional network information is modeled as a logical XML document representation. One or more XPath expressions are then created from the schema of the logical XML document. Each of the one or more XPath expressions represents a classification category of the request. Further, an XML document is generated from an incoming request. One or more XPath expressions are evaluated on the XML document for classifying the incoming request.
US07937387B2
A system and method for searching for computer environments, authenticating the computer environments, and copying data from the authenticated computer environments to a memory location. The data is marked or bound to the computer system it was copied from which provides a user with assurance that the data was obtained from a specific, authenticated source. The computer environments and the memory location may be coupled over a network.
US07937377B2
distributed database management system implemented on a cluster of computers. The cluster including disks organized as data nodes. The data nodes being locally connected to one or more computers in the cluster. The distributed database management system includes a distributed database manager layer having a lock manager, a resource manager, and an architecture manager. The lock manager serializes access to the data nodes in the cluster. The resource manager maintains a data representation of the resources of each computer in the cluster and makes the data available to other computers in the cluster to facilitate access to the resources by the other computers. The architecture manager defines logical ownership relationships between data nodes and computers in the cluster to permit the architecture of the database to be dynamically reconfigured to provide improved performance.
US07937373B2
A method for detecting an event and/or behavior of interest based on monitoring data and selectively storing portions of the monitoring data associated with the event and/or behavior of interest. Preferably, the method includes defining a hierarchy of event and/or behavior types so that the storing of a first behavior/event type is preferred over a second behavior/event type, especially when storing capacity is scarce. A data management apparatus including a logic device and a long-term storage memory apparatus, the logic device for detecting an event and/or behavior of interest based on monitoring data and selectively storing portions of the monitoring data associated with the event and/or behavior of interest on the long-term memory storage apparatus.
US07937372B2
Managing backup data comprises mounting a snapshot of a file system. Each of the plurality of snapshots is taken at a particular time and each comprises a replica of the data set at that particular time. The mounted snapshot is accessed. For each of the one or more file system objects included in the accessed snapshot, index data is added which indicates that each of the one or more file system objects is located within the accessed snapshot. This information is added to an index associated with the snapshot so that it is able to be determined, using the index and without having to again mount the accessed snapshot, whether an object of interest is included in the snapshot.
US07937370B2
A system includes a server and a controller embedded in a device. Both the server and the embedded controller are capable of communicating over a computer network. The embedded controller sends a command to the server over the computer network that identifies an instance of the device. In response, the server identifies the instance of the device based on the command, retrieves data that is specific to the instance of the device, and send the data to the embedded controller over the computer network.
US07937366B2
Provided are a system, an article of manufacture, and a computer program product, wherein a first set of backup data is stored in a first computational device and a second set of backup data is stored in a second computational device. Metadata corresponding to the first set of backup data is maintained in the second computational device. The first set of backup data is reconciled with the second set of backup data based on the metadata.
US07937365B2
A complete document management system is disclosed. Accordingly, systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are disclosed. Systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are further disclosed. Additionally, systems and methods for accessing documents available through a network, wherein the documents are stored on one or more data storage devices coupled to the network, are disclosed.
US07937357B2
Provision is made for an information reproduction scheme which is intelligent and adjusts to the desires and needs of the user in a manner which is almost unnoticeable to the user and is associated with little or no additional effort on the part of the user, in that the selection, from pieces of information or a plurality of pieces of information, of the information to be reproduced is performed randomly on the basis of an adaptive probability distribution, and the adaptive probability distribution is adapted based on a captured behavior of the user upon the reproduction of the information selected. Consequently, the user's behavior is used as a controlled variable for adapting the adaptive probability distribution, the latter one defining, among the reproducible information and/or those information objects wherein the reproducible information is provided, the likelihood that a specific piece of information provided in an information object will or will not be selected in the next random selection for the next piece of information to be reproduced.
US07937351B2
An implementation of SVM functionality improves efficiency, time consumption, and data security, reduces the parameter tuning challenges presented to the inexperienced user, and reduces the computational costs of building SVM models. A computer program product for support vector machine processing in a computer system comprises computer program instructions for storing data, providing an interface to client software, building a support vector machine model on at least a portion of the stored data, based on a plurality of model-building parameters, estimating values for at least some of the model-building parameters, and applying the support vector machine model using the stored data to generate a data mining output.
US07937347B2
A method (which can be computer implemented) for inferring component associations among a plurality of components in a distributed computing system includes the steps of obtaining status information for each pertinent component of the plurality of components, forming an N by D matrix, X, based on the status information, and factorizing the matrix X to obtain a first matrix indicative of the component associations to be inferred and a second matrix indicative of failure explanations for corresponding ones of the probe instances. N is a number of probe instances associated with a given time frame. D is a number of the plurality of components for which the associations are to be inferred. Techniques are also presented for forming a database with the status information.
US07937339B2
The invention is a technique for performing sampling in connection with Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations in which no attempt is made to limit the selected samples to a selected slice of the entire sample domain, as is typical in Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling. Rather, samples are taken from the entire domain and any samples that fall below a randomly selected probability density level are discarded.
US07937336B1
A decision tree is provided as a machine learning classifier to predict a user attribute, such as a geographical location of a user, based on a network address. More specifically, the decision tree is constructed via machine learning on a set of sample data that reflects a relationship between a network address and a user attribute of a “known user” whose profile information is recognizable. For a given network address, the decision tree can be used as a machine learning classifier to predict the most likely user attribute of a potential user. With the predicted attribute, a network service can target a group of potential users for various campaigns without recognizing the identities of the potential users.
US07937334B2
Monitoring dynamic units that operate in complex, dynamic environments, is provided in order to classify and track unit behavior over time. When domain knowledge is available, feature-based models may be used to capture the essential state information of the units. When domain knowledge is not available, raw data is relied upon to perform this task. By analyzing logs of event messages (without having access to their data dictionary), embodiments allow the identification of anomalies (novelties). Specifically, a Normalized Compression Distance (such as one based on Kolmogorov Complexity) may be applied to logs of event messages. By analyzing the similarity and differences of the event message logs, units are identified that did not experience any abnormality (and locate regions of normal operations) and units that departed from such regions.
US07937329B1
A method for managing human resource services, including determining a profile of a first business, where the profile comprises a plurality of attributes of the first business; identifying a second business matching the profile of the first business; receiving a first human resource service requirement of the second business and a second human resource service requirement of the second business; sending the first human resource service requirement and the second human resource service requirement to a plurality of third party providers; receiving a plurality of products from the plurality of third part providers; generating a first benefits package comprising a first subset of the plurality of products, where the first benefits package satisfies the first human resource service requirement and the second human resource service requirement; and installing the first subset of products.
US07937326B1
A computer-based process for product selection optimization by displaying various security features available for a security document, for evaluating the impact that the selection of one security feature has upon the selection of other features, and for optimizing the selection of each security feature or a combination of features in meeting a protection goal for the security document.
US07937325B2
A server on a data network including software for providing a bill payment service for a user comprising a bill-payment module for navigating to the user's multiple data sources on the data network collecting and aggregating data on behalf of the user comprising, a main interface for listing the bills due and payment accounts of the user, a plurality of links enabling viewing and manipulation of bill history, recurring payments, and automated transfer of funds between registered accounts and a link for viewing calendar data. The system further provides a plurality of drop-down menus wherein each menu is associated with a listed bill, the menus providing a plurality of selectable, interactive options for viewing, managing and paying a bill and a link embedded in the main interface for enabling selective or complete data refreshing of data displayed in the interface.
US07937317B2
A system and method for displaying a trend indication using a primary and secondary indicia. The primary indicium corresponds to an overall trend indication and the secondary indicia relate to the reliability of the overall trend indication. The secondary indicia correspond to a trend indication for each phase of the selected analysis strategy. The secondary indicia provide the user with a quick and easy methodology to ascertain the reliability of the overall trend indication based on the concurrence or disagreement of the secondary indicia with the primary indicium.
US07937312B1
A computer system is used to facilitate a transaction between a seller and at least one buyer by receiving at the computer system a binding offer to sell an item. The binding offer to sell, which includes at least a binding sale price, is output to a plurality of potential buyers. A binding acceptance of the binding offer by at least one buyer is received at the computer system. The received binding acceptance includes payment information sufficient to authorize payment of the sale price to a third-party, for example, a trusted intermediary independent of the seller and buyer who keeps the buyer's payment information confidential. In one embodiment, the buyer may elect to take delivery of the item or may elect to re-post the item for sale or auction. In another embodiment, a potential buyer may respond to a binding offer for sale by making a binding counteroffer, which the seller may then accept or reject.
US07937307B1
A system and method for performing Electronic Check Presentment (ECP) processing. The system and method employ digital imaging techniques to digitally image the physical checks as they arrive subsequent to posting of the ECP items. The images are electronically linked to the data records that represent the checks. During the proofing process, in which the data records for the ECP items are validated against the data records for the physical items, the records are updated such that the posting date and ISN number for the data records for the physical items reflect the posting date and ISN number of the ECP items. As the digital image of the check is electronically linked to the data records, the image is thus carries the posting date and ISN of the ECP item.
US07937304B2
The present invention provides a system and related method for automatically examining a technology expenditure by evaluating a company's financial data and evaluating factors affecting the company's shareholder return. Specifically, the present invention evaluates a company's spread through that company's debt and equity costs. The present invention further measures returns to investors from company growth, either organic growth or growth through Mergers and acquisitions. Proposed technology expenditures may then be evaluated according to their predicted changes to accounting values and the resulting changes in shareholder value from these changes.
US07937301B2
A method, processing device, and machine-readable medium are provided. Costs of states of a state space are calculated. Each state represent one or more available product attributes having zero or more decided attribute values. The calculating is based, at least in part, on training data associated with previously requested and offered products. Determining a next state such that one or more products are available and a sum of values, including a cost of a next state and a cost of a perturbation of one of the one or more requested product attribute values to reach the next state is a minimum value. A value for a product attribute is mapped according to the minimum sum of values and product attribute values of available products.
US07937300B2
A system and method are described whereby interoperability is facilitated in a 3GPP network environment in combination with DIAMETER policy controls. Such interoperability enables updated policy rules to be fully communicated in on-line charging situations where quota expirations occur. This invention maintains centralized policy control in a 3GPP network with on-line charging.
US07937299B1
Systems and methods for performing preauthorization of check transactions are disclosed. In some check transactions such as ACH card transactions, the actual purchase amount is not known when the card is first presented to a merchant. Dispensing of gasoline for a fill-up is an example of such a transaction. Various embodiments of the systems and methods disclose preauthorizing such transaction before the actual purchase amount is known, and without placing a hold of the checking account corresponding to the card. In one embodiment, such preauthorization can be based on, for example, a likely purchase amount associated with the merchant. The actual amount, once determined, can be matched with the information used for preauthorization in various manners.
US07937294B1
A catalog of products is received electronically from each of a plurality of suppliers of products. Each catalog is then compiled into a master supplier catalog that is made accessible to one or more buying entities through an on-line web server, through which server the buying entities may then select and order products shown in the master supplier catalog.
US07937290B2
A system and method for selling medical items. The system comprises one or more vending machines and a service center. The system further comprises a communications network used to allow communication between a communication device located at a vending machine and a communication device located at the service center. An individual contemplating the purchase of a medical item from one of the vending machines can consult with a pharmacist located at the service center before making a purchase from the vending machine. In one embodiment of the invention, a purchase may be made at one of the vending machines only after the purchase has been approved by a pharmacist at the service center.
US07937285B2
A collaborative online tele-operation system allows an audience of many participants to simultaneously share control of a single remote actor, such that the actions of the actor are based on the ongoing collective preferences of the audience.
US07937284B2
A method, system, and article of manufacture for defining and managing time-based organization hierarchies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a user interface, including a plurality of user interface displays configured to receive a user input to define and/or manage one or more instances of a time-based organization hierarchy, may be generated on a client. The user may then define, via interaction with the user interface, the at least one instance of the organization hierarchy to include a plurality of nodes, and specify an effective period for the instance of the time-based organization hierarchy by defining a start date and an end date. The user may also define a territory to correspond to each of the plurality of nodes in the organization hierarchy. In one embodiment, the territory may include at least one position and an assignment rule, the position having a corresponding quota.
US07937279B2
A method for marketing and insuring damages that are associated with insured loss events but that are not covered by traditional insurance policies. This method permits the marketing of loss expense coverage, underwriting, and claim adjustment processes of insurance to be performed by reference to the loss payments that are made by a specified insurance policy. By referencing insured loss payments, which both a buyer and a seller understand, this method provides an easy way to communicate and transact something that is otherwise difficult or impossible to define or measure.
US07937271B2
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for decoding an audio signal from a frame-based bit stream. Each frame includes processing information pertaining to the frame and entropy-encoded quantization indexes representing audio data within the frame. The processing information includes: (i) code book indexes, (ii) code book application information specifying ranges of entropy-encoded quantization indexes to which the code books are to be applied, and (iii) window information. The entropy-encoded quantization indexes are decoded by applying the identified code books to the corresponding ranges of entropy-encoded quantization indexes. Subband samples are then generated by dequantizing the decoded quantization indexes, and a sequence of different window functions that were applied within a single frame of the audio data is identified based on the window information. Time-domain audio data are obtained by inverse-transforming the subband samples and using the plural different window functions indicated by the window information.
US07937266B2
An audio reproduction circuit has an input buffer for holding MP3 data. The audio reproduction circuit also has an MP3 decoder for reading and decoding, in certain processing units, the MP3 data held in the input buffer, and generating voice data. The audio reproduction circuit also has an output buffer for holding the voice data supplied from the MP3 decoder. The audio reproduction circuit also has a digital-analog converter for reading the voice data from the output buffer in synchronization with a clock signal, and converting the voice data to an audio signal. A cut-out detector is provided for generating a cut-out detection (prediction) signal on the basis of the quantity of MP3 data remaining in the input buffer and the quantity of voice data remaining in the output buffer. The cut-out signal indicates a timing at which MP3 data is to be introduced to the input buffer.
US07937254B2
A system and method for predicting the effect of patient self-care actions on a disease control parameter. A future disease control parameter value X(tj) at time tj is determined from a prior disease control parameter value X(ti) at time ti based on an optimal control parameter value R(tj) at time tj, the difference between the prior disease control parameter value X(ti) and an optimal control parameter value R(ti) at time ti, and a set of differentials between patient self-care parameters having patient self-care values SM(ti) at time ti and optimal self-care parameters having optimal self-care values OM(ti) at time ti. The differentials are multiplied by corresponding scaling factors KM. The system includes an input device for entering the patient self-care values SM(ti). A memory stores the optimal control parameter values R(ti) and R(tj), the prior disease control parameter value X(ti), the optimal self-care values OM(ti), and the scaling factors KM. A processor in communication with the input device and memory calculates the future disease control parameter value X(tj). A display is connected to the processor to display the future disease control parameter value X(tj) to a patient.
US07937252B2
A CMOS model generating apparatus 1 according to the present invention generates a CMOS model by converting an In-Ip space into an xn-xp space such that a typical condition TT and corner conditions FF, SS in the In-Ip space become (0, 0), (α, α) and (−α, −α) in the xn-xp space, determining an ellipse fitting to the respective mappings of the corner conditions FF, SS, FS and SF with the mapping (0, 0) of the typical condition TT as a center, expressing two independent principal components in the form of a Gaussian distribution using the major and minor axes of this ellipse as axes of the principal components, and obtaining a probability distribution determining deviations of the Gaussian distribution such that the cumulative probability within this ellipse becomes equal to the one presumed by the corner conditions FF, SS, FS and SF.
US07937250B2
Non-functional concerns are addressed within an abstract model corresponding to a real-world system. One or more annotations profiles are constructed. Each annotations profile describes one or more annotations, where each annotation corresponds to and represents one of the non-functional concerns. Each of a number of modeling elements of the abstract model is associated with an annotation corresponding to a non-functional concern pertaining to the modeling element. One or more transformation templates are constructed. Each transformation template transforms the abstract model to a specific implementation platform to which the transformation template corresponds. For each transformation template, the abstract model as has been transformed to the specification implementation platform to which the transformation template corresponds is executed. Such execution results in consumption of the non-functional concerns represented by the annotations associated with the modeling elements.
US07937234B2
Classification of spatial patterns on wafer maps is generally described. In one example, a method includes applying K-means type clustering to wafer maps comprising one or more spatial patterns to group one or more clusters comprising wafer maps having similar spatial patterns and producing a dendrogram using a clustering process to display the one or more clusters.
US07937221B2
The method and apparatus for determining the conductivity of anisotropic formations surrounding a borehole. The method comprises measuring the gradient of the magnetic field by an electromagnetic logging tool in a borehole in the subsurface formation. The instrument comprises one or several closely positioned parallel receiver coils and one or several closely positioned parallel transmitter coils with the magnetic moment direction of the transmitter coils parallel or different from the magnetic moment direction of the receiver coils. In a preferred embodiment a gradient induction instrument consists of a tri-axial transmitter array and up to 27 pairs of receiver coils, measuring some or all magnetic gradient components: formula (I).
US07937216B2
An improved apparatus and method for monitoring the levels of propane or other consumable liquid in remotely located storage tanks and coordinating delivery of liquid to those tanks, including an improved method of using the remote monitoring data to identify out-of-ordinary conditions at remote tanks, optimally schedule purchases or deliveries, improve safety, and more efficiently operate a propane dealership. More accurate and timely information concerning the status of customer tanks serves to improve operational efficiencies and increase safety. Data received from remote sensors can be collected and organized so that it is easily understood and utilized through the implementation of a user interface accessible via the Internet that allows the information to be presented in an efficient graphical and contextual fashion. Operational efficiencies can also be improved by calculating site-specific Degree-days and K-factors for each tank and by taking historical propane usage for each tank, weather conditions, and projected fuel usage into account.
US07937214B2
A guidance route search device essentially having means for specifying a route point and means for selecting a guidance schedule. The route specifying means specifies plural route points guided up to a destination point. The selecting means functions to select a guidance schedule covering plural route points reachable by previously set time of arrival at a destination point and causing staying time at the plural route points to be the maximum within maximum staying time set in advance for the route points. This enables a guidance schedule for guiding through plural route points to be generated with consideration of staying time at each route point.
US07937205B2
In order to ensure problem-free operation of a vehicle when a wedge of material is formed between the roadway and the vehicle, a method for controlling the functions of an electronic driving stability program automatically activates or deactivates the driving stability program of the vehicle according to the respective operational situation of the motor vehicle. The driving stability program is automatically deactivated when the vehicle drives onto a wedge of material on the roadway. A determination whether the vehicle drives onto a wedge of material on the roadway is made by means of the air springs of the vehicle and associated distance sensor and/or pressure sensors.
US07937184B2
A mail sorting system, method, and software product are provided for transitioning from an earlier phase to a later phase of mail sortation. Information acquired during the earlier phase is used in order to calculate, while continuing the earlier phase, a transition time. At the transition time, there would be sufficient remaining time to perform the later phase, in order to meet a deadline for completing the later phase.
US07937176B2
A hybrid data collection and component installation scheme for optimizing equipment cost, throughput, and quality practices in a multi-stage manufacturing environment. A kit comprising a plurality of parts corresponding to an order for a product is received from one of the stages in the multi-stage manufacturing environment. The parts in the kit were validated in the stage using data collected about the plurality of parts in the stage. At a subsequent stage in the manufacturing environment, a determination is made if the product qualifies for mass installation. If the product qualifies for mass installation, a set of parts in the kit is selected for mass installation. The set of parts are re-verified using the data collected in the previous stage in the environment to determine if the set of parts selected for mass installation is valid. If valid, the set of parts are installed en masse.
US07937174B2
Audio data are played back by a personal computer a relationship with a playback process recognized easily. Displays showing the contents of play lists are arranged and displayed so that the contents become continuous in sequence in a playback sequence from content that is currently being played back from a display of an operation element that causes an image of a playback process to appear or from a display showing the content which is currently being played back. When the playback of one piece of content of one play list from among a plurality of play lists is terminated and one piece of content of an other play list is played back, at least the content that is currently being played back and content to be subsequently played back are displayed so that the contents can be distinguished.
US07937164B2
Methods and systems to detect abnormal operations in a process of a process plant include collecting on-line process data. The collected on-line process data is generated from a plurality of dependent and independent process variables of the process, such as a coker heater. A plurality of multivariate statistical models of the operation of the process are generated using corresponding sets of the process data. Each model is a measure of the operation of the process when the process is on-line at different times, and at least one model is a measure of the operation of the process when the process is on-line and operating normally. The models are executed to generate outputs corresponding to loading value metrics of a corresponding dependent process variable, and the loading value metrics are utilized to detect abnormal operations of the process.
US07937147B2
The invention relates to methods and devices for treating and/or preventing atrial fibrillation. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of treating and/or preventing atrial fibrillation including applying an oscillating electrical stimulus to a tissue of a patient, the oscillating electrical stimulus sufficient to block transmission of electrical signals through the tissue. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable medical device including a stimulator configured to generate an oscillating electrical stimulus at a frequency and amplitude sufficient to block transmission of electrical signals through a tissue, a stimulation electrode in communication with the stimulator, the stimulation electrode configured to deliver the oscillating electrical stimulus to the tissue, and control circuitry in communication with the stimulator, the control circuitry configured to selectively deliver the oscillating electrical stimulus to treat and/or prevent atrial fibrillation. Other embodiments are also described herein.
US07937140B2
A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of substances, compositions, constituents, proportionalities, of examined objects, and abnormalities and diseases associated with human tissue responsive to detected amplitudes and/or frequencies, such as resonant frequencies from the object/body being examined. Data in a database is utilized to identify the unbalanced condition, the foreign, toxic or harmful substance. The identified condition/substance may be used as an aid to select an appropriate treatment or corrective action.
US07937139B2
The present invention relates to a system for determining treatment options from at least two electrical readings. The electrical readings are conductivity measurements of a particular region on the human body. The system utilizes a correlation algorithm to determine the diagnosis which can easily be correlated with appropriate treatments. The correlation algorithm may include the analysis of multiple electrical readings in determining the diagnosis. The system may also utilize a database of clinical data to further assist in determining the diagnosis.
US07937137B2
Apparatus using one or more modes of statistical analysis with one or more monitored parameters of a patient's heart to identify and/or assess arrhythmias. Through use of the one or more modes of statistical analysis, a medical professional can be aided during evaluation of patient data for diagnosis of the patient. At least one of the monitored parameters may include one or more values used representatively for storage intervals of a selected length. As such, for each storage interval, a value may be determined for the one monitored parameter occurring at an upper percentile and a lower percentile. In addition, a median value may be determined for the one monitored parameter for each storage interval. Over a plurality of the storage intervals, these determined values can be used in one or more modes of statistical analysis to better identify and assess the arrhythmias.
US07937133B2
Methods for determining the size, pathology, and volume of embolic debris captured in an embolic protection filtering device. The methods may include providing an embolic protection filtering device and scanning the filtering device with a computed tomography scanner. The methods may also include analyzing digital images produced during the scanning step.
US07937106B2
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US07937105B2
This invention provides a high frequency power module which is incorporated into a mobile phone and which incorporates high frequency portion analogue signal processing ICs including low noise amplifiers which amplify an extremely weak signal therein. A semiconductor device includes a sealing body which is made of insulation resin, a plurality of leads which are provided inside and outside the sealing body, a tab which is provided inside the sealing body and has a semiconductor element fixing region and a wire connection region on a main surface thereof, a semiconductor element which is fixed to the semiconductor element fixing region and includes electrode terminals on an exposed main surface, conductive wires which connect electrode terminals of the semiconductor element and the leads, and conductive wires which connect electrode terminals of the semiconductor element and the wire connecting region of the tab. In such a semiconductor device, a circuit formed in the semiconductor element in a monolithic manner is comprised of a plurality of circuit parts and, in a specified circuit part (a low noise amplifier) which forms a portion of the circuit parts, all grounding electrode terminals out of electrode terminals of the semiconductor element are not connected to the tab through wires but are connected with the leads through wires.
US07937096B2
In a telecommunication system, paging areas may be automatically reconfigured as required. Paging areas can be adaptively reconfigured in accordance with changes in movement traffic of mobile hosts. The system and method work under a constraint that only a limited number of area IDs are permitted for each paging unit area. Also, the system and method work over heterogeneous access networks. Thus, according to the presently disclosed embodiments, paging areas reconfigure themselves according to changes in movement traffic of mobile hosts.
US07937087B2
A radio communication system includes: a serving cell (for example, cell A functional unit 120) configured to transmit, to a radio terminal 10, an AG for directly specifying an uplink user data transmission rate and an RG for relatively specifying the uplink user data transmission rate; and a non-serving cell (for example, cell B functional unit 130) configured to transmit the RG to the radio terminal without transmitting the AG. The non-serving cell includes an instruction unit 132 configured to instruct the serving cell to decrease the uplink user data transmission rate, when a reception power of uplink user data received from the radio terminal 10 exceeds a predetermined interference threshold.
US07937086B2
A method and system for a handoff in a broadcast communication system is disclosed. A subscriber assisted handoff is impractical in a broadcast communication system due to e.g., a high signaling load, a difficulty to synchronize the broadcast transmission. On the other hand, the small number of broadcast channels enables the subscriber station to perform the handoff autonomously. To streamline the autonomous handoff decision process, several distinct sets of pilot identifiers and rules for transitioning among the sets are defined. To fully integrate broadcast services with the services provided by the cellular telephone systems in a subscriber environment, a method for various handoff scenarios are analyzed.
US07937072B2
The present invention provides a mobile phone accessing system. The mobile phone accessing system comprises: a mobile phone having a first International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) code; and a storage device comprising a first storage region for storing data, a second storage region for storing a second IMEI code, and a controller coupled to the first storage region and the second storage region for executing a security check function to determine whether the mobile phone is qualified to access the first storage region according to the first IMEI code.
US07937063B1
A method and system for protecting a LNA by acquiring a radio frequency control channel signal at a tower top low noise amplifier (TTLNA) system. In response to acquiring the radio frequency control channel signal, LNA mode information is determined from the acquired radio frequency control channel signal. Based at least in part on the determination, the TTLNA is configured to either receive mode when the LNA mode information indicates receive mode or transmit mode when the LNA mode information indicates transmits mode. In an exemplary embodiment, the TTLNA is configured to receive mode only after a determination is made that there is no transmit energy present on the feedline connecting the BTS and the antenna. In another exemplary embodiment, the TTLNA is initialized in transmit mode.
US07937060B2
A communication system includes devices configured to communicate with each other through a temporal sequence of frames. Each of these frames includes multiple sub-channels and network information. Note that the network information in a given frame transmitted from a first device includes identification information for a second device that is communicating with the first device and corresponding sub-channels used by the first device and the second device to transmit data. Furthermore, the first device and the second device are configured to dynamically reserve one or more sub-channels based on the network information when communicating with each other, and dynamic-reservation conflicts may occur in which the first device and the second device both reserve a common sub-channel.
US07937056B2
A variable capacitance device has a piezoelectric driving part, a movable electrode, a fixed electrode, a dielectric film and a driving control unit. The piezoelectric driving part has a piezoelectric film, an upper electrode disposed on a top surface of the piezoelectric film, a lower electrode disposed on an undersurface of the piezoelectric film and electrode slits which separate the upper electrode and the lower electrode into two, respectively. The movable electrode is provided via the electrode slits at one end of the piezoelectric driving part. The fixed electrode is disposed opposite to the movable electrode via a gap. The dielectric film is disposed opposite to the movable electrode via the gap and provided on the fixed electrode. The driving control unit adjusts a distance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode to reduce a fluctuation of a predetermined capacitance of a variable capacitor formed between the variable electrode and the fixed electrode.
US07937053B2
A method for receiving a station signal is provided. First, a radio frequency signal is received and converted to a first IF signal. Next, the first IF signal is demodulated to a baseband signal and a demodulation signal is obtained, the demodulation signal being a result of differentiating a phase of the baseband signal. Then a determination as to whether a DC level of the demodulation signal has an S-curve characteristic at a specific frequency is made according to the demodulation signal. If so, the specific frequency is determined as a first station frequency, a first station signal is obtained from the radio frequency signal according to the first station frequency.
US07937052B2
A multiple input multiple output signal receiving apparatus includes a first antenna configured to receive a first radio frequency (RF) signal, a second antenna configured to receive a second RF signal, a superheterodyne receiver, a direct conversion receiver, and an antenna switching module. The superheterodyne receiver is configured to convert one or both of the first and second RF signals into at least one first analog signal. The direct conversion receiver is configured to convert one or both of the first and second RF signals into at least one second analog signal. The antenna switching module couples the first and second antennas to the superheterodyne receiver and the direct conversion receiver, and is configured to selectively direct the first and second RF signals to the superheterodyne receiver and/or the direct conversion receiver, depending on an antenna switch control signal indicating a signal quality derived from the first and second analog signals.