US07993739B2
Multilayer foam-film composite structures in which the cells of at least one foam layer have an anisotropic orientation exhibit at least one enhanced property of toughness, tear resistance and puncture resistance in comparison with a foam-film composite structure alike in all aspects except for the anisotropic orientation of the cells of at least one foam layer.
US07993734B2
A method of and an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional netted structure using thermoplastic resin. The netted structure includes a plurality of filaments which are helically and randomly entangled and partly and thermally bonded together. The netted structure is a three-dimensional plate type netted structure having an apparent density greater than a predetermined amount.
US07993723B2
A vacuum insulation panel and an insulation structure of a refrigerator applying the same are disclosed. The vacuum insulation panel comprises: a sealing cover (120) having an outermost layer exposed to the outside, a gas shielding layer stacked on the bottom surface of the outermost layer and formed of a thin metal sheet and a metal deposition film, and a heating-fusion bonding layer stacked on the bottom surface of the gas shielding layer and formed of an octane-base material; a core material (110) sealed by the sealing cover (120) in contact with the heating-fusion bonding layer, and provided with an extended insulation portion (130) some parts of which are extended between the bonding portions formed at the sealing cover (120); and a gas permeation preventing layer (125) formed on the sealing cover (120), so that can prevent an external air or moisture from penetrating into a vacuum insulation panel.
US07993718B2
An irregular, tessellated building unit comprises x primary elements, wherein x is an integer equal to or greater than 1. The primary element is a rotational tessellation having a plural pairs of sides extending in a generally radial direction from plural vertices, respectively. In each pair, the two sides are rotationally spaced by an angle that is divided evenly into 360 degrees. Preferably, all of the sides are irregularly shaped, but one or more sides could be wholly or partially straight. Optionally, spacers are provided on the sides of each unit. A wide variety of units may be constructed having different numbers and arrangements of primary elements. As all the units are combinations of primary elements, they readily mate with each other. A surface covering comprises a multiplicity of units assembled to form a continuous surface without overlap between units and without substantial gaps between units. A structure, such as a wall or column can be formed of building units of the invention. Because of the irregular side configurations, and different sizes and shapes of individual units, the resulting surface or structure has a natural, non-repeating pattern appearance. Optionally, minor surface and edges variations are made from unit to unit to further enhance the natural appearance of the surface covering or structure.
US07993704B2
Protective coating systems for gas turbine engine applications and methods for fabricating such protective coating systems are provided. An exemplary method of fabricating a protective coating system on a substrate comprises forming a bond coating on the substrate, forming a silicate layer on the bond coating, forming a thermal barrier coating overlying the silicate layer, and heating the thermal barrier coating.
US07993701B2
A composite structure forming method comprises the steps of first pre-treating brittle material fine particles to impart an internal strain to the brittle material fine particles, secondly causing the brittle material fine particles in which the internal strain has been created to collide with a substrate surface at high speed or applying a mechanical impact force to the brittle material fine particles containing the internal strain therein provided on the substrate surface, to deform or fracture the brittle material fine particles, re-joining the fine particles through active new surfaces generated by the deformation or fracture, forming an anchor section made of polycrystalline brittle material of which part bites into the substrate surface at a boundary section between the new surfaces and the substrate, and further forming a structure made of polycrystalline brittle material on the anchor section.
US07993698B2
Techniques for temperature-controlled ion implantation are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for temperature-controlled ion implantation. The apparatus may comprise at least one thermal sensor adapted to measure a temperature of a wafer during an ion implantation process inside an end station of an ion implanter. The apparatus may also comprise a thermal conditioning unit coupled to the end station. The apparatus may further comprise a controller in communication with the thermal sensor and the thermal conditioning unit, wherein the controller compares the measured temperature to a desired wafer temperature and causes the thermal conditioning unit to adjust the temperature of the wafer based upon the comparison.
US07993697B2
A packed frozen sushi product comprising a vacuumed, frozen and hermetically sealed flexible plastic bag; an open-topped plastic box placed in the bag; and a frozen sushi product contained in the box; in the plastic bag, the box and the frozen sushi product being frozen together in a unified form, the packed frozen sushi product thereby being adapted for microwave cooking. Water vapor emanating from the sushi product in thawing is allowed to flow through a space formed around the sushi material to heat a shaped rice section and a material or materials, thereby diminishing unevenness in temperature distribution after thawing. By virtue thereof, a packed frozen sushi product suitable for mass production is provided.
US07993692B2
A package assembly including a first package a second package is provided. The first package can contain two or more compartments. A first compartment can substantially contain the second package and a second compartment can substantially contain a food product, such as a meat. The second package can contain a food additive, such as a marinade. Although substantially contained within the first compartment of the first package, the second package includes a reputable seal located proximate the second compartment of the first package. Applying pressure to the first compartment and, thus, the second package can break the rupturable seal to distribute the food additive from the second package to the food product in the second compartment. The first package can include a perimeter hard seal configured to withstand the pressure and, thus, prevent the leaking of any of the food product or the food additive from the first package during the distribution of the food additive.
US07993674B2
Disclosed is a novel solid dosage unit, preferably in the form of a film or thin troche, containing at least one pharmaceutical agent, and its method of manufacture, which involves introduction of a fluid containing at least one non-volatile material, such as a polymeric film forming substance, a volatile carrier and at least one pharmaceutical agent into a depression or cavity comprising the major element of the packaging film for the finished dosage unit (s), and removing the volatile carrier from the cavity by exposure to radiant energy, whereby the remaining non-volatile residue comprises the desired dosage unit. The packaging film can be subsequently lidded by conventional sealing methods to produce packaged dosage units which are suitable for sublingual and other oral applications.
US07993663B2
Cosmetic compositions comprising 1-aroyl-N-(2-oxo-3-piperidinyl)-2-piperazine carboxamides and methods of using such compositions to impart anti-aging benefits to the skin are disclosed. The 1-aroyl-N-(2-oxo-3-piperidinyl)-2-piperazine carboxamides are believed to have modulatory activity against one or more biochemical pathways implicated in skin aging.
US07993659B2
The present invention provides immunostimulatory combinations. Generally, the immunostimulatory combinations include a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist. Certain immunostimulatory combinations also may include an antigen.
US07993658B2
Disclosed herein are novel methods for screening for compounds useful in treating or preventing tuberculosis. In exemplary embodiments, screening methods are based on the implementation or manipulation of triacylglycerol synthase like polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding the same. The methods are useful in identifying agents active against TB infection.
US07993653B2
The present invention relates to a method of preventing or treating allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, anaphylaxis, and asthma, which comprises administering an extract of Laurencia undulata in a therapeutically effective amount to a patient in need thereof.
US07993651B2
Disclosed is an immunogen in sterile form suitable for administration to a human subject, the immunogen comprising: at least a portion of the gag protein of HIV, said gag protein being from an HIV clade or having a consensus sequence for one or more HIV clades, and comprising at least parts of p17 and p24; and a synthetic polypeptide comprising a plurality of amino acid sequences, each sequence comprising a human CTL epitope of an HIV protein, and wherein a plurality of HIV proteins are represented in the synthetic polypeptide, said CTL epitopes being selected to stimulate an immune response to one or more HIV clades of interest.
US07993645B2
A human anti-IL-23p19 antibody, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one anti-IL-23p19 antibody, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using thereof have applications in diagnostic and/or therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.
US07993638B2
In a cancer treatment combining cell therapy with chemotherapy, autologous CD8+ T cells are obtained from a patient, activated ex vivo by contacting them with xenogenic antigen presenting cells loaded with selected peptide antigen, thereby generating antigen-specific activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Such activated CTLs are administered to the patient in conjunction with a lymphodepletion and CTL maintenance regimen comprising a non-myeloblative but lymphdepleting agent, such as cladribine or denileukin diftitox, and interleukin-2 and interferon-α-2b stimulatory cytokines.
US07993633B2
The present invention pertains to a method of counteracting a malodor by introducing a malodor counteracting effective amount of an enantiomeric compound selected from the group consisting of (1R)-1-cyclohexylethyl butyrate and (1S)-1-cyclohexylethyl acetate.
US07993631B2
To provide an oil base having appropriate hardness and viscosity and excellent spreadability, a process for producing same, and a cosmetic material containing the oil baseThe oil base of the present invention is an oil base containing an ester condensate obtained by a reaction between polyglycerol, 12-hydroxystearic acid, and hydrogenated dimer acid, the oil base having a three-dimensional network structure in which hydrogenated dimer acid is condensed with a hydroxyl group of each of the polyglycerol and 12-hydroxystearic acid.
US07993621B2
The present invention relates to the physical or chemical specific purification of natural mineral graphite. This purification is preferably applied to the surface of natural graphite in order to allow the formation of a passivation film during the first electrical discharge or the insertion of lithium in the graphite when the latter is used in a lithium-ion cell. The grinding to a small size before purification allows the optimization of the distribution of the particles, resulting in a more uniform electrode. This grinding is carried out in the presence of the natural impurities of the graphite that play the role of a micro-abrasive and result in a hardness of the graphite that increases its mechanical properties.
US07993610B2
A spinnable rotor for a high speed centrifuge includes a housing which defines a chamber interiorly thereof for receiving a whole blood sample and for containing a predetermined amount of red blood cell absorbent gel. The housing includes an upper portion and a bottom portion, the upper portion having a port formed through the thickness thereof. The upper portion has at least a portion thereof formed from a light transmissible material. A light pipe is joined to the upper portion and light transmissively communicates with the light transmissive portion of the upper portion. The light pipe extends at least partially into the chamber and has an open, lower free end. When whole blood filling the rotor chamber contacts the lower free end of the light pipe, the red color of the blood is transmissively communicated to the upper portion of the rotor housing where it is viewable by the user of the centrifuge.
US07993600B2
An automated salt dispensing system operating in conjunction with an at least one salt chlorine generator with a controller, an at least one water supply pipe with an at least one inflow and an at least one outflow, an at least one water diversion pipe, an at least one actuator in communication with the controller and controlling a control valve, said control valve being coupled to said at least one water supply and said at least one diversion pipe and diverting water into said water diversion pipe. The invention further includes an at least one brine solution holding tank; and an at least one pressure differential device, wherein the at least one brine solution holding tank is coupled to said at least one pressure differential device and the controller signals the actuator and the control valve diverts water from the water supply pipe into the water diversion pipe and the at least pressure differential device draws brine solution from an at least one brine solution holding tank into the water supply line.
US07993596B2
A gas temperature control apparatus for a DeNOx boiler in an engine cogeneration plant is installed to maintain a reaction temperature of denitrification catalyst used to remove nitrogen oxide generated from an internal combustion engine in the engine cogeneration plant. The apparatus includes a connection passageway between a high-temperature gas part of a combustion tank of the boiler and an intermediate-temperature gas part formed after a first heat exchange, and a flow control valve mounted in the passageway to thereby control a volume of bypass combustion gas. The apparatus can easily raise temperature of combustion gas even though temperature of the inside water of the boiler does not reach a normal operation state since the flow control valve mounted in the connection passageway between the high-temperature gas part and the intermediate-temperature gas part. thereby greatly reducing a time period to reach an activation temperature of the denitrification catalyst.
US07993584B1
A sensor for sensing a property of an analyte includes a QCM resonator that has a crystal substrate that includes an electrode depositing surface and an analyte contact surface that are physically separated. The resonator further includes a plurality of electrodes operatively connected with the electrode depositing surface and laterally spaced apart one from another.
US07993577B2
The invention relates to manufacture of titanium articles from sintered powders. The cost-effective initial powder: 10-50 wt % of titanium powder having ≦500 microns in particle size manufactured from underseparated titanium sponge comprising ≦2 wt % of chlorine and ≦2 wt % of magnesium; 10-90 wt % of a mixture of two hydrogenated powders A and B containing different amount of hydrogen; 0-90 wt % of standard grade refined titanium powder, and/or 5-50 wt % of alloying metal powders. The method includes: mixing powders, compacting the blend to density at least 60% of the theoretical density, crushing titanium hydride powders into fine fragments at pressure of 400-960 MPa, chemical cleaning and refining titanium powders by heating to 300-900° C. and holding for ≦30 minutes, heating in vacuum at 1000-1350° C., holding for ≦30 minutes, and cooling.
US07993568B2
A device for making a profiled insulation having an extrusion die with an extrusion tip and a polymer chamber surrounding the extrusion tip. The polymer chamber has at least one air chamber therein. The air chamber is held in place and coupled to the outside of the extrusion die by a vertical fin extending outwards from the extrusion tip. When molten polymer flows through the polymer chamber around the air chamber, an opening is introduced into the polymer such that the profiled insulation is formed as the polymer exits the extrusion die, having a longitudinal cavity therein corresponding to the location of the opening formed by the at least one air chamber.
US07993562B2
A method for producing a thermoplastic film, comprising cooling and solidifying a filmy thermoplastic melt resin, by holding it between a metallic presser and a metallic casting roll for cooling; wherein the temperature of the filmy thermoplastic resin just before being held between the metallic presser and the casting roll for cooling is from Tg+20° C. to Tg+90° C. and a difference between a surface temperature (Tt) of the metallic presser and a surface temperature (T1) of the casting roll for cooling satisfies the formula (1) and a contact length Q satisfies the following formula (2) 0.5° C.≦T1−Tt≦20° C. (1) 0.1 cm≦Q≦8 cm (2) The method provides a thermoplastic film having high thickness accuracy and surface smoothness.
US07993561B2
A method for producing a ceramic honeycomb filter by blending a starting material mixture comprising a ceramic material, a molding aid and a pore-forming material under a pressure of 0.12-0.5 MPa in a pressure kneader to form a moldable material for a honeycomb extrudate.
US07993550B2
A method of recycling spent filter media is disclosed. The method can include providing a cloth, the cloth being spent polymer-base filter media, removing foreign solid particles from the cloth, washing the cloth, drying the cloth and processing the dried cloth to produce polymer-base particles that can be used to produce a component. The processing of the dried cloth can include densifying and/or granulating the dried cloth. In addition, the spent cloth can have been used as metal working filtration media and the foreign solid particles removed from the cloth using a brush. In some instances, the cloth is washed using a dry cleaning process and the granulating or densifying of the cloth produces particles that can be used in an injection molding machine.
US07993546B2
An apparatus for forming nano-structures of carbon solids includes a reactor chamber into which extends a plasma torch configured to generate a plasma plume that extends into the interior of the reactor chamber. CO2 from is applied to the plasma plume where the CO2 is dissociated into carbon and oxygen. A plurality of nozzles also extends into the reactor chamber, which sprays liquid water on the plume, cooling at least a portion of the carbon causing it to form solid carbon nano-structures in a mixture of liquid water. The mixture is conveyed to a flocculation tank.
US07993543B2
The base oil for the refrigerating machine oil used with a carbon dioxide refrigerant of the invention is characterized by comprising a complete ester of a fatty acid in which the proportion of C14-C22 branched fatty acid is 40-100% by mole and a polyhydric alcohol. The refrigerating machine oil used with a carbon dioxide refrigerant according to the invention is characterized by comprising the base oil for the refrigerating machine oil used with a carbon dioxide refrigerant according to the invention. The base oil for the refrigerating machine oil used with a carbon dioxide refrigerant and the refrigerating machine oil used with a carbon dioxide refrigerant according to the invention, when used together with a carbon dioxide refrigerant, exhibit excellent stability and electrical insulating properties, and have suitable compatibility with refrigerants while allowing adequate lubricity to be exhibited without increasing the viscosity of the base oil.
US07993539B2
Embodiments of the invention include methods of etching nanodots, to methods of removing nanodots from substrates, and to methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices. In one embodiment, a method of etching nanodots that include a late transition metal includes exposing such nanodots to a gas comprising a phosphorus and halogen-containing compound and an oxidizing agent. After the exposing, the nanodots which are remaining and were exposed are etched (either partially or completely) with an aqueous solution comprising HF.
US07993538B2
The invention provides a method for forming a patterned material layer on a structure, by condensing a vapor to a solid condensate layer on a surface of the structure and then localized removal of selected regions of the condensate layer by directing a beam of energy at the selected regions. The structure can then be processed, with at least a portion of the patterned solid condensate layer on the structure surface, and then the solid condensate layer removed. Further there can be stimulated localized reaction between the solid condensate layer and the structure by directing a beam of energy at at least one selected region of the condensate layer.
US07993534B2
A method for forming a chemical microreactor includes forming at least one capillary microchannel in a substrate having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, integrating at least one heater into the chemical microreactor, interfacing the capillary microchannel with a liquid chemical reservoir at the inlet of the capillary microchannel, and interfacing the capillary microchannel with a porous membrane near the outlet of the capillary microchannel, the porous membrane being positioned beyond the outlet of the capillary microchannel, wherein the porous membrane has at least one catalyst material imbedded therein.
US07993529B2
A treatment method of organic compounds included in waste water, comprising the steps of: supplying waste water to an adsorber 2 filled with an adsorbent 3 therein for adsorbing the organic compounds in the waste water by the adsorbent 3 in the adsorber 2, supplying a current between an anode 9 and a cathode 8 in water including an electrolyte in an electrolyzer 6 for electrolyzing the water including an electrolyte, and supplying an electrolyte resulting from electrolysis in the electrolyzer 6 to the adsorbent 3 in the adsorber 2 for contacting the electrolyte with the adsorbent 3, so that the organic compounds adsorbed by the adsorbent 3 are desorbed or decomposed.
US07993527B2
A system for on site monitoring and controlling the characteristics of a body of water by measuring the water characteristics in a first position and adjusting the water characteristics in a second position through either adding dispensable materials to the water or changing the energy of the water or both.
US07993525B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to a device for detecting an analyte in a sample. The device comprises a fluidic network and an integrated circuitry component. The fluidic network comprises a sample zone, a cleaning zone and a detection zone. The fluidic network contains a magnetic particle and/or a signal particle. A sample containing an analyte is introduced, and the analyte interacts with the magnetic particle and/or the signal particle through affinity agents. A microcoil array a mechanically movable permanent magnet is functionally coupled to the fluidic network, which are activatable to generate a magnetic field within a portion of the fluidic network, and move the magnetic particle from the sample zone to the detection zone. A detection element is present which detects optical or electrical signals from the signal particle, thus indicating the presence of the analyte.
US07993522B2
Wastewaters are treated by an activated sludge process that includes combining wastewater with bacteria-laden sludge in an activated sludge tank to form a mixed liquor, separating the mixed liquor into a clear effluent and activated sludge stream, pretreating at least a portion of the activated sludge stream in a conditioning tank, transferring at least a portion of the activated sludge stream in the conditioning tank to an interchange bioreactor operating in batch or continuous flow mode, processing the activated sludge stream within the interchange bioreactor by selecting desired growth conditions to cultivate at least one type of bacteria in the activated sludge stream, and returning at least a portion of the activated sludge stream in the bioreactor to the activated sludge tank. The process may further include a sidestream reactor to remove phosphates from the activated sludge stream leaving the interchange bioreactor.
US07993519B2
A filter apparatus, including a dual-chambered, centrifugal and compressive filtration apparatus having a central annular filter element, rotating external radial fins extending from adjacent the filter element to adjacent an outer cannister wall and internal fins within the annular filter element. The disclosed filter element is a continuous resilient, cylindrical, helical filter coil including a regular sinusoidal shape defining loop-shaped filter pores between adjacent coils.
US07993517B2
An automatically cleaned filter comprises a motor; a base above the motor; the base being formed with at least one filter seat, a water inlet, a water draining hole and an annular groove; at least one filter core installed on a respective one of the filter seat; the filtering material being formed on an outer side of the filter core; a cleaning unit installed on a center portion of the base; a bottom of the cleaning unit being connected to the spindle; a gear being installed at an upper side of the base and being engaged to the spindle; an upper cover combined to the base by using at least one supporting posts; a lower side of each filter core being installed with a gear; and the gear at the lower side of the filter core being engaged to the gear of the cleaning unit.
US07993505B2
In vitro electrochemical sensors that provide accurate and repeatable analysis of a sample of biological fluid are provided. Embodiments include sensors that include a sample chambers having overhangs extending therefrom.
US07993500B2
A low-voltage, low-energy electrochemical system and method of removing protons and/or producing a base solution using a gas diffusion anode and a cathode electrolyte comprising dissolved carbon dioxide, while applying 2V or less across the anode and cathode.
US07993486B2
The present invention relates to treatment units for the wet-chemical or electrolytic treatment of flat workpieces (1), such as metal foils, printed circuit foils or printed circuit boards, in which the workpieces (1) are transported on a conveying path by means of conveying members (6, 6′, 6″, 7). The treatment unit comprises carrier elements (4) with recesses (21), said carrier elements (4) being oriented to be parallel to the conveying path, and at least one module system for carrying the conveying members (6, 6′, 6″, 7) that consist of insertion elements (14, 26), preferably arranged in pairs, the at least one module system being configured such that it registers with and is preferably slidable into the recesses (21) of the carrier elements (4). The treatment unit is preferably utilized in horizontal conveyorized lines.
US07993484B2
Two-component assembly adhesives with high early tack, with component A containing 0.5 to 50% of polysaccharides, water, and water-soluble salt, and component B containing water, water-soluble salt, and polysaccharides, the adhesive also containing a water-soluble, water-dispersible polymer.
US07993477B2
A method and apparatus for Z-direction reinforcement of composite laminates is disclosed. Discrete fibers (25) are pulled through a fiber composite preform (11) in the Z-direction by needles (27) having bars (29) thereon to insert the Z-direction reinforcement (31) into the composite preform (11) from a discrete fiber mat (23) having discrete fibers (25) therein.
US07993469B1
Methods and tools for cleaning pipes or pipe networks based on characteristics of pipes and debris in the pipes. A mobile platform includes a cleaning head and a sensor head. The platform implements a cleaning plan and senses characteristics of the pipe and debris. The cleaning plan is incrementally updated based on the sensed characteristics, and can be automatically updated using software. Many different cleaning tasks can be accomplished using the present platforms including agitation of sediment, pulverization of large debris, and movement of debris to facilitate removal.
US07993468B2
A method for altering an initiation time of an apparatus sanitation cycle based upon a base line flow rate. The method may include determining an actual flow rate through the apparatus, comparing the actual flow rate to the base line flow rate, and delaying the initiation time of the apparatus sanitation cycle if the actual flow rate exceeds the base line flow rate.
US07993464B2
A method for laser surface cleaning of a target surface that has limited or no access to the environment directly above the surface to be cleaned. The method includes the ability to clean the surface with a reduced risk of substrate damage. The method includes direct laser excitation of a contaminated substrate surface and thermal transfer from the substrate to the contaminating particulate or contamination layer. The method also includes producing a thermally based removal and reducing a risk of substrate damage by keeping the temperature required to produce surface cleaning below the thermal damage level of the substrate material. In addition, the method includes reducing the risk of substrate damage by utilizing relatively long pulse-widths, providing for improved removal of small contaminants/particles, and directing the beam through a material disposed relative to the surface that is part of the substrates environmental enclosure.
US07993458B2
A gas exhaust unit evacuates the inside of a vacuum transfer chamber at a constant exhaust rate. An gas exhaust valve is kept normally open, and a purge gas (N2 gas) is supplied from a purge gas supply source into the vacuum transfer chamber via a mass flow controller (MFC) and an opening/closing valve. A main control unit controls a pressure in the vacuum transfer chamber to be within a specified range through a flow rate set value for the MFC while monitoring a pressure in the vacuum transfer chamber via a vacuum gauge. The main control unit determines occurrence of abnormality when the pressure exceeds a specified upper limit and then takes such actions as changing a flow rate set value for the MFC, giving an alarm and stopping the operation of a vacuum processing apparatus.
US07993454B2
A surface modified quartz glass crucible and a process for modifying the crucible includes a layer of a metal oxide on the whole or a part of the inside and/or outside of the crucible, and baking it. At least an inside surface of the crucible is coated with a said metal oxide of magnesium, calcium, strontium or barium. The coated layer of the crucible does not abrade easily and provides a high dislocation free ratio of silicon single crystals pulled by using the crucible.
US07993447B2
A pigment dispersed liquid prepared by heat-treating an aqueous pigment dispersion containing a self-dispersing pigment, but not a dispersing resin.
US07993432B2
An apparatus for capture of CO2 from the atmosphere comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air.
US07993428B2
A method for manufacturing molten iron comprises charging a carbonaceous material, a flux, and solid reduced iron obtained by thermally reducing carbon composite iron oxide agglomerates into an arc melting furnace and melting the solid reduced iron using arc heating in the melting furnace while an inert gas is blown into a molten iron layer from a bottom blowing tuyere on a bottom of the melting furnace, wherein: a carbonaceous material suspending slag layer is formed in an upper portion of a slag layer formed on the molten iron layer when the solid reduced iron is melted into the molten iron; a carbonaceous material coating layer having the carbonaceous material is formed on the carbonaceous material suspending slag layer; and the molten iron and the slag stored in the melting furnace are tapped from a tap hole formed in a lower portion of a furnace wall of the melting furnace.
US07993425B2
The present invention provides a free vortex air-oil separator that may be used in systems for separating oil from air oil mixtures. The free vortex air-oil separator comprises a free vortex chamber having a first chamber wall, a second chamber wall located axially aft from the first chamber wall and a rim located in a radially outer region from an axis of rotation, a plurality of vent holes in the rim and a cavity formed by the first and second chamber walls, and the rim, wherein a free vortex is created when there is a flow into the cavity through the plurality of vent holes.
US07993419B2
Abrasive tools contain abrasive grains oriented in an array according to a non-uniform pattern having an exclusionary zone around each abrasive grain, and the exclusionary zone has a minimum dimension that exceeds the maximum diameter of the desired grit size range for the abrasive grain. Methods for designing such a self-avoiding array of abrasive grain and for transferring such an array to an abrasive tool body are described.
US07993417B2
A connecting structure of PCB using an anisotropic conductive film according to the present invention having members connected to each other by heat-compression using the anisotropic conductive film including an insulating adhesive as a base material and conductive particles dispersed in the insulating adhesive, wherein at least any one of the members has a flexible property, and a surface roughness value (Ra) of the member having a flexible property is 0.1 to 5.0 μm due to dents formed by heat-compression.
US07993413B2
A valve system regulates the air pressure in the space(s) between a residual limb, or liner-covered limb, and a hard socket of an external prosthesis, and may include a manually-controlled air outlet and inlet valve on a distal region of a hard socket, and/or an automatic one-way outlet valve. The manually-controlled valve is opened and closed by partial rotation/twisting of a handle portion, which creates slight separation of the handle and base portions through which may pass air. The handle and base are prevented from becoming entirely separated during normal use by a snap-fit of the base onto the handle that retains the ability of the handle and base to rotate relative to each other by means of a ramp system, and a stop(s) that limit(s) the amount of relative rotation of the handle and base portions of the valve.
US07993411B2
An implantable drainage device for treatment of a stricture of a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a drainage tube including an inlet and extending to an outlet to define a drainage lumen formed through the inlet and the outlet. The drainage tube includes a swell layer and a cast layer formed about the swell layer. The swell layer has a first agent dispersed thereabout for regulated drug elution through the cast layer. The cast layer has a second agent disposed thereabout for drug elution therefrom.
US07993410B2
Disclosed is an esophageal stent placed in a stenosed part of the esophagus having a flexible tube to prevent the reverse flow of gastric contents from the stomach is coupled to the lower end of the esophageal stent. The flexible tube has an inside membrane and an outside membrane adhered to each other, thus having a twofold structure with at least one core longitudinally placed between the adhered inside and outside membranes while the core extends from the upper end toward the lower end of the flexible tube. Thus, the flexible tube is prevented from being inverted, and prevents the reverse flow of the gastric contents, and maximizes the operational reliability of the esophageal stent. The flexible tube does not cause a patient pain or discomfort due to frictional contact of the tube with the inner surface of the stomach when the tube moves in the stomach.
US07993406B2
Open chambered spacers, implanting tools and methods are provided. The spacers 500′ include a body 505′ having a wall 506′ which defines a chamber 530′ and an opening 531′ in communication with the chamber 530′. In one embodiment the wall 506′ includes a pair of arms 520′, 521′ facing one another and forming a mouth 525′ to the chamber 530′. Preferably, one of the arms 520′ is truncated relative to the other, forming a channel 526. In one aspect the body 505′ does a bone dowel comprise an off-center plug from the diathesis of a long bone. The tools 800 include spacer engaging means for engaging a spacer and occlusion means for blocking an opening defined in the spacer. In some embodiments, the occlusion means 820 includes a plate 821 extendable from the housing 805. In one specific embodiment the plate 821 defines a groove 822 which is disposed around a fastener 830 attached to the housing 805 so that the plate 821 is sliceable relative to the housing 805.
US07993393B2
A highly flexible tissue-type heart valve is disclosed having a structural stent in a generally cylindrical configuration with cusps and commissures that are permitted to move radially. The stent commissures are constructed so that the cusps are pivotably or flexibly coupled together at the commissures to permit relative movement therebetween. The stent may be cloth-covered and may be a single element or may be made in three separate elements for a three cusp valve, each element having a cusp portion and two commissure portions; adjacent commissure portions for each pair of adjacent stent element combining to form the stent commissures. If the stent has separate elements their commissure portions may be pivotably or flexible coupled, or may be designed to completely separate into independent leaflets at bioresorbable couples. The cloth covering may have an outwardly projecting flap that mates with valve leaflets (e.g., pericardial leaflets) along the cusps and commissures. A connecting band may be provided that follows the cusps and commissures and extends outwardly. The valve is connected to the natural tissue along the undulating connecting band using conventional techniques, such as sutures. The connecting band may be a cloth-covered silicon member and attaches to the underside of the valve at the cusps to provide support to the stent and to the outer side of the valve at the commissures. The connecting band includes commissure portions defining generally axial gaps that help permit flexing of the valve.
US07993391B2
Medical devices, for example, implantable devices such as endoprostheses, include a composite material having a polymer.
US07993389B2
A tool-carrying catheter, comprising: an elongate body adapted for insertion into a blood vessel; a tool section attached to a distal side of said body; and a guide-channel adapted to carry at least a guide-wire, wherein said catheter includes an entry port into said guide-channel for said guide wire and wherein said tool includes a distal exit for said guide wire from said guide-channel, defined in a side of said tool.
US07993388B2
A stent defining a longitudinal axis is disclosed. A plurality of circumferential support structures are spaced-apart along the longitudinal axis. At least some of the circumferential support structures are interconnected by connection members that extend generally in a circumferential direction.
US07993385B2
The method and apparatus for caged stent delivery is provided herein. The device can be used to position and deliver any type of stent to a preselected treatment site within an intraluminal cavity. The device comprises a tubular portion, a plurality of arms attached to the distal end of the tubular portion, and a mechanism to open the arms. In operation, the caged device carries a stent in a constricted form to the treatment site for deployment. The arms of the cage are then opened, the stent released and deployed, and the device withdrawn. Several methods are provided to open the arms, including various pullwires, a piston, an electrolytic joint, and an activator. The arms may be constructed of a shape memory alloy and opened when shape memory behavior is effected. The device may be used with conventional catheters or used with a stent-loaded guidewire.
US07993371B2
Embodiments for a spinal construct system including a spinal fixation plate attachable to fixture element in end-to-end fashion with a coupling mechanism that axially and torsionally constrains the first and second rods to one another. In one form, the end-to-end attachment arrangement is aligned along a common axis of the rods. In another form, the axes of the rods are offset laterally relative to one another.
US07993368B2
Provided herein are suture clips that include a plug, a ring, and a shaft. Also provided is a catheter that includes a collet cage with a plurality of flexible collet fingers that engage a suture clip ring and a suture clip plug for assembly with a suture. The catheter is designed to hold and assemble the suture clip in a first position and release the suture clip and sever the suture ends proximal to the suture clip in a second position.
US07993367B2
Apparatus and methods for sealing a puncture through tissue includes an introducer sheath sized for introduction into a puncture, cartridge sized for insertion into the introducer carrying a sealant, and a locking element for coupling the introducer sheath to the cartridge. When the cartridge is advanced into the introducer sheath, the locking element couples the introducer sheath to the cartridge such that subsequent retraction of the cartridge causes the introducer sheath to retract, thereby deploying the sealant from the cartridge within the puncture beyond the introducer sheath.
US07993355B2
A method and device provides features for the temporary “parking” of sutures with respect to a cannula. In the preferred embodiments the features are slots that maintain tension on, and orientation of, sutures placed therein. The slots or features may be integral with the cannula or part of a separate device which may be removably affixed to the external portion of a cannula. In addition, the opening(s) used for instrument-passing are off-center, thereby reducing if not elimination outward sprays during use. The invention eliminates the multiple steps inherent in current suture management techniques for arthroscopic procedures, particularly rotator cuff repair and assists in tensioning/advancement of tissue into its repair site.
US07993350B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for providing access to a body lumen, e.g., to deliver a pacing lead within a patient's heart. The apparatus includes a tubular member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a body lumen, and a lumen extending therebetween. An elongate member extends from the distal end of the tubular member. An expandable sheath extends along at least a portion of the elongate member, the sheath being expandable from a contracted condition to facilitate insertion into a body lumen, and an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen communicating with the tubular member lumen. A stylet or other shaped element is insertable into the elongate member for changing a shape of at least a distal tip of the elongate member, e.g., for accessing side branches extending from a body lumen, e.g., within a patient's coronary venous system.
US07993347B1
Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.
US07993343B2
An extractable device is used to insert a medicinal filling into a vertebral body. The device comprises a filling member and a pasty medicine. The filling member is made of a flexible and permeable wall and is provided with a holding portion and an injection port via which the pasty medicine is injected into the holding portion after the filling member is inserted into the vertebral body. The holding portion is provided with an opening which is releasably lashed by one end of one or more threads so as to make the opening leakproof. Upon completion of solidification of the pasty medicine in the holding portion of the filling member, other end of the thread is pulled to unlash the opening of the holding portion, thereby enabling the filling member to be extracted from the vertebral body so as to leave only the medicine in the vertebral body.
US07993342B2
An apparatus includes a shaft, a rod, a portion of which is disposed within the shaft, a first knob and a second knob. The first knob is coupled to the shaft and configured to engage the rod such that the rod translates within the shaft when the first knob is rotated. The second knob is coupled to the rod such that the rod rotates within the shaft when the second knob is rotated.
US07993341B2
A navigated orthopaedic guide is provided for establishing datums used to position subsequent components during an orthopaedic surgical procedure.
US07993339B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for argon-plasma coagulation in which working gas is supplied to a tissue that is to be treated by passage through gas-supply devices (20) in a supply-flow direction, and the working gas flows out of a distal end of the gas-supply devices. This apparatus for argon-plasma coagulation is further developed with the aim of preventing contamination of the gas-supply devices by working gas, bodily gases and/or bodily liquids. For this purpose at least one obstructor (30) is provided, which is or can be connected to the gas-supply devices and serves to obstruct a flow of gas and/or liquid into the gas-supply devices, against a supply-flow direction.
US07993337B2
A circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein is described. The assembly includes a circumferential oblation clement which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator. A pattern of insulators may be included over an ablation element which otherwise spans the working length in order to form the equatorial band described.
US07993324B2
Methods are provided for partial aortic occlusion for cerebral perfusion augmentation in patients suffering from global or focal cerebral ischemia. The descending aorta is accessed. A device is then located downstream from the takeoff of the brachiocephalic artery. The device is operated to at least partially obstruct blood flow in the aorta during systole and diastole. A physiologic parameter can be measured. The device can then be adjusted to modify the degree of obstruction based on the measured physiologic parameter.
US07993320B2
An incontinence article comprising front and back belly sections connected at side seams forming belly and back bands, continuous in the hip direction having a hip opening closed in the hip direction, and a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between and permanently attached to the belly and back sections, wherein the crotch, belly, and back sections define leg openings, the belly and back sections have an edge contour extending towards a transverse center axis, wherein first elastification means in the belly and back sections extend parallel to each other in the hip direction and wherein, in the belly and back sections, second elastification means extend from two side seam areas towards a longitudinal center axis of the article in a curved shape, thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other, where the second elastification means fan out, the restoring force from extensive stretching of this area is smaller than that from extensive stretching of an area on the hip side, having only the first elastification means.
US07993315B2
A sperm collecting apparatus is provided and includes a container including a cylindrical container main unit that has an opening portion on at least one end face in a longitudinal direction thereof and a cap that is attached to and detached from the opening portion of the container main unit to close and open the opening portion, and a core member which is accommodated in said container and has an insertion room extending from an insertion port at one end face in a longitudinal direction therein. The core member includes a core main unit having said insertion port and the insertion room and a plurality of ribs provided upright from an outer face of the core main unit to cross one another, and sealed rooms are formed through the outer face of the core main unit.
US07993312B2
A urinary device for use by a person has an elongate tube having an outside wall, an inside wall and a length, a cup for collecting urine, the cup of greater diameter than the tube, formed at a free end of the tube, substantially concentric with the tube, for placing over the person's urethra, and a shield formed about the outside wall of the tube, near the cup, substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube, the shield having a concave surface facing the cup shaped to conform to a user's pubic area.
US07993309B2
A luer cleaner (100) including a generally hollow body (112) having an open first end (104), a closed second end (106), and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough between the first end and the second end. The first end (104) is sized to receive therein a luer connector (190) proximal end and includes a plurality of bristles (134) extending generally toward the longitudinal axis sufficiently to engage the outer surfaces of the luer proximal end disposed therein. The second end comprises a compressible reservoir (166) containing a fluid (168), wherein, when the second end is compressed, the fluid is transmitted from the reservoir toward the first end through passageways to wet the luer proximal end. A method for cleaning luer connectors is also disclosed.
US07993306B2
A site for a subcutaneous infusion device includes a base positionable relative to skin of a patient, and a cannula extending from the base and configured to be introduced into a subcutaneous layer of skin of the patient at a generally ninety-degree angle with respect to the skin using a needle. The cannula includes first and second ends and defines a bore extending from the first end to the second end, the first end being coupled to the base. The cannula includes a tapered wall portion formed between the first and second ends and extending from adjacent to the base towards the second end of the cannula, the tapered wall portion being tapered from a greater wall thickness to a lesser wall thickness as the tapered wall portion extends from the base towards the second end.
US07993302B2
A device for removing material from a patient's body comprising a shaft and an adhesive carrying surface extending from the shaft. The adhesive carrying surface is movable with respect to the shaft and has an adhesive on at least a portion of its outer surface. The adhesive has sufficient stickiness to adhere to a body material to remove the material when the shaft is removed from the patient's body.
US07993301B2
The present invention relates to drive mechanisms suitable for use in drug delivery devices, in particular pen-type injectors, wherein a number of pre-set doses of medicinal product can be administered. In particular, the present invention relates to such drug delivery devices where a user may activate the drug delivery device.
US07993300B2
The present invention relates to a method for ensuring a constant target speed of a battery driven electrical motor, the battery driven electrical motor being adapted to move a piston rod in an injection device so as to inject a set dose of medicine from the injection device, the method comprising the steps of setting a first target speed to be reached by the motor, determining whether the first target speed can be reached, and, if the first target speed can be reached, maintaining the first target speed until a set dose of medicine has been injected from the injection device, or if the first target speed cannot been reached, setting a second target speed.
US07993298B2
The invention relates to a hose set for a device (1) for insufflation of gas into a human or animal body, comprising a first hose portion (2) including a first port (3) and a second port (4), said first port being connectable to the device (1) for insufflation, comprising a second hose portion (5) including a third port (6) and a fourth port (7), said fourth port (7) being connectable to an insufflation instrument (8), wherein said second port (4) comprises a first connecting element (9) and said third port (6) comprises a second connecting element (10), said first connecting element (9) and said second connecting element (10) being mechanically complementary with respect to each other, by means of said connecting elements (9, 10) said second port (4) and said third port (6) being connectable with each other in a gas-tight manner, and wherein said second or said third port (6) comprises a sterile filter element (11), which spans the inner cross section of said third port (6).
US07993290B2
A system is disclosed for providing feedback regarding chest compressions in CPR comprising a measuring unit, a processing unit and a display unit, where the measuring unit comprises a depth measuring device, a force measuring device, or both. The processing unit comprises a depth signal device and/or a force signal device and a threshold device. The processing unit is adapted to output a signal depending on the values of depth and/or force signals with respect to the thresholds. The display unit comprises at least one indicator and is adapted to activate the indicators based on the output from the processing device. The system thus measures and processes chest compressions and provides feedback to the user with respect to the characteristics of the compressions.
US07993288B2
Various methods, techniques or modules are provided to allow for the automated analysis of the 3-D representation of the upper front torso (i) to recognize 3-D anatomical features, (ii) to orient the subject with reference to their anatomy or a display, (iii) to determine dimensional analysis including direct point-to-point lines, 3-D surface lines, and volume values, (iv) to simulate the outcome with the addition of breast implants including breast and nipple positioning, (v) to assist in the selection of the breast implants, and/or (vi) to assist in the planning of breast surgery. The automated analysis is based on the analysis of changes in a 3-D contour map of the upper torso, orientation analysis of 3-D features and planes, color analysis of 3-D features, and/or dimensional analysis of 3-D features and positions of the upper torso.
US07993287B2
An endoscopic wire guide apparatus for insertion through an insertion tube of an endoscope having an accessory port, the endoscope being configured for advancement into a patient. The apparatus comprises a wire guide disposed through the insertion tube for delivery into the patient. The wire guide has a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion has a first diameter and the proximal portion has a second diameter less than the first diameter. The first diameter is more rigid than the second diameter. The second diameter is configured to allow the proximal portion to collapse when proximally extending through the accessory port of the endoscope and the distal portion extends at least partially beyond the distal end of the insertion tube.
US07993283B1
A method and apparatus for non-invasive analysis of saliva includes a user friendly lolli-pop like apparatus that is self contained and provides the user with a method to obtain saliva by sucking or licking on the pop head, the saliva activates a color change reaction on the apparatus that results in a color visual response that can be compared to a color coded alphanumeric gauge for analysis in monitoring health conditions and concerns.
US07993282B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for collecting a sample (such as, but not limited to, a tissue sample) from a body, such as the body of a casualty, while simultaneously tagging the body with an identifier.
US07993275B2
The invention features a monitoring device that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g. blood pressure). The device features a first sensor configured to attach to a first portion of the patient's body that includes: i) a first electrode configured to generate a first electrical signal from the first portion of the patient's body; ii) a first light-emitting component; and iii) a first photodetector configured to receive radiation from the first portion of the patient's body after the radiation is emitted by the first light-emitting component and in response generate a first optical waveform. The device also features a second sensor that includes essentially the same components. An amplifier system, in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes, receives first and second electrical signals from the two sensors to generate an electrical waveform. A processor, in electrical contact with the amplifier system, receives the electrical waveform, the first optical waveform, and the second optical waveform. The processor runs computer code that processes the input waveforms with an algorithm to determine at least one of the patient's vital signs.
US07993274B2
Systems, methods and computer products for automatically extracting automatically cardiac calcifications and obtaining a centerline in the tracking. Exemplary embodiments include a method of cardiac diagnostics, the method including obtaining coronary tree segmentation to obtain cardiac volume information, splitting the volume into portions to obtain an adjacency graph, computing a mean of a sub-volume of the volume, obtaining gray value segmentation of the sub-volume, defining a centerline of a blood vessel that avoids calcifications within the blood vessel and detecting an actual centerline of the blood vessel and enhancing lumen visualization of the blood vessel.
US07993260B2
An extracardiac pumping for supplementing the circulation of blood, including the cardiac output, in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, and methods of using same. One embodiment provides a vascular graft that has a first end that is sized and configured to couple to a non-primary blood vessel and a second end that is fluidly coupled to a pump to conduct blood between the pump and the non-primary blood vessel. An outflow conduit is also provided that has a first end sized and configured to be positioned within the same or different blood vessel, whether primary or non-primary, through the vascular graft. The outflow conduit is fluidly coupled to the pump to conduct blood between the pump and the patient. The vascular graft may be connected to the blood vessel subcutaneously to permit application of the extracardiac pumping system in a minimally-invasive procedure.
US07993247B1
The present invention relates to a sit down exercise apparatus operated in a chair position where foot operated pedals and arm operated handles follow oblong paths. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with motion of the feet. The foot pedals fold away from the operator to allow easy ingress and egress as well as arm exercise only. The handles for arm exercise fold away from the operator for foot only exercise and easy stowage. The exercise apparatus is wheelchair friendly and has a security connector to prevent tipback during operation. Arm exercise can passively exercise the feet or foot exercise can passively exercise the arms.
US07993246B1
An improved exercising machine comprising a framework, support members carried by the framework, a pair of guide assemblies with at least two degrees of freedom mounted on a respective support member for movement of the respective guide assembly, a pressure bar or handle moveably connected to a guide assembly, at least one resistive means connected to the framework, force transfer means providing connection between the respective guide assemblies and the resistive means, and dampening means to dampen the movement of the respective guide assembly slidable members which serve to prevent sudden and erratic movements of the guide assembly slidable members.
US07993230B2
A hydromechanical powertrain for a ground vehicle. The powertrain, more specifically a transmission, includes an input shaft that is coupled to a rotational power source and an output shaft that is coupled to a load. A first hydrostatic unit coupled to a first gear, while a second hydrostatic unit is selectively coupled to one of a pair of clutches. The first of the clutches has a first clutch gear that is selectably coupled to a first mode gear, which is in turn rotationally fixed to the output shaft. The second of clutches has a second clutch gear that is selectively coupled to a second mode gear, which is in turn rotationally fixed to the input shaft. Also coupled to the input shaft is a planetary gear set.
US07993223B2
A bat for baseball or softball of the present invention includes a first tube having an impact part, a step part and a stopper part, a cylindrical second tube, a fixing component being inserted between the first tube and second tube, the step part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the impact part and smaller than an interior diameter of the second tube, the stopper part having an exterior diameter larger than that of the step part and large than the interior diameter of the second tube, the second tube is held of an exterior periphery of the impact part, one end of the second tube is fixed between the stopper part and the step part by an adhesive and the other end is fixed by an adhesive on the fixing component, and a crevice is formed between the first tube and the second tube.
US07993222B2
The inventions published consist of ‘split-level step’ between bat handle and contact section. This said step provides the newly inventions here the concept of critical holding points (called as C.H.P.)for the thumb, forefinger and any of other three fingers. These fingers can grip firmly onto the said step. This allows better swing of the bat, angle control, flexibility of bat manipulation and power. These C.H.P. also provides the proper gripping areas so that finger deformation problem is less likely to happen.In addition, it is less strainuous physically for the wrist and fingers, so the better power and performance of the players can be maintained longer naturally throughout the games.Besides, the invented C.H.P.concept can also be achieved (although it is less ideal compared to the ‘split level Step’) without adopting the ‘split-level step’(that is with the bend/joint angle between the split level equals zero degree) by having ‘raised-height-block’ or raised step or ‘prolonged bottom handle’ front and/or at the back of the bat (see Y & Z in FIGS. 3,4,5,6 & 7) so as to act as the C.H.P. as found in the split-leveled step (see X in FIGS. 2,4 & 7) (Note: to use drawing 7 for article publication purpose).
US07993221B2
A lacrosse head in which one of the opposing sidewall portions is shortened by bringing its lower rim upward relative to the corresponding lower rim of the opposing sidewall. At the same time, the upper rim of each of the opposing sidewalls is maintained at the same level. This moves the pivot point of the shortened sidewall closer to the player's hands and allows faster clamping when facing-off. Faster clamping likely results in an increased number of “wins”, or possessions, that occur after the face-off.
US07993220B2
An exercise racquet to aid in the playing development of the user. The racquet incorporates a handle and a solid planar member extending from the handle. The planar member has a centrally located stabilizer member including a longitudinally concave length located on both surfaces of the planar member, the longitudinal concave length having curved wings with downwardly extending shoulders so that the planar member provides resistance to the racquet being stroked through the air and a stabilizer member to prevent the racquet from lifting.
US07993215B1
A golf club head can, for example, include a striking component with a forward surface to strike golf balls and an arrow-like component, such as a stylus, behind the forward surface; a user can see the arrow-like component pointing approximately in an optimal direction for striking a ball. Also, in addition to a front part with a forward surface between its lateral ends, a club head can include two parts that extend rearward from the lateral ends and support a weight part at a distance from the forward surface. Also, to prevent twisting about a lateral center of mass when a ball is hit, the front part can include upper and lower lobe-like portions with connections at their lateral ends and with a less connected region between, such as a gap or a thin connecting portion. A hosel can be connected to the upper lobe-like portion between the end connections.
US07993203B1
A control mechanism adapter for a game console having a circular base with an upper surface, an under surface, and a central opening, wherein the central opening allows a user's finger to rest directly on the control mechanism of a game console. There are legs on the under surface of said base, and attachment elements on the legs to attach the base to a control mechanism of a game console. The base has two raised control elements on the upper surface and on opposing sides of the base. The open center allows the user's thumb to rest on the same standard control geometry that the user is accustomed to using. The user has the option to press against the raised elements, either laterally or with the tip of the thumb. The raised element feature allows the user to manipulate the control lever with less downward muscular force and with improved dexterity.
US07993200B2
To provide a game device that allows a user to relatively easily judge a time at which a length of a gauge becomes a length with which desired processing is executed. A first gauge control unit (72) controls the gauge to expand or contract according to continued of pressing of an operation member. A second gauge control unit (74) controls the gauge to expand or contract according to the continued pressing of the operation member, and in particular, switches a change to be given to the gauge between expansion and contraction based on a numerical value output from a controller according to a pressing force with respect to the operation member. A gauge control switching unit (70) causes the second gauge control unit (74) to start gauge control when a length of the gauge is set to a predetermined status by the first gauge control unit (72). A game processing execution unit (80) executes game processing based on the length of the gauge when release of the pressing of the operation member is detected.
US07993196B2
A gaming machine and method for conducting a wagering game includes at least one string of symbols for indicating an outcome of the wagering game wherein additional symbols are introduced into the string of symbols to produce winning combinations of symbols. Upon achieving a winning combination, the winning combination is removed from the string of symbols and the remaining symbols move together to form another string of symbols. The process is repeated and subsequent strings of symbols are evaluated for additional winning combinations.
US07993190B2
An interactive computerized game system including a visual display, one or more user input devices, and a processor executing software that interacts with the display and input device(s) is disclosed. The software displays images avatars. At least one of the user input devices is a touchscreen. During gameplay, the gameplayer may select at least one avatar using the touchscreen and initiate a skill-based action sub-game. The gameplayer may provide additional input using the touchscreen. An animation is displayed in response to user input satisfying an objective of the sub-game.
US07993184B2
The invention relates to an arrangement in a mobile machine for screeding floor surfaces. This comprises a housing with a planet disk (3), which is rotatably supported in the bottom of the said housing and driven by a drive motor (1). The planet disk carries a number of rotatably supported screeding disks, distributed over the planet disk (3) and operatively connected to the drive motor (1). According to the invention the number of screeding disks is an even number up to a maximum of six. Viewed in the direction of rotation of the planet disk (3), half the number of screeding disks have a direction of rotation coinciding with the planet disk (3) and the remaining screeding disks an opposing direction of rotation.
US07993179B2
An exposure method that suppresses distribution of pattern shapes at the time of exposure.In a manufacturing method for a display unit, a layer forming a reference for pattern arrangement is determined among layers formed on a panel. An arrangement of a pattern in a layer above the reference layer is determined using a value obtained from distribution of the pattern arrangement in the reference layer.
US07993172B2
A system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second steering nozzles and corresponding first and second reversing buckets, comprises a processor configured to receive a first vessel control signal including at least a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in a port direction, and that is configured to provide a set of actuator control signals coupled to and control the first and second reversing buckets. The processor is configured to provide the set of actuator control signals so as to maintain the first reversing bucket substantially in a first discrete position and the second reversing bucket substantially in a second discrete position as long as the first vessel control signal includes a component corresponding to a translational thrust command in the port direction.
US07993171B2
In an apparatus for controlling a small boat having a hull and two outboard motors mounted on a stern of the hull and an actuator adapted to open/close a throttle valve of each engine of the motors for regulating speed of the engine, acceleration acting on the boat in a direction of gravity axis when the boat ascends or descends the ocean wave and angular acceleration about the gravity is detected and a correction amount of the engine speed is calculated based on the detected acceleration so as to change behavior of the boat, thereby mitigating a burden on the operator and improving stability of the boat.
US07993164B2
A power adapter for extending power from an electrical power source to a electrical device. The power adapter includes an adapter body, including an exchange surface, having one or more sets of interior electrical contacts. The power adapter further includes an end section that is attachable and detachable from the body. The end section includes (i) a set of end section interior electrical contact elements that make contact with the at least one set of interior electrical contacts, and (ii) a plug connector, electrically connected to the set of end section interior electrical contacts, and adapted to mate with a corresponding electrical receptacle.
US07993163B2
A modular jack connector (100) includes a contact module (2) having a paddle board (21) and a magnetic module (23). The magnetic module includes a number of magnetic cores (231) embedded in the paddle board, and a number of PCB layout traces (232, 233) arranged in each side face of the paddle board. The PCB layout traces on each side face includes a primary group of PCB layout traces (232a, 233a) having one group of tips (2322, 2331) extending to a position adjacent to corresponding magnetic core to form a magnetic field and another group of tips (2321, 2332) connected to a conductive section (2111, 2121) of the paddle board, and a secondary group of PCB layout traces (232b, 233b) having one group of tips (2323, 2333) extending to a position adjacent to corresponding magnetic core to form a magnetic field and another group of tips (2324, 2334) connected to vias of the paddle board.
US07993157B2
A housing having a first portion and a second portion for holding a cable device presenting a plurality of cables extending to a communication plate extending to an output outlet to cooperate with external devices. A locking device defined in the second portion to receive the plurality of cables and prevent movement of the plurality of cables relative within the housing. The housing is formed from metals, metal alloys, and combination thereof.
US07993152B2
An electrical connector (100) electrically connects a chip of a first width. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing (2), a number of contacts (3), a connecting member (4), and an actuator (5) mounted on the insulative housing. The connecting member has a connecting region electrically connectable with the chip. The connecting region has a second width not less than the first width. The actuator is formed with a pair of first side walls (51) and a pair of restricting portions (514) respectively protruding inwardly from the pair of first side walls. The pair of restricting portions are spaced a distance substantially equal to the second width to guidingly restrict the chip in the connecting region.
US07993151B2
A shielded insertion and connection structure for a flat cable connector includes a receiving housing and a hold-down member. The receiving housing forms a receiving compartment and two side walls formed at opposite ends of the receiving compartment. The hold-down member has opposite ends that respectively form pivot structures for pivotal coupling to the side walls and rotation between an open position and a holding position. The hold-down member is made of metal and the receiving housing is at least partly made of metal to form a conduction section, which is connected to a grounding terminal. When the hold-down member is at the open position and a circuit flat cable is inserted into the receiving compartment, the hold-down member is operated to depress and hold the circuit flat cable and the hold-down member is put in electrical connection with the grounding terminal through the conduction section.
US07993148B2
A coaxial switching jack with a pair of coaxial assemblies mounted within a housing having a pair of front cable connection locations is disclosed. The coaxial assemblies each include a center conductor and an outer shield conductor. The center conductors are connected by a first spring and the shell conductors are connected by a second spring. Insertion of a coaxial cable connector within one of the front cable connection locations deflects the springs from the corresponding coaxial assembly and disconnects the center and shell conductors of the two assemblies. The jack may also be configured to provide an electrical connection between the center and shell conductors of the second coaxial assembly if a coaxial cable connector is inserted within the first coaxial assembly. The connection between the center and shell conductors of the second coaxial assembly may be through a resistor assembly allowing for selection of a desired electrical impedance.
US07993145B1
A socket connector (100) adapted for electrically connecting a package to a printed circuit board comprises a substrate (2) and a plurality of contacts (3), the substrate (2) comprises a top surface (21), a bottom surface (22) opposite to the top surface (21) and a plurality of passageways (211) impenetrate the top surface (21) and the bottom surface (22), the contact (3) is partly received in the passageway (211) and comprises a body portion (31), at least one leg (33) extends downwardly from the body portion (31) and a spring arm (32) extends upwardly from the body portion (31), the body portion (31) is attached to the top surface of the substrate (2) and the leg (33) goes through the passageway (211) to position the contact (3) on the substrate (2).
US07993144B2
A receptacle RF connector includes an outer shell having a third unsealed tubular frame, at least a cutout is defined around the third unsealed tubular frame and runs through a lower periphery downwardly, each cutout has an upper periphery and is located under a locking tuber correspondingly, the upper periphery of each cutout keeps a predetermined distance with a top face of the dielectric block, so as to avoid the overloaded stress loaded on the receptacle RF connector caused by the plug RF connector.
US07993142B2
The present invention provides a display board assembly including a display board having a dry-erase surface, a recess in the dry-erase surface of the display board, and a support member removably received at least partially within the recess and defining at least one receptacle configured to receive at least one of a dry-erase marker and an eraser.
US07993135B2
A dental apparatus provides a substantially uniform concentration of abrasive material entrained in a pressurized gas to a desired location substantially irrespective the amount of abrasive material in a pressurized container of the apparatus, and resists clogging by the abrasive material. The apparatus includes a control unit having a container that secures the abrasive material, the abrasive material in the container becoming entrained in pressurized gas received from a dental unit. The concentration of the mixture of entrained abrasive material in pressurized gas is maintained by upwardly directing the flow of the mixture in a first conduit against a cap, a portion of the entrained abrasive material returning to the container, with the regulated mixture of entrained abrasive material in pressurized gas being delivered through a hand piece to the desired location.
US07993133B2
A digital orthodontic treatment planning system provides a practitioner with a digital representation of at least a part of a tooth of a patient within a three-dimensional environment. The practitioner may provide input indicative of a desired movement for a tooth of a patient via a user interface. Based on the desired movement for the tooth, a position of a virtual orthodontic appliance is calculated. The digital representation of the tooth may be moved in accordance with the adjusted position of the virtual orthodontic appliance. In this way, the system provides the practitioner with the perception that the input is being directly applied to the tooth, whereas the input is being indirectly applied to the tooth.
US07993131B2
A burner comprises a body, a nozzle, and at least one attachment element for removably attaching the nozzle to the body. The body defines an oxidant inlet, a feedstock inlet, a body outlet, and one or more passages for conveying the oxidant from the oxidant inlet to the body outlet and for conveying the gasification feedstock from the feedstock inlet to the body outlet. The nozzle defines a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet, wherein the nozzle inlet is configured to receive the oxidant and the gasification feedstock from the body outlet and the nozzle outlet is configured to discharge the oxidant and the gasification feedstock into the reaction chamber. The at least one attachment element removably attaches the nozzle to the body such that the nozzle inlet is in fluid flow communication with the body outlet when the nozzle is attached to the body.
US07993126B2
Apparatus and methods of modify a reciprocating mold plate patty-forming machine such that a mold plate for a smaller machine can be fit into a larger forming machine. A tooling set for the modification includes a dedicated drawbar configured to mount the smaller mold plate and modified wider spacers to closely meet the smaller mold plate within the forming machine. An adapter system selectively mounts either a first mold plate having a first set of keyholes or a second mold plate having a second set of keyholes, different than the first set of keyholes to a single reciprocating mold plate patty-forming machine. The adapter system can include first and second sets of adapters and a drawbar having provision for connection at opposite ends to driving rods of the drive system. The first set of adapters have keys corresponding to the first set of keyholes, and the second set of adapters having keys corresponding to the second set of keyholes, the first and second set of adapters being selectively attached to the drawbar.
US07993124B2
To fabricate a composite item, an infrared heat source is energized and a composite material is dispensed. The composite material includes a reinforcement and a resin. In addition, the composite material is applied to a substrate of previously applied composite material. The infrared heat source is configured to emit a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the resin to a relatively greater extent than the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the reinforcement.
US07993120B2
A compressor (20) has at least a first rotor (26; 28) at least partially within a bore (276; 278) of a housing. A slide valve element (102; 300) is positioned at least partially within a channel (200; 301) in the housing and has a first surface facing the first rotor. The slide valve element includes a body (268; 302) and a coating (270; 306) on the body. The coating forms the first surface.
US07993118B2
A rotor assembly for a supercharger assembly is provided. The rotor assembly includes at least one lobe defining at least one cavity. The at least one cavity is configured to contain a fluid operable to cool the at least one lobe. A supercharger incorporating the rotor assembly is also disclosed.
US07993115B2
A pump including a bore formed in a modulator block and connected with a suction port and a discharge port is provided. The pump includes a piston installed in the bore in a reciprocating movable manner and defining an inlet path therein, an inlet valve to open or close an exit-side end of the inlet path according to a position of the piston, and an outlet valve provided at one side of the bore, operations of the inlet and outlet valves being contrary to each other. The outlet valve includes a valve seat, a sleeve to surround the valve seat, an outlet ball interposed between the sleeve and the valve seat and used to open or close a path defined in the valve seat, and a valve cap provided at one side of the sleeve to isolate an interior from an exterior of the bore.
US07993108B2
A portable pumping system provides insulin or other drugs to a user. A shape memory element is used to actuate the pump and an intelligent system controls the actuator in order to minimize stresses within the system and provide accurate and reliable dosage delivery. The control system utilizes various types of feedback to monitor and optimize the position of the pumping mechanisms. Physical design aspects also minimize stress and the combination of the physical design aspects and the intelligent operation of the system results in a lightweight and cost effective pump that may be used in a disposable fashion if desired.
US07993106B2
A core, for use in a casting mould to form a cavity in a cast component such as a blade or vane of a gas turbine engine. The core has a relatively fragile thin-walled region. A bead is formed along a lateral edge of the thin-walled portion in order to reduce cracking or other damage in the thin-walled portion.
US07993105B2
A hollow fan blade for a gas turbine engine provides improved resistance to buckling without adding wall thickness. The hollow fan blade includes a pressure side wall and a suction side wall separated and supported by ribs. In the present invention, each wall segment between each adjacent pair of ribs is straight, not curved. At least some of the adjacent walls segments extend at non-parallel angles relative to one another to form the airfoil shape to the hollow fan blade. The resulting fan blade side walls have faceted surfaces, rather than a continuous smooth, curved surface. The straight wall segments between adjacent ribs can withstand higher compressive forces without buckling. As a result, the wall thickness can be reduced.
US07993101B2
A nickel base alloy is provided which includes the following components by weight: Co: 2.75 to 3.25% Cr: 11.5 to 12.5% Mo: 2.75 to 3.25% Al: 3.75 to 4.25% Ti: 4.1 to 4.9% Ta: 1.75 to 2.25% C: 0.006 to 0.04% B: ≦0.01% Zr: ≦0.01% Hf: ≦1.25% Nb: ≦1.25% balance Ni.
US07993084B2
A fastener includes a fastener body having a screw opening, a plurality of resilient fastener fingers extending from the fastener body, a finger tooth extending from each of the plurality of fastener fingers and a fastener screw extending through the screw opening and between the plurality of fastener fingers. The fastener screw is adapted for push installation through the screw opening and between the plurality of fastener fingers and threaded removal from the screw opening and between the plurality of fastener fingers.
US07993080B2
A retaining wall comprises a plurality of layers made from geocells. The retaining wall has a capping layer at the top of the wall, wherein the ratio of the length of the capping layer to the height of the retaining wall is at least 0.8. The retaining wall also has at least one stacking layer and may further comprise a reinforcing layer made of geogrids or, preferably, geocells. The reinforcing geocells have a height that is less than the height of the capping layer geocell.
US07993075B2
A control system for heating a screed assembly of a paving machine is provided. The control system includes a plurality of resistive heating elements positioned adjacent to a screed plate of the screed assembly. An electrical power supply is selectively connected with the resistive heating elements via switches operated by a controller. The controller is responsive to inputs from at least manual switches and temperature sensors. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the temperature of the screed plate by selectively energizing fewer than all of the resistive heating elements at a time.
US07993072B2
A restrictor plate assembly is disclosed. The assembly is adapted for being positioned within a catch basin throat so that the throat extends rearward of the assembly. The assembly has a longitudinally extending restrictor plate and a restrictor plate securing system, which includes a first clamp arm, pivotally positioned against the restrictor plate, for engaging a first throat surface of the catch basin; a second clamp arm pivotally positioned against the restrictor plate, for engaging a second throat surface of the catch basin, the second throat surface opposing the first throat surface; and an urging member which simultaneously urges the first and second clamp arms against the first and second throat surfaces, respectively.
US07993062B2
A rotating combination thrust plate and thrust shaft flange (10), and a thrust bearing assembly (40) incorporating the rotating flange plate combination (10), in which the rotating flange plate combination (10) has a generally cylindrical body portion (22) which has a rotating base surface (24) and a lateral surface (23), a frustoconical body portion (29) which has a frustoconical surface (28), and a bore (12) extending through the cylindrical and frustoconical body portions (22 and 29) and having a first bore section (14) and a second bore section (16) wherein the second bore section (16) is adjacent the rotating base surface (24) and has a smaller diameter then the first bore section (14). The first and second bore sections meet at a junction (18) defining a lip (21) which is designed to support a complimentary lip (42) of a bore shaft (20) thereby restricting the movement of the bore shaft (20) in the direction of thrust in an extruder.
US07993055B2
Disclosed are apparatus for assisting a person in the correct administration of medicine and methods for beneficially using such a device. The apparatus comprises an electronic timing mechanism which executes a dosing schedule, the dosing schedule being comprised of at least one dosing time interval. One or more annunciators are activated at the end of at least one dosing interval thereby alerting a person that it is time to take a dose of medicine. Included are attachment means, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, for attachment to a medicine container. Construction is with materials and structures that confer to the device the flexibility required to physically conform to curved objects such as typically encountered in prescribed medications. Alerts from the device may be visible, audible, vibratory, or any combination thereof. No human readable time is displayed. At least one switch is provided for human interaction with the device. Human readable information may be visible on the device for quick dosing schedule identification. The dosing schedule may be preprogrammed and unalterable. In other embodiments the dosing schedule may be reprogrammable.
US07993049B2
An apparatus for mixing and distributing sauce is disclosed. The apparatus may include a mixing-pump device coupled a linear arm for distributing sauce over a rotating turntable. The turntable may include an improved gripping device for coupling to a pan. The apparatus may also include a self-expelling concentrated sauce vat which couples to the mixing-pump device. The apparatus may also include a self-expelling concentrated sauce cassette which couples to the mixing-pump device.
US07993047B2
A backlight unit is disclosed which improves picture quality by preventing a bright line or a dark line from being visible in the center of the display area. The backlight unit includes a plurality of U-shaped lamps arranged in two columns, wherein curved portions of the two opposite U-shaped lamps are symmetrically positioned in the center of a display area. Each of the curved portions of the U-shaped lamps has a non-luminous part so that light is not emitted by the curved portions of the U-shaped lamps. Optical sheets are provided above the U-shaped lamps, and a reflective sheet is provided below the U-shaped lamps.
US07993039B2
A lighting fixture having a housing with a main body, and a primary light source disposed beneath a cover secured thereto with a latching mechanism. The light fixture may include a reflector suspended above the main body on a pair of struts. The latching mechanism is engaged by pivoting at least one exterior wall of the housing to provide tool-less access to the light source. In an alternative embodiment, the main body attaches to a mounting arm and a wall mount housing with a secondary adjustable light source.
US07993035B2
The present invention discloses an aspherical LED angular optical lens for narrow distribution patterns and an LED assembly using the same. The optical lens comprises a concave surface on a source side and a convex surface on a project side. The LED assembly comprising the optical lens can accumulate light emitted from the LED die and generate a peak intensity of the narrow angular circle distribution pattern which is greater than 15° and smaller than 30°. The present invention only uses a single optical lens capable of accumulating light and forming a required distribution pattern to satisfy the requirement of a luminous flux ratio greater than 85% and the requirement of an illumination, a flash light of a cell phone or a flash light of a camera.
US07993022B2
An illuminating module for a lighting device includes a first number n of light sources arranged in a first array and a second number m of light sources arranged in a second array, said numbers being defined by: m≧1, n≧m+1. A lighting device includes a plurality of similar illuminating modules.
US07993018B2
A light amount adjusting component adapted a projection optical system is provided. The light amount adjusting component has a light incident surface upon which a light beam impinges, and the light incident surface is provided with a surface structure for irregularly dispersing the light beam. A slot that permits the light beam to pass therethrough and enter a light-receiving element is formed on the light amount adjusting component, and a width of the slot changes along an extension direction of the slot to allow control of the amount of the light beam entering the light-receiving element when the light amount adjusting component moves or rotates.
US07993015B2
Disclosed herein is a projector that can be loaded with lamps of a plurality of kinds, each of a plurality of the lamps loadable into the projector being given a lamp serial code formed by arranging lamp information on the lamp and a check sum in predetermined order, the projector including: a control circuit for performing a clocking operation of a lamp timer for managing a use time of the lamp loaded in the projector; and a memory for storing information.
US07993014B2
Prism elements having TIR surfaces placed in close proximity to the active area of a SLM device to separate unwanted off-state and/or flat-state light from the projection ON-light bundle. The TIR critical angle of these prisms is selected to affect either the off-state light or additionally, any portion of flat-state light reflected from the SLM. These TIR surfaces limit the contamination of light along the projection path, which tends to degrade the system contrast. To further improve the optical performance of the system, these TIR prisms can be attached directly to the SLM package, completely eliminating the package window.
US07993011B2
A projection lens unit and a projection mirror unit are moved relative to an illumination optical system, between a first position where an image is projected in a shape that is longer along a direction of projection onto a projection plane and a second position where an image is projected in a shape that is longer along a direction perpendicular to the direction of projection onto the projection plane. When the projection lens unit and the projection mirror unit are located in the first position, a vertically long image is projected onto the projection plane (portrait display). In this state, when the projection lens unit and the projection mirror unit are moved to the second position, a horizontally long image is projected onto the projection plane (landscape display).
US07993003B2
A computer implemented method to form, display, and evaluate, a test for colorblindness, wherein the method selects one or more test images, displays those test images seriatim to a test subject using a visual display device. A response is received from the test subject to each of the displayed test images. Each response is compared to a nominal test subject response associated with the displayed test image. The type and number of test images displayed is determined based on the test subject's responses.
US07992997B2
An ophthalmic lens element is disclosed. The, ophthalmic lens element includes a central region of low surface astigmatism and a peripheral region. The central region includes an upper viewing zone for providing a first power suitable for a wearer's distance vision tasks. The peripheral region has a positive power relative to the first power, and surrounds the central region. The peripheral region provides an optical correction for retarding or arresting myopia for a wearer and includes one or more regions of relatively higher surface astigmatism, a lower or near viewing zone of low surface astigmatism, and a corridor of low surface astigmatism having a surface power varying from that of the upper viewing zone to that of the lower viewing zone. The lower viewing zone is for a wearer's near vision tasks.
US07992996B2
A spectacles-type image display device provided with an image output unit that includes a display element for displaying images and a projection lens for magnifying and projecting the images and a reflection unit that is disposed adjacent to at least one of spectacle lenses and reflects the image light output from the image output unit toward the eyeball is provided. The reflection unit is a reflection member having no refractive power and an effective luminous flux that is output from the image output unit and reaches the eyeball is configured so that the width of the luminous flux perpendicular to an optical axis is minimum at the reflection unit with respect to the optical axis cross-section in at least one direction.
US07992988B2
The present invention provides an ink composition comprising a compound having a fragment containing a cyclic ether group having at least one bicyclo or tricyclic substituent.
US07992982B2
An imaging apparatus configured for mounting an ink supply cartridge includes a guide frame defining a main scan direction. A printhead carrier for mounting the ink supply cartridge is coupled to the guide frame. The printhead carrier includes a housing cradle. A first latch device is pivotably coupled at a first axis to a front portion of the housing cradle, the first latch device being rotatable between a first latched position and a first unlatched position. A second latch device is pivotably coupled at a second axis to a rear portion of the housing cradle, the second latch device being rotatable between a second latched position and a second unlatched position. The first latch device and the second latch device are configured to define a top opening for vertically receiving the ink supply cartridge between the first latch device and the second latch device.
US07992980B2
There is disclosed a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle and ejecting a liquid from the nozzle, a liquid supply passage which is connected with the liquid ejecting head, and through which the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting head, a gas discharge passage which is connected with the liquid supply passage at two different places, and through which a gas in the liquid supply passage is discharged, a gas-permeable film which is disposed at one of the two different places, constitutes a wall which separates the liquid supply passage and the gas discharge passage from each other, and allows gases to pass therethrough but does not allow liquids to pass therethrough, a shut-off valve which is disposed at the other of the two different places, and selectively placeable in an open state to communicate the liquid supply passage and the gas discharge passage with each other and a closing state to disconnect the communication between the liquid supply passage and the gas discharge passage, and a sucking device which lowers an internal pressure of the gas discharge passage by sucking the gas from the gas discharge passage.
US07992976B2
A method is for heating a functional liquid of a droplet discharging device that has a storage which houses a container storing a functional liquid containing a functional material; a droplet discharge head discharging the functional liquid in a droplet; a cooling means included to the storage and cooling the functional liquid; and a supply tube supplying the functional liquid that is cooled in the storage to the droplet discharge head. The method includes: heating the functional liquid in the supply tube with waste heat that is generated correspondingly to cooling of the cooling means.
US07992974B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a main body and a print head. The main body includes a mechanical portion and a control portion. The mechanical portion includes a pump that pressurizes or draws a liquid(s), such as an ink and/or a solvent, and a solenoid valve that switches between flow channels guiding the liquid to flow therethrough. The control portion controls respective operations including printing and running and stopping of the inkjet recording apparatus. The print head includes a nozzle that atomizes the ink pressure fed from the main body into ink droplets, a charging electrode that electrically charges the ink droplets, a deflecting electrode that forms an electric field that deflects the charged ink droplets, and a gutter that collects the ink unused for printing. The nozzle includes a surface-treated layer that repels the ink to a portion where the ink is supplied.
US07992971B2
A liquid delivering apparatus, including a flow-passage unit including an opening and a pressure chamber which accommodates liquid and which communicates with the opening; an oscillating plate which partially defines the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric material layer which is one of directly and indirectly stacked on the oscillating plate and which deforms upon application of an electric field thereto so as to oscillate the oscillating plate for delivering the liquid from the pressure chamber through the opening; and an electrode pattern and a drive circuit which apply the electric filed to the piezoelectric material layer. The drive circuit and the electrode pattern are one of directly and indirectly provided on the oscillating plate.
US07992966B2
A printhead assembly has a casing. A printhead module is positioned in the casing. The printhead module and the casing are configured so that the printhead module is removable from the casing. The printhead module includes a fluid channel member defining a number of ink ducts along its length and positioned in the casing. A number of printhead tiles are arranged on the fluid channel member. Each printhead tile has a printhead integrated circuit. The printhead tiles and the fluid channel member are configured so that ink can be supplied to the printhead integrated circuits from the fluid channel member.
US07992953B2
An adjustment pattern, which is composed of a reference pattern made of plural independent liquid droplets and a pattern to be measured made of plural independent liquid droplets ejected under an ejection condition different from the reference pattern, is formed on a water-repellent conveying belt. Then, light is applied to the adjustment pattern to receive the regular reflection light from the adjustment pattern, so that the adjustment pattern is scanned. The distance between the respective patterns is measured based on the measured result. Finally, liquid droplet ejection timing of the recording head is corrected based on the result thus measured.
US07992951B2
A door opening and closing device for a refrigerator includes plural doors for opening and closing a refrigerator main body; a hinge unit for connecting the corresponding door to the refrigerant main body so that the door can perform rotational motion or translational motion against the refrigerant main body; first interference units provided between the corresponding door and the refrigerant main body, and contacting from a state in which the door is closed to a state in which the door is opened to a designated angle for separating the doors; and second interference units provided between the corresponding door and the refrigerant main body, and contacting from the state in which the door is opened above the designated angle for separating the doors. The door opening and closing device reduces noise and impact generated by the opening and closing of the doors, allowing a user to open and close the doors more softly and smoothly.
US07992950B2
A method for slidably mounting a slide assembly to a computer server unit rack. Front and rear brackets of the slide assembly include a plurality of dual-diameter mounting pins and a pair of spring elements having different lengths. The mounting pins are positioned within holes in the rack columns and one of the spring elements snaps behind the rack column to hold the slide assembly to the rack. If the holes in the rack columns have one diameter, then the mounting pins extend partially through the holes, and the shorter spring element snaps behind the rack column. For a larger diameter or square rack column hole, the mounting pins extend completely through the holes where the longer spring element snaps behind the rack column.
US07992946B2
A method for operating a brake system of a motor vehicle, which has at least one operating mode (normal, sporty, etc.), includes prefilling, to at least partially overcome a clearance of one or a plurality of wheel brake(s) prior to an expected actuation of a brake pedal, an actuation of the brake pedal being expected at specific positions and/or gradients of the actuation of operating devices of the motor vehicle, in particular an accelerator pedal. The method includes an operating mode in which the gradient is specified as a function of the dynamics and/or limit values of the actuation of the operating devices.
US07992937B2
A body support structure includes a body support member and a base having an upper component coupled to the body support member and a lower component adapted to be supported on a floor. An adjustable spring mechanism biases the body support member. A weighing mechanism is coupled to the adjustable spring mechanism. The weighing mechanism includes a height adjustment device disposed between the upper and lower components of the base. The height adjustment device includes a pneumatic spring having a pressure tube coupled to the lower component and a piston rod extending upwardly from and moveable relative to the pressure tube. A housing is disposed around the pneumatic spring and is coupled to the upper component. An adapter is coupled to the piston rod. A weighing spring is disposed between the adapter and the housing, with the housing moveable relative to the adapter between first and second weighing positions.
US07992934B2
The invention relates to a shock absorption device making it possible to tilt the back of a seat frontward in case of a shock greater than a predetermined value, the device including a plate and an absorbing shaft, the plate including a brake cavity and a hole through which the absorbing shaft passes, the hole and the brake cavity being separated by a bridge, and the dimensions of the bridge being such as to break when the stress exerted on the back is greater than a predetermined value. The invention also relates to a seat for a passenger vehicle and, more particularly, an aircraft, the pivotal rotation of which is provided with such a device.
US07992922B2
A wing element (W) on the spoiler (S) of a motor vehicle is characterized in that the lower side (U′, U″) of the wing element is provided in a manner to substantially planar below a limit speed and therefore has a small end surface in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle, and an aerodynamic profiling of the lower side, and therefore an increased end surface, is provided above said limit speed.
US07992921B2
The invention relates to an energy guide chain system comprising an energy guide chain for guiding cables, hoses or the like between a stationary and a movable connection point, an entrainment portion to which the energy guide chain is connected by way of the movable connection point, and a guide channel which has a hollow profile with a passage extending in the longitudinal direction for the entrainment portion, wherein the energy guide chain is guided in the guide passage in the longitudinal direction thereof in the form of two runs which are guided in mutually parallel relationship and which are connected to each other by way of a deflection region, as well as a sliding door system for a vehicle having the energy guide chain system. In order to achieve easy and reliable guidance of cables, hoses or the like in at least two directions, it is proposed that the entrainment portion has a movable arm which projects from the guide channel with a fastening side for connection to an apparatus movable relative to the guide channel, wherein the spacing between the fastening side and the guide channel is variable in a travel component in transverse relationship with the longitudinal direction of the guide channel.
US07992919B2
A lift system for use with a foldable, stowable roof capable of being moved between a deployed position and a stowed position. The lift system includes at least one side link, with the side link as part of a frame assembly. The frame assembly supports a foldable roof, and both the frame assembly and the roof are operable for movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. A biasable member is operable with the side link for biasing the side link and the frame assembly toward the deployed position. When it is desired to move the frame assembly and roof from the stowed position to the deployed position, a reduced amount of force is applied to the frame assembly to move the frame assembly to the deployed position because of the force applied to the frame assembly from the biasable member.
US07992911B2
A pick-up style utility vehicle has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from front, a cabin frame surrounding a riding space, and a screen shield partitioning the cargo bed and a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed. The cargo bed can be changed between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded in a front direction to the rear riding space and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The screen shield has a link mechanism. The screen shield is coupled to the upper portion of the cabin frame by the link mechanism so that the screen shield can be shifted between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state.
US07992908B2
A suction device has a flexible sucker membrane having a peripherally extending skirt, and an actuator arranged to act to reconfigure the sucker between a suction enhanced configuration and a suction released configuration. The actuator is also operable to lift an outer edge of the peripherally extending skirt which enables more convenient release of the suction device than would otherwise be possible.
US07992903B1
A flex-duct end connector for connecting flex-ducting to fittings includes a cylindrical pipe and a pair of clamps configured to be mounted on the outside of the pipe. The outer surface of the pipe and the inner surfaces of the clamps may be provided with an adhesive to improve the connection. Outer wraps attached to the outside of the pipe include an adhesive side and a non-adhesive side. One end of the pipe may be tapered and the other end may include a rubberized coating. To connect the flex-ducting to the fitting, the insulation and outer jacket of the flex-duct is folded back from the liner. The liner slides over one end of the pipe. Adhesive may be provided on the pipe to provide a more secure fit. The clamps, which may also be provided with adhesive, are applied to the liner and pipe. The edges of the clamps overlap so that a fastener may be inserted through the clamps, the liner and the pipe. The insulation and outer jacket are then pulled over the clamps, and the outer wraps are deployed so that the adhesive side of each is applied to the outer jacket. The other end of the flex-duct end connector is inserted in the fitting. Zip ties or the like may be used at various points of the connecting process.
US07992902B2
An air hose end-connector fitting for freeze-free operation of outdoor service station air machines in winter weather having an internal ice particle screening tube and storage chamber is disclosed, the internal ice particle screen defines a perforated tube within the connector fitting airway which screens out overly-large air borne ice particles, the storage chamber defines a dedicated hollow section within the connector fitting which stores the screened-out ice particles till thawed.
US07992899B2
A steering wheel and a steering gear box are connected to each other via a steering shaft, a first universal joint, an intermediate shaft, a second universal joint and a pinion shaft. A steering column is fixed to a vehicle body via a telescopic mechanism to be adjustable in a forward/rearward position. When the steering shaft moves forward, the telescopic mechanism guides it so that its front end moves downward. Therefore, even when the steering shaft moves forward, an angle θ1 at which the intermediate shaft inclines downward forward with respect to the steering shaft, and an angle θ2 at which the pinion shaft inclines downward forward with respect to the intermediate shaft substantially coincide with each other, thereby securing constant velocity of the steering shaft and the pinion shaft.
US07992897B2
To enhance an occupant restraining force of an airbag, and to improve a protective function for an occupant of an airbag device by discharging gas without fail regardless of a position of the occupant, an airbag (10) is divided into a first chamber (10A) on an inflator (2) side and a second chamber (10B) on an occupant side by a partition wall (11), and the first chamber (10A) includes an opening (23) to which a discharge-state switching member (30) having vent holes to discharge the gas in the airbag (10) and being switchable between the discharge/non-discharge states is attached. The discharge-state switching member (30) is coupled to the partition wall (11) by a tether belt (40), so that the tether belt (40) applies tension to close the vent holes when the airbag (10) inflates, and when the airbag (10) receives an occupant, releases the tension depending on the position of the receipt, and opens the vent holes.
US07992894B2
A side airbag unit for a vehicle, constructed to protect a side of a passenger in the event of a side collision or when the vehicle overturns, the side airbag unit may include an airbag module having a stud which is inserted into a predetermined portion of a seat frame, and an airbag cushion which remains folded in the airbag module and expands when the airbag unit is deployed, and a strap allowing the airbag cushion to be deployed to a predetermined length at a predetermined position when the airbag cushion expands, wherein a first end of the strap is coupled to a predetermined portion of the airbag cushion and a second end thereof is coupled to the stud such that the second end of the strap is being locked to the stud when the stud is assembled with the seat frame.
US07992885B2
To operate a pillion step in one action. The pillion step is formed in a generally L shape and includes an arm portion and a foot rest portion. One end of the arm portion is pivotably secured through an oblique pivot shaft to a side face of a seat rail located under a rider seat and is pivotally moved around the oblique pivot shaft. When the pillion step is to be retracted and is pivotally moved backward, the foot rest portion moves into a gap between the rider seat and a pillion seat and its tip end is received within a grip space formed in a grip.
US07992881B2
A mobile positioning, supporting and transporting system has two upright generally circular, oblong, elliptical or polygonal support structures joined together with lateral support members to form a freestanding structure with a roughly circular geometry so that it may be tipped end-over-end or rolled to translate from place to place. Any objects attached to or suspended from the structure within the volume space between the support structures readily are moved to a different location or position as desired. Alternatively, the support structures are disassembled and segments thereof may be aligned adjacent one another to form a cargo bin or cart to hold remaining portions of the structure and accessories for storage or transport.
US07992873B2
A card game includes a deck of cards used, for example, to play craps, poker, or any combination thereof.
US07992869B2
A sheet-conveying device conveys a recording medium to a sheet support surface positioned downstream of the sheet-conveying device in a sheet-conveying direction when recording an image with an image-recording unit. A drive roller and a follower roller define a nip line therebetween. The nip line is positioned above the sheet support surface. A first support member rotatably supports the follower roller. A moving unit moves the first support member from a first position to a second position upstream of the first position in the paper-conveying direction immediately after a trailing edge of the recording medium leaves the sheet-conveying unit.
US07992868B2
A sheet detection unit of an image forming apparatus includes a light receiving unit including a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a sheet feeding direction. A computation processing unit shifts signals from the elements in synchronization with a sheet feeding speed and makes additions, increases a signal change level, and stores the signals in buffers in a result storage unit. A sheet position determination unit detects a position of an edge portion of a sheet being fed based on distribution of data stored in the buffers.
US07992861B2
A recording medium supply apparatus includes: a conveyance member that conveys a recording medium; a retard member, in contact with the conveyance member, that forms a contact portion between the conveyance member and the retard member and retards the recording medium by holding the recording medium in the contact portion; and a buckling prevention unit, configured to contact with the recording medium on the upstream side of the contact portion between the conveyance member and the retard member in a conveyance direction of the recording medium, that prevents buckling of the recording medium in the conveyance direction.
US07992859B2
A slide restricting member for restricting detachment of a feed roller which is rotatably supported and which is detachably held in an axial direction is held at a lock release position for allowing the detachment of the feed roller by a rib of a sheet feeding frame, a projection of an auxiliary member, and a snap fit. When the feed roller is mounted on the sheet feeding frame, the slide restricting member positioned at the lock release position is moved to a lock position in conjunction with a mounting operation of the feed roller.
US07992854B2
A combined sheet inverting and buffering system and method including a sheet drive for transporting sheets into a sheet collecting area. The sheet drive is selectively operable to transport the sheets in a first and second direction along a processing path. A holding device can hold a plurality of sheets. The sheet drive and holding device cooperate to compile the plurality of sheets into a stack wherein the sheets overlie each other in a shingled manner. A take away drive is in operative communication with the sheets for individually unloading the sheets from the sheet collecting area.
US07992849B2
The present invention is a mechanical element, commonly referred to as a “Jack Spring” that is based upon the concept of adding and subtracting coils from a spring. In particular, with the method and apparatus of the present invention, by changing the number of coils in a spring, the actual or intrinsic stiffness of the spring is structurally changed. A very simple and practical method is used to adjust the number of coils. The Jack Spring actuator of the present invention is based upon adjusting the effective structure of a spring.
US07992848B2
In an active vibration isolation support system in which internal pressures of fluid chambers whose volumes are changed by a load applied from outside are controlled by an actuator that reciprocatingly vibrates a movable core on an axis by energizing a coil cylindrically wound around an outer periphery of a fixed core, an end surface of the coil on the fluid chambers side is inclined so that a radially outer side of the end surface is close to the fluid chambers with respect to the axis. Therefore, the output can be increased by increasing the number of windings of the coil without increasing the dimension of the active vibration isolation support system in the direction of the axis. Also, if the number of windings of the coil is made the same as that of the conventional system, the outer diameter of the coil can be made smaller than that of the conventional system accordingly to reduce the entire length of wire of the coil, thereby reducing the resistance and inductance to improve the electrical current response.
US07992832B2
A parallel four-bar mechanism is disclosed, having the second and third bars being parallel to each other and having their opposite ends hinged to the first and fourth bars respectively. A stopping block is provided with a stopping slot, and a movable stopping pin is configured to be engageable with the stopping slot. When an actuating member drives the stopping pin to disengage from the stopping slot, the second and third bars are able to translate relative to each other; and when the actuating member drives the stopping pin into the stopping slot, the second and third bars are locked with each other, with the second and third bars not being able to translate relative to each other, and thus the whole parallel four-bar mechanism is locked in a preset angular position.
US07992825B2
Aircraft control surface (1), in particular for an aircraft lifting surface (2), that comprises a primary control surface (6) that comprises a hinge axis (10), and a secondary control surface (7) that comprises a hinge axis (11), with the secondary control surface (7) rotating by means of its hinge axis (11) relative to the primary control surface (6), said secondary control surface (7) only partially occupying the span of the primary control surface (6), the length of the secondary control surface (7) along its hinge axis (11) being significantly less than the length of the primary control surface (6) along its hinge axis (10), and moreover the width or chord of said secondary control surface (7) along the direction of its hinge axis (11) narrows significantly towards the tip of the lifting surface (2) according to a law of narrowing designed expressly for adapting the distribution of torsional stiffness along the span of the lifting surface (2) to the distribution of aerodynamic load thereon, whereas the distribution of effective curvature due to the deflection of said control surface (1) is such that it increases the stalling angle of the lifting surface (2).
US07992824B2
An end effector operatively coupled to an extendable tensile element extended from a first vehicle engages a primary receptacle of a second vehicle. The first and second vehicles are drawn together by retracting the extendable tensile element into the first vehicle until contact therebetween, after which roll axes of the first and second vehicles become substantially aligned responsive to a further retraction of the extendable tensile element into the first vehicle and a resulting tension in the extendable tensile element. At least one alignment post of at least one of the first and second vehicles engages with at least one surface of at least one corresponding secondary receptacle so as to at least substantially align the first and second vehicles in roll responsive to the tension in the extendable tensile element.
US07992812B2
A sieve device including a cog elongation with several cogs shaped from flexible material arranged parallel to each other. The cogs are provided with bends or chamfers serving for defining a grid to define the grain size for the sieved material. The sieve device is included in a cylinder disintegrator.
US07992805B2
A feed nozzle assembly for introducing a mixture of a gas and a liquid hydrocarbon droplets into a vessel in the form of a substantially sheet-like spray, which feed nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle body provided at its upstream part with means to supply the gas and means to supply the liquid hydrocarbon to said nozzle body and at the downstream end with a closed outlet end which outlet end is provided with an elongated opening wherein in the opening an insert is positioned such that a continuous loop opening results for discharge of the mixture of gas and liquid droplets.
US07992797B2
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for non-invasively attaching components to railroad track rails. More specifically, an anchor is provided that securely fastens to the track rail in a non-invasive manner for holding one or more signal lines to a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, the non-invasive anchor utilizes a compressive force to clamp to a flange portion of the track rail. In this regard, first and second body members of the anchor may be advanced toward the toward opposing surfaces of track rail to compress the component between a portion of the anchor and a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, a pawl prevents the withdrawal of these body members from one another such that the compressive force may be maintained once the anchor is applied to the track rail.
US07992794B2
An equipment interface module that can operate one or more pieces of HVAC equipment in accordance with instructions received from a properly operating thermostat, yet can also operate the HVAC equipment when communications between the thermostat and the HVAC controller are lost due to, for example, low battery power at the thermostat, malfunctioning thermostat sensor(s), malfunctioning communication and/or thermostat circuitry, electrical interference, and the like. In some instances, the equipment interface module may regulate the HVAC equipment in accordance with a signal from a remote sensor when communication with the thermostat is lost.
US07992793B2
A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (b) sampling a registration symbol contained in the imaged portion; (c) mapping a set of data elements to a first translation code symbol value when read in a first orientation or a second translation symbol code value when read in a second orientation; (d) determining a translation from the mapped set of data elements; and (e) using the translation to sample and decode tag data.
US07992788B2
Modular, portable data collection terminals are disclosed for use in mixed wireless and hard-wired RF communication networks, wherein various radio transmitter modules and associated antennas may be selectively added to a base terminal unit to solve networking problems associated with specific types of business environments. Modularity exists in both the hardware (splitting data collection and processing control circuitry from radio transceiver control circuitry) and software (splitting transceiver-specific, lower level communication protocol from generic, higher level communication protocol). The control circuitry, including associated microprocessors devices, interact to selectively activate communication circuits to perform necessary communication or data processing functions and enter and remain in a power-saving dormant state during other times. To support such dormant or “sleeping” states, a series of communication protocols provide for channel access to the communication network. The disclosed modular design also provides for automatic selection from a variety of available built-in and externally mounted antennas based on the particular type of radio transceiver(s) selected.
US07992785B2
A mirrored spinner with paired offset facets for scattering a laser beam. The mirrored spinner includes a first number of mirrored facets, including a second number of pairs of offset mirrored facets.
US07992783B2
In a mobile terminal, a control section monitors a battery residual amount at a power supply section, if the battery residual amount is less than a preset threshold, it refers to the states of various flags stored in a flag table at a memory section. Subsequently, if the control section judges it is before exit after entry for a service for the object of a lock temporary release and an entry and exit usage service, it changes a noncontact IC card function section to a lock temporary release state. This allows the noncontact IC card function to be in a lock temporary release state, just before the power supply is turned off, even if the battery residual amount is low. Therefore, when the commuter gets off a train and passes through a station ticket gate, the commuter may use the noncontact IC card function.
US07992782B2
Techniques are presented for managing fraud information. Metadata defines user profiles, security levels, fraud cases, and presentation information. One or more queries or reports are processed against disparate data store tables and the results are aggregated into a repository. The repository is also defined by the metadata. Furthermore, operations associated with sharing, viewing, and accessing the results from the repository is defined and controlled by the metadata. In an embodiment, portions of the metadata may be viewed and navigated in a hierarchical and graphical formatted presentation.
US07992777B1
An ATM transaction request is authorized based on the determined location of an authorized user relative to the ATM. Identification of an authorized ATM user is linked to a remotely locatable item (e.g., a cell phone) of the authorized user. An ATM receiving the identification causes the location of the cell phone to be determined. A comparison is then made of the cell phone location and the ATM location. If the locations correspond, then the current ATM user is recognized as the authorized user and ATM transactions are permitted. If the locations do not correspond, then the current ATM user is denied ATM transactions. The security arrangement can prevent an unauthorized ATM user from using a fraudulent ATM card to access a financial account.
US07992766B2
A paper cup with a hand grip has a cylindrical cup body with an open upper end to accommodate beverages and a hand grip attached to an outer wall of the cup body and a pair of ring-shaped portions. The ring-shaped portions are symmetrically disposed on right and left ends of the contact portion and each include a through hole through which a user puts a finger when grasping the hand grip. The ring-shaped portions are movable between a first position where they are attached to the outer wall of the cup body and a second position where the ring-shaped portions face each other. In this way the paper cup can be stably and conveniently grasped to prevent a beverage in the paper cup from being shaken and overflowing, even when a hot or cold beverage is filled in the paper cup.
US07992755B2
A staple feeding mechanism includes the components of only a magazine with a pair of guides and spring receiver being integrated, a driving shaft having a double function and a staple feeding member (inclusive of the feeding nail and spring) movably arranged in the magazine. The feeding nail of the staple feeding member at the home position is lowered by the driving shaft and retracted from the staple cartridge. For this reason, the loading/unloading of the staple cartridge can be done without any hitch. The staple feeding mechanism only requires a necessary minimized number of components and so is simple in structure. Thus, the stapler can be provided at low cost. Particularly, the driving shaft necessary to cause the magazine to make a reciprocating motion is also used as a fulcrum member, thus requiring no new component. This further reduces the number of necessary components and also contributes to space saving.
US07992754B1
A marker installation apparatus is disclosed for inserting a marker of the type having shaft with a bottom end for inserting into a ground surface and an engagement portion of the shaft separated from the bottom end by an insertion portion of the shaft. The apparatus includes a magazine assembly defining a magazine space configured to receive at least one marker. The magazine space has a push position in the magazine space for receiving the at least one marker. The apparatus further comprises a push assembly mounted on the magazine assembly. The push assembly is configured to engage the engagement portion of the shaft of the marker located in the push position and push the marker from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated.
US07992752B2
A blanking tool includes a lower blanking frame and a receiver tool. The lower blanking frame includes running rails and cross rails. A first cross rail extends substantially perpendicular to the first running rail and coupled to first and second running rails. A second cross rail is disposed substantially parallel to the first cross rail and coupled to the first and second running rails. The receiver tool includes receiver rails mounting assemblies. A first receiver rail is alongside and coupled to the first running rail. A second receiver rail is alongside and coupled to the second running rail. The second receiver rail is coupled to the second mounting assembly that is further operably coupled to the first frame member, and is further disposed on the second frame member. The mounting assemblies slide along the slot relative to one another when the mounting assemblies have an unlocked operational position.
US07992748B2
An earplug dispenser (10) includes a container (12), a cover (14), and a rotatable member (16). The container (12) is adapted to hold a quantity of earplugs (18) to be dispensed, and has a downwardly opening mouth (20). The cover (14) is attached to the container (12) to close the downwardly opening mouth (20). The rotatable member (16) is carried in the cover (14) for rotation about a vertical axis (22). The cover (14) has a base (24), a dispensing port (26) extending through the base (24), and a facing cylindrical surface (28A) extending up from the base (24) and centered on the vertical axis (22). The rotatable member (16) has a plurality of conduits (29) extending vertically through the rotatable member (16), with each conduit (29) adapted to receive an earplug (18) from the container (12) and align one at a time with the dispensing port (26) to allow an earplug (18) carried in the conduit (29) to be dispensed downwardly through the dispensing port (26). The rotatable member (16) has an outer peripheral surface 34 at least partially surrounded by the cylindrical surface (28A) and accessible through an aperture (30) formed in the cover (14) for manual rotation of the rotatable member (16). The peripheral and cylindrical surfaces (34,28A) are sized relative to each other to prevent earplugs 18 from jamming therebetween during rotation of the rotatable member (16).
US07992744B2
A dispenser, and associated method for producing such dispenser, for interfolded disposable sheets includes a dispensing container defining an interior volume sufficient for receipt of a clip of interfolded disposable sheets, the container including a first wall with a dispensing opening defined by a removable panel. At least a portion of an adhesive material is disposed at a location on the removable panel such that the adhesive is not exposed to the interior volume of the container in an adhesive state. A clip of interfolded disposable sheets is inserted into the interior volume of the container. After insertion of the clip, the adhesive material is exposed in an adhesive state to the interior volume of the container and contact is made between the adhesive and the uppermost sheet of the clip of interfolded sheets such that the removable panel is attached to the uppermost sheet.
US07992735B2
A storage and mixing device has an outer container and an inner container. Mounted at one end of the inner container is a first cap that rotates open and closed via a hinge. When the first cap is opened, the contents of the inner and outer containers are allowed to mix together. The other end of the inner container has an opening that is enclosed by a second cap operable to actuate a rod. When actuated, the rod pushes against the first cap thereby opening it and permitting the contents of the inner and outer containers to mix together.
US07992729B1
A storage unit having a back panel, a top panel attached to the back panel, a bottom panel attached to the back panel, a pair of opposing side panels attached to the back, top and bottom panels so as to define a housing having an interior, and a plurality of shelf members positioned within the interior of the housing and arranged in a vertically oriented fashion. The shelf members are removably mounted to the back panel and opposing side panels. The storage unit further comprises a plurality of divider members removably positioned between (i) each pair of consecutive shelf members, (ii) the top panel and an uppermost shelf member and (iii) the bottom panel and a lowermost shelf member. The divider members define a plurality of compartments. In one embodiment, the compartments function as drawer-receiving spaces wherein each drawer-receiving space is sized for receiving a corresponding drawer. Each divider member can be repositioned to provide compartments of varying sizes.
US07992725B2
A separator that uses centrifugation to fractionate a suspension such as blood comprises a separation container and a buoy. The buoy is carried in the separation container and has a tuned density that is configured to reach an equilibrium position in a suspension. The guide surface is carried on the buoy upper surface and is inclined to an accumulation position near a buoy perimeter. The buoy suspension fractionation system can be used in a method of isolating a fraction from a suspension, and in a method for re-suspending particulates for withdrawal.
US07992719B2
A hookstrip screen assembly for use in a shaker is disclosed. The hookstrip screen assembly includes a filtering element and a composite frame further including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of filtering element attachment points. Also, the filtering element is attached to the plurality of filtering element attachment points. In another aspect, a method of forming a hookstrip screen assembly for use in a shaker. The method of forming a hookstrip screen assembly includes forming a wire structure, molding a composite frame incorporating the wire structure and forming a plurality of filtering element attachment points on the composite frame. The method also includes attaching a filtering element to the plurality of filtering element attachment points on the composite frame.
US07992717B1
A housing adapted to receive a flow of slurry has a central section, an upper section, and a lower section. A clean water introduction assembly has a horizontal manifold, a plurality of horizontal apertured pipes and a plurality of vertical water lines. A valve assembly has an upper valve and a lower valve. The upper valve is normally open. The lower valve is normally closed to feed clean water from the manifold through the water lines and out of the apertured pipes into the housing. In this manner water entering the housing will cause a hindered settling. The valve assembly is also operable in a back flow mode with the upper valve being closed and the lower valve being opened. In this manner water from the housing will flow from the apertured pipes. In this manner clogs in the holes of the apertured pipe are cleared. A coupling assembly is provided.
US07992715B2
A developing agent container package unit includes a packing case, a developing agent container received inside the packing case and storing developing agent, and a supporting member to support the developing agent container so that the developing agent container is inclined with respect to one side surface of the packing case.
US07992711B2
A lockable media storage box includes a base and a lid connected to the base with at least one hinge. The base and lid include elements that cooperate with a lock to allow the lid to be locked in the closed position. In one embodiment, the lock is received in the concave opening disposed at the front of the storage container. The lock may be unlocked with a special key or may be unlocked by destroying portions of the lock that are designed to be destroyed. In another embodiment of the invention, a sliding lock is carried by the container. The sliding lock may be carried inside the container or on the front wall of the container.
US07992708B2
A cigarette pack of the hinge-lid-box type comprises an outer pack (13) and an inner pack which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction within the outer pack (13). A hinge lid (36) is fitted on one side of the outer pack (13). This hinge lid is moved into an open position by displacement of the inner pack (12) relative to the outer pack (13), to be precise by an opening force being transmitted by means of a pushing-action tab (27) arranged within the pack.
US07992698B1
A system is provided for preventing gear hopout in a tooth clutch in a vehicle transmission, the tooth clutch including an engaging sleeve having sleeve clutch teeth. The tangent function for at least one of driving back-taper angle and braking back-taper angle is larger than the average value of clutch coefficient of friction and spline coefficient of friction multiplied by the sum of unity and the ratio of clutch teeth pitch diameter and spline teeth pitch diameter.
US07992695B2
A selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) assembly uses hydraulic-actuation to select operating modes within a rotating housing. Two races of the SOWC assembly can rotate at disparate speeds, i.e., one race is not grounded prior to actuation. The SOWC assembly has a pair of races keyed to different housings and hubs. The housing and hub can be attached to different elements of a gear train, for example, which can be rotating during the various gear states. A hydraulic actuator or multiple actuators can be keyed to the housing, with axial motion of the actuator or actuators selecting a state or operating mode of the SOWC assembly. The actuator has axially-extending tabs that engage radially-extending fingers of the selector plate, thus rotating the selector plate in different directions when applied or released. Multiple actuators can be used in conjunction with multiple selector plates to provide additional SOWC operating modes.
US07992693B2
Presented is a vibration damper that includes an outer cylinder with a lateral surface, a pin-shaped fastening element that includes a stop surface, and a mounting coupled to the lateral surface. The mounting defines a through-hole that is configured to receive the pin-shaped fastening element and extends circumferentially with respect to the lateral surface. The mounting includes a formation that extends in a radial direction with respect to the cylinder. The formation cooperates with the outer cylinder to form a socket for the stop surface. The stop surface rests against the mounting in an axial direction of the pin-shaped fastening element.
US07992690B2
The present invention describes a device for locking a lever of a motor vehicle. The device permits an operator to quickly lock the lever in an engaged position and unlock the lever from the engaged position. The device may be used even when the manual dexterity of the operator is limited by protective equipment. The device includes a pin and spring. The pin passes through aligned holes in the flange and lever. Releasing the lever exerts a lateral force on the pin, thereby preventing the pin from lifting from the lever hole and locking the lever in the engaged position. The spring lifts the pin from the locked position when the lateral force is reduced. The device may be used on a brake or clutch lever of a motorcycle, thereby permitting the operator to have at least one free hand at a stop.
US07992688B2
A door device for an elevator includes an elevator door, first and second door drive devices having first and second rotating shafts, respectively, a power transmission mechanism that moves the elevator door according to rotation of the first and second rotating shafts, and a door control device that controls movement of the elevator door. The door control device includes a first processing device that performs first arithmetic processing for controlling the first door drive device, a second processing device that performs second arithmetic processing for controlling the second door drive device, and an information transmitting unit for information transmission between the first and second processing devices.
US07992684B2
The invention relates to an escalator or moving walkway that includes a drive shaft rotating at a relatively low peripheral speed around a horizontal axis and at least one sealing element associated with the drive shaft. Lubricant is supplied to the drive shaft and can escape from leakages at the one sealing element. A device is provided for a permanent recirculation of the lubricant escaping from the leakages. The device includes at least one conveyor element arranged downstream of the sealing element, seen in the direction of the leakage, and at least one recirculation element for the lubricant. The recirculation element cooperates with the conveyor element to return the lubricant into a region upstream of the at least one sealing element.
US07992683B2
The multipurpose sawhorse end frame has a top section defining center and lateral slots for receiving 2″×4″ beams and central slots for 2″×12″ planks, a central section with center slots for receiving 2″×4″ beams and lateral support bars for supporting 2″×12″ planks, and a bottom section having feet for supporting the frame. A plurality of diagonal braces maintain rigidity of the end frame and provide the end frame with structural strength. Two or more end frames may be configured as a sawhorse, a scaffold, a workbench, a table, or other temporary construction accessory using scrap lumber and without fasteners. The multipurpose sawhorse end frame may be made from lightweight aluminum or other suitable material.
US07992677B2
A motor vehicle exhaust line silencer includes: an upper shell (2) having a substantially flat upper end wall (16); and a lower shell (4) having a substantially flat lower end wall (24) parallel to the upper end wall (16), the upper and lower shells (2, 4) delimiting between them an internal volume (6) of the silencer (1). The silencer (1) includes at least an internal partition wall (12) substantially parallel to the upper (16) and lower (24) end walls and arranged in the internal volume (6), the upper (16) and lower (24) end walls having respective reliefs (48, 50, 52) projecting into the internal volume (6) and cooperating to immobilize the internal partition wall (12).
US07992675B2
In a vehicle exhaust device, rear wheels are disposed outside of rear side members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction. Opening portions are formed at side portions, in the vehicle width-direction, of a rear bumper. Diffusers extending into the rear bumper are mounted in the opening portions. Mufflers are disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle with axes of the mufflers extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and tail pipes connected to rear end faces of the mufflers are inserted into the diffusers while spaced from inner peripheries of the diffusers. The mufflers are disposed on rear sides of the rear wheels in the vehicle front-rear direction with outer peripheral faces of the mufflers protruding outside the rear side members in the vehicle-width direction, and with the rear end faces of the mufflers facing front end opening portions of the diffusers.
US07992648B2
A firefighting apparatus on a small all-terrain utility vehicle has a U-shaped water tank closely spaced from the driver's cab. A reel for a high-pressure hose is mounted in the U of the water tank. A high-pressure engine driven pump is connected to the reel and a high-pressure hose through a water management system, which directs water from the water tank to the pump, and from the pump to the hose. The pump has a pressure valve which sets the engine idle when the high-pressure water nozzle is closed. A pressure unloader valve recirculates water from the pump outlet to the pump inlet when the nozzle is closed. A check valve is used between the water tank and a point where water recirculates to the pump. A prefilter is connected between the check valve and the water tank.
US07992647B2
The instant invention relates to a fire extinguishing apparatus. Particularly to an apparatus that includes at least one container that includes a fire retardant gel. The gel is formed from dehydrated superabsorbent polymer and water. The pre filled containers include at least one control valve or frangible portion to release the fire retardant to extinguish the fire.
US07992635B2
A wear-resistant sealing system for introducing fracturing fluids to a wellhead comprising a tubular connector having a retaining shoulder and bridging a flange interface created between a frachead and a lower tubular structure. The tubular connector has upper and lower sealing elements above and below the flange interface and forms a contiguous bore for fluid communication of the fracturing fluids from the frachead to the lower tubular structure and wellhead.
US07992630B2
A method for nighttime pre-cooling of a building comprising inputting one or more user settings, lowering the indoor temperature reading of the building during nighttime by operating an outside air ventilation system followed, if necessary, by a vapor compression cooling system. The method provides for nighttime pre-cooling of a building that maintains indoor temperatures within a comfort range based on the user input settings, calculated operational settings, and predictions of indoor and outdoor temperature trends for a future period of time such as the next day.
US07992627B2
Low-pressure drop thermal assemblies, systems and methods of making low-pressure drop thermal assemblies for use in high power flux situations. A manifold body is attached to a distributor to form a subassembly. This subassembly is in communication with a substrate surface, which has a semiconductor device in need of thermal management thereon. An enclosed cavity is formed between the target substrate surface and the subassembly, and a seal of the cavity protects critical components residing on the active surface of the semiconductor device. The distributor includes a distributed liquid impingement microjet inlet array isolated from and parallel with a distributed microjet drain array for impinging cooling fluid and removing spent heated fluid in a direction orthogonal to a target surface for maximizing the heat transfer rate, and thereby providing high cooling flux capabilities while enabling low-pressure drops.
US07992624B2
A heat sink module includes a heat transfer tube, a plurality of radiation fins respectively riveted to locating grooves around the periphery of the heat transfer tube, and a heat transfer panel fastened to the bottom side of the heat transfer tube and the radiation fin set and kept in contact with a heat source, such as a CPU or a light emitting unit of a LED lamp for transferring heat from the heat source to the radiation fins for quick dissipation.
US07992619B2
The present invention relates to a hot pressing tool and a hot pressing apparatus having the same. According to the present invention, a hot pressing head attaching an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) on a liquid crystal display (LCD) substrate and a heater block supplying heat to the hot pressing head have the same thermal expansion coefficient, and the heater block is provided with a hot pressing tool connected to a moving block by connection units. Also, there is provided a hot pressing apparatus, including the hot pressing tool, which is provided with a support capable of attaching the LCD substrate on the ACF and a transfer instrument. Thus, according to the present invention, the operation can continue with almost no deterioration of the oblateness of the hot pressing head. Also, since the hot pressing apparatus has the structure of connecting the heater block and the hot pressing head together simply by the combination bolts with no need for adjustment bolts, it can be easily manufactured. Also, it is possible to prevent the decrease of work efficiency, and damage to the adjustment bolts caused by excessive use of the adjustment bolts.
US07992618B2
A coating-film transfer tool is configured to positively absorb rotation of a head part caused when pressed and an effect of lean of the head part, and such a configuration contributes to favorable and uniform transfer. A member 4 is disposed at one end of a support column 2 supporting a head part 1 at the other end. A distance between the axial center of the support column 2 and its periphery varies depending on a position in the rotation direction. Sandwiching plates 3 resiliently sandwich the facing sides of the member 4 with the narrowest gap, when the head part 1 is not pressing a transfer target. When the head part 1 rotates around the axis of the support column 2 in a state pressing the transfer target, the member 4 rotates to forcibly and significantly widen the gap between the sandwiching plates and generate a restoring force.
US07992617B1
A sheet laminating apparatus is provided for laminating two films and a sheet article between the two films. The sheet laminating apparatus includes a first side plate, a second side plate, a first laminating module and a second laminating module. The second laminating module includes a second conveying and laminating roller, a second heating member and a supporting member. The supporting member is disposed on the first side plate, and arranged between the second conveying and laminating roller and the second heating member. During operation of the sheet laminating apparatus, the two films and the sheet article are sustained against the second conveying and laminating roller to move the second conveying and laminating roller in a first direction. Due to the supporting member, the second heating member is also moved in the first direction, but the second conveying and laminating roller is not contacted with the second heating member.
US07992607B2
A pneumatic tire for heavy load enabling the co-existence of wet performance and uneven wear resistance performance is provided. The pneumatic tire for heavy load includes three circumferential main grooves 31 and 33 extending on a tread in the circumferential direction, and ribs 11 and 12 defined by these circumferential main grooves 31 and 33. The centerline of the center circumferential main grove 31 among the three circumferential main grooves is positioned on the equator line of the tread, and a thin rib-shaped uneven abrasion sacrificing part (BCR) 21 having a step in a clearance thereof from the surface of the tread is formed only in the center circumferential main groove 31.
US07992594B2
An apparatus for sealing a pipe having a defect or penetration comprises a housing coupled to the pipe by a clamp member. A piston is mounted in the housing and the piston and housing define a chamber. The piston further comprises a port for providing fluid communication between the pipe and the chamber. A seal member is provided between the piston and the pipe and, in use, the apparatus is located over and/or around the defect or penetration in the pipe such that the seal member engages the pipe. The piston is urged towards the pipe by a fluid pressure force generated by fluid in the pipe thereby maintain sealing engagement between the seal member and the pipe and to prevent leakage of fluid through the penetration.
US07992591B2
In one embodiment as described in this section, an apparatus for mixing of microfluidic streams on a chip is presented, which comprises a micro-channel and a plurality of magnetic valves on the chip. A guiding magnet produces a proximal magnetic field gradient to exert a force on a bead in a cavity when placed at in a vicinity of the chip. The bead-cavity combination form a magnetic valve. In one embodiment, the mouth of the cavity is tapered so to prevent the magnetic bead from completely blocking the corresponding micro-channel section to enhance the mixing of microfluidic streams at the narrowed fluid path. In one embodiment, magnetically actuated valves direct the flow in a microfluidic system in one of several flow paths wherein the mixing characteristics of the paths are different.
US07992580B1
A combination parts washer for cleaning mechanical parts of oil, grease and contaminants. The washer has a cabinet which has two reservoirs. A parts receptacle in the one of the reservoirs receives the parts which are cleaned by ultrasonic waves. An operable sink for manual cleaning is positioned on the top of the cabinet and opens to access the cabinet and reservoir. Fluid from the sink drains to the first reservoir. In the closed position, the sink covers the top of the cabinet and may be used as a sink washer using the attached brush supplied by fluid from the first reservoir. Initial pre-cleaning may be performed in the sink using the brush. Subsequent precision cleaning may be accomplished by immersion and ultrasonic cleaning in the second reservoir.
US07992578B2
A new hair treatment device is provided for providing lift at the root portion of the hair near the scalp to thereby create volume and body to otherwise limp or flat hair. An embodiment of such a device includes first and second arms. A pivot movably joining the arms about the pivot is provided wherein each arm includes a hair-engaging surface. A heat source is provided for at least one of the hair-engaging surfaces. Each hair-engaging surface has a width suitable for treating a portion of the hair proximate the head, wherein by treating a portion of hair near the scalp, it provides lift and body to the head of hair. A method for adding lift to a head of hair using a hair crimping tool includes the steps of selecting hair from a head of hair for treatment; and using the tool to treat at least one portion of the selected hair proximate the roots of the hairs.
US07992570B2
A method and system directs therapeutic light of a first wavelength to a patient's eye to excite a photosensitizing agent for PDT during a series of discrete periods of time that are separated by non-therapeutic intervals. Diagnostic light of a second wavelength can be directed to the eye during at least a portion of one or more of the non-therapeutic intervals to allow a physician to see the affect of the therapy.
US07992567B2
Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the tongue. An implant is positioned within at least a portion of the tongue and may be secured to other surrounding structures such as the mandible and/or hyoid bone. In general, the implant is manipulated to displace at least a portion of the posterior tongue in an anterior or lateral direction, or to alter the tissue tension or compliance of the tongue. Methods and devices are also disclosed for manipulating other soft tissue structures, including the soft palate and pharyngeal airway.
US07992565B2
A device for occluding the fallopian tube including a retention member and a mesh material supported by the retention member. The retention member has a first lower profile configuration for delivery and a second expanded configuration for placement within the fallopian tube. The mesh material is configured to block passage of an egg through the tube. The member has a plurality of tube engagement members to secure the retention member to the fallopian tube.
US07992563B2
Methods, apparatus, and kits for enhancing breathing in patients suffering from chronic pulmonary obstructive disease are described. The methods and apparatus rely on increasing flow resistance to expiration in a manner which mimics “pursed lip” breathing which has been found to benefit patients suffering from this disease. In a first example, a device is implanted in a trachea or bronchial passage to increase flow resistance, preferably selectively increase resistance to expiration relative to inspiration. In a second embodiment, a mouthpiece is provided, again to increase resistance to expiration, preferably with a lesser increase in flow resistance to inspiration. In a third embodiment, the patient's trachea or bronchial passage is modified by the application of energy in order to partially close the lumen therethrough.
US07992548B2
An engine assembly includes a vapor canister in selective fluid communication with a crankcase to store alcohol vapor when the temperature inside the crankcase causes alcohol accumulated in the crankcase to boil. The vapor canister is in selective fluid communication with an air induction system to recirculate the alcohol vapor through the engine in a metered fashion.
US07992542B2
A system and method for operating a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having at least two spark plugs per cylinder include a first control wire coupled to a first spark plug of a first cylinder and a second spark plug of a second cylinder, and a second control wire coupled to a second spark plug of the first cylinder and a first spark plug of the second cylinder with the first and second spark plugs of the first cylinder being selectively fired during the power stroke of the first cylinder and the first and second spark plugs of the second cylinder being selectively fired during the power stroke of the second cylinder to provide individual control of each spark plug using a number of control lines less than the number of spark plugs.
US07992532B2
The switchable hydraulic lash adjuster uses balls that move radially in order to lock and unlock the switchable elements in the hydraulic lash adjuster. An axially movable piston acts on the ball to force it to engage and to allow it to disengage the inner housing.
US07992531B2
Heat generation is not caused by friction in a phase varying apparatus for use with a vehicle engine.A phase varying apparatus for use with a vehicle engine varies the opening/closing timing of an intake valve or an exhaust valve. The phase varying apparatus includes a rotary drum (44A) screwed to an intermediate member (30); an electromagnetic clutch (42) including a plurality of magnets (80) that are fixedly arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum and that are magnetized alternately in opposite directions and a coil wound around an iron core (60); and ferromagnetic-material-made magnetic flux induction members (82, 84) having a plurality of claws (82B, 84B) close to magnetic poles of a magnet, having a slight gap between the iron core and the magnetic flux induction member, and forming a magnetic path (85) made up of the iron core and the magnets. The magnetic flux induction member is fixed to an outer cylinder part (10) or to an inner cylinder part (20). The rotary drum is accelerated and decelerated by a magnetic force exerted on the magnet by the claws while controlling an electric current to be supplied to the coil, and the inner cylinder part (20) and the outer cylinder part connected to the intermediate member in a spline manner are rotated relative to each other.
US07992530B2
A continuous variable valve lift (CVVL) device opens and closes a valve by pressing a rocker arm through a rotational force transmitted from a drive cam. The CVVL device includes a drive arm, which is pivotably mounted such that one side thereof presses a rocker arm, a variable arm, which is pivotably mounted, and pushes and pivots the drive arm when pivoted, and a transmission arm, which is coupled with a transmission roller, which is located between the drive cam and the variable arm, at one end thereof, and is pivoted such that a position where the transmission roller comes into contact with both the drive cam and the variable arm is changed.
US07992528B2
Titania is a semiconductor and photocatalyst that is also chemically inert. With its bandgap of 3.0, to activate the photocatalytic property of titania requires light of about 390 nm wavelength, which is in the ultra-violet, where sunlight is very low in intensity. A method and devices are disclosed wherein stress is induced and managed in a thin film of titania in order to shift and lower the bandgap energy into the longer wavelengths that are more abundant in sunlight. Applications of this stress-induced bandgap-shifted titania photocatalytic surface include photoelectrolysis for production of hydrogen gas from water, photovoltaics for production of electricity, and photocatalysis for detoxification and disinfection.
US07992524B2
An animal training device and restraint (10) is comprised of a lead (14) having a length greater than the height of the cat and less than the length of the cat and a device (12) for attaching to the cat's collar or harness on one end and a weight (13), light enough to lift into the air and swing freely when the cat jumps, attached to the other end to provide the animal with some free roaming ability while preventing them from jumping onto furniture or over fences or after birds.
US07992517B2
A gantry tower spraying system with a cartridge/receptacle assembly includes a gantry and a spray assembly coupled to the gantry to allow for translational movement of the spray assembly along the gantry. The spray assembly includes a receptacle for receiving a cartridge containing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, and a spray nozzle coupled to the receptacle for receiving the cosmetic liquid and dispensing the cosmetic liquid in a spray. The receptacle has an inner surface of a size and shape to generally conform to a size and shape of a portion of an outer surface of the cartridge. The spraying system can further be provided with an oscillation mechanism adapted to cause oscillation of the spray nozzle. The bottle can be provided with a keying mechanism for engaging a corresponding key structure of the receptacle.
US07992505B2
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for operating a thread-processing machine having a thread-cutting device. In order to provide a method and a corresponding apparatus for operating a thread-processing machine having a thread-cutting device, which achieves improved results with increased operational reliability in comparison with known apparatuses and methods, it is proposed that the processed product (3) is covered with an articulated or flexible protective element to protect the surface of the sewn product in a region around a thread (2) which is to be severed only after the thread-processing operation is ended, and the thread-cutting device (4) is moved onto a cutting point and is positioned for cutting relative to the protective element.
US07992502B1
An inflatable laptop desk includes an inflatable base and a horizontal platform mounted to the base for supporting a laptop computer or other device. The base includes one or more valves that allow the base to be selectively inflated for mounting upon a user's lap and deflated for transportation and storage. An optional storage case may be incorporated into the desk.
US07992495B2
A chemical detonator includes a housing, having an open end and a closed end; and a detonation element located in the housing, into which a shock tube for initiating the detonation element intrudes, wherein the housing and the shock tube are of plastics construction and the housing is substantially cylindrical cup shape, and wherein the shock tube intrudes into, and is welded to, the open end to hold the shock tube at a desired spacing from the detonation element. The detonator includes a detonation element that includes a series of charges.
US07992487B1
The invention as presently conceived discloses a cooking kettle apparatus having special features to make food canning a single step process. The apparatus comprises a large diameter pour spout on the upper portion of the kettle that allows even the thickest food to flow through, and a series of interchangeable spout attachments. One spout attachment is a strainer to hold back solids as the cooked product is poured into containers. Another attachment is a straight pour spout with an air induction vent to improve the flow or liquids. The kettle has three handles about the upper portion to allow easy pouring by one person, or for two people when there is a particularly heavy batch of cooked food. The method of use provides a means by which a person can cook jams, jellies, and similar foods in the most efficient manner and with less specialized cooking items.
US07992480B2
A table saw includes a curved channel formed in a supporting base, a cradle attached to the supporting base, an arbor bracket attached to the cradle for supporting a saw blade and a motor, a height shaft attached to the cradle and extended through the curved channel of the base for engaging with the arbor bracket, a tilt shaft attached to the base and engaged with the cradle for adjusting the saw blade relative to the base to selected angular positions, a follower slidably engaged in the curved channel of the base, and a signal generating device attached to the follower for detecting a bevel angle of the arbor bracket and the cradle and the saw blade relative to the base and for precisely showing the angle with digits.
US07992477B2
A medicine feeding device including a support portion (32) for supporting a seal surface side of a press through pack (5), a press section (33) for pressing the housing recess portions (9) from one side other than the seal surface of the press through pack (5), and a cutter (38) for making a cut slit in the sheet (11) at a boundary portion between the housing recess portions (9) and the seal surface (8) at least before the sheet (11) is broken or the medicine (6) is damaged by the pressure exerted by the press section (33).
US07992475B2
A plate workpiece processing method includes utilizing one or more cutting devices of a machine tool to perform first and second cutting operations on a plate workpiece. During the first cutting operation, the workpiece is moved relative to cutting device(s) used for the first cutting operation, at least two cut-outs are partially formed in the workpiece with only a common residual connection left that jointly connects the partially formed cut-outs to a remaining portion of the workpiece and that is shortened along one or more cutting lines of the second cutting operation to a size that is larger than a working area of the cutting device(s) used for the second cutting operation. During the second cutting operation, the workpiece is maintained stationary supported by the machine tool, the shortened common residual connection is severed along the cutting line(s) to completely separate the cut-outs from the remaining portion of the workpiece.
US07992473B2
An apparatus for cutting a pipe includes a housing with a central aperture for holding the pipe in a fixed position. A rotatable collar is mounted on the outer surface of the fixed housing, with a cutting head attached to the collar. The cutting head is configured to translate forward and backward such that the combination of the rotational movement of the collar and the translational movement of the cutting head is capable of performing complex cuts without ever moving the pipe. A number of different cutting tools (laser, plasma, etc.) may be attached to the cutting head, and a variety of different tasks may be performed including cutting completely through the entire pipe, inscribing on the pipe surface, forming through-holes along the pipe, and the like.
US07992471B2
A positioning apparatus for hand tool includes a shank, a driving head, a switch, and a positioning device. The shank has a connecting end having a receiving space and a slot communicated with the receiving space. The driving head has multiple positioning holes. The switch includes a screw. The positioning device is received in the receiving space. The positioning device includes a spring, a pusher, and a base. The base is received in the receiving space. The base has a recess for receiving the spring and the pusher and a slot communicated with the recess. The spring has one end abutting against a bottom of the recess and the other end abutting against the pusher. The screw passes the switch and fastens with the pusher via the slot in the shank and the slot in the base. The pusher selectively engages with one of the multiple positioning holes.
US07992463B2
A shifter for an automatic transmission has a gate plate with a main gate and a sub-gate. A shift lever has a spherical portion and is movable along the main gate and the sub-gate. A switching member enables switching the automatic transmission to a manual operation. The switching member includes a body held in a swingable manner, and a lever holding section integrally formed with the body to rotatably hold the spherical portion. The body is adapted, to be uncoupled from the shift lever so as to place the automatic transmission in a manual mode when the shift lever is swung from the main gate into the sub-gate about the spherical portion and to be coupled to the shift lever so as to return the automatic transmission to an automatic mode when the shift lever is returned from the sub-gate to the main gate.
US07992462B2
In a resin double-helical gear formed by injection-molding, smooth meshing of teeth can be performed for rotation of the resin double-helical gear in both directions, and occurrences of thrust-direction load and noise can be prevented.Peak-side tooth flanks 7c and 7d and valley-side tooth flanks 7e and 7f of a tooth 7 in a resin double-helical gear 1 are formed such as to become farther away from peak-side tooth flanks 9c and 9d and valley-side tooth flanks 9e and 9f of a standard tooth 9 in an inward direction, the closer the peak-side tooth flanks 7c and 7d and the valley-side tooth flanks 7e and 7f are to a tooth width direction center section 3 from one tooth width direction end section 4a and another tooth width direction end section 4b. As a result, meshing escape sections g (g1 and g2) and h (h1 and h2) having dimensions in a tooth thickness direction that increase towards the tooth width direction center section 3 are formed on the peak-side tooth flank side and the valley-side tooth flank side.
US07992456B2
A nut for a lead screw assembly, a lead screw assembly and a method for preventing backlash in a lead screw assembly are provided. The nut of the lead screw assembly includes a one-way clutch that permits relative motion of between two nut bodies in a first direction but prevents relative motion in an opposite direction. The one-way clutch preferably includes at least one sprag element that acts between the two nut bodies to permit or prevent relative motion between the two nut bodies of the nut. The lead screw assembly generally incorporates a nut incorporating such a nut. The method generally includes binding the first nut body relative the second nut body to prevent relative motion of the nut bodies in one direction while permitting relative motion in an opposite direction.
US07992454B2
A testing system includes a single air collection box and a laminar flow system for obtain an airflow measurement. The single airflow box has air inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends. The laminar flow element has a laminar flow element inlet in fluid communication with the air collection box and a laminar flow element outlet sealed with the air outlet port of the air collection box. A blower in fluid communication with the laminar flow element outlet draws airflow into the air collection box through a unit under test and out of the air collection box through the laminar flow element. A pressure transducer senses the differential air pressure across the laminar flow element and enables a determination of the airflow rate.
US07992449B1
A method for determining the condition assessment and residual life span of bridge cables based on a parametric statistical model. The method includes random sampling of individual cable wires, mechanically testing the sampled wires, determining the probability of broken and cracked wires and the ultimate strength of cracked wires using fracture toughness and imputing the above data to simulate stress-strain curves for each wire in the cable, applying strain increments until reaching ultimate elongation. Assessing remaining service life of the cable by determining the rate of change of broken wires detected over a time frame, measuring the rate of change of fracture toughness over said time frame, and applying the rates of change to a time-dependent degradation prediction model.
US07992448B2
A mechanical-quantity measuring device capable of measuring a strain component in a specific direction with high precision is provided.At least two or more pairs of bridge circuits are formed inside a semiconductor monocrystal substrate and a semiconductor chip, and one of these bridge circuits forms a n-type diffusion resistor in which a direction of a current flow and measuring variation of a resistor value are in parallel with a <100> direction of the semiconductor monocrystal silicon substrate, and an another bridge circuit is composed of combination of p-type diffusion resistors in parallel with a <110> direction.
US07992435B2
In a structure in which peripheral part of a diaphragm section of an electrical insulating film is covered with a protective film made of an organic material, the resistor wire on the diaphragm section crosses the peripheral part of the diaphragm section. At a place where a narrow wire of a resistance temperature detector and the like crosses the peripheral part of the diaphragm section, the protective film is thinner than the other part, and the dust impact resistance is reduced. At a place where a heating resistor wire connected to a heating resistor body or resistance temperature detector wires connected to resistance temperature detector bodies cross a periphery of the diaphragm section, a film component protruding from an electrical insulating film is arranged side by side with the heating resistor wire or the resistance temperature detector wires.
US07992432B2
A method for operating an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, in which a first signal is determined, which characterizes a torque of the internal combustion engine. In order to provide a method for operating an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle in which a torque of the internal combustion engine is determined even more precisely, in particular in the region of a zero crossing of the torque, a second signal, which characterizes a state variable of the internal combustion engine and/or the motor vehicle that differs from the torque is determined from the first signal, at least one third signal is recorded, which characterizes a measured value of the state variable, the second signal and the third signal are compared to one another, and the first signal is corrected on the basis of the comparison.
US07992428B2
A method for ingredient analysis includes the steps of: providing a database, which stores a plurality of standard ingredient data; analyzing a sample to obtain a plurality of inspection data via a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method; and respectively comparing the inspection data with the corresponding standard ingredient data to analyze all ingredients contained in the sample simultaneously. The method may be applied to a device for ingredient analysis. Thus, by cooperating the database with the HPLC method, all ingredients contained in the sample can be analyzed via at least one analysis procedure so that the procedures for ingredient analysis are simpler and quicker and the accuracy of the analysis result can be enhanced.
US07992425B2
A novel, resistance-based porous silicon sensor with Pd nano structures as the hydrogen sensing layer is presented. The sensor operates at room temperature. The hydrogen sensor of the present includes a p-Type Si substrate that is subjected to porous Si etching to form a nanoporous substrate. The substrate is then coated with a thin layer of Pd and annealed at 900 degrees C. This results in some Pd getting oxidized on porous Si and a thin PdO layer forms on the surface of the substrate. The sensor in accordance with the present invention exhibits an inverse relationship between increased hydrogen concentration versus resistance.
US07992423B2
A feed-through module for an analyzer, such as a gas chromatograph. The feed-through module is adapted for connection to a plurality of tubes and for conveying fluids between the tubes and an enclosed volume of a housing of the analyzer. The feed-through module includes a connection structure threadably secured to the housing and a feed plate removably mounted to the connection structure. A plurality of connectors are secured to the feed plate. The connection structure and the feed plate cooperate to define a plurality of internal flow networks. Each flow network is operable to convey one of the fluids between one of the connectors and the enclosed volume of the housing. Within each flow network, a stream of fluid is split and then recombined.
US07992420B2
A brake caliper for a disk brake, in particular for motorcycles and/or bicycles, includes a housing (30) in which a disk space (39) for receiving a brake disk and a brake cylinder (35) for receiving a brake piston (25) are formed. The brake cylinder (35) is connected to the disk space (39) and has, on its side opposite to the disk space (39), an assembly opening (50) through which the brake piston (25) can be inserted into the brake cylinder (35). A closure element (10) closes the assembly opening (50) after the insertion of the brake piston (25) into the brake cylinder (35). A securing element (21) secures the closure element (10) in the assembly opening (50) against forces in the direction of the main axis of the brake cylinder (35).
US07992417B2
An aspect of the present invention provides a method for producing an ultra thin wall metallic tube by a cold rolling method with significant wall thickness reduction. In a method for producing the metallic tube with a cold pilger mill, a wall thickness is reduced to perform elongation while a wall thickness center diameter is expanded using a pair of rolls, which has a tapered groove die whose diameter is gradually expanded or reduced from an engaging inlet side of the roll toward a finishing outlet side thereof, and a tapered mandrel bar, whose diameter is gradually expanded from an engaging inlet side of the tapered mandrel bar toward a finishing outlet side thereof.
US07992406B1
A multi-stage evaporative cooling system and method employing direct evaporative cooling at each stage. An exhaust fan is located between stages to expel warm air and partially depressurize the vapor space. An aspect of the present disclosure also describes the application of evaporative cooling to a pet shelter.
US07992398B2
A control apparatus and associated method for a refrigeration system are provided. The control apparatus includes sensors capable of detecting controlled refrigerator zone temperatures and superheat levels of refrigerant vapour exiting an evaporator. The control module receives input from the sensors, compares the input to a determined controlled refrigerator zone set point and a learned superheat level, and generates an output with respect thereto. In particular the output modulates an electronic evaporator pressure regulating (EEPR) valve between an open and a closed position in response to detecting abnormal operation of the thermostatic expansion valve or electronic expansion valve.
US07992397B2
An ammonia/CO2 refrigeration system is provided in which the ammonia cycle and CO2 brine cycle can be combined without problems even when refrigeration load such as refrigerating showcase, etc. is located at any place in accordance with circumstances of customer's convenience. The system comprises apparatuses working on an ammonia refrigerating cycle, a brine cooler for cooling and condensing CO2 by utilizing the latent heat of vaporization of the ammonia, and a liquid pump provided in a supply line for supplying the cooled and liquefied CO2 to a refrigeration load side cooler, wherein said liquid pump is a variable-discharge pump for allowing CO2 to be circulated forcibly, and the forced circulation flow is determined so that CO2 is recovered from the outlet of the cooler of the refrigeration load side in a liquid or liquid/gas mixed state.
US07992393B2
An apparatus for reducing temperature of items includes an enclosure having an inlet and an outlet for the items within the enclosure; a conveyor for conveying the items within the enclosure from the inlet to the outlet; one or more delivery nozzles positioned to deliver gaseous cryogen and liquid or solid cryogen at supersonic velocity to the items on the conveyor. The apparatus delivers supersonic gaseous cryogen and fine liquid cryogen droplets onto the surface of food items to cool or freeze the food items.
US07992387B1
A master cylinder having a housing with a bore wherein front and rear pistons are located by return springs to define front and rear chambers. The front and rear chambers are respectively connected by an axial port and a radial port in the housing to a reservoir. Communication of fluid between the bore and reservoir is controlled by a rear center compensation valve that is linked to a front center port compensation valve such that fluid communication between the front and rear chambers and reservoir is controlled by movement of the rear piston in response to an input force with a first and second actuation springs respectively closing the front and rear center port compensation valves to allow simultaneous pressurization of fluid in the front chamber and rear chamber that is supplied to front wheel brakes and rear wheel brakes to effect a brake application.
US07992385B2
A hydraulic control device includes an oil pan; an oil pump; a strainer; a pressure regulating valve; an oil cooler; a cooler bypass valve with an input port that is connected with a cooler supply oil passage through which the hydraulic oil to be supplied to the oil cooler flows, wherein the input port is communicatively connected with an output port when the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil within the cooler supply oil passage is equal to or greater than a predetermined valve opening pressure; and a cooler bypass oil passage that connects the output port of the cooler bypass valve with an intake oil passage between the strainer and the intake port of the oil pump.
US07992379B2
An exhaust purification device for an engine comprises a catalytic device for purifying exhaust by using an additive, a deflecting device for allowing the exhaust to flow through and causing the exhaust to be agitated, upstream of the catalytic device, an additive injection device for injecting an additive, downstream of the deflecting device, a temperature detection device for detecting exhaust temperature, downstream of the deflecting device, and a control unit for controlling the additive injection device on the basis of the exhaust temperature detected by the temperature detection device. The temperature detection device has a temperature detection part located within a region where the exhaust having passed through the deflecting device has increased velocity.
US07992374B1
A flexible cutterbar header for an agricultural plant cutting machine, includes a plurality of elongate, telescoping support arms pivotally connected to a floor of the header and supporting a flexible cutterbar for upward and downward, and fore and aft movements relative thereto, apparatus extending between at least some of the support arms configured and operable for controlling the telescoping thereof substantially uniformly, and a preload adjusting system configured and operable for applying a preload force against the cutterbar through the support arms in a manner to automatically increase as the support arms telescopically increase in length, and automatically decrease as the support arms telescopically decrease in length.
US07992373B2
A connecting mechanism (60) is provided for detachably connecting A grass collecting unit (30) to a chassis (4), and the connecting mechanism (60) includes a connecting unit (40) at the grass collecting unit side provided in a support frame assembly (31), and a connecting unit (50) at the vehicle body side provided in the chassis (4). The support frame assembly is vertically movable by the driving unit with the grass container (32) being supported to the ground through a support (70), which selectively achieves a connecting operation performed by the connecting mechanism (60) for connecting the connecting unit (40) at the grass collecting unit side to the connecting unit (50) at the vehicle body side, and a releasing operation performed by the connecting mechanism (60) for releasing connection between the connecting unit (40) at the grass collecting unit side and the connecting unit (50) at the vehicle body side.
US07992371B2
A stalk roll for an agricultural harvester row unit comprising a plurality of longitudinal extending knife edges about its circumference, in which one of the leading and trailing sides of the knife edges is coated with a first wear resistant coating over substantially its entire length, and in which the other of the leading and trailing sides is coated with a second wear resistant coating over at least one of a front portion thereof and a rear portion thereof.
US07992369B2
An agricultural harvester comprises an agricultural harvester vehicle and a harvesting head mounted on the vehicle, the header height control system including at least one sensor disposed to sense the height of the ground in the path of a drive wheel of the agricultural harvester vehicle, and a header height control system including an electronic circuit configured to lower the harvesting head as a wheel or wheels approach or engage a protrusion on the ground indicated by the sensor, and to raise the harvesting head as the wheels approach or engage a depression in the ground indicated by the sensor.
US07992360B2
The present invention discloses a tactile warning panel inlay system and method. Such system is comprised of a panel formed with an exposed surface having a plurality of tactile warning protrusions and a support surface configured to contact a substrate matrix. The panel includes a plurality of apertures extending from the exposed surface to the support surface. Further, a plurality of fasteners are configured to extend individually through an aperture included in the plurality of panel apertures to secure the panel to the substrate matrix. Each fastener includes a head conformed to the shape of the tactile warning protrusion and a body for extending the fastener through the panel and into the substrate matrix.
US07992357B2
Safety equipment for use with prestressing cables as used in civil engineering and building structures, the safety equipment having two principle parts adapted to fit over a cable at a point where the cable interfaces with anchoring members or walls, the safety equipment configured to take over from original anchoring elements in the event of a rupture of the cable.
US07992355B2
A vehicular drive-thru food ordering and delivering system and method are provided. The system includes a lot, a drive-thru lane and a building for receiving and filling drive-thru orders. The building has a primary food delivery window for passing ready orders to drive-thru customers, and a downstream in-line parking area for drive-thru vehicles having a delayed order. Proximate to and downstream from the primary food delivery window is a doorway for attendant access from the primary food delivery window to the downstream in-line parking area. An attendant runway is proximate and downstream of the doorway and proximate to the in-line vehicle waiting area. A customer with a delayed order can be directed to wait in the downstream in-line waiting area. When the delayed order is ready for delivery, an attendant can deliver the ready order via the proximate doorway and proximate attendant runway to a vehicle waiting in the in-line vehicle waiting area.
US07992350B2
A column borne building construction according to the present invention comprises a building and one substantially vertical column for bearing the load of said building construction. The building has a polyhedron shape, this polyhedron shape having a top face defining a polygon shape by means of N1 top edges and N1 top vertices. The polyhedron shape comprises additional faces other than said top face, which additional faces are defined by additional edges and additional vertices. The top face is substantially perpendicular to the column and encircling the column. Each of the N1 top vertices join two top edges and at least one additional edge of the polyhedron. The column has a top coupling point and at least 3 of the N1 top vertices are connected to the column by means of a tension member. The extensions of these tension members coincide in the top coupling point.
US07992347B2
A structural door module for a motor vehicle door, comprising of a carrier plate with a plurality of door hardware components mounted to the dryside and wetside surfaces of the carrier plate. The carrier plate includes a number of preformed components that allow door subsystems to be pre-mounted to the door module and tested prior to mounting the structural door module in the motor vehicle door body. An energy absorbing area is molded into the carrier plate. Additionally, a protruding arm rest support is designed to collapse during a side-impact collision.
US07992345B2
The invention provides methods for afforestation of recalcitrant land comprising the steps of preparing multiplicity of vegetation containers made of natural wood and having a thickness of 3-8 mm; growing plant seeds in a soil composition composed of sprouting promoter, rooting promoter, fertilizer and peat moss to obtain plant seedlings; placing the plant seedlings into the multiplicity of vegetation containers and airdropping the multiplicity of vegetation containers containing the plant seedlings onto the recalcitrant land.
US07992334B1
A marketing sign is constructed of a sheet material. The sheet material includes a free portion, a base portion and a connecting portion that couples the base portion to the free portion. The base portion is configured to engage with a product display structure, which has a price holder. The connecting portion is defined between a first connecting bend line spaced apart from a second connecting bend line by a distance. The distance substantially corresponds with an edge thickness of the price holder.
US07992326B2
The invention relates to a sports shoe (1), in particular an alpine ski shoe (2), with an adjusting means (3) for varying the stiffness of the sole system (4) as and when necessary. This adjusting means (3) comprises at least one profiled tension element (19) which remains essentially dimensionally stable when forces act on it and which is connected at its oppositely lying end portions to a front sole platform (10) on the one hand and to a rear sole platform (11) of the sole system (4) on the other hand, its middle portion extending freely between the front and the rear sole platform (10, 11). The tension element (19) is mounted so as to be relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the sole system (4) in order to apply adjustable positioning forces relative to at least one sole platform (10, 11), and an individually adjustable tensing force can be expended between the front and the rear sole platform (10, 11) via the tension element (19). This tensing force can be adjusted so that at least one load-induced tendency of a distance (25) between the front and rear sole platform (10, 11) to become bigger is counteracted or a tendential vertical lifting of the middle portion of the sole system (4) is induced.
US07992314B2
An elevation measuring device comprises a measuring column at which a vertically movable measuring slide is supported, so it can be moved by hand and also by a drive motor through a clutch device. The measuring slide supports a scan head, which imparts a constant measuring force onto the measuring location at the work piece, which is generated by the drive motor and the clutch device. A measuring system detects the elevation coordinate of the scan head and hands said elevation coordinate to a control device for further processing and evaluation. The control device comprises logic for automating the measuring process. This logic automatically detects a positioning of the scan head in a certain direction, which is manually performed by the operator, subsequently controls the drive motor in a suitable manner in order to cause a scanning of the work piece and determines the measurement values.
US07992306B2
An exemplary embodiment includes a heated blade for cutting a synthetic line or rope as well as heated sealing cylinders for sealing the cut or raw ends against raveling. The cutter can accommodate lines of a variety of diameters. The cutter is powered by a rechargeable battery and is portable and safe for use in a marine environment. Other embodiments seal the raw ends by shrinking a heat-shrinkable tubing over the raw ends.
US07992300B1
A method of assembling a hydraulic fluid accumulator in a bore defined in a housing structure is disclosed. The method includes (a) inserting an annular seal into a second bore portion of the bore so that the annular seal is positioned in contact with the first ledge, (b) inserting a piston into the bore so that the piston is located in a first bore portion of the bore as well as the second bore portion of the bore, and (c) inserting a cover having an annular rim into the bore so that (i) the annular rim is positioned in contact with the annular seal, and (ii) the annular seal is located in an annular space defined by the first ledge, the annular rim, the piston, and an internal wall of the housing structure that partially defines the second bore portion.
US07992297B2
One embodiment of the invention comprises an improved method for making a via structure for use in a printed circuit board (PCB). The via allows for the passage of a signal from one signal plane to another in the (PCB), and in so doing transgresses the power and ground planes between the signal plane. To minimize EM disturbance between the power and ground planes, signal loss due to signal return current, and via-to-via coupling, the via is shielded within two concentric cylinders, each coupled to one of the power and ground planes.
US07992295B2
A method and device for making an electrically conductive connection between two electrically conductive tracks present on two opposite sides of a dielectric substrate. The method: a) provides the substrate, with at least one first electrically conductive track present on one side thereof and at least one second electrically conductive track present on the other side of the substrate opposite the one side, b) forms a through hole through the substrate and through two opposite parts of a first track and a second track, respectively, and c) makes an electrically conductive connection via the through hole between the first track through which the through hole has been formed and the second hole through which the through hole has been formed.
US07992292B2
A method for manufacturing a touch panel for acquiring a plurality of touch panels in one machining process comprises the steps of: sticking a rectangular transparent film to a back liner as to be formed with an upper material piece; each upper electrode unit of the transparent film being formed with a closed gluing frame along an inner periphery of the cutting line; forming a plurality of lower electrode units with an identical specification as the upper electrode units on the transparent film on a surface of the glass substrate; sticky a surface of each upper electrode unit on the transparent film to a surface of a respective lower electrode unit on the glass substrate by the gluing frame; a glass cutter cutting along a cutting line into one lateral side of the surface on the glass substrate; performing a piece peeling operation so as to acquire each touch panel.
US07992286B2
A assembly apparatus for attaching decorative pieces to electronic devices includes a seat, a first cover, a second cover, and a transmitting member. The seat includes a disengaging portion and an attaching portion. The disengaging portion has a recess, a protrusion and at least one positioning column in the recess. The attaching portion defines a receiving room for receiving a shell. The first cover is detachable mounted on the disengaging portion and defines at least one first through hole. The second cover is detachable mounted on the attaching portion and defines a second through hole. The transmitting member includes a latching portion. The latching portion is inserted in the first through hole to attract a decorative piece, and is inserted in the second through hole to release the decorative piece on the shell.
US07992279B2
The embodiments provide a barb assembly for use with a cable duct component to oppose removal of a cable duct section from the cable duct component. The barb assembly can comprise a releasable assembly for applying a force to a barb and, responsive to the application of the force, for moving the barb and one or more barb arms from an unengaged position to an engaged position without the use of tools. The barb assembly and/or cable duct component can also comprise a spring bias, which can bias the releasable assembly to the unengaged position upon actuating the releasable assembly to the unengaged position. The embodiments also provide methods of installing cable duct components and systems with the above-described features.
US07992277B2
The present disclosure relates to a suspension damper removal tool for removing a shock absorber from a suspension assembly of a vehicle. The removal tool includes a base and a projection. The base includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion has at least one mounting hole for mounting the removal tool to at least one lug bolt of a hub assembly. The projection extends outwardly from the second end portion of the base.
US07992268B2
A fastening clip device comprising arms of different length pivoted together about a transverse pin on one and the other side thereof, and elastic means which maintain two facing portions of said arms spaced apart, one end of one of said arms being bent substantially to U-shape to retain the end of the other arm against the action of said elastic means, characterized in that the arm of smaller length comprises two apertures positioned on one and the other side of the pin about which the two arms are pivoted, and by comprising a flexible puller which passes through said apertures, extends between the pin and the arm of greater length, and is fixed to the curved portion of said arm.
US07992267B2
A locking mechanism is contained within a carabiner's straight or bent gate. The locking mechanism incorporates a pivoting link that can be moved to abut against a transverse pin, thereby immobilizing the gate return spring, which prevents opening movement of the gate. The transverse pin is a material able to resist and distribute forces attempting to open the locked gate. The spring pin is notched to engage the transverse pin thereby simplifying assembly of the carabiner. A low profile protrusion is pushed in the direction of opening the gate to switch the mechanism to the unlocked position. Similarly, another low profile protrusion is pushed in the direction of closing the gate to switch the mechanism to the locked position. The locking and unlocking protrusions are located adjacent the gate hinge so that the gate can be conveniently unlocked, opened, closed and relocked with the fingers of one hand.
US07992265B2
A fastening apparatus using magnetism enables to fasten an object with a magnetic material to a target surface. The apparatus has a substrate which is flexible and provided at its reverse side with a sticking coat for removably attaching to the target surface, and a magnet receiving hole surrounded by the sticking coat penetrating through the substrate; a flat magnet housed into the magnet receiving hole; an outer film which is fixed on the substrate for separating the flat magnet and the object. The flat magnet is able to be removed out from the magnet receiving hole.
US07992261B2
Disclosed is a closure system used in combination in any of a variety of applications including clothing, for example as a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace extends through a series of guide members positioned along two opposing footwear closure portions. The lace and guides preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. The closure system allows a user to quickly loosen the lace and inhibits unintentional and/or accidental loosing of the lace.
US07992258B1
The invention is a sports safety grip for use with ski poles, hiking poles, bicycle grips, or motorcycle grips that have internal threading upon each end leading into a hollow chamber. A corresponding tool with external threading can be screwed onto the handle grip and includes a tool comprising a tracking device, compass, and a plurality of tools.
US07992256B2
A hinge includes a positioning member, and a first rotational assembly rotatably mounted to the positioning member. The first rotational assembly comprises a first shaft rotatably mounted to the positioning member, an interference member, a resilient member fixed to the first shaft, and a securing member fixed to the first shaft. The interference member is fixed to the first shaft, and slide relative to the positioning member to engage with or disengage from the positioning member. The resilient member comprises an aseismatic block and a spring clamping a circumference of the aseismatic block. The resilient member is sandwiched between the interference member and the securing member, and the interference member abuts against the aseismatic block.
US07992252B2
A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner may include a dust separation device that separates dust and a dust container in which the dust separated in the dust separation device may be stored.
US07992251B2
A robot includes a second bumper that senses an obstacle having such a height that can be passed over. Thus, the robot can pass over the obstacle without avoiding it.
US07992244B2
In a first embodiment an electric toothbrush having a housing containing an electric motor, the motor being drivingly connected to a first brush head rotatably mounted on an end of the toothbrush remote from the motor and adjacent to at least one other rotatable brush head. In a second embodiment a packaged electric toothbrush including a “try me” facility for remotely testing the operation of the toothbrush, which “try me” feature comprises a two-sided metal strip such as aluminum foil, separated by a dielectric material, respective sides of the strip being connected at one end to respective parts used to operate the electric toothbrush and the other end of the strip being folded over and including a centrally disposed aperture onto which is a bendable metal connector such that upon bending or pressing of the connector the two sides of the strip are electrically connected together to temporarily operate the toothbrush whilst still in its packaging.
US07992243B2
A system for custom fitting athletic shoes to an individual wearer includes a foot measurement device, an adjustable footform and an infrared activation chamber. Shoes of a single width for each length size have at least a portion of the upper made of heat malleable material to be custom fitted for width. Foot measurement data is used to calculate length size, width size and a number of custom adjustment factors. After the length size is calculated, the appropriately sized shoe and last are assembled together and subject to infrared radiation until the heat malleable material becomes plastic. Adjustments are then made to the last in accordance with the adjustment factors to provide custom width sizing. After further heat treatment to set the shoe upper and cooling, the shoe is complete. In this manner, if used in a retail setting, shoes are custom fitted to the wearer in a matter of minutes.
US07992240B2
Mattresses that have a point of attachment to an adjustable bed frame that provides a pivot point about which the mattress can pivot when rising to an inclined position. In one embodiment the mattress has a pivoting member extending transversely through the mattress and provides a pivot point about which one portion of the mattress can pivot in relation to another portion of the mattress. By placing the member about midway through the mattress, one half of the mattress can pivot relative to the other half of the mattress, while the center point of the mattress is held in place. By pinning the member to the frame, the center of the mattress is held against the frame even when one portion of the mattress is inclined relative to the other. This prevents or ameliorates the mattress tendency to lift off the frame when the frame pivots into an inclined position.
US07992239B2
A patient support apparatus comprises a lower frame, a lift mechanism, a drive mechanism, and an upper frame. The lower frame includes a lift drive configured to at least one of expand and contract the lift mechanism. The lift mechanism is pivotably coupled with the lower frame to rotate about a rotational axis. A drive mechanism is coupled between the lift mechanism and the lower frame. The drive mechanism is configured to rotate the lift mechanism about the rotational axis. The upper frame is supported on the lift mechanism and responsive to the rotation of the lift mechanism to rotate a patient about the rotational axis.
US07992238B2
A surgical table for infants and small animals has a bed assembly that is rotatable. The bed assembly includes a stationary plate and a rotating plate with a brake that controls rotation. The bed assembly may be connected by a clamp to the frame of a conventional operating table and supported alongside or above. The bed assembly may also be permanently mounted on its own vertical support. The bed assembly may also be permanently mounted to the operating table by an articulated clamp that allows the bed assembly to be stored alongside. A central opening is present in both plates so that hoses and wires connected to the patient will pass through this opening to permit rotation of the patient with the table with no stress on the hoses or wires where they connect to the patient.
US07992232B1
A device for controlling valve travel of the flush valve of a toilet operated by a rigid linkage rod and for forcibly returning the valve to the closed position. The device may comprise a spring contained within a sleeve. The sleeve has end caps bearing openings for passing the rigid linkage rod entirely through the sleeve and spring. One end cap may be threaded to enable it to compress and immobilize the spring for selectively defeating operation.
US07996913B2
Technologies are disclosed to transfer responsibility and control over security from player makers to content authors by enabling integration of security logic and content. An exemplary optical disc carries an encrypted digital video title combined with data processing operations that implement the title's security policies and decryption processes. Player devices include a processing environment (e.g., a real-time virtual machine), which plays content by interpreting its processing operations. Players also provide procedure calls to enable content code to load data from media, perform network communications, determine playback environment configurations, access secure nonvolatile storage, submit data to CODECs for output, and/or perform cryptographic operations. Content can insert forensic watermarks in decoded output for tracing pirate copies. If pirates compromise a player or title, future content can be mastered with security features that, for example, block the attack, revoke pirated media, or use native code to correct player vulnerabilities.
US07996910B2
Protection is provided to prevent a computer user from unintentionally giving away sensitive data (e.g., security credentials, credit card number, PINs, personal data, or bank account number) to an illegitimate or unintended entity by means of a client application capable of communicating the sensitive data across a network to other computer users. To provide the protection, user input is monitored to detect a user entry of the sensitive data into the client application for communication to other users. When such an entry occurs, action is taken to reduce the likelihood of an unintentional giveaway of the sensitive data or to reduce the effects of an unintentional giveaway.
US07996908B2
A system and methods for coordinating the operation of a client security module and a host security module on a mobile electronic device. The modules communicate with each other through a platform abstraction layer using application programming interfaces to coordinate their activities. In particular, the client security module instructs the host security module when to lock and unlock the device, and the host security module alerts the client security module to attempts by the user to lock or unlock the device.
US07996903B2
A method and system for detecting and removing a hidden pestware file is described. One illustrative embodiment detects, using direct drive access, a file on a computer storage device; determines whether the file is also detectable by the operating system by attempting to access the file using a standard file Application-Program-Interface (API) function call of the operating system; identifies the file as a potential hidden pestware file, when the file is undetectable by the operating system; confirms through an automated pestware-signature scan of the potential hidden pestware file that the potential hidden pestware file is a hidden pestware file; and removes automatically, using direct drive access, the hidden pestware file from the storage device.
US07996893B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for performing an automated task in a role-based access control environment. A set of roles is assigned to a user to form assigned roles, wherein the role-based access control environment allows the user to assume a subset of the assigned roles at a given time. Responsive to receiving a request to execute an automated task, an identity of the user creating the automated task is identified. Responsive to determining that the user creating the automated task is not logged in, a set of session roles are identified based on the identity of the user. A session is created for the automated task. The automated task is performed in the session using the set of session roles.
US07996890B2
A trusted communication system and methods of ensuring trusted communications are provided. A portable memory device is configured to resemble a character, and a client is configurable to operate specifically with that portable memory device. The client may allow a user to access network resources related to other clients belonging to other users having portable memory devices. Each portable memory device may have stored therein a unique token. A token from one portable memory device may be associated with a token of another portable memory device, e.g., by operating the first portable memory device with a client configured to operate with the second portable memory device. When two tokens are associated, the client configured to operate with a portable memory device having one of those tokens may access network resources related to another of those tokens.
US07996880B2
A method of attempting a write to an entity to cause performance of an action is provided in which a first message is sent to the entity which causes performance of the action and adjustment of initial values in respective security fields of the entity to respective first adjusted values, and a second message is sent to the entity which causes adjustment of the initial values to respective second adjusted values. The security fields have write restrictions which prevent values in the security fields being adjusted, in accordance with the first message, if the initial values have been adjusted in accordance with the second message, and vice versa. The action is only performed when the initial values have been adjusted in accordance with the first message. The respective first adjusted values are different than the respective second adjusted values.
US07996876B1
A method for distributing a digital motion picture to multiple theaters in a region via terrestrial wireless communication. The motion picture is divided into chunks, and the chunks are transmitted to particular initial seed theaters in the region. To facilitate the initial seeding, downlink bandwidth on various wireless links is dynamically increased. Once the initial seeding is complete, the downlink bandwidth is decreased and is preferably equalized substantially with uplink bandwidth. The theaters in the region are then directed to begin peer-to-peer sharing of the chunks with each other, possibly through use of BitTorrent or other cooperative downloading process from the initial seed theaters. Ultimately, all of the theaters in the region thereby obtain all of the chunks of the motion picture and can conveniently present the motion picture to audiences.
US07996874B2
Helping advertisers by simplifying the management of interactive advertising. Such simplification can by achieved by allowing an advertiser to pause the serving of an ad, or some grouping of ads. The pausing may continue for a predetermined time period, until a specified time and/or date, or until a restart is selected.
US07996868B2
A system and method of accessing digital video broadcasts within an information handling system is disclosed. In one form, a digital video broadcast processing system can include a digital video broadcast receiver module operable to process a first digital video broadcast data received within a multiple channel digital video broadcast signal and to output the first digital video broadcast data to an interconnect bus of a computer system. The digital video broadcast processing system can also include a communication interface operable to be removably coupled to an interconnect bus interface of the computer system. The communication interface can be operable to communicate the first digital video broadcast data, including an interconnect dependent data format, from the digital video broadcast receiver module to a digital video processing application of the computer system.
US07996867B2
A reservation information setting apparatus and a method thereof are capable of a setting recording reservation and a program viewing reservation of a target broadcast program correctly and easily. By performing given operations, a control section forms a calendar as a schedule table, and displays the calendar on a display. Schedule information and reservation information, including a program viewing reservation and a recording reservation, are input into a selected date through the displayed calendar.
US07996862B2
A television server generates a metadata map that represents relationships among media content description data based on viewing patterns of multiple viewers. The television server sends the metadata map to a client device. The client device targets advertisements to a viewer based on the metadata map and a recent viewing history of the viewer.
US07996858B2
A disk device includes: a front panel; a bottom chassis, including: a bottom plate, having a first end and a second end; and a side plate, formed on the first end, the side plate formed with a first through hole; a connecting member, having a first wall formed with a second through hole and a second wall coupled with the front panel; a hook portion, formed on the first wall so as to extend in a first direction and engaging with the side plate; a screw, fitted into the first through hole and the second through hole thereby coupling the first wall and the side plate; a first engaging member, formed on the side plate; and a second engaging member, formed on the connecting member, and engaging with the first engaging member such that movement thereof in at least the first direction is restricted.
US07996843B2
The present invention relates generally to computer operating systems, and more specifically, to operating system calls in a symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) environment. Existing SMP strategies either use a single lock or multiple locks to limit access to critical areas of the operating system to one thread at a time. These strategies suffer from a number of performance problems including slow execution, large software and execution overheads and deadlocking problems. The invention applies a single lock strategy to a micro kernel operating system design which delegates functionality to external processes. The micro kernel has a single critical area, the micro kernel itself, which executes very quickly, while the external processes are protected by proper thread management. As a result, a single lock may be used, overcoming the performance problems of the existing strategies.
US07996832B2
Deployment of a workstation includes receiving data related to the computing environment of workstations, organizing the workstations into groups based on at least one selectable common attribute among the data, and producing a deployment schedule based on the groups.
US07996829B2
A method and system manages revisions of software code for one or more servers in an infrastructure. An indication of the version of the code currently residing with one of the servers is transmitted to the infrastructure. An indication of the version of the code currently residing with the infrastructure for the server's type is also transmitted to the one of the servers. A determination is made as to whether the server's version should be updated to the infrastructure's, whether the infrastructure's version should be updated to the server's, or neither based on the transmitted indications in view of a set of preconfigured update rules. If the infrastructure's version should be updated to the server's, the image of the code currently residing with the infrastructure is replaced with an image of the code currently residing with the server. If the server's version should be updated to the infrastructure's, the image of the code currently residing with the server is replaced with an image of the code currently residing with the infrastructure for the server's type.
US07996821B2
A data processor having a debugging aid function capable of monitoring a plurality of kinds of internal buses from the outside and identifying each of the buses monitored is provided. A central processing unit (CPU), a debugging aid module, and other circuit modules are mounted on a semiconductor chip. The debugging aid module selects an information transmitting path in accordance with a trace condition from a plurality of information transmitting paths used for the operation of a central processing unit (CPU) or the like, holds trace information obtained according to the trace condition from the selected information transmitting path together with attribute information of the trace information in a buffer circuit, and outputs the information serially to the outside of the semiconductor chip. A plurality of kinds of internal buses can be monitored on the outside, and each of the buses monitored can be identified. The trace information and its attribute information is output serially from the same external terminal.
US07996811B2
A system for an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of power islands includes a first power manager and a second power manager. The first power manager manages a first power consumption for the integrated circuit based on needs and operation of the integrated circuit. The second power manager communicates with the first power manager and manages a second power consumption for one of the power islands.
US07996805B2
The scan flipflops on a semiconductor chip are stitched together to form one or more scan chains, located in one or more standard cell placement regions, after the optimal physical location of each scan flip-flop has been determined. As a result, the total length of the scan chain wires is substantially reduced, thereby reducing on-chip wiring congestion, flip-flop load capacitance, and flipflop power dissipation.
US07996804B2
A system for reducing the signal delay skew is disclosed, according to a variety of embodiments. One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a method. According to one illustrative embodiment, the method includes receiving an initial netlist comprising components and connection paths among the components. The method further includes identifying one or more skew-influencing features in a first connection path in the initial netlist that lack corresponding skew-influencing features in a second connection path in the initial netlist. The method also includes generating a skew-corrected netlist wherein the second connection path includes one or more added skew-influencing features corresponding to those of the first connection path. The method further includes outputting the skew-corrected netlist.
US07996802B2
A method of verifying a circuit for use in an apparatus for verifying a circuit operation indicated by circuit information, the circuit including a plurality of logic circuits and at least one connection line between the logic circuits, the method includes: obtaining information of a plurality of pieces of asynchronous circuits from the circuit information; determining information of asynchronous circuits of a first type and a second type stored in a library; extracting information of an asynchronous circuit of a third type including the asynchronous circuits of the first type and the second type; and extracting verification information associated with the information of the asynchronous circuit of the third type, for verifying the circuit.
US07996793B2
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for a gesture recognizer system architecture. A recognizer engine is provided, which receives user motion data and provides that data to a plurality of filters. A filter corresponds to a gesture, that may then be tuned by an application receiving information from the gesture recognizer so that the specific parameters of the gesture—such as an arm acceleration for a throwing gesture—may be set on a per-application level, or multiple times within a single application. Each filter may output to an application using it a confidence level that the corresponding gesture occurred, as well as further details about the user motion data.
US07996790B2
A method of indicating expanded states and collapsed states of lower level expander/collapser items in a higher level visual control of a user interface display. The method includes providing, in the higher level visual control, a lower level expander/collapser indicator area; displaying a first display in the expander/collapser indicator area when all the lower level expander/collapser items are in a first state; displaying a second different display in the expander/collapser indicator area when all of the lower level expander/collapser items are in a second different state; and displaying a third different display in the expander/collapser indicator area when a first one of the lower level expander/collapser items is in the first state and a second one of the lower level expander/collapser items is not in the first state.
US07996788B2
A graphical user interface is provided that permits the navigation of dynamic collections of information. A simplified presentation allows navigation between multiple levels of information content. Navigating through the various levels of the collection of information causes the information to be recursively presented in a hierarchical fashion. Furthermore, the information content may be dynamic in nature such that changes to the information content or its structure is reflected in the hierarchical presentation. The present invention may be used to navigate collections of information including web sites, computer file systems, databases, and other hierarchical systems.
US07996784B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing tab indexes. A Web page is displayed, wherein the Web page includes a plurality of tab indexes for a plurality of components in the Web page. User input is received for setting a position for a tab index within the plurality of tab indexes for a component within the plurality of components in the Web page relative to positions of tab indexes for other components within the plurality of tab indexes in the Web page to form a desired position for the tab index. The desired position is stored for the tab index for the component to form stored tab index information. Subsequent visits to the Web page result in the tab index for the component being in the desired position using the stored tab index information.
US07996782B2
Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.
US07996772B2
One or more embodiments relate to a method, apparatus, and medium for providing a guideline for arranging images with a story. An apparatus for providing a guideline for arranging images with a story according to an aspect of the present invention includes a guideline control module controlling a guideline selected by a user according to a user's input or a content acquisition situation, an apparatus adaptive module automatically setting a state of an apparatus according to the guideline selected by the user, and a context processing module acquiring contents relative to the guideline.
US07996764B2
A web application server executes a process appropriately also with respect to an access from a terminal device which was not recognized by the web application when the application was designed. The web application server includes a DLG file storage unit 12 having stored a DLG file in which a business logic of the web application is described in a definition in an abstract representation, a DLG execution unit 13 for using this DLG file and executing a business process of the web application in response to a request from a client, a view specializer 14 for generating a view consistent with attributes of the client with JSP based on a result of the process by the DLG execution unit 13, and a response generation unit 16 for using the view with a JSP file generated at the view specializer 14 to generate and return a response to the client.
US07996757B2
Techniques are disclosed for incrementally rendering content in a content framework (such as a portal page provided by a portal system). Upon receiving a request for a portal page, a portal server immediately returns a response including the results from portlets which have acquired their content. If some portlets have not yet finished, subsequent content is delivered at a later time through use of one of several alternative programmatically-generated mechanisms. Capabilities of existing browsers are leveraged for several embodiments, including use of refresh headers, multipart MIME (“Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions”) types, and portal pages structured using frames.
US07996753B1
A system and method for generating an electronic document are provided. A request to generate an electronic document associated with a concept is received. Content for the electronic document is suggested based on the concept. A selection of the suggested content is received. An electronic document is automatically generated using the selected suggested content.
US07996749B2
A loss-of-signal detector includes digital and analog monitoring of incoming data. The incoming signal is compared digitally to at least one predetermined pattern that may indicate a loss of signal, and also is monitored by an analog detector that detects transitions in the data. If the digital comparison fails to match any of the at least one predetermined pattern, or if transitions are detected by the analog monitoring, even if the digital comparison produces a pattern match, then loss of signal is not indicated.
US07996747B2
A Forward Error Correction (FEC) code compatible with the self-synchronized scrambler used by the 64B/66B encoding standard for transmission on Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) communications channel links. The FEC code allows encoding and decoding to occur before and after scrambling, respectively, so as to preserve the properties of the scrambling operation on the transmitted signal. The code allows the correction of any single transmission error in spite of the multiplication by three of all transmission errors due to the 64B/66B scrambling process. A Hamming code is combined with a Bit Interleaved Parity code of degree n (BIP-n). These two codes provide for protection both for an error anywhere in the maximum length of the packet as well as for an error replicated two or three times by the descrambling process. All single bit errors, whether multiplied or not, have unique syndromes and are therefore easily correctable. In addition, the packet can be transported across multiple serial links for higher bandwidth applications without a degradation of the code efficiency. The Hamming code can be generated from any irreducible polynomial, such as H(x)=x10+x3+1. The BIP code is chosen to be of degree 6 to fit with 64B/66B scrambling polynomial and is represented by B(x)=x6+1.
US07996742B2
Circuit arrangement and method for checking the function of a logic circuit in a circuit arrangement
A circuit arrangement comprising a logic circuit to be tested and a test circuit. The logic circuit comprising logic-circuit-internal combinations configured to generate output data from input data based on a predetermined relationship. The logic circuit is configured to detect whether the relationship is satisfied and to provide an error signal if the relationship is not satisfied. The test circuit is configured to alter logic-circuit-internal combinations, to detect the error signal, and to output an alarm signal if the error signal is not detected upon alteration of the logic-circuit-internal combinations.
US07996738B2
A semiconductor chip subdivided into power domains, at least one of the power domains is separately activated or deactivated and at least a part of the scannable storage elements are interconnected to one or more scan chains. At least one scan chain is serially subdivided into scan chain portions and the scan chain portion is arranged within one of the power domains. For at least one scan chain portion a bypass line is provided for passing by scan data and at least one select unit is provided for selecting between the bypass line and the corresponding scan chain portion in dependence of the activated or deactivated state of the corresponding power domains.
US07996737B2
A circuit having a fingerprint for identification of a particular instantiation of the circuit is disclosed. The circuit may include a plurality of digital circuits or gates. Each of the digital circuits or gates is responsive to a configuration voltage applied to its analog input for controlling whether or not the digital circuit or gate performs its intended digital function and each of the digital circuits or gates transitioning between its functional state and its at least one other state when the configuration voltage equals a boundary voltage. The boundary voltage varies between different instantiations of the circuit for a majority of the digital circuits or gates and these differing boundary voltages serving to identify (or fingerprint) different instantiations of the same circuit.
US07996736B2
A technique for identifying bad pages of storage elements in a memory device. A flag byte is provided for each page group of one or more pages which indicates whether the page group is healthy. Flag bytes of selected page groups also indicate whether larger sets of page groups are healthy, according to bit positions in the flag bytes. A bad page identification process includes reading the flag bytes with a selected granularity so that not all flag bytes are read. Optionally, a drill down process reads flag bytes for smaller sets of page groups when a larger set of page groups is identified as having at least one bad page. This allows the bad page groups to be identified and marked with greater specificity. Redundant copies of flag bytes may be stored in different locations of the memory device. A majority vote process assigns a value to each bit.
US07996723B2
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method, system, and computing device for identifying bugs in a software application. The method provides for hosting the software application on a cloud server and providing the software application to a group of users and monitors usage of the software application. Next, new usage patterns are identified by identifying current usage patterns based on the monitoring are identified and comparing the current usage patterns to stored usage patterns. After that, bugs are identified by: 1) automatically generating a set of new test matrices based on the new usage patterns; 2) automatically running the set of new test matrices on the software application, while the software application is being used; 3) recording error messages generated; and 4) correlating the error messages with the new usage patterns to identify the bugs. Then, a reporting message is generated to report the identified bugs.
US07996714B2
Systems and methods for redundancy management in fault tolerant computing are provided. The systems and methods generally relate to enabling the use of non-custom, off-the-shelf components and tools to provide redundant fault tolerant computing. The various embodiments described herein, generally speaking, use a decrementer register in a general purpose processor for synchronizing identical operations across redundant general purpose processors, execute redundancy management services in the kernels of commercial off-the-shelf real-time operating systems (RTOS) running on the general purpose processors, and use soft coded tables to schedule operations and assign redundancy management parameters across the general purpose processors.
US07996706B2
A system for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
US07996703B2
Exemplary embodiments provide a computer-implemented method and a system for a startup cycle for a cycle deterministic start. An initializing mechanism applies power to a microprocessor. The initializing mechanism initializes the configuration of the microprocessor. The initializing mechanism initializes a timer. The initializing mechanism then sends a clock start command to the microprocessor. The clocks on the microprocessor are started. Upon the clocks starting, the timer begins and allows temporary transients, such as voltage droop due to a large instantaneous change in demand for current due to the commencement of clock switching. Responsive to the timer reaching a target value, an interrupt unit sends a system reset interrupt. Responsive to the interrupt unit sending the system reset interrupt, an instruction fetch unit fetches a first instruction. This operation will be deterministic to the state of the rest of the microprocessor memory elements (latches, arrays, et al.).
US07996694B2
Exemplary embodiments of methods, apparatuses, and systems for powering up select components of a computer from a sleep state, maintaining a network state, and powering down the select components of the computer to return the computer to the sleep state are described. For one embodiment, a network interface and a fan controller receive power during the network state maintenance but a display or audio components do not receive power during the network state maintenance.
US07996693B2
A method for automatically initializing the operational settings of a system from information stored within a non-volatile storage of an integrated circuit so that the operational requirements of the integrated circuit, which may be a microprocessor, are met by the system when the system is operating. During manufacturing test, environmental requirements of the integrated circuit are determined and stored within the non-volatile storage of the integrated circuit. During system initialization, environmental control values such as required operating voltage and frequency and cooling requirements are determined from the test values, which are read from the integrated circuit. The values are read by an interface of the system from an interface of the integrated circuit. System settings are controlled by the values to provide the required operating environment and the values may be captured within the system for subsequent operations and initialization sequences.
US07996690B2
Power from a modular chassis to plural modular information handling systems contained by the chassis is dynamically allocated according to power consumed at each modular information handling system and a priority associated with each modular information handling system. A power manager of the modular chassis allocates power by setting a maximum power for each modular information handling system based upon a priority for each modular information handling system. A power monitor on a modular information handling system requests additional power allocation if power consumed is within a predetermined amount of the maximum power for that system. The power manager allocates additional power in response to the request if another modular information handling system has excess power allocated or if the requesting modular information handling system has a higher priority than another modular information handling system. The requesting system's maximum power is increased and the other system maximum power is decreased so that the maximum power available from the chassis is not exceeded.
US07996687B2
Multiple logical partitions are provided in a data processing system. A unique context is generated for each one of the logical partitions. When one of the logical partitions requires access to the hardware TPM, that partition's context is required to be stored in the hardware TPM. The hardware TPM includes a finite number of storage locations, called context slots, for storing contexts. Each context slot can store one partition's context. Each one of the partitions is associated with one of the limited number of context storage slots in the hardware TPM. At least one of the context slots is simultaneously associated with more than one of the logical partitions. Contexts are swapped into and out of the hardware TPM during runtime of the data processing system so that when ones of the partitions require access to the hardware TPM, their required contexts are currently stored in the hardware TPM.
US07996682B2
Techniques are described herein for securely prompting a user to confirm sensitive operations, input sensitive information or the like. The techniques include receiving or intercepting calls from applications to prompting routines. When a call to a prompting routine is received or intercepted a hint may be provided to the user to switch to a secure desktop. When the user switches from the user desktop to the secure desktop the particular prompt is displayed. The input to the prompt is received on the secure desktop and verified to have been provided by the user. The user input or a representation of the input is then returned to the application running on the user desktop. Using these techniques, interception of prompting messages by malware does not result in sensitive information being revealed. Furthermore, spoofing of new messages by malware does not lead to the dismissal of critical prompting.
US07996680B2
In one embodiment a secure computer system comprises a processor and a memory module including logic instructions stored on a computer readable medium which. When executed by the processor, the logic instructions configure the processor to receive, in a secure computing environment, a portion of a data log from an application operating outside the secure computing environment, and when the portion of the data log exceeds a size threshold, to assign a timestamp to the portion of the data log, assign an identifier to the portion of the data log, create a digital signature load block comprising the portion of the data log, the timestamp, and the identifier, and store the digital signature load block in a memory module.
US07996675B2
A modified Host Identity Protocol, HIP, base exchange method is provided for use by first and second HIP hosts (Initiator and Responder) having a shared state from a pre-existing relationship. In the modified HIP base exchange method, an authentication message (I2′) is sent (S2) from the first host (Initiator) to the second host (Responder) comprising an identifier (HITI) of the first host (Initiator) and a cryptographic item (PF). The authentication message (I2′) is received (S3) at the second host (Responder). Following receipt, the identifier and information relating to the shared state are used (S4) to authenticate the cryptographic item (PF). If the cryptographic item, and the rest of the authentication message, is authenticated, a confirmation message (R2′) is sent from the second host (Responder) to the first host (Initiator) to indicate successful authentication. These two messages (I2′ and R2′) are equivalent to the I2 and R2 messages of the standard HIP base exchange protocol, and the requirement for the I1 and R1 messages from the standard HIP base exchange protocol is eliminated.
US07996671B2
A method, for use in a processor context, wherein instructions in a program executable are encoded with plural instruction set encodings. A method wherein a control instruction encoded with an instruction set encoding contains information about decoding of an instruction that is encoded with another instruction set encoding scheme. A method wherein instruction set encodings are randomly generated at compile time. A processor framework wherein an instruction is decoded during execution with the help of information provided by a previously decoded control instruction.
US07996667B2
A system with at least two basic input-output system (BIOS) memories includes a chip unit, a control unit, and two or more BIOS memories. The chip unit includes a control pin. The control unit includes an enable pin and N output pins. The enable pin of the control unit is connected to the control pin of the chip unit. Each of the N BIOS memories is connected to one of the N output pins of the control unit correspondingly. The chip unit is configured to start the control unit. The control unit is configured to start the N BIOS memories according to voltages of the output pins of the control unit. N is an integer greater than one.
US07996665B2
An information processing device includes: a power-off detection unit for detecting a signal relating to a power-off operation of a user; an application program termination unit for terminating a predetermined application program when the power-off operation is performed; and a control unit for passing control, after the termination of the application program, to a state in which normal execution can be started faster than normal power-off, and power consumption is lower than in the normal execution.
US07996657B2
A reconfigurable computing circuit for reducing the amount of dummy data to be stored in data registers, which is required when the wiring is shared by the configuration information bus and scan chain. When data is to be stored in data registers and configuration registers constituting the scan chain in reconfig computing block 2010, reg setting data selecting unit 3400 selects either a value stored in reg setting data storage unit 3000 or an initial value output from data reg data generating unit 4000, based on the information stored in reg type managing unit 1100 that indicates the types of registers and the connection order of the registers in the scan chain, and outputs the selected value in sequence to the scan chain under control of scan/reconfig control unit 1000. Each register in the scan chain then shifts data stored therein to the next register in the scan chain in sequence.
US07996637B2
Data written in the primary logical volume of the first storage device are transmitted to the third storage device via the second storage device, the data being written in the same location as the primary logical volume within the secondary logical volume in the third storage device; when transmission of the data stops among the first to the third storage devices, the respective second storage device and the third storage device manage locations in the secondary logical volume where the data held thereby are to be written; and, when transmission of the data resumes among the first to the third storage devices, the locations in the secondary logical volume managed by the respective second and the third storage devices are aggregated, the data to be written in the respective aggregated location in the secondary logical volume being transmitted from the first storage device to the third storage device via the second storage device.
US07996636B1
A technique uniquely identifies block context signatures in a storage volume hierarchy of a storage system. In particular, the technique assigns unique volume identifiers (“IDs,” e.g., buffer tree or “bufftree” IDs) to volumes of the storage volume hierarchy, and allows clone volumes to determine that data blocks belong to an appropriate ancestor volume (e.g., and were written by the ancestor volume prior to creation of the clone). In this manner, the novel technique may uniquely identify and accurately determine whether an accessed data block is a correct data block (e.g., alleviating occurrences of data ID aliasing).
US07996632B1
A multithreaded processor with a banked cache is provided. The instruction set includes at least one atomic operation which is executed in the L2 cache if the atomic memory address source data is aligned. The core executing the instruction determines whether the atomic memory address source data is aligned. If it is aligned, the atomic memory address is sent to the bank that contains the atomic memory address source data, and the operation is executed in the bank. In one embodiment, if the instruction is mis-aligned, the operation is executed in the core.
US07996627B2
The updating of only some memory locations in a multiple computer environment in which at least one applications program (50) executes simultaneously on a plurality of computers M1, M2 . . . Mn each of which has a local memory, is disclosed. Objects A and B in each local memory are disclosed which each include primitive fields (11). However, the simultaneous operation of the application program (50) can result in a “non-primitive” reference field (10) in one machine which must then be replicated in all other machines. However, the reference field (10) references another object (H) in the one machine's local memory so corresponding objects (T, K) must be created in the local memory of each other machine and be referenced by the corresponding non-primitive field (10).
US07996623B2
Method and apparatus for managing the storage of data in a cache memory by placing pending read requests for sequential data in a dedicated read ahead stream control (RASC) data structure, and further configured for dynamically switching both ways, in response to data stored in the RASC, between speculative non-requested read ahead data streaming to read behind stream locking on the read requests in the RASC.
US07996620B2
A cache memory high performance pseudo dynamic address compare path divides the address into two or more address segments. Each segment is separately compared in a comparator comprised of static logic elements. The output of each of these static comparators is then combined in a dynamic logic circuit to generate a dynamic late select output.
US07996618B2
A single unified level one instruction(s) cache in which some lines may contain traces and other lines in the same congruence class may contain blocks of instruction(s) consistent with conventional cache lines. Formation of trace lines in the cache is delayed on initial operation of the system to assure quality of the trace lines stored.
US07996593B2
Disclosed are a method, information processing system, and computer readable medium for managing interrupts. The method includes placing at least one physical processor of an information processing system in a simultaneous multi-threading mode. At least a first logical processor and a second logical processor associated with the at least one physical processor are partitioned. The first logical processor is assigned to manage interrupts and the second logical processor is assigned to dispatch runnable user threads.
US07996585B2
Disclosed are a method and system of tracking real time use of I/O control blocks on a processing unit basis, in a multiprocessing system, such that in the case of a processing unit failure, a list accurately and concisely identifies the control blocks that need to be recovered. This eliminates the need to scan all the I/O control blocks, greatly reducing the overall system recovery time and minimizing impact to the rest of the running system. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses a task control block structure to record which I/O control blocks are in use by each Processing Unit. Also, the lock word structure defined in the I/O control blocks is provided with an index back into the task control block to facilitate managing the task control block entries.
US07996582B2
An information processing apparatus includes a communication unit that transmits/receives data to and from an external device; a detection unit that detects communication connection with the external device by the communication unit; an operation input unit that accepts an operation input; a command allocation unit that, when the detection unit detects communication connection with the external device, allocates a data transmission command with respect to a one-click operation to a symbol corresponding to a data storage place to be displayed on a display unit, which is accepted by the operation input unit; and a control unit that, when the operation input unit accepts the one-click operation to the symbol, in case the data transmission command is allocated with respect to the one-click operation, controls so that the communication unit transmits data stored in the data storage place corresponding to the symbol to the external device.
US07996581B2
A circuit and corresponding method for transferring data. The circuit comprises: a CPU; a plurality of addressable devices; and a DMA engine coupled to the CPU and to those devices, the DMA engine comprising a plurality of DMA contexts each having fetch circuitry for fetching a DMA descriptor indicated by the CPU and transfer circuitry for transferring data from one to another of the devices based on a fetched descriptor. The DMA engine further comprises switching means operable to control a group of the contexts to alternate in a complementary sequence between fetching and performing a transfer, such that alternately one or more contexts in the group fetch while one or more others perform a transfer.
US07996578B2
Data processing systems which operate in different modes, including a mode which supports providing an output of images through a port on the systems. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a processing system, a cellular telephone transceiver, and a port which is configured to provide, as an output from the handheld data processing system, data representing movie video images. Methods and machine readable media are also described.
US07996576B2
In described embodiments, a method of generating an identifier for a disk includes the steps of requesting an ASCII identification string for the disk and generating a padded string by processing the ASCII identification string into a predetermined number of bytes. The padded string is divided into portions and an encoded value is generated for each portion. The two or more encoded values for the portions are combined into a candidate value compatible with a World-Wide Name (“WWN”). The candidate value is compared to a list of previously generated candidate values and if the candidate value differs from the values in the list, the candidate value is included in the list of generated values and the candidate value is provided as the system-wide name for the disk.
US07996575B2
Given the different configurations for SAS and SATA Host and Target Ports, embodiments of the present invention automatically detect the configuration of SATA and SAS Phys when any device is inserted into a port enclosure and properly configure the connection regardless of the Phy configuration of the connected device. When a device is connected to the system, the port listens for either a SATA or SAS OOB signal to determine if the receive pin of the port is properly connected to the transmit signal of the attached device. By switching the configuration periodically and listening for the OOB signal, the port can determine which configuration is proper. Once a signal is detected, the port can properly configure the connection and continue with the SATA or SAS insertion algorithm. A user may alternatively choose which configuration to use and bypass the automatic detection and configuration.
US07996573B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for performing SCSI read operations with a CRC via a TCP offload engine. Aspects of the method may comprise receiving an iSCSI read command from an initiator. Data may be fetched from a buffer based on the received iSCSI read command. The fetched data may be zero copied from the buffer to the initiator and a TCP sequence may be retransmitted to the initiator. A digest value may be calculated, which may be communicated to the initiator. An accumulated digest value stored in a temporary buffer may be utilized to calculate a final digest value, if the buffer is posted. The retransmitted TCP sequence may be processed and the fetched data may be zero copied into an iSCSI buffer, if the buffer is posted. The calculated final digest value may be communicated to the initiator.
US07996570B1
A hot key register request is created in an extensible firmware interface application, the hot key register request has a key number and a pointer to a hot key function for the new hot key. The hot key register request is sent to a keyboard driver in the extensible firmware interface. A hot key table is created in working storage from the hot key table in the keyboard driver, and a hot key entry is inserted into the hot key table in working storage. The entry includes the key number and pointer from the hot key register request to add the new hot key as a registered hot key. A success message is sent from the keyboard driver to the extensible firmware interface application. The success message indicates the new hot key has been registered.
US07996568B2
An offload system, method, and computer program product are provided. Included is a host with a processor and memory for receiving data from a network. In addition, a network interface is utilized for transferring the data to the memory via direct memory access (DMA).
US07996565B2
An improved interactive network system is provided that allows the Network Operator to control the transfer of information to and from the network end users, the system preferably using triggers or markers embedded within the programming broadcast to users via the network. As a consequence of this system, the Network Operator is able to efficiently garner revenues from third parties transacting business over the network and to control the look and feel of programming offered to network users. Additionally the system can be used as a means of limiting network access, filtering programming, providing on-screen graphics or audible signals for particular programming types or providers, bookmarking programming, profiling network users, targeting advertising, and simplifying network transactions.
US07996564B2
A distributed data processing system executes multiple tasks within a parallel job, including a first local task on a local node and at least one task executing on a remote node, with a remote memory having real address (RA) locations mapped to one or more of the source effective addresses (EA) and destination EA of a data move operation initiated by a task executing on the local node. On initiation of the data move operation, remote asynchronous data move (RADM) logic identifies that the operation moves data to/from a first EA that is memory mapped to an RA of the remote memory. The local processor/RADM logic initiates a RADM operation that moves a copy of the data directly from/to the first remote memory by completing the RADM operation using the network interface cards (NICs) of the source and destination processing nodes, determined by accessing a data center for the node IDs of remote memory.
US07996561B2
A ZigBee network device assigns addresses to its child devices. The ZigBee network device includes a communication section that connects the ZigBee network device to other devices and which communicates with the other devices; a parameter determination section that determines at least one network parameter; a calculation section that calculates addresses for child devices of the ZigBee network device based on a determined network parameter, where each of the child devices is connected to the ZigBee network device via the communication section; and a controller that assigns addresses to the child devices of the ZigBee network device. At least one determined network parameter is at least one of Cm, which indicates a maximum number of the child devices of the ZigBee network device, and Rm, which indicates a maximum number of the child devices of the ZigBee network device which have routing capabilities.
US07996554B1
An access point (AP) including a control module and a scheduling module. The control module defines a plurality of basic service sets (BSSs) for the AP. Each of the BSSs has an identifier, corresponds to a class of service, and predetermined service parameters based on the class of service. The scheduling module schedules communications between the BSSs and a plurality of client stations based on (i) the identifiers and (ii) the predetermined service parameters and determines quality of service for the communications based on (i) the identifiers and (ii) the predetermined service parameters. A first scheduler schedules first transmit times for the BSSs to transmit data from the AP to the client stations within time slots determined according to the predetermined service parameters. A second scheduler schedules second transmit times for the client stations, to transmit data from the client stations to the AP, based on the predetermined service parameters.
US07996547B2
Techniques are presented for peer-to-peer (P2P) replicated backup and versioning. Peer clients register and share storage with one another for purposes of P2P data replication, data versioning, and/or data restoration via a P2P server. The P2P server also provides security and management between the peer clients. Moreover, the P2P sever can audit behaviors of the peer clients and take punitive actions against any of the peer clients that violate policy.
US07996546B2
A method for determining a quota for connecting a plurality of consumer nodes to a resource node. The method comprises periodically determining the quota of consumer nodes acceptable for receiving connection requests by the resource node; receiving a connection request from a consumer node to connect to the resource node; and determining based on the quota whether to accept the connection request. In one embodiment the resource node and the consumer nodes are connected in a realtime peer-to-peer network, and the resource node is adapted to distribute multimedia content to the consumer nodes over the network.
US07996538B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method capable of efficiently sending an event corresponding to content to be transmitted from a server to each client. A content providing server assigns a session ID to each client on condition that the server receives an event notification request, which specifies an event URL, from the client and then manages an event notification process on the basis of the event URL and the session ID. When respectively transmitting pieces of content to a plurality of clients, the server determines event information to be transmitted on the basis of each event URL regarding the corresponding piece of content and controls event notification timing for each client on the basis of the corresponding session ID. According to the present configuration, the load of managing data in the event notification process on the server can be reduced and a correct event synchronized with transmission content can be sent to each client.
US07996521B2
A system is disclosed that uses behavioral data collected by ISPs to categorize particular ISP subscribers. The behavioral data may, for example, include the identities of particular web sites and/or web pages accessed by particular subscribers, the search queries used by the subscribers to conduct Internet searches, and/or other types of behavioral information. The ISP subscribers are assigned to particular behavioral categories or “segments” using a behavioral segmentation schema that maps particular subscriber behaviors to particular behavioral segments. The ISP subscribers may also be mapped to other segment types, such as demographic segments derived from off-line data about the subscribers. The subscriber-to-segment mappings are made available to content targeting entities via a query interface that, for example, supports queries of the form “what are the segments associated with IP address X?”.
US07996519B1
A position of a cursor on a display is tracked. It is detected that the cursor is in an area of the display that includes a component of a webpage. It is determined whether the component matches a designated type of component, and details of the component are stored in response to determining that the component matches a designated type of component. A user input that selects the component is detected, and details of the component are accessed in response to detecting the user input. The details of the component are sent to a collection server.
US07996518B2
Detecting machine utilization activity may be provided. Client machine activity within a computer network may be monitored to determine if the client machine is available for use, or if the computer is already engaged in one or more activities. During a predetermined receive period, machine activity information for a given client machine. The machine activity information for the client machine is compared to previously stored machine activity information to determine if an activity state for the client machine has changed. If the activity state of the client machine has changed, the activity state for the machine is updated. Machine activity information for all computers in the computer network may be used to track and optimize resources with the computer network.
US07996516B2
Systems and methods for configuration of devices within a network utilizing inherited configuration data are disclosed. Configuration data stored at a junction box in electronic communication with a first device is accessed. The configuration data includes a default zone of interest assignment for a first device. The zone of interest comprises a portion of a network. Devices within the zone of interest are identified. It is determined whether the first device is compatible with any of the identified devices. The first device is configured, in an automated manner, to interact with a set of compatible devices within the zone of interest.
US07996515B2
Disclosed herein is a computer implemented technique for discovering the information technology resources that are involved in a particular networked business transaction. The system comprises three basic components. A robotic transaction playback client records the various steps in a particular transaction and can repetitively execute these steps to analyze the results. A network record collector observes the traffic throughout the network in response to the repeated instances of the transaction executed by the robotic transaction playback client. A backend processor analyzes the observations of network traffic to determine which ones are possibly tied to the transaction, and from this information determine which network components are part of the transaction being analyzed. Event timing information from a plurality of executions of a particular transaction are used to determine resource usage and paths.
US07996506B2
When a user of a PC of a setting management system designates an IP address that should be deleted from IP addresses that have been set for a management target device, the PC presumes that another parameter should be changed together with the designated IP address based on a setting function that was used for setting the IP address. Also, the PC informs the user about the existence of such a parameter by displaying a message on a display unit that another parameter closely related to the IP address (designated by the user to be changed) should also be changed in conjunction with the IP address.
US07996505B2
A system and method for carrying out network and interface selections across multiple media is disclosed. The disclosed system facilitates automated network interface configuration decision-making that spans a set of networks supporting communications via differing media. A set of media specific modules associated with differing communications media acquire network interface status/capabilities information. A rules engine thereafter applies a designated network selection rule(s) to the acquired network interface status/capabilities information, and any other appropriate parameters attributable to either an interface or network, to select one or more networks and interfaces with which to establish/maintain a connection.
US07996504B2
A method of updating routing tables stored at a multiplicity of Signaling End Points (SEPs) of an SS7 over IP signaling network following the introduction of a new SEP into the network. The new SEP sends a message to an existing SEP, the message identifying an IP address and SS7 address(es) of the new SEP. The existing SEP adds the IP address and SS7 address(es) of the new SEP to the routing table(s) stored at the existing SEP, and forwards the message to other SEPs identified in the routing table(s) at the existing SEP. The other SEPs add the IP address and SS7 address(es) of the new SEP to their routing tables. Each SEP that receives the message sends a response message to the new SEP containing the IP and SS7 addresses of the responding SEP, and the new SEP populates its routing table(s) using the contents of the response messages.
US07996500B2
Systems and methods for extensible distributed configuration management of computer resources are described. Examples include a computer system including a processing unit and a storage device that stores a model definition and one or more asset plug-ins (each of the one or more asset plug-ins configured to expose at least one asset object that represents a computer resource). The computer system further includes memory that stores an asset model created based at least in part on the model definition, and a network interface configured to deploy to at least one managed system a compatible asset plug-in (the model definition including at least one conditional reference to the compatible asset plug-in). If a condition specified within the asset model is satisfied the processing unit selects the compatible asset plug-in for deployment, the condition being defined within the model definition and designated as applicable to the at least one conditional reference.
US07996498B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus that utilize a portable apparatus to operate a host computer in a network environment. The portable apparatus including an operating system and a list of software applications are installed in a removable data storage medium. The basic input/output system (BIOS) of the host computer will directly or indirectly identify the portable apparatus as its boot drive. The host computer immersed in a network environment will further load the operating system in the portable apparatus into its random access semiconductor memory (RAM). In one embodiment of the invention, a hardware profile which contains host and peripheral device-related information is either stored or operatively accessible by the host computer. The operating system is capable of incorporating information from the hardware profile during an OS-loading procedure.
US07996497B2
A method for enabling a Node Controller (NC), which claims a duplicate or invalid service processor Node Controller Identification (NCID) in a distributed service processor system, to be integrated into the system includes reading an NCID by the NC after the NC is booted, saving the NCID into a non-volatile storage and broadcasting an NC Present Message (NPM) to a System Controller (SC) repeatedly until the SC initiates communication, updating the NCID for the NC in the non-volatile storage when the NC receives an NCID change message from the SC and rating any future NPM as a new NCID, and checking a record of a new NC when the SC receives the NPM from the NC. If the SC has a record of a recorded NC with the same NCID as the new NC, then the SC checks its role as a primary SC. If the SC does not have the record of the recorded NC with the same NCID as the new NC, then the SC checks validity of the NCID.
US07996496B2
A method of operating a plurality of server devices within a user's personal bubble includes accessing information available on the plurality of server devices. The information is output so as to appear that the information resides on a single device. The remote control device also may automatically configure the various devices within the personal bubble to communicate with other devices based on particular events, commands, etc.
US07996495B2
A Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) transmits medical image information from a server to a viewing workstation. The mode of transmission that the system uses depends on a performance metric of the network. If the network is fast and stable, the entire DICOM image file is transmitted. If the network is not fast and stable, one of several other modes is used to transmit the image information.
US07996491B2
A method for verifying the identity of users connected to a computer network comprises providing fractional information queries to users, wherein responses to these individual queries are not sufficient to identify the user. This method further comprises receiving responses to these fractional information queries and comparing these responses to data available from within a computer network. A set of potential matches to the user is generated according to these responses and is used in determining whether the set of potential matches is sufficient to identify the user.
US07996488B1
Systems and methods are provided to integrate disparate media services and applications across an organization. The media services are connected to an interoperable media services bus by creating a connector API for each service, thereby enabling the media services to exchange messages related to transactions to be performed involving media assets and/or metadata associated with media assets. To support complex transactions involving coordinated activity by multiple media services, an orchestration service advantageously performs a coordinated sequence of request/response transactions, referred to as a “workflow.” The workflow may include requests conditional on responses to previous requests, multiple parallel requests, a combination of synchronous and asynchronous requests, and so on. Multiple workflows may be managed concurrently.
US07996481B2
Methods and systems provide for automatic outbound information notification to a subscriber based on a subscriber's communications customer profile. A subscriber may select one or more events for which the subscriber desires notification from an outbound notification events options list. When an event is triggered for which the subscriber has requested notification, for example a traffic information report at a selected notification time, a voice services node queries a customer profile database to determine what information must be obtained and transmitted to the subscriber based on the subscriber's selected notification options and frequencies. The voice services node calls the subscriber at the subscriber's telephone directory number and plays the prescribed event information to the subscriber.
US07996478B2
An electronic mail/messaging system is operated by compiling information associated with an attachment for an electronic mail at a source. The information includes initial information and descriptive information. The initial information is sent to a destination. A determination is made whether the destination has a file that matches the attachment based on the initial information. The attachment is sent to the destination if the destination does not have the file. The descriptive information is sent to the destination if the destination has the file. A determination is made whether the file matches the attachment based on the descriptive information. The attachment is sent to the destination if the file does not match the attachment based on the descriptive information.
US07996476B2
Data is received defining a time period during which a notification of receipt should not be provided when an electronic message is received. Data may also be received defining certain types of messages for which notification of receipt should be provided during the time period. During the duration of the time period, no notification of receipt is provided for received electronic messages that are not within one of the specified types. After the time period has elapsed, notification of receipt is provided for electronic messages received during the time period and for which no notification of receipt was previously provided. Electronic messages may be sent during the time period and electronic messages received prior to the time period may be displayed for reading during the time period.
US07996475B2
Facilitating email transmission by extracting email parameters, requesting data in the form of a dns query, and receiving a sender reputation as an IP address. Querying a database by sending a plurality of arguments concatenated to a dns request and receiving an IP address in reply. Operating a remote database as a dns server, receiving queries as domains and transmitting replies in the format of IPv4 or IPv6 addresses. Filtering email by querying a database with email parameters comprising an IP address and a domain of an email sender which may be extracted from an email header in the HELO, EHLO, MAIL FROM, or RETURN PATH. The smtp session is continued, modified or interrupted according to the result of the query submitted to a database operating as a dns server.
US07996472B2
Systems and methods for remote access to a display-based bulletin board in a shared user environment
An electronic bulletin board for use in a shared always-on environment wherein a user may manipulate messages from a remote location. The electronic bulletin board may be implemented via database and programming logic on an application server accessible from any network node, including wireless devices. The always-on environment may be set up on a computer or broadband internet appliance or other communications device. Remote users may perform operations such as updating an existing message, posting a new message, download messages, and the like. The bulletin board also supports shared messages designed for special purposes, for example, an electronic grocery list that is accessible from remote locations.
US07996467B2
When a communication is received for a user, an appropriate policy can be determined and applied to the communication. For example, a policy can be applied if the user is not present at the appropriate client. A policy can be applied based upon information for the communication, and can include one or more conditions and one or more actions. Depending on the conditions that are satisfied, at least one action is determined and executed for the communication.
US07996455B2
A systems, method and computer-readable media are disclosed for providing a dynamic roll-back reservation mask in a compute environment. The method of managing compute resources within a compute environment includes, based on an agreement between a compute resource provider and a customer, creating a roll-back reservation mask for compute resources which slides ahead of current time by a period of time. Within the roll-back reservation mask, the method specifies a subset of consumers and compute resource requests which can access compute resources associated with the roll-back reservation mask and, based on received data, the method dynamically modifies at least one of (1) the period of time the roll-back reservation mask slides ahead of current time and (2) the compute resources associated with the roll-back reservation mask.
US07996454B2
A method and apparatus for performing complex mathematical calculations. The apparatus includes a multicore processor 10 where the cores 15 are connected 20 into a net with the processors on the periphery 15a primarily dedicated to input/output functions and distribution of tasks to the central processors 15b-h of the net. The central processors 15b-h perform calculations substantially simultaneously, far exceeding the speed of conventional processors. The method 100, which may be implemented by an instruction set to the processor nodes, informs the processor nodes how to divide the work and conduct the calculations. The method includes steps dividing the data into subsets 110 directing the subsets to predetermined nodes 115, performing the calculations 120 and outputting the results 125.
US07996452B1
A hadamard gate includes two strongly cross-coupled limit cycle oscillators. Each limit cycle oscillator includes an amplifier, a summing node, an integrator, a hysteresis quantizer, a self-feedback 1-bit DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) and a cross-feedback 1 bit DAC. Each oscillator output drives its own self-feedback DAC and the cross-feedback DAC of the other oscillator.
US07996450B1
A network-based file access system obtains an identifier for a resource stored on a remote storage system to an application. The application can use the identifier to pull the contents of a file associated with the identifier or to push contents of a file to a folder associated with the identifier.
US07996444B2
A system and method is provided for XML query processing includes an execution compiler for transforming an XML query into an executable XML query plan. A query rewrite processor performs query transformation on the XML query, the query transformations including transforming an XPath within said XML Query into a pre-filter. The XML query is then transformed into a transformed XML query which includes the pre-filter.
US07996441B2
A system and method for managing an enterprise is provided. The system and method may be based on a layered architecture including a data center that may store all documents and data abstractions for an enterprise. One or more services may interact with an enterprise resource planning system and/or a customer relationship manager to facilitate interaction with the documents and data abstractions. A client access point of the system may include a graphical user interface that includes one or more enterprise management functions for managing the enterprise documents and/or data abstractions. The enterprise management functions may include a user proposal manager, an enterprise proposal manager, a proposal library, a content health manager, an archive library, a bid center, a contracts manager, a resume manager, a debriefing center and/or a projects manager. The enterprise management functions man re-engineer business processes and enable users to manage all aspects of an enterprise using a single unified interface.
US07996436B2
Media management systems and methods are provided for authoring, managing, navigating, and collaborating electronic media. The media management systems and methods, collectively referred to herein as a Binder Presentation System (BPS), provide an application for presenting digital content that allows users to quickly create, manage, share and view rich media presentations under one unified interface to address the inadequacies of current slideshow presentation software. The BPS provides tools to users like teachers and business professionals for managing and presenting rich media content.
US07996420B1
A computer-implemented method includes searching resources related to an application in response to receiving a query, identifying an operation in the application that satisfies the query, and exposing an object that provides access to the identified operation, within the application.
US07996417B2
A method, system and computer program product for providing translated web content is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request from a user on a web site, the web site having a first web content in a first language, wherein the request calls for a second web content in a second language. The method further includes dividing the first web content into a plurality of translatable components and generating a unique identifier for each translatable component. The method further includes identifying a plurality of translated components of the second web content using the unique identifier of each of the plurality of translatable components of the first web content and putting the plurality of translated components of the second web content to preserve a format that corresponds to the first web content. The method further includes providing the second web content in response to the request that was received.
US07996412B2
A method and system for managing schedule information using a digital living network alliance (DLNA) network are disclosed. The method includes receiving a schedule memo stored in a portable terminal via a DLNA network, analyzing the schedule memo and creating a query for searching for supplementary information related to the schedule memo, transmitting the created query to a Web server, receiving, in reply to the query, a Web search result from the Web server, generating detailed schedule information using the Web search result and transmitting the detailed schedule information to the portable terminal via the DLNA network.
US07996409B2
A method to manage objects in an information lifecycle management system is provided. The method includes determining a score for each of the objects based on a score of at least one feature within respective ones of each of the objects where the score of the at least one feature being associated with a valuation of the at least one feature. The method also includes managing each of the objects based on the score for each of the objects wherein higher scored objects are managed preferentially.
US07996408B2
A plurality of data sets is maintained, wherein each data set comprises an index block and a plurality of data blocks. An index block size is determined for redefining the plurality of data sets, based on an amount of space left unused in index blocks of the plurality of data sets, wherein for determining the index block size greater weight is provided to those index blocks with lesser unused space in comparison to those index blocks with greater unused space. A data block size is determined based on whether the plurality of data blocks is used more frequently for direct processing or used more frequently for sequential processing.
US07996407B2
A system for information clustering comprising a data accumulation part for accumulating documents in a document repository, the documents having loosely related attributes, and defining a cluster between the documents being time sliced so as to define chunks of the documents; a vector space generation part for generating document-keyword vectors, the document-keyword vectors consisting of sparse numeral values depending on presence of key words; a dimension reduction part for reducing dimensions of the keywords to create a dimension reduction matrix of the document-keyword matrix; a centroid vector determination part for generating a centroid vector of the cluster, the centroid vectors being defined from keywords and weight of documents within the cluster; and an item repository for storing the centroid vectors together with the keywords and the weights of the centroid vector.
US07996405B2
To enhance the convenience of a bookmark function for web pages, a system for displaying identification information enables a user to select a file. Included is a storage section that stores identification information of each of classified files in association with tag information indicating classification of contents of that file, a search section that, in response to inputting of tag information to be registered, searches the classified files for a file including information matching with the input tag information, a first storing section that stores the input tag information in the storage section in association with identification information of the searched file, and a display section that, in response to a display request for identification information designating tag information, reads identification information associated with the designated tag information from the storage section, and displays the read identification information.
US07996403B2
A method and system for performing a search request for a name among a database including a plurality of names. In one implementation, the method includes receiving the search request on the name, determining a geographic location associated with the name, assigning a cultural classification to the name based on the geographic location associated with the name, and completing the search request by searching for the name among the plurality of names within the database based on the cultural classification assigned to the name.
US07996396B2
A facility for ranking in a result set is described. The facility establishes a system of ratings for combinations of a web page with the query term that reflect the level of relevance of the web page to the query term. In response to each of a number of content interactions performed by users, each with respect to a result corresponding to a web page included in a result set that was generated in response to a query comprising a set of one or more query terms, the facility adjusts a rating score for each combination of the web page and a query term among the set of query terms. For each of a number of web pages included as results in a distinguished result set produced in response to a distinguished query comprising a set of distinguished query terms, the facility (1) selects established and adjusted reading scores for each combination of the web page and a query term among the distinguished set of query terms, and (2) determines a ranking score for the result in the distinguished result set by combining the selected reading scores.
US07996395B2
A method and system for determining dominance of the media elements of display pages is provided. The dominance system provides a scoring mechanism for scoring the dominance of media elements of display pages based on features of each media element of the display page. To generate the scores for the media elements of the display page, the dominance system first identifies the media elements and then identifies the features of the media elements. The dominance system then scores the identified media elements using the provided scoring mechanism and the identified features.
US07996393B1
A system extracts a pair that includes a keyword candidate and information associated with a document from multiple documents, and calculates a frequency that the keyword candidate appears in search queries and a frequency that the pair appears in the multiple documents. The system also determines whether the keyword candidate is a keyword for a category based on the calculated frequencies, and associates the keyword with the document if the keyword candidate is the keyword for the category.
US07996384B2
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for optimizing the processing of abstract rules included in rule set containers. In one embodiment, a first abstract rule may be identified as having an effect on a second abstract rule of the rule set container. A predicate and an action of the first abstract rule may be used in translating the second abstract rule into an executable rule. The executable rule performs the functionality included in the first and second abstract rules, while only requiring one rule execution in a rule engine. In another embodiment, the first abstract rule may be translated into a rejection query configured to return a rejection set. The second abstract rule may be translated into an executable rule that includes a condition that excludes any records included in the rejection set.
US07996377B2
One aspect of the present invention includes performing a quarantine of inaccessible data within a CIM dataset that is managed by a storage service, and a recovery of this data within the CIM dataset once it becomes accessible. In one embodiment, after a first request is made through a CIM agent to the inaccessible data managed by a storage service, the storage service is quarantined within the CIM dataset. This includes terminating any active threads to the service and preventing new threads from accessing the service. Accordingly, the data is hidden from subsequent requests with the CIM agent and any requests to the inaccessible data are prevented. The storage service is then queried so that when the data becomes accessible, the device services for the storage service are restarted. Once restarted, new threads within the CIM agent are able to access the data within the storage service.
US07996374B1
A method and apparatus for automatically correlating policy violation incidents. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving user input identifying one of policy violation incidents stored in a data repository, where each policy violation incident is associated with one or more attributes. The method further includes automatically correlating the identified policy violation incident with other policy violation incidents that have in common at least one attribute with the identified policy violation incident, and presenting the resulting correlation information to a user.
US07996371B1
A storage system includes a storage operating system configured to provide two-step data deduplication in which, during a data storage operation and prior to committing data to a storage medium of the storage system, context-aware data deduplication is performed on the data to obtain context-aware deduplicated data, and, subsequent to committing the context-aware deduplicated data to the storage medium, a context-independent data deduplication operation is performed on the context-aware deduplicated data to obtain context-independent deduplicated context-aware deduplicated data, for commitment to the storage medium.
US07996366B1
Aspects for identifying stale contents in a file system include processing a set of attributes of each file in the file system. These aspects further also include determining access times at the directory level, recursively, from all the files in lower-level directories. The aspects further include identifying the highest-level stale directories in the file system.
US07996362B2
This invention uses a storage device more effectively than ever before to store image data in a predetermined storage device for future security chasing. A determination unit (203) determines whether related image data which can be considered substantially identical to image data acquired by an acquisition unit (210) is stored in a predetermined storage device (202) for future chasing. If related image data is stored, link information to the related image data is written instead of writing the acquired image data to the storage device (202). On the other hand, no related image data is stored, the acquired image data is written to the storage device (202).
US07996361B1
A method and system of providing replica files within a fileset is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method is provided which comprises associating a source file and a replica file of the source file within a fileset, wherein the replica file of the source file comprises a virtual copy of the source file. In another embodiment wherein the source file comprises a metadata file system object and the replica file of the source file comprises a replica metadata file system object, the associating comprises generating a reference within the replica metadata file system object to the metadata file system object.
US07996358B2
The present invention provides methods for transmitting SyncML synchronization data. One is that the originator constructs a SyncML message after encrypting the user data to be transmitted and then transmits the data in an existing transmission way; the user data includes, but is not confined to, authentication information, terminal capability information and the data to be synchronized; the other method is that the originator encrypts the SyncML message in the transport layer before transmitting the message, and the recipient deciphers the received SyncML message from transport layer and processes the message subsequently. The two methods can be used either separately or together. If they are used together, the transmission of SyncML synchronization data is provided with double safety insurance. By using the present invention, user data can be transmitted safely without being intercepted by the third party.
US07996357B2
A system and a method are disclosed for updating a master data list with data from a difference unaware information repository and a difference aware information repository. A master synchronization engine synchronizes to the difference unaware information repository and the difference aware information repository via connectors coupled to each information repository. The difference unaware information repository simply exports all the data stored within the repository to its respective connector. The connecter determines the changes made to the data since the last synchronization and the changes are forwarded to the master synchronization engine. The difference aware information repository is capable of determining the changes made to the stored data since the last synchronization and simply forwards the changes to its connector. Each connector forwards the changes to the data in their respective information repositories to a database which updates the master data list.
US07996355B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for identifying time-based information. A detection module detects time-based information. A selection module monitors events in an information stream. The information stream is of interest to a target user. In addition, the information stream is not related by content to the time-based information. The selection module further selects a first event with temporal relation to the time-based information. An association module associates the first event and the time-based information.
US07996347B2
A set of information technology solution alternatives is generated for an enterprise organization. The information technology solution alternatives are evaluated within an automated architectural framework based upon one or more information technology evaluation metrics. An automated incremental solution deployment strategy is created based upon the evaluated plurality of information technology solution alternatives. An information technology solution is selected from the set of information technology solution alternatives for deployment based upon the automated incremental solution deployment strategy.
US07996346B2
A multiprocessor system which includes automatic workload distribution. As threads execute in the multiprocessor system, an operating system or hypervisor continuously learns the execution characteristics of the threads and saves the information in thread-specific control blocks. The execution characteristics are used to generate thread performance data. As the thread executes, the operating system continuously uses the performance data to steer the thread to a core that will execute the workload most efficiently.
US07996341B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure assess how well a tag describes a color theme by estimating a descriptiveness value for the tag for the color theme. Some embodiments determine descriptiveness values for a tag based on weighted color attributes determined from the tag's existing use in a color theme collection. Descriptiveness values are used generally in color theme searching and to suggest tags for a color theme, among other things.
US07996340B2
A workforce analysis method for solving L1-based clustering problem of multinomial distributions of workforce data includes acquiring workforce allocation data, arranging the workforce allocation data in sets of fraction data with respect to the L1 distances, clustering the sets of fraction data t corresponding set of cluster centers, or L1 distances for each set, minimizing the sets of fraction data based on the cluster centers or L1 distances and outputting analysis results of the clustering problem.
US07996323B2
A dispute resolution system for requesting a service provider to provide services so that the service provider can demonstrate to a service intermediary that a service consumer requested services. A service consumer that wants to start requesting services of the service provider registers with the service intermediary an end code of a sequence of code generated using a one-way function. The service intermediary provides the end code to the service provider. The service consumer can then using codes of the sequence requests the service provider to provide services. When the service provider receives a request, it verifies that the code of the request can be used to derive the end code. If the verification is successful, then the service provider can provide the verified code to the service intermediary as non-repudiatable evidence of the services requested by the service consumer.
US07996322B2
A method of creating a domain based on public key cryptography includes providing, by a content-providing server, a list of devices requesting content, and selecting, by a user, a device from the list; transmitting, by the server, discrimination information on revoked devices to the device; extracting, by the device having received the discrimination information, a secret value from the discrimination information, preparing a certificate using the extracted secret value, and transmitting device information and the certificate of the device to the server; verifying, by the server, the certificate and creating a domain ID and a domain key using the device information; encrypting, by the server, the domain ID and the domain key using a unique public key of the device and transmitting the encrypted domain ID and domain key to the device; and restoring, by the device, the domain key using a unique secret key of the device.
US07996320B2
Consumers may utilize computing devices to assist in the purchase and/or loyalty process, and in particular, the consumer may utilize a PDA to facilitate the purchase and/or loyalty process. During the purchase and/or loyalty process, the consumer may need to insure that any content downloaded or used in association with the PDA is secure in how it is collected, assembled, and delivered to the PDA device. This system and method secures the data from its source to when it is actually viewed or used by the authorized user. The PDA may have direct access to an Internet web site portal that offers secure personal content from a content provider, such as, for example, an on-line banking or financial institution. Using the web site portal, the content provider may offer personal or confidential data, such as financial information, to PDA users in a secure (e.g., encrypted) environment. The exemplary system and method may establish a PDA portal link to the web site for collecting specified information for a user and transmitting the information to the remote device. To receive the information, the PDA contacts the portal and establishes a connection, authenticates itself to the network and allows the user to complete secured transactions or transmissions over the network.
US07996318B2
The present invention provides for a multi-function electronic transaction card or MET card, which comprises a base card and at least two conventional magnetic stripes. As such, they can be used in either proprietary or syndicated applications employing credit, debit, cash, and borrowing, as well as, information storage, single and co-branding programs, award points, loyalty programs, affinity programs, personal identification, licenses, and electronic keys. MET cards can also be used to reduce soliciting, issuing, delivering, confirmation, monitoring, and billing costs. The incidence of criminal theft and unauthorized use is also significantly decreased as is the overall quantity of environmental waste generated. Where required, MET cards may also utilize one or more electronic chips and/or radio frequency identification tags in order to further enhance functionality. As a result, MET cards offer a level of performance and versatility that is reliable, innovative, and highly marketable.
US07996303B1
Method and system for conducting a commercial transaction requiring a monetary loan online to allow a consumer or borrower to access a lending institution over a network connection and apply for a monetary loan online. The loan application is processed in real time and the borrower is notified of the type of loan, loan amount, interest rate, etc., that he/she is qualified for. Upon acceptance of the loan terms, the borrower is provided with a personal identification number (PIN) and a unique lender transaction ID that serves as confirmation of the loan. The lender transaction ID may then be taken to a suitable seller and used to conduct the transaction. The seller simply accesses the lending institution over a network connection, enters the lender transaction ID, the borrower's PIN, and other transaction-related information, and the lending institution automatically sends the appropriate payment to the seller.
US07996301B2
Systems and method for mediating risks associated with orders in an electronic trading system are provided. A front end component includes a plurality of trading engines that receive orders from traders. A back-end component includes a match system. The system includes a credit control module, which may be located at the back-end (e.g., clearinghouse), front end, a combination thereof, or other location that communicates with the plurality of trading engines. The credit control may monitor aggregate risk parameters for the trading engines and requests credits from trading engines.
US07996298B1
A reverse auction system, method and computer program product are provided. A tender is received from a buyer over a network. Such tender includes information relating to a desired good or service. A plurality of suppliers is identified based on the information, and the tender is anonymously forwarded to the identified suppliers over the network. In use, a plurality of bids is received in response to the tender from a plurality of the suppliers over the network, and such bids are consolidated. Further, the consolidated bids are forwarded to the buyer over the network.
US07996289B2
An object oriented trade finance system designed to support a large-scale transactional work flow on a global basis. The system supports all facets of the trade finance business including but not limited to letters of credit, collections, bankers acceptances and reimbursements. A trade finance system organized into a central and distributed location hardware architecture having a user interface of a user work station which communicates with an application server including business objects. The business objects communicate with a database to obtain the data needed for the business logic and include all the business logic needed for the system. Work flow distribution rules are used to distribute the work items to a work item list for work group that can be distributed geographically in different time zones and to allow processing to continue when the originally assigned workgroup has reached an end of its business day.
US07996288B1
In a communications network-based system, a method for securely processing recurrent consumer transactions. Merchant-specific proxy financial account information is provided to a user and maintained in a database, the proxy financial account information valid for transactions at a single merchant only. A request for transaction approval is received from a merchant, the request including a merchant identifier and a user's proxy financial account information. The database is queried to determine if the proxy financial account is valid for the merchant seeking transaction approval. The proxy financial account information may include a credit card account number and/or a proxy billing address linked to a financial account. A merchant identifier string, identifying the authorized merchant, may be encoded in the credit card number and/or proxy billing address. A communications network-based system and software program for implementing the present invention are also disclosed.
US07996274B2
Methods, articles of manufacture, and systems for providing access to a grid computing environment. In one environment, requests include resource specific criteria used to identify a particular grid resource to perform the request. In another embodiment, a request includes a queue criterion used to identify one of a plurality of queues on which the request is placed.
US07996273B2
A method is provided for operating an on-line retailing operation for retailing of at least one print product to a customer. The print product is supplied by a print merchant operation that displays plural image items for remote viewing by a customer. The print merchant operation transacts a first type of order with the customer for supply of at least one print product, and transacts a second type order with the print merchant for fulfillment of the first type order.
US07996268B2
An apparatus and method for providing an electronic wallet device, including a memory device for storing payment identifier information associated with an account holder, a processing device for processing a payment command, wherein the processing device retrieves the payment identifier information from the memory device, and a transmitter for transmitting the payment identifier information to a merchant computer, wherein the merchant computer is associated with a merchant, and further wherein the payment identifier information is utilized in a transaction with the merchant.
US07996255B1
Business management methods for on-demand trial based marketing and sales are introduced. Using on-demand trial technology, usage metrics can be automatically generated by tracking the usage of specific products and corresponding duration. Usage metrics and other data are automatically processed to qualify and channel leads to pertinent categories in sales and marketing. The present invention facilitates a more directed effort to investigate leads and makes the information of customers available for follow-up that has higher prospective sales potential. The present invention may also be used to dispatch pre-release reports automatically to a vendor.
US07996252B2
A global customer satisfaction system includes point-of-sale customer feedback terminals for receiving in-store customer feedback including satisfaction ratings and other customer feedback regarding participating vendors as the customer pays for purchases. The system also includes post-sale customer feedback terminals for receiving more detailed customer feedback regarding the vendors from members after the sales have been completed. The system also includes an aggregation and dissemination system for combining the ratings received form customers into global customer satisfaction ratings for participating vendors, and disseminating the customer satisfaction information through customer satisfaction qualified directories, which are organized or searchable by geographical, type of product or service offered by the participating vendors, and other factors.
US07996250B2
Provided are, inter alia, systems, methods and techniques for controlling workflow by identifying an individual job that is part of an overall deliverables package that covers multiple jobs. An aggregate utility function is obtained, specifying utility based on an aggregate metric across the overall deliverables package, and a current operating point is determined on the aggregate utility function. An effective utility is calculated for the individual job based on the aggregate utility function and the current operating point, and the execution of work is controlled based on the effective utility for the individual job.
US07996242B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for developing neuropsychiatric treatment plans. A treatment plan generator receives a set of diagnoses for a patient. The treatment plan generator automatically analyzes medical information in a set of electronic medical literature sources for potential therapies associated with treatment of each identified condition in the set of diagnoses. The treatment plan generator identifies the potential therapies associated with the treatment of each diagnosed condition. The treatment plan generator selects a set of recommended therapies from the potential therapies based on portions of the medical literature describing each therapy in the potential therapies and a medical history for the patient. The treatment plan generator generates a treatment plan. The treatment plan comprises the set of recommended therapies to treat each diagnosed condition in the set of diagnoses.
US07996233B2
A downsampler 101 converts input data having a sampling rate 2*FH to a sampling rate 2*FL which is lower than the sampling rate 2*FH. A base layer coder 102 encodes the input data having the sampling rate 2*FL in predetermined base frame units. A local decoder 103 decodes a first coded code. An upsampler 104 increases the sampling rate of the decoded signal to 2*FH. A subtractor 106 subtracts the decoded signal from the input signal and regards the subtraction result as a residual signal. A frame divider 107 divides the residual signal into enhancement frames having a shorter time length than that of the base frame. An enhancement layer coder 108 encodes the residual signal divided into the enhancement frames and outputs a second coded code obtained by this coding to a multiplexer 109.
US07996221B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for processing a message received from a user to determine whether an estimate of intelligibility is below an intelligibility threshold. The method includes recognizing a portion of a user's message that contains the one or more expected utterances from a critical information list, calculating an estimate of intelligibility for the recognized portion of the user's message that contains the one or more expected utterances, and prompting the user to repeat at least the recognized portion of the user's message if the calculated estimate of intelligibility for the recognized portion of the user's message is below an intelligibility threshold. In one aspect, the method further includes prompting the user to repeat at least a portion of the message if any of a measured speech level and a measured signal-to-noise ratio of the user's message are determined to be below their respective thresholds.
US07996219B2
An apparatus and a method are provided for building a spoken language understanding model. Labeled data may be obtained for a target application. A new classification model may be formed for use with the target application by using the labeled data for adaptation of an existing classification model. In some implementations, the existing classification model may be used to determine the most informative examples to label.
US07996205B2
Methods and apparatus for simulating a distributed business process are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, if a client based model is not available, the server supplies a software agent to replace the inputs and outputs normally associated with that portion of the overall simulation.
US07996192B2
An apparatus for generating environmental element predictions at a point location includes a receiver for collecting broadcast environmental element prediction data. A processor generates at least one environmental element prediction for the point location.
US07996190B2
A solution for enhancing the identification and selection of cabling for a system, such as a computer system, is provided, which includes provisions for a virtual cabling router. As aspect of the invention provides a method of identifying cabling for a system, wherein the method comprises: identifying a placement of the plurality of components in at least one enclosure, using a virtual representation; creating a routing layout for the virtual representation, based on the placement; and identifying the cabling based on the routing layout.
US07996188B2
A method of extracting and analyzing a data set from a flow cytometer system of the preferred embodiment comprises the steps of (1) running a sample and saving all collected raw data, (2) viewing raw (or “unmodified”) data, (3) modifying the raw data (e.g., scaling and/or culling the raw data), (4) reviewing and saving the modified data, and (5) exporting the saved data. Once the sample has been run and all collected data have been saved, the user can repeat the steps of modifying the raw data, saving the modified data, and exporting the saved data as many times as necessary and/or desirable.
US07996183B2
A performance monitoring apparatus for a fluid machinery which includes a predicted performance curve calculator for obtaining a curve representing the relationship between a pressure coefficient and a flow coefficient by non-dimensional characteristics per a plural fluid control quantities from a compression ratio or a pressure difference and an inlet flow rate of the fluid machinery, and a performance monitoring calculator for obtaining an actual performance head from fluid control quantities, a suction pressure, a discharge pressure, a suction temperature, a compression coefficient, a gas average molecular weight, and a specific heat ratio at the time of the operating fluid machinery, and obtaining a predicted performance head from a predicted performance curve, fluid control quantities, and an inlet flow rate; and calculating a performance degradation from the ratio of the predicted performance head to the actual performance head.
US07996180B2
Determining geometric data of a conical measurement object comprises determining spatial coordinates at a plurality of measurement points of the measurement object. At least six spatial coordinates are determined on at least six different measurement points. Element parameters of a tangential conical substitute element are determined by means of a system of equations which describes difference values between the spatial coordinates and the tangential conical substitute element. The difference values are modeled by means of at least two difference parameters whose sum represents a perpendicular spacing between the tangential conical substitute element and a spatial coordinate. Geometric data of the conical measurement object is determined using the substitute element.
US07996175B2
A PCI load card includes a PCI interface, an operational amplifier, at least two switches, and a controller. A terminal of each switch is connected to an input terminal of the operational amplifier and connected to a standby power pin of the PCI interface via a first resistor. The other terminals of the at least two switches are respectively connected to ground via at least two resistors. The other input terminal of the operational amplifier is grounded. An output terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a first terminal of the controller, a second terminal of the controller is connected to a system power pin of the PCI interface, a third terminal of the controller is grounded, the power of the controller is adjusted by controlling the at least two switches.
US07996173B2
Objects such as manufactured goods or articles, works of art, media such as identity documents, legal documents, financial instruments, transaction cards, other documents, and/or biological tissue are sampled via sequential illumination in various bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, a test response to the illumination is analyzed with respect to reference responses of reference objects. The sequence may be varied. The sequence may define an activation order, a drive level and/or temperature for operating one or more sources. Illumination may be in visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Elements of the evaluation system may be remote from one another, for example coupled by a network.
US07996166B2
In one embodiment, a method for determining capacitive signature validity of a powered device (PD) attached to power sourcing equipment (PSE) having (i) an isolated side with a primary coil and (ii) a line side with a secondary coil connected to the PD. The method includes determining, on the isolated side, a first time T1 and a corresponding first voltage V1 across the PD. Then generating, on the isolated side, a switching signal used to generate an electrical current through the primary coil. Then determining, on the isolated side, a second time T2 and a corresponding second voltage V2 across the PD, wherein a difference between V2 and V1 is related to the electrical current provided to the primary coil. Then determining the capacitive-signature validity of the PD based on T1, T2, V1, V2, and a resistive signature of the PD.
US07996163B2
A system for detecting a short circuit in a direct current (DC) link (312), wherein the DC link (312) is coupled with a rectifier (206) which includes a set of rectifier diode pairs (310). During operation, a controller (500) receives a set of outputs of a power generator 204, a set of machine parameters, and a set of diagnostic values. Next, the controller (500) determines a set of expected operating values corresponding to the set of diagnostic values. The controller (500) then compares diagnostic values to corresponding expected operating values. If the difference between the diagnostic values and the expected operating values exceeds a threshold, the controller (500) provides a flag to indicate that a short circuit condition exists.
US07996159B2
A method, system, and apparatus for sensing gases includes a gas detector with at least one light emitter and at least one light detector configured to detect an intensity of light at wavelengths of light indicative of target gas(es). The system also includes a processor circuit and a data storage device in communication with the gas detector and configured to determine an amount of target gas in the volume of the gas-air mixture and to determine a lower explosive limit (“LEL”) level for at least one target gas in the gas-air mixture. The processor is configured to receive data regarding temperature and relative humidity of the gas-air mixture such that the processor circuit can adjust the LEL according to the temperature and humidity. Temperature and humidity sensors may be included to sense these conditions for inputting to the processor.
US07996154B2
A method and system for characterizing asphaltene gradients of a reservoir of interest and analyzing properties of the reservoir of interest based upon such asphaltene gradients. The analysis employs a correlation that relates insoluble asphaltene concentration to spectrophotometry measurement data measured at depth.
US07996150B2
A control unit 10 detects the presence/absence of receiving position information based on the position data provided from a GPS receiver 14. While the GPS receiver 14 is supplying no position data, the control unit 10 computes the travel distance of a vehicle according to a vehicle speed pulse signal input from a vehicle speed pulse input unit 18. When the obtained travel distance exceeds a predetermined distance, the control unit 10 determines abnormal reception due to faulty equipment. The predetermined distance is set in advance based on a reception disability area, etc. When the control unit 10 determines abnormal reception due to faulty equipment, it turns on an orange indicator. Thus, the person in the vehicle can recognize the abnormal reception due to faulty equipment.
US07996148B2
A method for obtaining directions to fixed location such as a restaurant includes using a telephone to call the restaurant, and providing a prompt to the caller during the call to push a button on the telephone to download GPS location of the restaurant. The GPS information is transferred from the telephone to a navigation module in a vehicle which displays a map showing the route to the restaurant.
US07996145B2
There is provided a control scheme for restarting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid powertrain during ongoing vehicle operation. The method includes generating a torque output from an electrical machine to rotate the engine, and determining an engine crank torque. The torque output from the electrical machine is selectively controlled based upon the engine crank torque. The engine is fired when rotational speed of the engine exceeds a threshold. An engine torque simulation model accurately determines engine compression pressures in real-time to accommodate changes in engine operating conditions, based upon present engine operating conditions.
US07996140B2
An engine control unit having a one-time integration of a model predictive control template via a potentially long software process. Changes to the control structure may subsequently be made via a calibration dataset connected to the engine control unit without incurring the potentially long and laborious software process of implementing the template of other approaches in the related art.
US07996138B2
In a control unit for operating a vehicle drive, and to a method for operating the control unit. An upper bound is imposed on the final desired torque output by the control unit with a limiting torque dependent on the measured/manipulated variables of the accelerator pedal value sensor, when the detected vehicle speed lies below a starting limiting speed.
US07996134B2
A System and Method for Identifying Individual Loads of Chopped Forage in Storage. Thus the field factors of crop, soil and harvest conditions that affect feeding quality or a quality analysis of the load can be associated with the forage as it is removed from storage and fed to livestock.
US07996121B2
A device and method for assisting in the management of an engine failure on an aircraft: (1) determine, when an engine failure occurs, flight profiles allowing the closest airports to be reached according to flight strategies and (2) present, on a screen, the airports associated with the determined flight profiles and corresponding predictions.
US07996107B2
The invention relates to a device that comprises a tool holder that can be adjusted in an x-axis, a y-axis which is perpendicular thereto, and a z-axis that is perpendicular both to the x-axis and the y-axis and that can be pivoted about the z-axis. A dispense head for solid material is mounted on the tool holder as the tool. Two scales are disposed on the dispense head for solid material, said scales weighing the material which is or is to be delivered by the dispense head for solid material. The inventive design with two scales directly mounted on the dispense head for solid material allows for weighing of the material without the dispense head for solid material or the material having to be placed on separate scales.
US07996098B2
Reactive replenishable device management comprises receiving device measurement data from at least one device, updating one or more device usage profiles associated with the at least one device, and if an analysis of the one or more device usage profiles indicates usage of the at least one device is sub-optimal, performing one or more of: controlling at least one of an attribute or an operation of the at least one device, issuing one or more device management recommendations to a user of the at least one device, and issuing one or more user alerts to the user. The at least one device comprises at least one of one or more replenishable devices, one or more replenishers associated with the one or more replenishable devices, and one or more other devices associated with the one or more replenishable devices.
US07996097B2
The invention is generally related to the estimation of position and orientation of an object with respect to a local or a global coordinate system using reflected light sources. A typical application of the method and apparatus includes estimation and tracking of the position of a mobile autonomous robot. Other applications include estimation and tracking of an object for position-aware, ubiquitous devices. Additional applications include tracking of the positions of people or pets in an indoor environment. The methods and apparatus comprise one or more optical emitters, one or more optical sensors, signal processing circuitry, and signal processing methods to determine the position and orientation of at least one of the optical sensors based at least in part on the detection of the signal of one or more emitted light sources reflected from a surface.
US07996088B2
A neurostimulator system for alleviating cerebellar tremor associated with multiple sclerosis, for instance, comprises a programmable electrical pulse generator. The programmable electrical pulse generator is programmed to generate electrical signals with the following parameters: a current magnitude of about 1 mA or less, a stimulation signal on-time to signal off-time ratio in the range of 2:1 to 1:1.8, signal on-times and off-times in the range of about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes, a signal frequency below 15 Hz, and a pulse width within the range of 50 μs to 300 μs. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US07996084B2
An implantable medical device (IMD) performs periodic testing of a patient to determine ischemia threshold information. At selected times while the patient is at rest, the IMD increases the pacing rate over time until it receives feedback either from the patient or from an ischemia sensor. The IMD determines the threshold based upon the pacing rate at the time when the feedback was received. The threshold information can be used to adjust the upper pacing rate that can be used during rate adaptive pacing, to determine the effects of drug therapy, and to provide a general indication of the state of coronary artery disease in the patient. The periodic increase of pacing rate to the ischemic zone also provides a preconditioning of the myocardium to allow the patient greater exercise benefit without angina.
US07996079B2
A method and apparatus for providing an override of an operational mode of an implantable medical device. An override input to enter an override mode is received. A determination as to whether a magnetic input has been received is made. A predetermined response to the magnetic input is blocked in response to receiving the override input.
US07996074B2
A system and method for providing closely-followed cardiac therapy management through automated patient care is presented. A patient under remote care is enrolled in a monitoring program following commencement of a cardiac therapy regimen to be undertaken by the patient. A wearable monitor, including one or more patient physiology sensors and a wireless interface providing enabling bi-directional data exchange, is provided to the patient. Patient physiometry, including quantitative physiological measures, is periodically collected from the wearable monitor over the wireless interface concomitant to performance of the cardiac therapy regimen. The patient physiometry is evaluated to determine a trend indicating an onset, progression, regression, absence of, and status quo of patient health status.
US07996072B2
Cardiac sensing and/or stimulation devices and methods that adapt to implant location and positioning, and may employ automated vector selection from multiple electrodes. Devices include a housing having a first face opposing a second face, and an edge extending around the perimeter. A pulse generator and controller are coupled to three or more electrodes. Electrode arrangement facilitates selection of the particular electrodes that sense cardiac activity irrespective of one or more of positioning of the device, rotation of the housing, and which of the first and second faces of the housing is orientated toward the patient's skin. A first vector may be selected that provides for sensing cardiac activity, and a second vector may sense skeletal muscle activity. The vectors may be selected based on amplitude or signal-to-noise ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold. Methods may involve delivering defibrillation or cardioversion energy and/or determining cardiac rhythm states using selected vectors.
US07996067B2
An in-vivo device may include an optical system, and a method for viewing in-vivo sites. A dome or cover may cover an end of the device, protecting optical elements such as illumination devices or imagers, which may be behind the dome. The dome may be forward projecting. The field of view of the imager may be for example forward looking. Illumination element(s) and a receiving unit or imager may be disposed behind a single optical window, which for example may enable obtaining of images free of backscatter and stray light.
US07996061B2
A system and method for creating a cavity to receive an acetabulum in a pelvic bone with the aid of a navigated tool are provided. A tear-drop point on a pelvic bone is located by means of a scanning instrument. A tear-drop plane is determined from position data of the tear-drop point and the plane of the pelvic inlet. The tear-drop plane lies perpendicular to the plane of the pelvic inlet, extends parallel to a line connecting the two anterior superior iliac spines, and runs through the tear-drop point. A reference point is determined which is at a defined height above the tear-drop plane, in a defined position in an anterior-posterior direction, and at a defined spacing from an outer surface of the pelvic bone in a lateral-medial direction. A tool is worked into the pelvic bone in a desired direction relative to the reference point.
US07996060B2
A method for imaging includes receiving a first three-dimensional (3D) image of a vicinity of an organ within a body of a subject and creating a geometrical model of a tubular structure in the first 3D image in the vicinity of the organ. An invasive probe is inserted into the organ, and a second 3D image containing the organ is captured using the invasive probe. One or more points are located on a surface of the tubular structure using the invasive probe, and the second 3D image is registered with the first 3D image by matching the one or more points to the geometrical model.
US07996058B2
A method for assessing functionality of a valve in a heart includes providing a position sensor that is a wireless transponder for transmitting or receiving an ultrasound wave for determination of position coordinates of the position sensor at the point; implanting the wireless transponder at a point on the valve; and using a position determining system for determining whether the valve is functioning properly based on position coordinates of the wireless transponder.
US07996057B2
An apparatus for calibration of a probe that includes a magnetic position sensor and an acoustic imaging device has a rigid mechanical framework. One or more field generators, fixed to the framework, generate a magnetic field of known spatial characteristics. An acoustic target assembly includes a phantom coupled to a motion mechanism, which is arranged to move the phantom in a known orbit relative to the framework. A jig, fixed to the framework, holds the probe within the magnetic field of the one or more field generators, in an orientation suitable for the imaging device to image the phantom. A processor processes position and image signals from the probe in order to calibrate coordinates of the imaging device relative to the position sensor.
US07996056B2
A method and apparatus for the collection of physiological data from a patient is disclosed herein. An electrode assembly comprises an external label identifying an anatomical location and an electrode identifying circuitry that produces a signal indicative of the anatomical location to which the electrode assembly is to be attached. The electrode assembly transmits both the collected physiological signal and the identification signal to a data monitor for collection and processing physiological data.
US07996054B2
An electrochemical analyte sensor having conductive traces on a substrate is used to determine a level of analyte in in vitro or in vivo analyte-containing fluids. The electrochemical analyte sensor includes a substrate and conductive material disposed on the substrate, the conductive material forming a working electrode. In some sensors, the conductive material is disposed in recessed channels formed in a surface of the sensor. An electron transfer agent and/or catalyst may be provided to facilitate the electrolysis of the analyte or of a second compound whose level depends on the level of the analyte. A potential is formed between the working electrode and a reference electrode or counter/reference electrode and the resulting current is a function of the concentration of the analyte in the fluid.
US07996051B2
A wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, includes first and second bodies having respective perimeters. A display is associated with one of the bodies and user input is associated with the other. A hinge mechanism moveably couples the bodies together so that the second body may pivot between a closed state and an open state. The second body, while in the open state, is slidable from a first open position to a second open position along the perimeter of the first body. The first and second bodies may have respective major axes, and the major axes may be substantially parallel when the second body is in the first open position. The major axes may advantageously also be substantially parallel when the second body is in the second open position. The bodies may include respective peripheral slots along which the hinge mechanism moves.
US07996050B2
An input device for an electronic device is provided that includes a base, a frame pivotally connected to the base, a roller member rotatably supported by the frame, and at least one button pivotally connected at a side of the base. An electronic device is also provided that includes a first body, a second body pivotally attached to the first body, and an input device located in the first body.
US07996045B1
In some implementations, a computer-implemented method of displaying alert information with a mobile communication device includes displaying device status indicators to a user of a mobile device in a status area; receiving information from an application to display an alert in the status area; displaying in the status area a first level of information for the alert and a user-selectable control; and displaying, in response to a selection of the user-selectable control, a second level of information for the alert that provides greater detail than the first level of information.
US07996041B2
A means by which a list of service options may be used as capability configuration parameters to specify a card application toolkit call setup command, such as from R-UIM applications, is provided. For example, when the R-UIM application sends a call setup command to a mobile communication station, the R-UIM application may also send a list of service options that may be used by the mobile communication station to negotiate with the network. During the service negotiation process of setting up the call, the mobile communication station will only use or accept a service option that is in the service option list.
US07996034B1
A cellular telephone handset utilizes an electrically-steered directional antenna to increase the received signal strength when the handset is in a poor signal environment. As a result, the handset reduces the need for an end user to tilt and twirl their head to try and find the direction of the strongest signal strength.
US07996032B2
A method for controlling power in a wireless network is provided. The method includes determining a relative power parameter at a wireless device such as a mobile wireless terminal and receiving a load parameter at the wireless device, where the load parameter is associated with at least one other wireless cell. The method includes adjusting transmit power of the wireless device in view of the relative power parameter and the load parameter. In another embodiment, the transmit power can be controlled in view of an absolute power spectral density parameter.
US07996031B2
A method and system for providing a network protocol for utility services are disclosed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a constant powered meter sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered, wherein the constant powered meter sends hello messages periodically. The constant powered meter is registered with the utility network. Further, the battery powered meter finds and associates itself with a constant powered meter. The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility network. The constant powered meter sends a node registration message to the gateway of the utility network. The constant powered meter can sense outage problems with the gateway and the neighbors of its network, and search and migrate to an alternate network.
US07996015B2
A mobile device a location module configured to determine a location of the mobile device, a controller configured to tag content with a creation location of the mobile device when the content is created using the mobile device, and memory configured to store the tagged content. The controller is configured to sort the tagged content based upon the creation location with respect to a specific location. Also, a mobile device is provided that includes a location module configured to determine a location of the mobile device, a controller configured to tag content with a receipt location of the mobile device when the content is received by the mobile device, and memory configured to store the tagged content.
US07996009B2
A method of authenticating a user seeking access to an unlicensed wireless communication system includes delivering to an unlicensed wireless communication subscriber device licensed wireless communication system security information. An authentication result produced by the subscriber device is processed in response to the licensed wireless communication system security information. The authentication result is compared with an authentication value to selectively produce an authentication command. Unlicensed wireless communication between the subscriber device and an unlicensed wireless communication system base station is enabled in response to the authentication command.
US07996006B2
A system and method is provided for establishing a call to a wireless directory number (982) which is either a non-geographic directory number or a non-dialable directory number. A call is initiated from a wireline telephone (155) to a geographic-based local access directory number (994, 996). An originating switching node (810) recognizes the local access directory number (994, 996) as an AIN trigger, and thereafter identifies a signaling node (820) that is associated with the dialed local access DN (994, 996). The signaling node (820) sends a location request that includes the local access DN (994, 996) to an HLR (130). The HLR (130) obtains the wireless DN (982) from an internal database (990) in which the wireless DN (982) is associated with the local access DN (994, 996). The HLR (130) utilizes the wireless DN (982) to receive a temporary local directory number (TLDN) from visitor location register (140). The HLR (130) associates the TLDN with the local access DN (994, 996) and subsequently forwards the TLDN to the signaling node (820), which in turn relays the TLDN to the originating switching node (810). The call connection is thereafter established directly from the originating switching node in the end office to a visited cellular switch using the TLDN.
US07996004B2
A wireless communication system and its test method capable of executing a test of the wireless communication apparatus from a remote place by using a terminal generally used in wireless communication systems are implemented with a low-cost configuration and a simple procedure. A terminal obtained by installing a test AP on a general terminal that is used in general wireless communication systems and that can execute APs via a communication network is placed in a coverage area of a wireless communication apparatus. A maintenance center for the wireless communication system activates the terminal. The terminal executes the test AP and conducts communication with the maintenance center by using control signals and test signals for testing wireless communication system. A test is executed by measuring an actual communication state of the wireless communication system.
