US08097802B2
A thermoelectric material includes a multiple transition metal-doped type I clathrate crystal structure having the formula A8TMy11TMy22 . . . TMynnMzX46-y1-y2- . . . -yn-z. In the formula, A is selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and europium; X is selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, and tin; M is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, and indium; TM1, TM2, and TMn are independently selected from the group consisting of 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metals; and y1, y2, yn and Z are actual compositions of TM1, TM2, TMn, and M, respectively. The actual compositions are based upon nominal compositions derived from the following equation: z=8·qA−|Δq1|y1−|Δq2|y2− . . . −|Δqn|yn, wherein qA is a charge state of A, and wherein Δq1, Δq2, Δqn are, respectively, the nominal charge state of the first, second, and n-th TM.
US08097791B2
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid PS 01565172 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid PS 01565172 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08097787B2
A soybean cultivar designated 1000682 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 1000682, to the plants of soybean 1000682, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 1000682, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 1000682 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 1000682, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 1000682, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 1000682 with another soybean cultivar.
US08097781B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS08001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS08001, to the plants of soybean RJS08001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS08001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS08001 with another soybean plant, using RJS08001 as either the male or the female parent.
US08097772B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US08097771B2
Perception of chitin fragments (chitooligosaccharides) is an important first step in plant defense response against fungal pathogen. LysM receptor-like kinases (LysM RLKs) are instrumental in this perception process. LysM RLKs also play a role in activating transcription of chitin-responsive genes (CRGs) in plants. Mutations in the LysM kinase receptor genes or the downstream CRGs may affect the fungal susceptibility of a plant. Mutations in LysM RLKs or transgenes carrying the same may be beneficial in imparting resistance against fungal pathogens.
US08097769B2
A transgenic crop plant transformed by a 1-AminoCyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Deaminase-like Polypeptide (ACCDP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the crop plant results in the plant's increased root growth, and/or increased yield, and/or increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic crop plants. Also provided are isolated novel ACCDPs, and isolated novel nucleic acids encoding ACCDPs, and vectors and transgenic plant containing the same.
US08097762B2
The present invention relates to a process for converting lutein and/or lutein esters to (3R)-β-cryptoxanthin and (3R,6′R)-α-cryptoxanthin, suitable for human consumption as dietary supplements, by employing safe and environmentally friendly reagents. (3R)-β-Cryptoxanthin and (3R,6′R)-α-cryptoxanthin are two rare food carotenoids that are not commercially available and the former exhibits vitamin A activity. In the first synthetic step, commercially available lutein and/or lutein esters are transformed into a mixture of dehydration products of lutein (anhydroluteins) in the presence of a catalytic amount of an acid. The resulting anhydroluteins are then converted to (3R)-β-cryptoxanthin (major product) and (3R,6′R)-α-cryptoxanthin (minor product) by heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation employing transition elements of group VIII (Pt, Pd, Rh supported on alumina or carbon) in a variety of organic solvents under atmospheric pressure of hydrogen and at temperatures ranging from −15° C. to 40° C. Among these catalysts, Pt supported on alumina at 40° C. in ethyl acetate provides the best yield of (3R)-β-cryptoxanthin and (3R,6′R)-α-cryptoxanthin. Several homogeneous catalysts can also promote the regioselective hydrogenation of anhydroluteins to a mixture of (3R)-β-cryptoxanthin and (3R,6′R)-α-cryptoxanthin in low to moderate yields. The catalysts may be transition metal complexes such as palladium acetylacetonate, Rh(Ph3P)3Cl (Wilkinson's catalyst), [(C6H11)3P[C8H12][C5H5N]Ir+PF6− (Crabtree catalyst), or [C8H12][(MePh2P)2]Ir+PF6−. Among these, Wilkinson catalyst converts anhydroluteins to (3R)-β-cryptoxanthin and (3R,6′R)-α-cryptoxanthin in nearly quantitative yield. A novel feature of this invention is the regioselective hydrogenation of anhydroluteins while the highly conjugated polyene chain of these carotenoids remains intact.
US08097760B2
This invention provides a convenient method for converting oximes into enamides. The process does not require the use of metallic reagents. Accordingly, it produces the desired compounds without the concomitant production of a large volume of metallic waste. The enamides are useful precursors to amides and amines. The invention provides a process to convert a prochiral enamide into the corresponding chiral amide. In an exemplary process, a chiral amino center is introduced during hydrogenation through the use of a chiral hydrogenation catalyst. In selected embodiments, the invention provides methods of preparing amides and amines that include the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-N-alkyl-1-naphthalenamine or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthalenamine substructure.
US08097757B2
The present invention relates to an improved method for preparing (meth)acrylic anhydride (A(M)A2O) by transanhydrification between (meth)acrylic acid and acetic anhydride in the presence of at least one polymerization inhibitor, in which reaction to the point of partial conversion of the reagents is carried out, followed by continuous distillation. With the method according to the invention, it is possible to produce I1A(M)A2O of very high purity under improved productivity conditions compared to existing methods while eliminating problems of reactor fouling.
US08097751B2
A two-stage process for the preparation of organic isocyanates by reacting primary amines with phosgene in which: a) in a first stage, amine and phosgene are reacted in an adiabatically managed reaction, in which the temperature of reaction is restricted to values between 100 and 220° C. by actively adjusting the absolute pressure in the reactor to values between 8 and 50 bar by decompression, and the temperature is held at values between 100 and 220° C. until the stoichiometric conversion of phosgene has reached at least 80%; and then b) in a second stage, the reaction mixture from a) is decompressed to an absolute pressure of 1 to 15 bar and the reaction mixture is reacted further at temperatures between 90 and 240° C., optionally with the introduction of heat.
US08097749B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparation of a phosphoromonochloridite in high yield by contacting phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) with an aromatic diol in a solution of one or more organic solvents under reaction conditions sufficient to produce the phosphoromonochloridite. The reaction is carried out by adding a feed solution containing the aromatic diol dissolved in a first organic solvent into a reaction zone containing PCl3, and optionally one or more second organic solvents, the addition being conducted so as to maintain substantially isothermal process conditions. The reaction solution comprises greater than 0.01 to less than 5 mole percent of a nitrogen base.
US08097747B2
A process for alkylating a phosphorus-containing compound to provide an alkylated phosphorus-containing compound is provided which comprises alkylating 5 phosphorus-containing compound possessing at least one phosphorus-hydrogen alkylatable site with reactant which generates alkene and/or cycloalkene alkylating agent in situ in the presence of initiator, the alkylene and/or cycloalkylene alkylating agent alkylating the phosphorus-containing component to provide alkylated phosphorus-containing product.
US08097740B2
The present invention is generally directed to the synthesis and/or manufacture of ester-based lubricant compositions. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions, and to systems for implementing such methods (processes). In some embodiments, the methods for making such ester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor (e.g., triglyceride-bearing vegetable oils) such that the lubricant compositions generated by the methods and systems of the present invention can be properly deemed biolubricants. In these or other embodiments, lubricant precursor species can also be sourced or derived from Fischer-Tropsch (FT) and/or long-chain paraffin pyrolysis reaction products. The ester component of the lubricant compositions, produced in accordance with the methods and systems of the present invention, comprises largely diester species.
US08097738B2
Chiral ruthenium catalysts comprising salen and alkenyl ligands are provided for stereoselective cyclopropanation, and methods of cyclopropanation are provided. The chiral ruthenium catalyst is prepared in situ by combining an alkenyl ligand, a deprotonated chiral salen ligand, and a ruthenium (II) metal. A preferred catalyst is prepared in situ by combining 2,3-dihydro-4-venylbenzofuran, deprotonated 1,2-cyclohexanediamino-N,N′-bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-salicylidene) and RuCl2(p-cymene)]2.
US08097730B2
The present invention is directed to novel bicyclic heterocycles, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by the androgen receptor.
US08097729B2
Processes for the purification of lercanidipine hydrochloride are provided which uses a binary system of an alcohol-containing solvent such as methanol and an aliphatic ester-containing solvent such as isopropyl acetate. Processes for the preparation of substantially amorphous lercanidipine hydrochloride are also provided. Also provided is lercanidipine hydrochloride substantially in polymorph form V.
US08097726B2
A huperzine A compound is provided. The huperzine A compound has following formula: wherein X comprises O or S, Y comprises —O—, —S—, —CH(R4)—, —C(R4)(R5)—, —C(R4)═C(R5)—, —C≡C—, —NH— or —N(R4)—, n is 0, 1 or 2, R3 is C(═X)—(Y)n—R1 provided that R2 is H or R2 and R3 are combined to form ═CH—Ar, wherein R1, R4 and R5 independently comprise hydrogen, C1-C32 alkyl, C1-C32 alkenyl, C1-C32 alkynyl, C1-C32 aryl or C1-C32 heteroaryl, in which alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl with one or more substituents comprising halogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, aryloxyl, amino, alkylamino, arylamino, dialkylamino, diarylamino, imino, alkylimino, arylimino, acylamido, diacylamido, acylimido, cyano, nitro, mercapto, carbamido, carbamoyl, carboxyl, thioureido, thiocyanato, sulfonamido, thio, sulfonyl or sulfinyl, and Ar comprises aryl or heteroaryl.
US08097710B2
A method to silence a gene in cells by post-transcriptional gene silencing is described which method employs short RNA molecules (SRMs). SRMs are short sense RNA molecules (SSRMs) and short antisense RNA molecules (SARMs) which SARMs are complementary to a region of a target RNA transcribed from a gene to be silenced and said SSRMs correspond to the sequence of the target RNA.
US08097709B2
The invention relates generally to novel macrolactams and their analogs, to processes for the preparation of these novel macrolactams, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel macrolactams; and to methods of using the novel macrolactams to treat or inhibit various disorders.
US08097707B2
13-benzenesulfonylhydrazone anthracyclines useful in producing improved yields in the synthesis 13-deoxyanthracyclines, and an improved method of reducing 13-benzene-sulfonylhydrazone anthracyclines to 13-deoxyanthracyclines wherein the reduction reaction is maintained at temperatures of about 55° C. to 64° C. without stirring or agitation. The reaction is completed with the addition of aqueous bicarbonate which forms the 13-deoxyanthracycline and precipitates. The precipitates are filtered and the precipitate and filtrate are extracted separately with organic solvents. The crude 13-deoxy anthracycline can be converted to 5-imino-13-deoxy anthracycline by reaction with methanolic ammonia. The reaction can also be performed with an acidic pyridinium salt instead of a strong acid so that neutralization of the reaction or extraction of the product is not necessary, thereby facilitating purification.
US08097706B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing capecitabine and a method for preparing a β-anomer-rich trialkyl carbonate compound used therein, and a highly pure capecitabine can be efficiently prepared with a high yield by the method of the present invention using the β-anomer-rich trialkyl carbonate compound as an intermediate.
US08097704B2
The present invention provides an antibody specifically binding to death receptor 5 (DR5), which is selected from the group consisting of: an antibody comprising a heavy chain variable region (VH) having the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 3 at complementary determining regions (CDRs) and a light chain variable region (VL) having the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 4 to 6 at CDRs; and an antibody comprising a (VH) having the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 7 to 9 at CDRs and a (VL) having the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 10 to 12 at CDRs, and a composition for preventing or treating a cancer comprising the same. The antibody of the present invention can be effectively used for the prevention or treatment of various cancers, through inducing autophagic cell death of TRAIL-sensitive cancer cells as well as TRAIL-resistant cancer cells by specific binding to DR5.
US08097702B2
Modified interferon polypeptides with at least one non-naturally-encoded amino acid and uses thereof are provided.
US08097701B2
The invention features compositions and methods for site-specific modification of proteins by incorporation of an aldehyde tag. Enzymatic modification at a sulfatase motif of the aldehyde tag through action of a formylglycine generating enzyme (FGE) generates a formylglycine (FGly) residue. The aldehyde moiety of FGly residue can be exploited as a chemical handle for site-specific attachment of a moiety of interest to a polypeptide.
US08097691B2
The invention relates to the use of heterocycles containing trivalent phosphorus as a ring member as catalysts for isocyanate modification and to a process for preparing polyisocyanates of the trimer type.
US08097687B2
The invention provides compositions of matter, methods of their synthesis, and methods of their use in polymerization reactions. The compositions include polyfunctional initiators used to make star polymers when polymerized with monomers. The polyfunctional initiators are synthesized out of a multifunctional core with at least two functional groups and two or more initiator units bonded to the functional groups. The initiator units have two electron-withdrawing groups bonded to a central carbon atom and an azo group between the central carbon atom and the functional group. The polyfunctional initiators are particularly effective because when they decompose to form the radical core of a star polymer, the electron-withdrawing groups prevent the corresponding radical from forming any linear polymer contamination and only desired star polymers result. In addition when the desired star polymers are fed into a reaction vessel by streams with two different concentrations the star polymers produce superior properties.
US08097668B2
A colorimetric composition is disclosed comprising a polycarbonate resin, a dye, and a thiopropionate. The composition undergoes an irreversible color shift to a darker color upon exposure to sunlight or UV radiation. Processes for producing and/or using such a colorimetric composition are also disclosed.
US08097664B2
A cationic electrodeposition coating composition including amino group-containing modified epoxy resin (A), blocked polyisocyanate curing agent (B), phenol resin (C), metal compound (D), and nitrogen oxide ion (E), wherein the metal compound (D) is contained in an amount of 10 to 10,000 ppm calculated as metal and the nitrogen oxide ion (E) is contained in an amount of 50 to 10,000 ppm, relative to the mass of the cationic electrodeposition coating composition. The cationic electrodeposition coating composition exhibits excellent anti-corrosion properties when coated onto untreated steel sheets.
US08097661B2
A radiation-curable gel ink with reduced syneresis. The inks include a curable monomer, an organic gellant, a gel-forming wax, an optional photoinitiator, and an optional colorant. Also disclosed are methods of making such inks, and methods of forming images with such inks.
US08097658B2
Fire-resistant, medium density molded polyurethane foams which may be removed from a mold in substantially shorter times than previously possible are produced by the process of the present invention. These reduced de-mold times are achieved by including a solid flame retardant composition in the polyurethane foam forming composition. This solid flame retardant composition includes a melamine coated ammonium polyphosphate and zinc borate.
US08097657B2
The present invention relates to organic polymer porous materials, and in particular, to an organic polymer porous material that functions as a reusable insoluble solid catalyst and a method for producing the same. The organic polymer porous material of the present invention is characteristic in that the amount of immobilized bases is high and the specific surface area is large. The object has been achieved by an organic polymer porous material including a polymer (PA) obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable composition (A) containing a compound (a) obtained by reacting a dendrimer (a1) having at least an amino group as a reactive functional group or a polyethyleneimine (a2) having at least an amino group as a reactive functional group with a compound (a3) having a vinyl group and a group that can react with the reactive functional group.
US08097654B2
Radiolabeled 3-[3-(benzoyl-amido)benzyloxy]aspartic acid derivative and method of producing the same
The present invention provides a radiolabeled ligand which is highly selective and potent for glutamate transporters and is usable in specifically detecting the glutamate transporter.Specifically, the present invention provides a 3-[3-(benzoylamido)benzyloxy]aspartic acid having a radioactive substituent on the benzoyl group which is represented by the following formula (1), or an ester or salt thereof: wherein X represents a substituent containing a radioactive atom(s) which is selected from a straight or branched lower aliphatic alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a straight or branched lower aliphatic alkoxy group, an amino group, a straight or branched lower aliphatic acylamido group, a halogen atom and a straight or branched lower aliphatic haloalkyl group; and R1 and R2 each represents a hydrogen atom, a straight or branched lower aliphatic alkyl group or an acetoxymethyl group.
US08097652B2
The present invention relates to a compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which is useful for the treatment of conditions associated with glutamate hypofunction, such as psychiatric and neurological disorders.
US08097646B2
There is provided an ophthalmic pharmaceutical preparation comprising menthyl ester of indomethacin as an active ingredient. Also provided are different possible formulations of the ophthalmic preparation, and different methods of treating ophthalmic irritation using the ophthalmic preparation.
US08097643B2
The present invention refers to new sulfonamide derivatives, of general formula (1a, 1b, 1c), optionally in form of one of their stereoisomers, preferably enantiomers or diastereomers, their racemate, or in form of a mixture of at least two of their stereoisomers, preferably enantiomers or diastereomers, in any mixing ratio, or their salt thereof s, preferably the corresponding, physiologically acceptable salt thereofs, or corresponding solvate thereofs; to the processes for their preparation, to their application as medicaments in human and/or veterinary therapeutics, and to the pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US08097632B2
The present invention makes available assays and reagents inhibiting paracrine and/or autocrine signals produced by a hedgehog protein or aberrant activation of a hedgehog signal transduction pathway, e.g., which involve the use of a steroidal alkaloid or other small molecule.
US08097629B2
The invention relates to novel dihydropyridinone derivatives, processes for their preparation, and their use in medicaments, especially for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, acute coronary syndrome, acute myocardial infarction and heart failure development.
US08097628B2
Compounds of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or N-oxides thereof: (relative chemistry shown) pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, their use in therapy especially against tuberculosis, and methods of preparing them are described.
US08097626B2
This invention relates to novel compounds and compositions thereof, useful in the treatment of disease states mediated by the chemokine, Interleukin-8 (Il-8).
US08097619B2
The invention pertains to novel cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (cdks) and specifically, but not exclusively, as inhibitors of cdk/cyclin complexes. As described herein, the inhibitors of this invention are capable of inhibiting the cell-cycle machinery and consequently may be useful in modulating cell-cycle progression, untimately controlling cell growth and differentiation. Such compounds would be useful for treating subjects having disorders associated with excessive cell proliferation.
US08097617B2
New compounds of the Formula (I): for the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
US08097616B2
The invention provides a process for the preparation of high purity meloxicam of the Formula (II). The meloxicam raw product is reacted with the solution of potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate, whereby high purity meloxicam potassium sait monohydrate is produced. Said sait is subsequently treated with mineral or organic acid to yield high-purity meloxicam.
US08097613B2
The invention is directed to [1,2,4]thiadiazine 1,1-dioxide compounds of formula I wherein A is B is and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds that are useful in treating infections by hepatitis C virus.
US08097609B2
Porphyrinic compounds that contain solubilizing groups are described, along with methods of making and using the same and compositions comprising such compounds. Examples of such compounds include compounds of Formula (I) wherein: Z is a porphyrinic macrocyclic, Alk1 and Alk2 are each independently an alkylidene chain; L is a linking group or is absent; R1 is preferably an ionic group or polar group; R2 is an ionic group, polar group, bioconjugatable group, or targeting group: R3 is present or absent and when present is a halo group, bioconjugatable group, or targeting group, n is O or 1 (that is, the CH group is present, or Alk1 and Alk2 are bonded directly to a carbon of the porphyrinic macrocycle Z); or a salt thereof.
US08097607B2
The invention features low-dosage rifalazil compositions which are useful for the treatment of bacterial infections.
US08097604B2
The present invention relates to a medicament which contains as the active ingredient combination at least one gestagen with a contraceptive action as the sole hormone component and at least one insulin sensitizer, which medicament is in particular suitable for preventing or treating pathological disorders which are caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
US08097602B1
Described is a safe and effective method for treating lice and nits (fleas, ticks and other insects) with a low surface tension chemical formulation.
US08097594B2
The present invention provides compounds having antimicrobial activity for preventing and treating diseases caused by microbial infections. Thus, the present invention relates to novel semi-synthetic 11,12-γ lactone macrolides and ketolides having antimicrobial activity, processes for making compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds as active ingredients and methods of treating microbial infections with the compounds.
US08097588B2
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods useful for promoting sperm motility, promoting embryonic stem cell formation, promoting trophoblast formation, or promoting neuronal growth. The compositions and methods are based on peptide sequences that bind trophinin, inhibit bystin-mediated arrest of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, and promotes EGF receptor autophosphorylation.
US08097582B2
A compound having the general formula (I) R1—NH—CH[(CH2)n—NH—C(NH)—NH2]-CO—R2-A-R4; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound and use of the compound for the manufacturing of a medicament for the treatment of a disease such as a microbial disease and/or proliferation/stimulation of eukaryotic cells is described.
US08097581B2
The present invention relates to a composition for treating skin comprising an acylated short chain bioactive peptide and fulvic acid, and optionally colloidal gold. The invention further relates to a method for topically administering the composition in an amount therapeutically effective to reduce wrinkles by building the dermal fibroblast matrix. The invention further relates to a method of treating wrinkled skin by topically administering the composition to an individual in need of such treatment.
US08097580B2
A laundry treatment composition comprising from about 1 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of an asymmetric di-hydrocarbyl quaternary ammonium compound comprising the structure: wherein R1 comprises a C12 to C22 hydrocarbyl chain, wherein R2 comprises a C6 to C12 hydrocarbyl chain, which can be branched, wherein R1 has at least two more carbon atoms in the hydrocarbyl chain than R2, wherein R3 and R4 are individually selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, C1-C4 hydroxy hydrocarbyl, benzyl, —(C2H4O)xH where x has a value from about 1 to about 10, and mixtures thereof, and wherein X− is a anion; and from about 1 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of an anionic surfactant, wherein the laundry treatment composition provides sufficient softness and anti-static benefits without minimized formation of non-soluble flocs.
US08097577B2
Laundry detergent and cleaning compositions comprising alkoxylated polyalkanolamine polymers obtainable by condensation of N-(hydroxyalkyl)amines and reacting the remaining hydroxy and/or secondary amino groups of the condensation product with alkylene oxides and/or derivatives obtainable by quaternization, protonation, sulphation and/or phosphation of said polymers.
US08097573B2
A moisturizing, personal cleansing composition with a limited number of naturally-derived, naturally processed, generally regarded as safe (GRAS), biodegradable ingredients comprising a plurality of oleosomes, an anionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant, a lipoaminoacidic surfactant, and a humectant. The personal cleansing composition optionally contains a fragrance, vitamin, essential oil, thickener, exfoliant, preservative, plant extract and other beneficial naturally-derived, naturally processed, generally regarded as safe (GRAS), biodegradable ingredients such as royal jelly. The moisturizing, personal cleansing composition cleanses and moisturizes as well as or better than commercial compositions containing synthetically derived cleansing and moisturizing agents.
US08097568B2
The passage of a container along a conveyor is facilitated by applying to the container or conveyor aqueous compositions containing hardness ions. The compatibility of the aqueous compositions with PET bottles is improved when the ratio of hardness as CaCO3 to alkalinity as CaCO3 is greater than about 1 to 1.
US08097561B2
A herbicidal composition comprising, in addition to customary inert formulation excipients, as a mixture of at least one acetamide herbicide and a lipophilic additive comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of C13-C20 fatty acids, C13-C20 fatty alcohols and hydrocarbon fluids.
US08097560B2
The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material with enhanced color developing sensitivity maintaining heat resistance and image storage stability characteristics such as plasticizer resistance and water resistance. The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material including at least a substrate and a heat-sensitive color developing layer containing a leuco dye and developers on the front surface of the substrate, wherein as the developers 4-hydroxy-4′-allyloxydiphenyl sulfone is used in combination with a first diphenyl compound represented by formula (1) and/or a second diphenyl compound represented by formula (2).
US08097558B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst, in particular for the preparation of phthalic anhydride by gas phase oxidation of o-xylene and/or naphthalene, having an inert support and at least one layer which has been applied thereto and has a catalytically active composition comprising TiO2, characterized in that at least a portion of the TiO2 used has the following properties: (a) the BET surface area is more than 15 m2/g, (b) at least 25% of the total pore volume is formed by pores having a radius between 60 and 400 nm, and (c) the primary crystal size is more than 22 ångstrøm. Also described is a preferred process for preparing such a catalyst, and the preferred use of the titanium dioxide used in accordance with the invention.
US08097557B2
The invention relates to an improved process for producing a catalyst useful for the epoxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide. In forming the catalyst, a silver-impregnated support is subjected to two calcinations. The support is subjected to a first calcination in a first atmosphere comprising air. Next the support is subjected to a second calcination in a second atmosphere which is substantially entirely comprised of inert gas, and which second atmosphere is substantially absent of hydrogen. This two-stage calcination produces an improved catalyst which contains fewer organics left over under standard conditions of air calcination alone, while costing less than calcination in an inert gas alone.
US08097555B2
Process for the production of hybrid catalysts formed by mixing two catalysts; one active in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the other being bifunctional. Such hybrid catalyst thus formed is active both in hydrocracking and in hydroisomerization reactions. The present invention in addition provides obtainment of a hybrid catalyst and application thereof conjointly with FT catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactions. The hybrid catalyst of the present invention is capable of producing in conditions typically such as those utilized in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis branched hydrocarbons in diverse bands relating to the products thereof (for example naphtha and diesel), reducing or even eliminating necessity for a subsequent hydrotreatment stage in such synthesis reactions. Utilization of such hybrid catalysts of the present invention prolongs the operational efficiency and working life of conventional Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts, reducing substantially encapsulation of particles thereof by waxes produced in the hydroprocessing reactions.
US08097554B2
An apparatus for removing soot from diesel engine exhaust streams at temperatures below 150° C. is provided. Although the use of particulate filters for removing carbonaceous soot from such exhaust streams is known, such systems are either active or operate under high temperatures, i.e. in excess of 300° C. The claimed apparatus includes a flow through support device composed of ceramic, such as cordierite or silicon carbide, or a primarily nonferrous metal or stainless steel and coated with an oxide formation comprising hematite and bixbyite in a ratio from 1:1 to 9:1. The claimed apparatus can also include a diesel particulate filter coated with a coating comprising tin, aluminum and zirconium oxides prepared by a co-precipitation process and thereafter coated with platinum or other precious metal.
US08097542B2
In a dual stress liner approach, an intermediate etch stop material may be provided on the basis of a plasma-assisted oxidation process rather than by deposition so the corresponding thickness of the etch stop material may be reduced. Consequently, the resulting aspect ratio may be less pronounced compared to conventional strategies, thereby reducing deposition-related irregularities which may translate into a significant reduction of yield loss, in particular for highly scaled semiconductor devices.
US08097536B2
Metallization systems on the basis of copper and low-k dielectric materials may be efficiently formed by providing an additional dielectric material of enhanced surface conditions after the patterning of the low-k dielectric material. Consequently, defects such as isolated copper voids and the like may be reduced without significantly affecting overall performance of the metallization system.
US08097528B2
Manufacturing method of nitride substrate, nitride substrate, and nitride-based semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a nitride substrate includes the steps of: preparing a ground substrate; forming a mask on the ground substrate; placing the ground substrate in a reactor, and heating the ground substrate to a temperature of 850° C. to 1100° C. In the step of heating the ground substrate, HCl and NH3 are supplied into the reactor so that partial pressure PHCl satisfies (1.5+0.0005p) kPa≦PHCl≦(4+0.0005p) kPa and partial pressure PNH3 satisfies (15−0.0009p) kPa≦PNH3≦(26−0.0017p) kPa, whereby an AlxGayIn1-x-yN crystal (0≦x<1, 0
US08097517B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device which is capable of simultaneously improving a short channel effect of a PMOS and the current of an NMOS and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes first and second gates formed over first and second areas of a semiconductor substrate, respectively; and first and second junction areas formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate corresponding to both sides of the first gate and a portion of the semiconductor substrate corresponding to both sides of the second gate, and including a projection, respectively, wherein the projection of the first junction area has a height higher than the height of the projection of the second junction area, and the second junction area is formed such that it has a depth from the surface of the semiconductor substrate deeper than the depth of the first junction area.
US08097504B2
Structures and techniques are disclosed for reducing bit line to bit line capacitance in a non-volatile storage system. The bit lines are formed at a 4f pitch in each of two separate metal layers, and arranged to alternate between each of the layers. In an alternative embodiment, shields are formed between each of the bit lines on each metal layer.
US08097503B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes forming, on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, an isolation trench including sidewall parts and a bottom part, or a stepped structure including a first planar part, a second planar part, and a step part located at a boundary between the first planar part and the second planar part, and supplying oxidizing ions or nitriding ions contained in plasma generated by a microwave, a radio-frequency wave, or electron cyclotron resonance to the sidewall parts and the bottom part of the isolation trench or the first and second planar parts and the step part of the stepped structure by applying a predetermined voltage to the semiconductor substrate, to perform anisotropic oxidation or anisotropic nitridation of the sidewall parts and the bottom part of the isolation trench or the first and second planar parts and the step part of the stepped structure.
US08097486B2
There is provided a solid-state imaging element having a light receiving part generating charges by light irradiation, and a source/drain region of a transistor, both formed in a semiconductor layer. The solid-state imaging element includes a non-silicided region including the light receiving part, in which surfaces of the source/drain region and a gate electrode of the transistor are not silicided; and a silicided region in which the surfaces of the source/drain region and the gate electrode of the transistor are silicided. The non-silicided region has a sidewall formed on a side surface of the gate electrode of the transistor, a hydrogen supply film formed to cover the semiconductor layer, the gate electrode, and the sidewall, and a salicide block film formed on the hydrogen supply film to prevent silicidation. The silicided region has a sidewall formed on the side surface of the gate electrode of the transistor.
US08097485B2
A method of manufacturing a solid state image pickup device including photoelectric conversion elements which are two-dimensionally arranged in a semiconductor substrate, and a color filter having a plurality of color filter patterns differing in color from each other and disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate according to the photoelectric conversion elements. The method including the steps of successively subjecting a plurality of filter layers differing in color from each other to a patterning process to form the plurality of color filter patterns. At least one color filter pattern to be formed at first among the plurality of color filter patterns is formed by means of dry etching, and the rest of the plurality of the color filter pattern is formed by means of photolithography.
US08097482B2
A method for manufacturing a Group III nitride semiconductor of the present invention, comprising a sputtering step for disposing a substrate and a target in a chamber and forming a Mg-doped Group III nitride semiconductor on the substrate by a reactive sputtering method, wherein the sputtering step includes respective substeps of: a film formation step for forming a semiconductor thin film while doping with Mg; and a plasma treatment step for applying an inert gas plasma treatment to the semiconductor thin film that has been formed in the film formation step, and the Group III nitride semiconductor is formed by laminating the semiconductor thin film through alternate repetitions of the film formation step and the plasma treatment step.
US08097480B2
A method of making a liquid crystal display having a display region and a non-display region, the method comprises forming a thin film transistor (“TFT”) having a drain electrode on an insulating substrate, forming an inorganic layer and an organic insulating layer sequentially on the TFT, forming an organic insulating layer pattern, by patterning the organic insulating layer, comprising a first organic layer hole to expose the inorganic layer on the drain electrode and a second organic layer hole formed along a circumference of the display region where the organic insulating layer is partially removed, removing the inorganic layer exposed through the first organic layer hole and the organic insulating layer remaining in the second organic layer hole, and forming a sealant in the second organic hole. The present invention thus provides a method of making an LCD to prevent a color filter substrate separating from a TFT substrate using fewer masks.
US08097477B2
A method for manufacturing a light-emitting case includes forming a PLED (Polymer Light Emitting Diode) device, disposing the PLED device into a mold, and utilizing the mold to sheathe the PLED device with transparent plastic material in an injection-molding manner. Since the mold has a cavity corresponding to a predetermined shape, the formed transparent plastic material has a geometric appearance corresponding to the predetermined shape.
US08097474B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a design and manufacturing system and an associated method that allow for design analysis and for insertion, during wafer manufacture, of intra-process monitoring circuitry. These embodiments use a library of pre-qualified intra-process monitoring circuits and a cross-correlation table that links different monitoring circuits with different IC chip components. Specifically, these embodiments analyze integrated circuit chip design data to identify the components designed into the chip. Then, one or more intra-process monitoring circuits are selected from the library and the design data is modified to include the selected monitoring circuit(s).
US08097470B2
The analysis apparatus for microchips, each at least having a main flow path performing migration of a sample for analysis inside a sheet-like member, comprises a holding part holding microchips so that the multiple main flow paths are provided; a pretreatment part common to the multiple main flow paths for performing a pretreatment step prior to an analysis step in each of the multiple main flow paths; a processing part for performing analysis in each of the main flow paths independently of the others; and a control part controlling an operation in the pretreatment part so that when a pretreatment step for one main flow path ends, a pretreatment for a next main flow path starts and further controlling an operation in the processing part so that an analysis is subsequently performed for the main flow path where the pretreatment step has ended.
US08097466B2
An optical waveguiding optical format enables consistent optical analysis of small sample volumes with minimal variation in light path length among optical formats. The optical format is comprised of an input guide, an output guide, and a sample cavity adapted to allow light to pass through a sample on its way from the input guide to the output guide. A lid removed from the light pathway within the format may be provided with a reagent for assisting fluid analysis.
US08097451B2
The present invention provides a modular ethanol production plant constructed of a number of identically sized modules each having a supporting structure main framework to which the components contained in the modules are attached. The plurality of modules includes a fermentation module, a distillation module, a ground grain module, and an optional heating module. Each of the modules are sized to occupy the same approximate space as a standard sized ocean going shipping container. Also, each of the modules has a central walkway including piping and electrical control boxes that are aligned for each connection to the next adjacent module.
US08097445B2
The present invention relates to a heterologous exo-endo cellulase fusion construct, which encodes a fusion protein having cellulolytic activity comprising a catalytic domain derived from a fungal exo-cellobiohydrolase and a catalytic domain derived from an endoglucanase. The invention also relates to vectors and fungal host cells comprising the heterologous exo-endo cellulase fusion construct as well as methods for producing a cellulase fusion protein and enzymatic cellulase compositions.
US08097444B2
Disclosed herein are compositions comprising an alpha-amylase enzyme obtained from Bacillus sp. no. 195, and methods of using the enzyme to clean surfaces and textiles. Also disclosed are variants of the enzyme with different signal sequences.
US08097442B2
The invention provides laccases, polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, the methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides.
US08097430B2
The present invention provides a method of raising an immune response in an animal. The method comprises administering to the animal a composition comprising a carrier and an antigen bound to a targeting moiety wherein the targeting moiety binds to at least one receptor present in circulatory vessels in Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue. It is preferred that the targeting moiety binds to Mucosal Addressin Cellular Adhesion Molecule-1.
US08097428B2
Isolated monoclonal antibodies are disclosed herein that specifically bind a cell surface antigen expressed on the human pancreatic endocrine cells or a subset thereof, and/or a precursor thereof. Isolated monoclonal antibodies are also disclosed herein that specifically bind a cell surface antigen expressed on human pancreatic exocrine cells or human ductal cells. Humanized forms of these antibodies, and functional fragments of these antibodies, are also disclosed. The antibodies can be conjugated to an effector molecule, such as a detectable marker, a therapeutic agent, or a toxin. These antibodies are of use to detect and isolate pancreatic cells or a subset thereof. The antibodies can be used for in vitro or in vivo detection and/or isolation of pancreatic endocrine cells. Methods of treating a pancreatic tumor are also disclosed. In several examples, the isolated monoclonal antibodies bind pancreatic endocrine cells and can be used to detect diabetes or a pancreatic endocrine cell tumor.
US08097422B2
Provided is a three-dimensional structure of an alcohol bound to an alcohol-binding site of an inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channel, Kir channel alcohol modulators and methods for identifying Kir channel modulators.
US08097419B2
Disclosed are oligonucleotide amplification primers and detection probes specific for the amplification and detection of pathogenic organisms, including for example, specific Influenza A H1N1 viral isolates. Also disclosed is a biological organism identification kit including the disclosed nucleic acid probes and primers, as well as thermal cycling reagents that is both portable and durable, and may also be self-contained for remote, or in-field analysis and identification of particular influenza isolates from a variety of biological specimen types.
US08097416B2
The present invention provides compositions, kits and methods for rapid identification and quantification of sepsis-causing bacteria by molecular mass and base composition analysis.
US08097413B2
The invention provides methods to detect group B streptococcus (GBS) in biological samples using real-time PCR. Primers and probes for the detection of GBS are provided by the invention. Articles of manufacture containing such primers and probes for detecting GBS are further provided by the invention.
US08097411B2
The invention concerns the use of a genomic marker comprising a nucleotide sequence corresponding to all or part of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID No 1, or to all or a part of an allele of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID No 1 and associated with the phenotype relating to the tenderness of the meat from bovines, for the implementation of any identification method for the quantification of DNAJA1 expression level with the aim of selecting and/or sorting ruminant animals of the bovine type which produce tender meat and/or for the implementation of an identification method of tender meats at the moment of slaughter by direct sampling from the carcass.The invention concerns identification methods using the real time RT-PCR technique, the hybridization of labelling cDNA with an oligonucleotide probe and the detection of antigen-antibody complexes.
US08097408B2
The application discloses methods for identifying and using compounds that inhibit extra-cellular matrix (ECM) degradation and inflammation, using a polypeptide sequence including SEQ ID NO: 17-127 (hereinafter “TARGETS”) and fragments thereof, expression inhibitory agents such as antisense polynucleotide, a ribozyme, and a small interfering RNA (siRNA), comprising a nucleic acid sequence complementary to, or engineered from, a naturally occurring polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 17-127, useful in pharmaceutical compositions comprising said agent, for the treatment, or prevention, of chronic joint degenerative and/or inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
US08097407B2
This disclosure characterizes the function and the expression of the human protein encoded by tm9sf4. The protein is highly expressed in malignant tumor cells and therefore is a novel marker for malignancy. Moreover, the protein is involved in the phagocytotic character of tumor cells. This disclosure provides methods and tools to diagnose and follow up malignancy of tumors. Furthermore, means to inhibit phagocytotic character of tumor cells as well as means to treat cancer are provided.
US08097402B2
The invention provides a method of processing a substrate using Double-Patterning (D-P) processing sequences and Electric-Field Enhanced Layers (E-FELs). The D-P processing sequences and E-FELs can be used to create lines, trenches, vias, spacers, contacts, and gate structures using a minimum number of etch processes.
US08097399B2
An optical moulding process is disclosed comprising the sequential steps of: (a)(y) forming a layer of a photocurable composition; and (bXz) irradiating selected areas of the composition in the layer with radiation from a radiation source, thereby curing the composition in said selected areas and repeating the steps a) and b) on top of an earlier cured layer to form a three dimensional structure, wherein the radiation source used in step b) is a non-coherent source of radiation and wherein the photocurable composition comprises at least two curable components: (i) 45%-95% (and preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 60%, e.g. at least 70%) by weight of the total curable components in the composition is a first component that is photocurable and that is such that, when cured in the presence of a photocuring initiator by exposure to UV radiation having an energy of 30 mJ/cm2, at least 90% of the component is cured within 50 milliseconds; and (ii) 5% to 55% (and preferably 10-40%, more preferably 15 to 30%, e.g. about 20%) by weight of the total curable components in the composition is a second component that results in the composition, on curing, shrinking, in a linear direction, by less than 3% and preferably that results in the composition having, after cure, a Tg of greater than 50° C., preferably at least 100° C. and more preferably at least 120° C.
US08097392B2
A liquid developer includes an insulation liquid containing a fatty acid monoester and toner particles comprised of a resin material. The resin material is characterized in that a weight-average molecular weight Mw of the resin material is in the range of 20,000 to 200,000, and an amount of a component of which molecular weight M is 10,000 or less contained in the resin material is in the range of 5 to 40 wt %. The liquid developer described above is harmless to the environment. Further, the liquid developer also has superior preservability or storage stability and superior fixing characteristics at a low temperature. An image forming apparatus that can suitably use such a liquid developer is also provided.
US08097372B2
A controller of a fuel cell system includes an anode gas replacement apparatus, a stoppage time detection apparatus, and a cathode gas flow rate control apparatus. The anode gas replacement apparatus replaces hydrogen in an anode gas channel using an anode gas supply apparatus. The stoppage time detection apparatus detects a stoppage time during which operation of the fuel cell stack is stopped. When the anode gas replacement apparatus replaces the hydrogen, the cathode gas flow rate control apparatus changes the flow rate of the cathode gas supplied from the cathode gas supply apparatus depending on the stoppage time.
US08097363B2
The object of the invention is to provide positive electrode material in which a discharge rate characteristic and battery capacity are hardly deteriorated in the environment of low temperature of −30° C., its manufacturing method and a lithium secondary battery using the positive electrode material. The invention is characterized by the positive electrode material in which plural primary particles are flocculated and a secondary particle is formed, and the touch length of the primary particles is equivalent to 10 to 70% of the length of the whole periphery on the section of the touched primary particles.
US08097362B2
Electrode active material of the invention is such that a Li3PO4 phase is mixed in with an amorphous iron-phosphate complex having a LixFePyOz composition. Applying the electrode active material of the invention to a secondary battery inhibits an irreversible reaction which reduces the irreversible capacity, thus enabling a high capacity to be maintained even when it is used at a high potential.
US08097361B2
This invention concerns a novel method for surface derivatization of electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. The derivatization is based on adsorption of a composite assembly consisting of amphiphilic redox active molecule attached to single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). Its role consists in the enhancement of electronic conductivity of electrode materials, such as phosphate olivines, without requesting any significant increase of the electrode volume and mass. The SWCNT is linked to the redox molecule via non-covalent or covalent interaction with the hydrophobic part of the molecule or electrostatic interaction. The hydrophilic part of the molecule serves as the anchoring site for surface modification of the electrode active material. The redox potential of the molecule is close to the redox potential of the electrode active material. The adsorbed assembly of redox-molecule & SWCNT thus improves the charge transfer from a current collector to the electrode active material.
US08097349B2
A novel derivative of heterocyclic compound having nitrogen atom with a structure made by bonding special groups to benzimidazole, a material for an organic electroluminescence (EL) device comprising the derivative of heterocyclic compound having nitrogen atom and an organic electroluminescence device comprising at least one organic compound layer containing a light emitting layer sandwiched between a pair of electrodes, wherein the device contains the derivative of heterocyclic compound having nitrogen atom. An organic EL device achieving elevation of luminance and of efficiency in light emission even under low driving voltage is obtainable by an employment of the derivative of heterocyclic compound having nitrogen atom for at least one layer composing organic compound layers of the EL device.
US08097337B2
The present invention may provide a structure capable of obtaining a higher difference in refractive indices between that of a transparent material and that of a cavity, than in the past, and a manufacturing method thereof, and the present invention provides a structure having a transparent material and an internal cavity which is formed by irradiating said transparent material with a pulse laser beam having a pulse width of 10×10−12 seconds or less, and wherein refractive index of said transparent material at d line is nd≧1.3.
US08097334B2
A pultruded composite component includes a matrix material comprising a thermosetting polyurethane resin, and fibers provided within the resin matrix. All of the fibers within the resin matrix are oriented in substantially a single direction and the matrix material has an elongation-to-failure that exceeds that of the fibers.
US08097327B2
Anti highlight structure for a touch panel includes a touch film of a flexible transparent thin film, a substrate of a rigid transparent plate, and a touch sensing unit has two sheets of transparent conductive film arranged with a predetermined gap between the touch film and the substrate. It further includes an anti Newton-Ring layer of a transparent thin film having at least one uneven and rough surface thereof, and a light regulating layer of a transparent thin film. A plurality of transparent granular objects is bound in a transparent matrix of the light regulating layer. The transparent granular objects and the transparent matrix have different indexes of refraction. The transparent granular objects are made of at least one material. The lights will be corrected by the complex indexes of refraction within the light regulating layer so that the highlights causing an image distortion and deformation will be eliminated.
US08097325B2
Polyurethane carpet backings are made using a polyurethane-forming composition that includes fatty acid amide polyols. The formulation allows a significant replacement of conventional polyols with polyols derived from annually renewable resources, while maintaining important properties like edge curl, tuftbind, viscosity and curing rates.
US08097324B2
An optical article comprising a mark disposed on the optical article; wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material; wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to an activation signal selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, infrared rays, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet light, ultrasound waves, radio frequency waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, and mechanical energy; wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when an authorized activation method is used; and wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when an unauthorized activation method is used. A method and a system for changing the functionality of the optical article are also provided.
US08097318B2
The invention relates to a glass-metal connection, in particular for a vacuum-tube solar collector, comprising a metallic connecting part (1), which connects a heat recovery tube (3) and a enclosing tube (2) of glass in a vacuum-tight manner, one end (5) of the enclosing tube (2) being inwardly deformed in a flange-like manner in such a way that it encloses an outer edge portion (7) of the metallic connecting part (1) in a vacuum-tight manner on both sides by fusing. This edge portion (7) is expediently formed in a rotationally symmetrical manner and/or the enclosing tube (2) is produced from a soda-lime glass. The connecting part (1) is connected in a vacuum-tight manner to one or more heat recovery tubes (3). The connecting part (1) and the glass of the enclosing tube (2) have approximately the same coefficient of expansion.
US08097306B2
An aqueous treating solution for an Sn-based plated steel sheet, comprising (A) an organic material, (B) a water-soluble chromium compound, (C) a water-dispersible silica, and water, wherein the organic material (A) is at least one member selected from an oxy-acid with the ratio of hydroxyl group/carboxyl group in one molecule being from 3/1 to 10/1, its lactone form and an oxide derivative thereof, the water-soluble chromium compound (B) does not contain hexavalent chromium, and pH is from 0.7 to 6.0.
US08097303B2
Methods for producing multilayered, oxidation-resistant structures on substrates are provided. The methods comprise depositing silicon dioxide on a substrate comprising molybdenum and boron and annealing the silicon dioxide at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a coating comprising a borosilicate scale on the substrate.
US08097300B2
A method is provided for depositing a gate dielectric that includes at least two rare earth metal elements in the form of an oxynitride or an aluminum oxynitride. The method includes disposing a substrate in a process chamber and exposing the substrate to a gas pulse containing a first rare earth precursor and to a gas pulse containing a second rare earth precursor. The substrate may also optionally be exposed to a gas pulse containing an aluminum precursor. Sequentially after each precursor gas pulse, the substrate is exposed to a gas pulse of an oxygen-containing gas, nitrogen-containing gas or an oxygen- and nitrogen-containing gas. In alternative embodiments, the first and second rare earth precursors may be pulsed together, and either or both may be pulsed together with the aluminum precursor. The first and second rare earth precursors comprise a different rare earth metal element. The sequential exposing steps may be repeated to deposit a mixed rare earth oxynitride or aluminum oxynitride layer with a desired thickness. Purge or evacuation steps may also be performed after each gas pulse.
US08097297B2
In a method of manufacturing a flexible display substrate having reduced moisture permeability and reduced oxygen permeability, nanosized or microsized particles are uniformly dispersed in a molten polymer matrix. The molten polymer matrix are formed into plate-shaped molten polymer. The plate-shaped molten polymer is extruded between two extruding rollers to form a polymer or plastic sheet, to orient the nanosized or microsized particles in parallel with a surface of the polymer or plastic sheet. The polymer or plastic sheet is stretched between a glass transition temperature and a melting point to form a polymer or plastic film, exfoliating and orienting the nanosized or microsized particles further in parallel with a surface of the polymer or plastic film. The polymer or plastic film is coated with an organic film to flatten a surface of the flexible display substrate. Heat treatment is performed to cure the organic film.
US08097294B2
A method for forming a film by applying a material liquid to an application area of a base material and drying the applied material liquid includes: (a) forming a frame-shaped partition in the application area, the partition having a side surface facing a center of the application area; (b) applying the material liquid to the application area; and (c) drying the material liquid. In step (a), the partition is formed so that the side surface of the partition is closer to the center than an outer edge of the application area and so that a height of the partition is smaller than a film thickness of the material liquid at a time when the material liquid is applied and is larger than a thickness of the dried film.
US08097282B2
There is disclosed an aerosol comprising droplets of an aqueous dispersion of nanoparticles, said nanoparticles comprising insoluble therapeutic or diagnostic agent particles having a surface modifier on the surface thereof. There is also disclosed a method for making the aerosol and methods for treatment and diagnosis using the aerosol.
US08097281B2
The present invention relates to dosage forms for oral administration of therapeutic formulations, adapted to provide immediate and/or sustained-release of therapeutic substances, particularly for oral administration of vitamins. There is provided a dosage form for oral administration of a vitamin, comprising: a liquid phase containing a vitamin, e.g. Vitamin C in a relatively fast release form and a solid phase suspended in the liquid phase and containing a vitamin e.g. Vitamin C in a relatively slow release form.
US08097276B2
A method for coating an object, i.e. a particle, with two sheets of lipid film having a space formed there between. In the method for coating a particle having a positive electrostatic-charging property with two sheets of lipid film, the particle having a positive electrostatic-charging property is brought into contact with a plurality of SUV type liposomes having a negative electrostatic-charging property to form a complex having a negative electrostatic-charging property containing the particle having a positive electrostatic-charging property and the SUV type liposomes having a negative electrostatic-charging property coupled electrostatically with the particle having a positive electrostatic-charging property, and then the complex having a negative electrostatic-charging property is treated with cation.
US08097263B2
The present invention provides a silver based inorganic antibacterial agent excellent in heat resistance and chemical resistance, lowered in resin coloring and excellent in processability. The present invention has been completed by finding out that problems can be solved by a silver ion-containing zirconium phosphate represented by the following general formula (1) which is produced by a wet synthesis under specific production conditions. AgaNabHc(H3O)dZreHff(PO4)3.nH2O (1) wherein, in the formula (1), a, b, c, d, e and f are positive numbers satisfying 1.75<(e+f)<2.25 and a+b+c+d+4(e+f)=9; and n is not more than 2.
US08097252B2
Methods and compositions are described for targeting therapeutic and diagnostic molecules to particular types of cells using targeting antibodies or other targeting moeities.
US08097251B2
The present invention relates to functional heavy chain antibodies, functional single domain heavy chain antibodies, functional VH domains, or functional fragments thereof including an amino acid which is neither a charged amino acid nor a C at position 45, and including an amino acid at position 103 independently chosen from the group consisting of R, G, K, S, Q, L, and P, and optionally an amino acid at position 108 independently chosen from the group consisting of Q, L and R, the positions determined according to the Kabat numbering.
US08097240B2
Disclosed is the use of an aqueous dispersion comprising (a) a micronized sparingly soluble organic compound which has a UV-Vis spectrum with a maximum from 380 to 420 nm; and (b) an anionic dispersing agent for protecting the human skin from browning and skin aging.
US08097239B2
The present invention relates to formulations of a lipid based controlled-release matrix, a polyhydroxy component and a bioactive agent. Such formulation are useful in the delivery of the bioactive compounds. The invention also relates to the use of a polyhydroxy component for increasing the solubility of a bioactive compound, especially a peptide in a lipid-based controlled-release matrix.
US08097236B2
The invention relates to the treatment of cancer. In particular the invention relates to an internal therapeutic product comprising: (i) an anti-cancer component selected from one or both of: a radionucleotide, a cytotoxic drug; and (ii) a silicon component selected from one or more of: resorbable silicon, biocompatible silicon, bioactive silicon, porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and bulk crystalline silicon, the internal therapeutic product being for the treatment of cancer.
US08097232B2
A catalytic process for preparing chlorine from hydrogen chloride, which includes recycle of process streams with reduced accumulation of inert gases in the system is provided. The process includes a step wherein a compressed liquid stream comprising chlorine, carbon dioxide and oxygen is recycled into a column countercurrent to the ascending gas phase and feeding part of the chlorine-rich liquid phase leaving the bottom of the column back into the top of the column. Carbon dioxide present in the ascending gas stream is dissolved out of the gas stream and can later be separated from chlorine without problems by distillation.
US08097231B2
An activated carbon producing system includes a carbonizer for carbonizing cellulose triacetate as cellulose acylate to create carbonized material. A pulverizer pulverizes the carbonized material to obtain granules. An activation device activates the granules to create activated carbon. The activated carbon producing system includes a dispenser for supplying the cellulose triacetate at a plural number of times. A heating furnace is operated at each time after the dispenser operates, for thermally decomposing the cellulose triacetate from the dispenser, to obtain the carbonized material by carbonization. The pulverizer pulverizes the carbonized material in a size equal to or more than 2 mm and equal to or less than 20 mm. Temperature of the heating furnace is equal to or higher than 300 deg. C. and equal to or lower than 600 deg. C.
US08097212B2
A system for the detection of contaminates of a fluid in a conduit. The conduit is part of a fluid distribution system. A chemical or biological sensor array is connected to the conduit. The sensor array produces an acoustic signal burst in the fluid upon detection of contaminates in the fluid. A supervisory control system connected to the fluid and operatively connected to the fluid distribution system signals the fluid distribution system upon detection of contaminates in the fluid.
US08097200B2
A method for producing a stretched film comprising supplying a film composed of a thermoplastic resin along a direction D1 that is different from a taking-up direction D2 of a post-stretch film, and obliquely stretching the film while transferring the film with the edges thereof being gripped by gripping devices, to produce the stretched film having an orientation angle θ being within 45±5° with respect to the taking-up direction.
US08097182B2
The hydrocarbon refrigerant and detergent composition is a hydrocarbon-based composition, which may be used as a refrigerant for air conditioners, refrigerators or the like, and which may also be used as a detergent for cleaning precision components, such as semiconductor chips, motherboards or the like. The hydrocarbon composition includes about 5.0% ethane, about 60.0% propane, about 5.0% isobutene and about 30.0% butane by volume.
US08097178B2
A surface acoustic wave device configured by forming an oxide layer 2 on a piezoelectric substrate 1 composed of a lithium tantalate single crystal or a lithium niobate single crystal and having weak pyroelectric properties having a lower oxygen content than a stoichiometric composition ratio, and forming thereon an IDT electrode 3. There is no static destruction of a minute electrode due to the pyroelectric effect of the piezoelectric substrate having weak pyroelectric properties, and frequency characteristics are not degraded.
US08097177B2
Providing a piezoelectric vibrating reed which is capable of decreasing variation in the amount of etching residue as much as possible and suppressing influence of vibration loss on the vibration characteristics as much as possible. A piezoelectric vibrating reed 1 including: a piezoelectric plate 2 which includes a vibrating part 3 formed so as to extend along a central axis and a base portion 4 that supports a base end of the vibrating part; excitation electrodes 10 and 11 which are formed on an outer surface of the vibrating part and allow the vibrating part to vibrate when a voltage is applied thereto, wherein the base portion includes: a mounting portion 4a in which mount electrodes 12 and 13 are formed on an outer surface thereof; an intermediate portion 4b which is disposed continuously between the mounting portion and the vibrating part and in which an extraction electrode 14 connecting the excitation electrodes and the mount electrodes together is formed on an outer surface thereof, wherein the mounting portion has a greater horizontal width than the intermediate portion, and wherein a side surface of the mounting portion and a side surface of the intermediate portion are continuous to each other at a step portion between the mounting portion and the intermediate portion via a sloped surface 4c that is sloped relative to the central axis in a top view thereof.
US08097174B2
A microelectromechanical systems device having an electrical interconnect connected to at least one of an electrode and a movable layer within the device. At least a portion of the electrical interconnect is formed from the same material as a movable layer of the device. A thin film, particularly formed of molybdenum, is provided underneath the electrical interconnect. The movable layer preferably comprises aluminum.
US08097173B2
The invention provides porous particles that produce a predetermined optical response and that may be manipulated magnetically. A preferred particle of the invention has a porous structure that produces a predetermined optical response and magnetic material adhered to the particle. Another preferred particle is amphiphilic. The optical response provided by a particle of the invention enables particles of the invention to be used in sensing, labeling, signaling, display and many other applications. The magnetic nature of the present magnetic particles permits the particles themselves to be manipulated, e.g., vibrated, moved and re-oriented. The porous particles can also be used to control, move, and/or deliver small volumes of liquids and solids associated with the particles.
US08097171B2
A novel composite of glass fiber paper and reinforcing material that is useful for high speed manufacturing of devices comprising it is disclosed. The composite is formed by pressing into a glass fiber paper, having multimodal (at least bi-modal) composition, a hydrophilic reinforcing material. The composite has anisotropic separation properties that are particularly useful for preparing a fluid fraction from whole blood. The preferred glass fiber paper comprises glass fibers such that there are a plurality of short fibers (6) having large diameters and long fibers (2) with smaller diameters. The preferred glass fiber paper also exhibits partial ordering. There are many more of the long fibers (2) with smaller diameters than of the short fibers (6) having large diameters. Also disclosed are several blood separator device designs for efficiently separating the fluid fraction of blood from whole blood using the composite.
US08097170B2
A device for treating liquid medium has an ultrasound emitter located relative to a compartment of a container holding a liquid medium and a microbubble emitter located relative to the compartment. The ultrasound emitter emits high-frequency ultrasound between about 200 KHz and 10 MHz. The microbubble emitter emits bubbles with an average diameter of less than 1 mm.
US08097169B2
A method for filtering a chemical in which a first chemical stored in a first tank is filtered by a filter and a second chemical obtained by the filtering is stored in a second tank has: adding the capture amounts corresponding to the individual first chemicals first to n-th stored in the first tank, and getting an added capture amount; and comparing the added capture amount and a predetermined limit capture amount of the filter, and exchanging the filter based on the comparison result.
US08097162B2
A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.
US08097158B2
A filter cartridge and spool valve manifold assembly includes a filter cartridge and a spool valve manifold. The filter cartridge includes a filter element and inlet/outlet portion in fluid communication with the filter element. The inlet/outlet portion has a cartridge inlet port and a cartridge outlet port. The spool valve manifold includes a housing and a body. The housing has a housing inlet port and a housing outlet port adapted for fluid communication with a fluid supply system. The body is located within the housing and configured to rotate around a first axis relative to the housing. The inlet/outlet portion of the filter cartridge is fluidly coupled to the body via insertion of the inlet/outlet portion into the body in a direction perpendicular to the first axis.
US08097155B2
An above ground water clarifier is described. The clarifier includes a spray system for receiving water from an external system and disposing the water onto a filter tray rack. A first recovery chamber is positioned below the filter tray rack for receiving filtered water that is gravity fed through the filter tray rack. A second recovery chamber is positioned adjacent to and fluidly connected with the first recovery chamber. The first and second recovery chambers are formed to filter out solids and/or oils before passing the water to a sump chamber and/or the sewer. The sump chamber includes a plurality of tiered pumps for pumping the water back to the external system.
US08097152B2
An apparatus for removing oil from sea ice comprises modular crusher units which may be pivotally mounted on a barge or other vessel. A rotating, toothed drum crushes the ice against a grating and mixes it with warmed, recycled water to form an ice/water slurry which is conveyed by means of an auger to one or more melting units. The liquid phase output of the melting units is first conveyed to a surge tank and then to a separator unit which separates the oil from the water. The oil is conveyed to a storage tank for subsequent offloading and disposal and the water is returned in a recycle line to sprayers mounted in the crusher unit(s) for deicing the intake section of the crusher and mixing with the crushed sea ice to form an ice/water slurry for subsequent, on-board treatment. The modular design of the apparatus permits a plurality of units to be mounted on a vessel in a side-by-side array such that substantially the entire beam of the vessel at the stern (or bow) may be covered and used for ice intake.
US08097150B1
A wave energy conversion system includes a barge support frame having a frame superstructure and a plurality of frame support legs selectively extendable from the frame superstructure, a barge carried by the barge support frame and at least one wave energy conversion pump comprising a water transfer conduit carried by the barge support frame and having a filter port and an inner water transfer space disposed in fluid communication with the filter port, a pressure conduit mounted for displacement on the water transfer conduit and having an outer water transfer space disposed in fluid communication with the inner water transfer space and a buoyancy vessel carried by the pressure conduit. Also disclosed are a power generation pumping system and a river or stream fed system having tanks to contain and pressurize water to a force sufficient to drive turbine generators for electric power production and potable water use.
US08097147B2
A method of measuring a quantity of a substrate contained in sample liquid is provided. This method can reduce measurement errors caused by a biosensor. The biosensor includes at least a pair of electrodes on an insulating board and is inserted into a measuring device which includes a supporting section for supporting detachably the biosensor, plural connecting terminals to be coupled to the respective electrodes, and a driving power supply which applies a voltage to the respective electrodes via the connecting terminals. One of the electrodes of the biosensor is connected to the first and second connecting terminals of the measuring device only when the biosensor is inserted into the measuring device in a given direction, and has a structure such that the electrode becomes conductive between the first and second connecting terminals due to a voltage application by the driving power supply.
US08097141B2
According to some embodiments, a method for separating a first fraction of a single wall carbon nanotubes and a second fraction of single wall carbon nanotubes includes, but is not limited to: flowing a solution comprising the nanotubes into a dielectrophoresis chamber; applying a DC voltage, in combination with an AC voltage, to the dielectrophoresis chamber; and collecting a first eluent from the dielectrophoresis chamber, wherein the first eluent comprises the first fraction and is depleted of the second fraction, wherein the first and second fractions differ by at least one of conductivity, diameter, length, and combinations thereof.
US08097128B1
An efficient flash evaporation water purification system located at a hydrocarbon well site. An internal combustion engine uses hydrocarbon fuel from the well and drives a pump to pressurize production water from the well. The engine also generates thermal energy used to preheat the production water. An electrical generator is also driven by the engine to produce electrical power for the water purification system, as well as produce AC power for off-site consumers.
US08097124B2
Aqueous alkyl ketene dimer dispersions which comprise at least 15% by weight of an alkyl ketene dimer and at least one water-soluble cationic starch, aluminum sulfate and at least one condensate of naphthalenesulfonic acid and formaldehyde or lignin sulfonic acid or in each case salts thereof, the dispersions comprising, based in each case on alkyl ketene dimer, from 2 to 50% by weight of aluminum sulfate, and in which the dispersions additionally comprise from 0.1 to 5% by weight of a saturated carboxylic acid having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and/or a mineral acid at an aluminum sulfate content of from 2 to 15% by weight, and the use of the dispersions as engine size and surface size for paper and paper products.
US08097123B2
Fibrous support intended to be impregnated, the fibers of which are formed 100% of cellulose fibers, characterized in that it presents, before creping or embossing, a wet traction strength of over 2.4 N/15 mm in the cross-machine direction, a water absorption capacity of at least 300% and contains less than 2% dry wet strength 10 agent in comparison with the dry weight of the fibers.
US08097113B2
A process comprises constructing a sub-assembly including a rigid layer and a poly (vinyl acetal) interlayer in a vacuum bag or vacuum press; applying vacuum to the vacuum bag or vacuum press for a maximum of 30 to 60 minutes while maintaining the sub-assembly at a temperature between 10° C. and 22° C. to produce a cooled sub-assembly; increasing the temperature of the cooled sub-assembly to at least 100° C. or 125° C. over a minimum of 10 minutes or 20 minutes to produce a heated sub-assembly; maintaining the heated sub-assembly at minimum of 100° C. or 125° C. for a minimum of 10 minutes or 20 minutes to form a laminate; cooling the laminate at a rate of at least 0.5° C./minute until the laminate reaches a temperature below 40° C.; contemporaneously with the cooling, removing the vacuum from the vacuum bag, containing the laminate, and allowing the laminate to reach atmospheric pressure.
US08097105B2
Two methods of extending the lifetime of yttrium oxide as a plasma chamber material are provided. One method comprises making a three-layer component of a plasma processing chamber by co-sintering a dual-layer green body where one layer comprises ceramic particles and a second layer comprises yttria particles. The two layers are in intimate contact during the sintering process. In a preferred embodiment, the three layer component comprises an outer layer of yttria, an intermediate layer of YAG, and a second outer layer of alumina. Optionally, the disks are pressed together during the sintering process. The resulting three-layer component is very low in porosity. Preferably, the porosity of any of the outer layer of yttria, the intermediate layer of YAG, and the second outer layer of alumina, is less than 3%. The second method comprises sealing an yttria plasma spray coated component by applying a liquid anaerobic sealant with a room temperature viscosity of less than 50 cP to the component by brushing the sealant on all yttria surfaces of the component, wet cleaning the component, curing the wet cleaned component for over 2 hours at a temperature of at least 150° C. in an N2 environment; and, applying a second sealant coat to the cured substrate by repeating the procedure used to apply the first coat.
US08097104B2
The present invention creates a tape laying device as well as a method for the construction of a laminate by means of a tape laying device, in particular in the field of aviation and aerospace. The tape laying device comprises a laying arrangement for laying tape for the construction of a laminate and a stimulation arrangement by means of which the tape which has to be laid can be stimulated directly and evenly over the thickness thereof so as to be heated. The idea the present invention is based on consists in that instead of the stimulation at the surface of the tape which has to be laid which is known to the Applicant a direct and evenly stimulation of the tape which has to be laid takes place, that means, a stimulation which acts substantially direct and evenly over the thickness of the tape which has to be laid on the tapes components. The heating achieved by this is much faster than by means of convection according to the known approach. Therefore, the desired tackiness of the tape which has to be laid can be achieved at the desired high laying velocity.
US08097100B2
A physical vapor deposition target for the manufacturing of flat panel displays is provided. The target includes a ternary alloy system having, by atom percent, a first component in an amount of about 90 to 99.98, wherein the first component is aluminum, a second component in an amount of about 0.01 to 2.0, wherein the second component is a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Nd, Ce, Dy and Gd, and a third component in an amount of about 0.01 to 8.0, wherein the third element is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mo, Sc, and Hf.
US08097088B1
Methods for processing substrates in dual chamber processing systems comprising first and second process chambers that share resources may include performing a first internal chamber clean in each of the first process chamber and the second process chamber; and subsequently processing a substrate in one of the first process chamber or the second process chamber by: providing a substrate to one of the first process chamber or the second process chamber; providing a process gas to the first process chamber and the second process chamber; forming a plasma in only the one of the first process chamber or the second process chamber having the substrate contained therein; and providing an inert gas to the first process chamber and the second process chamber via one or more channels formed in a surface of respective substrate supports disposed in the first process chamber and the second process chamber while processing the substrate.
US08097080B2
A method of dividing single crystals, particularly of plates of parts thereof, is proposed, which can comprise: pre-adjusting the crystallographic cleavage plane (2′) relative to the cleavage device, setting a tensional intensity (K) by means of tensional fields (3′, 4′), determining an energy release rate G(α) in dependence from a possible deflection angle (α) from the cleavage plane (2′) upon crack propagation, controlling the tensional fields (3′, 4′) such that the crack further propagates in the single crystal, wherein G(0)≧2γe(0) and simultaneously at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: ∂ G ∂ α α = 0 ≤ 2 β e h if ∂ 2 G ∂ α 2 ≤ 0 or ( 2.1 ) ∂ G ∂ α ≤ 2 β e h ∀ α : α 1 < α < α 2 . ( 2.2 )
US08097071B2
Sintered fiber filters are provided that can afford high particle capture efficiency and/or low pressure drop during operation, and are useful in applications such as semiconductor processing. The shape of at least a portion of the individual fibers (e.g., metal fibers) used to make the filter have a three-dimensional aspect, which allows for a low packing density and high porosity filtration media. Certain filters have a cylindrical or tube-like shape with tapered ends of higher density. Methods of making such filters, for example, using axial pressing, are also described.
US08097065B2
A hearth furnace 10 for producing metallic iron material has a furnace housing 11 having a drying/preheat zone 12, a conversion zone 13, a fusion zone 14, and optionally a cooling zone 15, the conversion zone 13 is between the drying/preheat zone 12 and the fusion zone 14. A moving hearth 20 is positioned within the furnace housing 11. A hood or separation barrier 30 within at least a portion of the conversion zone 13, fusion zone 14 or both separates the fusion zone 14 into an upper region and a lower region with the lower region adjacent the hearth 20 and the upper region adjacent the lower region and spaced from the hearth 20. An injector introduces a gaseous reductant into the lower region adjacent the hearth 20. A combustion region may be formed above the hood or separation barrier.
US08097056B2
An air cleaner unit for an internal combustion engine includes a casing and a filter element disposed in the casing. The casing includes a first case member having a first opening and a first sealing surface on a periphery of the first opening and a second case member having a second opening and a second sealing surface on a periphery of the second opening. The first case member and the second case member are coupled such that the first and second openings are opposed in a substantially horizontal direction of a vehicle. The filter element has a peripheral portion that is interposed between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The first case member includes a side wall and a projection that projects from an inner surface of the side wall. The filter element is held in a substantially vertical position in the casing through the projection.
US08097050B2
A vacuum apparatus rotatable about an axis through a filter screen for continually removing contaminants, which utilizes an asymmetrical vacuum arm supported by a center hub, and large longitudinally extending asymmetrical vacuum orifices in portions of the arm on opposite sides of the hub, operable for removing large elements of debris, trash and the like from the screen. One of the arm portions cleans a radial outer region of the screen, and the other cleans an inner region, the arm portions being generally even in mass for balance. A knife disposed on the screen cleans and cooperates with a brush on the arm for breaking up larger elements of trash. The arm is also manually removable via a snap together vacuum seal joint, for service and cleaning.
US08097048B2
Disclosed is a PPS member having an excellent fastness to lights such as ultraviolet light, and of which color does not change even when the member is used outdoors, while retaining the characteristics of PPS. The polyphenylene sulfide member according to the present invention is characterized by having a light-fastness rating of Class 1 or higher, against light from an ultraviolet carbon arc lamp, which rating is measured in accordance with JIS L-0842.
US08097046B2
Disclosed herein is an aqueous dye composition for dyeing keratin fibers, for example, human keratin fibers such as the hair, comprising, in a suitable dyeing medium: (a) at least one oxidizing agent, (b) at least one water-insoluble oxygenated organic non-dyeing compound, present in an amount of at least 30% by weight relative to the total weight of the dye composition, and (c) at least one oxidation dye precursor and/or at least one direct dye. Also disclosed herein is a process for dyeing human keratin fibers, for example, the hair, comprising applying such a composition to the keratin fibers.
US08097043B2
A suspension liner sleeve providing an interface between a residual limb and a hard prosthetic socket includes a resilient seal element extending around its outer periphery to enhance a sealing effect between the sleeve and the interior of a prosthetic socket to isolate the distal end of the socket from atmosphere after the sleeve with a residual limb has been inserted within the socket and to thereby improve the retention of the liner sleeve and the residual limb in the prosthetic socket.
US08097038B2
Intervertebral disc prostheses are provided. More particularly, the invention provides disc prostheses that have adjustable disc heights, that are readily converted into fusion prostheses and that provide a range of motions that effectively mimic the natural range of motions of a spinal disc.
US08097037B2
Method and devices are provided for correction of spinal deformities. The methods and devices are particularly useful for correcting an abnormal curvature of the spine. In one exemplary embodiment, the methods and devices provide a spinal implant that can include a wedged-shape configuration. The wedged implant can be interposed between adjacent vertebrae that form part of an abnormal spinal curvature, thereby realigning the vertebrae and restoring the normal curvature to the spine.
US08097034B2
An at least in part frusto-conical threaded interbody spinal fusion implant having an expandable height.
US08097031B2
A warming device includes a clinical garment having an inside surface supporting one or more convective apparatuses disposed to warm a patient perioperatively. The warming device may include an upper body convective apparatus supported on the inside of the clinical garment between its sleeves. The construction of the upper body convective apparatus includes pulling elements that draw folded components of the apparatus from sleeves of the clinical garment when pulled. The warming device may include a multi-section convective apparatus disposed longitudinally in a lower portion of the clinical garment and having separately inflatable sections, each for enabling a particular mode of warming. The construction of the multi-section convective apparatus includes a therapeutic warming section with an inlet port positioned for convenient and safe access when the lower portion of the warming device is disposed to drape over the lower limbs of a person while the therapeutic warming section is being operated.
US08097030B2
An externally-applied heat exchange pad has three layers laminated together, an inner and outer non-conductive layer and a middle conductive layer. A leak in the inner layer causes coolant to contact the middle layer and change impedance, which can be sensed and used as an indication of an impending total leak of the pad.
US08097029B2
A stand-alone laser device that provides low level laser therapy using one or more laser sources. The laser sources are attached to one or more arms which can be positioned to cause the laser light to impinge on a desired area of a patient's body. A scanning apparatus is attached to the arms which comprise structures that cooperate to cause an optical element to be able to simultaneously rotate about a central axis and move in a linear motion along that axis to achieve any desired scan pattern. Laser light of different pulse widths, different beam shapes and different scan patterns can be applied externally to a patient's body. In the preferred embodiment, red light having a wavelength of about 635 nm is used to stimulate hair growth on a patient's scalp.
US08097026B2
A retraction device comprises at least one retracting blade and a pedicle screw. The retracting blade has a distal end having at least one projection with a passage for engaging a retention pin. The pedicle screw has a threaded body and a movable head. The movable head has at least one recess with a channel that can be aligned with the passage of the projection.
US08097015B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide a device that modifies the left atrial appendage (LAA) to reduce the likelihood of thrombus formation therein. The device includes a liner that reduces the volume of the LAA and remodels the interior geometry and surfaces of the LAA thereby minimizing the crenellations in the LAA that impede blood flow. According to some embodiments, the device further includes an anchor component. The anchor component helps to expand the liner upon deployment of the device in-vivo and further prevents dislodgement and migration of the device, by ensuring the device is properly seated and completely sealed against the walls and ostium of the LAA.
US08097013B2
Provided are skin incision instrument to efficiently incise minimal portions and a method for incising skin with the skin incision instrument. The skin incision instrument according to the present invention comprises a holder, a needle, a needle drive unit, two or more skin expander sets, and a reader, wherein the skin expander sets comprise a first skin expander and a second skin expander; the first skin expander and the second skin expander are capable of expanding skin at both sides of the linear incision portion away from the linear incision portion and expanding the linear incision portion in a direction to expand the linear incision portion; and, minimal portions are efficiently incised by selecting a single skin expander set from two or more of the skin expander set based on the direction of the linear incision portion, such that an angle is adjusted to 45 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less wherein the angle is formed by the direction of the linear incision portion read by the reader and the direction to expand the skin by the single skin expander set.
US08097010B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a treatment sheath for endoscopic blood vessel harvesting, comprising a sheath main unit which can be inserted into a body through a cut skin portion in order to harvest a blood vessel in the body, a channel which is formed along a longitudinal direction in the sheath main unit and through which an endoscope is inserted so as to be insertable/detachable, a blood vessel holding member which is disposed at the sheath main unit and which holds the blood vessel to be harvested; and a blood vessel cutting device which is disposed at the sheath main unit and is positioned substantially symmetrically with the blood vessel holding member with respect to the channel and which cuts the blood vessel to be harvested.
US08097002B2
An anoscope for inspection and/or surgery is provided. The anoscope includes a tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween, where the tubular body includes at least one elongated slot. The anoscope also includes an insert removably attached to the at least one elongated slot in the tubular body. The insert including an elongated slot having a smaller width than the at least one elongated slot in the tubular body.
US08096993B2
Improved instruments for modifying a shape of a proximal femur of a patient for installation of a stem of a femoral component of a prosthetic hip during hip replacement surgery, comprising a handle including an elongated shaft extending downward approximately in a z-direction, a first offset extending from a bottom of the elongated shaft approximately in a y-direction, a second offset extending from the second offset approximately in an x-direction, and a shaping member elongated downward from the second offset approximately in the z-direction. Provided is an improved femoral broach and an improved osteotome. Also provided is a method of improving a patient's positioning during hip replacement surgery by using a variable configuration mattress for positioning the patient.
US08096991B2
A medical device for fixing bone parts or for fixing stabilizing elements to bone parts. A rigid outer tube is provided with at least two opposed recesses on the side that is positioned in the bone. A second inner tube is accommodated in the rigid outer tube. The inner tube is provided with at least two strips extending in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube on the side that is positioned in the bone. The medical device is provided with a device for loading the inner tube in the axial direction, in such a manner that a pressure force is exerted on the strips, which pressure force causes the strips to bend outwards through the recesses.
US08096990B2
Devices and methods are described for ablation of cardiac tissue for treating cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. Devices may include a tissue contacting member for contacting epicardial tissue and securing the ablation device to the epicardial tissue and an ablation member for ablating the tissue. Suction apertures attach the contacting member to the epicardial surface with sufficient strength to stabilize the tissue with the device. The devices and methods can be used to ablate epicardial tissue in the vicinity of a pulmonary vein or to ablate cardiac tissues in other locations on a heart. A combined pacing and ablation probe is described for treating cardiac arrhythmia by: advancing the probe through an incision into the vicinity of the patient's heart, verifying at least one location of a cardiac parasympathetic ganglion, and applying ablation energy to the cardiac parasympathetic ganglion.
US08096981B2
A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly having a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent structure, a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region, longitudinally opposite ends, and laterally opposite side edges. A pair of hip panels releaseably secures the first and second waist regions together. One of the hip panels extends laterally outward from one of the side edges in one of the first and second waist regions and the other hip panel extends laterally outward from the opposite side edge in the one of the first and second waist regions. Each of the hip panels has an upper edge, a lower edge, a fixed and a free end. Each of the upper and lower edges has a length and is curved along at least a portion of its length. The curved portions of the upper and lower edges are substantially identical.
US08096974B2
A self-destroying disposable syringe includes a barrel which includes a hub disposed on the front end of the barrel, a flange is disposed on the inner wall of the hub; a needle base which connects to the hub of the barrel, and includes a connecting portion, a containing portion disposed on the outer side of the connecting portion, and a self-destroying ring disposed on the back end of the needle base and connected to the connecting portion through one or more ribs; when the needle base has connected to the barrel, the connecting portion and the self-destroying ring are located in the inside of the hub of the barrel, and the self-destroying ring matches the flange each other; a plunger which is movably inserted into the barrel and includes a bar body, a pushing stem connected to the back end of the bar body, a pushing dish connected to the front end of the bar body, a cone with one end fixed to the pushing disc, and a puncturing portion fixed to the other end of the cone; and a piston which is connected to the cone of the plunger, a cavity is provided within the piston; a sealed front wall is provided on the front end of the piston, an opening communicated with the cavity is provided on the back end of the piston.
US08096973B2
A medical needle shield apparatus is provided that includes a needle hub (104) having an outer needle cannula (103) extending therefrom. An inner needle (106) is disposed for slidable movement with the outer needle cannula (103). At least one shield (101) is extensible from a retracted position to an extended position to enclose a distal end of the inner needle (101). The shield (101) includes a binding member (105) disposed within the shield (101) and defines binding surfaces (122) that form an aperture (138) configured for slidable receipt of the inner needle (106). The binding member (105) includes a binding member reset surface (107) aligned with a reset surface (108) for engagement therewith to allow reuse of a shielded needle apparatus.
US08096971B2
Double chamber container for holding and combining, e.g., a lyophilizate and a liquid reconstitution medium, comprising an integral cylindrical body (15) with a closure (20, 60) at each of the two ends (5, 70), an upper movable closure (60) to the side of the reconstitution medium and a lower closure (20) to the side of the lyophilizate, a separating stopper (40) that can be moved in the cylindrical body (15) as a seal between the upper chamber (50) and the lower chamber (30), a bypass (35), arranged below the separating stopper (40), having a length L greater than the height H of the separating stopper (40), wherein at the lower end (5) in the wall of the cylindrical body (15) or in the lower stopper (20) there are provided means (21, 25, 28) that allow connection of the interior of the cylindrical body (15) to the environment during the lyophilization.
US08096967B2
This invention relates to cerebrospinal fluid shunts, and a method of treating shunt catheters, whereby the interior lumen of a shunt catheter, comprised of a biocompatible matrix, is seeded with cells for placement within cerebrospinal fluid pathways of the central nervous system. The seeded cells have at least one of the following characteristics: (1) they are of a polarized ependymal epithelial phenotype with tight junctional complexes and apical cilia directed toward the lumen of the catheter; (2) they maintain stem/progenitor characteristics and are capable of neurogenesis; (3) they maintain stem/progenitor characteristics and are capable of gliogenesis.
US08096964B1
A compression garment adapted for placement in a self-retaining configuration on a body part for imparting compression therapy on the body part. The compression garment includes a flexible wrap and a bladder held in use by the wrap for compressing the body part. The wrap includes and inner flap and an outer flap. The outer flap overlaps the inner flap when the garment is in a self-retaining configuration on the body part. A fastener secures the wrap in the self-retaining configuration. When the outer flap overlaps the inner flap, at least a portion of the inner flap is exposed forming a grip for grasping the inner flap when tightening and fastening the garment in the self-retaining configuration.
US08096960B2
A device that monitors a user's sleep cycles and operates to sound an alarm to awaken the user at an optimal point within a sleep cycle. Once an alarm time is set and the alarm is activated, the device begins to monitor a wearer's sleep cycles by identifying the points in time at which the wearer moves his or her body limbs. As the alarm time is approached, the device can trigger the alarm earlier if the wearer is at an optimal point in the sleep cycle or, even retard the triggering of the alarm if the optimal point in the sleep cycle is expected to occur shortly. The device can be used to assist children in waking up to prevent bed wetting, or in a patient for obtaining light therapy.
US08096959B2
A trans-septal guide catheter for providing access through the septum separating a first heart chamber from a second heart chamber that includes an elongated guide catheter body extending between guide catheter proximal and distal ends. A distal segment of the guide catheter is adapted to be inserted through the septum to locate the distal segment of the guide catheter within one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber. The catheter body encloses a guide catheter lumen adapted to provide access into the one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber through a guide catheter lumen proximal end opening and a guide catheter lumen distal end opening. A retention mechanism engages the septum and maintains the distal segment of the guide catheter extending into the one of the first heart chamber and the second heart chamber.
US08096956B2
A biopsy instrument comprises a cutting head having first and second co-operable jaws movable with respect to a support between open and closed states, and a jaw drive for moving one or both of the jaws into the closed state to take a biopsy sample in response to an actuating input from a user. The jaw drive is user-adjustable between first and second cutting modes differentiated by the response of the jaws to the actuating input. In the first cutting mode, both jaws may move equi-angularly with respect to the support between the open and closed states; in the second cutting mode, one jaw may remain stationary with respect to the support such that only the other jaw moves between the open and closed states.
US08096951B2
An ultrasound system comprises a probe including a two-dimensional (2D) array of transducer elements that form an aperture having a plurality of receive elements that are configured to receive ultrasound signals. The transducer elements form at least one transmit sub-aperture that is configured to be interconnected with a fixed group of the transducer elements within the aperture. Transmitters generate electrical transmit signals, and at least one transmit sub-aperture processor (tx SAP) maps the transducer elements within the fixed group of the transducer elements to the transmitters in a transmit configuration based on a beam steering direction.
US08096944B2
An air shield for a videoscope imager to prevent obscuring of the optical input by body liquids and tissue particles. The imager is extended through a tube carrying a pressurized gas so that when the gas escapes from the end of the tube, it generates an air stream envelope around the optical input of the imager and prevents liquids and particles directed toward the optical input from contacting the optical input. The pressurized gas flows continuously during the medical or dental procedure to maintain a constant resistance to liquids and matter directed to the optical input of the imager.
US08096938B2
An anal incontinence disease treatment apparatus and method include and use an operable restriction device implanted in a patient and engaging the colon or engaging the rectum to form a restricted fecal passageway in the colon or rectum. A source of energy for energizing the restriction device is provided, as well as a control device for releasing energy from the source of energy from outside the patient's body. The released energy is used in connection with the operation of the restriction device, i.e. to enlarge and contract the fecal passageway to allow or substantially prevent passage of fecal material through the passageway.
US08096936B2
A thermotherapy device with a reclining surface and with an inflatable hood for covering the reclining surface. The inflatable hood (1) is provided with a plurality of inflatable, tubular support elements (3) with plastic films (2) arranged between them, which tenter one or more surfaces between the support elements (3) in the inflated state.
US08096934B2
The present invention provides a system for treating carbon dioxide, and a method by which such treated carbon dioxide can be stored underground at low cost and with high efficiency. The present invention' method for storing carbon dioxide underground includes: a step for pumping up to the ground groundwater from a pumping well in a deep aquifer, and then producing injection water. Carbon dioxide that has been separated and recovered from exhaust gas from a plant facility is changed into the bubbles. The bubbles are mixed with the injection water, and hereby produces a gas-liquid mixture a step for injecting into. The deep aquifer is injected into the gas-liquid mixture from the injection well. The method preferably further includes a step for dissolving a cation-forming material in the injection water, and a step for injecting the injection water, in which the cation-forming material is dissolved, into the deep acquifer at its top and above the place at which injection water has already been injected.
US08096930B1
The invention is an exercise equipment apparatus. More specifically, the invention is for an exercise equipment apparatus that facilitates performance of variations of a boxer crunch stand. An exercise equipment apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a frame, a substantially rectangular pad coupled to the frame, a first pair of substantially cylindrical pads coupled to the frame, and a second pair of substantially cylindrical pads coupled to the frame, and situated between the rectangular pad and the first pair of cylindrical pads, wherein the cylindrical pads height level may be adjustable for users of various heights.
US08096921B2
An integrated parking brake and clutch control system for a vehicle is provided that includes a clutch perch configured for mounting on a handlebar assembly of a vehicle. A clutch lever is pivotably coupled to the clutch perch and is pivotable between rest and clutch-applied positions, and between the rest position and a parking-brake-applied position. A brake lever is pivotably coupled to the clutch perch and is pivotable between rest and depressed positions. A lock pin is supported by and moveable with the brake lever. The clutch lever defines a pin-receiving aperture and is configured to receive respective ends of a clutch cable and a parking brake cable. The lock pin is selectively insertable into the pin-receiving aperture when the clutch lever is in the parking-brake-applied position, which prevents the clutch lever from pivoting to either the rest position or the clutch-applied position.
US08096913B2
A locking differential assembly for use in a toy model vehicle. This is accomplished by mounting a locking clutch assembly on an output shaft of a differential gear carrier having an external face. The locking clutch assembly includes a slider member that may be configured to move along the output shaft to engage the external face to disable a differential action of the differential gear carrier.
US08096912B2
The object is to simplify the construction of a speed change apparatus in which an engine drive force is speed-changed in a plurality of speed ranges and speed-changed steplessly in each speed range, with using a stepless speed change device (10), planetary transmission mechanisms (P1, P2, P3) and clutches (C1, C2).There is provided a main speed change device (B) configured to combine an output from the stepless speed change device (10) and the drive force from the engine trough the first, second and third planetary transmission mechanisms (P1, P2, P3) and then output the resultant combined force from an output shaft (41). There is provided an auxiliary speed change device (20) for effecting speed change on the drive force from the output shaft (41) of the main speed change device (B) and then outputting the speed-changed force.
US08096908B2
A sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from a root portion of the sprocket body. The sprocket body has a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein a root portion side surface of the root portion defines a root portion plane at the first side surface of the sprocket body. A shift assist recess is formed in the root portion below a first sprocket tooth at the first side surface of the sprocket body, and a second sprocket tooth has a projecting portion that extends laterally outwardly from the root portion plane at the first side surface of the sprocket body.
US08096900B2
Mat for sport and games for detecting impact position of a movable object. The mat includes an outer layer and an inner layer, each with inlays of electrically conductive elements forming a pressure-sensitive switch distributed over the target area. The pressure sensitive switches communicate with electronic circuits for indicting, processing and presentation of electrical signals when the switches are activated by a ball impact.
US08096893B2
A golf club including a club head with a ball striking face lying in a plane and a shaft connected to the club head. The golf club is formed with an elongated handle, having a cross-sectional configuration with a first length in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said ball striking face and a second length in a direction parallel to the plane of said ball striking face. Alignment indicia in the form of intersecting lines is provided on a top surface of the handle to assist the golfer to properly align the golf club in order to execute a proper golf stroke toward an intended target.
US08096891B2
A redundant array pumping system and control system is provided for water rides for ensuring continuous and non-disruptive supply of water. The pumping system incorporates a redundant pump and filter array in conjunction with a nozzle system for injecting water onto a ride surface. The nozzle system may incorporate a plurality of redundant or quasi-redundant nozzles. The hydraulic system can include many levels of redundancy as applied to its various components, such as pumps, filters and nozzles. Additionally, the system can be equipped with a plurality of pressure and flow sensors for monitoring and controlling the performance of the pumps, filters and nozzles of the hydraulic system.
US08096881B2
Output data varying depending on a motion of an input device itself is obtained and stored into a memory. From the stored output data history, successive extremums of values indicated by the output data are detected. An interval between times when the output data indicating the successive extremums and an elapsed time from the detection of the extremum is measured. Thereafter, game input data is calculated by substituting into a predetermined function the measured elapsed time and the calculated time interval, and the game input data is used to execute a game process.
US08096877B2
The gaming system, gaming device and method provides a reel game that includes stacks of symbols configured on the reels to minimize the effects of blocking often associated with stacks of symbols. The gaming device includes a plurality of reels wherein each reel includes a reel-strip and a plurality of symbols. The plurality of reels can be configured to include at least one stack of symbols wherein a stack of symbols is formed by placing a plurality of a designated symbol adjacent to each other on a single reel. In one embodiment, the gaming device is configured such that each subsequent reel includes a quantity of stacked symbols that is greater than the quantity of stacked symbols on a previous reel. This configuration provides that winning symbol combinations including non-stacked symbols can be formed across adjacent reels even if each reel generated a stack of symbols.
US08096876B2
The present invention discloses a highly specialized gaming console. The gaming console comprises housing for supporting a field covering, a scoreboard, display means, holographic projecting camera, and user interface means. The software components of the present invention includes a means for initializing the game from an external media, selecting teams for playing the game, repetitively generating plays based upon the team statistics in conjunction with the offensive and defensive plays of the teams, and generating a holographic display of the generated play on the field. The game can be adapted to play baseball, football, and golf.
US08096874B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes at least one and preferably a plurality of progressive awards which are each associated with a supplemental fund or pool. If the gaming system determines that the progressive award is not growing at a designated incremental rate (due to a lack of wagers placed on gaming devices associated with the progressive award), the gaming system utilizes part or all of the amount in the supplemental fund to make up for this lack of wager based growth. Such a configuration provides that even if players are not actively playing gaming devices associated with the progressive award, the progressive award will still increment at a designated rate to at least a desirable value.
US08096872B2
In accordance with some embodiments, apparatus and methods are disclosed for providing electronic credits to a player of a gaming device. The electronic credits are provided in response to an occurrence of an event other than an outcome of a game play. Further, the electronic credits are provided without requiring the player to first provide payment therefore. In some, the number of electronic credits may be determined based on information associated with at least one of the player, the gaming device, and a casino associated with the gaming device. In some embodiments, the an offer for the electronic credits is output to the player at the gaming device and the electronic credits are added to a credit meter balance of the gaming device upon the player's acceptance of the offer. In some embodiments, the player is required to provide a payment for the electronic credits at a time subsequent to the time at which the electronic credits are provided to the player.
US08096869B2
A gaming machine arranged to display a matrix of symbol containing elements; each column of said matrix comprising a portion of a simulated rotatable reel of said symbol containing elements; and wherein each of said symbol containing elements of at least one consecutive run of said symbol containing elements of at least one said reel is caused to display an identical symbol.
US08096864B2
A gaming system comprises a primary wagering facility which is usable by a player to place an initial wager on a turn of a game of blackjack, and a secondary wagering facility which automatically places a side wager on the same turn of the game of blackjack. The side wager relates to an outcome which is a function of a number of different playing cards contained in the blackjack hand dealt to the player in turn of the game of blackjack. The side wager is paid at odds of at least 2 to 1 if the first dealt card in the player's hand is of a predetermined rank.
US08096851B2
A camisole panel is described comprised of a triangular shaped fabric material having a top portion with two top sides and a bottom portion with one bottom side centered underneath the top portion. The top sides of the panel each have a means to attach to the user's undergarment. The bottom side of the panel is tucked into the user's waistband.
US08096848B2
A collapsible toy airplane reconfigurable between storage and use configurations. At least one spar member forms first and second wings and is coupled to a fuselage. The main body member and the at least one spar are formed from spring steel with an arcuate cross section whereby they can be reconfigured from a straight, substantially rigid disposition to a coiled configuration. A sheath of flexible material envelops the at least one spar member. The at least one spar member can be pivotable from a use configuration forming the first and second wings to a collapsed configuration substantially in-line with the main body member. The wings can be formed from first and second spar members, each pivotally coupled to the main body portion and each adjustable from a use configuration disposed at a dihedral angle to a collapsed, in-line configuration.
US08096845B2
A foam product includes a foam core, at least one elastic buffer and a foam skin. The foam core defines an area on a surface thereof. The elastic buffer has a bottom surface bonded to the area of the surface of the foam core. The foam skin has a bottom surface bonded to a top surface of the elastic buffer and other areas of the surface of the foam core. The elastic buffer is made of foam materials and is elastic than the foam core. Additionally, the elastic buffer causes a bulge in the first foam skin.
US08096837B2
Systems and methods electrically connect a first electronic device or electrical component, having a external electrical connector, to a circuit board of a second electronic device. A low-cost, user-installable connection system isolates mechanical stresses imposed on the external electrical connector to within the user-installable connection system, thereby preventing the mechanical stresses from reaching the circuit board in the second electronic device. If the connection becomes faulty, only the low-cost, user-installable connection system must be replaced.
US08096835B2
An electrical connection part for electrically connecting first and second devices includes a casing having two arms oriented at 90° with respect to one another. This casing houses a pair of electrical connectors of which a first end is in the shape of a pin housed longitudinally in one of arms, while a second end is in the shape of a sleeve housed longitudinally in the other of the arms. These pins and sleeves may be electrically connected to matching sleeves carried by the first device, respectively to matching pins carried by the second device. The casing is formed by two independent parts including a body and a removable cover. The cover accommodates and/or locks the connectors. The arm which contains the pins is equipped with a shunt element that can connect the pins electrically in the absence of a connection at the sleeves of the first device.
US08096819B1
A protective cover and electric outlet arrangement includes an outlet body, the outlet body having a socket unit with insertion holes for receiving an electric plug, a non-specific design protective cover coupled to the outlet body and bendable to frictionally engage and expand open an access way to the insertion holes of the protective cover to socket unit and upon withdrawal of the electrical plug return of the non-specific design protective cover to an obstructive position to obstructively close access to the insertion holes of the socket unit, and the non-specific design protective cover being a safety structure adapted to selectively obscure the socket with a decorative design incorporating the receiving apertures of the socket that mate with each of the prongs of the electrical plug.
US08096802B2
A nanoimprint stamper can simultaneously conform to two types of anomaly in the shape of a transfer substrate, for example warpage and surface protrusions (including foreign objects) that differ greatly in the wavelength of variation. The nanoimprint stamper is capable of performing transfer with a smaller number of defects and in a uniform way. The nanoimprint stamper includes a light-transmitting rigid substrate, a light-transmitting resilient plate, a light-trarsmitting and flexible rigid stamper base, a light-transmitting stamper buffer layer, and a light-transmitting patterned stamp layer. The stamper buffer layer has a lower Young's modulus than the patterned stamp layer.
US08096801B2
A rotary press, with a rotor rotatingly drivable around a vertical axis, which features a die plate having die bores on a partial circle and upper and lower punches guided in guiding devices, radial cams for the upper and lower punches, at least two compression stations spaced apart in the circumferential direction and with an upper and a lower compression roller, a first filling device in the circumferential direction of a first compression station and a second filling device located behind the first compression station in the circumferential direction, wherein the rotor features an annular surface in a radial distance to the partial circle for the die bores and being concentric to the rotational axis of the rotor, wherein first deflecting means are provided between the second compression station and the first filling device that direct the ejected pressed articles towards the annular surface, second deflecting means are provided that direct the pressed articles from the annular surface towards off from the rotor, and third deflecting means behind the first compression station in the circumferential direction which direct the pressed articles ejected from the die bores towards off from the rotor, characterized in that the annular surface is disposed radially inside the partial circle and limited towards the partial circle by an annular stationary lock-out between the first and the second deflecting means.
US08096800B2
A fine-structure transfer apparatus includes a stamper, a stage on which to place a transfer element having a coating of resist, and a device for heating the resist coating to be vaporized or a device for supplying a vapor of the resist into a space between the stamper and the transfer element.
US08096796B2
A sealed compressor is provided with a spray lubricant that will provide lubricant at various bearing surfaces during initial start-up of the compressor. The lubricant will wear away quickly after initial run-in, but liquid lubricant will be provided by that time.
US08096793B2
A scroll compressor includes a scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap that extends from the base to define a portion of a compression chamber. The scroll member is made of a cast iron material comprising a microstructure having graphite nodules.
US08096791B2
A suction valve for a small hermetic compressor formed as a flexible vane having a fixed end portion, a bending median portion and a sealing end portion with the distance between the external edge portion of the vane and an internal edge portion of the vane.
US08096787B2
An axial piston fluid engine having single-acting cylinders incorporating swivel-joint attachment of the cylinders to rotary control valves wherein straight-line piston movement is established for the elimination of side forces on the pistons. The pistons and the control valves are operatively connected to a common wobble drive member and arranged in geometry of lever positions to coactively time the drive fluid into and out of the cylinders intermittently.
US08096784B2
A bi-directional continuous peristaltic micro-pump is described. The micro-pump comprises: a substrate, an actuating mechanism and a fluid channel. The actuating mechanism comprises: a first slanted membrane the thickness of which increases progressively from left to right, a first chamber formed between the first slanted membrane and the substrate; and a second slanted membrane, the thickness of which decreases progressively from left to right, the second slanted membrane being located to the first slanted membrane's right side and parallel to the first slanted membrane with a space between the two membranes, a second chamber formed between the second slanted membrane and the substrate. By inflating the first chamber and the second chamber, the first slanted membrane and the second slanted membrane generate a continuous sweeping motion to force the working fluid to flow.
US08096782B2
A multistage sealed pump is provided for use in an X-ray tube cooling system which is substantially more efficient than pumps of known construction and which provides substantially higher pumping pressure at lower motor current than conventionally. Cooling liquid can be transferred from stage to stage by interconnecting tubing external of the housing or within the housing, through a hollow motor shaft, or through the motor casing. In another embodiment, the multiple impellers can be directly mounted on a shaft extending from a single end of the motor.
US08096781B2
A machine hydraulic pump system including at least one hydraulic pump driven to pressurize hydraulic fluid. A drain port is in fluid communication with an interior lubricating cavity of the pump. A selectively activatable flow control member is in flow-controlling relation to the drain port. The selectively activatable flow control member is adapted to move from a fluid containment condition to a fluid withdrawal condition prior to activation of the pump to at least partially evacuate lubricating liquid from the interior of the pump in response to the temperature of the lubricating liquid dropping below a predefined lower limit.
US08096777B2
A mixed flow turbine or radial turbine suppresses a rapid increase in load applied on a leading edge of a blade, and can reduce incidence loss. The mixed flow turbine or radial turbine includes a hub, and a plurality of blades provided on an outer circumference surface of the hub at substantially equal intervals. The camber line of the blade section is convex-curved to the rotational direction side as seen entirely from a leading edge side toward trailing edge side. On a leading edge section of the blade, there is provided an inflected section that is inflected so that a camber line in a sectional surface along the outer circumference surface is concave-curved to the rotational direction side.
US08096775B2
A steam turbine rotating blade for a low pressure section of a steam turbine engine is disclosed. The steam turbine rotating blade includes an airfoil portion. A root section is attached to one end of the airfoil portion. A dovetail section projects from the root section, wherein the dovetail section includes a skewed axial entry dovetail. A tip section is attached to the airfoil portion at an end opposite from the root section. A cover is integrally formed as part of the tip section. The blade includes an exit annulus area of about 30.5 ft2 (2.83 m2) greater.
US08096774B2
The invention relates to a turbocharger (15) comprising a bearing housing (7) which mounts a rotor shaft (12) and has a bearing-housing oil space (13); comprising a compressor housing which is connected to the bearing housing (7) and has a compressor space (14); and comprising a sealing device (20) which is provided for sealing the bearing-housing oil space (13) relative to the compressor space (14) and which has a sealing ring (1) which is arranged in a fixed position in the bearing housing (7) and has two end faces (17, 17′) which interact with associated end faces (10) and (11) of a disc (9) and a sealing bush (16) which are fastened to the rotor shaft (12), wherein the sealing ring (1) is arranged with axial play on the rotor shaft (12) between the disc (9) and the sealing bush (16); and air-delivery devices (2, 3) oriented in opposition are arranged in the end faces (17, 17′) of the sealing ring (1).
US08096761B2
A method for operating a wind turbine. The method includes providing a wind turbine having at least one blade having adjustable pitch angle that is adjusted according to an operational parameter schedule. A blade efficiency parameter is determined in response to a wind speed and a rotor speed. A minimum pitch angle is determined in response to the blade efficiency parameter and the pitch angle of the at least one blade in response to the blade efficiency parameter is maintained to an angle equal to or greater than the minimum pitch angle independent of the operational parameter schedule. A wind turbine plant and a method for servicing a wind turbine are also disclosed.
US08096758B2
Protective insert plates (54, 56) installed on a working gas face (42) of a turbine vane platform (26) provide replaceable portions of a turbine shroud for improved maintenance. The plates act as tiles, and may be formed of ceramic materials for thermal protection. Two cages (58, 60) in the vane platform slidably receive the two insert plates (54, 56) from opposite circumferential sides (36, 38) of the platform. The plates slide into the cages up to the pressure and suction sides (32, 34) of the vane airfoil (22). The plates may have proximal edges (62, 64) shaped to fit the respective pressure and suction sides of the vane airfoil. A retainer plate 66 may be attached to a flange (72) on the cooled face (48) of each platform, and may contact each insert plate with a locking device (74, 76) to prevent sliding of the plate in the cage.
US08096757B2
A gas turbine engine nozzle is described. The gas turbine engine nozzle includes at least one nozzle vane having a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to an inner sidewall and the second end is coupled to an outer sidewall. The gas turbine engine nozzle also includes at least one stress relief pocket defined within at least one of the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall proximate to the at least one nozzle vane. The at least one stress relief pocket is configured to reduce stress on the proximate nozzle vane.
US08096753B2
A tip turbine engine (10) and a method of operating the engine provides increased efficiency while eliminating or educing the number of axial compressor (122) stages by moving the core airflow inlet (27) aft of the fan (24). As a result, the core airflow entering the core airflow inlet is the fan exhaust, which is already at an increased pressure. A portion of the fan exhaust is guided radially inward, then axially forward and then radially outward through compressor chambers (72) in the hollow fan blades (28) for further, centrifugal compression.
US08096751B2
A component for use in a turbine engine including a first member and a second member associated with the first member. The second member includes a plurality of connecting elements extending therefrom. The connecting elements include securing portions at ends thereof that are received in corresponding cavities formed in the first member to attach the second member to the first member. The connecting elements are constructed to space apart a first surface of the second member from a first surface of the first member such that at least one cooling passage is formed between adjacent connecting elements and the first surface of the second member and the first surface of the first member.
US08096746B2
A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine comprising a number of radial loading elements disposed between lugs of the vane ring and the vane support, such as to generate a radial load force against the vane ring. The radial load force prevents unwanted relative movement between the vane ring and the vane support during operation of the gas turbine engine.
US08096736B2
A machining unit, particularly for machining the surface of cylindrical cavities, has a tool-holder assembly, including an electric actuator for adjustment of the radial tool position. The control signals of the actuator are transmitted to said actuator by a stationary electronic control unit via a wireless communication system. Also provided on board the tool-holder assembly is a system for electrical supply of the actuator, constituted, for example, by one or more batteries or else by an electrical-generation microsystem that exploits a portion of the flow of the high-pressure lubricant-coolant that is fed into the machining area.
US08096733B2
An apparatus and method for the subterranean support of underground conduits is disclosed, including a pile driver that is configured to connect to an articulated boom of an excavator or another unit of positioning machinery to insert a section of curved sheet pile beneath a conduit. In one exemplary embodiment, the pile driver has a head portion and a body portion. The head portion of the pile driver is connected to the excavator and the body portion of the pile driver is moveable relative to both the head portion of the pile driver and the excavator to allow the pile driver to properly orient a section of curved sheet pile for insertion into subterranean material beneath an underground conduit.
US08096732B2
Methods and apparatus for foundation systems generally include a vertical support. a horizontal support configured to couple to the vertical support, and a composite material configured to couple to the horizontal support. The vertical support may be configured to resist fluctuation in soil elevation. The composite material may comprise a block material and a fibrous material.
US08096728B2
A connector apparatus includes first and second spaced apart generally coplanar walls and a support between the first and second walls. The first wall includes a first guiding surface and a first stopping surface extending at a first angle to the first guiding surface. The second wall includes a second guiding surface opposite at least a portion of the first guiding surface and generally facing towards the first guiding surface, a second stopping surface extending from the second guiding surface and away from the first guiding surface, and a third stopping surface extending at a second angle to the second stopping surface. The support has a fourth stopping surface, and the fourth stopping surface is disposed at third and fourth angles to the first and third stopping surfaces respectively.
US08096723B2
A squeegee with a swiveling squeegee handle and squeegee head with a detachable squeegee blade container with affixed squeegee blade and spraying device enclosed in the squeegee handle. The squeegee head has an elongated groove or notch on top of the squeegee head allowing squeegee blade in various size and shape to be fasten on to the squeegee head, and clamp like devices attach at the rear of the squeegee head to fasten a wiping material across the front surface of the squeegee head. The squeegee blade container and an enclosed squeegee blade, and wiping material are detachable from the squeegee head. The squeegee handle has an enclosed container for holding liquid and an attached sprayer/pump for dispensing the contained liquid, and threaded squeegee handle to allow extended poles to be attached to provide longer reach. The swivel joints allow extensions, squeegee handle and/or squeegee head, to swivel and locked to an angled position or swivel with specified degree of resistance.
US08096717B2
Provided herein is a feed drive device for a printer including: a feed roller that feeds a print medium in synchronization with drive of a print head; a motor constituting a driving source of the feed roller; a roller reduction gear train that transmits power from the motor to the feed roller; and a reverse rotation preventing mechanism that is incorporated in an input side of the roller reduction gear train and prevents reverse rotation of the feed roller; the reverse rotation preventing mechanism being operated by reverse rotational power of the feed roller reversely input to the roller reduction gear train to prevent reverse rotation of a first gear disposed in an input side of the roller reduction gear train.
US08096715B2
A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.
US08096713B1
A hand-propelled printer/scanner is disclosed for use in updating a project document, such as any diagram, schematic, floor plan, or other document. The project document is updated with revision drawings and/or notes printed by the hand-propelled printer/scanner directly on an existing project document. The hand-propelled printer/scanner is sized for single hand use and is moved about on the project document for printing the revisions and notes. A position module provides absolute position data so that the revisions and notes are printed at the correct locations on the existing document. Use of the hand-propelled printer/scanner allows project documents to be updated on the job site, as an example.
US08096712B2
A splicing method and splicing kit are suitable for creating a multimode mechanical splice. The splice may be used, for example, in Aircraft Battle Damage Repair operations. The splice utilizes two cylindrical inner crimp sleeves and an outer crimping assembly. The inner crimp sleeves are placed over prepared fiber cable ends, and the fiber core is cleaved. The cable ends are then inserted into an outer cannula of the outer crimping assembly. The cannula guides the inner crimp sleeves, and the cleaved fiber ends enter a glass ferrule in the cannula. The glass ferrule has a triangular bore containing an index matching gel. A window in the cannula and a magnifying viewer are provided to visually confirm the splice quality. The fibers may be cleaved by forming a circumferential score on the fiber.
US08096707B2
A thermal sensor is provided that includes a front-end component, an analog-to-digital converter and a digital backend. The front-end component including an array of current sources, a dynamic element matching (DEM) device, an analog chopper and two diodes to sense temperatures on the die. The front-end component to provide analog signals at two output nodes based on currents through the two diodes. The analog-to-digital converter to receive the analog signals from the front-end component and to provide an output signal. The digital backend to receive the output signal from the analog-to-digital converter and to provide a calculated temperature.
US08096704B2
Silicon Carbide (SiC) probe designs for extreme temperature and pressure sensing uses a single crystal SiC optical chip encased in a sintered SiC material probe. The SiC chip may be protected for high temperature only use or exposed for both temperature and pressure sensing. Hybrid signal processing techniques allow fault-tolerant extreme temperature sensing. Wavelength peak-to-peak (or null-to-null) collective spectrum spread measurement to detect wavelength peak/null shift measurement forms a coarse-fine temperature measurement using broadband spectrum monitoring. The SiC probe frontend acts as a stable emissivity Black-body radiator and monitoring the shift in radiation spectrum enables a pyrometer. This application combines all-SiC pyrometry with thick SiC etalon laser interferometry within a free-spectral range to form a coarse-fine temperature measurement sensor. RF notch filtering techniques improve the sensitivity of the temperature measurement where fine spectral shift or spectrum measurements are needed to deduce temperature.
US08096696B2
A display panel and a light source device used therein are provided. The display panel includes a light-guide thin-film circuit substrate, a light source and a polarizing layer. The light-guide thin-film circuit substrate has a light entrance end and a light exit top surface, and the light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance end. The polarizing layer is disposed on the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate and parallels the light exit top surface of the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate. The light produced by the light source enters the circuit substrate through the light entrance end, guided and transmitted through the circuit substrate, and then leaves the circuit substrate through the light exit top surface and enters the polarizing layer. The light after passing through the polarizing layer is turned into a polarized light having flat light source effect as a backlight source for the system. A polarizer may even be disposed between the light source and the light entrance end, so the light is turned into polarized light before entering the circuit substrate.
US08096685B2
An LED lamp assembly includes a lighting pole and an LED lamp mounted on the lighting pole. The lighting pole includes a holding cylinder, a plurality of light-guiding plates received in the holding cylinder and a light emitting member surrounded by the light-guiding plates. The holding cylinder defines a plurality of through holes in a circumference sidewall thereof. A sensor is connected to the LED lamp, whereby the LED lamp lightens only when an object moves approaching the LED lamp assembly. Each light-guiding plate is semitransparent. Light generated by the light emitting member partly transmits through a corresponding light-guiding plate and partly reflected thereby, whereby the lighting pole radiates an even light through the holes thereof. The lighting pole constantly radiates the even light during the operation of the LED lamp assembly.
US08096677B2
A high intensity LED based lighting array for use in an obstruction light with efficient uniform light output is disclosed. The high intensity LED based lighting array has a first concentric ring having a plurality of reflectors and light emitting diodes. The concentric ring has a planar surface mounting each of the plurality of reflectors in perpendicular relation to a respective one of the plurality of light emitting diodes. At least some of the first plurality of reflectors are adjustable relative to the position of the respective light emitting diode to produce a precise beam pattern from the light emitting diode.
US08096661B2
A projection-type image display apparatus including: a light source unit; an optical modulator including an incident surface and an output surface both being perpendicular to an optical axis of a light beam emitted from the light source, and configured to modulate a light beam emitted from the light source; a first polarizer provided to a surface of the optical modulator; and a second polarizer provided to another surface of the optical modulator. In the projection-type image display apparatus, the polarization direction of a light beam allowed to pass through the first polarizer and the polarization direction of a light beam allowed to pass through the second polarizer are substantially orthogonal to each other, and the light source unit emits a cross shaped light beam.
US08096655B2
A hyper-osmotic contact lens designed to compensate for an unhealthy edematous state for treating corneal edema.
US08096647B2
A solid ink stick facilitates verification of the position and orientation of a solid ink stick prior to an ink stick identification operation. The solid ink stick includes a solid ink stick body configured for insertion in a solid ink stick printer in a predetermined orientation, and a verification interlock in at least one surface of the solid ink stick body, the verification interlock and the at least one surface being located in the solid ink stick body to engage at least two displaceable members arranged in an insertion area of the solid ink printer to push one displaceable member away from the solid ink stick body and to enable the other displaceable member to move towards the solid ink stick body when the solid ink stick body is in the predetermined orientation in the insertion area.
US08096641B2
A flexible printed circuit board, included in a liquid discharge head, includes a film having a length in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of connection terminals arranged in a first area of the film adjacent to one side of the film in the longitudinal direction, a contact portion disposed in a second area of the film adjacent to the other side thereof in the longitudinal direction, the contact portion including a plurality of contact pads, and a plurality of wiring lines arranged in the film. The length of the second area of the film in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is more than two times the length of the first area thereof in that direction. The planar shape of the film is L-shaped.
US08096632B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head with a pressure chamber communicating with a nozzle opening and a pressure generator capable of causing a pressure fluctuation to liquid in the pressure chamber. The liquid ejecting head discharges liquid droplets by operating the pressure generator. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal including a drive pulse which includes a first expanding element that expands the pressure chamber, a first discharging element that contracts the pressure chamber expanded by the first expanding element in order to discharge a liquid droplet, a second expanding element that expands the pressure chamber, and a second contracting element that contracts the pressure chamber. The time from the beginning of the first discharging element to the end of the second contracting element is set to ½ to 1 of the natural vibration period of the liquid in the pressure chamber.
US08096631B2
An image-forming apparatus is provided which prevents irregularity of an image density and improves the life of heating elements. In a half of recording heads (a group of recording heads 22K2, 22K4, 22K6 not adjacent to each other), off time T2 is shortened at a timing of PWM renewal 1; in the other recording heads (22K1, 22K3, 22K5, another group of the recording heads not adjacent to each other) the off time T2 is not changed at the timing of PWM renewal 1 but is shortened at the timing of PWM renewal 2. As the result, in the region corresponding to the timing from PWM renewal 1 to PWM renewal 2, the amount of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the recording heads 22K2, 22K4, 22K6 is decreased to decrease slightly invisibly the image density formed by the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles 22K2, 22K4, 22K6.
US08096625B2
A project management desk having a transparent working surface supported by spaced apart legs and below which is disposed a sliding tray having a plurality of side by side document compartments, the contents of which are visible through the working surface.
US08096621B2
A seat assembly including a base and backrest having integrally formed coupler sockets that each receives respective portions of at least one coupler that preferably is an elongate angled coupling tube that joins the base and backrest while serving as a frame. The base and backrest have mating surfaces that abut when assembled to the at least one coupler with one mating surface having a tongue that is received in a groove formed in the other mating surface helping to keep the coupler seated in at least one of the sockets. In a preferred embodiment, each socket includes an elongate channel. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of coupling tubes are used with mounting portions exposed to which seating hardware is attachable. Integrally formed sockets can also be provided for attachment of other features that include armrests and/or hip restraints.
US08096616B2
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat cushion coupled between a pair of risers and a seat back pivotally coupled thereto. A pair of front cushion support links and a pair of rear cushion support links are coupled between the seat cushion and the risers for pivotally supporting and guiding the seat cushion. A fold flat mechanism includes a transfer link operatively coupled between the rear cushion support link and the seat back for transferring pivotal movement of the seat back through the transfer link to each of the front and rear seat cushion support links to automatically move the seat assembly between a seating position wherein the seat back is in an upright position and the seat cushion is spaced above the floor, and a stowed position wherein the seat back is pivoted to a fold flat position and the seat cushion is lying flat against the floor.
US08096615B2
A chair has a supporting frame, a seat portion, a back portion, and a recline mechanism. The mechanism moves the seat portion upon a reclining action of the back portion. The mechanism has a rear deformable member and a front deformable member operatively connecting the seat portion and the supporting frame. The recline mechanism also has a lower deformable member operatively connecting a lower part of the back portion and the supporting frame, and a puller member above the lower deformable member. The recline mechanism is configured such that as the back portion is reclined, the lower deformable member deforms and the puller member applies a rearward pulling action which causes the seat portion to move and the front and rear deformable members to deform.
US08096606B2
A sliding door in a vehicle includes a motor unit, a guide positioned rail along the sliding door, a slider that slides along the guide rail, a cable coupled to the motor unit, a hinge unit in which the outer thereof end is pivotally mounted to a body of the vehicle and the inner thereof is pivotally mounted to the slider, and a control lever pivotally mounted to the slider and coupled to the hinge unit. The cable is pulled by in the motor unit to turn the control lever, which turns the hinge unit and moves the sliding door from a closed position to a projecting position for opening.
US08096604B2
An energy absorber for use as impact protection in a motor vehicle, in particular in the region of the doors, is provided. The energy absorber can be formed as a plastics material component and comprises a plurality of ribs which together form polygonal hollow chambers. In manufacturing the energy absorber, a tool parting line of the manufacturing tool is defined such that the parting line defines at least two regions of the energy absorber displaying differing energy absorption characteristics. Upon impact, the energy absorber follows a force/distance curve which first rises linearly and then continues constantly.
US08096595B2
A bumper beam has a generally U shape with a central flange (12; 12′) and two webs (13, 14; 13′, 14′), which central flange in the longitudinal middle portion of the beam points outwards from a vehicle and has a longitudinal concavity (17; 17′), which deepens progressively towards the end portions of the beam in order to change to or connect to fastening plates (20, 21; 20′, 21′).
US08096591B2
A split ring restraint device having dual pipe size capability for securing the connection between adjacent pipes in water piping systems to prevent leakage or failure of the pipe connection. The restraint device comprises an interlocking, stepped joining interface that can be assembled in one orientation to fit a pipe having a first outside diameter and assembled in another orientation to fit a pipe having a second outside diameter. The restraint device can be used without modification on pipes having different outside diameters. The restraint device can be installed more rapidly than current state-of-the art split ring restraint devices.
US08096589B2
An attachment fitting and a method for connection to a tubular duct comprising at least one ply of armors, the armors having a free end respectively defining an outer surface, the attachment fitting comprising a bushing and a sleeve having an attachment part and a connection part with a reception portion, the sleeve being mounted on the duct by spreading the free ends of the armor perpendicularly to the reception portion, the armors comprising a widening device, the bushing being mounted about the connection part and forming an annular chamber for receiving a flow of a mass-curing material for encapsulating the free ends of the armors. The widening device connected to the free outer surface of the free ends of the armors.
US08096587B2
A vacuum brake booster includes a housing and a bent connecting element for connecting the vacuum brake booster to a vacuum source, wherein the connecting element includes a first connecting piece which extends through an opening in the brake booster housing into a vacuum chamber of the vacuum brake booster, a second connecting piece for connecting the connecting element to the vacuum source, and a multi-part housing with a first housing part which carries the first connecting piece and a second housing part which carries the second connecting piece arranged at a first angle to the first connecting piece. To simplify automatic assembly, the position of the second housing part to the first housing part in relation to a second angle is rigidly fixed, and the shape of the opening in the brake booster housing and the cross-sectional shape of the first connecting piece are matched to each other in such a way that a rotation of the first connecting piece in the opening of the brake booster housing is at least substantially prevented.
US08096585B2
This tubular joint includes a bell end (4) which is equipped with an internal groove (18) and in which is inserted a spigot end (6), a seal (8) and a locking element (12). The groove forms a groove wall (20). The spigot end (6) and the bell end (4) define a radial clearance (J). The locking element (12) includes a fixing tooth (36) and a contact face (28) for application against the wall (20) when the clearance (J) is within a first range of clearances. When the clearance is within a second range of clearances, the locking element (12) forms a rocking point (34) for rocking round the groove wall (20) and the fixing tooth (36) bites into the external surface (22) by a flying buttress effect of the locking element (12).
US08096577B2
The invention relates to an airbag cover hinge having a textile hinge that can be connected both to the airbag cover and to a carrier part surrounding the airbag cover, wherein the hinge comprises two different systems absorbing forces, which is to say one textile surface structure as a system that is combined to a second system with further warp threads, wherein the warp threads tear under a tensile load on the airbag cover hinge as a first force absorbing system.
US08096576B2
A housing fixing structure for fixing a hosing of an airbag control device to a supporting portion of a vehicle is provided. The airbag control device is provided with an impact detection device and configured to control an airbag based on information detected by the impact detection device. The housing includes a main body which accommodates the impact detection device and three fixing portions which are configured to be fixed to the supporting portion. The housing is provided with a contact portion which is configured to come into contact with the support portion. The contact portion is disposed within a triangular region which is defined by lines connecting center points of the fixing portions.
US08096575B2
A vehicle includes an instrument panel module including a receiving bracket. An airbag assembly includes an attachment bracket. The receiving bracket and attachment bracket have contact surfaces that provide a datum that guides the airbag assembly from an unsecured position toward a final installation position.
US08096562B2
The claimed invention relates to a pressure sealing means (20) for a cable transit (10). The pressure sealing means (20) comprises two wedge shaped pressure applying elements (21) placed vertically opposite each other with their acute sides facing towards each other and two wedge-shaped tensioning elements (22) placed horizontally with their acute sides facing each other. The pressure sealing means (20) further comprises at least one tensioning member (23) arranged between the two tensioning elements (22). The tensioning member (23) is at least one screw (24) secured in axial direction by a securing means (25) in the pressure applying elements (21) and provided with a right hand thread on one side of the securing means (25) and a left hand thread on the opposite side of the securing means (25).
US08096561B2
Ring-shaped flange gasket produced from a rubbery-elastic material, said flange gasket comprising two rings (2, 3), each having a ring-shaped reinforcing insert (9, 10), said rings being formed in a wedge-shaped manner transversely relative to the ring axis (4) and, at sides (5, 6) that face each other, adjoining one another at right angles to the ring axis (4) by means of planar surfaces and there being in engagement with one another so as to be rotatable, wherein along at least one circumferential section, the ring-shaped reinforcing insert (9, 10) has a wave profile (11) with an increasing wave height in a region of increasing wedge height.
US08096560B2
A high pressure seal assembly configured for sealing contact with an opposing surface. The seal assembly comprises an annular seal body with a sealing surface on one side of the seal body. An end of the sealing surface includes a sealing face for sealing contact with the opposing surface. The sealing surface also includes at least one support point that contacts the opposing surface when the seal is placed in sealing contact. Strategically positioning the support point on the sealing surface selectively adjusts the sealing contact stress between the sealing face and the opposing surface.
US08096556B2
A method of playing a card wagering game. Each player places an ante. A first number of cards is dealt face down to each player and a dealer to form a player hand and a dealer hand. Players view their cards and decide whether to continue play or surrender. Players that surrender shall fold and forfeit their ante wager. Remaining players place a call wager to continue play. A second number of cards is dealt face down to each remaining player and the dealer so that each player and the dealer now have a hand of the first and second number of cards. If any player does not have at least a four card straight, a four card flush or a four card straight-flush that player loses his ante wager. Each player that has at least a four card straight, a four card flush or a four card straight-flush now plays against the dealer's hand. A player is paid on the player's ante and call wagers in accordance with a pay-table when the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand.
US08096554B1
A game system including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. In an exemplary embodiment, the progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined result on a game unit, they receive an award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of a game with a rotating wheel.
US08096545B2
A sheet-feeding scanning apparatus having a business card feeding mechanism is provided. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, an ordinary document input tray, an ordinary document pick-up roller assembly, a transfer channel, a plurality of transfer rollers, an ejecting tray, an ejecting roller assembly, a business card input tray, and a business card pick-up roller assembly. The business card input tray includes a business card support plate, a spring, a separation slice and a position-limiting glide slot. The business card pick-up roller assembly includes a business card pick-up roller, a business card separation roller and a shaft rod. The shaft rod is sheathed by the business card separation roller. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus is adapted for scanning images of multiple ordinary documents or multiple business cards.
US08096536B2
One embodiment of the invention is directed toward an alignment device for soldering roughed-in pipes for plumbing applications that assists plumbers by acting as a third hand for the plumber. One portion of the device removably attaches to a plumbing wall-strap while another portion of the device holds one or more pipes perpendicularly in place, in order that a plumber may solder the pipes in place without the need for assistants or additional tools.
US08096535B2
An apparatus for holding martial arts boards includes a first grip including a curved section for grasping the first grip in varying positions and a slot for holding a first end of the martial arts board. The slot is perpendicular to and distal from the curved section where when the martial arts board is inserted in the slot the martial arts board is perpendicular to the curved section and in front of a user's hand grasping the curved section such that the user's hand is protected from striking blows to the martial arts board. The apparatus accommodates martial arts boards of varying thickness and grips the martial arts board in the slot.
US08096525B2
An improved needle-free intravenous injection port assembly is disclosed. Embodiments include a boot valve with a helical surface, a boot valve and septum which mate with mechanical interference, a spike with a rough outer surface coated with a lubricant, a septum having a shoulder and a single continuous swabbable surface, a septum and a boot valve which are pre-punctured, a septum with a frustroconical extension and a combination single piece septum and boot valve. The injection port assembly provides zero fluid displacement during coupling and uncoupling.
US08096524B2
A wafer-style valve assembly adapted to be coupled between opposing pipeline components having a common centerline secured together by a plurality of longitudinal fasteners includes a substantially cylindrical valve body, a seat retaining plate, and at least one clip. The valve body has a peripheral edge portion and an axial end surface. The seat retaining plate is disposed on the axial end surface. The at least one clip is also disposed on the axial end surface and extends radially outward of the peripheral edge portion. The clip has a radially inward portion and a radially outward portion. The radially inward portion secures the seat retaining plate to the to valve body. The radially outward portion has an edge defining a first recess and a second recess. The first and second recesses are each adapted to accommodate a longitudinal fastener to locate the valve assembly relative to the centerline of the pipeline.
US08096505B2
A deceleration device for a movable component in an aircraft, the device having a deformation component, wherein the deformation component includes a deformation tool, a deformation body with a deformable region, and a guide device. The deformation tool and the deformation body can be made to engage each other in such a manner by means of the guide device that in the case of movement of the deformation body and of the deformation tool relative to each other the deformable region of the deformation body can be deformed by the deformation tool.
US08096503B2
A structuring construction for an aircraft fuselage is provided having an outer skin as well as a plurality of formers extending at a spacing side by side crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the fuselage wherein at least a partial number of the formers include a main former portion which is channel-like in cross section and the channel edges of which are adjacent to the outer skin and wherein the channel space of the main former portion serves to accommodate at least one supply air line which may be formed, for example, by a separate pipe line.
US08096499B2
A device for feeding combustion air to an engine disposed in an interior of an aircraft is comprised of a primary air inlet duct extending between an exterior surface of the aircraft and the engine, wherein the air inlet duct extends from air inlets disposed in a first region of the exterior surface; at least two further air inlet ducts extending between a second and third region of the exterior surface and the engine, so as to provide a three-way combustion air supply; and a control device configured to switch the air supply to the engine from either or both of the at least two further air inlets duct when a blockage occurs in the primary air inlet.
US08096496B2
A drip pan apparatus for a “M” model BLACK HAWK® helicopter and the like includes an expanded corner structure for accommodating an access port also positioned further outwardly in the corner than in prior drip pan apparatuses, facilitating filter viewing while retaining peripheral o-ring seal. An expanded corner of the airframe skirt is accommodated by the expanded corresponding corner of a frame, which also defines a small radius internal curve. The removable pan has a small radius curve cooperating with the small radius curve of the frame and is sealed thereto by the peripheral o-ring seal sealing the entire pan to the frame. Physical access to the filter is enhanced.
US08096483B2
A nozzle for a viscous liquid dispensing apparatus has a nozzle tip with a generally conical outer surface that tapers toward a dispensing orifice and forms an annular discharge air passage substantially parallel to the conical outer surface. Pressurized fluid is directed over the conical outer surface toward the dispensing orifice and thus, prevents viscous liquid dispensed from the dispensing orifice from being pulled back toward the nozzle tip and accumulating on the conical outer surface of the nozzle tip.
US08096482B2
In at least one embodiment, a system for controlling a vehicle climate control system in response to starting an engine with a remote start operation is provided. The system includes a first sensor for generating a cabin temperature signal indicative of a temperature within the vehicle. The system further includes a controller for controlling idle speed of the engine in response to the cabin temperature signal such that the controlled idle speed enables the climate control system to achieve a desired temperature.
US08096454B2
A vehicle article carrier system adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system includes a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar has end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar.
US08096448B2
An elastic substantially tubular package for a semi-liquid or pasty extractable by a finger pressure product comprises a skirt, a head and optionally a cap. The skirt is formed from a wound foil and is provided with a longitudinal weld seam formed by the overlapping of the edges thereof, and the head is fixed to the circumference of the skirt end and forms an oval cross-section at the level of the skirt fixing area. The end of the longitudinal weld seam contacting the head is located in or near an area where the radius of curvature of the oval cross-section is minimal.
US08096447B2
A wind-up device for use with a dispenser including: a body, a gripper inserted into the body, and a brake disposed between the body and the gripper for controlling the direction of rotation of the gripper relative to the body; the brake further comprises a plurality of fingers for engaging a plurality of notches on one of the body or the gripper; wherein rotation of the gripper relative to the body causes the fingers to engage and disengage with the notches at spaced-apart intervals.
US08096432B2
A draft gear assembly for cushioning both buff and draft dynamic impact forces being applied to a center sill member of a railway vehicle includes a housing member closed at one end and open at an opposed end, the housing member having a rear portion adjacent the closed end and a front portion adjacent the open end. At least one compressible elastomeric spring is positioned within the rear portion and has a rear end thereof abutting at least a portion of an inner surface of the closed end. A friction clutch mechanism is also provided in abutting engagement with each of the front end of the compressible elastomeric spring and the coupler shank. The housing member may be provided with a pair of ledge portions disposed intermediate its ends and attachment members disposed on the open end for attaching the housing member directly to the coupler shank.
US08096422B2
Disclosed is a separator-concentrator, such as for separating and concentrating platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) from whole blood that is suitable for office use or emergency use for trauma victims. The PRP separator comprises a motorized centrifugal separation assembly and a concentrator assembly. The centrifugal separation assembly comprises a centrifugal drum separator and a motor having a drive axis connected to the centrifugal drum separator. The concentrator assembly comprises a water-removal module for preparing PRP concentrate.
US08096418B2
A system for providing a shipping label and a packing list on a container is provided which enables rapid and automated sequential application of a packing list and a shipping label to the container. The shipping label is configured complemental to the packing list whereby the packing list may first be adhered directly to the container and then the shipping label may be placed thereover. The shipping label may be applied over the packing list while the container moves continuously down a conveyor. The invention further includes an apparatus for sequentially applying the packing list and then the shipping label, and a method for applying the packing list and shipping label in registry.
US08096416B2
A flower support for long-stemmed flowers comprises an elongated support part as well as series of hook means in which the flower stems can be hooked, which series of hook means at both sides of the support part extend away from each other in an obliquely oriented fashion. The series of hook means are positioned obliquely with respect to each other. The oblique position of the series of hook means brings that a cavity is formed in which the stems of the hooked in flowers are well protected.
US08096415B2
A system for providing an expiration month on cosmetic containers that store perishable make-up media including a container, a control, and a handle portion formed on the control. The handle portion has a greater outer diameter than an outer diameter of an exterior surface of the control wherein the greater outer diameter prevents the handle portion from entering the container, and a plurality of date-months formed on the exterior surface of the control in a sequential order in a first circumferential direction. The handle portion rotates the control in a second circumferential direction that is opposite the first circumferential direction thereby changing the date-months until the desired expiration date-month is visible in the aperture.
US08096407B1
A natural frequency conveyor includes a tray, base, drive system, spring assembly and drive controller for delivery of articles. The drive system includes pairs of identical first and second electromagnets having the respective pole pieces. Preferably the pole pieces of the respective second electromagnets are mounted to the tray, and the pole pieces of the others to the base, so that the second electromagnets so as to the tray are movable in the direction of action of the drive system when energized by a three-phase electricity to be efficient in operation of the conveyor. The spring assembly includes sets of flat springs, which are mounted to the respective tray and base to thereby force the tray to move back when the drive system is not energized. This results in an oscillating movement of the tray according to the natural frequency of the assembly.
US08096398B2
A method of efficiently transferring and storing funds in a cash handling device is presented. In some arrangements, funds will be deposited into the cash handling device and transferred directly to an overflow cassette for storage and transport, rather than being transferred to a traditional storage unit, such as a recycle unit. Prior to transferring the funds, a determination may be made as to the level in the recycle unit. If the level is above a predetermined threshold, the level in the overflow cassette will be evaluated to determine if that level is below a predetermined threshold. If so, the funds will be directly transferred from deposit to the overflow cassette thereby minimizing the processing, movement, etc. of the deposited bills to reduce risk of jams, malfunction, service issues, etc.
US08096397B2
A method and a system for determining the remuneration for the return of identifiable empty packaging to a receiving point, wherein the empty packaging (7; 8) is identified with respect to at least one selected characteristic thereof, for example, dimension, type of packaging, type of material, recyclability, and deposit value, if any. The remuneration for individual types of empty packaging is related to at least two of a plurality of legal entities (10-15) which, for the return of empty packaging, are remuneration-providing and connectable to a remuneration coordinator (9) in communication with the receiving point in the form of a reverse vending machine (1), and to the remuneration level of the connected legal entities that is applicable at any given time for a particular type or particular types of empty packaging.
US08096394B2
A clutch brake for use in association with a braking mechanism for braking rotation of a shaft connecting an engine to a transmission. The clutch brake includes first and second clutch brake sections having first and second lock plates. The first and second clutch brake sections are selectively configurable in a disconnected configuration and a connected configuration. The clutch brake further comprises a fastening mechanism on the first and second lock plates for fastening the first and second clutch brake sections in the connected configuration. The fastening mechanism includes a first fastening component on the first lock plate and a second fastening component on the second lock plate. The first fastening component further includes a fastener body movably mounted in an opening in the first lock plate, and a fastening arm extending from the fastener body. The fastener body is movable from a fastening position, to a release position.
US08096391B2
A cycle with a wheel-supporting structure comprising a crown section and a pair of forklegs, a brake assembly with lever arms mounted at least partially within cavity openings within each fork leg to reduce aerodynamic drag.
US08096389B2
The present application discloses a cable connector for use in attaching an input cable to an actuator in a vehicle braking system.
US08096384B2
An anchor for securing a safety line to a container having an opening defined by an upstanding rim comprises a bar which is longer than the opening is wide. A pair of hooks are connected to the anchor bar by hook mounts. The hooks open downward toward ends of the anchor bar such that the rim of the access opening may be secured between each hook and an associated end of the anchor bar. A mounting tab is connected to an end of each hook below a hook bend. A safety line connector may be connected to either tab through a hole formed therein. The mounting tabs project outward to permit connection of a safety line thereto even when the access opening is covered. A third mounting tab, to which a safety line connector may be connected, is pivotally secured around the anchor bar.
US08096383B2
A vent having a reduced cross-section or taper permits the fabrication of very small hearing instruments while providing the necessary openings for the receiver tube and the vent in the tip of the instrument. The reduced cross-section provides sufficient clearance for the full cross-section of the receiver tube, without sacrificing the performance of the vent. The modified vent may be created in a CAD environment using Boolean modeling operations.
US08096376B2
A hybrid vehicle includes a fuel tank holding fuel for an engine, a pump discharging the fuel in the fuel tank, a pipe for returning the fuel discharged by the pump to the fuel tank and a control device (hybrid control unit). The control device starts the pump to circulate the fuel (FL) when the stop period of the pump is at least a predetermined period.
US08096373B2
A rotary drill bit or other drilling tool for drilling or reaming through subterranean formation and comprising a body comprising a distal end and gage areas near a proximal end thereof and comprising longitudinally upward extensions of a plurality of blades or legs. A longitudinally trailing, radially inwardly extending surface is associated with at least some gage pads or legs at the longitudinally trailing ends thereof. Protective structures in the form of superabrasive elements comprising a plurality of thermally stable polycrystalline diamonds, or so-called “TSPs” (thermally stable products) are secured to a trailing surface of at least one gage pad. PDC elements may be employed in combination with the TSPs. Non-diamond structures may also be employed, in lieu of or in conjunction with diamond structures, particularly if drilling of ferrous metal casing components is contemplated.
US08096370B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing nozzle jet columns underground comprising a bore and nozzle rod arrangement (1) for producing a borehole and a nozzle jet column in the region of the borehole, and a measuring device (14) for measuring the nozzle jet column, in particular the diameter of the nozzle jet column, the measuring device (14) being at least partially integrated into the bore and nozzle rod arrangement (1) so that it is possible to measure the nozzle jet column using the mechanical measuring device (14) without the bore and nozzle rod arrangement (1) having previously been withdrawn from the borehole.
US08096365B2
A hydraulic control system for controlling an external device (4) at a well installation includes a control module (2) for generating electrical and/or optical control signals. A control pod (8) receives the control signals, the control pod controlling the external device. A hydraulic line (10) links the control pod to the external device (4) for controlling it.
US08096351B2
A device and system for controlling fluid flow into a wellbore tubular may include a flow path in a production control device and at least one in-flow control element along the flow path. A media in the in-flow control element adjusts a cross-sectional flow area of the flow path by interacting with water. The media may be an inorganic solid, a water swellable polymer, or ion exchange resin beads. A method for controlling a fluid flow into a wellbore tubular may include conveying the fluid via a flow path from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore; and adjusting a cross-sectional flow area of at least a portion of the flow path using a media that interacts with water. The method may include calibrating the media to permit a predetermined amount of flow across the media after interacts with water.
US08096345B2
A method and apparatus are provided for producing an amorphous ribbon by ejecting and rapidly solidifying molten alloy on a circumferential surface of a rapidly rotating cooling roll, wherein the cooling roll is polished online during amorphous ribbon production. When the circumferential surface of the cooling roll after peeling off the ribbon is polished using a polishing member, the circumferential surface of the cooling roll is polished continuously or intermittently across its lateral direction while differentiating the polishing mode in accordance with the surface properties.
US08096343B2
In precision casting of metallic components with very thin passage ducts, in particular turbine blades, by the lost-wax process, the ceramic core pins provided for forming the passage ducts are covered and stabilized via a low-melting reinforcing coat prior to injection of the wax material required for forming the wax pattern for the production of the ceramic casting mold, with the low-melting reinforcing coat being melted out together with the wax material after the casting mold has been formed on. The ceramic core pins are therefore not damaged during the production of the wax pattern, enabling very thin passage ducts to be formed in the precision casting process.
US08096333B2
An assembly includes a support and drive assembly, a first structure and a second structure. The first structure is in operable communication with and supported by the support and drive assembly. The first structure includes at least one needle assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of needle assemblies. The second structure is supported by the support and drive assembly. The second structure includes at least one seal assembly and is adjustable to receive a plurality of seal assemblies. A method includes determining a number of vials that are to be filled concurrently and adjusting an assembly to include at least one needle assembly and at least one seal assembly. A number of the needle assemblies and the seal assemblies equals the number of vials.
US08096331B2
A machine for filling containers, comprising dispensing heads, in which each dispensing head comprises at least two ports, which are connected to respective ducts for feeding different liquids, and is provided with elements for controlling the flow of the ducts which are controlled by automatic control elements which act as a function of the quantity of the individual portions of the different liquids that are meant to be introduced in a container, and are adapted to produce a sequential opening of only one of the ports, so as to fill each container by preset portions of the liquids which access sequentially the container.
US08096320B2
A pressure regulator includes a body member for regulating pressure of a fluid flowing therein. The body member has one end for receiving the fluid and another end for providing pressure regulated fluid. The pressure regulator has two quick-disconnect devices, each arranged on a respective end of the body member, including a male quick-disconnect device for coupling to a corresponding female quick-disconnect device forming part of a hose or dispenser for providing the fluid or a pump for receiving the pressure regulated fluid; or a female quick-disconnect device for coupling to a corresponding male quick-disconnect device forming part of a hose or dispenser for providing the fluid or a pump for receiving the pressure regulated fluid.
US08096319B2
Check valve includes a housing, a bore, and a movable valve body, which is spring-loaded and rests with a sealing action on a valve seat, where the bore is designed as a stepped bore, where the bore with the smaller diameter has the valve seat, and where the bore with the larger diameter holds the movable valve element. The valve body is designed as a ball, which is guided in the bore by at least two guide ribs, and a retaining element in the terminal area of the bore captures the ball and simultaneously spring-loads it.
US08096315B2
A double-walled contained shear valve comprises of an inner housing forming a fuel flow path, and a containment housing surrounding the inner housing, either partially or wholly, to provide a secondary containment. An interstitial space is formed between the inner housing and the containment housing as a result, and may be placed under a vacuum or pressure level to monitor for leaks. A vacuum actuator coupled to the interstitial space automatically opens and closes the fuel flow path of the shear valve in response to the vacuum level in the interstitial space to prevent leaks to the environment. The shear valve may contain a flange for connection to internal fuel dispenser piping that either does or does not includes interstitial space orifices to couple the shear valve interstitial space to the fuel dispenser piping interstitial space to monitor the vacuum or pressure level in these interstitial spaces as one contiguous space.
US08096309B2
An improved dental flossing tool having a handle portion to mount a spool of dental floss that is easily drawn from an elongated flexible tip covered by a soft resilient sleeve sealing the tip and to provide smooth flossing without any annoying clicking sounds against ones teeth and easily reaching the molar teeth in the back of ones mouth while massaging the gum line at the same time.
US08096305B1
A nail clipper and light combination assembly includes a clipper that has a first arm with a first end and a second end and a second arm with a first end and a second end. The first ends of the first and second arms are attached together. The clipper includes a pair of blades and each of the second ends has one of the blades attached thereto. The blades extend toward each other. The second ends are biased away from each other. A lever is mechanically coupled to the first and second arms. The lever has a free end that is movable toward the first and second arms to urge the blades together in a cutting motion. A light emitter is attached to the clipper to emit light toward the second ends from above the first arm when the light emitter is turned on.
US08096289B2
Separation of an air compression supply port from exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in internal combustion engines. In one aspect, an air intake connector includes an entry port for an EGR gas, and an air intake elbow is connected to the air intake connector, the elbow receiving air. The elbow includes a first passage for routing a first portion of the air to the air intake connector to be mixed with the EGR gas, and a second passage for routing a second portion of the air to the air intake connector and out an exit port to an air compressor. The second passage is attached to the elbow and extends through a bend in the elbow.
US08096283B2
Methods and systems are provided for improving fluid usage while addressing knock by adjusting the use of spark retard and direct injection of a fluid based on engine operating conditions and the composition of the injected fluid. One or more engine parameters, such as EGR, VCT, boost, throttle position, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients.
US08096262B2
This document describes a process and a device for applying fluids, specifically particle material, on an area to be coated, which is viewed in forward moving direction of the coater, that fluid is applied on the area to be coated and then a leveling element is run over the applied fluid, whereby the fluid is led from a metering system provided with an opening, which oscillates when applying the fluid. The opening shall be designed in such a way that when the metering system is at a standstill this is closed by forming an angle of repose of the fluid.
US08096255B2
The device comprises a plurality of deflector members (1) having a submerged lower face (2), called first face, generally fitting into the extension of the hull bottom (FC) of the ship, toward the rear thereof, while forming an angle (α) in relation to a general plane (Δ) tangent to this bottom (FC), characterized by the fact that these deflector members (1) are articulated to the hull and are juxtaposed side by side, over all, or practically all, the width of the stern, control means (4) making it possible to cause it to pivot in one direction or the other in order to vary said angle (α), these means being housed in part in a protective case.
US08096234B2
The present subject matter provides methods and apparatus for packaging wood mulch. Examples include a wood mulch bale produced using a method comprising compressing wood mulch at a pressure of between 12,000 pounds and 60,000 pounds to form a volume of compressed wood mulch and disposing a band about the compressed volume of wood mulch, wherein the compressed volume of wood mulch is between about 3000 cubic inches and about 5400 cubic inches. Other variations are provided herein.
US08096232B1
A food cutting and manipulating apparatus includes having an aperture extending therethrough. A gear housing is mounted on the table and includes first and second driving axles. A plurality of pairs of food manipulating members is provided. Each of the manipulating members includes a shaft, releasably engageable with the first and second driving axles, attached to an elongated base. The plurality of pairs of food manipulating members includes a plurality of pairs of cutting members. Each of the cutting members includes at least one cutting plate that is attached to the base. The at least one cutting plate extends over the aperture when the shaft is attached to the one of the first and second driving axles. Food is positionable between the food manipulating members and the motor turned on so that the food manipulating members engage the food as the food moves downwardly through the aperture.
US08096228B1
A bent axis hydromodule that has a yoke that is rotatable about trunnions and rotating kits having rotating kit shafts that are in fluid communication with the yoke. Servo piston porting is integrated within the yoke and positioned about the trunnion such that servo pistons are in fluid communication with the servo piston porting and operable to rotate the yoke about a trunnion axis.
US08096226B1
An assault vehicle, comprising, in combination a vehicle body and a boom. The boom comprises a plurality of telescoping tubes being coupled to the vehicle body. The vehicle boom has a passageway there in. At the upwardmost end of the boom is located the fighting pod. The fighting pod has a boom elevator aperture there through to allow passage of a soldier from the vehicle, through the boom, and into the fighting pod. An elevator within the boom moves supplies and troops.
US08096223B1
A multi-layer composite armor component that includes a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects including a first layer that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects, wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the first layer are held in place relative to one another in a closely-packed configuration; and a first layer of bonding material, wherein the first layer of bonding material has a first durometer value, and wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects are held in place relative to one another via the first layer of bonding material. A method that includes providing a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects; arranging the first plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects such that each of the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects are held in place relative to one another in a closely-packed configuration; and embedding the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in a first layer of bonding material.
US08096217B2
A base for a paper punch includes an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and first and second bifurcated supports, fixedly secured with the upper and lower jaws. The base has first and second legs. A rear end of the upper jaw is fixedly joined with a rear end of the lower jaw. Each bifurcated support has upper and lower forks spaced apart from each other at a front end and fixedly joined with each other at a rear end. The forks are fixedly secured with respective lateral sides of the respective jaws. First ends of the legs are fixedly secured to either or both of the upper jaw and lower jaw, with a second end of the first leg fixedly secured to the rear end of the first bifurcated support. The second end of the second leg is fixedly secured to the rear end of the second bifurcated support.
US08096216B2
A chain-type flexible cutting edge, particularly for bush-cutter is described, comprising at least one linear connecting and cutting link (3) and at least one toothed connecting and cutting link (5) mutually connected in an articulated manner in order to have a smooth cutting-start edge (TL) and a toothed cutting-start edge (TD).
US08096215B2
In a method for cutting freeform surfaces, a workpiece is cut by a cutting tool such that a desired freeform surface may be achieved, the cutting tool for cutting purposes being moved along at least one defined cutting path relative to the workpiece. A cutting tool is used, the tool head of which has a greater radius than a tool shank of the cutting tool.
US08096214B2
A ratcheting assembly for a tool comprising a housing, a gear supported by a hollow shaft located in the housing and a pawl to engage the gear. A ring in contact with the housing allows adjustment of the ratcheting assembly. The assembly can the releasably lock the tool within the ratcheting assembly by way of a locking mechanism located within the shaft. The assembly further has a compressible collar that will be used to release the tool from the ratcheting assembly.
US08096205B2
A gear comprised of a tooth surface and a hard carbon film formed on at least a part of the tooth surface. When the gear is used in lubricant including a specific component, a friction of a tooth surface of the gear is largely decreased, and therefore the gear performs an excellent power transmission efficiency. Further, when the gear is employed in a planetary gear mechanism or speed reducing mechanism which has a plurality of meshing portions of gears, the power transmission efficiency of the mechanism is also improved.
US08096204B2
A gear includes a metal core and a synthetic resin tooth body. The metal core includes a cylindrical portion, and a disc portion that extends inwardly in a radial direction from one end of the cylindrical portion. The synthetic resin tooth body is coupled to the cylindrical portion of the metal core. A plurality of rotation prevention grooves is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion, and a plurality of rotation prevention grooves is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion.
US08096200B2
In a tractor which detachably mounts a PTO portion on a transmission portion, a PTO clutch mechanism is arranged in the inside of the PTO portion. Accordingly, a specification which includes the PTO clutch mechanism or a specification which includes no PTO clutch mechanism is selectable depending on whether the PTO clutch mechanism is preliminarily assembled in the PTO portion or not, in a stage at which the PTO portion is assembled. It is also later possible to easily complete assembly by merely mounting the PTO portion on the transmission portion. Further, by reversing the assembly steps, it is possible to easily perform maintenance of the PTO clutch mechanism or other related components.
US08096197B2
An air displacement liquid delivery system including a liquid delivery device, one or more sensors, a control unit, and a preprogrammable computing device, and a method for using the air displacement liquid delivery system. The one or more sensors are capable of obtaining information regarding conditions within and external to the liquid delivery device and sending this information to the control unit and/or the computing device. In turn, the control unit and/or computing device are capable of using this information to calculate one or more properties of gas contained within, and the air external to, the liquid delivery device, and one or more properties of a liquid that is to be aspirated or dispensed by the liquid delivery device. The system may optimally control the performance of the liquid delivery device based upon any one or more of these calculated properties.
US08096189B2
A physical quantity sensor includes two substrates and a movable electrode that is disposed between the two substrates and is bonded to the two substrates. In the physical quantity sensor, the movable electrode has an elastically deformable diaphragm and one of the two substrates is an electrode substrate having a detection electrode on a detection surface opposite to the diaphragm to detect capacitance between the diaphragm and the detection electrode. In the physical quantity sensor, in a range between a room temperature and a bonding temperature when the two substrates and the movable electrode are bonded, coefficients of thermal expansion of the two substrates are smaller than that of the movable electrode and in a temperature range where the physical quantity sensor is used, a coefficient of thermal expansion of the movable electrode is between a first and second substrates.
US08096183B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining the height of objects disposed on a conveying device, in which an ultrasonic sensor positioned in a specific relationship to the conveying device repetitively transmits ultrasonic pulses directed toward the conveying device and any objects disposed thereon to be detected, wherein the ultrasonic pulses are then reflected from a surface of the conveying device or from surfaces of the objects to be detected and are detected by the ultrasonic sensor, wherein from the moments of transmission and moments of detection of the ultrasonic pulses, delay times of the ultrasonic pulses are determined and the height of an object surface relative to the surface of the conveying device is determined from the delay times of the ultrasonic pulses reflected from a surface of an object. The method is characterized in that the delay time of the ultrasonic pulses reflected from the surface of the conveying device is stored as a reference value, that when there is an increase in the measured delay time from a lower to a higher value, the higher value is stored and used as a new reference value, that when there is a decrease in the measured delay time from a higher to a lower value, the lower value is interpreted as the delay time value of ultrasonic pulses reflected from an object surface, and that the height of the object surface relative to the surface of the conveying device is determined from a difference between the most recently stored reference value and a delay time value relevant to an object surface. The invention also relates to an ultrasonic sensor.
US08096179B2
A device (110) includes a sensing element (26) having drive nodes (34, 36) and sense nodes (42, 44). Parasitic capacitance (22) is present between drive node (34) and sense node (42). Likewise, parasitic capacitance (24) is present between drive node (36) and sense node (44). When a drive signal (56) is applied between drive nodes (34, 36), a parasitic current (70) between drive and sense nodes (34, 42) and a parasitic current (72) between drive and sense nodes (36,44) is created due to the parasitic capacitances (22, 24). A capacitive network (112) is coupled between the drive node (36) and the sense node (42) to create a correction current (134) through capacitive network (112) that cancels parasitic current (70). Likewise, a capacitive network (114) is coupled between the drive node (34) and the sense node (44) to create a correction current (138) through capacitive network (112) that cancels parasitic current (72).
US08096177B2
An ultrasonic-based apparatus and method for fuel inventory measurements and for the detection and characterization of materials in a fuel tank, including sludge, water, microorganisms and materials of different viscosities and densities that are present in the tank, presented in an easy-to-interpret picture display that can be remotely located from the tank.
US08096170B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the cylinder internal pressure of internal combustion engines and, in particular, of gas engines, said apparatus having a first valve (5) which opens into the cylinder interior space, a measurement chamber (6) which can be connected to the cylinder interior space (1a) and can be disconnected from the latter by means of the first valve (5), and a pressure sensor (8) which is arranged in the region of the measurement chamber (6) in order to measure the pressure in the cylinder interior space when the first valve (5) is open. Permanent operation without thermal overload is enabled in such a way that at least one second valve (13) is provided in the region of the measurement chamber (6), said second valve being able to be changed to a closed position at least when the first valve (5) is open in order to seal off the measurement chamber (6) towards the outside.
US08096165B2
A spectrophone assembly comprises a single detector chamber, a plurality of lasers, a gas inlet for supplying a gas sample to the single detector chamber, and at least one microphone. The detector chamber has an internal geometry arranged to be simultaneously acoustically resonant at a plurality of different resonant frequencies. Each laser operates at a different wavelength and is positioned to emit radiation into the single detector chamber, and is operable to emit radiation that is amplitude modulated at a frequency rate corresponding to a particular resonant frequency different from the resonant frequency of each other laser, simultaneously with each other laser. The microphone(s) are positioned in the single detector chamber so that each microphone is located at or near a maximum of a corresponding acoustic resonance defined by the internal geometry of the detector chamber.
US08096164B2
A method is provided for invoking condition monitoring and predicting parametric equipment and lube condition among a plurality of machines; relying on individual or multiple machine and or lube combinations; comprising establishing a based routine accepting information from multiple sources to simultaneously calculate and compare measured and projected conditions relative to parameters selected to be critical; including multiple condition monitoring techniques like: lube analysis, vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound and equipment lube monitoring techniques whereas parameters monitored are variables and a specific parametric value represents condition or a group of variables together represents a condition; said variables are not to be confused with attribute data indicating pass/fail without identifying a specific parametric value. The process outputs the specific parameter and days to exceed specified condemning limit for each combination of equipment and lube selected.
US08096163B2
The invention relates to a method for verifying the calibration status of an optical tracking system (1), wherein: a calibration apparatus (20, 40), which comprises a tracking marker configuration (27, 28; 41, 42), is moved to within the detection range of the tracking system (1); the tracking markers (27, 28; 41, 42) of the calibration apparatus (20, 40) are detected by the tracking system; the arrangement of the tracking markers (27, 28; 41, 42) is changed and/or moved into a state such that the tracking system (1) experiences a detection problem; the arrangement of the tracking markers (27, 28; 41, 42) which causes the detection problem is gauged and/or a range of arrangements for the tracking markers (27, 28; 41, 42) which causes the detection problem is gauged; and the tracking system (1) is determined to have a calibration error when the gauged arrangement and/or range of arrangements does not have a predetermined value or is not within a predetermined range of values. It also relates to a device for verifying the calibration status of an optical tracking system (1).
US08096156B2
Apparatus and method for forming (e.g. die necking) open ends of open-ended metal container bodies. An exemplary embodiment provides a number of movable holders for container bodies that move the container bodies along a path extending through the apparatus. A motor advances the holders and container bodies along the path in steps with pauses between each step. Each step advances one or more container bodies (and preferably two or more). One or more groups of work stations positioned adjacent to the path provides tool sets for carrying out a forming operation on one (and preferably two or more) container bodies simultaneously. Individual container bodies, or more preferably groups of two or more, are subjected to one or more forming operations during passage along the path (preferably the periphery of one or more star wheels).
US08096155B2
A lock cylinder is provided and includes an outer cylinder having a bore, an inner cylinder rotatably disposed within the bore, and a pin assembly disposed within the inner and outer cylinders. The pin assembly is operable to selectively lock the inner cylinder relative to the outer cylinder. The pin assembly includes an upper shear cylinder positionable relative to the outer cylinder and a lower shear cylinder positionable relative to the inner cylinder. The upper and lower shear cylinders are movable to define a first shear line therebetween. In addition, the pin assembly includes an upper pin slidable within the upper shear cylinder and a lower pin slidable within the lower shear cylinder, whereby the upper and lower pins define a second shear line therebetween. The lock cylinder is positionable from a locked position to an unlocked position when the first shear line is aligned with the second shear line.
US08096152B2
A lock system for a tool box is disclosed wherein locking is achieved with a lock which is located in a recessed portion along the front wall of the tool box in order to prevent tampering. A latch rod is slidably disposed adjacent a front wall of the box. The lock and the latch rod are disposed such that the lock body blocks the longitudinal movement of a lock engager and maintains the latch rod in the latched position when the lid of the tool box is in the closed position and the lock is locked. When the lock is unlocked, the lock engager is allowed to move past the lock to move the latch rod to the unlatched position thereby allowing the lid of the tool box to be opened. The lock system may be used for a horizontal or a vertical tool box.
US08096150B2
By providing two separate and independent locking system formed in a single padlock construction which is employed for securely holding and locking zipper pull tabs, an effective, easily produced, padlock is achieved which is responsive to both a combination controlled locking system and a key controlled locking system for independently enabling the zipper pull tabs to be released and/or lockingly engaged in response to the activation of either locking system. In the present invention, an easily assembled, compact, highly efficient dual mode, zipper pull locking system is achieved by employing a pair of spring biased locking latch members which are constructed for being inserted in the apertures formed in each of the conventional zipper pulls/tabs employed on luggage, briefcases, and the like.
US08096148B2
A method for fabricating a glass substrate containing SiO2 as a main ingredient thereof and having a uniform and minute pattern of stripes formed on the surface thereof by ultraprecision polishing includes a step of inspecting whether or not, at the topmost surface portion of the glass substrate after polishing, a given property of a bound energy of the Si atom with respect to the electrons occupying a 2P orbit as determined by XPS is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the given property is a shift amount of the bound energy or a half-value width of the bound energy distribution, the predetermined value is 0.10 eV or 2.15 eV, respectively.
US08096141B2
A control method regulates an electronic expansion valve of a chiller to maintain the refrigerant leaving a DX evaporator at a desired or target superheat that is minimally above saturation. The expansion valve is controlled to convey a desired mass flow rate, wherein valve adjustments are based on the actual mass flow rate times a ratio of a desired saturation pressure to the suction pressure of the chiller. The suction temperature helps determine the desired saturation pressure. A temperature-related variable is asymmetrically filtered to provide the expansion valve with appropriate responsiveness depending on whether the chiller is operating in a superheated range, a saturation range, or in a desired range between the two.
US08096139B2
A refrigerant system (10, 100, 200) is provided with a power control system (30, 130, 230). The power control system adjusts the speed of the motors driving the refrigerant system components such as a compressor, a fan or a pump via a variable speed device (75, 175, 275) or bypasses the variable speed device (75, 175, 275) for normal operating speeds. A single power control system may be provided for the entire refrigerant system or each component may be independently controlled.
US08096127B2
An exhaust turbo-supercharger is capable of preventing misalignment of the center of the rotating shaft of a supercharger turbine and the center of the rotating shaft of a supercharger compressor, or, misalignment of the center of the rotating shaft of the supercharger turbine, the center of the rotating shaft of the supercharger compressor, and the center of the rotating shaft of a power generator, due to the heat of exhaust gas; is capable of reducing vibration of these rotation axes; and is capable of improving the reliability of the entire supercharger. The exhaust turbo-supercharger has a casing that supports a turbine unit and a compressor unit.The lower end of the casing constitutes a leg portion, and the leg portion is fixed to a base placed on the floor. A power generator having a rotating shaft is connected to a rotating shaft of the turbine unit and the compressor unit.
US08096125B2
Methods and systems are provided for operating a turbocharged engine including a particulate filter positioned upstream of a turbocharger turbine, a catalyst positioned downstream of the turbine, and an EGR passage coupled between an engine exhaust and engine intake. In one example, the method comprises, diverting exhaust gas from downstream of the filter to the engine intake via the EGR passage, and adjusting an amount of diverted exhaust gas based on filter operating conditions.
US08096118B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for generating power. The system includes a sealed chamber, a displacer located inside the chamber, a magnetic mechanism to actuate the displacer, and a linear alternator. The chamber includes a first side, a first top surface, and a first bottom surface, the first side located adjacent to a heat source and the second side adjacent to a heat sink. The displacer includes a pivot surface, a rocker, or a slide, and may include a regenerator.
US08096117B2
Systems and methods for operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for the compression and/or expansion of gas can include at least one pressure vessel defining an interior region for retaining at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a first mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved to compress and move gas out of the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a second mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved by an expanding gas entering the pressure vessel. The system can further include a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat to or from the at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas retained by the pressure vessel.
US08096101B2
A harvesting header having a flexible cutterbar assembly utilizes draper belts behind the cutterbar assembly to gently consolidate the severed crop materials and deliver them to a point of discharge and delivery, such as to the feederhouse of a combine harvester. The cutterbar assembly is supported by pivotable support arms such that it is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced. One embodiment has draper assemblies and a central conveyor fixed relative to the flexible cutterbar assembly, while another has the draper assemblies and central conveyer flexible with the cutterbar assembly.
US08096099B2
A torque head assembly and method of capping effective to cap a variety of trigger spray cap bases or common caps to a spray bottle or container includes a drive roller mounted on a drive gear. The drive gear is in meshed gear communication with a plurality of train gears enclosed within a generally C-shaped driver housing wherein the a distal train gear engages a driven gear upon which a driven roller is mounted. An actuator allows the driver housing of torque head assembly to approach a variety of trigger spray cap bases or common caps within a plane generally horizontal thereto and at least partially co-planar therewith so as to capture the same between the dive roller and the driven roller and to thread mount the same onto the spray bottle or container.
US08096095B2
A reverse molded fiberboard panel; a wainscot kit comprising a plurality of differently sized reverse molded panels, and a planar finishing or spacer panel, adapted to completely cover any size wall between a wall base board and a wall chair rail; and a method of reverse molding a loose cellulosic mat, in a single pressing step, to provide one or more relatively high density, raised panels without requiring preliminary pressing, or other pre-shaping step, such as scalping. The reverse-molded panels are molded in a conventional, multi-opening fiberboard press, in a single pressing step process, while achieving excellent transfer of mold detail (embossing fidelity) without visually noticeable fiber fracture.
US08096093B1
An easily-installed groutless wall tile plank backsplash system includes plural lower tile planks positioned edgewise spaced from each other in a horizontal direction of a wall in a lower plane. Plural upper tile planks have a decorative surface and edge finish, optionally three-dimensional, and are positioned edgewise spaced apart from each other in a second, upper plane. The lower and upper planks are configured such that facing inner edges of two nearest neighbor adjacent lower planks in the lower plane are covered by a single upper plank positioned over the inner edges of the adjacent lower planks in the upper plane. The planks are secured by an adhesive without mechanical fasteners, substantially reducing installation time. In order to custom fit a wall space, the spacing between adjacent upper planks and adjacent lower planks is variable. For emphasis, a lower tile plank can be a large decorative mural tile plank.
US08096075B2
A muzzleloading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and the barrel has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel. The breech plug including a seal element closely received by the bore. The seal element may be a set of piston rings that are received in a circumferential groove about a forward end of the plug, or may be a cup at the forward end, with a forward rim that flares under pressure to provide a gas seal.
US08096064B2
A method for drying lumber in a short time with less use of energy. The method of drying lumber includes: enclosing lumber in a batch container having a pressure release valve; filling fluid into the batch container under pressure; maintaining a temperature and a pressure at or above a critical point of the fluid for a certain period of time; and then opening the pressure release valve of the batch container to reduce the internal pressure to atmospheric pressure.
US08096044B2
An apparatus for setting side glass in a convertible vehicle body, prior to assembly of a convertible top on the vehicle body, includes a fixture adapted to engage multiple convertible top locating points on the vehicle's header and rear deck-lid shelf. Sensors mounted on the fixture detect the position of the raised side glass relative to the locating points and provide relative position information to an assembly operator, for example, through use of LED arrays, whereby the assembly operator can quickly set the side glass to a target position with which to achieve a desired side glass engagement with the convertible top, upon subsequent assembly of the convertible top to the vehicle body.
US08096043B2
A method of assembling a pump motor and preloading bearings of the motor including providing a housing, an end bell, first and second bearings each having a plurality of rolling elements disposed between an inner race and an outer race, a rotor assembly having a shaft, and a spring, securing the outer races to the housing and end bell, respectively, assembling the spring on the shaft, inserting the rotor assembly into the housing such that the spring bears against the inner race of the first bearing and the rotor assembly, attaching the end bell to the housing, and securing the inner race of each of the first and second bearings to the shaft.
US08096038B2
An end effector for use on a robotic arm includes a clamping assembly for clamping a workpiece, and a tool such as a drill for performing an operation on the clamped workpiece. The clamping assembly is slidably mounted on the robotic arm and self adjusts its position relative to the workpiece before a clamping operation is performed. Linear actuators independently control the movements of the clamping members. The actuators are operated by a controller, based in part on position information produced by sensors that sense the position of the clamping members.
US08096035B2
A thermal barrier liner is provided to maintain a beverage within a container at a desired temperature. The thermal barrier liner is installed so as to make intimate contact with the internal surface of the container. According to a method of the invention, the liner is pre-made and mechanically inserted in the container prior to securing the top of the container to the sidewall. A closed cell structure is incorporated in the thermal barrier material. The closed cell structure causes the thermal barrier material to be gas permeable such that voids in the closed cell structure equilibrate with ambient pressure conditions. The voids change size based on changes in ambient pressure conditions as compared to pressure conditions in the thermal barrier material.
US08096034B2
Mechanically interlocking releasable fastener systems include a reinforced shape memory polymer for forming one of the interlocking components. The reinforced shape memory polymer includes a filler material in the form of a fiber and/or platelet. The filler can include an electrically conductive filler, a thermally conductive filler, a dielectric fillers, and mixtures thereof. Also disclosed herein are processes for using the releasable fastener systems.
US08096033B2
A method for remanufacturing an electronic assembly allows the assembly to be disassembled, tested and reassembled despite certain components being permanently affixed to a housing of the assembly. The electronic assembly includes a circuit assembly within the housing. During remanufacture, a first portion of the housing is removed to expose a first side of the circuit assembly and a second portion of the housing is removed to expose a second side of the circuit assembly. When removing the second portion of the housing, one of the components of the circuit assembly may also be removed. During remanufacture a connector assembly including a replacement component substantially similar to the removed component, and including one or more pins connected to the replacement component and situated to mate with one or more empty sockets of the circuit assembly is used to facilitate testing of the assembly.
US08096029B2
A device for maintaining the crimping of textile fibers or filaments during subsequent setting treatment, located in a line for treating filaments by crimping and setting having a crimping machine (1), whereby this device is connected to the outlet of the crimping machine (1) and consists of two perforated conveyor belts (2), between which is fed the plug of textile fibers or filaments (3) coming from the crimping machine (1) and which pass through a setting oven or other setting machine to arrive at a filament uptake area. The device is provided with a member (6) for maintaining the continuity of the pressure on the plug of textile fibers or filaments (3) at the outlet of the crimping machine (1) and during the entire setting operation, whereby this member cooperates with the perforated conveyor belts (2).
US08096027B2
A twin buckle assembly is provided with dual release positions. The buckle assembly can lockingly secure two buckle tongues. The buckle assembly includes a single, pivotal latch mechanism that can separately secure one or both of the buckle tongues. Pivotal movement of the latch occurs upon rotation of the buckle cover. Thus, one tongue is released at a first rotational position of the cover and both tongues are released at a second rotational position of the cover. The buckle assembly, thereby, allows the independent removal of lap and shoulder belts.
US08096021B2
A hinge apparatus of the present invention comprises a first rotational shaft which rotates a first casing and a second casing relative to each other from a state where the first and second casings are folded down, and opens the first and second casings in a vertical direction, a second rotational shaft which rotates the first casing and the second casing relative to each other in a horizontal direction, a coupling member which couples the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft together, with an end portion of the first rotational shaft being overlapped with an end portion of the second rotational shaft, and an engagement member which allows either one rotational shaft of the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft to engage with the other rotational shaft, thereby restricting a rotation of the other rotational shaft when the one rotational shaft rotates.
US08096016B2
There is provided a stick-shaped body advancing holder or a combination of a holder and an eraser adapted to advance a stick-shaped body and to ensure chucking of the body or the eraser without enlargement of the entire configuration. A stick-shaped body advancing holder has an outer barrel, an inner barrel, and urging members, the urging members each being of a sawtooth shape and having bent portions. The urging members are arranged in a gap between flat faces of the outer barrel and flat faces of the inner barrel. On a knocking operation, the bent portions are deformed, thereby generating an urging force.
US08096014B2
A central vacuum cleaning system 3 has a central vacuum unit 17 with a motor 10, a motor compartment 19, and a vacuum chamber 25. The system 3 also has a control circuit 1 for controlling power to the motor 10, and one or more airborne contaminant sensors 15 for sensing contaminants within the system 3. The sensors 15 may be located in pipes 31 motor compartment 19, vacuum chamber 25 and hose handle 34. Vacuum air may be drawn through aperture 37 in wall valve 38.
US08096013B2
The present invention relates to a wiper having a wiper arm (1) and a fastening element (3), the fastening element (3) being fastened on the wiper arm (1), and the fastening element (3) having a hub (4) which can be plugged onto a drive shaft (5). Precision alignment of the wiper relative to the drive shaft (5) is made possible in that the fastening element (3) is plugged into a cutout (2) in the wiper arm (1) in a form-fitting manner in one of at least two possible alignments. A wiper constructed in this way is, in addition, compact.
US08096010B2
A system for transporting a span on a road vehicle capable of being transformed into an amphibious vehicle, enabling crossing of a dry or water-filled gap by any road vehicle. The vehicle for transporting the span is amphibious to allow any vehicle to cross a gap filled with water by transferring and transporting the vehicle on the span supported on the amphibious vehicle operating as a floating ferry. The invention is particularly applicable in the field of civil or military engineering.
US08096003B2
The invention relates to a transporting device for patients who are to be transported from a first site to a second site using low force. For this purpose is provided a firm board which can also be resilient, wherein this board is encompassed by an endless band. This endless band is adapted to the shape of the board and can slide around the board. The outer ends of the board are provided with caps which, on the one hand, lend the board high rigidity at the ends and, on the other hand, prevent body fluids from penetrating into the interspace between board and endless band.
US08099790B2
A replay device includes a flash memory, a setting means, and a test result output unit. A device key for copyright protection is recorded in the flash memory. When a predetermined actuation input is received, the setting means sets the device to a test mode in which it is tested whether or not the device key is recorded. And, when the test mode is set, the test result output means tests whether or not the device key is recorded in the flash memory, and outputs a screen with the result of the test. Moreover, the test result output means displays the test result by changing a background color of the test result screen, according to the presence or absence of the device key.
US08099789B2
Method and apparatus for enabling applications on security processors of computer systems. In one aspect, a security processor apparatus includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and operative to store a secure table. The secure table stores different certified endorsement keys and different values, each value associated with one of the endorsement keys. Each stored value is derived from a different application that is certified by the associated endorsement key to be executed on the processor.
US08099787B2
A standardized system for assessing the security of web based applications which has a component for collecting information regarding threat and vulnerabilities to web applications is described. The system includes a component for organizing the information regarding threat and vulnerabilities to web applications into a uniform language so that the information is integrated throughout the entirety of the system. Further, the system has a component for expressing the information in a structured and uniform format of a hierarchical relationship between threat and vulnerabilities which includes threat vulnerability trees. The system includes a component for rating the threats and vulnerabilities under a uniform rating system. The system includes a component for integrating the information into both a storage component and also a presentation component for presenting the information. The presentation component presents the information in a graphical format which visually demonstrates the relationships between the threats and the vulnerabilities.
US08099783B2
An integrated circuit (IC) security apparatus with complementary security traces and a method for producing such an apparatus is disclosed. The security apparatus comprises a pattern generator, and a plurality of security traces. The arrangement of security trace pairs are such that the second trace is arranged substantially parallel to the first trace. The pattern generator produces two signals, a second signal, which is applied to the second trace, is substantially complimentary to the first security trace. The timing and amplitude of the second (complimentary) signal is developed such that any net induced currents are substantially nulled. One or more of the signals is received from the signal generator and compared to the same signal after it is conducted through a security trace. The results are analyzed to determine if the security of the IC has been breached.
US08099780B2
A message screening system includes routing to a supervisory recipient an electronic message directed to an intended recipient. The supervisory recipient then is allowed to screen the electronic message by approving or rejecting the electronic message. The electronic message then is forwarded to the intended recipient if the electronic message is approved by the supervisory recipient.
US08099779B2
A method for integrating a plurality of content repositories into a virtual content repository (VCR), comprising providing credential information to each one of said plurality of content repositories, receiving authorization information from each one of said plurality of content repositories, wherein the authorization information indicates whether or not an authorization procedure succeeded, integrating into the VCR each one of said plurality of content repositories whose authorization information indicates successful authorization, and wherein each one of said plurality of content repositories exposes a first set of services to enable its integration into the VCR.
US08099777B1
A computing system can be optimized for high security, reliability and/or integrity. The computing system can include a multiple instruction stream, single data stream processor. The multiple instruction stream, single data stream processor can include a master instruction processing unit, fetch instruction processing units, a single bus interface/memory unit, and a single data processing unit. The computing system can also include a storage device or a memory. The processor can be utilized in numerous applications including avionics software applications.
US08099767B2
Mechanisms for securing dynamic discovery of an enterprise computing infrastructure is provided. One implementation involves maintaining enterprise credential information in a secured trust store, receiving an access request through a secure connection for access to a remote infrastructure component, determining the type of the access request, for a root-level type access request, responding to the request via the secure connection with enterprise root credentials from the trust store, and for an unprivileged type access request, responding to the request via the secure connection with unprivileged access enterprise credentials from the trust store.
US08099756B2
Channel changes between services with differing bandwidth in a switched digital video system. A services map published by the headend and distributed to all of the edge devices, allows a bandwidth requirement to be correlated with each request from a device in the home. The bandwidth requirement is passed upstream along with the request for service and is subject to a system resource management validation.
US08099755B2
Systems and methods are described for providing a media stream transmitted from an encoding system to a remotely-located media player. The media stream is encoded according to an encoding parameter. Data is gathered about a transmit buffer within the encoding system, and the gathered data is processed to arrive at an estimate of network capacity and a calculated encoder rate. The encoding parameter is adjusted during subsequent encoding in response to a change in at least one of the estimate of network capacity and the calculated encoder rate.
US08099754B2
A central server having a computer readable storage media for storing multimedia material, such as motion pictures and television programming, in digital format is connected to a communications network such as the Internet. Exhibitors, such as theaters and television stations, can access the central server, preview available programming, verify the ownership of such material, review contract provisions for obtaining and paying for the desired programming, and download the programming along with marketing materials for the program or movie. The central server loads material onto the storage media as its received from producers and owners of such material. In addition, central server retains data retains data regarding requests for material, such as titles requested, who requested such, and where the requesters are located geographically. This information can be used to help producers market their material more economically.
US08099749B2
A system and method for collecting viewership data. The inventive system (10) is adapted to receive a signal having multiple channels of program content and associated channel identification information. The system (10) is adapted to parse the program content and channel identification information from the received signal. The system (10) outputs selective channels of program content in response to user input and the parsed program content. The system (10) monitors the selected channels and provides viewership data with respect thereto. The viewership data includes channel identification information.
US08099738B2
A message display device provided with a display section includes: an event acquisition section for acquiring an event that triggers display of a message on the display section and is associated with the message; a data acquisition section for acquiring a type of an application program and a display mode of an image to be displayed on the display section during execution of the application program; a data storage section for storing the type of the application program, the image display mode thereof, and a message display mode of displaying a message on the display section associated with one another; and a message display control section for, in response to acquisition of the event by the event acquisition section, displays the message associated with the event on the display section in the message display mode recognized from the data storage section.
US08099737B2
In various embodiments, a method for processing event streams includes receiving a finite state machine defined in response to a set of processing components, a set of states, and a set of entry points. Event data associated with an event stream is also received. The event data is processes according to the finite state machine to generate an event.
US08099734B2
The subject application is directed to a portable system and method for soft reset of computer devices. Upon detection of a portable data device via an associated media interface, data communication is commenced between a computer device and the detected portable data device via the media interface. A system cycle instruction is then isolated according to the data communication between the computer device and the detected data device. A system cycle is then commenced with respect to the computer device, in accordance with the isolated system cycle instruction.
US08099726B2
A software transactional memory system is described which utilizes decomposed software transactional memory instructions as well as runtime optimizations to achieve efficient performance. The decomposed instructions allow a compiler with knowledge of the instruction semantics to perform optimizations which would be unavailable on traditional software transactional memory systems. Additionally, high-level software transactional memory optimizations are performed such as code movement around procedure calls, addition of operations to provide strong atomicity, removal of unnecessary read-to-update upgrades, and removal of operations for newly-allocated objects. During execution, multi-use header words for objects are extended to provide for per-object housekeeping, as well as fast snapshots which illustrate changes to objects. Additionally, entries to software transactional memory logs are filtered using an associative table during execution, preventing needless writes to the logs. Finally a garbage collector with knowledge of the software transactional memory system compacts software transactional memory logs during garbage collection.
US08099725B2
Methods, computer program products, and system for generating code for an extract, transform, and load (ETL) data flow are provided. In one implementation, the method includes receiving an ETL data flow representing a logical transformation and flow of data, placing a staging table at a pre-determined location in the ETL data flow to reduce a total number of staging tables required by the transformation, and generating code for the transformation based on the ETL data flow including the staging table placed at the pre-determined location.
US08099724B2
A patch-based mechanism is disclosed for providing fast invocations of a target method from a compiled calling method. The code for the calling method is stored into a storage. The code for the calling method comprises an instruction for invoking the target method, where the instruction comprises a parameter. In response to a state change from a current state to a new state that is experienced by the target method, the parameter is modified from a first value to a second value, where the second value indicates the correct address for facilitating the execution of the target method in its new state. Thus, the parameter in the instruction for invoking the target method always reflects the correct state of the target method, which provides for a fast invocation of the target method when the instruction is executed.
US08099721B2
Declarations from an input source code or tokenized source code are serialized into a stream of tokens produced by following each branch of a preprocessor conditional directive statement that interrupts a declaration. Tokens are labeled with a parsing path indicator corresponding to a parsing path induced by branches of a preprocessor conditional directive. The declarations that are formed along the different parsing paths are serialized by fetching the tokens that belong to the first parsing path in a first pass, and passing the tokens on to a next phase of a compiler. The pointer that marks the next token is repositioned to return to the start of the declaration. The declaration may be serialized again through the second parsing path in a second pass. The operation may be repeated until each of the parsing paths induced by the presence of branches of the preprocessor conditional directives in the source code is exhausted.
US08099717B2
A tracking method for embedded systems is disclosed. A stacking way is used for viewing and tracing. In the beginning, a program counter (PC) and a stack segment of a function are found out. Then an instruction of the function is learned according to the stack segment and further stack size of the function is calculated. In accordance with the stack size, a stack frame is viewed to find out a recursive program counter of a previous function. Next according to the recursive program counter, an entry point of the previous function is calculated. Therefore, the system knows the memory block is required by which function and further finds out what causes computer shut-down or program errors. Moreover, stack status before the error occurred in the stack frame is got so as to get a returning path that enables the processor going back to status before the error occurred.
US08099708B2
A method of operation for an input/output assignment tool is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a graphic presentation to a user displaying (i) a circuit icon having a plurality of pin icons and (ii) a plurality of signal icons, (B) moving a first of the signal icons within the graphic presentation to a first of the pin icons in response to a move command from the user and (C) indicating an acceptance of an association between the first signal icon and the first pin icon in response to the association passing a rule.
US08099704B1
Methods and systems to improve performance in an Integrated Circuit (IC) are presented. The method includes performing a timing analysis for a circuit design of an IC. The modules in the circuit design use a standard voltage bias by default. In one embodiment, the timing analysis is performed by a circuit design tool. The method then identifies a critical path in the timing analysis, where a signal propagating through the critical path does not meet timing requirements for the circuit design. The method then selects a module of the IC in the critical path to apply a high speed voltage bias to the body of transistors in the module, resulting in a smaller propagation delay thorough the selected module than if the standard voltage bias were applied to the selected module, thus allowing the circuit design to meet the timing requirements.
US08099701B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for improving the speed of chip routing for integrated circuit blocks with multiple connections. In some embodiments, the method may include creating a layout abstract for a first block and a second block of the integrated circuit, where the first and second blocks are coupled together via a plurality of connections. The method may further include determining whether the number of connections in the plurality exceeds a threshold, and in the event that the number of connections exceeds the predetermined threshold, representing a first subset of the plurality as a first logical connection.
US08099699B2
The invention relates to a method of simulating an electronic circuit, represented in the form of masks and connections, comprising: a) the definition of the circuit in the form of a first list (140) of electrical components and their interconnections, b) the separation of the data of this first list into a first sub-assembly (170) of components to be modified by a filtering step, and into a second sub-assembly (160) of components not to be modified by this filtering step, c) the filtering of the data of the first sub-assembly (170) of components, d) the definition of the circuit in the form of a second list (190) of electrical components and their interconnections, from the data of the second sub-assembly (160) and the data resulting from step c), e) the simulation (195) of the circuit by means of this second list, f) if the result of the simulation is satisfactory, the manufacture of the circuit.
US08099692B1
An integrated circuit is divided into two or more different regions, each region being a different voltage domain. In each of the regions, a voltage drop and its impact on performance will be quantified. A place and route engine (or another tool of a computer-aided design flow) will then take these timing considerations into account while performing partitioning of the device. A user's logic design is implemented into the logic array blocks taking into a voltage drop seen at those logic array blocks. Faster paths of the logic design are placed into faster logic array blocks, such as those in a core region of the integrated circuit.
US08099687B2
A memory module has an array of connections. The array of connections is arranged in rows and columns such that there are first and second outer columns. Connections in the first and second outer columns can be interchanged to optimize double-side module placement on a substrate.
US08099686B2
Methods are described for forming an integrated circuit having multiple devices, such as transistors, with respective element lengths. The methods include a new CAD flow for producing masks used for exposing sidewall spacers which are to be etched to a smaller base width than other sidewall spacers and which in turn are used as an etch mask to form gate structures with smaller element lengths than those formed from the other sidewall spacers. Embodiments include generating a schematic of an integrated circuit and a corresponding netlist, establishing design rules for the integrated circuit, generating a computer aided design layout for the integrated circuit, plural transistors of the integrated circuit respectively having different gate lengths, checking the integrated circuit layout and netlist for compliance with the established design rules and for correspondence with the generated schematic, and generating a mask with different openings that correspond to the integrated circuit layout, in response to a satisfactory outcome of the checking step.
US08099685B2
Shapes neighboring a potential manufacturing fault within a microdevice design layout are identified. Models are employed to determine the affect of the shapes upon the potential manufacturing fault. Possible adjustments to the shapes are modeled. The possible adjustments facilitating resolution of the potential manufacturing fault.
US08099684B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of placing printing assist features in a mask layout. The method includes providing a design layout having one or more designed features; generating a set of parameters, the set of parameters being associated with one or more printing assist features (PrAFs); adding the one or more PrAFs of the set of parameters to the design layout to produce a modified design layout; performing simulation of the one or more PrAFs and the one or more designed features on the modified design layout; verifying whether the one or more PrAFs are removable based on results of the simulation; and creating a set of PrAF placement rules based on the set of parameters, if the one or more PrAFs are verified as removable. The set of PrAF placement rules may be used in creating a final set of PrAF features to be used for creating the mask layout.
US08099679B2
A system facilitates traversing digital records with dimensional attributes. The system stores a number of digital records. The system further associates a respective digital record with a number of attributes, wherein a respective attribute can be specified in a number of levels of abstraction. The system allows a user to control a presentation of the stored digital records based on their attributes. The user can set one or more criteria for the attributes of the digital records to be presented by: specifying the value of at least one fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented, changing at least one non-fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented, and/or specifying a level of abstraction for the fixed and/or non-fixed attribute of the digital records to be presented. The system then presents a set of digital records to the user based on the attribute criteria set by the user.
US08099675B2
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: a transmission unit configured to transmit an information acquiring request which acquires first information indicating whether or not a predetermined standard for limiting copy of audio data is supported by a terminal device to which the audio data is transferred; a judgment unit configured to judge whether or not the terminal device supports the predetermined standard, based on the first information included in information acquiring response to the information acquiring request from the terminal device; a display unit configured to display an icon indicating that the information processing apparatus is connected to the terminal device via the wireless communication; and a control unit to control, based on a judgment result by the judgment unit, a change of display of the icon.
US08099669B2
This invention provides an enhancement to messaging systems by providing a message notification feature which allows a user to manage only new messages for which a notification has not yet been cleared without having to access or download the entire set of messages. This management may be performed in single window that operates in conjunction with an application associated with the messaging system. The notification management permits manipulation of the message notifications without influencing the status of the messages themselves, while providing access to the data contained in these messages. This addresses the needs of those users who frequently check their incoming communications queues and need to determine very quickly which items need urgent attention and which ones can be deferred. The present invention further provides specific functionalities for handling a particular message when it does need urgent attention.
US08099663B2
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to convert a destination document into a destination document tree hierarchy. The destination document tree hierarchy is flattened into a destination document hash table comprising a set of destination document keys and a set of destination document values. A source document is converted into a source document tree hierarchy. The source document tree hierarchy is flattened into a source document hash table comprising a set of source document key-value pairs. A source document key-value pair comprising a key and a value is identified, where the key is not in the set of destination document keys. The source document key-value is added to a changelist. A destination document key is identified, where the destination document key is not a key in a key-value pair in the set of source document key-value pairs. The destination document key is added to the changelist.
US08099658B2
A Viterbi decoder includes a branch metric unit, an add-compare select unit coupled to the branch metric unit, and a trace-back unit coupled to the add-compare select unit. The branch metric unit includes a branch metric computation unit coupled to a thresholder unit. The branch metric computation unit is configured to compute a branch metric. The thresholder unit is configured to compare the branch metric with a threshold value. If the branch metric is greater than the threshold value, the thresholder unit is configured to forward the threshold value to the add-compare select and not forward the branch metric to the add-compare select unit. Implementing such a branch metric ceiling allows for a predictable reduction in the significant bits of calculations in the Viterbi decoder, which allows for reduction of complexity via elimination of gates and storage elements.
US08099655B1
A Galois Field multiplier circuit for multiplying two polynomials (multiplicands). The multiplier circuit can use any arbitrary primitive polynomial to preserve the Galois Field. The multiplier circuit includes at least one logic unit that receives as a first input one of the multiplicands and shift the multiplicand in question by 1 bit to the left. The logic unit receives as a second input a pre-determined primitive polynomial and multiplies the primitive polynomial by the highest bit of the multiplicand received at the other input of the logic unit. The bit-shifted multiplicand is XOR-ed with the primitive polynomial multiplied the highest bit of the multiplicand and the result of the XOR operation is provided to a second logic circuit that completes the multiplication of the two polynomials.
US08099652B1
A non-volatile memory has its cells' thresholds programmed within any one of a first set of voltage bands partitioned by a first set of reference thresholds across a threshold window. The cells are read at a higher resolution relative to a second set of reference thresholds so as to provide additional soft bits for error correction. The reference thresholds of the second set are set up to be non-uniformly distributed on the threshold window so as to provide higher resolution at designated regions. At the same time they are conducive to be read in groups for soft bits to be read bit-by-bit systematically with a simple algorithm and read circuit and using a minimum of data latches. This is accomplished by relaxing the requirement that the first set of reference threshold is a subset of the second set and that the resulting soft bits are symmetrically distributed about the hard bits.
US08099643B2
A method and system for minimizing slot wastage by overlapping HARQ regions in a communication system. A control region allocation (CRA) utility defines a group of HARQ regions for transmission of control data. A HARQ region definition includes a starting symbol and a starting sub-channel number for the HARQ region, a number of symbols and a number of sub-channels to define the dimensions of the region and the slot duration for each sub-burst in a sequence of allocated sub-bursts. The CRA utility overlaps one HARQ region with the other to minimize slot wastage. The slots that carry data in one HARQ region overlap un-used slots in another HARQ region or are overlapped with a dummy allocation in the other HARQ region. Since mobile stations do not carry data for the slots with a dummy allocation, the overlap of HARQ regions avoids conflict with the HARQ operation.
US08099633B2
A USB test circuit for use in a USB device such as a system LSI with a USB function for testing the USB function generates and outputs a packet to be measured for a signal quality test. In the test circuit, a test signal including a test_sin signal carrying operation mode information is inputted via a serial interface to a serial interface block, and a packet to be measured is generated by a data pattern generation block and a transmission data delivery block depending on the operation mode information. The packet to be measured is outputted via a UTMI interface to a USB PHY layer. Thus, a packet to be measured for a signal quality test is generated and outputted without receiving packets not to be measured such as a SETUP packet and a DATA packet, thereby reducing the test time.
US08099631B2
Computer systems and methods for call-stacks representation for easier analysis of thread dumps. Execution data for a number of process threads are accessed by a parser in a thread dump wherein execution data includes a number of call-stacks. Process threads have corresponding call-stacks comprising information about active program subroutines of the thread. Threads are grouped in a number of sets that include threads with one or more actions in common. The sets correspond to a same action or subroutine in the call-stacks of the grouped threads. A tree representation of the execution data is generated based on the active actions in the call-stacks. In the tree representation, a first set of grouped threads is a child to a second set of grouped threads when the action corresponding to the first set is invoked by the subroutine corresponding to the second set.
US08099626B2
A recovery method management method includes executing and completing a work on a work target of a system according to a work start command and a work completion command, creating working method information for each work target, acquiring before-work-start system information and after-work-completion system information of the system to create before-and-after-work change information for each work target, storing and managing the working method information and the before-and-after-work change information in a work information managing and storing unit for each work target, creating recovery method information for each similar recovery work target among the work targets on the basis of the working method information, creating before-and-after-recovery change information for each recovery work target on the basis of the before-and-after-work change information, and storing and managing the recovery method information created and the before-and-after-recovery change information created in a recovery method managing and storing unit for each recovery work target.
US08099623B1
A network storage server implements a method to maintain a parity declustered RAID organization with distributed hot sparing. The parity declustered RAID organization, which provides data redundancy for a network storage system, is configured as a RAID organization with a plurality of logical drives. The RAID organization is then distributed in a parity declustered fashion to a plurality of physical drives in the network storage system. The RAID organization also has a spare space pre-allocating on each of the plurality of physical drives. Upon failure of one of the plurality of physical drives, data stored in the failed physical drives can be reconstructed and stored to spare space of the surviving physical drives. After reconstruction, the plurality of logical drives remains parity-declustered on the plurality of surviving physical drives.
US08099622B2
By incorporating a referral mechanism, a failover method and system for remotely mirrored clustered file servers enables a client computer to transparently access a remotely mirrored file system during a failover of a first NAS (network attached storage) storing the file system. The first NAS is clustered with a second NAS that takes over the IP address of the first NAS on failover. A mirroring relationship is established between the first NAS and a third NAS whereby a copy of the file system is replicated to the third NAS. A referral is created on the second NAS, such that an access attempt from the client computer for accessing the first file system that is directed to the second NAS following IP address takeover from the first NAS after failover is referred to the third NAS by the referral to enable the client computer to access the copy of the file system.
US08099616B2
An electronically controlled method of controlled enabling and disabling of ports, the method constituted of: receiving a message responsive to an access event, the message comprising an identifier of the accessing party and an indication of the access event; determining at least one power over Ethernet supplying port associated with the identifier of the accessing party; and enabling, in the event the indication of the access event is of entry, the determined at least one power over Ethernet supplying port associated with the identifier of the accessing party; and disabling, in the event the indication of the access event is of exit, the determined at least one power over Ethernet supplying port associated with the identifier of the accessing party.
US08099609B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a receiving device including a tuner unit which receives broadcast program data, a first nonvolatile memory which stores an encryption key, and an encryption unit which encrypts the broadcast program data, which is received by the tuner unit, based on the encryption key, and a second nonvolatile memory which is provided on a system board, which is electrically connected to the receiving device, and stores key recovery data for recovering the encryption key which is stored in the first nonvolatile memory.
US08099607B2
A system for securing information, includes a processor and storage device. The storage device stores information encrypted with one of a first private rolling key and a first public rolling key of an a first asymmetric rolling crypto-key, along with the one first rolling key. The processor has the logic to direct transmission, via a network, of proof of knowledge of the stored one first rolling key to authenticate a user, and of a request for the other of the first private rolling key and the first public rolling key. The processor receives the other first rolling key via the network, responsive to the directed transmission. The processor then decrypts the stored encrypted information with the received other first rolling key, and generates a second asymmetric rolling crypto-key having a second private rolling key and a second public rolling key. The processor encrypts the information with one of the second private rolling key and the second public rolling key. The processor also directs transmission of the other of the second private rolling key and the second public rolling key via the network. The storage device stores the information encrypted with the one second rolling key and the one second rolling key itself.
US08099595B2
Systems and methods for processing messages within a wireless communications system are disclosed. A server within the wireless communications system maintains a list of certificates contained in devices that use the server. The server synchronizes or updates the list of certificates based on information contained in message to and from the device. By providing a server with certificates associated with devices that use the server, and providing a system and method for synchronizing the certificates between the device and server, the server can implement powerful features that will improve the efficiency, speed and user satisfaction of the devices. The exemplary embodiments also enable advantageous bandwidth savings by preventing transmission of certificates unnecessarily.
US08099587B2
An arrangement is provided for compressing microcode ROM (“uROM”) in a processor and for efficiently accessing a compressed “uROM”. A clustering-based approach may be used to effectively compress a uROM. The approach groups similar columns of microcode into different clusters and identifies unique patterns within each cluster. Only unique patterns identified in each cluster are stored in a pattern storage. Indices, which help map an address of a microcode word (“uOP”) to be fetched from a uROM to unique patterns required for the uOP, may be stored in an index storage. Typically it takes a longer time to fetch a uOP from a compressed uROM than from an uncompressed uROM. The compressed uROM may be so designed that the process of fetching a uOP (or uOPs) from a compressed uROM may be fully-pipelined to reduce the access latency.
US08099581B2
A processor including logic to execute an instruction to synchronize a mapping from a physical address of a guest of a virtualization based system (guest physical address) to a physical address of the host of the virtualization based system (host physical address), and stored in a translation lookaside buffer (TLB), with a corresponding mapping stored in an extended paging table (EPT) of the virtualization based system.
US08099577B2
A method and apparatus for auto-tuning memory is provided. Memory on a computer system comprises at least one shared memory area and at least one private memory area. Addresses in the shared memory area are accessible to multiple processes. Addresses in the private memory area are dedicated to individual processes. Initially, a division in the amount of memory is established between the shared and private memory areas. Subsequently, a new division is determined. Consequently, memory from one memory area is “given” to the other memory area. In one approach, such sharing is achieved by causing the shared and private memory areas to be physically separate from each other both before and after a change in the division. The division of the amount of memory may be changed to a new division by deallocating memory from one of the memory areas and allocating that memory to the other of the memory areas.
US08099571B1
Bandwidth consumption between a data replication source and destination and storage consumption at the destination are reduced, when logical block mirroring is used with source deduplication, by eliminating repeated transmission of data blocks from source to destination. A reference is created for each data block at the source, the reference being unique within a storage aggregate of the source. During a mirror update, the source initially sends only the references of modified data blocks to the destination. The destination compares those references against a data structure to determine whether the destination already has any of those data blocks stored. If the destination determines that it already has a data block stored, it does not request or receive that data block again from the source. Only if the destination determines that it has not yet received the referenced data block does it request and receive that data block from the source.
US08099562B2
A technique for accessing a memory array includes receiving, from multiple requesters, memory access requests directed to a single port of the memory array. The memory access requests associated with each of the multiple requesters are serviced, based on a priority assigned to each of the multiple requesters, while maintaining a fixed timing for the memory access requests.
US08099559B2
A system and method for intentionally invaliding translation entry valid bits in order to provoke storage interrupts when executing a test case is presented. Prior to executing the test case, an interrupt handler pseudo-randomly invalidates a number of translation entries included in a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) by changing particular valid bits in order to provoke initial storage interrupts, such as an instruction storage interrupt (ISI) or a data storage interrupt (DSI). Once the processor executes the test case that, in turn, triggers a storage interrupt, the interrupt handler uses an index counter to validate particular valid bits and invalidate other valid bits, thus provoking subsequent storage interrupts. In one embodiment, the interrupt handler also changes valid bits in a page table when the processor executes in a mode that accesses the page table in addition to the TLB.
US08099558B2
Methods and apparatus relating to a fairness mechanism for starvation prevention in directory-based cache coherence protocols are described. In one embodiment, negatively-acknowledged (nack'ed) requests from a home agent may be tracked (e.g., using distributed linked-lists). In turn, the tracked requests may be served in a fair order. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08099557B2
In one embodiment, a system comprises a first processor, a main memory system, and a cache hierarchy coupled between the first processor and the main memory system. The cache hierarchy comprises at least a first cache. The first processor is configured to execute a first instruction, including forming an address responsive to one or more operands of the first instruction. The system is configured to push a first cache block that is hit by the first address in the first cache to a target location within the cache hierarchy or the main memory system, wherein the target location is unspecified in a definition of the first instruction within an instruction set architecture implemented by the first processor, and wherein the target location is implementation-dependent.
US08099548B2
A portable multifunction computing device optimizes cache storage when processing media files and the like. During a playback operation, the device caches as many media items as possible such that during playback media items are retrieved from cache rather than from a hard disk memory. The device monitors memory requirements of other programs and applications currently in use on the device to insure sufficient cache memory is available for such programs and applications.
US08099541B2
In one embodiment, a processor supports an alternate address space during execution of non-guest code (such as a minivisor or a virtual machine monitor (VMM)). The alternate address space may be the guest address space. An instruction in the minivisor/VMM may specify the alternate address space for a data access, permitting the minivisor/VMM to read guest memory state via the alternate address space. In another embodiment, a processor may implement a page table base address register dedicated for the minivisor's use. In still another embodiment, the minivisor may be implemented as a specified entry point in the VMM address space.
US08099537B2
It is an object of the invention to inhibit a drop in the data transmission efficiency due to the transmission of an interrupt signal. The invention provides a signal transmission method that is characterized in that a reception side and a transmission side partition data into a plurality of data fragments and send and receive the plurality of data fragments over at least two transmission lines, in that the transmission side transmits first data fragments of the plurality of data fragments over a first transmission line of the transmission lines, transmits data packets that include header information, a second data fragment that has the same bit length as the first data fragments, and footer information over a second transmission line other than the first transmission line, and transmits the first data fragments and the second data fragments in synchronization, and in that an interrupt signal for controlling the transmission side is transmitted from the reception side to the transmission side in a time slot that is an interval between first data fragments that are adjacent on the first transmission line.
US08099533B2
The present invention relates to a data processing system based on a multithreaded operating system. The data processing system comprises at least one processor (PROC) for processing data based on multiple threads, at least one controller unit (CU) for controlling the communication between said at least one processor (PROC) and an external peripheral device (PD) connected to said at least one controller unit (CU). Said at least one controller unit (CU) comprises at least one buffer memory (BM) for buffering data from said peripheral device (PD) connected to said at least one controller unit (CU), and at least one memory managing unit (MMU) for managing the access to said at least one buffer memory (BM) by mapping said at least one buffer memory (BM) into N banks (C0-C3) each with a dedicated prefetch register (Addr.0-Addr.3). At least one of said multiple threads (T0-T3) is mapped to one of said N banks (C0-C3) and its dedicated prefetch register (Addr.0-Addr.3).
US08099530B2
A data processing apparatus reduces the number of the buffer SRAMs to decrease chip area. The data processing apparatus includes an SDRAM address allocation register that holds information indicating which region of the SDRAM will be allocated to each of the IPs, and a buffer SRAM address allocation register that holds information indicating which region of the first and second buffer SRAMs will be allocated to each of the IPs. The bus I/F stores the data read from the SDRAM into the second buffer SRAM with reference to the SDRAM address allocation register and the buffer SRAM address allocation register. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide each of the IPs with a buffer SRAM, which allows integration into a small number of buffer SRAMs.
US08099529B1
Systems and methods for performing native command queuing according to the protocol specified by Serial ATA II for transferring data between a disk and system memory are described. Native command queuing context for queued commands is maintained by a host controller device driver and is provided to the host controller as needed to process the queued commands. The host controller is simplified since it only stores the context of the one command being processed. The host controller generates a backoff interrupt when a command cannot be queued. The host controller generates a DMA transfer context request interrupt to request programming of the registers that store the context for the one command being processed.
US08099528B2
A method and system is disclosed for passing data processed by a DMA controller through a transmission filter. The method includes the DMA controller accessing data for transfer between an origination location in the system and a destination location in the system. The accessed data is passed through the DMA controller before being sent to the destination location. While the data is being passed through the DMA controller, it is passed through a transmission filter for processing. This processing may include the addition or removal of transmission protocol headers and footers, and determination of the destination of the data. This processing may also include hash-based packet classification and checksum generation and checking. Upon completion of the processing, the data is sent directly to a prescribed destination location, typically either a memory circuit or an I/O device.
US08099521B2
A network device comprises a controller that manages data flow through a network interconnecting a plurality of processors. The processors of the processor plurality comprise a local memory divided into a private local memory and a public local memory, a local cache, and working registers. The network device further comprises a plurality of cache mirror registers coupled to the controller that receive data to be forwarded to the processor plurality. The controller is responsive to a request to receive data by transferring requested data directly to public memory without interrupting the processor, and by transferring requested data via at least one cache mirror register for a transfer to processor local cache, and to processor working registers.
US08099513B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for streaming content from one or more production nodes or media player systems. In one embodiment, a method is provided for using software stored on a processing unit of a media player system for requesting and receiving streaming content from one or more production nodes or other media player systems. The method includes autonomously identifying one or more other media player systems, the one or more other media player systems being initially unknown to the media player system. The method further includes requesting content from at least one of the one or more identified other media player systems or from one or more production nodes. The method may also include making incoming streaming content received as a result of the receiving routine ready for play-back, wherein the step of autonomously identifying is executed by the data processing unit while receiving streaming content.
US08099511B1
Various techniques for providing instantaneous media services are disclosed. Some of the techniques provide an instantaneous media-on-demand system, process and method for the same. Such a system offers a dynamic library with a significant number of titles from which a user may select and offers play back a desired title fairly instantly. To facilitate instant playback, a file pertaining to a title is fragmented into a header and segments. The header is seeded in all boxes in service and none, one or more segments are distributed to the network of boxes. When the title is ordered, the header is instantly played back while the segments, if not locally available, are streamed in respectively from the boxes having the segments to enable continuous playback of the ordered title.
US08099508B2
Tokens and policy descriptors are used for dynamic on demand session management in a distributed and scalable architecture for on demand sessions and resource management. The architecture includes an on demand client, a purchase server, and a session manager. A purchase token is generated at the purchase server and assigned to the on demand client. The purchase token represents at least one requested asset. In response to an on demand session set-up request corresponding to the purchase token from the on demand client to the session manager, the purchase token is expanded to generate at least one dynamic policy management descriptor for the on demand session. This provides token-based purchase authorization and policy management for on demand services.
US08099503B2
The present invention discloses methods and systems for providing secure user access to services offered by a service provider to a client application over a network. One embodiment includes receiving an application cookie from the client application and populating a service cookie based on information in the application cookie. Information in the service cookie is utilized as a basis for regulating a provision of services to the client application.
US08099502B2
A methodology for dynamic (i.e., run-time) uploading and execution of applications and drivers between devices (e.g., between “client” device and one or more (host) devices), in a fully automated manner, is described. The device which is to be hosted (e.g., the “client” device) initially probes its environment to determine which device or devices it is attached to (e.g., the “host” device(s)). Once it has correctly discerned the relevant host or target device(s), the client device includes the capability of immediately sending out (i.e., uploading) a particular driver or application (i.e., object or file of interest) for placement, and ultimately execution, at the host device. Once the particular object or file of interest has been “injected” into the host device and is executing, the client device may simply revert to a “listening mode” in which it waits to be told what to do (i.e., receive commands from the application or driver which is now executing at the host device). This approach is particularly well-suited for devices which serve as “add-on” devices (clients) to other devices (hosts) that are “smarter,” for instance, including more processing capability and/or memory. In this scenario, the client device enters into a dialog with a device with more resources for the purpose of harnessing the resources of the host device for operating the client or add-on device. The client device is, using this approach, able to start running (i.e., driver-directed operation) immediately upon attachment to a host device that can be identified.
US08099501B1
An apparatus for and method of processing service requests having a number of formats within a single generic gateway. The service requests are received by the server and routed to the appropriate one of a number of adapters. Each of the adapters convert service requests to a standardized format for input to the single generic gateway. The output of the single generic gateway is coupled through a corresponding one of a number of connectors to the end service provider for honoring.
US08099496B2
Methods and systems are provided herein for the analysis of clickstream data of online users. The analysis methods and systems allow for the creation of new offline business methods based on online consumer behavior. In embodiments, the output file enables the third party to match a distribution list for a product or service catalog to a region.
US08099492B2
In an embodiment, a system and method may manage network resources to provide a near zero-cost background replication of data. Such a system may be inhibited from causing interference with foreground data flows. Such a system may also utilize a large fraction of spare network bandwidth. A system configured to implement such a method may include one or more servers and at least one client in communication via a network. Additionally the system may include a hint server, a monitor and/or a front-end application between a demand server and the network.
US08099470B2
A storage networking device provides remote direct memory access to its buffer memory, configured to store storage networking data. The storage networking device may be particularly adapted to transmit and receive iSCSI data, such as iSCSI input/output operations. The storage networking device comprises a controller and a buffer memory. The controller manages the receipt of storage networking data and buffer locational data. The storage networking data advantageously includes at least one command for at least partially controlling a device attached to a storage network. Advantageously, the storage networking data may be transmitted using a protocol adapted for the transmission of storage networking data, such as, for example, the iSCSI protocol. The buffer memory advantageously is configured to at least temporarily store at least part of the storage networking data at a location within the buffer memory that is based at least in part on the locational data.
US08099464B2
An instant messaging client application is provided that receives requests to initiate instant messaging conversations and, in response to the requests, displays a notification window. The notification window includes information that may allow a user to decide whether or not the user would like to participate in the instant messaging conversation. The notification window is displayed gradually and removed gradually. The notification window contains an indication that another instant messaging user would like to initiate an instant messaging conversation and may include an identification of the remote user. The notification window also contains a description of the topic for the requested instant messaging conversation. The instant messaging client application may also display a notification window each time an instant message is received from a remote user and the application window is in a non-visible or non-active window.
US08099462B2
To allow for greater interactivity in video chat environments, displaying multiple effects from a sender of a first electronic device to a chat client of a second electronic device on a video chat region starts with the sender selecting an effect. If the selected effect has a predetermined mapping interactive effect, the interactive effect is displayed on the chat client. Then, the sender applies the effect or the interactive effect to an application region of the video chat region of the chat client. The application region is a partial or an entire region of the video chat region.
US08099455B2
Methods of operating a portable electronic device including a display screen, a user interface, a controller, a memory and a transceiver are provided. The methods include executing a resource on the controller, and receiving a snapshot command through the user interface. In response to the snapshot command, a network address of a remote server from which the resource was downloaded is obtained, an audiovisual signal representative of the resource is generated, and the audiovisual signal and the network address are stored in a file. The file can be forwarded using the transceiver to a remote terminal, which can access the resource from the network address.
US08099453B2
A method for data clustering may comprise entering data into a computer network comprising a master processor, an array of slave processors, and two cluster seats associated with each slave processor; executing a master process comprising dividing the data into clusters, sending the clusters to the cluster seats, initializing an optimization cycle, and computing an objective function. The optimization cycle includes the parallel execution by the slave processors of a slave process, which includes exchanging data between paired clusters so as to increase the objective function based on two modalities, and then resorting the cluster pairs for a subsequent iteration of the process.
US08099438B2
A system can process an XML document associated with a schema. The system includes a matching component that is capable of receive a discrete piece from a stream of discrete pieces of the XML document. The matching component is capable of further analyzing the schema associated with the XML document and grabbing one or more discrete pieces of the XML document that are related to the discrete piece based on the schema and keeping in memory only the discrete piece of the XML document and said one or more related discrete pieces of the XML document. Then, the matching component can perform a match on said discrete piece and the one or more related discrete pieces of the XML document, and pass the discrete piece and the one or more related discrete pieces of the XML document to a user object for handling when a match is reached.
US08099430B2
Computer method and apparatus manages and navigates computer implemented information. A first source information and second source information are related as parent-child information. Keywords are extracted from the first and second source information and are used to relate second source information to the first source information. This produces dynamic sets or groupings of second source information related by keywords. Display of a listing of the keywords enables user navigation of the information especially according to the groupings of second source information.
US08099428B2
A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data is provided, referred to as the data management system. The data management system receives a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed. Then, the data management system queries a metabase to locate data copies that contain the identified at least one data object, wherein the data copies are created from similar source data, and wherein for each data copy the metabase contains an indication of the availability of the copy relative to other copies. Next, the data management system determines one of the located data copies to use to access the identified at least one data object, wherein the determination is made based on the indicated availability contained in the metabase for each of the located data copies. Then, the data management system accesses the identified at least one data object using the determined one of the located data copies.
US08099424B2
A method, software, database and system for determining an optimal treatment for an illness in an individual and for determining the impact (e.g., side effects and intended benefits) of the treatment in the individual are presented in which an attribute profile of the individual containing genetic and non-genetic attributes is compared against a database containing combinations of genetic and non-genetic attributes that are statistically associated with successful treatment of the illness in other individuals.
US08099421B2
A file system and a method for file storage and file search by the same are provided. All files have unique names in a block-based storage device, such as a hard disk, a flash memory, etc., so that each file is mapped and stored in a one-dimensional storage area. Each file name is matched with a memory block storing data of the corresponding file so that a memory block corresponding to a file name can be found when the file name is input. In addition, through information stored in the found memory block, the data corresponding to the file name can be read from the memory block storing the data or can be stored in a specific memory block.
US08099419B2
Described are methods and systems related to inferring rules to classify an object to one of one or more target folders. One or more properties of the object to be classified are determined. A first degree of affinity between the object to be classified and the objects of the target folders, having a property identical to the object to be classified, is computed. A second degree of affinity between the object to be classified and the objects within each target folder, having a property identical to the object to be classified, is computed. A total degree of affinity between the object to be classified and each target folder is calculated. A normalized total degree of affinity is calculated by averaging the total degree of affinity across all target folders. The object is moved to a target folder having a highest value of the normalized total degree of affinity.
US08099411B2
A system, method, and computer-readable medium that facilitate workload management in a computer system are provided. A workload's system resource consumption is adjusted against a target consumption level thereby facilitating maintenance of the consumption to the target consumption within an averaging interval by dynamically controlling workload concurrency levels. System resource consumption is compensated during periods of over or under-consumption by adjusting workload consumption to a larger averaging interval. Further, mechanisms for limiting, or banding, dynamic concurrency adjustments to disallow workload starvation or unconstrained usage at any time are provided. Disclosed mechanisms provide for category of work prioritization goals and subject-area resource division management goals, allow for unclaimed resources due to a lack of demand from one workload to be used by active workloads to yield full system utilization at all times, and provide for monitoring success in light of the potential relative effects of workload under-demand, and under/over-consumption management.
US08099410B2
A query engine (or optimizer) which supports database queries having user-defined functions maintains historical execution data with respect to each of multiple user-defined functions. The historical execution data is dynamically updated based on query execution performance. When executing a query having user-defined functions, the query engine uses the historical execution data to predict an optimal evaluation ordering for the query conditions and, preferably, to dynamically adjust the evaluation order when appropriate. Preferably, the historical execution data includes historical execution time of the user-defined function and proportion of evaluated records which satisfied the query parameters.
US08099388B2
An apparatus and method is described for improving access to mostly read data on network servers. The preferred embodiments more efficiently utilize replicated data servers to minimize server response time for improved performance of data access to network servers by workload managing client requests across the primary server and all replicated servers when it is possible to do so. In preferred embodiments, a load balancer supplies the most current data for mostly read data transactions while maximizing server usage by workload managing client requests across the primary server and all replicated servers. Client requests are managed by a load balancer in the workload manager. Client requests are sent by the load balancer to replicated servers when a routing table (stale data marker list) indicates that the data is in a safe period. Clients are directed exclusively to the primary server only during data update times.
US08099382B2
A system maps a multidimensional model to data warehouse schema. The system includes a multidimensional model editor for defining a multidimensional model based on a conceptual model; a mapping reasoner for generating more simple mappings from basic mappings by reasoning on the conceptual model so as to provide mappings for concerning elements in an ontology path in the multidimensional model; a data warehouse schema analyzer for generating a data structure capable of indicating information of the data warehouse schema by making an analysis on the information of the data warehouse schema; and a mapping composition engine for generating result mappings according to mappings for the concerning elements of the ontology path in the multidimensional model and by searching in the data structure paths corresponding to the concerning elements of the ontology path in the multidimensional model. A method and computer program product are also disclosed.
US08099376B2
A computer-implemented method described for making a recommendation with respect to a plurality of items using a plurality of adaptive models or agents. The described method includes receiving one or more business rules; receiving a request for a recommendation; receiving attributes relating to the request; activating one or more adaptive agents such that each activated adaptive agent generates one or more recommendations with respect to the items based at least in part on an evaluation of prior outcomes relating to the items; selecting from among the one or more recommendations at least one final recommendation; and displaying the at least one final recommendation to a user. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US08099368B2
A transaction processing service operates as an intermediary between acquirers of financial transaction requests and issuing institutions that process the financial transaction requests. The intermediary service utilizes a customer's mobile device as an out-of-band communication channel to notify a customer of a received financial transaction request. To send the notification, the intermediary service retrieves stored customer information, including an address of the customer's mobile device and a list of payment instruments that can be used to pay for the transaction. Before continuing to process the received financial transaction request, the service may first require the customer to confirm the transaction via the mobile device. The intermediary service retrieves financial account information associated with the customer from issuing institutions, and, if the transaction is confirmed, provides the account information to acquirers in order to allow transactions to be processed.
US08099364B2
A method and system for managing use of items having usage rights associated therewith including a point of capture system adapted to generate content of a future event when the event occurs, a content distributor adapted to generate a rights label having usage rights associated with content of the future event before the content is created, the rights label having a distribution key for encrypting the content as the content is generated, the distribution key being encrypted with a public key. The system also includes a license server adapted to generate a license associate with the content from the rights label before the content is generated, the license including the distribution key encrypted with the public key, and a content distributor adapted to distribute the license before the content is generated.
US08099361B1
A network-based transaction processing system allows online users to flexibly and efficiently make payments using a combination of different payment instruments. The system includes a user interface through which each user can define one or more personal payment plans. Each such payment plan specifies a plurality of payment instruments, and includes rules that specify how the monetary amount associated with a transaction is to be divided among these payment instruments. These rules may be non-transaction-specific, such that a user can re-use a payment plan over time to complete multiple transactions. In one embodiment, a user can specify an order in which the payment instruments are to be applied, and can specify per-transaction maximum monetary amounts to be charged to specific instruments.
US08099360B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for issuing and redeeming a gift certificate drawn on a credit card or other financial account. In some aspects, issuing a gift certificate may comprise receiving a request for a gift certificate, determining a gift certificate identifier and generating a gift certificate.
US08099358B2
A method of quantifying the value added by an internal company credit rating system is described. The method includes determining an internal company credit rating for a plurality of securities. The internal company credit rating for the plurality of securities and an external credit research agency original credit rating for each of the securities are inputted in a ratings history database. Data representative of a change of the external credit research agency original credit rating for at least one security of the plurality of securities to a new credit rating is received. Responsive to the change, data representative of a current price of the at least one security and a benchmark price of the at least one security is received. At least one metric is calculated to determine a correlation between the internal company credit ratings and the new external credit research agency for each of the plurality of securities.
US08099356B2
Predicting impact of future actions on subsequent creditworthiness involves developing a prediction model that predicts a statistical interaction of performance expectation with likely post-scoring behavior. Including sensitivity to new, post-scoring date credit behaviors in the analytic solution greatly improves snapshot score predictions. The modeling approach involves multiple snapshots: predictive and performance snapshots, plus an intermediate snapshot shortly after the predictive snapshot to quantify interim consumer behavior post-scoring date. Predictive interaction variables are calculated on the predictive data using simulated consumer profiles before and after assuming a sizeable simulated balance to infer the consumer's tolerance for incremental future debt. Using an adjustor approach in predicting capacity allows isolation of the confounding effect of risk from the capacity determination. A resulting capacity index can be used to rank order originations and line increases according to capacity in consumer, bankcard, automobile and mortgage lending.
US08099355B2
Implied prices and their quantities are computed. Markets are characterized by exhaustively computing one or more combinations of other related markets. Each combination when summed in a particular way results in the market under consideration. In a described embodiment, the number of market combinations found is an exhaustive list of market combinations such that the market under consideration can be fully and completely characterized, such that each combination provides implied market information about the market under consideration. Implied market information can include implied prices and their quantities, which are computed for each combination and used accordingly in displays or used by automated or semi-automated trading tools.
US08099341B2
Systems and methods for recreating a copy of a previously filed tax document of a user is provide. In exemplary embodiments, an order processing engine receives a user's order request for a copy of a previously filed tax document. The order request is processed with an agency, such as the IRS. A tax transcript is downloaded from the agency. Subsequently, values from the tax transcript are mapped into one or more templates to recreate the filed tax document. The recreated tax document is then delivered to the user.
US08099336B2
A component management system can comprise one or more software tools that streamline creation and adjustment of documents that indicate parts stocking requirements for manufacturing assets. The manufacturing assets may comprise machines, sub-assemblies, and the like, while the components comprise parts, tools, and other equipment used to maintain operation of the manufacturing assets. The component management system can be used to enhance authorization processes by handling authority to stock documents online. Furthermore, by interfacing with an enterprise resource planning system, such as SAP, component and inventory management can be made more efficient and flexible. For instance, simulations of future versions of the installed component base can be used to generate component forecast documents useful for proactive component management. As another example, by handling asset definition and authority to stock in an online form, information can be easily retrieved from and uploaded to an enterprise resource management system.
US08099334B1
The Invention is a network-based system for the playing, enjoyment, and management of music and other electronic media which is easy to use by means of simple remote control devices assigned to each user.Each user votes for/against each track as it is played, and those preferences are stored to shape future playlists, while identifying each user's favorites.Because the remote control associated with a player has a unique address, it can connect to any music player. The system identifies the user and downloads his favorite tracks, adding them to the mix of music played.When multiple users are present the invention plays music selected from the media of all of them. They may buy copies of tracks from each other, yet firm control of the distribution of tracks is maintained ensuring protection of artist copyrights and enabling timely, accurate payment to distributors and copyright owners.
US08099331B2
A method, apparatus, and system of facilitating value-based bartering over the internet are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of e-commerce includes a computer network, a server to host a market place website, a listing module to enable an entity to assign a specified value to a good and to list the good for trade on the market place website such that the listing of the good will expire after being posted for a specified period of time, a trade module to enable an entity to trade the good for an other good of an other entity on the market place website, a search module to enable the entity to search a list of goods on the market place website.
US08099325B2
An advertisement system that provides subscribers with the most relevant advertisements based on their individual purchase prediction of the various products and contextual information such as location, ongoing public events, festivals and personal events. The system customizes the advertisements to suit the audiovisual, language, and textual caption preferences of the subscribers. System provides for tracking of various promotional offers made to the subscribers from the time the offer is made to the time it is redeemed by the subscriber. System consists of methods to learn (a) purchase predictions (b) preferred streaming schedule and (c) the subscriber's preferences in terms of audiovisual aspects of the advertisements. Purchase prediction for individual subscriber is derived from historical purchase data by time series analysis and the influence of events such as co-purchases of other products and organized events such as sales exhibitions and festivals is derived based on Bayesian network models.
US08099324B2
A method and apparatus for assuring delivery of paid advertising to a user may involve asking a question about an advertisement or requiring data about the advertisement to be entered. In one embodiment, a human presence indicator, such as stylized letters, may be displayed during or after the presentation of an advertisement to be copied by a user to indicate presence during the advertisement. When the challenge relating to ad viewing is correctly answered, a value associated with viewing the ad may be credited to a user account, either locally or at a clearinghouse or other repository.
US08099322B2
A time factor feature generation system includes: a use status grasping portion that extracts transition data showing variations in degree of use of a site from log data; a variation data generating portion that generates, based on the transition data, variation data expressing the variations in degree of use of the site as a group Y of values showing the degree of use of the site; a time factor data recording portion in which a plurality of time factors and time factor values of each of the plurality of time factors are recorded; a time factor extracting portion that generates groups Di of time factor values, each of which corresponds to a time factor extracted from among the plurality of time factors; and a time factor feature generating portion 13 that calculates coefficients ai such that a square of an error b has a minimum value in an equation in which the groups Di and the group Y are used as an explaining variable and an explained variable, respectively, thereby to generate data showing a time factor feature of a use status of the site. By this configuration, the time factor feature generation system generates data quantitatively showing a time factor feature of a use status of a site.
US08099315B2
A user interest profile, which indicates a portion-varying level of user interest toward a first streaming media item, is determined. The user interest profile is based on a plurality of ratings inputted by a user for a plurality of respective portions of the first streaming media item. A second streaming media item is recommended to the user based on the user interest profile.
US08099313B2
A method of representing user tasks to be performed by one or more of a plurality of electronic devices in a task orchestration system. Each device includes therein a function description specifying a function that the device can perform. The function descriptions are obtained from one or more of the devices, task descriptions that describe device functionalities required for certain tasks are obtained, and task suggestion are generated based on the obtained device function descriptions and task descriptions. Each task suggestion represents a user task as an abstraction of on or more of the obtained device descriptions and task descriptions. The tasks suggestion are displayed on a display for the user to select from, wherein the user selected task suggestion is to be performed by orchestration (automation) of one or more of the devices based on task descriptions that use device functionalities described in the device function descriptions.
US08099311B2
A routing system and method efficiently routes tasks to users who are members of a large and geographically diverse workforce. Generally, limited information is known about each user's skills and behavioral factors. Based on a profile containing the known information about a user, task is efficiently allocated and routed to a user by matching attributes of the task to the profile using a neural network and a stochastic model. Feedback is collected by the routing system based on the user's handling of the task and on whether a solution provided by the user was accepted. Over time, as more feedback is collected, the profile and/or the neural network are refined which allows for more efficient routing of future tasks.
US08099310B2
A maintenance scheduling system that lays out a maintenance schedule for an image forming apparatus includes an actual-use-result acquiring unit that acquires actual use result information of consumables, a failure-probability-distribution estimating unit that estimates failure probability distributions of the consumables, a cost-related-constant acquiring unit that acquires cost related constants of the consumables, a first cost calculating unit that calculates, for each of plural visit interval values, cost per unit time required for the image forming apparatus, a visit-interval calculating unit that calculates the visit interval value giving minimum cost, a second cost calculating unit that calculates, for each of plural replacement interval values, cost per unit time required for the image forming apparatus, a replacement-interval calculating unit that calculates a calculated replacement interval value, and a maintenance-schedule presenting unit that presents the next visit time and at least one of the consumables to be replaced in the visit.
US08099304B2
A clinical data processing system systematically organizes and analyzes clinically significant information of a patient using a result flag indicating a critical or abnormal result to automate display of a view of clinical data in various contexts including diagnosis, insurance, medical complaint assessment and others to improve patient care. A system for use in processing patient clinical data for access by a user includes a repository associating an observation with a clinical significance indicator and with data indicating observations relevant to evaluation of the observation having the associated clinical significance indicator. A clinical data processor uses the repository fork automatically providing data for display in response to receiving data representing an input observation and an associated clinical significance indicator. The data for display supports a user in making a patient assessment and includes the input observation and associated relevant clinical data items. A display processor initiates generation of data representing an image including the data for display.
US08099292B2
An audio encoder and decoder use architectures and techniques that improve the efficiency of multi-channel audio coding and decoding. The described strategies include various techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or independently. For example, an audio encoder performs a pre-processing multi-channel transform on multi-channel audio data, varying the transform so as to control quality. The encoder groups multiple windows from different channels into one or more tiles and outputs tile configuration information, which allows the encoder to isolate transients that appear in a particular channel with small windows, but use large windows in other channels. Using a variety of techniques, the encoder performs flexible multi-channel transforms that effectively take advantage of inter-channel correlation. An audio decoder performs corresponding processing and decoding. In addition, the decoder performs a post-processing multi-channel transform for any of multiple different purposes.
US08099264B2
A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial model data storage device and a processor. The processor may cooperate with the geospatial model data storage device for identifying a plurality of localized error regions within a geospatial model data set, calculating an overall error value for the geospatial model data set, and inpainting at least one of the localized error regions and re-calculating the overall error value, and stopping inpainting when the overall error value is below an error threshold.
US08099258B2
A sensor authenticated to a garment transfers information, either wirelessly or wired, to an external data processing device. Such information includes location information, physiometric data of the individual wearing the garment, garment performance and wear data (when the garment is an athletic shoe, for example). The external data processing device can be portable digital media players that are, in turn, in wireless communication with a server computer or other wireless devices.
US08099254B2
The systems and methods described herein provide for the early detection of wire/cable faults. For example, a system may detect electrical/electronic faults with power lines, data lines, communication lines, coaxial cables, and the like (generally referred to herein as “lines”, “wires”, and “cables”) by providing sacrificial materials including a conductive material external to the lines. A processor may be coupled to the conductive material to transmit a control signal along the conductive material of the line to determine whether the line is degrading. That is, when the sacrificial material wears away and exposes the conductive sacrificial material in the line, that conductive material may begin to experience faults. The faults in the external conductive material may serve as precursors to the overall degradation of the line. Thus, the line may be repaired or replaced prior to the degradation of the line itself.
US08099250B2
A method of determining parameter values used in impedance analysis of a subject. The method includes using a processing system to determine a number of impedance measurements at a corresponding number of frequencies. The impedance measurements are used to determine estimates of parameter values, with the estimates being used to determine theoretical impedance values based on the parameter value estimates. The theoretical impedance values are compared to the measured impedance values to allow a modification direction to be determined for at least one of the parameter value estimates. This is then used to modify at least one parameter value estimate, with the parameter values being determined at least in part from one or more modified parameter value estimates.
US08099246B1
Embodiments of a system (such as a computer system), a circuit, a method and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for use with the computer system are described. In these embodiments, one or more physical characteristics of a device may be monitored, and the measured values may be used to assess the reliability of a device. In particular, using hardware and/or software, the probability that the device will be unable to restart if the device is switched to a powered-on operating mode may be determined based at least in part on the one or more measured values and predetermined probabilities of occurrence of one or more failure mechanisms in the device. If the probability is less than a threshold value, the device may be safely transitioned to a powered-on operating mode. However, if the probability exceeds the threshold value, the device may be kept in a power-saving mode until remedial action is taken.
US08099241B2
The present invention is a method and apparatus for determining oil based mud contamination of a hydrocarbon fluid obtained from a wellbore during a formation testing. The invention includes receiving a model for simulating the contamination and receiving an empirical equation for computing the contamination. At a given pumping time, a simulated contamination is generated based on the model and an empirically computed contamination is generated based on the first empirical equation. The simulated contamination and empirically computed contamination are compared and a determination as to which is more reliable is made. Revision of the first model or first empirical equation based is then performed.
US08099231B1
A control system for an engine includes an injection control module, a processing module, and a malfunction detection module. The injection control module commands a fuel injector to operate in a split injection mode. The processing module that measures engine vibration during a period after commanding the split injection mode. The malfunction detection module detects a malfunction of the fuel injector based on a comparison between the measured engine vibration and expected engine vibration.
US08099228B2
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can generate exhaust pressure pulsation at an early period while suppressing the degradation of volumetric efficiency and can effectively utilize a scavenging effect while softening a torque difference, when a request to enhance the exhaust pressure pulsation is made in the internal combustion engine which includes a variable valve mechanism that makes a valve overlap period changeable, and a variable nozzle type turbocharger.
US08099220B2
A powertrain control includes monitoring map preview information, determining a road gradient factor based upon the map preview information, and adapting a transmission shift schedule based upon the road gradient factor.
US08099218B2
A method of operating a paving system includes establishing a plan for paving a work area which is based on a positional temperature model. The method further includes receiving temperature data for paving material and comparing the temperature data with data predicted by the positional temperature model. Operation of the paving system is adjusted where actual data differs from model predicted data. A paving system and control system are provided having an electronic control unit configured to compare electronic temperature data with a positional temperature model for paving material. The electronic control unit can control machines of the paving system based on comparing actual data with model predicted data, and can further update either or both of a plan for paving a work area and the positional temperature model itself based on differences between actual data and model predicted data. A complete temperature profile of a paving work area, including a comparison with the model may be recorded in computer readable memory for forensic and predictive analysis.
US08099201B1
The present example a vertical profile display system with enhanced temporal depiction of navigation information. Such a display, or user interface, may advantageously display information relating to the terrain an aircraft is traveling through based on time ahead of the aircraft to a terrain feature or event, rather than distance to the feature or event. Time to a particular feature may typically be displayed with altitude of the aircraft displayed on the Y-axis. However in alternative examples other types of displays, such as three dimensional displays and the like may be substituted for a two dimensional Cartesian display.
US08099199B2
There is provided a digital controller which can generate no oscillation even if sensing a load side and enables control of supplying a desired voltage to the load. In an power amplifier which supplies an output voltage vo to the load connected via a load connecting line, a load voltage vL and the output voltage vo are periodically sampled to calculate a manipulating variable ξ1 from the output voltage vo, the load voltage vL and an arbitrary target value r. Based on the manipulating variable ξ1 calculated, a control signal is output to the power amplifier. As a result, when connecting an LC filter with a load device 9 of the power amplifier intended for a control target and besides the load connecting line is long, a robust digital controller without generating oscillation even if sensing the load side is performed can be realized.
US08099194B2
Included are embodiments for demand control. At least one embodiment of a method includes sending a first control signal, the first control signal configured to indicate a first supply for an environment, the first supply based on a first environmental factor and a control setting and determining a change in a second environmental factor. Some embodiments include calculating a second supply for the environment, based on the determined change and sending a second control signal, the second control signal configured to indicate the second supply for the environment.
US08099187B2
A credential production system and methods for securely processing a credential substrate and tracking quantities of consumable material using a credentials production system and secured consumable supplies. The system includes a consumable supply and a memory that contains a state identifier that defines a state of the supply. A supply manager is configured to access the memory and set the state identifier to one of a production disabled state and a production enabled state. The system also includes a credential production device that is configured to receive the state of the supply. The credential production device is authorized to process a credential substrate using the consumable supply when the state identifier is set to the production enabled state, and the credential production device is prevented form processing the credential substrate using the supply when the state identifier is set to the production disabled state.
US08099182B1
Embodiments described herein facilitate an analysis of a game simulation of a series of sporting events that occur over a duration of time. A plurality of parameters may be associated with individual players in a series of sporting events. An input may be detected from a user of the game simulation. The input may indicate a preference of the user for how one or more of the plurality of parameters are to be valued in relation to one another. An overall value for one or more participants in the game simulation may be indicated, where the overall value corresponds to a value of the plurality of parameters and to the input.
US08099181B2
A method for the computer-aided regulation and/or control of a technical system is provided. In the method, first a simulation model of the technical system is created, to which subsequently a plurality of learning and/or optimization methods are applied. Based on the results of these methods, the method best suited for the technical system is selected. The selected learning and/or optimization method is then used to regulate the technical system. Based on the simulation model, the method can thus be used to train an initial controller, which can be used as an intelligent controller, and is not modified during further regulation of the technical system.
US08099179B2
A dual-redundant propulsion-by-wire control architecture with robust monitoring is presented to increase system availability without compromising safety. The dual-redundant controllers are able to cross-monitor and self-monitor. Self monitoring is effected at the application level and built-in system tests are performed. The monitor functions are set as high priority tasks. The first controller controls operation of a first propulsion system, monitors operation of a second controller, and, self-monitors. The second controller controls operation of a second propulsion system, monitors operation of the first controller, and, self-monitors. Each controller is operable to identify faults occurring in the first and the second controller, and implement an alternate operating control scheme for the respective propulsion system when a fault is identified. The first controller is signally connected to the second controller by substantially redundant communications buses.
US08099175B2
A medical electrical lead includes a flexible, insulative body defining a proximal region, an intermediate region, and a distal region. The proximal region is configured to be implanted at a subcutaneous implantation site, and is dimensioned to extend from an implantation location of the pulse generator to a location distal to a cardiovascular system entry site. The intermediate region is configured to extend distally from the proximal region to a location distal to a superior vena cava of a patient's heart, and the distal region is configured to extend distally from the intermediate region within the patient's heart. The lead further includes an armoring layer disposed on the lead body covering at least the proximal region.
US08099173B2
An implantable medical lead for coupling to an implantable pulse generator may be configured for improved safety. The lead may include: a first electrode; a second electrode in electrical communication with the first electrode; and an active circuit element in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode. The active circuit element may be configured to change an impedance of the lead. The active circuit element may be configured to change the impedance of the lead in response to a pacing signal or a signal having opposite polarity to a pacing signal. A method of using an implantable medical lead for improved safety may include changing an impedance of an implantable medical lead from a relatively high impedance to a relatively low impedance and/or changing an impedance of an implantable medical lead from a relatively low impedance to a relatively high impedance.
US08099169B1
A push-pull amplifier efficiency provides a 4:1 (12 dB) course adjustment of power output by using a single digital control input. The amplifier is provided with an input voltage (VDD) having sixteen steps ranging from 1.25 volts to 3.00 volts. Based on the digital control, an integrated circuit switches between a high power mode and a low power mode. In the low power mode, the output voltage is equivalent to the input voltage. In the high power mode, the amplifier provides an output of twice the input voltage (or four times the power).
US08099167B1
Methods and devices for treating anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock, bronchial constriction, and/or asthma include providing an electrical impulse to a selected region of the vagus nerve of a patient suffering from anaphylaxis to block and/or modulate nerve signals that would regulate the function of, for example, myocardial tissue, vasodilation/constriction and/or pulmonary tissue.
US08099166B2
An implantable heart stimulating device has an ECG sensing unit to receive heart potential signals from sensing electrodes at an electrode lead arranged in connection with a patient's heart. The ECG sensing unit is provided with a programmable make-break threshold. The device further has a timer adapted to generate a make-break detection period, and a counter. The counter is adapted to count the number of times that the amplitude of the heart potential signal exceeds the programmable make-break threshold during the make-break detection period. When the number of times is higher than a predetermined value, the ECG obtained during the make-break detection period is stored in an ECG storage unit.
US08099162B2
The invention relates to a device of ocular iontophoresis for delivering active substances, comprising a reservoir having an outer wall and a hollow body at least partly delimited by the outer wall, wherein the hollow body is capable of receiving an electrical conductive medium and active substances contained in the medium and has an outlet defining a surface, so-called “application surface”, intended to receive a determine part of an eyeball surface, the application surface being at least partly limited by an outer line concave towards the optical axis of the eyeball, wherein the outer wall extends from the outer line with a global outwardly with respect to the said optical axis.
US08099143B2
An information processing apparatus includes an opening/closing mechanism in which a first casing and a second casing are hinge-connected via a hinge unit and the first casing and the second casing perform opening and closing operations via the hinge unit and a rotation mechanism in which the second casing is rotated about a twisting central axis which protrudes and contacts the hinge unit and rotatably supports the second casing, in which in a closed state where one face of the first: casing and one face of the second casing are overlapped one another, a clearance between the casings is set to have a first distance, and in another closed state where the other face of the first casing and the other face of the second casing are overlapped one another, the clearance between the casings is set to have a second distance different from the first distance.
US08099133B2
The present invention relates to an antenna system (1), a method and an apparatus (20) for directing a received signal (RX), along selected signal path/paths (12, 13, 14, 15), such that the operation of any of the radio base stations (40, 50) in the antenna system (1) depends on the selected signal path/paths (12, 13, 14, 15). The antenna system (1) is comprised of a filter combiner (10) connected to radio base stations (40, 50) that are of different radio access networks. The apparatus (20) of the antenna system further comprises a duplex filter (21), coupled to the filter combiner (10), and adapted to receive/transmit signals of different access networks. The duplex filter (21) further comprises a transmitter filter (21a) and two receiver filters (21b, 21c). The receiver filters (21b and 21c) are further connected to a switch (22), said switch (22) is adapted to direct the received signal along one or several selected signal paths (12, 13, 14, 15) such that the operation of any of the radio base stations (40, 50) is dependent on which signal path/paths that is/are selected.
US08099132B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate employing downlink precoding based on uplink sounding channel measurement and channel reciprocity in time division duplex or time division multiplex systems. In particular, mechanism are provided that enable downlink precoding in situations where user equipment antenna configuration includes an unequal number of transmit chains and receive chains. A mobile device transmits modulated sounding reference signals on each antenna during a calibration stage. The mobile device then transmits non-modulated sounding reference signals during a normal mode. A base station utilizes the modulated and non-modulated sounding reference signals to restore a downlink channel estimate employed in downlink precoding.
US08099127B2
Method and apparatus for configuring a transmitter circuit to support multiple modes and/or frequency bands. In an embodiment, a pre-driver amplifier (pDA) in a transmit (TX) signal path is selectively bypassed by a controllable switch. The switch can be controlled based on a mode of operation of the transmitter circuit. Further techniques are disclosed for selectively coupling the output of a driver amplifier (DA) to at least one of a plurality of off-chip connections, each connection coupling the DA output to a set of off-chip components.
US08099125B2
Improvement of wireless communications of a wireless device may include storing a preferred roaming list containing information associated with communications carriers arranged in a predetermined order. It may be determined that a signal strength of a first communications signal of a first communications carrier currently being received by a wireless device drops below a signal strength threshold value. A second communications carrier in the preferred roaming list having a second communications signal with a higher signal strength than the signal strength of the first communications signal may be selected. A time interval over which to receive the second communications signal from the second communications carrier may be initiated and a switch may occur from receiving the second communications signal from the second communications carrier to receiving a third communications signal from a communications carrier in the preferred roaming list in response to completion of the time interval.
US08099124B2
A system and method for determining an operating mode for a mobile unit (“MU”), comprising defining a plurality of spatial regions, tracking at least one activity of the MU when the MU is oriented within the one of the plurality of spatial regions, determining an orientation of the mobile unit, and selecting the operating mode based on the at least one of the orientation and an activity of the MU when the MU is oriented within the one of the plurality of spatial regions.
US08099120B2
A method and device for enabling selective privacy in a push to talk (PTT) wireless group communication session provides improved control over sharing of user identity information. The method includes processing at a PTT server a request for selective privacy. The PTT server then processes one or more selective privacy parameters, whereby at least a first session participant is enabled to receive an identification of a second session participant and a third session participant is not enabled to receive an identification of the second session participant. The PTT server then facilitates the PTT wireless group communication session between at least the first session participant, second session participant, and third session participant according to the one or more selective privacy parameters.
US08099117B2
Broadband messaging gateways, SMS-C's, and associated methods are disclosed that attempt to deliver SMS messages over a broadband data network as opposed to a voice network. When a mobile device sends a Mobile Originated (MO) SMS message, the mobile device sends the MO SMS message to a broadband data network instead of the voice network. The broadband data network then routes the MO SMS message to the appropriate SMS-C. When an SMS-C receives a Mobile Terminated (MT) SMS message destined for a mobile device, the SMS-C forwards the MT SMS message to the broadband data network instead of the voice network. Thus, SMS messages are offloaded from the voice network to the broadband data network.
US08099112B2
A network entity includes a controller adapted to operate a location-based application for initiating a location reporting session. The location reporting session includes determining and reporting a current location of a mobile station based on one or more parameters having one or more associated values, where, when the session is a periodic location reporting session, one of the parameters may be a periodicity of reporting the current location of the mobile station. The location-based application is also adapted to change the value of one or more of the parameters during the location reporting session. The same location reporting session may therefore continue based on the changed values of the respective parameter(s).
US08099103B2
A method for locating mobile terminals is provided. First, information of a home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) of a target mobile terminal, the location of which is to be determined, is checked in response to a location service request from a client. Then, information of a visited PLMN, where the target mobile terminal is currently located, is checked based on the checked information of the home PLMN. The home PLMN calculates location assistance information of the visited PLMN using specific location information of the visited PLMN. The location assistance information is transferred to the target mobile terminal. This allows location information of a mobile terminal to be obtained irrespective of the area or communication network where the mobile terminal is located. It is thus possible to locate a mobile terminal in an area where no location assistance information is provided.
US08099101B2
A method for the automated management of services envisaged by a predetermined communications plan of a telecommunication system on-board a ship includes radiocommunication resources. The method defines static constraints or criteria, indicates the nominal characteristics of the resources forming part of the on-board system, and dynamic constraints or criteria, and indicates the state of use and the current operating conditions of the resources. The method also includes searching for a resource adapted to perform a service required, on the basis of the static constraints; checking for availability of the resource on the basis of the dynamic constraints; assigning the resource to the service required, if it is available, or otherwise assigning a different resource available, selected on the basis of the static and dynamic constraints or criteria.
US08099095B2
A novel and improved method and apparatus provide for controlling an operation of an access terminal while processing a signal from an access point in a communication system. Various aspects of the invention provide for an access terminal to disable a handoff process when its demodulator or decoder is operating to demodulate or decode a control message received from an access point. The operation of the access terminal is controlled in a manner that prevents terminating prematurely the demodulation and decoding process of a control signal by a handoff process. As a result, the access terminal may continue operating in a normal wake up/ sleep cycle period while conserving its battery power.
US08099094B2
A method for neighbor scanning in a wireless local area network having a station, a first access point (AP) to which the station is associated, and a second AP begins by generating timing information regarding a beacon signal sent by the second AP. The timing information is reported from the first AP to the station. The station schedules a time, based on the timing information, to listen for the beacon signal transmitted by the second AP.
US08099090B2
A unitary handheld portable module includes a keypad for entering data and a display for displaying data. A base module is configured to be coupled with and communicate through a telephone line and includes a keypad for dialing a telephone number and a display for displaying information. The portable and base modules are configured to have a mounted configuration in which the portable module is removably mounted on the base module and covers the base module's display, and the modules communicate with each other for the portable module's display to display information relating to operation of the base module.
US08099080B1
Systems and methods which facilitate wireless communications within a controlled environment in a controlled manner are shown. Embodiments operate to recognize wireless communications, whether voice, text, video, or data, terminating within a controlled environment facility and control one or more aspects of the communication using a call processing platform or other communication control system. In addition to providing a higher percentage of calls completed calls, embodiments of the invention provide improved investigatory tools for the controlled environment facility through controlling, monitoring, redirecting, and/or interrupting wireless communications. Embodiments deploy one or more wireless communication nodes in communication with a call processing platform operating in association with the controlled environment facility, such that wireless communications passing through the wireless communication nodes are subject to call processing by the call processing platform.
