US08110528B2
The present invention relates to novel active compound combinations comprising at least one known compound of the formula (I) in which R is as defined in the description, and a further known active compound from the class of the neonicotinoids, which combinations are highly suitable for controlling animal pests such as insects.
US08110525B2
A method of preparing oil-absorbing fibers by: a) fully dissolving a dispersant and a deionized water in a reaction vessel, adding a methacrylate monomer and an initiator to a reactor and stirring to form a homogenous solution, transferring the homogenous solution into the reaction vessel, charging nitrogen gas, stirring, raising temperature to 70-80° C., allowing to react for 2-6 hours, raising temperature to 90-100° C., allowing to react for 2-4 hours, collecting a resultant product, washing, drying, and obtaining a white resin; b) drying the white resin, mixing with a swelling agent, and sealing the mixture at room temperature for 48-96 hours to yield a homogenous gel; c) grinding the gel completely, spinning by a plunger spinner, and coagulating with a coagulation bath to yield an as-spun oil-absorbing fiber; and d) drawing the as-spun oil-absorbing fiber with a draw ratio of 2-6 to yield oil-absorbing fibers.
US08110514B2
An optical glass that is an oxide glass having a very high refractive index in spite of its low-dispersion property, having excellent glass stability and having less susceptibility to coloring.
US08110513B2
A glass composition comprising: (A) TeO2 (50-95 mol %); (B) B2O3 (1-33 mol %); (C) ZnO (1-37 mol %); (D) Bi2O3 (1-18 mol %); (E) P2O5 (0-15 mol %); (F) R2O (0-13 mol %), where R represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, and K; (G) MO (0-13 mol %), where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba; (H) TiO2 (0-13 mol %); (I) Nb2O5 (0-10 mol %); (J) Ta2O5 (0-13 mol %); (K) L2O3 (0-11 mol %), where L represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of yttrium and lanthanoids; and (L) the total amount of P2O5, R2O, MO, TiO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, and L2O3 described in (E) to (K), respectively, is 0-15 mol %.
US08110509B2
A manufacturing apparatus is provided, which can improve a utilization efficiency of an evaporation material, reduce manufacturing costs of a light emitting device having an organic light emitting element, and shorten manufacturing time necessary to manufacture a light emitting device. According to the present invention, a multi-chamber manufacturing apparatus having plural film forming chambers includes a first film forming chamber for subjecting a first substrate to evaporation and a second film forming chamber for subjecting a second substrate to evaporation. In each film forming chamber, plural organic compound layers are laminated, thereby improving the throughput. Further, it is possible that the respective substrates in the plural film forming chambers are subjected to evaporation in the same manner in parallel, while another film forming chamber undergoes cleaning.
US08110508B2
In an etching composition for an under-bump metallurgy (UBM) layer and a method of forming a bump structure, the etching composition includes about 40% by weight to about 90% by weight of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight of an aqueous basic solution including ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) or tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, about 0.01% by weight to about 10% by weight of an alcohol compound, and about 2% by weight to 30% by weight of an ethylenediamine-based chelating agent. The etching composition may effectively etch the UBM layer including titanium or titanium tungsten and remove impurities. A method of forming a bump structure may employ such an etching composition.
US08110505B2
Provided are a lead frame, a semiconductor package, and a method of manufacturing the lead frame and the semiconductor package. The lead frame includes: a die pad on which a semiconductor chip is installable; a plurality of lead patterns formed around a circumference of the die pad; an insulating organic material filling etching spaces interposed between the die pad and the lead patterns and structurally supporting the die pad and the lead patterns; and a pre-plating layer formed on both upper and lower surfaces of the die pad and the lead patterns.
US08110500B2
Plating stub resonance in a circuit board may be mitigated by increasing surface roughness of the plating stub conductor. Roughening the plating stub increases its resistance due to the skin effect at higher frequencies, which decreases the quality factor of the transmission line and consequently increases the damping factor, to reduce any resonance that would occur in the plating stub as formed prior to roughening. The surface roughness can be increased in a variety of ways, including chemical processes, by selectively applying a laser beam, or by applying an etch-resistance material in selected locations.
US08110499B2
An insulation layer may be formed on an object having a contact region. The insulation layer may be partially etched to form an opening exposing the contact region. A material layer including silicon and oxygen may be formed on the exposed contact region. A metal layer may be formed on the material layer including silicon and oxygen. The material layer including silicon and oxygen may be reacted with the metal layer to form a metal oxide silicide layer at least on the contact region. A conductive layer may be formed on the metal oxide silicide layer to fill up the opening.
US08110490B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising forming a gate oxide layer over a substrate subjecting the gate oxide layer to a first nitridation process, subjecting the gate oxide layer to a first anneal process after the first nitridation process, subjecting the gate oxide layer to a second nitridation process after the first anneal process, subjecting the gate oxide layer to a second anneal process after the second nitridation process, and forming a gate electrode over the gate oxide.
US08110482B2
A method for improved growth of a semipolar (Al,In,Ga,B)N semiconductor thin film using an intentionally miscut substrate. Specifically, the method comprises intentionally miscutting a substrate, loading a substrate into a reactor, heating the substrate under a flow of nitrogen and/or hydrogen and/or ammonia, depositing an InxGa1-xN nucleation layer on the heated substrate, depositing a semipolar nitride semiconductor thin film on the InxGa1-xN nucleation layer, and cooling the substrate under a nitrogen overpressure.
US08110471B2
A field-effect transistor (FET) with a round-shaped nano-wire channel and a method of manufacturing the FET are provided. According to the method, source and drain regions are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of preliminary channel regions is coupled between the source and drain regions. The preliminary channel regions are etched, and the etched preliminary channel regions are annealed to form FET channel regions, the FET channel regions having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.
US08110469B2
Graded dielectric layers and methods of fabricating such dielectric layers provide dielectrics in a variety of electronic structures for use in a wide range of electronic devices and systems. In an embodiment, a dielectric layer is graded with respect to a doping profile across the dielectric layer. In an embodiment, a dielectric layer is graded with respect to a crystalline structure profile across the dielectric layer. In an embodiment, a dielectric layer is formed by atomic layer deposition incorporating sequencing techniques to generate a doped dielectric material.
US08110463B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes a first step of forming a defect suppression film suppressing increase in a defect due to implantation of an impurity on a semiconductor substrate, a second step of forming an active region on a surface of the semiconductor substrate by implanting the impurity through the defect suppression film, a third step of removing the defect suppression film and a fourth step of forming an interface state suppression film suppressing increase in an interface state density of the active region on the active region.
US08110458B2
In general, in one aspect, a method includes using the Germanium nanowire as building block for high performance logic, memory and low dimensional quantum effect devices. The Germanium nanowire channel and the SiGe anchoring regions are formed simultaneously through preferential Si oxidation of epitaxial Silicon Germanium epi layer. The placement of the germanium nanowires is accomplished using a Si fin as a template and the germanium nanowire is held on Si substrate through SiGe anchors created by masking the two ends of the fins. High dielectric constant gate oxide and work function metals wrap around the Germanium nanowire for gate-all-around electrostatic channel on/off control, while the Germanium nanowire provides high carrier mobility in the transistor channel region. The germanium nanowire transistors enable high performance, low voltage (low power consumption) operation of logic and memory devices.
US08110457B2
To provide a semiconductor device with improved reliability which includes a metal silicide layer formed by a salicide process. After forming gate electrodes, an n+-type semiconductor region, and a p+-type semiconductor region for a source or drain, a Ni1−xPtx alloy film is formed over a semiconductor substrate. The alloy film reacts with the gate electrodes, the n+-type semiconductor region, and the p+-type semiconductor region by a first heat treatment to form a metal silicide layer in a (Ni1−yPty)2Si phase. At this time, the first heat treatment is performed at a heat treatment temperature where a diffusion coefficient of Ni is larger than that of Pt. Further, the first heat treatment is performed such that a reacted part of the alloy film remains at the metal silicide layer. This results in y>x. Then, after removing the unreacted part of the alloy film, the metal silicide layer is further subjected to a second heat treatment to form a metal silicide layer in a Ni1−yPtySi phase.
US08110456B2
A self aligning memory device, with a memory element switchable between electrical property states by the application of energy, includes a substrate and word lines, at least the sides of the word lines covered with a dielectric material which defines gaps. An access device within a substrate has a first terminal under a second gap and second terminals under first and third gaps. First and second source lines are in the first and third gaps and are electrically connected to the second terminals. A first electrode in the second gap is electrically connected to the first terminal. A memory element in the second gap is positioned over and electrically connected to the first electrode. A second electrode is positioned over and contacts the memory element. The first contact, the first electrode, the memory element and the second electrode are self aligning. A portion of the memory element may have a sub lithographically dimensioned width.
US08110454B2
A transistor comprises a source region of a first conductivity type and electrically communicating with a first semiconductor region. The transistor also comprises a drain region of the first conductivity type and electrically communicating with a second semiconductor region that differs from the first semiconductor region. An interface exists between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region. The transistor also comprises a voltage tap region comprising at least a portion located in a position that is closer to the interface than the drain region. A mixed technology circuit is also described.
US08110450B2
A method is used to form a self-aligning thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a gate contact formed with a state-switchable material, and a dielectric layer to isolate the gate contact. A source-drain layer, which includes a source contact, and a drain contact are formed with a source-drain material. An area of the gate contact is exposed to a form of energy, wherein the energy transforms a portion of the state switchable material from a non-conductive material to a conductive material, the conductive portion defining the gate contact. A semiconductor material is formed between the source contact and the drain contact.
US08110448B2
In one embodiment, a two terminal multi-channel ESD device is configured to include a zener diode and a plurality of P-N diodes.
US08110442B2
A method of manufacturing a thin TFT over a flexible substrate is provided. In formation of a TFT on a surface of a substrate having heat resistance, a liquid repellent film is formed selectively on a surface of the substrate, and an organic film is formed thereover. An element such as a TFT is formed over the organic film. Since the liquid repellent film is formed over the substrate, adhesion between the substrate and the organic film is low; therefore, the element which is formed can be peeled off from the substrate easily. Further, since the element is not transferred to another substrate, a semiconductor device which is thinner than conventional ones can be manufactured. In order to form the liquid repellent film selectively, light exposure of a front surface or a back surface of the substrate provided with a mask, a droplet discharging method, or the like is used.
US08110435B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed, which is capable of realizing an extension of a cleaning cycle for a processing chamber, the method comprising preheating a substrate; placing the preheated substrate onto a substrate-supporting unit provided in a susceptor while the preheated substrate is maintained at a predetermined height from an upper surface of the susceptor provided in a processing chamber; and forming a thin film on the preheated substrate, wherein a temperature of the preheated substrate is higher than a processing temperature for forming the thin film in the processing chamber.
US08110429B2
A resistance random access memory in a bridge structure is disclosed that comprises a contact structure where first and second electrodes are located within the contact structure. The first electrode has a circumferential extending shape, such as an annular shape, surrounding an inner wall of the contact structure. The second electrode is located within an interior of the circumferential extending shape and separated from the first electrode by an insulating material. A resistance memory bridge is in contact with an edge surface of the first and second electrodes. The first electrode in the contact structure is connected to a transistor and the second electrode in the contact structure is connected to a bit line. A bit line is connected to the second electrode by a self-aligning process.
US08110427B2
A stacked-layered thin film solar cell and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The stacked-layered thin film solar cell includes a front electrode layer, a stacked-layered light-absorbing structure, and a back electrode layer. The stacked-layered light-absorbing structure has a p-i-n-type layered structure and consists essentially of I-III-VI compounds, wherein the group III elements at least include indium (In) and aluminum (Al). The p-type layer of the stacked-layered light-absorbing structure is near the front electrode layer while the n-type layer is near the back electrode layer. The Al/In concentration ratio in the p-type layer is higher than that in the n-type layer.
US08110422B2
Starting point regions for cutting 8a, 8b extending along lines to cut 5a, 5b are initially formed in an object to be processed 1. The starting point regions for cutting 8b have modified regions 7b formed by irradiating the object 1 with laser light while locating a converging point within the object 1 and are formed in parts extending along the lines to cut 5b excluding portions 34b intersecting the lines to cut 5a. This makes the starting point regions for cutting 8b much less influential when cutting the object 1 from the starting point regions for cutting 8a acting as a start point, whereby bars with precise cleavage surfaces can reliably be obtained. Therefore, it is unnecessary to form a starting point region for cutting along the lines to cut 5b in each of a plurality of bars, whereby the productivity of semiconductor laser elements can be improved.
US08110421B2
A method for manufacturing a light emitting device includes: forming a multilayer body including a light emitting layer so that a first surface thereof is adjacent to a first surface side of a translucent substrate; forming a dielectric film on a second surface side opposite to the first surface of the multilayer body, the dielectric film having a first and second openings on a p-side electrode and an n-side electrode provided on the second surface; forming a seed metal on the dielectric film and an exposed surface of the first and second openings; forming a p-side metal interconnect layer and an n-side metal interconnect layer on the seed metal; separating the seed metal into a p-side seed metal and an n-side seed metal by removing a part of the seed metal, which is provided between the p-side metal interconnect layer and the n-side metal interconnect layer; and forming a resin in a space from which the seed metal is removed.
US08110415B2
A chip package includes: a substrate; a plurality of conductive connections in contact with the silicon carrier; a silicon carrier in a prefabricated shape disposed above the substrate, the silicon carrier including: a plurality of through silicon vias for providing interconnections through the silicon carrier to the chip; liquid microchannels for cooling; a liquid coolant flowing through the microchannels; and an interconnect to one or more chips or chip stacks.
US08110405B2
An analysis of an object dyed with fluorescent coloring agents carried out with the aid of a fluorescent microscope which is modified for improved resolving power and called a nanoscope. The method is carried out with a microscope having an optical system for visualizing and projecting a sample image to a video camera which records and digitizes images of individual fluorescence molecules and nanoparticles at a low noise, a computer for recording and processing images, a sample holder arranged in front of an object lens, a fluorescent radiation exciting source and a set of replaceable suppression filters for separating the sample fluorescent light. Separately fluorescing visible molecules and nanoparticles are periodically formed in different object parts, the laser produces the oscillation thereof which is sufficient for recording the non-overlapping images of the molecules and nanoparticles and for decoloring already recorded fluorescent molecules, wherein tens of thousands of pictures of recorded individual molecule and nanoparticle images, in the form of stains having a diameter on the order of a fluorescent light wavelength multiplied by a microscope amplification, are processed by a computer for searching the coordinates of the stain centers and building the object image according to millions of calculated stain center co-ordinates corresponding to the co-ordinates of the individual fluorescent molecules and nanoparticles. With this invention it is possible to obtain a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional image with a resolving power better than 20 nm and to record a color image by dyeing proteins, nucleic acids and lipids with different coloring agents.
US08110403B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an immunoassay method which is capable of simultaneous quantification of a plurality of test substances under a same analysis condition, through adjustment of the measurement sensitivity/range by simply varying the size of particles for use as labels, without changing the spectra of these particles. The present invention provides an immunoassay method which comprises: simultaneously or step-by step developing respective of the plurality of the test substances and respective of labeling substance particles labeled with first binding substance against the respective of the plurality of the test substances on an insoluble carrier; capturing the test substances and the labeling substance particles in reaction portions on the insoluble carrier that has been immobilized with the respective of second binding substances against the respective of the plurality of the test substances at different positions; and measuring optical characteristic of the labeling substance particles, so as to simultaneously detect the plurality of the test substances, wherein the plurality of the test substances having different detection concentration ranges are simultaneously detected with use of the labeling substance particles which are different in the particle size corresponding to the test substances.
US08110401B2
A blended dye for use in a coolant. In one embodiment of the invention, the blended dye includes a first water miscible dye adapted to fluoresce when illuminated with a light. The first dye preferably has a wavelength of about 340 nm to about 420 nm. The blended dye also includes a second water miscible dye adapted to fluoresce when illuminated with a light having a wavelength of about 400 nm to about 460 nm. The second dye has a different composition from the first dye.
US08110386B2
A lipase powder which is a granulated substance containing a lipase and a solid content of animal milk, a lipase composition wherein said lipase powder is immersed or impregnated in fatty oil, and a method for producing the lipase powder which comprises the step of adding animal milk or cream derived from the animal milk to an aqueous solution containing a lipase, and the step of spray-drying, freeze-drying or solvent-precipitating the mixture thereof are provided. According to the present invention, a lipase powder of which lipase activity and stability are improved can be provided.
US08110382B2
A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.
US08110379B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for targeted integration of an exogenous sequence into the human PPP1R12C locus, for example, for expression of a polypeptide of interest.
US08110371B2
The present invention provides methods for identifying whether or not a patient has, or is at risk of developing drug induced organ damage and methods of treating patients having drug induced organ damage. In particular, the invention relates to a method for identifying whether or not a patent has, or is at risk of developing paracetamol induced liver damage.
US08110366B2
The invention describes specific sialylated structures present on human stem cells and cell populations derived thereof. The invention is especially directed to methods to control the status of stem cells by observing changes in sialylation of the cells; and control of potential contaminations of biological materials; and reagents and methods used in connection with the cells in order to avoid alterations of the cell glycosylation by contaminating materials. The invention is further directed to novel stem cells, the glycosylation of which has been specifically altered.
US08110365B2
Renal injury and inflammation is diagnosed by detecting an elevation in GSK3b level or activity. Inflammation of bodily tissues such as renal tissue is inhibited by administration of GSK3b inhibitory compositions.
US08110363B2
The present invention provides a method for preparing a reference model for cancer relapse prediction that provides higher resolution grading than Gleason score alone. The method encompasses obtaining from different individuals a plurality of prostate carcinoma tissue samples of known clinical outcome representing different Gleason scores; selecting a set of signature genes having an expression pattern that correlates positively or negatively in a statistically significant manner with the Gleason scores; independently deriving a prediction score that correlates gene expression of each individual signature gene with Gleason score for each signature gene in said plurality of prostate carcinoma tissue samples; deriving a prostate cancer gene expression (GEX) score that correlates gene expression of said set of signature genes with the Gleason score based on the combination of independently derived prediction scores in the plurality of prostate cancer tissue samples; and correlating said GEX score with the clinical outcome for each prostate carcinoma tissue sample. A set of signature genes is provided that encompasses all or a sub-combination of GI_2094528, KIP2, NRG1, NBL1, Prostein, CCNE2, CDC6, FBP1, HOXC6, MKI67, MYBL2, PTTG1, RAMP, UBE2C, Wnt5A, MEMD, AZGP1, CCK, MLCK, PPAP2B, and PROK1. Also provided a methods for predicting the probability of relapse of cancer in an individual and methods for deriving a prostate cancer gene expression (GEX) score for a prostate carcinoma tissue sample obtained from an individual.
US08110361B2
Particular aspects confirm the existence of a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in colorectal cancer, and provide novel validated DNA methylation markers associated with CIMP. Additional aspects provide novel methods and compositions for: determining CIMP status in colorectal cancers, determining the relationship between CIMP status and other molecular features of the cancers (e.g., BRAF mutation, KRAS mutation and MSI status); determining the relationship between CIMP status and other variables (e.g., age, sex, tumor location, family history, race, country of origin, tumor characteristics (including, tumor type, tumor grade, invasive margin characteristics, lymphocyte infiltration characteristics, direct spread, lymph node spread, venous spread and type of residual adjacent polyp, if present)); and determining, between subgroups defined by CIMP status and BRAF mutations, effects of selected risk factors (e.g., body mass index, smoking history, alcohol intake, dietary folate intake, folate metabolic enzyme polymorphisms and history of hormonal use).
US08110357B2
The genomic locus responsible for Van Buchem's disease is narrowed to an approximately 92 kb region of human chromosome 17 at 17q21. Individuals afflicted with or carriers of Van Buchem's disease exhibit a 52 kb deletion within this 92 kb region. Methods are provided that permit the differentiation between individuals homozygous for and therefore afflicted with Van Buchem's disease, individuals heterozygous for and therefore carriers of Van Buchem's disease, and individuals who are normal with respect to Van Buchem's disease. Also provided are general methodologies for the detection of a wide variety of large genomic deletions.
US08110339B2
Multi-tone resists can enhance the resolution limit of a lithographic process by advantageously using the changeable solubility of a resist composition as a function of lithographic radiation dosage. By imaging a multi-tone resist with different doses of lithographic radiation in a selected pattern, the pattern can be imparted to the resist upon subsequent development of the resist. In some aspects, a resist composition is utilized having an aliphatic polymer (e.g., a copolymer with fluoropolymer units and/or methacrylate units) with acid labile groups and a plurality of crosslinkable groups that can be crosslinked to other portions of the aliphatic polymer. Other components such as base generators and/or crosslinking agents can also be included. Such compositions can be useful in extending the resolution of UV lithographic radiation processes (e.g., wavelengths less than 200 nm). Other aspects of such compositions and methods are also discussed.
US08110337B2
A polymerizable composition containing: (A) a binder polymer; (B) a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated group; and (C) a compound which has a triarylsulfonium salt structure and in which a sum of Hammett's a constants of all substituents bonded to the aryl skeleton is larger than 0.46.
US08110333B2
A resist composition includes (A) a compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein each of R1 to R13 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that at least one of R1 to R13 is a substituent containing an alcoholic hydroxyl group; Z represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; and X− represents an anion containing a proton acceptor functional group.
US08110326B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer located overlying the conductive substrate which includes a naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide derivative having a specific formula; and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the electrophotographic photoreceptor are provided.
US08110318B2
A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and a pair of separators sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assembly. The separator includes first to third plates. A fuel gas channel is formed between the first and third plates. The fuel gas channel forms a fuel gas pressure chamber over an electrode surface of an anode. The fuel gas pressure chamber is divided into an inner pressure chamber and an outer pressure chamber an arc-shaped wall. Reforming catalyst is provided in the outer pressure chamber.
US08110317B2
The present invention readily provides an electrolyte which is capable of suppressing elution of a radical-quenching material from the electrolyte and has high proton conductivity and excellent durability.The polyelectrolyte is obtainable by chemically bonding a proton-conducting polymer having protonic acid groups to a radical-quenching material having a radical-scavenging capability via moieties other than the protonic acid groups by heating at a temperature of 60° C. or more and 250° C. or less. The proton-conducting polymer is an aromatic polymer, polyether ketone or a polyether ether ketone, or phenol resin, has a sulfonic acid group, and has a hydrogen ion exchange capacity of 0.5 meq/g or more and 10 meq/g or less. The radical-quenching material has at least one methylol group in the molecule.
US08110315B2
A monopolar membrane-electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane with a plurality of cell regions, an anode supporting body and a cathode supporting body on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, respectively having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the cell regions, a plurality of anode and cathode current collectors, each including a current collecting portion to correspond to each aperture of the respective anode or cathode supporting body to collect current, a conducting portion connected to a side of the current collecting portion, and a connecting line that connects the conducting portion to an outside terminal, a plurality of anode and cathode electrodes respectively formed on the and the cathode current collecting portions, and a circuit unit connected to the connecting lines of the anode current collectors and the cathode current collectors, wherein the cells are connected in series or parallel, or electrically separated through the circuit unit.
US08110314B2
A system and a method for suppressing the build up of metal carbonates in the electrolyte, using a porous cell separator is used to allow the use of different electrolyte compositions around the anode (anolyte) and the cathode (catholyte). This cell configuration enables the oxygen cathode to operate in a molten hydroxide electrolyte, and the carbon anode to operate in mixed carbonate-hydroxide melt, so that most of the advantages of using a molten hydroxide electrolyte will be retained.
US08110304B2
A packing material for a lithium cell of the present invention includes a first adhesive layer, an aluminum foil layer, a coating layer, an adhesive resin layer or a second adhesive layer, and a sealant layer laminated sequentially onto one surface of a base material layer, wherein the coating layer includes a layer (A) in which 1 to 100 parts by mass of a phosphoric acid or a phosphate has been blended into 100 parts by mass of a rare earth element based oxide.
US08110299B2
An apparatus and method are provided for improving perpendicular magnetic recording media. The present invention provides media, and a method of fabricating media in a cost-effective manner, with a reduced ruthenium (Ru) content interlayer structure, while meeting media performance requirements. A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is provided comprising a non-magnetic substrate having a surface, and a layer stack situated on the substrate surface. The layer stack comprises, in overlying sequence from the substrate surface a magnetically soft underlayer; an amorphous or crystalline, non-magnetic seed layer; an interlayer structure for crystallographically orienting a layer of a perpendicular magnetic recording material situated on the underlayer; and at least one crystallographically oriented, magnetically hard, perpendicular magnetic recording layer situated on the interlayer structure. The interlayer structure is a stacked structure comprising, in overlying sequence: a chromium alloy situated on the seed layer; and an upper interlayer situated on the chromium alloy.
US08110298B1
Perpendicular magnetic recording media having a magnetic capping layer that is exchange coupled to an underlying perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The magnetic coupling layer is a granular layer having a high saturation magnetization (Ms). The perpendicular magnetic recording layer can include magnetic grains separated by an oxide grain boundary phase.
US08110290B2
A method for forming a multilayer structure on a surface is disclosed. The method comprises forming a body having a surface, the body being substantially light permeable. The method further comprises forming a first layer on the surface of the body, the first layer being substantially light absorbing and having a mark formed therein for permeating light therethrough, and forming a second layer on the first layer, the second layer being substantially light permeable. More specifically, the first layer has a mark formed thereon and light is permeable through the multilayer structure for illuminating the mark.
US08110289B2
An adsorptive body is provided which is high in water permeation and gas permeation and can adsorb, concentrate, separate and remove components present in extremely small amounts in a liquid or gas without causing the dissolution of impurities. The present invention relates to a sintered body comprising a mixture of: thermoplastic resin particles having no functional groups with adsorbability; and resin particles having functional groups with adsorbability bonded through graft polymer chains at the surface.
US08110285B2
A silicon wafer for a photovoltaic cell is produced by a debinding step of a self-supported film formed of at least one main thin layer comprising at least 50% volume of silicon particles, devoid of silicon oxide and encapsulated in a polymer matrix protecting them against oxidation, followed by a sintering step to form the silicon wafer.
US08110281B2
Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.
US08110279B2
A tempered glass sheet article includes a glass sheet having a thickness t, at least one edge, and at least one surface. The at least one edge is connected to the at least one surface by an edge-to-surface corner. The edge-to-surface corner is rounded with a radius r and has a surface compression that is at least 78% of a surface compression measured at or near a center of the at least one surface.
US08110276B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a light diffusion sheet having a favorable cost reduction capability due to excellent scratching preventive property of the front face, and having in addition thereto, a favorable directional light diffusion function, transmittivity of rays of light, and a thin film character; and a backlight unit capable of promoting performances such as luminance as well as price reduction, and thin and light modeling capability. The light diffusion sheet of the present invention has a light diffusion sheet including a transparent substrate layer, and a light diffusion layer overlaid on the front face side of the substrate layer, wherein the light diffusion layer has resin beads and a resin binder, characterized in that the light diffusion layer has protruding parts having a shape of a partial spherical body on the front face in a scattering manner. It is preferred that mean height of the protruding parts be 1 μm or greater and 10 μm or less, mean diameter of the protruding parts be 4 μm or greater and 18 μm or less, mean occupancy rate of the protruding parts be 2% or greater and 20% or less, and surface roughness (Ra) of the light diffusion layer be 1.5 μm or greater and 10 μm or less. As the beads, small monodisperse beads as a principal component, and large beads as a sub component may be included.
US08110273B2
An optical information recording medium, recording/reproducing method thereof, and recording/reproducing apparatus with superior signal quality for high-density recording that has high storage reliability is provided. The optical information recording medium has at least one information layer having a recording layer and a dielectric layer in order on a transparent substrate. The dielectric layer is comprised of greater than or equal to 50 molecule percent and less than or equal to 98 molecule percent of Zn—O, and greater than or equal to 2 molecule percent to less than or equal to 50 molecule percent of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Y—O, Ce—O, Nb—O, Ta—O, Cr—O and Mo—O.
US08110264B2
A transparent article includes a continuous polyester matrix having at least one incompatible filler dispersed therein. The incompatible filler provides domains in the polyester matrix, each domain having a particular dimension, thus providing a range of dimensions for the domains in the article. To create haze, the dimensions are within the range of from about 380 nm to about 720 nm. Once the range of dimensions is determined, a light absorbent composition can be found which absorbs light at a range of wavelengths that at least substantially covers the range of dimensions of the domains. In doing so, it has been found that the haze of the article can be substantially masked. Method for producing the article and for masking the haze are also provided.
US08110257B2
An ink-jet recording method including recording onto a recording medium a black image of composite black using a black ink and color inks, wherein the black ink includes water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant, and a carbon black whose volume average particle diameter is 40 nm to 100 nm, and the color inks include a cyan ink, a magenta ink and a yellow ink, wherein the mass ratio (A/B) of a solid content A to a water-soluble organic solvent content B in the black ink is in the range of 1/8 to 1/15, and wherein the recording medium includes a support with a coating layer, and the amounts of purified water transferred to the recording medium at contact periods of 100 ms and 400 ms at a temperature of 23 C and a relative humidity of 50% are 2 ml/m2 to 35 ml/m2 and 3 ml/m2 to 40 ml/m2 respectively.
US08110253B2
An ink composition is provided that includes compound A represented by Formula (I) below, compound B represented by Formula (II) below, and a polymerizable compound, wherein, in Formula (I), X denotes O, S, or NRa, n1 denotes 0 or 1, Ra, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, and two of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 that are adjacent may be linked to each other to form a ring, and in Formula (II), X denotes O, S, or NRb, n2 denotes 0 or 1, Rb, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, and R18 independently denote a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, and two of R11, R12, R13, and R14 that are adjacent may be linked to each other to form a ring. There is also provided an inkjet recording method comprising (a) a step of discharging the ink composition onto a recording medium, and (b) a step of curing the ink composition by irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation.
US08110251B2
In preferred embodiments, the present invention relates to methods for polymerizing a monomer solution within a cavity covered by a porous membrane to generate a smooth polymer surface. More specifically, the method can be used to provide a medical device or sensor with a smooth polymer surface.
US08110241B2
An instant coffee powder has dried soluble coffee in the form of particles or granules having internal voids filled with entrapped pressurized gas. Advantageously, when the coffee powder is dissolved in a beverage, the instant coffee powder produces a foam on the top surface of the beverage.
US08110237B2
A cooking method for cooking a hollow food item with a wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior volume, a plurality of skewers supporting the food item be piercing the wall through a stem side of the food item. The skewers maintaining the orientation of the food item with the stem side facing down and maintaining a minimum volume of the interior chamber to facilitate the accumulation of steam within the interior chamber.
US08110236B2
A method and apparatus for forming pressed food products can utilize up to 98% chicken breast meat in high profit margin products. Breast meat is marinated and then extruded into a slab which is then frozen and shaped into a plank. The plank is sliced into unit portions which are then pressed into shaped portions with a preferred, or other, press. One preferred press linearly reciprocates unit portions into the press. This or another preferred press imparts three dimension exterior shape to the pressed food products.
US08110233B2
A product packaging for a solid product comprises a base, a lid, and a seal. The base has a top, sides, and a bottom forming a cavity configured and arranged to receive a solid product, and the base has an exterior surface. A texture is on the exterior surface of the base, whereby the texture enhances a user's ability to grip the base when the base is inverted. The seal interconnects the top of the base and the lid and allows the lid to be peeled away from the top of the base.
US08110232B2
Packaging of bananas in containers having designed permeabilities to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene. The containers preferably include a gas-permeable membrane comprising (1) a microporous film, and (2) a polymeric coating on the microporous film. The containers enable storage and/or ripening of bananas under controlled conditions. Using the new containers, bananas can be ripened while they are being transported, or in conventional ripening rooms without opening the bags in which they have been transported. In addition, bananas can be preserved in a satisfactory ripened state for longer periods of time.
US08110226B2
A drug composition comprising a coated bead is used in the manufacture of immediate release and/or controlled release drug compositions. In a specific embodiment, the bead includes an inert core of a water-soluble or water-swellable material, which has been coated with a seal layer formed from a non-polymeric hydrophobic material. The immediate and/or controlled release beads may be used to form tablets or capsules. A method of making the beads by sequential deposition of multiple layers on the inert cores is also described.
US08110224B2
Microparticles consisting of (a) a matrix with a mixture of (a1) at least one hydrophobic, biologically degradable polymer and (a2) optionally at least one water-soluble polymer, (b) a pharmaceutical active ingredient distributed in the matrix, and (c) in addition at least one water-insoluble, surface-active substance from the group of lecithins and phospholipids, distributed in the matrix, and a three-phase emulsion process for their preparation.
US08110222B2
A composite biocompatible hydrogel material includes a porous polymer matrix, the polymer matrix including a plurality of pores and providing a Young's modulus of at least 10 GPa. A calcium comprising salt is disposed in at least some of the pores. The porous polymer matrix can comprise cellulose, including bacterial cellulose. The composite can be used as a bone graft material. A method of tissue repair within the body of animals includes the steps of providing a composite biocompatible hydrogel material including a porous polymer matrix, the polymer matrix including a plurality of pores and providing a Young's modulus of at least 10 GPa, and inserting the hydrogel material into cartilage or bone tissue of an animal, wherein the hydrogel material supports cell colonization in vitro for autologous cell seeding.
US08110220B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising polymers whose solubility characteristics can be changed by incubation and particularly ploy (hydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylamide mono/di-lactate) interpolymers. Another aspect of this invention is the application of such temperature sensitive polymers as release systems of biologically active compounds. The polymers of the present invention comprise monomers, which have modifiable functionality. The functionality of the monomers can for example be modified by the presence of hydrolysable groups. The modification is effected by the incubation, leading to a change of the water solubility characteristics of the polymer. The polymers used in the present invention contain hydrolysable chemical groups. As a result the polymer's solution characteristics, specifically its lower critical solution temperature (LCST), change upon incubation.
US08110219B2
The invention provides stable controlled release monolithic coating compositions for use in coating pharmaceutical oral dosage forms comprising a polyglycol having a melting point greater than 55° C. and an aqueous dispersion of a neutral ester copolymer lacking functional groups.
US08110215B2
The present invention relates to methods and personal care products, such as wipes and absorbent articles, capable of providing a skin health benefit when used in the intended fashion. More specifically, the products described herein comprise at least one fructose polymer capable of inhibiting the adherence of flora to surfaces, such as skin, mucosa, or inanimate surfaces.
US08110213B2
Polymeric materials are used to make a pliable, non-toxic, injectable porous template for vascular ingrowth. The pore size, usually between approximately 100 and 300 microns, allows vascular and connective tissue ingrowth throughout approximately 10 to 90% of the matrix following implantation, and the injection of cells uniformly throughout the implanted matrix without damage to the cells or patient. The introduced cells attach to the connective tissue within the matrix and are fed by the blood vessels. The preferred material for forming the matrix or support structure is a biocompatible synthetic polymer which degrades in a controlled manner by hydrolysis into harmless metabolites, for example, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polyorthoester, polyanhydride, or copolymers thereof. The rate of tissue ingrowth increases as the porosity and/or the pore size of the implanted devices increases. The time required for the tissue to fill the device depends on the polymer crystallinity and is less for amorphous polymers versus semicrystalline polymers. The vascularity of the advancing tissue is consistent with time and independent of the biomaterial composition and morphology.
US08110209B2
The delivery of biopharmaceutical and other therapeutic agents parenterally to an animal via a minimally invasive, low pain administration is provided. The agents are delivered to the patient via, e.g., the epidermal, dermal, or subcutaneous layer of the skin in a concentrated form of injectable paste of slurry.
US08110207B2
The present invention relates to compounds of general formula (I): wherein X is selected from the group consisting of O or S and R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group with from 2 to 23 carbon atoms (C2 to C23), or a cyclic group, and which can contain substituents selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, amino, carboxyl, cyano, nitro, alkylsulfonyl or halogen atoms, a method of obtaining them, cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions containing them and the use thereof for treating, caring for and/or cleaning skin, hair and/or nails, preferably those conditions, disorders or pathologies of the skin, hair and/or nails which require regulating melanogenesis.
US08110199B2
Protein antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae are disclosed, together with nucleic acid sequences encoding them. Their use in vaccines and in screening methods is also described.
US08110191B2
Anti-IL-17 antibodies are identified that are characterized as having a high affinity and slow off rate for human IL-17. The antibodies of the invention may be chimeric, humanized or fully human antibodies, immunoconjugates of the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof. The antibodies of the invention are useful in particular for treating autoimmune, inflammatory, cell proliferative and developmental disorders.
US08110190B2
The present invention is related to a monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody directed against a Factor VIII inhibitor antibody binding to the C1 domain of Factor VIII, as well as to a cell line producing this monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody, to the use of this monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody as medicament, and more particularly to the use thereof for manufacturing a medicament intended for the treatment of haemophilia A.
US08110186B2
A method to effectively treat the adverse events of ingested orlistat, and to maintain the effectiveness of ingested orlistat, the method comprising the steps of: ingesting a compound of orlistat to irreversibly bind with lipase enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract; ingesting a compound of simethicone to cause undigested fats to remain in an emulsified state in the bowel; and ingesting an enteric coated activated charcoal member to absorb emulsified fats only in the lower bowel, thus preventing the adverse events associated with the ingestion of orlistat alone.
US08110177B2
Disclosed is a method of treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or a SIBO-caused condition in a human subject. SIBO-caused conditions include irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, impaired mentation, impaired memory, halitosis, tinnitus, sugar craving, autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, drug sensitivity, an autoimmune disease, and Crohn's disease. Also disclosed are a method of screening for the abnormally likely presence of SIBO in a human subject and a method of detecting SIBO in a human subject. A method of determining the relative severity of SIBO or a SIBO-caused condition in a human subject, in whom small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been detected, is also disclosed.
US08110175B2
A system and process are provided for extracting a substance from a molecular combination. The process comprises heating the molecular combination to dissociate the molecular combination into cations and anions, moving the cations and anions through a magnetic field to separate cations and anions, and isolating cations from anions with a barrier. The system comprises a non-conductive conduit for guiding an ionized particle stream, a magnetic field source for creating a magnetic field through which the ionized particle stream moves, and a barrier located in the conduit. The ionized particle stream has a velocity relative to the conduit, and the magnetic field source is oriented relative to the velocity of the ionized particle stream so that cations are separated from anions as the ionized particle stream moves through the magnetic field. The barrier is oriented in the conduit so that cations are isolated from anions after separation.
US08110173B2
A method is disclosed for fabrication of NiO nanoparticles and NiO chip-like nanoflakes by solvothermal technique. Mixed organic alcohols were used as solvent to make a homogenous solution from a nickel containing salt (or complex) for production of NiO nanoparticles and chip-like nanoflakes. The solution was heated in a sealed flask sitting inside a warm furnace. The precipitate was filtered, rinsed, dried and calcined to produce nanoparticles or nanoflakes. The size of the particles was controllable by heating time and temperature. Similar procedures were used for production of both nanostructures except hydrogen peroxide addition to the initial solution for NiO chip-like nanoflakes fabrication.
US08110171B1
A method for changing the color of a diamond. The method comprises placing the diamond in a substrate holder in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment. The CVD equipment is maintained at pressures near or below atmospheric pressure. A mixture of gases including hydrogen is introduced inside the CVD equipment. The introduced mixture of gases is energized by using microwave radiation to heat the diamond to temperatures above 1400° C. Then, the diamond is maintained at temperatures above 1400° C. for few seconds to few hours.
US08110170B2
Provided are a conductive polymer-carbon nanotube composite including a carbon nanotube and a conductive polymer filled therein, and a method of manufacturing the same. The conductive polymer-carbon nanotube composite where a conductive polymer is filled in a carbon nanotube is manufactured by introducing a monomer of the conductive polymer into the carbon nanotube using a supercritical fluid technique and polymerizing the monomer. The conductive polymer-carbon nanotube composite is a novel nano-structure material which can overcome limitations that conventional materials may have, and thus can be applied to various applications such as sensors, electrode materials, nanoelectronic materials, etc.
US08110163B2
A method for the reduction of the emission of mercury into the environment from the burning of fossil fuels with the use of polydithiocarbamic compounds. The polydithiocarbamic compounds are used for the capture of mercury from the resulting flue gases using a flue gas desulfrization systems or scrubbers. The method uses polydithiocarbamic compounds in conjunction with a scrubber to capture mercury and reduce its emission and/or re-emission with stack gases. The method is a unique process of reducing the toxic levels of mercury, which allows for the use of coal as a clean and environmentally friendlier fuel source.
US08110152B2
An outer housing and method of forming a mounting boss therein, the outer housing comprising: an elongated housing portion defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the elongated housing portion having a thickened area defined by an overlapping portion of the elongated housing; a sensor mounting boss formed in the overlapping portion with only displaced portions of the overlapping portion; and a plurality of threads disposed in the sensor mounting boss.
US08110149B2
The present invention relates to a method for the continuous production of high-molecular polyesters by esterification of dicarboxylic acids and/or transesterification of dicarboxylic acid esters with diols and/or mixtures thereof in the presence of catalysts with formation of a prepolymer in a tower reactor and polycondensation thereof to form a high-molecular polyester in a polycondensation reactor, a prepolymer with >40 to 70 repeat units (DP) being produced in the tower reactor and this prepolymer being polycondensed in only one further reactor to form a polyester with >150 to 205 DP.
US08110146B2
An embedded block is capable of being humidified in a short time without influencing a surface temperature of the embedded block as much as possible. An embedded block humidifier for humidifying an embedded block having a biological specimen embedded in an embedding agent is provided which includes a vapor generating mechanism for generating vapor heated at a predetermined temperature and a guiding mechanism for guiding the vapor to the embedded block so that the generated vapor contacts with a surface of the embedded block set at a predetermined standby position.
US08110145B2
It is intended to provide a method whereby residual detergent (surfactant) can be conveniently and accurately detected in the step of washing or rinsing dishes or clothes, and a test device usable in examining the rinsed conditions. Namely, a method characterized by comprising bringing a test substance with a composition (test agent) comprising an oxalic acid ester, a fluorescent substance, hydrogen peroxide and a strong acid and thus easily detecting the residual detergent sticking to the surface of the test subject from the chemiluminescence thus caused; and a test device which is most suitable for storing the test agent as described above.
US08110139B2
A honeycomb structure is manufactured by molding a pillar-shaped honeycomb molded body having a large number of cells disposed in parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction with a cell wall therebetween by extrusion-molding a raw material composition including a ceramic powder and a binder, and carrying out a firing treatment on the honeycomb molded body to manufacture a honeycomb fired body. A plurality of the honeycomb fired bodies are provided, and both end faces of each of the plurality of the honeycomb fired bodies are hold with a holding member after positioning the plurality of the honeycomb fired bodies on a predetermined position. An adhesive paste is injected into a gap between the plurality of honeycomb fired bodies held on the predetermined position. The adhesive paste is dried and solidified to form an adhesive layer.
US08110133B2
A method for producing a composite construction element is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: a) providing a composite construction element, which comprises a thermoplastic core layer between two fiber-reinforced thermoplastic cover layers; b) providing one or more interruptions in a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic cover layer of the panel; c) positioning a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic reinforcing layer over and/or near the interruption; d) deforming at least the edges situated along the interruption and, if desired, the thermoplastic reinforcing layer, preferably while simultaneously locally compacting the core layer, so that a thermoplastic construction element having a recess which is delimited by fiber-reinforced thermoplastic walls is obtained.
US08110132B2
A process for manufacturing an elongated panel formed of synthetic materials including a polymer resin matrix, a filler and a fiber reinforcement. The process includes depositing the curable composition on a conveyor belt, distributing and leveling the curable composition prior to feeding the composition into a compression apparatus in which the curable composition is partially cured as it is compressed to form the panel. The machine for manufacturing the composite panel includes a mixer for the polymer system, filler and fiber reinforcement, a distribution apparatus that distributes the curable composition prior to feeding the composition into a compacting apparatus. The process and machine may be used to form a composite siding board that includes a grain pattern on at least one side.
US08110124B2
To produce fluorescent bodies providing high brightness and high energy efficiency, a method of preparing a fluorescent body precursor is provided to enable an activator having a large ionic radius to be doped arbitrarily. The problems described above are solved by a method of preparing a fluorescent body precursor, which method is characterized by comprising applying a shock pressure of 0.1 GPa or higher to a mixture consisting essentially of a fluorescent body base, an activator and a co-activating particle-growth promoter to dope the activator into the fluorescent body base in the presence of the co-activating particle-growth promoter.
US08110102B2
A liquid filter intended for use as a fuel filter is composed of a housing produced from aluminum by an extrusion process and of a cover (1) formed as an aluminum casting. The cover (1) is provided with connecting bores (4′, 5′) in which pipe elements (6, 9) which are intended for delivering and discharging fuel are held by means of an adhesive bond. This results in a cover which can be produced more cost-effectively than the prior art and which can further be used as a casting which can be employed in modular fashion, this casting allowing different variations for the connections of the pipe elements.
US08110101B2
A system for enumeration of cells in fluids by image cytometry is described for assessment of target populations such as leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. Briefly, all cells in a biological sample are fluorescently labeled, but only the target cells are also magnetically labeled. A small, permanent magnet is inserted directly into the chamber containing the labeled sample. The magnets are coated with PDMS silicone rubber to provide a smooth and even surface which allows imaging on a single focal plane. The cells are illuminated and the images of the fluorescent light emitted by the target cells are captured by a CCD camera. Image analysis performed with a novel algorithm provides a count of the cells on the surface that can be related to the target cell concentration of the original sample.
US08110099B2
A filter assembly for use in filtering stormwater includes a bottom including a boss that includes a rib extending laterally along an inner surface of the boss. The rib includes a locking portion that mates with a corresponding locking portion on a peripheral surface of a connection to an outlet conduit for securing the bottom to the connection thereby inhibiting rotation of the bottom relative to the outlet conduit. A center tube is secured to the bottom using a locking mechanism that inhibits relative movement between the bottom and the center tube. The center tube is in communication with an opening in the bottom and a hood is secured to the center tube. A filter medium is located between the hood and the center tube.
US08110097B2
A system in which human waste in toilet water is decomposed and the treated water is circulated as wash water includes a toilet bowl body portion, a soil water storage tank configured to store the soil water discharged from a toilet bowl temporarily, a pump configured to pump up and deliver the soil water in the soil water storage tank, a reaction treatment tower containing filter elements as a microorganism carrier and performing a biological treatment by dispersing the soil water fed from the pump from an upper portion of the tower to bring the same into contact with the filter element, a water storage tank under the reaction treatment tower and configured to receive and store water passed through the reaction treatment tower, and a pump configured to pump up the water in the water storage tank and deliver the same as the wash water.
US08110096B1
A system and method includes an aeration subsystem that excites enzymes in the liquid waste passing through the septic system. The aeration subsystem includes a compressor section that compresses the liquid waste and an injector section that injects oxygen into the compressed liquid waste. The system further includes a driver subsystem for driving the compressor section and a control subsystem for activating and deactivating the driver subsystem.
US08110091B2
The invention relates to a process for the treatment of heavy petroleum feedstocks in order to produce a gas oil fraction having a sulphur content of less than 50 ppm and generally 10 ppm which comprises the following stages: e) mild hydrocracking in a catalyst fixed bed, f) separation of the hydrogen sulphide, of a distillate cut including a gas oil fraction and of a fraction which is heavier than the gas oil, g) hydrotreating, by contact with at least one catalyst, of at least a portion of the distillate cut obtained in stage b) including the gas oil fraction, as a mixture with a feedstock resulting from a crude or refined renewable source, h) separation of a gas oil cut comprising less than 50 ppm of sulphur. Advantageously, the heavy fraction is sent for catalytic cracking. Preferably, the process is carried out with makeup hydrogen introduced in stage c) and very advantageously all the makeup hydrogen for the process is introduced in stage c). The invention also relates to a plant which can be used for implementing this process.
US08110087B2
A method for producing a structured hard chromium layer, during which chromium from an electrolyte is deposited onto a workpiece, which contains: a) a Cr(VI) compound in a quantity corresponding to between 50 and 300 g/l of chromic anhydride; b) 0.5 g/l to 10 g/l sulfuric acid, and; c) 5 g/l to 15 g/l aliphatic sulfonic acid having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The electrolyte comprises substantially no compounds from the group consisting of ammonium molybdate, alkaline molybdate, alkaline earth molybdate, ammonium vanadate, alkaline vanadate and alkaline earth vanadate, ammonium zirconate, alkaline zirconate and alkaline earth zirconate, and is processed with a cathodic efficiency of 12% or less. A method for producing a coating, to a structured hard chromium layer, a coating and an electrolyte.
US08110086B2
A method of manufacturing a substrate processing chamber component comprises forming a chamber component comprising a metal alloy comprising yttrium and aluminum, and anodizing an exposed surface of the metal alloy.
US08110083B1
In a microfluidic device, respective motion of a plurality of objects along corresponding trajectories is achieved by determining a force field, such as an underlying fluid flow which, when applied to the plurality of object, moves each object along its corresponding trajectory. The force field is a linear superposition of a subset of all force fields supported by the physical characteristics of the microfluidic device. Once the fields have been ascertained, a plurality of actuation signals corresponding to the fields is applied to actuators installed on the microfluidic device to cause the force on each object. By implementing a feedback structure, corrections for positional errors may be made by computing a corrective force for each object and adjusting the actuation signals appropriately thereto.
US08110077B2
A sealing jig comes into contact with a cylinder inner peripheral surface as a surface to be processed of a cylinder block and seals the cylinder inner peripheral surface in introducing treatment liquid to the cylinder inner peripheral surface. The sealing jig includes: a sealing member made of an expandable material and having a ring-buoy shape; a lower plate for supporting a lower side of the sealing member; and a seal base disposed so as to face the lower plate and to support an upper side of the sealing member. The sealing member is regulated by the lower plate and the seal base and expanded only in a radial direction to come into contact with the cylinder inner peripheral surface when air is introduced inward.
US08110066B2
An adhesive composition comprising (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, (C) a curing promoter, (D) an inorganic filler, (E) particles of a thermoplastic resin which is solid at 25° C., and (F) silicone powder having a particle size at cumulative 50% (d50), measured by a laser light diffraction method, of from 1 to 50 μm. The composition is particularly suitable to be applied by screen printing on a substrate or a silicon wafer.
US08110065B2
A heat-curable fluoropolyether adhesive composition comprising (A) a linear polyfluoro compound having at least two alkenyl groups and a perfluoropolyether structure, (B) a fluorinated organohydrogensiloxane having at least two SiH groups, (C) a platinum group metal catalyst, (D) an organosiloxane having at least one SiH group and at least one epoxy and/or trialkoxysilyl group, and (E) a compound having at least two allyloxycarbonyl groups can be cured to metal and plastic substrates by heating at a temperature from 20° C. to less than 100° C.
US08110061B2
A respiratory nasal filter including an outer ring having concentric outer periphery and inner periphery sized to the periphery of a user's nasal orifice, a filter layer having an outer periphery larger than the inner periphery of the outer ring, but smaller than the outer periphery of the outer ring and an adhesive applied to the outer ring for bonding the filter layer concentrically to the outer ring and for bonding the outer ring to the columella, a nasal sill, an alar sidewall and the facet of the user's nose.
US08110058B2
Tape heating means is allowed to come close to an adhesive tape for support and, in a heating state, the adhesive tape for support is stretched and tensioned with proper tension in a tape width direction and a transport direction. A heated work is bonded to an adhesive face of the tensioned adhesive tape for support, thereby supporting the work.
US08110057B2
A method of labeling of a container including a medication includes, in at least one embodiment, reducing the size of the label using a label apparatus and reducing the label size using the label apparatus, applying a surface securing adhesive to at least one surface securing section of the label using an adhesive application apparatus, and attaching the at least one surface securing section of the label to the container with the securing adhesive. The method also includes applying a label securing adhesive to the label to maintain the label in the reduced orientation.
US08110054B2
A method for connecting at least two sheet-like formations, in particular at least two metal sheets with a thin material thickness for aircraft, comprises establishing butt-joint connections between the sheet-like formations by forming a joining region; mechanical processing of the sheet-like formations and/or of the joining region; mechanical and/or chemical adhesive pre-treatment of the sheet-like formations and/or of the joining region; and pasting-on at least one reinforcement element in the region of the top and/or the bottom of the joining region, wherein for the purpose of forming a second load path the width of the at least one reinforcement element is wider than the width 16 of the joining region. A connection is provided and made according to the method. A lightweight structure is also provided that comprises at least one connection according to the invention.
US08110053B2
A method for cutting along a cutting line of a laminate, including a first and a second textile layer surrounding an intermediate layer of a porous elastic material. The laminate is pressed together in a local nip between an ultrasound emitting element and a counteracting element, and the laminate is moved in the cutting line through and past the nip during ultrasound cutting of the laminate simultaneous with ultrasound welding of the first and the second surface layers to each other in order to form a smooth, rounded, continuous edge joint between the surface layers at a free edge of the laminate.
US08110043B2
A methodology and system for applying coatings onto the interior surfaces of components, includes a vapor creation device, a vacuum chamber having a moderate gas pressure and an inert gas jet having controlled velocity and flow fields. The gas jet is created by a rarefied, inert gas supersonic expansion through a nozzle. By controlling the carrier gas flow into a region upstream of the nozzle an upstream pressure is achieved. The carrier gas flow and chamber pumping rate control the downstream pressure. The ratio of the upstream to downstream pressure along with the size and shape of the nozzle opening controls the speed of the gas entering the chamber. Vapor created from a source is transported into the interior regions of a component using binary collisions between the vapor and gas jet atoms. These collisions enable the vapor atoms to scatter onto the interior surfaces of the component and deposit.
US08110033B2
An ink composition that achieves high-quality images free of white streaks or rough textures even when low-resolution printing is performed on printing paper such as art paper. The ink composition contains at least a colorant, water, and a surfactant, and further contains a sparingly water-soluble alkanediol, a water-soluble 1,2-alkanediol, a dialkylene glycol, and a water-soluble alkanetriol or a sugar. This ink composition is used in an ink jet recording method.
US08110031B2
An ink jet ink composition includes ethanol, a binder, a conductive agent, and a colorant. The ethanol is present in an amount at least 70% by weight of the ink composition. The binder is not a polyamide resin, a hydroxyaromatic resin, or a phenolic resin. The binder is present in an amount between 2% and 15% by weight of the ink composition. Water, if present, is in an amount less than 5% by weight of the ink composition.
US08110029B2
An integrated system [1000] is described for reducing operating costs of power plants while keeping gaseous pollutants in exhaust flue gasses, such as Mercury (Hg), below acceptable limits. Controller [1800] monitors and controls operation of a scrubber [1300], activator injection system [1400], sorbent injection system [1500] and a filter [1600]. Scrubber [1300] provides a neutralizer to remove SO2 emissions. Activator injection system [1400] provides and activator that increases affinity of the pollutant gasses for a sorbent. Sorbent injection system [1500] employs novel low friction injection lances [1590] that evenly distribute the sorbent particles. A filter [1600] collects the sorbent particles that cake onto filter bags [1620] that are periodically cleaned. A controller [1800] receives the costs of materials consumed and the filter bag life for the plant and performs an optimization of the multiple variables to minimize costs while keeping the pollutant emissions below a prescribed limit.
US08110027B2
An air separation module and blanket has an air separation module having an air inlet, an oxygen outlet and a nitrogen outlet. At least one tank has air separation elements for separating oxygen from air, and delivers the separated oxygen to the oxygen outlet, and delivers nitrogen to the nitrogen outlet. A resistance heating element is positioned between the blanket and the air separation module. Further, an inventive blanket for use with the air separation module is also disclosed and claimed.
US08110024B2
A separator tank (1) comprising an essentially cylindrical vertical tank, a tangentially arranged inlet (3) in an upper part (9) of the tank, at least one first outlet (4) for oil and gas in the upper part of the tank, and at least one second outlet (5) for water in a lower part of the tank. A vortex zone (7) comprises a downward protruding conical frusta shaped wall (8) with an opening (11) at the lower end to allow communication between the upper and lower part of the tank. A helical spiralling vane is disposed on the upward directed part of said conical frusta shaped wall.
US08110021B2
Synthesis of nanoparticles with particle size control is provided by the method of using two different metal-containing precursors, a capping component, an optional reducing agent, and then contacting the two precursors with the capping component to form a reaction solution, which is heated to produce first and second metals-containing nanoparticles. By controlling the ratio of the concentration of the capping component to the total concentration of the two metal-containing precursors, the nanoparticles can have diameters ranging between about 1 nm to about 15 nm. A decrease in the concentration of the capping component typically increases the size of the nanoparticles. Preferred compositions include Pt and Co-containing alloy nanoparticles. Controlled synthesis of larger, about 6 nm to about 12 nm, sized nanoparticles can be achieved in a solvent-free reaction process.
US08110013B2
A polishing composition includes a copolymer and an abrasive. The copolymer has a constitutional unit expressed as the following formula (I) and at least one of constitutional units expressed as the following formulas (II) to (IV). Methoxypolyethylene glycol methacrylate etc. are used as monomers for forming the constitutional unit of the formula (I), stearyl methacrylate etc. are used as monomers for forming the constitutional unit of the formula (II), polypropylene glycol methacrylate etc. are used as monomers for forming the constitutional unit of the formula (III), and styrene etc. are used as monomers for forming the constitutional unit of the formula (IV).
US08110011B2
A high voltage capacitor design is provided that provides improved performance. The high voltage capacitor includes a stack of mechanically bonded capacitor cells, which in one variant utilize a separator formed of two layers of paper. In one version, the high voltage capacitor may be used as a capacitative voltage divider.
US08110009B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for dry cleaning garments. The present invention provides a petroleum based processed detergent for dry cleaning and methods of use. The present invention provides methods of using the petroleum based processed detergent for dry cleaning wherein use of the detergent decreases the proliferation of bacteria and microbes in the detergent, and reduces the opposite pollution ratio of the detergent following a dry cleaning cycle. Additionally, the petroleum based processed detergent maintains a stable conductivity during use.
US08109988B2
An open frame prosthesis is formed with looped end terminations at its proximal and distal ends. At one end of the prosthesis, the filaments or strands are welded together in pairs to form strand couplings. A plurality of loop segments are connected to the strand couplings, one loop segment for each pair of adjacent strand couplings. In one version of the prosthesis, strands at the opposite end are bent to form looped ends. In another version, loop segments are connected to pairs of strand couplings at both ends of the prosthesis. The loop segments can be connected to the couplings by welding, fusion bonds, or tubes, which are either crimped or heat shrunk.
US08109966B2
An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing connective tissue, such as tendons, to bone are disclosed which permit a suture attachment which lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface, and wherein the suturing material between the connective tissue and the bone anchor is oriented in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bone anchor, so that axial pull-out forces exerted on the bone anchor are minimized. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a substantial length of suturing material around a shaft of the anchor, thereby avoiding an eyelet connection which requires a knot and which concentrates stress on a very small portion of the suturing material. Thus, failure rates are greatly decreased over conventional techniques, and the inventive procedures are significantly easier to perform than conventional techniques.
US08109964B2
Described is a device useful for applying compression to the eyes and regions under the eyes of a user. In one form, such a compression device includes a relatively elongate compression body combined with a strap for receipt around the head of a user. The relatively elongate compression body includes a central region for receipt over the face of a user, as well as flanking regions for receipt over the side of the face and the ears of the user, substantially encircling the head. Preferred devices include compression bodies having pockets containing compression inserts and positioned to contact the eyes and under-eye tissues of the user, desirably having openings in a location other than at an edge of the pockets, e.g. provided by a central slit. Compression inserts may include foam pads or conformable membrane shells encasing a flowable fluid or other substance.
US08109962B2
A retrievable device for treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a reticulation portion including a plurality of struts connected together in a singly staggered configuration distally along a longitudinal axis. The plurality of struts of the reticulation portion is configured to fold along the longitudinal axis defining a collapsed state of the device for retrieval. The device further includes an expandable body distally extending from the reticulation portion along an outer diameter for treatment of the stenotic lesion. The expandable body is configured to expand in the open state and collapsed in the collapsed state of the reticulation portion for retrieval. The device further comprises a retrieval stem extending proximally from the reticulation portion for retrieval of the device in the collapsed state.
US08109960B2
A patient's skin puncturing device according to the present invention is built of a body and of seated therein a pricking needle assembly and of a push-button arranged in the upper portion of the body. Between the push-button and the pricking needle assembly at least two driving springs are arranged. The driving springs are connected by upper ends with the push-button provided with a pushing face. Between the body and the pricking needle assembly at least two return springs are disposed, which are connected with the body. The pricking needle assembly has a driving face cooperating with the pushing face of the push-button, and in the upper portion has wings which upper surfaces cooperate with the driving springs of the push-button and which lower surfaces cooperate with the return springs, and has outer projections cooperating with inner projections with which the body is provided.
US08109955B2
A rotational atherectomy device for abrading a stenotic lesion from a vessel of a patient comprises a flexible drive shaft (1) which extends towards a distal end of the device, a distal fluid inflatable support element (3, 3″) located at a distal end of the drive shaft and an abrasive element (5) mounted to the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from the distal fluid inflatable support element. Both the abrasive element and the distal fluid inflatable support element are rotatable together with the drive shaft and the drive shaft comprises a torque transmitting coil (2) which defines a long lumen of the drive shaft. The distal fluid inflatable support element is formed from a fluid impermeable membrane (9, 9″) that crosses a longitudinal axis (x-x) common to the torque transmitting coil and the lumen of the drive shaft at the distal end of the device, thereby preventing pressurized fluid flowing along the lumen of the drive shaft from entering the vessel in the direction of said longitudinal axis so that fluid has to pass through the fluid inflatable support element, inflating said support element and exiting from the device through an outflow opening (66) in the fluid inflatable support element in a direction different from the direction of the longitudinal axis of the coil and the lumen.
US08109950B2
Apparatus for performing a surgical anastomosis are disclosed. The apparatus include a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, an onion sleeve portion formed near the distal end of the tubular body and an inner tube disposed within the tubular body. The inner tube includes at least one pair of longitudinally aligned needle passages formed below the onion sleeve portion of the tubular body. The apparatus further includes at least one needle assembly disposed within the at least one pair of longitudinally aligned needle passages and a firing assembly operatively coupled to the proximal end of the tubular body. The firing assembly is configured and adapted to eject the pair of needles from the apparatus.
US08109933B2
Systems and methods for delivering bone cement into a bone can include a handle body defining a flow path, a thermal emitter in the handle body to apply energy to bone cement passing through the flow path, a source of bone cement and an injection cannula. The cannula can be in communication with the flow path such that inserting the cannula into a bone can allow a flow of bone cement therethrough to an opening at a distal end of the cannula. Other systems and methods for delivering bone cement into a bone can include an injector body with a handle portion, and a cannula, a bone cement container, a low pressure drive mechanism configured to effect a flow of bone cement from said container to the injector body and a high pressure drive mechanism configured to effect a flow of bone cement through the injector body into the bone.
US08109915B2
A pull-on disposable wearing article has a base sheet including an inner sheet and an outer sheet. A plurality of auxiliary elastic members extending across a panel are interposed between the inner sheet and the outer sheet and attached to these sheets between waist surrounding elastic members and leg-holes so that these auxiliary elastic members may contract in the waist-circumferential direction. Each of the auxiliary elastic members has transversely opposite end portions secured to the inner and outer sheets and an intermediate portion not directly bonded to the inner and outer sheets.
US08109911B2
A surgical access device including a valve housing and an instrument receiving element mounted in the valve housing having an aperture for flexibly receiving and directing instruments having a wide range of diameters. The instrument receiving element includes a braid or mesh tube generally shaped like an hourglass. The surgical access device may include an access septum seal molded from a gel material. The surgical access device can flexibly engage instruments having diameters ranging from about 3.5 mm to about 12.9 mm.
US08109907B2
A continuous drug solution infusion device is provided that is capable of administering a drug solution into a patient's body for a predetermined period of time substantially at a predetermined flow rate from the beginning to end of the drug solution infusion by suppressing the change in pressure from the beginning to end of the infusion. The continuous drug solution infusion device has at least two tubular members disposed in series along an infusion path for a drug solution and at least one expandable/contractible tubular member disposed between the tubular members.
US08109906B2
A pump system simply and selectably controls the temperature, flow rate, flow volume, and flow pressure of a fluid being infused into a patient's body. The pump system a includes a central controller and user inputs that allow for simple selection and efficient operation of the pump system, which includes manually or automatically priming the pump system to remove air, selectably controlling and rapidly adjusting the flow rate over a wide range, selectably and safely controlling the pump system temperature controls, and selectably controlling the flow pressure during delivery. The pump system includes a pump housing with a central controller and a cartridge with infusion tubing removably coupled to the pump housing.
US08109902B2
Improvements are provided for a syringe-to-syringe mixing system to improve the mixing characteristics of the system. In one embodiment, a mixing apparatus includes opposite fittings for mounting to a pair of syringes. The mixing apparatus defines a fluid passageway therethrough and includes a flow modifying element disposed within the passageway. The flow modifying element is configured to increase the flow velocity, disrupt the fluid flow or introduce turbulence into the fluid flow between the two syringes. In another embodiment, a nozzle element is disposed within the tip of the syringe, the element configured to increase the fluid flow therethrough. The nozzle element can be a nozzle insert removably mounted within the tip, or an integrally formed nozzle within the tip.
US08109897B2
Methods for selective cooling or heating of a target site in the human body include a catheter having a supply elongated element and a delivery elongated element, with inlet and exit ports. Blood is withdrawn from the supply elongated element and cooled or heated in a control unit. The treated blood is sent to the targeted area via delivery elongated element. The supply elongated element can act as an insulator for the treated blood in the delivery elongated element.
US08109896B2
Devices and procedures for assisting drainage of aqueous humor from the eye are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, an implant sized to fit within the Schlemm's Canal is provided. The implant has a plurality of penetrating members having an unextended position in which the penetrating members lie generally close to the longitudinal axis of the implant and an extended position in which the penetrating members are extended outward. In use, the implant is advanced around at least a substantial portion of the Schlemm's Canal with the penetrating members in the first unextended position. After the implant is positioned within the Schlemm's Canal, the penetrating members are caused to move from the first unextended position to the second extended position, wherein the penetrating members penetrate the wall of the Schlemm's Canal. This creates fluid passageways in the wall of the Schlemm's Canal. The implant can also serve to keep the Schlemm's Canal open. A delivery device is also provided for implanting an implant into the Schlemm's Canal.
US08109892B2
In a method of forming a compression sleeve, a wicking layer is provided that is strategically exposed to promote wicking and cooling of the body part acted upon by the sleeve. The wicking layer has a perimeter and a surface area. A bladder segment that defines a bladder has a surface area less than the surface area of the wicking layer. The surface area of the bladder segment is defined by the perimeter of the bladder material, less any openings formed through the bladder material. The wicking layer is secured to the bladder material so that portions of the wicking layer are not overlaid by the bladder material. The bladder segment is welded to the wicking layer along a seamline so that fibers of the wicking layer extend through the seamline and allow fluid wicked by the wicking layer to move through the seamline.
US08109888B2
A medical guide wire includes a flexible long core. A core elongated component is disposed to extend forwards from the core, and has a tapered shape. A helical coil is disposed about the core elongated component, secured by attachment of a coil distal end and a coil proximal end to the core elongated component. The helical coil includes an equiradial coil portion having the coil proximal end, disposed at a portion of the core elongated component on a side of the core. A diameter decreasing coil portion has the coil distal end, extends forwards from the equiradial coil portion, has a decreasing diameter, and has a length 25 mm or more. A diameter ratio D1/D2 of the diameter decreasing coil portion is 1.22-2.31, where D1 is a proximal end diameter of the diameter decreasing coil portion, and D2 is a distal end diameter of the diameter decreasing coil portion.
US08109886B2
A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.
US08109879B2
A method involves implantably detecting changes in posture of a patient's body. Baroreflex responses to the posture changes are determined. An autonomic tone of the patient is determined based on the baroreflex responses. Based on the autonomic tone, various patient susceptibilities to disease may be determined, including susceptibilities to heart disease, arrhythmia, and/or sudden cardiac death.
US08109874B2
The present invention relates to a mobile device capable of performing biomedical signal measurement and a health care method using the same. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile device capable of efficiently performing health care functions for a user by checking a user's state of health using a handheld mobile device mounted with a biomedical signal measurement module, which can be used both as a mobile device and in measuring the emotional state and physical condition of a user if necessary, and a health care method using the same. In order to achieve the above object, the mobile device of the present invention comprises a biomedical signal measurement module for detecting biomedical signals from a user's body, classifying the detected biomedical signals by respective signals and outputting the classified signals; and a health care module for analyzing a user's emotional state and physical condition based on the biomedical signals input from the biomedical signal measurement module and user's physical information.
US08109871B2
Computer systems and software for controlling an endoscope integrity tester. The pressurization and humidity measurement and calculations, and the resulting determination of passage or failure is automated and controlled to eliminate concerns of human error in the detection process. Further, the computer system is capable of adapting its calculations to specific endoscopes and particular testing changes to further improve accuracy by being context-sensitive.
US08109866B2
A pelvic implant having a central support portion, and a plurality of extension members, is provided. The extension members can be positioned or extend from the central support portion in opposing pairs. The extension members are generally attached to the central support portion at respective junctions (e.g., via rivets), and sheaths or covers can be employed to cover at least a length or portion of the extension members. Further, one or more spanning members can extend from a first of the opposed and paired extensions to the opposing extension, e.g., under or across the central portion and the respective junctions to provide additional tensile strength for the implant during deployment or implantation.
US08109861B2
An exercise device for performing a variety of movement patterns is provided, having an upper link pivotally mounted to a lower leg link and a foot support on a distal end of the lower leg link. A first transfer system is movably coupled to a frame and including a first transfer member coupled to the first upper leg link and a second transfer member coupled to the second upper leg link, thereby enabling substantially reciprocating motion of the first leg link relative to the second leg link. A second transfer system is also provided and may be movably coupled to the frame and including a pair of third transfer members coupled to each of a pair of fourth transfer members by way of each of a pair of transfer couplings, each movably mounted to the frame. The fourth transfer members may be coupled to the first lower leg link and the second lower leg link, whereby movement of the first lower leg link causes movement of the second lower leg link irrespective of movement of the upper leg links thereby providing a stable platform for the user and also enabling an infinite number of gait patters by the user.
US08109860B2
A twisting and leaping exercise apparatus includes a base, at least one fixed seat, one or more sets of upper and lower swinging arms, a pedal set, a connecting plate and an elastic module. If an exerciser applies a force onto the pedal set, the pedal set will press onto the elastic module, such that the restoring resilience of the elastic module allows the exerciser to have an up-and-down leaping exercise, and the exerciser can also turn the pedal set to left and right to achieve the function of a waist twisting exercise, so as to achieve an all-round exercise and a better exercise effect.
US08109850B2
A drive pulley for elevators, with at least two sectors, wherein at least one sector is hardened and at least one sector is not hardened.
US08109846B2
A lacrosse head includes a ball stop (throat), a pair of opposing sidewalls, and a scoop. The sidewalls can include visible markings, or sets of indicia, on the front and/or on the rear of the head. The indicia can be located at 1.25, 3.0, and 5.0 inches from the ball stop. The indicia can be marked on the surface of the sidewalls, and/or can be in the form or protrusions on or recesses defined by the sidewalls. The indicia can provide consistent measurement locations to assist officials and others in measuring the lacrosse head to ensure that it complies with the proposed 2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules regarding the dimensional measurements for a lacrosse head. A method for molding the lacrosse head including the indicia is also provided.
US08109840B2
The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. Grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio. Preferred values for these dimensions are provided. A golf club head having a variety of groove types and a set of golf clubs with grooves varying among the individual clubs of the set are also disclosed.
US08109836B1
A billiard cue has a changeable cue tip/ferrule assembly wherein the ferrule has a conical projection fitting snugly into a congruent receptacle in a fixed tenon of the cue. Vibration of the ferrule is limited by being locked to the rigid cue. The configuration is also useful in establishing a concurrent center line of the cue stick and changeable cue tip assembly. The ferrule's cone has a hollow surface whose axis is aligned with the ferrule's longitudinal axis. The invention teaches that the cue, with the ferrule attached, may now be rotated in a lathe with the ferrule's cone's hollow surface mating with a live center in the lathe tailstock. Thus the final tapering and finishing of the cue stick shaft is accomplished in the lathe with the axis of the ferrule's cone defining the cue stick/changeable cue tip mutual centerline.
US08109835B2
Systems and methods are provided relating to martial arts competitions including martial arts games, team competitions, and a martial arts combat league. A martial arts combat league may combine traditional aspects of martial arts competitions with the appeal of rooting for a favorite team or individual competitor. Martial arts competition rules and scoring systems may be provided for the martial arts combat league. A martial arts competition area may be provided for presentation of martial arts combat league events. A novel scoring system may involve and inform fans of the martial arts combat league.
US08109834B2
A support structure for bolting components of a drive shaft via a mounting member that comprises at least are mounting member of the drive shaft having formed through a bolt hole, a female thread portion which is formed in the mounting member, the bolt having a male thread portion can be screwed into the female thread portion by inserting the bolt into the bolt hole, and a heat-shrinkable tube that is adapted to provide elastic contact at an inner surface of the bolt hole.
US08109828B2
A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type or casino-based game. A partial result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in an offline portion of the game. The remaining portion of the result is revealed to the player in an online portion of the game. In one example, the online/offline game includes a slot machine game. In one example, the online/offline game includes a bingo game. In yet another example, the online/offline game includes a game of roulette. In one example, particular game features are associated with either the online or offline portions of the game. In this way, players are motivated to participate in both portions of the game, enhancing and prolonging the game experience.
US08109824B2
A gaming system and method enables a player to assign at least one amplifier to at least one accumulator. In one embodiment, the amplifier causes an increase in the rate of advancement for the accumulator. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides the player any awards associated with the level of one or more of the accumulators.
US08109818B2
A strategy video game may include a persistent home city that gains experience as the player plays in more game sessions. The experience gained may lead to the unlocking of additional game features and options for use in future games. Players may assemble, prior to a game session, a subset of effects that may be used in future games, where the subset may be limited in number. Available effects may be limited by the experience level of the player's home city, and by the player's prior decisions as to which effects to purchase and/or obtain. Effects may be requested in-game, and may be delivered and/or carried out in response to the player achieving certain in-game requirements, such as the gaining of a number of in-game experience points, the passage of a predetermined amount of time, etc.
US08109814B2
Provided is a wind turbine generator system that can cool a nacelle interior by ventilation irrespective of the outside air temperature in various installation environments. In a wind turbine generator system in which equipment of drive and electricity generation mechanisms that are coupled to a rotor head provided with wind turbine blades is disposed inside a nacelle, and in which, by driving a ventilation fan provided in the nacelle, outside air introduced from an air inlet provided in a front face of the nacelle is exhausted outside the nacelle from an air outlet that communicates with a fan outlet, to perform ventilation cooling of the interior, a side air inlet is additionally provided in a side face of the nacelle at a position where a negative pressure is generated by air flowing outside the nacelle.
US08109809B2
An eccentric transmission having an imbalance compensation element (10a-10e) and having an eccentric element (12a-12e) for converting a revolving rotary motion of an armature shaft (14a-14e) into an oscillating rotary motion of a drive shaft (16a-16e) in order to drive an insert tool (40a-40e) of a hand-held power tool (18a-18e) to oscillate.The imbalance compensation element (10a-10e) is integral to another functional unit (12a-12d, 14e).
US08109803B2
An assembling block includes block plates having square and equilateral triangular plan shapes, respectively, and a joint for connecting the block plates together. Each of the block plates includes seat portions provided along the respective sides of the block plate, and retaining pieces extending from the center of the block plate to the outer edge thereof and spaced from the seat portions in the thickness direction. The joint comprises a plate member made of a flexible and bendable material, whereby when the joint is inserted between two of the seat portions and one of the retaining pieces of each block plate, the joint engages the seat portions with engaging protrusions formed on the seat portions fitted in engaging holes formed in the joint, thereby coupling the block plates together.
US08109789B2
A connector assembly includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a collet, and a retainer. The outer housing longitudinally extends between a front end and a rear end. The rear end has an opening for receiving a cable. The inner housing is located within the outer housing and includes a shield that is electrically coupled with the cable to restrict emission of electromagnetic interference. The collet is disposed around the cable at the rear end of the outer housing. The collet includes longitudinally extending fingers that are configured to engage the cable. The retainer is secured to the rear end of the outer housing and secures the collet between the outer housing and the retainer. The retainer and the collet redirect strain imparted on the cable away from an interface between the shield and the cable.
US08109779B2
An cable assembly includes an insulative housing having a main portion and a mounting arm extending rearwardly from the main portion, the mounting arm; a plurality of terminals; a cable having a plurality of wires connected to the plurality of terminals, respectively; a latching member including a connecting arm, a latching arm and a retention arm, the retention arm inserted into a positioning hole in the mounting arm, the connecting arm deflected outwardly; and an external cover enclosing the insulative housing and the latching member, the external cover having a deformable button for actuating the latching arm.
US08109777B2
A compact electrical connector assembly comprises a printed circuit board having a predetermined thickness and defining a first face and a second face opposite to the first face. A low profile electrical connector sits on the first face of the printed circuit board and comprises an insulating housing defining a longitudinal central slot opened forwardly with first contacts and second contacts respectively retained at opposite sides of the central slot. A card is inserted into the central slot at an angle with regard to the printed circuit board, and then rotated from the second face to the first face of the printed circuit board until reaching to a secured position which is substantially overlapped with the printed circuit board.
US08109776B2
Stiff and soft materials each provide certain advantages when used in the manufacture of separable insulated connectors, such as elbow and T-body connectors. Utilizing a shell or an insert that includes one section made from a stiff material and one section made from a soft material can provide a separable insulated connector that capitalizes on the advantages associated with both types of materials. The stiff materials and soft materials can be placed strategically on the shell or insert of the separable insulated connector to maximize the advantages of each material. For example, the stiff material can be used to form a section of the separable insulated connector where strength and durability is most desirable, and conversely, the soft material can be used to form a section of the connector where flexibility is desirable.
US08109763B2
An endodontic file (2) for use with a dental instrument has at least one cord (6) and a wire (8) wound around at least a major portion of the cord and having an abrasive outer surface (10). A handle having a gripping section is provided for gripping the end of the file and is coupled to the file by a coupler that may be made of a vibration absorbing material.
US08109759B2
A combustion system is operated with reference to compliant values of a governmentally regulated exhaust emission parameter. If an alarm condition is detected during an ordinary mode of operation, the combustion system is shifted into an assured compliance mode of operation. The shift to the assured compliance mode is made while continuing to operate the combustion system without a shut-down interruption.
US08109756B2
A blow-moulding installation (10) for fabricating a container from a blank (12), includes a mould (20) which bounds a moulding cavity (18) in which a blank (12) is arranged, emerging through an opening of the mould (20), a tubular blowing nozzle (28) slidingly mounted between a raised rest position, and a lowered blowing position, in which the nozzle (28) is suitable for conveying a pressurized fluid into the blank (12), at least one element (46a) for locking the nozzle (28) in its lowered blowing position, the locking element (46a) being such as a lock (46a) including a strike (48a) and a movable bolt (58a) which is elastically returned to a locking position in the strike.
US08109740B2
The present invention discloses a mounting structure of a linear compressor, comprising: a shell which is a hermetic space, a connection terminal for supplying power being fixed to one side of the shell; a main body frame installed in the shell, one end of a cylinder forming a compression space for compressing a refrigerant with a piston being fixed to the main body frame; and a motor cover, a linear motor comprised of an inner stator, an outer stator and a mover, for reciprocating the piston by a mutual electromagnetic force being fixed to the outer circumference of the cylinder, the outer stator being bolt-fastened between the main body frame and the motor cover. Here, the main body frame is left-right symmetric.
US08109737B1
A reciprocating device which may be operated either as a compressor or an engine. Each cylinder has a reciprocating piston connected to a piston rod. Dual cylinder chambers are located in each cylinder on opposite sides of the piston. The pistons are connected to a scotch yoke which translates the reciprocating motion of the pistons to rotary motion at a shaft in the engine mode. In the compressor mode, the shaft is connected to a power source. The engine components such as the pistons, rods, bushings and cylinder lines may be high quality steel or a ceramic.
US08109727B2
A wind turbine (20) includes a turbine wheel (22). Radially extending sailwing assemblies (30) are supported between the axle structure (28) and the perimeter rail (26) of the turbine wheel. The sailwing assemblies include sail end supports (52, 53), sail support cables (54, 55) extending between the sail end supports, and sailwings (58) that are supported by the sail support cables and extend between the axle structure (28) and the perimeter rail (26) of the turbine wheel. The sail end supports (52, 53) may be pivoted to form a pitch in the sailwings (58) and pivoted with respect to each other to form a twist in the sailwings, and sail spreader bars (70) may be mounted in the sailwings and connected to the sail support cables (54, 55) to adjust the effective width and loft of the sailwings.
US08109726B2
A cooling system for a turbine airfoil of a turbine engine has a multi-pass serpentine flow circuit providing a flow path from a forward cooling flow entry at the root and exhausting towards the trailing edge through a series of chord wise micro channels extending from the rearward pass of the multi-pass serpentine circuit to pressure side bleed slots, each having a forward pressure side lip and opening onto the pressure side adjacent the trailing edge. The micro channels can be formed by a series of spaced fins stacked span wise and extending between the outer wall on the pressure side and the outer wall on the suction side and extending chord wise from the rearward pass to the trailing edge. At least two trip strips can extend from sides of the fins into the micro channels and be staggered relative to trip strips extending into the micro channel from an adjacent fin, whereby turbulent flow levels in the micro channels are increased.
US08109723B2
In a conventional technique, a shutdown sequence indicating a sequential operation from a start of the feathering of a wind turbine to the stop is started in response to an alert signal caused by an external factor. In the present invention, when the alert is called off during the shutdown sequence, the shutdown sequence is stopped, and the recovery control by which the pitch angle of the wind turbine blade is controlled toward the fine state is performed. By such a control, the stop period of the wind turbine under the shutdown can be shortened, so that the decrease in the operating rate of the wind farm can be suppressed.
US08109720B2
An exhaust system for gas turbine engine is provided that reduces turbulence and backflow within the exhaust system and, thus, increases the efficiency of the turbine engine. In various embodiments, the system includes an exhaust plenum that provides a gradual expansion of the exhaust gases. The exhaust plenum may also include one or more flow splitters that further reduce turbulence in the plenum and provide a more uniform gas flow in the plenum and other downstream exhaust components.
US08109716B2
Gas turbine engine systems involving hydrostatic face seals with anti-fouling provisioning are provided. In this regard, a representative turbine assembly for a gas turbine engine comprises: a turbine having a hydrostatic seal; the hydrostatic seal having a seal face, a seal runner, a carrier, and a biasing member; the seal face and the seal runner defining a high-pressure side and a lower-pressure side of the seal; the carrier being operative to position the seal face relative to the seal runner; and the biasing member being located on the lower-pressure side of the seal and being operative to bias the carrier such that interaction of the biasing member and gas pressure across the seal causes the carrier to position the seal face relative to the seal runner.
US08109709B1
A removable grapple apparatus for a loader bucket is disclosed, and comprises a grapple assembly comprising at least one grapple arm having an inboard end and an outboard end, and a grapple fork mounted on the grapple arm toward the outboard end thereof. The apparatus includes a mounting assembly configured to removably mount the grapple assembly to the bucket when the mounting assembly is mounted on the bucket. The grapple assembly is pivotally mounted on the mounting assembly to permit pivot movement of the grapple assembly with respect to the mounting assembly. The apparatus includes a grapple movement assembly configured to pivotally move the grapple assembly with respect to the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly comprises at least one mount structure including an arm mount mounted on the grapple arm and a base mount configured for mounting on the bucket, and the arm mount and the base mount are releasably coupleable together.
US08109708B2
The trolley includes a member which supports the shoe of a loaded rack. The member has a horizontal limb which extends beneath the shoe and first and second housings each having vertically adjustable casters. One of the housings is connected to the member while the other has a clamp for attaching the housing to the horizontal limb of the member. As the casters descend, the shoe rises with resulting raising of the foot from the floor on which the rack rests.
US08109707B2
The present invention relates to a nut (10, 110, 210) having a nut body (11, 111, 211) and a cap (20, 120, 220, 320) held on the nut body (11, 111, 211), wherein there is/are provided on the outer surface of the nut body (11, 111, 211) an encircling recess (16, 216) or recesses (116) encircling in sections, in which an encircling prominence (23) provided on the inner surface of the cap (20, 120, 220 320) or respectively prominences (123, 330) encircling in sections engage.
US08109706B2
A composite fastener, a belly nut, a tie system and/or a method reduce heat transfer through a building envelope. The composite fastener, the belly nut, the tie system and/or the method secure a wall to a backup structure. The composite fastener is constructed from a fiber reinforced polymer that has fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix. The composite fastener has a low thermal conductive value (k-value) and has non-corrosive properties. The belly nut has a fastening hole on a first side of the belly nut to attach the composite fastener to the belly nut. Further, the belly nut has a pathway to receive a leg of a pintle from a top surface of the belly nut to a bottom surface of the belly nut. The pathway is sized to allow for greater vertical adjustment eccentricity between the belly nut and the pintle without creating large horizontal deflections of the tie system.
US08109705B1
A twist-lock anchoring fastener comprises a head (700), a shaft (715), and a lance (720). The foot is adapted to penetrate through wallboard (105). The shaft length is approximately equal to the thickness of the wallboard so that when the foot lies on the back side (107) of the wallboard and the shaft is rotated, the foot is captured behind the wallboard, completing installation of the fastener. An optional footer (725) for the head contains raised lines (726) or bumps (727) or both to aid in seating the fastener on the wall. An optional wall plate assembly (1700) further strengthens the installation of the fastener by locally reducing pressure within the wallboard. In an alternative embodiment, the fastener comprises a wall anchor that accepts a pin (3200). In another alternative embodiment, the fastener is designed for installation in our prior-art wall anchor (100).
US08109699B2
A boring bit has a head, a blade assembly and a blade. The head has a mounting recess and two holding protrusions. The mounting recess is formed in the head and has a restricting surface and a threaded hole. The holding protrusions are formed on the restricting surface and each has two oblique restricting faces. The blade assembly is attached to the head and has a mounting base. The mounting base is mounted in the mounting recess and has an inner surface, a through hole and a guiding channel. The inner surface abuts with the restricting surface. The through hole is formed through the mounting base and aligns with the threaded hole. The guiding channel is formed in the mounting base, is mounted around the holding protrusions and has two abutting surfaces abutting the oblique restricting faces of the holding protrusions. The blade is detachably mounted on the blade assembly.
US08109698B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for transporting fruits, comprising: a frame; a channel for fluid arranged on the frame for the purpose of transporting the fruits between an entry side and an exit side of the channel; a system for causing circulation of the fluid; and transport influencing means for influencing transport of the fruits and/or the fluid.
US08109692B2
A barrier transfer device includes a cantilevered support arm and a carriage coupled to the support arm. The carriage includes at least a pair of barrier interface members extending downwardly from the support arm. The barrier interface members are configured to engage a barrier on opposite sides thereof when the barrier. A system for transferring a barrier includes a transfer vehicle having an outermost portion on each of first and second opposite sides of the transfer vehicle. The cantilevered support arm is coupled to the transfer vehicle and extends laterally outwardly past the outermost portion of the transfer vehicle on the first side of the transfer vehicle. A moveable barrier system includes at least one barrier having first and second sides and a bottom adapted to be supported by a ground surface and a transfer vehicle having a barrier interface element engaging only a first side of said barrier. Methods for transferring a barrier are also provided.
US08109689B2
The invention relates to a plug connector (1) for hollow profiles (4) in spacer frames for insulated glass panes. The plug connector (1) comprises at least two connector parts (2, 3) which may be plugged together and which have an essentially U-shaped or rectangular cross-section, which, in the plugged position, have adjacent side walls (6,17) and a positive fit (9). One connector part (2) has at least one retainer element (12) on the side walls (6) thereof (12) with a corresponding wall opening (13). In order to form the positive connection (9), the other connector part (3) has a projection (10) with a positive fit engagement in the wall opening (13) of the retainer element (12) when in the plugged position.
US08109687B2
A telescopic adjusting mechanism includes: an outer tube having a positioning unit; an inner tube having a hole and displaceable relative to the outer tube along a longitudinal axis; a locking unit displaceable along with the inner tube, and including a locking member movable along a transverse axis between a locking position, where the locking member extends through the hole to engage the positioning unit, and an unlocking position, where the locking member is disengaged from the positioning unit, and a biasing member biasing the locking member to the locking position, the locking unit being formed with an engaging member; a restraining member engaging releasably the engaging member when the locking member is at the unlocking position to prevent the locking unit from hindering retraction of the inner tube into the outer tube; and a drive unit operable to move the locking member from the locking position to the unlocking position.
US08109684B2
Tape printing system with auxiliary cassette containing auxiliary medium for contacting printed tape
A tape cassette includes an ink ribbon provided with a base film coated with an ink layer thereon and a film tape provided with a transparent film with an adhesive layer formed on one surface thereof. When an adhesive layer of the film tape and the ink layer of the ink ribbon of the tape cassette come into contact at a print position, the ink layer is adhered onto the adhesive layer on condition that the adhesive layer is heated to exhibit self-adhesive properties, and characters and the like are printed on the film tape. Also, an auxiliary sheet medium comes into contact with the adhesive layer. Further, a conveying roller does not come into contact with the adhesive layer.
US08109682B2
A printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is a printer which transports a recording medium, provided with a plurality of laminated sheets, along a predetermined transport path including a curved portion. The printer is provided with a dot head for printing the recording medium, a platen roller which faces the dot head with the recording medium therebetween, and a feed guide which is located on the downstream side of the dot head and the platen roller with respect to the direction of transport and guides the recording medium in a manner such that the recording medium is bent in a direction opposite to that in which the curved portion is bent.
US08109681B2
A support for a camera comprising a first fluid head and a second fluid head, the first fluid head being arranged to provide rotation about a first axis and the second fluid head being arranged to provide rotation about a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis.
US08109677B2
Fiber optic cable jacks and plugs are provided. In one aspect, a cable is made from at least one length of fiber optic line having a first end and a second end. A first plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The first plug is shaped to engage a first jack housing. A second plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The second plug is shaped to engage a second jack housing. The mechanical bodies have inner walls that form an air gap cavity interposed between the microlens convex surface and an engaging jack optical interface.
US08109673B2
A slide guide apparatus of a press machine, which guides reciprocating motion of a slide of the press machine by a sliding surface provided between a guide member and the slide, wherein a slide member that is rotatable about a predetermined rotation center axis and a slide member holder that rotatably holds the slide member and is rotatable about a rotation center axis transverse to the predetermined rotation center axis are provided between the guide member and the slide, and a flat portion of the slide member is adapted to function as the sliding surface.
US08109672B1
A pouch has a connection structure that includes a female connector and a male connector. The male connector of the pouch is configured to snap-fit with another female connector that has the same configuration as the female connector, and the female connector is configured to receive by snap-fit another male connector that has the same configuration as the male connector. A system of pouches can be provided by connecting the male and female connectors of a plurality of pouches. The connectors are also configured to allow the connected pouches to pivot relative to each other such that the pouches can be displayed in a fan-like arrangement, and accessories can be provided though passages in the connectors.
US08109657B2
An LED lamp includes a heat sink including a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base, an LED module mounted on a bottom face of the base, an envelope covering the LED module, and a lamp housing defining a cavity. An annular receiving groove is recessed from the bottom face of the base. The LED module is attached on the bottom face of the base and surrounded by the receiving groove. The envelope includes a recessed body and an engaging flange around the recessed body. The heat sink, the LED module and the envelope are received in the cavity. The fins of the heat sink extend outwardly through the lamp housing and are exposed in an outer environment. A gasket is received in the receiving groove and tightly sandwiched between the base and the flange.
US08109650B2
A light emitting diode (LED) illuminant system, a manufacture method thereof, and a backlight module using the same are provided. The LED illuminant system includes a plurality of white light illuminants and at least one green light illuminant mixed in the white light illuminants. A light power ratio of the green light illuminant to the white light illuminants is in between ⅕ to 1/20. The color temperature of the whole illuminant system will be enhanced to a certain extent by mixing the green light illuminant and the white light illuminants. The manufacture method includes the following steps: obtaining a transmission spectrum of the white light illuminants; analyzing the transmission spectrum to determine n supplemental amount of a green light; and disposing at least one green illuminant in accordance with the supplemental amount of the green light.
US08109645B2
An illumination device includes a nozzle, a grip, at least one light element connected to the nozzle, and a moveable turbine generator electrically connected to the light-emitting element. The turbine generator includes at least one rotatable blade. When the turbine generator is moved into the nozzle, the impact of a fluid flowing through the nozzle causes the rotatable blade to rotate, thereby generating electric power to power the light-emitting element. When the turbine generator is moved into the grip, the rotatable blade is not subjected to the impact of the fluid flowing through the nozzle, stopping the turbine generator from generating the electric power.
US08109639B2
An image processing device adapted to correct distortion of an image projected on a projection screen with projection light emitted from a projector includes a detection section adapted to detect at least one of display positions of a plurality of predetermined figures displayed in a correction image projected by the projector on the projection screen, the plurality of figures arranged at densities varying in accordance with an incident condition of projection light to the projection screen, a distortion correction information generation section adapted to generate distortion correction information based on the display position detected and correction image data representing the correction image, an acquisition section adapted to acquire image data representing the image to be projected on the projection screen, and a distortion correction section adapted to execute a distortion correction process using the distortion correction information on the image data acquired.
US08109630B2
Lighted reading glasses for individuals with low vision. In one embodiment, the reading glasses include a frame for supporting lenses having an oculus dexter side and an oculus sinister side, at least one oculus dexter lens supported by the frame on the oculus dexter side, and at least one oculus sinister lens supported by the frame on the oculus sinister side, each of the at least one oculus dexter lens and the at least one sinister lens having an induced prism in a range between about 4 PD and about 22 PD and a lens power that is greater than about +4.00 diopters and less than about +20.00 diopters such that each of said lenses focuses at a distance that is greater than about 5 cm and less than about 25 cm, and at least one light source having a predetermined light strength oriented to project light to provide a predetermined lighted area in a predetermined field.
US08109625B2
An application apparatus has: a supply device which supplies a liquid in which a treatment agent having a prescribed function is dissolved; an application device which applies the liquid supplied from the supply device, onto a medium; and a condensing device which condenses the liquid supplied to the application device from the supply device during a period until the liquid is applied to the medium.
US08109624B2
An image forming apparatus includes a calculating device, a waiting time calculating device, and a print controlling device. The calculating device divides print data to be printed onto a recording medium into a plurality of zones along a conveyance direction of the recording medium. The calculating device calculates printing time and drying time per each divided zone based on a data amount in each zone. The waiting time calculating device calculates waiting time from completion of printing onto the recording medium until the recording medium has been dried, based on the printing time and the drying time per each zone in consideration of elapse of the drying time of the previously printed zone(s) during printing. The print controlling device configures settings for printing of the recording medium based on the waiting time and performs printing according to the settings.
US08109623B2
An ink-jet recording method is provided. The ink-jet method includes recording an images by ejecting, onto a recording medium by an-inkjet method, a liquid composition containing polymer particles having a glass transition temperature (Tg) higher than the minimum film forming temperature (MFT) at least by 5° C., a hydrophilic organic solvent, a surfactant, and water under ejection conditions satisfying all of the following (1) to (3): (1) Tg>the temperature of the liquid composition at the time of ejection>MFT, (2) MFT>20° C., and (3) the temperature of the liquid composition at the time of ejection is 30° C. or higher.
US08109621B2
An inkjet printer that has a printer body, a printhead cartridge for installation in the printer body, and an ink cartridge for supplying the printhead cartridge with ink. The ink cartridge has an ink outlet valve and an air inlet, the ink outlet valve engaging an ink inlet valve on the printhead cartridge, and the air inlet engaging a complementary formation on the printer body to open the air inlet and locate the ink cartridge.
US08109619B2
A liquid container manufacturing method including a storage container which is storable a liquid receptacle, and including preparing the liquid container for which a liquid housed in the liquid receptacle is supplied to the outside via a flow path inside a liquid volume detector device, filling the liquid in the liquid receptacle stored in the storage container, and connecting the liquid volume detector device to the liquid receptacle filled with liquid.
US08109615B2
An ink cartridge includes a frame, a first wall comprising a film connected to the frame, and a second wall opposite the first wall. The frame, the first wall, and the second wall define an ink chamber therein, and the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member positioned within the ink chamber, and a shaft extending between the first wall and the second wall. The movable member is configured to pivot about the shaft. Moreover, the frame includes a first material, and the shaft includes a second material which is different than the first material. A rigidity of the second material is greater than a rigidity for the first material.
US08109607B2
In one embodiment, a fluid ejector structure includes an orifice sub-structure and an ejector element sub-structure direct contact bonded together along a direct contact bonding interface. The orifice sub-structure has a plurality of orifices therein. Each orifice is positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of a plurality of fluid ejection elements on the ejector element sub-structure.
US08109598B2
There is provided an image recording device, comprising first and second motors; first and second switch gears supported coaxially; first and second transmission gears, and wherein the first and second switch gears are provided to engage with corresponding ones of the first and second transmission gears in accordance with movement of the first and second switch gears in an axial direction, and the image recording device further comprises a control unit configured such that when the first switch gear and the second switch gear are moved in the axial direction, the control unit rotates one of the first and second motors by a first predetermined rotation amount, and starts the other of the first and second motors while the one of the first and second motors is rotated. The control unit rotates the other of the first and second motors by a second predetermined rotation amount.
US08109591B2
A method responds to an over-temperature condition in a printhead. The method includes generating a first electrical signal corresponding to a temperature in a printhead, monitoring the first electrical signal with a first electronic circuit to terminate delivery of electrical power to a printhead in response to detection of a safety event, and monitoring the first electrical signal with a second electronic circuit to regulate an amount of electrical power delivered to the printhead.
US08109589B2
A liquid discharging device includes a liquid discharging head which discharges liquid. A drive signal generator generates a drive pulse. A liquid receiving portion faces a nozzle-formed surface of the liquid discharging head and receives discharged liquid. Electrical change information is acquired by detecting change in an electrical characteristic between a conductive portion of the liquid discharging head and the liquid receiving portion when liquid is discharged. Correlation information shows correlation between the electrical change information and temperatures of discharged liquid. The drive signal generator generates an information acquiring drive pulse. The correlation information shows correlation between the electrical change information obtained when discharging the liquid using the information acquiring drive pulse and the temperatures of the liquid. Based on the correlation information, the temperature of the liquid corresponding to the electrical change information is estimated as an estimated liquid temperature and the drive pulse is thereby corrected.
US08109588B2
Provided is a liquid ejecting method, including: ejecting a liquid from a liquid ejecting head, wherein the viscosity of the liquid is in a range from 6 mPa·s to 20 mPa·s, wherein the liquid ejecting head includes: nozzles which eject the liquid; a pressure chamber which applies a pressure variation to the liquid in order to eject the liquid from the nozzles; and a supply unit which communicates with the pressure chamber and supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, and wherein the opening area of the nozzles on the side in which the liquid is ejected is 1/10 or less of the opening area of the opening of the supply unit on the pressure chamber side.
US08109579B2
An adjustment apparatus for a sneeze guard includes a support post having a mounting bar with two parallel ridges along the rear side. First and second support frames are slidably interconnected and secured to the ridges on the mounting bar in parallel relation, the outer side of first support frame facing the outer side of the second support frame. The first support plate is pivotally connected and adjustably secured in a plurality of rotational positions to the inner side of the first support frame. The first support plate includes a holder on the inner side attached to one end of a transparent pane of a sneeze guard. The second support plate is pivotally connected and adjustably secured in a plurality of rotational positions to the inner side of the second support frame. The second support plate includes a holder on the inner side attached to one end of an opposing transparent pane of a sneeze guard. The adjustment apparatus allows each of the transparent panes in a series of interconnected sneeze guard panes to be adjusted vertically and rotationally, independently of any other pane in the series.
US08109574B2
An adjustable hinge mountings has a first hinge arm, a second hinge arm, a toothed quadrant centered on a hinge axis and connected to the first hinge arm, a detent part which has a toothed surface feature cooperating with the toothed quadrant and a control part associated with the detent part. The hinge arms can be pivoted between an active angular range in which the detent part is allowed to engage the toothed quadrant and a passive angular range in which the detent part is not located opposite the toothed quadrant so that the detent part is not allowed to engage the toothed quadrant. In the passive angular range, the detent part is retained by the control part in a passive position in which it is not in the range of movement of the toothed quadrant. In the active angular range, the detent part adopts an active position in which the detent part can be brought into engagement with the toothed quadrant. When passing from the passive angular range to the active angular range, the toothed quadrant actuates the control part either directly or indirectly.
US08109573B2
A vehicle seat, in particular motor vehicle seat, comprises a backrest part and a seat part. The seat part has a fitting for adjusting the inclination of the backrest part in relation to the seat part. The fitting has a first fitting part which is firmly connected to the backrest part, and a second fitting part which is firmly connected to the seat part. The fitting parts are connected to one another and configured to be adjusted smoothly angularly by an adjusting mechanism. The first fitting part is able to be locked in relation to the adjusting mechanism by a latching apparatus, and is able to be pivoted about a rotational axis in relation to the adjusting mechanism after the latching apparatus is released. The adjusting mechanism comprises a toothed member, such as an internally toothed mechanism latching plate and/or an internally toothed mechanism plate. The first fitting part is mounted in a plane extending generally perpendicular to the rotational axis of the toothed member.
US08109570B2
A stay is provided with an insulating member, so that only a lower stay body disposed on a lower side of the insulating member can be energized. Further, the lower stay body is set at a position in which the lower stay body is not exposed to an interior of the seat back when the head rest is vertically adjustably connected to the seat back.
US08109564B2
A seat self-lifting device for a portable chair is mounted between a seat frame and a front leg of the portable chair. The seat self-lifting device includes a rotary axle, a spiral spring and a fixing rod. The rotary axle passes through the front leg and connects with a connecting plate mounted on the seat frame. The fixing rod is perpendicularly disposed on the front leg. The spiral spring has a first end connected with the rotary axle and a second end wrapped around the fixing rod. When the seat is deployed, the rotary axle is rotated along a direction and the spiral spring is deformed to accumulate a resilient force. When the user leaves the seat, the resilient force of the spiral spring rotates the rotary axle along a reverse direction for flipping the seat to a collapsed state.
US08109562B2
A roof rail reinforcement device for a vehicle, may include at least a reinforcement attached to a roof rail to increase rigidity, and having a cut part formed by cutting a portion of a flange thereof to ensure therethrough a first sealer applying position formed at a distal end of the roof rail, thus allowing a mastic sealer to be applied to the distal end of the roof rail.
US08109550B1
Exemplary embodiments provide a grasping and lifting device for moving a plurality of different-sized containers. The device contains a set of clamps which securely attach to a plurality of different-sized containers and allow them to be quickly lifted and relocated by an operator. A toggle device may also be used to hold the clamps in the open position for added security and efficiency. A hoisting device with a translating mechanism provides lift and motion assistance to the operator so that the risk of repetitive motion injury is reduced.
US08109549B2
Various endeffector designs are disclosed for handling semiconductor wafers. For instance, an endeffector for handling wafers at a relatively low temperature is disclosed along with an endeffector for handling wafers at a relatively high temperature. Both endeffectors include uniquely designed support members that are configured to only contact a wafer at the wafer's edge. The endeffectors may also include a wafer detection system. The endeffector for handling wafers at relatively low temperatures may also include a pushing device that is used not only to position a wafer but to hold a wafer on the endeffector during acceleration or deceleration of the endeffector caused by a robot arm attached to the endeffector. As designed, the endeffectors may have a very slim profile making the endeffectors easily maneuverable.
US08109544B2
An unlocking device for actuating a control device in the locked condition to release it. The unlocking device has an actuating magnet guided in a coil base and/or in housing elements (28) of the actuating magnet and has an actuating element that can be displaced and that releases, in an actuation position, an unlocking path for a control unit has a locking element (30). The locking element, when unlocked by the actuating element via the control unit, releases the trajectory for the control device to be actuated. The locking device (30) is guided in the housing element (28) of the actuating magnet and prevents the control device from being unintentionally locked again by maintaining it in the unlocked position by a blocking part (48). The unlocked position corresponds to a release of the control device.
US08109541B2
A latching structure of a mobile electronic device includes a button module, at least one lock pin, at least one linking rod, and at least one hook module respectively disposed in a base and a display of the mobile electronic device. One end of the linking rod is coupled to the button module and another end of the linking rod is coupled to the hook module. When the button module is pressed, the button module drives the linking rod to force the hook module to release the lock pin so as to allow the user opening the display from the base of the mobile electronic device.
US08109540B2
A pipe joint for plastic pipe includes a bell member and a spigot member. The bell member includes a tubular plastic body wall having a radially outer side including a pair of spaced apart circumferentially extending ribs and a metal reinforcement ring located between the ribs. The tubular plastic body wall includes a circumferential plastic ring portion extending between the ribs and radially exterior of the metal reinforcement ring to encase the metal reinforcement ring within the tubular plastic body wall. A radial gap may be provided between the plastic ring portion and the metal reinforcement ring to accommodate differing thermal shrinkage rates as between the two different materials. The spigot member, which is insertable into the bell member, includes a tubular plastic body wall having an internal surface and an external surface and a longitudinal axis and metal reinforcement encased within the tubular plastic body wall. A plurality of plastic ribs extend from the external surface of the tubular plastic body wall and forming a gasket channel.
US08109525B2
A guiding wheel assembly, mainly for a hospital bed, including a wheel (1) with a horizontal rotation axis (6) installed on an arm (7) that is fixed to the frame (5) with the use of an axis (4) allowing swinging in the vertical plane. The wheel (1) is firmly fixed in the straight direction. The arm (7) is provided with a track (3), against which a pressing element (8) leans. The pressing element (8) is fixed with a pin (9) to the frame (5) in a swinging way.
US08109524B1
A shopping cart handle cover includes a generally elongated, flexible cover base panel; a generally elongated, flexible cover top panel carried by the cover base panel; and a cover interior defined by and between the cover base panel and the cover top panel. The shopping cart handle cover is designed to slide over a shopping cart handle. The handle cover can be fabricated of a material having elastic properties, allowing the user to stretch the handle cover over the cart handle. The handle cover becomes taut over the cart handle when in a relaxed state. At least one panel handle flap can be provided through the top and base panels. The flap wraps around the cart handle providing protection to the user from bacteria, other microorganisms, and other contaminants. A plurality of handle covers may be provided by joining adjacent covers, providing a perforation therebetween, and rolling the covers onto a core for dispensing.
US08109523B2
Skibobs are disclosed having features for conveying the skibob with rider on a moving chairlift while the rider remains mounted on the seat of the skibob. The frame and suspension are configured for elevating the underside of the skibob seat above the level of the chairlift bench during loading, so that the chairlift bench, while moving forward from behind the rider, can pick up the skibob, rider and all, and carry the mounted rider up the ski slope without falling. As the undercarriage of the skibob is lifted off the snow, the rider is deposited on the chairlift bench so that the seat of the skibob is secured in place by the weight of the rider on the seat. During offloading, the skibob is nonetheless readily disengaged from the chairlift bench with an active boost from the suspension and optional spring-loaded seat as the undercarriage contacts the offloading platform, permitting the rider to ski away from the chairlift without dismounting the skibob, thus improving ease of use for riders with limits in physical capacity. These and other features of the invention are a benefit to disabled persons in gaining access to the ski slopes.
US08109522B2
A stabilizer bar system that includes a first stabilizer bar, a second stabilizer bar and a clutch having a clutch housing and a plurality of coupling members housed in the clutch housing. The first stabilizer bar is received in the clutch housing for rotation relative to the clutch housing about a rotational axis. The second stabilizer bar is fixedly coupled to the clutch housing. The coupling members are configured to selectively non-rotatably couple the first stabilizer bar to the clutch housing such that the clutch housing is employed to transmit torque between the first and second stabilizer bars.
US08109517B2
A hand-held product for playing a game is disclosed. The hand-held game includes a basketball goal assembly and a ring coupled to the basketball goal assembly that can be attached to the finger, wrist, arm, or other body parts or limbs of a user. The basketball goal assembly includes a backboard and a rim. The rim can be foldable. In one embodiment, the ring is adjustable to fit different sized fingers, wrists, arms, or other body parts. The adjustable ring can be an adjustable band with adjusters at ends of the band. The ring is coupled to the basketball goal assembly using at least one of an adhesive, tape, a snap-on clip, a press fit mechanism, a mounting bracket, welding and molding. The hand-held game can come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.
US08109516B2
An otherwise conventional craps table is provided with one or more unique wagering opportunities each comprising odds which are more favorable to the craps player as compare with the odds associated with traditional craps wagers. Utilization of the wager opportunities comprising the present invention attracts more players to the craps table and thereby ultimately benefits the craps table operator.
US08109512B2
The card game combines aspects of Texas hold'em and raffle drawings. A plurality of mutually different cards or car representations is provided to each player as scratch-off or tear-off tickets, or cards in an envelope. A common multiple card hand is provided for player to form optimum hands with their card representations. The maximum number of player hands in a single distinct set, with each hand having mutually distinct cards therein, is determined by the number of cards in each hand and the number of distinct cards in the deck. The game may be played by a large group in lieu of conventional raffle ticket drawings, and provides for elimination of identical cards between each player hand and the common hand. At least one winning hand occurs with every game, as winning is comparative between players rather than absolute as in conventional raffle play.
US08109510B2
There is provided a sheet inverting and conveying mechanism for conveying a sheet in a first direction, inverting obverse and reverse sides of the sheet, and then conveying the inverted sheet in a second direction. The mechanism includes: a first conveyance section for receiving, at its conveyance face, one side of the sheet, and for conveying the sheet in the first direction; a sheet inverting section for receiving, at its bent inner peripheral face, one side of the sheet, and for inverting the sheet while bending the sheet along the bent inner peripheral face; and a second conveyance section for receiving, at its conveyance face, one side of the inverted sheet, and for conveying the sheet in the second direction, wherein the first conveyance section and the second conveyance section are formed so that the sheet is conveyed while being attracted to the conveyance faces.
US08109499B2
A method for moving a media sheet within an imaging device includes moving a media sheet along a media path by rotating an at least one roller. While the media sheet is moving, a first sensor is activated with the media sheet and then a second sensor is activated with the media sheet. Feedback is received by a processor indicating the number of rotations of the at least one roller. A measured distance DM from the first sensor to the second sensor is calculated. An adjusted distance DA from the second sensor to a feed nip is then calculated. After activation of the second sensor, the roller continues to move the media sheet on the media path and the roller is rotated at least the adjusted distance DA. The media sheet then enters into the feed nip in a substantially deskewed alignment.
US08109492B2
A strut top mount utilizing a mount dome including lightweight polymeric material for the primary structural member as a replacement for the steel material that is traditionally used. The utilization of the polymeric material is possible because the factors associated with strut top mount stresses are successfully managed by a strategic geometric arrangement of the components thereof and the body structure to which it interfaces, as for example by the mount dome being configured to seat in abutting relation to a support shell of the strut tower, wherein the polymeric material is placed under compression. A load bypass is provided in the event of a maximum jounce event.
US08109471B2
The invention relates to a plasma based aircraft possessing a magnetic field, and a plasma vortex. The craft is tubular in shape. The craft has a vast array of capacitors. The craft also has a proton accelerator, plasma guns, and diversion devices. The craft will approach the speed of light, over time. The craft obtains fuel direct from an atmosphere or a radiation induced atmosphere in space, at no cost, similar to our Moon's radiation induced atmosphere of the noble gases. The craft can travel to a gk star, for only the cost of construction of craft.The craft has three on-board escape, exploratory craft. The craft produces plasma vortices within an electromagnetic field. The field is an inhomogeneous, diamagnetic, orbiting plasma field, with a magnetohydrodynamic electrically conducting plasma current.The craft possesses approximately seven uninsulated, tungsten bands, encircling craft.
US08109470B2
An aircraft fuel tank assembly comprises a first fuel tank, a second fuel tank and a tank-to-tank overpressure protector therebetween. The overpressure protector has a closed state and an open state. The fuel tank assembly further comprises an indicator for indicating whether the overpressure protector is in the open or closed state, the indication of the indicator being able to be sensed at a location outside of the fuel tanks. The fuel tank assembly may comprise a test mechanism arranged to effect movement of the overpressure valve from the closed state to the open state, the test mechanism being operable from a location outside a fuel tank. The fuel tank assembly may comprise an overpressure valve re-set mechanism, the re-set mechanism being operable from a location outside the fuel tanks.
US08109465B1
An electro-magnetic landing gear up-lock includes at least one electro-magnet mounted to the aircraft structure positioned adjacent the landing gear trunion. When the at least one electro-magnet is energized, magnetically responsive material in the landing gear positioned adjacent to the electro-magnet is attracted to the electro-magnet with sufficient force to hold the landing gear in a retracted. De-energizing the electro-magnet causes the electro-magnet to release the landing gear to allow the landing gear to extend.
US08109461B2
A film transfer device with a slidable protection cap includes a case including a compartment, a receiving section connected with the compartment, and an opening section in proximity to the receiving section. A reel mechanism is disposed in the compartment. An application head assembly is retained in the receiving section and includes an application head exposed outside the opening section. A protection cap is slidably mounted in the receiving section between a first position and a second position. The application head is concealed by the protection cap when the protection cap is in the first position. The application head is exposed from the protection cap when the protection cap is in the second position.
US08109454B2
A crusher comprising at least a first crushing blade and a second crushing blade which are arranged to be rotary, one of the crushing blades being also arranged to move back and forth along a substantially harmonic linear path, and the rotating axes of the first crushing blade and the second crushing blade being parallel with the linear direction of movement of the second crushing blade. The second crushing blade is adjusted to move substantially harmonically back and forth along a linear path.
US08109452B2
An electrostatic atomizer, for use in a motor vehicle, includes a discharge electrode, a water supply unit for cooling the discharge electrode to generate water condensed on the discharge electrode, and a high voltage applying unit for applying a high voltage to the water on the discharge electrode to electrostatically atomize the water. The electrostatic atomizer is arranged in a ceiling of the motor vehicle. The electrostatic atomizer further includes an ejection portion provided in the ceiling of the motor vehicle for ejecting electrically-charged water particles generated by electrostatic atomization and an ejection direction changing unit provided in the ejection portion for changing an ejection direction of the electrically-charged water particles.
US08109442B2
A method and apparatus for generating and applying quality factors (QFs) to an optical reader. After an optical reader is calibrated, a mid-range gray scale level is selected and scanned. The reader outputs digital numbers (DNs) that are generated for all the pixels that will be responding to the reading of a document. A histogram of the DNs is generated and characteristics of the histogram distribution are calculated and used as QFs. For example, the standard deviation of the histogram may serve as a QF, where a lower standard deviation is preferred. Thresholds and standards may be developed from experience that indicate the operating condition of the reader. The QFs, thus, may be used during manufacturing and for field servicing of the reader.
US08109439B2
A commodity registration processing apparatus detects, with a commodity sensor, whether a commodity is present in an imaging area of an imaging device and, when the commodity sensor detects that the commodity is present in the imaging area, decodes a commodity code barcode or the commodity code barcode and a discount barcode on the basis of image data acquired by imaging by the imaging device, and performs registration and price adjustment processing for the commodity on the basis of a decoding result of the commodity code barcode or the decoding result of the commodity code barcode and a decoding result of the discount barcode.
US08109438B2
According to one embodiment, a game presentation such as a virtual slot machine may be displayed by a display device associated with a point of sale (POS) terminal.
US08109436B1
Systems and methods for monetary cards are described. The cards are free from personally identifiable data, e.g., no name or embossment. In an example, the card includes a first number that activates the card and a second number written to the card at activation away from the card manufacturer. This helps prevent theft at the manufacturer. This second account is a bearer account where anyone who knows the account number can withdraw the funds from the account. The account may be funded with either the account number or the authentication number.
US08109433B2
A carton is formed from a blank having gusseted corners that in part form an interior carton volume. The interior volume of the carton can be varied by placing the carton in an expanded configuration. The carton can include a bottom receptacle portion that may be liquid-tight.
US08109427B2
A surgical instrument for performing an end-to-end anastomosis of first and second luminal structures includes a housing having an actuator attached thereto and a selectively removable loading unit attached to a distal end of the housing which supports any array of surgical fasteners at a distal end thereof. The surgical fasteners are simultaneously deformable upon activation of the actuator such that a distal end of each surgical fastener secures each end of each luminal structure to complete the end-to-end anastomosis wherein the resulting eversion is exterior to the luminal structures.
US08109426B2
A surgical tilt anvil assembly including a rod and a head assembly including an anvil plate having staple deforming pockets. The head assembly is pivotally secured to the rod and pivotal in relation to the rod between a first tilted position, a non-tilted position and a second different tilted position. The head assembly passes from the first tilted position, through the non-tilted position to the second tilted position.
US08109411B2
An electric soap dispenser that includes sensors for detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can be configured to dispense an amount of liquid soap, for example, upon detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can include various features for enhancing the performance thereof. For example, the dispenser can include an additional button for manual operation of the pump. Additionally, the dispenser can detect the voltage of a power supply and compensate for a drop in voltage of the power supply so as to produce more uniform dispensations of the liquid product. Additionally, the dispenser can include a valve at its discharge end to prevent drips.
US08109409B1
The present application is directed to a deodorizer that comprises a package comprised of a porous compostable material and a crushable compostable material within the package that releases a deodorant when crushed. The application further describes a deodorizer assembly comprising an attachment assembly for removably attaching a deodorizer to the interior of a garbage container. The application also discloses a deodorizer assembly comprising a garbage can liner and a crushable compostable material that releases a deodorant when crushed.
US08109407B2
An apparatus includes an enclosure and a door configured to seal the enclosure. The door includes a plate. A rotational apparatus is disposed over the plate. At least one first member with a first arm extends from a first rib of the first member. At least one second member with a second arm extends from a second rib of the second member. The first and second arms are connected to the rotational apparatus. At least one corner member has a first edge. The first edge has a shape corresponding to a shape of a corner of the frame. The corner member is connected to a first end of the third arm. A second end of the third arm is connected to the rotational apparatus. A sealing material is disposed along a first longitudinal side of the first rib and a second longitudinal side of the second rib.
US08109401B2
For a wall cut-out (100) defining a void (101) within a wall (102) for receiving a utility receptacle (104) wherein the cut-out has a perimeter edge (103) surrounding the void (101), the frame (10) includes an insert-flange (12) dimensioned to be inserted into and to sit within the void (101) adjacent the perimeter edge (103). The insert-flange (12) defines a through void frame opening (14) between opposed edges of the insert-flange (12). A wall-shelf (20) is secured to the insert-flange (12), and a mud-ridge (22) is secured to the wall-shelf (20) adjacent to and surrounding an interior perimeter (24) of the frame opening (14). The mud-ridge extends away from the wall-shelf (20) to facilitate application of a bonding compound and secure mounting of a receptacle component (106) within the utility receptacle (104).
US08109392B2
A concrete processing apparatus (10) including at least one chute (14) along which crushed concrete and impurities is to pass. The chute (14) is downwardly inclined and has an air outlet to which air is delivered from a blower (29). An air stream issuing from the air outlet is directed across the interior of the chute (14) to deliver impurities to an impurities outlet (23).
US08109389B1
A shipping container for electrical storage cells includes a box and a plurality of tray elements adapted to be received in the box. The box defines an interior space having an inner periphery and a height. Each tray element has an outer periphery that substantially conforms to the inner periphery of the interior space of the box, and each tray element has at least one upwardly facing recess that substantially conforms to the shape an individual electrical storage cell.
US08109387B2
A device for applying a liquid, pasty or other flowable substance includes a pack with a receiving section comprising a wet portion for receiving the substance and a closure section defining a dry portion. The closure section is separated from the receiving section by a tear line. The wet portion is separated from the dry portion by means of a separation element comprising an orifice closed off by a closure element which is releasable from the separation element after tearing open the pack along the tear line.
US08109374B2
A production method for coned disk springs includes: preparing a plate member; punching plural annular blanks from the plate member by pressing; and forming the blanks into coned disk springs. In the pressing, plural slits are formed at one of a peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion of at least one of the blanks, and a smaller outer diameter blank among the blanks is punched from an inner region of a larger outer diameter blank among the blanks.
US08109372B2
A damping valve includes a valve body, the valve body having at least one through hole and a valve seating surface. There is at least one valve disk configured to mate with the valve seating surface and at least partially seal the through hole and a first spring configured to bias the at least one valve disk towards the valve seating surface. A stop ring is configured to support the first spring on a first surface and an intermediate ring is configured to be supported by the stop ring on a second surface of the stop ring opposite the first surface. A second spring is configured to bias the intermediate ring against the stop ring.
US08109365B2
An engine supercharger lubricating apparatus is provided with an oil passage, a pump and an air introducing passage. The oil passage is configured and arranged to supply a lubricating oil to a supercharger of an engine and to return the lubricating oil from the supercharger to an oil pan. The pump is arranged in the oil passage at a location downstream of the supercharger for pumping the lubricating oil from the supercharger to the oil pan. The air introducing passage is arranged to introduce air into the oil passage at a location downstream of the supercharger and upstream of the pump.
US08109363B2
The present disclosure provides a retaining wall fall protection system having a plurality of base plates. It further includes a plurality of uprights pivotally attached to the base plates and a cross-brace attached to adjacent uprights at opposite ends of the cross-brace. A plurality of guardrails are provided and attached to guardrail adjustment brackets. The guardrail brackets are removably attachable to the uprights at various positions along the length of the uprights. Finally, there is provided an attachment assembly which secures the uprights in position adjacent the retaining wall. The attachment assembly comprises an attachment strap which is mounted to the upright and sized to extend through the retaining wall. A retainer on the opposite side of the wall engages a distal end of the attachment strap to secure the scaffolding to the retaining wall under construction.
US08109362B2
A passive noise attenuation device and system is provided having a reticulated open-cell porous structure configured to acts as a passive control device in order to mitigate combustion noise and instability problems in combustion systems. A porous inert media structure is placed downstream of the reaction zone of a combustion chamber to dissipate noise and/or instability generated upstream in the flame. The porous inert media also limits and/or disintegrates vortical structures in the flame to produce a homogeneous flow field to facilitate distributed reaction zones.
US08109349B2
In one aspect of the invention, a high impact resistant tool includes a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The superhard material has a substantially pointed geometry with a sharp apex having a radius of curvature of 0.050 to 0.125 inches. The superhard material also has a thickness of 0.100 to 0.500 inches thickness from the apex to a central region of the cemented metal carbide substrate.
US08109345B2
A system and method is provided for drilling a wellbore using a rotary drill bit with a bit body having a plurality of mechanical cutters to cut away formation material as the wellbore is formed and a directed energy mechanism to direct energy into the formation. The energy from the directed energy mechanism is used to enhance the cutting of the mechanical cutters by fracturing surrounding material to facilitate drilling in the direction of the directed energy.
US08109343B2
A drill includes a housing and a motor coupled to an output member by a transmission. The transmission can selectively couple the output member to an output spindle through a low speed output gear or a high speed output gear for rotating the output spindle at a first speed or a second speed, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, a low speed mode can be provided by actuating an electronic switch that limits the speed of the motor. A rotatably fixed hammer member and a rotatable hammer member can be mounted around the output spindle. A mode collar can be rotatably mounted on the housing and around the output member for movement to positions that correspond to various mode of operation, including a low speed mode, a high speed mode, and a hammer-drilling mode. In the hammer-drilling mode, the transmission operates in the high speed mode.
US08109339B2
A zero backlash downhole setting tool including a mandrel; a body lock ring at the mandrel; a setting sleeve in operable communication with a device to be set; a rotary take-up in tensile force transmissive contact with the device to be set; and a follower housing configured to follow the rotary take-up in a first mode of operation and extend away therefrom in another mode of operation, the follower being engaged with the body lock ring and method.
US08109338B2
A pipe handling system includes a lifting mechanism coupled to an upper end of a pipe above a free end of the pipe, and a guide system operable to engage the pipe and control lateral movement of the pipe as it is moved between a storage position and a well center position, the guide system including a pair of support members including extendable end portions and a flexible pipe guide coupled between the extendable end portions. In some embodiments, the guide system includes a pair of rotatable support arms having first pivot ends and second ends and an expandable pipe guide connecting the second ends.
US08109336B2
In a method of hydraulically fracturing a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation, a proppant stage is introduced into the fracture which contains a gaseous fluid and an ultra lightweight proppant suspended in a viscosified aqueous fluid. The gaseous fluid of the proppant stage contains at least about 90 volume percent of the combination of gaseous fluid and aqueous fluid. A pad fluid may first be introduced into the formation, the pad fluid containing a gaseous fluid and, optionally, an aqueous fluid. The gaseous fluid of the pad fluid mixture typically contains at least 70 volume percent of the mixture.
US08109317B2
Device with a shutter and element for the reinsertion of a shutter into a guide slide. Device with a shutter for the closing-off of a bay (1), comprising a slide (7, 8); a deformable shutter (3) comprising a lateral flange (10, 11, 27) which is mounted slidingly in the slide; and a means for reinserting the flange into the slide, after it has been pulled out of the slide, this means comprising at least one pair of rollers (17) which are placed on either side of the shutter and which, while the shutter is moved opposite the bay in order to uncover the latter, roll on the flange which has come out of the slide and push it back into the latter.
US08109309B2
A tire is provided that includes a crown with a mid-plane S, two sidewalls, a first bead, of diameter Φ1, intended to be positioned on the outboard side of a vehicle, and a second bead, of diameter Φ2, intended to be positioned on the inboard side of a vehicle, such that Φ1>Φ2. When the tire is mounted on its working rim and inflated to its nominal pressure, the mid-plane S of the crown is axially offset towards the first bead relative to a mid-plane B of the beads by a positive or zero distance D.
US08109307B2
A pneumatic tire includes a plurality of protrusions on a bottom of each of the grooves. The height of the protrusion is variable in a profile of the protrusion in a circumference direction of the pneumatic. The protrusion has at least one peak portion that protrudes away from a center of the pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire further includes a connection member between the protrusion and an adjacent one of the lands, the connection member having a first end toward the land and a second end toward the peak portion, a height of the first end from the bottom of the groove being larger than that of the second end.
US08109299B2
A filling valve (12) including: a hollow housing (21); a moving valve assembly (24) slidingly mounted in the housing (21), the moving valve assembly (24) and the hollow housing (21) together defining a liquid chamber (30) and a gas chamber (32); a liquid inlet (46) for putting the liquid chamber (30) into communication with a liquid supply pipe (14); a gas inlet (47) for putting the gas chamber (32) into communication with a gas supply pipe (17); wherein the hollow housing (21) and the moving valve assembly (24) together define a medium chamber the (33) located between the liquid chamber (30) and the gas chamber (32), and wherein the filling valve (12) further comprises: a first diaphragm (35) linking the valve assembly (24) to the housing (21) between the liquid chamber (30) and the medium chamber (33), and a second diaphragm (36) linking the valve assembly (24) to the housing (21) between the gas chamber (32) and the medium chamber (33).
US08109294B2
A one-handle valve cartridge has a housing that functions as a stop for an actuating mechanism of the valve cartridge to define a range of flow rates and/or temperatures for which the water flowing through the valve cartridge is delivered.
US08109288B2
A partial pressure control system 45 includes two valves 2 which are branched from an operation gas supply pipe 44 and which variably control operation gas, pressure sensors 3 which are respectively connected to the each valves 2 in series and which detect pressure of the operation gas, and a controller 25 which proportionally controls the operation of the valves 2 based on detection result of the pressure sensors 3, thereby relatively controlling pressures P1 and P2 of the two valves. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce wastefull consumption of the operation gas, and to enhance the responsivity with respect to change of setting and the like.
US08109274B2
Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.
US08109271B2
A breathing assistance system may include a patient interface configured to interface with a patient to communicate gas received from a gas delivery apparatus to the patient, and a securing system configured to secure the patient interface against the patient's face. The securing system may include one or more walls forming a generally tubular structure open at least at one end. At least a portion of the one or more walls may be elastic such that at least a portion of the generally tubular structure can be stretched over the patient's head.
US08109262B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for aging a stone, preferably an artificial stone. The aging device comprises a rotary support operatively connected to a rotary shaft, at least one abrasive tool mounted to the rotary support for roughing and/or polishing a surface of the artificial stone when the rotary support is brought into functional contact with said surface, and biasing means that biasingly connect the abrasive tool to the rotary support. The biasing means urge the abrasive tool away from the rotary support while allowing the same to move toward the rotary support when the rotary support is brought into functional contact with the surface of the artificial stone, thereby allowing the abrasive tool to follow a surface profile of the artificial stone while roughing and/or polishing its surface.
US08109257B2
A fluid selection valve unit comprising a valve seat having a side surface having a predetermined depth and a bottom surface continuous to the side surface and a valve member supported with a rotary shaft at one end. The valve member includes a bottom portion and a side end surface formed above the bottom portion, and is configured so that a passage area of a gap formed between the side end surface of the valve member and the side surface of the valve seat is smaller than a contact passage area formed between the bottom portion of the valve member and the bottom surface of the valve seat during a time when the bottom portion of the valve member comes into contact with the bottom surface of the valve seat by the rotation of the rotary shaft, and the rotary angle increases up to a predetermined value of the rotary angle.
US08109255B2
A system for controlling fuel to an engine to minimize emissions in an exhaust of the engine. There may be a controller connected to an actuator, for example a fuel control actuator, of the engine and to emissions sensors, such as an NOx and/or PM sensor, proximate to an exhaust output of the engine. The controller, for example a speed controller, may have an input connected to an output of a pedal or desired speed setting mechanism. A speed sensor at a power output of the engine may be connected to an input of the controller.
US08109254B2
A method of controlling the spark lead of an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder fitted with a spark plug; the method including the steps of: determining a standard spark lead value; determining an engine knock index in the cylinder; calculating a correction factor as a function of the engine knock index; determining a modified spark lead value by applying the correction factor to the standard spark lead value; and controlling the spark plug using the modified spark lead value. The correction factor is calculated by statistically analyzing a number of engine knock indexes to calculate a cumulative distribution; comparing the cumulative distribution with at least one target value; and modifying the current correction factor value as a function of the comparison between the cumulative distribution and the target value.
US08109251B2
A gas phase of LPG such as propane is used to power a small internal combustion engine driving or powering a preselected device such as a powered lawnmower, weed whacker, string trimmer, leaf blower or the like and the fuel system is provided with heating arrangements that insure the gas phase of the LPG is discharged from the LPG tank for all operating conditions of the device.
US08109245B2
A drive cam opens or closes an intake valve via a variable mechanism, a split-type rocking cam arm, and a valve actuating mechanism. The variable mechanism varies a position of an intermediate roller corresponding to a rotating angle of a control shaft, thereby variably setting a lift amount of the intake valve. The split-type rocking cam arm includes an input arm and an output arm, and a connection selection mechanism is disposed between the arms. When the arms are connected together, the intake valve performs an ordinary open/close operation. When the arms are disconnected, an input of the drive cam is absorbed by a relative rocking motion between the arms, so that the intake valve is retained in a pause state.
US08109243B2
An internal combustion engine provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to individually control the opening timing and closing timing of the intake valve. At the time of engine low load operation, the maximum expansion ratio is obtained by making the mechanical compression ratio maximum and, while the mechanical compression ratio is made maximum, the opening timing of the intake valve is maintained at a target opening timing of substantially intake top dead center in the noninterference region where no interference between the valve and the piston occurs.
US08109240B2
The pet harness with restraint includes a rigid lateral bar or rod attached across the shoulder strap of a harness. The bar serves to prevent the animal from escaping between the vertical uprights of a fence or similar enclosure. The harness preferably comprises a pair of foreleg loops, a chest strap interconnecting the foreleg loops, and a pair of connecting straps that extend from the loops over the shoulders of the animal. Alternatively, the harness may comprise a collar portion and a body-encircling strap joined by longitudinal chest and dorsal straps. The bar may be permanently attached across the shoulder or dorsal straps of the harness, but is preferably removable to provide a versatile harness. The bar may be attached to the harness by snap fasteners, by insertion into a sleeve attached to the harness, etc. The harness may include elastic sections therein to provide greater adjustment for growing pets.
US08109239B1
A toy is provided that simulates a mouse tail moving randomly in and out and back and forth about the access orifice, thereby catching the pet's attention and stimulating the animal's instinctive curiosity.
US08109223B2
A method and apparatus of operating an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) may include receiving an AUV in a receptacle of a submersible station. The AUV and the submersible station may be launched to an underwater location. The AUV may engage with the submersible station before, after or during a mission, and may return to the same or a different submersible station after part, or all, of the mission has been completed.
US08109219B2
A selectively and reversibly adjustable utensil, aperture forming structure, and stirrup, and methods of geometrically modifying an eye defined by the utensil, the aperture defined by the structure, and the stirrup, utilizing active material actuation, so as to facilitate entraining a filament within the eye or aperture, and securing the filament once entrained.
US08109216B2
An apparatus for storing fluid containing bags comprising a shelf having a bag-supporting surface, and a pair of laterally extending projections. The device includes a pair of opposed sidewalls each comprising an inner surface, and a longitudinal groove for receiving one of said projections. The groove is disposed in the inner surface. A first support for supporting one of the projections in a first shelf position is disposed within the groove, and a second support for supporting one of the projections in a second shelf position is disposed within the groove. The shelf is disposed between the sidewalls such that each of the projections is disposed within a corresponding groove. The shelf is movable from the first shelf position wherein each of the projections is supported by a corresponding first support and the second shelf position wherein each of the projections is supported by a corresponding second support.
US08109212B2
A projectile (10) is for use with barrel assemblies of the type having a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel having a bore and a muzzle and which projectiles are associated with discrete propellant charges for propelling said projectiles sequentially through the muzzle of the barrel. Projectile (10) comprises expandable sleeve (11) encircling at least part of core (12). Sleeve (11) and core (12) have wedging surfaces (14) operable to deform trailing part (21) of sleeve (11) into sealing engagement with the bore in response to pressure exerted on the projectile (10). When projectiles (10) are axially disposed in the bore, rear face (24) of the leading projectile cooperates with leading face (20) of the trailing projectile to define a discrete space about spine (23) for receipt of the propellant charge. Sleeve (11) is retained about the core (12) during travel to the target.
US08109206B2
The inventive waffle iron has two baking sub-assemblies pivotable with respect to each other from an open position and a closed proximate position in which they define a baking chamber. At any position of the baking sub-assemblies between the closed proximate position and the closed offset position thereof, wherein they are offset from each other by a product expansion, a peripheral element of a baking sub-assembly slides along a corresponding peripheral element of the other baking sub-assembly in such a way that the variable volume baking chamber is formed.
US08109202B2
Cooking apparatus having first and second platens with product recognition. A positioning mechanism moves the second platen toward the first. A detector senses the second platen making contact with a food product disposed on the first platen and provides a signal. A controller uses the signal to measure the travel distance of the second platen. The product thickness is a function of the travel distance, which is used to select a cooking procedure for the food product. The controller then executes the selected cooking procedure to cook the food product. The detector can include a micro switch, proximity sensor, touch sensor, strain sensor, thermal sensor, optical sensor, sonar sensor or positioning load change sensor.
US08109201B2
A kitchen appliance for heating foodstuff includes a container defining a heating cavity therein. The container is positioned on a supporting surface during heating of the foodstuff. The kitchen appliance further includes a utensil for manipulating the foodstuff. The utensil has a first and opposite second end. A tray is slidably positioned within a portion of the container. The tray is movable between a storage position in which the tray is substantially within the container and a use position in which the tray is at least partially removed from the container. The tray has a concave portion on a top surface thereof. The concave portion is sized and shaped to support at least a portion of the first end of the utensil above the supporting surface.
US08109197B1
A control system for controlling the movement of a system such as a hydraulic servo controlled gimbal systems. The system includes a plurality of actuators and sensors that sense the position of the actuators. On start up, a control system determines the present orientation of the system and compared it to a user defined desired orientation. The system operates in a first mode on start up where the control system moves the actuators so that the system is moved form the present orientation to the desired orientation at a controlled rate. Once the desired orientation is reached, control is then passed to a user controlled device such as a joystick.
US08109192B2
The invention relates to weapon mount systems that can be locked into a particular position. In an embodiment, the invention includes a weapon mount including a base structure; a mounting structure pivotably coupled to the base structure; a weapon cradle pivotably coupled to the mounting structure, the weapon cradle configured to hold a weapon. The weapon mount also includes a first locking mechanism configured to restrict pivoting of the weapon cradle relative to the mounting structure in a vertical plane, the first locking mechanism comprising a first brake caliper; and a first brake rotor, wherein the first brake caliper selectively engages the first brake rotor. The weapon mount also includes a second locking mechanism configured to restrict pivoting of the mounting structure relative to the base structure in a horizontal plane, the second locking mechanism comprising a second brake caliper; and a second brake rotor, wherein the second brake caliper selectively engages the second brake rotor. The weapon mount also includes a first control interface configured to actuate the first locking mechanism and a second control interface configured to actuate the second locking mechanism. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US08109191B1
A remote digital firing system for selectively firing a plurality of remote mission payloads. The remote digital firing system includes a first set of firing circuits communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a corresponding first set of remote mission payloads and a second set of firing circuits communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a corresponding second set of remote mission payloads. The remote digital firing system includes a firing control panel communicatively linked to the first and second sets firing circuits, a first digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with each firing circuit of the first set and the firing control panel, a second digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with each firing circuit of the second set and the firing control panel, and a payload selector switch for selecting a remote mission payload.
US08109186B2
An apparatus for gripping food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meat in a slicing machine, together with methods of operation thereof. The gripper apparatus comprises hooks for gripping one end of the food product. During slicing, the slicing machine cuts slices from the other end of the food product. Two sets of hooks are present and each set of hooks is moveable between a retracted inoperative position and an extended product-gripping position, independently of the other set. The second set of hooks, when in their extended position, projects for a distance greater than the first set of hooks. Both sets of hooks occupy their extended positions during initial stages of slicing and the second set of hooks is withdrawn to their retracted position during a final stage of slicing so that more of the remaining end of the product can be sliced. The hooks of the first and second sets are curved and occupy parallel planes when in their extended positions, with the planes occupied by the first set of hooks being orthogonal to the planes occupied by the second set of hooks.
US08109182B2
The present invention provides a ratchet tool, wherein a circular tooth row is arranged into the round groove of the main body's actuating end. A tool driving seat is assembled rotatably onto the round groove of the main body. A first braking slot, a second braking slot and an arched control slot are triangularly configured onto the internal surface of the tool driving seat. The first and second braking slots are separately fitted with the first and second braking swing blocks. A moveable control gear is placed into the control slot and can shift to the through-hole at both ends of the control slot such that it is mated simultaneously with inner tip edges of the first and second braking swing blocks. An elastic resetter is additionally provided to make the first and second braking swing blocks with inner tip edge swing inwards in a normal state.
US08109173B2
A parallel robot including a movable-section drive mechanism having a parallel mechanism configuration and operating to allow a movable section to perform a three-axis translational motion with respect to a base section, and a wrist-section drive mechanism operating to allow a wrist section to perform a three-axis orientation-changing motion with respect to the movable section. The wrist section includes a first rotary member supported on the movable section and rotatable about a fourth rotation axis different from axes of the three-axis translational motion of the movable section, a second rotary member connected to the first rotary member and rotatable about a fifth rotation axis orthogonal to the fourth rotation axis, and a third rotary member connected to the second rotary member and rotatable about a sixth rotation axis orthogonal to the fifth rotation axis. The third rotary member is provided with an attachment surface to which a tool is attached. The attachment surface is inclined with respect to the sixth rotation axis at a predetermined angle.
US08109158B2
A sampling apparatus for sampling a fluid enriched in a selected phase from a multiphase fluid mixture flowing into a main pipe, the multiphase fluid mixture containing at least the selected phase and one other phase, the apparatus comprising: —a sampling arrangement: for taking a fluid sample of the multiphase fluid mixture flowing into the main pipe, —a sample chamber having a variable volume for collecting the fluid sample of the multiphase fluid mixture and letting settle by gravity the fluid sample into the fluid enriched in the selected phase and at least another phase enriched fluid, and —a valve manifold coupling the sampling arrangement to the sample chamber for driving the fluid sample in the sample chamber and for driving the fluid enriched in the selected phase to a sample outlet and the other phase enriched fluid back to the main pipe.
US08109156B2
The present invention relates to a torque sensor comprising a torsion spring having first and second sides which are rotated with respect to one another by a torque applied to the torque sensor, wherein a mechanical coupling apparatus is provided between the first and second sides of the torsion spring and includes a movement element which is moved in the axial direction by a rotation of the first side with respect to the second side. In addition, a measuring apparatus is provided for the measurement of the axial movement of the movement element.
US08109153B2
A method and apparatus for measuring and/or monitoring at least one flow parameter of a medium, which medium flows through a measuring tube, wherein the measuring tube is contacted by at least two transducer elements, by means of which the measuring tube is excitable to execute mechanical oscillations and by means of which mechanical oscillations of the measuring tube are receivable. Each of the at least two transducer elements is applied, offset in time, alternately, for exciting the measuring tube to execute mechanical oscillations and for receiving the mechanical oscillations of the measuring tube.
US08109149B2
A contact stress sensor includes one or more MEMS fabricated sensor elements, where each sensor element of includes a thin non-recessed portion, a recessed portion and a pressure sensitive element adjacent to the recessed portion. An electric circuit is connected to the pressure sensitive element. The circuit includes a thermal compensator and a pressure signal circuit element configured to provide a signal upon movement of the pressure sensitive element.
US08109136B2
In order to acquire the angular position of a shaft of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in particular a crankshaft or a camshaft, a shaft angle sensor and a shaft angle sensor system are proposed. The shaft angle sensor has a magnetic transducer element and a magnetic sensor element. Either the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element is capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft. The magnetic sensor element produces at least one angle signal that is transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device.
US08109126B1
A dewatering system includes a selective calibrating sensor circuit configured to receive sensor readings from an electronic sensor, to determine if the electronic sensor is immersed in water, and to generate a control output signal accordingly. The selective calibrating sensor circuit periodically performs a self-calibration when the electronic sensor is not immersed in water to cancel the effect of potential contaminants deposited on the electronic sensor over its operating life. The selective calibrating sensor circuit inhibits calibration when the electronic sensor is immersed in water.
US08109119B2
A steam generating device and a washing machine having the same are disclosed. The steam generating device includes a lower housing, which contains water, in which a heater is arranged, and which has a vertical length longer than a horizontal length, an upper housing including a steam chamber for containing steam generated as the water is heated, a water level sensor for sensing a water level of the water chamber, and a receptacle for covering the water level sensor, the receptacle including an opening for allowing water to be introduced into the receptacle. In accordance with this configuration, it is possible to easily install the steam generating device, to achieve a superior performance, to prevent the water level sensor from malfunctioning, and to prevent spots from being formed on laundry.
US08109114B2
An ice maker and a controlling method thereof are provided. The system and method may prevent the overflow or splashing of water or thin ice out of an ice tray during the supply of water or when the ice maker is shaken by an external force. The ice maker may include an ice tray, and an ice tray cover that covers an open portion of the ice tray. The cover may include an opening through which water may be supplied to the ice tray, and through which ice may be discharged from the ice tray. The cover may move together with the tray, or may move separately from the tray, to facilitate these supply and discharge processes.
US08109110B2
A direct exchange geothermal heating/cooling system has a self-adjusting expansion valve and a bypass flow path to improve efficiency when the system operates in a heating mode. The expansion valve may operate based solely on pressure from the vapor refrigerant transport line. The system may alternatively include an accumulator, a compressor, and an oil separator, wherein an oil return line returns oil from the oil separator to the accumulator. Additionally, a direct exchange geothermal heating/cooling system may include a hot-gas bypass valve for diverting heated vapor refrigerant to the liquid refrigerant line. Finally, a direct exchange geothermal heating/cooling system having a sub-surface heat exchanger extending to a depth of at least 300 feet may use a refrigerant particularly suited for such an application.
US08109104B2
Systems and methods are provided for detecting performance degradation in a refrigeration system. Specifically, the present invention provides systems and methods for detecting, at a very early stage, a low refrigerant charge and degradation in condenser performance of a refrigeration system.
US08109098B2
A combustor liner (230) for a gas turbine engine combustor (200) comprises an inner wall (232), an outer wall (238), a cooling air flow channel (244) formed there between, and a flow control ring (246). The flow control ring (246) is sealingly attached to the downstream ends of the inner wall (232) and the outer wall (238), and comprises a plurality of holes (250) that, during gas turbine engine operation, may regulate a flow of cooling air that passes through the cooling air flow channel (244). One or more surfaces may be coated with a thermal barrier coating (237) to provide additional protection from thermal damage.
US08109094B2
A geo-cooling system of specified cooling capacity for cooling a known heat load is disclosed. The system includes a cool water aquifer, a cool water production well and a heated water injection well. The cool water production well is open to the cool water aquifer and in hydrologic communication with a subterranean heat exchange area that provides requisite cooling capacity to a known heat load. The heated water injection well is in hydrologic communication with the subterranean heat exchange area and open to the cool water aquifer at a prescribed distance from the cool water production well. The prescribed distance between the cool water production well and the heated water injection well is at least based on the available size of a subterranean heat exchange area including a portion of the cool water aquifer that hydrologically communicates between the heated water injection well and the cool water production well.
US08109089B2
A waste gate actuator for an exhaust gas turbocharger, including an actuator housing and an actuator cover, an element for actuating the waste gate valve and electronic components for controlling the element to actuate the waste gate valve being arranged in the waste gate actuator. Provided is a simple and inexpensive revolution counting system on the turbocharger which allows the number of revolutions of the rotating parts (turbine wheel, compressor wheel, turboshaft) to be detected without substantial constructional alterations to the design of existing turbochargers. A sensor for detecting the variations in a magnetic field that are produced by the rotation of the rotating parts is arranged in or on the actuator housing or in or on the actuator cover.
US08109084B2
An exhaust throttle valve protected from disturbance due to stones scattered during operation of a vehicle. Front side exhaust pipes and rear side exhaust pipes are connected to a catalyst chamber disposed below a crankcase. The catalyst chamber and an exhaust chamber disposed to the rear thereof are connected to each other via a rear exhaust pipe. The diameter of the rear exhaust pipe is smaller than the lateral width of each of the catalyst chamber and the exhaust chamber, so that a recessed space is externally formed so as to recede inside of the vehicle. An exhaust throttle valve is received in the space. The exhaust throttle valve is partially exposed to the outside of the rear exhaust pipe and a throttle valve is received in the rear exhaust pipe to throttle-control the passage-sectional area of the rear exhaust pipe according to the rotation of the engine.
US08109082B2
The invention concerns a system for assisting regeneration of a particulate filter (6) arranged in an exhaust line (3) of a diesel engine (1) associated with a oxidizing catalyst (7), the engine (1) being equipped with feeding means (8) for injecting into the cylinders thereof at least one post-injection. Said system comprises means (17) for controlling the feeding means (8) in accordance with a strategy for regenerating the filter (6) wherein the feeding means (8) are switched between a first operating mode with post-injection for priming the catalyst (7) and a second operating mode with post-injection for producing an exothermic reaction by the primed catalyst (7). Said system comprises a temperature sensor (18) arranged in the exhaust line (3) upstream of the catalyst (7), and the control means (8) are capable of switching the feeding means (8) between the first and second operating modes based on said sensed temperature.
US08109080B2
In a NOx purification system 1 provided with a NOx occlusion reduction catalyst 20 and a control unit 30 which executes a NOx regeneration control and a sulfur poisoning regeneration control, a binary λ sensor 26 and a reducing agent concentration sensor 25 for detecting a concentration of the reducing agent are disposed downstream of the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst 20. The level of deterioration of the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst 20 caused by sulfur poisoning is estimated on the basis of a time period Ta from a time point T3 at which a marked decrease of oxygen concentration is detected by the binary λ sensor 26 to the time point T2 at which the marked increase of the oxygen concentration is detected by the reducing agent concentration sensor 25 under the NOx regeneration control. Accordingly, the sulfur poisoning amount is accurately estimated and by performing the sulfur poisoning regeneration at an appropriate frequency, any excessive sulfur poisoning regeneration can be avoided, thereby preventing deterioration of mileage.
US08109079B2
Various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reducing NOx emissions on an SCR catalyst. For example, according to one representative embodiment, an apparatus for reducing NOx emissions in an engine exhaust includes a NOx reduction target module that is configured to determine a NOx reduction requirement that includes an amount of NOx in the exhaust gas stream to be reduced on a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. The apparatus also includes an ammonia target module that is configured to determine an ammonia addition requirement that includes an amount of ammonia added to the exhaust gas stream to achieve the NOx reduction requirement. The apparatus also includes a reductant target module that is configured to determine a reductant injection requirement that includes an amount of reductant added to the exhaust gas stream to achieve the ammonia addition requirement. The apparatus further includes a reductant limiting module that is configured to determine at least one reductant limiting condition and to limit the amount of reductant added in response to the reductant limiting condition.
US08109078B2
A method of operating a syngas generator within a desired temperature range, despite a need for intermittent syngas output, involves switching between operating the syngas generator in a rich mode and a lean mode. Operation of the syngas generator in both the rich mode and the lean mode sustains the operating temperature of the syngas generator within that desired temperature range, particularly for non-catalytic reactors. The method of switching from the lean mode to the rich mode of operation can include decreasing the oxygen-to-carbon ratio of reactants supplied to the syngas generator. The flow rate of one or more of the reactant streams supplied to the syngas generator can be actively controlled in order to switch operation of the syngas generator between the rich and lean modes.
US08109065B2
A system and method are provided that allow meat logs to be manually loaded into a slicing station and thereafter be continuously automatically processed at the slicing station, a harping station, and an insertion station for automated packaging thereof without the need for handling of the meat stacks by workers. To this end, the slicing station is effective to form smaller sections or chubs from the meat logs and to do so such that the chubs are provided with substantially parallel flat end-faces to ensure that high quality meat slices are generated therefrom. The chubs are then transported to the harping station where each of the chubs undergoes a single cutting operation, thus simultaneously forming the meat slices therefrom and substantially maintaining the slices in the configuration of the chubs for generating well-formed stacks of the slices. Thereafter, the stacks are received at the insertion station where they are transferred to their packages, on an automated basis without the need for manual handling thereof. This is enabled due to the well-formed stacks generated by the harping station which allows the stacks to be dropped into the packages aligned therebelow.
US08109051B2
An aftermarket application to improve the insulating properties of an existing window using vessels filled with nanotechnology insulating materials. Application does not impede users' ability to see through while minimizing heat transfer allowed through the window. The vessels can be customized by contractors and engineers to control range and direction of vision that viewers from the inside and outside can see.
US08109042B2
Methods for varying seal force in active seal assemblies for doors employ active materials that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the active materials actively change modulus properties such as stiffness, or a combination of modulus and shape in response to an activation signal. In this manner, in seal applications such as a vehicle door application, door opening and closing efforts can be minimized yet seal effectiveness can be maximized.
US08109037B2
A combined sealing system for connecting a first panel to a frame includes a first, second, and third active sealing systems. The first active sealing system engages a sill rail of the first panel with a sill of the frame. The second active sealing system engages a meeting rail of the first panel with a meeting rail of a second panel within the frame. The third active sealing system engages a stile rail of the sash with a jamb of the frame. Upon the first panel being in a closed position relative to the frame, each of the first, second, and third active sealing systems having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration.
US08109033B1
An improved automatic precision baiting apparatus for use with long line fishing gear, the apparatus having a baiter housing, a magazine, a hook rail extension, a hook orientation means, a baiting area, a bait moving means for moving bait to the baiting area, and a bait cutting means; where an unbaited fish hook is drawn off the magazine, over the hook rail extension, and into the hook orienting means of the apparatus where it is positioned in anticipation of being baited; and where an uncut piece of bait is fed into the baiting area of the apparatus by the bait moving means and cut by the bait cutting means to the appropriate size, then held in the baiting area of the apparatus until engaged by a hook.
US08109032B2
An accessory holder including a housing for holding an accessory and a switching mechanism operable independently from at least two locations on the holder for actuating an accessory in the housing. In particular, the accessory holder can be mounted on a T-grip.
US08109029B1
The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges.
US08109027B2
A weapon support pad comprising a pad comprising a fastening mechanism to attach to the forend of a weapon, such as a rifle to provide support and absorb unwanted vibrations, among other advantages. The pad may be quickly and easily attachable and detachable from the weapon. A variety of fastening mechanisms may be utilized, including the hook-and-loop.
US08109022B2
A device includes a housing defining a first opening, and a casing fixed within the housing defining a second opening opposite to the first opening. The device also includes a sliding member slidably received in the casing, and a stand pivotally connected to the sliding member including an end received in the first opening. A retaining member is slidably connected to the casing to magnetically attract the sliding member to retain the sliding member at a predetermined position. An ejection mechanism is arranged within the casing to be pushed by the retaining member to push the sliding member to move the end out of the first opening.
US08109016B2
An adjustable golf spike assembly for a golf shoe includes a receptacle fixedly attached to the sole of the golf shoe. The receptacle defines an octagonal recess and an octagonal, externally threaded post disposed within the recess. A cleat includes an oversized gripping portion for providing traction and an attachment portion extending from the gripping portion. The attachment portion has an octagonal outer surface to match and engage with the octagonal recess and an octagonal threaded recess for engaging with the threads of the receptacle. Rotation of the cleat relative to the receptacle longitudinally moves the gripping portion relative to the receptacle. Engagement between the upper portion of the cleat and the receptacle provides for discrete rotational positioning of the cleat relative to the receptacle to position and hold the cleat a desired distance from the receptacle.
US08109013B2
A protective cover device for a skate boot comprises a panel member including a central portion spanning part of the skate tongue and two side portions extending outwardly and downwardly from the central portion to span towards respective inner and outer sides of the skate. Anchor members at the outer side anchor the panel member to the skate boot using apertures which receive portions of the skate laces therethrough. The anchor members at the outer side also form hinges onto which the panel member is pivotally coupled for selectively providing access to the laces for fastening. An anchor member at the inner side comprises a strap which is selectively fastened to a mating fastener on a bottom side of the skate boot.
US08109006B2
A post sleeve installation device includes a standing structure, a structure coupled to the standing structure and configured to support a post sleeve below the standing structure, and a mechanism configured to enable selective translation of the support structure in three axes and rotation around a vertical axis. Locks are provided to lock the post sleeve at a selected position and orientation relative to the standing structure. A beam extending from one installation device to another measures or controls the relative spacing, orientation, and elevation of associated post sleeves, and related data is collected for off-site manufacture of fence panels. Additionally, a repository is provided, to which the data is transmitted for retention, and from which the data can be retrieved for manufacture of replacement fence panels.
US08109005B2
The dual-globe level comprises at least one indicator located on a body. The body defines front and rear faces, a pair of opposing ends, and at least one longitudinal surface. The at least one indicator comprises an inner vessel located within an outer vessel, and more preferably, a substantially spherical inner globe located within an outer globe and buoyantly supported within the outer globe. The inner globe, viewable through the outer globe and defining an equator around its outer periphery, is buoyantly biased within to maintain the equator in a substantially horizontal position. The equator is in operable registry relation with a first indicia to indicate a position of the at least one longitudinal surface of the body in relation to a surface or line in question located adjacent thereto. The inner globe also includes a polar marking concentrically centered within the outer periphery of the upper hemisphere defined by the equator, with the marking in operable registry relation with the first indicia to indicate a position of the rear face of the body in relation to a surface in question located adjacent thereto. In other embodiments, marking is in operable registry relation with a second indicia to indicate a position of the front face of the body in relation to the surface in question located adjacent thereto.
US08109001B2
Shaving apparatus including a drivable shaving unit for performing a first shaving action on a user's skin; a motor adapted to drive the shaving unit to perform the first shaving action; a blade having a razor-sharp cutting edge positioned for shaving engagement with the user's skin; and a guard surface provided in front of the razor-sharp blade. During use, the blade performs a second shaving action to cut hair while the drivable shaving unit performs the first shaving action. The first shaving unit may be rotary or linear and may have a static or moving skin-engaging cutter. Two razor-sharp blades may be provided, facing in opposite directions.
US08108993B2
A method of manufacturing a wiring substrate is disclosed. The method includes: (a) preparing a supporting substrate including a main body and a through electrode penetrating the main body, wherein the supporting substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a trace is formed on the second surface of the supporting substrate; (b) forming a build-up wiring structure by alternately forming a wiring layer and an insulating layer on the first surface of the supporting substrate; and (c) obtaining a wiring substrate by separating the build-up wiring structure from the supporting substrate. Step (b) includes: forming the wiring layer using the through electrode as a power feeding wiring, and step (c) includes: peeling the build-up wiring structure from the supporting substrate to obtain the wiring substrate.
US08108992B2
A method of making a self-supporting field director structure for use in heating an article in a microwave oven comprises in any operative order, the steps of folding a first and a second elongated vane blank along a central fold line to form at least two V-shaped vane doublets; inserting each of the vane doublets into a slotted annular support member so that each vane in each vane doublet extends through an adjacent slot in the annular support member; and attaching the vane doublets at their vertices to define a vane array.
US08108989B2
A manufacturing cell has a plurality of stations arranged in two rows having a main aisle therebetween. Each of the plurality of stations has a station-aisle interface that provides an interaction area to the main aisle. The manufacturing cell also comprises a plurality of storage units that are located within the cell along the main aisle and a guided forklift truck that traverses the main aisle without requiring steering control of a stock handler operating the forklift truck within the main aisle to relocate containers from the storage units to designated station-aisle interfaces and to remove containers from the designated station-aisle interfaces when work is completed at the corresponding stations.
US08108986B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording, the write head having a write pole with an increased bevel (taper) angle. The write pole is constructed by forming a mask structure over a magnetic write pole material, and then performing a combination of sweeping or rotation with static (non-rotating, non-sweeping) ion milling at an angle relative to normal. The ion milling is performed while moving the wafer laterally within the ion milling tool to ensure that the ion milling is performed uniformly across the wafer during static milling.
US08108983B2
The disclosure relates to the realization of stable electrical connections between coils and a commutator without causing slackening of the coils wound on individual magnetic teeth. An armature of a rotary motor includes an armature core structured splittably into magnetic tooth members which are individually wound by concentrated-winding type coils, and a commutator having the same number of segments as the number of the magnetic tooth members, the individual segments having connecting terminals, wherein an end portion of the coil concentratedly wound on one of the magnetic tooth members is connected generally in a straight line to the connecting terminal of the segment which is located at a position offset in a circumferential direction by a specific angle from the aforementioned one magnetic tooth member, and a conductor line connected to the connecting terminal of the segment is concentratedly wound on another magnetic tooth member adjacent to the aforementioned one magnetic tooth member.
US08108981B2
A method of making an electrostatic chuck comprising positioning a plate into a channel in a body to form a plenum and inserting a dielectric component into an opening in the plate, where the dielectric component defines a portion of a passage from the plenum. Thereafter, depositing a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the body and at least a portion of the plate to form a support surface. The dielectric layer is polished to a specified thickness. In one embodiment, the polishing process forms an opening through the dielectric layer to enable the dielectric component to define a passage between the support surface and the plenum. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the dielectric layer is porous proximate the dielectric component such that the porous dielectric layer and the dielectric component form a passage between the support surface and the plenum. In a further embodiment, a hole is formed through the dielectric layer and the hole in the dielectric layer and the dielectric component form a passage between the support surface and the plenum.
US08108973B2
A side buckle of swimming goggles is approximately formed into a strip shape. The side buckle has a retaining clip and a retaining groove respectively at two ends thereof. The retaining clip has two shaft rods and a step-shaped urging portion. The retaining groove has two shaft holes and a belt hole. A connecting portion is formed between the retaining clip and the retaining groove. The retaining clip and the retaining groove may be locked to each other after the connecting portion is bent. Thereby, the side buckle of swimming goggles is fitted at side edges of a pair of swimming goggles and connected to a belt. The connecting portion is pressed to trigger the operation of the retaining clip to loosen or fasten the belt, so as to quickly adjust a length of the belt.
US08108968B2
A grommet assembly includes a retainer including a sleeve, and a boot secured to the retainer, including a first and a second series of pleats aligned with the sleeve, each pleat of the second series decreasing in size as distance from the retainer increases, each pleat of the first series having a substantially uniform size and spaced from a consecutive pleat of the first series by a distance that is less than a space between consecutive pleats of the second series.
US08108967B2
A handle assembly for a cleaning appliance includes a slidably extendible wand and a connecting portion that includes a first locking arrangement releasably securing the handle assembly to the main body of the cleaning appliance, a second locking arrangement releasably locking the wand in a pre-determined position with respect to the connecting portion and an actuator. The actuator is adapted and arranged to move the first and second locking arrangements between locked and unlocked positions. The first locking arrangement is movable independently of the actuator. This arrangement allows a single actuator to be operated by a user to unlock both the first and second locking arrangements simultaneously. However, because the first locking arrangement can move independently of the second locking arrangement, it is possible to secure the handle assembly to the main body of the cleaning appliance while keeping the wand in a locked position.
US08108958B2
According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products is disclosed. The apparatus may include a bed frame, a lower plate having a container coupled thereto, an upper plate having an aperture defined therein, a mattress having an aperture defined therein, a mattress cover having an aperture defined therein and an absorbent pad or drawsheet having a bag coupled thereto. The apparatus may further facilitate preventing human waste products from contacting the skin of the patient, thereby substantially reducing the occurrence of pressure ulcers. The apparatus for continuous collection of human waste products may also provide continuous zero pressure in the area of the buttock while maintaining the patient in a comfortable position. As a result, the apparatus can prevent and treat pressure ulcers that frequently occur in the area of the buttock.
US08108957B2
A patient support surface including a cover defining an interior region, a layer of three dimensional material, located at the interior region, and an air circulation device disposed adjacent the layer of three dimensional material. The patient support surface includes at least one of a percussion device and a vibration device, located at the interior region.
US08108955B2
A motor with nozzle for a massage bathtub includes a cover, a silica gel ring, a water separator, at least one vent silica gel, at least one removable nozzle, a butterfly bolt, a propeller, a seat, and a motor. The seat is installed by an air inflow pipe, and air outlets and lamp holes are formed therein. A center axle of the motor is scaled from water and a connecting hole is formed on an end of the center axle. The butterfly bolt is screwed to the connecting hole to fix the propeller. The water separator is installed above the propeller and the vent silica gel and the removable nozzle are installed to the water separator. The cover is covered onto the seat of a motor body through the silica gel ring.
US08108951B2
A wearable protective body appliance for reducing the likelihood of injury to a wearer. One embodiment provides a wearable protective body appliance having an articulating protective shell assembly that includes one or more first shell members formed from a first material having a first hardness, and a second shell member directly connected to the first shell member and formed from a second material having a second hardness less than the first hardness. The second shell member is flexible and enables the one or more first shell members to articulate relative to one another, yet still provide impact protection. Another embodiment provides a body appliance including a padding assembly that defines a ventilation hole and includes an inner engagement member. The inner engagement member can surround the ventilation hole and can be adapted to frictionally engage the skin of a wearer to substantially prevent the appliance from moving relative thereto.
US08112816B2
A document verification apparatus includes a determining portion that determines whether a change that influences a verification result is made to at least one of an electronic document and a given condition, after it is verified whether or not the electronic document that has been input satisfies the given condition, and also includes an outputting portion that outputs the verification result after it is verified whether or not the electronic document satisfies the given condition, if it is determined that the change is made to at least one of the electronic document and the given condition, or outputs a result of a time when it is verified whether or not the electronic document satisfies the given condition most recently, if it is determined that the change is not made.
US08112815B2
One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing media content while preventing its unauthorized distribution. The method includes transmitting from a client to an administrative node a request for delivery of an instance of media content (IMC); determining which content source (CS) of a plurality of CSs to provide delivery of the IMC, provided the client is authorized to receive the IMC; transmitting to the client an access key and a location of the IMC; transmitting from the client to the CS a second request and the access key; in response to receiving the second request and the access key, transferring the IMC from the CS to the client; transmitting from the client to the administrative node an indicator indicating a successful transfer of the IMC; and generating a transaction applicable to the client and associated with the transfer of the IMC to the client.
US08112813B1
The present invention is directed to a method and system for verifying a user for copying or printing a limited portion of digital content while allowing the user to view the digital content. The digital content may have image portions that are digital images generally scanned from a printed page of the content and text portions that are digital texts including all forms of letters, characters, symbols, etc. An interactive image document displaying image portions of the digital content is provided for secure data access to text portions. A user can request and obtain a limited text portion of the digital content or view the image portions of the digital content via user interactions within the interactive image document. While the text portions can be reproduced, copied, or printed, the image portions can not be re-used or manipulated by the user due to their non-text accessible format.
US08112810B2
One embodiment of the invention is a method for providing media content while preventing its unauthorized distribution. The method includes transmitting from a client to an administrative node a request for delivery of an instance of media content (IMC); determining which content source (CS) of a plurality of CSs to provide delivery of the IMC, provided the client is authorized to receive the IMC; transmitting to the client an access key and a location of the IMC; transmitting from the client to the CS a second request and the access key; in response to receiving the second request and the access key, transferring the IMC from the CS to the client; transmitting from the client to the administrative node an indicator indicating a successful transfer of the IMC; and generating a transaction applicable to the client and associated with the transfer of the IMC to the client.
US08112808B2
A license server generates USB serial IDs for USB memory secured in a multi-function machine and then makes electronic signature files using the USB serial IDs and firmware that is the target of installation at the multi-function machine. The license server further makes electronic signature files using the firmware installer and SD card serial IDs. The license server then stores data for installation use including the electronic signature files in an SD card inserted in a client device connected to the license server.
US08112806B1
Computers are monitored for malware communicating directly with the NIC. The infection of computers with NIC level malware is detected. Operating system level network packet transmission statistics are monitored, as are transmission counters maintained by the NIC. The operating system level transmission statistics are compared to the NIC level transmission counters for a given period of time. If the NIC counters indicate the occurrence of a greater number of transmissions than as is indicated by the operating system level statistics, it is concluded that the computer is infected with NIC level malware.
US08112801B2
A method of detecting malware may include: a) examining header data in each PDU transferred by a port of an access switch to identify PDUs transferred from a local network device, b) extracting a far-end device address for PDUs based at least in part on examination of an address portion of the corresponding header data, c) maintaining fan-out information indicative of a quantity of unique far-end device addresses extracted from the PDUs during consecutive time windows, d) determining a current trend based on the fan-out information for a current time window, e) comparing the current trend to an expected trend, and f) identifying a suspected malware infection in the local network device when the current trend exceeds the expected trend by a trend threshold. A network element that may implement the method may include a header data processing unit, data storage logic, data processing logic, and malware identification logic.
US08112800B1
An intrusion detection system is described that is capable of applying a plurality of stacked (layered) application-layer decoders to extract encapsulated application-layer data from a tunneled packet flow produced by multiple applications operating at the application layer, or layer seven (L7), of a network stack. In this was, the IDS is capable of performing application identification and decoding even when one or more software applications utilize other software applications as for data transport to produce packet flow from a network device. The protocol decoders may be dynamically swapped, reused and stacked (layered) when applied to a given packet or packet flow.
US08112796B2
Techniques for secure federation of data communications networks are provided. The techniques employ an edge proxy server to route messages depending on a federation mode. In Direct federation mode, an edge proxy server of a network is configured to exchange messages with a specified set of entities, such as other networks, servers, other devices, or users. In Automatic federation mode, an edge proxy server may accept all incoming messages from entities that have a valid certificate. In Clearinghouse federation mode, the edge proxy server forwards all outgoing messages to a specified, trusted clearinghouse server.
US08112787B2
Systems and methods for securing a credential generated by or stored in an authentication token during an attempt to access a service, application, or resource are provided. A secure processor receives a credential from an authentication token and securely stores the credential. The secure processor then verifies the identity of the individual attempting to use the authentication token and cryptographically verifies the identity of the server being accessed. The credential is only released for transmission to the server if both the identity of the individual and the identity of the server are successfully verified. Alternatively, a secure connection is established between the secure processor and the server being accessed and a secure connection is established between the secure processor and a computing device. The establishment of the secure connections verifies the identity of the server. After the secure connections are established, the identity of the user is verified.
US08112768B2
A computer-implemented method for updating a web user interface on a client device is provided. A router back-boned to the Internet communicates with the client device web-user interface data defined in markup language to dynamically update the web-user interface on the client device. The router contains no logic regarding the web-user interface running on the client device. The client device has a browser server for dynamically updating the web-user interface through downloading and caching the data from the router. The browser server on the client device has (i) a user interface model of the web-user interface running on the client device defined in Javascript, and (ii) a JavaScript Runtime Engine for dynamically converting the downloaded and/or cached web-user interface markup language data into JavaScript objects. The web-user interface is dynamically updated by combining steps (i) and (ii).
US08112764B2
Various embodiments of the present invention transform devices into Web services or special-purpose servers that are capable of communicating with personal computers. Various embodiments of the present invention allow various low-level aspects of device drivers to reside in the devices, eliminating the need for the devices to be compatible with legacy specification. Various embodiments of the present invention allow various devices to be shipped from the factory with low-level software already built in so that users are liberated from having to deal with the experience of installing and upgrading device drivers. In various embodiments of the present invention, each device is preferably a network node identifiable by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).
US08112762B2
A blade server includes a management blade and managed blade. The management blade manages service data necessary for the service of an application. In the managed blade, the application is activated. The managed blade includes a service data list creation unit and service data list transmission unit. The service data list creation unit creates a service data list representing service data necessary for the service of the application. The service data list transmission unit transmits the service data list created by the service data list creation unit to the management blade. The management blade includes a service data transmission unit. The service data transmission unit transmits, to the managed blade, service data in the service data list transmitted from the service data list transmission unit before the service of the application starts. A service start method for a blade server is also disclosed.
US08112754B2
In case of a task scheduling processing that assigns plural divided execution program tasks to plural processor units, a multiprocessor system using SOI/MOS transistors employs two processes; one process is to determine an order to execute those tasks so as to reduce the program execution time and the other process is to control the system power upon task scheduling so as to control the clock signal frequency and the body-bias voltage to temporarily speed up the operation of a processor unit that processes another task that might affect the processing performance of one object task if there is dependency among those tasks.
US08112750B2
In scheduling shared processing that has a higher priority than LPAR processing, giving precedence to physical CPUs running idle LPARs prevents prolonged hold-up of LPAR processing. In a system is comprised of multiple physical CPUs, multiple LPARs to which these physical CPUs are allocated and which execute programs under their guest OSes, and a management program managing these LPARs, a few additional units are introduced: a guest OS monitoring unit that can grasp the states of guest OSes running on these LPARs and a dispatcher unit that allocates one of these physical CPUs to shared processing requested by the management program, which has a higher priority than LPAR processing. When a request for shared processing arises, the dispatcher unit interrogates the guest OS monitoring unit and, based on the information obtained from it, gives priority of allocation to the physical CPU processing an idle LPAR.
US08112745B2
A method includes identifying one or more features of an execution environment to be used by an application during execution and determining if use of the one or more features is restricted. The method also includes, if use of the one or more features is not restricted, compiling and executing the application in the execution environment. The method further includes, if use of any of the one or more features is restricted, blocking execution of the application in the execution environment. Determining if the use of the one or more features is restricted may include using a configuration list or a profile identified using a custom attribute. The configuration list or the profile identifies features that are available for use in the execution environment and/or features that cannot be used in the execution environment.
US08112744B2
A system for self-assembling software components is described herein. In one embodiment, a system includes a first and second set of language components, where each language component defines at least one part of language runnable on a computer by associating a piece of grammar of the language with at least one software component that implements the piece of grammar. The system further includes a request broker that upon being provided with a section of code written in the language matches syntactic appearances of the first set of language components in the section of code and granting logic to grant access to the language components of the first set whose syntactic appearances the request broker matched, in order to enable self-assemblage of the language components of the first set with language components of the second set.
US08112743B2
The invention relates to a method of designing a system. The system includes an application having software components and an architecture having hardware components on which the application is run. The system has to satisfy at least one functional and one non-functional requirement. The functional analysis step (11) obtains a breakdown of the functional need relating to the application. A step defines the architecture (12). A step for designs hardware components (13) according to the architecture. A step design software components (14) based on the breakdown of the functional need. A step for integrates the software components in the hardware components (15). A step validates the functional requirements of the system (16). A step validates the non-functional requirement of the system (17). An upstream step (21) validates the non-functional requirement of the system, preceding the steps for designing hardware components (13) and software components (14).
US08112739B2
In one embodiment, a method for adding a new function type to an application development tool includes determining that a function specified by a user for a design of an application is of a new type, and presenting a user interface (UI) associated with the specified function. The method further includes creating custom metadata based on input provided by the user via the UI for the specified function, and converting the custom metadata into expression metadata having a format understandable by a code generator.
US08112734B2
A method incorporating adaptive body biasing into an integrated circuit design flow includes the steps of (A) adding adaptive body biasing input/outputs (I/Os) during a bonding layout stage of the integrated circuit design flow, (B) floorplanning the integrated circuit design, (C) generating an adaptive body biasing mesh and (D) generating a layout of the integrated circuit design based upon a plurality of adaptive body biasing corners.
US08112729B2
A method and system for modeling an integrated circuit. The method includes converting a representation of the integrated circuit into design shapes of design levels of a design of the integrated circuit; adding control shapes to the design, the control shapes not defining any physical part of the integrated circuit; extracting layout-dependent stress parameters of the devices from the design levels of the design based on the control shapes and the design shapes; converting the layout-dependent stress parameters to stress parameters using a stress algorithm; generating stressed device parameters from the stress parameters using a compact model; and simulating performance of the integrated circuit using the stressed device parameters in a simulation model of the integrated circuit design.
US08112727B2
Disclosed is a method, system and computer program product to specify an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a hardwired specific logic technology portion and a programmable specific logic technology portion. The method includes generating a hybrid logic network by mapping each uncertain logic function to an abstract programmable logic element implementation thereof and by mapping each known logic function to a technology-independent logic element implementation thereof; simplifying the hybrid logic network using logic synthesis optimizations; mapping the simplified hybrid logic network to a specific technology by mapping the abstract programmable logic element implementation to the specific programmable logic technology and the technology-independent logic element implementation to the specific logic technology; and further includes optimizing the mapped network to meet performance constraints. Generating involves using integrated circuit specification language extensions that include an Uncertain Function that is used in place of a logic function or operator, an Uncertain Function Assertion for imposing at least one constraint on the Uncertain Function, an Uncertain Register for a register having a programmable size within a specified range and an Uncertain Constant.
US08112724B2
A method of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a cell arranging and wiring step of arranging and wiring cells for creating a physical layout, a design-rule checking step of verifying a shape of a second physical layout including the cells of the physical layout with reference to a rule library for design rule check, a mask-data creating step of creating mask data corresponding to the physical layout using the second physical layout when the design rule is satisfied in the design-rule checking step, a mask-data processing step of performing, when the design rule is not satisfied in the design-rule checking step, mask data processing for the verification-object second physical layout, and a mask-data creating step for creating mask data corresponding to the physical layout using the second physical layout subjected to the mask data processing in the mask-data processing data.
US08112720B2
A system and method for automatically, programmatically generating media item recommendations on a graphical user interface (GUI) based on a friend media item recommendation selected by a user. In the preferred embodiment, a selected media item recommendation is displayed in the GUI. Received friend media item recommendations are displayed in a list in relevance order adjacent to the selected media item. A programmatically-generated media item recommendation list is automatically generated based on relevance to the selected media item and displayed in another adjacent area to the selected media item recommendation. In this manner, a user can easily play the selected media item recommendation, and then browse the friend media item recommendations and the automatically updated programmatically-generated media item recommendations, which are both provided in their own respective adjacent areas, in order of closest relationship to the selected media item recommendation, at anytime.
US08112706B2
When image data obtained by scanning a document is to be registered in a document management system, a search index can be generated by layout analysis and object analysis. However, when application data generated by an application is to be registered, similar analysis processing cannot be done, and a search index cannot be generated. Hence, an instruction of application data to be registered in the document management system is received, and it is checked if that application data can be processed by the document management system. If it is determined that the application data cannot be processed by the document management system, the application data is converted into PDL data (S756), and the application data or data as a combination of the PDL data and application data is transmitted to the document management system.
US08112705B2
A web browser magnifies the content of the whole page in memory and displays the relevant portion in a magnifier with hyperlinks. The web browser then maps the magnified display to the original document. Thus, manipulation of the mouse in the magnified display may result in an action with respect to the original document. The user may then select a link for navigation within the magnified display. Alternatively, the web browser may analyze the original web page and construct magnifier contents on the basis of either the document object model, extensible markup language (XML), or hypertext markup language (HTML) representation of the magnified portion.
US08112703B2
A technique is provided for providing an aggregate tag view of a website that comprises a plurality of webpages that each has a corresponding URL. A tag is a set of one or more words that have been associated with a URL and is typically created by a user to describe content of the webpage corresponding to the URL. Initially, a request is received to display information pertaining to a website. In response to the request, a plurality of tags associated with the website is displayed. A first subset of the plurality of tags is associated with a particular URL. A second subset of the plurality of tags is associated with one or more URLs that are not the particular URL. Alternatively, or in addition to an aggregate tag view tag-related information for each URL of the website is provided, in response to the initial request.
US08112688B2
A data-transmission control method is implemented when transmitting data after dividing the data into a plurality of blocks and performing error correction when performing data transmission. The method includes obtaining additional information indicating a result of error correction process of received data and a result of data transmission (ACK/NACK) from a reception station, and deciding a data length of data to be retransmitted when NACK is obtained as the result of data transmission so that a rate of occurrence of transmission errors upon retransmission is minimized, based on a number of blocks in which error correction has failed indicated by the additional information.
US08112683B1
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for system and application debugging are described herein. A tested platform may include a debug event monitor in a boundary scan interface that detects a debug event in a process and determines a characteristic associated with the debug event. The debug event monitor may trigger an application debug event or a boundary scan debug event based at least in part on the determined characteristic. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08112682B2
Apparatus and methods for effecting bad-block testing operations are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, instead of effecting bad-block testing for the majority of the flash memory blocks of a flash memory device during manufacture, most or all bad-block testing is postponed until the end user is in possession of the flash memory device. In some embodiments, after user data is received by the flash memory device from a host device, one or more blocks of the flash memory device are subjected to bad-block testing.
US08112681B2
The application discloses an integrated circuit comprising: circuitry; a fusebox for storing an array of data identifying faulty elements within said circuitry; at least one fusebox controller for repairing said faulty elements in said circuitry in response to data received from said fusebox; a data communication path linking said fusebox controller with said fusebox; wherein said data stored in said fusebox is compacted data and said at least one fusebox controller comprises a data expander for expanding said compacted data received from said fusebox via said data communication path prior to repairing any faulty elements in said circuitry.
US08112679B2
Apparatus and associated method that stores first metadata only at the same addressable storage location of a computer readable medium as that where associated first user data is stored, and afterward satisfies a read request for the first user data by retrieving the first user data from the addressable location of the computer readable medium where the first metadata is stored if the first metadata has a first value, and by reconstructing the first user data from other metadata stored at another addressable location of the computer readable medium than where the first metadata is stored if the first metadata has a second value.
US08112678B1
Systems and methods for detecting and correcting errors in programmable logic ICs are provided. In one embodiment, a scrubber periodically reads the memory cells in a programmable logic IC, detects and corrects any errors, and writes the corrected contents back into the memory cell. In another embodiment, regions of memory cells in a programmable logic IC each have associated error correcting circuitry which operates to continuously detect and correct errors as they occur. Error correcting circuitry can further be designed to reduce static hazards. It may be more desirable to design programmable logic IC routing architectures that reduce the number of memory cells needed to implement a given function. Error correcting circuitry can be provided for configuration memory or for an embedded memory block on a programmable logic IC.
US08112674B2
A diagnostic control methodology provides reduced disruption of device operation when performing diagnostics on devices within a computer system. A diagnostic application notifies a device driver that controls a particular device that diagnostics should be performed during a period of low activity on the device. In response to receiving the notification, the device driver waits for a time of low activity and either notifies the application to unload the device driver and load a diagnostic device driver, or enters a diagnostic mode directly if such operation is supported by the functional device driver. A timeout duration can be specified, and may be set by the notification, so that the diagnostics will be performed within the timeout period even if a time of low activity has not occurred by the expiration of the timeout.
US08112665B1
Methods and systems for rapidly rolling back and retrying a data migration between a first and a second storage system. In one embodiment, upon receiving a request at a provisioning manager to perform a rollback of a first data migration, the first storage system merges, to a baseline dataset, a first incremental dataset received by the second storage system after the first data migration. In another embodiment, upon receiving a request at a provisioning manager to perform a retry of the data migration, the second storage system merges, to the data received by the second storage system during and immediately after the first data migration, a second incremental dataset received to the first storage system after performance of the rollback. Throughout the migration rollback and retry, the data of the baseline dataset, first incremental dataset, and second incremental data set is made available to the client.
US08112655B2
A memory system is described, where the transmission time of data between memory modules is managed so that the overall time delay between specified points in the memory system is maintained a constant. Each lane of a multilane bus may be separately managed, and a data frame evaluated at the destination module, without a need for deskewing at intermediate modules. The time delay in propagation of the data through a module, which may have a switch to route the data, is reduced by operating the data path through the module at one or more submultiples of the bus serial data rate, and selecting the sampling point of the received data so that variations in time delay due to temperature changes or ageing are accommodated.
US08112640B2
Provided is a method and of controlling a voltage of power supplied to a 3-dimensional (3D) graphics data processor and the 3D graphics data processor using the method. The method includes controlling the voltage of the power supplied to the graphics data processor based on the amount of data representing an object included in graphics data and re-controlling the voltage of the power supplied to the graphics data processor based on a time difference between scheduled processing time according to the controlled voltage for the object and actual processing time consumed by the graphics data processor, thereby reducing power consumption.
US08112634B2
Methods and devices for increasing or hardening the security of data stored in a storage device, such as a hard disk drive, are described. A storage device provides for increased or hardened security of data stored in hidden and non-hidden partitions of a storage medium in the device. An algorithm may be utilized for deriving a key that is used to encrypt or decrypt text before it is read from or written to the hard disk. The algorithm accepts as input a specific media location factor, such as an end address or start address of the block where the text is being read from or written to, and a secret key of the storage component. The output of the algorithm is a final key that may be used in the encryption and decryption process. Thus, in this manner, the final key is dependent on the location of the block where the data is being written or read, thereby making it more difficult to tamper with the data, which may be stored in a hidden or non-hidden partition of a hard disk.
US08112617B2
In an information processing device, a screen display control part displays an operation screen, and a firmware update part updates a firmware of the screen display control part. An operating state holding part stores an operating state of the information processing device at a time of displaying the operation screen after the firmware is updated by the firmware update part. A high-speed starting part starts the information processing device and displays the operation screen based on the stored operating state.
US08112612B2
A processing system comprising processors and the dynamically configurable communication elements coupled together in an interspersed arrangement. The processors each comprise at least one arithmetic logic unit, an instruction processing unit, and a plurality of processor ports. The dynamically configurable communication elements each comprise a plurality of communication ports, a first memory, and a routing engine. For each of the processors, the plurality of processor ports is configured for coupling to a first subset of the plurality of dynamically configurable communication elements. For each of the dynamically configurable communication elements, the plurality of communication ports comprises a first subset of communication ports configured for coupling to a subset of the plurality of processors and a second subset of communication ports configured for coupling to a second subset of the plurality of dynamically configurable communication elements.
US08112594B2
Systems and methods for writing and/or reading data to a point-to-point shared memory communication mechanism are provided according to embodiments disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a determination may be made whether a first memory location in the cache of a general purpose multi-core processor includes an empty symbol. If the first memory location includes the empty symbol, then data may be placed in the first memory location in the cache. If the first memory location does not include the empty symbol, then waiting until it does. In another embodiment, a determination may be made whether a first memory location of a general purpose multi-core processor includes the empty symbol. If it does not, then data may be read from the first memory location and/or the empty symbol may be written into the first memory location. If the first memory location does include the empty symbol, then pausing.
US08112582B2
A method of configuring a storage device is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving a single data unit over a communication network, the data unit (i) being transferred via the communication network using a standard communication protocol, (ii) defining both (a) a plurality of new configuration items that define a new configuration of the storage device and (b) a command to be performed by the storage device and (iii) having a standard markup language format, (B) calculating at least one configuration change from a plurality of current configuration items to the new configuration items, the current configuration items defining a current configuration of the storage device, (C) adjusting the storage device into the new configuration based on the at least one configuration change and (D) performing a requested operation with the storage device in the new configuration in response to the command.
US08112579B2
Selecting a destination tape recording device, out of a plurality of tape recording devices, for saving data. Particularly a technique for selecting a tape recording apparatus whose performance is optimal for data to be saved, thereby improving data backup performance in a plurality of tape recording apparatuses.
US08112578B2
A comparand word is input to a plurality of hash circuits, with each hash circuit responding to a different portion of the comparand word. The hash circuits output a hash signal which enables or precharges portions of a content addressable memory CAM. The comparand word is also input to the CAM. The CAM compares the comparand word in the precharged portions of the CAM and outputs information responsive to the comparison. When Internet addresses are processed, the output information is either port information or an index for locating port information.
US08112576B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for the implementation of a novel architecture to support a calibrated rate for the transfer of circuit configuration data. Sets of configuration data from a memory may be transferred to volatile memory to support reconfigurable circuit elements, for example, for use in a clock generator. Upon system power-up, there may be a default speed for the transfer of the configuration data. Techniques are described to first transfer calibration data upon power-up; the transferred calibration data may then be used to set an accelerated speed for a remaining portion of the transfer.
US08112569B2
An IC (100) for communicating over a data communication bus (220) comprising a first pair of conductors including a data signal conductor (SDA) and a synchronization signal conductor (SCL), e.g. an I2C bus, is disclosed. The IC comprises a group of address pins (106a-c) for defining the bus address of the integrated circuit (100), each address pin being arranged to be coupled to a conductor from a group of conductors comprising the first pair of conductors and a second pair of conductors including a conductor for carrying a fixed high potential (Vdd) and a conductor for carrying an fixed low potential (GND). The IC (100) further comprises first and second further pins (102, 104) for being coupled to the data signal conductor (SDA) and the synchronization signal conductor (SCL) respectively and a bus address decoder (110) comprising, for each address pin, first means (118) for distinguishing between the first pair of conductors and the second pair of conductors and second means (112, 116) for distinguishing between the conductors belonging to the same pair of conductors. The IC (100) of the present invention provides an area-efficient implementation of an address decoder (110) capable of decoding addresses in an enhanced addressing scheme. In addition, an electronic device (200 comprising a data communication bus (220) and an IC (100) coupled to the data communication bus (220) is disclosed.
US08112567B2
A method for a portable media player to control power provided an accessory is disclosed. The method includes requesting information about the power capabilities of the accessory by the portable media player. The method further includes providing information about the power capabilities of the accessory by the accessory to the portable media player, and utilizing the information to set the power of the accessory. A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides a system that allows a portable media player to obtain information from an accessory concerning its power requirements. A portable media player can then utilize the power requirements information to allow for the powering of the accessory when connected to the portable media player.
US08112566B2
Methods and apparatuses for processing input and/or output requests for data storage devices are disclosed. Method embodiments generally comprise receiving a number of requests, wherein at least one of the requests is an isochronous request having an initial deadline value, calculating a new deadline value for the isochronous request, and issuing the isochronous request when the new deadline value is less than a threshold value. Apparatus embodiments generally comprise a request receiver to receive a number input or output requests, a logic module to calculate a deadline value for an isochronous request, where the calculated deadline value relates to the amount of time which has transpired between the creation of the isochronous request and the time the calculation is made, and an issuance module to issue the isochronous request if the calculated deadline value is equal or less than a threshold value.
US08112563B2
An arrangement including a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip connected thereto, where the second semiconductor chip is additionally connected to electrical loads and drives these electrical loads on the basis of a timing which is prescribed to it by load control data, and where the first semiconductor chip transmits to the second semiconductor chip the aforementioned load control data and pilot data which control the second semiconductor chip, and where the second semiconductor chip transmits to the first semiconductor chip diagnostic data which represent states prevailing in the second semiconductor chip or events which occur. The diagnostic data are transmitted via a first transmission channel and the load control data and the pilot data are transmitted via a second transmission channel.
US08112562B2
Port management information is prepared for managing information related to the status of each of a plurality of ports possessed by a storage system in a unified manner. Change of the status related to any one of a plurality of ports from “normal” to anomalous is detected. For a subject external device which is using the anomalous path as an I/O path, a “normal” port is selected, on the basis of the port management information, from one or more ports related to one or more paths which are being used as alternate paths. And information related to this “normal” port which has been selected is notified to the subject external device. During path changeover, the subject external device selects as an I/O path an alternate path which is related to the “normal” port specified from the notified information.
US08112544B2
A system and method for enabling users to send and receive messages and other information from mobile devices and enabling users to access server-based information using mobile devices over wireless data networks are disclosed. The present invention enables users to customize information that is received and sent from mobile devices. For example, the user may select to receive emails (or other correspondences) from a particular individual or group of individuals. The user may also select to receive a particular type of types of emails (or other correspondences), such as the ones marked as high priority or otherwise designated as being important. Other variations may also be implemented. In addition, the user may customize responses, replies and other outgoing information from the user's mobile device. Mobile device users may also customize various aspects of views and applications. Examples of customizable options may include home page (e.g., personal, any URL), time zone, date format, font format, language and other options.
US08112543B2
Systems and methods for performing storage operations over multi-stream data paths are provided. Prior to performing a storage operation, it may be determined whether multi-streaming resources are available to perform a multi-stream storage operation. Availability of multi-streaming resources may be related to network pathways capable of supporting multi-stream storage operations, existing network load related to other storage operations being or to be performed, availability of components capable of supporting multi-stream storage operation, and other factors. If system resources to support multi-stream storage operations are not available, the system may optionally perform a traditional storage operation that does not incorporate multiple data streams.
US08112540B2
A forward and backward compatible streaming protocol requires subsequent versions of the protocol to be purely additive relative to earlier versions. When a data segment is transmitted as a data stream, a first stream of data that is in accordance with a first version of the protocol is transmitted, with additional streams of data that are in accordance with subsequent versions of the protocol appended in sequence to the first stream of data. When a read module implements an earlier version of the protocol than a write module, the data segment is truncated to include only the data supported by the version implemented by the read module. On the other hand, when the read module implements a later version of the protocol than the write module, receipt of the data segment is terminated after the data supported by the version implemented by the write module is received.
US08112539B2
Methods and systems are provided to fast fill media players and buffers associated with media players. A bandwidth associated with initial startup of a media player is overloaded to rapidly fill the buffer and initiate the media player. Alternatively, multiple simultaneous data communication sessions are established with a media data source device, and the media data are concurrently received from the simultaneous sessions into the buffer or transferred of out the buffer at startup, thereby decreasing the latency associated with initiating the media player.
US08112532B2
System and method for tearing down individual IP communication sessions in multiple IP stack devices
Embodiments of the invention are used to provide a system and method for tearing down and reclaiming an IP address from a multi-IP stack device based on configurable timer parameters that provide a network operator with independent control over each protocol-specific IP network layer session. Dedicated idle and session timers for each IP network layer session are implemented at the network layer of various network nodes in order to independently tear down IPv4 and IPv6 network sessions while maintaining the underlying link layer connection. In embodiments, the IP protocol-specific idle and session timers are processed by the Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) or the Home Agent (HA). To achieve user session level control of IP protocol-specific network layer sessions, embodiments of the invention provide for storing the network layer idle and session timer attributes at the Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server prior to passing such attributes to the PDSN or the HA for processing during the dual-stack communication session.
US08112527B2
A virtual machine management apparatus connected to a plurality of server devices via a network generates a new virtual machine on a server device in accordance with a request from a management terminal. At that time, for one or more server devices to which a new virtual machine can be allocated, the virtual machine management apparatus refers to an allocation rule table for storing a score for each of combinations of types of virtual machines. The score indicates appropriateness of a condition that each combination of types of virtual machines is to be allocated to the same server device. Thus, the virtual machine management apparatus computes an index value indicative of appropriateness of a condition that the new virtual machine is to be allocated to the server device. Then the virtual machine management apparatus determines an allocation target for the new virtual machine with reference to the computed index value.
US08112526B2
A process on a highly distributed parallel computing system is disclosed. When a first compute node in a first pool is ready to hand-off a task to second pool for further processing, the first compute node may first determine whether a node is available in the second pool. If no node is available from the second pool, then the first compute node may begin performing a primary task assigned to the second pool of nodes, up to the point where a service available exclusively to the nodes of the second pool is required. In the interim, however, one of the nodes of the second pool may become available. Alternatively, an application program running on a compute node may be configured with an exception handling routine that catches exceptions and migrates the application to a compute node where a necessary service is available, as such exceptions occur.
US08112521B2
A system and method for monitoring a network and detecting network vulnerabilities is provided. A communication associated with one or more programs is issued to one or more devices in a network and the response from the devices is detected and analyzed. Based on the analysis, a device response is identified as a threat response if it represents at least an alert, an unexpected response or a response time-out indicating that the device did not response to the communication. The vulnerability of the network is determined based on the threat responses of the devices.
US08112520B2
To provide a method for assigning a service wherein power consumption can be reduced, and an information processing apparatus for implementing the method. The method includes: receiving a request of a service provided by a device connected to a network; checking whether or not a device providing the requested service is in a sleep state; selecting a device to be used based on the checked sleep state of the device, a service table that stores a combination of a service provided via the network and a device connected to the network and providing the service, and a power consumption table that stores a device connected to the network and power consumption of the device, under conditions of a time until the service is provided and power consumption; and issuing an instruction of providing the service to the selected device.
US08112506B2
Provided are a system and method for automatically setting up configurations of a home network. The system includes a setting information manager, placed within an individual home, for collecting and managing setting information associated with configurations of the home network. The setting information manager shares the setting information with a remote setting information management server or another setting information manager. Since customized setting information of an individual home is shared, setting information of home network configurations can be effectively managed, thereby reducing costs and efforts required for maintenance and repair of the home network.
US08112501B2
A system and method are directed towards enabling centralized registration for managing a selective display of visitor information to distributed social networking websites. A visitor may enter selective personal information, and determine what information is made available on a social networking webpage. The visitor may then return to the social networking website to view selective visitor information, such as within a reader roll. A visitor to a social networking website may select to not have their information displayed at selective a social networking website, while still being displayed at another social networking website. In one embodiment, selecting to not display their information may be performed by ‘mousing’ over their information and selecting a display option. Social networking websites may look to a centralized registration system to determine whether to display the visitor information, while still being able to obtain information about the visitor, and/or provide benefits to the visitor.
US08112499B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for administering devices that include creating a user metric vector including a plurality of disparate user metrics, creating a user metric space including a plurality of metric ranges, determining whether the user metric vector is outside the user metric space, identifying an action in dependence upon the user metric vector if the user metric vector is outside a user metric space, and executing the action.
US08112497B1
The invention relates to a method of educating a user about the use of a website. The method includes the step of obtaining interactive web content from the website, and displaying the interactive web content to the user, along with information educating the user about how to interact with the website. The method then further includes receiving user input for a user interaction with the web content. The user interaction is assessed, to determine if it is in accordance with the information presented to the user. If so, the interaction is transmitted to the website. The present invention has particular application to social networking websites, and educating a user about behavioral and ethical issues associated with social networking online.
US08112496B2
The present invention finds candidate objects for remote differential compression. Objects are updated between two or more computing devices using remote differential compression (RDC) techniques such that required data transfers are minimized. An algorithm provides enhanced efficiencies for allowing the receiver to locate a set of objects that are similar to the object that needs to be transferred from the sender. Once this set of similar objects has been found, the receiver may reuse any chunks from these objects during the RDC algorithm.
US08112493B2
The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for programmatically applied role-based security in a dynamically generated user interface. In accordance with the present invention, a server page can be configured for processing by a server page engine. The server page can include at least one markup language fragment defining a user interface for a first view and an additional markup language fragment defining a link to a second view. A custom tag can be included in the additional markup language fragment to conditionally include the link to the second view only if a role detected for an end user attempting to access the first view also has been defined in a deployment descriptor as an authorized role for accessing the second view. Notably, in a preferred aspect of the invention, the first and second views can be JSPs and the deployment descriptor can be a configuration file for an application framework incorporating the JSPs. In this regard, the application framework can be the Struts framework.
US08112487B2
A collaborative messaging system and method includes, in a communications engine, a plurality of message interrogators to process a message from a sender to a receiver. The plurality of message interrogators includes a message adjudicator configured to compare message information from the sender with message information obtained by the message adjudicator and to modify the message information from the sender to a more restrictive value. The plurality of message interrogators further includes a message validator configured to allow or deny the message based upon the modified message information.
US08112486B2
Systems and methods for processing a message are provided. A message may be processed to generate a message summary by removing or replacing certain words, phrases, sentences, punctuation, and the like. Message signatures based upon the message summary may be generated and stored in a signature database, which may be used to identify and/or classify spam messages. Subsequently received messages may be classified by signature and processed based on classification.
US08112485B1
In response to a user sending an electronic mail message to a recipient, a whitelist manager creates a temporary whitelist entry for the recipient on the user's whitelist. The temporary whitelist entry is set to expire after a set period of time. During the period of time that the temporary whitelist entry is in effect, electronic mail messages from the recipient are passed to the user without being subject to security screening. The whitelist manager keeps track of email traffic between the user and the recipient during this time period. If the nature of this email traffic is sufficient to establish that the recipient is legitimate, the whitelist manager converts the temporary entry to a permanent one. Otherwise, the whitelist manager disables the temporary entry, after which email from the recipient to the user is subject to normal security processing.
US08112484B1
Apparatus and method for auxiliary classification for generating features for a spam filtering model
A computer-implemented system and method are described for integrating a series of auxiliary spam detection models with a base spam detection model, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of the overall spam detection engine. For example, a system according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: a base spam filter feature extractor to detect a first set of features from incoming email messages; one or more auxiliary model feature extractors, each of the auxiliary model feature extractors to detect a different set of features from the incoming email messages; one or more auxiliary detection modules, each of the auxiliary detection modules to receive an indication of the different sets of features detected by a corresponding one of the auxiliary model feature extractor modules and to apply weights to the detected features; and a base spam filter module to receive an indication of the first set of features from the base spam filter feature extractor and the weights generated by the auxiliary detection modules, the base spam filter module to assign base spam filter weights to the first set of features and to determine whether an email message is spam based on the weights of the first set of features and the weights of the different set of features identified by the auxiliary model feature extractors.
US08112474B2
In response to a request, one of primary content data as a copyrighted work and incidental content data is received from a server. With a music editing and sharing application, the content data is used in a secondary usage fashion for editing in order to produce new incidental content data. The incidental content data is not the one that is produced by arranging directly the primary content data as an editing material but play control information for giving an instruction defining a play mode. The incidental content data is uploaded to an incidental content server.
US08112471B2
A system for optimizing the performance of a website that runs on one or more HTTP servers and is configured to receive HTTP requests from one or more clients via user agents and provide HTTP responses to the one or more clients includes an intermediary component configured to connect to the clients and the servers via network connections. The intermediary component includes a traffic management system (TMS) that includes means for managing HTTP requests originating from the clients and targeting the servers and HTTP responses originating from the servers and targeting the clients and means for redirecting the HTTP requests to the intermediary component. The intermediary component further includes a traffic processing system that includes means for receiving the redirected HTTP requests and the HTTP responses and means for applying optimization techniques to the redirected HTTP requests and the HTTP responses.
US08112464B2
One or more levels of a stub directory from a container file are written out to a storage device. The stub directory initially includes identifiers of one or more directories in the one or more levels of the stub directory but not identifiers of additional directories in the one or more directories. In response to a request to access one of the one or more directories, identifiers of one or more additional directories and/or one or more files in the one directory are extracted from the container file.
US08112445B2
Systems and methods for hosting variable schema data such as dynamic tables and columns in a fixed physical database schema. Standard objects, such as tables are provided for use by multiple tenants or organizations in a multi-tenant database system. Each organization may add or define custom fields for inclusion in a standard object. Custom fields for multiple tenants are stored in a single field within the object data structure, and this single field may contain different data types for each tenant. Indexing columns are also provided, wherein a tenant may designate a field for indexing. Data values for designated fields are copied to an index column, and each index column may include multiple data types. Each organization may also define custom objects including custom fields and indexing columns. Custom objects for multiple tenants are stored in a single custom object data structure. The primary key values for the single custom object table are globally unique, but also include an object-specific identifier which may be re-used among different entities.
US08112431B2
Methods and system for processing search requests are described. In one embodiment, a term of a search request may be received. A determination of whether the term is a meta-keyword may be made. One or more linguistically transformed keywords associated with the meta-keyword may be obtained. A search may be run on at least one of the one or more linguistically transformed keywords to obtain a result of the search.
US08112420B2
The present invention relates to an information search system, an information processing apparatus and method, and information search apparatus and method. A PC extracts, from the mail document transmitted/received by a user, words corresponding to the user's interests and records the interest data. In steps S121 and S122, upon logged in by the user, an HDD recorder requests the acquisition of interest data. On the basis of this request, the PC sends the interest data corresponding to the login user. In steps S123 and S124, the HDD recorder sends the received interest data to a server. In step S131, the server searches for the program information that matches the received interest data. In step S125, on the basis of the program information contained in the search result, the HDD recorder sets the timer-recording of a program. The present invention is applicable to programs which are installed in personal computers.
US08112419B2
A Universal Geographic Database (“UGD”) is provided that includes a real-time, automated registry/clearinghouse for the publication and retrieval of real-world locations and location-related information for businesses and other entities. By this registry, entities may publish their location and location-related information in a single place, and information services and their users can refer to this single place, via telecommunications devices, to obtain static, real-time location and location-based information about the registered locations. Each UGD record is keyed by a proprietary location address (PLA) based on the World Geographic Referencing System (WGRS). PLAs may be used as key reference and addressing terms, e.g., imbedded in digital documents, websites, GPS devices, or other information services to provide links to maps, directions, and information in the registry related to such locations. PLAs may also provide a concise, user-friendly notation for location naming and designating real-world locations and on all types of location-sensitive electronic devices.
US08112418B2
Embodiments of a computer system to determine one or more annotation items associated with an audio file are described. During operation, the computer system provides an interactive environment in which multiple users listen to the audio file within a time interval. Next, the computer system receives one or more annotation items associated with the audio file from the multiple users. Then, the computer system displays the received one or more annotation items from the multiple users in the interactive environment, thereby enabling the multiple users to provide feedback to a given user in the multiple users.
US08112415B1
Two methods and computer-readable medium for obtaining information using field group unpacking functions. The first method obtains information using field group unpacking functions by identifying an optimized unpacking function from field group unpacking functions, and an optimized unpacking function is used to unpack a field associated with the data stream. The second method obtains information using field group unpacking functions by identifying an optimized unpacking function from the field group unpacking functions. Then, a prefilter is applied and associated with the optimized unpacking functions and used to unpack a field associated with the data stream. The computer-readable medium obtains field group unpacking functions for execution by a computing device using field group unpacking functions that identify an optimized unpacking function from the field group unpacking functions, and use an optimized unpacking function to unpack a field associated with the data stream.
US08112406B2
Removing or minimizing human participation in the collection or hold process, pursuant to electronic discovery, in a robust, fast, transparent, and legally defensible manner. A method and apparatus that ensures a robust and defensible way of communicating electronic discovery collection and hold requests from electronic discovery management systems to disparate data sources in a uniform way.
US08112401B2
The document management system has a Native Template database including a list of templates for one or more types of documents having common characteristics and a Conversion Database including a list of one or more data points associated with each listed document type, one or more descriptive text entries associated with each listed data point, and proximity range information relating to the location of the data point within the descriptive text. The locations of words, sentences, paragraphs, and sections within the externally generated document are recorded and a document type is selected from the Native Template database that has common characteristics. A data point is selected from the template and the introduced document is searched for Possible Data Points. A determination is made as to whether Possible Data Point values are located within a Proximity Range. A cumulative Evaluation Score is calculated for each Possible Data Point value. The Possible Data Point with the highest score is recorded. These steps are repeated until each data point has been selected.
US08112400B2
A method for collecting data from semiconductor equipment includes selecting a plurality of data values to request from semiconductor equipment and assigning each of the data values to a chamber. Each chamber is associated with an engine that processes the data values in the associated chamber to detect a fault in the semiconductor equipment. The method also includes determining an order to receive the data values from the semiconductor equipment, and, after the order for the data values is determined, communicating a setup message requesting the semiconductor equipment to communicate the data values in the predetermined order. The method further includes receiving the data values from the semiconductor equipment and providing each of the received data values to the particular engine associated with the chamber of the data value.
US08112394B2
In one embodiment, a method for facilitating long-lived data transactions includes starting a data transaction during a first user session, storing data associated with the data transaction in a temporary storage table, and ending the data transaction during a second user session using contents of the temporary storage table.
US08112392B1
A method may include identifying a virtualized application that has a read-only virtualization sublayer and a read-write virtualization sublayer. The read-only virtualization sublayer may represent a base state of the virtualized application and the read-write virtualization sublayer may be configured to store changes to the base state of the virtualized application. The method may also include determining a first difference between the read-only virtualization sublayer and the read-write virtualization sublayer at a first point in time and using the first difference between the read-only virtualization sublayer and the read-write virtualization sublayer to create a first snapshot that represents a state of the virtualized application at the first point in time. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08112387B2
A received report query specifies a dimension coordinate constraint and an associated grain for the dimension coordinate constraint. At least one query is generated to the dimensionally-modeled fact collection. A result of providing the at least one query to the dimensionally-modeled fact collection is processed. The processed result includes an indication of every dimension coordinate satisfying the dimension coordinate constraint and having a particular value at the associated grain, and the processed result further includes facts of the dimensionally-modeled fact collection that are specified by at least one other dimension coordinate indicated by the processed result having the particular value at the associated grain and not satisfying the dimension coordinate constraint.
US08112379B2
A policy processor is described that may be used to implement a system for managing the configuration of assets in a distributed computing network, such as an enterprise network. The policy processor resides on a managed node in the distributed computing network and operates to receive, evaluate and enact policies issued by one or more policy authorities in the distributed computing network. The policy processor utilizes a conflict resolution model to determine which policy rules included within the policies should be put into effect and which should not.
US08112368B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to predict faults. Initially, a plurality of features are provided to a plurality of models. A subset of features is selected for each model. The plurality of features selected by a respective model is dependent upon a time scale associated with a respective model. As a result of their dependence upon different time scales, the plurality of selected features provided to a first model will differ from those provided to a second model. The plurality of models process the respective plurality of selected features. The outputs from the plurality of models are fused to generate a measure indicative of an impending fault. By providing different selected features to the models that are dependent upon the associated time scales and by then combining the outputs of the plurality of models, the resulting measure of an impending fault may accurately predict a fault well in advance of its occurrence.
US08112364B2
An identification token such as a proximity payment device may be integrated with a wristwatch. For security purposes, the identification token may be disabled when removed from the user's wrist. The identification token may be re-enabled by interaction with a docking station or personal computer at the user's residence.
US08112357B2
Preventing duplicate ICL files and/or ICL file elements, including duplicate ICLs, items, and item bundles, from being processed for payment and/or presentment. A duplicate detection module can assign a predictable and repeatable unique identifier to each ICL file and/or ICL file element. The duplicate detection module can determine whether each ICL file and/or element is a duplicate by comparing the identifier associated with the ICL file and/or element with information stored in a record of already processed files/elements. In response to determining that an ICL file and/or element is a duplicate, the duplicate detection module can determine not to process the file/element for payment and/or presentment. In response to determining that the ICL file and/or element is not a duplicate, the duplicate detection module can store information regarding the file/element in the record. For example, the stored information can include the unique identifier associated with the file/element.
US08112356B2
A database is provided for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between buyers and sellers. An electronic receipt is generated for one of the sales transactions, the electronic receipt is transmitted to a device associated with a user, and a signal is received from the user whereby a sales transaction is initiated relating to a secondary purchase.
US08112354B2
The present invention provides a method and a system for consolidating bill payment-related information. A consolidation toolbar is installed inside the browser of a user's computer. The consolidation toolbar enables the user to interact with a virtual consolidation system for facilitating online bill payment-related activities. Lists of all the billers that are of interest to the user are presented through the consolidation toolbar. On selecting a biller, the user is presented with the login page on the biller's web site. The virtual consolidation system assists the user in providing the required information on various web pages on the selected biller's web site, to perform various payment-related activities.
US08112351B2
A trading system is described herein for hosting a collection of one or more electronic exchanges. The collection of electronic exchanges may be made up of separately designated exchanges under one or more authorizing and regulating bodies. The trading system receives from traders bids to purchase and offers to sell a tradeable object listed at one of the electronic exchanges. Then, the trading system directs the bids and offers to the appropriate exchange where the bids and offers may be automatically matched in the corresponding market. The trading system may also be used to take actions in one or more markets that are internal and external to the trading system on behalf of a trader using preprogrammed trading instructions.
US08112350B2
The present invention relates to computerised trading systems and associated methods, particularly those that implement trades in basis trading where the two instruments have different and non-universally agreed pricing mechanisms and metrics, such as futures crosses in the European derivative markets. The present invention allows traders to enter orders expressed in terms of their own metrics. These orders are then converted to be expressed according to a standardised metric such that comparisons may be made and orders matched. Once matching orders are identified, these orders can be reported back to the traders, expressed in terms of their own metrics.
US08112345B2
The present invention provides an investment option known as a lifetime income share. Lifetime income shares mitigate survival risk, the risk that an individual will outlive his or her assets. More specifically, the purchase of a plurality of lifetime income shares guarantees an individual a predetermined, periodic income payment for the life of the purchaser. The guaranteed stream of monthly income commences at a specified age. Furthermore, the guaranteed stream is utilized to supplement an existing income level or provide income in the event that the individual outlives his or her accumulated liquid assets.
US08112344B2
Techniques, including computer-implemented methods, systems, and apparatus, for establishing a contractual relationship between two parties based on a segregated contract participation unit. The techniques include offering to a set of potential investors, on an electronic exchange, a segregated contract participation unit to purchase an economic participatory interest associated with a specific aspect of an issuer operation, and upon purchase of the segregated contract participation unit by a specific investor of the set of potential investors, establishing a contractual relationship between the issuer and the specific investor that binds the issuer to execute a set of obligations according to terms specified in the segregated contract participation unit.
US08112337B2
A method and system for electronically clearing financial instruments may include receiving electronic files of items containing data scanned from financial instruments including an amount of each instrument, and applying a rule to sort the items by determining whether the item may be stored or forwarded for clearing without storage. The rule may include determining whether an amount of the instrument exceeds a predetermined value, and if so, forwarding the instrument for clearing, or if not, storing the item for forwarding at a later time when the per item fee for clearing is lower. The system may include a control for receiving electronic files from a scanning device and applying a rule to sort the files by determining whether each file should be stored or forwarded and an image export server for converting the files to a preferred format and transmitting them for clearing.
US08112336B2
A method and system for converting an annuity fund to a life insurance policy at a predetermined conversion date comprising the following steps: establishing an annuity fund of a predetermined value and purchasing a fixed or variable annuity for the annuity fund, establishing an irrevocable life insurance conversion plan including selecting the predetermined conversion date, selecting a predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date and purchasing a guaranteed insurability option to guarantee the availability of the predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date, accruing investment income within the annuity fund on a tax deferred basis until the predetermined conversion date, converting the annuity fund to the life insurance policy with the predetermined mortality death benefit at the predetermined conversion date, accruing income within the life insurance policy until the death of the insured under the life insurance policy and disbursing the death benefit consisting of mortality insurance and accrued cash values to the beneficiary at the death of the insured under the life insurance policy.
US08112335B2
Processing pricing data can be provided by receiving first data associating a first price source, a first market condition, and an instrument; receiving second data from at least one of a plurality of price sources, the second data comprising a first price quote for the instrument; determining that the at least one of the plurality of price sources matches the first price source; and generating a second price quote for the instrument based on the second data. Time data may be used for synchronizing the first data and the second data. The first price source may be changed to a second price source and/or the first market condition may be changed to a second market condition; and a third price quote generated for the instrument based on the associated second price source. Cached data may be used for processing the pricing data.
US08112302B1
Systems and methods for reconciling a forecast for a dimension based upon data that is associated with the dimension. A method can be used that includes generating a plurality of forecasts for the dimensions such that the forecast of a first dimension is generated independently of a forecast of a second dimension. The forecast of the first dimension has a constraint that is influenced by the forecast of the second dimension. A reconciliation is performed between the forecast of the first dimension and the forecast of the second dimension in order to determine how the constraint of the first dimension's forecast is to influence the first dimension's forecast.
US08112288B1
Systems and methods for determining options for reducing spend and/or trend for a prescription drug plan are provided. Based on an analysis of spend and/or trend for the prescription drug plan, a prescription drug spend and/or trend application may determine that an option is available to reduce spend and/or trend. For example, an option may be provided that addresses a primary component of spend and/or trend as determined by the spend and trend application. In another example, an option may be provided that addresses a deviation by the prescription drug plan from a selected performance metric. In yet another example, an option may be provided that addresses a status change for a drug in a marketplace. The spend and/or trend application may optionally project an impact of an option on the prescription drug plan (e.g., financial impact, member impact) using a related model.
US08112282B2
A computer-implemented method is described for optimizing prompts for a speech-enabled application. The speech-enabled application is operable to receive communications from a number of users and communicate one or more prompts to each user to elicit a response from the user that indicates the purpose of the user's communication. The method includes determining a number of prompt alternatives (each including one or more prompts) to evaluate and determining an evaluation period for each prompt alternative. The method also includes automatically presenting each prompt alternative to users during the associated evaluation period and automatically recording the results of user responses to each prompt alternative. Furthermore, the method includes automatically analyzing the recorded results for each prompt alternative based on one or more performance criteria and automatically implementing one of the prompt alternatives based on the analysis of the recorded results.
US08112278B2
Disclosed are arrangements that provide security for items to which access is restricted by providing a single layer of security requiring a biometric signature (101) for access. A memory-space reduction approach reduces the search time to identify a matching biometric signature, this based on an auxiliary input (112) that is vocally uttered by a user seeking access to the controlled item (811). The disclosed arrangements can also use the auxiliary codes as control signals to expand the utility of the disclosed voice controlled memory partitioning arrangements.
US08112259B2
Method of determining the compositional evolution of fluids present in a porous medium as a result of biodegradation.A biodegradation compositional scheme is defined from twelve chemical classes allowing the hydrocarbons and the gases resulting from biodegradation to be described. The initial amount of each one of these chemical classes contained in the fluids before biodegradation is determined. A reaction scheme is then defined for biodegradation, wherein the chemical classes react with electron acceptors according to parallel reactions having different velocities, and each class reacts with these acceptors according to sequential reactions. The biodegradation reaction velocities are determined for each class. The composition of the fluids is then deduced by assessing the amount of each chemical class by applying the reaction scheme. The composition of the biodegraded hydrocarbons, as well as the amount of acid gas and of methane produced, are notably deduced.Application: notably petroleum reservoir development.
US08112257B2
A method and a system directed to semantically annotating business process modeling components of a business process model are described. For example, a definition of a business process modeling component and an association of a domain element with the business process modeling component are received. Then, the definition of the business process modeling component is semantically annotated using the domain element.
US08112242B2
A system for determining a property of a paving-related material is provided. Such a system comprises a measuring device for selectively and directly measuring the property. A computer device is capable of executing a software program product and communicating with the measuring device. The computer device directs the measuring device to measure the property of the paving-related material according to a parameter determined by the software program product, and to receive data comprising the measured property from the measuring device. A communication element operably engaged between the measuring device and the computer device allows communication therebetween. The communication element is configured to allow the computer device to be spaced apart from the measuring device, thereby allowing the computer device to be prepared, to include the parameter and to manipulate the data, in spaced apart relation with respect to the measuring device. An associated method is also provided.
US08112238B1
A method is provided for aligning a measurement instrument that includes a tunable filter. The method includes: (i) applying an output signal of an internal noise source of the measurement instrument to the input of the tunable filter, (ii) applying a control signal to the tunable filter to tune the tunable filter to a selected alignment frequency, (iii) measuring a value for a gain alignment parameter of the tunable filter while the output signal of the internal noise source is applied to the input of the tunable filter and the control signal is applied to the tunable filter, (iv) storing the measured gain alignment parameter value in an alignment table in the memory device, and (v) repeating steps (ii) through (iv) for a plurality of selected alignment frequencies in an operating frequency range of the tunable filter.
US08112229B2
A method for arranging assays in an order for execution in a system that employs a plurality of clinical analyzers, typically automated clinical analyzers. The method comprises the steps of (a) prioritizing the order of execution of a number of individual assays in a set of assays for a given sample in a sample container, the priority of an individual assay in the set of assays for the given sample being specified by the sensitivity of the individual assay, wherein there is at least one sample-to-sample carryover contribution from at least one other sample, an assay of the at least one other sample preceding the individual assay of the given sample; (b) comparing the sum of the sample-to-sample carryover contribution(s) from the at least one other sample for at least one assay of the at least one other sample that precedes the individual assay of the given sample to the sensitivity threshold of the individual assay of the given sample; and (c) using this comparison to determine whether to establish an order for the execution of assays for the given sample that includes the individual assay of the given sample or dispense at least a portion of the given sample into at least one additional container in order to carry out the assay.
US08112226B2
At least one inertial sensor is configured to sense movement of a telephone (or other portable device such as a personal digital assistant, portable computer, portable game device, portable audio player, or portable video player). Information derived at least in part from data output by the inertial sensor is used as input to software executing on the telephone.
US08112224B2
The guidance system (1) comprises a first means (2) for guiding the aircraft while maintaining a spacing with another aircraft, a second means (3) for making the aircraft pass through a particular waypoint at a required passing time, and means (5) for selecting automatically one of said first and second means (2, 3).
US08112219B2
A system and method for updating and communicating traffic information to at least one receiving vehicle includes a traffic information center and at least one probe vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, major road sections are represented as links, the center stores and updates a parent map database of links that are associable with a first value of a condition, each probe vehicle is configured to receive a copy of the database either periodically or upon request, determine a second value of the condition, and compare the first and second values to determine a condition discrepancy. Where the discrepancy surpasses a threshold, each probe vehicle is further configured to upload at least the second value to the center, so as to update the parent map database.
US08112214B2
A system for limiting the speed of a vehicle includes a first module that generates a first torque signal based on a vehicle speed, a second module that generates a second torque signal based on a difference between a predetermined vehicle speed limit and the vehicle speed, and a third module that generates an output torque signal based on the first and second torque signals. The output torque signal is adapted to control the output torque of a motor.
US08112198B2
An active suspension system includes a relative slow-responding force bias eliminator (such as a pneumatic actuator) and a relatively fast-responding actuator (such as an electromagnetic actuator) that together support a plant (such as a truck seat or vehicle cabin). The system also includes a load-unload detector (which may be a physical or virtual detector) to detect a loading or unloading of the plant. When such a loading or unloading is detected, the system causes the force bias eliminator to respond quickly (e.g., as quick as possible) while controlling the fast-responding actuator so as to preserve the available energy for operating the actuator (e.g., so as to keep the fast-responding actuator from consuming all of its available energy) prior to when the force bias eliminator can respond.
US08112195B2
The present invention relates to a method of providing and utilizing information for vehicle travel, such as information about traffic flow on roads, and about parking lots. In an encoding method according to the present invention, at least one component including information for vehicle travel is generated. Information about a time point is included in the generated component. The information about the time point includes a selector, having a bit element indicating whether to use the present date and time and indicating the type of loaded information, and at least one of information elements indicating a year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, depending on the value of the selector.
US08112194B2
A hybrid powertrain system includes an engine and a torque actuator coupled to a driveline to transfer tractive power to a wheel including a friction brake. A method includes monitoring an operator braking request and determining a request for regenerative braking torque. Operation of the torque actuator to react tractive power is inhibited when a fault is detected in the monitored request for regenerative braking torque and achieved regenerative braking torque.
US08112192B2
A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring output power of the energy storage device, modifying a preferred electric power limit when the output power of the energy storage device transgresses a trigger power limit, and determining the power constraint of the first power actuator based on the estimated output power of the energy storage device when the output power of the energy storage power transgresses the preferred power limit.
US08112191B2
A system is provided for monitoring the effectiveness of a braking function in a powered system. The system includes a sensor configured to measure a parameter related to the operation of the powered system. Additionally, the system includes a processor coupled to the sensor, to receive data related to the parameter. Subsequent to activating the braking function, the processor is configured to determine the effectiveness of the braking function of the powered system, based upon whether the parameter data varies by a predetermined threshold. A method and a computer software code are also provided for monitoring the effectiveness of a braking function in a powered system.
US08112186B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for displaying flight plan data. First level flight plan data is displayed and user input is received selecting a selection of a portion of the first level flight plan data. In response to receiving the selection of the portion of the first level flight plan data, second level flight plan data is displayed, wherein the second level flight plan data displayed is used to derive the selected portion of the first level flight plan data selected by the user input.
US08112175B2
Methods and apparatus for medicament tracking are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, medicaments are initially stored within secure medicament containers. One or more containers comprise a radio frequency identification module or another electromagnetic transmitter adapted to generate tracking signals. Optionally, the tracking signals may be transmitted according to one or more anti-collision protocols in order to reduce and/or prevent interference with other transmitted signals. Electromagnetic readers situated at one or more locations verify when the medicament containers are proximate to those readers. In some embodiments, once the medicament containers have successfully been tracked to a target location, inventory and tracking data may be updated within one or more external devices.
US08112168B2
A manufacturing process including a controller method to generate a tool setting which includes a tool offset and a device offset. The controller method uses a device parameter measurement to update the tool offset and device offset. A tool weight and a device weight is assigned so that only one of the tool offset and device offset is significantly changed during the update. The process may be applied to semiconductor device manufacturing and particularly to integrated circuit fabrication.
US08112167B2
A process control method comprises adjusting a process condition in consideration of a performance variation among a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses, the performance variation affecting a finished shape of a pattern used to manufacture a semiconductor device, running a simulation of the finished shape under the adjusted process condition, extracting a dangerous point of the pattern affecting satisfaction from the result of the simulation, comparing a first process capability serving as a judgment standard to find whether a production schedule of the device is achieved with a second capability serving to form a dangerous pattern containing the dangerous point, and improving the second process when the second process capability is lower than the first process capability.
US08112166B2
A method of generating a personalized sound system hearing profile for a user. The method begins by selecting an initial profile, based on selected factors of user input. In an embodiment, the initial profile is selected based on demographic factors. Then the system identifies one or more alternate profiles, each having a selected relationship with the initial profile. The relationship between alternate profiles and the initial profile can be based on gain as a function of frequency, one alternate profile having a higher sensitivity at given frequencies and the other a lower sensitivity. The next step links at least one audio sample with the initial and alternate profiles and then plays the selected samples for the user. The system then receives identification of the preferred sample from the user; and selects a final profile based on the user's preference. An embodiment offers multiple sound samples in different modes, resulting in the selection of multiple final profiles for the different modes. Finally, the system may apply the final profile to the sound system.
US08112160B2
A cardiac rhythm management device that includes a lead and a pulse generator. The lead can comprise a lead body, a helical composite electrode, a composite conductor and a proximal connector. The helical composite electrode can have first and second electrodes in a co-axial configuration. The composite connector can electrically connect the first and second electrodes to the proximal connector. The proximal connector can be configured to couple to the pulse generator.
US08112159B2
This disclosure describes a kit to facilitate implantation of therapy elements into a patient, and techniques for percutaneously inserting therapy elements into a patient. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for percutaneously inserting two or more therapy elements into a patient via a single needle. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a kit to facilitate implantation of therapy elements into a patient. The kit comprises a needle defining a lumen a first therapy element sized to pass through the lumen, and a second therapy element sized to pass through the lumen. The lumen is sized to receive both of the first and second therapy elements simultaneously. The first and second therapy elements are separate and not attached to one another such that distal ends of the first and second therapy elements can be positioned to provide therapy in distinct locations of the patient.
US08112157B2
This disclosure relates to the design and fabrication of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) for applications in such varied fields as the biomedical, micro-fluidics and chemical analysis fields for wireless data and power transfer.
US08112156B2
Method and device for improving blood flow by a series of electrically-induced muscular contractions
A treatment method and device for promoting a localized increase in the flow of blood through a blood vessel in an area of the body, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a system including: (i) at least a first electrode operatively contacting a first portion of body tissue; (ii) at least a second electrode operatively contacting a second portion of body tissue; and (iii) a signal generator, operatively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, for providing a plurality of electrical impulses to the electrodes; (b) applying the electrical impulses so as to subject the muscular tissue to at least one voltage differential, thereby inducing repeated, contracting, directional movement of muscular tissue associated within the blood vessel, so as to produce a localized increase in the flow of blood through the blood vessel.
US08112150B2
The system provides information to facilitate efficient optimization of programmer settings for cardiac pacemakers. It uses simultaneous measurement of a patient's electrocardiogram and peripheral blood pressure waveform in order to calculate, in real-time, a value correlated to the patient's pre-ejection time (PET) and, optionally, ejection duration (ED) for the patient's left ventricle. The peripheral blood pressure waveform is preferably monitored with a wrist mounted tonometer. Data including the electrocardiogram and peripheral blood pressure trace, as well as the surrogate pre-ejection time interval (SPET) for each heart beat and trending is displayed on a computer monitor, thereby allowing a physician or nurse to quickly optimize PET for the patient and adjusting programmer settings for an implanted pacemaker.
US08112149B2
A system and method determining physiological status of a patient. A determination is made whether the patient is sleeping. The amplitude and change in voltage over time of any intramyocardial electrogram is measured for a right ventricle and a left ventricle of a heart of the patient for a predefined number of heartbeats at a specified time interval in response to determining the patient is asleep. The measurements are averaged for the right ventricle and left ventricle. The averaged measurements are transmitted to a receiver for communication to an intended recipient.
US08112145B2
An assessment of myocardial viability in a subject is performed by acquiring an MR image which distinguishes infarcted myocardium from normal myocardium. A contrast agent is used and after a waiting period, a cardiac-gated segmented inversion recovery gradient-recalled radial sampling technique is employed to acquire NMR data over a substantial portion of the cardiac cycle. By interleaving the radial sampling patterns, images can be reconstructed over a range of possible TI intervals enabling the optimal TI for maximum contrast to be retrospectively selected.
US08112131B2
The present invention comprises a docking system for connecting a portable communication device to a further signal transmission line. The docking system may be arranged within a workstation such as a desk or a tray. The system may also envelope a room in a building or be located in a vehicle, to control and restrict the radiative emission from the communication device and to direct such radiation to a further remote antenna and or signal distribution system connected to the transmission line.
US08112128B2
A camera housing positionably coupled to an electronic appliance is disclosed. Preferably, the camera housing is positionable in two discrete positions such that the camera can be positioned to face towards or away from the user. The appliance includes a recess sized to receive the camera housing. A cellular telephone includes a camera housing which is positionable in two discrete positions. In the first position, the camera faces the user. In the second position, the camera faces away from the user. The camera housing is coupled to the cellular telephone by a hinge mechanism that latches the camera into one of the two positions.
US08112125B2
Provided are methods and systems for hands free communication with a wearable telecommunication device configured to recognize a command associated with the audio message and executing the command by communicating wirelessly with at least one communication device or a mobile telecommunication system. The wearable wireless telecommunications headset includes a casing containing a speaker for receiving an audio message, a microphone for sending an audio message, transceiver and a processor programmed for voice recognition. Methods are provided for direct communication with a telecommunication system and also communicating with a telecommunications system via an intermediary local device.
US08112122B2
A mobile communication apparatus comprising a numeric keypad is disclosed, wherein a number of functions are associated with keys of said keypad. The functions are related to a context of a present application running on said mobile communication apparatus, and associated with one or more further applications, wherein actuation of any of said keys results in activation of any of said one or more further functions to perform said related function by said associated applications.
US08112115B2
A mobile base station device and billing method, which can provide an incentive for use at a specific position, while securing convenience for users, are provided. In a mobile base station device 10, upon installation by an owner, registered user terminal-specific information transmitted from a network N, and installation position information specifying the installation position, are stored. When there is transmission from a portable terminal 30, judgment is made as to whether the user of the portable terminal 30 is a registered user and as to whether transmission is from within a prescribed area; only when these conditions are satisfied, a communication connection is established at a flat rate. By this means, in the mobile base station device 10, an incentive can be provided to users for use in a specific position. Further, billing adjustments are made for use at other than the specific position, but communication service is not completely forbidden, and user convenience is secured.
US08112106B2
The present invention relates to a method for obtaining group information by an invited user in a Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) session. The method comprises: sending, by a PoC client where a user initiating the session is located, a session request message carrying information about the user initiating the session and the session group member information to a PoC server; and sending, by the PoC server, the session request message carrying the information about the user initiating the session to a PoC client where the invited user is located. The PoC server sends session group member information to the PoC client where the invited user is located, so that the invited user is able to know the session group member, or refer to the session group member information to determine subsequent operations. The present invention has also disclosed a PoC system.
US08112104B1
Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages.
US08112100B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods of location-based status checking. Such a method comprises scheduling an event to occur at a scheduled time at a defined location; inviting an individual to attend the event; querying the individual as to whether the individual will attend the event; and tracking a physical location of the individual to determine whether the individual is on schedule to appear at the event by the scheduled time. Other methods and systems are also provided.
US08112094B1
Architecture that efficiently adds additional carrier(s) (e.g., UMTS) to a wireless operator's network which allows the additional carrier(s) network to co-exist with other technologies by sharing the spectrum in geographically adjacent sites. When employing UMTS, the UMTS is CDMA-based such that all users utilize the same frequency 5 MHz band. With this innovation, additional carriers (e.g., a 2nd 5 MHz UMTS carrier) can be added when capacity is needed on a site-by-site basis without clearing an additional 5 MHz of spectrum.
US08112085B2
Various embodiments are described relating to selecting anchor nodes among nodes in a wireless network. In an example embodiment, a topological arrangement of a first wireless node and one or more other wireless nodes neighboring to the first wireless node in a wireless network may be determined by the first wireless node. A second wireless node may be selected to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on the determined topological arrangement. For example, the first wireless node may select itself to perform the anchor node operations based on the determined topological arrangement.
US08112084B2
A method, a system and an apparatus for performing mobile Internet protocol deregistering, includes that the network element in the ASN to which the terminal attaches detects whether the MS terminates unconventionally, and sends the message with the MS identifier of the MS which terminates unconventionally to the ASN GW/DP. The ASN GW/DP instructs the ASN GW/FA to release the link resource with the MS and release the link resource with the HA proving service for the MS.
US08112080B2
A method and system for providing a broadcast/multicast (BCAST) service, are provided. The method includes obtaining, by the terminal, at least one BCAST service from a visiting network when the terminal roams in the visiting network.
US08112079B2
A first communication channel is used by a communication unit for communicating with a base site. The first communication channel has an inbound link and an outbound link. The communication unit determines that congestion is present on the communication channel. The communication unit determines its transmission requirements and whether the first communication channel is capable of supporting its transmission requirements. If the first communication channel is not capable of supporting the transmission requirements of the communication unit, the communication unit locates a second communication channel capable of supporting its transmission requirements, and switches to the second communication channel to communicate with the base site.
US08112077B2
Media data from a first communication session and media data from a second communication session are received by a unit in the communication network and are combined therein to form at least one combined media data stream which contains the media data from the two communication sessions. The combined media data stream is sent to the communication terminal.
US08112069B2
A communication system for receiving incoming communications from mobile communication devices and for initiating a call-back is disclosed. The communication system receives incoming communications from a mobile communication device, such as data requests. The data requests may be for a list of providers or companies and for a list of corresponding queues related to customer services, such as billing, for example. Further, the communication system typically includes components and queues for initiating a call-back sequence to a communication receiving device and placing an identifier associated with the communication receiving device in a user-selected queue. The communication system also determines the wait time in a queue and places an outgoing call to the communication receiving device. Also, a method for initiating a call-back to a communication receiving device is disclosed. The method includes receiving data from a mobile communication device and placing an identifier associated with a communication receiving device in a user-selected queue. The method further includes determining and sending the expected wait time in the queue to the mobile communication device. If a call back request is received from the mobile communication device, a call back to the communication receiving device is placed based upon the assigned placeholder in the queue.
US08112063B2
The present invention deals with a method and system for routing a call in a mobile communication network. The method comprises receiving a message by a caller prevailing network corresponding to a caller from a callee home network corresponding to a callee, if the callee is roaming. The message is received in response to the call being initiated by the caller for the callee. The message can comprise a redirection information corresponding to the callee in roaming. The method further comprises solving a predefined criterion for routing the call based on the redirection information in the message and connecting the call based on solution of the predefined criterion.
US08112062B2
A mobile station user is informed of reaching of at least one threshold level of data usage via a wireless communication network in real time. An account of the mobile station user has a maximum data plan limit defined by a user's plan and a data usage balance reflecting an amount of data usage remaining under the plan. When required data usage corresponding to requested data session does not cross the threshold level, a slice of data for the data session is allocated. When required data usage corresponding to the requested data session crosses the threshold level, reduced slice of data is allocated. Data usage is counted in real time during the data session, and a notification of reaching the at least one threshold level of data is sent to the mobile station in real time, at the time when data usage under the mobile station user's account reaches the at least one threshold level.
US08112059B2
A mixer circuit comprises an input stage arranged to convert an input voltage signal received at an input of the mixer circuit into at least one current signal, and a frequency conversion stage comprising at least one switching element arranged to convert a signal component of the at least one current signal from an input frequency to a output frequency. The input stage comprises at least one resistance connected between the input of the mixer circuit and the at least one switching element. The at least one switching element and the at least one resistance are arranged such that the at least one switching element comprises a ‘turn-on’ resistance that exhibits a resistivity that is a factor less than the at least one resistance connected thereto.
US08112049B2
Technology is described that allows the transmitter to make different channel quality adjustments to reported channel quality information for use in allocating resources for subsequent transmissions depending on whether a precoder recommendation is used or overridden. When a reported precoder recommendation is overridden in favor of an alternate precoder, a different channel quality adjustment value associated with the alternate precoder is used, which results in improved transmission performance.
US08112033B2
A data relay apparatus includes a first demodulating unit, demodulating a modulation signal of a first modulation mode from a first transmission source; a second demodulating unit, demodulating a modulation signal from a second transmission source, having a modulation mode higher than the first modulation mode; a combination controlling unit, providing a mapping rule necessary for performing signal combination in accordance with the modulation mode of the modulation signal from each of the first and second transmission source, the mapping rule to map the demodulated modulation signal from the first transmission source together with the demodulated modulation signal from the second transmission source to a constellation of symbols of the second modulation mode; a data combining unit, performing data combination on the demodulated modulation signal from the first transmission source and the demodulated modulation signal from the second transmission source according to the mapping rule.
US08112030B2
An apparatus includes a voltage generator and a superstructure. The voltage generator includes a conductive base, an insulating spacer and a conductive top. The superstructure includes a platform and an antenna system. The voltage generator provides a voltage difference between the conductive base and the conductive top that is greater than 10,000 volts.
US08112020B2
Embodiments relate to a developing device for use in an image-forming apparatus including a developing roller having a conductive base surface which may be covered with a resin layer containing an ion conductive material and a silicone-modified urethane resin having an ether structure. The resin layer may be a product of a crosslinking reaction of the silicone-modified urethane resin and the ion conductive material in the presence of a crosslinking agent and a crosslinking catalyst.
US08112015B2
At least one of a plurality of rollers supporting an endless belt includes a flange arranged on an end portion of the roller. The flange includes a cylindrical portion that is inserted into an opening portion of the roller at its end. Outer circumference of the cylindrical portion makes contact with inner circumference of the roller, and inner circumference of the flange makes contact with a rotation shaft of the roller. The inner edge of a surface where the flange is in contact with the rotation shaft is located on the inner side of the outer edge of a surface where the cylindrical portion is in contact with the roller in the longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft.
US08112014B2
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of cartridges is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position which is inside the main assembly and an outside position which is outside the main assembly, supporting the cartridges, wherein the cartridges are mounted to and dismounted from the cartridge supporting member placed in the outside position, and wherein the cartridge supporting member is movable between the inside position and the outside position intersecting a feeding path of a recording material.
US08112011B2
An image forming apparatus includes a placement tray, an image forming unit, a drive unit, a control board, a power supply substrate, a high-voltage board, and low-voltage power supply harnesses. The placement tray holds a recording sheet thereon. The image forming unit forms an image on the recording sheet. The drive unit supplies driving force to the image forming unit. The control board controls the drive unit. The power supply substrate supplies electric power to the control board. The high-voltage board is disposed in one side of the placement tray. In the high-voltage board, voltage is generated higher than voltage in the power supply substrate. The low-voltage power supply harnesses are disposed in another side of the placement tray so as to supply electric power from the power supply substrate to the control board.
US08112004B2
An optical receiver implemented with two electronic dispersion compensators (EDC) is disclosed. The optical receiver selects one of the EDC in an ordinary operation. Once there shaped signal compensated by the selected EDC is degraded due to irregular conditions of the optical transmission line, the optical transmitter and so on, the optical receiver reconfigures the tap coefficients of the unselected EDC and switches to the newly configured EDC after setting the tap coefficients for the new condition of the transmission line and the transmitter.
US08112001B2
A method of transmitting information over a non-linear optical channel includes the step (152) of generating an information-bearing signal, preferably an OFDM signal, which includes a plurality of closely-spaced sub-carriers in the frequency domain. A time-varying phase modulation is determined (154), which is a first function, and preferably a linear function, of the transmitted optical power corresponding with the information-bearing signal. The information-bearing signal and the time-varying phase modulation are applied (156) to an optical source in order to generate a corresponding transmitted optical signal having substantially the stated transmitted optical power characteristic. The first function of transmitted optical power is selected so as to mitigate the effect of the non-linearity of the optical channel upon the transmitted optical signal. In alternative arrangements, a time-varying phase modulation, being a second function of optical power, is computed (162) and applied (164) to a signal received following transmission through a non-linear optical channel. The two alternative arrangements provide, respectively, for pre-compensation and post-compensation of non-linear propagation effects that may be carried out entirely within the electrical domain, for example using digital signal processing techniques.
US08111987B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for rogue Optical Network Unit (ONU) detection via photonic mixing, comprises a first Wavelength Division Multiplexer (WDM), a second WDM communicably coupled to the first WDM, a non-linear medium communicably coupled to the second WDM, and a photodetector communicably coupled to the non-linear medium, wherein the first WDM transmits a first upstream beam and a second upstream beam to the second WDM, wherein the first upstream beam is a normal upstream beam and wherein the second upstream beam is a rogue upstream beam, wherein the second WDM transmits the normal upstream beam and the rogue upstream beam to the non-linear medium, wherein the non-linear medium mixes the normal upstream beam and the rogue upstream beam resulting in a mixed beam, wherein the non-linear medium transmits the mixed beam to the photodetector, and wherein the photodetector analyzes the mixed beam to indicate the presence of a rogue ONU.
US08111984B2
A matte box assembly is arranged for use with a camera rig including a camera body supported on a pair of parallel and spaced apart mounting rails extending in a longitudinal direction. The matte box assembly includes a matte frame surrounding a lens opening for alignment with the camera lens and a filter mount to support a lens filter spanning the lens opening. A support frame is arranged to be mounted on the mounting rails of the camera rig onto which the matter frame is supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between an in-use position aligned with the camera lens and an out-of-use position offset to one side of the camera lens.
US08111983B2
A camera includes a display device capable of displaying on a single screen a plurality of images, each of which can be observed from one of a plurality of directions; a selection device that selects any one of a plurality of operating modes; and a display control device that displays at the display device the plurality of images each correlated to the operating mode selected via the selection device.
US08111982B2
An imaging device includes an arrayed imaging element group configured to receive light passing through a photographic lens, wherein the imaging element group includes a plurality of photographic elements used for photographic image data generation and a plurality of phase difference detection elements used for phase difference detection for focus detection of the photographic lens, each of the photographic elements and each of the phase difference detection elements include: an on-chip microlens configured to collect light passing through the photographic lens; a photoelectric conversion element configured to receive the light passing through the on-chip microlens; and an internal microlens disposed between the on-chip microlens and the photoelectric conversion element, the photographic element is configured such that an optical axis of the on-chip microlens matches an optical axis of the internal microlens, and the phase difference detection element is configured such that the optical axis of the on-chip microlens is shifted from the optical axis of the internal microlens.
US08111980B2
A water heater including a water inlet line having an inlet opening that introduces cold water to a tank, a water outlet line having an outlet opening that withdraws heated water from the tank, and a heating element. The water heater further includes a control circuit. The heating element can be an electrical resistance heating element, a gas heating element, or a combination thereof. In one construction, the gas heating element includes a first combustive section and a second combustive section separately controlled from the first combustive section.
US08111978B2
Apparatus and methods for thermally processing a substrate are provided. A chamber containing a levitating support assembly configured to position the substrate at different distances from a plate during the heating and cooling of a substrate. In one embodiment a plurality of openings on the surface of the plate are configured to evenly distribute gas across a radial surface of the substrate. The distribution of gas may couple radiant energy not reflected back to the substrate during thermal processing with an absorptive region of the plate to begin the cooling of the substrate. The method and apparatus provided within allows for a controllable and effective means for thermally processing a substrate rapidly.
US08111959B2
A method for making a multimode fiber optic subassembly includes alignment of an optical detector with a fiber termination of an optical fiber. The output of the optical detector (e.g. photocurrent) can be measured from light being transmitted through the optical fiber and detected by the optical detector. The end of the optical fiber and/or the optical detector can be positioned and angularly oriented in order to obtain relative maximum or peak output of the optical detector for a given position and orientation. The output of the optical detector can be monitored while mechanically manipulating, e.g. bending, flexing, shaking and/or twisting, the optical fiber, in order to verify that the positional relationship between the end of the optical fiber and the optical detector corresponds to a position and/or orientation that provides stable output from the optical detector. If the optical detector output is not stable, the end of the multimode optical fiber and the optical detector can be moved, changing the position and/or the orientation of one or both, until the output of the optical detector is stable during manipulation. If the optical detector output is stable, the end of the multimode optical fiber is fixed to the optical detector. The resulting subassembly, a fiber optic pigtail, can be made by cutting the optical fiber a short distance from the optical detector.
US08111950B2
An image processing apparatus and method are provided in which a reduced image is generated by removing some of a plurality of pixels of an original image. A pixel value of a pixel to be removed is reflected into a pixel value of an adjacent pixel and a reduced image is generated using the reflection result and the removal result.
US08111947B2
The present invention aims to provide image processing device and method capable of generating a difference image at high speed without occurring misregistration. To achieve this, in the image processing device and method, plural regions of interest are set respectively to input first and second images, a shift vector indicating a misregistration amount between the first and second images is calculated with respect to each of the regions of interest, a filter process is executed to the shift vector, the filter-processed shift vector is interpolated, the first and second images are registered based on the interpolated shift vector, and a subtraction operation is executed between corresponding pixels on the respective registered images to acquire the difference image.
US08111937B2
An image processing method includes wavefront coding a wavefront that forms an optical image, converting the optical image to a data stream and processing the data stream with a color-specific filter kernel to reverse effects of wavefront coding and generate a final image. Another image processing method includes wavefront coding a wavefront that forms an optical image, converting the optical image to a data stream and colorspace converting the data stream. The method separates spatial information and color information of the colorspace converted data stream into one or more separate channels and deblurs one or both of the spatial information and the color information. The method recombines the channels to recombine deblurred spatial information with deblurred color information, and colorspace converts the recombined deblurred spatial and color information to generate an output image.
US08111933B2
A display panel driver including a compression circuit configured to, when receiving image data of a set of pixels of a target block, generate compressed image data corresponding to the target block by compressing the image data, the number of the set of pixels being equal to or more than four, an image memory configured to store the compressed image data, a decompression circuit configured to generate decompressed image data by decompressing the compressed image data reading from the image memory, and a drive circuit configured to drive a display panel in response to the decompressed image data, wherein the compression circuit selects one of a plurality of compression methods based on a correlation between the image data of the set of pixels of the target block, and generates the compressed image data by using the selected compression method.
US08111928B2
The present invention provides a scheme for compressing the color components of image data, and in particular, data used in multi-sampled anti-aliasing applications. Adjacent pixels are grouped into rectangular tiles, with the sample colors stored in compressed formats accessible via an encoded pointer. In one embodiment, duplicate colors are stored once. Unlike prior compression schemes that rely on pixel to pixel correlation, the present invention takes advantages of the sample to sample correlation that exists within the pixels. A memory and graphics processor configuration incorporating the tile compression schemes is also provided. The configuration defines the tile sizes in main memory and cache memory. In one embodiment, graphics processor relies on a Tile Format Table (TFT) to process incoming tiles in compressed formats. The present invention reduces memory consumption and speeds up essential and oft-repeated operations in rendering. Thus it is valuable in the design and manufacture of graphic sub-systems.
US08111920B2
Systems and methods for operating an avionics component to a level of certification. Steps include: receiving and sending data to a data monitor and an integrity monitor, the data monitor operating at a first level of certification and the integrity monitor operating at a second higher level; using the integrity monitor, determining where a feature of the data should appear on a display; checking if the feature properly appears, and if not, an error condition appears. The system includes: a sensor for sensing an aircraft condition; a data monitor for receiving and rendering data from the sensor, the data monitor certified to a first category level; an integrity monitor for receiving the data from the sensor and for calculating where a feature of the data should appear on a data display, the integrity monitor certified to a second higher level. If the feature does not properly appear, an error condition appears.
US08111910B2
An apparatus (10) includes a device for acquiring a plurality of images of an identical subject taken from a plurality of viewpoints; a device for selecting a prescribed image as a reference image, selecting an image other than the reference image as a target image from among the images, and detecting feature points from the reference image and corresponding points from the target image to generate pairs of the feature point and corresponding point, wherein feature of the feature point and the corresponding point in the same pair are substantially identical; a device for estimating geometrical transformation parameters for geometrically-transforming the target image such that y-coordinate values of the feature point and the corresponding point included in the same pair are substantially identical, wherein y-direction is orthogonal to a parallax direction of the viewpoints; and a device for geometrically-transforming the target image based on the parameters.
US08111908B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for matching a 2D color image and a depth image to obtain 3D information. The method includes matching resolution of the 2D color image and resolution of a light intensity image, wherein the 2D color image and the light intensity image are separately obtained, detecting at least one edge from the matched 2D color image and the matched light intensity image, and matching overlapping pixels of the matched 2D color image and a depth image, which corresponds to the matched light intensity image, with each other in case that the matched 2D color image and the depth image are overlapped as much as the matched 2D color image and the matched light intensity image are overlapped so that the detected edges of the matched 2D color image and the detected edges of the matched light intensity image are maximally overlapped with each other. Accordingly, the 2D color image and the depth image can be accurately matched so that reliable 3D image information can be quickly obtained.
US08111884B2
A medical diagnostic and data processing system is disclosed. The system includes, in at least one embodiment, an arithmetic logic unit and an imaging diagnostic device that can be connected to the latter for data purposes, and a data memory in which data describing anatomical structures including lymph nodes are stored. The arithmetic logic unit is set up programmatically in such a way to produce an automatic assignment between a lymph node recorded by way of the imaging diagnostic device and data describing the lymph node that are stored in the data memory.
US08111882B2
The invention relates to a method for testing a fingerprint whose reference data are stored in a portable data carrier. The reference data contain at least positions and orientations of minutiae and pores and an orientation vector. According to the invention it is provided that the testing of the fingerprint includes first sensing measuring values stating the actual value of the sensed fingerprint and extracting the minutiae and the pores from said measuring values. Then the reference data of the minutiae and the orientation vector are read from the portable data carrier and the minutiae from the sensed fingerprint compared with the corresponding reference data. Subsequently, the position of the pores relative to the minutiae is transmitted to the portable data carrier and the pores are checked in the portable data carrier.
