US08358159B1
Adaptive multi-band frequency calibration is provided for a phase-locked loop (PLL). A voltage controller oscillator (VCO) is initially selected nominally associated with first synthesized signal frequency, where the VCO is selected from a plurality of n VCOs, and each VCO is tunable across a band of synthesized signal frequencies. A lock detector compares a nominal first synthesized signal frequency to a reference signal frequency. In response to sensing a difference between the nominal first synthesizer and reference signal frequencies, an out-of-lock condition is asserted and a VCO is reselected from the plurality of n VCOs. A mid-point control voltage is supplied to a control voltage input of the reselected VCO. A difference is measured between a mid-point synthesized signal frequency and the reference signal frequency. If the difference is less than a first threshold, the reselected VCO is assigned to generate the first synthesized signal frequency.
US08358157B2
A power switch includes a first power transistor having a first source electrode, a first gate electrode, and a first drain electrode, and a second power transistor having a second source electrode, a second gate electrode, and a second drain electrode. The power switch further includes a first pilot transistor which has a third source electrode, a third gate electrode, and a third drain electrode. The first, second and third drain electrodes are electrically connected together. The first and second source electrodes are electrically connected together. The first and third gate electrodes are electrically connected together and can be biased independently from the second gate electrode. The first power transistor is the same size as or smaller than the second power transistor and the first power transistor is larger than the first pilot transistor.
US08358155B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates proximity communication. This system includes a circuit containing a bootstrap transistor and a pass-gate transistor, where the drain of the bootstrap transistor is coupled to the gate of the pass-gate transistor. Note that a first coupling capacitance exists between the source of the pass-gate transistor and the drain of the bootstrap transistor and a second coupling capacitance exists between the drain of the pass-gate transistor and the drain of the bootstrap transistor. During operation, the gate and the source of the bootstrap transistor are coupled to a high voltage, thereby causing an intermediate voltage at the drain of the bootstrap transistor. When the source of the pass-gate transistor transitions to a high voltage, the first coupling capacitance and the second coupling capacitance boost the voltage at the gate of the pass-gate transistor higher than the high voltage, thereby enabling the high voltage at the source of the pass-gate transistor to pass to the drain of the pass-gate transistor.
US08358153B2
A magnetic circuit in one aspect comprises a plurality of tapered magnetic wires each having a relatively wide input end and a relatively narrow output end, with the output end of a first one of the tapered magnetic wires being coupled to the input end of a second one of the tapered magnetic wires. Each of the tapered magnetic wires is configured to propagate a magnetic domain wall along a length of the wire in a direction of decreasing width from its input end to its output end. In an illustrative embodiment, the magnetic circuit comprises a logic buffer that includes at least one heating element. The heating element may be controlled to facilitate transfer of a magnetic moment from the output end of the first tapered magnetic wire to the input end of the second tapered magnetic wire.
US08358149B2
This disclosure is directed to a magnetic logic device for implementing a combinational logic function. The magnetic logic device may include a chain of at least two magnetoresistive devices electrically coupled in series comprising a first terminal located at a first end of the chain and a second terminal located at a second end of the chain. The magnetic logic device may further include a voltage source configured to apply a voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal of the chain of at least two magnetoresistive devices electrically coupled in series. The magnetic logic device may further include a logic output generator configured to generate a logic output value for a logic function based on a magnitude of a current produced at the second terminal of the chain in response to the applied voltage.
US08358142B2
A capacitance measurement circuit for measuring self and mutual capacitances may include a first electrode capacitively coupled with a second electrode, a first plurality of switches coupled with the first electrode, and a second plurality of switches coupled with the second electrode, wherein, during a first operation stage, the first plurality of switches is configured to apply a first initial voltage to the first electrode and the second plurality of switches is configured to apply a second initial voltage to the second electrode, and wherein, during a second operation stage, the first plurality of switches is configured to connect the first electrode with a measurement circuit, and the second plurality of switches is configured to connect the second electrode with a constant voltage.
US08358139B2
An optical reproducing apparatus connectable to optical pickups and a method of controlling an optical pickup thereof are provided. The optical reproducing apparatus measures resistance of an optical pickup on a port of a connection unit to which the optical pickup is connected, and determines the type of the optical pickup according to the measured resistance. Accordingly, optical reproducing apparatuses may be controlled according to the type of optical pickups, and manufactured using various optical pickups without checking the type of optical pickups, which allows convenient manufacturing of optical reproducing apparatuses.
US08358136B2
An arrangement for monitoring the current or state of charge (SOC) of an energy system (230) having one or more series-connected strings (S1, S2, . . . Sn) of battery cells (C1, C2, . . . Cn). The battery cells each have respective dissipative devices (D1, D2, . . . Dn) selectively connectable in parallel therewith for balancing cell voltages in the string. The dissipative devices are of predetermined, typically equal, impedance value. The voltage across each cell (Vc1, Vc2, . . . Vcn) may be separately monitored, such that by dividing the monitored voltage across a cell by the impedance value of a dissipative device connected in parallel therewith, the dissipative current is determined. A summation of all of the dissipative currents yields an error value, which error value is then removed from the measured gross current (Ibat) flowing through the combined battery cells and dissipative devices to yield a corrected value of current (Ibatnet). A corrected SOC value (Qnet) is obtainable in a similar manner.
US08358131B2
The efficiency and the field structure of an antenna arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus are improved by at least one impedance transformation circuit connected with the antenna.
US08358111B2
A dual source electric power generating system (EPGS) provides both a regulated AC output and a regulated DC output. The EPGS includes a rotating portion and a stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a plurality of windings (permanent magnet generator (PMG) armature windings, an exciter field winding, and high-voltage main generator armature windings), a voltage regulator, a rectifier, an inverter, a point of regulation (POR) sensor. The high-voltage main generator armature windings generate a high-voltage AC that is converted to a regulated, high-voltage AC by the rectifier and the inverter. The stationary portion is further characterized by circuitry for producing the regulated DC output from AC voltage produced by a winding other than the high-voltage main generator armature windings.
US08358105B2
The transmission of energy from the base station (3) to the mobile gas-measuring device (2) is carried out reliably and with a high level of safety, even in the presence of explosive gases with a gas-measuring system (1) including a mobile gas-measuring device (2) with a battery unit (6) and with at least one sensor (8, 9, 10, 11) for detecting a gas concentration. A base station (3) for the mobile gas-measuring device (2) is provided as well as an interface (7) for transmitting electric energy from the base station (3) to the battery unit (6) of the mobile gas-measuring device (2). The interface (7) for transmitting electric energy from the base station (3) to the battery unit (6) of the mobile gas-measuring device (2) is designed such that the electric energy is transmitted at least partly in a wireless manner.
US08358097B2
A system for controlling a motorized track light system constrained to travel along a track has a control unit coupled to a motor that causes the track light system to move along the track, a plurality of stop sensors strategically disposed along the track, a sensor activation device located on the track light system, the sensor activation device positioned to interface with the stop sensors, and a light sensor for detecting ambient light of a preset level. The system detects a preset level of ambient light, initiating power to the motor of the track light system, moving the lights along the track until the activation device interfaces with a first of the plurality of stop sensors, stopping movement of the track light system along the track for a preset period of time, and at the end of the preset time period, the electrical power is restored to the motor moving the track light assembly along the track to the next of the plurality of stop sensors.
US08358095B2
Method and systems for testing an electric motor are provided. A switching circuit coupled to the motor is operated in a first mode causing current to flow through the motor such that the motor is actuated with near zero torque. A magnitude of the current is repeatedly adjusted between first and second values. The current flow through the motor is monitored.
US08358090B1
A driver circuit has a Light Emitting Diode (LED) driver having an input and output. A switching device is coupled to an output of the LED driver. An edge detector is coupled to the LED driver. A timing device is coupled to the edge detector. A latch is coupled to the edge detector, the timing device and the switching device.
US08358089B2
A light-emitting diode (LED)-based solid-state device comprises a color mixing mechanism to dynamically change the correlated color temperature (CCT) of a white light. With different lumen proportions for white phosphor-coated LEDs and integrated red and green LEDs, the light mixtures can be located in any one of eight CCT quadrangles. In practice, CCTs of a white-light can be tuned in a continuous manner. Because all the possible light mixtures on the chromaticity diagram correspond to a line segment that overlays the Planckian locus within the eight CCT tolerance quadrangles, the effect of LED intensity fluctuations that may put the mixture out of white light region is reduced. Also, because the two additional LEDs that mix with the white phosphor-coated LEDs contribute to the overall spectral power distribution (SPD) that substantially matches the SPD of standard illuminants, a CRI of 80 can be reached.
US08358088B2
The transmission branch of an interface circuit has a transformer. On the input side there are applied to the transformer, for example from a controller, high-frequency impulses. The output side of the transformer controls a switch, such as for example a power transistor, which modulates the desired digital signals onto a connected bus line.
US08358086B2
An electronic ballast for a lamp has at least one dimming value control input and a control unit configured to set the dimming value of the lamp, wherein arranged downstream of the dimming value control input are: a signal output state detecting unit configured to acquire at least one of a signal output state in which the signal level of a signal fed to the dimming value control input overshoots a predetermined limit value, and a signal output state in which it undershoots a predetermined limit value, and a measuring unit configured to measure the duration of a signal output state, the control unit configured to set a dimming value of the lamp being configured to set the dimming value on the basis of the measured duration of the signal output state.
US08358084B2
An LED current control circuit including a current adjusting unit, a detecting unit, and a current control unit is provided. The current adjusting unit has a current control end coupled to an LED string for determining an amount of current flowing through the LED string according to a current control signal. The detecting unit detects the current control end and determines whether to generate a protecting signal according to a protecting voltage value. The current control unit generates the current control signal to control the amount of current flowing through the LED string of and determines whether to stop the current flowing through the LED string according to the protecting signal.
US08358080B2
A light emitting element driving circuit for driving a light emitting element in accordance with a differential data signal for causing the light emitting element to turn on or turn off is provided. The circuit includes a first transistor, a first constant current source connected to a drain and gate of the first transistor and configured to supply a constant current through the drain and source of the first transistor, a second transistor configured to supply a certain current, and a control circuit configured to electrically connect or disconnect the gate of the first transistor to or from a gate of the second transistor via a first resistor. The control circuit may supply, to the gate of the second transistor, an intermediate potential in accordance with the other of the differential data signals, while the gate of the first transistor is electrically disconnected from the gate of the second transistor.
US08358077B2
A current sense rectifier circuit comprises an assembly input terminal for receiving a current input signal having an alternating current (AC) waveform. A negative half-wave circuit generates a first input signal representative of negative portions of the current input signal. A positive half-wave circuit generates a second input signal representative of positive portions of the current input signal. The negative and positive half-wave circuits each include a single diode and a resistance. A closed-loop amplifier has an inverting input terminal connected to the negative half-wave circuit, and a non-inverting input terminal connected to the positive half-wave circuit. The closed-loop amplifier inverts the first input signal and provides a DC voltage output signal via an output terminal that is a function of the inverted first input signal and the second input signal. An assembly output terminal is connected to the output terminal to receive the DC voltage output signal therefrom.
US08358070B2
A lamp includes a discharge vessel. Tungsten electrodes extend into the discharge vessel. An ionizable fill is sealed within the vessel. The fill includes a buffer gas and a halide component that includes a rare earth halide. A source of oxygen which includes a lanthanide oxide is present in the discharge vessel. The source of oxygen provides oxygen for a regenerative cycle which reduces blackening of the lamp walls by tungsten from the electrodes.
US08358068B2
In various embodiments, an electrode for a discharge lamp is provided. The electrode may include a metal pin that has a section around which a coil made of metal wire is wound, wherein the metal wire is flattened.
US08358066B1
An organic electroluminescent device with new protective packaging. The package has a substantially transparent energy blocking layer disposed near the outer surface of the device. The energy blocking layer is configured to protect the electroluminescent device and packaging from ultraviolet, infrared, and other electromagnetic radiation. The energy blocking layer can also be configured to have a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of greater than twenty-one to reduce combustibility of the device and can optionally contain hydrophobic properties to help protect the device from moisture.
US08358048B2
A construction is presented, which is comprised of two piezoelectric bending cantilevers, of different lengths, called a first bender and a second bender respectively, in which both benders bend in opposite directions. The second bender is mechanically in series connected to the first bender, thereby increasing the rotation angle of the tip of the second bender. The length of the second bender is chosen thus that in sinusoidal excitation, the tip of the second bender remains at the same point throughout the entire cycle, while it does undergo rotation. In this fashion a virtual axis at the tip of the second bender is created. The width of both benders is chosen such that the moment that the second bender can exert on an object that is connected to it, enables the construction to drive an optical element to scanning vibratory rotary motion with a large angle at high frequencies.
US08358046B2
An apparatus is disclosed for a hybrid electric power system for use in a multi-wheeled hybrid electric vehicle, and particularly for use in hybrid electric vehicles designed for operation in hostile environments where reliability and survivability of the propulsion system of the vehicle are important. The hybrid electric power system advantageously comprises at least one segmented electrical machine having multiple pairs of parallel stator segments with a magnetic rotor segment between each pair, for generating power from a thermodynamic engine, or for providing power to a driven wheel of the hybrid electric vehicle. A hybrid electric power system is also provided which comprises at least one distributed segmented electrical machine which comprises a distributed electrical energy storage system.
US08358042B2
The present invention provides a small-size light-weight electric motor integrated hydraulic motor which is simple in configuration, integrally includes an electric motor and a hydraulic motor, and is capable of efficiently operating, by being configured such that: a swash plate type hydraulic motor and an electric motor driven by the swash plate type hydraulic motor are provided in one casing; the casing is filled with oil; a driving shaft of the swash plate type hydraulic motor is configured to extend from a front end portion of the casing up to a rear end portion thereof and be supported at the front and rear end portions of the casing; the swash plate type hydraulic motor and a rotor of the electric motor are provided in series at the driving shaft; and a stator of the electric motor is fixed to an inner side portion of the casing.
US08358028B2
A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a direct drive generator with a stator arrangement, a rotor arrangement substantially arranged around the stator arrangement and a longitudinal center axis. The stator arrangement includes a stator support structure, which includes at least one substantially radial extending stator support element. The stator support element is attached to a substantially parallel to the center axis extending stationary shaft, is substantially rigid in the radial direction and is at least partially in a certain extent flexible in the directions of the center axis of the generator.
US08358024B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine generator and a tidal current generator equipped with a hydraulic transmission with a combination of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor and which has a superior productivity and maintainability. The wind turbine generator 1 has the hydraulic transmission 10 for transmitting the rotation energy of a main shaft 8 to a generator 20. The hydraulic transmission 10 includes a hydraulic pump 12 of variable displacement type which is driven by the main shaft 8, a hydraulic motor 14 of variable displacement type which is connected to the generator 20, and a high pressure oil line and a low pressure oil line which are arranged between the hydraulic pump 12 and the hydraulic motor 14. The hydraulic transmission 10 is at least partially constituted of a plurality of modules (M1 to M7).
US08358021B2
The present invention proposes a cyclic gravitation power generation system, which comprises a vertical water tank, a propulsive device, a guiding device, a carrying device and a power generation device, wherein potential energy is converted into kinetic energy to drive a generator to generate electric power when float balls are moved downward from a high position to a low position by gravity, and the vertical water tank can make the float balls to be moved back to the high position to perform a cyclic operation, whereby is achieved a low-cost cyclic power generation system.
US08358016B2
A semiconductor package having an internal cooling system is presented which includes a semiconductor chip and a through-electrode. The semiconductor chip has a circuit section. The through-electrode passes through an upper surface and a lower surface the semiconductor chip. The through-electrode is electrically connected with the circuit section of the semiconductor chip. The through-electrode also has a through-hole for allowing cooling fluid to flow therethrough.
US08358013B1
Multi-chip quad flat no-lead (QFN) packages and methods for making the same are disclosed. A multi-chip package may include a first die including a plurality of first bond pads, wherein selected first bond pads are wire-bonded to a first side of a leadframe, and a second die mounted on the first die and including a plurality of second bond pads, wherein selected second bond pads are wire-bonded to a second side, opposite the first side, of the leadframe. Another package may include a first die including a plurality of first bond pads, wherein selected first bond pads are wire-bonded to a first side of a leadframe, and a second die flip-chip mounted on a second side of the leadframe and including a plurality of second bond pads, wherein selected second bond pads are bonded to the second side of the leadframe. Other embodiments are also described.
US08358011B1
A method for forming an interconnect structure with nanocolumnar intermetal dielectric is described involving the construction of an interconnect structure using a solid dielectric, and introducing a regular array of vertically aligned nanoscale pores through stencil formation and etching to form a hole array and subsequently pinching off the tops of the hole array with a cap dielectric. Variations of the method and means to construct a multilevel nanocolumnar interconnect structure are also described.
US08357992B2
The non-volatile memory device may include a substrate, a plurality of first signal lines on the substrate in a vertical direction, a plurality of memory cells having ends connected to the plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines perpendicular to the plurality of first signal lines on the substrate and each connected to other ends of the plurality of memory cells, and a plurality of selection elements on the substrate and connected to at least two of the plurality of first signal lines.
US08357990B2
A width of a region where each of the N wells is in contact with the buried P well is not more than 2 μm. A ground voltage and a power supply voltage are applied to the P well and the N well, respectively. A decoupling capacitor is formed between the N well and the buried P well.
US08357983B1
A Hall effect element includes a Hall plate having geometric features selected to result in a highest ratio of a sensitivity divided by a plate resistance. The resulting shape is a so-called “wide-cross” shape.
US08357981B2
A transducer array on a common substrate includes a membrane and first and second transducer devices. The membrane is formed on the common substrate, and includes a lower layer and an upper layer. The first transducer device includes a first resonator stack formed on at least the lower layer in a first portion of the membrane, the upper layer having a first thickness in the first portion of the membrane. The second transducer device includes a second resonator stack formed on at least the lower layer in a second portion of the membrane, the upper layer having a second thickness in the second portion of the membrane, where the second thickness is different from the first thickness, such that a first resonant frequency of the first transducer device is different from a second resonant frequency of the second transducer device.
US08357980B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to photonic devices that can be used to collect and convert incident ER into surface plasmons that can be used to enhance the operation of microelectronic devices. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic device comprises a dielectric layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a planar nanowire network covering at least a portion of the top surface of the dielectric layer. The bottom surface of the dielectric layer is positioned on the top surface of a substrate, and the planar nanowire network is configured to convert incident electromagnetic radiation into surface plasmons that penetrate through the dielectric layer and into at least a portion of the substrate.
US08357971B2
A Trench gate MOS field-effect transistor having a narrow, lightly doped, region extending from a channel accommodating region (3) of same conductivity type immediately adjacent the trench sidewall. The narrow region may be self-aligned to the top of a lower polysilicon shield region in the trench or may extend the complete depth of the trench. The narrow region advantageously relaxes the manufacturing tolerances, which otherwise require close alignment of the upper polysilicon trench gate to the body-drain junction.
US08357965B2
One embodiment in accordance with the invention can include a semiconductor device that includes: a groove that is formed in a semiconductor substrate; bottom oxide films that are formed on both side faces of the groove; two charge storage layers that are formed on side faces of the bottom oxide films; top oxide films that are formed on side faces of the two charge storage layers; and a silicon oxide layer that is formed on the bottom face of the groove, and has a smaller film thickness than the top oxide films.
US08357963B2
A semiconductor device includes a material with which off-state current of a transistor can be sufficiently small; for example, an oxide semiconductor material is used. Further, transistors of memory cells of the semiconductor device, which include an oxide semiconductor material, are connected in series. Further, the same wiring (the j-th word line (j is a natural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to m)) is used as a wiring electrically connected to one of terminals of a capacitor of the j-th memory cell and a wiring electrically connected to a gate terminal of a transistor, in which a channel is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer, of the (j−1)-th memory cell. Therefore, the number of wirings per memory cell and the area occupied by one memory cell are reduced.
US08357957B2
Provided are a FET-based sensor for detecting an ionic material, an ionic material detecting device including the FET-based sensor, and a method of detecting an ionic material using the FET-based sensor. The FET-based sensor includes: a sensing chamber including a reference electrode and a plurality of sensing FETs; and a reference chamber including a reference electrode and a plurality of reference FETs. The method includes: flowing a first solution into and out of the sensing chamber and the reference chamber of the FET-based sensor; flowing a second solution expected to contain an ionic material into and out of the sensing chamber while continuously flowing the first solution into and out of the reference chamber; measuring a current in a channel region between the source and drain of each of the sensing and reference FETs; and correcting the current of the sensing FETs.
US08357954B2
A method for forming a nanowhisker of, e.g., a III-V semiconductor material on a silicon substrate, comprises: preparing a surface of the silicon substrate with measures including passivating the substrate surface by HF etching, so that the substrate surface is essentially atomically flat. Catalytic particles on the substrate surface are deposited from an aerosol; the substrate is annealed; and gases for a MOVPE process are introduced into the atmosphere surrounding the substrate, so that nanowhiskers are grown by the VLS mechanism. In the grown nanowhisker, the crystal directions of the substrate are transferred to the epitaxial crystal planes at the base of the nanowhisker and adjacent the substrate surface. A segment of an optically active material may be formed within the nanowhisker and bounded by heterojunctions so as to create a quantum well wherein the height of the quantum well is much greater than the thermal energy at room temperature, whereby the luminescence properties of the segment remain constant without quenching from cryogenic temperatures up to room temperature.
US08357949B2
A light-emitting device includes a substrate, a light-emitting structure on the substrate, the light-emitting structure including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer, a light-transmitting electrode layer on the second semiconductor layer, and a first reflective layer on the light-transmitting electrode layer, wherein the first reflective layer includes a first layer having a first index of refraction and a second layer having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction. Based on this configuration, it is possible to protect the light-emitting device and improve luminous efficiency thereof.
US08357946B2
Provided is a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including a light emitting layer above a GaN support base with a semipolar surface and allowing for suppression of reduction in luminous efficiency due to misfit dislocations. A nitride semiconductor light emitting device 11 has a support base 13 comprised of a hexagonal gallium nitride, an n-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer 15 including an InX1AlY1Ga1-X1-Y1N (0
US08357945B2
There is provided a GaN single crystal at least about 2.75 millimeters in diameter, with a dislocation density less than about 104 cm−1, and having substantially no tilt boundaries. A method of forming a GaN single crystal is also disclosed. The method includes providing a nucleation center, a GaN source material, and a GaN solvent in a chamber. The chamber is pressurized. First and second temperature distributions are generated in the chamber such that the solvent is supersaturated in the nucleation region of the chamber. The first and second temperature distributions have different temperature gradients within the chamber.
US08357939B2
A silicon wafer includes BMDs with a diagonal length of from 10 nm to 50 nm, and has a density of BMD which exists at a depth of 50 μm and deeper from the surface of the silicon wafer which is greater than or equal to 1×1011/cm3, and a ratio of the {111} plane of the BMD to the total planes surrounding the BMD, as an indication of the morphology of the BMD, is less than or equal to 0.3.
US08357930B2
An organic electroluminescence device comprises a light transmissive substrate, a light scattering region which is disposed on the light transmissive substrate, and a light emissive layer having a luminescent point. The luminescent point is spaced from the light reflective electrode by a distance of d which satisfies the following equation: nd = a × λ 4 ( 2 + ϕ π ) wherein ϕ = tan - 1 { 2 ( n 1 k 2 - n 2 k 1 ) n 1 2 - n 2 2 + k 1 2 - k 2 2 } . λ is a wavelength of a specific light emitted from said light emissive layer. n is a refractive index of a layer disposed between the luminescent point of the light emissive layer and the light reflective electrode, with respect to the wavelength of λ. n1 and k1 are respectively a refractive index and an attenuation coefficient of the layer disposed between the luminescent point of the light emissive layer and the light reflective electrode, and is in contact with said light reflective electrode, with respect to the wavelength of λ. n2 and k2 are respectively a refractive index and an attenuation coefficient of the light reflective electrode, with respect to the wavelength of λ. a is a value that satisfies a relation of “1.28
US08357929B2
An organic light emitting display device, including: a first substrate on which a plurality of light emitting elements are formed; a second substrate that is disposed to be opposed to the first substrate; a primary dam member that is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate in order to surround the plurality of light emitting elements; a filler that is filled between the first substrate and the second substrate and in a first region defined by the primary dam member, an auxiliary dam member that is between the first substrate and the second substrate and in a second region outside the first region, and is made of porous material; and an inorganic sealant that is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and in a third region outside the first region and the second region, and is jointed to the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08357924B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a light emitting diode including an n-type contact layer doped with silicon, a p-type contact layer, an active region disposed between the n-type contact layer and the p-type contact layer, a superlattice layer disposed between the n-type contact layer and the active region, the superlattice layer including a plurality of layers, an undoped intermediate layer disposed between the superlattice layer and the n-type contact layer, and an electron reinforcing layer disposed between the undoped intermediate layer and the superlattice layer. Only a final layer of the superlattice layer closest to the active region is doped with silicon, and the silicon doping concentration of the final layer is higher than that of the n-type contact layer.
US08357923B2
A light emitting diode is disclosed that includes a support structure and a Group III nitride light emitting active structure mesa on the support structure. The mesa has its sidewalls along an indexed crystal plane of the Group III nitride. A method of forming the diode is also disclosed that includes the steps of removing a substrate from a Group III nitride light emitting structure that includes a sub-mount structure on the Group III nitride light emitting structure opposite the substrate, and thereafter etching the surface of the Group III nitride from which the substrate has been removed with an anisotropic etch to develop crystal facets on the surface in which the facets are along an index plane of the Group III nitride. The method can also include etching the light emitting structure with an anisotropic etch to form a mesa with edges along an index plane of the Group III nitride.
US08357913B2
An improved method and apparatus for extracting and handling samples for STEM analysis. Preferred embodiments of the present invention make use of a micromanipulator and a hollow microprobe probe using vacuum pressure to adhere the microprobe tip to the sample. By applying a small vacuum pressure to the lamella through the microprobe tip, the lamella can be held more securely and its placement controlled more accurately than by using electrostatic force alone. By using a probe having a beveled tip and which can also be rotated around its long axis, the extracted sample can be placed down flat on a sample holder. This allows sample placement and orientation to be precisely controlled, thus greatly increasing predictability of analysis and throughput.
US08357908B2
A wireless communication control unit controls a transmitting and receiving apparatus so as to prohibit transmission of radiation image information to the outside by wireless communication or power supply from the outside to an electric power source by wireless communication in accordance with an exposure detecting signal from an exposure detecting unit or a conversion detecting signal from a conversion detecting unit. Thus, this can control the transmitting and receiving apparatus not to carry out, at the same period of time, the irradiation of a radiation (X) to a radiation detector, a conversion operation of the radiation image information in the radiation detector, and wireless communication by the transmitting and receiving apparatus.
US08357899B2
An imaging system may include a dual-band image sensor that captures visible and near-infrared light and image processing circuitry that performs color corrections on images captured by the dual-band image sensor. The image processing circuitry may analyze each captured image in two different color spaces to determine what type of light source lit each image. The image processing circuitry may determine whether an image was lit by a light source having a relatively high proportion of near-infrared emissions such as an incandescent light, a light source having a relatively low proportion of near-infrared emissions such as a fluorescent light, or a light source having an intermediate proportion of near-infrared emissions such as sunlight or other blackbody radiator. After determining what type of light source lit an image, the image processing circuitry may adjust color balances in that image using a color correction matrix associated with that type of light source.
US08357898B2
A thermal imaging camera is provided with at least two different sensitivities for alternating reading and with has a device for linking at least two more and less sensitive images read consecutively. The recording and displaying of thermal images makes it possible to combine images with two different dynamic ranges in a common thermal image, wherein the noise and drift of the pixel signals as well as the amount of storage needed for buffering and processing are reduced at the same time. An image buffering unit is designed as a common accumulator (8) for both more sensitive and less sensitive original images (B) and makes available a common output image (A). An image weighting unit (12) is arranged upstream of the accumulator (8) for weighting the more sensitive and less sensitive original images (B) read alternatingly from the detector unit (1) pixel by pixel with a settable percentage weighting function (G) and for weighting the output image (A) being buffered in the accumulator (8) pixel by pixel with a weighting function (I−G) complementary to the settable percentage weighting function as well as for the additive superimposition of the two images (B; A) for the purpose of continuously updating the output image (A).
US08357886B2
A drawer type cooking device for disconnecting and connecting the linkage between the drawer body and the movement mechanism in response to the user's selection of operation between a manual opening/closing operation and an electric automatic opening/closing operation of the drawer body. Based on the user's input via the operation unit, connection/disconnection of power transmission via a clutch mechanism and driving/stopping of a drive mechanism is automatically controlled. By turning the clutch mechanism off and isolating the drawer body from the motor, the load of manual operation to open/close the drawer body is reduced. Based on the user's operation via the operation unit, the clutch mechanism is set to connected state, and in that state, the drive mechanism is driven so that power is transmitted to the rack of the drawer body, and the drawer body can be automatically opened and closed.
US08357876B1
A method of arc welding a first metal piece to a second metal piece includes the steps of extend a welding head between the space between first and second metal pieces, bending a filler wire, passing the bent filler wire through the welding head such that an end of the bent filler wire extends in a direction toward a surface of one of the first and second metal pieces, and arc welding the end portion of the bent filler wire onto the surface of the metal piece. The method further includes rotating the end of the bent filler wire toward another surface of the metal pieces and arc welding the of end of the rotated bent filler wire onto the surface of the another metal piece. The welding head travels along the space between the first and second metal pieces as the step of arc welding occurs.
US08357873B2
An apparatus for synergistically combining a plasma with a comminution means such as a fluid kinetic energy mill (jet mill), preferably in a single reactor and/or in a single process step is provided by the present invention. Within the apparatus of the invention potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and subsequently into angular momentum by means of wave energy, for comminuting, reacting and separation of feed materials. Methods of use of the apparatus in the practice of various processes are also provided by the present invention.
US08357868B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a controller unit for a switching device. The controller unit includes a body part and an operating axle. The operating axle is connected to contacts of the switching device to adjust a respective state of the contacts between a closed position and an open position. A control axle includes a first axle part and a second axle part, the first axle part is arranged to be turned by a user, and the second axle part is functionally connected to the operating axle to turn it between the open position and the closed position. A tripping assembly is functionally connected to the operating axle to turn the operating axle from the closed position to the open position. The controller unit also includes connecting means for functionally connecting a first axle part to one of a tripping assembly and a second axle part.
US08357849B2
A photoactive device is provided. The device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoactive region disposed between and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The photoactive region further includes an organic donor layer and an organic acceptor layer that form a donor-acceptor heterojunction. The mobility of holes in the organic donor region and the mobility of electrons in the organic acceptor region are different by a factor of at least 100, and more preferably a factor of at least 1000. At least one of the mobility of holes in the organic donor region and the mobility of electrons in the organic acceptor region is greater than 0.001 cm2/V-sec, and more preferably greater than 1 cm2/V-sec. The heterojunction may be of various types, including a planar heterojunction, a bulk heterojunction, a mixed heterojunction, and a hybrid planar-mixed heterojunction.
US08357847B2
The method according to the invention includes the creation of a reference multimedia sequence structure, the breaking down of this structure into basic components (tracks P1, P2, Pn) each containing a series of basic subcomponents (bricks B11-Bn4), the association to each one of these basic subcomponents of a plurality of homologous subcomponents (homologous bricks B11 Hi, B21 Hj, B″1 Hk) to each of which are assigned attributes and an automatic composition phase of a new multimedia sequence containing the maintaining of the subcomponents or their replacing with homologous subcomponents chosen algorithmically according to an algorithm determining the probability of the subcomponents of being chosen, considering its attributes, then by performing a random choice in respect of these probabilities.
US08357843B1
A novel maize variety designated X95A949 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X95A949 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X95A949 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X95A949, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X95A949. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X95A949.
US08357840B1
A novel maize variety designated PH18DY and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18DY with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18DY through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH18DY or a locus conversion of PH18DY with another maize variety.
US08357839B1
A novel maize variety designated X4F694 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety X4F694 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X4F694 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X4F694, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X4F694. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X4F694 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US08357833B2
The present invention relates to a corn plant and seed with enhanced levels of protein and amino acids. The invention also relates to DNA constructs that provide expression in transgenic corn cells of an asparagine synthetase enzyme. The DNA constructs are used in a method to produce transgenic corn plants and seeds and to select for plants and seeds with enhanced levels of protein and amino acids.
US08357831B2
Devices and methods are disclosed for achieving hemostasis in patients who have received skin-penetrating wounds to the body in regions such as the shoulder, pelvis, neck, or groin, where standard bandages are difficult to apply and where large blood vessels exist which can hemorrhage severely. Such haemostatic packing devices and methods are especially useful in the emergency, trauma surgery, or military setting. The devices utilize packing pillows that are held in place by rigid structures that can cause the packing pillows to be brought into the wounds and be held in place while the packing pillows are inflated to fill the wounds, prevent bleeding, and tamponade hemorrhaging large blood vessels exposed therein.
US08357829B2
The present invention relates to diblock copolymers of the formula A-B which are formed from a polymer block A which is formed essentially from α-olefin units having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and a polymer block B which is formed essentially from isobutene units, to a process for their preparation, to their use in lubricant compositions and to lubricant compositions which comprise such diblock copolymers.
US08357827B2
Nitrobenzene is continuously produced by nitration of benzene with mixed acid under adiabatic conditions. In this process, the pressure upstream of the nitration reactor is from 14 bar to 40 bar above the pressure in the gas phase of the phase separation apparatus used to separate crude nitrobenzene and waste acid.
US08357821B2
An aromatic amine compound is represented by general formula [I]: wherein X1 and X2 each represent a group selected from an alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an alkoxy group, and an aryloxy group, X1 and X2 may be the same or different, Ar1 and Ar2 each represent an arylene group, n≧1, at least one of substituents Y is a substituent selected from a trifluoromethyl group, a cyano group, and a halogen group, and other substituents Y are groups each selected from a hydro group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an allyl group, an alkoxy group, and an aryloxy group.
US08357812B2
A process for preparing a rejuvenated epoxidation catalyst, for the epoxidation of one or more olefins using the rejuvenated epoxidation catalyst to produce olefin oxide, and for the production of a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether, or an alkanol amine from the olefin oxide, the process comprising: providing a quantity of spent epoxidation catalyst having a cumulative alkylene oxide production of 0.16 kT/m3 of the spent epoxidation catalyst or more; and, depositing additional silver on the spent epoxidation catalyst in an amount of 0.2% w or more, based on the weight of the spent epoxidation catalyst.
US08357810B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds and their use in fragrance compositions. Novel 3.2.1-bicyclo-octane compounds of the present invention are represented by formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of carbonyl and [1,3]dioxolane; R′ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and allyl; or R and R′ taken together represent
US08357807B2
The present invention provides novel isoquinolinium compounds, methods of producing the isoquinolinium compounds, and methods for converting them into cisatracurium, e.g., cisatracurium besylate. The isoquinolinium compounds of the present invention can be obtained in the form of solids, which can be purified using simple techniques and can be used to afford pure cisatracurium besylate without HPLC purification.
US08357804B2
N-(4-{4-amino-7-[1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]thieno[3,2-c]pyridin-3-yl}phenyl)-N′-(3-fluorophenyl)urea free base and crystallines form thereof are suitable pharmaceutical ingredients for pharmaceutical compositions useful in the treatment of disease, for example, cancer.
US08357791B2
The DNA of the invention are characterized in that they concern the whole or part of genes, with their reading frame, to be found in Neisseria meningitidis, but not in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or in Neisseria lactamica except the genes involved in the biosynthesis of the polysaccharide capsule, frp A, frp C, opc, por A, rotamase the sequence IC1106, IgA protease, pilline, pilC, transferrin binding proteins and opacity proteins. The invention also concerns the polypeptides corresponding to these DNA and the antibodies directed against these polypeptides. It is applicable in the prevention and the detection of meningococcus induced infections and meningitis.
US08357778B2
A mutant of the polypeptide Protein A, wherein immunoglobulin binding properties can be altered by changing temperature under the conditions of pH 5-9, below 60° C. The use of the mutant Protein A include the use thereof as a ligand coupled to an affinity chromatography support for the purification of immunoglobulins by affinity chromatography, wherein the immunoglobulins is eluted by changing temperature and thereby the conformation of the mutant Protein A.
US08357771B2
The invention provide a new lens curing method for making hydrogel contact lenses. The new lens curing method is based on actinically-induced step-growth polymerization. The invention also provides hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the method of the invention and fluid compositions for making hydrogel contact lenses based on the new lens curing method. In addition, the invention provide prepolymers capable of undergoing actinically-induced step-growth polymerization to form hydrogel contact lenses.
US08357757B2
A fluorine-containing alloyed copolymer, which comprises a fluorine-containing elastomer copolymer having a fluorine content of not less than 64% by weight, and a resinous tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer having an amount of heat of crystal fusion ΔH of not more than 10 J/g, can give crosslinked moldings having a distinguished plasma resistance against both CF4 plasma treatment and O2 plasma treatment, and also a distinguished cracking resistance at the plasma irradiation, and showing necessary normal state physical properties and compression set when used as seals, and capable of providing soft seals of low hardness, and attaining molding at relatively low temperatures.
US08357753B2
This invention relates to compositions, and the use of such compositions for protective coatings, particularly of electronic devices. The invention concerns fired-on-foil ceramic capacitors coated with a composite encapsulant and embedded in a printed wiring board.
US08357749B2
The instant invention provides an aqueous dispersion, a coating composition, coating layers and coated article made therefrom. The coating composition according to the present invention comprises: (1) the inventive aqueous dispersion comprising the melt blending product of: (a) from 50 to 99 percent by weight of one or more polyethylene terephthalate resins, based on the total solid content of the dispersion; (b) from 1 to 50 percent by weight of one or more stabilizing agents comprising at least one second polyester, based on the total solid content of the dispersion, wherein said second polyester (i) has a carboxylic acid group and an acid number equal to or greater than 15, based on the solid content of the second polyester; or (ii) is a self-dispersing sulfopolyester; (c) one or more neutralizing agents; and (d) from 15 to 90 percent by weight of water, based on the total weight of the dispersion; wherein said dispersion has a solid content of 10 to 85 percent, based on the total weight of the dispersion; and (2) optionally one or more cross-linking agents.
US08357742B2
A resin composition for a vibration damping material, comprising a polyester resin mainly formed of a dicarboxylic acid constitutional unit and a diol constitutional unit; and a filler, in which the polyester resin contains: a dicarboxylic acid constitutional unit (A) mainly derived from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, in particular, isophthalic acid; a diol constitutional unit (B) mainly derived from ethylene glycol; and a constitutional unit (C) formed of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic diol, and/or an aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid each having 5 or more carbon atoms, and the resin composition contains, as the filler, a flake-like or plate-like filler (D) and a filler (E) made of a particulate metal oxide.
US08357741B2
The present invention relates to a polymer composition which absorbs infrared (IR) radiation, containing a transparent thermoplastic plastic, an inorganic infrared absorber and at least one inorganic nano-scale pigment, and to the preparation and use of the polymer compositions according to the invention, and to products produced therefrom. In particular, the present invention relates to polymer compositions comprising a. at least one transparent thermoplastic material; b. at least one inorganic IR absorber which comprises a tungsten compound and wherein the IR absorber is present in an amount of from 0.0075 wt. % to 0.0750 wt. %, calculated as solids content of tungstate in the total composition; and c. at least one inorganic, nano-scale pigment present in an amount of from 0.0005 wt. % to 0.0035 wt. %, based on the total composition; and d. optionally further additives.
US08357740B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure present electrically conductive, thermosetting compositions for use in surfacing films and adhesives. The surfacing films possess enhanced electrical conductivity, comparable to metals, without the use of embedded metal screens or foils. Such surfacing films may be incorporated into composite structures (e.g., prepregs, tapes, and fabrics), for example, by co-curing, as an outermost surface layer. In particular, compositions formed using silver flakes as conductive fillers are found to exhibit very high electrical conductivity. For example, compositions including greater than 45 wt. % silver flake exhibit resistivities less than about 55 mΩ/sq. In this manner, the surfacing films as an outermost conductive layer may provide lighting strike protection (LSP) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding when used in applications such as aircraft components.
US08357739B2
A thermoplastic composition that includes a base polymer, a fluoropolymer, and a fluoride scavenger having suitable fluoride levels such that use in the electronics industry is appropriate. An extrusion method may be used for making the thermoplastic composition. The compositions may then be used to form a molded article. The composition has lower fluoride levels as compared to thermoplastic compositions without the fluoride scavenger making it suitable for use in electronic applications, as well as medical or food or beverage applications where fluoride ions are a concern.
US08357738B2
A flame retardant blend comprises at least first and second halogenated non-polymeric phenyl ethers having the general formula (I): wherein each X is independently Cl or Br, each m is independently an integer of 1 to 5, each p is independently an integer of 1 to 4, n is an integer of 1 to 5 and wherein the values of n for the first and second ethers are different.
US08357735B2
The present invention provides a polymeric composition that includes a coupled block copolymer having a plurality of arms comprising at least two blocks of a monovinylaromatic hydrocarbon that are located on at least two of the plurality of arms, and at least one block of a conjugated diene located on at least one of the plurality of arms, and optionally one or more block copolymers comprising at least one block of monovinylaromatic hydrocarbon and at least one block of a conjugated diene, the block copolymer may be selected from linear copolymers, linear triblock copolymers, multiarm coupled block copolymers, and mixtures thereof. The molecular weight of the polymeric composition is in the range from about 100 kg/mol to about 400 kg/mol.
US08357722B2
The present invention is related to a compound according to formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are each and independently selected from the group comprising alkyl; n is any integer between 1 and 4; R3 is an acyl selected from the group comprising lysyl, ornithyl, 2,4-diaminobutyryl, histidyl and an acyl moiety according to formula (II), wherein m is any integer from 1 to 3 and Y− is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion.
US08357718B2
Compounds represented by formula: wherein X, Y and Z are as defined herein, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and related compounds, are suitable for use in treating or preventing a Flaviviridae viral infection in a host.
US08357717B2
Substituted spiroamide compounds corresponding to formula (I): wherein A, B, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, R1, R8, R9a, R9b, R12, R13, R200 and R210 have defined meanings, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and the use of such compounds for treating or inhibiting pain or other conditions mediated at least in part by the bradykinin 1 receptor (B1R).
US08357714B2
Provided are pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use of the compositions, for the non-surgical treatment of ptosis (eyelid droop). In one embodiment the composition includes oxymetazoline 0.1% formulated for topical administration to an eye. In one embodiment the composition includes a synergistic combination of oxymetazoline and phenylephrine, formulated for topical administration to an eye. Oxymetazoline alone causes no pupillary dilation (mydriasis), and a synergistic combination of oxymetazoline and phenylephrine induces no clinically significant mydriasis. In addition to providing desirable cosmetic effects, the compositions and methods of the invention can improve visual fields otherwise compromised by ptosis.
US08357712B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein R1, R2, X, Y, and n are defined in the specification and to pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of manufacture of such compounds. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases related to the biological function of the trace amine associated receptors, which diseases are depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stress-related disorders, psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, neurological diseases, Parkinson's disease, neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, migraine, substance abuse and metabolic disorders, eating disorders, diabetes, diabetic complications, obesity, dyslipidemia, disorders of energy consumption and assimilation, disorders and malfunction of body temperature homeostasis, disorders of sleep and circadian rhythm, and cardiovascular disorders.
US08357701B2
Therapeutic agents for treatment of Galactosemia and disorders thereof, and other enzyme related disorders thereof are identified. The compounds inhibit galactokinase (GALK) and other kinase activity and are identified by a high throughput screening assay.
US08357697B2
Substituted 3-isobutyl-9,10-dimethoxy-1,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-2H-pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinolin-2-ol compounds are disclosed that are inhibitors of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). The compounds of this invention have the structure: wherein R1 is as defined herein, including stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof. Also disclosed are compositions containing a compound of this invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as methods relating to the use in a subject in need thereof.
US08357695B2
The present invention relates to hydrates of 2-chloro-5-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1-(2H)pyrimidinyl]-4-fluoro-N-[[methyl(1-methylethyl)amino]-sulfonyl]benzamide. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of these hydrates and to plant protection formulations which comprise hydrates of the phenyluracil I.
US08357693B2
The present invention relates to inhibitors of ROCK1 and ROCK2 and methods of modulating the pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties of such compounds. Also provided are methods of inhibiting ROCK1 and or ROCK2 that are useful for the treatment of disease.
US08357672B2
RNA is extracted from cellular material with a reagent that includes heparin, a reducing agent to reduce disulfide bonds, a chelating agent, a buffer, and an alkali metal halide. The reagent does not require the use of organic solvents, and the reagent allows extraction to be performed in a relatively short period of time in comparison to the prior art.
US08357662B2
A compound sensitive to and selective for ammonium ions over other ions. A sensor fabricated from a self assembled monolayer of said compound on gold, exhibiting sensitivity and selectivity for ammonium ions over other ions in aqueous solutions, including blood. A method of preparation of said compound and said sensor.
US08357649B2
The present application relates to benefit agent delivery compositions comprising a material selected from the group consisting of agglomerates comprising chelant and an encapsulated benefit agent; agglomerates comprising an encapsulated benefit agent having a shell comprising chelant; agglomerates comprising an encapsulated benefit agent having a core comprising chelant and combinations thereof, and processes for making and using such benefit agent delivery compositions.
US08357646B2
The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, is a photoresist stripper formulation, comprising: Hydroxylamine ; Water; a solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfoxide; N-methylpyrrrolidine; dimethylacetamide; dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether; monoethanolamine and mixtures thereof; a base selected from the group consisting of choline hydroxide, monoethanolamine, tetramethylammonium hydroxide; aminoethylethanolamine and mixtures thereof; a metal corrosion inhibitor selected from the group consisting of catechol, gallic acid, lactic acid, benzotriazole and mixtures thereof; and a bath life extending agent selected from the group consisting of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof. The present invention is also a method for using formulations as exemplified in the preferred embodiment.
US08357635B2
Compounds of formula (I), in which the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are suitable for use as microbiocides.
US08357633B2
2-(2-Fluoro-substituted phenyl)-6-amino-5-chloro-4-pyrimidine carboxylic acid and its derivatives are potent herbicides demonstrating a broad spectrum of weed control.
US08357629B2
A herbicide combination comprising of components (A) and (B) exhibit synergistic herbicidal effects, where (A) is one or more herbicides selected from the group consisting of heteroaryloxy- and aryloxy-phenoxypropionic acids, their salts and esters and cyclohexanediones, and (B) is one or more herbicides selected from the group consisting of (B1) herbicides which are selective in rice, mainly against mono-cotyledonous plants, (B2) herbicides which are selective in rice, mainly against dicotyledonous harmful plants and cyperaceae, (B3) herbicides which are selective in rice, mainly against cyperaceae and (B4) herbicides which are selective in rice, mainly against mono-cotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants and cyperaceae.
US08357627B2
A deodorizing catalyst showing high activity at room temperature, having great adsorption capacity, and possessing activity persistence capable of withstanding continued use; a deodorizing method using the catalyst; and a method for regenerating the catalyst are provided.The deodorizing catalyst is characterized by containing manganese oxide and a Mn—Fe complex oxide at a weight ratio in the range of 98:2 to 60:40. A honeycomb catalyst having the catalyst carried thereon is also disclosed. The deodorizing method is characterized by treating a gas containing odor components with the catalyst. The method for regenerating the catalyst involves heating the catalyst to 140 to 250° C.
US08357623B2
Methods of forming composite materials include coating particles of titanium dioxide with a substance including boron (e.g., boron carbide) and a substance including carbon, and reacting the titanium dioxide with the substance including boron and the substance including carbon to form titanium diboride. The methods may be used to form ceramic composite bodies and materials, such as, for example, a ceramic composite body or material including silicon carbide and titanium diboride. Such bodies and materials may be used as armor bodies and armor materials. Such methods may include forming a green body and sintering the green body to a desirable final density. Green bodies formed in accordance with such methods may include particles comprising titanium dioxide and a coating at least partially covering exterior surfaces thereof, the coating comprising a substance including boron (e.g., boron carbide) and a substance including carbon.
US08357618B2
A method for doubling the frequency of a lithographic process using a photo-resist template mask is described. A device layer having a photo-resist layer formed thereon is first provided. The photo-resist layer is patterned to form a photo-resist template mask. A spacer-forming material layer is deposited over the photo-resist template mask. The spacer-forming material layer is etched to form a spacer mask and to expose the photo-resist template mask. The photo-resist template mask is then removed and an image of the spacer mask is finally transferred to the device layer.
US08357616B2
The present invention provides fabrication methods using sacrificial materials comprising polymers. In some embodiments, the polymer may be treated to alter its solubility with respect to at least one solvent (e.g., aqueous solution) used in the fabrication process. The preparation of the sacrificial materials is rapid and simple, and dissolution of the sacrificial material can be carried out in mild environments. Sacrificial materials of the present invention may be useful for surface micromachining, bulk micromachining, and other microfabrication processes in which a sacrificial layer is employed for producing a selected and corresponding physical structure.
US08357611B2
A semiconductor device having good TFT characteristics is realized. By using a high purity target as a target, using a single gas, argon (Ar), as a sputtering gas, setting the substrate temperature equal to or less than 300° C., and setting the sputtering gas pressure from 1.0 Pa to 3.0 Pa, the film stress of a film is made from −1×1010 dyn/cm2 to 1×1010 dyn/cm2. By thus using a conducting film in which the amount of sodium contained within the film is equal to or less than 0.3 ppm, preferably equal to or less than 0.1 ppm, and having a low electrical resistivity (equal to or less than 40 μΩ·cm), as a gate wiring material and a material for other wirings of a TFT, the operating performance and the reliability of a semiconductor device provided with the TFT can be increased.
US08357610B2
By forming a protection layer prior to the application of the planarization layer during a dual damascene strategy for first patterning vias and then trenches, enhanced etch fidelity may be accomplished. In other aspects disclosed herein, via openings and trenches may be patterned in separate steps, which may be accomplished by different etch behaviors of respective dielectric materials and/or the provision of an appropriate etch stop layer, while filling the via opening and the trench with a barrier material and a highly conductive metal may be achieved in a common fill sequence. Hence, the via opening may be formed on the basis of a reduced aspect ratio, while nevertheless providing a highly efficient overall process sequence.
US08357605B2
Methods of forming memory devices are provided. The methods may include forming a pre-stacked gate structure including a lower structure and a first polysilicon pattern on the substrate. The methods may also include forming an insulation layer covering the pre-stacked gate structure. The methods may further include forming a trench in the insulation layer by removing a portion of the first polysilicon pattern. The methods may additionally include forming a metal film pattern in the trench on the first polysilicon pattern. The methods may also include forming a first metal silicide pattern by performing a first thermal treatment on the first polysilicon pattern and the metal film pattern. The methods may further include forming a second polysilicon pattern in the trench. The methods may additionally include forming a second metal silicide pattern by performing a second thermal treatment on the second polysilicon pattern and the first metal silicide pattern.
US08357603B2
The present disclosure provides various methods of fabricating a semiconductor device. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate structure over the substrate. The gate structure includes a first spacer and a second spacer formed apart from the first spacer. The gate structure also includes a dummy gate formed between the first and second spacers. The method also includes removing a portion of the dummy gate from the gate structure thereby forming a partial trench. Additionally, the method includes removing a portion of the first spacer and a portion of the second spacer adjacent the partial trench thereby forming a widened portion of the partial trench. In addition, the method includes removing a remaining portion of the dummy gate from the gate structure thereby forming a full trench. A high k film and a metal gate are formed in the full trench.
US08357602B2
An intermediate layer composed of i-AlN is formed between a channel layer and an electron donor layer, a first opening is formed in an electron donor layer, at a position where a gate electrode will be formed later, while using an intermediate layer as an etching stopper, a second opening is formed in the intermediate layer so as to be positionally aligned with the first opening, by wet etching using a hot phosphoric acid solution, and a gate electrode is formed so that the lower portion thereof fill the first and second openings while placing a gate insulating film in between, and so that the head portion thereof projects above the cap structure.
US08357595B2
Method of producing a semiconductor device, comprising: a) providing a semiconductor substrate, b) providing an insulating layer on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, c) making an amorphous layer in a top layer of said semiconductor substrate by a suitable implant, d) implanting a dopant into said semiconductor substrate through said insulating layer to provide said amorphous layer with a predetermined doping profile, said implant being performed such that said doping profile has a peak value located within said insulating layer, e) applying a solid phase epitaxial regrowth action to regrow said amorphous layer and activate said dopant.
US08357591B2
A method of processing a wafer includes establishing a fine of symmetry defining left and right die areas on a front side of the wafer and left and right die areas on a back side. A first mask is used to form a first interconnection layer on the left and right die areas comprising a first portion on the left die area and second portion different than the first portion on the right die area. A second mask is used to form a second interconnection layer on the left and right die areas comprising a third portion on the left die area and fourth portion different than the third portion on the right die area. The first mask is reused to form a third interconnection layer on the left and right die areas on a back side, and the second mask to form a fourth interconnection layer on the left and right die areas on a back side.
US08357588B2
A workpiece machining method includes attaching a workpiece to a workpiece support with the aid of joining means. The workpiece and the workpiece support are joined to one another by an annular joining means. The composite produced is machined. The machined workpiece is separated from the workpiece support.
US08357573B2
Performance of P-channel transistors may be enhanced on the basis of an embedded strain-inducing semiconductor alloy by forming a gate electrode structure on the basis of a high-k dielectric material in combination with a metal-containing cap layer in order to obtain an undercut configuration of the gate electrode structure. Consequently, the strain-inducing semiconductor alloy may be formed on the basis of a sidewall spacer of minimum thickness in order to position the strain-inducing semiconductor material closer to a central area of the channel region.
US08357572B2
The semiconductor device includes an active region, a recess, a Fin channel region, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode. The active region is defined by a device isolation structure formed in a semiconductor substrate. The recess is formed by etching the active region and its neighboring device isolation structure using an island shaped recess gate mask as an etching mask. The Fin channel region is formed on the semiconductor substrate at a lower part of the recess. The gate insulating film is formed over the active region including the Fin channel region and the recess. The gate electrode is formed over the gate insulating film to fill up the Fin channel region and the recess.
US08357570B2
A method for fabricating a pixel structure includes providing a substrate having a pixel area. A first metal layer, a gate insulator and a semiconductor layer are formed on the substrate and patterned by using a first half-tone mask or a gray-tone mask to form a transistor pattern, a lower capacitance pattern and a lower circuit pattern. Next, a dielectric layer and an electrode layer both covering the three patterns are sequentially formed and patterned to expose a part of the lower circuit pattern, a part of the lower capacitance pattern and a source/drain region of the transistor pattern. A second metal layer formed on the electrode layer and the electrode layer are patterned by using a second half-tone mask or the gray-tone mask to form an upper circuit pattern, a source/drain pattern and an upper capacitance pattern. A portion of the electrode layer constructs a pixel electrode.
US08357568B2
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit package. The method includes attaching a first surface of a semiconductor die to a thermally and/or electrically conductive substrate, forming a plurality of die connectors on a second surface of the semiconductor die, and encapsulating the semiconductor die and the plurality of die connectors in an encapsulant material. The method also includes removing a portion of the encapsulant material to expose one or more of the plurality of die connectors, thereby forming a routing surface. The method further includes forming a plurality of conductive traces on the routing surface. Each of the plurality of conductive traces is characterized by a first portion in electrical communication with one of the plurality of die connectors and a second portion in electrical communication with a package connector.
US08357559B2
Sensor platforms and methods of making them are described. A platform having a non-horizontally oriented sensor element comprising one or more nanostructures such as nanotubes is described. Under certain embodiments, a sensor element has or is made to have an affinity for an analyte. Under certain embodiments, such a sensor element comprises one or more pristine nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises derivatized or functionalized nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, a sensor is made by providing a support structure; providing one or more nanotubes on the structure to provide material for a sensor element; and providing circuitry to electrically sense the sensor element's electrical characterization. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises pre-derivatized or pre-functionalized nanotubes. Under other embodiments, sensor material is derivatized or functionalized after provision on the structure or after patterning. Under certain embodiments, a large-scale array of sensor platforms includes a plurality of sensor elements.
US08357553B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to techniques for improving the performance of Lambertian and non-Lambertian light sources. In certain example embodiments, this is accomplished by (1) providing an organic-inorganic hybrid material on LEDs (which in certain example embodiments may be a high index of refraction material), (2) enhancing the light scattering ability of the LEDs (e.g., by fractal embossing, patterning, or the like, and/or by providing randomly dispersed elements thereon), and/or (3) improving performance through advanced cooling techniques. In certain example instances, performance enhancements may include, for example, better color production (e.g., in terms of a high CRI), better light production (e.g., in terms of lumens and non-Lambertian lighting), higher internal and/or external efficiency, etc.
US08357549B2
An incorrect position of a semiconductor wafer during thermal treatment in a process chamber heated by means of infrared emitters and transmissive to infrared radiation is identified, wherein the semiconductor wafer lies in a circular pocket of a rotating susceptor and is held at a predetermined temperature with the aid of the infrared emitters and a control system, and wherein thermal radiation is measured by a pyrometer, an amplitude of the fluctuations of the measurement signal is determined and an incorrect position of the semiconductor wafer is assumed if the amplitude exceeds a predetermined maximum value. The pyrometer is oriented such that the measurement spot detected by the pyrometer lies partly on the semiconductor wafer and partly outside the semiconductor wafer on the susceptor so that it is possible to identify an eccentric position of the semiconductor wafer within the pocket of the susceptor.
US08357542B2
Provided are a suspended particulate matter measurement apparatus capable of automatically measuring a nitrate ion content and a sulfate ion content in the atmosphere, and a suspended particulate matter measurement method using the same. The suspended particulate matter measurement apparatus includes a filter, suction part, extraction part, measurement part, and a recording part. The suction part suctions air in the atmosphere at a constant flow rate to cause particulate matter contained therein to be adsorbed onto the filter. The extraction part extracts components of the particulate matter adsorbed onto the filter, by dissolving the particulate matter into a solvent, and collects a resultant solution. The measurement part measures at least one of a nitrate ion content and a sulfate ion content in the solution collected by the extraction part, and outputs the measurement result. The recording part records the measurement result outputted from the measurement part.
US08357536B2
In an embodiment, there is disclosed an inspection method for detecting the presence of imprintable medium on an imprint lithography template. The method includes contacting the imprint lithography template with a marker, the marker being attachable to imprintable medium that may be on the imprint lithography template, the marker being configured to interact with incident radiation when attached to the imprintable medium, directing radiation at the imprint lithography template, and measuring radiation re-directed by the imprint lithography template to attempt to detect presence of a marker that has attached to the imprintable medium, from the interaction of the marker with the incident radiation, and thus detect the presence of imprintable medium to which the marker is attached.
US08357529B2
Biological macromolecules are synthesized in vitro under conditions and in a reaction composition wherein oxidative phosphorylation is activated and protein folding is improved.
US08357527B2
Provided herein are methods of generating genetically modified microorganisms, e.g., genetically modified yeast strains, which comprise functional disruptions in one or more pheromone response genes and one or more sporulation genes, and genetically modified yeast cells, e.g., genetically modified diploid and haploid yeast cells, that lack sporulation capability and endogenous mating capability, produced thereby.
US08357520B2
The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having a 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) biosynthetic pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, or α-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce monomeric 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB). Also provided is a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) biosynthetic pathways, the pathways include at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 4-hydroxybutyrate:CoA transferase, 4-butyrate kinase, phosphotransbutyrylase, α-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase or an aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce 1,4-butanediol (BDO). Additionally provided are methods for the production of 4-HB and BDO.
US08357504B2
Method for the quantitative determination of vitamins, amino acids, or other substances necessary for life, in a substance mixture, whereby in the culture container, the cavities of a microtitration plate, in each case a predetermined number of vital cells of a suitable microorganism are prepared in a permanent manner. For this purpose, the cells are shock frozen at −80° C. and then freeze dried in a freezing solution containing 200 to 500 mM trehalose/sucrose. The freezing solution is preferably the test medium. The culture containers are preferably the wells of a microtitration plate.
US08357503B2
Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
US08357498B2
A microorganism culture device comprising a porous matrix layer having a basis weight of 40 to 100 g/m2 and an air permeability of 7 to 24 cm/sec, and at least one layer of a water-soluble polymer layer laminated with the matrix layer.
US08357484B2
A multilayer dry film resist includes two or more organic films which can be patterned; the multilayer dry film resist includes a base substrate, a first organic film disposed on the base substrate, and a second organic film disposed on the first organic film and including a photosensitizer.
US08357473B2
When a stop trigger of a fuel cell system (100) is turned on, air humidified by a humidifier (3) which air having a humidity quantity lower than a humidity quantity at a normal operation is supplied to a fuel cell stack (11). Thereby, a takeout quantity Qm of a moisture generated in the fuel cell stack (1) is increased, then, a power generation of the fuel cell stack (1) is continued for a certain time Pg. Then, the power generation is stopped, and a cathode side of the fuel cell stack (1) is purged with the air for a certain time Pp.
US08357469B2
A bipolar battery construction is disclosed comprising a substrate, openings in the substrate, an electrically conductive material placed within the openings, a negative and positive current collector foil placed on opposing sides of the substrate and negative and positive pasting frame members. The electrically conductive material may have a melting point below the thermal degradation temperature of the substrate.
US08357464B2
A vehicle propulsion system comprising a plurality of solid state rechargeable battery cells configured to power a drivetrain. In accordance with once aspect of the invention, a transportation system that is powered at least in part by electricity stored in the form of rechargeable electrochemical cells. According to an embodiment of the present invention, these cells are combined in series and in parallel to form a pack that is regulated by charge and discharge control circuits that are programmed with algorithms to monitor state of charge, battery lifetime, and battery health.
US08357458B2
A coated article is provided which may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances. In certain example embodiments, an interlayer of or including a metal oxide such as tin oxide is provided under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer so as to be located between respective layers comprising silicon nitride and zinc oxide. It has been found that the use of such a tin oxide inclusive interlayer results in significantly improved mechanical durability, thermal stability and/or haze characteristics.
US08357450B2
The present invention provides a polyamide-polyphenylene ether resin composition comprising a polyamide having an alicyclic structure and composed of dicarboxylic acid units comprising from 20 to 100 mol % of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid units and diamine units comprising aliphatic diamine units with from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, a polyphenylene ether, and a compatibilizer for a polyamide and a polyphenylene ether.
US08357442B2
A wire marker is provided. A carrier strip includes a first layer having at least one opening, two bands applied to opposite edges of the first layer, the bands including an adhesive on at least one side, and a label secured into the opening and attached to the adhesive. At least one access perforation may be located on the first layer that is horizontal and adjacent to one side of the opening. The access perforation facilitates removal of the label from the carrier and allows for insertion of a cable through the label. A plurality of horizontal carrier perforations may further be located between each opening on the first layer to facilitate removal of the carrier strip from a printer.
US08357430B2
(Problem) To provide a method for producing silicon nitride films by vapor deposition that, while employing trisilylamine as precursor, can produce silicon nitride films that exhibit excellent film properties and can do so at relatively low temperatures and relatively high growth rates. (Solution) Method for producing silicon nitride film, said method being characterized by feeding gaseous trisilylamine and gaseous nitrogen source comprising at least two amine-type compounds selected from amine-type compounds with formula (1) NR1R2R3 (R1, R2, and R3 are each independently selected from hydrogen and C1-6 hydrocarbyl) into a reaction chamber that holds at least one substrate and forming silicon nitride film on said at least one substrate by reacting the trisilylamine and said nitrogen source.
US08357428B2
After a second liquid is applied to a support and dried, a first liquid is applied thereon. On a film of the first liquid, a third liquid (water) is supplied in droplets using an inkjet-type liquid supply unit. An area supplied with the droplets is referred to as porous area. Next, an organic solvent is evaporated from the film and the droplets are evaporated from the porous area. Thus, a porous film is obtained. The porous film has the porous areas in which a plurality of pores are arranged. Since the droplets are directly formed by an inkjet printing method, a condensation process and a droplet growing process are unnecessary. Thus, the porous film is produced efficiently. Shapes of the porous areas can be changed easily. The porous areas can be formed on the porous film in various patterns.
US08357426B2
A single step milling and surface coating process allows for production of a stable dispersion of surface coated nanoparticles in an efficient manner. The process comprises providing feed particles, providing a coating agent, and generating the stable dispersion of surface coated nanoparticles by milling the feed particles in an aqueous medium containing the coating agent such that the coating agent bonds to surfaces of the feed particles as the feed particles are milled to an average particle size of less than about 100 nm.
US08357422B2
The technology provides a multi-purpose dietary supplement that includes, in nutritionally effective amounts for humans, an orally ingestible combination of antioxidants, naturally-occurring substances and extracts of naturally-occurring substances. The naturally-occurring substances and extracts of naturally-occurring substances include at least: finely divided silica hydride; a polyphenol; ginkgo biloba leaf extract; rhodiola rosea root; bacopa monniera extract; a glutathione precursor; a phytoalexin; a bioflavonoids; CoQ10 and a phospholipid.
US08357421B2
A composition comprising triglycerides may be used as a coating fat. The triglyceride content of the composition comprises: SSS in an amount of from 10 to 20%; SUS in an amount of from 45 to 65%; SSU in an amount of from 10 to 18%; SU2 in an amount of less than 15%; and S2U in an amount of greater than 70%; wherein: the weight ratio of SUS:SSU is from 3:1 to 6:1; S is a saturated fatty acid residue having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms; U is an unsaturated fatty acid residue having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and all percentages are by weight based on the total triglycerides present in the composition.
US08357409B2
A sandwich-sized crispy chip garnish is provided with desired color, flavor and surface presentations for use in a crispy chip sandwich.
US08357401B2
The present disclosure generally relates to lyophilized pharmaceutical compositions comprising polymeric nanoparticles which, upon reconstitution, have low levels of greater than 10 micron size particles. Other aspects of the invention include methods of making such nanoparticles.
US08357400B2
A method of delivering a therapeutic agent by providing a cross-linked polymer encapsulating the therapeutic agent to a site in a patient. The degradation rate of the cross-linked polymer is correlated with a local concentration of an indicator, and the therapeutic agent is released as the cross-linked polymer degrades.
US08357391B2
Coatings for an implantable medical device and a method of fabricating thereof are disclosed, the coatings including block-polymers comprising at least one poly(hydroxyacid) or poly(hydroxy-alkanoate) block, at least one block of a biologically compatible polymer and a linking moiety.
US08357387B2
A treatment for bioprosthetic tissue used in implants or for assembled bioprosthetic heart valves to reduce in vivo calcification. The method includes applying a calcification mitigant such as a capping agent or an antioxidant to the tissue to specifically inhibit oxidation in tissue. Also, the method can be used to inhibit oxidation in dehydrated tissue. The capping agent suppresses the formation of binding sites in the tissue that are exposed or generated by the oxidation and otherwise would, upon implant, attract calcium, phosphate, immunogenic factors, or other precursors to calcification. In one method, tissue leaflets in assembled bioprosthetic heart valves are pretreated with an aldehyde capping agent prior to dehydration and sterilization.
US08357379B2
Stable aqueous solutions comprising concentrations of baclofen in the range of greater than 2.0 mg/mL up to about 10 mg/mL are disclosed. These solutions can be used as pharmaceuticals for parenteral or oral administration. The invention also provides methods of preparing said stable aqueous baclofen solutions.
US08357376B2
The present invention relates to novel MDCK cells which can be to grow viruses, e.g., influenza viruses, in cell culture to higher titer than previously possible. The MDCK cells can be adapted to serum-free culture medium. The present invention further relates to cell culture compositions comprising the MDCK cells and cultivation methods for growing the MDCK cells. The present invention further relates to methods for producing influenza viruses in cell culture using the MDCK cells of the invention.
US08357372B2
The use of an agent in the manufacture of a medicament to affect an allergic condition and/or a hypersensitivity condition is described. The agent is capable of modulating a ganglioside associated activity. The agent is not coupled to an antigen. The modulation of the ganglioside activity affects an allergic condition and/or a hypersensitivity condition.
US08357368B2
The present application is directed to compositions and methods for inhibiting angiogenesis and treating or preventing unwanted cell proliferation, including tumors, by inhibiting the hedgehog pathway, e.g., with an antagonist of the hedgehog pathway such as those disclosed herein.
US08357361B2
Bioabsorbable macromer compositions are provided including a diisocyanate-functional bioabsorbable polymer. In some embodiments, the diisocyanate-functional bioabsorbable polymer can be combined with a functionalized polyol. The resulting bioabsorbable macromer composition can be employed as an adhesive or sealant for medical/surgical uses.
US08357354B2
A composition having at least one fatty phase containing at least one resin having a number-average molecular weight of less than or equal to 10 000 g/mol chosen from rosin, rosin derivatives and hydrocarbon-based resins, and mixtures thereof, at least one volatile oil, and at least one phenyl silicone oil. The composition according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous and comfortable deposit on the lips or the skin, which has in particular improved properties of staying power of the colour and of the gloss.
US08357353B2
A chemical composition comprising a linker agent and a compound comprising at least one UV-absorbing chromophore, wherein the linker agent is characterized by the general formula: wherein X1 and X2 are the same or different, and at least one of X1 or X2 is a functional group that bonds with the compound comprising at least one UV-absorbing chromophore, and b+f≧2, Y comprises an O, N, or S that is substituted or unsubstituted, each a, b, c, e and f is ≧0 and a+b+c+e+f≧2, d is 0 or 1, n1 and n2 represent the number of hydrogen atoms required to complete the undesignated valencies, and m ranges from 1 to about 100 and each individual m unit may be the same or different.
US08357352B2
Disclosed are propellant gas formulations containing at least one suspended active substance which contains chemically bound water, water and the propellant TG 227 or TG 134 a.
US08357336B2
A sample entry device is provided comprising a single plug-in site for automated input of medical samples, typically samples of body fluids, or quality control media, from diverse sample vessels. Sample transport containers are provided in the entry device, each having a cannula that can be inserted both through an opening into an open sample vessel and through a penetrable lid element into a closed sample vessel, and the entry device is provided with guiding elements, which will grip the cannula of the sample transport container to guide and center the cannula before it is inserted into the sample vessel or punctures it.
US08357333B2
A honeycomb structural body includes a honeycomb unit having a plurality of through holes defined by cell walls and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb unit. The honeycomb unit includes an inorganic binder, a first zeolite, and second zeolite. The first zeolite includes at least one of a β type zeolite and a ZSM-5 type zeolite, and primary particles having an average particle diameter of approximately 0.01 μm or more and approximately 0.1 μm or less. The second zeolite includes a phosphate group zeolite and primary particles having an average particle diameter of approximately 0.5 μm or more and approximately 5 μm or less. A ratio between a mass of the first zeolite and a total mass of the first and second zeolites is approximately 0.1 or more and approximately 0.5 or less.
US08357330B1
An exterior container has a primary base, side walls and an open top. A primary floor is located in the exterior chamber and forms an operational chamber. An interior container has a square secondary floor, side walls and top. The interior container is removably received within the exterior container. A retainer is positioned within the interior chamber for receiving a catheter. A source of light is provided within the exterior chamber to irradiate the catheter.
US08357326B2
A device for producing a tubular object from thermoplastic material includes a die, a plunger, and a withdrawal unit. The movements of the withdrawal unit, plunger and die body are controlled such that the movement of the withdrawal unit is carried out according to a freely adjustable velocity profile over the path of the withdrawal unit. Movement of the plunger is carried out according to a freely adjustable velocity profile over the plunger path and movement of the die body is carried out according to a freely adjustable position profile over the path of the withdrawal unit or plunger. In this manner, the wall thickness of the tubular object may be adjusted with high accuracy over its length.
US08357323B2
A stitching geometry and method for selective interlaminar reinforcement of a CMC wall (20A). The CMC wall is formed of ceramic fiber layers (22) individually infused with a ceramic matrix, stacked, and at least partially cured. A row of holes is formed in the wall, and a ceramic fiber thread (25) is infused with a wet ceramic matrix and passed through the holes to form stitches (28, 30, 31). The stitches are then cured, causing them to shrink more than any remaining wall shrinkage, thus tensioning the stitches and compressing the wall laminae together. The stitches may have through-wall portions (30, 31) that are angled differently in different wall areas as a function of interlaminar shear over interlaminar tension, optimizing wall reinforcement locally depending on magnitude and direction of shear. Alternate rows of stitches (54, 56) may have offsets in a stitch direction (34) and/or different through-wall angles (A1, A2).
US08357318B2
A process of preparation of microcapsules having a shell and a core that includes a waxy solid, includes (a) dispersing particles of waxy solid material in a water-immiscible liquid in which the waxy solid material is insoluble; (b) emulsifying the resulting dispersion into an aqueous solution of a capsule wall-forming material to form an emulsion of droplets; (c) forming a coating of the capsule wall-forming material on the emulsified droplets containing the dispersed waxy solid particles to provide capsules; (d) heating the capsules to a temperature above the melting point of the waxy solid material; and (e) cooling the capsules to a temperature below the melting point of the waxy solid material.
US08357314B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a dielectric elastomer composition which has a sufficient dielectric property as a high-frequency electronic component material and to which an excellent flame retardance can be imparted as necessary in consideration of an influence on environment and the high-frequency electronic component material formed by molding the dielectric elastomer composition. The dielectric elastomer composition of the present invention comprises an elastomer to which (A) carbon black and (B) at least one powder selected from among magnesium hydroxide powder and dielectric ceramic powder is added. An average particle diameter of the carbon black is 50 to 200 nm, and 5 to 40 parts by weight thereof is added to 100 parts by weight of the elastomer. In the magnesium hydroxide powder, a content of ferric oxide is not more than 0.02 wt %. In at least one measuring condition selected from among a measuring condition (1) in which a frequency is 400 MHz and a temperature is 30° C. and a measuring condition (2) in which a frequency is 5 GHz and a temperature is 25° C., a dielectric constant is not less than three, and a dielectric dissipation factor is not more than 0.01.
US08357310B2
An aqueous-based coolant for cooling and reducing corrosion potential in applications having high aluminum or nickel surface area to coolant volume ratios has a pH between 8 and 9 and includes about 35 weight % to about 65 weight % propylene glycol, about 1.0 weight % to about 4.0 weight % 2-ethylhexanoic acid, about 0.25 weight % to about 1.0 weight % sebacic acid, about 0.25 weight % to about 1.0 weight % benzoic acid and about 0.03 weight % to about 0.1 weight % molybdate oxyanion. A cooling system includes an aluminum or nickel surface and the aqueous-based coolant. A method of cooling a component surface containing aluminum or nickel includes delivering the aqueous-based coolant to the component surface and cooling the component surface with the aqueous-based coolant.
US08357309B2
Single crystal and polycrystal oxoruthenates having the generalized compositions (Baz,Sr1−z)FexCoyRu6−(x+y)O11 (1≦(x+y)≦5; 0≦z≦1) and (Ba,Sr)M2±xRu4∓xO11 (M=Fe,Co) belong to a novel class of ferromagnetic semiconductors with applications in spin-based field effect transistors, spin-based light emitting diodes, and magnetic random access memories.
US08357307B2
Provided is a method of forming an electronic circuit, wherein a nickel or nickel alloy layer is formed on an etching side of a rolled copper foil or an electrolytic copper foil, the rolled copper foil or the electrolytic copper foil is bonded to a resin substrate to obtain a copper-clad laminate, a resist pattern for forming a circuit is subsequently applied on the copper foil, any unwanted portion of the copper foil and the nickel or nickel alloy layer of the copper-clad laminate other than the portion to which the resist pattern was applied is removed using an etching solution of an aqueous ferric chloride, the resist is further removed, and soft etching is additionally performed in order to remove the remnant nickel or nickel alloy layer and thereby form a circuit in which the space between copper circuit lines is of a width that is double or more from the thickness of copper. This invention aims to form a circuit with a uniform circuit width, improve the etching properties in pattern etching, and prevent the occurrence of short circuits and defects in the circuit width.
US08357304B2
A self-contained storage system for hazardous materials includes a containment envelope enclosing a storage tank containing hazardous materials and forming a containment space between the storage tank and containment envelope. Leaked material is detected by one or more sensors in the containment space and, depending on the concentration or time rate of change in concentration of the leaked material, alarms and corresponding mitigation measures are reversibly activated to remove leaked material from the containment space.
US08357300B2
A method for reducing a boron concentration in a boron-containing aqueous liquid involves administering micelle(s) for selective boron adsorption to the boron-containing aqueous liquid to produce boron-bonded micelle(s), wherein the micelle(s) comprise a reaction product of an N-substituted-glucamine and a glycidyl ether; passing the micelle-containing aqueous liquid through a membrane to separate the boron-bonded micelle(s) from the aqueous liquid; and recovering a permeate having a reduced boron concentration from the membrane. A material capable of selectively adsorbing boron from a boron-containing aqueous liquid contains at least one micelle having a hydrophobic tail and a head comprising a hydrophilic functional group having formula (I): R1—O-A (I) R1 represents a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted aromatic, linear aliphatic, and branched aliphatic hydrocarbon groups and mixtures thereof, and A contains hydroxyl and amine groups.
US08357296B2
Filtration device suited for concentration of liquid samples, particularly biomolecules, and a method of concentrating, desalting, purifying and/or fractionating liquid samples. In certain embodiments the device includes a housing having a sample reservoir, and two substantially vertically oriented and spaced apart membranes disposed in the housing. An underdrain is associated with each membrane such that fluid passing through each membrane flows through a respective underdrain into a filtrate collection chamber. The fluid that does not pass through the membrane is collected in the retentate collection chamber, and can be recovered such as by a reverse spinning step, achieving recoveries greater than about 90%. The substantially vertical orientation of the membranes increases the available membrane area by at least 2.7 times the area available in a conventional filter device. The two-panel configuration also maintains more available membrane area in use during the last stages of filtration than a one-panel configuration.
US08357289B2
A method and system for removing contaminants from a fluid are provided. The method can generally include providing microstructures in the fluid. At least some of the contaminants in the fluid are attracted to the microstructures and adhered to the microstructures. With the contaminants attached to the microstructures, the microstructures can be separated from the fluid so that the contaminants are thereby removed from the fluid.
US08357287B2
An aqueous electrolyte solution including a concentration of citric acid in the range of about 1.6 g/L to about 982 g/L and an effective concentration of ammonium bifluoride (ABF), and being substantially free of a strong acid. Methods of micropolishing a surface of a non-ferrous metal workpiece including exposing the surface to a bath of an aqueous electrolyte solution including a concentration of citric acid in the range of about 1.6 g/L to about 780 g/L and a concentration of ammonium bifluoride in the range of about 2 g/L to about 120 g/L and having no more than about 3.35 g/L of a strong acid, controlling the temperature of the bath to be between the freezing point and the boiling point of the solution, connecting the workpiece to an anodic electrode of a DC power supply and immersing a cathodic electrode of the DC power supply in the bath, and applying a current across the bath.
US08357286B1
Versatile methods of refining a first and a second layer of a workpiece are discussed. New refining methods and refining apparatus are disclosed. The new refining methods can help improve yield and appreciably change the cost of manufacture for refining of workpieces. The methods can be applied to workpieces having extremely close tolerances such as semiconductor wafers. New methods of control are also discussed. Methods use controllers, processors, computers, and processor readable memory devices are discussed. Use of stored information is to make changes in process control are discussed. Use of process models are discussed for refining. Determining a changed process control with stored information from first and second layers of a workpiece is disclosed. A changed process control can make an appreciable changes to the cost of manufacture of a workpiece.
US08357284B2
A metal film-forming method is capable of forming a metal film on a surface of a base metal film, formed on a surface of a substrate, with sufficient adhesion to the base metal film even when a natural oxide film is formed on the surface of the base metal film. The metal film-forming method includes: preparing a substrate having a base metal film formed on a surface; and carrying out electroplating of the substrate using the base metal film as a cathode and another metal as an anode while immersing the substrate in a solution containing a metal complex and a reducing material, both dissolved in a solvent, to form a metal film, deriving from a metal contained in the metal complex, on the surface of the base metal film.
US08357282B2
The present teachings relate to systems and methods for separation of substances such as cells, nucleic acids, and carbon nanotubes. The substances are combined with a separation medium in a liquid sample cavity, for example a microchannel, and transit through the separation by optically activated dielectrophoretic forces. The substances are advantageously labeled and visualized using a microscope and camera.
US08357263B2
Apparatus and methods for plasma etching are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for etching a plurality of features on a wafer comprises a chamber, a feature plate disposed in the chamber for holding the wafer, a gas channel configured to receive a plasma source gas, an anode disposed above the feature plate, a cathode disposed below the feature plate, a radio frequency power source configured to provide a radio frequency voltage between the anode and the cathode so as to generate plasma ions from the plasma source gas, a pump configured to remove gases and etch particulates from the chamber, and a clamp configured to clamp the wafer against the feature plate. The clamp includes at least one measurement hole for passing a portion of the plasma ions to measure a DC bias of the feature plate.
US08357260B2
A partially crosslinked adhesive-supported porous film for battery separator, which in producing a battery, can effectively produce a battery as an electrode/separator laminate in which an electrode and a separator are temporarily bonded to each other without causing mutual slip movement between the electrode and the separator and which after producing a battery, functions itself as a separator having a small heat shrinkage factor even at high temperatures, and a process of producing a battery using such a partially crosslinked adhesive-supported porous film. The partially crosslinked adhesive-supported porous film for battery separator, includes a porous film substrate having supported thereon a partially crosslinked adhesive that is partially crosslinked by preparing a reactive polymer having a functional group in the molecule and capable of being crosslinked upon reaction with a polyfunctional compound having reactivity with the functional group and then reacting the reactive polymer with a polyfunctional compound.
US08357259B2
According to the method, drops of an adhesive material are deposited on one of the plates, with the drops being spaced from one another. A grid having a predefined thickness lower than that of the drops is applied to the plate receiving the drops. A perpendicular and uniform pressure is applied to at least one of the plates, so that the drops spread and come into contact with the opposing sides of the two plates. The spacing of the drops is defined so that after spreading under the pressure applied, air is not trapped between the drops.
US08357252B2
High tensile strength steels that have both favorable delayed fracture resistance and a tensile strength of 600 MPa or higher and are suitably used in construction machinery, tanks, penstocks, and pipelines, as well as methods for manufacturing such steels are provided. The safety index of delayed fracture resistance (%) is 100×(X1/X0), where X0: reduction of area of a specimen substantially free from diffusible hydrogen, and X1: reduction of area of a specimen containing diffusible hydrogen.
US08357251B2
A powder processing method includes degassing a metallic powder in a rotating chamber that is evacuated to a sub-atmospheric pressure. The method may also include storing the metallic powder in a rotating storage chamber that is pressurized to a super-atmospheric pressure with a dry cover gas.
US08357245B2
A system for removing paint and other coatings from hard surfaces is mounted on a truck for over-the-road travel. The truck bed carries a high power vacuum pump, a self propelled tractor with an attached blast head, a liquid reservoir, a sump or vacuum tank, and a ramp for loading the tractor. The reservoir is connected to a low pressure pump that transfers water to the high pressure pump. The high pressure pump is connected to the blast head by a high pressure hose. A vacuum hose is connected to the sump which has an internal enclosure for separating the waste materials from the liquid for easy dumping of semi dried materials.
US08357242B2
Methods of depositing thin film materials having crystalline content are provided. The methods use plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. According to one embodiment of the present invention, microcrystalline silicon films are obtained. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, crystalline films of zinc oxide are obtained. According to a third embodiment of the present invention, crystalline films of iron oxide are obtained.
US08357235B2
An inkjet ink composition includes a sulfoxide compound, a water-soluble dye having an aromatic heterocycle in a molecule, water and a water-soluble organic solvent, wherein the sulfoxide compound has a content of from 1% by weight to less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. An inkjet recording method includes using an inkjet printer having a silicon oxide layer or a silane coupling layer in at least part of a component with which ink is brought into contact, and ejecting an inkjet ink composition from the inkjet printer to record an image on an inkjet recording medium, wherein the inkjet ink composition contains a sulfoxide compound, a water-soluble dye, and the sulfoxide compound has a content of from 1% by weight to less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
US08357233B2
Devices for removing particles for a gas utilizing electrostatic precipitation having collector modules with fewer electrical connections, which facilitate cleaning, and/or eliminate the need for high voltage connections between a removable collector module and a collector module support. Driver electrode modules provide electrical connection between an insulated driver electrode and a source of electrical potential or between insulated driver electrodes and at least one other conductor through a hole in or on some edge on the driver electrodes. A biasing force is provided and a conductive element serves as a conductor between the driver electrode(s) and the other conductors. A plurality of insulated driver electrodes, e.g. plates, are formed with a single, conductive plate or from a plurality of electrically joined conductive plates which are coated with insulation and then bent. An electrically-shielded, high voltage generating circuit is integrated with a readily removable collector module to eliminate the need for high voltage connections between the removable collector module and the collector module support, while enhancing the device's durability and allowing cleaning with cleaning fluid and/or dishwasher detergent.
US08357215B2
Disclosed is a method of removing a particulate layer from a gasification system component including locating a shedding apparatus in operable communication with the gasification system component. A force is transmitted from the shedding apparatus into the gasification system component and the particulate layer is shed from the gasification system component as a result of the force. Further disclosed is a syngas cooler for a gasification system including a vessel and a plurality of thermal energy transfer platens located in the vessel. A shedding apparatus is in operable communication with the plurality of platens and is capable of shedding a particulate layer from the plurality of platens by transmitting a force to the plurality of platens. The apparatus includes a manifold disposed between the shedding apparatus and the plurality of platens and connected to the plurality of platens via one or more struts capable of distributing the force to the plurality of platens.
US08357212B2
Botanically derived compositions of fuel oxygenates are provided, as well as methods of making the same. The compositions are produced from extracts of plant tissues, and unexpectedly contain aliphatic ethers and alcohols in useful concentrations. These compositions represent sources of oxygenates such as MTBE, ETBE, DIPE, TAME, ETBE and TBA from non-mineral sources, allowing them to be produced domestically in countries without mineral hydrocarbon resources and allowing them to be combusted without any net addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
US08357209B2
The present invention relates to the use of alkanolamines for thickening oxidative coloring compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of alkanolamines for thickening ready to use oxidative coloring composition based on mixing two compositions wherein one comprises at least one oxidative dyeing precursor and the other comprises as least one oxidizing agent.
US08357200B2
An artificial spinal disk prosthesis comprised of an artificial disk (101), mounting bracket (105) assembly that secures the disk to at least one vertebrae and a sliding rod (104) that connects the two whereby the shape of the components determines the range of motion of the disk, thus allowing desirable motions of the disk consistent with normal body motions and preventing undesirable motions of the artificial disk. In the preferred embodiment, the angular motion of the disk is controlled by a hinge that is on the side of the artificial disk. In the preferred embodiment, the artificial disc is connected to the spine via one vertebra.
US08357196B2
An intraocular lens for providing vision to an animal or human subject has anterior and posterior sides. The lens includes an optic body, one or more haptics, and one or more marks. Each mark has four or more features disposed along an imaginary line when viewed from the anterior side and/or the posterior side. The mark(s) may be used as an aid in angularly aligning the lens during use.
US08357186B2
A bone bolt assembly is designed for attaching supporting implants between adjacent bones, for holding adjacent bones relative to each other, and for holding together fractured bone fragments. The functions performed by the bone bolt assembly are achieved without the use of bone screws that are implanted into the bone.
US08357179B2
Devices including a self-expandable member having a proximal end portion and a main body portion. The self-expandable member is movable from a first delivery position to a second placement position, in the first delivery position the expandable member being in an unexpanded position and having a nominal first diameter and in the second position the expandable member being in a radially expanded position and having a second nominal diameter greater than the first nominal diameter for deployment within a vessel or duct of a patient. The expandable member includes a plurality of cell structures with the cell structures in the main body portion extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the expandable member and the cell structures in the proximal end portion extending less than circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the expandable member to form first and second peripheral rails that vary in width along their lengths.
US08357178B2
A clot retrieval device including a self-expandable member having a proximal end portion and a main body portion. The self-expandable member is expandable from a first delivery position to a second placement position. In the first delivery position the expandable member has a first overall diameter In one implementation the cell structures that form the self-expandable member have dimensional and material characteristics that result in about a −1.0N to about a −1.7N overall reduction in radial force along the length of the expandable member per millimeter of expansion during about an initial 0.50 mm diametric range of expansion from the first overall diameter and that results in about a −0.10N to about a −0.35N overall reduction in radial force along the length of the expandable member per millimeter of expansion during subsequent diametric ranges of expansion.
US08357169B2
A system for forming an implant to stabilize an interior of a vertebral body is provided. The system includes a delivery cannula (18) in which there is an agglomeration of beads (20) and cement (22). A membrane is disposed over the open end of the cannula. When the agglomeration is discharged from the cannula it fills the membrane. The membrane thus forms the outer shell of the implant internal to the bone.
US08357168B2
A kit for injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space accessed through an opening in the disc annulus comprises a plurality of needles, each sized for introduction through the annulus opening with a passageway for injecting the biomaterial therethrough, and each including a distal end to be disposed within the intradiscal space when the needle extends through the annulus opening. Each needle includes a stop affixed thereto at different pre-determined distances from the distal end to define the location of the distal end within the intradiscal space when the needle extends through the opening in the annulus. The kit further includes a plurality of seals defining a bore for sliding engagement with a needle, each of the plurality of seals including a sealing face for engaging the annulus around the needle. Each sealing face defines a differently configured area of contact, such as circular, elliptical, tapered and threaded.
US08357167B2
Instrumentation for implanting an artificial intervertebral disc includes static trials, the static trials including first and second trial baseplates immovably coupled to one another via a trunk extending therebetween, each trial baseplate having an outwardly facing surface approximating a contour of a corresponding outwardly facing surface of an artificial intervertebral disc baseplate, at least one of the trial baseplates having a plurality of engagement holes extending into the at least one of the trial baseplates in a direction substantially perpendicular to each of a plurality of a surgical approach directions used to insert the trial into the intervertebral space, each of the plurality of engagement holes being disposed on the at least one of the trial baseplates to correspond to a respective one of the surgical approach directions such that selection for use of one of the plurality of engagement holes corresponds to, selection of the respective surgical approach.
US08357161B2
A surgical instrument includes a handle and an elongated shaft that defines a longitudinal axis. An end effector extends from the elongated shaft and defines an end effector axis. The elongated shaft includes an articulating portion that both pivotally and rotationally movable with respect to the longitudinal axis. The end effector is rotationally movable with respect to the end effector axis. A drive mechanism includes at least one actuator disposed on the handle that is operable to move the end effector in at least three independent modes relative to the longitudinal axis or the end effector axis. The three modes include an articulation mode wherein the articulating portion of the elongated shaft pivots relative to the longitudinal axis, a shoulder roll mode wherein the articulating portion of the elongated shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis, and a wrist roll mode wherein the end effector rotates about the end effector axis.
US08357148B2
A multi-functional endoscopic system, for use in electrosurgical applications, that includes an imaging endoscope that may be used in combination with various electrosurgical devices, all of which are sufficiently inexpensive to manufacture, such that the endoscope and electrosurgical devices are considered single use, disposable items. The multi-functional endoscopic system of the present invention is suitable for use with a variety of common electrosurgical devices that require electrical/electronic support in order to function. The electrical/electronic support for these electrosurgical devices (e.g., an electrosurgical generator and associated controls) is integrated with the operator console of the imaging endoscope of the multi-functional endoscopic system of the present invention, rather than provided as a separate device. In another embodiment of the invention, an imaging endoscope is provided that integrates or combines the functions of both an imaging endoscope and an electrosurgical device, which can be controlled by a single handheld controller.
US08357136B2
The present invention provides an enteral feeding set comprising tubing adapted for fluid flow therethrough and further adapted to be engaged by a pump unit, a valve mechanism in direct communication with said tubing, said valve mechanism being adapted to be engaged by said pump unit, and a feeding set indicator for permitting identification of the functional configuration of said administration feeding set by said pump unit, characterized in that said tubing comprises at least two inlet tubes on an upstream side of said valve mechanism and a single outlet tube on a downstream side thereof and wherein said inlet tubes each include a connector for connecting said tube to a supply of fluid at a connection end thereof, each of said connectors being of like form but visually distinguishable for indicating to a user which supply of fluid each connector should be attached thereto.
US08357131B2
A system for applying a reduced pressure at a tissue site includes a reduced pressure source, a porous pad in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source, and a drape positionable over the porous pad to seal the porous pad at the tissue site. The porous pad includes a plurality of channel walls to form a plurality of channels between the channel walls. The channel walls are substantially liquid impermeable to prevent movement of a liquid through the channel walls but are gas permeable to allow movement of a gas through the channel walls as reduced pressure is applied at the tissue site. The liquid impermeability of the channel walls and the application of reduced pressure causes flow of the liquid to occur through the plurality of channels.
US08357115B2
The present disclosure is directed to a cleansing solution and system for administering the cleansing solution to decontaminate a wound surface. A method and kit for decontaminating a wound surface is also provided.
US08357113B2
A regenerative peritoneal dialysis system includes a dialysis fluid loop; a filter located in the dialysis fluid loop, a first portion of the dialysis fluid sent to the filter rejected by the filter and returned upstream of the filter, a second portion of the dialysis fluid sent to the filter forming permeate, the permeate being rich in urea; and a urea removing apparatus located in the dialysis fluid loop downstream from the filter to receive the permeate and absorb urea from the permeate.
US08357112B2
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus of controlling a release of a material carried by ultrasound sensitive particles, the release being caused by irradiating the ultrasound sensitive particles with an ultrasonic pulse having acoustic properties selected so as to interact with the ultrasound sensitive particles and thus causing the release of the material. The ultrasound sensitive particles comprise sub-groups of ultrasound sensitive particles, the ultrasound sensitive particles within the same sub-group having their respective acoustic property causing each respective sub-group to interact independently with the sound wave.
US08357107B2
A blood glucose meter having a test strip port and an adjustable lancet device disposed at the same end of the device body is disclosed. The device body further includes an enclosure at the proximal end of the device body which houses a test strip storage vial and which facilitates one-handed opening and closing of the vial to simplify access to test strips contained therein. The enclosure is further provided with a window which allows the reading of the lot numbers on the label of the test strip vial therein without necessitating removal of the vial. A data connector is also provided on the device body for communication access, such as to upload data from other devices or to download data to other devices. By combining these multiple components into a single device body, the blood glucose meter requires fewer steps for sampling and testing, and makes device use easier and more convenient.
US08357098B2
In an electronic device, a pulse rate measuring unit measures user's pulse rate. For example, the pulse rate measuring unit obtains a change in blood flow from a light passing through a user's fingertip, and measures user's current pulse rate based on it. A pulse rate memory unit has previously stored user's previous pulse rate. A pulse rate calculator calculates the user's pulse rate while changing a ratio of the user's current pulse rate measured by the pulse rate measuring unit to the user's previous pulse rate previously stored in the pulse rate memory unit after starting to measure the user's pulse rate. The user's pulse rate calculated by the pulse rate calculator is displayed as the user's pulse rate on a display unit.
US08357097B2
A small-scale diagnostic system and a display control method are provided. In the diagnostic system, while image data on a patient is displayed on a screen of a medical image control device, when image data on another patient is received from an image generating device, and the medical doctor wants to display the received image data on the another patient on the screen for examining the image and diagnosing the another patient, the displayed image on the screen can be switched to that of the image data on the another patient by a simple operation of depressing a patient selection button. This enables the medical doctor to perform image diagnosis efficiently in a small-scale facility such as a clinic.
US08357094B2
An ultrasound scanner is equipped with one or more fuzzy control units that can perform adaptive system parameter optimization anywhere in the system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises a plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems configured to generate an ultrasound image, the plurality of ultrasound image generating subsystems including a transmitter subsystem, a receiver subsystem, and an image processing subsystem; and a fuzzy logic controller communicatively coupled with at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems. The fuzzy logic controller is configured to receive, from at least one of the plurality of ultrasound imaging generating subsystems, input data including at least one of pixel image data and data for generating pixel image data; to process the input data using a set of inference rules to produce fuzzy output; and to convert the fuzzy output into numerical values or system states for controlling at least one of the transmit subsystem and the receiver subsystem that generate the pixel image data.
US08357082B2
An endoscope system has an endoscope; an attachment for the endoscope, having a non-circular irregularly shaped hole that communicates with an opening of a channel of the endoscope and attached to a forward end of an insertion section of the endoscope; and a treatment instrument for the endoscope, having a flexible tube and a treatment section. An extension/retraction section having a non-circular cross section corresponding to the shape of an opening of the irregularly shaped holes is provided at a forward end of the flexible tube, and the irregularly shaped hole restricts rotation of the flexible tube. Further, the treatment section has directivity about its axis relative to the flexible tube and its rotation is restricted.
US08357081B2
The invention generally relates to a method and apparatus to treat obesity. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention relates to tucking a portion of the greater curvature of the stomach inwards, and covering the stomach around the greater curvature and lesser curvature with a silicone skirt to induce satiety and reduce the volume of the stomach body.
US08357080B2
A balloon-type gastric band that includes a balloon and a belt secured to the balloon. The balloon includes a mechanism for contrasting the balloon from surrounding tissue when placed within a patient.
US08357073B2
A control apparatus for a power transmitting system of a hybrid vehicle including (a) a differential portion which has a differential mechanism operatively connected to an engine and a first electric operatively connected to the differential mechanism, and a differential state of which is controlled by controlling an operating state of the first electric motor, and (b) a differential-state switching device which is incorporated in the differential mechanism and which is operable according to a differential-state switching condition, to switch the differential mechanism between a differential state in which the differential mechanism is operable to perform a differential function and a non-differential state in which the differential mechanism is not operable to perform the differential function, the control apparatus including a differential-state-switching-condition changing portion operable to change a differential-state switching condition for switching the differential-state switching device to switch the differential mechanism between the differential and non-differential states, when a temperature of the power transmitting system is lower than a predetermined threshold value.
US08357069B2
A transmission is disclosed having an input member, an output member, and first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members. A plurality of interconnecting members continuously interconnect one of the first, second and third members of one of the planetary gear sets with one of the first, second and third members of another of the planetary gear sets. Five torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member. The first of the five torque-transmitting mechanisms is a selectable one-way clutch engageable to interconnect the third member of the first planetary gear set with the stationary member.
US08357066B2
A drive mechanism includes a housing, a stationary shaft, at least one acceleration gear assembly, a rotation plate, and at least two centrifugal blades. The acceleration gear assembly having a plurality of acceleration gears is disposed inside the housing and pivots on the stationary shaft, and skewed teeth of the housing engage with the acceleration gears to force the acceleration gears to rotate as the housing rotates. The rotation plate is disposed inside the housing and pivots on the stationary shaft, and is actuated by the acceleration gear assembly and has a first end surface, a second end surface, and a first annular surface connected with the first and the second end surfaces. The centrifugal blades are disposed on the second end surface, and one side of the centrifugal blades has a unidirectional rotatable element engaging with the skewed teeth when the rotation direction of the housing reverses.
US08357065B2
An endless power transmission belt having a internal lubricating agent-containing fabric element extending along at least the pulley-engaging, power-transmitting surface of the belt, as well as processes for manufacturing same. More particularly, an endless toothed belt having a wear-resistant fabric cover element that comprises at least one internal lubricating agent in the form of one or more clusters within at least a portion of the total thickness of the fabric element.
US08357064B1
Drive-train sprockets engage chains having a plurality of links joined by a corresponding plurality of pinned connections spaced longitudinally of each other along the chain. In a specific example, the links have a clevis-like portion and an arcuate segment defining a drive-surface with a characteristic outer diameter, and the arcuate segment of the first link pivotally engages the clevis-like portion of the second link to form the pinned connection. The arcuate segment extends circumferentially about only a portion of the pivot axis by an angle. The drive-train sprockets have a body having a root diameter corresponding to at least a characteristic outer diameter of the arcuate segment and the angle by which each arcuate segment extends circumferentially about the corresponding pivot axis.
US08357060B2
A golf ball comprising: (a) a core; (b) an inner mantle layer; (c) an intermediate mantle layer; (d) an outer mantle layer; and (e) at least one cover layer; wherein the core has a PGA compression of less than 70, and the core/inner mantle layer/intermediate mantle layer combined construct has a PGA compression of at least 30.
US08357048B2
Game data is received at a dispersed storage processing unit, the game data associated with at least one of a plurality of user devices. The game data is stored in a cache memory associated with the dispersed storage processing unit. Dispersed storage metadata associated with the cached game data is generated. A data block is generated based on the cached game data and further based on the dispersed storage metadata. The data block is stored in a dispersed storage network.
US08357046B2
A method, system and program product for monitoring an online card game, such as poker. A table view is displayed at a client that summarizes recently played hands, raises, and table conditions, and also includes scaled player classifications (tight or loose; passive or aggressive), counts of notifications of plays of interest, win/loss history, and links to player statistics and player performance graphs. Scaled player classifications are automatically configured. Notification details are displayed via links on the table view. Summaries of known hands based on predefined conditions are displayed. Summary displays of pre-flop hands and hands on flop, turn or river are also provided.
US08357043B2
The game apparatus (1) has a fixed main unit (100) and a movable operating device (8) that is held by a player and is capable of detecting the body motion of the player and of transmitting a signal to, receiving from, the main unit (100). The operating device (8) has an acceleration sensor (86) for detecting acceleration, a light source (85), and a transmitter (87) for transmitting a value detected by the acceleration sensor (86) to the main unit (100). The main unit (100) has light receiving units (9L,9R) that receive the light emitted from the light source (85) to detect the intensity of the received light, a RAM (14), and a processor (16). Processor (16) repeats a process of detecting the position of the operating device (8) based on the intensity of light detected by each of the light receiving units (9L,9R), causes a RAM (14) to store the detected position history, determines whether a player has performed a predetermined motion based on the position history and the detected value of the acceleration sensor (86).
US08357037B2
In some embodiments, a player may be provided with information identifying a characteristic of a true outcome of a set of possible outcomes of an event, the set consisting of a first and second subset, the second subset comprising a second possible outcome. Next, the player may submit a first wager on a first of the possible outcomes. Next, the system may reveal to the player that a the first subset may not comprise (or may be at least substantially unlikely to comprise) the true outcome. The second subset may comprise (or may be at least substantially likely to comprise) the true outcome. The player may be provided with an opportunity to change from the first wager to a second wager on the second possible outcome, e.g., only if the second subset of possible outcomes comprises the first possible outcome.
US08357033B2
Described herein is a gaming machine configured to output video data that simulates mechanical reels in a traditional mechanical slot machine. Embodiments detailed herein contribute to the emulation and perception of a mechanical machine by providing video data adaptations that each simulate a realistic visual attribute of a mechanical reel gaming machine.
US08357028B2
A self-bonded foamed abrasive article and a method of machining using such an article. The machining method includes providing a workpiece having a worksurface and removing material from the worksurface by moving an abrasive relative to the worksurface, wherein the abrasive comprises a foamed abrasive body consisting of abrasive grains and a porosity of at least about 66 vol %.
US08357027B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a polishing pad with embedded polymeric capsules useful for planarizing a substrate in a CMP process using a polishing composition. The method reduces non-uniformity of the polishing pad due to capsule floating, differential heating and capsule expansion by the use of novel capsule materials. The method also increases the efficiency of the manufacturing process by reducing the number of defective products and reducing waste.
US08357020B2
A life jacket includes a hood and a hydration pack. The hood may be neoprene protecting the head from the water. The hydration pack may be insulated. The hydration pack may include a flow tube with a filter providing clean water to the user. The life jacket may include waterproof insulated pockets protecting contents therein.
US08357018B2
In an apparatus for preventing theft of plural, such as two, outboard motors (12F, 12S) adapted to be mounted on a boat, each of the outboard motors having an engine (16F, 16S), an engine controller (24F, 24S), and an authenticator (26F, 26S) that acquires ID information (A, B) from an electronic key (30F, 30S) when the key is brought close thereto by an operator, and gives permission to the engine controller to start the engine when the acquired ID information corresponds with the authentication ID information, and communicates with the engine controller of other outboard motor to notify that the permission to start the engine was given, thereby enabling the operator to easily start the outboard motors installed on one boat and having their respective authenticators.
US08357012B2
An assembly for permitting “Power-over-Ethernet” (PoE) connection between a PoE control device and the components of a cabling network includes a patch panel or conventional design. The patch panel includes on a front face thereof a plurality of first sockets that are each open on the front face such that a plug inserted into the first socket is connectable to a data cable via a data transmission path forming part of the patch panel. The assembly includes a distribution matrix that is securable onto the front side of the patch panel, the distribution matrix including a plurality of through-going apertures corresponding in number and location to the first sockets of the patch panel such that when the matrix member is secured on the patch panel a said aperture is functionally in register with each of the first sockets. The distribution matrix includes a power bus supported thereby. The assembly includes one or more connector devices, and the power bus is connectable to a PoE controller.
US08357007B2
A cable assembly with strain relief for providing welding control is provided. One welding control cable assembly includes a cable having a plurality of conductors configured to convey data and/or power in an insulative jacket. The cable assembly also includes a retainer bound to an outer surface of the insulative jacket adjacent to an end of the cable and a connector assembly having a plurality of connector elements in a housing. Each of the connector elements is terminated to a respective one of the conductors. The housing is disposed adjacent to the retainer. The assembly includes an overmolded shell disposed over the retainer and at least a portion of the connector assembly. At least the insulative jacket, the retainer and the overmolded shell cooperate to resist stress on the conductors by axial tensile forces placed on the connector assembly.
US08356990B2
A drive system for double toggle mechanisms used to move upper and lower platens with an electric servo motor-gear box drive shaft driving a crank arm arranged to drive a respective double toggle mechanism in turn connected to the platen. The drive shaft axis is located below the toggle mechanism link pivots and driven in a direction so that the motor acts to assist the double toggle mechanism in lifting the platen, reducing the servo motor peak load. The various components are arranged for symmetrical loading of the pivots concerning the toggle links to increase the evenness of the platen when being raised or lowered.
US08356987B2
A compressor may include a shell and a housing fixed within the shell. A compression mechanism may be supported by the housing and may include an orbiting scroll member and a non-orbiting scroll member that are meshingly engaged to form a series of compression pockets. A retaining assembly may include an axial retention member and a rotational retention member, each of which is engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member to limit axial translation and rotation of the non-orbiting scroll member relative to the housing.
US08356986B2
A compressor includes a compression mechanism having two opposed end plates, a fixed member disposed between the two end plates, a movable member disposed between the two end plates, a bypass passage, and an opener/closer. The movable member is arranged to eccentrically move about a predetermined rotational axis to compress refrigerant in a compression chamber formed between the fixed member and the movable member. The bypass passageway has an upstream end opened to the compression chamber through which refrigerant is partially ejected from the compression chamber so as to be returned to a suction side of the compression mechanism. The cross section of the upstream end of the bypass passage is preferably elongated circumferentially about the rotational axis. The compression mechanism may include a plurality of bypass passages and a plurality of openers/closers.
US08356979B2
A ceiling fan (10) has an electric motor (13) which rotatably drives an annular array of blade irons (14) coupled to blades (15). Each blade has a fastener mounting hole (18) and an end notch (19). Each blade iron (14) has a blade mounting portion (23) with a blade fastener (24) configured to pass through the fastener mounting hole, and a releasable spring biased catch (27). The fastener has main post (30) and stops (25) configured to overlay the top surface of the blade once the blade is coupled to the blade iron. The catch has a moveable flat spring (28) straddled by two L-shaped guides (29) having an upright wall portion (31) and a horizontal top portion (32). The horizontal top portion is spaced a select distance from the blade iron top surface (26) through the height of the vertical wall portion so as to catch the blade therebetween. The flat spring has a hand gripping portion (34) extending above the top surface of the blade.
US08356971B2
In a disc turbine for operation from steam, including superheated steam, a stack of horizontally oriented discs is fitted centrally with a hub having a closed upper end from which a driveshaft extends upwardly, supported by a bearing system. The hub is configured with identical vanes arrayed uniformly about the central axis and specially shaped to accomplish a set of desired flow path objectives. The vanes are generally tapered such that their cross-sectional shape evolves from predominantly solid material in area at the top of the hub to predominantly open area at the bottom of the hub, where the flow paths proceed downwardly into a tubular exhaust passageway. The entry to the exhaust passageway may take the form of effectively a hollow portion of the shaft in the exhaust region, which may be supported from the enclosure by a bearing set. The central opening in each disk, and thus in the stack, and in the periphery of the hub are both configured with a complementary mating interface pattern: e.g. three ⅓ revolution spiral paths in a radial array with a semicircular-shaped key step extending radially across each the spiral end offset, the set of key steps serving to transmit drive torque from the discs to the hub while avoiding direct solid connection therebetween, for purposes of accommodating operational thermal expansion. A downward-facing tubular exhaust passageway allows an unimpeded vortex exhaust gas flow path that evolves smoothly from the spiral flow path of gas from disc stack, as guided by the specially-shaped vanes in the hub.
US08356958B2
In a paver F comprising a combustion engine M, in particular a diesel engine, of a primary driving aggregate P, functional units having hydraulic pumps 23, 30 to 33 inclusive a travel pump aggregate 23 which can be driven by the combustion engine M for supplying at least one travel drive 16, a generator G for supplying electric heating devices H of the paver F and/or of a paving screed B of the paver F with electric power, the generator G is driven permanently while at least one pump 23, 30 to 33 selectively can be disconnected from the combustion engine via at least one shiftable clutch K1, K2, K3. During a heating-up phase of electric heating devices H via the permanently driven generator G at least one of the pumps is disconnected. During transport travel at least one pump of the functional units, except the permanently driven travel pump aggregate 23 and the generator G, is disconnected. During start and, optionally, during warm-up of the combustion engine M pumps of functional units, optionally including the travel pump aggregate 23, are disconnected.
US08356957B2
A system for applying a road surface includes a plurality of operational components each with one or a plurality of adjustment parameters and an open loop control unit from which the adjustment parameters are communicated to the operational components. The system has a closed-loop control unit for determining the optimum adjustment parameters for obtaining at least one specified target value taking into account measurement quantities, for producing a command data set representing a plurality of optimum adjustment parameters and for communicating this command data set to the open loop control unit. The invention also relates to a method for controlling a system for the application of a road surface, in particular a road finisher.
US08356951B2
A wet-processing apparatus, which spouts a coating liquid onto a surface of a substrate, includes: nozzles provided with passages for the coating liquid; a light source which illuminates an area between a plane containing the tips of the nozzles and the surface of the substrate; a camera for forming an image of the area; a control unit which provides a spout signal requesting spouting the liquid from the nozzle toward the substrate, and an imaging signal requesting the camera to start an imaging operation; and a decision unit which decides whether or not the liquid was spouted from the nozzle and whether or not changes occurred in the condition of the liquid spouted from the nozzle toward the substrate on the basis of an image formed by the camera and expressing the brightness of the liquid spouted toward the substrate and illuminated by light emitted by the light source.
US08356949B2
A focal plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; a blade movable between a position where the blade recedes from the opening and a position where the blade covers at least part of the opening; a drive arm connected to the blade, the drive arm including an engagement hole; a drive lever including a drive pin engaging the engagement hole; and a restriction portion provided in the drive arm, the restriction portion abutting the drive pin and being thicker than the drive arm.
US08356932B2
A method for the manufacture of a sensor for a thermal flow measuring device, wherein the sensor has at least one housing with a first open end and a second open end. The first open end is securable in a sensor holder; and at least one resistance thermometer is inserted into the housing through the second open end of the housing and the second open end of the housing is closed. Cables for electrical contacting of the resistance thermometer lead out of the housing through the first open end of the housing.
US08356925B2
An LED lamp includes a frame, a bracket connected to the frame, two LED modules and driving modules received between the frame and the bracket, and a backplate, a reflective plate, a light guide, a diffusion plate and a cover sequentially sandwiched between the frame and the bracket. The LED modules are oriented towards two opposite lateral sides of the light guide. The light guide has a large amount of scattering dots formed on a back face thereof. The scattering dots are arranged in multiple columns. The sizes of the dots in each column are identical to each other, and the sizes of the dots in different columns gradually increase from two opposite sides towards a middle of the light guide.
US08356911B2
A lighting source comprises a plurality of LED tubular lighting fixtures having upper and lower ends. Upper and lower mounting caps positioned at the ends of the fixtures have cups for receipt of the fixture ends that locate the fixtures within the caps in a pattern and allow for rotation of the fixtures within the cups. A locking bar extends between the mounting caps, for sealing the ends of the fixtures within the cups against the mounting caps and prevents further rotation of the fixtures. A circuit board located on the upper mounting cap is connected electrically to the LED fixtures. Wires extending from the upper ends of the tubular fixtures pass through apertures in the cups of the upper mounting caps to push connectors on the circuit board for connection to an external DC power source.
US08356907B2
A host computer includes a host machine and a projector. The host machine has a keyboard. The projector is positioned about the keyboard and includes a projection lens. A using position of the projection lens is higher than a received position of the projection lens.
US08356894B2
An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head which discharges ultraviolet curing inks toward a recording sheet while reciprocally moving in a reciprocal movement direction M crossing a transportation direction S of the recording sheet; and an ultraviolet irradiation head which irradiates ultraviolet rays toward the ultraviolet curing inks discharged from the recording head and attached to the recorded medium. The recording head includes a going recording head and a returning recording head which are disposed at the front and the back of the reciprocal movement direction M with respect to a region in which the ultraviolet irradiation head irradiates the ultraviolet rays to the recording sheet.
US08356888B2
A channel forming method includes: forming a first member having a fitting groove and a second member which is to be fitted into the fitting groove; fitting the second member into the fitting groove; and joining joint peripheral portions of the first member and the second member by heating from outside the fitted second member, and a channel is foamed by channel grooves formed in a bottom portion of the fitting groove and a facing surface of the second member facing the bottom portion.
US08356881B2
An inkjet printer includes a media supporter, a head device, and an ink mist removal mechanism. The media supporter is configured to support a printing medium. The head device includes an inkjet head from which ink is configured to be discharged to print on the printing medium supported by the media supporter while the head device relatively moves with respect to the printing medium. The ink mist removal mechanism is arranged in the head device and faces the printing medium. The ink mist removal mechanism is configured to generate an air current that flows through a space between the head device and the printing medium. The ink mist removal mechanism is configured to discharge the air current to outside thereby removing ink mist generated due to ink discharge from the inkjet heads.
US08356878B2
A method of printing an image includes co-dispensing a compensation vehicle and an ink from an ink set to sites on a printing medium to form a printed image. A combined amount of the ink and the compensation vehicle dispensed to each site is at least substantially equal to a minimum site value that is predetermined for the ink set and the printing medium. The method further includes applying an amount of an overcoat liquid to the printed image to obtain a predetermined ratio of gloss to haze.
US08356860B2
A seat device for a vehicle comprises a seat for a passenger including seatbacks to support a passenger's back portion, reinforcing structure bodies provided inside the seatbacks along an outer periphery of the seatbacks, headrests provided at upper portions of the reinforcing structure bodies to support a passenger's head portion, connection support portions provided beside the reinforcing structure bodies to connect the reinforcing structure bodies to a vehicle-body member, and move-allowance portions to allow lower portions of the reinforcing structure bodies to move rearwardly in a vehicle rear collision so that the headrests move forwardly or upwardly. Accordingly, a passenger's head portion can be protected effectively with a simple structure.
US08356854B2
The invention relates to a folding top for a convertible vehicle, wherein the folding top can be displaced between a closed position and an opened position, comprising a main guide link mechanism with a first main guide link, a second main guide link and a guide link element, and a first folding top element, wherein the first folding top element pivotally couples the first main guide link and the second main guide link together, and wherein, starting from the closed position of the folding top, one of the first main guide link and the second main guide link can be displaced in a vertical direction by a swiveling of the guide link element.
US08356846B1
The instant invention is a golf ball retriever that is comprised of a molded unitary structure. The retriever is unique because the ball passes through the bottom edge by simply placing the retriever over the ball and pressing down on the ball making the movable bales move in an upward direction. After the ball passes through the bottom edge the movable bales return to their original position and are stopped by the bale stops. This traps the ball within the confines of the ball retriever. The handle and ball receiver are locked into position by fasteners.
US08356843B2
A disclosed connector assembly for a refrigerant system mounted within an aircraft includes a metal seal disposed within a seal bore of a connector and compressed against a seal face of a nipple secured to the connector by a threaded member. The connector includes a seal bore that receives the metal seal with the inner portion of the seal bore open to the bore. In one example, the connector and nut are formed from aluminum and the nipple is formed from stainless steel and includes an aluminum coating applied to surfaces in contact with the metal seal and the connector.
US08356842B2
Fittings with redundant seals for aircraft fuel lines, fuel tanks, and other systems. A representative fitting includes a first member having a flange and a barrel. The barrel further includes a passageway. A first flange seal is positioned at a face of the flange and can be sealably coupled to a surface, for example, a tank wall. A second flange seal is disposed outwardly from the first flange seal to seal against the surface. The fitting further includes a second member positioned within the passageway of the barrel. The fitting further includes first and second barrel seals positioned between the barrel and the second member.
US08356841B2
The invention relates to a customized multi-layer support which takes the general form of a card, such as an identification card. The support includes a card body, the upper face of which is provided with externally-visible personal information; and a film which is at least partially transparent and which is fixed to the upper face of the card body. The support has boundary lines which define the areas of the aforementioned film with reduced or increased mechanical strength. The invention also relates to a method of producing one such customized support.
US08356839B1
A trailer having a forward frame section, a rearward frame section, and two trailing arm suspension links forming an independent suspension system without a unitary cross axle. The trailing arm suspension links further include (i) a pivot joint connected to the forward frame section, (ii) a wheel hub assembly including a spindle; and (iii) a shock mount including a bracket position rearward of the spindle. The shock absorbing mechanism has a first end pivotally connected to the shock mount and a second end pivotally connected to the rear frame section rearward of the shock mount.
US08356838B2
The invention relates to a front spring bracket (18) for a truck, wherein said bracket can be attached to the front end of a vehicle frame (10) and comprises a side part (20) associated with a respective longitudinal frame carrier (12, 14) of the vehicle frame (10), which are connected to each other by way of at least one cross-member (22), wherein at least parts (20) of the front spring bracket (18) are configured as aluminum castings.
US08356831B2
The adjustable trailer hitch assembly of the present invention is designed for attachment to the head of most commercially available trailers. The adjustable trailer hitch assembly includes a first weldment member pivotally attachable to a head of a trailer, and a second weldment member operably connected to the first weldment member for lateral movement between extended and locked positions. Collapsible extension arms operably connect the first and second weldment members providing movement between the extended and locked positions. The collapsible extension arms are positionable between a first collapsed position with the first and second weldment members adjacent one another defining the locked position, and a second extended position with the first and second weldment members separated from one another defining the extended position. A vehicle connection element is operably connected to the second member, with the vehicle connection element moveable along a vertical length of the second member for connection to a tow vehicle.
US08356830B2
A platform assembly for a trailer includes a first bracket and a platform. The first bracket is configured to be fixed to the trailer. The platform is coupled to the first bracket and rotatable about a lateral axis of the trailer when the first bracket is fixed to the trailer.
US08356826B2
A suspension system of the present invention pivotally supports a wheel of a motor vehicle. An upper control arm and a lower control arm are cooperable with a spindle, which supports the wheel. A vibration damper is cooperable with the upper control arm. A link interconnects the lower control arm and one of the terminal ends of the vibration damper thereby defining a common axis bisecting the link. The vibration damper moves along the common axis to absorb vibration transferred from a road surface and through the wheel.
US08356823B1
A wheelbarrow convertible to an adjustable-tilt chair includes a pair of spaced-apart elongated rails, a wheel and axle assembly operably attached adjacent the distal ends of the elongated rails, two support legs, a hopper having two side walls, a bottom member, a front panel, and a seat panel. A pivot rod is rotatably attached to the pair of rails and to a first underside portion of the hopper bottom. Additionally, a brace is hingedly attached at one end to a second underside portion of the hopper bottom, the brace including an elongated rod at an opposite end which adjustably engages with at least one adjustment bracket having a plurality of notches communicating with apertures for engagement with the elongated rod.
US08356820B2
The invention relates to a piston ring, having a base body, which comprises a running surface provided with a chamber, an upper and a lower flank surface, and an inner circumferential surface, wherein at least the chamber is provided with at least one wear protection layer, and a PVD cover layer is applied to the running surface at least in some regions such that the base body has the PVD cover layer only in the edge regions, which is to say outside of the chamber, in the finished state.
US08356814B2
An aspect of the invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image reading apparatus, in which generation of skew feeding caused by the shock in pressure contact of a rotation body can be reduced. An interlocking mechanism brings a driven roller 222 biased by a biasing member into pressure contact with a feeding portion 221c of a driving roller 221 in conjunction with rotation of the driving roller 221. The driving roller 221 includes a non-feeding portion 221d in a circumferential surface thereof. The driven roller 222 is caused to abut on a pressure holder 225 before the driven roller 222 moved in a direction in which the interlocking mechanism brings the driven roller 222 into the pressure contact with the driving roller 221 is brought into the pressure contact with the driving roller 221.
US08356806B2
An improved hydraulic engine mount includes a main rubber element of one piece construction. The main rubber element includes an upper portion, an intermediate portion, and a lower portion. The lower portion includes an interlocking seal portion. The hydraulic engine mount includes an upper housing and a lower housing. The interlocking seal portion includes an upper protrusion operable to fit within an upper groove of the upper housing to fit together to form a tight locking seal. The upper housing further includes an upper protrusion operable to connect to an upper groove of the main rubber element. The upper groove of the main rubber element is annular and extends around the lower portion of the main rubber element. The lower portion of the main rubber element further includes a generally axially extending second protrusion abutting both the upper housing and the lower housing. The lower housing includes a protrusion abutting a second protrusion of the main rubber element and fitting within a second groove of the main rubber element. A third protrusion of the main rubber element abuts the protrusion of the lower housing, a top plate of an inertia track assembly, and defines the lower section of an upper chamber. Additionally, a sealing bead is molded to the bottom of the main rubber element to seal against the top of the inertia track.
US08356802B2
A handrail assembly that can be installed on any wall. The assembly has a handrail and a bracket. The bracket can be twist-locked inside the handrail at any point in the handrail because the handrail has a continuous T-shaped channel at the bottom. The T-shaped channel's bottom portion is narrower than the upper portion. The bracket has a head that is as wide as the T-shaped channel's bottom portion and as long as the T-shaped channel's upper portion. The head has one curved corner to facilitate turning and teeth to bite into the upper portion of the channel's wall. The head is lifted through the bottom portion into the upper portion of the channel, the bracket is rotated a quarter turn, and the bracket becomes immobilized. The head of the bracket acts as a cam. Union joints can join multiple lengths of handrails.
US08356797B1
An adjustable support apparatus for a recreational vehicle permits rapid height adjustment with a spring mechanism of a handle-nut assembly on a threaded rod. A portion of the threaded rod is inserted into the hollow portion of a jackscrew assembly. A tab on the handle-nut assembly includes an over-sized hole intersecting a threaded hole for engaging the threaded rod. An approximate desired height of the support apparatus is accomplished by pushing a tab inward and sliding the handle-nut assembly to a desired position on the threaded rod. A fine adjustment to the desired height, if required, is made by turning the handle nut assembly so that it travels with respect to the threaded rod.
US08356796B2
A unitary damper shaft extender for HVAC air ducts, the extender comprising a unitary apparatus comprised of two interlocked, but relatively movable members. One of the members being capable of interlocking with a damper shaft, and the second member being slidably movable to cover, and thereby lock the first member to the damper shaft, so as to extend its length beyond the usual insulation used for air ducts.
US08356793B1
A valve manifold has at least one valve receptacle for threadlessly receiving and seating a cartridge valve. A threadless valve nose engages the cartridge valve with the manifold to provide an increased diameter central orifice for improved fluid flow.
US08356787B2
A method and apparatus for vertically lifting and supporting a main wedge of a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump restrainer assembly, to ensure that the wedge is no longer contacting a restrainer bracket of the restrainer assembly. A main wedge clamp with an upper and lower clamp jaw is used to attach to the upper support of the restrainer assembly, the lower clamp jaw being fashioned with a prong or prongs that fit underneath the crown of the main wedge and provide the vertical lift for the main wedge.
US08356779B2
An adjustable flat panel monitor mounting system designed for strength and security is provided. The mounting system allows any VESA compliant flat panel display to be securely mounted to any work-surface. The height can be adjusted from sub-surface to super-surface upon installation and fixed in place with security screws. The user of the display would be able to adjust the angle of the display. The mount of the invention is fixed in place and can not be removed without special tools. The monitor is not able to be knocked off the work surface, and a bar is provided as a channel for wire management. The monitor can be used in the semi-recessed and subsurface configurations.
US08356773B2
A structural wing-fuselage component for connecting two aerofoils to a fuselage section of an aircraft includes: a first wing shell component for the first wing and a second wing shell component for the second wing, with each component being made in a single piece and comprising a shell component on the wing side and a shell component on the fuselage side, where each shell component on the fuselage side comprises coupling parts and recesses in each case situated between the coupling parts, where in the installed state the coupling parts and the recesses of the shell component on the fuselage side for the first wing and of the shell component on the fuselage side for the second wing interlock, and where at least two coupling parts at their ends pointing away from the shell component on the wing side each comprises an extension part, a partially cylindrical fuselage shell component whose supporting rims include recesses which are engaged by the extension parts of the first wing shell components.
US08356771B2
The invention relates to a coupling for joining two frame segments within a fuselage cabin structure of an aircraft. The frame segments may comprise a Z-shaped or I-shaped cross-sectional geometry, optionally including a recess. Towards the top and the bottom, respectively, the frame segments are equipped with a header flange and a footer flange. According to the invention, at least one side plate is arranged in the area of one side of the web, and at least one counter plate is fitted in the area of an opposing side of the web. Because of the side plates and counter plates butted and riveted symmetrically on both sides against the webs of the frame segments to be joined, the coupling is moment-free and can be configured in a weight-optimized way. For further increase of rigidity, the header flanges may additionally be riveted with the side plates and/or counter plates.
US08356768B2
A transmission for a rotary-wing aircraft has a differential torque-splitting mechanism associated with an input shaft. The differential has a drive disk coaxial with the shaft and integral in rotation with the shaft, a first driven member coaxial with the shaft and generally adjacent the drive disk, and a second driven member coaxial with the shaft and generally adjacent the drive disk. At least one pin engages each of the drive disk, the first driven member, and the second driven member. The first driven member is configured to drive a first transfer gear, and the second driven member is configured to drive a second transfer gear for supplying torque to a bull gear associated with a rotor mast.
US08356760B2
A HVAC control system is described that utilizes either a look-up table or an equation to calculate an apparent temperature based on the temperature and the moisture in the air at the control point. As the control system operates, the target temperature is constantly modified based on the current temperature and humidity or equivalently the calculated moisture in the air to maintain a constant apparent temperature. This has the effect of reducing the variance in the perceived comfort in the controlled area. An important additional feature is the cost savings due to reduced energy usage that is possible when external relative humidity conditions change so that less cooling or heating is required to maintain a comfortable environment.
US08356757B2
An RFID tag has an antenna element including an antenna substrate equipped with an IC chip and a conductor pattern, an artificial medium, and a first insulation layer sandwiched between the antenna element and the artificial medium. The artificial medium has a single first conductive element placed on an upper surface of a dielectric layer and a single second conductive element placed on a lower surface of the dielectric layer.
US08356751B2
An application for a system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer includes a source of produce and several end-customer containers for delivering the produce to the customer. The end-customer containers are filled with the produce and there is a mechanism for affixing a unique code on each of the end-customer containers. The unique codes are sequentially related to each other. There is a facility for capturing a first unique code and a last unique code and for relating the unique codes between and including the first unique code through to the last unique code with a produce origin and date of picking.
US08356750B2
Systems and methods are described for collecting data at a merchant's point of return for use in processing a merchandise return transaction that is being requested by a customer. In various embodiments, the data may be collected using a wide variety of data collection technologies and may be used in conjunction with stored data, including data collected from other merchants, by a return authorization system to make a determination whether to accept or deny the requested merchandise return. The data may additionally or alternatively be used to determine whether to issue a warning to the customer about limitations on future return transactions presented by the customer. Examples of data categories that may be collected include, but are not limited to, information about: the merchant, the customer, the requested transaction, the merchandise being returned, one or more receipts, a clerk processing the transaction, and other general applicable information.
US08356733B2
A method for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid uses a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber; a dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, and an elastic valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening; a manually engageable actuator; and a pump including a compressible member defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber. Multiple portions of the stored fluid are hermetically sealed in the variable-volume storage chamber. The actuator is manually engageable and movable between (i) a first position wherein the compression chamber defines a first volume, and (ii) a second position wherein the compression chamber defines a second volume less than the first volume. In the second position the fluid in the compression chamber exceeds a valve opening pressure and, in turn, moves the elastic valve member between (i) a normally closed position hermetically sealing the one-way valve and variable-volume storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the valve opening.
US08356731B2
A water cooler assembly and/or liquid dispensing apparatus and method for using same, including an energy-saving baffle, which may take the form of a conventional or bottom load water cooler. Additionally, various other, alternative features may be included, such as: a door stop mechanism; an adjustable drip tray assembly; a leak stop mechanism; an adjustable bottle interface accommodating dimensional variations in water bottles; an instaboil feature; and various programmable dispensing and visual display modes.
US08356727B2
The disclosed device primarily consists of a band, ring, or other piece of shape memory polymer (SMP) or SMP composite in various embodiments that allows or disallows containment. When the SMP reaches its transition temperature (Tg) the SMP provides the means for releasing containment of the pressurized material so as to prevent ignition or explosion of hazardous material. At normal operating temperatures, the SMP is in a deformed shape maintaining an environmental seal to protect the contents of the container. When environmental conditions cause the SMP or SMP composite to exceed its Tg, specified by the operating requirements, the SMP returns to its memory shape in a controlled geometry, rather than simply melting. The return of the SMP to its memory shape causes the venting of the container in different manners depending on which embodiment is utilized.
US08356712B2
A portable, insulated container, preferably a cooler, including an integrated table surface upon which items can be placed. The table surface is movable between a stowed position and an extended position, wherein each position the lid of the container can be lifted to access the interior cavity of the container. Advantageously, the footprint of the table surface in a horizontal plane is always located above the footprint of the container in a horizontal plane such that object or item in a surrounding area need not be disturbed in order to move the table surface between the stowed position and the extended position.
US08356711B2
A system for closing containers of the bottle and/or jar type, which also dispenses active formulas from an airtight tubular space in its interior, into liquid or other content of a container when a mix is required. The system includes a movable push-cut carriage that is driven mechanically by an external puller to cut the seals of the tubular space and push the active formulas towards the interior of a bottle or jar. The closing system can be used for the incorporation of elements such as vitamins or minerals, which need to be stored separately from the content of the container in order to increase their useful life and improve their effectiveness, and in medical and/or pharmacological applications, to form mixtures of active formulas when they are required, thereby avoiding the rapid degradation of the final composition.
US08356706B2
This comprises a horizontal entraining loader (1) on which are placed in an initial zone several piled cardboard sheets (12) to be driven by several transversal pushers (13) to a forming station (14) for cardboard boxes (23), said transversal pushers (13) being connected to a lateral chain (2) coupled to several end pinions (3) connected to several cross axles (4-4′). It is characterized in that the horizontal entrainment loader (1) can be adjusted longitudinally, thereby varying the distance between the transverse axles (4-4′), including for this purpose a vertically moveable tractive mechanism (8), that has a clutch mechanism (20) by means of which the movement is transmitted to a large cogwheel unit (17) and to an encoder (16) arranged coaxially with said large cogwheel unit (17), without ever losing the link between aforementioned encoder (16) and the respective transversal pusher (13).
US08356703B2
A drop safe comprising a housing, a safe door in the housing, the safe door having a slot for accepting deposits, a bill acceptor for accepting deposits through the slot, a cash cassette for storing cash received by the bill acceptor, wherein the cash cassette moves toward the safe door upon the opening of the safe door, as the safe door moves from the closed position to the open position.
US08356701B2
A drum-in-hat (DIH) disc brake assembly has a disc service brake, a DIH parking and emergency brake, and a parking brake anchor. A backing plate, an axle flange, and a caliper bracket each have at least two mounting apertures formed therethrough. The parking brake anchor includes a bracket portion having a pair of studs extending axially outwardly therefrom. The studs are structured and configured to extend through the respective mounting apertures of the backing plate, the axle flange, and the caliper bracket for securing the caliper bracket, parking brake anchor, and the backing plate to the axle flange.
US08356694B2
A recirculating lubrication system for a gas turbine engine comprises: a storage reservoir for storing a quantity of lubrication oil for the engine; an operating reservoir for supplying lubrication oil for the engine; a transfer valve with an inlet coupled to an outlet of the storage reservoir and an outlet coupled to an inlet of the operating reservoir to transfer the quantity of lubrication oil from the storage reservoir to the operating reservoir before starting the engine; and a pump for circulating the transferred lubrication oil through at least one engine bearing and back to the operating reservoir.
US08356684B2
An industrial truck having a battery compartment that accommodates a replaceable battery block, the battery compartment comprising at least one lateral access opening for inserting and for withdrawing the battery block, the base of the battery compartment having at least one guide track in the battery movement direction capable of supporting the battery block such that it can move relative to the battery compartment on the guide track by a support element provided on the battery block. The battery compartment base may have a plurality of roller accommodation openings into which rollers can be inserted. A separate shelf may be arranged at a distance from the battery compartment base by means of spacers, the shelf having a plurality of roller accommodation openings into which rollers can be inserted.
US08356681B2
In a frictional drive device comprising a pair of drive disks (48) each rotatably supported by a frame (10) around a central axial line (A) in a mutually opposing relationship and configured to be individually rotatively actuated by a pair of first actuators (45), a plurality of drive rollers (58) arranged along an outer periphery of each drive disk each via a roller bracket (52) which is rotatable around a center line (B) extending in a radial direction at an angle with respect to the central axial line of the drive disks, each roller bracket rotatably supports the corresponding drive roller so as to be rotatable along a prescribed plane of rotation, and an annular main wheel (100) disposed at least approximately coaxially with respect to the central axial line and engaged by the drive rollers of the drive disks, the main wheel comprising an annular member (102) and a plurality of driven rollers (106) supported along the annular member so as to be rotatable around a tangential line of the annular member, each drive roller is configured to be selectively turned around the center line of the corresponding roller bracket. Thereby, the drive efficiency of the frictional drive device can be improved over a wide range of drive mode. When the frictional drive device is incorporated in an inverted pendulum type vehicle as a drive unit (40), the variable arrangement for the drive rollers can be conveniently used for imparting a yaw moment to the vehicle.
US08356678B2
A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.
US08356677B2
A drill head assembly includes a shaft having a shaft axis, an oscillator assembly operatively associated with the shaft, the oscillator assembly having at least one eccentrically weighted rotor configured to rotate about a pivot point to generate an oscillating vibratory force, wherein an oscillation centerline is defined transverse to the shaft axis and including the pivot point. The drill head assembly also includes a lower bearing coupled to the shaft on a first side of the oscillation centerline and an upper bearing coupled to the shaft on a second side of the oscillation centerline, the second side being opposite the first side.
US08356675B2
Apparatus and methods used to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. In one instance, an interlock system is used to control the operations of a gripping apparatus connected to the top drive and a spider such that at least one of the top drive or the spider retains the tubular. The interlock system allows the spider to open when the gripping apparatus is supporting a load of the tubular or is in position to support a load of the tubular.
US08356672B2
An offshore riser system has riser joints, each having a pin and a box. The pin has an external grooved profile that is engaged by a locking element carried by the box of another riser joint. An actuating ring engages with the locking element to move it into the locked position. A retractable spider supports the string of riser while the new joint is being made up. A makeup tool on the riser deploying floor moves the ring relative to the locking element, causing the locking element to move to the locked position.
US08356667B2
Fluids containing liquid crystal-forming surfactants or polymeric surfactants, or polymers, or complex polymers or copolymers, or graphite nanotubes or Janus particles in a polar and/or non polar liquid, and optionally, co-surfactants, are useful in drilling, completion and production operations to give increased viscosity (solids suspension ability) and/or decreased fluid loss, as compared to otherwise identical fluids absent the liquid crystals. These liquid crystal compositions contain organized micelles. The liquid crystal-containing fluids are useful in completion fluids, fracturing fluids, formation damage remediation, waste management, lost circulation, drilling optimization, reducing trapped annular pressure during the hydrocarbon production process, well strengthening, friction and drag reducers, fluids introduced through an injection well, for geothermal wells, and the controlled release of additives into a wellbore, at a subterranean formation or at the oil production facilities.
US08356657B2
A lattice wick system has a plurality of granular wicking walls configured to transport liquid through capillary action in a first direction, each set of the plurality of granular wicking walls forming respective vapor vents between them to transport vapor. Granular interconnect wicks are embedded between respective pairs of the granular wicking walls to transport liquid through capillary action in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The granular interconnect wicks have substantially the same height as said granular wicking wall so that the plurality of granular wicking walls and granular interconnect wicks enable transport of liquid through capillary action in two directions and the plurality of vapor vents transport vapor in a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.
US08356655B2
A shot tube plunger of a die casting system includes a tip portion and a thermal control scheme at least partially disposed within the shot tube plunger. The thermal control scheme includes a fluid passageway having at least one coiled portion that receives a fluid to adjust a temperature of the shot tube plunger.
US08356653B2
A control module may be used for raising and lowering a window shade. This configuration allows a user to pull the operating cord a predetermined distance to raise the window shade, then release the operating cord until it has retracted, and then pull the operating cord another predetermined distance to raise the window shade again. A brake mechanism is operably connected to a brake release and configured to lock or unlock the drive axle. A clutch is adapted to be mounted on the axle for selectively engaging the cord drum to the axle. The cord drum may rotate independent of the drive axle when a clutch is disengaged from the drive axle. As a result, movement of the operating cord will not cause the window shade to raise while the clutch is disengaged. When the clutch is engaged with the drive axle, the cord drum and adapter sleeve may rotate together to drive the rotation of the drive axle for raising the window shade.
US08356652B2
A retractable sun shade, comprising at least one fabric section affixed to a boom, the boom supported and slideably engaged to a track at an intermediate portion of the boom, the track supported by a frame, and at least one flexible drawing element affixed to the boom at the intermediate portion, for drawing the boom in a first direction along the track to extend the sun shade and for drawing the boom in an opposite direction along the track to retract the sun shade.
US08356650B2
A working apparatus for pasting two continuous paper webs together having patterns is provided which can be made small as a whole and whose pasting processing treatment reduces a paper loss occurring when the apparatus starts to operate.To this end, the apparatus which has an upper paper line 1 along which a continuous upper paper web 2 having a pattern printed thereon is driven to travel by a drive unit, a lower paper line 3 along which a continuous lower paper 4 web having a pattern printed thereon is driven to travel by a drive unit, a pasting unit 5 for pasting the upper and lower paper webs together into a combined paper web 7 while registering the patterns on them with each other, a combined paper line 6 along which the combined paper web 7 is driven to travel by a drive unit and a processing unit disposed in each corresponding one of the lines upstream and downstream of the pasting unit for processing the paper web traveling along the corresponding line, comprises: a paste applying unit 23 disposed in the lower paper line upstream of the pasting unit and whose paste applying operation can be turned on and off; an upper paper winding unit 31 disposed downstream of the pasting unit for winding up the upper paper web passed through the pasting unit; and a drive source provided for each corresponding one of the drive and processing units and operable individually.
US08356645B2
A transfer guard may provide a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir containing a plunger head connected to a plunger arm operatively engagable with a handle that at least partially covers a casing configured to allow the handle to operatively engage the plunger arm to move the plunger head to transfer fluidic media from the vial to the reservoir.A support structure may have a chamber, a first adapter for mating with a vial containing fluidic media, and a second adapter for mating with a reservoir containing a plunger head moveable within the reservoir. A first needle may provide a fluid path from the vial to the reservoir and a second needle may connect the vial and the chamber containing an air flow control mechanism for allowing air to flow in one direction.
US08356643B2
A hot filling system for a liquid, with heat recovery, and a corresponding method, wherein prior to heating and filling the liquid is first preheated in a heat exchanger. A portion of the heated liquid to be filled is again cooled in a recooler and recirculated. The return line of the recooler is here connected to the supply line of the heat exchanger so as to transfer heat energy from the recooler to the heat exchanger. This reduces energy losses in comparison with known systems.
US08356640B1
Provided herein are apparatuses for fabricating wire current collector and/or interconnect assemblies for solar cells. In certain embodiments, the wire assemblies include uniformly pitched serpentine wires. According to various embodiments, the apparatuses include opposing re-circulating chain link assemblies having uniformly pitched posts and a wire weaving assembly configured to weave wire around the re-circulating posts. Also provided are methods of fabricating solar cells including the wire assemblies.
US08356633B2
A stacked conduit assembly includes: a conduit part in which a plurality of plate-like parts are stacked and integrated, and a hollow conduit is formed in an inner layer; and a control board to be fastened to the conduit part by a screw. The plate-like parts include a plurality of plate-like parts that respectively form a side wall, an upper face, and a bottom face of the conduit, a pilot hole is formed in a plate-like part that forms the side wall of the conduit, and the screw is a tapping screw that taps by itself in the pilot hole and is fastened. Thus, a stacked conduit assembly that can stabilize a screw engagement state and realize downsizing or thinning of devices and cost reduction can be obtained.
US08356632B2
This manifold comprises a stack formed by at least a plurality of tubular modules and a first support, and at least one tie for compressing the stack in a configuration in which central internal volumes of the various modules are in mutual communication, with adjacent parts of the stack overlapping in leaktight manner, and in which the relative position of two adjacent modules is stationary. The tie may be fastened in rotation about its longitudinal axis and in translation parallel to said axis, relative to the first support. The tie is equipped with a clamping nut that, in the tightened position, exerts a compression force on the stack of modules and on the first support. An abutment, suitable for being fastened axially relative to the first support and for bearingly receiving a surface of the clamping nut when said clamping nut is actuated in the loosening direction, is disposed, relative to the surface of the clamping nut in the tightened position, at an axial distance less than the smallest of the leaktight overlap lengths of two adjacent parts of the stack.
US08356631B2
A fluid transport device transports fluid containing electrolytes within a flow channel. At least a portion of the inner walls of the flow channels are hydrophilic from the inlet to the outlet thereof except at at least one valve portion. The device also includes: the valve portions, which are hydrophobic and function to block transport of at least one fluid; electrodes, which are provided at the at least one valve portion and function to reduce the surface tension of the fluid; and air vents, which are provided at the at least one valve portion and function to introduce air in order to block the fluid.
US08356625B2
A valve has a housing formed with a central chamber centered on and extending along a main axis, an inlet passage and an outlet passage having mouths in the chamber spaced angularly from and confronting each other, and a secondary passage offset from the inlet and outlet passages and centered on an axis offset from a center of one of the mouths by more than 90°. A valve pin fitted in the chamber is formed with a secantally throughgoing flow passage centered on a flow-passage axis generally parallel to but offset from a diameter of the pin. A filter is provided in the flow passage, the secondary passage being sufficiently large that, when the pin is pivoted to align the flow passage with the secondary passage, the filter can be removed from the flow passage through the secondary passage.
US08356623B2
In order to improve a measurement accuracy of a mass flow meter, the mass flow meter comprises a flow rate calculating section that obtains an output signal from a sensor section having a thermosensitive resistive element arranged in a flow channel where a sample gas flows and that calculates a flow rate of the sample gas, a pressure measuring section that measures a primary side pressure in the flow channel, and a flow rate correcting section that corrects the measured flow rate obtained by the flow rate calculating section by the use of the primary side pressure obtained by the pressure measuring section and a gas coefficient determined by an isobaric specific heat of the sample gas.
US08356622B2
Fluid valves having dynamic valve trim joints are described. An example apparatus for use with a fluid valve includes a body configured to retain a cage of a fluid valve. Additionally, the example apparatus includes a plurality of projections projecting from and radially spaced about an exterior surface of the body. Each of the plurality of projections is to provide one or more contact points between the body and an inner surface of a bonnet coupled to the fluid valve.
US08356615B2
The rail skirt system includes a top rail, a skirt that hangs from the top rail, formed from rail bar members connected together at their inner ends by a middle connector tube connectable to a locking support leg, to provide support for the top rail on a side of a shelter. The outer ends of the rail bar members are connected to legs of the shelter by fixed corner connecting brackets.
US08356609B1
A plaque buster system is for removing stains and whitening both teeth and dentures and for tongue cleaning and mouth washing. A composition in a dry power form consists of baking soda plus vitamin C/ascorbic acid plus ground peppermint. A container/dispenser receives and dispenses the composition.
US08356599B2
The invention provides intrafallopian devices and non-surgical methods for their placement to prevent conception. The efficacy of the device is enhanced by forming the structure at least in part from copper or copper alloy. The device is anchored within the fallopian tube by a lumen-traversing region of the resilient structure which has helical outer surface, together with a portion of the resilient structure which is biased to form a bent secondary shape, the secondary shape having a larger cross-section than the fallopian tube. The resilient structure is restrained in a straight configuration and transcervically inserted within the fallopian tube, where it is released. Optionally, permanent sterilizations effected by passing a current through there resilisent structure to the tubal walls.
US08356592B2
A patient interface device that includes a body portion comprising a pair of arms and a chin support. A first end portion of each arm in the pair of arms is coupled to an opposite end of the chin support. The chin support is adapted to be disposed under the mandible responsive to the patient interface device being donned by a user. At least one headgear attachment element is provided on each arm in the pair of arms. A circuit portion is provided at a second end portion of each arm in the pair of arm. A patient interface portion is coupled to the circuit portion.
US08356589B2
A paintball loader for supplying a plurality of substantially similar paintballs a paintball marker. The loader comprises a housing adapted to receive the plurality of paintballs, the housing defining a feeder tube in a base thereof, the feeder tube dimensioned to allow single passage of the paintballs, a paintball receiving member comprising an elongate receiving channel spiraling radially outward in a direction of rotation from the feeder hole and having an outlet adjacent the feeder tube, the channel comprising a pair of opposing side walls spaced to allow single passage of the paintballs, and a feeder arm positioned across at least a portion of the channel walls such that the feeder arm comes into contact with one of the plurality of the paintballs when in the channel. The channel is rotatable relative to the feeder arm about the feeder hole in the direction of rotation.
US08356580B2
A seal comprising a high temperature RTV silicone adhesive sealant layer; a first non-ceramic layer mounted to the RTV silicone adhesive sealant layer; a first expanded metal layer mounted to the first non-ceramic layer; a first silicone cloth layer mounted to the first expanded metal layer; a metal reinforcement layer mounted to the first silicone cloth layer to provide structural integrity without the use of ceramic materials; a second expanded metal layer mounted to the metal reinforcement layer; a second non-ceramic layer mounted to the second expanded metal layer; a turbine mesh layer mounted to the second non-ceramic layer; a second silicone cloth layer mounted to the turbine mesh layer; a sealing castable applied over the second silicone cloth layer to provide a covering; and, a high temperature bonding adhesive disposed between each layer following the first non-ceramic layer to bind the layers together.
US08356574B2
Devices and methods for coating wheel rims for the production of both standard rims and special rims, are provided. An example of a device for coating wheel rims includes a pre-treating station that is followed by a powder priming station followed by a basecoat application station and a final coating station, in particular an acrylate powder station, with the final coating station being coupled to both the power priming station and the pre-treating station by at least one conveyor, respectively. The device permits a proportion of special rims to be introduced in addition to standard rims without any impairment of the spindle-synchronous operation of the device.
US08356573B1
Apparatus for curing a photocurable material applied to a floor surface includes a carriage having wheels, a source of curing light carried by the carriage, and a solid state ballast circuit selectively energizing said light source. The apparatus is free of a shutter that would selectively cover the source of curing light.
US08356564B2
A seeder implement (125) includes a fork (146) having a first spindle support arm (150) that supports a first spindle (164) and a second spindle support arm (152) that supports a second spindle (168). A first disk (160) is supported on the first spindle (164), wherein the first spindle (164) is oriented in a first orientation and at a first acute angle relative to a lateral line. The first disk (160) is oriented at a second acute angle relative to the ground surface. A second disk (166) is supported on the second spindle (168), wherein the second spindle (168) is oriented in a second orientation and at a third acute angle relative to the lateral line. The second disk (166) is oriented at a fourth acute angle relative to the ground surface. The first disk (160) is longitudinally offset ahead of the second disk (166), and there are no structural components between the first and second disks (160, 166) other than the first and second spindles (164, 168). In one embodiment, a packing wheel (142) is disposed to close and compact furrows opened by the disks (160, 166) and is disposed in the same orientation as one of the disks (160, 166).
US08356563B2
Disclosed herein is an agriculture planter. The planter may include a planter frame, a seed hopper and a trailing arm assembly. The planter frame may include a hitch tongue extending forwardly from the planter frame. The planter frame supports the seed hopper. The a trailing arm assembly is vertically pivotally coupled to a rear portion of the planter frame, extends rearward from the planter frame and includes a trailing arm frame and a lever arm vertically pivotally coupled to the trailing arm frame by a pivot point. The lever arm includes a leading end, a trailing end, a middle portion, a furrow opener disc and a first furrow closer wheel. The disc is rotatably mounted to the lever arm near the leading end. The first wheel is rotatably mounted to the lever arm near the trailing end. The middle portion is pivotably coupled to the pivot point.
US08356556B2
Drive dog chains are assembled with alternating universal inside attachment links and outside sidebars and riveted pin connections. The universal inside attachment links have full size end sections and central sections of reduced height. Filler attachments are attached with machine screws to the central sections. Upper surfaces of the filler attachments are level with upper surfaces of the end sections and upper surfaces of the outside sidebars. Filler attachments are removed from selected ones of the center sections and replaced with pusher attachments secured at an end of each selected center section. A drive dog chain is manufactured and stored in uniform strands. Upon ordering, the pusher attachments replace the filler attachments at selected spacings on the chain.
US08356554B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a shell (1) into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon and to a support member for supporting a shell. The arrangement comprises a flanged support element (5), to which a fastening element is connected with threads. A sleeve-like clamping element is arranged around the fastening element. Both have grooves for tail fins of the shell (1). The support member (5) has a support element, to which a fastening element is connected with threads and on top of which a sleeve-like support element is arranged.
US08356553B2
An offset print unit includes a plate cylinder having an end, a rotatable plate cylinder support supporting the end and having a first bearing surface, a blanket cylinder having a blanket cylinder end, a rotatable blanket cylinder support supporting the end and having a second bearing surface and an actuating device for rotating the plate cylinder support and the blanket cylinder support, the first and second bearing surfaces contacting during a part of the rotation of the supports. A method is also provided.
US08356550B2
A piston (20) includes a piston skirt (30) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) and having a pair of convex outer surfaces (42) facing opposite one another. Each of the outer surfaces (42) include an oil reservoir (44) above the pin bore axis (P) and an oil recess (46) below the pin bore axis (P) and spaced from the oil reservoir (44) by an intervening oil spreading area (48). The oil reservoir (44) and oil recess (46) each include a bottom (50) extending over an area of the outer surface (42) and surrounded by ramped side walls (52). The oil recess (46) and oil reservoir (44) include radiused corners (54) at a transition between the outer surface (42) and at the bottoms (50), so that the oil reservoir (44), oil recess (46), and outer surface (42) are free of sharp edges.
US08356548B2
Handles, extendable handles, and linkage mechanisms are examples of apparatuses that include a body; a pivotably attached head; cylinder, actuator, or hydraulic actuator; a fluid passage or hose; and a valve, blocking means, or hydraulic control device. The valve, blocking means, or hydraulic control device may be normally open and may close only when held closed, and may be connected on one side to the fluid passage or hose and on another side to atmosphere. An operator may use a tool, such as a drywall flat box attached to the head, by holding the handle and controlling pivoting of the head by operating the valve. Methods include providing for an operator to control a tool on a handle, and include providing the handle and instructing the operator to actuate the blocking means to hold the tool in a constant orientation relative to the handle.
US08356543B2
A semiautomatic firearm and firearm firing mechanism includes a bolt assembly having a bolt body coupled to a locking head for imparting a dwell in the sequence or process of bullet casing ejection, reloading, and re-cocking sequence during firing of the firearm. The locking head and bolt body rotate relative to one another as they translate longitudinally relative to one another, owing to corresponding engagement members. The locking head includes an additional engaging member for engagement with a corresponding engaging member along an inner surface of a fire control housing that houses the firing mechanism, so that the rotation and longitudinal translations of the locking head are performed in a controlled manner, which further controls the movement of the locking head and the bolt body relative to one another. A striker is released by a sear, which is coupled to a trigger, to initiate the firing and reloading/re-cocking sequence.
US08356537B2
A firearm action assembly having an action mechanism with an improved charging handle. The charging handle uses a rod member to engage the action for “cocking” the action mechanism. At an open end of the rod member is a handle which is secured to the edge of the action in a dormant state. Releasing of the lock is through the use of either of two finger members which are swivelly secured to each other. Pulling on either of these finger members operates the other which moves the other finger member.
US08356522B2
An ultrasonic flow meter for measuring the flow of a fluid through a pipeline comprises a spool piece including a throughbore and a transducer port. The transducer port extends along a central axis from an open end at the throughbore to a closed end distal the throughbore. In addition, the flow meter comprises an acoustic transducer disposed in the transducer port. The transducer includes a piezoelectric element. Further, the flow meter comprises a drain port in fluid communication with the transducer port. The drain port is axially positioned between the open end and the closed end of the transducer port. Still further, the flow meter comprises a drain conduit having an inlet end coupled to the drain port and an outlet end opposite the inlet end. The drain port is configured to drain a liquid from the transducer port into the inlet end of the drain conduit.
US08356519B2
Provided is a non-contact type transducer for performing modal testing or non-destructive diagnosis easily, that is, a non-contact type transducer by which even an inexperienced person may perform modal testing or non-destructive diagnosis without errors. The transducer includes a multi-loop coil including two or more looped coil portions that are connected to each other, wherein the looped coil portions are located on top of a rod member, and the looped coil portions form magnetic fields on the surface of the rod member in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the rod member; and one or more magnets that are arranged to form a static magnetic field on the surface of the rod member, whereon the surface of the rod member a dynamic magnetic field is formed by the multi-loop coils in the direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the rod member, even partially in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the rod member.
US08356516B2
The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a supporting structure for supporting grip and rotation members for gripping and rotating a wheel to be balanced, a detector for detecting the unbalance of the wheel during rotation, a processing unit which is operatively associated with the grip and rotation members and with the detector, and interface assembly associated with the supporting structure and operatively associated with the processing unit. The interface assembly comprises a support associated to the supporting structure, a screen housed internally of a first housing on the support and a keyboard housed internally of a second housing on the support.
US08356515B2
Method for measuring a rheological transition level between a first layer with first rheological properties, typically a fluid mud layer, and a second layer lying thereunder and having different, second rheological properties, typically a solid mud layer, wherein using a cable an object is lowered through the first layer into the second layer lying thereunder. A dynamic quantity of the moving cable with object, influenced by the rheological properties, or a change of this quantity, is measured. It is determined on the basis of this measurement when the object is located at the rheological transition level.
US08356510B2
A core sample holder assembly for performing laboratory core flooding experiments with a core sample: a pressure chamber provided by a tubular hull made of a carbon fiber composite material and an aluminum liner, and a pair of disk-shaped flanges; a flexible core sample holder sleeve within the pressure chamber, which sleeve comprises a tubular steel sheet with a plastic inner lining; an opening for injecting oil into an annular space between the hull and the sleeve; pressure control means for maintaining the oil at a predetermined pressure; an fluid injection port for injecting a fluid into a cylindrical core sample within the sleeve; a fluid outlet port arranged in the other flange for discharge of fluid from the core sample; and means for monitoring the migration of injected and/or pore fluid through the pores of the core sample.
US08356507B2
Devices and methods for manufacturing fittings (2) with different ends (3, 4) are disclosed, such fittings permitting different measures of connection. For example, one fitting (2) is a threaded end connector with its one end (4) being potentially configured as a compression fitting and its other end (3) as a thread-bearing end. An intermediate section (5) having preferably a polygonal cross-section is provided between the two ends (3, 4). Starting with a pipe piece (1), the manufacture takes place in a few process-safe method steps.
US08356506B2
A method of forming a housing which includes roll forming a steel tube radially inwardly with a plurality of rollers each having a rolling axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the rollers compressing the tube and forming reduced diameter portions and enlarged diameter portions. The method then includes cutting the tube perpendicular to the longitudinal axis generally midway through an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion, forming a plurality of mirror image preforms. Finally, the method includes cold working the preforms into the desired shape of the housing and increasing the strength of the steel at least 15% and forming a housing member having enlarged diameter open end and a reduced diameter open end.
US08356505B2
A machine, tooling and method for cold forming complex metal parts such as a banjo style hose fitting starting with a near net shape volume of wire and continuing with multiple forging blows and an intermediate rotation of the blank to produce a hose coupling shell end, a transition neck, a large counterbored annular coupling body and a perpendicular alignment tang.
US08356504B2
The invention relates to rolled material comprising a front and an end. The rolled material is rolled in a roll gap of a roll stand to a first desired measurement, beginning at the front of the rolled material. When the rolled material is being rolled in the roll stand, it is continuously determined by a control computer, which locates the position of the rolled material which is currently in the roll gap. When the position of the rolled material, which is directly in the roll gap, corresponds to a predetermined first modification position of the rolled material, which is arranged between the front of the rolled material and the end of the rolled material, the roller of the rolled material ends at a first desired measurement such that a first step is introduced into the rolled material on the first modification point.
US08356489B2
A refrigerant system incorporates an expander. At least a portion of refrigerant bypasses an evaporator and is injected into the compression process to cool main refrigerant vapor flow and compressor elements. In disclosed embodiments, the injected refrigerant may be partially expanded in the expander and routed either into the compressor suction or to an intermediate point in the compression process. A valve may control the amount of the injected refrigerant to achieve desired operational characteristics for the refrigerant system.
US08356481B2
A dual hybrid heating apparatus, method of assembly and operation to heat potable water in a tank by heat exchange with a fluid heated by free heat sources—waste heat from heat recovery units and insolation. Once a demand for heated potable water is satisfied, a controller issues commands that cause the fluid to bypass the tank and instead flow to a further heat exchanger. Temperature is monitored downstream—if excessive, then the fluid is sent to a heat dump. A further fluid is heated by heat exchange at the further heat exchanger and then routed to where a parabolic dish solar concentrator vaporizes it to turn a blade of a turbine generator to generate electricity. Heat is extracted from the vapor to form condensate, but the vapor also heats the condensate before being cooled by heat exchange with fluid cooled by a cooling tower.
US08356475B2
Described is a method of slowly releasing a catalyst for, inter alia, the purpose of soot oxidation in a particulate filter. An example method includes incorporating an alkali metal oxide in a glass. Slow leaching of the alkali from the glass provides a means to gradually deliver the catalyst over extended periods. Additionally, the example method includes increasing the amount of alkaline metal ions that may be leached from the glass.
US08356473B2
A device is provided for injection of a liquid agent, such as fuel or reducing agent, into the exhaust line from a combustion engine. The device (1) has a nozzle arrangement (20) having a nozzle head (21), from which the liquid agent is injectable into the exhaust line. The nozzle arrangement (20) has a first conduit (22) leading to the nozzle head (21) for supply of compressed gas, preferably in the form of compressed air, to the nozzle head, and a second conduit (23) leading to the nozzle head (21) for supply of the liquid agent to the nozzle head. The nozzle head (21) is provided with at least one outlet opening (24) connected to the first conduit (22) and to the second conduit (23), through which outlet opening the liquid agent is injectable into the exhaust line under atomization thereof after mixing with compressed gas in a mixing zone (25) inside the nozzle head.
US08356472B2
An ammonia selective reduction-type NOx catalyst (48) is interposed in an exhaust passage of an engine (2) provided in a series-type hybrid electric vehicle (1), and a urea water injector (52) is disposed in the exhaust passage to supply a urea water into exhaust gas existing upstream of the ammonia selective reduction-type NOx catalyst (48). The engine (2) is started and stopped in accordance with the storage state of a battery (8), and the urea water injector (52) is controlled in accordance with the operating state of the engine (2). When the engine (2) is to be stopped, an adsorption increasing operation for increasing the amount of ammonia adsorbed by the ammonia selective reduction-type NOx catalyst (48) is executed over a predetermined period before the engine (2) is stopped.
US08356465B2
A height of cut adjuster for a reel mower cutting unit with a removable attachment includes a front roller with a shaft positionable in front of the cutting reel axis, and a roller bracket assembly having a bottom bracket removably attached to a top bracket to provide a gap therebetween where the front roller shaft is held. The roller bracket assembly may be pivoted, and the top bracket may be connected to the bottom bracket in a different position further from the cutting reel, so that an attachment such as a conditioner may be installed between the front roller and the cutting reel.
US08356464B2
A pollen harvesting machine having a motorized chassis on which there are mounted heads for harvesting pollen by suction and which heads are connected by a suction circuit to a separation cyclone which is in turn connected to a suction fan. The cyclone is associated with a pollen recovery hopper which is constructed to be cooled to freeze the harvested pollen.
US08356461B2
An apparatus for washing, filling, and sealing a container includes an enclosure having an opening for receiving a container. The apparatus may include a rotary assembly, a wash station, a rinse station, a fill station, and a seal station all contained within the enclosure. The rotary assembly may include any number of racks for carrying the containers. The rotary assembly advances (e.g., about an axis) and facilitates the washing, filling, and sealing of the containers within the enclosure. The apparatus may be employed in a method for washing, rinsing, filling, and sealing containers within an enclosure. The method may be conducted consecutively. The steps of washing, filling, and sealing are conducted simultaneously.
US08356457B2
A catheter product package and method of forming same in which the package comprises a sheet material wrapped about the catheter product to form a package for the catheter product. The catheter product extends generally longitudinally within the package, and the sheet material extends from a point beyond the proximal end to a point beyond the distal end of the catheter product. The sheet material of the package is wrapped about the catheter product in a manner defining confronting proximal end edges, confronting distal end edges, and confronting side edges. The confronting proximal end edges, distal end edges and side edges of the sheet material are joined by a seal after the sheet material is wrapped about the catheter product to define a sealed cavity. The sheet material has a tear strip affixed to it which causes the sheet material to tear along the tear strip to thereby cause the package to open along an intended opening line. A method of forming a package for a catheter product comprises the steps of providing a sheet material for the package and placing the catheter product on the sheet material. It also includes affixing a tear strip to the sheet material and wrapping the sheet material around the catheter product. Further, the method includes the step of sealing the sheet material to form a sealed cavity with the catheter product being disposed within the sealed cavity.
US08356453B2
The present invention provides for a bracket for use in a metal stud wall having internal bridging members for tying the metal studs and bridging members together. The bracket is an L shaped bracket having a leg for overlying the bridging member joined to an upright for overlying the metal stud. The outside corners of the leg and upright of the L shaped bracket are truncated such that the diagonal dimension across the L-shaped bracket is less than the width of the channel of the metal stud so that the bracket may be inserted within the channel of the metal stud and rotated to the proper position for attaching to the bridging member and metal stud.
US08356451B2
The invention relates to a structural component for an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising a component core extended across a component area, a first and second cover layer, which are formed on two opposite bounding surfaces of the component core and extend across the component area, a plurality of braces, which are distributed across the component area and connect the first and second cover layers to each other through the component core, and a stiffening belt, which extends between the cover layers along a stiffening line that extends substantially parallel to the component area.
US08356446B2
A capsule room unit for use as a capsule bed or other private space has a horizontally oblong rectangular parallelepiped room framework formed by columns, beams and panel materials fitted into the room framework to constitute a ceiling, a floor and walls, wherein the columns and the beams are composed of extruded materials each having a longitudinally consecutive groove. The panel materials of the ceiling and walls are composed of synthetic resin or FRP hollow panel materials each having peripheral flanges at a periphery along a plane direction, and the flanges of the hollow panel material are inserted and fitted to the grooves of the extruded materials.
US08356443B1
The coverable fish net apparatus provides for easily netting a fish and selectively covering the first frame and large net with the second frame with small net. The second frame with small net is slideably positioned in a plurality of positions along the handle, with the second frame being capable of positioning on the handle well above the first frame and progressively positioned closer to the first frame. The second frame may further be positioned partially over the first frame, and completely over the first frame, thereby trapping a fish within. Release of the lever positions the second frame with small net as chosen. Effectively netting a plurality of sizes of fish is thereby best accomplished, with less chance of fish escape. The apparatus further provides for easily reviving a fish prior to release.
US08356438B2
An apparatus, according to various aspects of the present invention, produces contractions in skeletal muscles of a target to impede locomotion by the target. The apparatus is used with a provided deployment unit that deploys an electrode away from the apparatus. The electrode conducts a current through the target. The apparatus includes a terminal; a producing sub-system for producing an electric arc to warn the target without conducting a current through the target; a conducting sub-system for conducting the current in series through the terminal and through the target; an initiating sub-system for initiating deployment of the electrode; and an operator interface. The operator interface facilitates selecting one or more cartridges of a set of cartridges to provide a stimulus signal to a target and/or display an arc.
US08356434B2
A labeling system comprises a wall enclosing a space and a container for holding a retractable label, the container laterally disposed in relation to the space. The retractable label is configured to extend out of and retract into the container. In some embodiments, the wall at least partially defines a container cap. In other embodiments, the wall at least partially defines another container for holding material, such as, e.g., material of medicinal utility.
US08356419B2
A measuring device measures distances via a thin retractable wire with a removable head. Distance is calculated and displayed on a very bright, large LED or other type screen. As the wire is extended, a microprocessor calculates the distance and displays it on its screen. The digital measuring device comprises a housing, a very thin extendable wire, cable or tape, a rotating spool, (from which the wire extends then automatically retracts to), a sensor which measures the amount of wire extended, a microprocessor, a tiny flash drive or other type of memory storage, a microphone/speaker, a large (size of unit) mono or duo chromatic or other type of display screen (LED) and a few buttons and/or a menu driven interface which control functionally. A plurality of removable heads may be attached to the wire for performing different measuring functions.
US08356417B2
A spherical-form measuring apparatus which efficiently measures the sphericity and the form of a sphere to be measured with use of the mechanism of a roundness measuring machine, including a turntable, a probe for measuring a contour of a sphere to be measured on an equatorial plane parallel to a surface of the turntable, associated with rotation of the turntable, and a holding unit mounted on the turntable, for holding the sphere to be measured, wherein the holding unit positions the center of the sphere to be measured on a rotational axis of the turntable, and holds the sphere to be measured so that the sphere is rotatable about an inclined axis which passes the center of the sphere and is inclined at the angle in the range of −5 degrees-+5 degrees centered on the angle where the sine is 1√3 (1 divided by the square root of 3) against the surface of the turntable.
US08356415B2
The invention is related to a scraping tool that can be assembled and replaced for scraper blade quickly. The scraping tool in general comprises a stick for hand grasp and a scraping section in the front. The invention mainly uses an arm of suitable length extended from the back end of a jaw clamp toward the middle. It uses fasteners to be located inside the groove in the back of the scraping section. The fastener is also used as pivot for the arm to swing back and forth. On the arm in the back of the jaw clamp, there is a control button that provides vertical pushing force in the back of the jaw clamp and allows strong clamping force in the front of the jaw clamp onto the scraper blade to achieve stable assembly and fast replacement for scraper blade.
US08356411B2
An exhaust manifold and related method have a hybrid clamshell construction including an outer manifold half stamped from a first metal and having a first wall thickness, as well as an inner manifold half stamped from a second metal that is different from the first metal and has a second wall thickness which is different from the first wall thickness. Opposite side edges of the outer and inner manifold halves are rigidly interconnected to define a hollow manifold bottom. Port and outlet flanges are rigidly attached to inlet and outlet sides of the manifold body.
US08356407B2
Films and electronic devices can be released from metallic substrates by: (i) applying a coating of a polysilsesquioxane resin to a metallic substrate, (ii) heating the coated metallic substrate to a temperature sufficient to cure the polysilsesquioxane resin, (iii) applying a polymeric film to the cured coating on the metallic substrate, (iv) further heating the coated metallic substrate to a temperature sufficient to cure the polymeric film, (v) optionally fabricating electronic devices on the polymeric film, and (vi) releasing the polymeric film from the metallic substrate.
US08356405B2
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a printed circuit board, including: providing a carrier including an insulation layer, first metal foils formed on both sides of the insulation layer, adhesive layers respectively formed on the first metal foils and made of a thermoplastic resin, and second metal foils respectively formed on the adhesive layers; applying resists having openings for forming metal posts onto both sides of the carrier; forming metal plating layers for forming the metal posts in the openings; grinding surfaces of the resists; removing the resist and forming insulation layers on both sides of the carrier; and grinding surfaces of the insulation layers. The method is advantageous in that both sides of a carrier are simultaneously layered, it is possible to prevent a substrate from warping during the process of manufacturing the printed circuit board.
US08356402B2
A connector compression tool is provided wherein the tool includes a handle, pivotally moveable from a second position to a first position, a body, configured to compress together when the handle is moved to the first position, wherein the body includes at least two centering openings having different widths to accommodate differently configured connectors having different diameters and different lengths.
US08356401B2
An electrical cable wiring head apparatus is provided to rapidly wire an electrical cable while more effectively restraining the electrical cable from floating. An electrical cable wiring head device of the electrical cable wiring head apparatus moves along a wiring surface of a wiring plate to wire an electrical cable on the wiring surface. The electrical cable wiring head device comprises: a head section supported rotatably about a rotary axis and provided with a guide recess for leading the electrical cable to the wiring surface, the guide recess being offset from the rotary axis; a head rotating mechanism for rotating the head section; a guide pushing member including a shaft portion and a roller portion provided rotatably on a distal end of the shaft portion, the guide pushing member being supported movably along the rotary axis; and a guide pushing member drive mechanism for reciprocating the guide pushing member.
US08356395B2
An assembling device for assembling an actuator and a lens module. The actuator includes a first top surface for supporting the lens module and a first bottom surface. The lens module includes a top portion for receiving lens and a bottom portion. The diameter of bottom portion is slightly larger than the top portion. The bottom portion further includes a second first bottom surface in contact with the first top surface. The assembling device includes a base, a support set, and a pressing sheet. The base includes a supporting surface for supporting the first bottom surface. The support set is above the base and defines at least three threaded holes therethrough. The pressing sheet is in contact with the second top surface. The at least three pins are movably threaded with the threaded holes correspondingly and configured for pushing the pressing sheet.
US08356392B2
A cremation container may comprise a cover and a base. The base may comprise a corrugated fiberboard portion and a frame. The corrugated fiberboard portion may encase the frame and may form a bottom of the base. Consequently, the base may be provided with a combined structural strength of both the frame and corrugated fiberboard portion.
US08356391B2
There are provided interlock pieces extending from both edge portions of a side-to-side winglike piece provided in a pull-tab retainer toward an anterior wall part and a posterior wall part of the pull-tab retainer. An anterior support wall of an anterior mounting post and a posterior support wall of a posterior mounting post at superior angular corner regions of the internal faces thereof are provided with notches for interlocking of the interlock pieces. When the pull-tab retainer is fitted to the anterior mounting post and the posterior mounting post, the interlock pieces and the notches are interlocked with together to thereby prevent any displacement of the pull-tab retainer in anteroposterior side-to-side directions. Further, at that time, a side end face of the anterior support wall and a side end face of the posterior support wall can be covered up by the pull-tab retainer.
US08356388B2
A biaxial hinge mechanism includes: an opening/closing support section projected toward an outer side of a casing; an opening/closing shaft supported on the opening/closing support section; an outer cover provided to be fixed to the casing so as to hide the opening/closing support section and the opening/closing shaft; a hinge base supported on the opening/closing shaft so as to be rotatable relative to the casing, with the opening/closing shaft as a center axis of rotation; a rotation-restricting section operable to restrict a rotation angle of the hinge base to within a predetermined range; a rotating shaft supported on the hinge base and provided in a direction orthogonal to the opening/closing shaft; and a rotating support section supported on the rotating shaft so as to be rotatable relative to the hinge base, with the rotating shaft as a center axis of rotation.
US08356381B2
A structure for automatically rotating a spiral rod is provided. The structure allows a dusting cloth to be turned into a spiral shape along the spiral rod by rotating a rotating element, and, while the rotating element is being rotated, a torsion spring generates a restoring torque. Once the rotating element is no longer rotated, a pulling element pressing against the teeth inside the rotating element retains the rotating element and thus keeps the dusting cloth in the spiral shape. When the pulling element is subsequently pulled away from the teeth of the rotating element, the rotating element automatically rotates in the reverse direction due to the restoring torque of the torsion spring.
US08356374B2
An oral solution dispenser apparatus for attachment to a powered toothbrush handle having a drive coupling mounted thereon, includes a housing adapted for attachment to the handle, the housing having a recess therein for receiving a cartridge containing the oral solution, a pump disposed in the housing for moving the oral solution from the cartridge, and an outlet nozzle extending from the housing and adapted to permit movement of the oral solution from the pump and from the housing. A head having bristles thereon is adapted to interconnect with the handle drive coupling and the housing outlet nozzle, to facilitate powered movement of the bristles and movement of the oral solution from the outlet nozzle to proximate the bristles.
US08356370B1
A method for spreading a hammock is disclosed. The method may include selecting a hammock comprising a hammock base having a first end, a second end opposite the first end in a longitudinal direction, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side in a lateral direction. The method may further include suspending the first end of the hammock base from a first anchor and suspending the second end of the hammock base from a second anchor. Once suspended, the hammock base may be spread in the lateral direction using exclusively a dynamic spreader system. The dynamic spreader system may automatically adjust the amount of the spreading in response to changes in the weight, shape, or orientation of contents within the hammock base.
US08356369B2
A portable bed assembly of a disc and an elongate support, and the disc has a body having a central hole having an axis, and the central hole being sized for slidably receiving the elongate support, with the disc body and the elongate support having a cooperable flexibly mounted retractably extendable lock pin and the disc body has two transversely disposed through holes for receiving the lock pin and locking the elongate support in the disc body and preventing rotational movement of the elongate support in the disc body.
US08359661B2
Applying an alternating current to a magnetic head as a sample generates an alternate-current magnetic field from the sample. A cantilever includes a probe that is made of a magnetic material or is coated with a magnetic material. The cantilever is displaced when it approaches the sample. Detecting the displacement of the cantilever detects distribution of the magnetic field from the sample. It is possible to fast measure distribution of the magnetic field generated from the sample when a frequency of the alternating current applied to the sample differs from a resonance frequency of the cantilever.
US08359658B2
A secure framework for authoring and execution of user-entered database scripts, rules, procedures and other forms of programming is provided. A performance management application is used as an interface between a client data modeling, manipulation or analysis application and one or more data sources or analysis services to prevent malicious or inadvertent implementation of harmful, damaging and/or unauthorized new or modified scripts, rules, procedures or other forms of programming to one or more data sources or data analysis/manipulation services that may be used for retrieving, storing, modifying or using data contained in or affected by the one or more data sources or data analysis/manipulation services.
US08359654B2
Digital content distribution and consumption that provides the advantages of digital content being locally stored under user control while concurrently having the widest acceptance by legacy players/platforms (i.e., no need to perform complex software integration) while still remaining compatible with state of the art security in order to satisfy content provider requirements.
US08359645B2
A system and method for protecting a computer system connected to a communication network from a potential vulnerability. The system and method protects a computer system that is about to undergo or has just undergone a change in state that may result in placing the computer system at risk to viruses, and the like, over a communication network. The system and method first detect an imminent or recent change in state. A security component and a fixing component react to the detection of the change in state. The security component may raise the security level to block incoming network information, other than information from a secure or known location, or information requested by the computer system. The fixing component implements a fixing routine, such as installing missing updates or patches, and on successfully completing the fixing routine, the security level is relaxed or lowered.
US08359643B2
A number of devices co-located at a geographic location can broadcast and receive tokens. Tokens can be exchanged using a communication link having limited communication range. Tokens that are received by a device can be stored locally on the device and/or transmitted to a trusted service operating remotely on a network. In some implementations, the tokens can be stored with corresponding timestamps to assist a trusted service in matching or otherwise correlating the tokens with other tokens provided by other devices. The trusted service can perform an analysis on the tokens and timestamps to identify devices that were co-located at the geographic location at or around a contact time which can be defined by the timestamps. A group can be created based on results of the analysis. Users can be identified as members of the group and invited to join the group.
US08359633B2
A system including a providing unit that provides a virtual-desktop-service selected on the basis of an identification information acquired from the terminal apparatus, and sends a message that includes an address of the providing unit and an address of an application program booted by a process of the virtual-desktop-service, a storage unit that stores the identification information associated with the address of the providing unit and an access control information associated with a set of a identification information and an address of an application program, and a relay unit that receives a message sent by the providing unit, acquires an identification information associated with a source address included in the received message, acquires an access control information associated with a set of the acquired identification information and a destination address included in the received message, and controls relaying the message depending on the acquired access control information.
US08359632B2
A centralized account reputation system differentiates between illegitimate users and legitimate users using reputation scores associated with the users' online accounts. The system restricts the access of illegitimate users to certain network services while minimizing its negative effects on legitimate users. The system can manage the life cycle of an online account, considering data about the account that is obtained throughout the account network to compute the online account reputation score and allocating access to network services based on the online account reputation score. For example, a reputation score may be embedded in a security token that can be accessed by multiple services on the account network, so that each service can determine the appropriate level of access to be granted to the associated user account based on the reputation score. Various types of online account behavior over time can improve or diminish the online account's reputation.
US08359627B2
A method of realizing a personal video recorder (PVR) using a home network device is provided. A client receives contents and replays the contents in a home network. The client uploads first contents received from a real time broadcasting channel to the server from a time when an external time-shift input is received, terminates the uploading of the first contents if an external replay input is received during the uploading of the first contents, replays the first contents whose uploading is terminated from a portion requested by the external replay input, and simultaneously uploads second contents to the server, received from the real time broadcasting channel at a time when the uploading of the first contents is terminated. A user can watch a live broadcast using a time-shift function such as a PVR via a home network device without a separate PVR.
US08359623B2
A broadcast signal receiving apparatus including a broadcast receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal; a communicating unit that performs communication with a mobile apparatus; a signal converting unit that converts the received broadcast signal; and a controller that controls the signal converting unit to convert the broadcast signal into a format corresponding to the mobile apparatus, and controls the communicating unit to transmit the converted broadcast signal to the mobile apparatus.
US08359622B1
A wireless video device comprises: a user interface, optical receiver, processing system, and wireless transceiver. The optical receiver processes optical signals to generate corresponding video data. The user interface receives a user request to establish a wireless video uplink. The processing system processes the user request to generate a system request for the wireless video uplink. The wireless transceiver wirelessly transfers the system request to a wireless access system and wirelessly receives at least one system condition for a grant of the request. The processing system processes the condition to direct the user interface to display the condition. The user interface displays the condition and receives a user acceptance of the condition. The processing system processes the user acceptance to direct the wireless transceiver to wirelessly transfer the video data to the wireless access system. The wireless transceiver wirelessly transfers the video data to the wireless access system.
US08359621B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may operate according to, for example, a method involving recording audio feedback from a plurality of subscribers commenting on media content supplied by a media communication system on at least one of a plurality of media channels, detecting one or more trigger words in the recorded audio feedback having an association with a disruption of one or more media services supplied by the media communication system, selecting one or more network elements of the media communication system in at least one transmission path that supplies media services to one or more of the plurality of subscribers that supplied audio feedback matching the one or more trigger words, and directing the selected one or more network elements to record media content on one or more media channels selected from the plurality of media channels. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08359618B2
According to one embodiment, a communication system includes a video signal receiver, a video signal output module, a power control signal receiver, and a socket. The video signal receiver is configured to receive a video signal from a first external apparatus. The video signal output module is configured to output, to a second external apparatus, the video signal received from the first external apparatus. The power control signal receiver is configured to receive a power control from the first external apparatus. The power control signal receiver is lower in power consumption than the video signal receiver. A power cable configured to supply power to the second external apparatus is connected to the socket. When the power control signal receiver receives a power control signal for activation, power is supplied to the video signal receiver and the socket.
US08359614B2
Data broadcast over different channels may be updated in a digital broadcast receiving device. The device may include a receiver unit, a processor, memory instructions embodied in the memory for execution on the processor. The instructions may be configured to implement the method for updating data broadcast over different channels. A first digital broadcast signal may be received over a first channel. The receiving device may be tuned to a second channel at a predetermined time to receive a second digital broadcast signal. Selected data may be extracted from the second digital broadcast signal and stored or utilized with the receiving device. An update schedule may be generated for data transmitted with a digital broadcast signal. A broadcast time for an update packet may be determined from a packet header. A schedule packet may be generated containing the broadcast time and broadcast before the update packet.
US08359612B2
A portable device includes solid-state memory, an Ethernet and/or wireless network connection, and an HDMI. The portable device receives content guide data from a first server and displays a content guide on a display. In response to a user's selection of a content item, the portable device requests the content item over the Internet from a second server. The portable device receives the content item, stores the content item in solid-state memory, generates display signals that represent the content item, and sends the display signals to a display. The second server may match the content item with relevant advertisements based on keywords associated with the content item and the advertisements. The second server may send selected advertisement URLs to the portable device. Using the URLs, the portable device may obtain the advertisements over the Internet and cause the display to display the advertisements in conjunction with the content item.
US08359610B2
Audience measurement methods and systems for producing audience information of a media presentation. At least one embodiment includes a moveable apparatus comprising an audio capturing means for picking up audio from a media presentation distributed to an audience through at least one media rendering device to produce an audio signal, processing means for processing the audio signal to derive the content identification information, user interface means for entering the presence information of panel members, memory means to store the content identification information and the presence information, and communication means for transmitting the content identification information and the presence information for further processing to generate audience information.
US08359593B2
Systems and methods for migration between computing machines are disclosed. The source and target machines can be either physical or virtual; the source can also be a machine image. The target machine is connected to a snapshot or image of the source machine file system, and a redo-log file is created on the file system associated with the target machine. The target machine begins operation by reading data directly from the snapshot or image of the source machine file system. Thereafter, all writes are made to the redo-log file, and subsequent reads are made from the redo-log file if it contains data for the requested sector or from the snapshot or image if it does not. The source machine continues to be able to run separately and simultaneously after the target machine begins operation.
US08359590B2
A computer system has a runtime environment (e.g. Java) and a deployment unit (e.g. in a Spring framework layer) arranged to deploy the application into the runtime environment. The application comprises bundles (e.g. OSGi bundles) with manifest metadata having export statements defining exported packages. The deployment unit comprises a receiver unit to receive the bundles, an extractor unit to examine the metadata and extract the export statements, a converter unit to convert each of the export statements into a corresponding import statement, and a creator unit to add a synthetic bundle having the import statements inserted in its metadata. The deployment unit sets a thread context class loader to delegate class loading to a class loader of the synthetic bundle. Thus, at runtime, classes of the application are only loaded when they are explicitly exported packages as defined by the synthetic bundle.
US08359589B2
A set of helper thread binaries is created to retrieve data used by a set of main thread binaries. If executing a portion of the set of helper thread binaries results in the retrieval of data needed by the set of main thread binaries, then that retrieved data is utilized by the set of main thread binaries.
US08359587B2
A compilation method and mechanism for parallelizing program code. A method for compilation includes analyzing source code and identifying candidate code for parallelization. The method includes parallelizing the candidate code, in response to determining said profitability meets a predetermined criteria; and generating object code corresponding to the source code. The generated object code includes both a non-parallelized version of the candidate code and a parallelized version of the candidate code. During execution of the object code, a dynamic selection between execution of the non-parallelized version of the candidate code and the parallelized version of the candidate code is made. Changing execution from said parallelized version of the candidate code to the non-parallelized version of the candidate code, may be in response to determining a transaction failure count meets a pre-determined threshold. Additionally, changing execution from one version to the other may be in further response to determining an execution time of the parallelized version of the candidate code is greater than an execution time of the non-parallelized version of the candidate code.
US08359584B2
A system and method for debugging a computer program by using a call graph. A call graph that represents trace events during execution of a debuggee program may be used as input to a system that enables a user to debug the debuggee program. Mechanisms facilitate conditionally forming clusters of event nodes, a cluster indicative of multiple event nodes corresponding to an execution of a source language statement. During a debugging session, in response to a command to perform a step operation, the nodes of a cluster are processed together so that a step corresponds to multiple events if the multiple events correspond to a single source language statement. A mechanism for inspecting variables is provided. Variable values may be selectively propagated and provided based on the call graph and a static control flow analysis of the debuggee program.
US08359582B2
Method, computer readable medium, and system for specifying before-compiled code, compiling the before-compiled code into a compiled code snippet, specifying an insertion point in a compiled code block of a computer program, and inserting the compiled code snippet into the compiled code block at the specified insertion point while the computer program is running.
US08359579B2
A method for generating one or more satisfaction records for an expression in a software application, the expression including at least one criterion relating to the application wherein the satisfaction of the criterion can be determined only at application execution time, the method comprising: analyzing the application to generate a first set of locations in the application where the at least one criterion is potentially satisfied; executing the application; monitoring the application to generate a second set of locations in the application where the at least one criterion is actually satisfied; for each location in the second set of locations generating a satisfaction record indicating that the application satisfied the at least one criterion at the location; and for each location in the first set not in the second set generating a satisfaction record indicating that the application did not satisfy the at least one criterion at the location.
US08359564B2
A design information generating equipment is provided. A control component of the design information generating equipment, when a basic function of the plurality of functions constitutes a requested function, and design information that corresponds to the basic function is stored in a second memory area, uses the stored design information, and, when the design information that corresponds to the basic function of the plurality of functions is not stored in the second memory area, uses a source program corresponding to the basic function of the plurality of functions stored in a first memory area, and performs control so as to generate design information corresponding to the basic function of the plurality of functions and stores the generated design information in the second memory area, and, using the generated design information, reconfigures a design configured to execute the requested function, and executes the requested function with the reconfigurable design information.
US08359561B2
A method for formally verifying the equivalence of an architecture description with an implementation description. The method comprises the steps of reading an implementation description, reading an architecture description, demonstrating that during execution of a same program with same initial values an architecture sequence of data transfers described by the architecture description is mappable to an implementation sequence of data transfers implemented by the implementation description, such that the mapping is bijective and ensures that the temporal order of the architecture sequence of data transfers corresponds to the temporal order of the implementation sequence of data transfers, and outputting a result of the verification of the equivalence of the architecture description with the implementation description.
US08359558B2
An integrated circuit design optimization procedure to modify a cell feature, such as gate length, models changes in delay as a result of the modification. In the delay change calculation, a characteristic of an event in cell switching behavior, such as the output short-circuit voltage VSC, is determined for the modified cell, where changes in the determined characteristic correlate with changes in delay of the cell due to the modification. Next, a value for delay of the modified cell is determined as a function of the determined characteristic of the event. The procedure can be applied after placement and routing. A timing-constrained, leakage power reduction is described using the delay change model.
US08359555B2
A computer readable medium comprising multiple instructions stored in a computer readable device, upon executing these instructions, a computer performing the following steps: providing a first semiconductor layout and a second semiconductor layout predetermined to be fabricated on different material layers of a semiconductor device, the second semiconductor layout comprising a circuit pattern; setting a forbidden area of the circuit pattern on the first semiconductor layout according to a restriction condition; defining at least a virtual pattern arrangement area on a portion of the first semiconductor layout which does not correspond to the forbidden area; and selecting a positioning point at a boundary of the virtual pattern arrangement area and providing a virtual pattern array in the virtual pattern arrangement by taking the positioning point as an origin of a coordinate system of the virtual pattern array.
US08359554B2
A method of designing and verifying 3D integrated circuits (3D IC) including providing a first layout corresponding to a first device of a 3D IC. The first layout includes a first interface layer. A second layout corresponding to a second device of the 3D IC is also provided. The second layout includes a second interface layer. A verification of the 3D is performed by verifying the first and second interface layers. The verification includes performing at least one of a design rule check (DRC) or a layout-versus-schematic (LVS) on the first and/or second interface layers.
US08359553B1
A method and apparatus are described in which an optimal configuration of memory instances is determined. The optimal configuration of memory instances to be fabricated with built-in repair capacity and memory instances that are non-repairable may provide a maximum number of good chip dies per wafer. An amount of memory instances to be fabricated with built-in repair capacity as well as a remaining amount of memory instances to be fabricated without any built-in repair components in the integrated circuit design is determined relative to achieving the maximum number of good chip dies per wafer for a given defect density and wafer area. The amount of good dies produced per fabricated wafer for a populated amount of memories with built-in repair components is determined to be between an amount established by a minimum limit for the die area up to the amount established by a maximum limit for the die area.
US08359537B2
A computer readable medium storing a media editing application for creating media presentations is described. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI has (1) a composite display area for displaying graphical representations of a set of media clips that are part of the composite presentation and (2) a navigation tool including several selectable navigation markers associated with several navigable locations in the composite presentation. The selection of a navigation marker causes the composite display area to present the navigable location in the composite presentation that is associated with the selected navigation marker.
US08359530B2
A wireless communication apparatus that includes a first format detecting unit detecting a format by executing signal processing on a preamble of a received packet before decoding, an estimating unit using the preamble to carry out multiple types of estimations, and a decoding unit decoding the received packet in accordance with the detected format based on the estimations. The apparatus further includes a second format detecting unit detecting the format of the received packet based on decoded control information in the preamble of the received packet, an error detection determination unit, when the format detected by the first format detecting unit differs from the format detected by the second format detecting unit, determining that the format detected by the first format detecting unit is an error, and a control unit controlling operations of the estimating unit and the decoding unit based on a determined result.
US08359515B2
In one embodiment, a forward substitution component performs forward substitution based on a lower-triangular matrix and an input vector to generate an output vector. The forward substitution component has memory, a first permuter, an XOR gate array, and a second permuter. The memory stores output sub-vectors of the output vector. The first permuter permutates one or more previously generated output sub-vectors stored in the memory based on one or more permutation coefficients corresponding to a current block row of the lower-triangular matrix to generate one or more permuted sub-vectors. The XOR gate array performs exclusive disjunction on (i) the one or more permuted sub-vectors and (ii) a current input sub-vector of the input vector to generate an intermediate sub-vector. The second permuter permutates the intermediate sub-vector based on a permutation coefficient corresponding to another block in the current block row to generate a current output sub-vector of the output vector.
US08359514B2
Memory devices and methods are described such as those that mix data and associated error correction code blocks between multiple memory device locations. Examples include mixing between multiple memory blocks, mixing between memory pages, mixing between memory chips and mixing between memory modules. In selected examples, memory blocks and associated error correction code are mixed between multiple levels of memory device hierarchy.
US08359513B2
In an embodiment, a source device encodes source information corresponding to a frame, assembles an initial data frame that includes the encoded data blocks, and transmits the initial data frame to a destination device. The destination device decodes the encoded data blocks and assembles a restored version of the initial data frame. The destination device identifies corrupted data blocks and uncorrupted data blocks within the restored version, stores the uncorrupted data blocks, generates a message that identifies the corrupted data blocks, and transmits the message to the source device. In response, the source device encodes source information corresponding to the corrupted data blocks identified in the message, assembles a responsive data frame, and transmits the responsive data frame to the destination device. The destination device produces a corrected data frame from the retransmitted data blocks and the previously-stored uncorrupted data blocks.
US08359511B2
A method for data transmission to a receiving host, the transmitted data being coded for forward error correction, includes providing a pre-defined set Xk of symbols, having k symbols, at the transmitting host. An individual subset Xnh of the pre-defined set Xk, comprising nh symbols, is provided at each receiving host. An encoded symbol is calculated by the transmitting host based on a pre-defined rateless code. The calculated encoded symbol and the information with which symbols of set Xk is associated is transmitted to each of the receiving hosts. The encoded symbol is decoded by each receiving host using a decoding algorithm based on a pre-defined rateless code. Repeating the steps until each receiving host has retrieved from the received encoded symbols the respective difference set of symbols.
US08359509B2
A system and method are provided for determining a minimum number of reserved hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifiers (IDs). The method includes, determining a minimum number of reserved HARQ Process IDs based upon a maximum transmission time and a period of a semi-persistent resource allocation.
US08359505B2
Aspects of the disclosure can provide a method and an apparatus to decode a data stream based on multiple transmissions with efficient usages of storage and power resources. The method for decoding can include receiving a first plurality of encoded code blocks corresponding to a first transmission of a transport block, decoding the first plurality of encoded code blocks into decoded code blocks, error detecting the decoded code blocks, and storing a decoding history of the decoded code blocks. Further, the method can include receiving a second plurality of encoded code blocks corresponding to a retransmission of the transport block. The second plurality of encoded code blocks can map the first plurality of encoded code blocks, respectively. The method can selectively decode a subset of the second plurality of encoded code blocks based on the decoding history. In addition, the method can include storing soft bits for code blocks that failed decoding. The soft bits can be a combination of soft bits from multiple transmissions. The memory size for storing the soft bits can be reduced by dynamically freeing memory space associated with successfully decoded code blocks.
US08359501B1
A self-testing memory module includes a printed circuit board configured to be operatively coupled to a memory controller of a computer system and includes a plurality of memory devices on the printed circuit board, each memory device of the plurality of memory devices comprising data, address, and control ports. The memory module also includes a control module configured to generate address and control signals for testing the memory devices. The memory module includes a data module comprising a plurality of data handlers. Each data handler is operable independently from each of the other data handlers of the plurality of data handlers. Each data handler is operatively coupled to a corresponding plurality of the data ports of one or more of the memory devices and is configured to generate data for writing to the corresponding plurality of data ports.
US08359495B2
A system and method for using failure casting to manage failures in a computer system. In accordance with an embodiment, the system uses a failure casting hierarchy to cast failures of one type into failures of another type. In doing this, the system allows incidents, problems, or failures to be cast into a (typically smaller) set of failures, which the system knows how to handle. In accordance with a particular embodiment, failures can be cast into a category that is considered reboot-curable. If a failure is reboot-curable then rebooting the system will likely cure the problem. Examples include hardware failures, and reboot-specific methods that can be applied to disk failures and to failures within clusters of databases. The system can even be used to handle failures that were hitherto unforeseen—failures can be cast into known failures based on the failure symptoms, rather than any underlying cause.
US08359489B2
A serial interface engine generates a series of digital data according to a pair of differential signals received from a high-speed Universal Serial Bus host and/or a full-speed universal serial bus host. Then, a packet identification (PID) unit identifies a packet identification of a start of each frame and a first period between two consecutive packet identifications according to the series of digital data. A count comparator is used for generating a calibration signal to calibrate an output frequency of an oscillator according to the first period.
US08359476B2
A system configured to authenticate a user for encryption or decryption includes a user authentication apparatus, a computer-readable medium operable to communicate with the user authentication apparatus, and an encryption and decryption computer communicating with the user authentication apparatus. The computer-readable medium may store user identifying information and encryption and decryption data. The encryption and decryption computer may be configured to receive an application programming interface (API) for interfacing with the user authentication apparatus and receive the user identifying information from the computer-readable medium via the API. A user may be authenticated based on the user identifying information and, once the user is authenticated, the encryption and decryption data may be read.
US08359473B1
Various embodiments of a system and method for digital rights management using digital signatures are described. Various embodiments may include a digital rights management component configured to receive license data including user information and an encrypted decryption key. The digital rights management component may also receive a digital signature and encrypted content data. The digital rights management component may, in response to determining that the digital signature is a valid digital signature of the license data, generate on a device, a message including the user information. The digital rights management component may also perform a key derivation function on the user information to generate a result, generate a decryption key by decrypting the encrypted decryption key with the result of the key derivation function, and decrypt the encrypted content data with the generated decryption key to generate unencrypted content data.
US08359455B2
A system and method for generating a real address in data memory in response to a read/write request may include generating an access request to at least one of read and write data to the data memory. A connection identifier (ID), received in association with the access request; may include a buffer ID designating a buffer in the data memory in which to access the data, and a port ID designating a pattern in which to access the data in the buffer. The method may further include translating the connection ID into the real address of the data memory, and accessing the data memory at a location corresponding to the real address. Different types of buffers, such as point-to-point, scatter, and gather buffers may be used, and different patterns, such as first-in-first out (FIFO), nested loop, matrix transforms may be used.
US08359446B2
In a method for processing data using triple buffering, a data block to be processed is written to a memory area in a first interval of time. The data block is processed in the same memory area (A, B, C) in a second interval of time. The processed data block is returned from the same memory area in a third interval of time.
US08359443B2
A secure memory access system and method for providing secure access to Hyper Management Mode memory ranges is presented.
US08359438B2
Memory banking system and method to increase memory bandwidth via parallel read and write operations
A cache memory and a tag memory are included in a banked memory system and used to effectively enable parallel write and read operations on each clock cycle, even though the memory banks consist of single-port devices that are not inherently capable of parallel write and read operations.
US08359437B2
Virtual stacking is utilized in a virtual machine environment by receiving a data element for storage to a shared memory location and writing to the shared memory location. Writing to the shared memory location may be implemented by reading the shared memory location contents, encoding the received data element with the shared memory location contents to derive an encoded representation and writing the encoded representation to the shared memory location so as to overwrite the previous shared memory location contents. The method may further comprise receiving a request for a desired data element encoded into the shared memory location, decoding the shared memory location contents until the desired data element is recovered and communicating the requested data element.
US08359435B2
A method for computing includes executing a program, including multiple cacheable lines of executable code, on a processor having a software-managed cache. A run-time cache management routine running on the processor is used to assemble a profile of inter-line jumps occurring in the software-managed cache while executing the program. Based on the profile, an optimized layout of the lines in the code is computed, and the lines of the program are re-ordered in accordance with the optimized layout while continuing to execute the program.
US08359427B2
In executing an EEPROM emulation by a flash memory incorporated in a semiconductor device, there is a problem that the data holding period of the flash memory is shorter than the EEPROM. The flash memory manages data by block unit. Therefore, it is required to securely perform a block change before the specification of the data holding period of the flash memory passes. For satisfying this problem, for an EEPROM substitution area in a flash memory, a data level check voltage is set between an internal verification voltage and a read-out voltage. When data level becomes below the data level check voltage, the block change is performed.
US08359426B2
A flash memory storage system has a plurality of flash memory devices comprising a plurality of flash memories, and a controller having an I/O processing control unit for accessing a flash memory device specified by a designated access destination in an I/O request received from an external device from among the plurality of flash memory devices. A parity group can be configured of flash memory devices having identical internal configuration.
US08359415B2
Mechanisms are provided for implementing a multi-root PCI manager (MR-PCIM) in a multi-root I/O virtualization management partition (MR-IMP) to control the shared functionality of an multi-root I/O virtualization (IOV) enabled switch fabric and multi-root IOV enabled I/O adapter (IOA) through the base functions (BF) of the switches and IOAs. A hypervisor provides device-independent facilities to the code running in the I/O Virtualization Management Partition (IMP), Multi-Root (MR)-IMP and client partitions. The MR-IMP may include device specific code without the hypervisor needing to sacrifice its size, robustness, and upgradeability. The hypervisor provides the virtual intermediary functionally for the sharing and control of the switch and IOA's control functions.
US08359412B2
A data storage device includes a plurality of memory devices and a memory controller. The memory controller exchanges data with the plurality of memory devices via a plurality of channels and adjusts drive strength of the plurality of channels by referring to at least one of the number of the plurality of memory devices and current temperature.
US08359407B2
A method and device are provided for activating certain functions of a powered-off device having a serial data bus interface when it is attached to a powered device via the serial bus interface. On detection of a voltage on the power line of the serial bus, the processor of the device is booted in a special operation mode, wherein certain functions of the serial data bus interface can be used without powering the complete device. The device may then be enumerated by the attached host device and for example allow access to its memory unit or use the power signal on the serial bus interface for battery charging.
US08359405B1
Method and apparatus for enhancing the performance of a network. The performance enhancing functions described are applicable to a wide variety of communication links, including both slow and fast links, high latency links, and links with low and high error rates. The performance enhancing functions, which may be implemented either singly or in combination, include selective spoofing which allows flexible configuration of which connections should be spoofed, spoofing of the conventional TCP three-way handshake, local data acknowledgement, which allows data windows to increase at local speeds, multiplexing multiple connections across a single connection, data compression/encryption, prioritization, and path selection. The performance enhancing features described are particularly useful for links with high latency and/or high bit error rates.
US08359393B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating integration of the functionality associated with a first on-line service entity with the functionality associated with a second on-line service entity. Embodiments of the present invention allow a first on-line service entity having its own membership model to efficiently collaborate with a second on-line service entity to offer its users the services of the second on-line service entity in a seamless and consistently branded manner. One implementation obviates the need for synchronization of the membership models between the first and second on-line service entities. One implementation allows the second on-line service entity to provide services to the users associated with the first on-line service entity in a seamless manner without the first on-line service entity having to proxy the session between the second on-line service entity and the users.
US08359386B2
A system and method migrating virtualized environments is disclosed. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the information handling system can include a migration monitor configured to initiate migration of a remote virtualized environment operating on a first remote system. The information handling system can also include a trusted platform module including a local memory storing a plurality of access keys configured to enable use of a plurality of virtualized environments. According to an aspect, the plurality of access keys can include a first access key configured to be used with a first remote system. The information handling system can also include a secure communication channel configured to enable a mapping of the first access key to a second remote system upon the migration monitoring determining the second remote system is capable of satisfying an operating characteristic of the remote virtualized environment.
US08359380B2
Techniques for automatic network discovery for host configurations are described herein. A management server may receive a first message from a first host entering a network, where the first message includes a network identifier (ID) identifying a logical network coupled to a network interface card (NIC) of the first host. In response to the first message, the management server may automatically configure the NIC of the first host using one or more network configuration parameters of a second host based on the first message, where the second host has been coupled to the logical network prior to the first host.
US08359370B2
There is presented a system for managing digital media content, the system comprising a media server accessible over a communications network, the media server including a server processor. The server processor is configured to identify a first container data structure, the first container data structure including the digital media content encoded in a first encoding format. The server processor is also configured to use a digital media profile, and to extract a media file including the digital media content encoded in the first encoding format, from the first container data structure, according to the digital media profile. The server processor is further configured to assemble the media file in a second container data structure.
US08359368B1
A multi-homed web server is disclosed including a plurality of virtual hosts operable in a web server. The multi-web server is configured to serve animations to clients over the web. The multi-web server may determine whether the specified time to send a subsequent graphic in a series of graphics has passed, and if the specified time has passed, then send a next graphic the next appropriate time.
US08359363B1
A method and apparatus for providing destination-address suggestions for a new communication. For each of various communication addresses, multiple counts of use of the communication address are maintained, with each count being for a respective type of communication and/or for a respective application class. When a new communication of a particular type or by an application of a particular class is being established, the communication addresses are presented as destination-address suggestions in a rank-order based on the counts specific to the communication type and/or application class. The rank-ordering of can also take into account other factors, such as source persona, time, and location, for instance.
US08359361B2
Techniques to share media files through messaging are described. An apparatus may comprise a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory may store a message application that when executed by the processor is operative to communicate a message and a message attachment comprising a media file at different time intervals using different transports. The message may have a link comprising a reference to a discoverable storage location for the media file. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08359360B2
Systems and methods for allowing challenge messages to be sent directly to a recipient's inbox where normally the challenge message would be sent to a pending folder or deleted. Challenge messages sent between federated messaging services contain a federated token which can be identified, authenticated and validated to determine whether the challenge message should be sent to a recipient's inbox. The federated token can include an authentication portion and a validation portion. Authentication methods for the authentication portion can include, for example, checksums, salts, hashes and digital signatures. Once a federated token is authenticated by decrypting the authentication portion according to one or more of these authentication methods, the federated token is validated by determining the defined use-base and determining whether the receipt of the federated token satisfies the defined use.
US08359357B2
According to one embodiment, a secure e-mail messaging system includes an e-mail relay server coupled to a secure client configured on a secure domain and an external client configured on an external domain. The e-mail relay server has a memory for storage of an actual address of the secure client, a first certificate associated with the actual address, an alias address associated with the actual address, and a second certificate associated with the alias address. The e-mail relay server receives an e-mail message that includes the alias address from the external client and decrypts the e-mail message according to the second certificate. The e-mail messaging server then replaces the alias address with the actual address to form a modified e-mail message, encrypts the modified e-mail message according to the first certificate, and transmits the modified e-mail message to the secure client.
US08359356B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a presence system having a controller to transmit to a calendar system presence information of a subscriber of the presence system for recording said presence information in a calendar event. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08359355B2
A method and computer program product for receiving an indication of an email being generated for at least one recipient. The email is analyzed to determine if the email includes at least one link to a piece of content on a remote content resource. If the email includes at least one link to a piece of content on a remote content resource, the at least one recipient is analyzed to determine if the at least one recipient has sufficient rights to access the piece of content on the remote content resource.
US08359349B2
A system for uploading content includes a sender capable of sending an upload request, where the upload request comprises a request to upload content from the sender to a recipient. The system also includes a network entity, such as the recipient, capable of operating an upload agent. The upload agent, in turn, is capable of receiving the upload request, and thereafter determining an upload schedule relating to the time and/or manner of uploading the content. The sender can then be capable of uploading the content to the recipient in accordance with the upload schedule. The network entity can be further capable of recovering an upload session that has encountered an interruption.
US08359346B2
A logic block is presented that generates avalanche criterion hash values using minimal logic. The logic block includes a first exclusive-OR function, a second exclusive-OR function, and an OR function. The first exclusive-OR function receives two input bits from a data packet and generates a linear output value based upon exclusive disjunction between the two input bits. The OR function receives two different input bits from the data packet and generates a first nonlinear output value based upon logical disjunction between the two different input bits. The second exclusive-OR function receives the linear output value and the first nonlinear output value, and generates a second nonlinear output value based upon exclusive disjunction between the linear output value and the first nonlinear output value. In turn, the second nonlinear output value is utilized to generate a hash value for the data packet.
US08359342B2
The invention concerns a method for generating at least one index (10) over XML documents (30) in an XML database (40); the method comprising the steps of: a. executing at least one indexing function (20) defined in the XQuery language; each indexing function (20) accepting an XML document (30) as input and returning at least one computed result; and b. storing each of the at least one computed results from the at least one indexing function (20) as a key (11) of the corresponding index (10) and a reference to the input XML document (30) as a value (12) of the index (10).
US08359340B2
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for representing media assets. The method includes receiving an original media asset and derivative versions of the original media asset and associated descriptors, determining a lineage to each derivative version that traces to the original media asset, generating a version history tree of the original media asset representing the lineage to each derivative version and associated descriptors from the original media asset, and presenting at least part of the version history tree to a user. In one aspect, the method further includes receiving a modification to one associated descriptor and updating associated descriptors for related derivative versions with the received modification. The original media asset and the derivative versions of the original media asset can share a common identifying mark. Descriptors can include legal documentation, licensing information, creation time, creation date, actors' names, director, producer, lens aperture, and position data.
US08359335B2
In one embodiment, the invention is a computing system comprising a World Wide Web application with a user interactive record field is described. The record field receives a record field entry. The application receives a context change request. Responsive to the context change request, the application dynamically transmits the record field entry to a server for storage in a database.
US08359334B2
Integrating a file system with a RAID array that exports precise information about the arrangement of data blocks in the RAID subsystem. The present invention uses separate current-write location (CWL) pointers for each disk in the disk array where the pointers simply advance through the disks as writes occur. The present invention writes on the disk with the lowest CWL pointer. A new disk is chosen only when the algorithm starts allocating space for a new file, or when it has allocated N blocks on the same disk for a single file. A sufficient number of blocks are defined as all the buffers in a chunk of N sequential buffers in a file. The result is that CWL pointers are never more than N blocks apart on different disks, and large files have N consecutive blocks on the same disk.
US08359331B2
Methods and systems and machine readable media for managing data. In one exemplary embodiment, an initial search query is received and examined to determine whether elements within the initial search query are within the same category of data, and a machine interpreted search query is derived in response to the determining. Other methods and systems and media are also described.
US08359329B2
In a method of identifying unusual combinations of values in data (1) that is arranged in rows and columns, the data is pre-processed to put it into a form (4, 5) suitable for application of a search method thereto. Using said search method, the pre-processed data is searched (8) to search the set of possible combinations of unique values from the columns to find any combinations that are unusual according to an evaluation metric.
US08359323B2
A computer program product comprises a computer useable medium. The computer useable medium has a computer readable program such that when the computer readable medium is executed on a computer, the computer is caused to receive a request from a database driver that is compatible with a software application. The request is in a database language format. Further, the computer is caused to parse the request. In addition, the computer is caused to convert the request into an intermediary data format. The computer is also caused to provide the request in the intermediary data format to a common client interface builder that reformats the request into a format that is compatible with a system resource adapter and invokes the system resource adapter with the reformatted request.
US08359318B2
There are provided methods and systems for efficient search in a peer-to-peer network topology. In various embodiments, search methods and systems provide for response times and network traffic that are independent from the number of query terms, thereby producing constant run-time searches and bandwidth hits in a P2P network search implementation. By distributing inverse indexes between peers, and storing with each inverse index a Bloom filter populated with selected keywords, multi-term search and analysis can be conducted on one network node without requiring exchange of posting lists between various network nodes.
US08359305B1
In one example, a method comprises receiving, with a data access service, an input query from an enterprise software application, wherein the data access service is positioned between the enterprise software application and a multidimensional data source; parsing the input query into a parse tree; generating an abstract syntax tree based on the parse tree, the abstract syntax tree comprising input query elements and multidimensional expression query elements based on the input query; performing an evaluation of metadata comprised in the multidimensional expression query elements of the abstract syntax tree; restructuring the abstract syntax tree based on the evaluation of the metadata; executing a query based on the restructured abstract syntax tree on the multidimensional data source; and retrieving a query result set from the multidimensional data source comprising results that are responsive to the query based on the restructured abstract syntax tree.
US08359301B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to aggregating product information from a variety of sources to generate user interfaces that allow users to navigate and discover products. Product information is aggregated from both feed and crawl sources, and product entities are identified within the aggregate product information. In some embodiments, product entities are associated with product classes, and product class detail pages are generated that include product entities within each product class and allow users to view correlations between those produce entities. In some embodiments, relationships are identified between product entities. When a user selects to view information for a given product entity, information is provided indicating similar product entities that have a relationship with the given product entity.
US08359295B2
The present invention relates to systems, methods, and user interfaces for browsing a collection of content items saved by a user or by one or more buddies associated with a given user. The method of the present invention comprises saving one or more content items and one or more associated keywords as specified by a user. An interface is generated that displays the one or more saved content items and the one or more associated keywords, as well as the one or more buddies associated with a given user. A user indication of the selection of a given keyword or the selection of a given buddy by the user is received. The one or more displayed content items are filtered according to the selected keyword, buddy, or combination of selected keyword and buddy.
US08359285B1
Disclosed are various embodiments of generating item recommendations. A user submitted query associated with a category of items in an electronic repository is received, each of the items being associated with reviews. Reviews relevant to the user submitted query are identified. Reviews relevant to the user submitted query are displayed with a user voting element. The user voting element allows a user to vote whether the review is relevant to the user query. Further relevance to the user submitted query is determined based at least upon the vote.
US08359280B2
Methods and apparatus for making recommendations of content items to users of computer systems include compiling a database relating a list of items and corresponding explanations; receiving from a user, through a computer user interface, a request for a recommendation; extracting from the database a preliminary list of items related to the request; identifying distances between the extracted items based on the explanation corresponding to each item; and identifying a subset of the preliminary list to form a recommendation list having a limited number of recommendation results with a desired balance of both high relevancy and high diversity relative to each other.
US08359278B2
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a system for providing identity protection that, in one embodiment, includes a fraud model for specifying patterns of events indicative of identity fraud and a business rules subsystem used to identify fraud that is specified by the fraud models. The system aggregates data from a variety of sources, and has an analytical engine that operates on the aggregated data and determines, using the business rules, whether there are events that are correlative with the fraud models that are indicative of fraud.
US08359271B2
An apparatus is provided for authentication of an item or a label by storing unique random serial numbers or codes in a remote secure storage that can be used to authenticate the item or the label, generating a pointer to each stored unique random serial number/code and storing the generated pointer(s) in a client data storage. During or prior to a production run of the item(s) or label(s): the generated pointer(s) are sent from the client data storage to one or more media devices, the generated pointer(s) are obtained from the media device using a post-content manager, the unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are obtained from the server via the post-content manager using the generated pointer(s), the obtained unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are sent to the media device, and the received unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are imprinted on the item(s) or the label(s) using the media device.
US08359266B2
Systems and methods for conducting transactions across financial institutions are presented. More specifically, in one embodiment a financial transaction center may be provided such that transactions may be coordinated and controlled utilizing the financial transaction center. The financial transaction center may determine a financial institution associated received requests and issue requests to financial institutions. By coordinating the fulfillment of transactions between financial institutions through the financial transaction center a level of abstraction may be introduced whereby transactions may be conducted across financial intuitions without knowledge of host systems at the financial institutions or overly compromising the privacy or security of these host systems.
US08359262B2
A system and method are provided for trading a trading strategy defined for at least one tradeable object in an electronic trading environment. More specifically, one example method includes using a first pay-up tick value to determine a first acceptable price level for an order associated with the trading strategy, automatically modifying the first pay-up tick to a second pay-up tick value in response to detecting a predefined condition, and using the second pay-up tick value to determine a second acceptable price level for the order associated with the trading strategy.
US08359260B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to securities trading using electronic systems. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer implemented trade execution method, comprising: sending from an execution venue to each of a plurality of smart order routers a notification message; receiving at each of the smart order routers the notification message sent thereto, wherein the notification message notifies each of the smart order routers about the presence of a non-displayed priced order at the execution venue; sending from at least one of the smart order routers to the execution venue at least one order to execute against the non-displayed priced order; receiving at the execution venue each order sent from each of the smart order routers; and executing at least one order received from at least one of the smart order routers against the non-displayed priced order.
US08359257B2
A computer implemented data processing system and method administers a deferred variable annuity contract during the accumulation phase for a relevant life. The annuity contract has a payment base value, a contract value, and benefit payments. A maximum annual benefit payment withdrawal amount available without reducing the payment base value is calculated by multiplying the payment base value by a factor including a deferral bonus percent, which is a function of a number of years deferred by the relevant life until taking a first lifetime benefit payment.
US08359253B2
Embodiments of the invention provide computer systems and methods for providing an anonymous request for quotation environment that enables sharing of confidential trading interest information without sacrificing anonymity or enabling information leakage.
US08359247B2
A system for generating a virtual clothing experience has a display for mounting with a wall, one or more digital cameras for capturing first images of the person standing in front of the display, an image processing module for synthesizing the first images and for generating a display image on the display that substantially appears, to the person, like a reflection of the person in a mirror positioned at the display. The cameras capture second images of a garment with the person; the module synthesizes the second images with the first images to generate the image that substantially appears, to the person, that the reflection wears the garment. A home version of the system may be formed with a home computer and a database storing garment images in cooperation with a manufacturer.
US08359244B1
A computer-implemented system and method for coordinating apparel production. In preferred embodiments, the invention is a business model and system for the apparel industry in which production channels and marketing channels are comprehensively coordinated by a central operating center via the Internet. By interacting with a website, registered clients (e.g., apparel businesses, wholesalers, retailers, etc.) articulate what their specific detailed requirements are in terms of production, delivery and other aspects. Then, data on these clients' orders are forwarded to each of the production channels through the central operation center which performs the tasks of comprehensive coordination, management and business operation.
US08359243B2
A method and system for scheduling an electronic vehicle order. The method includes receiving an electronic vehicle order, which has a plurality of associated vehicle-option inputs, from a customer; expanding the order by associating each vehicle option with a plurality of part codes to generate a subset of part codes; applying a first set of rules that has non-deterministic criteria to the subset of part codes for conflict determination; resolving any conflict(s) between part codes by applying a second rule set, which has deterministic criteria; and scheduling a vehicle build order based at least in part on the part code subset.
US08359240B2
A method and system for automating the management of an inventory of consumer items at a consumer location uses a programmed device that accepts input data and executes control logic for automating inventory management. At least one shopping list is received, a shopping list trend is established, and a smart list is generated with the control logic, in accordance with the shopping list trend, such that the smart list predictive of a next shopping list.
US08359226B2
A method of marketing optimization with respect to brand lifetime management formulates a problem of brand equity maximization utilizing Markov Decision Process (MDP) thereby casting brand equity management as a long term regard optimization problem in MDP, The marketing mix is optimized by formulating the mix as actions in MDP and, utilizing historical marketing and transaction data, aspects of the MDP are estimated.
US08359221B2
The systems and methods for providing an integrated means for monitoring, managing and auditing employees performance at a workplace or job site, such as monitoring the time worked by the employees, ensuring employee compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and coordinating and assigning duties to be performed by the employees. Each employee may be provided with a mobile wireless device in communication with the system to provide alerts of potential or actual violations, notifications of any change in duties or position, and notification of time clock status (i.e., time to take a break, time to clock in, etc.).
US08359207B2
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for generating toxicology reports. Using the methods and apparatus disclosed herein, physicians can more easily understand toxicological lab test results. Physicians receive a toxicology report that explains, in plain language, the toxicological lab test results. A rules engine provides rules for interpreting the toxicological lab test results. Detailed explanations are associated with the rules, and the explanations appear on the toxicology report. The toxicology report greatly reduces the need for the physician to call the toxicology scientist.
US08359201B1
Systems, methods, and apparatuses including computer program products are provided for encoding and using a language model. In one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes generating a compact language model, including receiving a collection of n-grams, each n-gram having one or more associated parameter values, determining a fingerprint for each n-gram of the collection of n-grams, identifying locations in an array for each n-gram using a plurality of hash functions, and encoding the one or more parameter values associated with each n-gram in the identified array locations as a function of corresponding array values and the fingerprint for the n-gram.
US08359195B2
A method and device for processing signals representing speech or audio via a plurality of filters that approximate behaviors of the basilar membrane of human cochlea. Each of the plurality of filters is formed from a mother filter via the dilation and a shift in time and has the similar impulse response of the basilar membrane to the frequency band for which the filter represents. Any process can be conducted and any feature can be extracted in the domain of the filters' outputs for applications, such as noise reduction, speech synthesis, coding, and speech and speaker recognition. Processed signals can be synthesized back to the time domain via an inverse cochlear transform.
US08359193B2
A method, computer system and/or computer program product pre-highlight text that is located in a search. A text highlight and a triple statement semantic annotation based on the text highlight of a first document are received. The triple statement semantic annotation comprises a subject, a relationship and an object. A natural language processing (NLP) pattern based on the triple statement semantic annotation is generated. The NLP pattern is representative of a linguistic pattern between the text highlight and the triple statement semantic annotation. A multi-dimensional linguistic profile is generated based on the text highlight, the triple statement semantic annotation and the NLP pattern, wherein the multi-dimensional linguistic profile defines entities, relationships and attributes associated with document text. Text in a second document is compared with the multi-dimensional linguistic profile, and text in the second document is highlighted based on the comparison.
US08359191B2
In some embodiments, a method comprises receiving a tag cloud including tags that hyperlink to web content. The method can also comprise separating the tags into different linguistic categories, assigning a weight to each tag, and grouping the tags into clusters, wherein tags in a cluster are associated with a context. The method can also include determining one or more domains for the tag clusters, wherein a domain is a broadest class that defines one or more of the tags in a linguistic category, determining a hierarchy for the tags based on the weights of the tags, and identifying linguistic relationships between the tags. The method can also comprise determining properties associated with one or more of the tags and one or more of the domains, wherein the tag's properties are determined using linguistic analysis and storing the tags, the hierarchies, the linguistic relationships, and the properties.
US08359176B2
A method and apparatus for preventing photovoltaic (PV) cell reverse breakdown during operation of a PV module. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a first temperature value; and restricting an operating voltage of the PV module based on the first temperature value.
US08359166B2
Aspects of the present invention describe an apparatus and method for generating genotype calls for a sample. The genotyping initially models allelic signal response into an allelic model having one or more model parameters for an identified one or more sources of systematic variation. The model and parameters are then used to transform the allelic signals to a normalized normalized allelic space that serves to compensate for the one or more sources of systematic variation. By compensating for the systematic variation in this manner, the genotype for the sample is readily determined based upon its relationship to the representation of the allelic signals in normalized allelic space and in accordance with the allelic model.
US08359159B2
When a map acquisition judgment means judges that the acquisition of map information is required, a terminal device transmits spot position information calculated by a spot information calculation means to a server which mediates providing of the map information, via a first map information providing server where the terminal device is positioned. The server causes an area judgment means to judge according to the spot information an area of providing map information including the spot, identifies a map information providing system on the basis of the judgment, and requests providing of the map information including the spot to a second map information providing server in the area according to the spot position information. The terminal device synthesizes map information held by the terminal and map information provided by the second map information providing server by a map synthesis means and displays the synthesized map information on a display means.
US08359150B2
A following distance control device (1) that controls a vehicle to regulate a distance to a preceding vehicle to a target following distance, the following distance control device (1) including: detecting unit (30) that detect at least one of acceleration operation (12) or deceleration operation (13) by a driver; a target following distance changing unit that changes the target following distance on the basis of the acceleration operation (12) or the deceleration operation (13) by the driver that is detected by the detecting unit (30); and an inhibition unit that inhibits a changing amount of the target following distance by the target following distance changing unit when the given acceleration operation (12) or the given deceleration operation (13) is executed.
US08359149B2
The velocity of a vehicle is controlled according a cruise control system that has a plurality of cruise control features. Each of the cruise control features has a current desired velocity requirement which can be used to determine a single current desired velocity for controlling the vehicle. A future desired velocity requirement can be predicted for each of the cruise control features over a time period. Vehicle acceleration can be determined from the difference of the current desired velocity and the predicted future velocity for controlling the velocity and acceleration of the vehicle to the predicted future velocity.
US08359147B2
A wheel speed transducer including a magnetic device associated with a wheel and a sensor device associated with the axle of the wheel provides data indicative of the velocity of the wheel. A processor located at the axle receives the wheel speed data and processes it to perform antiskid control functions. The velocity data is stored in a data concentrator also associated with the axle. A tire pressure sensor, a brake temperature sensor and a brake torque sensor, each associated with the wheel, send data to the processor at the axle, for storage in the data concentrator. A transmitting antenna associated with the axle and in communication with the data concentrator transmits stored data to a receiving antenna associated with the wheel. A data port at the wheel and in communication with the receiving antenna provides an interface to an external device for receiving the data.
US08359144B2
A powertrain system includes a torque machine mechanically rotatably coupled via a transfer gear set to a drive wheel. The transfer gear set includes a first gear meshingly engaged to a second gear with lash angle between the first and second gears. A method for operating the powertrain system includes monitoring an output speed associated with the torque machine and a wheel speed associated with the drive wheel. A transition between a first torque transfer state and a second torque transfer state is detected, the transition including a gear lash event across the transfer gear set. An elapsed time period for completing the gear lash event across the transfer gear set during the transition between the first torque transfer state and the second torque transfer state is set, and a target output speed derived from the wheel speed during and at the end of the elapsed time period is determined. A preferred output speed profile during the gear lash event is also determined, and includes prescribed changes in the output speed associated with phase-shifting the lash angle from a minimum lash angle to a maximum lash angle. The output speed is adjusted to be substantially equal to the target output speed at the end of the elapsed time period. The torque machine is controlled to achieve the preferred output speed profile.
US08359135B2
An control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes: a failure shift stage setting section configured to set, to the target shift stage, a shift stage which can be attained in a state in which the one of the solenoids judged that the failure is generated is not energized; and a failure neutral state through section configured to control the solenoids at a predetermined vehicle speed or over so that the automatic transmission is brought to a neutral state, when the target shift stage is a shift stage at which the vehicle speed is suddenly decreased when the solenoids are controlled so that the automatic transmission attains the target shift stage, and to control the solenoids below the predetermined vehicle speed so that the automatic transmission attains the target shift stage.
US08359134B2
A center control unit (11) of a center unit (4) generates assessment information corresponding to the strictness of the usage conditions for a specified component based on operation data stored in an operation data accumulation unit (13) received by an in-vehicle terminal (2) and assessment regulations stored in an assessment regulation storage unit (14), and generates report information for displaying a report in a form allowing comparison of this generated assessment information to relative comparison assessment information stored in an assessment information storage unit (15). A transmitter-receiver (12) transmits the report information generated by the center control unit (11) to a user terminal (3).
US08359130B2
Disclosed are a method and device for attenuating vertical turbulence encountered by an aircraft during flight. Incorporated into the method and device is a wind determination device, which is used to determine a vertical wind component existing outside the aircraft. A severity level determination unit is used to determine a severity level of the vertical wind component determined by the wind determination device. A control unit calculates at least one control order based on the vertical wind component determined by the wind determination device. In addition, the control unit determines the actual existence of activation conditions determined according to the severity level determined by the severity level determination unit. Upon verifying the activation conditions, the control unit transmits the control order to at least one actuator of the at least one controllable movable member.
US08359128B1
A method and apparatus for managing solar power collection. A position of the sun is identified relative to an aerospace vehicle while the aerospace vehicle is moving along a flight path. A level of power generation is identified by a solar power generation system while the aerospace vehicle moves along the flight path using a threat management module and equivalent radar signature data. The threat management module uses the equivalent radar signature data to identify the level of power generation by the aerospace vehicle from different positions of the sun relative to the aerospace vehicle, and the equivalent radar signature data is based on solar power generation signature data identifying the level of power generation for the different positions of the sun relative to the aerospace vehicle. A change in the flight path that results in a desired level of power generation is identified by the solar power generation system.
US08359126B2
A method for operating a charging stall having a known geographic location configured to electrically charge an electrically-powered vehicle includes communicating a first message to a remote access server from a subject vehicle, the first message including geographic location information corresponding to the subject vehicle, detecting a presence of a parked vehicle at the charging stall with a monitoring system signally connected to a monitoring controller, communicating a second message to the remote access server from the monitoring controller, the second message comprising the detected presence of the parked vehicle at the charging stall, resolving that the parked vehicle at the charging stall comprises the subject vehicle based upon the first and second messages, and activating a power access control device at the charging stall to permit electric power flow through a corresponding electric power outlet.
US08359123B2
A robotic system for rehabilitation using EMG signals to provide mechanical help includes EMG electrodes (6) sequentially connected in series, a DAS card (2) and a control portion (1), and further includes an actuator (3) connected to the DAS card (2) and an additional moment providing portion (4) connected to the actuator (3). The EMG electrodes sense EMG signals corresponding to the muscle of suffering joint, and input the sensed EMG signals to the control portion (1) through the DAS card (2). The control portion (1) uses the input EMG signals and a constant moment set as desired to calculate an additional moment to be applied to the suffering joint, and additional moment providing portion (4) is controlled to apply the corresponding additional moment to the suffering joint through the DAS card (2) and the actuator (3).
US08359119B2
In a method for assisting at least partially manual control of a metal processing line (1), in which metal (4) in strip or slab form or a pre-profiled state is worked, the proportion of at least one metallurgical phase of the metal is continuously determined with respect to at least one specific location of the metal processing line while taking into account operating parameters of the metal processing line (1) that influence the phase state and/or state parameters of the metal, and the proportion of the least one phase with respect to the specific location of the metal processing line is indicated to an operator.
US08359112B2
The present invention relates generally to process control systems and devices and, more particularly, to an apparatus for and a method of implementing redundant controller synchronization for bump-less failover during normal and mismatch conditions at the redundant controllers. The redundant controllers are configured to transmit state information of the process control areas of the primary controller to the backup controller that is necessary for synchronizing the redundant controllers but is not typically transmitted to other devices during the performance of process control functions. Synchronization messages are transmitted from the primary controller to the backup controller each time one of the control areas executes to perform process control functions. In other aspects, the redundant controllers are configured to determine state information at the backup controller from other process control network information during a failover of the primary controller where a mismatch condition exists between the control areas of the two controllers during the downloading of reconfigurations, and to initialize the backup controller at startup when the mismatch condition exists.
US08359108B2
The present invention describes an apparatus, a system and a method for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The treatment involves monitoring the position of the tongue and/or the force exerted by the tongue and electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve to move the tongue into an anterior position or to maintain the tongue in an anterior position.
US08359104B2
An electrode especially useful for RF skin tightening procedures is characterized by an active front that is conical in part with the conical surface having a cone angle that is shallower than the corresponding angle in known electrodes. Preferably, the electrode of the invention has a conical section whose surface forms an angle greater than 60 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the electrode, and the outside diameter of the conical section is greater than 50% of the overall outside diameter of the electrode.
US08359101B2
In one embodiment, a method electrically stimulates an area in a spinal disc. The method comprises: implanting at least one steerable lead at a placement site for stimulating a spinal disc such that the lead is disposed exterior and immediately adjacent to and circumferentially along an annulus of the spinal disc, the at least one lead including a plurality of electrodes distributed along a majority of a circumference of the annulus; connecting the lead to a signal generator; and generating electrical stimulation pulses using the generator to stimulate targeted portions of the spinal disc, wherein the stimulation of the targeted portion of the spinal disc sufficiently stimulates nerve tissue within the spinal disc to prevent communication of pain signals originating in the spinal disc without damaging tissue of the spinal disc.
US08359100B2
In one embodiment, a system for electrically stimulating neural tissue of a patient and for determining neurotransmitter release in response to stimulation, the system comprises: pulse generating circuitry for generating electrical pulses; at least one electrical lead for conducting electrical pulses generated by the pulse generating circuitry to neural tissue, the at least one electrical lead comprising a plurality of electrodes; at least one electrochemical sensor for sensing an extracellular level of one or several neurotransmitters; circuitry for sampling a signal from the at least one electrochemical sensor; a controller for automatically applying stimulation to neural tissue using a plurality of electrode combinations, the controller generating data related to neurotransmitter release for each of the plurality of electrode combinations; and a display for displaying neurotransmitter release for electrode combinations to a clinician.
US08359095B2
In a medical system and a method for operating such a system, the system includes an implantable medical device of a patient, a programmer device, and an extracorporeal stress equipment adapted to exert a physiological stress on the patient, for automatically determining settings of a sensor for sensing a physiological parameter of the patient or for automatically determining a pacing setting of the device over a broad range of workloads of the equipment. The ingoing units and/or devices of the medical system, i.e. the implantable medical device of the patient, the programmer device, and the extracorporeal stress equipment, communicate bi-directionally with each other and form a closed loop.
US08359092B2
Software and apparatus are provided to automatically detect and map ganglionated plexi that are found within areas of complex fractionated electrograms in cardiac chambers. Electrogram signal are analyzed to count the number of complexes whose amplitude and peak-to-peak intervals meet certain criteria. Functional maps indicating a spatial distribution of the ganglionated plexi and the relative numbers of complex fractionated electrograms are produced for display.
US08359084B2
An isolation system with imaging or radiation therapy capability is disclosed. At least one containment barrier (14, 15, 16, 17) defines an isolation region (10). An imaging or therapy system (20) is disposed outside of the isolation region. The containment barrier includes a substantially hollow tubular extension (24, 42, 44, 124, 224, 324) protruding away from the isolation region (10). The substantially hollow tubular extension surrounds an interior volume (26) that is in fluid communication with the isolation region and is in fluid isolation from the imaging or therapy system. The substantially hollow tubular extension is made at least partially of a material providing operative communication between the imaging or therapy system and the interior volume of the substantially hollow tubular extension.
US08359081B2
Generally, embodiments of the invention relate to analyte determining devices (e.g., electrochemical analyte monitoring systems) that include an indicator element that provides information relating to service history of the analyte determining devices, including, for example, previous use of the analyte determining devices. Also provided are systems and methods of using the, for example electrochemical, analyte determining devices in analyte monitoring.
US08359080B2
The present invention involves a method and an apparatus for analyzing measured signals, including the determination of a measurement of oxygen saturation and respiration rate in the measured signals during a calculation of a physiological parameter of a monitored patient. Use of this invention is described in particular detail with respect to oximetry-based measurements but extends to other types of measurements.
US08359078B2
In some embodiments, a mobile media device enclosure can include: (a) an enclosure having an interior, an exterior, a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the interior configured to form a cavity, the cavity is sized to retain a mobile media device therein; (b) a vertical boundary, the vertical boundary having a substantially vertical orientation and configured to substantially bisect the mobile media device enclosure from the top side to the bottom side; and (c) a horizontal boundary, the horizontal boundary having a substantially horizontal orientation and configured to substantially bisect the mobile media device enclosure from the left side to the right side. The vertical boundary and the horizontal boundary are further configured to substantially divide the mobile media device enclosure into four sections. Each of the four sections is elastically coupled to two other sections of the four sections. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08359074B1
A dummy circuit is provided to which a bias circuit of an low noise amplifier (LNA) can be coupled to during power down of the LNA. The dummy circuit maintains the bias circuit at an approximately normal operating state to reduce wake up time of the LNA.
US08359072B2
A mobile terminal having a floated display unit is provided. The mobile terminal includes a first body unit having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a second body, and a hinge unit. The second body unit is shorter than the first body unit, is disposed in a central part of the first surface of the first body unit, and has a first display unit disposed in a first surface of the second body unit opposite to a second surface of the body unit facing the first surface of the first body unit. The hinge unit connects the first body unit and the second body unit. The second body unit is movable about the hinge unit to open/close the second body unit with respect to the first surface of the first body unit.
US08359067B2
There is provided a radio frequency circuit device for multi-band and multi-mode which is low in a circuit loss, and a mobile communication terminal using the radio frequency circuit device. The radio frequency circuit device has a first path 110 that includes an amplifier 10a that amplifies signals of at least two modulation techniques in power, a matching network 20 that is connected to the amplifier and a duplexer 50 and allows the matching network to be coupled with an antenna, and a second path 111 that does not include the duplexer and allows the matching network to be coupled with the antenna. The first path is selected when the amplifier amplifies one of the signals of at least two modulation techniques, and the second path is selected when the amplifier amplifies another signal. An output impedance of the amplifier is matched with an impedance when viewing the antenna side from the amplifier in the first path and the second path.
US08359066B2
A multimode land mobile radio (LMR) and a method of communicating land mobile radio (LMR) content using an LMR device are provided. The LMR includes an LMR communication portion configured to provide communication with an LMR network and a cellular data network communication portion configured to provide communication with a cellular data network.
US08359063B1
A first plurality of wireless devices associated with a wireless network element is communicated with using a first multi-antenna mode. There is a first number of the first plurality of wireless devices. A second plurality of wireless devices associated with the wireless network element is communicated with using a second multi-antenna mode. There is a second number of the second plurality of wireless devices. A request for traffic resources is received from a wireless device associated with the wireless network element. In response to the request for traffic resources, the request for traffic resources is granted based on whether the first number satisfies a first criteria and whether the second number satisfies a second criteria.
US08359042B2
Provided is a communication system using various types of random beamforming technologies. Each of terminals that belong to a user group may generate a decoding matrix, based on interference caused by a neighboring base station of a serving base station. Each of the terminals may transmit, to the serving base station or the neighboring base station, information associated with a signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) or throughput based on the decoding matrix. The serving base station may select, from the terminals, at least one target terminal to communicate with the serving base station.
US08359041B2
A system and method for adaptively controlling feedback information according to a loading condition of a communications cell is provided. A method comprises receiving an indication from a base station, computing an amount of feedback information to transmit back to the base station using the indication, locating a feedback resource assigned to the mobile station using the amount of feedback information and an identity of the mobile station, computing a feedback information, and transmitting the feedback information using the located feedback resource. The indication is for a set of candidate transmission formats that is based on loading conditions in the cell.
US08359036B2
According to one embodiment, a wireless terminal includes a determination module, a request generator and a transmitter. The determination module is configured to determine whether wireless communication with a second base station is possible, when the wireless terminal is connected to a first base station. The second base station is capable of communicate with the first base station via an inter-base-station network and supports a first operating mode in which wireless communication is valid and a second operating mode in which wireless communication is invalid. The request generator is configured to generate a control signal which comprises address data designating the second base station and which requests for setting the second base station to the first operating mode, if the wireless communication with the second base station is possible. The transmitter is configured to transmit the control signal to the first base station.
US08359034B2
A base station apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether to cause a user equipment residing in a cell of the base station apparatus to conduct different frequency measurement and a transmitting unit configured to transmit a control signal to the user equipment. The user equipment includes a reception unit configured to receive the control signal from the base station apparatus of a camped cell and a cell search and quality measurement unit configured to conduct cell search at a frequency indicated by the base station apparatus and cell quality measurement. If a candidate handover target cell of the user equipment is a predefined cell, the control signal allows the user equipment to conduct the different frequency measurement in a gap period defined in a mobile communication system. If the candidate handover target cell of the user equipment is another predefined cell different from the predefined cell, the control signal allows the user equipment to conduct the different frequency measurement in the gap period defined in the mobile communication system and between discontinuous signal receptions in a discontinuous reception operating mode.
US08359031B2
The invention provides a computer-based method for logging a user mobile device onto a server computer system including registering a unique identifier of a user mobile device, receiving a first message from the user mobile device, detecting an Internet Protocol address associated with the user mobile device, receiving the unique identifier corresponding to the Internet Protocol address; and transmitting to the user mobile device a second message.
US08359025B2
A method of determining a network parameter in a telecommunication system is disclosed. The system has a coverage area including at least two sub-areas, and also includes a User Equipment (UE) being in idle mode and being registered in at least two of these sub-areas. According to the present disclosure, a network node in the system receives from the UE a time information relating to the time periods the UE has been present in each of the at least two sub-areas it is registered in, respectively, and then this time information is utilized to determine a network parameter in the system.
US08359024B1
A communication system provides a wireless communication session to a user device over a forward link and a reverse link. A wireless network determines that drop notification and protection is effective for the session and detects session loss on the reverse link. The network transfers a session loss indication to the user device to over the forward link and transfers a protection notice to the other communication end-point. The user device receives the session loss indication over the forward link and notifies the user. The user device transfers recovery probes over the reverse link. The network detects session recovery on the reverse link and transfers a session recovery indication to the user device over the forward link. The network transfers a recovery notice to the communication end-point. The user device receives the session recovery indication over the forward link and notifies the user of the session recovery.
US08359023B2
A radio communication method acquires a moving speed of a radio communication terminal located in a cell formed by a first radio base station. A second radio base station is requested to radiate a dynamic directional beam in a direction of the cell formed by the first radio base station when the moving speed is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold prior to entering a cell formed by the second radio base station. The radio communication terminal is accommodated in the second radio base station that has transmitted the directional beam in response to the request.
US08359004B2
An intelligent charging triggering method is provided. The method includes receiving a subscriber location data update request sent by a serving mobile switching center (MSC), determining whether subscriber data delivered to the serving MSC carries intelligent subscription data of a prepaid subscriber according to a preset intelligent charging triggering policy, and then delivering the subscriber data carrying the intelligent subscription data to the serving MSC if a determination result is that the subscriber data delivered to the serving MSC carries the intelligent subscription data. A home location register (HLR) and a charging processing system are further provided. The technical solutions can realize real-time charging of a calling service of a prepaid subscriber in a BOSS system when the prepaid subscriber roams in a roaming region of a home country, and meanwhile realize an international roaming service of a prepaid subscriber in an intelligent network (IN).
US08358994B2
In one embodiment, a method for processing radio frequency signals includes estimating an average value of a demodulated signal and a noise signal, both obtained from a radio frequency signal, estimating a noise floor based on the noise signal, generating a blend control signal based on the average values and the noise floor, and blending at least two path signals based on the blend control signal to obtain a blended signal. This blended signal may be output for further processing when multipath noise is detected.
US08358991B2
Embodiments of an RF receiver front-end are presented herein. In an embodiment, the RF receiver front-end comprises a transconductance LNA, a passive mixer, and a gm-enhanced common-gate buffer. The transconductance LNA is configured to convert an RF voltage signal to an RF current signal and provide the RF current signal at an output. The passive mixer is coupled to the output of the transconductance LNA and is configured to mix the RF current signal with a local oscillator signal to produce a frequency translated current signal. The gm-enhanced common-gate buffer is configured to receive the frequency translated current signal at an input and convert the frequency translated current signal to a frequency translated voltage signal. In an embodiment, the input of the gm-enhanced common-gate buffer is configured to provide a low input impedance to limit a voltage swing of the frequency translated current signal.
US08358987B2
A bit rate processor in a wireless system includes a front end processor to process physical channel data and to generate encoded transport channel data, a transport channel buffer to hold the encoded transport channel data, and a back end processor to process the encoded transport channel data from the transport channel buffer and to generate decoded transport channel bits. The front end process may include a frame buffer that receives the physical channel data, a first stage to de-map the physical channel data, an intermediate frame buffer that receives the de-mapped physical channel data, and a second stage to process the de-mapped physical channel data and to provide the encoded transport channel data. The back end processor may include a third stage, including a scaling circuit to scale the encoded transport channel data, a decoder to decode the scaled transport channel data, a CRC checker and an output buffer.
US08358986B2
Methods and apparatus for RF channel selection in a multi-frequency network. A method includes identifying selected local operations infrastructures (LOIs) and their neighboring LOIs, generating a neighbor description message (NDM) that identifies the selected LOIs and their neighboring LOIs and associates a descrambling sequence identifier with each RF channel of the selected LOIs and their neighboring LOIs, and distributing the NDM over the selected LOIs. An apparatus includes a message decoder to receive an NDM that identifies RF channels of a first LOI and neighboring LOIs, and wherein each RF channel is associated with a descrambling sequence identifier, and processing logic to detect content acquisition failures, determine a list of RF channels and their associated LOIs that carry desired content, and select a selected RF channel that is associated with a selected LOI that carries the most additional content among the associated LOIs.
US08358982B2
A User Equipment (UE) apparatus for use in a cellular wireless communications network, and method for its operation, are provided. The apparatus includes a measuring unit for measuring signals received from at least one of a serving cell of the network and from neighboring cells, a memory for storing information defining a plurality of conditions for triggering the UE to send a measurement report to the network, the measurement report comprising a result of at least one measurement performed by the UE, a determining unit for determining when one of the plurality of conditions is met, and a sending unit for sending, in response to one of the plurality of conditions being met, a measurement report for reception by the network, wherein each of the plurality of conditions is defined by a respective plurality of at least one of parameters and variables.
US08358980B2
Disclosed is a wireless audio transfer system that includes an audio transmitting apparatus including a microphone and a modulating/transmitting unit for transmitting radio waves modulated using an audio signal from the microphone, an audio receiving apparatus including a receiving/demodulating unit for receiving the radio waves and demodulating the audio signal, and an audio output terminal for outputting the audio signal demodulated by the receiving/demodulating unit. The system further includes an image pickup apparatus including an audio input terminal for inputting the audio signal. In the system, the audio transmitting apparatus includes a detecting unit for detecting distortion of an audio signal and a data transmitting unit for transmitting status data, the audio receiving apparatus includes a first communication terminal and a data processing unit for obtaining the status data from the received radio waves and outputting the status data from the first communication terminal, and the image pickup apparatus includes a second communication terminal for inputting the status data outputted from the first communication terminal, a display unit, and a first control unit for displaying whether audio distortion is present at the audio transmitting apparatus.
US08358974B2
An amplitude of a carrier signal at an output of an impedance matching block is measured as a first amplitude value. A value of the signal amplitude at the output of the impedance matching block is calculated as a second amplitude value that a signal resulting from amplitude modulation with said modulation factor from said carrier signal should assume, said carrying signal having an amplitude with the first amplitude value. A setting of a transmitter is changed to decrease the carrier signal amplitude at the output of the impedance matching block. An amplitude of a new carrier signal at the output of the impedance matching block is measured as a new amplitude value. The transmitter setting keeps changing so many times until the new amplitude value is equal to or lower than said second amplitude value or within a predetermined tolerance range around said second amplitude value. Parameters of the last new transmitter setting are stored as the parameters of the transmitter setting, by means of which the transmitter will generate a transmitted signal being amplitude-modulated in the specified manner. The setting of the amplitude modulation with the specified modulation factor is carried out automatically. The designing of the transmitter circuit is simplified.
US08358972B2
A method and apparatus is described herein for controlling the operating temperature of radio equipment (44, 46) in a radio base station (10) while preventing a decrease in power of a common channel. A radio base station (10) according to the present invention includes a radio unit (40) and a control unit (20). The radio unit (40) determines a temperature of the radio unit (40), e.g., by determining a temperature of high power radio equipment (46) in the radio unit (40). The control unit (20) allocates a desired power to the common channel, determines an available power for dedicated and/or shared channels based on the allocated power for the common channel and a power limit derived from the determined temperature, and allocates the available power to the dedicated and/or shared channels.
US08358970B2
A repeater and associated method of use includes at least one antenna element for communicating in one direction and at least one antenna element for communicating in another direction. A radio frequency uplink path and a radio frequency downlink path are coupled between the antennas. At least one of the radio frequency uplink path or the radio frequency downlink path includes an adaptive cancellation circuit. The adaptive cancellation circuit is configured to generate a cancellation signal without requiring an injected signal. The cancellation signal, when added to a radio frequency signal in the respective uplink and downlink paths, substantially reduces feedback signals present in the radio frequency signal.
US08358960B2
An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt; a rotatable member, contacting an outer surface of the belt, for forming a nip in which a recording material is nipped and conveyed; a stretcher for stretching the belt; an urging member, contacting an inner surface of the belt, for urging the stretcher by movement of the belt so as to include a contact portion at which the urging member contacts the stretchers; a lubricator for applying a lubricant onto the inner surface of the belt; and a collector, contacting the stretcher downstream of an area in which the stretcher contacts the belt and upstream of the contact portion with respect to a rotational direction of the stretcher, for collecting the lubricant from the stretcher. The collector includes a guide for guiding the lubricant, collected from the stretcher, onto the inner surface of the endless belt.
US08358956B2
In a corotron device, a moving element moves via a guide unit. A corotron having a corotron element and a corotron shield is provided. The corotron element is arranged relative to the guide unit such that a distance from, and a parallel position of, the corotron element relative to the guide unit substantially do not change.
