US08372893B2
This disclosure describes a method of making a polyurethane foam and a method of reducing NVH expected to be experienced by a substrate using the foam. When the foam is subjected to 95% relative humidity for a period of 7 days at a temperature of about 50° C., the foam absorbs an amount of water that is less than about 30% of the weight of the foam.
US08372883B2
The present invention provides novel cycloalkylmethylamine analogs, and methods of preparing cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The present invention also provides methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine analogs and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the present invention can be advantageously used for treating and/or preventing obesity and obesity related co-morbid indications.
US08372879B2
4-(heterocycloalkyl)benzene-1,3-diol compounds are described corresponding to general formula (I) below: Also described, are compositions including the same, processes for preparation thereof and to the use thereof in pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions for use in the treatment or prevention of pigmentary disorders.
US08372876B2
A method for improving memory in healthy subjects is disclosed. This method makes use of melatonin receptor antagonists such as luzindole and/or K-185 to reverse the inhibitory effect of melatonin. This invention is particularly relevant among subjects that do not show signs of central nervous system disorders and wish to improve their cognitive performance, especially in tasks.
US08372872B2
Co-administration of febuxostat and theophylline to a hyperuricemic patient suffering from gout is disclosed.
US08372867B2
The present invention relates to novel aryl isoxazoline derivatives having excellent insecticidal activity as insecticides and represented by the formula: and their use as insecticides and acarizides.
US08372858B2
The invention provides novel pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for using such compounds. For example, the pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives of the invention may be used to treat, ameliorate or prevent a condition which responds to inhibition of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) activity, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP-70), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1R), or a combination thereof.
US08372857B2
The present invention relates to substituted 4-hydroxypyrimidine-5-carboxamides useful as HIF prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors to treat anemia and like conditions.
US08372830B2
The present invention relates to methods of reducing cardiotoxicity and/or improving survival from treatment with anthracycline agents comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a vasopressin antagonist compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient, administered simultaneously or prior to the anthracycline administration.
US08372824B2
Compounds exhibiting 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha/beta-steroid blocking action with no or only low antagonism against the gamma-aminobutyric acid (A) receptor (GABA-A), and compounds exhibiting partial antagonism against said receptor are presented. Methods for the prevention, treatment and/or alleviation of various CNS-disorders are suggested, as well as pharmaceutical compositions for such use.
US08372821B2
Compositions containing one or more bioactive forms of creatine which are aqueous compositions in which the one or more bioactive forms of creatine do not appreciably degrade into creatinine. Also are methods for providing various beneficial effects which comprise administering aqueous compositions comprising at least one creating O-phosphate species to a mammalian subject, either chronically or acutely.
US08372820B2
The present invention discloses silicone oils which are structured with a copolymer comprising a large percentage of alkane groups. Using high percentage pendant alkane helps provide silicone with ideal gel properties (G′>G″, particularly >1000 cP, more preferably 2000-30,000 cP) and viscosity, after fracture, of 10 to 1000 cP, preferably 30-500 cP MW of polymer and exact chain length are selected to ensure that, when forming gel upon cooling after mixing polymer and silicone, the polymer viscosity will not be so high upon crystal formation that gel cannot form, yet also will not be so low that polymer will phase separate.
US08372819B2
Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating apoptosis by targeting SKIP (Ski-interacting protein) activity. Methods of increasing DNA damage-induced cell death in cancer cells, and reducing DNA damage-induced cell death in normal cells are provided.
US08372818B2
A method of killing a specific target cell/tissue is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the specific target cell/tissue to a composition-of-matter which comprises a double stranded RNA molecule associated with a targeting moiety selected capable of targeting to the specific target cell/tissue, thereby killing the specific target cell/tissue.
US08372817B2
A small interfering RNA for gene knockdown of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR1 subunit comprises 21 to 25 ribonucleic acids, which are homologous to the RNA sequence of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR1 subunit. A method of using the small interfering RNA, applying the small interfering RNA on subcutaneous tissues temporary interfere with the genetic expression of the NMDA receptor NR1 subunit in hypoderm. A use of the small interfering RNA on pharmaceutics, applying the small interfering RNA manufacture into new analgesic drugs for moderating the inflammatory pain or intolerable chronic pain, especially on clinical chronic pain and burn pain patients. An analgesic drug for skin inflammatory pain comprising: the small interfering RNA and a siRNA acceptable vehicle.
US08372816B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for reducing KRAS target RNA and protein levels via use of Dicer substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) agents possessing asymmetric end structures.
US08372813B2
Compounds having antibacterial activity are disclosed. The compounds have the following structure (I): including stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein Q1, Q2, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed.
US08372812B2
A new method for krill meal production has been developed using a two step cooking process. In the first step the proteins and phospholipids are removed from the krill and precipitated as a coagulum. In the second stage the krill without phospholipids are cooked. Following this, residual fat and astaxanthin are removed from the krill using mechanical separation methods. A novel krill meal product with superior nutritional and technical properties is prepared.
US08372811B2
Disclosed is a composition for treating retinopathy comprising thrombin derived peptide as an effective component.
US08372810B2
The present invention relates to an active polypeptide including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or having at least 50%, preferably 70%, more preferably 90% identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or fragments thereof having at least 21 contiguous amino acids, or peptides having at least 50%, preferably 70%, more preferably 90% identity with the amino acid sequence of the fragments, provided that the polypeptide is not SEQ ID NO:2, variants and antigenic fragments thereof, SEQ ID NO 16 or SEQ ID NO 17, and uses thereof in a method of treating cancer and/or tumours of the human or animal body.
US08372806B2
The transdermal delivery system for treating infertility in a patient comprises an apparatus (10) for facilitating transdermal delivery of a drug (5a) through an area of the apparatus (10) comprises an ablator that is configured to generate a microporation in the area of the skin of the patient, and comprises a drug (5a), wherein the drug effects at least one of the biological regulation of at least one oocyte containing follicle, stimulation of follicle growth, induction of ovulation, promotion of gestational status, maintenance of conceptus, maintenance of pregnancy.
US08372804B2
A method of introducing a physiologically-active agent into the circulatory system of a mammal is disclosed herein. The method utilizes a rapid drug delivery system which prevents deactivation or degradation of the active agent being administered to a patient in need of treatment. In particular, the drug delivery system is designed for pulmonary drug delivery such as by inhalation, for delivery of the active agents such as proteins and peptides to the pulmonary circulation in a therapeutically effective manner avoiding degradation of the active agents in peripheral and vascular tissue before reaching the target site.
US08372801B2
A class of integral membrane proteins, referred to as Mistic polypeptides, their variants, fusion proteins including a Mistic polypeptide domain, and nucleic acid molecules encoding Mistic polypeptides and Mistic fusion proteins are disclosed herein. Also described are methods of using Mistic polypeptides and Mistic fusion proteins to produce and/or isolate recombinant proteins (including without limitation classes of eukaryotic proteins that have previously been intractable to recombinant bacterial expression, such as, eukaryotic integral membrane proteins).
US08372800B2
An albumin-free Factor VIII formulation comprising: 4% to 10% of a bulking agent selected from the group consisting of mannitol, glycine and alanine; 1% to 4% of a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, and arginine; 1 mM to 5 mM calcium salt; 100 mM to 300 mM NaCl; and a buffering agent. Alternatively, the formulation can comprise 2% to 6% hydroxyethyl starch; 1% to 4% of a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, and arginine; 1 mM to 5 mM calcium salt; 100 mM to 300 mM NaCl; and a buffering agent. In a further embodiment, the formulation can comprise: 300 mM to 500 mM NaCl; 1% to 4% of a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, and arginine; 1 mM to 5 mM calcium salt; and a buffering agent.
US08372799B2
A protein which is composed N-terminally of one or several C-terminal parts of the amino acid sequence of the mature tumor necrosis factor and C-terminally of one or several N-terminal parts of the amino acid sequence of the mature tumor necrosis factor, which activates epithelial ion channels and improves the lung function and which can be used for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment of diseases associated with the lung function, such as oedemas.
US08372789B2
Methods that comprise selecting proppant for use in a fracturing fluid based on one or more factors, wherein the one or more factors comprise an interaction between the proppant and the fracturing fluid. Methods that comprise designing a treatment fluid that comprises a gelled base fluid and a particulate based on one or more factors, wherein the one or more factors comprise an interaction between the particulate and the gelled base fluid.
US08372787B2
A composition for wellbore consolidation comprises fibers having a core formed from a material that is electrically and/or magnetically susceptible, and a polymeric coating. When the composition is placed in a wellbore in a zone to be consolidated and an electric current or magnetic field is applied, the fibers bond together by melting or setting of the polymeric coating.
US08372786B2
A polyelectrolyte complex for the controlled release of an oil and gas field chemical selected from the group consisting of (a) a gel-forming or cross-linking agent, (b) a scale inhibitor, (c) a corrosion inhibitor, (d) an inhibitor of asphaltene or wax deposition, (e) a hydrogen sulfide scavenger, (f) a hydrate inhibitor, (g) a breaking agent, and a surfactant.
US08372781B2
Provided is a carbon catalyst having an excellent catalytic activity on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The carbon catalyst is a carbon catalyst for decomposing hydrogen peroxide, which is obtained by impregnating a carbonized material, which is obtained by carbonization of raw materials containing an organic compound as a carbon source, a metal, and an electrically conductive carbon material, with a metal, and subjecting the resultant to a heat treatment.
US08372766B2
Conductive nonwoven webs are disclosed. The nonwoven webs contain pulp fibers combined with conductive fibers. In one embodiment, the webs are made in a wetlaid tissue making process.
US08372761B2
A silicon oxide film is formed in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus by performing oxidation process, by using plasma to a processing object having a patterned irregularity, wherein the plasma is generated while high-frequency power is supplied to a mount table under the conditions that the oxygen content in a process gas is not less than 0.5% and less than 10% and the process pressure is 1.3 to 665 Pa.
US08372757B2
Exposed copper regions on a semiconductor substrate can be etched by a wet etching solution comprising (i) one or more complexing agents selected from the group consisting of bidentate, tridentate, and quadridentate complexing agents; and (ii) an oxidizer, at a pH of between about 5 and 12. In many embodiments, the etching is substantially isotropic and occurs without visible formation of insoluble species on the surface of copper. The etching is useful in a number of processes in semiconductor fabrication, including for partial or complete removal of copper overburden, for planarization of copper surfaces, and for forming recesses in copper-filled damascene features. Examples of suitable etching solutions include solutions comprising a diamine (e.g., ethylenediamine) and/or a triamine (e.g., diethylenetriamine) as bidentate and tridentate complexing agents respectively and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer. In some embodiments, the etching solutions further include pH adjustors, such as sulfuric acid, aminoacids, and carboxylic acids.
US08372744B2
A contact rhodium structure is fabricated by a process that comprises obtaining a substrate having a dielectric layer thereon, wherein the dielectric layer has cavities therein into which the contact rhodium is to be deposited; depositing a seed layer in the cavities and on the dielectric layer; and depositing the rhodium by electroplating from a bath comprising a rhodium salt; an acid and a stress reducer; and then optionally annealing the structure.
US08372740B2
The embodiments generally relate to methods of making semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to methods for making semiconductor pillar structures and increasing array feature pattern density using selective or directional gap fill. The technique has application to a variety of materials and can be applied to making monolithic two or three-dimensional memory arrays.
US08372737B1
An improved method of implanting a solar cell is disclosed. A substrate is coated with a soft mask material. A shadow mask is used to perform a pattern ion implant and to set the soft mask material. After the soft mask material is set, the mask is removed and a blanket implant is performed.
US08372734B2
Methods and devices are provided for transforming non-planar or planar precursor materials in an appropriate vehicle under the appropriate conditions to create dispersions of planar particles with stoichiometric ratios of elements equal to that of the feedstock or precursor materials, even after selective forces settling. In particular, planar particles disperse more easily, form much denser coatings (or form coatings with more interparticle contact area), and anneal into fused, dense films at a lower temperature and/or time than their counterparts made from spherical nanoparticles. These planar particles may be nanoflakes that have a high aspect ratio. The resulting dense films formed from nanoflakes are particularly useful in forming photovoltaic devices. In one embodiment, at least one set of the particles in the ink may be inter-metallic flake particles (microflake or nanoflake) containing at least one group IB-IIIA inter-metallic alloy phase.
US08372732B2
A method for fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes repeatedly stacking interlayer dielectric layers and gate conductive layers on a substrate; etching the interlayer dielectric layers and the gate conductive layers to form cell channel holes that expose the substrate, forming a protective layer along a resultant structure, forming a capping layer on the protective layer to fill the cell channel holes, planarizing the protective layer and the capping layer until an uppermost one of the interlayer dielectric layers is exposed, forming a gate conductive layer for select transistors and an interlayer dielectric layer for select transistors on a resultant structure, etching the interlayer dielectric layer and the gate conductive layer, to form select transistor channel holes that expose the capping layer while removing the capping layer buried in the cell channel holes, and removing the protective layer.
US08372718B2
An improvement is provided in a manufacturing yield of a semiconductor device including transistors in which gate insulating films have different thicknesses. After a high-breakdown-voltage insulating film is formed over a silicon substrate, a surface of the high-breakdown-voltage insulating film is abraded for a reduction in the thickness thereof so that a middle-breakdown-voltage insulating film is formed to be adjacent to the high-breakdown-voltage insulating film. The high-breakdown-voltage insulating film is formed by a thermal oxidation method so as to extend from an inside of the main surface of the silicon substrate to an outside thereof. The middle-breakdown-voltage insulating film is formed so as to be thinner than the high-breakdown-voltage insulating film. The high-breakdown-voltage insulating film is formed as the gate insulating film of a high-breakdown-voltage MIS transistor, while the middle-breakdown-voltage insulating film is formed as the gate insulating film of a middle-breakdown-voltage MIS transistor.
US08372717B2
A method of manufacturing a super junction semiconductor device having resurf stepped oxide structure is disclosed by providing semiconductor silicon layer having trenches and mesas. A plurality of first doped column regions of a second conductivity type in parallel surrounded with second doped column regions of a first conductivity type adjacent to sidewalls of the trenches are formed by angle ion implantations into a plurality of mesas through opening regions in a block layer covering both the mesas and a termination area.
US08372716B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is formed having vertical localized charge-compensated trenches, trench control regions, and sub-surface doped layers. The vertical localized charge-compensated trenches include at least a pair of opposite conductivity type semiconductor layers. The trench control regions are configured to provide a generally vertical channel region electrically coupling source regions to the sub-surface doped layers. The sub-surface doped layers are further configured to electrically connect the drain-end of the channel to the vertical localized charge compensation trenches. Body regions are configured to isolate the sub-surface doped layers from the surface of the device.
US08372712B2
In a memory device and a method of manufacturing the memory device, a source contact connected to a common source line may be formed on a drain region instead of a source region. A transistor having a negative threshold voltage may be formed between the source region and the drain region. A channel of the transistor may be formed. Because the source contact is formed on the drain region, the size of the source region may be reduced. An integration degree of the memory device may be improved. A control gate may linearly extend in a second direction because the source contact is not formed on the source region.
US08372710B2
A semiconductor structure having U-shaped transistors includes source/drain regions at the tops of pairs of pillars defined by crossing trenches in the substrate. One pillar is connected to the other pillar in the pair by a ridge that extends above the surrounding trenches. The ridge and lower portions of the pillars define U-shaped channels on opposite sides of the U-shaped structure, facing a gate structure in the trenches on those opposite sides, forming a two sided surround transistor. Optionally, the space between the pillars of a pair is also filled with gate electrode material to define a three-sided surround gate transistor. One of the source/drain regions of each pair extending to a digit line and the other extending to a memory storage device, such as a capacitor. Methods of forming semiconductor structures are also disclosed.
US08372704B2
A manufacturing method for a semiconductor integrated device including forming a second impurity layer of a second conductivity type that is higher in impurity concentration than a second well of the second conductivity type on a first impurity layer of a first conductivity type that is higher in impurity concentration than a first well of the first conductivity type, forming the first well of the first conductivity type on the second impurity layer of the second conductivity type on the first impurity layer of the first conductivity type, the first well being supplied with potential from the first impurity layer of the first conductivity type, and forming the second well of the second conductivity type on the second impurity layer of the second conductivity type on the first impurity layer of the first conductivity type, the second well being supplied with potential from the second impurity layer of the second conductivity type.
US08372703B2
A method for fabricating a CMOS integrated circuit (IC) and ICs therefrom includes the steps of providing a substrate having a semiconductor surface, wherein the semiconductor surface has PMOS regions for PMOS devices and NMOS regions for NMOS devices. A gate dielectric layer is formed on the PMOS regions and NMOS regions. An original gate electrode layer is formed on the gate dielectric layer. A gate masking layer is applied on the gate electrode layer. Etching is used to pattern the original gate electrode layer to simultaneously form original gate electrodes for the PMOS devices and NMOS devices. Source and drain regions are formed for the PMOS devices and NMOS devices. The original gate electrodes are removed for at least one of the PMOS devices and NMOS devices to form trenches using an etch process, such as a hydroxide-based solution, wherein at least a portion and generally substantially all of the gate dielectric layer is preserved. A metal comprising replacement gates is formed in the trenches, and fabrication of the IC is completed.
US08372699B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, forming a first photoresist layer over the first semiconductor layer, and using only a first single mask patterning the first photoresist layer to form a first patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes using the first patterned photoresist layer etching the first semiconductor layer to form a select gate and forming a charge storage layer over the select gate and a portion of the substrate. The method further includes forming a second semiconductor layer over the charge storage layer, forming a second photoresist layer over the second semiconductor layer, and using only a second single mask patterning the second photoresist layer to form a second patterned photoresist layer. The method further includes forming a control gate by anisotropically etching the second semiconductor layer and then subsequently isotropically etching the second semiconductor layer.
US08372682B2
In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to an embodiment, a trench is formed in an outer peripheral portion of a chip region on a bonding surface of a support substrate, and a semiconductor substrate having a chip ring in the outer peripheral portions of the chip regions on an inside of a dicing line respectively and the support substrate are bonded to position the trench from above the chip ring to the inside of the dicing line. In the method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, furthermore, the semiconductor substrate and the support substrate which are bonded to each other are subjected to dicing along the dicing line.
US08372674B2
A method includes forming a hole in a first wafer and forming a sensor structure in or on a second wafer. The second wafer includes a piezoelectric material. The method also includes bonding the first wafer and the second wafer, where the sensor structure is located between the wafers. The method further includes forming a sensing layer by depositing material between the wafers through the hole in the first wafer. The sensing layer could be formed by depositing a sensing layer material on the second wafer using direct printing. Also, the hole through the first wafer could be formed using ultrasonic milling, micro-drilling, laser drilling, wet etching, and/or plasma etching. A spacer material could be used to bond the wafers together, such as frit glass paste or an organic adhesive. Trenches could be formed in the first wafer to facilitate easier separation of multiple sensors.
US08372668B2
In a manufacturing method of a light-emitting device, a separation layer is formed over a substrate; a semiconductor circuit element layer and first electrodes are formed over the separation layer; a partition wall overlapping with end portions of the first electrodes is formed; and organic material layers are formed over the first electrodes. Organic material layers emitting light of the same color are arranged adjacent to each other in a line and extend in a first direction. A second electrode is formed using a material having high adhesiveness to the partition wall over the organic material layers to be in contact with the partition wall. A stack structure including the semiconductor circuit element layer, the first electrodes, the partition wall, the organic material layers, and the second electrode is separated from the substrate using the separation layer in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08372658B2
A chemical analytic apparatus of the present invention is the one which proposes that a miniaturization, a making low-cost and portability are possible and also the operation of each process of separation, concentration and dilution of specimen is possible, and, which includes: an introduction means (S1) that introduces a droplet to which magnetic ultrafine particles are mixed into another liquid that differs from the droplet while maintaining a single droplet; a conveyance means by which the droplet that includes the magnetic particles is conveyed in another liquid of the introduction means by applying magnetic field externally to the magnetic ultrafine particles; and processing means (S2 to S6) by which operations for processing of chemical analysis are performed one by one in the process in which the droplet to which the magnetic ultrafine particles are mixed is conveyed by the conveyance means.
US08372656B2
A hydrodynamic filter includes a first portion, and a second portion which is spaced apart from and faces the first portion. The first portion includes a plurality of protrusions protruding in a first direction, and the second portion includes a plurality of protrusions protruding in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A filtering apparatus including a body which includes a plurality of the hydrodynamic filters and filters a fluid including target molecules, an inlet portion in connection with the body, and an outlet portion in connection with the body.
US08372652B2
A nanostructured particulate material, which includes a redox active luminescent organic and/or ionic compound, is provided herein. The nanostructured particulate material may be used for determining the presence of an analyte of interest in a sample by detecting the emitted electromagnetic radiation generated by exposing a reagent mixture, which includes the nanostructured material and the target analyte, to chemical or electrochemical energy.
US08372646B1
Terpene media compositions for eluting compounds from matrices and methods for making and using them
Embodiments of the invention provide to apparatuses and media used in drug elution studies and methods for making and using them. One embodiment of the invention is a drug elution method that can be used for in-vitro studies of a matrix impregnated with a compound such as a drug blended polymer matrix. Such methods and materials can be used for example to assess and control the manufacturing process variability of drug eluting implantable devices such as cardiac leads.
US08372645B2
The present invention pertains to pharmaceutical compositions which comprise a botulinum neurotoxin from Clostridium botulinum, the neurotoxin being free of the complexing proteins naturally present in the botulinum neurotoxin complex or being chemically modified or being modified by genetic manipulation. Moreover the pharmaceutical compositions of the instant invention have good stability and are advantageously formulated free of human serum albumin.
US08372642B2
Provided herein are methods for the in vitro maintenance, expansion, culture, and/or differentiation of pluripotent cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESC) or induced pluripotent cells (iPSC), into hematopoietic precursor cells or endothelial cells. The pluripotent cells may be maintained and differentiated under defined conditions; thus, the use of mouse feeder cells or serum is not required in certain embodiments for the differentiation of the pluripotent cells into hematopoietic precursor cells or endothelial cells. The resulting hematopoietic precursor cells may be further differentiated into various myeloid or lymphoid lineages.
US08372640B2
The invention provides a method for stimulating an immune response by administering to a lymphoid tissue a nucleic acid molecule comprising an expression element operationally linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding one or more heterologous epitopes. The heterologous epitope can be inserted into a complementarity-determining region of an immunoglobulin molecule. The invention also provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising a hematopoietic expression element operationally linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide. The invention additionally provides a method of treating a condition by administering a nucleic acid molecule comprising a hematopoietic cell expression element operationally linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is targeted to a hematopoietic cell.
US08372631B2
The present invention is a system for harvesting algae in continuous fermentation. There is a harvester including a main moving belt, a plurality of rollers, and a motor for driving the main moving belt. There is a reactor tank and a vacuum extractor for applying a vacuum over a width of the main moving belt to extract biomass and to dry the main moving belt. The main moving belt has one end in the reactor tanks and another end extended into the vacuum extractor. The algae contained in the reactor tank is collected for further processing, including oil extraction. With algae harvested in the large-scale manner of the present invention, a more efficient oil extraction method can be used because the concentration, temperature, and pressure can be more easily controlled.
US08372630B2
An optical glucose sensor chip includes a substrate, a pair of optical elements formed on a surface of the substrate for introducing light into the substrate and for emitting the light from the substrate, and a glucose sensing membrane formed on the surface of the substrate at a position between the optical elements. The sensing membrane includes a color reagent substrate, a first enzyme which oxidizes or reduces glucose, a second enzyme that generates a material which makes the color reagent substrate exhibit color by a reaction with a product obtained by oxidation or reduction of glucose, a nonionic cellulose derivative, and an ionic polymer into which a buffer is incorporated. At least one of the first and second enzymes is coated with the ionic polymer, and the color reagent substrate. The first and second enzymes, the buffer and the ionic polymer are supported by the nonionic cellulose derivative.
US08372624B2
The disclosed technology relates to a genetically engineered biological indicator, comprising: at least one test organism and at least one reporter gene suitable for producing an indicator enzyme, the reporter gene being taken up by the test organism; and at least one repressor gene that inhibits expression of the reporter gene until the reporter gene is exposed to at least one inducer. A process and an apparatus for using the biological indicator are disclosed.
US08372611B2
Disclosed are a method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) using a halobacterium belonging to the genus Halomonas, wherein the halobacterium can grow in a medium consisting of an inorganic salt and a single organic carbon source and having a pH of 8.8 to 11, and produce PHAs in an amount of 20 wt. % or more based on the dry cell weight, and the halobacterium is cultured in an alkaline medium containing an inorganic salt and one or more organic carbon sources to produce PHAs in an amount of 20 wt. % or more based on the dry cell weight; and the halobacterium belonging to the genus Halomonas, which can grow in a medium consisting an inorganic salt and a single organic carbon source and having a pH of 8.8 to 11, and produce PHAs in an amount of 20 wt. % or more based on the dry cell weight.
US08372598B2
Methods are provided for selecting microbial strains with improved properties for fermentation and/or bioproduct production. A salt selection is employed to identify mutants with improved bioproduct tolerance, titer, or osmotic tolerance relative to a microbial strain from which they were derived.
US08372596B2
The present invention provides a prompt and easy asbestos detection method and a method for screening a candidate for an agent aiming at preventing or treating a disease for which asbestos is a causative or worsening factor. It is possible to quickly and easily detect asbestos in a sample by finding a protein capable of binding specifically to asbestos, allowing the protein or a fusion protein of the protein and a reporter protein to bind to asbestos in the sample, and then detecting the protein or the fusion protein having been bound to asbestos. A substance inhibiting the binding of actin to asbestos, which has been found out as a protein capable of binding specifically to asbestos, is a candidate for an agent aiming at preventing or treating a disease for which asbestos is a causative or worsening factor.
US08372595B2
The present invention provides genetically engineered microbial strains, in particular genetically engineered yeast strains, that produce at least 0.5 mg per g CDW of a sphingoid base according to Formula I or a salt or ester thereof. The present invention provides a method to obtain genetically engineered microbial strains producing at least 0.5 mg per g CDW of a sphingoid base according to Formula I or a salt or ester thereof. The method comprises the steps of: a) increasing the expression of a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme having ceramide synthase activity and/or an enzyme having ceramidase activity, the latter being capable of preferentially, or even specifically, hydrolyzing ceramides containing a sphingoid base according to Formula I, and/or b) decreasing the expression of a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme having sphingolipid Δ8-desaturase activity and/or an enzyme having ceramidase activity, the latter being capable of preferentially, or even specifically, hydrolyzing ceramides containing phytosphingosine or dihydrosphingosine as sphingoid base, and isolating strains with the required productivity.
US08372591B2
Compositions and methods for diagnosing high-grade cervical disease in a patient sample are provided. The compositions include novel monoclonal antibodies, and variants and fragments thereof, that specifically bind to MCM6 or MCM7. Monoclonal antibodies having the binding characteristics of an MCM6 or MCM7 antibody of the invention are further provided. Hybridoma cell lines that produce an MCM6 or MCM7 monoclonal antibody of the invention are also disclosed herein. The compositions find use in practicing methods for diagnosing high-grade cervical disease comprising detecting overexpression of MCM6, MCM7, or both MCM6 and MCM7 in a cervical sample from a patient. Kits for practicing the methods of the invention are further provided. Polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence for an MCM6 or an MCM7 epitope and methods of using these polypeptides in the production of antibodies are also encompassed by the present invention.
US08372590B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for labeling, isolating, detecting and enumerating biological cells, or other biological analytes of interest present in a sample, where the capturing complex may also serve as a labeling agent. In one embodiment, the capture complex is an encoded magnetic bead coupled to antibodies having a specific affinity for a cell surface protein on a cell of interest. The methods and systems of the present invention can be used for quantitative or qualitative detection.
US08372588B1
The invention is directed to isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments that encode human resistin and human syntaxin binding protein 2, vectors and hosts containing these fragments and fragments hybridizing to noncoding regions as well as antisense oligonucleotides to these fragments. The invention is further directed to methods of using these fragments to obtain human resistin and human syntaxin binding protein 2 and to diagnose, treat, prevent and/or ameliorate a pathological disorder.
US08372586B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for reducing the proliferation of ALL cancer cells through targeted interactions with ALL1 fusion proteins.
US08372585B2
Methods for sequencing nucleic acids are presented. Sequencing is accomplished through the detection of a redox active species that is indicative of nucleotide incorporation. In embodiments of the invention, an electrochemical signal indicative of nucleotide incorporation is amplified through cycling before it is detected. Arrays are provided that are capable of massively parallel nucleic acid sequence determination.
US08372572B2
A toner capable of ensuring cleanness and the amount of specific charge for extended periods of time and having excellent charge stability and fixing property, a two-component developer, a developing device and an image forming apparatus are provided. A toner includes toner particles containing at least a binding resin and a coloring agent, and fine silicon-containing oxide particles having an average primary particle size of not smaller than 70 nm but not larger than 150 nm and containing water in an amount of not larger than 2.0% by weight, the fine silicon-containing oxide particles being externally added to the toner particles.
US08372568B2
The disclosed embodiments are directed to a method for removing photoreceptor coatings from a rigid substrate, wherein the photoreceptor coatings disposed over a substrate of an electrophotographic photoreceptor, in order to recover it for re-use in photoreceptor manufacturing. More specifically, the invention discloses a photoreceptor substrate recovery methodology that includes the creation of an inner release layer over the substrate and followed by subjecting the rejected or used electrophotographic photoreceptor to a step of soaking in a non-toxic and environmentally-friendly stripping solution that separates the coatings from the substrate.
US08372559B2
An end unit for a fuel cell stack is provided. The end unit includes a main body having a cavity and a substantially impermeable barrier disposed thereon to militate against heat transfer within the end unit and minimize a cost of insulating the end unit. A fuel cell system and a method of fabricating the end unit for use in a fuel cell system are also provided.
US08372554B2
A cooling system for cooling a fuel-cell system on board an aircraft, in one example, includes a hydrogen accumulator, a connecting device coupling the hydrogen accumulator, with an external cooling system for dissipating heat arising upon charging of the hydrogen accumulator. The hydrogen accumulator cools down upon removal of hydrogen, because of which cooling of a condenser occurs. The cooling system need not utilize a secondary cooling loop for condenser cooling.
US08372547B2
There is provided a non-aqueous electrolytic solution assuring good solubility of an electrolyte salt and having enough cell characteristics (charge and discharge cycle characteristic, discharge capacity, and the like), and the non-aqueous electrolytic solution comprises a solvent for dissolving an electrolyte salt comprising (A) at least one fluorine-containing solvent selected from the group consisting of fluorine-containing ethers and fluorine-containing carbonates, (B) a non-fluorine-containing cyclic carbonate and (C) a chain ester represented by the formula (C): R1COOR2, wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a fluorine-containing alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and (II) an electrolyte salt.
US08372537B2
A battery with a threaded battery terminal for accommodating a threaded terminal bolt is provided. The threaded battery terminal includes a bushing having an axial bore extending between an open end and a closed end; and an insert having a longitudinal axis and a threaded opening extending along the longitudinal axis between an open end and a back wall. The terminal bolt is threadably received in the threaded opening and the back wall of the insert has sufficient strength to cause an overlong bolt to break upon continued threaded insertion subsequent to the bolt contacting the back wall.
US08372535B2
An accumulator (i.e., battery) with at least two accumulator cells which are arranged in an accumulator housing and which are connected electrically with each other by a connector element. At least one of the accumulator cells is electrically connected with the connector element by an electrically conductive adhesive.
US08372525B2
There is provided an active layer containing a dopant material and a host material, wherein the host material has an HPLC purity of at least 99.9% and an impurity absorbance no greater than 0.01. There is also provided an electronic device containing the active layer.
US08372518B1
An antistatic styrenic polymer composition comprises 30 to 70 wt % of a styrenic polymer, 5 to 40 wt % of a potassium ionomer, 1 to 10 wt % of one or more polyols, and 2 to 20 wt % of an ethylene copolymer, based on the total weight of the styrenic polymer composition which has reduced dust absorption and improved mechanical performances. Also disclosed are articles made of the composition such as film or sheet including multilayer structure and items obtained by extrusion molding, coextrusion molding, injection molding, thermoform molding, compression molding or blow molding.
US08372506B2
A mat for collecting water from under cabinet leaks. The mat is an elastomeric material sized to fit within the cabinet space and has ribs defining inclined channels which direct water to a forward collection area which is viewable when the cabinet is opened. The ribs and webs on the underside of the mat provide support for items that may be placed on the mat. In an alternate embodiment, a wireless alarm signal is provided to a wireless device user. The alarm having conductivity probes which are insertable in a reservoir in the fluid collection area to emit an alarm when a leak occurs.
US08372492B2
A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film of the present invention comprises: an optical film comprising a transparent base film and a discotic liquid crystal layer on one side of the transparent base film; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that is provided on the discotic liquid crystal layer, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is made from a pressure-sensitive adhesive containing an acrylic polymer comprising an alkyl(meth)acrylate (a1) and a ring structure-containing (meth)acrylate (a2) as monomer units and having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000,000 to 3,000,000, and a crosslinking agent. The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film has durability and can be prevented from causing display unevenness in a peripheral portion of a display screen.
US08372477B2
A method of adhering a particulate material, such as a hydrocarbon adsorbent material and/or a catalytic material, to a plastic surface, and products comprising the adhered material are disclosed.
US08372472B2
Photovoltaic conductive features and processes for forming photovoltaic conductive features are described. The process comprises (a) providing a substrate comprising a passivation layer disposed on a silicon layer; (b) depositing a surface modifying material onto at least a portion of the passivation layer; (c) depositing a composition comprising at least one of metallic nanoparticles comprising a metal or a metal precursor to the metal onto at least a portion of the substrate; and (d) heating the composition such that it forms at least a portion of a photovoltaic conductive feature in electrical contact with the silicon layer, wherein at least one of the composition or the surface modifying material etches a region of the passivation layer. When the surface modifying material is a UV-curable material, the process comprises the additional step of curing the UV-curable material.
US08372471B2
An electro-optical device includes a substrate having a plurality of film-formation regions configured and arranged to receive a liquid material discharged from a plurality of nozzles of a nozzle row while the substrate and the nozzle row are moved relative to each other in a primary scanning direction. Each of the film-formation regions includes a plurality of landing positions in which the liquid material lands with the landing positions being set by a nozzle interval in a direction of the nozzle row and a discharge interval in the primary scanning direction. At least two or more of the film-formation regions include a portion in which a total number of the landing positions in the at least two or more of the film-formation regions that simultaneously face the nozzles is the same in the primary scanning direction.
US08372466B2
A recombined whole grain flour for use in preparing whole grain products such that whole grain particulates provide minimal visual impact to the whole grain product. By selectively controlling the particle size of the milled bran and germ constituents used in the recombined whole grain flour, the visual and color impact associated with bran and germ particulates can be substantially eliminated from the whole grain product. In particular, whole grain products such as whole grain breads, dough products, mixes and biscuits can be made with recombined whole grain flour. Whole grain products made with recombined whole grain flour are advantageous in that they incorporate the health advantages associated with whole grains while eliminating the characteristic, visual color differences noticeable within a whole grain crumb due to visually identifiable bran and germ particulates found in traditional whole grain products.
US08372465B2
Provided herein are oil compositions comprising an interesterified structured lipid component, the component being an interesterifcation reaction product of an amount of a medium chain triglyceride, an amount of a long chain domestic oil, and an amount of a source of stearidonic acid. The structured lipid component can be used in edible oil compositions. The oil compositions can contain an amount of a phytosterol ester component. The oil compositions disclosed herein have good stability and also have other properties useful for an edible oil composition.
US08372463B2
Low sodium salt compositions containing a blend of sodium chloride and one or more magnesium, sodium and potassium salts are provided. Also provided are methods for making and using the compositions. Further provided are food products containing the compositions.
US08372453B2
Provided is a composition for preventing or treating insomnia. The composition includes, as an active ingredient, extract of Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. or a combination thereof with extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. Particularly, the combination of extract of Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. with extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. enables recovery of the sleep of patients suffering from insomnia nearly to that of normal persons. The composition for treating insomnia uses active ingredients that have been used as Chinese traditional medicines, and thus is safe to the human body.
US08372451B2
Disclosed are a novel combination of specific therapeutics selected from S-adenosyl methionine or a salt thereof, folic acid or a metabolite or salt thereof, and one or more omega-3 fatty acids or salts thereof, useful for a variety of conditions, as discussed herein. Methods of treatment include the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as depression.
US08372446B2
The invention herein contemplates an avian feed composition and a method for administering and customizing the feed composition for one or more birds. The feed composition aids in preventing infection and illness including parasitic infestation.
US08372445B2
A process for the extraction of Vitis vinifera seeds which comprises: a) extraction of grape seeds with a solvent (total extract); b) removal of water-insoluble tannins; c) optional removal of water-soluble tannins; d separation of the products with different MW, through chromatographic purification on a column.
US08372439B2
Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.
US08372434B2
An ophthalmic oil-in-water type emulsion, which includes colloid particles having an oily core surrounded by an interfacial film, the emulsion including at least one cationic agent, at least one no ionic surfactant, the emulsion having a positive zeta potential and meeting zeta potential stability Test A requirements. Process for making the emulsions. Delivery device selected from the group including lenses, ocular patch, implant, insert, the device containing an emulsion according to the invention.
US08372427B2
A composition that includes nanoparticles with binding affinity for platelets, and methods for using this composition to treat vascular disease are disclosed.
US08372425B2
The invention relates to fatty acid stimulation of rectal mucosa initiating the process of defecation, acting as a laxative. Furthermore, the invention relates to the usage of free fatty acids, fatty acid mixtures and fatty acid extracts from marine lipids in pharmaceutical formulations such as suppositories, ointments, tablets and gelatin capsules for treatment and prevention of multiple disorders like constipation, hemorrhoids, bacterial infections (e.g. helicobacter pylori), viral infections (e.g. herpes simplex virus infections) and inflammations, as well as against fissura ani and pruritus ani.
US08372418B2
Polymer composite material with biocide functionality, preferably for the use in agriculture, comprising at least one base polymer compound and at least one biocide active ingredient, wherein the biocide active ingredient is an organic biocide that can be emitted from the polymer composite material by diffusion and/or osmosis and method of its production.
US08372407B2
A method for inducing HIV antigen-specific immune responses is disclosed. The method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a chimeric fusion protein comprising: (a) a first polypeptidyl region comprising a Pseudomonas Exotoxin A (PE) binding domain and a PE translocation domain, located at the N-terminus of the fusion protein; and (b) a second polypeptidyl region with a fusion peptide of HIV gp120-C1-C5-gp41 with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7. A method for inducing neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 is also disclosed.
US08372397B2
Methods are provided for increasing stem cells, hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells, mesenchymal progenitor/stem cells, mesodermal progenitor/stem cells, muscle progenitor/stem cells, or neural progenitor/stem cells in vivo in a mammalian subject. Methods are also provided for treating an immune related disease, a mesenchymal/mesoderm degenerative disease, or a neurodegenerative disease in a mammalian subject in need thereof.
US08372392B2
An isolated Lactobacillus paracasei strain LT12 and its genetically-engineered variant that possesses immune regulating activity and uses thereof for regulating immune responses and treating allergy.
US08372391B2
Biofungicide composition derived from a biologically pure culture of a Chilean bacterial isolate obtained from the skin of grapes, corresponding to Serratia plymuthica CCGG2742, to be used as an environmentally friendly biological control agent against fungal diseases of vegetables, in particular fruits susceptible to the infection of Botrytis cinerea, efficiently preventing the germination of conidia and the proliferation of mycelia of said phytopathogenic fungus, furthermore protecting the plant's leaves and fruits from the infection by the same fungus, and having the potential of being used in the biological control of other phytopathogenic fungus and microorganisms.
US08372378B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a silicate comprising at least silicon and oxygen, comprising (1) mixing of silicon dioxide and/or of a silicon dioxide precursor with an aqueous solution comprising at least one tetraalkylammonium compound comprising R1R2R3R4N+ and at least one base, wherein R1 and R2 are methyl and both R3 and R4 are n-propyl; (2) heating of the colloidal solution obtained according to (1) to a temperature in the range of from greater than the boiling point of the colloidal solution under the chosen pressure to 180° C. at atmospheric pressure to give a suspension comprising at least one silicate, wherein the silicate comprising at least silicon and oxygen is added as a crystallization auxiliary in (1).
US08372372B2
A clean bench comprising a worktable on which polycrystalline silicon is placed, a box part which includes side plates to surround three sides except a front face of a working space above the worktable, and a ceiling plate which covers an upper side of the working space. Supplying holes are formed in the ceiling plate of the box part, which supply clean air onto an upper surface of the worktable. An ionizer is provided, which ionizes the clean air supplied from the supplying holes to the working space and removes static electricity on the worktable. Suction holes are formed in the side plate of the box part, which suction air from the working space.
US08372362B2
The present disclosure is directed to the use of elemental or speciated iodine to control total mercury emissions.
US08372359B2
A vial retainer system for an automated processing apparatus. The vial retainer system includes a track mounted to the processing apparatus, a rack adapted to slide in a longitudinal direction on the track, and a vial retainer positioned over the rack. The rack is movable in a distal direction to install the rack on the processing apparatus, and in a proximal direction, opposite the distal direction, to remove the rack from the processing apparatus. The rack is adapted to hold one or more vials in an upright orientation. The vial retainer has one or more a sloped surfaces inclined such that a distal end of each sloped surface is closer to the track than a proximal end of each sloped surface.
US08372356B2
A manually directed, multi-channel electronic pipetting system is designed to transfer liquids from a standard multi-well plate, deep-well plate or reservoir into another multi-well plate. The preferred pipetting head includes an array of 96-tip fittings. A deck with at least one but preferably two or more wellplate nesting receptacles holds one or more multi-well plates or reagent reservoirs for access by an array of disposable pipette tips mounted to the pipetting head. The electronic motion control system includes a control handle that is mounted to a load cell, the carriage for the pipetting head and is held in the palm of the user. In use, the user grasps the control handle and operates the system in a manner similar to one using a handheld electronic pipettor.
US08372355B2
The systems and methods described herein include a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfeatures interconnected to provide a configurable fluid transport system for processing at least one reagent. Inserts are provided to removably interfit into one or more of the microfeatures of the chip, wherein the inserts include sites for interactions with the reagent. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic chip and the inserts provide an efficient and accurate approach for conducting parallel assays.
US08372354B2
Systems and apparatus for mixing, cooling, and distributing multiphase fluid mixtures within a reactor, wherein reactor internal apparatus of the present invention provides not only improved fluid mixing and distribution to each underlying catalyst bed surface, but also offers other advantages including: decreased mixing tray height; easier maintenance, assembly and disassembly; and decreased amounts of fabrication material. In an embodiment, fluid may be evenly distributed to a catalyst bed from a fluid distribution unit comprising a nozzle tray including a plurality of nozzles, wherein the nozzles include at least one liquid inlet disposed tangentially to an inner surface of the nozzle.
US08372353B2
A sample delivery system comprising (i) a cartridge comprising a body section adapted to hold a sealed sample vessel so as to fix the position of a seal of the sample vessel in relation to the cartridge; and (ii) apparatus adapted to receive said cartridge, said apparatus being provided with an opening system for opening said sealed sample vessel contained within the cartridge.
US08372352B2
A drum type container for analytical elements comprises a casing defining a compartment with a plurality of portions for receiving respective ones of the analytical elements. The container further comprises a base assembly to which the casing is rotatably mounted. The base assembly includes a dispenser mechanism for dispensing the glucose test strips from the casing and a locking mechanism for maintaining an alignment of a selected one of the compartment portions with the dispensing mechanism.
US08372338B2
The apparatus and method for sterilising caps/stoppers for pharmaceutical purposes comprises a vessel, pump, heater, circulation line. The sterilising liquid (hot water, steam) is heated and pumped to the vessel where a fluidised bed of caps etc. is generated. After leaving the vessel the liquid is circulated/heated. Optionally an additive (siliconisation in case rubber parts) or cooling liquid is added. Further, the vessel is disconnectably attached to the supply lines for transportation to a production facility.
US08372331B2
Process for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank equipped with an internal line by molding a parison using a mold comprising two cavities and a core, comprising the following steps: introducing the parison into the mold cavities; introducing the core inside the parison, said core having first been fitted with the line; closing the mold so that the cavities come into leaktight contact with the core; pressing the parison against the cavities by blowing through the core and/or applying a vacuum behind the cavities; fastening the line to the parison over at least two points using a device attached to the core; opening the mold to withdraw the core; and carrying out the final molding of the parison by blow molding and/or thermoforming, in which the line comprises, between its fastening points, a free length that is capable of coming into contact with the parison and/or with an accessory found thereon when the mold is closed, and wherein during the fastening step, at least one intermediate fastening point is created using a device attached to the core.
US08372320B2
A method of producing dried cellulose nanofibrils includes atomizing an aqueous suspension of cellulose nanofibrils and introducing the atomized aqueous suspension into a drying chamber of a drying apparatus. The aqueous suspension is then dried, thereby forming substantially non-agglomerated dried cellulose nanofibrils.
US08372318B2
A plurality of substantially conical or pyramidal elements are formed inside a sheet-like binder. The binder has smooth surfaces. The elements and the binder cooperate to refract light incident on a brightness enhancement sheet from a surface on a diffusion sheet side to the other surface in a direction normal to the brightness enhancement sheet. Thus, the front brightness is enhanced. The elements are distributed along one of the surfaces of the brightness enhancement sheet with vertices pointing in one direction toward one of the surfaces. The elements are formed by trapping gas bubbles in the binder and differ in refractive index from the binder.
US08372316B2
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a display apparatus having a display portion that is made of dot-like reflection portions. The method comprising steps of: heating at least one of a blade portion of a machining tool and a light guide plate, descending the machining tool along a specific formation direction of the blade portion all through this descending step to press the blade portion into a back surface of the light guide plate, ascending the machining tool along a specific formation direction of the blade portion all through this ascending step to pull out the blade portion from the light guide plate, moving the machining tool horizontally, and arranging at least one light source along at least one edge face of the light guide plate. The steps of descending, ascending, and horizontally moving the machining tool are performed repeatedly to form the dot-like reflection portions.
US08372312B1
Disclosed herein is an asymmetrical semiconducting compound of Formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are as described herein. The compound is useful in a semiconducting layer for an electronic device, such as a thin-film transistor. Devices including the compound exhibit high mobility and excellent stability.
US08372307B2
The invention relates to new cyclohexylene reactive mesogens (RM), polymers derived thereof, liquid crystal (LC) media comprising them, and the use of the compounds, polymers and liquid crystalline media in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices, in decorative, security, cosmetic or diagnostic applications, especially in the polymer stabilised blue phase.
US08372305B2
The present invention relates to compositions for chemical-mechanical polishing comprising A 0.01% to 40% by weight based on the total amount of the composition of abrasive particles of at least one porous metal-organic framework material, wherein the framework material comprises at least one at least bidentate organic compound which is coordinately bound to at least one metal ion; B 40% to 99.8% by weight based on the total amount of the composition of a liquid carrier; and C 0.01% to 20% by weight based on the total amount of the composition of a polishing additive component. The invention further relates to the use of said composition as well as methods for chemical-mechanical polishing of a surface with the aid of said compositions.
US08372299B2
A method and apparatus for performing treatment of substrates with a treating liquid. A first storage unit stores an initial life count specifying an allowable number of treatments of substrates to be carried out with treating liquid after an entire liquid replacement with a new supply of the treating liquid; a second storage device stores a normal life count specifying an allowable number of treatments to be carried out with the treating liquid after reaching the initial life count and after a partial liquid replacement; and a control device repeats treatment of the substrates after the entire liquid replacement until the initial life count is reached; and after the initial life count has been reached and the partial liquid replacement has been made, repeats treatment of the substrates until the normal life count is reached, and makes the partial liquid replacement each succeeding time the normal life count is reached.
US08372298B2
Epitaxially coated silicon wafers, are coated individually in an epitaxy reactor by a procedure in which a silicon wafer on a susceptor in the epitaxy reactor, is pretreated in a first step with a hydrogen flow rate of 1-100 slm and in a second step with hydrogen and an etching medium at a hydrogen flow rate of 1-100 slm, and an etching medium flow rate of 0.5-1.5 slm, at an average temperature of 950-1050° C., and is subsequently coated epitaxially, wherein, during the second pretreatment step, the power of heating elements is regulated such that there is a temperature difference of 5-30° C. between a radially symmetrical central region of the silicon wafer and an outer region of the silicon outside the central region.
US08372293B2
The invention concerns a process for the preparation of aqueous suspensions of fluid mineral matter, which are able to be pumped and conveyed by the end user immediately after the filtration stage, possibly followed by a compression, which process comprises filtration in two separate stages.The invention also concerns aqueous suspensions of mineral matter obtained and their uses.
US08372283B2
A sulfurous acid/alkalinization pre-treatment method for wastewaters to condition and remove a number of chemicals/pharmaceuticals and heavy metals before the recovered treated influent undergoes further biological reduction via anaerobic and aerobic digestion.
US08372278B1
A liquid fuel strainer assembly includes a filter body of filtration media. The filter body includes a first wall and an opposing second wall shaped to define an enclosed interior space therebetween. A fitting connects the filter body to a fuel pump, and provides fluid communication from the enclosed interior space of the filter body to the fuel pump. A flexible tube is disposed within the enclosed interior space of the filter body. The flexible tube prevents the first wall and the second wall from collapsing toward each other to allow fuel to flow through the enclosed interior space toward the fitting. The flexible tube is not attached to either the fitting or the filter body, and is freely moveable within the enclosed interior space of the filter body.
US08372269B2
A metal trap particle used for passivation of metals during FCC cracking comprises a calcined spray dried particle formed from kaolin, magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate. The metal trap particle contains at least 10 wt. % magnesium oxide which improves metals passivation during FCC cracking.
US08372267B2
The invention relates to a method for removing sulfur from crude oils using a catalytic hydrotreating process operating at moderate temperature and pressure and reduced hydrogen consumption. The process produces sweet crude oil having a sulfur content of between about 0.1 and 1.0 wt % in addition to reduced crude density. The method employs least two reactors in series, wherein the first reactor includes a hydroconversion catalyst and the second reactor includes a desulfurization catalyst.
US08372262B2
A process for the simultaneous determination of chlorine and chlorate in sodium hypochlorite. First and second streams of sodium hypochlorite are provided. The first stream is treated to generate iodine indicative of chlorine. The second stream is treated to generate iodine indicative of chlorine and chlorate. The iodine of the first stream is subjected to an amperometric measuring cell to generate a first current proportional to a chlorine concentration of the first stream. The iodine of the second stream is subjected to an amperometric measuring cell to generate a second current proportional to the chlorine and chlorate concentration in the second stream. The first current is subtracted from the second current to determine an amount of chlorate.
US08372258B2
The working electrode in the flow channel of a flow-through electrolytic detection cell is preconditioned by flowing a preconditioning electroplating solution with preconditioner species through the flow channel while applying a negative potential. Flow of liquid through the flow channel is rapidly switched from preconditioning solution to a target solution containing an organic target solute to be measured. The transient response of the system resulting from exposure of the working electrode to organic target solute is detected by measuring current density during an initial transient time period. An unknown concentration of target solute is determined by comparing the transient response with one or more transient responses characteristic of known concentrations. A preferred measuring system is operable to switch flow from preconditioning solution to target solution in about 200 milliseconds or less.
US08372256B2
A gas sensor element is composed of a sensor section, a heater section, and a porous protective layer. The sensor section is composed of a solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes. The heater section heats the sensor section to activate it. The porous protective layer covers surfaces of the sensor section and the heater section of the gas sensor element in a gas sensor which is exposed to a target detection gas to be detected. The porous protective layer is made of a mixture of hydrophobic heat resisting particles having a contact angle of not less than 75° to a drop of water, and the hydrophilic heat resisting particles having a contact angle not more than 30° to a drop of water. A gas sensor equipped with the above gas sensor element is also disclosed.
US08372255B2
The invention relates to a current collector for electrochemical diaphragm or membrane-type cells, comprising a layer obtained by interlacing or weaving of a multiplicity of first sets of metal wires with a multiplicity of single metal wires or of second sets of metal wires and provided with substantially parallel corrugations. Such layer is coupled to a planar element consisting of a cloth or a flattened stocking formed by weaving of a single metal wire. The current collector is characterised by a low angular coefficient of the pressure/thickness ratio over a wide range of compression levels.
US08372250B2
A gas-timing control method for depositing metal oxynitride and transition metal oxynitride (Mx(ON)y) films on glass and flexible substrates using reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering, without substrate heating. A system includes a sputtering chamber, substrates, targets, three mass flow controllers controlled respective flow rates of argon, nitrogen and oxygen gases alternately and intermittently into the sputtering chamber, and a radio frequency generator with 13.56 MHz which irradiated in the sputtering chamber to decompose sputtering gases. The flow rate ratio of oxygen+nitrogen/argon is at least 0.02, the flow rate ratio of oxygen/nitrogen is at least 0.01, and the sequence timing of argon, nitrogen and oxygen gases alternately or mixed into the sputtering chamber at least 1 sec.
US08372248B1
A water purification system having an oil and vapor separation subsystem for removing many heavy duty and toxic contaminants from the water. The subsystem removes volatile vapors from the feed water, heats the feed water, and by imparting a swirling vortex action to the heated water, the oils are separated from the water. The water separated from the oil is pumped by a high pressure pump through a helical coil that is heated to a high temperature by the burner. The high temperature, hot water is then fed to an expansion nozzle in an expansion chamber to flash the hot water into steam. The steam is passed through a condenser which converts the steam to purified water.
US08372241B2
A process for manufacturing a sheet material comprising at least two fibrous plies juxtaposed one on top of the other, including the following steps: a first paper ply is produced by filtration of an aqueous suspension of fibers on the wire cloth of a cylinder mold or of a former; a second paper ply is produced on the wire cloth of a second cylinder mold so as to form at least one recess in the second ply; at least one at least partially transparent element is placed between the two plies that are still wet; and the two plies are joined together so that said at least one recess of the second ply, the at least one at least partially transparent element and the at least one elongate region of zero thickness of the first ply are situated facing one another; then drying the obtained structure.
US08372230B2
The invention concerns a method for making an article having a tunable adhesive, said method comprising applying strain to mechanically deform a substrate in at least one direction; applying a rigid coating layer on the substrate; and releasing the strain to form an article having a rippled surface. Ripple characteristics can be altered by mechanical strain in real time which further changes the adhesion properties.
US08372224B2
The present inventions provide methods of manufacturing methods for case metallic materials for munitions that have high enthalpic energy release and controlled fragmentation and breakup enabling fragment speeds up to twice what is otherwise possible in explosively driven metal systems, and munitions made by such methods. Embodiments of the invention involve the thixotropic processing of energetic materials such as aluminum together with high density materials such as tantalum or tungsten to achieve material microstructures with a bulk density equivalent to steel, but with the energy release potential of materials such as finely dispersed aluminum powders. Such methods of mixing and blending of high energy and high density materials can provide a microstructure that has large density and shock impedance differences over length scales of 10-100 microns, resulting in enhanced materials fragmentation in the shock or brisant loading regime, incipient melting at the lower melting point constituents, and additional enhancement of fragmentation in the gas-dynamic expansion phase of munitions breakup. Additionally, the present inventions provide a range of surface and near-surface processing methods to enhance spall and ejecta from conventional munitions systems, enhancing munition breakup and reactivity as well.
US08372217B2
A magnetic core having an iron-based amorphous alloy that includes: a chemical composition with a formula FeaBbSicCd, where 81.5
US08372211B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and apparatus for ex-situ cleaning of a chamber component part. In one embodiment, a system for cleaning component parts in a cleaning chemistry is provided. The system comprises a wet bench set-up comprising a cleaning vessel assembly for holding one or more component parts to be cleaned during a cleaning process and a detachable cleaning cart detachably coupled with the cleaning vessel assembly for supplying one or more cleaning chemistries to the cleaning vessel assembly during the cleaning process.
US08372205B2
A substrate support and method for fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a substrate support includes an electrically conductive body having a substrate support surface that is covered by an electrically insulative coating. At least a portion of the coating centered on the substrate support surface has a surface finish of between about 200 to about 2000 micro-inches. In another embodiment, a substrate support includes an anodized aluminum body having a surface finish on the portion of the body adapted to support a substrate thereon of between about 200 to about 2000 micro-inches. In one embodiment, a substrate support assembly includes an electrically conductive body having a substrate support surface, a substrate support structure that is adapted to support the conductive body and the conductive body is covered by an electrically insulative coating.
US08372201B2
A system and method for distributing one or more gases to an atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactor. An integrated inlet manifold block mounted over a showerhead assembly includes high temperature (up to 200° C.) rated valves mounted directly thereto, and short, easily purged reactant lines. Integral passageways and metal seals avoid o-rings and attendant dead zones along flow paths. The manifold includes an internal inert gas channel for purging reactant lines within the block inlet manifold.
US08372200B2
Occurrence of a back-flow of plasma or ignition of gas for plasma excitation in a longitudinal hole portion can be prevented more completely, and a shower plate in which efficient plasma excitation is possible is provided. In shower plate 105, which is arranged in processing chamber 102 of a plasma processing apparatus and discharges gas for plasma excitation into processing chamber, porous-gas passing body 114 having a pore that communicates in the gas flow direction is fixed onto longitudinal hole 112 used as a discharging path of gas for plasma excitation. The pore diameter of a narrow path in a gas flowing path formed of a pore, which communicates to porous-gas passing body 114, is 10 μm or lower.
US08372196B2
In a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer with a wafer being mounted substantially concentrically with a susceptor, a center rod is provided to extend in an up-and-down direction on a side of a non-mounting surface of the susceptor so that its upper end is adjacent to the center of the susceptor. With this arrangement, part of radiation light irradiated toward the susceptor is diffusely reflected by the center rod before reaching the central portion of the susceptor, thereby reducing the amount of the radiation light irradiated to the central portion of the susceptor as well as lowering the temperature of the portion. Since the center rod and the susceptor are not in surface contact, the center rod does not take the heat from the susceptor, thereby suppressing the temperature from decreasing locally at the central portion of the susceptor.
US08372189B2
A solid ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, and optionally, a colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In embodiments, the amorphous and crystalline components are both synthesized from an esterification reaction.
US08372183B2
This invention relates to a detection system for particles suspended in a gas. The detection system includes an electrostatic precipitator constructed to collect the particles from the gas onto a collection surface using the force of an induced electrostatic charge on the particles. The detection system also includes an optical probe coupled with the electrostatic precipitator and constructed to probe the particles with a beam in order to detect the particles. The body of the electrostatic precipitator has a geometry that allows the beam to travel from the optical probe to the collection surface.
US08372182B2
In various embodiments, a support system includes a multi-layer cover sheet with a number of layers. In certain embodiments, a source to move air inside and outside the multi-layer cover sheet can be provided. The source can include a source of positive pressure or negative pressure.
US08372174B2
A vacuum cleaner filter bag includes (a) a bag wall made of filter material, an inlet opening being provided in the bag wall, (b) a deflecting strip for deflecting an air flow entering through the inlet opening, the deflecting strip being disposed in the interior of the vacuum cleaner filter bag, (c) a material strip which is disposed in the interior of the vacuum cleaner filter bag and connected to the bag wall, at least a part of the edge of the material strip not being connected to the bag wall, and (d) a spacing means which is configured such that the material strip is at a spacing at least partially from the bag wall during operation of the vacuum cleaner filter bag.
US08372169B2
A low-temperature gasification system comprising a horizontally oriented gasifier is provided that optimizes the extraction of gaseous molecules from carbonaceous feedstock while minimizing waste heat. The system comprises a plurality of integrated subsystems that work together to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into electricity. The subsystems comprised by the low-temperature gasification system are: a Municipal Solid Waste Handling System; a Plastics Handling System; a Horizontally Oriented Gasifier with Lateral Transfer Units System; a Gas Reformulating System; a Heat Recycling System; a Gas Conditioning System; a Residue Conditioning System; a Gas Homogenization System and a Control System.
US08372167B2
A controlled zone gasification reactor with an agitator drive assembly for a plasma assisted gasification reaction system is disclosed for converting fuel, such as, but not limited to, biomass, to syngas to replace petroleum based fuels used in power generation. The agitator drive assembly that prevents formation of burn channels with in the fuel. The agitator drive assembly may include a syngas separation chamber configured to produce clean syngas, thereby requiring less filtering. The syngas separation chamber may feed syngas downstream to a syngas heater in a pyrolysis reaction zone in the reactor vessel.
US08372161B2
The present invention relates to a process for dyeing leather with at least one dye F which has at least one alkaline-activable group of the formula A; where - - - - denotes the bond to the rest of the dye molecule; X is an electron-attracting radical, k is 1, 2 or 3, n is 0 or 1 and B is a CH═CH2 group or a CH2—CH2-Q group, where Q is an alkaline-detachable group, which comprises treating the leather with an aqueous float comprising at least one dye F at a pH of not less than 7.5. The present invention also relates to novel dyes which are particularly useful for reactive dyeing of leather.
US08372155B2
An acetabular cup prosthesis comprising an acetabular cup having a rim and comprising a metal band applied around the outer circumference of the acetabular cup prosthesis and adjacent to said rim.
US08372151B2
An adjustable vertebral spacer includes a spacer body, a movable member coupled to the spacer body, an adjustment ring mounted on the spacer body and rotatable to move the movable member and to further adjust the combined height of the spacer body and the movable member, a lock ring mounted on the spacer body for locking the movable member to the adjustment ring, and a top endplate coupled to the movable member at the top and tiltable to fit the angle of the adjacent upper vertebral body during surgery operation.
US08372143B2
A stent is provided for an endoprosthesis having a main body portion and two leg portions, particularly suitable for treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurism. The stent includes barbs that are twisted and shaped set to point radially outward. Each barb, as formed, points substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent, even when in a non-deployed configuration. The motion to move the barb into a deployed configuration for gripping tissue is a twisting motion which moves the barb from being substantially aligned with the circumference of the stent to extending radially outwards from the stent.
US08372137B2
The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. A plurality of inverted cylindrical end rings can be coupled at least in part to a plurality of adjacent cylindrical rings in the form of mirror images such that a symmetrical configuration is present on at least one of a proximal end and a distal end of the stent. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. The inverted end ring configuration of the stent aims at reducing the stent-to-shoulder distance as well as delivering therapeutic drug to the peri-stent area while maintaining a pristine stent deployment.
US08372135B2
An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and comprises a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first pitch forming a first helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. The helical segments in the second set are also generally parallel to each other and form a second pitch that differs from the first pitch, thereby forming a second helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the stent comprises one set of helical segments and a plurality of circumferential elements that are joined together by the helical segments to form a plurality of cylindrical elements which are joined together to form a stent body. The stent may also have endzones.
US08372129B2
A patient warming device includes a gasket coupled to an interior surface of a base film to define a target region that is attachable to a body surface of a patient. The base film extends from a perimeter of the gasket to provide a surgical drape. An evacuation port is in fluid communication with the target region. When attached to the patient, suction applied to the target region via the evacuation port vasodilates the body surface of the patient such that a heat source communicating with the target region increases a core temperature of the patient.
US08372128B2
A Band-Aid type self-adhesive bandage whose absorbent pad outer surface is photodynamically sanitized while maintaining standard absorbency performance.
US08372127B2
An apparatus to stimulate the vestibular system of an individual. The apparatus comprises an optical stimulator configured to optically stimulate a nerve area affecting a person's balance, and a control module coupled to the optical stimulator, the control module being configured to control the optical stimulator.
US08372124B2
The present disclosure relates to an anchor. The anchor includes an outer member including a body having an inner cavity, wherein the inner cavity includes a proximal portion configured for receipt of a delivery device and a distal portion having area of increased diameter. The anchor also includes an inner member coupled to the outer member, wherein the inner member includes a proximal portion having a projection configured for receipt in the area of increased diameter and a distal portion having a transverse through hole. A delivery device and method for tissue repair are also disclosed.
US08372123B2
A sternal closure device is provided, comprising a first plate having a bone fixation region with at least one countersunk aperture for receiving a fastening means for affixing the first plate to one side of the sternum, and a locking region with at least one protruding aligning member; a second plate having a bone fixation region with at least one countersunk aperture for receiving a fastening means for affixing the second plate to the opposite side of the sternum, and a locking region dimensioned to contact at least a portion of the locking region of the first plate; and a rotating member that engages with the aligning member(s) on the first plate for holding the first and second plates together to secure the opposite sides of the sternum. The first and second plates can be separated by reversibly disengaging the rotating member from the aligning member(s).
US08372120B2
A cross connector for attachment between two spinal implants comprises a first element having one end and an opposite end configured for engaging one of the two spinal implants, a second element having one end and an opposite end configured for engaging the other of the two spinal implants, an engagement mechanism between the one end of each of the first and second elements, and a locking element for locking the two elements together at the respective one end. The engagement mechanism includes an interface configured to permit relative pivoting between the first element and the second element about at least two non-parallel axes.
US08372118B2
An implantable spinous process fixation device includes an elongated component, top and bottom pivoting wing components, arranged opposite and parallel to the elongated component and separated from it by a spacer. First and second spinous processes of first and second adjacent vertebras are clamped between a top portion of the elongated component and the top pivoting wing and between a bottom portion of the elongated component and the bottom pivoting wing, respectively, by pivoting the top and bottom pivoting wings toward the top and bottom portions of the elongated component. The clamping of the spinous processes stabilizes the positions of the adjacent vertebras and prevents them from moving relative to each other.
US08372117B2
Multi-level interspinous implants and methods of using the implants with the implants generally include a first member for placement in a first interspinous space and a second member for placement in a second interspinous space. An elongated connector extends from one of the members and is sized to fit in a slot in the other member. Each of the first and second members may include a distal wing, a body, and a proximal wing. The members may also be positioned in a closed orientation for insertion into the patient and a deployed orientation with the distal and proximal wings extending outward along lateral sides of respective spinous processes. The connector may extend outward from the proximal wing of one of the members and away from the other member when that member is in the closed orientation. The connector may be rotated and inserted into the slot where it is secured when that member from which is extends is moved to the deployed orientation.
US08372109B2
An implantable vessel filter including an elongated body coupled proximally to a hub, and including a grooved distal section. A first set of legs coupled proximally to the hub have a first length, each of the first set of legs translating from a collapsed state in a filter compressed configuration to an extended state in a filter expanded configuration. A second set of legs coupled proximally to the hub have a second length longer than the first length, each of the second set of legs including a hook positioned at a distal end thereof, each of the second set of legs translating from a collapsed state in the filter compressed configuration to an extended state in the filter expanded configuration, each hook received in the grooved distal section in the filter compressed configuration and penetrating a wall of a vessel in the filter expanded configuration.
US08372108B2
Disclosed is a novel filter and delivery means. The device described within will not interfere with standard practice and tools used during standard surgical procedures and tools such as cannulas, clamps or dissection instruments including valve replacement sizing gages or other surgical procedures where the patient must be put on a heart-lung machine cross-clamping the aorta.
US08372105B2
A puncture instrument includes a needle assembly, a hub passage for axially guiding a hub, a needle passage communicating with the hub passage and having a distal end opening for allowing the tip end of a needle to project instantaneously therethrough, two arms having first junctions connected to the hub and inclined rearward in a direction away from the hub in an initial state, two push rods connected to second junctions of the arms and extending rearward, a button for pushing the push rods forwardly, and fulcrum members disposed more closely to the distal end than the arms for abutment against portions of the arms when the arms are moved. When the push rods are pushed forwardly by the button, the arms push the needle assembly forwardly, thereafter have portions thereof brought into abutment against the fulcrum members, and turn to pull the needle assembly rearward.
US08372104B2
A lancet having a slider with a puncture needle holding mechanism at one end thereof, and having a cam ring with a continuous cam groove, rotatable about a support shaft, and with a cam ring claw and an anti-return claw restricting the rotation. The lancet also having a ring spring applying a force to rotate the cam ring, having a rotatable stopper arm holding and releasing the rotation of the cam ring, and having a rotatable ratchet restricting the direction of rotation of the cam ring. A puncture needle unit including a puncture needle body integrally molded with a protrusion fitted to the lancet, a rotation stop rib, a puncture needle, and a puncture needle cap lightly pressed into the puncture needle body.
US08372099B2
An ultrasonic surgical assembly includes a disposable ultrasonic waveguide, a reusable exterior body, and a cordless ultrasonic-movement-generation assembly removably disposed in the body and operable to generate ultrasonic movement of the waveguide when connected thereto. The assembly also includes a reusable and rechargeable battery disposed in the body, a disposable handle having both a waveguide attachment dock exposed to the environment and operably connecting the waveguide thereto and an aseptically sealable assembly dock exposed to the environment and shaped to connect the waveguide in the attachment dock to the assembly through the handle when the assembly is disposed in the assembly dock. The assembly further includes a disposable compartment door that is movably connected to the handle to selectively expose the assembly dock to the environment and has an open position, permitting entry and removal of the assembly respectively into and from the assembly dock, and a closed position, aseptically sealing the assembly dock from the environment.
US08372098B2
A fluid line device is for removing a fluid line from a body and may include a handle and a cutting head having a proximal end carried by the handle, and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end. A fluid line channel may extend through the cutting head between the proximal end and the distal end for receiving the fluid line. The cutting head may also include a guide carried within the fluid line channel for supporting the fluid line therein during manipulation of the handle so that the cutting edge cuts body tissue away from the fluid line for removal thereof from the body.
US08372095B2
A surgical spring clip is provided for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The clip has a flat planar plate shape having pair of arms connected by a base, all generally positioned within a single plane. The arms are elongate linear cantilevered beams extending beyond the base and are biased to a first or closed position generally within the plane. The base and arms define a slot for the positioning of and receiving a vessel and occluding the flow therethrough.
US08372094B2
A seal element for sealing between tissue lumens includes a first material for allowing tissue ingrowth and a second sealant material.
US08372093B2
A system and process employs a gastric band device having an adjustable restriction amount that is adjustable based on at least one first control signal. The system and process also employs at least one of a wireless receiver and location detection electronics configured for providing at least one second signal. In addition, a controller is configured to provide at least one first control signal to the gastric band device based at least in part on at least one second control signal from at least one of the wireless receiver and the location detection electronics. The controller may be configured to provide at least one first control signal for one of increasing restriction or reducing restriction of the gastric band in response to receiving a signal from the location detection electronics representing a predefined geographic location.
US08372090B2
An endoscopic stitching device includes a tool assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another, each jaw defining a needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof; a drive assembly including a pair of concentric, individually rotatably and translatably supported barrels, each barrel defining a central lumen therethrough; and a pair of axially translatable needle engaging blades slidably supported, one each, in a respective jaw. The stitching device further includes a center rod slidably and rotatably disposed through the lumen of the barrels, a distal end of the center rod being operatively engaged with the pair of jaws.
US08372089B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for closing a patent foramen ovale. Some of the disclosed apparatuses include an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, with first and second suture clasp arms adapted to hold end portions of a suture when in an extended position. A first suture catch mechanism is slidably housed in the elongate body and moves in a proximal-to-distal direction to engage the suture end held by the first suture clasp arm, and a second suture catch mechanism is slidably housed in the elongate body and moves in a distal-to-proximal direction to suture end held by the second suture clasp arm. The first suture clasp arm can be positioned around the septum primum to deliver a suture thereto, and the second suture clasp arm can be positioned around the septum secundum to deliver a suture thereto.
US08372088B2
A surgical device that includes an outer hollow body and an inner hollow body. The inner hollow body is slidably disposed within said outer hollow body and the inner hollow body includes at least two hollow arms located at the distal end of the inner hollow body. An inflatable member is rotatably attached to each hollow arm of the inner hollow body. At least a pair of suture rings are rotatably coupled to the outer hollow body wherein the suture rings are in parallel to each other and are coupled to each other by a plurality of suture clips.
US08372080B2
An adjustable cut guide and a method of using the adjustable cut guide are disclosed herein. The adjustable cut guide has a guide surface disposed between an actuation mechanism and a base of the adjustable cut guide. The adjustable cut guide also has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the guide surface and the base. The actuation mechanism may comprise an adjustment member having an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the adjustment member traverses the guide surface. The adjustment member may include a drive end for mating with, and actuating, the adjustment mechanism when the adjustment member is in the engaged position.
US08372073B2
A fixation rod clamp is for coupling a bone pin locking assembly to a bone fixation rod. The clamp comprises a rod attachment portion including a jaw portion and a coupling portion, the jaw portion having first and second opposing jaws extending in a first direction, the jaws forming an opening there between configured to receive the bone fixation rod, the coupling portion extending from the jaw portion in a second direction; and a coupling having a pin vise cooperating portion to engage the bone pin locking assembly and a clamp cooperating portion configured to receive the coupling portion. The jaw portion is configured to engage the bone fixation rod when the bone fixation rod is located within the opposing jaws to thereby mechanically couple the bone pin locking assembly to the bone fixation rod.
US08372072B2
A method for producing hemostasis of an artery of a patient having a puncture following arterial catheterization including introducing a hemostasis device including at least one electrode into the vicinity of the puncture, supplying an electric current to the at least one electrode, thereby heating blood in the vicinity of the puncture and causing coagulation of the blood and subsequently removing the hemostasis device from the patient.
US08372068B2
Tissue is treated using a radiofrequency power supply connected to an applicator having a chamber filled with an electrically non-conductive gas surrounded by a thin dielectric wall. A radiofrequency voltage is applied at a level sufficient to ionize the gas into a plasma and to capacitively couple the ionized plasma with the tissue to deliver radiofrequency current to ablate or otherwise treat the tissue.
US08372065B2
A prostate therapy system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can access a prostate lobe from the urethra. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can deliver condensable vapor into the prostate to ablate the prostate tissue. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can aspirate tissue from the prostate. Yet another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can rotate during delivery of vapor and aspiration of tissue. Methods associated with use of the prostate therapy system are also covered.
US08372064B2
A device for delivering therapeutic energy to tissue is provided. The device includes a proximal segment and a distal segment having one or more electrodes for delivering the therapeutic energy to the tissue. An articulating segment connects the proximal segment and the distal segment such that the distal segment is articulatable with respect to a longitudinal axis of the proximal segment. In one aspect of the invention, the articulating segment includes a living hinge. In another aspect of the invention, at least one electrically conductive articulating cable runs along the articulating segment, wherein the articulating cable is used both to articulate the distal segment and to deliver the therapeutic energy to the one or more electrodes.
US08372059B2
An adapter bridging a medication providing device and a fluid connector includes a housing shroud that is fitted at one end with a core and at its other end with an inner shroud. Once fitted to the housing shroud, the core and the inner shroud each are not removable from the housing shroud. A catch hub is provided within the housing shroud for non-removably maintaining the core to the housing shroud. The core is rotatable relative to the housing shroud. Once the medication providing device is coupled to the core, additional rotational movement, in either direction, of the medication providing device would only cause the core to rotate freely relative to the housing shroud, thereby preventing the medication providing device from being removed from the adapter. The inner shroud has a catch mechanism that enables it to mate readily with a connector when rotated in one direction.
US08372048B1
A tissue oxygenation device for creating and oxygen gradient that promotes the diffusion of oxygen from underlying capillaries and subcutaneous tissue up through and over an overlying target site of skin tissue, comprising: a gas impermeable encasement which forms a chamber which surrounds the target site when the encasement is positioned over the target site; an oxygen scavenging member comprising an oxygen scavenger, wherein the oxygen scavenging member is contained within the chamber such that the oxygen scavenger is exposed to oxygen within the chamber, and further wherein the oxygen scavenger removes oxygen contained within the chamber at a continuous rate; and an adjustable cuff, wherein the adjustable cuff comprises a pliable body which is attached to the gas impermeable encasement on an end of the body and to the target site at another end of the body; wherein the gas impermeable encasement and the adjustable cuff jointly operate to seal the target site within the chamber.
US08372042B2
A dose setting mechanism for a medicament delivery device includes a tubular housing having threads on its inner surface, a first window, a second window, and at least one surface opening; a tubular dose limiting member having a first thread segment on its outer circumference for the threads on the housing's inner surface, first indicia on its outer circumference, a stop surface, and equidistant protrusions on its outer circumference; a tubular dose setting member; and a removable lock member attached to the housing. The housing is coaxially arranged inside the dose limiting member and includes a second thread segment for the housing's threads, second indicia, and a dose setting knob protruding through the housing. The lock member includes at least one elongated rib on its inner circumferential surface for interacting with the protrusions for locking the dose limiting member in position when the lock member is attached to the housing.
US08372033B2
Disclosed herein are various deflectable catheter systems that utilize materials having negative coefficients of thermal expansion to cause the catheter to deflect. A representative embodiment of the present invention includes a catheter having a heat-sensitive control member located outside the distal end of the catheter, but which is in mechanical communication with the distal end of the catheter such that heat may be applied to the control member to cause the distal portion to deflect. The applied heat, however, does not introduce any significant heat into the distal end of the catheter. The system may also include a processor to estimate an amount by which the catheter has been deflected based in part on temperature information of the control member, or even resistance measurements for the control member. The system may also include calibration systems and methods. Also disclosed herein are methods of use and methods of manufacturing system that utilize materials having negative coefficients of thermal expansion as control members.
US08372032B2
A system for perfusion management that monitors, maintains, diagnoses, or treats perfusion deficiencies.
US08372022B2
A method, and apparatus for the controlled acceleration, and/or retardation of the body's inflammatory response generally comprises a foam pad for insertion substantially into a wound site, a heating, a cooling pad for application over the wound site, a wound drape or sealing enclosure of the foam pad, the heating, and cooling pad at wound site. The foam pad is placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source for promotion of the controlled acceleration or retardation of the body's inflammatory response. The heating, and cooling provision controls the local metabolic function as part of the inflammatory response.
US08372021B2
This invention relates to a measuring device, which includes a body. A digital display is located in the body, the digital display being configured to show at least a linear measurement. The measuring device also includes a holding portion coupled to the body and configured to slidably engage an elongate member, such as a catheter or introducer sheath, in a space provided between the holding portion and the body. The measuring device also includes a sensor or transducer located in the body and configured to measure at least a linear distance traveled by the elongate member, such that the linear measurement is associated with the linear distance.
US08372018B2
Methods and a palpation device. A subject pose determining method includes placing a subject onto a surface of a platform having a first radio-frequency transceiver and a second radio-frequency transceiver. The subject is a human being. A first radio-frequency transponder is placed onto an upper extremity of the subject. A second radio-frequency transponder is placed onto a lower extremity of the subject. A first signal is transmitted from the first transceiver to the first transponder, resulting in the first transponder sending a second signal. A third signal is transmitted from the second transceiver to the second transponder, resulting in the second transponder sending a fourth signal. The second signal is received by the first transceiver. The fourth signal is received by the second transceiver. A pose of the subject is determined based on receiving the second signal and the fourth signal. A palpation device and method are also included.
US08372014B2
A method for testing body fluids is disclosed. The method includes providing a media-dispensing apparatus, placing at least the distal opening of the elongated tubular member adjacent body fluid (e.g., near a patient's abdomen) or adjacent a medical device such that a portion of the media strip contacts body fluid or the medical device, and advancing the media strip such that the portion of the media strip that contacted the body fluid or the medical device advances at least through the second lumen. Additionally, the step of cutting the media strip with a cutting instrument is also disclosed.
US08372007B2
A shape detection method and device for detecting a shape of an object are disclosed. The device includes an ultrasonic wave transmission module, a reception module, an incoming direction detecting module, a propagation time detecting module, a front-surface reflection point detecting module, and a shape deriving module. The shape deriving module derives a shape of a front surface of the object using a plurality of the reflection points on the front surface of the object detected by the front-surface reflection point detecting module for a plurality of transducer groups.
US08372002B2
An image converter receives image data of an object and performs a kind of image conversion on the image data to generate converted image data for display. A measurement section measures at least one spatial characteristic of the object based on: the converted image data, and optical data, which relates to optical characteristics of an optical system through which the image data of the object has been obtained, and which is made to correspond to the kind of image conversion performed by the image converter. Alternatively, a measurement section measures at least one spatial characteristic of the object by relating, based on the kind of image conversion, coordinates of the converted image data to coordinates of the image data of the object before the image conversion, and by measuring the at least one spatial characteristic based on the coordinates of the image data of the object before the image conversion.
US08371995B2
The present invention is an improved speed bag apparatus having a post 15 connected at its lower end 16 to a speed bag platform 50 by a vibration dampener 40. The vibration dampener rigidizes the connection between the post and the platform. The invention also includes a post collar 20 to guide and capture the post therein. The post is attached to a mounting apparatus which includes support members 31, 32, and 33 and a wall plate 30. The post collar also includes a pivoting clamp arm 60 which may be actuated by a turnable shaft 70 to grip the post as desired.
US08371993B2
Embodiments relate to a drag chute. An exemplary drag chute is comprised of a canopy from flexible material having a perimeter, a first surface, and a second surface. The drag chute is also comprised of a stiffening member coupled to the canopy along a portion of the canopy perimeter. The drag chute is also comprised of a veil attached to the canopy and a leash attached to the veil. The stiffening member may be maintained in a tunnel that extends along at least a portion of the canopy perimeter. In an additional embodiment, the stiffening member may be a foam material. An additional embodiment may include an integrated bag for storing one or more parts of the drag chute when not in use.
US08371992B2
An apparatus permitting a user to perform a simulated bicycling exercise is provided. The design includes a frame and a first mounting point and a second mounting point configured to maintain the frame. A seat is connected to the frame and configured to support the user. A wheel is positioned in association with said frame and pedals configured to interact with the wheel, and the frame is configured to pivot about the first mounting point and second mounting point in response to leaning by the user. Handlebars may be provided that enable further force application and enhance the leaning or pivoting in the bicycle riding simulation experience.
US08371987B2
In an automatic speed change control system for a vehicle wherein a transmission is operated by use of an actuator, to contrive an alleviation of the burden in a shifting operation made by the user after a system starting operation. A shift actuator for controlling the speed change operation of the transmission is provided in a power transmission path. When the transmission is not in a neutral condition at the time when a predetermined system starting operation is conducted, the shift actuator is operated so as to put the transmission into the neutral condition.
US08371984B2
A transmission is provided having a stationary member, an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and five torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The five torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first, second, and third members with another of the first, second, third members, and a stationary element. The 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. A first of the five torque-transmitting mechanisms is a selectable one-way clutch engageable to interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with the stationary member.
US08371983B2
A hybrid transmission is configured to transfer mechanical power to an output member and includes an input member, an output member, and a transmission case circumscribing first and second differential gear sets, each differential gear set including a plurality of meshingly engaged rotatable elements. The first differential gear set is configured with four nodes for transferring mechanical power, and the second differential gear set is configured with three nodes for transferring mechanical power. Two of the four nodes of the first differential gear set are continuously interconnected to two of the three nodes of the second differential gear set. A first torque transfer clutch is configured to selectively connect the input member to an internal combustion engine. First and second brake devices are configured to selectively interconnect elements of the first and second differential gear sets, the transmission case, the input member, and the output member.
US08371982B2
A transmission has four planetary gear sets, four interconnecting members and six torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively engageable in different combinations of three to establish at least eight forward speed ratios. A first of the six torque-transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to connect the second member of the first planetary gear set to the stationary member. A second of the six torque-transmitting mechanisms is selectively engageable to connect the input member for common rotation with the second member of the third planetary gear set. At least one of the first and the second of the six torque-transmitting mechanisms is a selectable one-way clutch configured to have a first operating mode and a second operating mode, either of which modes may be selected.
US08371976B2
To enhance durability of a gear transmission mechanism by eliminating play in a gear engagement due to the backlash between the gears (gear clearance) of the gear transmission mechanism in a variable pitch mechanism of blades or a nacelle turning mechanism and further to reduce damages to a gear tooth surface caused by slide of the tooth surface or impact thereon due to slight vibration, the gear transmission mechanism is constructed such that a first pinion gear 20a and a second pinion gear 20b are provided to mesh with a gear wheel 18 respectively and rotated by a first drive motor 32a and a second drive motor 32b respectively, and a controller 36 controls so as to eliminate play in the engagement of the internal gear and the pinion gear due to backlash between the internal gear 18 and the first pinion gear 20a, thereby avoiding generation of a slide and impact force on the gear transmission mechanism even when the external force or the wind acts on the blade 16.
US08371973B2
A chain tensioner includes a cylindrical cylinder having an open end and a bottom, a cylindrical plunger axially slidably inserted in the cylinder and having a bottom and an open end located in the cylinder, a screw rod mounted in the cylinder and having an external thread on an outer periphery thereof, wherein the plunger has a protrusion on an inner periphery thereof which is in threaded engagement with the external thread of the screw rod, and wherein the external thread has a pressure flank for receiving pressure when a force is applied that tends to push the plunger into the cylinder, and a clearance flank, the pressure flank having a larger flank angle than the clearance flank, whereby the external thread is serration-shaped, and a return spring mounted between the plunger and the screw rod and biasing the plunger in a direction to protrude from the cylinder, thereby pressing a chain with the plunger, wherein the protrusion extends only a limited arcuate range of the inner periphery of the plunger.
US08371969B2
A ball-striking sole for a table tennis paddle comprises a flexible coating (118) of elastic material, one face (135) of which is lined with elastically deformable pimples (120) which protrude from said face. The cross section of said pimples is greater in their region (122) of attachment to this coating than in the region close to their opposite end (124) and the side wall (125) of these pimples has a concave curved profile over at least a part of the height of the pimple between these two regions. This sole is used particularly successfully in a table tennis paddle in which the face of said sole (112) lined with pimples (120) is directed towards the inner side of the blade (115) of the paddle such that the free ends (124) of the pimples, the lateral surface of which has a concave curved profile (125), are pressed against a layer (126) of elastic material, secured to the blade, the modulus of elasticity of which is much lower than that of the elastic coating (118) of the sole. The smooth face (115-1) of the sole on the opposite side from the pimples (120) forms the striking surface of the paddle.
US08371968B2
A sports racquet comprising a handle portion, a paddle portion, which is provided with at least a solid ball striking surface, and a neck portion, which rigidly connects said handle portion and said paddle portion. The paddle portion comprises at least a first cavity having a first longitudinal axis, which is substantially unperpendicular to said main reference plane.
US08371967B2
A lacrosse head pocket includes an elongated single layer runner with multiple cross pieces. The single layer runner can be constructed from a material, such as a polymeric material, molded over the cross pieces. The cross pieces and/or runner can include speed lace loops with which a net lace can be joined. A related method includes providing cross pieces, overmolding a polymeric material over the cross pieces to form a single layer runner, where the overmolded material is the only structure extending between and connecting the cross pieces, and where the cross pieces are transverse to the runners. Another method includes providing a pocket base overmolding the base with a polymeric material to cover portions of it, and forming connection elements between different portions independently of any other components of the pocket base.
US08371960B2
The present invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope encasing the core, an intermediate layer encasing the envelope, and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has formed on a surface thereof a plurality of dimples. The surface hardness of the core has a JIS-C hardness value of 40 to 95, the center hardness of the core has a JIS-C hardness value of 30 to 72, and the hardness difference therebetween is from 4 to 14. The envelope is composed of at least two layers. The core is formed primarily of a rubber material. The envelope, intermediate layer and cover are each formed primarily of the same or different resin materials. An optimized surface hardness relationship exists between the core, a Sphere I composed of the core encased by the envelope layers, a Sphere II composed of the core encased by the envelope layers and the intermediate layer, and a Sphere III composed of the core encased by the envelope layers, the intermediate layer and the cover. The golf ball has an outstanding flight performance and controllability which are acceptable to professionals and other skilled players, in addition to which it has an excellent durability to cracking under repeated impact and an excellent scuff resistance.
US08371958B2
A golf club head includes a heel, a toe, a level golf ball striking face extending from the heel to the toe and including a top edge and a bottom edge, and a patterned striking surface covering the level golf ball striking face extending to the heel, the toe, the top and the bottom edge. The patterned striking surface includes a plurality of generally pyramidal shaped extensions protruding from the level golf ball striking face, each of the pyramidal shaped extensions including a generally square base, four side walls and a top surface, each of the side walls extending outwardly a height H and at an angle Ω, the angle Ω being approximately equal to 60 degrees, from the golf ball striking face and the base, the center of the top surface of any pyramidal shaped extensions being separated from the centers of the top surfaces of all neighboring pyramidal shaped extensions by a width W.
US08371954B1
A golf swing instruction tool for positioning a golfer in accordance with a golf schematic representing a preferred golf swing includes an elongated shaft having a plurality of sides, a series of ball position circles, a pair of stance lines, a plurality of posture sight lines, a takeaway sight line, a downswing sight line, and a follow through sight line.
US08371951B2
A swing ride for providing lateral movement to a plurality of passenger vehicles. The ride includes a center hub rotating about its axis. The ride includes, for each of the passenger vehicles, a vehicle support assembly attached to rotate with the hub. The vehicle support assembly includes a flexible support member attached at a first end to the hub and at a second end to one of the vehicles. The vehicle support assembly includes a fulcrum assembly defining a fulcrum or pivot point for the support member between the first and second ends such that the member has a flexible and variable-length flexible arm attached to the vehicle. The fulcrum assembly is selectively positionable to move the fulcrum point in response to user input at the vehicle such that the passenger interactively moves the fulcrum point and thus moves the vehicle laterally inward and outward relative to the spinning hub.
US08371949B2
An input shaft to output shaft coupling including an input shaft having a first wave surface thereupon, wherein the first wave surface comprises mounds and valleys. The coupling additionally comprises an output shaft having a second wave surface thereupon, wherein the second wave surface comprises mounds and valleys. The coupling in one form additionally comprises a housing substantially enclosing the first wave surface and second wave surface, wherein rotational force exerted upon the input shaft is translated through the lobes of the first wave surface to the lobes of the second wave surface and to the output shaft in turn, and wherein the first wave surface and second wave surface transmit rotational force therebetween through any range of angles to a maximum output angle between a rotational axis of the input shaft relative to a rotational axis of the output shaft.
US08371947B2
The present invention relates to a power transmission device of the clutchless compressor, which includes: a pulley; a hub disposed in one side face of the pulley and connected to a driving shaft of a compressor; a drive-side connection member including a connection portion detachably connected to one side face of the pulley and a breaking portion connected to the connection portion and broken when a torque above a preset value is generated in the compressor; and a driven-side connection member connected to one side face of the hub and is connected to the breaking portion and including a plastic deformation portion outside the driven-side connection member so that the driven-side connection member is plastic deformed or is broken due to plastic deformation if a rotational shock is applied from the connection portion to a remaining breaking member remaining even after the breaking portion is broken.
US08371946B2
Gaming terminals, gaming systems, display device support assemblies, and methods of mounting a display device to a gaming terminal are presented herein. A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game is disclosed. The gaming terminal includes a cabinet, an input device for receiving wagers to play the wagering game, and a display device for displaying information related to the wagering game. The gaming terminal also includes a mounting assembly which affixes the display device proximate the top of the cabinet. The mounting assembly pivotably supports the display device such that a lateral side of the display device can be selectively swung from a first position over the top of the cabinet to a second position over a front of the cabinet where the display device is removable from the cabinet.
US08371945B2
The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a light source and one or ideally a series of lighting positions that are illuminated, via optical pathways that are suitably in the form of optical fibers that transmit light from the light source to the or each lighting position. The light source may have a light filter that operably controls the color and intensity of light illuminating from the lighting positions depending on the outcomes of the game being played. The present invention also relates to a network of the gaming machines and a centralized light source, wherein optical pathways, suitably in the form of optical fibers, transmit light from the light source to the light positions of two or more gaming machines. The network may also include a controller to control illumination of the lighting positions, including color of the light and intensity of the light based on data received from an outcome determiner of one or more of the machines of the network.
US08371944B2
A gaming system is disclosed herein that provides game play in exchange for monetary input per game played. The gaming system includes: a game server, a plurality of game units connected to the game server via a network, and a progressive controller. The progressive controller enables time based progressive gaming in which a progressive award is incremented by time unit. The progressive controller manages the progressive award that is incremented over time at random intervals rather than being incremented by coin input.
US08371942B2
An embedded web server is disclosed. In one embodiment, a casino gaming system comprises a back-end system having one or more servers. One or more gaming machines are operatively connected to the back-end system via a network connection, and one or more gaming devices are operatively connected to at least one gaming machine. The gaming device includes an embedded web server and a web browser in communication with the web server, and delivers a management user interface to the web browser for accessing the gaming device.
US08371941B2
Massively multiplayer network games are fast becoming prevalent all over Internet. Servers that support such network games demand huge computing and storage infrastructure. Storage associated with game servers store game related information as well game-instance related information. Game states provide all the information about a game being played and storing them provides an opportunity to continue the game after a pause. An effective representation of game states allows for reduced demand on the storage. An efficient approach for archiving of game states is discussed.
US08371938B2
A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a shared or a common secondary display associated with the gaming devices. In one embodiment, the shared display is adjacent to one or more of the gaming devices of the gaming system. The gaming system includes at least one primary game and at least one secondary or bonus game. The bonus game is associated with a plurality of average expected payouts or values. In one embodiment, the bonus game that is played on the secondary display is associated with a higher average expected payout or higher values than the average expected payouts or values of the bonus game played on the individual gaming devices. When the player places a designated wager, they qualify to play the game on the secondary display and thus qualify for a chance to win the higher awards.
US08371936B1
The disclosed pari-mutuel wagering method is directed to a sequential selection of two, three or four horses and the finishing position of the first horse in the selected sequence. A winning ticket is determined by three factors. These three factors include the correct sequential order of the selected horses, the correct finishing position for the first horse in the sequence and a corresponding finishing position selection by the racetrack based on a random draw.
US08371932B2
Embodiments of a wager gaming network that includes handheld wager gaming units and hotspots are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, in a handheld wager gaming unit, a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include wirelessly connecting the handheld wager gaming unit to a wireless access point in a wager gaming network. The method can also include transmitting, via the wireless access point, information from the handheld wager gaming unit to a device on the wager gaming network.
US08371927B2
A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and a display for displaying a plurality of symbols arranged on a plurality of reels. The symbols indicate a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of possible outcomes, the plurality of outcomes including at least one winning outcome. The gaming machine further includes a controller operative to receive a volatility input from a player of the gaming machine. The controller is further operative to associate an award with the at least one winning outcome wherein the associated award is either a first award amount or a second award amount based upon the volatility input. Upon the occurrence of the at least one winning outcome, the controller awards the associated award to the player.
US08371913B1
The present invention relates to an exterior sealed window-mounted fan. The fan is designed to be able to fully seal the intake and exhaust air chambers when the system is not in use. The present invention includes a dual panel frame that can completely seal the exterior portion of the opening from the interior portion. The invention can be left in a window all year long if so desired, and the invention can be sealed close during bad weather or opened during desired weather. Along the top surface of the invention is a grooved notch for stabilizing the unit in place with respect to the window and window frame. The invention includes a plurality of electrical fans. The invention includes a pair of adjustable louvers in for the invention to be used with a plurality of window openings. A system of exterior sliding vents seal the exterior of the dwelling from the interior, and is manually operated by a vent control.
US08371909B2
Reruckers and associated methods and systems configured to automatically reruck netting in an upstream direction on a netting chute or horn proximate in time to a clipping operation to pull a clipped end portion of the netting snugly against a discharge end of the chute or horn.
US08371907B2
A rotary abrasive device and for facilitating the removal of dust from a work surface. The rotary abrasive device may include a plenum, a plenum coupled to a vacuum source via a plenum exhaust. The shape of said plenum may be varied depending upon application. The plenum exhaust is right biased in a clockwise shaft rotation in order to pick-up debris off of a clockwise rotating abrasive device. The invention may include a rotary constraining member to allow the shaft to rotate freely through the plenum and a locking means to keep the plenum in a substantially fixed position. According to further illustrative embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the plenum one or more inlets of a fixed or varying width to pick-up debris off of a work surface.
US08371894B1
An illuminated toy construction kit includes a plurality of illumination modules having various shapes and sizes, and a plurality of non-illumination modules having different shapes and sizes. Each of the illumination modules includes at least one light-emitting element, such as, for example, a color-varying LED. At least some of the non-illumination modules are in the form of couplers which function as mechanical linkages for interconnecting the illumination modules and enabling a user to form a variety of three-dimensional structural shapes. The couplers also function to transmit electric power between the interconnected illumination modules, whereby all of the interconnected modules may be simultaneously illuminated in response to the activation of a single power source connected to at least one of the illumination modules.
US08371893B2
A method for operating a driven output device provided in an articulated head, mobile prop, or other object worn by a performer. The method includes providing a wearable control system, the control system including a driver for the output device, a control module, a wireless receiver, and memory. The method includes storing a set of show control commands for the output device in the memory, and receiving a show control signal with the wireless receiver from a wayside controller. The method includes operating the control module to process the show control signal, to retrieve the show control commands, and to signal the driver to drive the output device based on the commands. The commands are selected based on a character identifier stored in memory associated with the output device such as in a character head junction box, and this memory stores tuning or configuration data for the output device.
US08371886B1
An aquatic paddle includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, and a paddle blade rigidly coupled to the first end of the shaft. The paddle blade is constructed from a skeleton and a web spanning the skeleton. The skeleton includes a hub structure having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plurality of rod members. Each rod member is rigidly secured at the distal end of the hub structure. The proximal end of the hub structure is rigidly secured to the first end of the shaft.
US08371879B2
A card connector includes a housing having terminal members into which a card is inserted. The card connector also includes a card insertion space, defined by a top plate, a bottom plate and two side plates, the opposing plates mutually facing each other. The side plates linking the edges of the top and bottom plates. The card insertion space also has a front and a rear edge opening in which the front and rear edges of the card are exposed. The card connector also includes connection terminals, integrated with and mounted in the housing and in contact with the terminal members. One of the side plates has a card retaining member, engaged with a first concave member formed on the side edge of the card, and a position-determining member, engaged with a second concave member formed on the side edge of the card to determine the position of the card.
US08371876B2
A connector system is provided for electrically connecting a receptacle printed circuit to a header printed circuit. The connector system includes a header assembly configured to be mounted on the header printed circuit. The header assembly includes header contacts. A receptacle assembly is configured to be mounted on the receptacle printed circuit and mated with the header assembly. The receptacle assembly includes a housing and a contact module held within the housing. The contact module has separate first and second chicklets that are coupled together to define the contact module. First and second receptacle contacts are held by the contact module and arranged in a differential pair. The first and second receptacle contacts are engaged with the header contacts of the header assembly. The first receptacle contact of the differential pair is held by the first chicklet and the second receptacle contact of the differential pair is held by the second chicklet.
US08371873B2
An illuminated or self-illuminating electrical connector is provided that has an internal light source with, electrical circuitry for illuminating the light source. The housing arrangement of the illuminated electrical connector is such that light emanating from the light source is visible through the housing arrangement to the extent that the light is visible through greater than half of the external surface of the illuminated electrical connector. Also visible through the housing arrangement, when the light source is illuminated, is an electronic component that provides an aesthetic and ‘high-tech’ enhancement to the illuminated electrical connector.
US08371871B1
An electrically conductive terminal is configured for insertion into an opening in a substrate. The terminal includes a body having proximal and distal ends. The distal end is configured for insertion into the opening. The body includes a wall having an outer surface and a compliant barb that includes a base portion, an apex portion, a barb inner surface, and a barb outer surface. The base portion is disposed on the outer surface of the wall, along the body. The apex portion extends from the base portion in a direction from the distal end to the proximal end at an angle from the wall outer surface. The apex portion is located between the base and the proximal end. The barb inner surface faces the wall outer surface. The barb inner surface and the barb outer surface converge to the apex so that the cross-sectional width of the barb is non-uniform.
US08371865B1
The present invention is to provide a card connector, which comprises a shell body, an insulating main body, a card carrier for supporting an electric card, and a plurality of conductive terminals embedded within the insulating main body. The card connector further comprises a retreating-card apparatus, which comprises an actuator, a slider actuated by the actuator, and a linkage mechanism linked up with the slider. The linkage mechanism is disposed on a rear end of the card carrier. When the actuator is acted to push the slider moving along a first direction, the linkage mechanism is linked with the slider to push the card carrier in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the card carrier and the electric card are removed from the insulating main body. Thus, the card connector according to the present invention reveals light-thin, compact-construct, sort-assembly time and lower-assembly cost.
US08371862B2
A connector assembly utilizes capacitive coupling for connecting two substrates. The connector assembly includes first and second connector frames which may be respectively attached to first and second substrates. The first connector frame includes a plurality of first conductors connected to circuits on the first circuit substrate and these conductors have exposed contact surfaces with a dielectric material disposed thereon. The first conductors and associated dielectric material confront second, opposing conductors supported by the second connector frame when the connector frames are engaged together. The first connector frame has a recess formed therein so that its conductors and dielectric material are arranged at a level beneath the top surface of the first connector frame. This recess defines a reservoir and a liquid dielectric material is interposed between the terminals and the dielectric portions in the reservoir, which prevents the liquid dielectric from flowing off the first conductors and dielectric material.
US08371861B1
A straddle mount connector is provided for edge mounting to a circuit board of a pluggable module. The straddle mount connector includes a dielectric connector body having a base and a plug extending from the base. The base is configured to be coupled to an edge of the circuit board. The plug has opposite first and second sides and a plate cavity that extends within the plug between the first and second sides. The plug is configured to be received within a receptacle of a receptacle connector. Electrical contacts are held by the connector body. The electrical contacts include mating segments. The mating segments of a first group of the electrical contacts are arranged in a first row that extends a length along the first side of the plug. The mating segments of a second group of the electrical contacts are arranged in a second row that extends a length along the second side of the plug. A ground plate is held within the plate cavity of the plug of the connector body. The ground plate extends between the first and second rows of electrical contacts along the lengths of the first and second rows.
US08371853B2
A mouthpiece that adjusts manually in the mouth and seals the treatment area. It includes light emitters and heat generators. Textured bands guide and direct light to diffuse evenly. A seal bead seals the gum above the teeth. For whitening, a whitening gel is first applied to the user's teeth, the mouthpiece is then positioned in the user's mouth, and the seal bead seals against the user's gums. Then, the light emitter(s) and heat generator(s) are activated to effect the whitening while causing an increase in the temperature enabling the user to mold the mouthpiece to their mouth.
US08371851B2
A dental implant abutment for attaching a dental prosthesis within a patient's mouth. The abutment is a single unit structure fabricated of a ceramic material, multicolored throughout to match the color of the dental prosthesis, the surrounding dentition and the surrounding gingival tissue.
US08371845B2
A head-mountable flashback arrestor for a gas torch having body, head, and tip sections. The head-mountable flashback arrestor may be disposed in a variety of gas torches, such as cutting torches, welding torches, heating torches, and so forth. The flashback arrestor also may embody a variety of filtering mechanisms, such as a porous metal structure. For example, the porous metal structure may be sintered from a metal particulate, such as a stainless steel powder, to form a non-linear or random flow pattern.
US08371843B2
Disclosed is a plastic injection mold, including a stationary mold member and a movable mold member mating with the stationary mold member. An inclined guide pillar and a stop block having a block plan are fixedly disposed on the stationary mold member. A slide having a molding portion is slidably disposed on the movable mold member. A guide pillar hole and an ejector hole are defined in the slide, and a molding cavity is defined by the molding portion with the stationary and the movable mold member. An ejection mechanism disposed on the slide includes an ejector rod and a spring. In a mold release process, a product molded with the mold is initially held by an ejector rod to prevent the product from being deformed when pulled by the slide for ensuring the quality of the molding product.
US08371839B2
A sheet molding apparatus includes at least one molding surface having a plurality of perforations and an accompanying vacuum mechanism for controllably drawing reduced pressure through the perforations. The sheet molding apparatus includes further at least one sheet retainer with a clamping capability attached to a frame surrounding at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the molding surface. The sheet molding apparatus with the sheet retainer and its clamping capability can be used for rapidly and accurately positioning thermoformable thermoplastic sheets to match the molding surfaces in producing molded articles.
US08371832B2
A peristaltic pump includes a conduit having a first end for receiving a fluid from a reservoir and a second end for delivering the fluid. A plurality of fingers are disposed at respective locations along a segment of the conduit and are configured to alternately compress and release the conduit at the locations. A cyclical pump mechanism is coupled to move the fingers between respective compressed and released positions in a spatio-temporal pattern so as to drive a predetermined quantity of the fluid through the segment of the conduit in each pump cycle. A motor is coupled to drive the pump mechanism. A controller is coupled to activate and deactivate the motor in alternation during each pump cycle with a duty cycle that varies within the pump cycle.
US08371822B2
A dual-powered airflow generator comprising: a primary fan motor powered from a primary power source and an auxiliary fan motor powered from a secondary power source. In one embodiment, the primary fan motor has a first drive shaft wherein operation of the primary fan motor causes a desired airflow at a design power of the primary power source. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary fan motor is powered from a secondary power source and has a second drive shaft mechanically coupled to the primary fan motor, wherein the auxiliary fan motor is configured to assist the primary fan motor in causing the desired airflow while the primary fan motor operates from the primary power source at a reduced power. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary fan motor is powered by a solar power generating device or other alternative energy source.
US08371818B2
A turbine bucket including an airfoil, the airfoil having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 as contained herein wherein the Z values are non-dimensional values from approximately 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by a height of the airfoil in inches, and wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by substantially smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z, the profile sections at the Z distances being joined substantially smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08371814B2
A turbine engine component includes a wall, a main opening, and two clusters of two or more auxiliary openings. The wall includes cool and hot air sides. The main opening extends between the cool air side and the hot air side and has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is formed on the cool air side, and the outlet is formed on the hot air side. The first cluster of two or more auxiliary openings extends from the main opening to the hot air side. The second cluster of two or more auxiliary openings extends from the main opening to the hot air side. The main opening may be cylindrical or conical with a converging passage extending from the cool air side to the hot air side. The converging main opening may enhance flow through the auxiliary openings especially at high blowing ratios.
US08371809B2
A wind power engine including a stator having stator blades, and a rotor having rotor blades. The rotor is positioned inside the hollow area of the stator and is rotationally movable with respect to the stator about an axis of rotation. The stator blades are positioned in such a way that an air flow coming from the outside of the stator is oriented towards the rotor and the rotor blades. The oriented airflow allows the rotor blades to drive the rotor about the axis of rotation. At least certain rotor blades have a concave-shaped profile on one of their faces.
US08371799B2
An apparatus and method for maintaining separation of two journal foil bearing assemblies, where each journal foil bearing assembly comprises one or more foils with lugs formed thereon for insertion into axial grooves of a bore, the means comprising a pin for insertion into each groove so that an edge of the lug that is inserted into the groove abuts the pin and is prevented from axially drifting along the bore. The pin provides a broad area along the lug edge so that the lug edge does not cut into the pin.
US08371792B2
A substrate processing apparatus including a transport chamber having an end and defining more than one substantially linear substrate transport zone where each transport zone extends longitudinally along the transport chamber between opposing walls of the transport chamber and at least one of the more than one substantially linear substrate transport zones is configured as a supply zone for enabling transport of substrates from the end and at least one of the more than one substantially linear substrate transport zones is configured as a return zone for enabling transport of substrates to the end, and at least one substrate transport located in and movably mounted to the transport chamber for transporting substrates along the more than one substantially linear substrate transport zone, where each substrate transport zone is configured to allow the at least one substrate transport to move from one transport zone to another transport zone.
US08371791B2
There is disclosed a feeding device (10) for dispensing bales of material from a vehicle. The feeding device (10) includes a body (12) having a surface for receiving a plurality of said bales thereon. The surface has a first end (12a) and a second end (12b) and is configured such that the plurality of bales are arranged in at least one row extending at least partially between the first and second ends (12a, 12b). A pusher (18) is slidably mounted to the surface and moveable between a first position proximal the first end (12a) and a second position proximal the second end (12b). A driving mechanism is provided and is controllable to move the pusher (18) between the first and second positions. Such movement of the pusher (18) from the first position to the second position applies a pushing force to the bales arranged in at least one row such that the bales in that row are progressively dispensed from said second end (12b) of the surface.
US08371788B2
A fastener for securing an undercover panel to an underside of a vehicle is disclosed. The fastener includes a body having a bore for receiving a threaded bolt extending from the underside of the vehicle, a flange for engaging a first side of the undercover panel, a plurality of resiliently deformable engaging fingers for allowing insertion of the bolt into the bore and to resist removal of the bolt from the bore, and a plurality of resilient engaging members for enabling the engaging members to pass in a first direction through an aperture in the undercover panel, and to resist removal of the fastener from the panel. A plurality of reinforcing members extend from the body to engage a respective engaging member, as a result of forces urging said undercover panel towards the underside of the vehicle, to resist flexing of the engaging members away from the body.
US08371787B2
A self-tapping screw includes a screw shaft extended downward from a screw head, plural flights of constant-height external thread respectively having the same flight height formed at a part of the screw shaft extended right below the screw head, and plural flights of low-height external thread having flight height decreased gradually toward an end face of a shaft tip portion formed continuously with the constant-height external thread at the shaft tip portion of the screw shaft. A slight arc face is formed continuously at respective connecting parts of upper and lower flanks with upper and lower root faces of the low-height external thread, and the slight arc face is formed so as to extend at least along a connecting part of a lower flank and a lower root face of a constant-height external thread end flight continuing to the low-height external thread.
US08371786B2
A quick-positioning captive screw includes a mounting base member having an outer thread spirally extending around the peripheral wall of a top flange thereof, the outer thread having a leading end terminating in the top edge of the top flange and a tail end terminating in the bottom edge of the top flange and cutting a part of the top flange into a rib, a lock screw having an inner thread located on the inside wall of a plastic cap thereof for threading through the outer thread into the space around the periphery of the mounting base member below the bottom edge of the top flange after bonding of the mounting base member to an external panel frame by reflow soldering, and a spring member sleeved onto the threaded shank of the screw bolt of the lock screw and stopped between the head of the screw bolt and the inside step of the mounting base member.
US08371780B2
A rotationally drivable cutting or milling tool has at least one first cutting tooth effective in a first rotational direction and at least one second cutting tooth effective in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction. The at least one first cutting tooth and the at least one second cutting tooth have differently oriented cutting edges for performing different machining steps in the first and second rotational directions, respectively.
US08371776B2
A cutting tool includes a blade, a seat, a shank and a damper. The blade is connected to the seat. The seat is connected to the shank. The shank includes a pocket defined therein and a thread formed on the wall of the pocket. A damper is inserted in the pocket. The damper includes a thread formed on the periphery for engagement with the thread of the shank, with a small gap defined between the threads.
US08371772B2
A retaining wall structure includes a number of bag units piled to form a wall and interconnecting units disposed between vertically adjacent bag units. The interconnecting units each has a plate and protrusions protruding from upper and lower surfaces of the plate. A reinforcing layer is provided between the plate of a relative interconnecting unit and a relative bag unit. The reinforcing layer is selected from cement or adhesive (such as glue). The present invention uses the reinforcing layer between the plate of the interconnecting unit and the bag unit to enhance the entire stability of the retaining wall adapted for operation in different circumstances.
US08371770B1
A tamper bar mechanism includes a drive shaft with an eccentric section on the shaft. A tamper drive member is driven by the eccentric section and drives a tamper bar between an upper position and a lower position to define a tamper stroke length. A stroke adjustment link is operatively connected to the tamper drive member and a stroke adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the stroke adjustment link to adjust an angular orientation of the stroke adjustment link relative to the path of travel of the tamper bar and adjust a length of the tamper stroke length. A paving machine and a method of adjusting the tamper stroke length are also provided.
US08371768B1
A connection unit includes a hollow first part, a hollow second part and two positioning wires. The first part includes a positioning hole defined radially therein and an insertion section extends from an end of the first part. A groove is defined radially in an outer surface of the insertion section. The second part is securely inserted in one end of a hollow tube and the two positioning wires are located in the second part and two ends of each of the positioning wires are engaged with two insertion holes defined in the second part. The second part is mounted to the insertion section of the first part, and the two positioning wires are engaged with the groove so that the first part is rotatable. Two ends of a connector are inserted into two respective first parts respectively and positioned by two pins.
US08371764B2
A sanitizer for cleaning a handle of a cart includes a cleaning member and a cover member in which the cleaning member is slidably disposed. The cleaning member includes an opening which is positionable against the handle and a cavity defined by space between walls of the cleaning member, where the cavity is adapted for storing fluid. The opening includes one or more ports for dispensing fluid, the one or more ports disposed about an axially extending surface of the opening of the cleaning member, whereby fluid is transferred from said cavity to the surface of the handle.
US08371755B2
A sleeve bearing device is disclosed for supporting a worm gear journal disposed within a casing of a valve actuator. The device includes a ring shaped portion having an inboard and an outboard end. The outboard end of the ring shaped portion defines a radially outwardly extending flange which cooperates with the casing for inhibiting axial movement of the ring shaped portion relative to the casing. The ring shaped portion is of cylindrical configuration and defines an inner and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ring shaped portion bearingly supports the worm gear journal. The outer surface of the ring shaped portion cooperates with the casing, the casing defining an annular groove. The annular groove is disposed coaxially relative to the ring shaped portion, the annular groove being located adjacent to the outer surface of the ring shaped portion and between the inboard and the outboard ends of the ring shaped portion. A sealing ring is disposed within the annular groove, the sealing ring sealing the outer surface of the ring shaped portion relative to the casing.
US08371754B2
A split-type sliding bearing for a crankshaft in an internal combustion engine is incorporated in a split-type bearing housing. The sliding bearing is formed of a first and a second semi-cylindrical bearing bodies combined to form a cylindrical body. The bearing housing has a cylindrical bearing retaining bore and is formed of a pair of housing halves. One of the housing halves has a lower stiffness, and the other has a higher stiffness. The first bearing body is held by the housing half having a lower stiffness. The second bearing body is held by the stiffer housing half. The first and second bearing bodies have equal outer diameters, and both of the circumferential end parts of the first bearing body have a larger thickness than those of the second bearing body prior to incorporation into the housing halves.
US08371746B2
A thermal analysis device comprising a replaceable sensor that can be contacted via a contact element of an electrical contacting means, a heating element and a cooling element. The contact element(s) is thermally connected with the heating element and can be heated essentially independently of the operating state of the cooling element even when no sensor is mounted to the device.
US08371736B2
A light source apparatus includes first and second light direction changing faces that extend in a longitudinal direction, a light guiding member having first and second light emitting faces that are formed to respectively face the first and second light direction changing faces and a light source that is arranged on one end face of the light guiding member. A first vertical plane extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the first light direction changing face and a second vertical plane extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the second light direction changing face intersect. A groove which extends in a longitudinal direction of the light guiding member is formed between the first and second light direction changing faces. A surface forming the groove may be parabolic in a cross section.
US08371734B2
A tab is cut into a sheet of transparent material. The tab has a free end and a fixed end. A source of light is attached to the tab and the tab and the sheet are displaced along the z-axis of the sheet to direct light from the source into an edge of the sheet. The tab can include conductive traces for electrical connection to the light source or other electrical devices on the sheet. A variable display device adjacent the sheet is viewed through the sheet and the sheet with attached light source provides front lighting for the variable display device.
US08371733B2
Disclosed are further improvements of AmbiLight Displaying Arrangement, a lighting or illumination system that has been introduced to enhance viewing experience. This is achieved by providing light sources (20) that create multiple colors next to at least one side of the screen (10) of the display device or arrangement, each of the multiple colors being 5 adapted to the video contents at a spatially corresponding region (50) of the screen (10). In one embodiment the lighting or illumination system can have an improved construction wherein a reflector (60) has a window section (65) enabling the light from the light sources (20) to be split into two. Half or more of the light is directed to the background (30) of the display device and half or less of the light is directed to the bezel diffuser (70), i.e. to the 10 front of the display device.
US08371730B2
A light for use with a floating object, like a boat, has a body, the body having a flange and a light bulb extending therefrom, a lens, and a switch for activating and deactivating the bulb, the switch being disposed between the lens and the body. A mounting bracket attaches to the body and has an arm for cooperating with the flange such that the body may be disposed at varying angles relative to the arm, a first clamp attaching to the arm and a second clamp attaching to the first clamp such that the mounting bracket may be clamped to an item on the floating object.
US08371724B2
The present invention is directed to a small-sized stroboscopic light emitting device that controls disorder in light distribution (orientation) characteristic caused by a shape of the reflector, and achieves a homogeneous light quantity distribution. The stroboscopic light emitting device includes an illuminator 1, a reflector 2 for reflecting light from the reflector, and a lens 3 for allowing the light reflected by the reflector 2 to pass through and illuminate outwardly, and the lens 3 contains a filler 4 in the base material. A refractive index and a mean particle size of the filler are between or equal to 1.3 to 2.8 and between or equal to 0.1 μm to 20 μm, respectively, and the filler is contained in the base material at the rate between or equal to 0.1 parts by weight to 3.0 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base material. Since the filler diffuses the passing light adequately, even though the reflector is provided with a bend, local disorder in light distribution (orientation) characteristic caused by the bend can be suppressed.
US08371708B2
An electric power tool can include a main body, which rotates a motor with a pull operation of the switch lever and actuates a head tool by a rotative force of the motor, and an auxiliary tool configured for attaching and detaching to and from the electric power tool main body. In the main body, an actuating part actuated with the pull operation of the switch lever is provided. The auxiliary tool includes a detecting part, which noncontactly detects an actuation of the actuating part, and an electric circuit section for actuating electric devices, provided in the auxiliary part, by a detecting actuation of the detecting part.
US08371706B2
Provided is a light projection structure (10), including: a reflective member (11) including a reflective surface (11a), the reflective surface (11a) being formed as a concave surface having a focal point (f) positioned near its apex (t); and a light emitting member (12) disposed at the focal point (f) and its vicinity, for emitting light when excited by excitation light.
US08371705B2
A mirror having a first substrate and a reflective film formed on the first substrate, the reflective film made of mercury and at least one metal, wherein the mirror is operative such that light incident upon the first substrate and having an intensity that falls below a fluence threshold is reflected by the reflective film, and light incident upon the first substrate and having an intensity that exceeds the fluence threshold passes through the reflective film.
US08371703B2
The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.
US08371701B2
The polarity of a voltage applied to the electrode pair is inverted by a changing signal generated at every boundary area of each filter color of the color wheel, and also in the blue color region (B) (a, b. c). Herewith, time during which the lamp electrode is positive and that negative is equal to each other every time the color wheel makes two rotations (T), thereby maintaining the heat load to be evenly distributed between both of the electrodes.
US08371695B2
An ophthalmic illuminator is provided that includes a plurality of color sources, each color source producing a light of a corresponding color; a combiner for combining the light from the color sources to produced a combined light; at least one optical fiber configured to receive the combined light and propagate the received combined light towards a distal end of the ophthalmic illuminator; and a controller configured to control an intensity for each of the color sources responsive to a sampling of a spectral content for the combined light.
US08371693B2
An autism diagnosis support apparatus 1 according to the present invention is an autism diagnosis support apparatus that detects a symptom of autism based on a state of a subject looking at a target, including: an eye-gaze point detection unit 2 that detects a line-of-sight direction of the subject looking at the target; a color camera 3 that takes an image of the target; a pupil position detection unit 4 that measures a pupil coordinate of the target; and a data analysis unit 7 that calculates a relationship between the line-of-sight direction of the subject and a pupil position of the target using the line-of-sight direction and the pupil coordinate and outputs the relationship along with the image of the target.
US08371692B2
Eyewear comprising a lens frame, at least one temple or ear piece, and at least one hinge. The hinge may be a substantially C-shaped wire with two end portions inserted through axially aligned pairs of holes formed into the lens frame and the temple. Alternatively, the hinge may be omitted and a hinge faceplate having a vertical rod portion integrally formed thereto may be coupled with the lens frame and the temple. Specifically, the temple may have a protrusion mating with a depression formed into the lens frame and the temple may have a depression formed therein mating with a rod end of the vertical rod portion, such that a portion of the temple is sandwiched between and rotatable relative to the vertical rod portion of the hinge faceplate and the lens frame.
US08371691B2
An auxiliary eyeglass device includes a connecting unit and an auxiliary lens unit. The connecting unit includes an adjustment plate that is at least partly flexible, and an eyeglass-connecting member that is attached to the adjustment plate and that is connected to a primary eyeglass device. The auxiliary lens unit includes a pair of auxiliary lenses that is mounted on the adjustment plate, such that the adjustment plate can be flexed to result in a change in an inclination angle of at least one of the auxiliary lenses relative to the primary eyeglass device.
US08371683B2
A particle removal device for an ink jet printer is discussed. The particle removal device includes a first separator comprising an arrangement of obstacles including at least two rows of obstacles that extend laterally with respect to a flow path of ink in the first separator. The rows of obstacles are offset from one another by a row offset fraction. The arrangement of obstacles is configured to preferentially route larger particles having diameters greater than a critical diameter through the arrangement and along a first trajectory vector that is angled with respect to the direction of the flow path of the ink. The angle of the first trajectory vector with respect to the ink flow path is a function of the row offset fraction. Smaller particles having diameters less than the critical diameter travel through the arrangement along a second trajectory vector that is not substantially angled with respect to the flow path of the ink. The first separator causes a pressure drop of the ink of less than about 100 Pa.
US08371681B2
A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer and electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer consists of a complex oxide containing bismuth, cerium, iron and cobalt and the molar ratio of cobalt to the total of iron and cobalt is 0.125 or more and 0.875 or less.
US08371675B2
A liquid ejection device includes a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a drive signal generating portion and a common ejection testing portion. The nozzles are arranged to eject a liquid. The piezoelectric elements are provided in respective correspondence to the nozzles. The drive signal generating portion is arranged to generate a drive signal which repeats for each ejection cycle in which the nozzles eject the liquid onto a pixel, the drive signal having a testing period within each ejection cycle. The common ejection testing portion is provided in common to the nozzles. One of the piezoelectric elements corresponding to the nozzle to be tested is driven within a given ejection cycle of the drive signal, whereupon the nozzle to be tested is tested by the common ejection testing portion during the testing period of the same given ejection cycle.
US08371662B2
A wheel braking controller of a vehicle includes a brake lever operated by a rider, a master cylinder generating a hydraulic pressure according to an operation force of the brake lever, and a brake caliper braking a front wheel based on operation of the brake lever, a channel switching unit provided between the master cylinder and the brake caliper and switching channels of a brake fluid. A hydraulic pressure generator generates a hydraulic pressure based on operation of the brake lever and the driving state of the vehicle and controlling braking of the front wheel using the brake caliper by the hydraulic pressure. A braking controller including the channel switching unit and the hydraulic pressure generator is integrally provided on one body. The wheel braking controller so configured reduces the number of parts, and provides for easy mounting of the controller on the vehicle body.
US08371657B2
A transport assembly for transporting granular material may define at least a first egress for releasing a first portion of a granular material. The device may also include a door assembly slidably coupled with the transport assembly for at least substantially covering the first egress in a first position for retaining granular material and for at least substantially uncovering the first egress in a second position for controllably releasing the first portion of the granular material. The device may also include a linear actuator assembly coupled with the transport assembly and the door assembly for moving the door assembly between the first position and the second position. The device may also include a pump assembly coupled with the linear actuator assembly for actuating the linear actuator assembly to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position.
US08371652B2
The backrest for motorcyclists includes a base plate with a pivoting and telescoping strut extending from its forward end. The upper end of the strut has a cushioned seatback pivotally attached thereto. The strut is adjustable to optimize the seatback height. The fore and aft angle of the strut, and thus the angular position of the seatback, is adjusted by an adjustable stop at the base of the strut. The stop limits the rearward angular motion of the strut, but allows the strut to pivot forward against the seating surface to facilitate mounting and dismounting of the motorcycle. The base plate is removably secured to the seat by lateral straps that hook beneath the edges of the seat. The span of the straps may be adjusted by laterally telescoping strap brackets extending from the plate. The bottom of the plate is coated with a non-slip material for greater security.
US08371650B2
A disposable car seat, vehicle seat or other seat liner that may include: Version A, being sheet material having a top surface of an absorbent material and a bottom surface of non-permeable material; having several line points at the upper middle, lower middle, left and right sides of middle, and left and right sides of upper, outer edges to accept car seat belt hook-ups; an elasticized outer edge; a backing of light adhesive. Version B of invention includes: sheet material of the same qualities as version A; light adhesive backing; line point to accommodate hook-up belt of a protective arm; closure tabs on upper and lower edges. Version C designed for a booster seat, vehicle seat or other seat includes same material, line points and adhesive backing as version A; elasticized edge on central left and right sides that stand up forming a well or barrier.
US08371635B2
In a dashboard insulator for a vehicle, an inner layer laminated between front and rear layers is formed by laminating fusion, barrier and other fusion films and has a large number of small holes with a uniform opening rate. The both layers are formed by a thermoplastic material with predetermined basis weight, and Young's modulus. The both fusion films formed by a thermoplastic material with a melting point lower than that of the barrier film fuse the both layers to the barrier film. Each fusion part of the both fusion films has a predetermined fusion force in its predetermined range.
US08371632B2
A garnish including an integrally molded grip is attached to a center pillar of a vehicle body with a bracket. The bracket attaches to a part of the pillar adjacent to the grip using a threaded bolt provided on an outboard side of the garnish. An opening is formed in the garnish for attaching the garnish to the pillar. A lid closes the opening. Integrally forming the grip with the garnish eliminates the need for positioning the two parts relative to each other and reduces the number of component parts. Providing the bracket for attachment adjacent to the base end of the grip improves the mounting strength of the grip. As the lid closing the opening is concealed by the grip when viewed inside the passenger compartment, the opening can be made so large as to improve the efficiency of the assembly work.
US08371628B2
Disclosed is a length-variable bumper capable of adjusting the length of a vehicle body to lengthen a time interval over which momentum changes upon collision. The length-variable bumper includes a bumper member primarily absorbing collision energy, a collision energy absorbing member foldable in a longitudinal direction, and an operation unit configured to transit the collision energy absorbing member to an unfolded state when a vehicle speed is a predetermined level or more and to transit the collision energy absorbing member to a folded state when the vehicle is the to predetermined level or less. The collision energy absorbing member has one end connected to a frame of the vehicle and the other end connected to the bumper member and configured to be deformed upon collision to secondarily absorb the collision energy.
US08371621B2
A fitting connection for a capillary has a sealing bushing, a compression bushing, and a backing bushing. The backing bushing has a bore for receiving the sealing bushing and the compression bushing into the backing bushing, and the sealing bushing and the compression bushing are each provided with a central bore for feeding through a capillary tube. The bore of the backing bushing has a partly slightly conical bore end which compacts the sealing bushing such that the bore of the sealing bushing exerts a radial surface pressure onto the external wall of the capillary.
US08371618B2
A water supply attachment is a spherically-shaped pivot attachment having a hollow passage extending between its opposing ends that includes a threaded portion for coupling to water supplies. The water supply attachment can be a hidden pivot attachment usable in various shower assemblies. The hidden pivot attachment may be used in combination with a seal cup and an attachment nut, such that the hidden pivot attachment closely fits within the void spaces of the seal cup and attachment nut, enabling the hidden pivot attachment to form a seal with the seal cup.
US08371616B2
A false positive testing device (FPTD) that contains a coating based on a one hundred percent solids varnish and a transparent reagent, that uses oxidative free radical polymerization as a drying mechanism, and that can be transferred to various types of porous substrates by conventional lithographic offset printing and/or dry offset printing. The substrates with the FPTD can be verified by using common currency detection protocols, such as testing with ultraviolet lights and/or counterfeit detection iodine based pen/pad stamps.
US08371614B2
The current disclosure presents a ski-pole coupling assembly wherein the attachment point is permanently housed on the ski, does not interfere with skiing activity, and does not become impaired by ice and snow. The current disclosure has a pair of brackets on each ski placed proximate the ski bindings. The brackets are of such height that, when placed on the brackets, the poles are not hindered by the bindings. The poles are removably affixed to the brackets by a flexible securing member, attached to the brackets. The securing members could be attached to the brackets by a number of different methods, such as by snaps, clips, rivets, etc. or a combination thereof.
US08371610B2
A retention device for an airbag arrangement can include a first retaining element, which can be connected via a first end section to an airbag flap and via a second end section to a firing channel or via a first end section to at least one airbag flap and via a second end section to a carrier which encloses the airbag flap and has at least one section disposed between the first and the second end sections. The first end section and/or the second end section have at least two overlapping end subsections, which are connected to one another and which are connected opposite to one another and spaced apart from one another to the first plate and second plate, respectively.
US08371606B2
A buggy for transporting children has a frame (3a, 3b, 5) and wheels (9) that are rotatably mounted relative to the frame to support the frame above a ground surface. A primary seat (8) is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a first child. A secondary seat (17) is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a second child. The buggy is convertible between an in use configuration for transporting children and a folded storage configuration, whether or not the secondary seat is attached. The secondary seat may be detachable. The secondary seat may be positioned at least partly behind and at least partly below the primary seat.
US08371601B2
A fifth wheel slide assembly secondary lock includes an elongated cam member supported by a spindle extending upward from a sliding pedestal. A pair of linkage bars are pivotally coupled by one end to opposing ends of the cam member, the other ends of the bars being coupled to wedges operable for selectively engaging slide rails mounted to a vehicle frame in order to maintain a longitudinal position of said pedestal. The pedestal includes at least one stop extending upward from the pedestal at a height that extends above an arc defined by the rotation of the cam.
US08371599B2
A truck towing system is described. The truck towing system provides for a first truck to tow a second truck in a back to front relationship, i.e., the front portion of the second truck (the towed truck) is connected or attached to a rear portion of the first truck (the towing truck). The truck towing system includes an upper member to removably connect with a first truck. A middle member joins the upper member and a lower member in a fixed engagement. The lower member supports a front portion of a second truck. A beam member is removably engaged to the lower member, and the beam member extends and retracts from an interior of the lower member. The beam member connects to a rear portion of the second truck.
US08371592B2
A paint pump and cart having a movable carriage to enable tilting of the paint pump secured to the carriage via a pivot mechanism without tilting the remainder of cart. A latching mechanism having a spring biased pin received in one of a pair of apertures provides selective retention of the carriage in an operating or loading position and the latching mechanism is operable to release the carriage to move between the operating and loading positions.
US08371590B2
Devices and methods of transport are disclosed. Various embodiments include structural aspects related to steering and changing the direction of conveyances including features which utilize leaning or shifting of weight as part of turning.
US08371586B2
A bearing seal includes a metal core having a radially outer portion engaged in an inner seal groove of a bearing outer race. The core includes a bent portion engaged in the seal groove, a radially outer flange extending inwardly from an end of the bent portion located inside the bearing, a tapered tubular portion having a large-diameter end thereof connected to a small-diameter end of the outer flange and a small-diameter end thereof located axially outwardly of its large-diameter end, and a radially inner flange extending inwardly from the small-diameter end of the tubular portion. A rubber seal is fixed to an inner surface of the metal core that faces the interior of the bearing. The rubber seal includes a thick-walled portion having an inner radial step, and formed with three lips that elastically contact the inner race outer surface. The thick-walled portion includes a small-diameter thick-walled portion.
US08371569B2
A booklet with a cover sheet and a plurality of inner sheets is produced. The cover sheet is folded to begin the booklet. One at a time, the inner sheets are selectively printed, folded, and nested into the booklet. When each inner sheet is nested in the booklet, an edge of the inner sheet protrudes beyond an edge of the cover sheet. The protruding edge of the inner sheet is cut flush with the corresponding edge of the cover sheet.
US08371568B2
This is a media transport system that can accommodate various size media or sheets. The system has a series of even sized bins that can accommodate both small and large sheets. Above the bins is located a sheet diverter that when lowered diverts the small sheets into a small portion of the even sized bin. When the sheet diverter is raised, it permits the large sheets to be unblocked by it and fall into the largest portion of the even sized bin. When the large sheets are housed in the bin, they are supported on a short pusher which is located between two large pushers. Both the small and large sheets are in substantial collated alignment when housed in the bins.
US08371564B2
A suction apparatus 1 holds a wafer W by performing vacuum-suctioning on the wafer W. The suction apparatus 1 comprises a suction substrate 2. The suction substrate 2, which is rigid, comprises a plurality of pin-like protrusions 2a formed so that the tip-end faces (upper surfaces) thereof are the same height. An elastic coating layer is coated by way of an undercoat layer 4 on the tip-end faces of the protrusions 2a. When the wafer W is suctioned, even if a foreign matter is interposed between the wafer W and the suction surface, because the foreign matter embeds itself into the coating layer 3, the planarization of the wafer W is improved. In addition, because the coating layer 3 can be made comparatively thinner, undulations in the wafer W can be reduced and, to that end, the planarization of the wafer W in the suctioned state can be improved.
US08371563B2
An upper clamping unit and a sub-clamping unit are respectively configured on the upper center of the main frame and on both sides of the front of the mounting portion, a side surface pad unit and a base surface pad unit are configured on one side and the front surface portion of the main frame so as to fix the upper part of a casting block, and the casting block is supplied from the upper portion through a gantry loader such that a separate transfer device is not necessary to make the fabrication process reasonable.
US08371556B2
A multi-function deck tool is powered by a portable electric drill to remove old deck boards and nails and install new boards. Lifting forks remove deck boards. A built-in nail puller removes nails from the deck board supporting beam. An aligning arm attachment straightens and aligns new or loose boards with nailed-in boards and holds them in place, freeing the hands of the installer to nail in the new board.
US08371554B1
Stem-actuated two-way valve for precise, intermittent and repeatable delivery of fluid and/or gaseous substances from high pressure sources. A dual purpose o-ring functions as a valve seat and separates high pressure segments from low pressure segments. The novel valve stem system allows precise delivery of desired liquids and/or gases regardless of valve stem travel within a defined travel length.
US08371553B2
The invention relates to a valve device comprising a valve body defining a fluid flow duct having a throttle element disposed therein and turned about its axis by actuator means via a drive shaft, the throttle element having an internal cavity defined by a circular wall that is open in its bottom portion. The circular wall also presents, over a portion of its periphery, an opening of varying shape so as to define a fluid flow passage in the duct that is variable between a fully-open position in which the opening co-operates in full with the duct, and a fully-closed position in which said circular wall closes the duct. The device further includes an annular sealing gasket disposed in the flow duct, said gasket being in contact with the wall of the internal cavity in the throttle element. The internal cavity of the throttle element is spherical in shape so that in the fully-closed position of the valve, the entire circumferential of the sealing gasket is in contact with the wall of the internal cavity of the throttle element.
US08371552B2
A valve assembly having a pressure dead band includes a first valve or sleeve slidably disposed within a valve body. A second valve is partially slidably disposed within the first valve and partially slidably disposed in the valve body. A plurality of fluid passages communicate with the valve assembly and provide a first flow of hydraulic fluid and a second flow of hydraulic fluid. A lower threshold of the pressure dead band is defined by the pressure on the combination of the first area of the first valve and the first area of the second valve required to balance the resultant force developed on the second area of the second valve. An upper threshold of the pressure dead band is defined by the pressure on the first area of the second valve required to balance the resultant force developed on the second area of the second valve.
US08371539B2
A shaft 14 is provided on the opposite side of the side provided with a locking mechanism 7 in a remote control; a remote control holder 3 has provided thereon a bearing section 15 abutting on the shaft 14 when the remote control 1 is housed in the remote control holder 3; the remote control holder 3 further has supportingly provided thereon a holding lever 18 gripping the shaft 14 in cooperation with the bearing section 15; the holding lever 18 has provided thereon a coil spring 21 energizing the holding lever 18 toward the shaft 14; and further the remote control 1 has provided thereon a lever engaging section 23 that rotates the holding lever 18 against the resilient force of the coil spring when the remote control 1 is rotated to take out the remote control.
US08371538B2
A system for sequentially switching a plurality of guide ways to accommodate at least one vehicle with a plurality of ground engaging portions following a plurality of plural track segments is provided. The system includes a primary guide way to receive at least one of the plurality of ground engaging portions of the at least one vehicle and a secondary guide way located in proximity to the primary guide way. The secondary guide way may be configured to receive another of the plurality of ground engaging portions of the at least one vehicle. The system may also include a controller configured to sequentially switch the primary guide way and the secondary guide way whereby the at least one vehicle may travel in one direction or in another direction. A method of switching a plurality of guide ways is also presented.
US08371534B1
A system for isolating vibration among a plurality of instruments on a spacecraft includes at least two platforms, each of which is configured to couple to and isolate vibration for a single one of the plurality of instruments. Each of the at least two platforms is configured to mount to the spacecraft. A device is also provided for isolating vibration for one instrument among a plurality of instruments on a spacecraft.
US08371525B2
An aerodynamically controlled grapple assembly includes a frame member secured to an associated load line and a streamlined body mounted to the frame member. The streamlined body includes a main lifting surface extending away from the body in a first direction and a vertical stabilizer extending away from the body in a second direction. A pair of grapple arms are movably connected to the frame member.
US08371516B2
In a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, an injection valve member for opening and closing at least one injection opening is triggered by a control valve embodied as a magnet valve. On the armature of the magnet valve, a sealing face is embodied that for closing the control valve is positionable into a valve seat. The armature of the magnet valve is movable, without armature guidance, between an upper and a lower stroke stop. Because the sealing face, which for closing the control valve is positionable into the valve seat, is embodied on the armature, an additional closing element of the kind provided in the prior art can be dispensed with.
US08371508B2
An imaging module includes a mounting frame, a scanning module, a lens, a number of illumination lights, a first circuit board and a second circuit board. The mounting frame has a bottom wall, a first sidewall and a second sidewall located at opposite sides of the bottom wall. The first and second walls define a receiving space which opens at a top end of the mounting frame. The second circuit board has a decoding element and is electrical connected with the first circuit board. The second circuit board covers the top end of the receiving space.
US08371507B2
A method of selectively generating one or more scan lines from a multi-scan line scanner involves measuring the pulse widths of the pulses in a signal output of a motor driving the polygon mirror of the scanner wherein the signal relates to the position of the polygon's mirror facets. By measuring and distinguishing each of the pulses in the signal, the illumination of the scan beam can be synchronized with the rotation of the polygon mirror to only generate a desired number of scan line patterns that is less than the full complement of the scan line patterns capable of being generated by the multi-scan line scanner.
US08371501B1
A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for providing multi-factor authentication with a wearable user authentication factor. A multi-factor authentication module is implemented to use a plurality of authentication factors, including a unique tag identifier associated with an electronic tag embedded within a wearable article, such as a ring or watch, for the authentication of a user. A user of a wearable user authentication factor approaches a multi-factor terminal, which detects the electronic tag and reads its unique identifier. The user is then requested to provide a predetermined biometric feature, such as a fingerprint, to a biometric reader. The biometric feature is processed to generate a unique biometric identifier. The unique identifier of the electronic tag and the unique biometric identifier is then submitted to a multi-factor authentication module, which compares it to authentication information associated with the user. If the submitted unique identifiers match the user's authentication information, then the user is authenticated.
US08371486B2
A holder (1) adapted for use for a portable device and having a windable strap. The holder (1) includes a case body (4) having an upper case (3) and a lower case (2); the strap (10); a strap winding drum (20) for winding the strap (10) on it; a drive spring (30) for applying bias in the direction of winding the strap to the strap winding drum (20); strap openings (50), each functioning as the entrance and exit for the strap (10); and a fixation mechanism (40) for controlling a mechanism for receiving the strap (10). To pull out the strap (10), a user places one finger on a slope member (51) of the upper case (3), places another finger on the rear side of the strap (10), and pulls out the strap (10). Even if the strap is frequently pulled out, the strap does not have a permanent set.
US08371481B2
The invention relates to a valve for a container for dispensing pressurized fluid, the valve having a valve body which is mountable on a container lid, a closure member which is arranged in a passage provided in the valve body, a sealing arranged on the closure member and formed of at least one disc-shaped sealing lip and which, when the closure member is in a closing position relative to the valve body, abuts on a valve seat provided on the passage, and a holding device by which the closure member is displaceably arranged in the valve body and held in a closing position therein when it is in its normal position, at least one wear protection device being associated with the at least one sealing lip upstream with respect to the outflow direction of the fluid.
US08371480B2
A container includes a housing, a container body mounted in the housing and having an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber and a pusher movably mounted in the receiving chamber and having a surface provided with an outlet hole connected to the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber has a bottom wall provided with a stop portion. The pusher has a bottom wall provided with a pressing portion that is movable to closely abut the stop portion. Thus, the pressing portion can be moved to closely abut the stop portion so as to completely squeeze the cosmetic filling outwardly from the outlet hole and to prevent part of the cosmetic filling from being left in the receiving chamber so that the user can use the cosmetic filling to the maximum extent.
US08371473B2
This invention relates generally to mechanics, and more specifically, to a potting system. In one embodiment, the invention includes a potting system including one or more bands; and one or more pots configured to suspend from the one or more bands. In a further embodiment, the one or more pots configured to suspend from the one or more bands includes one or more pots configured to link with adjacent pots.
US08371471B2
A beverage container having a double-walled construction is provided. The container includes an inner wall with an inner bottom wall for containing a beverage, an outer wall which extends about the inner wall, and an outer bottom wall which extends under the inner bottom wall. A thermal break extends uninterrupted between the outer surface of the inner wall and the inner surface of the outer wall and the inner bottom and outer bottom walls. The container includes a top having an upper rim which joins the periphery of the top, the inner wall, and the outer wall.
US08371460B2
A variable angle panel mounting system can include at least one variable-angle panel mounting member, which in turn includes an elongate support member and an angularly-adjustable mounting plate adapted to secure an end of the elongate support member to a plurality of mounting surface angles. In some embodiments, the variable angle panel mounting system may also include a pressure-fit mounting system. These components can provide the ability to angularly and vertically adjust the variable-angle panel mounting member between opposing support surfaces.
US08371452B2
A water filter system including a filter housing having a filter element for filtering impurities from water and a ventilation stack movably connected to the filter housing for adjusting a position of the stack relative to a level of the water to release air from the water trapped by the filter element during filtration.
US08371445B2
A compressible package having pair of scored sidewalls, which facilitate compression of the package into a wedge shape for storage in narrow recesses. Optionally, the compressible package may include a scored bottom flap wherein the bottom portion of the sidewalls and the bottom flap are shaped such that when the carton is compressed by a user the resulting shape of the bottom flap complements the shape of the sidewalls, maintaining a substantially closed carton. Preferably the compressible package is a carton for storing and dispensing tissue and the carton assumes a wedge shape, which allows the carton to be fit into tight spaces, such as between the seat and the center console of the automobile while maintaining a substantially closed carton.
US08371442B1
An exemplary mobile module includes a device frame and/or a case, with the device frame positioned within, and (preferably immovably) affixed to, the case walls. An appendage extending from the top of the module may include a handle and/or an adjustable support mount (which preferably includes a flat portion and a valley) that allows the module to hang from a variety of surfaces (such as a cabinet roof/door). Optional (preferably adjustable) sidebars extending from the module sides provide stability when the module is hanging. Equipment such as display and input devices may be (preferably adjustably) affixed to the device frame, and communication ports (e.g., for serial connectivity) and power sources may be provided in the frame interior. Such equipment may be accessible through openings in the case walls that provide access to the case interior. A (preferably affixed) computer and a multi-function cable may enhance diagnosing and interfacing capabilities.
US08371441B2
A firearm cleaning kit includes a case, a fastener, a tool insert, an attachment element releasably securing the tool insert to the interior of the case, and a firearm cleaning tool. The case includes a first side and a second side joined along a fold line. The fastener joins the first and second sides of the case together. The tool insert is secured to an interior region of the case, and includes a plurality of tool cavities. The attachment element includes a fixed portion and a detachable portion; the fixed portion being permanently secured to the interior region of the case and the detachable portion engaging the fixed portion. The firearm cleaning kit further includes a firearm cleaning tool. The firearm cleaning tool is selected from the group consisting of a right angle pick, a scraper, a slotted tip, and a bore cleaning brush.
US08371434B2
A conveyer assembly for loading and unloading objects from vehicle, the assembly including a platform having at least one slot extending across at least a portion of the platform, at least one conveyor extending at least partially into the slot, wherein the conveyor linearly translates inside the slot and at least one support plate, wherein the support plate is releaseably associable with the conveyor via at least one connector member configured to engage the at least one conveyor in such a way that when the conveyor linearly translates the support plate translates therewith and when the conveyor stops the support plate is secured in place.
US08371432B1
In a rolling mill in which hot rolled product is formed into rings by a laying head and the rings are transported in an overlapping pattern to a reforming station where the rings are gathered into coils, a method of increasing the time gap between billet lengths of product delivered to the reforming station by advancing the rings of a front end of one billet along said conveyor at a one speed while advancing the rings of a tail end of a preceding billet at another speed greater than said one speed.
US08371426B2
A power transmission mechanism that permits power to be transmitted from an external driving source to a rotary shaft of a rotating machine includes a first rotating body, a second rotating body, an armature, and a spring clutch. The spring clutch is wound about an outer circumference of the first rotating body and an outer circumference thereof is surrounded by the extended portion of the second rotating body. The spring clutch has a first end connected to the first rotating body, and the second end is connected to the armature. Supply of current to the electromagnetic coil causes the armature to adhere to the second rotating body. When the armature rotates, the diameter of the spring clutch is increased such that the spring clutch is pressed against the inner circumferential surface of the extended portion and the first rotating body and the second rotating body are coupled to each other.
US08371419B2
A hybrid sound absorbing sheet, comprising a microperforated film and a perforated metal foil disposed on the microperforated film, is provided. Also provided is a hybrid sound absorbing sheet comprising a microperforated film and a perforated metal foil disposed on the microperforated film, wherein the perforated metal foil is embossed.
US08371418B2
A device structured to assist the hearing of a user by being removably connected to and disposing a user's ear in an enhanced hearing orientation. One embodiment includes an elongated base, structured to be disposed in an operative position behind the user's ear. Opposite ends of the base include an adhesive material secured thereto, wherein different ones of said opposite ends are respectively disposed and maintained in confronting engagement with a rear surface of the ear and adjacently disposed portion of the user's head. The base further includes biasing capabilities disposed and structured to exert a sufficient, forwardly and outwardly directed positioning force on the user's ear to dispose and maintain it in the enhanced hearing orientation, when the base is in the operative position.
US08371417B2
In a headphone set, a speaker is enclosed in a housing. A cord is connected to the speaker at one end and running to the outside of the housing at another end through a pulling-out portion of the housing. The cord is inserted into a bushing at the pulling-out portion. An outer-shape expansion portion is fixed to the cord and located between the speaker and the bushing. The outer-shape expansion portion expands the outer shape of the cord. A concavity is provided to the bushing at one end of the bushing closer to the speaker. At least a portion of the outer-shape expansion portion is put in the concavity.
US08371415B2
A drive unit for an independent suspension includes a single reduction carrier with an offset pinion configuration. The single reduction carrier includes a pinion input gear defining a pinion gear axis of rotation. The pinion gear drives a ring gear, which is coupled to a differential. The differential is laterally positioned to be centered along a longitudinally extending vehicle centerline and the pinion gear axis of rotation is significantly offset from the longitudinally extending vehicle centerline in a lateral direction.
US08371411B2
An electric vehicle includes a double-sided swing arm that supports a motor shaft, an axle, and a wheel by supporting a motor on one side of the wheel and a reduction mechanism on the other side of the wheel. In this case, the swing arm is composed of, on the one side of the wheel, plural separable arm portions. The arm portions have respective separation points on an outside or outer periphery of the wheel. With the components arranged in this manner, weight balance of the electric vehicle is easily achieved, and the operational efficiency of mounting, removal, and replacement of the wheel and the motor is improved.
US08371398B2
A sealing device for downhole use, one of which is for casing, when drilling with casing, which allows the casing to be closed off if the bottom hole assembly needs to come out for any reason. In one embodiment, the internal packer is triggered to set in a variety of ways upon removal of the bottom hole assembly. It can be drilled out when the new bottom hole assembly is run in later. In an alternative design, a flapper can be used that is held open for the initial insertion of the bottom hole assembly and is released to spring shut upon removal of the assembly. Multiple flappers or packers or other types of closure devices are envisioned to allow removal of the bottom hole assembly more than once and still retain blowout protection on each removal of the bottom hole assembly. A variety of applications are contemplated some of which are perforation, side tracking, fracturing, and gravel packing, to name a few examples.
US08371394B2
An impact mechanism comprises a drive engaging member and a tool bit retaining member. A hammer is mounted on the drive engaging member for guided movement between an anvil contact position whereat force is transmitted from the hammer to the anvil portion so as to create a moment about the longitudinal axis, and a release position whereat the hammer is temporarily removed from the anvil portion. A spring biases the hammer to the anvil contact position. A main body member has an internal thread and is threadably engaged on a co-operating external thread on the drive engaging member. The spring is operatively interconnected between the main body member and the hammer member, to thereby permit selective compression of the spring through rotation of the manually manipulable handle.
US08371393B2
An electric stapler is operated by a paper bundle pinching step of relatively moving a table part and a driver unit and also pinching a paper bundle; a staple separation step of folding a staple into U-shape by a forming plate and also separating the folded U-shape staple from a staple sheet by moving a driver; a penetration step of penetrating legs of the staple into the paper bundle by further moving the driver; a clinch step of inward folding the legs by a clinch device; and a paper bundle releasing step. A relative movement of the table part and the driver unit, the forming plate, the driver, and the clinch device are powered by a single motor. A driving speed of the motor in the steps excluding the penetration step and the clinch step is slower than the driving speed of the motor in the penetration step and the clinch step.
US08371392B2
The invention provides a fire extinguishing apparatus. The fire extinguishing apparatus includes a holding unit for holding various components of the fire extinguishing apparatus. The fire extinguishing apparatus also includes one or more tubes which are operatively coupled to the holding unit. The one or more tubes are capable of rotating with respect to the holding unit, such that an axis of rotation of a tube is angled at a predetermined angle to the earth surface. Further, each tube of the one or more tubes includes one or more nozzles for dispersing a fire extinguishing fluid to a location of the fire. The fire extinguishing fluid is supplied to the one or more tubes through a fluid supplying unit. The fluid supplying unit and the one or more tubes are held together by the holding unit in a suspended manner above the location of the fire.
US08371386B2
Method and apparatus for performing a series of downhole operations. The method can include conveying a work string with an integrated valve into a wellbore. As the work string with the integrated valve is conveyed into the wellbore, the valve can be in a first operation mode. When the valve is located within the wellbore, the valve can be adjusted to a different operation mode by selectively rotating at least a portion of the valve without longitudinal movement of the valve relative to the wellbore.
US08371375B2
A unique landing nipple has spaced control line connections and external control lines running from the surface to those connections. A hydraulic barrier valve, such as a ball valve, is run in to a predetermined landing nipple and latched in position where the control line connections are in the right locations to operate the valve. A landing nipple with a latching groove alone can be used with a wireline run barrier valve to latch it into position at the desired location. A shifting tool is used to operate the mechanically actuated valve. More than one valve can be positioned or used in the string at a time or the same valve can also be positioned at different landing nipples at different times to meet the production needs of the well operator.
US08371370B2
A plurality of zones are gravel packed together and then isolated from each other in the gravel annulus by formation of a barrier in the gravel annulus. The screen assembly carries a series of chambers internally that are located between the producing zones generally in the area of blank pipe between the zones. The wash pipe has a shifter associated with it so that extraction of the wash pipe after gravel packing will serially shift pistons that reduce chamber volume where the chemical is stored. The chemical will exit through a rupture disc and nozzle and will commingle with the gravel and make an impervious annular barrier.
US08371364B2
A cooling body for the regulator of an electric machine, which regulator may be a voltage regulator of a DC generator of a vehicle, includes a heat exchange surface with an inflow region and an outflow region. A cooling air flow may be applied to the heat exchange surface during the operation of the electric machine. The cooling air stream impinges on the heat exchange surface in the inflow region and leaves the heat exchange surface from the outflow region. The heat exchange surface is shaped differently in the inflow region than in the outflow region. Because of the shape of the heat exchange surface, the direction in which the cooling air is applied is different compared to conventional surfaces.
US08371363B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a die cast part having arc-shaped inside and/or outside contours.
US08371361B2
The invention relates to a connecting device (1) for connecting a first part having the connecting device (1) to a second part comprising a latching part (3) with a base (6) on which at least one side wall (8) is disposed and which is configured for engaging receipt of a mating part disposed on the second part. A connecting element (2) made of a weldable polymer is disposed on the base (6) and/or on the at least one side wall (8).
US08371359B2
A track assembly for supporting fabric on a surface includes a base track defining a first half of a hinge and a first half of a snapping clamp. An upper track defines a second half of the hinge and is pivotally connectable to the base track. The upper track defines a second half of the snapping clamp for releasably engaging the fabric. The upper track includes a strut extended downwardly towards the base track such that when high tension forces are applied to the upper track, due to fabric tensioning, the strut contacts the base track to reinforce the track assembly.
US08371344B2
A refilling system for a vehicle including a body panel having a fixed opening, an adjustable refilling assembly partially enclosed by the body panel, the adjustable refilling assembly including a first port and a second port, the adjustable refilling assembly movable between at least a first configuration in which the first port is aligned with the fixed opening and a second configuration in which the second port is aligned with the fixed opening.
US08371341B2
A system including a vapor recovery valve having a valve body with a fluid flow path and a vapor flow path. The fluid flow path and the vapor flow path are generally fluidly isolated from each other. The vapor recovery valve further includes a vapor control valve positioned in the vapor flow path. The vapor control valve is movable between a first position wherein the vapor control valve at least partially impedes the flow of vapor therethrough and a second position wherein the vapor control valve does not impede or less impedes the flow of vapor therethrough compared to when the vapor control valve is in the first position. The vapor recover valve includes an actuator magnetically coupled to the vapor control valve. The actuator is configured such that sufficient fluid flow through the fluid flow path in a first direction causes the actuator to move the vapor control valve from the first position to the second position in a second direction that is generally not the same as the first direction.
US08371337B2
An article of manufacture, a quick cap device for use with a tire valve stem, which may be a pushed-to-put-on/squeezed-to-remove tire valve stem cap.Optional interior female threads and grooves may also be used with versions of the invention.
US08371336B2
An outer gas type or inner gas type accumulator has a mechanism for reducing a pressure difference generated when liquid in a liquid chamber and gas expand thermally at a zero-down time, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of a bellows is reduced to suppress abnormal deformation of the bellows, a movable plate supported by a spring is provided at the bellows cap side of an oil port, the movable plate is supported by the spring and away from a seal in normal operation, the movable plate is pushed by the bellows cap and contacts with the seal while elastically deforming the spring, in a zero-down state, and when the liquid and the gas expand thermally in the zero-down state, the bellows cap moves to a position where the liquid pressure and the gas pressure balance, while the movable plate keeps contact with the seal.
US08371330B2
A valve device is installed on a gas tank and opens and closes a gas filling passage. The valve device includes: a housing having a housing portion therein; a first check valve that is fixed to the housing and has a through hole, through which the housing portion and the filling passage communicate with each other; and a valve pressing member. The housing has a filling port, through which the outside and the housing portion communicate with each other. The housing portion contains a filter, disposed between the filling port of the housing and the through hole of a passage member, and a valve element that is moved between the filter and the filling port by the flow of gas. When the gas in the gas tank flows into the housing portion, the valve element moved toward the filling port seats on a valve seat and closes the filling port.
US08371314B1
A cosmetic supply organizer assembly is provided for organizing and securely holding frequently used cosmetic supplies in a compact space to enhance efficiency. The assembly includes a base tray, an upper tray positionable on the base tray, and a first bowl. The first bowl has a first bowl handle portion. The upper tray has a first upper tray aperture that includes a first upper tray aperture slot portion. Thus, the first upper tray aperture is shaped to receive the first bowl with the first bowl handle portion positioned in the first upper tray aperture slot portion to securely hold the first bowl during use.
US08371313B2
One embodiment of a head-switchable brush comprises a brush head, a ferrule, and a brush handle. The ferrule has the head at one end and the handle at the other end. There is a piece of magnet attached to the brush handle and ferrule respectively where the two parts connect. The brush head can be switched and assembled with the handle easily whenever needed. The ferrule can be kept firmly on the handle by the action of the magnet inside. The head-switchable function of this brush kit can greatly enlarge the brush applying space and also avoid the material wasting since this brush kit has one handle only but with various brush heads.
US08371287B2
The solar collector-reflector system includes at least one modular solar panel arranged singly or in an array, each solar panel having a solar collector-reflector assembly, a driver for selective collection or reflection of solar energy, attachment assembly, mounting assembly, ducting and a controller for controlling the solar energy collection and reflection configuration based on the sensed differential temperature between the solar panel or array and a dwelling set temperature. The solar collector-reflector assembly has surfaces that either collect or reflect solar energy, and the solar collector-reflector system utilizes air-to-air heat transfer to provide additional heating to an existing ducting system in the dwelling or reflect solar flux from the roof, thereby reducing heating and cooling energy consumption and costs.
US08371278B2
A high flow EGR system for an internal combustion engine having a pair of series connected EGR coolers and a water droplet condensation collector and reservoir connected to the gas flow. The reservoir feeds a pump which is actuated to inject the liquid to the engine adjacent each cylinder for uniform distribution of the water to the engine cylinders. The pump is controlled to inject the water at appropriate conditions during the engine operating cycle.
US08371277B2
In the present invention, in a control system for a spark ignition internal combustion engine, when a catalyst is not sufficiently active, the ignition timing is advanced to be earlier than MBT to decrease the quantity of hydrocarbons (HC) discharged from the internal combustion engine, and oxygen is supplied to the exhaust gas upstream of the catalyst to thereby oxidize carbon monoxide (CO) discharged from the internal combustion engine. According to this invention, exhaust emissions emitted before activation of the exhaust gas purification apparatus can be decreased as much as possible, and early activation of the catalyst can be achieved by making use of heat generated by oxidation reaction of carbon monoxide (CO).
US08371272B1
A method for testing a vapor purge system (VPS) for an internal combustion engine, and a hybrid vehicle having the VPS include a controller for closing a first valve coupled between a carbon canister of the VPS and the ambient environment, motoring the engine to pull a vacuum on the VPS, closing a second valve coupled between the carbon canister and the engine, and monitoring pressure in the VPS. The VPS has a carbon canister coupled to the engine via a first valve and coupled to atmosphere via a second valve, and a pressure transducer.
US08371271B2
An outboard marine engine has vapor vent control apparatus including a fuel inlet in fluid communication with a fuel reservoir of the engine. The fuel inlet is operably attachable to a fuel pin of a fuel connector. When attached, liquid fuel flows to the fuel reservoir and when detached, liquid fuel flow out of the fuel inlet is prevented. A vapor vent passage is configured in fluid communication with the liquid fuel reservoir and an air intake of the engine. A vent pin is disposed in the vapor vent passage. The vent pin moves between a first position upon attaching the fuel connector to the fuel inlet and a second position upon detaching the fuel connector from the fuel inlet. In the first position, the vapor vent passage is open to fuel vapor flow and, when in the second position, the vapor vent passage is closed to fuel vapor flow.
US08371265B1
The automobile emergency stop system includes a knife switch that is wired to one of the wires running to a fuel pump of a vehicle. The system is designed for use with a parking brake such that upon breaking the circuit, electrical flow to the fuel pump ceases and the engine stops. The system is designed to close the circuit when the parking brake is not lifted. The system is adapted for all types of parking brakes, and includes hand actuated or foot actuated parking brakes. The system is designed for use as an anti-theft measure as well as a safety measure for a computer controlled engine that faults and accelerates out of control.
US08371263B2
A connecting rod includes an elongate rod shank with a small end at a first axial end of the rod shank and a big end at the second axial end of the rod shank. The big end includes a body part and a cap part adapted to releasably couple to the body part. When the cap part is coupled to the body part, the cap part and body part cooperate to define a crank pin receiving bore and abut at first and second spaced apart interfaces. The cap part defines an aperture proximate the first interface that is adapted to receive a threaded fastener that engages and clamps the cap part to the body part. The cap part includes a side portion that extends radially beyond a largest radius from a crank pin bore center to the first interface. The side portion is substantially radially concentrated adjacent the first interface.
US08371228B2
The invention relates to a flexible steel support (31) for a switch arrangement in maglev railways. The flexible support (31) contains a hollow profile (32) that extends in a longitudinal direction (x) and a hollow profile that can be bent in a transverse direction (y) and that is provided with lateral sheet metal struts (35) and a top flange (33). The support is also provided with a plurality of cantilever arms (38) that extend in the transverse direction (y), are interspaced in the longitudinal direction (x) and are connected to the sheet metal struts (35) and a plurality of metal cover sheets (42) that are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (x) and are supported on the cantilever arms (38), the connections between the sheet metal struts (35), cantilever arms (38) and metal cover sheets (42) consisting of welded joints. According to the invention, each cantilever arm (38) has a pressure member (38b) which is connected to a sheet metal strut (35) and projects obliquely upwards and outwards from the latter and a tie (38c) formed on said member which projects towards the hollow profile (32) and by means of which the arms are connected to the metal cover sheets (42) and the top flange (33).
US08371219B2
A lithographic printing plate precursor includes an image-recording layer and a support, and the image-recording layer contains: (A) at least one compound selected from compounds represented by the following formulae (1) and (2); and (B) an infrared absorbing agent: wherein R1 and R2 each represents Ra—SO3—, Ra—CO2— or Ra—OCO2—, Ra represents a monovalent organic group, R3 to R12 each represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, or adjacent two of R3 to R12 may be combined with each other to form a ring, X1, Y1 and Z1 and X2, Y2 and Z2 each represents an atomic group necessary to form a thiazole ring, an oxazole ring, an imidazole ring, a triazole ring or a 3H-indole ring, provided that one nitrogen atom of the imidazole ring is connected to a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group.
US08371201B2
A method and apparatus is provided for increasing the effectiveness of destroying selected objects in a target cloud by prioritizing the objects detected in a large aperture IR detector aboard a carrier vehicle and sequentially illuminating the detected targets with coded laser radiation, followed by the launching of multiple miniature kill vehicles from the carrier vehicle, with each kill vehicle assigned to a differently-coded object in the target cloud due to the reflection back of the coded returns, thus to permit directing of individual miniature kill vehicles to a specific object in the target cloud prior to a handoff to an IR heat seeker in the miniature kill vehicle, actuated to guide the kill vehicle for a final kill.
US08371200B2
The present invention relates to a miter box. Miter boxes have a base, a pair of opposed side walls, and at least one aligned slot in the side walls. An embodiment of the present invention includes at least one guide rail mounted on the base perpendicular to the side wall. Further, a clamping assembly is positioned on the guide rail. The clamping assembly is selectively moveable along said guide rail. In this manner, a work piece can be secured to the miter box to hold the piece in position while it is being cut.
US08371197B2
Provided is a cutting equipment for automatically cutting off workpieces from a material tape. The cutting equipment includes an electrical control box, a base board, a material-feeding mechanism, a material-transferring mechanism, a material-pulling mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The material-feeding mechanism includes a supporting bracket, a material disc and a disc-driving device. The material-transferring mechanism mounted on the base board includes a pad board, a first supporting board and a second supporting board. The material-pulling mechanism disposed above the material-transferring mechanism includes a driving component and a material-pulling component. The cutting mechanism mounted on the base board includes a lower supporting plate, an upper cutting plate and a transferring cylinder. The upper cutting plate disposes at least one cutting blade. The cutting equipment can enhance the working efficiency, reduce the defective rate and the manufacture cost, lighten the labor intensity of operators, and be suitable for mass production.
US08371193B2
An adjustable torque limiting device includes a shank unit composed of first and second shanks coaxially and rotatably connected to each other, a carrier unit mounted between the shanks and having axially facing bearing regions and radially facing detent regions which cooperatively define cavities for receiving detent bodies, respectively, so as to transmit a straining force emanating from the detent regions to the detent bodies, a force transmitting member movably mounted on the shank unit and frictionally engaged with the detent bodies, an adjusting assembly turnable to axially move the force-counteracting member, and a compressible biasing member disposed between the force-counteracting member and the adjusting assembly to exert a preloaded force against the straining force.
US08371184B2
Measurement apparatus having a cantilever and a fluid flow channel, the cantilever being positioned in the channel so that it projects in a direction parallel to the direction of fluid flow. In an associated method, the cantilever is positioned in a fluid flow channel such that the cantilever extends parallel with the direction of fluid flow in the channel. Fluid is caused to flow in the channel at a known velocity. The resonant frequency of the cantilever is measured at one or more velocities of fluid flow and calculating the spring constant of the cantilever using the measured resonant frequency or frequencies. If the spring constant of the cantilever is known, the measurement of resonant frequency of the cantilever is used to determine the velocity of the fluid flow.
US08371183B2
The invention relates to a method for determining properties of three-dimensional objects that have been produced by a generative method, in particular by a thermal generative method. The problem solved is that of providing a nondestructive test method by which the density of such objects can be determined and possible component defects can be identified. This is achieved by firstly completely immersing the three-dimensional object in a dyeing liquor, removing it from the dyeing liquor after a defined residence time, then washing it off, drying it and exposing it to a vacuum and subsequently subjecting it to an image-analytical evaluation by determining the intensity of the coloration by apparatus technology, wherein an assessment with regard to density and component defects of the three-dimensional object is effected by a comparison of the image-analytical characteristic values of coloration and reference data stored beforehand by computer technology.
US08371168B2
According to the present invention, an in-plane sensor comprises: a fixed structure including a fixed finger and a fixed column connected to each other, the fixed finger having a supported end supported by the fixed column and a suspended end which is unsupported; and a movable structure including at least one mass body and an extending finger connected to each other; wherein the supported end of the fixed finger is closer to the mass body than the suspended end is.
US08371163B2
In some embodiments, a method for monitoring tropical storm conditions includes determining a target sea-surface path relative to a tropical storm center where in situ measurements are desired. A buoy is configured to include one or more sensors for one or more in situ measurements and to move relative to a local wind in the tropical storm so as to approximately follow the target sea surface path. The buoy is deployed in the tropical storm at a location substantively on the target sea surface path. In some embodiments, a buoy includes means for automatically maintaining position near a sea surface, moving at a particular direction and a particular speed relative to a local wind, measuring one or more environmental conditions in a vicinity of the buoy, and sending, to a remote facility, observation data based on output from the means for measuring one or more conditions.
US08371156B2
A compression sensor gasket assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The compression sensor gasket assembly includes a gasket body having opposite sealing surfaces extending between an outer periphery and an inner periphery with the inner periphery bounding a through opening. The gasket body has a passage extending from the outer periphery through the inner periphery and a pressure sensor assembly releasably attached to the gasket body in the passage and being configured to sense pressure within the through opening. The pressure sensor assembly can be removed from the gasket body in service without having to disassemble clamped members from clamped abutment with the gasket assembly. Further, the pressure sensor assembly can be routed over a curved path extending between the outer and inner peripheries to navigate about features that may be present in the gasket body.
US08371146B1
A track fitting garage door locking apparatus includes a male block with an internal housing and a key hole. A locking mechanism may be coupled to the internal housing and detachably coupled to the male block. A worm screw is coupled to the internal housing and passes through an opening of the guide track. A female block may be affixed to the guide track. The female block may include an axial bore aligned with the worm screw. A key may be removably interfitted within the key hole and thereby lock and unlock the lock mechanism such that rotational articulation of the male block causes simultaneous rotation of the male block, the internal housing and the worm screw. In this manner, the male block may be linearly reciprocated towards and away from the female block as the worm screw and the internal housing are simultaneously rotated in a corresponding direction.
US08371145B1
A yarn conveying system includes a circular knitting machine, at least one yarn conveying tray and a control unit electrically connected to the circular knitting machine and yarn conveying tray. The circular knitting machine has a needle cylinder and at least one yarn feeder arranged annularly on the needle cylinder. The yarn conveying tray is wound by at least two separate yarns and includes a driving device to drive the yarn conveying tray rotating so that the yarns are supplied via a yarn conveying path to the yarn feeder. The control unit generates a yarn feeding signal to the circular knitting machine to control yarn feeding speed and a driving signal to the driving device to control rotational speed of the yarn conveying tray. Thus users can operate the control unit to control speed of the yarns supplied from the yarn conveying tray to the yarn feeder.
US08371141B2
Jewelry apparatus includes a decorative insert body and a receiving portion that includes an opening for receiving the decorative insert body. For example, the decorative insert body includes magnetic material and the receiving portion includes a rear portion including ferromagnetic material. Further, for example, the decorative insert body includes a front surface having ornamentation.
US08371138B2
An ice making apparatus is provided. A fluid passage guide is formed in the water supply unit to prevent water discharged from the water supply unit from being splashed to an external side of the tray.
US08371136B2
A method of forming ice in a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes cooling a first storage compartment to a first temperature, cooling a second storage compartment to a second temperature, cooling an interior volume defined in a door to a third temperature, wherein the door permits and impedes access to the second storage compartment, operating a fan disposed in the interior volume to circulate cool air through the interior volume, and cooling water to form ice in the interior volume.
US08371134B2
The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for cooling. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a lightweight, compact, reliable, and efficient cooling system. The subject system can provide heat stress relief to individuals operating under, for example, hazardous conditions, or in elevated temperatures, while wearing protective clothing. The subject invention also relates to a condenser for transferring heat from a refrigerant to an external fluid in thermal contact with the condenser. The subject condenser can have a heat transfer surface and can be designed for an external fluid, such as air, to flow across the heat transfer surface and allow the transfer of heat from heat transfer surface to the external fluid. In a specific embodiment, the flow of the external fluid is parallel to the heat transfer surface. In another specific embodiment, the heat transfer surface can incorporate surface enhancements which enhance the transfer of heat from the heat transfer surface to the external fluid. In another specific embodiment, an outer layer can be positioned above the heat transfer surface to create a volume between the heat transfer surface and the outer layer through which the external fluid can flow.
US08371131B2
Heterogeneous surface with polar functional groups as nucleation points. These nucleation points cause precipitation of a substance, for example ice or salt, in a fluid at these nucleation points under suitable physical conditions because the Gibbs free energy of the system is lower at the nucleation points than between the nucleation points, where said system comprises said surface and said fluid with said substance near said surface.
US08371130B2
A travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric apparatus capable of generating electrical energy from heat energy is provided. The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric apparatus includes a hosing with two ends connected by an inertance component, a porous stack, a resonator, and a piezoelectric bimorph. The housing comprises a compressible fluid and has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion receives heat energy from a heat source for creating a temperature gradient between the first portion and the second portion. A cold heat exchanger within the second portion is positioned at one end of the porous stack. The compressible fluid traverses between the first portion and the second portion through the porous stack and the inertance component to generate travelling acoustic waves. The travelling acoustic waves resonate with the resonator for generating acoustic energy. The piezoelectric bimorph positioned at an end of the resonator opposite to an end of the resonator connected to the second portion, oscillates based on the acoustic energy for generating the electrical energy.
US08371129B2
A standing wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric apparatus capable of generating electrical energy from heat energy is provided. The standing wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric apparatus includes a housing, a porous stack and a piezoelectric bimorph. The housing comprises a compressible fluid and has a first portion and a second portion. The second portion receives the heat energy from a heat source for creating a temperature gradient between the first portion and the second portion. A cold heat exchanger within the first portion is positioned at one end of the porous stack. The compressible fluid traverses between the first portion and the second portion through the porous stack to generate standing acoustic waves for generating acoustic energy. The piezoelectric bimorph positioned at an end of the first portion opposite to an end of the first portion having the cold heat exchanger, oscillates based on the acoustic energy for generating the electrical energy.
US08371127B2
A mid turbine frame is disposed between high and low pressure turbine assemblies. A cooling air system defined in the mid turbine frame of a gas turbine engine includes internal cavities for containing pressurized cooling air to cool the inter-turbine duct and the hollow struts, and discharges the used cooling air to further cool respective high and low pressure turbine assemblies.
US08371125B2
A burner is provided that has high flame stability and reduces NOx emissions. In the burner, air holes of an air hole member have a central axis inclined relative to a burner central axis. The leading end portion of a first fuel nozzle is configured to be able to suppress turbulence of air-flow flowing on the outer circumference side of the first fuel nozzle. The tip of the first fuel nozzle is located on a fuel jetting-out directional downstream side of the inlet of the fuel hole. The tip of the second fuel nozzle is located on a fuel jetting-out directional downstream side of the air hole inlet.
US08371120B2
A method of controlling homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion timing and pressure rise rate. A constant volume air pump, such as a supercharger, is equipped to provide a variable amount of fresh air to a turbocharger. The also turbocharger drives a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop. The fresh air intake and the EGR ratio are independently controlled. This combination of hardware allows for good control of combustion timing by providing for EGR variations without undue effect from varying oxygen concentration. Additionally, by adjusting the EGR ratio, the pressure rise rate during combustion can be controlled to reduce combustion noise.
US08371119B2
A machine includes an internal combustion engine mounted on a chassis and having an intake manifold. An air intake system extends from an air inlet to the intake manifold and includes a condensate collection location. The machine also includes a liquid system having a pump that is mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine. A drain valve is positioned in the air intake system at the condensate collection location and includes a valve member having a closed position and an open position. In the closed position of the valve member, a closing surface of the valve member is exposed to pressurized liquid within the liquid system and the condensate collection location is fluidly blocked from a discharge opening in the air intake system. In the open position of the valve member, the condensate collection location is fluidly connected to the discharge opening.
US08371116B2
The invention relates to a stamped centering plate (10) for a torque converter with a first annular surface (12) having at least one arcuate slot (16), a second annular surface (14) opposite the first annular surface, and at least one arcuate segment (20) axially protruding downward from the second annular surface. The slot has an inner radius and an outer radius, the segment has an inner radius and an outer radius, and at least one of the slot radii is equal to at least one of the segment radii. In an example embodiment of the invention, the segment comprises material displaced to form the slot.
US08371111B2
An object of the present invention is to prevent an excessive temperature rise of a precatalyst in the case where the precatalyst is provided in the exhaust passage upstream of an exhaust gas purification apparatus and has a heat capacity smaller than that of the exhaust gas purification apparatus, and reducing agent is added from a reducing agent addition valve toward an upstream end surface of the precatalyst. According to the present invention, the reducing agent addition valve is located in such a way that the reducing agent added through it reaches the precatalyst in a liquid state. In the case where the level of activity of the precatalyst is higher than a specific level at the time when the addition of reducing agent through the reducing agent addition valve is performed so as to supply the reducing agent to the precatalyst and the exhaust gas purification apparatus, the reducing agent is added more intensively than in the case where the level of activity of the precatalyst is not higher than the specific level.
US08371108B2
Exhaust temperatures in emission control devices may be directly controlled by an intake air throttle, fuel injection timing, and exhaust pressure when an emission control device is placed between two variable geometry turbocharger exhaust turbines and coupled to a combustion engine. Such an approach may substantially raise the temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment devices in an emission control device during non-warmed exhaust conditions, leading to faster catalytic light-off.
US08371106B2
A catalyst suited for reducing NOx in an exhaust gas by ammonia in the presence of excess oxygen is arranged in an engine exhaust passage. An aqueous urea solution is fed from a flow addition valve onto a catalyst, part of the urea fed to the catalyst is stored in the catalyst, and the ammonia generated from the urea stored in the catalyst is used to reduce the NOx in the exhaust gas. At the time of engine startup, at the time of cold operation, and at the time of increase of the HC amount, it is determined that the amount of formaldehyde in the exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst exceeds the allowable amount, and, at this time, the feed of urea to the catalyst is prohibited.
US08371095B2
A height of cut adjustment system for use with a walk behind mower. The height of cut adjustment system includes a single drive motor that is operable in a first direction and a second direction. The single drive motor is connected to a linkage assembly that supports the four wheels of the walk behind mower relative to the mower deck. When the single drive motor is operated in a first direction, the mower height of cut increases and when the drive motor is operated in the second direction, the height of cut is decreased. The height of cut adjustment system includes a height of cut indicator system that visually indicates the relative position of the wheels relative to the mower deck. The height of cut indicator system includes one or more position indicators that can be selectively positioned to visually indicate the desired height of cut for the mower.
US08371090B2
A stair tread overlay includes a tread and a front nosing attached to a front edge of the tread by a tongue and groove joint to provide a strong mechanical joint between the nosing and tread. Adhesive may be applied at the tongue and groove joint to enhance the strength of the joint. A horizontally symmetrical side nosing having a profile matching the profile of the front nosing may be attached an edge of the tread adjacent to the front nosing. The stair tread and nosings may be in the form of a kit used to cover an existing staircase to enhance the appearance of the staircase. The method of making the overlay is also disclosed.
US08371086B1
A modular wall block is adapted for being assembled together with a number of other blocks in stacked courses to form a retaining wall. The wall block has a front and rear, top and bottom, and opposing sides. The top and bottom define respective substantially planar stacking surfaces. A shear lug projects from one of the planar stacking surfaces of the top and bottom. A block-locating jut is formed with at least one of the opposing sides, and projects from the side at a point intermediate the top and bottom towards one of the planar stacking surfaces. The block-locating jut defines a base surface substantially coplaner with the stacking surface, and a lug-engaging shoulder adapted for engaging a shear lug of a wall block located in an adjacent stacked course.
US08371085B2
A shingle, an array of shingles, and a process for producing the shingles, either of the field shingle type, or of the hip, ridge or rake type, wherein the shingles have a shortened headlap portion for purposes of reducing the amount of material necessary to make the shingle, wherein each of the shingles has a fastening zone for receiving fasteners therethrough, which fastening zone is an overlay of granule covered adhesive, and is in the headlap portion, and wherein a contact zone layer of adhesive is provided on the rear of the tab portion of the shingle, for contact against the overlay of granule covered adhesive when a next-overlying shingle is arranged in an array above a next-underlying shingle.
US08371075B2
For uncoupling a building structure from the ground a sliding pendulum bearing is suitable for the protection of building structures in the case of movements of the ground, due to earthquakes for example, or as an alternative for conventional deformation bearings. The bearing has a first sliding face with a first concave sliding face and a sliding shoe, which is in sliding contact with the first sliding face of the first sliding plate. A low friction material of a low-friction plastic is entrapped in the sliding shoe which has elastoplastic equilibrium properties. In particular as a low friction material a ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is utilized. After a displacement entailed by an external force the sliding shoe returns of its own accord into a stable equilibrium position.
US08371073B2
A building is provided with integrated natural systems that reduce dependency on external resources to operate and maintain the building. A source of electricity is provided through an extensive set of solar panels that may be incorporated on louvers mounted to the exterior of the building. The building has a double insulative layer to include an outer airtight membrane or cover, and an internal building structure that defines habitable space within the structure. Rainwater may be collected and stored within a subsurface well. The space between the internal structure and outer membrane may support the growth of vegetation in a greenhouse environment. A flow of temperature regulated air is provided through the structure by a set of underground pipes in which the air is circulated through a central core of the building, into the habitable space, and then outward into the greenhouse space.
US08371068B1
A counterbalance system for a tilt-in window and its method of operation. Posts are provided on the sides of a tilt-in window sash that rotate when the sash is tilted. A brake structure is attached to each post. Each brake structure has a first contoured surface that rotates with the post when said sash is tilted. A second contoured surface is provided within the window track. The second contoured surface moves up and down in the track with the post but does not rotate with the post when the sash is tilted. When the window sash is tilted for cleaning, the first contoured surface moves against the second contoured surface within the window track. A cam action occurs that moves the first contoured surface away from the second contoured surface. This causes the brake structure to be biased against the track and lock in a fixed position within the track.
US08371067B1
An improved plant container comprised of a cement or stucco exterior coating over wire mesh enclosed polystyrene block segments formed from smaller cube segments. This provides for a planter lighter in weight with effective drainage and moisture retention. The planter allows for effective illuminated signage displays for various advertising.
US08371059B1
An improved aiming post light configuration wherein a luminescent material in conjunction with an optical taper or other magnification structure is positioned within the body of the aiming post along with a recharge circuit which recharges the luminescent material periodically or when light output from the luminescent material falls below a predetermined threshold. Advantageously, the entire configuration may be integral to the aiming post itself.
US08371049B2
A hydraulically-operated ripper tool mounted as an attachment on a hydraulic arm of a carrier or excavator is used for demolition of large metal walled structures such as storage tanks in a very short time. The ripper tool has a sharp point for punching entry holes into the tank walls, so that no torch cutting of entry holes needs to be used, particularly where there might be volatile residues left in the tank. The ripper tool has a concave, sharp inner edge and is operated by the hydraulic arm in reciprocation so as to provide a shearing force to cut quickly through metal walls in “can-opener” fashion. The ripper tool facilitates making long vertical cuts into the tank wall from top to bottom, so that a series of vertical cuts can be made to weaken a side of the tank and allow the top of the tank structure to be brought down.
US08371046B2
A riding boot for use with a stirrup, the riding boot including a sole for engaging the stirrup, the sole coupled to the riding boot and a magnetic member coupled to the sole. The magnetic member is a polymer including a magnetic metal.
US08371042B2
An article of infant footwear comprising an upper sock portion attached to a lower sole portion. The lower sole portion comprises a toe region and a heel region. A toe region, comprising a lip portion and a toe-cap, rises up from the front of the lower sole portion to surround and protect the toes of an infant's foot. The heel region comprises a heel member to protect the heel and surrounding tendons of an infant. The lower sole portion has an underside, a protruding layer, and stud protrusions providing traction, protection, and balance for an infant wearing the article of infant footwear.
US08371039B2
A device for supporting at least one vessel containing a target material to be lyophilized generally includes a support panel, a central region, a perimeter region, a thermal shield, and at least one shielding cavity. The support panel has a support surface. The central region is defined by the support panel for supporting the at least one vessel. The perimeter region is also defined by the support panel and surrounding the central region. The thermal shield is positioned about the perimeter region and extends transverse to the support surface of the support panel such that the thermal shield and the support panel define a storage space for accommodating the at least one vessel. The at least one shielding cavity is defined by the thermal shield and contains a shielding material during a lyophilization process. The shielding material is distinct from the target material.
US08371038B2
The present invention relates to an improved method for using heat energy in a gypsum board plant. More specifically, the method contemplates taking heat from a gasifier, or other alternative heat source, and using it to dry gypsum boards. In order to control humidity levels, this heat is delivered to one or more board dryers via a heat exchanger.
US08371034B2
A dust collection cover capable of efficiently collecting cutting chips and residues generated as a result of cutting a workpiece. A cutter includes a motor and a rotary blade driven by the motor, and the dust collection cover is attached to the cover for covering a part of the blade. The cover is formed with a dust discharge port through which cutting chips and residues are discharged. The cover has a guide arrangement for directing the cutting chips and residues toward an interior of the cover body. The arrangement provides a blowing-out air blowing to the workpiece, or a rod-like member removing the cutting chips and residues.
US08371032B2
A power tool comprises a crank pin that is eccentrically rotatable by a motor about a rotational axis. A non-rotatable first slider is linearly reciprocated by the crank pin so as to linearly reciprocate a tool. An eccentric pin is disposed substantially diametrically opposite of the crank pin relative to the rotational axis and is eccentrically rotatable by the motor about the rotational axis. A non-rotatable second slider is linearly reciprocated by the eccentric pin in a substantially opposite phase from the first slider so that the second slider acts as a counterweight to the first slider in order to reduce vibrations at least in the direction of linear reciprocation. A rotatable component is rotatably driven by the motor about the rotational axis and has a center of gravity displaced from its rotational axis towards the eccentric pin so as to supplement the vibration reducing function of the counterweight.
US08371020B2
A plurality of shaped wires, which are obtained by shaping electric wires, are assembled to form a wire assembly 47. The wire assembly 47 is then rolled around a core member 6 with aligning members 7 being inserted into spaces 472 formed between adjacent ones of straight superposed parts 471 of the wire assembly 47.
US08371009B2
Methods for repairing composite containment casings involving providing a composite containment casing having an integrated abradable system, the abradable system having at least one damaged portion, and including a sandwich structure, and at least one abradable layer, removing the damaged portion of the abradable system to leave a hole, shaping a sandwich structure segment to produce a shaped sandwich structure, placing the shaped sandwich structure into the hole in the abradable system, infusing a resin into the shaped sandwich structure, and curing the containment casing having the shaped sandwich structure, and applying at least one abradable layer to the shaped sandwich structure to produce the containment casing having a repaired integrated abradable system.
US08371008B2
An apparatus holds a plurality of hollow cylindrical members and pushes off the hollow cylindrical members. The apparatus includes a holder shaft for holding the hollow cylindrical members in tandem thereon, a gripper member projecting outwardly from a side wall surface of the holder shaft and engaging an inner wall surface of a foremost one of the hollow cylindrical members, a cam disposed in the holder shaft for displacing the gripper member, a pusher cylinder for pressing an end face of a rearmost one of the hollow cylindrical members and moving all the hollow cylindrical members forward, to release the foremost one of the hollow cylindrical members from the holder shaft and position a next one of the hollow cylindrical members as a new foremost one of the hollow cylindrical members, and a turning cylinder for turning the holder shaft.
US08371004B2
A cord locking system that allows easy, rapid, and effective locking/unlocking of any size or type lace in a single handed, swift motion. The device includes a pair of arms that freely rotate about a swivel point within a base housing in a scissors-like motion that lock teeth against the lace by using compression forces from a spring. The arms protrude outside the base for easy disengagement, using a mechanical advantage of leverage to work against the spring force at the teeth on the lace to disengage the lock. Lifting finger upward on the arms to disengage the lock so that the teeth open allows the device to slide up and down the laces toward the preferred location. To lock, let go of the arms as the spring force presses the teeth into the lace at each side of the locking compartment to both lace ends within the device.
US08371003B2
A device for assisting in opening and closing a zipper is provided. The device includes a body having first and second diverging guide channels having mutually oriented guide angles for receiving the respective zipper tracks for sliding, non-interlocking movement of the zipper tracks through the guide channels in advance of the zipper slider for reducing the closure angle of the zipper tracks in advance of the zipper slider to correspond to the guide angle of the guide channels, and a handle carried by the body for permitting manual pulling movement of the body along at least a portion of the length of the zipper and generally positioned in a coextensive orientation in relation to a pull tab of the zipper slider such that an operator can simultaneously grasp the pull tab of the zipper slider and the handle while sliding the zipper slider in the closing direction.
US08370999B2
A clip for holding first and second parts together snaps into an opening in a first part and includes a central housing for receiving and retaining a male portion on a second part using catches. The clip has a spring structure allowing sideways displacement of the catches so that it occupies either a locked position in which it projects into the central housing to prevent axial movement of the male portion, or a position of release of the male portion in which it is withdrawn from the central housing. The clip also includes a mechanism for causing the catches to move to their locked positions automatically by snapping the clip onto the first part.
US08370997B2
Described is a ratchet strap with a free end securing system. The ratchet strap has a strap with an attachment end and a free end and a strap winding shaft which is capable of receiving the free end in a wrapped relationship. A ratchet mechanism is included for simultaneously shortening the attachment end and the free end wherein the free end is drawn from the wrapped relationship with the strap winding shaft.
US08370982B2
A ramp which comprises a user support element, an edge element at an edge of the user support element, a handrail, a support connector which is slidably engagable with the edge element, an elongate upright handrail support, and an adjustable elongate depending ramp support. The handrail support and the ramp support are coaxially held by the support connector. The ramp may also comprise a user support element, an edge element at an edge of the user support element, and a height adjustable ramp support which includes a foot and two arms pivotably engaged with the foot. Each arm has a slider pivotably engaged at its distal end remote from the foot, and each slider is slidably engagable with the edge element for lengthwise adjustment of the ramp support along the edge element and for slidable adjustment relative to each other so as to set a distance between the edge element and the foot. Each slider is further fixedly holdable in place to maintain its set position.
US08370971B2
A faucet connecting structure contains a body including an internal chamber having a groove; an outlet pipe including an inlet end and an outlet end; the inlet end including an connecting segment with a slot; a retaining loop to define a C-shaped peripheral wall and an elongated opening; the peripheral wall including an outer face having plural first raised portions to form a first flexible deforming structure and having plural first recessed portions, including an inner face having plural second raised portions to form a second flexible deforming structure and having plural second recessed portions, the peripheral wall also including a first end and a second end, and the first end including a rib; a limiting means used to limit the retaining loop in the groove of the body to prevent the outlet pipe from disengagement from the body.
US08370970B2
This device incorporates a new method for attachment of a pop-up drain stopper to the pivot rod which controls its mechanical motion as is typical in bathroom sinks, thereby providing the consumer with a simple and convenient method of removing and installing the stopper as is needed for extraction of drain clogs. As shown in FIG. 5, the stopper is inserted into the drain with the connecting journal channel opening (6) positioned over the pivot rod (8). Downward pressure is applied (FIG. 6) forcing the pivot rod to pass through the channel and snap into the connecting journal (FIG. 7). Transversely, by pulling upward, the stopper disengages from the pivot rod and is removed from the drain opening. By incorporating two or more conjoined connecting journals in an elongated connecting bracket (FIG. 8), the stopper can accommodate a wider range of pivot rod placement.
US08375459B2
Human ability to perceive higher audio frequencies diminishes with age. Functionality can be implemented to use a combination of audio tones with varying frequencies to identify an age range to which a user belongs and accordingly control access to age dependent access controlled information and services. The user's ability to perceive one or more audio tones in the combination of audio tones depends on the user's age. Thus, different users, depending on the users' age, may perceive the same combination of audio tones differently. Such an age verification system based on human perception of audio tones can minimize the need for identification cards and a reliance on the user providing accurate age information. This can prevent the user from misinterpreting his/her age to access the age dependent access controlled information and can ensure that only an authorized user gets access to the age dependent access controlled information.
US08375456B2
A DRM scheme that may be optionally invoked by the owner. With the DRM protection turned on, the media is encrypted before it is distributed in a P2P network, and is decrypted prior to its use (play back). The peers may still efficiently distribute and serve without authorization from the owner. Nevertheless, when the media is used (played back), the client node must seek proper authorization from the owner. The invention further provides a hierarchical DRM scheme wherein each packet of the media is associated with a different protection level. In the hierarchical DRM scheme of the invention there is usually an order of the protection level. As a result, in one embodiment of the invention, the decryption key of a lower protection layer is the hash of the decryption key at the higher protection level. That way, a user granted access to the high protection layer may simply hold a single license of that layer, and obtain decryption keys of that layer and below. The invention further provides for a process for managing digital rights to a scalable media file wherein a different encryption/decryption key is used to encrypt each truncatable media packet with a base layer without requiring additional storage space to store the key.
US08375453B2
Methods and apparatus to mitigate a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a communication session initiation message from a communication session endpoint, determining whether the communication session endpoint is associated with a probable DoS attack, and sending to the communication session endpoint a communication session initiation response message comprising a DoS header when the communication session endpoint is associated with the probable DoS attack.
US08375449B1
Various embodiments of the present invention provide circuits and methods for improved virus processing. As one example, a virus processing system is disclosed that includes an instruction memory and a virus co-processor. The instruction memory includes a first instruction type and a second instruction type intermixed. The virus co-processor is communicably coupled to the instruction memory, and includes at least a first instruction pipe and a second instruction pipe. The first instruction pipe is operable to execute the first instruction type, and the second instruction pipe is operable to execute the second instruction type.
US08375448B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for applying hard-real-time capabilities in software to software security. For example, the systems and methods of the present invention allow a programmer to attach a periodic integrity check to an application so that an attack on the application would need to succeed completely within a narrow and unpredictable time window in order to remain undetected.
US08375447B2
Described is a method of assigning a network address to a trap, the network address being a dark address of a virtual private network. The network traffic destined for the network address is monitored and a classification of the network traffic is determined. After the classification, a predetermined response is executed based on the classification of the traffic.
US08375443B1
A safe environment is established for running untrusted code in a system whose trusted libraries include native code. Annotations are applied to code in the system libraries to identify safe and unsafe code, and analysis tools reveal whether code outside the system libraries is able to trigger any unsafe behavior.
US08375442B2
Auditing a device is disclosed. One or more hardware parameters that correspond to a hardware configuration is received. A sequence of modifications to the physical memory is performed. Results are provided to a verifier. Optionally, once it is determined that no evasive software is active in the physical memory, a scan is performed.
US08375426B2
A method and arrangement for authorizing an initially unauthorized watching client to receive client data of an observed client from a client data server. The watching client sends an expanded request for client data to the server. The expanded request contains additional information such as a text string, a picture, or a video/audio clip. The server extracts the additional information and sends it to the observed client. The observed client can then decide whether to authorize the watching client to receive the observed client's data based on the additional information.
US08375423B2
A method, apparatus, and computer usable code to grant access to a scripted code hosted at a host site wherein the host site has a window read-only property. A computer client receives a key-code. The computer client determines if key-code matches a known correct window-returning code. Based on that, the computer invokes the key-code to obtain a read-only property of the key-code and determines if the read-only property matches the known correct window read-only property. Invoking means treating the key-code as a computer instruction and executing the computer instruction. The computer may grant access based on a determination that the read-only property matches.
US08375418B2
A method of monitoring all network communications, including a real-time analysis of intercepting all networked connections and closing those network connections, including all connections across the Internet, except for those specific connections that will function to update a networked computer with new software or updates to existing software.
US08375401B2
An information processing device communicable with an external device has a device driver installed therein to control the external device, an application installed therein, and a controller executing the device driver and the application in parallel. The device driver, when executed, causes the controller to acquire from the external device a status code corresponding to a status of the external device, show on a display device a display representing the status of the external device, based on the status code, determine whether the application is executable, execute the application when determining that the application is executable, and transmit the acquired status code to the application in execution. The application, when executed, causes the controller to receive the status code from the transmitter, and show on the display device guidance information containing more detailed information than the display based on the status code.
US08375398B2
An electronic system comprises a memory, a parser, and a device driver. A plurality of applications and a document are stored in a user space of the memory, the document storing configuration parameters. The parser module parses the document to retrieve the parameters in response to invocation from at least one application. The device driver creates data structure for the parameters in the kernel space of the memory, thus to facilitate a plurality of programs to execute different functions of the system by commonly utilizing the parameters through the device driver.
US08375395B2
A computing architecture comprises a plurality of processing elements to perform data processing calculations, a plurality of memory elements to store the data processing results, and a reconfigurable interconnect network to couple the processing elements to the memory elements. The reconfigurable interconnect network includes a switching element, a control element, a plurality of processor interface units, a plurality of memory interface units, and a plurality of application control units. In various embodiments, the processing elements and the interconnect network may be implemented in a field-programmable gate array.
US08375386B2
For failure management for multiple operating systems in a virtual environment, an external virtual machine or agent is provided that has been granted rights to full physical memory space to perform a crashdump for the machine. To avoid exposing secret information during a crashdump, private information for a virtual machine or partition is encrypted prior to generating a dump. The storing of crashdump information for virtual machines may avoid storing crashdump information for virtual machines that are stateless. Instead of having an (unstable) operating system running within a virtual machine perform a crashdump, the provision of an external agent, e.g., an external virtual machine, to perform the crashdump avoids many limitations associated with a normal dump when performed by a crashed operating system.
US08375380B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining if a system is compatible with an upgrade to a hardware resource of the system, receiving instructions from a remote server to upgrade the hardware resource if the system is compatible, and programming the hardware resource based on the instructions. In one such embodiment, the hardware resource may be programmed via programmable fuses to enable circuitry of the hardware resource. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08375378B2
The present invention relates to a circuit for updating firmware of a display apparatus and a method thereof. An optional update unit may be used for initializing the updating process. The first firmware information of the first display apparatus is transmitted to the second display apparatus for updating the second firmware information of the second display apparatus. Hence, reliability is enhanced and problems of incompatibility will not occur. In addition, no extra burning devices will be necessary, thus reducing extra cost.
US08375376B2
A description processing device has: a receiving unit which receives a behavior level description; a label-name generating unit which generates a label name; a label disposing unit which disposes a top label statement; an extracting unit which extracts an extracted label statement, a variable-name generating unit which generates a variable name; a replacing unit which replaces a statement immediately below the top label statement to the extracted label statement by a column of a conditional executable statement and an operation/assignment statement and replaces a jump statement for jumping to the extracted label statement by a column of an operation/assignment statement and a jump statement for jumping to the top label; a control unit which repeats the extraction, the generation of a new variable name, and the replacement; an inserting unit which inserts an operation/assignment statement; and an output unit which outputs the behavior level description.
US08375372B2
A BPEL program simulator can include a document object modeler configured to arrange activities defined by a BPEL document into a document object model (DOM) tree. The DOM tree can include activity nodes and links between the activity nodes. The BPEL program simulator further can include simulation logic configured to process the activity nodes to emulate at least one BPEL activity selected from the group consisting of Sequence, Flow, While, Pick and OnMessage, Switch and Case, Invoke, Script, Receive, Reply, Empty, Staff, and Assign.
US08375371B2
A system and method for importance-based call graph construction, including a) analyzing a computer software application to identify a plurality of calls within the computer software application, b) assigning an importance value to any of the calls in accordance with a predefined importance rule, c) selecting any of the calls for inclusion in a call graph in accordance with a predefined inclusion rule, d) representing the call in the call graph, e) adjusting the importance value of any call represented in the call graph in accordance with a predefined importance adjustment rule, and f) iteratively performing any of steps a)-e) until a predefined termination condition is met.
US08375369B2
A digital rights management system permits an application owner to cause code to be injected into the application's run-time instruction stream so as to restrict execution of that application to specific hardware platforms. In a first phase, an authorizing entity (e.g., an application owner or platform manufacturer) authorizes one or more applications to execute on a given hardware platform. Later, during application run-time, code is injected that performs periodic checks to determine if the application continues to run on the previously authorized hardware platform. If a periodic check fails, at least part of the application's execution string is terminated—effectively rendering the application non-usable. The periodic check is transparent to the user and difficult to circumvent.
US08375366B2
When events are traced, the timing stream is used to associate events with instructions and indicate pipeline advances precluding the recording of stall cycles. Additional information is needed in the trace stream to identify an overlay whose execution of code is in a system where overlays or a memory management unit are used. In the case of PC trace, additional information is added when the memory system contents is changed. Information describing the configuration change is inserted into the export streams by placing this information in a message buffer. As long as a message word is available for output, it becomes the next export word as the output of message words is continuous.
US08375357B2
System and method for performing program-related operations over a network via a web browser. A network connection is established between a server computer and a client computer over a network. A universal resource identifier (URI) is sent from the client computer to the server computer over the network, where the URI indicates a program, e.g., a graphical program (GP), or at least a portion of a graphical program interactive development environment (GPIDE), e.g., a graphical program editor, an execution engine, a static or dynamic analyzer, and/or compiler. The at least a portion of the GPIDE is received from the server computer over the network in response to the URI, and executed in a web browser of the client computer to perform some specified functionality with respect to the GP.
US08375355B2
System and method for converting a class oriented data flow program to a structure oriented data flow program. A first data flow program is received, where the first data flow program is an object oriented program comprising instances of one or more classes, and wherein the first data flow program is executable to perform a first function. The first data flow program is automatically converted to a second data flow program, where the second data flow program does not include the instances of the one or more classes, and where the second data flow program is executable to perform the first function. The second data flow program is stored on a computer memory, where the second data flow program is configured to be deployed to a device, e.g., a programmable hardware element, and where the second data flow program is executable on the device to perform the first function.
US08375350B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed including executing one or more commands of a work script to perform work on a portion of a netlist of an integrated circuit design; receiving an indication of a program fault in a first integrated circuit (IC) design program performing work on the portion of the netlist in response to the one or more commands of the work script; and generating a debug work script associated with the work script in response to the program fault, the debug work script including an identification of the portion of the netlist of the integrated circuit design upon which work was being performed during the program fault.
US08375349B2
A method for constant power density scaling in MOSFETs is provided. A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit includes computing fixed scaling factors for a first fabrication process based on a second fabrication process, computing settable scaling factors for the integrated circuit to be fabricated using the first fabrication process, determining parameters of the integrated circuit based on the settable scaling factors, and manufacturing the integrated circuit using the determined parameters. The first fabrication process creates devices having a smaller device dimension than the second fabrication process and the settable scaling factors are set based on the fixed scaling factors.
US08375338B1
Methods and systems estimate a rate of corruption of storage bits in a logic circuit. One or more processors execute instructions that cause the processors to perform the operations that follow. A description is input describing an environment of the logic circuit, and the description of the environment includes a position of the logic circuit. An atomic particle flux density at the logic circuit is estimated as a function of the description of the environment. A specification is input that specifies the storage bits in the logic circuit. The rate of corruption of the storage bits is determined as a function of the atomic particle flux density and a quantification of the storage bits in the logic circuit.
US08375324B1
A computer-implemented system and method for retrieving documents stored in a document management system based upon data from an application. While an interface is displayed, associations are created between one or more fields on the application's interface and one or more retrieval-related attributes of the document management system. Data that is subsequently provided for the fields is used to retrieve documents from the document management system based the created associations.
US08375320B2
A triggering mechanism for generating task reminders based on contextual information associated with the tasks is provided. Contextual information may be extracted from a variety of sources and may be related to one or more tasks. Based on the contextual information, task reminders may be generated and may be presented in a manner that makes the task reminders more useful to an end user.
US08375314B2
A disclosed information processing method for use in an information apparatus including a display unit comprises a creating step of creating screen components based on screen definition data in which a screen to be displayed on the display unit is previously defined, a display controlling step of displaying the screen formed with the screen components created in the creating step, and a storing step of storing, upon transition from the screen displayed in the display controlling step, all or a part of the screen components of the screen displayed before the transition. The information processing apparatus includes at least one of a scanner function, a copier function, a facsimile machine function, and a printer function.
US08375313B2
A system assists in user interface generation by using scoring and providing viable component options to a developer. The system receives a new user interface that comprises a plurality of components and compares the new user interface against a plurality of repository benchmark user interfaces. The system then determines a score for the new user interface and at least one of the benchmark user interfaces. The score measures a level of deviation between the new user interface and the at least one benchmark user interface.
US08375307B2
A method for controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes executing, via a controller on the mobile terminal, an e-mail function; displaying, via a display on the mobile terminal, a e-mail account list including at least first and second e-mail accounts, in which the first e-mail account uses a first e-mail service for processing e-mails and the second e-mail account uses a second e-mail service for processing e-mails that is different than the first e-mail account service; providing, via the controller, an e-mail service of the selected first e-mail account, when the first e-mail account on the e-mail account list is selected; receiving, via an input unit, an account changing request for changing from the first e-mail account to the second e-mail account while information within the first e-mail account is currently being displayed; changing, via the controller, from the first e-mail account to the second e-mail account according to the account changing request; and providing, via the controller, the second e-mail service for the second e-mail account.
US08375294B2
In particular embodiments, a method for editing a web page includes identifying a plurality of components that collectively form a programmatic representation of a first web page. At least one of the components has content that dynamically changes in response to data retrieved externally from the content. A second web page is generated. The second web page includes a plurality of parameters. Each parameter of the second web page corresponds to a respective one of the identified plurality of components. One or more modifications made to the plurality of parameters are interpreted. A programmatic representation of a third web page is generated, the generation based at least in part on the interpretation.
US08375288B1
User input can be organized and presented using a multi-dimensional board comprising a plurality of cells where unique messages are displayed in individual cells in the board. In some cases the messages may be accompanied by path indicators indicating which messages on the board are responsive to which other messages. The messages can include text, video, audio, and/or various types of interactive media such as games or applets.
US08375286B2
A method for displaying information on a display screen of a user computer comprises sending a computer readable document from a server computer to the user computer for display on the display screen. The computer readable document includes links that are viewable on the display screen and are selectable to cause subsequent documents to be rendered on the display screen. The computer readable document further includes viewable information regarding selection of the links over a certain time.
US08375284B2
A document processing system includes: a document management server that manages document data and an access key to access to the document data in association with each other; and an information processing unit including: a processing section; and a display detachably linked to the processing section by one of wired and wireless connection, the display holding an image of a document, the display storing the access key to access to the document data, the processing section comprising: a connection section to which the display is linked so as to read the access key from the display; a document acquisition section that acquires the document data corresponding to the access key read from the display from the document management server; and a document processing section that processes the document data acquired from the document management server.
US08375283B2
A system, device, method, and computer program product are provided for allowing a user of the device to more easily annotate data files and/or images received by or created by the electronic device or system. For example, according to one embodiment, when a user takes a digital picture using a camera-equipped mobile phone, annotation data may be automatically presented to the user when a preview of the image is first displayed on the electronic display. The annotation data may be presented to the user as a list that semi-transparently overlays the preview of the image. The annotation list and/or the individual annotations that make up the list may be customizable. The annotation choices in the list may correspond to keys on the electronic device. Annotation data may be stored with the image or file as embedded metadata. The selected annotation data may also be used to create file folders in a memory device and/or store the image or file in a particular file folder in the memory device.
US08375272B2
Data bits to be encoded are split into a plurality of subgroups. Each subgroup is encoded separately to generate a corresponding codeword. Selected subsets are removed from the corresponding codewords, leaving behind shortened codewords, and are many-to-one transformed to condensed bits. The final codeword is a combination of the shortened codewords and the condensed bits. A representation of the final codeword is decoded by being partitioned to a selected subset and a plurality of remaining subsets. Each remaining subset is decoded separately. If one of the decodings fails, the remaining subset whose decoding failed is decoded at least in part according to the selected subset. If the encoding and decoding are systematic then the selected subsets are of parity bits.
US08375256B2
A method and a system is provided for the processing of data or signals with a number of functional units which are each adapted to apply one or several functions to the data or signals, and which are connected with each other via a connection matrix for the exchange of data or signals between the functional units. At least one functional unit of the system is programmable and/or configurable such that it performs a particular function out of a number of different functions. The connection matrix is programmed and/or configured such that the functional units are connected with each other in a particular configuration out of a number of different configurations.
US08375250B2
In an embodiment, a system has a bus interface port, a selection circuit coupled to the bus interface port, a first bus interface circuit coupled to the selection circuit and a second bus interface circuit coupled to the selection circuit. The selection circuit is configured to select between the first bus interface circuit and the second bus interface circuit. The system also has an initialization circuit configured to detect a first codeword written to the bus interface port, and activate the second bus interface circuit if the first codeword is detected.
US08375245B2
A method, performed by a first mobility management entity (MME) device in a network, includes receiving, from a second MME device, standby database information associated with user equipment (UE) registered with the second MME device; detecting that the second MME device has failed or lost connectivity; designating that the UEs registered with the second MME device will be registered with the first MME device, in response to detecting that the second MME device has failed or lost connectivity; detecting a request to activate a particular UE registered with the second MME device; and paging the particular UE to register with the first MME device, using the standby database information and in response to detecting the request to activate the particular UE.
US08375242B2
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for clock and data recovery are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for recovering data from an input data stream of a device is disclosed, the method comprising synchronizing, during an initialization phase, a data clock (DCK) with an input data stream; synchronizing, during the initialization phase, an edge clock signal (ECK) with the input data stream based at least in part on a phase relationship between the ECK and the synchronized DCK; and sampling, during the initialization phase, a rising edge of the input data stream with the synchronized ECK to generate a transition level reference voltage. Additional variants and embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed.
US08375235B2
A storage system including: a storage apparatus including a plurality of storage devices on which a plurality of logical units is configured and a first controller that controls accesses to the plurality of logical units; and a file server coupled to said storage apparatus and including a second controller and a memory storing management information which indicates relationships between each of the plurality of logical units and each of a plurality of indicators; wherein the first controller, in response to a request to create a first folder with a first indicator, creates the folder on one or more first logical units included in the plurality of logical units, the one or more first logical units related to the first indicator.
US08375226B1
A system and method for providing a firewall system that prevents a computer from being accessed by an unauthorized user via a computer network. The system includes a switch assembly that connects and disconnects the computer from a computer network. The switch assembly is controlled by the types of data transmissions generated by the computer. If the computer generates a data transmission addressed to the computer network, the switch assembly automatically interconnects the computer to the computer network. If the data transmission generated by the computer includes a data request from some point on the computer network, the interconnection with the computer network is held open until the requested data is received. Once the requested data is received, the switch assembly disconnects the computer from the computer network.
US08375225B1
Data storage devices having one or more data security features are provided according to various embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, a data storage device comprises buffer and a buffer client. The buffer client comprises a scrambler configured to receive a configuration setting and a secret key on a certain event, to configure a scrambling function based on the received configuration setting, and to scramble data with the secret key using the scrambling function, wherein the buffer client is configured to write the scrambled data to the buffer.
US08375221B1
A “Firmware-Based TPM” or “fTPM” ensures that secure code execution is isolated to prevent a wide variety of potential security breaches. Unlike a conventional hardware based Trusted Platform Module (TPM), isolation is achieved without the use of dedicated security processor hardware or silicon. In general, the fTPM is first instantiated in a pre-OS boot environment by reading the fTPM from system firmware or firmware accessible memory or storage and placed into read-only protected memory of the device. Once instantiated, the fTPM enables execution isolation for ensuring secure code execution. More specifically, the fTPM is placed into protected read-only memory to enable the device to use hardware such as the ARM® architecture's TrustZone™ extensions and security primitives (or similar processor architectures), and thus the devices based on such architectures, to provide secure execution isolation within a “firmware-based TPM” without requiring hardware modifications to existing devices.
US08375213B2
Systems and methods consistent with the present invention enable explicit and multilateral trust across a community of federated servers via a network. A trusted third party establishes a framework of policies and procedures governing a federation. Organizations joining the federation submit to an audit process of internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the policies and procedures of the federation. Upon successful completion of an audit, an organization may receive a digital certificate containing the digital public key of the organization and indicating approval of the trusted third party. The organization may then use the associated digital private key for signing security assertions associated with a request for resources from another federation service provider. The service provider may trust the assertion from the organization based on trust placed in trusted third party by the service provider and the trust placed in the organization by the trusted third party.
US08375210B2
Automatic configuration of devices upon introduction into a networked environment, can be implemented, for example, by having a device randomly generate a series of letters and/or numbers, e.g., generate a PIN (Personal Identification Number) that encodes temporary credentials that, in addition to proving ownership and/or control over the device by virtue of having access to the PIN, also allows creating a temporary secure communication channel based on the PIN over which permanent security credentials may be transferred to the device to facilitate provisioning it to securely communicate in the networked environment. In a wireless scenario, a unique SSID and encryption key (WEP or WPA) may be determined as a function of the PIN, where both the device and its access point utilize the PIN to establish a temporary secure communication channel. Various techniques may be used to establish ownership and/or control over the device to prevent inadvertent association of the device with a wrong networked environment.
US08375203B2
A method for securely transferring a master key from a host to a terminal, such as an automated teller machine, is disclosed. Each of the host and terminal is initialized with a certificate, signed by a certificate authority, and containing a public key used in used in connection with public key infrastructure communication schemes. An identifier of an authorized host is stored in the terminal. Upon receiving a communication from a host including a host certificate, the terminal validates whether it is already bound to a host, if not, whether the host identifier of the remote host matches the preloaded authorized host identifier, before further communicating with the remote host, including the exchange of certificates. In this way, the terminal is protected against attacks or intruders. Following the exchange of certificates, the host may securely transfer the master key to the terminal in a message encrypted under the terminal's public key. The terminal may decrypt the message, including the master key, using its corresponding secret key.
US08375198B2
Boot systems and methods are provided. The boot system includes an IO (Input/Output) chip, a memory device, and a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The memory device is coupled to the IO chip, and includes at least a rescue OS (Operating System). The BIOS reads the rescue OS from the memory device via the IO chip, and boots an electronic device based on the rescue OS.
US08375194B2
There is provided a computer-executed method of freeing memory. One exemplary method comprises receiving a message from a user process. The message may specify a virtual address for a memory segment. The virtual address may be mapped to the memory segment. The memory segment may comprise a physical page. The method may further comprise identifying the physical page based on the virtual address. Additionally, the method may comprise freeing the physical page without unmapping the memory segment.
US08375191B2
Disclosed are a non-volatile memory and page dynamic allocation and mapping technology thereof. According to the page dynamic allocation and mapping technology, by variable memory allocation, fragmentation may be prevented and page faults may be minimized in response to pages being loaded through page mapping of the non-volatile memory.
US08375189B2
A method and apparatus for configuring a memory device, such as a flash memory device, is herein described. Features/functional modules of a memory device, are selectable by a manufacturer, customer, or user. Instead of a manufacturer having to complete numerous redesigns of a memory product to meet multiple customer's special needs, a single all inclusive device is manufactured and the customized features are selected/configured, by the manufacturer, or by the customer themselves. By using one time programmable (OTP) flags, the features are enabled or disabled, by the manufacturer, customer, or user, and may potentially not be altered by a user later. Moreover, after configuring a memory device, a manufacturer, customer, or end user may also lock down a configuration module to ensure the configuration itself is not later intentionally or inadvertently altered.
US08375188B1
Techniques for epoch pipelining are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for epoch pipelining comprising the steps of beginning a first epoch, determining for one or more pages of memory if the pages of memory are likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, performing a first operation on the pages of memory that are likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, beginning a second epoch, subsequent to the first epoch, performing a second operation on the pages of memory that are not likely to be modified in a subsequent epoch, and ending the first epoch, wherein the first operation and the second operation are dissimilar.
US08375184B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes canisters to control storage of data in a storage system including a plurality of disks. Each of multiple canisters may have a processor configured for uniprocessor mode and having an internal node identifier to identify the processor and an external node identifier to identify another processor with which it is to mirror cached data. The mirroring of cached data may be performed by communication of non-coherent transactions via the PtP interconnect, wherein the PtP interconnect is according to a cache coherent protocol. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08375183B1
Method and apparatus for archiving de-duplicated data maintained by an intelligent backup appliance are described. In some examples, backup data managed by a backup appliance in a computer system is archived. A request to archive selected backup images of a plurality of backup images maintained by the backup appliance is received. The selected backup images are compared with a pool of de-duplicated data for the plurality of backup images maintained by the backup appliance to identify common data among the selected backup images and unique data in each of the selected backup images. A core backup is stored on first archive storage media, the core backup including at least a portion of the common data. A unique backup is stored on second archive storage media, the unique backup including the unique data a reference to the core backup stored on the first archive storage media.
US08375180B2
Input/output (I/O) activity in the multiple tier storage system is monitored to collect statistical information. The statistical information is recurrently transformed into an exponential moving average (EMA) of the I/O activity having a predefined smoothing factor. Data portions in the multiple tier storage system are sorted into buckets of varying temperatures corresponding to the EMA. At least one data migration plan is recurrently generated for matching the sorted data portions to at least one of an available plurality of storage device classes. One data portion sorted into a higher temperature bucket is matched with a higher performance storage device class of the available plurality of storage device classes than another data portion sorted into a lower temperature bucket.
US08375179B2
A non-volatile memory device has a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The array can operate in either a multilevel cell or single level cell mode and each cell has a lower page and an upper page of data. The memory device has a data latch for storing flag data and a cache latch coupled to the data latch. A read method comprises initiating a lower page read of a memory cell and reading, from the data latch, flag data that indicates whether a lower page read operation is necessary.
US08375176B2
A system and method for locking and unlocking access to a shared memory for atomic operations provides immediate feedback indicating whether or not the lock was successful. Read data is returned to the requestor with the lock status. The lock status may be changed concurrently when locking during a read or unlocking during a write. Therefore, it is not necessary to check the lock status as a separate transaction prior to or during a read-modify-write operation. Additionally, a lock or unlock may be explicitly specified for each atomic memory operation. Therefore, lock operations are not performed for operations that do not modify the contents of a memory location.
US08375170B2
A data processing apparatus for forming a portion of a coherent cache system comprises at least one master device for performing data processing operations, and a cache coupled to the at least one master device and arranged to store data values for access by that at least one master device when performing the data processing operations. Cache coherency circuitry is responsive to a coherency request from another portion of the coherent cache system to cause a coherency action to be taken in respect of at least one data value stored in the cache. Responsive to an indication that the coherency action has resulted in invalidation of that at least one data value in the cache, refetch control circuitry is used to initiate a refetch of that at least one data value into the cache. Such a mechanism causes the refetch of data into the cache to be triggered by the coherency action performed in response to a coherency request from another portion of the coherent cache system, rather than relying on any actions taken by the at least one master device, thereby providing a very flexible and efficient mechanism for reducing cache latency in a coherent cache system.
US08375164B2
A system and method for storing data in a content-addressable system is provided. The system includes a content-addressable storage system and a persistent cache. The persistent cache includes a temporary address generator that is configured to generate a temporary address which is associated with data to be stored in the persistent cache, and a non-content-addressable storage system configured to store and retrieve data in the persistent cache using the temporary address. The persistent cache further comprises an address translator configured to map a temporary address associated with the data in the non-content addressable storage system with a content address associated with the data in the content-addressable storage system.
US08375155B2
Managing concurrent serialized interrupt broadcast commands in a multi-node, symmetric multiprocessing computer including receiving, by a communications adapter in a compute node, a plurality of serialized interrupt broadcast commands; receiving, by the communications adapter, a plurality of interrupt tags for the plurality of serialized interrupt broadcast commands, each interrupt tag including an identification of an interrupt service order for a serialized interrupt broadcast command; assigning, by the communications adapter, to each serialized interrupt broadcast command its interrupt tag; and if an interrupt tag assigned to a serialized interrupt broadcast command has an interrupt service order that matches a value of a current operation tag that identifies the next serialized interrupt broadcast command to be exposed to the one or more processors, exposing, by the communications adapter, the serialized interrupt broadcast command to the one or more processors on the compute node to be serviced.
US08375127B1
A method, computer program product and server for use managing connection requests to a pool of servers identified by a given URL. The method begins in response to a connection request from a given client machine that initiates a user session for associating a session identifier with a given server in the pool. The session identifier is then used to generate a “virtual” URL that redirects the connection request to the given server. Thereafter, any additional connection requests issued from the given client machine during the user session are redirected to the given server so that all content is served to the client from the same location. When the user session terminates, the virtual URL is inactivated and the given server is returned to the pool so that it can then be assigned a new user session to manage.
US08375125B1
In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes receiving at a first device a first request for a physical address of a second device different from the first device, wherein the first request specifies a network address of the second device, and determining that a set of pending requests has a maximum number of requests, wherein the set of pending requests is ordered based on when the requests were received by the first device. The method can further include removing an oldest request from the pending requests and adding the first request to the pending requests, and processing a newest request in the pending requests by sending a message to the second device and receiving the physical address responsive to the message.
US08375118B2
A mobile communication device receives information associated with multiple home devices, and generates, based on the home device information, a connected home dashboard that includes a home device item, a modes item, a monitoring item, a security item, and a notifications item. The mobile communication device also provides the connected home dashboard for display to a user, and receives, from the user, a selection of one of the home device item, the modes item, the monitoring item, the security item, or the notifications item. The mobile communication device further provides, based on the home device information and for display to the user, information associated with the selected item.
US08375116B2
A market making node in a network routes machine readable documents to connect businesses with customers, suppliers and trading partners. The self defining electronic documents, such as XML based documents, can be easily understood amongst the partners. Definitions of these electronic business documents, called business interface definitions, are posted on the Internet, or otherwise communicated to members of the network. The business interface definitions tell potential trading partners the services the company offers and the documents to use when communicating with such services. Thus, a typical business interface definition allows a customer to place an order by submitting a purchase order or a supplier checks availability by downloading an inventory status report. Also, the registration at a market maker node of a specification of the input and output documents, coupled with interpretation information in a common business library, enables participants in a trading partner network to execute the transaction in a way which closely parallels the way in which paper based businesses operate.
US08375107B2
The present invention provides a relay server-based web page pre-reading and integrated browsing method and system. The method includes: based on a page visit request sent from a mobile terminal for page data of a web page having a plurality of sub-pages, requesting the page data of the web page from a network resource server; after receiving the page data of the web page from the network resource server, performing a pre-reading process starting from the received page data of the web page and ending with pre-reading page data of a predetermined levels of sub-pages of the web page from the network resource server. By using the present invention, effective sub-pages can be flexibly obtained and the obtained sub-pages can be merged and rearranged. The web page display can be more flexible, user-friendly, and fast, reducing the user's operating processes and enhancing the user experience when browsing web pages having multiple sub-pages.
US08375102B2
A method and computer program product for providing a random linear coding approach to distributed data storage is presented. A file is broken into a plurality of pieces. For every peer (peer means storage-location with limited storage space), the number of coded-pieces the peer can store is determined. Each of the coded-piece is determined by taking random linear combination of all the pieces of the entire file. The associate code-vector is stored for every coded-piece. The file is retrieved by collecting code-vectors and the coded-pieces from the peers and viewing the collected code-vectors as a matrix. When a dimension of the matrix is equal to the number of pieces of the file, the file is recovered using the collection of code vectors in the matrix.
US08375098B2
System, method and program product for managing a file attached to an e-mail. The attached file's file name is obtained. A voice message file address is received and encoded into a modified address to comply with file naming rules of a recipient computer. A composite file name results from inserting the modified address into the attached file's file name and is displayed in the e-mail. The recipient computer extracts the modified address from the composite file name in the e-mail and decodes the modified address to obtain the voice message file address. Using the voice message file address, the recipient computer requests and receives the voice message file. The voice message is analyzed and verified prior to accessing the attached file. Verifying the voice message includes comparing a voice of the voice message to a voice signature.
US08375097B2
A method for a computer system include determining a first social distance for a first user with respect to a second user, determining a second social distance for a third user with respect to the second user, determining a first trust-metric for the first user in response to the first social distance, determining a second trust-metric for the third user in response to the second social distance, and prioritizing a first communication from the first user over a second communication from the third user, in response to the first trust-metric and the second trust-metric.
US08375095B2
The dispatching of messages from an incoming message pool to service instance(s). Message are received non-destructively and exclusively from the incoming message pool. If a particular service instance receives a message out of order, the processing of the message is deferred without releasing the exclusivity in the incoming message queue. Thus, the target service instance may continue to process one or more other messages until the target service instance is ready to process one or more deferred messages. In this way, messages may be pulled from the incoming message queue for dispatch to service instance(s), while maintaining correct order of processing, even if messages do not arrive into the incoming message queue in the correct order.
US08375092B2
A system and method for immediate and delayed real-time communication activities using availability data from and communications through an external instant messaging system, that operates to obtain aggregated user online presence information through its own client software, through interception of client-server communications between an external instant messaging client and server, and through other available interfaces to user account information on such external instant messaging systems. The system operates to gather user online presence information in part by intercepting communications between an instant messaging client and the Internet. The aggregate presence data, as well as other information describing the availability of a user, is used to intelligently route real-time communications, such as instant messages and phone calls. The disclosed system further implements a technique for waiting for changes in a user's availability status, and for performing actions on a user's behalf in response to such changes in availability status.
US08375089B2
A content server includes an e-mail masking module. The e-mail masking module is configured to replace text-based c-mail addresses, contained in content provided by the content server, with images of the e-mail addresses. The e-mail masking module can be a part of the content server. The e-mail masking module can be a standalone module capable of being installed into or operate in conjunction with the content server.
US08375087B2
Methods and apparatus for synchronization of data set representations in a bandwidth-adaptive manner
A bandwidth-adaptive method for synchronizing a consumer node representation of a dynamic data set and the source node representation of the dynamic data includes the step of receiving, from a source node, metadata information identifying a plurality of data packets that represent a state of at least a portion of a changing data set at a point in time. At least one of the identified data packets is received from the source node and at least one of the received data packets is selected responsive to the received meta-data information. The metadata information and the selected at least one data packet are transmitted to a consumer node.
US08375084B2
An online quality assurance system and method for optical disc formats with enhanced interactivity features is disclosed. Specifically, the system and method provides a means for various studios, dvd player manufacturers, dvd standards specification providers, authoring facilities, and dvd standards tool developers to each provide and receive input, preferably in realtime, about research, development, and production issues, problems and solutions.
US08375083B2
An email recipient input name is received. It is determined if the email recipient input name is ambiguous. If the email recipient input name is ambiguous, one or more employee attributes of a plurality of possible intended email recipients are compared with one or more employee attributes of an email sender to determine a probable intended email recipient.
US08375081B2
Calendar repair may be provided. Calendar events, such as appointments and meetings, may be created and copied to a plurality of attendee calendars. A first copy of the event may be compared to a second copy of the event, and an event property of the second event may be updated to match a corresponding event property of the first event.
US08375068B1
A framework and graphical user interface for sharing, comparing, and displaying resource usage data provide for the ability to construct an extensible framework for configuring a graphical user interface (GUI) containing resource usage data pertaining to one or more entities. In various embodiments, the framework enables competitions and comparisons, event tagging, carbon offsetting, or any combination thereof. The framework also makes the GUI available by various means, including Internet distribution. The GUI may take the form of websites, standalone applications, desktop widgets, blog or social networking applications, and the like.
US08375067B2
A job searching and matching system and method is disclosed that gathers job seeker information in the form of job seeker parameters from one or more job seekers, gathers job information in the form of job parameters from prospective employers and/or recruiters, correlates the information with past job seeker behavior, parameters and behavior from other job seekers, and job parameters and, in response to a job seeker's query, provides matching job results based on common parameters between the job seeker and jobs along with suggested alternative jobs based on the co-relationships and based on ratings and preferences provided by the job seeker and provides negative filtration of undesirable jobs based on job seeker input and in response to queries from the system in order to efficiently and accurately accommodate job seeker perception. In addition, the system correlates employer/recruiter behavior information with past employer/recruiter behavior, parameters and information concerning other job seekers, which are candidates to the employer, and resume parameters, and, in response to a Employer's query, provides matching job seeker results based on common parameters between the job seeker resumes and jobs along with suggested alternative job seeker candidates based on the identified co-relationships and specifies job seekers to be eliminated from displayed results.
US08375054B2
Provided is a method for accessing medical information. The medical information is distributed across data files. The method includes receiving data files relevant to the medical information, selecting a current layout from a plurality of layouts for making the data files accessible, providing previous layout information, referring to a previous layout in which the data file has been acquired, the previous layout information is usable for automatically adapting the current layout to the previous layout, detecting markers associated with the received data files, the markers referring to a location of interest within one of the received data files, adapting the markers of the previous layout to the current layout to mark the same location of interest, and providing access to the medical information in the selected current layout to make browsable the data files and the markers within the data files.
US08375051B2
An apparatus for controlling subscriptions comprising: a detector operable to detect to a subscription associated with a wildcard topic string; and an analyzer, responsive to the detection of the subscription associated with a wildcard topic string and a topic string of a topic node matching the wildcard topic string, for analyzing a first attribute of the topic node; and means for determining whether a subscriber associated with the subscription should receive a message associated with the topic string of the topic node.
US08375048B1
Front end preprocessing includes an augmentation function that augments the query with additional query terms that have an associated weighting value. The terms include identifying characters so that they are recognizable as being added by the augmentation module, but are treated as any other query term by all processing components. The terms are selected based on user context, preferences, and likely intent and the confidence levels are used when ranking results.
US08375046B2
Embodiments of the invention are generally related to data processing, and more specifically to retrieving results for a query from one or more devices coupled to a network. A first device may receive an abstract query including logical fields defined by a first data abstraction model and retrieve query results stored in the first device. The query may be sent to one or more other devices via the network. The one or more other devices may be configured to convert the abstract query to local abstract queries including logical fields defined in local data abstraction models. The local queries may be issued against local databases to retrieve additional results for the query.
US08375041B2
The invention includes a computer readable medium with executable instructions to receive a query based on nested semantic abstractions for corresponding data sources. Data source specific queries are constructed based on the query by executing the query against the nested semantic abstractions. Each data source specific query is associated with an underlying data source described by a nested semantic abstraction. The data source specific queries are executed to produce results and the results are returned.
US08375040B2
A content explaining apparatus and method computes the degrees of similarity between a specified content and the other contents than the specified content of multiple contents based on content information stored in content information database means, computes a user realization degree for each of the other contents based on user information stored in user management database means or the content information stored in the content information database means, computes an explanation accuracy degree of each of the other contents for the specified content from the similarity degree and user realization degree of said each of the other contents, and presents content explaining information for the specified content according to the explanation accuracy degrees.
US08375039B2
Topic-centric-media sharing allows a user to search for and share media objects related to a topic. The user can select media objects stored on a client computing device to share with other users. The client computing device contains software that, in operation, searches for a set of media objects related to the same topic as the selected media objects. If such a set is located, the software on the client computing device can associate the selected media objects with the set. If no such set is located, the user can create a new set to share with other users.
US08375033B2
A system and method for information retrieval from a corpus of text based on offline prominent sentences extraction, and online prominent sentences retrieval ordered by predefined criteria, and recommending online cross-interest prominent sentences.
US08375029B2
A system for processing data comprising: a plurality of resource interfaces each of which is operable to access a corresponding underlying resource, and a processor unit for integrating data accessed from the underlying resources and controlling a user interface. The user interface is operable in use to permit a user to view all of the underlying resources currently accessible to the system and to select a plurality of these to form a subset comprising some, but not all, of the underlying resources from which to form an integrated view of the sub-set. The processor unit is operable to store the selection within a user selection store and to determine how to join the data from the selected underlying resources to generate an integrated view of the selected sub-set of underlying resources and to generate data for transmission to a device for displaying the generated view to the user.
US08375027B2
Facilitating a user determination of an exclusion keyword in order to specify an efficient exclusion of an unwanted piece of data when the user narrows searching objects. Exclusion is accomplished in a system having a searching object data storage for storing pieces of searching object data, a searcher for performing a primary narrowing of the search, a common keyword extractor for extracting the common keywords associated with a piece of data, an input/output device for passing a selected keyword selected the extracted common keywords while receiving and displaying a result from an exclusion efficiency calculator. The exclusion efficiency calculator calculates exclusion efficiency and indicates a level of exclusion efficiency of data that is not associated with a selected keyword for an individual common keyword.
US08375024B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for generating a social network graph to model one or more social networks of related authors of online social media and their corresponding posts of online social media conversations relevant to subject matter of interest in a category. Embodiments are configured to harvest and aggregate posts of online social media conversations from one or more online social media sources; to perform content scraping on the posts of online social media conversations to obtain raw data that includes user-profile information of a social media author corresponding to each individual post of online social media conversations; and performing social network analysis processing on the raw data to obtain the social network graph.
US08375017B1
An automatic keyword analysis for content illumination and document fragmentation for internet search queries. Initially, the invention obtains keywords from a document. The taxonomy then expands the obtained words from the document. The keywords are further refined using keyword demand data. The keyword demand data includes words where too few or too many searches would hamper the user's search. After refinement, the keyword final set is placed onto the appropriate web page. Consequently, internet search engines “hit” the web page because the automatic keyword analysis added optimal and efficient keywords.
US08375008B1
A method and system for managing data can be used to provide a comprehensive solution to retaining electronic data within an enterprise. Data may come from backup tapes or a network. Email files may be separated from other files on the backup tape. Data from the email files may be extracted and fed to a collective database. The other files (from the file backup tapes) and data from the network are processed by a de-duplication engine to remove duplicates of the content while keeping metadata from each copy of the content. The content and metadata are forwarded to the collective database. Filters or other rules may be applied to the collective database to identify compliant or targeted data. Many different operations can then be performed on the compliant and targeted data.
US08375002B2
A storage where one NAS server makes snapshot management information including global paths of snapshots based on snapshot identifiers and global paths of file systems corresponding to the snapshots, so that global paths of both the file systems and snapshots are configured on the same global namespace simultaneously, with a directory configuration of the snapshots being the same in configuration layout as a directory configuration of the file systems; the one NAS server informs other NAS servers of the snapshot management information; memory in each of the NAS servers stores the snapshot management information; the snapshot management information includes the snapshot identifier, local path and global path for each of snapshots obtained by each NAS server at each point in time; and the computer obtains the snapshot management information from at least one of the NAS servers and displays at least a part of the snapshot management information.
US08374997B2
A Value Analyzer system is a data-driven computer-facilitated financial model that provides accurate and consistent profitability calculations using account, product and event attributes stored in a relational database managed by a relational database management system (RDBMS). Profitability calculations are performed in the computer by applying one or more rules to the account, product and event attributes accessed from the database, wherein the profitability calculations include setup, generation and execution of structured query language (SQL) statements by the RDBMS. The present invention also monitors the profitability calculations by monitoring the setup, generation and execution of the SQL statements by the RDBMS, in order to provide bypass, logging, user restartability, or status (BLURS) functions for the profitability calculations.
US08374994B2
A method (and structure) of quantum computing. Two independent magnitudes of a three-state physical (quantum) system are set to simultaneously store two real, independent numbers as a qubit. The three-state physical (quantum) system has a first energy level, a second energy level, and a third energy level capable of being degenerate with respect to one another, thereby forming basis states for the qubit.
US08374987B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, related to stateful, continuous evaluation of event-condition-action rules by a state correlation engine. In general, one or more events may be determined to have occurred and an event-condition-action cycle may be caused to be processed for the events. The event-condition-action cycle may include evaluating condition networks based on a state of execution of the state correlation engine that includes the events, where the state of execution is based on a state of execution before the events, and enabling the actions to be executed if evaluation of the condition networks with the state of execution is to result in one or more actions being enabled.
US08374980B2
Management of a user's continued attention to distance learning content using a general purpose computer having a central processing unit and an operating system configured to run multiple program applications concurrently. A memory stores the distance learning content. A distance learning module comprises code executable on the central processing unit, as one of the multiple program applications. The distance learning module presents the distance learning content to a user and is operable to interrupt a presentation of the distance learning content in response to prescribed events concerning another one of the multiple program applications. A method executing on a computer that an concurrently run multiple applications identifies events concerning an application other than the distance learning application, processes the identified events so as to identify a prescribed event among the identified events, and interrupts the presentation of the distance learning content in response to the prescribed event.
US08374979B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to perform image parsing on one or more images by identifying a set of similar regions from each image; assigning one or more region labels to each region and generating multiple hypotheses for region label assignment; and detecting class, location and boundary of each object in the image, wherein object classification, detection and segmentation are performed jointly during image parsing.
US08374971B2
A system and methods for management and delivery of content and rules is disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise managing, for an organization, a plurality of data and a plurality of content in separate database entities, wherein the plurality of content is associated with the plurality of data based on a plurality of rules; packaging the plurality of rules with the plurality of content in a carrier that is independent from one or more presentation channels, wherein at least part of the plurality of content is integrated with at least part of the plurality of data; delivering the plurality of data and the carrier to the one or more presentation channels; integrating, at the one or more presentation channels, the plurality of data with the plurality of content based on the plurality of rules; and distributing the integrated data and content through the one or more presentation channels.
US08374970B2
The present invention provides a plurality of Enterprises with a single online user interface with which the Enterprise can provide Enterprise Shippers, shipping origination users and shipping intermediary users with an automated parcel management system for a plurality of supported Carriers for a plurality of services. The present invention provides for the hierarchical definition of users, including the hierarchical definition of organizational units within each Enterprise. The present invention further provides for a distinct definition of policies, privileges, and other types of specifications for each user level, each user, and each organizational unit. The present invention applies the user and organizational policies, privileges and other specifications as they apply to each particular user to drive the interactive interface with each particular user and to provide among other things, shipping options, shipping services, shipping rates, traveler and/or shipping label preparation, and shipment tracking.
US08374945B2
A computer system for processing data related to financial instruments for providing deferred income includes a data storage device storing data relating to financial instruments representing a right to receive deferred periodic payments includes, for classes of financial instruments, a price, payment amount and frequency, deferral data, and one or more permitted values of one or more actuarial factors of purchasers. The system further includes a processor configured to receive via a communication module data indicative of a request to purchase financial instruments, including a purchase payment amount and one or more values of the one or more actuarial factors of an individual purchaser, and to determine, based on the received data, a number and class of the financial instruments for issue to the individual purchaser and to output data for generation of the determined number and class of the financial instruments for issue to the individual purchaser.
US08374943B2
A method for funding IP procurement for non-profits such as universities and other non-profits that conduct research, includes providing a fund to hold interests in intellectual properties of a non-profit organization, receiving investments from investors to add to the fund to fund acquisition of intellectual properties of the non-profit, by machine, storing information regarding the investments, intellectual properties, and the investors into a database and distributing shares in the fund according to the value of investments made in the fund.
