US08389104B2
A composite core panel has opposite side surfaces for receiving skins to form a composite sandwich panel. The core panel includes a plurality of spaced blocks of low density cellular material such as foam plastics and have opposite side surfaces forming the side surfaces of the core panel and opposite edge surfaces extending between the side surfaces. A plurality of parallel spaced elongated primary strips of structural cellular material such as balsa wood or engineered foam have a higher density and extend between the blocks, and the blocks have side surfaces adhesively attached to edge surfaces of the blocks. A plurality of parallel spaced secondary strips of structural high density cellular material such as balsa wood or engineered foam extend transversely to the primary strips and have end surfaces adhesively attached to the primary strips and side surfaces adhesively attached to the blocks.
US08389103B2
Roofing material consists essentially of a substrate, a hot melt material applied to one side of the substrate, an asphalt material coating the other side of the substrate and roofing granules disposed on said asphalt material coated on the substrate. The hot melt material may be polyethylene, polyethylene-vinyl acetate, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyester, nylon and mixtures thereof. The asphalt material may include non-asphaltic filler.
US08389096B2
Optical information media having high pressure-at-break values, and methods for determining pressure-at-break values are disclosed. The media have high structural integrities, and are designed to confer greater resistance to delamination forces as compared to conventional optical information media.
US08389094B2
Provided are methods of forming multi-layered optical data storage media which include a high-density data layer, as well as multi-layered optical data storage media that can be formed by such methods.
US08389093B2
One example embodiment includes a tilewave material. The tilewave material includes a fiber and a first tile, where the first tile includes a first surface and a second surface. The tilewave material also includes a second tile, where the second tile includes a first surface and a second surface. The tilewave material further includes a first attachment means, where the first attachment means attaches the first tile to the fiber, and a second attachment means, where the second attachment means attaches the second tile to the first fiber.
US08389091B2
A wrapping film container, including: an elongated container body for housing therein a rolled self-tacky wrapping film, an opening provided to the container body along a longitudinal direction of the container body for pulling out a portion of the wrapping film therethrough, cutting means for cutting the pulled-out portion of the wrapping film and a film-holding section provided on a front face of the container body for preventing re-winding to an inside of the container, wherein the film-holding section comprises a laminate structure including a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, a substrate layer, an adhesive layer and a self-tacky film layer, disposed sequentially from the container body side. The film-holding section is efficiently formed on the front face of the container body by using a label for forming film-holding section of a wrapping film container having a laminate structure including a self-tacky film layer, an adhesives layer, a base material layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a separator layer, disposed sequentially from one side thereof, and exhibits a stable and consistent film-holding power.
US08389084B2
A fluid impermeable protective layer is described for a structure that has a 3-dimensional profile. The 3-dimensional profile can include actuators. The protective layer is applied so that there are no breaches in the protective layer and so that the protective layer is not too thick to prevent the actuators from being able to properly function.
US08389082B2
Provided is a fuel system comprising a fuel vessel, molded parts for the fuel vessel and/or a tube for a fuel in which bodies are constituted from a thermoplastic resin and/or a rubber, wherein a coating layer is formed on the surfaces in at least one sides of the insides and the outsides of the fuel vessel body, the molded part bodies for the fuel vessel and/or the tube body for a fuel or at least one of connected parts with these bodies; the above coating layer is formed by curing an epoxy resin composition comprising an epoxy resin and an epoxy resin curing agent as principal components; and the above coating layer has a gasoline permeability coefficient of 2 g·mm/m2·day or less at 23° C. and a relative humidity of 60% RH. The above coating layer is excellent in a permeation-preventing performance against an automobile fuel (gasoline barrier property), a heat resistance and an impact resistance, then a fuel vessel, molded parts for the fuel vessel and a tube which have excellent performances are obtained.
US08389077B2
This invention relates to a window designed to prevent or reduce bird collisions therewith. In certain example embodiments, the window may include an insulating glass (IG) window unit having first and second substrates spaced apart from one another, wherein at least one of the substrates supports an ultraviolet (UV) reflecting coating for reflecting UV radiation so that birds are capable of more easily seeing the window. By making the window more visible to birds, bird collisions and thus bird deaths can be reduced.
US08389071B2
An apparatus and method for forming a carbon protective layer on a substrate using a plasma CVD method allows a more uniform in-plane distribution of the carbon protective layer thickness. The apparatus includes an annular anode that generates a plasma beam and a disk-shaped shield disposed between the anode and the substrate. The anode, the shield, and the substrate are concentrically arranged so that a straight line connecting the centers of the anode and the substrate is perpendicular to the deposition surface of the substrate where the carbon protective layer is to be formed. The center of the shield is also on the straight line.
US08389060B2
A processes for preparing structured organic film (SOF) comprising a plurality of segments and a plurality of linkers arranged as a covalent organic framework, wherein the structured organic film may be a multi-segment thick structured organic film by reaction of a pre-SOF.
US08389054B2
Methods and related systems for fabricating a device or a part, the method including the step of growing at least one material from a vapor phase, by a CVD process, for example a MO-CVD process, on a heated base substrate, wherein the at least one material conforms to one of at least one topographical pattern of the base substrate, one or more predefined geometrical shape on the base substrate or both. The method includes removing the base substrate embedded in the CVD deposited material, as well as optionally machining a portion of the CVD deposited material.
US08389049B2
An optical film, includes: a transparent support; and an optical functional layer as the outermost layer of the optical film, the optical functional layer being provided on or above the transparent support, wherein the optical functional layer has a thickness of 50 nm or more and not more than 250 nm; the optical functional layer contains low refractive index fine particles having a refractive index of not more than 1.45, high refractive index fine particles having a refractive index of 1.55 or more, and a fluorine-containing compound; the low refractive index fine particles are arranged substantially in a line on a surface of the optical functional layer on the opposite side of the transparent support; and the high refractive index fine particles are unevenly distributed in a lower part of the optical functional layer on the side of the transparent support.
US08389044B2
A method of forming a coating on a medical device having a controlled morphology is described. A method of treating a disorder in a patient using the medical device is described.
US08389034B2
Provided is a disintegrable or non-disintegrable oral flavor delivery product. The product includes a disintegrable or non-disintegrable chewable pouch with a plurality of perforations. The pouch encloses a non-tobacco flavor product that can be in a gel, semi-liquid, and/or liquid form. A user chews, sucks, and/or manipulates the pouch to cause the enclosed flavor product to leach out of the perforations into the user's mouth.
US08389017B1
The present invention generally relates to calcium-containing structures and methods of making and using the structures. In one aspect, hollow calcium containing microstructures are used in conjunction with bone tissues/by-products to augment bone defects and extend the supply of bone tissues/by-products for bone augmentation. Bonding agents, such as calcium cements, are also used in the preparation of the hollow calcium microstructures combined with bone tissues/by-products or for use in preparing the hollow microstructures. The calcium-containing microstructures of the present invention are also useful as delivery vehicles of nitric oxide and/or nitric oxide containing or producing compounds for a variety of in vitro and in vivo uses. Calcium containing contoured substrates upon which cells/tissues can be grown in vitro for replacement and repair of tissues in vivo that conform in size and shape to the tissue surface to be replaced are also provided.
US08389015B2
The present invention is directed to methods to detect and diagnose osteoporosis and periodontal disease using salivary biomarkers.
US08389014B2
The present invention relates to a solid powder composed of a mixture of a natural or a synthetic polymer which forms a gel, a buffer, such as an hydroxyacid or a dicarboxyacid, a saccharide, one or more drugs useful for the treatment of diseases of the eyes and optionally one or more excipients and/or regulators of the osmotic pressure ophthalmologically acceptable.
US08389010B2
The present invention provides a stretchable collagen material, particularly collagen derived from fishes, having excellent stretching property and mechanical strength, which can be widely used as a cell carrier and medical material, and to a method for manufacturing the same. By thermally treating a gel comprising collagen fiber cross-linked by using cross-linking agent, the collagen enhanced in both stretching property and mechanical strength can be produced. The stretchable collagen material is extremely useful as a cell carrier material and medical material.
US08389005B2
Systemic treatment of pathological conditions resulting from oxidative stress and/or redox imbalance
Alterations of redox homeostasis in mammals underlie a host of symptoms, syndromes and diseases, including AIDS and cancer, which can be successfully treated by administration to a mammal of therapeutically-effective amounts of sulfide compounds and/or thiosulfate compounds and/or thionite compounds and/or thionate compounds and/or any organic, inorganic or organometallic precursors thereof. The unique compositions of this invention contain one or more “active sulfur compounds” in combination with each other or with other therapeutic agents. The invention also encompasses the varying modes of administration of the therapeutic compounds.
US08389003B2
An orally administrable implement for expanding in a stomach of an animal, including a mammal, to fill a space in the stomach, is provided for weight control. The implement includes: a fluid-permeable expandable container having a first dimension and a second dimension; and a plurality of clusters comprising a swellable material contained within the container and capable of swelling when contacted with a fluid; whereby when the implement is ingested, the fluid in the stomach enters the container causing the clusters therein to swell and the container to expand from the first dimension to the second dimension.
US08388985B2
The present invention relates to the use of a lipidic phase comprising an oil and a lipophilic additive (LPA), which is suitable to make an oil-in-water emulsion by application of low energy or a manual operation. The lipidic phase contains a Lipophilic Additive (LPA) which forms self-assembly structures inside the emulsion oil droplets. The aqueous phase contains a hydrophilic emulsifier and the lipidic and aqueous phases are mixed without using classical high shearing devices or homogenisers.
US08388976B2
A polypeptide inhibiting binding between a vascular endothelial growth factor and a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, a fusion protein including the same, and a method of preparing the fusion protein are disclosed.
US08388964B2
The present invention relates to methods of treating patients suffering from itching and puritis mediated by cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive T cell. In particular, diseases or disorders including contact dermatitis, drug induced delayed type cutaneous allergic reactions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, bullous pemphigoid, alopecia aereata, vitiligo, acne rosacea, prurigo nodularis, and herpes simplex virus, or combination thereof will benefit from the administration of an IL-31 antagonist. The invention also includes methods of predicting a therapeutically responsive patient population.
US08388958B2
Use of a monoclonal antibody directed against the extracellular domain of hepatocyte growth factor is disclosed for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of tumors and/or metastases and of a diagnostic tool for detecting neoplastic cells as well as vectors comprising at least a portion of the nucleotide sequence encoding the anti-Met monoclonal antibody, products containing the anti-Met monoclonal antibody and/or at least one fragment thereof and at least one kinase inhibitor.
US08388951B2
A treatment for systemic DNA mutation diseases accompanied with development of somatic mosaicism and elevation of blood extracellular DNA and, more particularly, to a treatment of diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. The inventive method consist from introducing a treatment agent into a circulating blood system of a patient diagnosed with systemic DNA mutation diseases when said treatment agent destroys extracellular DNA in said blood of said patient and wherein said treatment agent used to destroy said extracellular DNA is a DNASE enzyme: said agent might be administered in doses and regimens which sufficient to decrease number average molecular weight of circulating extracellular blood DNA in the blood of said patient; such decrease of number average molecular weight might be measured by gel electrophoresis of extracellular blood DNA fraction from the blood of said patient. A DNASE enzyme may be further applied in a dose and regime that provide a DNA hydrolytic activity measured in blood plasma exceeding 1.5 Kunitz units per 1 ml of blood plasma for more than 12 hours within a period of 24 hours.
US08388949B2
The invention relates to the field of food compositions and their use. In particular compositions comprising at least 15 En % protein and pantothenic acid, or equivalents thereof, are provided, which are suitable for stimulating appetite.
US08388945B2
The invention relates to microcapsules consisting of a polymer degradable by a polypeptide comprising a drug or other compound of interest and a genetically engineered cell expressing said polypeptide in response to a triggering compound, and to methods of directed release of the compound of interest. The preferred polymer is optionally modified cellulose sulfate/poly-diallyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride. Such microcapsules are non-toxic, do not elicit an immunological response and have an extended half-life time in mammals. The expression system for cellulase is, for example, based on TET and doxycycline, or E.REX and erythromycin. In another example, expression of cellulase is triggered by luteinizing hormone, which can be used for artificial insemination with microcapsules carrying sperm.
US08388944B2
Whole organisms are inactivated by at least a factor of 106 using carbon dioxide at or near its supercritical pressure and temperature conditions.
US08388943B2
This invention relates to multipotent stem cells, purified from the peripheral tissue of mammals, and capable of differentiating into neural and non-neural cell types. These stem cells provide an accessible source for autologous transplantation into CNS, PNS, and other damaged tissues.
US08388924B2
The present application relates generally to methods for growth of high quality graphene films. In particular, a method is provided for forming a graphene film using a modified chemical vapor deposition process using an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon liquid precursor. Desirably, the graphene films are a single-layer and have a single grain continuity of at least 1 μm2.
US08388917B2
An air pollution control system 10A includes a boiler 11 that burns fuel, an air heater 13 that recovers heat of flue gas 17 from the boiler 11, and a desulfurizer 15 that reduces sulfur oxides contained in the flue gas 17 after heat recovery by an absorbent, and waste-water supplying units P0 to P5 that supply desulfurized waste water 28 discharged from the desulfurizer 15 to at least one of a path for supplying fuel to the boiler 11, inside of a furnace of the boiler 11, and the inside of a flue gas duct between the boiler 11 and the air heater 13 are installed. With this configuration, an amount of desulfurized waste water to be returned into the flue gas duct per unit time can be increased as compared to conventional systems, without increasing the size of the entire air pollution control system.
US08388909B2
Apparatuses and methods for manipulating droplets are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for manipulating droplets is provided, the apparatus including a substrate, multiple arrays of electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein corresponding electrodes in each array are connected to a common electrical signal, and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate first side surface and patterned to cover the electrodes.
US08388907B2
The present invention provides a single self-contained device for collecting, extracting, on-site testing, and transferring for forensic confirmatory analysis, a wide variety of substances including, but not limited to, drugs of abuse, explosives, weapons of mass destruction, food toxins and industrial wastes. Samples can be obtained from a surface by swabbing a suspect area or the testing of solid materials (pills, capsules, powders), air samples and biological and non-biological fluids by placing the substance in the device. The device includes a swab, a retention well including a wash, and analysis technologies that can be, for example, a lateral flow testing system. The swab is rinsed with a wash prior to testing thereby not compromising the chemistry of the detection technologies and allowing for a wide variety of applications under a number of field conditions. Also, the device is a single self-contained unit instead of having a separate reagent droppers or sprays, making it compact and easy to use. Moreover, the device is designed to not only collect and test samples but to seal the originally target analyte, not affected by testing procedures, in a specially designed cap for shipping under chain of custody documentation to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory testing.
US08388905B2
A system for diagnostic testing may include a meter for performing a diagnostic test on a sample applied to a test media, the meter having a housing and an interface for receiving a signal representing coding information, and a container configured to contain test media compatible with the meter, the container having a coding element associated therewith. Additionally, the system may provide a mechanisms for removing the meter from an interconnected test container and reattaching it to a new container using on-container coding methods that can recalibrate the meter for the new container of test strips. The system may further provide a sampling device, such as a lancet, operably connected to the container such that that a user may use the sampling device to obtain a sample without disconnecting the sampling device from the container. In addition, the system may further provide a refillable test strip container which includes a foil pouch of test strips with a desiccant pill used to refill test strip container when empty.
US08388897B2
A system for reducing a carbon compound of a heat engine includes: an outlet pipe transferring and outputting an exhaust gas from the heat engine; a removal reacting tank connected to the outlet pipe, the removal reacting tank generating a strong alkaline solution by a reaction of a resource material and a water and removing the carbon compound from the exhaust gas by a contact of the carbon compound and the strong alkaline solution; a sludge storing tank storing a sludge generated by a removal reaction in the removal reacting tank; and a decomposing tank generating the resource material for the removal reacting tank by decomposing the sludge from the sludge storing tank with a heat. Accordingly, since the carbon compound such as carbon dioxide is effectively removed from the exhaust gas emitted from a heat engine equipped in an industrial plant and a vehicle, atmospheric environmental pollution is prevented and regulation on carbon dioxide emission is satisfied.
US08388889B2
Heat-resistant, austenitic cast steel comprising by mass 0.3-0.6% of C, 1.1-2% of Si, 1.5% or less of Mn, 17.5-22.5% of Cr, 8-13% of Ni, 1.5-4% as (W+2Mo) of at least one of W and Mo, 1-4% of Nb, 0.01-0.3% of N, 0.01-0.5% of S, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, and meeting the following formulae (1), (2), (3) and (4): 0.05≦(C—Nb/8)≦0.6 (1), 17.5≦17.5Si−(W+2Mo) (2), 5.6Si+(W+2Mo)≦13.7 (3), and 0.08Si+(C—Nb/8)+0.015Cr+0.011Ni+0.03W+0.02Mo<0.96 (4), wherein the symbol of each element corresponds to the amount (% by mass) of each element in the cast steel.
US08388886B2
A plastic bottle includes an expanded blow-molding preform of plastic film. The expanded preform has a base configured to support the bottle in a free-standing upright position, a neck containing a fitment, and seams including only a single full-height seam extending from the base to the neck.
US08388884B2
A method of fabricating a composite item may include dispensing a composite material comprising a reinforcement and a resin. The method may further include energizing an infrared heat source. The infrared heat source may tend to generate a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is preferentially absorbed by the reinforcement. The method may additionally include controlling power to the infrared heat source to cause the infrared heat source to emit a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the resin to a relatively greater extent than the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the reinforcement.
US08388881B2
The present invention provides molds and methods for producing articulating spacers that are custom-fit to the bone and can be used in two-stage revision knee arthroplasty and other orthopaedic surgery.
US08388879B2
The present invention provides a method of preparing a flame retardant polyester fiber that makes it possible to prepare a flame retardant polyester fiber having excellent shape stability while preventing a lumping phenomenon and reducing powder generation and discoloration during the preparing process of the flame retardant polyester fiber, and a flame retardant polyester fiber prepared therefrom.
US08388875B2
For a skin, a non-formed polyurethane resin layer at the surface side and a foamed polyurethane resin layer between the non-foamed polyurethane resin layer and a base member are configured to form an integral and uniform layer over and extent from an injection point to a distant point on a surface of the base member, so that an integral skin foam in which such skin layer and foamed layer are laminated can be molded, under an atmospheric pressure, in a single process, allowing for manufacture of a laminate article with a high degree of uniformity over an appreciable wide range of the article, as well as for provision of a laminate mold goods having the skin and foamed layers formed with a high uniformity along the base member, over the length in a flow direction of skin forming material.
US08388872B2
The present invention provides a photochromic material which is an indeno-fused naphthopyran of structural formulas I or II, having a pi-conjugation extending group bonded to the 11-position of the indeno-fused naphthopyran, the pi-conjugation extending group having at least one pendent halo-substituted group bonded thereto. The pi-conjugation extending group extends the pi-conjugation system of said indeno-fused naphthopyran. The 13-position of the indeno-fused naphthopyran is substantially free of spiro-substituents. The invention further provides photochromic materials of specified structure, photochromic compositions, photochromic articles and optical elements that include the photochromic material.
US08388871B2
A translucent conductive film-forming coating liquid that can form a translucent conductive film having excellent translucency and conductivity together with organic solvent resistance includes conductive oxide acicular powder dispersed in a solvent containing a binder resin, the glass transition point (Tg) of the binder resin being 120° C. or more.
US08388868B2
Semi-conductive or insulating compositions including an ethylene/octane or butene copolymer and at least one additional polymer, such LDPE, are described. The compositions may also include carbon black and other additives. The composition may be used as a semi-conductive layer in such applications as electrical cables.
US08388860B2
Isomannide-based compounds having chiral properties are provided, in addition to liquid crystal compositions and polymer networks derived therefrom.
US08388851B2
A capacitor forming method includes forming an electrically conductive support material over a substrate, forming an opening through at least the support material to the substrate, and, after forming the opening, forming a capacitor structure contacting the substrate and the support material in the opening. The support material contains at least 25 at % carbon. Another capacitor forming method includes forming a support material over a substrate, forming an opening through at least the support material to the substrate, and, after forming the opening, forming a capacitor structure contacting the substrate and the support material in the opening. The support material contains at least 20 at % carbon. The support material has a thickness and the opening has an aspect ratio 20:1 or greater within the thickness of the support material.
US08388848B2
A liquid separation device is provided, and is capable of suppressing the lowering of filtration function due to an increase in flow channel resistance of permeated liquid which results in a separation membrane falling in a groove of a permeated liquid flow channel material along with accompanied breakage of the separation membrane surface. A permeated liquid flow channel material is disposed on the back side of a separation membrane composed of a sheet-like material having a linear groove and a linear crest alternately arrayed on one surface or both surfaces, wherein a groove width of the linear groove in the sheet-like material is 10 to 200 μm, and a ratio of the groove width of the linear groove to the pitch of the linear groove is 0.45 or more.
US08388843B2
The present invention relates to a device having two or more separate filtration layers that can be independently tested for integrity yet which allow for serial filtration through the two or more layers to obtain the desired characteristics such as retention. The device is made of two or more filtration areas, each containing one filter layer. Each area has one filtration layer and a first endcap bonded to a first end of the filter and a second endcap bonded to a second end of the filter. The areas are arranged concentrically around each other such that the first area is inward of the second area which is inward of a third area and the like. Each area is formed separately and integrity tested separately before final assembly. The first area is slid into the inside of the second area and then the two endcaps are either bonded to each, bonded to a third overall endcap or overmolded by a third endcap.
US08388839B1
An apparatus and method for skimming oil and other liquid hydrocarbons and contaminates floating at the surface of a body of water or other suspending liquid. A rigid skimming surface such as a drum or disc is floatably supported on pontoons. The skimming surface is rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the water surface. The skimming surface is covered with removably attached sorbent material which improves the efficiency of the oil recovery operation and which, when worn or soggy, can be removed and discarded without discarding the skimming surface.
US08388835B2
A storm drain inlet filter for preventing passage of particulate and solids in storm water entering a storm drainage system through an entry aperture. The device features a filter element held in place by a ring compressed against the sidewalls forming the entry aperture. Filter fabric may be included between two sidewalls of the inlet filter.
US08388831B2
Staged crushing combined with water addition and mixing is practiced at the mine site to prepare an oil sand slurry ready for hydrotransport. More particularly, as-mined oil sand is crushed to conveyable size (e.g. −24″) using a mobile crusher. The pre-crushed ore product is conveyed to a dry ore surge bin. Ore is withdrawn from the bin and elevated to the upper end of a slurry preparation tower having downwardly aligned process components to enable gravity feed. The ore is further crushed in stages to pumpable size (e.g. −4″) by a stack of crushers and water is added during comminution. The ore and water are mixed in a mixing box and delivered to a pump box. The surge bin and tower are relocatable. Screening and oversize reject treatment have been eliminated to achieve compactness and enable relocatability.
US08388829B2
Embodiments of methods for making renewable diesel by deoxygenating (decarboxylating/decarbonylating/dehydrating) fatty acids to produce hydrocarbons are disclosed. Fatty acids are exposed to a catalyst selected from a) Pt and MO3 on ZrO2 (M is W, Mo, or a combination thereof), or b) Pt/Ge or Pt/Sn on carbon, and the catalyst decarboxylates at least 10% of the fatty acids. In particular embodiments, the catalyst consists essentially of 0.7 wt % Pt and 12 wt % WO3, relative to a mass of catalyst, or the catalyst consists essentially of a) 5 wt % Pt and b) 0.5 wt % Ge or 0.5 wt % Sn, relative to a mass of catalyst. Deoxygenation is performed without added hydrogen and at less than 100 psi. Disclosed embodiments of the catalysts deoxygenate at least 10% of fatty acids in a fatty acid feed, and remain capable of deoxygenating fatty acids for at least 200 minutes to more than 350 hours.
US08388828B2
A process comprising regenerating a used ionic liquid catalyst, recovering conjunct polymer from the regenerated catalyst and using at least a portion of the conjunct polymer is disclosed.
US08388813B1
Improved, fuel-efficient systems are provided for the processing of biomass, such as wood or crop residues, food waste or animal waste in order to selectively obtain torrefied and/or carbonized final products. In general, the processes involve thermally drying incoming biomass using a dryer employing the hot gas output of a fuel-operated burner. Next, the dried product is torrefied in an indirect torrefaction reactor so as to evolve light volatile organic compounds which are used as a gaseous fuel source for the burner. The torrefied product can be recovered, or some or all of the torrefied product may be directed to a carbonization reactor coupled with a reactor burner. Carbonization serves to remove most of the remaining VOCs which are used as a gaseous fuel input to the dryer. In certain instances, portions of the dried biomass are directed to the burners, as an additional source of fuel.
US08388812B2
An industrial fabric such as an endless belt or sleeve for use in the production of nonwovens, and a method of making thereof are disclosed. The industrial fabric is produced by spirally winding strips of polymeric material, such as an industrial strapping or ribbon material, and joining the adjoining sides of the strips of material using ultrasonic welding or laser welding techniques. The fabric may then be perforated using a suitable technique to make it permeable to air and/or water.
US08388810B2
A method of production of a product from a stock pulp sheet uses conveyor rolls to convey a stock pulp sheet to a crusher. During conveyance to the crusher, a defective part in the stock pulp sheet is detected by a detector. The detected defective part is removed from the stock pulp sheet by a remover. The stock pulp sheet from which the defective part is removed is supplied to the crusher to produce crushed pulp. The produced crushed pulp is used to produce a product in a product producer.
US08388809B2
The invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 20 to 80 wt % of acrylonitrile, from 20 to 80 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of acrylic acid, from 0 to 10 wt % of methacrylonitrile, from 0 to 40 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of methacrylic acid, the total amount of acrylonitrile and esters of acrylic acid constituting from 50 to 100 wt % of said ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and said propellant comprising at least one of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane and isopentane. The invention further relates to the production and use of the microspheres.
US08388808B2
The present invention relates to a process of producing a cellulosic product comprising (i) providing an aqueous suspension of cellulosic fibers, (ii) adding microfibrillar polysaccharide, (iii) adding thermoplastic microspheres, (iv) dewatering the suspension and forming a cellulosic product. The invention also relates to a process of producing a single layer cellulosic product comprising (i) providing an aqueous suspension of cellulosic fibers, (ii) adding microfibrillar polysaccharide derived from softwood and/or hardwood and optionally adding thermoplastic microspheres to the suspension, (iii) dewatering the suspension and forming a cellulosic product. The invention further relates to a cellulosic product obtainable from said processes. The invention also relates to a composition comprising microfibrillar polysaccharide and thermoplastic microspheres and the use thereof.
US08388789B2
For an arcuate structural member (10) of a fuselage frame, tapes of resin pre-impregnated unidirectional fibers are used. The member (10) includes a web (11) lying in a radial plane and a radially outer cylindrical flange (12). An elongate, arcuate forming mandrel (M1) having a flat radial surface (F) forming an angular edge (D) with a radially outer, convex cylindrical surface (S) is used and a series of promontories (P) radiating outwardly with respect to the cylindrical surface (S) are provided. Layers of pre-impregnated composite material are laid on the mandrel (M1) to form a first flat arcuate laminate (20′), with a part (20″) of the laminate projecting radially outwardly beyond the angular edge (D). The mandrel (M1), the laminate (20′) and the promontories (P) are covered with a membrane (E). A vacuum is then applied to urge the projecting part (20″) of the laminate against the cylindrical surface (S) and against the promontories (P). Contact of the projecting part (20″) with the cylindrical surface (S) near the promontories is prevented or retarded. Finally, discrete portions of the projecting part (20″) near the promontories are removed, obtaining peripheral cavities (15) spaced apart from one another.
US08388787B2
The invention relates to a method of making a composite sheet. A plurality of layers is first assembled, each layer being comprised of an untreated, unidirectional array of strands. The assembled layers are then placed adjacent one another to form an assembled sheet, with adjacent layers being in a non-parallel orientation, and without any of the layers having been treated with a matrix or binding component. The assembled sheet is then impregnated with a matrix component, which comprises a binding component and may also comprise a radiation-absorbing component.
US08388779B2
A substrate structure applied in flexible electrical devices is provided. The substrate structure includes a carrier, a release layer overlying the carrier with a first area and a flexible substrate overlying the release layer and the carrier with a second area, wherein the second area is larger than the first area and the flexible substrate has a greater adhesion force than that of the release layer to the carrier. The disclosure also provides a method for fabricating the substrate structure.
US08388776B2
A description is given of a method for the heat treatment of a workpiece produced from a titanium alloy for obtaining a fine-grained microstructure by annealing the same above its β-transus temperature Tβ. According to the invention, the workpiece is heated in a furnace to a temperature level TH above its β-transus temperature Tβ. Reaching the temperature level TH determines the beginning of a predefined holding time, for which the workpiece is kept at this temperature level TH. The workpiece subsequently undergoes a cooling process. To carry out the heat treatment, the furnace temperature TF is set such that, for heating up the workpiece to the temperature level intended for carrying out the holding, it lies above the temperature level TH of the workpiece determining the beginning of the holding time.
US08388766B2
An anisotropic rare earth sintered magnet has a tetragonal R2Fe14B compound as a major magnetic phase, wherein R is Nd or a mixture of Nd with at least one rare earth element. Grains of the compound phase have two crystallographic axes, c and a-axes aligned. The biaxially aligned magnet exhibits a coercivity Hc of at least 1.6 MA/m.
US08388762B2
A method and system for cleaning opposed surfaces of a semiconductor wafer having particulate matter thereon. The method includes generating relative movement between a fluid and the substrate. The relative movement is in a direction that is transverse to a normal to one of the opposed surfaces and creates two spaced-apart flows. Each of the flows is adjacent to one of the opposed surfaces that is different from the opposed surface that is adjacent to the remaining flow of the plurality of flows. The fluid has coupling elements entrained therein, and the relative movement is established to impart sufficient drag upon a subset of the coupling elements to create movement of the coupling elements of the subset within the fluid. In this manner, a quantity of the drag is imparted upon the particulate matter to cause the particulate matter to move with respect to the substrate.
US08388759B2
A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, such as a chest tube, is disclosed in various embodiments. The device features a clearance member in the form of a loop. The loop desirably has a diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the medical tube. Also desirably, the loop presents a substantially unobstructed pathway therethrough for the flow of material from a location in the medical tube distal to the loop to a location in the medical tube proximal to the loop regardless whether the clearance member is being translated or is at rest in the medical tube. Methods of utilizing such a device are also disclosed.
US08388757B2
An electrostatic chuck for an apparatus for treating a substrate includes a body; an insulating plate attached onto a top surface of the body, wherein the substrate is disposed on the insulating plate; an electrode in the insulating plate; a temperature controlling unit including a heating unit and a cooling unit under the electrode and in the insulating plate; and a thermal conduction unit disposed between the electrode and the temperature controlling unit.
US08388754B2
A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a material and a carrier gas into a heated chamber. The material may be a semiconductor material, such as a cadmium chalcogenide. A resulting mixture of vapor and carrier gas containing no unvaporized material is provided. The mixture of vapor and carrier gas are remixed to achieve a uniform vapor/carrier gas composition, which is directed toward a surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrate, where the vapor is deposited as a uniform film.
US08388749B2
A fine strontium carbonate powder having a BET specific surface area of 20 to 150 m2/g, which comprises spherical particles having a mean aspect ratio of 2.0 or less shows high dispersibility in liquid media and is of value for producing dielectric ceramic materials such as strontium titanate.
US08388748B2
The present invention relates to the continuous preparation of alcohol- and plasticizer-free finished nitrocellulose solutions having a particularly low water content by partial distillative falling-film evaporation of comparatively water-rich, optionally emulsion-like crude nitrocellulose solutions which are preferably provided by dissolving nitrocelluloses of the customary solid forms offered, which are known to be initially water-moist as a result of the preparation, in preferably ethyl acetate.
US08388746B2
A filtration system has a blowdown conduit and a filter unit. The blowdown conduit is adapted to be operably connected with a gas compressor station. The filter unit includes a filter housing, an inlet port, a pollution filter positioned within the filter housing to remove the pollutants from the vented gasses entering through the inlet port, and an exit port enabling the vented gasses to exit the filter housing once the pollutants have been removed by the pollution filter.
US08388741B2
A system comprises a particulate matter (PM) filter comprising an inlet for receiving exhaust gas. A zoned heater is arranged in the inlet and comprises a resistive heater comprising N zones, where N is an integer greater than one. Each of the N zones comprises M sub-zones, where M is an integer greater than one. A control module selectively activates one of the N zones to initiate regeneration in downstream portions of the PM filter from the one of the N zones and deactivates others of the N zones.
US08388740B2
A process is presented for the removal of dissolved oxygen from hydrocarbon streams. The hydrocarbons streams include kerosene and jet fuels. The process includes mixing the hydrocarbons streams with an oxygen free gas to form a gas-liquid mixture. The mixture is allowed to disengage into a gas stream and a liquid stream, thereby removing dissolved oxygen from the hydrocarbon stream.
US08388730B2
A process of leaching gold comprising the steps of: a) leaching copper from copper sulfide ore material that contains gold or contains silicate ore containing gold until the copper grade is reduced to 7.9 wt % or less; b) mixing the resulting material having a copper grade of 7.9 wt % or less with a gold leaching solution selected from the group consisting of a first solution containing chloride ions and ferric ions, and a second solution containing chloride ions and iron ions, the iron ions having been oxidized to trivalent ferric ions by air bubbled into the second solution; c) adjusting the pH of the gold leaching solution to 1.9 or less with stirring to leach at least gold in the material into the gold leaching solution by the oxidative activity of the ferric ions contained in the gold leaching solution, wherein the concentration of gold is reduced by selectively removing gold from part or all of the gold leaching solution during gold leaching. This process efficiently leaches at least copper and gold from a copper sulfide ore.
US08388723B2
An abrasive wear-resistant material includes a matrix and sintered and cast tungsten carbide granules. A device for use in drilling subterranean formations includes a first structure secured to a second structure with a bonding material. An abrasive wear-resistant material covers the bonding material. The first structure may include a drill bit body and the second structure may include a cutting element. A method for applying an abrasive wear-resistant material to a drill bit includes providing a bit, mixing sintered and cast tungsten carbide granules in a matrix material to provide a pre-application material, heating the pre-application material to melt the matrix material, applying the pre-application material to the bit, and solidifying the material. A method for securing a cutting element to a bit body includes providing an abrasive wear-resistant material to a surface of a drill bit that covers a brazing alloy disposed between the cutting element and the bit body.
US08388717B2
An adapter is provided for placement within a furnace filter bay having a flow of air therethrough. The filter bay is for receiving a furnace filter. The adapter includes a filter abutment face for abutment with at least a portion of the furnace filter, a mounting face parallel to the flow of air and attachment means permitting removable attachment of the adapter to the furnace filter bay. The adapter allows filters of smaller depth than the filters originally designed for use within the filter bay to be used, thereby eliminating the need for purchasing the original filters. A brace is also provided for the same purpose. A kit is described that includes the adapter and/or brace, along with instructions for installation thereof within the filter bay.
US08388714B2
A bag filtration element and system for its installation in a forced air furnace where the filtration element includes a channel element frame that receives rectangular bag frames fitted thereto that each received an open bag neck end fitted thereto, and the rectangular bag frames are fitted side by side into the channel element frame, whose upper end closes the frame into a rectangle, and, the bag ends are folded around the bag frames sides and connected. A rectangular opening is formed into the plenum of a furnace inlet air duct to extend, at an upward angle, across the rectangular opening, between opposing inner walls of the air duct, and a door is provides for positioning over the duct rectangular opening with the bag filtration element installed therein.
US08388712B2
Systems and methods are provided for operating a particulate matter retaining system having at least a first and a second filter, coupled to an engine intake. One example method comprises, during a first condition, operating in a first mode with the first filter storing particulate matter and the second filter releasing stored particulate matter. The method further comprises, operating in a second mode with the first filter releasing stored particulate matter and the second filter storing particulate matter, the exhaust gas flowing in an opposite direction as compared to the first mode. The method further comprises, operating in a third mode with both the first and the second filter storing particulate matter. During the modes, at least some tailpipe gas is drawn from between the first and second filters for expulsion to the atmosphere.
US08388707B2
The steam methane reformer using a premixed metal fiber burner which has a short flame length as well as a high temperature to thereby provide a high efficiency and also reduce a size, and a hydrogen station having the same. The steam methane reformer using a high performing metal fiber burner comprises a reforming part (110a) in which a catalyst for steam-reforming hydrocarbon materials and producing hydrogen is disposed; a combustion part (120) which is provided with a premixed metal fiber burner (120a) for generating heat required for the steam reforming reaction of the reaction tubes (110a); a raw material supplying part (130) for supplying hydrocarbon materials to the reaction tube (110a); and a hydrogen discharging part (140) for discharging hydrogen produced through the steam reforming reaction by the catalyst of the reaction tube (110a).
US08388706B2
A system uses thermal solar energy coupled with microwaves and plasma for producing carbon monoxide (CO) and dihydrogen (H2) from carbonated compounds (biomass, domestic waste, sludge from waste water, fossil coal), wherein the obtained gaseous mixture yields, amongst others, hydrocarbon fuels (olefins, paraffin), esters, and alcohols via a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. In a first step the carbonated compounds are roasted and pyrolized to produce char and dry coal, and a mixture of superheated gases containing CO2, steam, tars and non-condensable volatile materials. The method includes in a second step, and from the pyrolyis products (char or coal, gas mixture), generating a syngas substantially containing a mixture of carbon monoxide and dihydrogen, the mixture being used in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis units. After the Fischer-Tropsch step, the synthesis products are separated in a distillation column after heating in solar furnaces of mixed furnaces (solar/microwave).
US08388701B2
A composition and method oxidative colors hair based on at least one oxidative dye precursor and having effervescent properties. An aqueous oxidative hair dyeing composition resulting from mixing two aqueous compositions A and B wherein the mixed composition has a pH below or equal to 7.0, preferably is in the range of 2 to 7.0, more preferably 3 to 7. Composition A comprises at least one oxidizing agent and at least one acidic compound and has a pH between 2 and 5, and composition B comprises at least one oxidative dye precursor, optionally at least one coupling agent, optionally at least one direct dye, at least one CO2 releasing compound and has a pH between 8 and 11.
US08388684B2
An artificial disc device for replacing a damaged nucleus is disclosed. In one form, the device may be inserted in components such that the device may be assembled within and retained by the natural annulus therein. In another form, the device may be inserted into the natural annulus in a collapsed or compressed state or arrangement and then be expanded within and retained by the annulus therein.
US08388680B2
Methods and devices for successively advancing a plurality of catheters over a guide element to a body tissue are described. In some of the methods, the guide element may be attached to the body tissue, which may be accessible minimally invasively. In certain variations, the guide element may not be detached from the body tissue after the catheters have been advanced over the guide element. The methods may further comprise deploying at least one implant from at least one of the plurality of catheters. In some variations, a method may comprise advancing a first delivery catheter to a first region of a body tissue, deploying a first anchor from the first delivery catheter, where the first anchor is attached to a guide element, proximally withdrawing the first delivery catheter, advancing a second delivery catheter over the guide element, and deploying a second anchor from the second delivery catheter.
US08388677B2
A medical device is provided which is adapted for implantation or insertion into the vasculature. The medical device has (a) a medical device substrate; (b) a lower polymeric layer, provided over the substrate made of a nitric oxide donor and a polymer; and (c) an upper polymeric layer, provided over the lower polymer layer, made of a polymer and an anti-restenotic agent.
US08388673B2
A strut pattern of an endoprosthesis includes a plurality of W-shape cells that define a tubular body, the W-shaped cells at the opposite ends of the tubular body have a modified configuration that is different than the W-shaped cells at the middle portion of the tubular body. At the distal end of the tubular body, the W-shaped cells have crests with axial positions that are axially spaced apart, and have troughs with circumferential positions that are spaced apart. At the intermediate and distal end of the tubular body, the W-shaped cells crests with axial positions that coincide and have troughs with circumferential positions that coincide. The strut pattern is cut from a tubular precursor construct made of PLLA that has been radially expanded and axially extended by blow molding.
US08388663B2
A dynamic subsidence plate is described having a first plate member and a second plate member in sliding engagement that may infinitely subside between a first and second assembled position. The plate includes a lock assembly associated with the first and second plate members. The lock assembly includes a ramp portion, an interference portion, and a bearing member situated between the ramp portion and the interference portion. The lock assembly of the plate is configured to allow movement of the first member with respect to the second member in a first direction in an infinite number of positions between a first assembled position and a second assembled position. Further, the lock assembly alternatively prevents movement of the first member with respect to the second member in an opposite second direction between the first and second assembled positions.
US08388661B2
A rod connector (1) is provided for use in attaching a bone anchor (5) to a support rod (3). The connector (1) comprises a first portion (2) defining a clamping means (6) with an aperture (7) in which the support rod (3) can be located, and a second portion (4) defining a first bore (9) in which a stem of the anchor (5) can be inserted. The connector (1) also comprises a means (12) defining a pivot axis (14) enabling it to be connected to an implantation instrument (11) and orientated in a first position wherein the clamping means (6) can be located around a support rod (3) and then rotated around the rod (3) into a second position relative thereto wherein said bone anchor (5) can be inserted into the bore (9) and then secured to an adjacent bone. In addition, the connector defines first and second retaining means (15, 16) enabling it to be retained by the instrument (11) respectively in said first position and in its second position.
US08388660B1
A bone anchor is driven into the pedicle portion of the vertebral body until a shoulder protrusion within the proximal aspect of the anchor abuts the bone surface and prevents further anchor travel into the bone. A feature within the distal aspect of the anchor is actuated producing the emergence of a distal shoulder protrusion. The latter directly abuts the distal aspect of the pedicle at the pedicle/vertebral body interface. Using this method, the anchor captures the pedicle portion of bone and contains it between the proximal and distal shoulder abutments.
US08388659B1
A screw for use in spinal surgery provided with a screw shaft and a screw head and at least one extension tab extending proximally from the screw head, the extension tab being defined relative to the screw head by a stress concentration feature. At a proximal end of the extension tab, the extension tab may be narrower in a circumferential direction than the extension tab at a distal portion thereof. A particular shape of stress concentration may be provided.
US08388656B2
The present teachings provide one or more surgical implements for repairing damaged tissue, such as in the case of spinal stenosis. An implant for insertion between adjacent spinous processes is provided. The implant can include a body having a first end, a second end and defining a bore. The implant can include a first cap coupled to the first end of the body, a second cap coupled to the second end of the body, with each of the caps defining a space. The implant can include a connector coupled to the first cap and the second cap through the bore. The implant can include at least one deployable member coupled to the first end of the body and the first cap. The at least one deployable member can be retained within the first space in a first position, and can extend from the first space in a second position.
US08388655B2
A line lock includes a body at least partially bounding two passageways that cooperate to receive a locking portion of a line such as a suture in such a manner that the locking portion can only be drawn through the passageways along one direction. A second suture locking portion may also received by the passageways, or by one of the two passageways in combination with a third passageway. The body may have an elongated, compact shape that is easily implantable in the body.
US08388647B2
An ultrasound forceps for sealing tissue is provided. The forceps includes one or more shaft members having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes opposing jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to another subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. One or both of the jaw members includes an ultrasound transducer coupled to an ultrasound generator adapted to provide an electrical signal to the ultrasound transducer to induce treatment pulses therein.
US08388645B2
A filtering device includes a filter that captures embolic material, a plurality of biased support struts that expand outwardly to deploy the filter, and a restraining mechanism. The restraining mechanism applies a restraining force that prevents the plurality of biased support struts from expanding outwardly to deploy the filter. An actuating member cooperates with a portion of the restraining mechanism to release the restraining force and allow the filter to deploy.
US08388639B2
A lancet device includes a main body in which is located a lancet drive shaft 20 having a lancet holder 22 at its front end. A front housing flap 12 is hinged to the front of the main body portion and opens to allow insertion/withdrawal of a lancet. A multi-function cocking/ejection element 16 is operable both to cock the drive shaft prior to firing and to eject a lancet from the lancet holder after firing. The cock/eject element also unlatches the front flap 12.
US08388638B2
An ultrasonic surgical shears has a bifurcated ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm and a substantially “T”-shaped tissue pad. An alternate ultrasonic surgical shears has an ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm, and a tissue pad having first and second transverse outer portions and a movable transverse central portion. An ultrasonic surgical instrument has an ultrasonic surgical clamp including an ultrasonic member adapted to ultrasonically vibrate and has a surgical cutter distinct from the ultrasonic member. A method for sealing a blood vessel of a patient includes obtaining an ultrasonic surgical clamp, sealing the blood vessel with the ultrasonic member, and transecting the sealed blood vessel using the surgical cutter. An alternate method similarly transects patient tissue and seals a blood vessel therein. An ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad includes first and second transverse outer portions which are more resiliently flexible than is a transverse central portion.
US08388634B2
A device for connecting abutting ends (1) of two blood vessels (2) that will be continuous after being mutually connected (anastomosis), the device primarily and substantially including a supporting part (3) that can be inserted in the two ends (1) of the blood vessel (2) to be connected, made, for example, of plastic or metal, particularly in the form of a mesh, grid, or cage. The supporting part (3) can be inserted into the blood vessels (1) far enough that the faces (4) of the blood vessel ends (1) can be brought into contact with each other and are in contact with each other in the usage position. The outer cross-section of the supporting part (3) in the usage position is thereby approximately the same as the inner cross-section of the blood vessel (1) in question and has an inner pass-through cross-section (lumen), so that blood can flow unhindered, but the blood vessels (1) in contact with each other are fixed at the same height to each other on the inside, and secured against sideways deflection relative to each other or sideways deflection of the blood vessel walls. The supporting part (3) can be made from one or two pieces.
US08388630B2
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a medical device includes an elongate member and a retrieval assembly. The retrieval assembly extends distally from the elongate member and is formed from a same piece of material as the elongate member. The retrieval assembly is formed by removing at least a portion of the same piece of material.
US08388622B2
A surgical file instrument comprising a file, file guide, an outer split casing, a motion converter converting rotary motion to reciprocal motion and file assembly. The file assembly consists of an angular shaped elongated tube fairing into a generally flat portion defining the guide for the blade of the file, a complementary shaped file and a plastic rod insert having a lumen for the file and a lumen defining a passage for flowing a fluid to the surgical site. The motion converter consists of a planetary gear system connected to the battery powered motor that rotates a platen which in turn drives a cam and cam follower fitted into the cam slot for driving a drum for producing rectilinear motion. The file assembly is attached to the drum for reciprocating the file blade for use in a medical procedure for removing bone or a portion thereof.
US08388620B2
This insertion and locking device (1) for an implant in a long bone comprises an elongate body (2) designed to be received in a medullary canal of the long bone, the body defining, in a first position called the insertion position, a first transverse size and, in a second position called the locking position, a second transverse size greater than the first transverse size. This device furthermore comprises drive mechanism (8) suited to enable the body (2) to move from the first position to the second position. In addition, the elongate body (2) comprises a central member (3) defining a main axis and at least one locking member (6) defining at least one axis of movement distinct from the main axis, the or each locking member (6) being suited to anchoring itself in the long bone under the effect of the drive mechanism.
US08388618B2
The use of non-thermal plasma to treat mucus membrane bleeding is described herein. A non-thermal plasma is generated using an apparatus having a first electrode that receives alternating electrical potentials from a power supply. When placed in an appropriate location proximate to tissue, a non-thermal plasma is generated, the second electrode being human tissue, blood, etc. To reduce the likelihood of an arc being generated, potentially causing tissue damage or pain, the first electrode is partially encapsulated by a dielectric. The non-thermal plasma is applied to the area of bleeding for treatment.
US08388617B2
The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods for facilitating cauterization of tissue. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a proximal barrel and a distal barrel, which are coupled together and moveable with respect to one another. At least a portion of the proximal barrel may be coupled to an endoscope to secure the apparatus to the endoscope. At least one electrocautery member is disposed within a lumen of the distal barrel and configured to cauterize at least a segment of tissue pulled into a lumen of the proximal barrel and/or the lumen of the distal barrel.
US08388615B2
An electrosurgical device includes a plurality of electrodes arranged to form a tissue treatment surface and a power supply. The power supply is configured to deliver a first drive signal with a first phase to at least a first one of the plurality of electrodes and a second drive signal with a second phase to at least a second one of the plurality of electrodes such that an electric field extends from the tissue treatment surface, where the first phase and the second phase are different. The power supply is further configured to receive an input from an operator of the electrosurgical device, and adjust the first phase or the second phase such that an aspect of the electric field extending from the tissue treatment surface changes in response to the input from the operator.
US08388607B2
An apparatus for material processing by laser radiation, including a laser source which emits a processing beam, and a beam path for focusing and scanning, the beam path focusing the processing beam into a processing volume and shifting the position of the focus therein. A beam splitting device generates several foci in the processing volume and the beam splitting device splits the processing beam up into a primary beam and at least one secondary beam and leaves the cross section of the beam in a pupil plane of the beam path unchanged during said division and introduces an angle of separation between the primary and secondary beams, so that these beams expand in the beam path in directions which differ by the angle of separation.
US08388598B2
The invention concerns a method and device for controlling a number of infusion pumps 2-10, whereby each infusion pump (2-10) has an infusate assigned to it which is administered within a pre-determinable period of time assigned to it as an infusion at a pre-determinable infusion rate to a living being, whereby the infusion pumps (2-10) exchange control data for activating and deactivating the various infusions in a chronologically coordinated manner autonomously.
US08388596B2
A mechanical fastening system having an engaging component and a receiving component. The receiving component has a first bond line, a second bond line, a bond zone, and a plurality of consecutive sweep regions. The second bond line is disposed adjacent to the first bond line such that a portion of the second bond line overlaps a portion of the first bond line. The bond zone circumscribes the first bond line and the second bond line. The plurality of consecutive sweep regions are disposed within the bond zone. At least one sweep region includes a portion of both the first bond line and the second bond line, and the remaining sweep regions include at least a portion of the first or the second bond lines. The receiving component has a bond ratio greater than or equal to about 1 and less than or equal to about 20.
US08388579B2
Apparatuses and methods for performing and aiding venipuncture. The apparatuses of the present invention provide the medical practitioner with an improved tool for performing venipuncture methods. The apparatus preferably includes a handle that is connected to a plurality of tines that run roughly parallel to one another. During use, the tines of the apparatus are pressed against the skin of the patient such that they sit astride the vein to be accessed. The distance between the various tines of the present apparatuses varies so as to be able to accommodate a variety of vein widths. The apparatuses of the present invention may have tines at either one or both ends of the body of the apparatus. The apparatuses of the present invention may be used with a variety of vein accentuating devices, such as those that employ light to accentuate the vein to be punctured.
US08388576B2
A Dilator and a method of manufacturing the same A medical dilator for a gastrostomy feeding tube comprising a first portion (12) a second portion (38) and a central filament (34) having a first end and a second end wherein the first end of the central filament (34) is connected to the first portion (12) and the second end of the central filament (34) is connected to the second portion (38) such that the first and second portion are able to couple together to form an assembled dilator and the central filament is able to fold to form a pull loop. A method of manufacturing the dilator, a tube adapted to be engaged by the dilator and a kit comprising the same.
US08388566B2
An oxygenator combines, in a single structure, a heat exchanger, a gas exchanger, an arterial filter, and a filter frame. Such an oxygenator permits fewer fluid connections and thus may simplify an extracorporeal blood circuit, including a heart-lung machine and a blood reservoir, in which it is used. In some embodiments, the oxygenator may be configured to include multiple purge ports for purging bubbles both before and after filtering the blood.
US08388565B2
An article comprising a drive cable suitable for high-speed operation in an anatomy having small-radii bends is disclosed. The drive cables disclosed herein include one or more physical adaptations that enable them to be “tuned” to avoid large amplitude vibrations during operation.
US08388559B2
A walking assist device is equipped with a load transmit portion, a foot attachment portion fitted to a foot of a user, and a leg link provided between the load transmit portion and the foot attachment portion. The foot attachment portion is equipped with a connecting member connected to the lower end of the leg link at a position forward of an ankle of the user while having at least a degree of rotational freedom around an axis line in a horizontal direction seen from front, and the connecting member is prevented from wobbling back and forth from the change in the direction of the load transmitted from the leg link. The foot attachment portion is equipped with the footplate member having a rigid plate capable of being stepped on by the foot of the user at outside an acting range in a sagittal plane of the load transmitted from the leg link to the connecting member. The connecting member is coupled to the footplate member so as to limit the rotation with respect to the footplate member round the axis line in the horizontal direction as seen from front.
US08388558B2
A walking assistance device has a drive mechanism, which is provided with a linear-motion actuator including an electric motor installed in the upper link member, nut members which are rotationally driven by the electric motor, and a linear-motion output shaft which linearly moves in the direction of the axial centers of the nut members, and a crank arm which is secured to the lower link member coaxially with a joint axis of a third joint and swingably attached to one end of the linear-motion output shaft. The drive mechanism is constructed such that a translational force output from the linear-motion output shaft of the linear-motion actuator is converted into a rotational driving force of the third joint through the crank arm.
US08388553B2
The present application relates to a sensing system for an medical device, the sensing system having at least one sensor for measuring movement of the medical device and a recording device for storing movement data from the at least one sensor. The application also relates to a method for evaluating a patient's compliance with a healing regimen, the patient provided with a medical device, the method having the steps of a) collecting movement data relating to movement of a sensing system affixed within, to, or near the medical device; b) retrieving the movement data from the sensing system; and c) analyzing the movement data and comparing the movement data to standard movement data to evaluate the patient's compliance with the healing regimen.
US08388551B2
A device for use with a gripper is provided. A cartridge is provided that defines a plurality of cavities. A plurality of penetrating members are at least partially contained in the cavities of the cartridge. The penetrating members are slidably movable to extend outward from the cartridge to penetrate tissue. Each cavity has a longitudinal opening that provides access to an elongate portion of the penetrating member. A sterility barrier is coupled to the cartridge. The sterility barrier covers a plurality of the longitudinal openings. The sterility barrier is configured to be moved so that the elongate portion is accessed by the gripper without touching the barrier.
US08388548B2
A method and apparatus that provides an expert system for determining respiratory phase during ventilatory support of a subject. Discrete phase states are partitioned and prior probability functions and observed probability functions for each state are defined. The probability functions are based upon relative duration of each state as well as the flow characteristics of each state. These functions are combined to determine phase probabilities for each state using Bayes' theorem. The calculated probabilities for the states may then be compared to determine which state the subject is experiencing. A ventilator may then conform respiratory support in accordance with the most probable phase. To provide a learning feature, the probability functions may be adjusted during use to provide a more subject specific response that accounts for changing respiratory characteristics.
US08388542B2
A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface for receiving an electrical signal comprising a pressure indicative waveform indicating a heart blood pressure of a patient over a heart beat cycle. A timing detector determines multiple different time periods in at least one heart cycle from the pressure indicative waveform. A patient monitor monitors the multiple different time periods and in response to detection of a variation in at least one of the multiple different time periods exceeding a predetermined threshold or range, generates an alert message associated with the variation.
US08388530B2
Analysis of individual's serial changes, also referred to as the physiological, pathophysiological, medical or health dynamics, is the backbone of medical diagnosis, monitoring and patient healthcare management. However, such an analysis is complicated by enormous intra-individual and inter-individual variability. To address this problem, a novel serial-analysis method and system based on the concept of personalized basis functions (PBFs) is disclosed. Due to more accurate reference information provided by the PBFs, individual's changes associated with specific physiological activity or a sequence, transition or combination of activities (for example, a transition from sleep to wakefulness and transition from rest to exercise) can be monitored more accurately. Hence, subtle but clinically important changes can be detected earlier than using other methods. A library of individual's PBFs and their transition probabilities (which can be described by Hidden Markov Models) can completely describe individual's physiological dynamics. The system can be adapted for healthcare information management, diagnosis, medical decision support, treatment and side-effect control. It can also be adapted for guiding health, fitness and wellness training, subject identification and more efficient management of clinical trials.
US08388528B2
A surgical retractor device includes a frame and at least one retracting member configured for being secured to the collapsible frame. The retracting member is formed from a spring-biased rotatable member, a tension line secured at a proximal end to the spring-biased rotatable member, and a tissue securing member disposed at a distal end of the tension line. In certain embodiments, the surgical retractor may be collapsible and delivered laparoscopically to the resection site.
US08388524B2
An improved medical instrument having a rigid blade, a handle, a power source, and an easily removable video imaging device such as a video monitor is provided. The distal end comprises a series of channels extending along the blade in which one houses a fiber optic illuminating bundle for transmitting light into an area beyond said distal end of the blade, another channel carries an image bundle for transmitting visual images from said area to a position adjacent said proximal end of said blade and a third channel houses an intubation tube installation device or other instrument. The images are carried through the channel and the handle to the video imaging device. A quick release adaptor is connected through a hollow tube containing the image bundle to the laryngoscope handle at the end opposite the blade. The video imaging device is attached to the adaptor and may be easily release or detached therefrom.
US08388519B2
A selectively rigidizable endoscopic device is described. In one aspect, an endoscopic medical device is described that includes a flexible inner tube having a first lumen, a flexible outer tube that receives the inner tube, and a multiplicity of overlapping, rigidizable scale-like strips. Each scale-like strip is coupled with the inner tube and positioned between the inner and outer tubes. Of particular note, the overlapping strips are actuatable between a non-rigidized state in which overlapping strips are slideable relative to one another and a rigidized state in which overlapping strips are not slideable relative to one another.
US08388513B2
Improved methods and apparatuses for treatment of posterior pelvic floor repair, including rectocele and related pelvic organ prolapse, are provided. A specialized mesh (3) having a shape for convenient placement to treat rectocele by providing both level 2 and level 3 support. Appropriate devices for introducing such a mesh implant are also disclosed.
US08388502B2
A swimmer training device includes a frame, a variable weight device, a first block, a second block, and a cable. The frame includes a bottom support section, a top section, and a plurality of support members. The first block is coupled to the top section, and comprises a plurality of first main pulleys that are each rotatable about a first axis. The second block is coupled to the variable weight device, and comprises a plurality of second main pulleys that are each rotatable about a second axis that is parallel to the first axis. The cable is wound at least partially around each of the first main pulleys and each of the second main pulleys, and extends from the top section of the frame.
US08388500B2
Methods and systems for use in connection with a fitness routine and/or an exercise apparatus. In one such method, fitness information is stored in a fitness analysis system and operative communication is established with an exercise apparatus and/or a wireless communication device. A fitness information request is received at the fitness analysis system, and the system sends a setting associated with the exercise apparatus to facilitate a workout using an exercise apparatus. The system receives exercise information corresponding to the workout, and updates fitness information during the workout. The updated fitness information is analyzed to generate associated with the exercise apparatus to facilitate a subsequent workout.
US08388497B2
According to the method the crossover phase of the friction clutches is performed by defining a linear torque profile for the first friction clutch having a given initial value and a zero final value, a linear torque profile for the second friction clutch having a zero initial value and a given final value, and a linear torque profile for the engine having a given initial value and a given final value. The final value of the torque profile of the second friction clutch is calculated, the initial value of the engine torque being known, by determining a final value of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle equal to a given percentage of the initial value of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. The final value of the engine torque profile is calculated, the final value of the torque profile of the second friction clutch being known, on the basis of the final value determined for the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. The initial value of the torque profile of the first friction clutch is chosen so as to be greater than a minimum value calculated by determining the condition of synchronism of the driving shaft and of the first primary shaft.
US08388491B2
Various power transmission and generation systems and assemblies are provided for a wind turbine. In one embodiment, a power generation system is provided including a transmission having an input axially aligned with an output, the input configured to receive rotary motion generated by a wind driven rotor head, the input located downwind of the output, an electromagnetic apparatus having an input configured to be coupled to the transmission output, and a bearing configured to radially support both the transmission output and the electromagnetic apparatus input. In this way, a common bearing may support both the transmission and electromagnetic apparatus, allowing for a more compact and efficient design while retaining service and repair capabilities.
US08388489B2
A multi-ratio automatic transmission for a vehicle, the transmission having a single planetary gear set, a plurality of friction elements for coupling components of the planetary gear set between an input and an output of the transmission in different configurations so as to achieve a plurality of forward drive ratios, and a control system for selectively engaging/disengaging the friction elements in different combinations to effect selection of the ratios, wherein the friction elements include first and second clutches mounted forward of the planetary gear set, and wherein power flow in each of the forward drive ratios is routed from the input to the planetary gear set through at least one of the first and second clutches.
US08388483B2
A differential gearbox including a disk on the input side, a first drive part that is non-rotatably connected to a first driven axle, and a second drive part that is non-rotatably connected to a second driven axle. A planetary gear arrangement is provided between the first drive part and the second drive part for transmitting torque from the disk on the input side to the first drive part and the second drive part. The first drive part is a first drive disk and includes a concavity radially outwardly of the first driven axle. The second drive part is a second drive disk extending radially outwardly of the second driven axle. The concavity is directed away from the second drive disk. The planetary gear arrangement is disposed in a space that is formed by the concavity of the first drive disk and the opposing region of the second drive disk.
US08388479B2
An automatic transmission having an improved lock up torque converter configuration includes two drive members: a first quill or tubular drive member which carries the output of the torque converter to the transmission gearbox and a second co-axial shaft or drive member which is driven by the torque converter lockup clutch and thus directly carries the engine output to the transmission gear box and bypasses the torque converter. The transmission gearbox includes two planetary gear assemblies having certain elements which are selectively grounded to the transmission housing by two friction brakes. This transmission, torque converter and torque converter clutch configuration prevents torque converter clutch engagement in its lower gear and forces torque converter clutch lockup in its upper gear.
US08388478B2
An input shaft for a hybrid transmission that is used for the hybrid transmission equipped with a plurality of friction elements and at least two or more planetary gear sets receiving power from an engine and at least one or more motor generators, may include a first spline to which at least one of the motor generators may be connected, a second spline and a third spline to which rotary elements of the planetary gear sets may be connected, respectively, and a lubricant channel formed inside the input shaft to provide a channel for lubricant for lubricating parts of the transmission.
US08388471B2
A pitching screen which provides a first pitching lane and a second pitching lane in a single pitching screen configuration to allow both left-handed pitchers and right-handed pitchers to pitch without repositioning the pitching screen.
US08388454B2
A gaming machine 1 includes: a cabinet 2; a top door 3 that is openable and closable, and disposed on an upper portion T of the cabinet 2; and a main display 31 that is disposed on the top door 3 and performs display related to a game. In addition, the cabinet 2 has a main housing portion 22 that houses a control unit 61 and a sub housing portion 21 that is provided between the top door 3 and the main housing portion 22. In the sub housing portion 21, a relay portion (211) that relays a connection of the main display 3 and a control unit 61.
US08388453B2
The gaming system of the present invention comprises: a plurality of gaming machines; a control device; a single pedestal having an installation surface for installing the gaming machines; a supporting member provided such that a first end thereof is supported by the pedestal and the second end thereof is oriented upwardly; a common image display supported at a position above the upper surfaces of the gaming machines by the supporting member, and communication cables for communication between the plurality of gaming machines and the control device.
US08388444B2
The present invention relates to a gaming machine and/or entertainment machine, in particular in the form of slot machines and/or gambling machines operable by coins and/or by monetary equivalents, having a plurality of screens for the presentation of information, in particular of game contents and/or of game information, which are directed toward a machine operating position, and having a control device for the control of the screens and/or for the control of game procedures. It is proposed to arrange a plurality of screens staggered behind one another and overlapping one another so that the viewing window onto at least one screen remains behind the actual screen surface of the screen with respect to format and/or size in order to accommodate a maximum number of screens in a compact arrangement, on the one hand, and in order not to be restricted to the desired field of view with respect to the formats of the screens to be used. Provision is made in accordance with the invention that at least one of the screens is arranged partly or fully hidden behind at least one further screen viewed from the machine operating position.
US08388443B1
A multi-league sports gaming system assembles a group of players to select two or more sports leagues for inclusion in game play. The sports leagues have two or more teams of two or more athletes and the teams compete with each other in a series of sporting contests. Players select teams from the sports leagues. When obtaining the results of the sporting contests, the performance of the team determines the value awarded to the player. Finally, values awarded to players are compared.
US08388442B2
Methods and apparatus associate a computed difference factor to avatars that are to interact with one another in a simulated environment. Applying a difference factor to the avatars enables identification of similar avatars in order to avoid mistaken identities among the avatars. The difference factor predicts probability that one avatar is mimicking another avatar. An attribute uniqueness algorithm may assign the difference factor based on name, appearance, and/or accessory similarity between two avatars. A user index may be used to store data describing attributes of each avatar for analysis using programs that are stored in memory and that execute the attribute uniqueness algorithm. Further, system validation of each avatar provides ability to protect and control likeness of the avatars in the virtual world.
US08388438B2
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a game display configured to display an array of symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game in response to receiving a wager from a player, an input device adapted to receive inputs from a player and to output a signal to a controller corresponding to the player inputs and a controller configured to conduct a wagering game and a game feature associated with the wagering game. The controller is further configured to enable play of the wagering game responsive to an input of a first wager and to enable the game feature responsive to an input of a second wager further to the first wager. The game feature provides an opportunity for the player to receive, further to a winning outcome in the wagering game, a first positive feature in the game feature, and provides an opportunity for the player to receive, further to a losing outcome in the wagering game, a second positive feature in the game feature.
US08388433B2
Systems, methods and/or apparatus for slot machine eye-strain reduction are disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for slot machine back lighting are further provided. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for a slot machine back lighting effect are also disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for reel line lights are disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for reel tilt and motion detection are disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for reel wins display for an electromechanical slot machine and/or gaming machine viewing window configurable lines are disclosed. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for a configurable shelf system for an electromechanical slot machine are disclosed. Systems, methods, and apparatus are also disclosed for reel tilt minimization. Systems, methods and/or apparatus for slot machine controlled lighting. Further embodiments of the present disclosure can provide slot machine reel stop systems, methods, and apparatus useful for electromechanical slot machines.
US08388429B2
A configuration is provided to execute the processing of: causing a light emitting portion to emit light in a first mode in a case where the number of cards stored in a memory is a preset first reference number or less; and causing the light emitting portion to emit light in a second mode in a case where the number of cards stored in the memory is a preset second reference number or more. In this manner, a gaming machine is provided in such a manner that a variety of information can be provided to a player and replenishment of IC cards or removal of redundant IC cards can be performed timely.
US08388428B1
The online poker gaming system comprises a live or recorded poker game, and at least one gaming terminal. The game involves a group of players sitting around a table, playing for prize money so there is a cash incentive for each to win. The player terminal displays images of the game being broadcast for view by an online player. The player terminal also includes a schematic of the game to present the game status and gaming data of the game. The player terminal also includes a keypad, enabling the online player to select one or more players to win, and select a value for each selection. The online player cannot fold, call, check, and raise, but can participate by making selections, much as one would make selections at a racetrack. The online player can make multiple playing selections unavailable to the player sitting at the table.
US08388426B2
A method and computer software are provided for making number place puzzles. Numbers and unknown are represented by variables that are assigned values such as in a plurality of nested loops. Instructions within each loop limit access to embedded loops until all assigned values form a valid solution. When some of the variables are pre-assigned values to create a number place puzzle, the output will be all valid solutions, if any. Multiple solutions provide information that assists in modifying the pre-assigned values to obtain a single solution.
US08388420B1
Crustacean meat is extracted from crustacean body using centrifugal force. Cooked crustaceans, such as crabs, have their top shells and claws removed, while retaining the legs and the abdomen shells with the meat inside the shells. The crab portions are placed in a rotating cage and spun to cause separation of the meat from the shell.
US08388413B1
Apparatus and method for sharpening a tool, such as a chisel. A sharpening guide applies a clamping force to secure the tool and advances a beveled leading edge surface of the secured tool against an abrasive surface to sharpen a cutting edge while the guide is in an upright orientation. An alignment plate nestingly receives the guide in an inverted orientation to align the tool prior to sharpening. During alignment, a back surface of the tool slidingly contacts an upper plate surface and the cutting edge contactingly abuts an alignment feature which projects from the plate surface. In some embodiments, the alignment feature comprises a removable alignment pin selectively insertable into a plurality of spaced apart apertures, each providing a final bevel angle for the sharpened tool.
US08388410B2
A carrier configured for use in a lapping machine includes a body having a first opening for carrying a work piece during operation of the lapping machine. A device is arranged and disposed in the body. The device is configured to retain information readable by a reading device for identifying the body.
US08388404B2
A transformable toy, in which exposure of a coupling mechanism is reduced and the turning range of the second exterior member with respect to the first exterior member is increased, is provided. An exterior main body for a shin section covers a part of an intermediate member and has an opening portion at a location opposing a thigh section when the shin section turns toward the thigh section. A movable exterior member, which moves through a link mechanism, is coupled to the intermediate member via the link mechanism, and configured to block the opening portion when it is at a first position and to be at least partially located inside the exterior main body when it is at a second position.
US08388402B2
A submersible water toy for stunt based activities includes a main body portion constructed of a buoyant material. The main body portion defines an upper deck surface upon which the user can stand or otherwise be supported. The buoyancy of the main body portion is such that at least a portion of the user's weight is supported when used in a pool or other body of water.
US08388398B2
Provided are an organic light emitting display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light emitting display device includes a substrate; an sealing substrate facing the substrate, an organic light emitting unit disposed between the substrate and the sealing substrate and having a plurality of organic light emitting devices emitting light, and a plurality of grooves formed in a light extracting surface of the organic light emitting display device through which the light is emitted to the outside. In one embodiment, the grooves are formed on the sealing substrate, and in another embodiment, the grooves are formed on the substrate.
US08388391B1
The present invention features a screw propeller system for use in a machine including a watercraft or an aircraft. The system features two or more screw propellers installed in the machine. Each screw propeller comprises an axle with a spiral blade disposed on the axle, and a tube hub. A differential and disc-brake device is operatively connected to each the first screw propeller and the second screw propeller. The differential and disc-brake device functions to steer the machine.
US08388384B2
A percutaneous cable includes a cable body having a first end and second end, the cable body including a sheath adapted to traverse a patient's skin. The cable includes a plurality of conductors disposed within the cable body configured to transmit power and control data between a system controller and two implantable pumps. The cable includes a first connector disposed at the first end of the cable body and coupled to the plurality of conductors, the first connector configured to connect the cable body to the system controller. The cable includes a second connector disposed at the second end of the cable body, the second connector comprising a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts.
US08388372B2
An electrical connector defining a receiving cavity for receiving a corresponding plug includes an insulative housing and a number of contacts retained in the insulative housing. The contacts include a number of first contacts which are arranged in a row along a transverse direction of the insulative housing. The first contacts include two pairs of differential signal contacts and a grounding contact between said two pairs of differential signal contacts. Each first contact has a contact portion extending into the receiving cavity, a tail portion extending out of the insulative housing and a connecting portion between the contact portion and the tail portion. The connecting portion of the grounding contact is wider than that of the differential signal contacts in the transverse direction.
US08388358B2
A contact rail is provided including a module coupling end and a mating end. A diode mounting surface is positioned between the module coupling end and the mating end. A pivot member extends from a base of the module coupling end. The pivot member is configured to be engaged by an elongated tool. A module coupling fastener engages the base of the module coupling end. The elongated tool is configured to engage the module coupling fastener. The elongated tool is configured to pivot about the pivot member to separate the module coupling fastener from the base of the module coupling end so that a contact from a power module is receivable between the base of the module coupling end and the module coupling fastener.
US08388352B1
Embodiments are directed to a duck head connector comprised of a connector for connecting to a power adapter and an electric plug that swivels about the face of the side of the plug, where flexible insulated wires connect the prongs of the electric plug with the contacts of the connector. The flexible insulated wires rotate together with the plug, with the length and shape of the wires enabling the wires to wrap around each other without becoming tangled. In an alternative embodiment, a pair of spring contacts connects the prongs of the electric plug with a pair of stationary half-ring contacts. The spring contacts swivel along the inner surface of the half-ring contacts when the plug rotates. Flexible insulated wires connect the stationary half-ring contacts to the contacts of the connector.
US08388342B2
The invention relates to a template for placing at least one dental implant (7) in a jaw (1) having at least one bore (3) for guiding this implant (7) when it is fixed in the jaw (1), whereby a recess (4) is provided that opens at least partly in said bore (3) in order to enable verifying the position of a implant guide with the implant.
US08388341B2
Orthodontic spacer and floss set-ups are organized on a set-up holder which is a thin square or rectangular piece of plastic that has a plurality of complementary notches formed across opposite sides. The spacer is positioned more or less in between the notches on the set-up holder and one length of floss is disposed in one notch while the other length of floss is disposed in the complementary notch on the opposite side of the holder. In a supply of two or more spacer set-ups, the set-ups are separated from each other in this manner so that a particular one does not have to be untangled from a jumble of other set-ups. Kits provide pre-made set-ups already organized on a piece of notched plastic.
US08388340B2
A method and system are disclosed for detecting an apical position depending on the change in the impedance between a first electrode inserted into the root canal of the tooth of a patient and a second external electrode applied to a body surface of the patient. According to some embodiments, a regulated current such as an alternating current having a substantially constant amplitude is supplied between the two electrodes, and this current serves as a measurement signal. Alternatively or additionally, the frequency of the time varying (e.g. alternating) current is at least 50 KHZ, and/or at most about 300 KHZ. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed device includes a processing unit which determines a capacitance-governed function when the first electrode is in the apical region, and which determined a function at least moderately governed by resistance when the electrode is in the dental neck region. Optionally, the first electrode inserted into the root canal is a dental file or reamer.
US08388337B2
The invention relates to a casting machine for producing a product intended for human consumption from a castable material, in particular a fat material such as chocolate, for example, having a heatable material container for receiving the castable material; at least one nozzle which is in fluid connection with the material container interior, and a pressure source for generating an overpressure in the material container interior. According to the invention, the nozzle has a nozzle orifice or a nozzle constriction, the open cross section or flow cross section of which is flexible. A process according to the invention for producing a product intended for human consumption from a castable material has the following steps: providing a heated castable material in a material container; generating an overpressure in the material container interior; forcing the material through a nozzle in fluid connection with the material container with simultaneous changing of the flow and/or open cross section of the nozzle.
US08388323B2
A pump is provided for pumping a liquid. The pump includes an inlet, an outlet, and a pumping chamber for receiving the liquid from the inlet. An actuator arrangement is also included and is operable between a first position and a second position to pump the liquid from the pumping chamber into the outlet and includes a solenoid actuator having a solenoid coil, a pole element, and a coil former to carry the solenoid coil. The inlet and the pumping chamber are in fluid communication with a supply passage when the actuator arrangement is in the first position. The supply passage extends into or around the solenoid coil and is defined between the coil former and the pole element to allow transfer of heat from the actuator arrangement.
US08388315B2
A method of operating a wind turbine having at least one rotor blade and an active flow control (AFC) system is provided. The at least one rotor blade has at least one aperture defined through a surface thereof, and the AFC system is configured to modify aerodynamic properties of the rotor blade by ejecting gas through the aperture. The method includes operating the wind turbine in a normal mode, determining whether an estimated insect density value surrounding the wind turbine is above an insect density threshold value based on a measured environmental condition, and changing a mode of the wind turbine from the normal mode to a cleaning mode different than the normal mode based on the estimated insect density value. The cleaning mode includes adjusting at least one operation parameter of the wind turbine based on the estimated insect density value such that fouling of the aperture is reduced.
US08388309B2
A sealing apparatus in a gas turbine. The sealing apparatus includes a seal housing apparatus coupled to a disc/rotor assembly so as to be rotatable therewith during operation of the gas turbine. The seal housing apparatus comprises a base member, a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and spanning structure. The base member extends generally axially between forward and aft rows of rotatable blades and is positioned adjacent to a row of stationary vanes. The first leg portion extends radially inwardly from the base member and is coupled to the disc/rotor assembly. The second leg portion is axially spaced from the first leg portion, extends radially inwardly from the base member, and is coupled to the disc/rotor assembly. The spanning structure extends between and is rigidly coupled to each of the base member, the first leg portion, and the second leg portion.
US08388303B2
A gas turbine having a rotor which includes a turbine rotor, a shaft and a compressor rotor, the turbine rotor having at least one rotor disk and a rotor cone leading from the or a rotor disk to the shaft, the downstream end of the shaft being rotatably supported in a bearing having a bearing chamber, the interior space of the shaft being designed as a flow channel for bearing-chamber sealing air, and the space surrounding the rotor cone upstream of the same being designed as a flow space for cooling air is disclosed. In the region of the rotor connection, the shaft exhibits an expanded portion, at whose upstream end, openings are provided to allow cooling air to enter, and, at whose downstream end, openings are provided to allow cooling air to exit into the space between the bearing chamber and the rotor cone, a wall separating the streams of the cooling air and of the sealing air in the shaft interior from one another.
US08388300B1
A ring segment for a turbine in a gas turbine engine, the ring segment having a backside impingement cavity to collect spent impingement cooling air, and a number of separate impingement chambers spaced around all four edges of the ring segment to provide impingement cooling for the edges. Each impingement chamber is connected to the central impingement cavity by a number of metering and impingement holes to supply cooling air and a number of cooling air exit holes to discharge the cooling air out the sides of the four edges. The trailing edge of the ring segment includes two rows of impingement chambers connected in series.
US08388293B2
An insulated, sealed cap overlies and protects a fastener component or the like on a substrate in association with a substrate opening. The sealed cap includes an outer cap component filled partially with a selected sealant material and assembled with an inner collet sized and shaped to fit with a slip fit about the fastener component such as a nut or the like at one side of a selected substrate, such as the skin of an aircraft. An inboard edge of the inner collet seats on and substantially seals with the substrate. The outer cap component is then displaced toward the substrate to extrude the sealant material into a thin and substantially uniform layer joined with an extruded outer bead on the substrate, and then permitted to cure. Tapered ribs on the inner collet effectively lock with the outer cap component during sealant material curing and subsequently.
US08388290B2
A mounting system, comprising an insertion component configured to be partially inserted into but not through a hole in a first panel of a wall assembly with an elongated anchor having a hub and at least one anchor tab. An elastic holding member is configured to connect the insertion component and the anchor and the anchor located on a first side of a first panel is configured to be inserted through the insertion component opening defining the hole in the first panel. The holding member pulls the insertion component and the anchor toward each other when the insertion component and the anchor are located on opposite sides of the first panel and separated by approximately a first panel thickness.
US08388282B2
This processing machine comprises a casing (4), a tool-holder spindle (6) which is to carry a machine tool, a positive feed drive mechanism for the spindle (6), which mechanism is suitable for driving the spindle (6) simultaneously in rotation and in translation relative to the casing (4) in accordance with an advance or return movement, and a system (12) for lubricating the machine tool, comprising a lubricant inlet (40), a lubricant duct (42) delimited by the spindle (6), the lubricant duct (42) opening out at an end of the spindle (6) carrying the machine tool, in order to supply the machine tool (7) with lubricant, and a lubricant-admission module (44) connecting the lubricant inlet (40) to the said lubricant duct (42). The lubricant-admission module (44) forms a lubricant pump drawing in the lubricant from the lubricant inlet (40) and supplying the lubricant duct (42) of the spindle (6), the advance and return of the spindle (6) activating the pumping of lubricant by the admission module (44).
US08388276B2
The present invention describes a machine to that includes a casing and a toolholder spindle. The machine tool further includes a drive mechanism that drives the toolholder spindle. The drive mechanism includes first and second drive members. The first drive member rotates the spindle about its axis. The second drive member translates the spindle and is screwed onto the spindle in such a way that the spindle advances or reverses as a function of the relative speed of rotation between the first and second drive members. The machine tool also includes a first motor and a second motor. The first motor rotates the first drive member and the second motor rotates the second drive member. The machine too further includes a control unit that controls and adjusts the speed of rotation of the first motor and the second motor independently.
US08388268B2
A toolholder has a head region, which contains a slot separating the head region into a lower section and an upper section, with a lower seat and an upper section to retain a cutting insert. The head region contains a coolant entrance passage, which receives coolant from a coolant source, and a coolant delivery passage, which discharges coolant toward a cutting insert. The head region further contains a fastener bore, which receives a fastener. The fastener has an axial fastener bore which provides fluid communication between the coolant entrance passage and a coolant reservoir between the fastener and the fastener bore. The coolant delivery passage communicates with the coolant reservoir to receive coolant, which passed from the coolant entrance passage and through the axial fastener bore into the coolant reservoir.
US08388259B2
A rigid ram, joined to a structural element of a mechanism which receives and transmits the impact of a vehicle, is displaced along a deformable metallic profile of open section in the form of “U”, “C”, “Σ” or “Ω”, the ram having a partial or total intersection with the transversal section of the deformable metallic profile, and producing thereto plastic deformations which are propagated along the deformable metallic profile as the ram is longitudinally displaced along said deformable metallic profile.
US08388242B2
A fiber optic cable assembly includes a connector and a fiber optic cable. The connector includes a housing having a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. A ferrule is disposed in the housing. A plurality of optical fibers is mounted in the ferrule. The fiber optic cable includes an outer jacket defining a fiber passage that extends longitudinally through the outer jacket and a window that extends through the outer jacket and the fiber passage. First and second strength members are oppositely disposed about the fiber passage in the outer jacket. A plurality of optical fibers is disposed in the fiber passage. The optical fibers are joined at splices to the optical fibers of the connector. A splice sleeve is disposed over the splices. The splice sleeve is disposed in the window of the outer jacket.
US08388241B2
An optical connector defining a receiving space for receiving a corresponding plug includes an insulative housing, an optical module mounted to the insulative housing, a rotary door retained at a rear side of the receiving space and a slider engaging with the door. The optical module has a light receiving element forwardly exposed to the receiving space and shielded by the door. The slide can drive the door moving along an inserting direction, and rotating along an anticlockwise direction at the same time to make the light receiving element of the optical module be exposed to the receiving space when the plug is inserted into the receiving space and pushes the slider backwardly.
US08388239B2
An opto-electric hybrid module manufacturing method which suppresses a cost loss, and to provide an opto-electric hybrid module manufactured by the method. An opto-electric hybrid module is produced by separately preparing a first board for a middle portion having an optical waveguide extending from one end to the other end of the board, a second board for a light emitting end portion having a light emitting element and an optical waveguide connectable to one end of the optical waveguide of the middle portion and a third board for a light receiving end portion having a light receiving element and an optical waveguide connectable to the other end of the optical waveguide of the middle portion, checking the second and third boards for light transmission, and connecting second and third boards judged to be acceptable to the first board.
US08388233B2
The invention relates to a first bearing arrangement (1) and a method for the manufacture thereof, with a first bearing ring (3) forming a structural unit (16) with a radially inwardly directed axial projection (11) with a radially outwardly directed resilient element (13) and a first running surface (5), and a second bearing ring (2) with a radially outwardly arranged axial projection (10) with a radially inwardly directed resilient element (12), with a second running surface (4), and a single-piece rolling body cage (6) which receives distributed over the circumference rolling bodies (8) which roll on the running surfaces (4, 5), wherein the rolling body cage (6) radially engages over the two resilient elements (12, 13).In order to be able to manufacture the axial bearing arrangement (1) without further post processing steps as a structural unit (16), the invention proposes to construct the rolling body cage (6) radially slotted, so that the cage can be radially elastically pulled over the resilient elements (12, 13) of the bearing rings (2, 3).
US08388232B2
There is provided a rolling bearing which comprises at least: an outer ring 10 and an inner ring 20 disposed rotatable relative to each other; and plurality of rolling elements 40 respectively interposed rollably between the outer and inner rings. The outer ring is fitted into a housing (not shown) and the inner ring is fitted with a shaft (not shown), whereby the rolling bearing supports rotation between the shaft and housing. Between the fitting surface (not shown) of the housing and the outer circumferential surface 13 of the outer ring and/or between the fitting surface of the shaft and the inner circumferential surface 23 of the inner ring, there is interposed an O-ring 30 made of an elastic member having a reduced friction coefficient between the fitting surface of the housing and the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring or between the fitting surface of the shaft and the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring.
US08388210B2
A glass or plastic wall structure with nested channel members is provided with electroluminescent strips running along the channel flanges to provide an internal illumination. In particular, it relates to illuminated transparent walls or internal partitions of a building or similar fixed construction.
US08388209B2
A lamp for emitting light, comprising a transparent sheet-like lightguide, with at least one light receiving side, a light emission front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface. The lamp further comprises a plurality of light sources, positioned in an array and optically coupled to at least one light receiving side. The back surface of said lamp comprises a plurality of optical extraction structures, for example provided in parallel curved lines. Furthermore, the lamp is substantially free from light scattering structures in a light path of the light to be emitted.
US08388208B2
A method and a structure for improving the uniformity of light emitted from a backlight module are provided. In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of optical microstructures are intermittently distributed on an LGP of a backlight module. Each of the microstructures further includes a plurality of optical sub-microstructures. The optical microstructures and the optical sub-microstructures are distributed on the LGP with varied distribution intensities in three dimensions, such that at where the optical microstructures and the optical sub-microstructures are distributed with a larger distribution intensities the LGP refracts and reflects more light, and at where the optical microstructures and the optical sub-microstructures are distributed with a smaller distribution intensities the LGP refracts and reflects less light. In such a way, by designing particular distribution intensities of the optical microstructures and the optical sub-microstructures, the light emitted from the LGP can be uniformed.
US08388201B2
A headlight unit includes a reflector that is concave in shape and has left and right reflection surfaces for reflecting light emitted by a headlight bulb in a desired direction. Protection covers cover outer edge sections of the reflector and have a color different from that of the left and right reflection surfaces.
US08388191B2
A LED lamp includes: a base body having a screw thread; a light emitting unit including a printed circuit board disposed on the base body oppositely of the screw thread, and a LED chip disposed on the printed circuit board; and a heat sink body having a plurality of heat sink fins and connected threadedly to the screw thread.
US08388186B2
A lamp shade includes first and second interlocking shade sections. Each of the first and second interlocking shade sections is made of a plastic material and has a different color than the other section. The lamp shade also includes a bulb socket supported by the first interlocking shade section and at least partially surrounded by a plurality of ventilation holes. One of the first and second interlocking shade sections has an annular recess and a set of spaced fingers within the annular recess. The other of the first and second interlocking shade sections has a radially inwardly directed annular flange. The annular flange including a set of slots sufficient in number and sized so as to receive the fingers, whereby the fingers are received in and rotatable relative to the slots to interlock the first and second interlocking shade sections.
US08388182B2
A lamp strip covering structure includes a first lead (10), a second lead (20) (10), an insulating body (30), LEDs (40), and a thermoplastic film (50). The insulating body (50) is provided with troughs corresponding to the first lead (10) and the second lead (20), thereby uncovering a first connecting section (11) of the first lead (10) and a second connecting section (21) of the second lead (20). The LEDs (40) are electrically connected to the first connecting section (11) and the second connecting section (21). The thermoplastic film (50) wraps the LEDs (40) and the insulating body (30) to cover the LEDs (40) and the insulating body (30) due to a thermal shrinkage. By this structure, the assembly and manufacturing of the lamp strip are simplified with a reduced cost. Further, the electrical connection between the LED (40) and the leads (10, 20) is maintained.
US08388181B2
A light source assembly comprises a plurality of reflective sheets, a plurality of light emitting diodes and a printed circuit board. Each reflective sheet comprises a plate member and a plurality of openings formed on the plate member. The plurality of light emitting diodes are mounted on the printed circuit board. The plurality of reflective sheets are also mounted on the printed circuit board. The plurality of light emitting diodes are respectively located in the openings. The light emitted from the light emitting diodes is reflected by the surface of the plate member.
US08388177B2
There is provided a light emitting module including: a printed circuit board; a plurality of light emitting diode chips disposed at a distance from one another on a conductive pattern formed on a top of the printed circuit board; and a connector formed on a bottom of the printed circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of light emitting diode chips. The light emitting diode chips and the connector are optimally arranged to ensure that the light emitting module is suitably utilized as a high-density linear light source including a great number of light emitting diode chips and emits light outward with minimum loss.
US08388171B2
An LED lamp tube with improved sealing and cooling performance includes a plastic tube shell, an LED lamp strip, a metal casing and two end caps. The plastic tube shell is elongate and includes a light condensing structure and a light reflection structure integrally formed by extrusion and an installation chamber formed between the light condensing structure and the light reflection structure. The LED lamp strip is held in the installation chamber and at one side of the light reflection structure. The metal casing is coupled on the outer side of the light reflection structure. Each of the end caps is coupled on each of two ends of the plastic tube shell, thus can achieve IP67 waterproof and dustproof level, and also can resolve cooling problem of the lamp tube.
US08388168B1
A mailbox with a slidable tray to withdraw the contents therein and a solar powered illuminable, configurable display to enhance visibility of the dwelling number after nightfall.
US08388158B2
An appliance includes a cabinet, a solid state lighting device assembly integrated in the cabinet, and a power controller coupled to the solid state lighting device assembly for supplying electrical power to the solid state lighting device lighting assembly. The power controller is configured to provide a pulse modulated power signal to the solid state lighting device assembly that has a duty cycle. Each solid state lighting device in the solid state lighting device assembly cycles on and off in accordance with duty cycle.
US08388157B2
A light guide sheet includes a material sheet having a film shape, first and second illuminations portion provided on the material sheet for diffusing light. The material sheet has a slit having substantially a strip shape provided therein and provided around the first illumination portion. The slit has a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge. The first edge faces the first illumination portion. The material sheet includes a first bridge and a second bridge linking the first edge of the first slit to the second edge across the first slit. This light guide sheet provides a movable contact assembly which is easily fabricated and provides preferable illuminating.
US08388156B2
A backlight apparatus includes a light-guiding plate, two first light-emitting members and two second light-emitting members. The light-guiding plate has a first edge and a second edge parallel to the first edge. The light-guiding plate has two first recesses and two second recesses. The two first light-emitting members are disposed in the two first recesses respectively, and the two second light-emitting members are disposed in the two second recesses respectively. The two first light-emitting members are rotated at a predetermined angle respectively, such that first light-emitting axes of the two first light-emitting members tend toward the first edge and the second edge of the light-guiding plate respectively. Besides, second light-emitting axes of the two second light-emitting members are parallel to the first edge and the second edge of the light-guiding plate.
US08388154B2
A cube-corner retroreflective article is provided with a number of cube-corner retroreflective element pairs each formed by a pair of cube-corner retroreflective elements sharing one side. Each of the cube-corner retroreflective elements has reflective lateral surfaces including two trapezoidal reflective lateral surfaces and one pentagonal or isosceles-triangular reflective lateral surface, and a projection shape of a quadrangle when projected onto a common plane, wherein ratios (rHA/rHC and rHB/rHC) between a length (rHC) of a ridge (HC) shared by the trapezoidal reflective lateral surfaces (HAFC and HBGC) and lengths (rHA and rHB) of other ridges (HA and HB) are in a range of 0.5 to 1.5.
US08388146B2
An anamorphic projection device is described. In one aspect, the device includes at least one camera and a projector such as a pico projector. The device receives information from the camera to sense position and orientation of a projection surface independent of the device. Based on this received information, the device renders an anamorphic image for perspective viewing on the sensed projection surface. In one implementation, the device receives the image wirelessly, for example, from a website. In one aspect, the device includes a user interface or UI. The UI allows a device user to navigate a projected image (e.g., use a cursor control or other means to navigate a webpage), present/download a new projected image, lock a projected image to a coordinate space on the projection surface to reduce or eliminate movement of the projected image responsive to user or device movement, etc.
US08388144B2
The present invention provides a projection image display device capable of both minimizing a decrease in a cooling ability and simplifying maintenance of a filter. The projection image display device according to the present invention includes a filter material for filtering external air taken into a casing, a loop-shaped filter frame onto which the filter material is mounted, a drive mechanism for rotating the filter frame in a loop direction of the loop shape, and a dust removal brush to be brought into contact with the filter material while spinning at a predetermined position. The filter material is mounted onto a part of a loop-shaped surface of the filter frame. The filter material is not mounted but a ventilation part is provided in the other part of the loop-shaped surface of the filter frame.
US08388140B2
A projector projecting an image includes: an imaging unit taking an information transmission image which is part of a projected image of the other projector and includes drive condition information of the other projector; and a control unit changing drive conditions of the projector based on the drive condition information included in the information transmission image.
US08388139B2
A method for creating an interactive display in which users/players can form the projection screen. The method includes providing granular display material, such as a layer of sand in a container, and storing a guide image and a display image in memory of a control system. Then, a projector is first operated to project the guide image on an upper surface of the display material. After a sculpting period or in response to a user or operator provided trigger, the method includes second operating the projector to project the display image on the upper surface which has been sculpted by the user into a 3D projection surface or screen during the first operating step. The projected guide image may include an outline of an object, and the display image may include an image element that is mapped to the location of the outlined object.
US08388131B2
A disposable ophthalmic or medical apparatus has a portion with a color changeable dye disposed thereon. The dye changes color after being exposed to oxygen for a controlled and predetermined period of time indicating that the apparatus should no longer be used.
US08388129B2
A flexible nose support and eyeglasses thereof are disclosed. The eyeglasses include an eyeglass body and the flexible nose support. The eyeglass body has a bridge portion, and the flexible nose support has a mounting pad, at least one engaging member, and two flexible support arms, where all are integrally formed in one piece. By mounting the flexible nose support upwardly onto the bridge portion, the flexible nose support is secured to the eyeglasses.
US08388127B2
A vision assistance device includes a lens based on a transparent material, a conductive transparent thin film contacting the lens and containing carbon nanotubes, electrodes electrically connected to the conductive transparent thin film, and a portable power supply electrically connected to the electrodes. The vision assistance device prevents fogging and retains heat.
US08388121B2
A liquid-jetting apparatus includes: a liquid-jetting head which jets the liquid; a liquid tank which stores the liquid; a first flow passage which connects the liquid-jetting head and the liquid tank; a gas-liquid separating section which is arranged on the first flow passage and which separates the liquid and a gas in the liquid; a gas communication passage which connects the gas-liquid separating section and the liquid tank and through which the gas in the gas-liquid separating section is transported to the liquid tank; a second flow passage which communicates an upstream side and a down stream side of the gas-liquid separating section; and a switching mechanism which selectively switches between a first passage route for supplying the liquid through only the first flow passage and a second passage route for supplying the liquid through the second flow passage.
US08388112B2
Disclosed is a printhead having at least one ink drop generator region, which includes an ink chamber, an orifice through which ink drops are ejected, and a heating element positioned below the ink chamber. The heating element includes a resistor defined therein and a nano-structured surface that is exposed to the ink fluid supplied to the ink chamber. The nano-structured surface takes the form of an array of nano-pillars. The printhead is fabricated by a method that includes: forming a heating element having an oxidizable metal layer as the uppermost layer; forming an aluminum-containing layer on the oxidizable metal layer; anodizing the aluminum-containing layer to form porous alumina; anodizing the oxidizable metal layer so as to partially fill the pores in the porous alumina with metal oxide material; and removing the porous alumina by selective etching to produce a nano-structured surface.
US08388109B2
An inkjet printhead that has a support member, and a plurality of printhead IC's mounted adjacent each other on the support member. Each of the printhead IC's has an array of nozzles for ejecting drops of printing fluid onto a media substrate, and drive circuitry for driving the array of nozzles. A print engine controller (PEC) sends print data to each of the printhead IC's and the drive circuitry extracts a clock signal from the data transmission from the PEC.
US08388085B2
The present invention is embodied in a printing system (100) that includes a printhead (102) having a controller (510) configured to initiate at least one precursor pulse, send the at least one precursor pulse to a first nozzle (560), remove the at least one precursor pulse from the first nozzle for a predetermined period of time to create a pause, initiate at least one firing pulse after the pause and send the at least one firing pulse to the first nozzle (560) for ejecting an ink drop.
US08388080B2
In a recording control system, the selecting unit selects at least one pixel from among the pixels in the detection region such that a number of the selected at least one pixel is smaller than a total number of the pixels in the detection region. The determining unit determines whether a pixel value of the selected pixel satisfies a criterion. The recording head ejects ink based on pixel data of the first region while scanning in the first direction. The recording head ejects ink based on pixel data of the second region adjacent to the first region while scanning in the first direction when the pixel value of the selected at least one pixel satisfies the criterion. The recording head ejects ink based on pixel data of the second region while scanning in the second direction when the pixel value of the selected pixel does not satisfy the criterion.
US08388077B2
The present embodiment provides a hinge assembly of a refrigerator. The hinge assembly includes a bracket; a shaft rotatably supported by the bracket and providing a rotation center of a door; a transfer unit transferring selectively rotatory power of the door to the shaft in order to move the shaft upward and downward; and an operating unit operating the transfer unit.
US08388074B1
A kitchen appliance includes a cabinet with an access opening with a door proximate to the opening. A panel is adjustably attached to a bracket on the back side of the panel and the bracket is adjustably attached to the top edge of the door. The bracket provides for attachment of the panel to the door as well as vertical, horizontal and rotational adjustment of the panel in relation to the door.
US08388066B2
A height adjustment mechanism is disclosed that includes a pedestal height variability mechanism. The pedestal height variability mechanism includes a first member and a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism is configured to hold the first member in a first position. The first member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The biasing mechanism has a first portion attached to the first member adjacent the first end of the first member. The biasing mechanism also has a second portion attached to the first member adjacent to the second end of the first member. Preferably, a second member is also provided that is moveably attached to the first member. The second member may be configured such that movement of the second member actuates height adjustment of a chair.
US08388065B2
A vehicle seat movable between a seating mode, an ingress/egress mode, and a cargo mode includes a vehicle seat rotation controlling apparatus. The vehicle seat rotation controlling apparatus allows a seat back to be rotated toward a seat bottom into the ingress/egress mode while holding the seat bottom in an elevated position. Further, the vehicle seat rotation controlling apparatus allows the seat back to be rotated further toward the seat bottom into the cargo mode while rotating the seat bottom into a lowered position. When the vehicle seat is moved from the cargo mode to the seating mode, the seat back is rotated away from the seat bottom while the vehicle seat rotation controlling apparatus causes the seat bottom to rotate into the elevated position.
US08388062B2
A profile (9) which can be connected to a cover (4) serves to fasten the cover (4) on a supporting body (2). According to the invention, it is provided that the profile has a recess (17) for receiving a connecting region, in particular a seam (6), of cover segments (5.1, 5.2) of an at least two-piece cover.
US08388060B2
In certain embodiments, a mobile entertainment system includes a housing configured to be attached to the mounting plate of a headrest. The housing can include a base wall and a plurality of sidewalls configured to define a cavity within the headrest when the housing is coupled to the headrest. The housing can further include a first hinge element. In some embodiments, the system includes a screen structure that includes a metal frame. The screen structure can further include a second hinge element secured to the metal frame and coupled with the first hinge element so as to be able to pivotally attach the screen structure to the headrest. The screen structure can be configured to rotate relative to the housing independent of movement of the headrest. In some embodiments, the system further includes a headrest, which can include a mounting plate. The mounting plate can be coupled with at least one post. In some embodiments, the at least one post is configured to be slidably received within a seatback of a vehicle.
US08388058B2
A storage assembly has a panel on a structure and a receptacle with a storage space defined within a body. The panel has an inner surface and an outer surface. A slot is formed through the panel. A tab is attached to and extends from the body of the receptacle and terminates at a free end. A first fastener part is positioned near the slot on the inner surface of the panel and a second fastener part is coupled to the free end of the tab. The tab is extended through the slot and the second fastener part is detachably connected to the first fastener part to attach the receptacle to the panel.
US08388057B2
An air-conditioned seat includes a seat area and a backrest, the seat area and/or the backrest being cushioned with foam. For climate-control, a ventilator, in particular a radial ventilator, is provided, which is in operative connection with an air distribution device in the foam of the seat area and/or the backrest, the air distribution device including an air distribution structure on the side (e.g., a B side) facing away from the seated person, as well as air-conducting channels toward the side (e.g., an A side) facing the seated person. The ventilator is to be disposed in the foam itself, on the B side. The air is transported to the A side via the air distribution structure in the form of air trenches introduced into the foam on the B side, and via the air-conducting channels.
US08388055B1
A portable table and seating combination is disclosed. The combination includes at least a first portion of a hinge attached to a tabletop portion. The tabletop portion includes at least a top surface, and a plurality of edge portions extending from the top surface. The top surface in combination with the plurality of edge portions forms a seating confinement compartment. The combination further includes at least a retractable leg support attached to the tabletop portion. The retractable leg support resides adjacent the seating confinement compartment, and in an extended position the retractable leg support, supports the tabletop portion at a predetermined distance above a surface. The combination also includes at least a seating portion configured for confinement within the seating confinement compartment. In a first embodiment, the seating portion is an integrated seating portion. In an alternate embodiment, the seating portion is a freestanding seating portion.
US08388054B2
There is provided a stowable vehicle seat having an erroneous operation preventive mechanism operating at the time of stowage/restoring operation. A stowable vehicle seat having an operating element using a strap for stowage/restoring operation includes brackets formed on a seat back frame, a rocking member rockably supported on the brackets, and a braking member fixed to the strap. The brackets each have an elongated hole extending in the up/down direction. The rocking member includes right and left plate bodies, each having a braking hole that is long in the up/down direction, and an upper plate connecting the plate bodies to each other. The upper plate comes into sliding contact with the strap on its lower side. The braking holes each have an expanded-width part on their front side. The braking member has the erroneous operation preventive mechanism formed being inserted through both of the elongated holes and the braking holes.
US08388049B2
An undercarriage assembly and related method for motor vehicles includes a base and a support positioned adjacent to the base at a connection area. At least one nail is inserted into the support and the base of the connection area, which rigidly connects the support with the base without any pre-formed fastener holes.
US08388046B2
The body structure of a motor vehicle has a reinforcing support that runs directly adjacent to an upper cutout edge for the rear side window. The reinforcing support has a downwardly curved rear end held in a body-mounted supporting bracket and is connected to a reinforcing element. The reinforcing element is arranged adjacent to a rear edge of the rear side window and is connected to an inner side part. The reinforcing element forms a vertically oriented C pillar for force flux diversion into the body shell structure.
US08388042B2
The present invention provides for an integrated door and shelving system for a storage compartment located on a vehicle instrument panel. The storage compartment includes at least one door rotatably mounted to the opening of the storage compartment and rotatable about a first axis. The storage compartment includes a side wall, a back wall, and a lower wall. When the door is in a substantially open position, the door is generally parallel to the lower wall and generally perpendicular to the back wall. When the door is rotated to a fully closed position, the door is generally perpendicular to the lower wall and generally parallel to the back wall. When fully opened, the door is used as a shelf to store a cell phone, iPod, PDA, etc.
US08388038B2
A multiple use vehicle accessory is provided that has a frame with first and second side members spaced from one another in a lateral direction of the accessory. The first side member carries first and second apertures that are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the accessory and are both oriented in the lateral direction. The frame includes a plurality of cross members that extend in the lateral direction, and a first end that is attached to both the first and second side members. The first end at least partially defines a channel that extends in the lateral direction.
US08388037B2
Disclosed are various embodiments of expandable barriers. Expandable barriers are typically barriers made from an expandable material and formed to fit within a cavity. After being placed inside a cavity, expandable barriers generally undergo an activation process, where the expandable barrier expands to fill the cavity and create a physical barrier. Using various extrusion processes to form an expandable barrier allows for a reduction in tooling costs, while also allowing more flexible barrier designs. Such designs can be specifically tailored for a particular cavity or cavities to ensure that the barrier fills the cavity after expansion.
US08388034B2
A lift stub with an elongated shaft member that has a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A lift eye element is spaced laterally by a lateral distance from the longitudinal axis, a first distance from the proximal end, and a second distance from the distal end. The lift eye element pivotally mounts a clevis member to the elongated shaft member for rotation about a clevis axis that extends generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft member. The clevis has a throat that is adapted to receiving a lifting hook therein. A foot portion extends from the distal end towards the proximal end for a third distance, which is approximately less than the second distance. A spur element projects generally laterally of the elongated shaft member adjacent the distal end and generally laterally opposed to the lift eye element.
US08388026B2
A repair coupling for joining a first pipe with a second pipe includes (a) a hollow body having a first open end, a second open end, and a passageway the interior surface of the body defining a peripheral, helical body edge terminating in a body edge locking lug, and (b) a hollow tubular insert slidably disposed within the body, the tubular insert having a first open end and a second open end, the tubular insert defining a passageway he exterior surface of the tubular insert defining a peripheral, helical insert edge terminating in an insert edge locking lug. The tubular insert is slidable between (i) a first insert position wherein the helical insert edge is in contract with the helical body edge and (ii) a second insert position wherein the helical insert edge is spaced apart from the helical body edge.
US08388022B2
A suspension restraint system for an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) includes a clamp fixed to at least one control arm of a suspension system, the clamp including a post, a rod mount fixed to a frame member, a rod configured to be secured to the rod mount, the rod including a hook, the hook being configured to engage the post of the clamp. The rod is configured to engage said clamp and restrain a movement of the suspension system when the suspension system is in a lowered position relative to the frame member.
US08388019B2
An airbag module comprising an inflatable airbag; and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the airbag; wherein the airbag comprises first and second panels positioned on opposite sides of an inflatable chamber; wherein each of the panels include a peripheral portion and an interior portion; wherein a portion of the interior portion is a covered portion; wherein a portion outside of the covered portion of the interior portions of the first and second panels are connected together to thereby limit the inflation of a portion of the inflatable chamber; and wherein the airbag is configured so that the connection between the interior portions of the first and second panels is released during inflation of the airbag in order to permit an increase in the volume of the inflatable chamber.
US08388007B2
A bicycle construction includes a unitary frame having a “Y” shape formed by a central longitudinal bar, a lower bar and an arcuate medial bar. The central longitudinal bar is bifurcated at its trailing end, forming first and second rear wheel mounting members that are positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the unitary frame. A first bore formed in the common leading end of the central longitudinal bar and the lower bar accommodates a handlebar tube. A second bore formed in a trailing end of the central longitudinal bar accommodates a seat support tube. A third bore formed in a trailing end of the lower bar accommodates a primary socket wheel axle. Fourth and fifth bores formed in respective trailing ends of the first and second wheel mounting members in cooperatively aligned relation to one another accommodate a secondary sprocket wheel axle.
US08387998B2
A steering mechanism for a sugarcane harvester having pivotable forward frame sections and a pivotal topper assembly for maneuverability. The steering mechanism includes arms extending from the respective frame sections and topper assembly. Steering links pivotally interconnect the arms in a way that the topper steering arm is sandwiched between a pair of links. An eccentric pivotal connection between the topper steering arm and the links is provided to accommodate the change in radius. Actuators connect to the links to provide movement of the steering arms.
US08387990B2
A seal assembly, includes a seal element including at least one seal lip, a wiper element including a wiper lip, and a structural element attached to the seal element and the wiper element, the seal assembly being configured for functioning under pressure in an amount greater than 500 pounds per square inch.
US08387989B2
A multi-player, multi-level stacking block game is formed from cubes of non-uniform size and is scored in such a fashion as to reward bold play but penalize the player that causes the stacked tower to fall down. The game includes 72 pieces which comprise six (6) sets of 12 pieces each. A player is selected to begin and rolls a die to determine which piece he or she plays. The piece is placed on a 3×3 grid having 9 squares. Players ultimately take turns placing a piece on the grid, and above it, until the tower either falls down or, if all 72 pieces are used, the player with the highest score wins. The playing pieces are uniquely structured so that at least one dimension of the subset of player pieces is not a multiple of another piece in that subset in order to enhance the instability factor of the game. The score that the player receives is an accumulation of the scores based upon piece location and how many levels a player piece occupies as well as if the player can occupy all 9 cubes on a particular level.
US08387985B1
A system and method for awarding bonus prizes is paid responsive to the last two or more bingo balls called during a bingo game (e.g., last five balls form a predetermined combination of bingo letters). For example, if the last five balls called in a bingo game are an “O” ball, preceded by a “G” ball, preceded by an “N” ball, preceded by an “I” ball, and preceded by a “B” ball, the last five balls called or selected in the bingo game spell the word “BINGO” and accordingly, the winning bingo card is paid a jackpot prize. Another example of a bonus combination is the last three balls spelling the word “BIG.” Yet another example of a bonus combination is the word “BIG” being spelled by bingo balls selected by a pair of ball blowers working in tandem.
US08387983B2
The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. A shuffled playing cards (1) obtained by shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards (12) using a shuffling machine is packaged as an individual pack. The shuffled playing cards (1) is individually packaged and sealed with an adhesive label (13). A bar code (13a) which represents a unique shuffled card ID has been printed on the adhesive label (13). The shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with information which allows identification of a shuffling machine used to shuffle the playing card set.
US08387973B1
According to one example, there is provided a controller readable medium on which are stored controller readable instructions. The instructions are such that, when executed by a controller, perform the steps of commencing the printing of a print job on a media sheet, determining when about half of the media sheet ejected out of a printer media output is at the level of a stacker unit, activating a first array of fans to retain a portion of the ejected media sheet, completing the print job, and activating a second array of fans to blow the trailing edge of the ejected media sheet over the stacker unit.
US08387972B1
A media sheet tray includes a first media size sensor, a second media size sensor, a first circuit connected to the first media size sensor, a second circuit connected to the second media size sensor, and a switch within the second circuit. The switch can be in an open position disconnecting a continuity of the second circuit, or in a closed position maintaining the continuity of the second circuit. Media being within the media sheet tray closes the switch. Further, a combination of the first circuit connecting to the first media size sensor and the second circuit being discontinuous indicates that paper is absent from the media sheet tray.
US08387961B2
A vacuum chuck comprises a main body including a support projection and a vacuum groove arranged in a lattice form on the top surface thereof, an installation space, a vacuum space, a filter space. The main body further includes an inlet that communicates with the installation space and an outlet that communicates with the vacuum space. An air saving valve B, a vacuum sensor S, a vacuum generator V and a filter F are installed in the installation space, vacuum space and filter space of the main body. A pressure gauge and a vacuum gauge that are mounted on the front side and communicate with the inlet and the vacuum space respectively. A main body cover that is air-tightly coupled to the lower part of the main body, and a filter cover that is air-tightly coupled to the lower part of the filter space.
US08387959B2
A structure of an orifice plate for an engine mount filled with a magnetorheological (“MR”) fluid may include a core of which a center part may be formed at the center thereof and a blade part may be formed with a plurality of blades protruding in a radial direction from an outer periphery of the center part, and a coil assembly enclosing the outer periphery of the center part and wired up, wherein a gap may be formed between the blades so as to allow the MR fluid to flow between the blades and the coil assembly applied with current magnetizes adjacent blades to have different polarities.
US08387957B2
A downflow mixer with a gas injection device and/or a baffle plate is provided to improve performance of mixing and/or aeration in basins, lagoons or tanks, particularly as part of water or wastewater treatment.
US08387951B2
An apparatus and method of lifting and moving an object is disclosed. The apparatus includes a main frame. The main frame includes a mounting surface, a first angle plate, and a second angle plate. The mounting surface has a horizontal section and a vertical section. The first angle plate is coupled to a first wheel plate and the second angle plate is coupled to a second wheel plate. The apparatus also includes a lift and lock bar for raising and lowering the object. The mounting surface includes slots for receiving the object and retainers for preventing the object from sliding off the mounting surface.
US08387944B2
In a valve assembly (1) comprising a valve housing (2), a valve seat (3) and a valve body (4) adapted to fit in closing relationship in said valve seat (3) in a closed position, said housing (2) has an inlet (5) and an outlet (6) for a pressurized fluid, positioned upstream and downstream of the valve members, respectively. The valve has a closed position being maintained by a closing force e.g. from a compression spring (7) and an open position, wherein the valve seat (3) and/or the valve body (4) are moved away from each other by an activating mechanism. A pressure balancing line (11) is provided internally or externally of the housing (2), wherein fluid of the fluid flow downstream of the moveable valve member (3, 4) is in fluid connection with the opposite end of said member, when in use.
US08387932B2
Disclosed herein is a suction cup, including: a suction cup body formed from gel and having at least one flat or convex face serving as a suction face; a shape retaining member provided on the suction cup body and having elasticity for restoring, when the suction cup body is deformed, the suction cup body so as to restore an original shape; and a center stem connected to the suction cup body and projecting from a portion of the suction cup body positioned remotely from a location of the suction cup body at which the suction face is provided in a direction intersecting with the center of the suction face.
US08387931B2
A grab bar is attached to a wall of a shower enclosure with at least one anchor assembly. When installed, a grab bar mount flange covers the anchor assembly from view. The anchor assembly includes a flange collar with a collar bore and a jackscrew that is received within the collar bore. The flange collar is installed within an opening formed within the wall of the shower enclosure. A position of the jackscrew can be adjusted without having to remove the flange collar from the wall. Once properly adjusted, a fastener is inserted through the grab bar mount flange, flange collar, and jackscrew for securement to a wall structure behind the shower enclosure.
US08387929B2
An adjustable stand, for supporting a device having a lateral surface defining a number of recessed portions, includes a base, a rotating frame, and two connecting axles. The rotating frame includes a chassis and two opposing arms extending arcuately and upward from the chassis, wherein the chassis is rotatably connected to the base. The two connecting axles are rotatably connected to the two opposing arms, respectively. Each of the two connecting axles includes at least one elastic protrusion fitting into one of the plurality of recessed portions, and connecting the device to the two connecting axles, wherein the at least one elastic protrusion is able to deform to allow the device to rotatably connect with the two connecting axles.
US08387921B2
A deployable structure that may include a slit-tube longeron and a flat panel coupled with the slit-tube longeron. The slit-tube longeron may include a tubular member having a slit that runs along the longitudinal length of the slit-tube longeron. The deployable structure may be configured to couple with a satellite. And the deployable structure may be configured to transform between a stowed state and a deployed state where the tubular member is substantially straight when the deployable structure is in the deployed state, and the tubular member is wrapped around the satellite when the deployable structure is in the stowed state.
US08387911B2
A ducted fan core for an unmanned aerial vehicle is provided that accommodates a wide variety of payloads. The ducted fan core comprises a frame, attached to which are an engine, gearbox assembly, fan, and a plurality of control vanes. A first surface on the frame comprises a plurality of connects or electrical traces. The plurality of connects are used to removably attach a variety of pods carrying various payloads. Thus, a wide variety of payloads may be delivered using the same unmanned aerial vehicle, simply by removing and attaching different pods to a fixed vehicle core. These pods may be shaped so as to form part of the vehicle exterior, and when the pods are attached to the frame, they enhance the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
US08387900B2
A fuel injector apparatus comprising a piezoelectric driving stack and injector assembly wherein a flow control member of the fuel injector apparatus is driven directly by the piezoelectric stack without additional amplification means or interposing elements while the flow area of the nozzle portion is variably adjustable to deliver controlled flow rates in a desired flow profile to improve engine performance and reduce emissions. The injector configuration is adapted to support required flow rates with minimal linear movement of the flow control member.
US08387891B1
A programmable thermostat time/temperature display has a continuous loop timeline with a plurality of temperature transition points along the timeline to define a plurality of timeline segments. Temperature and time IDs are displayable on the display and are associated with at least some of the timeline segments and temperature transition points. A thermostat can be programmed by touching a position on a touchscreen associated with a temperature transition point on a continuous loop timeline on the touchscreen. The touching step may be carried out by moving the first temperature transition point from a first position along the timeline to a second position along the timeline so to change the first timeline segment. An updated time ID may be selected for the first temperature transition point.
US08387877B2
Systems and methods for managing data rights are provided. A first label associated with a first data object may be received, and the first label may be converted into a first universal label based at least in part upon one or more predefined rules for the conversion of the first label into the first universal label. Additionally, a second label associated with a second data object may be received, and the second label may be converted into a second universal label based at least in part upon one or more predefined rules for the conversion of the second label into the second universal label. A combined universal label applicable to both the first data object and the second data object may be generated from the first universal label and the second universal label.
US08387876B2
An equipment comprising a receptacle for receiving an optical article; a first set of electrical connectors configured to be in direct contact with a second set of electrical connectors disposed on the optical article, when the optical article is received by the receptacle; an activation device operably coupled with the first set of electrical connectors; wherein the activation device is configured to generate an activation signal which is transmitted to the second set of electrical connectors by the first set of electrical connectors, wherein an electrical device is configured to provide a power component to the optical article via the first set of electrical connectors and the second set of electrical connectors which are in direct contact. A system comprising the equipment is also provided. Also provided is a checkout device.
US08387873B2
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for enabling payment of transit system fees using a financial transaction instrument. Entry is permitted onto a transit system by recognition of information included in an identification number stored on a financial transaction instrument. The identification number stored on the financial transaction instrument is associated with a transit system fee registered for each use of the transit system. A plurality of transit system fees associated with the same identification number from use of the financial transaction instrument is aggregated, and payment for the aggregated transit system fees is requested from a transaction account associated with the financial transaction instrument.
US08387871B2
A tamper pool RFID tag apparatus, system and method for keying the RFID tag in association with an object. An oscillator circuit configured on an RFID tag substrate enables the RFID tag to be keyed with respect to the object. One or more capacitors that are operatively connected in association with the RFID tag substrate via a substrate vias determine an oscillator frequency pulse when placed on the object. A comparator compares the oscillator frequency pulse with a predetermined pulse count stored in a latch/storing unit. The RFID tag circuit can accept the object in, for example, a vending machine, if the frequency pulse matches the predetermined pulse count in order to effectively handle object returns in a wide range of commercial applications.
US08387866B2
A method is disclosed. The method includes generating a verification value in response to a transaction involving a portable consumer device, where the verification value is generated using a first dynamic data element and a second dynamic data element. The verification value is sent to a service provider associated with the portable consumer device so that the service provider can verify the transaction.
US08387861B2
A method for enhancing credit of a cardholder of a pre-paid card may include issuing a pre-paid card to a cardholder. The cardholder may be charged a fee to establish a credit instrument associated with an account and the pre-paid card. The cardholder may be billed a portion of the credit instrument that includes the fee on a periodic basis, where the billing may be independent of billing for purchases of goods and services with the pre-paid card. A determination as to whether the cardholder timely paid the bill. If the cardholder timely paid the bill, then the payment may be recorded as being timely paid. Otherwise, a recording may be made that the bill was not timely paid. A reporting as to the timeliness of the payment may be made to affect a credit rating of the cardholder.
US08387860B2
A falsification detection threshold value for falsification detection is automatically determined. A falsification detection portion (4) performs division into uniform detection units, and calculates, for each of the cells of the detection units, the variation information of differential information on respective regions that are included in the detection units and are divided as described above (S802). It is understood that cells (901), (902) and (903) have values of 8, 170 and 140, respectively. The falsification detection portion (4) uses the variations in the differential information calculated in step S802 to calculate a differential information threshold for determining a falsified region within an image read by scanning (S803). The average value and the standard deviation of a region where falsification is not conducted are relatively small, and the average value and the standard deviation of a region where falsification is conducted are relatively large.
US08387854B2
This invention uses surface tension to align a z-axis MEMS sensing device that is mounted onto a substrate or lead frame oriented in an xy-plane. According to the teachings of the present invention, the height of the z-axis sensing device is less than or substantially equal to its width (y-dimension) while the length of the device in the longitudinal direction (x-dimension) is greater than either of the y- or z-dimensions. As a result, instead of being thin and tall like a wall, which configuration is extremely difficult to align vertically, the elongate z-axis sensing device is mounted on a short z-axis, making it easier to align vertically.
US08387847B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a technique that contributes to improved gripping characteristics in a hand-held power tool. A power tool for performing a predetermined operation by driving a tool bit includes a tool body 101 and a handgrip 103 formed on the tool body 101. The handgrip 103 has a plurality of ribs 117 formed in parallel on a grip face which is held by user's fingers and protruding from the grip face. The ribs 117 extend along a contour of the grip face in a longitudinal direction of the handgrip, and in the circumferential direction of the handgrip 103, each of the ribs 117 has a ridged shape which is engaged in one direction but not engaged in the other direction with balls of fingertips of at least third to fifth fingers of the user's hand.
US08387844B2
A harness 100 for breathing apparatus, comprising: a structural support member 102 having a fixing portion 10, and at least one strap 40 having a loop 42. The strap is arranged to be releasably attached to the structural support member. The fixing portion comprises a first slot 12 through which a portion of the strap is arranged to pass in use; and a first anchor member 16, 18 laterally spaced from the first slot extending in a direction substantially parallel to the first slot and arranged in use to releasably locate at least partly within the loop of the strap through a first side of the loop.
US08387843B2
A backpack having a harness configured to be secured to the torso of a user, and a movable storage compartment pivotably connected at a first end to a first location on the harness. A second end of the storage compartment is releasably secured to a second location on the harness so that motion of the storage compartment with respect to the harness is restrained. The storage compartment is secured to the harness such that it can be released from a stowed position to a frontal location on the harness that is accessible to the user. With the second end of the storage compartment free from constraint, it can be pivoted about its first end from its stowed position to a frontal position on the user, wherein the frontal position allows access to articles contained in the storage compartment without removing the backpack from the user's body.
US08387839B2
A rack for mounting on a spare tire assembly of a vehicle includes a mounting plate engagable to a spare tire mounting bracket of the vehicle, and a mast connected to the mounting plate in a substantially vertical position. The rack also includes a shoulder member connected proximate a top end of the mast and mountable proximate the top end of the mast using a connector at more than one position along a horizontal axis relative to the mast. A hub assembly is connected to the shoulder member, and a pair of arms are connected to the hub assembly that are configured to carry one or more bikes.
US08387829B2
A bar gun assembly for receiving a multiplicity of fluid carrying tubes carrying a multiplicity of fluids, for example, flavored syrup and soda water, therein. The bar gun assembly has a handle having a handle body. The handle body is a multiplicity of ports and fluid channels therein. A supply line connector assembly engages the supply lines and the handle body. A backing plate assembly engages openings in the fluid chambers of the handle body to seal fluid therein. A nozzle assembly engages at least some of the fluid channels in the handle and provides for mixing the syrup and the soda water. The nozzle assembly includes walls adapted to substantially coat an inner wall of a nozzle housing with a first fluid and a lower portion of the inner wall with a second fluid.
US08387828B2
A device for dispensing a beverage includes a main body. A first vertically-extending opening formed in the main body receives and displays a display bottle in an upright configuration. A second vertically-extending opening formed in the main body receives an inverted dispensing bottle. A dispensing tap spigot is in valved fluid communication with the inverted dispensing bottle. Opening the dispensing tap spigot enables liquid fluid within the inverted dispensing bottle to flow from the dispensing tap spigot under the influence of gravity and closing of the dispensing tap spigot terminates the flow. A thermoelectric temperature control member selectively generates cold or heat and is positioned in heat transfer relation to the inverted dispensing bottle. The main body is aesthetically designed to provide a connotation of coolness when a cooled beverage is to be dispensed and of heat when a heated beverage is to be dispensed.
US08387827B2
A volatile material dispenser includes a drive unit adapted to be releasably mounted on a container having a tilt-activated valve stem. The drive unit is adapted to radially displace the tilt-activated valve stem. A flexible tube having a discharge end is fixedly held with respect to the container. The flexible tube is adapted to be in fluid communication with the tilt-activated valve stem.
US08387822B2
A lid is provided for engagement with a projecting rim of an opening on a container. The lid includes a covering panel for closing the container opening and a skirt formed on a periphery of the cover and depending therefrom. The skirt overlaps with the container rim when the cover is positioned over the opening. The skirt includes a defined gap therein that is positioned between adjacent gap edges. A clasp is provided on the periphery of the cover adjacent the defined gap. The clasp pivots between an open position and an engaged position. In the engaged position, the clasp engages the gap edges and draws the edges toward one another. The drawing of the gap edges moves the skirt inwardly towards the container rim. The lid may further include a flexing portion defining a connection between the cover panel and the skirt. The engagement of the clasp on the skirt causes compliance of the flexing portion and a corresponding axial movement of the skirt relative to the cover panel.
US08387815B2
A system comprising a multiple-bag pack supported for dispensing, loading, and removal of bags on a structure. The pack includes a bag-attachment portion wherein the multiple bags are sequentially attached. Each bag is removable in sequence by separation from the pack along a parting feature. The bags are contained within the structure and the bag-attachment portion is folded outwards over a lip to secure the bag pack. The front edge of the outermost bag of the pack is drawn over another lip to open the bag for loading. The rear edge remains attached to the bag pack, thus fully distending the mouth of the bag. To change bags, the rear edge of the bag is separated from the pack and the first lip along the parting structure. The front edge of the loaded bag is removed from the second lip, and the bag is closed and removed from the structure.
US08387812B2
A device for supporting at least one cosmetic article, and its method of use, including a base, and a body mounted to be movable in rotation about an axis of rotation relative to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position. An articulation assembly including a pivot is fixedly joined to the body and a sleeve for receiving the pivot is fixedly joined to the base. The pivot is mounted to rotate about the axis of rotation in the sleeve. The articulation assembly includes at least one resilient lug fixedly joined to a first of the sleeve or the pivot. The resilient lug is arranged in the intermediate space and has a free end which is pressed against the pivot and is resiliently deformed over at least a portion of the path of the body between the retracted position and the deployed position thereof.
US08387808B2
A garment hanger management device provides convenient, secure, and organized storage for garment hangers, including garment hangers having various sizes of hook portions, such as for use in a retail clothing environment. The device includes locking mechanisms with movable pins or mounting members that support a retainer element in spaced arrangement relative to a hanger support rod on which the garment hangers are hung. The pins and retainer element are positionable between a fully open configuration and a fully closed configuration, or substantially any position in between the fully opened or closed configurations, and are lockable or fixable in a desired configuration by a locking tab that is capable of engaging the pins substantially anywhere within a region along the length of the pins.
US08387806B2
A product display shelf comprising a bottom surface, a rear surface and at least one compliant member is disclosed. The bottom surface is configured to support at least one product thereon. The rear surface extends upwardly from the bottom surface. The at least one compliant member is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the rear surface and is configured to substantially prevent the product supported by the bottom surface from movement relative to the bottom surface upon movement of the product display shelf.
US08387805B2
A pipeline pig support rack apparatus includes a frame having a plurality of supports mounted thereon, each extending upwardly from the frame. Each pipeline pig support includes clamps that are comprised of first and second u-shaped members that are attached with a hinge. A bolted connection opposite the hinge is provided for holding the u-shaped members together in a closed position when securing a pipeline pig. Lifting eyes on the frame are provided for enabling the frame, its pig supports and any contained pipeline pigs to be lifted as a unit. A basket receptacle optionally is provided that receives the frame. The frame and basket receptacle are each independently liftable. The basket receptacle prevents spillage of hazardous materials that might be residing upon the pigs after they have been used to clean a particular pipeline.
US08387795B1
A combined beverage lid plug and bookmark is disclosed. The beverage lid plug and bookmark has an elongated bookmark section, a plug section configured to be received into an opening in a beverage container lid, and a flexible bookmark tab. The beverage lid plug and bookmark has a banner section for display of desired advertising.
US08387794B2
A container to hold gifts or beverage bottles is described. The container provides a unique and customizable gift for a recipient of the container. The container includes two or more compartments. The compartments are configured to hold gifts or a beverage bottle. Two or more panels removably engage to the container to close the compartments. The panels include a first side and a second side. The first side of at least one of the panels includes a first message and the second side of the at least one panel includes a second message. The first message is visible when the panel is engaged to the container, and the second message is concealed when the panel is engaged to the container.
US08387788B2
A cigarette package of the invention has a casing (10), which includes an open end (12) that is opened/closed with a tongue lid (16). The tongue lid (16) has a lid portion (18), a tongue portion (22), and a magnet (28) fixed onto the tongue portion (22). A sheet (34) capable of being attracted to the magnet (28) is fixed onto a front wall (10f) of the casing (10). When the tongue lid (16) is in the closed position, the magnet (28) and the sheet (34) keep the tongue portion (22) attracted to the front wall (10f) in cooperation with each other by using the attracting force of the magnet (28). At the time of closing the tongue lid (16), the tongue portion (22) hits the front wall (10f) and thus makes a clap sound.
US08387785B2
An infant formula storage and dispensing assembly that attaches to a baby bottle. The assembly is made up of two parts. The top half having external threads to accept a baby bottle ring with nipple and including slots that form a chamber to store infant formula to be mixed with water stored in the baby bottle. The bottom half having internal threads allowing it to be screwed onto a baby bottle including also slots that align with the top half and allow above mentioned sealing or dispensing action. The two halves fit together by the bottom half sliding into the top half and being attached by a center located bolt and nut.
US08387784B2
A package for holding a plurality of containers. The package has a top panel, end panels and side panels. The package has retention features in the top panel for retaining the containers. The package has handle features in the end panel for forming a handle for grasping and carrying the package.
US08387780B2
An exemplary assembly includes at least one elongated tension member (32). A jacket covers at least some of the tension member (32). The jacket comprises a polymer material (68,64) including an adhesion enhancer (62) that facilitates adhesion between the tension member and the jacket.
US08387760B2
The invention relates to a braking disc comprising a braking band and a support bell. The band comprises first connecting means and the bell comprises second connecting means adapted to face the first connecting means. The disc further comprises coupling means, each of which is slidingly associated to one of either said first or said second connecting means and is adapted to alternatively take either a fastening position or a release position. When the coupling means are in said fastening position mutually fasten the band and the bell in the axial direction. On the other hand, when the coupling means are in said release position, they allow a mutual movement between the band and the bell in the axial direction.
US08387758B1
A brake adjustment indicator for indicating when an air brake is out of adjustment during a visual inspection of the air brake includes a collar including a perimeter wall defining a bore. The bore of the collar receives a push rod of an air brake to position the collar around the push rod. The collar is inserted into an air piston housing when the air brake is released. At least a portion of the collar extends from the air piston housing to indicate an amount of adjustment needed for the air brake when the air brake is engaged. A flange is coupled to and extends radially outwardly from the collar to abut the air piston housing and inhibit debris entering the air piston housing adjacent to the collar. The flange has an aperture aligned with the bore of the collar to receive the push rod.
US08387755B2
A lubrication system is provided that includes a pump operatively connected to one or more supply lines for delivery of a lubricant, the system including a first pressure sensor associated with the supply line at a first position, and a second pressure sensor associated with the supply line at a second position downstream of the first position and pump, a controller configured to receive pressure signals and control operation of the pump based upon the pressure differential between the pressures at the first position and second position. The pressure differential may be employed to determine when a pressure at a third position downstream of the second position has been achieved. At least one of the pressure sensors may be positioned adjacent to the pump, the controller further being operable to deactivate the pump in the event that a maximum pump pressure has been met.
US08387753B2
An extendable/retractable ladder assembly includes a first column and a second column, the first column nesting in the second column, and a first rung coupled to, and extending from the second column. A ladder assembly bracket includes a collar portion, which extends about the second column, and a rung portion, which extends from the collar portion into the first rung. The collar portion may be gripped by a hand of an operator in order to position a thumb of the hand in engagement with a button to retract a locking pin of a latch assembly mounted within the rung portion of the bracket.
US08387745B2
A cover for a stethoscope to prevent microbes from transferring from a patient to a stethoscope is disclosed. In one embodiment, a stethoscope cover comprises an antimicrobial barrier having a first and second surface, image forming material disposed on the antimicrobial barrier first surface, and an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the antimicrobial barrier to attach the antimicrobial barrier to a stethoscope. In some embodiments, the image forming material is configured to depict an image of a product. In some embodiments, the image forming material is configured to depict an image of an animal or character, to evoke feelings of happiness in a young patient.
US08387744B2
A marine seismic source comprises a housing having a central axis, an open end, and a closed end opposite the open end. In addition, the seismic source includes a piston extending coaxially through the open end of the housing. The piston is adapted to axially reciprocate relative to the housing. Further, the piston has a first end distal the housing and a second end disposed within the housing.
US08387743B2
Formation density is calculated from acoustic logging measurements. This technique does not require a radioactive source and in fact it may offer better precision particularly in rugose boreholes. In at least some embodiments, the technique exploits an observed relationship between a transmission coefficient T(pb, Vc, pmVm) and a breakdown resistance μB(pb, Vc, Vs) to enable determination of the formation density pb from measurements of the formation's compressional wave velocity Vc, the formation's shear wave velocity Vs, and the borehole fluid's acoustic impedance pmVm. The desired measurements can be acquired by attaching or integrating a fluid cell with an acoustic logging tool that measures acoustic wave propagation velocities. Real-time density logs can be obtained from both wireline and logging-while-drilling implementations.
US08387730B2
A method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor is disclosed. The motor is operably configured to deliver mechanical power through an automatic transmission to at least one vehicle drive wheel to cause an acceleration of the vehicle. The method involves coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thus causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed to provide a starting torque to the engine for starting the engine, and causing the automatic transmission to change gear ratio to a target gear ratio associated with the reduced rotational speed while causing the motor to decelerate, the motor being operable to deliver increased torque at the reduced rotational speed, thereby generally maintaining the acceleration of the vehicle.
US08387719B2
A mechanical assembly for a power tool, and a power tool incorporating the mechanical assembly are provided. The mechanical assembly includes (i) a first member having a first axis and a first engagement portion inclined relative to the first axis, (ii) a second member having a second axis and a second engagement portion inclined relative to the second axis, wherein the first and second engagement portions engage each other by movement of the first and second members relative to each other in the direction of at least one of the axes; and wherein the first member is a ring gear and the second member is a central gear and the first and second engagement portions engage and disengage each other by movement of the second member within a space defined within the first member.
US08387718B2
A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time.
US08387717B2
The present invention provides multi-directional oscillation from a rotational source, by receiving a rotational motion, converting the rotational motion to a first oscillating motion, converting the first oscillating motion to a second oscillating motion that is normal to the first oscillating motion and transferring the first oscillating motion and the second oscillating motion to a working element.
US08387701B2
A technique for subsea intervention operations utilizes a retrievable dynamic seal assembly. The retrievable dynamic seal assembly is deployed toward a seabed and locked into place within a tubular member at a subsea installation. During deployment, the dynamic seal assembly is releasably locked to an intervention tool string coupled to a conveyance. Once the dynamic seal assembly is locked in place within the tubular, the tool string is released and the dynamic seal assembly maintains a seal against the conveyance during an intervention operation.
US08387698B1
A gas recovery component heating apparatus and method of use. The apparatus includes an insulating shell and at least one heating element positioned along the interior of the insulating shell. The apparatus further includes one or more apertures configured to allow a portion of the gas recovery component to pass through the aperture when the apparatus is secured about the gas recovery component. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for securing the apparatus about the gas recovery component.
US08387697B2
The present invention features a chemical system of gas evolving oil viscosity diminishing compositions (GEOVDC) for stimulating the productive layer of an oil reservoir, that is chemical compositions for a thermochemical treatment of an oil reservoir, more specifically for initiating a chemical reaction in the productive layer zone of the oil reservoir to produce heat and evolve gases so that the extraction of oil (petroleum) is improved. The invention further features a method of thermochemically treating an oil reservoir by means of this chemical system, and an apparatus for performing thermochemical treatment of an oil reservoir.
US08387689B2
This invention provides for an apparatus that controls a liquid level down-hole of a hydrocarbon producing well by physically monitoring the liquid level down-hole having a down-hole liquid level measurer and a signal device connected to the liquid level measurer that causes a pump to adjust its current liquid output based on the liquid level down-hole as measured by the down-hole liquid level measurer.
US08387681B2
A strand guiding apparatus includes a plurality of pairs of rollers arranged along a moving direction of a strand, a plurality of drive motors for generating driving forces to drive the pairs of rollers, a plurality of worm reducers for transmitting the driving forces of the drive motors to the pairs of rollers while reducing the rotational speed of the drive motors, each worm reducer having a worm extending in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the corresponding roller, and operable to transmit a load occurring at the roller to the corresponding drive motor, and a control unit for controlling the respective rotational speeds of the rollers and/or the respective driving forces of the drive motors based on the load to the drive motors. The reliable control for drive rollers can be attained to have a proper rotational speed without causing a reduction in surface quality and chatter in a strand guiding apparatus for continuous casting equipment using worm reducers.
US08387669B2
Embodiments of golf club head covers are described herein. Other embodiments and related examples comprising magnetic elements are also described herein.
US08387659B2
A spool valve assembly includes a spool that is moveable by differential pressure across the spool.
US08387658B2
A delivery unit (4) has a compensating baffle pot (5) provided with a fuel pump (6) arranged therein and a jet sucking pump (8) for conveying a liquid to the baffle pot (5). The jet sucking pump (8) has a propulsion jet nozzle (13) provided with an opening, a mixing pipe (14), a suction opening with a suction line (11) and a deflecting element (16) located downstream of the mixing pipe (14).
US08387656B2
A pressure monitoring device in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing 1 within which are provided an air inlet 2 and an air outlet 3. Connecting the air inlet 2 and the air outlet 3 is an air passage way 4 which includes a pressure take off point 9. The air inlet 2 includes' a threaded bore section 2a into which is screwed a coupling device 7 for coupling with the air outlet of a compressed air supply. The air outlet 3 is also configured to receive a coupling device 8 for coupling with the air inlet of a paint spray gun. A digital pressure gauge 5 is housed in a top surface of the housing 1 as shown in the figures. The gauge samples air pressure at the pressure take off point 9 through conduit 9a. Screw threaded into a bore 11 in the housing is a needle valve 6 which can be adjusted by means of valve adjustment means 10a, 10b to move further towards or away from the pressure take off 9.
US08387646B2
A double-walled shear valve that carries fuel from a branch or main fuel piping to fuel dispenser piping. The double-walled shear valve comprises a containment housing defining a shear groove on the outside circumference of the containment housing and an inner housing defining an inner housing orifice therein forming a fuel flow path. The inner housing is coupled to the containment housing, and at least partially surrounded by the containment housing, such that an interstitial space is formed separate from the fuel flow path between the containment housing and the inner housing. The double-walled shear valve further comprises a main poppet valve coupled to the inner housing that is adapted to close the fuel flow path to prevent flow of fuel.
US08387645B2
An apparatus and method for contacting a fluid stream with particulate solids are provided. The apparatus comprises a vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion and an inlet for receiving particulate solids and an outlet for discharging the particulate solids. An inner cone is coaxially positioned within an inverted truncated outer cone forming an annulus in the lower portion of the vessel. A truncated conical baffle is disposed within the lower portion of the vessel and at least partially above the inverted truncated outer cone and the inner cone. The truncated conical baffle has a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall with a lower portion thereof overlapping interiorly an upper portion of the inverted truncated outer cone. A plurality of guide tents are spaced apart in the annulus, each guide tent having sloped guide surfaces oriented to guide the flow of particulate solids into the outlet.
US08387643B2
A self-erecting tent, provided with at least three resilient frame elements (1, 2, 3) formed into endless loops which stretch a tent covering, with the tent in erected position, while at least two of the frame elements (1, 2) cross adjacent an underside of the tent, at least, with the tent in erected position.
US08387642B2
In a fabric enclosure such as a tent wall there is provided an opening in the fabric panel with a fabric closure panel for closing the opening having a hinge line along one side connecting the closure panel to the wall panel. The opening and the closure panel each define an edge thereof opposite to the hinge line which is curved from an end at the hinge line around to an opposite end separated from the hinge line by a non-flexible rod with the edge of the closure panel overlapping the edge of the opening for closure thereon and a flexible bowing strip attached to the edge of the closure panel which is forced into a bowed shape to apply tension to the closure panel tending to maintain the panel flat.
US08387640B2
A retractable umbrella includes an umbrella holder, a retractable tube, a pulling rod, a rainshade screen, and a dripping guide. The umbrella holder is for receiving a regular umbrella and holding water dripped from the regular umbrella. The retractable tube comprises retractable reels, and it is attached on a door frame of a car. Each of the retractable reels is disposed in the retractable tube. The pulling rod is attached to a rim portion of the door accepting frame of the car. The rainshade screen comprises an outer edge, an inner edge, a front edge, and a rear edge. The outer edge is attached to the retractable reels of the retractable tube. The inner edge is attached to the pulling rod. The front edge connects front portions of the inner and outer edges. The rear edge connects rear portions of the inner and outer edges.
US08387632B2
A camera apparatus (1) includes: a CCD (2) serving as an imaging device; a cleaning member (3) for performing cleaning of the front face of the CCD (2); and a cleaning controller (13) for controlling the movement of the cleaning member (3). Cleaning control is carried out so that when the cleaning of the CCD (2) is started, the cleaning member (3) is moved to a cleaning position located in front of and in proximity to the CCD (2), and when the cleaning of the CCD (2) is finished, the cleaning member (3) is moved to a retracted position retracted from the cleaning position. The camera apparatus itself is provided with the function of cleaning the imaging device, thereby enabling reduction in time and effort for a cleaning operation performed on the imaging device.
US08387627B2
A compact powder case includes a top case, a bottom case coupled to the top case to open and close the compact powder case, a mid case housed in the bottom case, a lifter disk coupled to the bottom case by a spring supporting the lifter disk elastically, a container to contain a content, the container detachably attached to the lifter disk, and a grinding member rotatably positioned on the top of the mid case, the grinding member including a grinding cap and a grinding insert coupled to the grinding cap, the grinding insert having an aperture to discharge ground content upwardly and a blade disposed at a lower portion of the aperture to grind the content when the grinding insert rotates, wherein the grinding insert rotates along with the grinding cap and against the container when a user rotates the grinding cap.
US08387625B2
An oral tobacco product which includes a tobacco pouch obtained by wrapping tobacco particles made from a tobacco material in a wrapper, the tobacco pouch allowing a user to take in tobacco components of the tobacco particles via saliva, when put in the user's mouth, and an outer wrapper individually wrapping the tobacco pouch therein. The outer wrapper has liquid impermeability and is provided with a lug for the user.
US08387619B2
A respiratory mask includes a single-piece first cushion ring defining an airflow channel and having a front cover-engaging end portion and a rear abutment end portion adapted to abut against a user's face below the forehead, a cover shell having a cover plate engaged to the front cover-engaging end portion and provided with a connecting hole that is adapted to be connected to an air supply source, a resilient forehead support connected to a top end of the front cover-engaging end portion and bendable toward the rear abutment end portion, a resilient forehead abutment body connected to a top end of and supported by the resilient forehead support and including a second cushion ring adapted to abut against the forehead of the user, and an adjustable head strap unit connected to the first cover shell and the resilient forehead abutment body.
US08387616B2
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having a front surface and a rear surface adapted in use to face the patient. The frame includes a main body providing an aperture therethrough for the introduction of breathable gas into a nasal breathing cavity. An elbow assembly is swivelably coupled to the front surface of the frame. The elbow assembly includes a swivel elbow that defines an intake port and an exhaust port separated from the intake port using a baffle. The elbow assembly includes an end portion that interfaces with the aperture of the frame.
US08387614B2
An atomizer for a fluid, in particular, a fluid for medical aerosol therapy. In order to allow simplified operation and improved safety in use, the atomizer has a counter device for counting the number of operations of the atomizer and the number of containers inserted. The atomizer is locked against further operation and/or against removal of the current container or insertion of a new container, if a certain number of operations of the atomizer and/or a certain number of containers inserted has/have been reached or exceeded.
US08387613B2
A steam system includes a cooking chamber, a housing comprising a volume of water and an inlet to receive steam, condensate, drain water, and/or weak steam from the cooking chamber, a sensor that detects a temperature of the water, a dispenser that sprays cooling water into the water to reduce the temperature of the water if the temperature exceeds a predetermined level, and an outlet to drain a portion of the water from the housing.
US08387609B2
A grill (10) includes a base (11) and a grill assembly (12) pivotally coupled to the base. The base includes a two oppositely disposed sides (14) which define an empty storage space (16). The grill assembly is pivotal between a stowed position generally contained within the base empty space and an operational position generally situation outside the base empty space.
US08387607B2
An paintball loader for supplying paintballs to a paintball marker is provided. The loader includes a container for storing a plurality of paintballs. An outfeed tube on the container is connected to an inlet tube on the marker. The loader further includes a drive shaft, and a feeder rotatably disposed in the container for feeding paintballs into the outfeed tube. The loader further includes a mechanical drive handle accessible externally of the loader and connected to the drive shaft to manually wind the drive spring.
US08387603B2
A compound archery bow includes a bow handle having projecting limbs, and first and second pulleys mounted on the respective limbs for rotation around respective axes. A bow cable system includes a bowstring cable extending between the pulleys, and first and second power cables extending from the respective first and second pulleys toward the opposing pulley. Third and fourth pulleys are mounted on the handle. The third and fourth pulleys are engaged by the power cables and are at least partially offset from the bowstring cable so that the third and fourth pulleys hold the first and second power cables away from the bowstring cable, and the bowstring cable and an arrow engaged by the bowstring cable are unobstructed by the first and second power cables.
US08387595B2
A lubricating device for a four-stroke engine is provided that circulates oil while lubricating each part in a valve operating chamber and a crank chamber by supplying the oil to the valve operating chamber and the crank chamber using pressure fluctuation in the crank chamber, the pressure fluctuation being caused by reciprocating motion of a piston. The valve operating chamber is formed by mounting a valve operating chamber cover, and a suction passageway that sucks the oil in the valve operating chamber is provided by forming a groove on an inner surface of the valve operating chamber cover and sealing the groove with a sealing member shaped to fit the groove.
US08387594B2
An electric vehicle and a range extender engine are shown including the controls to operate the same.
US08387587B2
When a direct injection type internal combustion engine is in an operating state, a fuel is split and jetted into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine and split injections are performed in a manner to make a ratio of a piston travel and an injection pulse width of split injection constant in a cycle whereby a rich mixture is not locally generated and a mixture in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is put in a condition near stoichiometry. Also, when the internal combustion engine is in cold condition, a fuel is split and jetted and split injections are performed so that the ratio of the piston travel and the injection pulse width of split injections monotonously increases in a cycle.
US08387574B2
The present invention increases cold temperature oil flow through the variable cam timing (VCT) phaser to reduce the amount of time it takes to replace this oil with warmer low viscosity oil and thereby improve performance. Furthermore the oil flow through the VCT phaser is reduced once the oil temperature reaches the minimum operating temperature for the VCT phaser to operate and the VCT phaser is commanded to move from the park position. Therefore, the VCT phaser is charged with hot engine oil and is commanded to move from the parked position. The VCT phaser reduces oil flow through the phaser at high oil temperatures and low oil viscosity while adding the benefit of increased oil flow through the phaser at low oil temperatures and high oil viscosity to facilitate getting warmer oil into the VCT phaser sooner for increased VCT performance.
US08387568B2
Described is a litter box liner having handle ties and a form-fitted bottom. The bottom may be square or rectangular-shaped and may be sized to fit into a particular size litter box. The bottom may include the feature that there are no foldovers contained therewithin. At least a bottom portion of the litter box liner may be reinforced to resist tears. Such a reinforcement layer may include a woven polypropylene fabric layer or an extruded polypropylene film. The litter box liner may be, at least in part, formed of high density polyethylene (HDPE), thereby providing an additional means for tear resistance in the litter box liner.
US08387561B2
A method and apparatus for depositing a coating material on a surface of a substrate by an ion plasma deposition process using a hollow cathode is disclosed. The cathode may be a substantially cylindrical hollow cathode. A plasma arc is formed on the outer circumference of the cathode to remove coating material from the cathode, which is then deposited on a surface of a substrate. An internal arc drive magnet is contained within the hollow bore of the cathode and cooling is provided to the magnet during operation.
US08387553B2
A sleeve is positioned over a radially-expandable rod assembly and a stent is positioned over the sleeve. A mandrel is inserted into the rod assembly to thereby press the sleeve against the inner surface of the stent and expand the stent. A coating (such as a solvent, a polymer and/or a therapeutic substance) is then applied to the outer (abluminal) surfaces of the stent, by spraying, for example. The sleeve advantageously prevents the coating material from being applied to inner (luminal) surfaces of the stent and also allows the coating material to be efficiently applied to the abluminal surfaces.
US08387550B2
A semi-submersible floating platform for use in offshore applications having a semi-submersible hull structure including motion damping support columns, a pontoon structure adjoined to the motion damping support columns at a lower end thereof, and a deck structure supported at an upper end of thereof for supporting equipment mounted thereon above the water surface. Each motion damping support column has an inner water trapping damper chamber of closed base or open base construction that allows natural flooding of said inner water trapping damper chamber during installation and before reaching an operating draft of the platform, and which when flooded provides hydrodynamic mass, damping, and in-water weight to said platform during operation. A plurality of smaller columns are disposed on the perimeter of the upper portion of each support column and surround the upper portion of the inner water trapping damper chamber.
US08387545B2
A method for introducing flue gas in a steam-assisted production facility into a vapor-liquid contactor. In this method the flue gas comprises boiler combustion products selected from at least one of commercial pipeline natural gas and produced gas. The flue gas is cooled with the vapor-liquid contactor to condense a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas to produce a water stream. The water stream is then recirculated and cooled in an air cooler to produce recirculating water exiting the bottom of the vapor-liquid contactor. A water slipstream is then taken off the recirculating water to be used as make-up water.
US08387544B1
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for an ornamental table with an ornamental table top design. The ornamental table simplifies the manufacture of ornamental table top designs and affords speedy ornamental design variations. The ornamental table comprises a table top frame, and a set of table legs coupled to the table top frame wherein the table top frame includes a plurality of support bars attached to the table top frame interconnected to produce a grid-like pattern. A plurality of large tiles is set on top of the grid-like pattern to produce a first ornamental design. A channel is coupled to the support bars surrounding a perimeter of the grid-like pattern and a plurality of small tiles is set within the channel to produce a second ornamental design.
US08387525B2
A bin system that reduces the amount of trash that escapes through the auger hole formed on the bin. The system includes a bin with an auger hole formed on one end in which an auger nozzle is inserted. Mounted over the auger hole is a sealing disk assembly that includes a coaxially aligned ring spacer, an inner mounting ring affixed to the end of the bin, a flat circular elastic disk with an inner bore or circular valve, an outer ring and a plurality of threaded connectors. During operation, the auger nozzle is axially aligned over the bin's auger hole and the inner bore. When the bin is then forced over the auger nozzle, the elastic disk bends inward and stretches to create a tight seal around the auger nozzle. When the bin is moved, the auger nozzle is pulled through the disk which rebounds to its flat configuration.
US08387523B2
A rocker assembly of a strapping machine has a rocker having a seat, a positioning panel mounted on the seat and being able to swing, and two teeth panels slidably mounted on the positioning panel. When a fixed end and a tightening end of a wrapping strap are mounted between the rocker assembly and a tensioning wheel, the teeth panels slide and the positioning panel swings to adjust engaging surfaces and engaging forces between the teeth panels and the wrapping strap according to thickness of the wrapping strap. Thus the wrapping strap is able to securely wrap around the goods and is not scratched.
US08387515B2
A pair of trunnion support fittings is installed on a cylinder tube, and the trunnion support fittings have main fittings placed along vertical outer surfaces of the cylinder tube and also have fastening fittings connected to arm sections of the main fittings by screws. Installation projections formed on the fastening fittings are engaged with engagement grooves formed in lateral outer surfaces of the cylinder tube. Also, particle layers are formed on the trunnion support fittings and are in contact with the vertical outer surfaces and lateral outer surfaces of the cylinder tube.
US08387512B2
A reactive armor that may include multiple layers. The reactive armor may include a self-healing outer layer, a ceramic tile layer and a backing layer. The ceramic tile layer may include a plurality of ceramic tiles and explosive material. The ceramic tiles may be hexagonal. The ceramic tiles may each define a hollow space in which the explosive material is deposited. The reactive armor may be combined with non-reactive armor.
US08387498B2
A method for producing stacks of sheet material transversely and longitudinally cuts rectangular starting stacks using a single cutting machine and short travel paths for the material being cut. The starting stack arranged on a rear table is pushed forward under a cutting blade and is separated into at least two partial stacks which are aligned, rotated 90 degrees and pushed back under the cutting blade to form a plurality of finished partial stacks.
US08387497B2
The present invention provides a method of preparing an absorbent layer from an absorbent nonwoven web having a first plurality of slits with a first orientation and a second plurality of slits with a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation. The first plurality of slits and the second plurality of slits are at least partially through the absorbent nonwoven web, and the second plurality of slits at least partially intersects the first plurality to form apertures in the absorbent nonwoven web.
US08387493B2
A modular lathe bed system is provided including various lathe designs for incorporating the modular lathe bed into a lathe. The bed system includes a machine mounting block design which may be used to support the lathe headstock, cross-slide, and tailstock. A sliding lock system secures and stabilizes the machine mounting blocks, allowing them to slide or be locked in place. The machine mounting blocks move on a modular way bed including two upright bed tracks. The bed tracks and their connecting structure allow for a modular and extendible way bed.
US08387492B2
A hand tool set includes two housings each having a chamber formed by a pair of side walls and a base wall, and each having an orifice formed in the base wall, and each having an anchoring member and a pivot axle, two or more tool members pivotally attached to one of the housings, and two or more tool elements pivotally attached to the other housing, and the tool elements are extendible out through an orifice of the other housing when the tool elements are perpendicular to the housing, and the tool members are extendible out through the orifice of the other housing when the tool members are perpendicular to the housing, the tool members and the tool elements are selectively useable by the users.
US08387489B2
A multi-size ratchet wrench, which is easy to operate and is of multiple sizes, includes a wrench handle having two ends, at least one of which forms a head that receives and retains therein a fitting assembly that effect single direction driving. The fitting assembly rotatably supports a rotatable block that has a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the fitting assembly. The rotatable block has a circumferential surface forming one or multiple fitting sections that are substantially normal to the rotational axis of the rotatable block. This arrangement allows a user to select among differently-sized fitting sections through direct rotation of the rotatable block. Thus, the number of sockets to be carried and times of replacing sockets are both reduced. Further, the single direction driving allows the wrench handle make loaded driving of the fitting assembly in one direction and load-free rotation in an opposite direction.
US08387480B2
A scissors gear may include a main gear and a sub-gear co-axially combined by a scissors spring therebetween to integrally rotate, a first oil supply hole formed in the main gear or the sub-gear to supply oil from the outside, an oil groove formed in the sub-gear or the main gear to receive the oil by being selectively communicated with the first oil supply hole, and a check valve that is disposed in the main gear or the sub-gear to open/close the oil groove.
US08387479B2
A dual clutch transmission includes a first and second input shaft, an output shaft, a dual clutch having a first clutch and a second clutch, a first and second gear transmission mechanisms, and a control device connected to an accelerator opening degree sensor, detecting an accelerator opening degree, and a rotational speed sensor, detecting a rotational speed of an engine, and is provided with a pre-shift control device pre-selecting the shift stage gear set for establishing the shift stage, which is one stage upper or lower than the shift stage established by the selected shift stage gear set from one of the first and second gear transmission mechanisms, when values of the accelerator opening degree, the rotational speed, and the rotation acceleration, becomes equal to or more than predetermined upper shift stage pre-shift setting values or equal to or less than predetermined lower shift stage pre-shift setting values.
US08387477B2
A gear shift device is provided which changes speed by transmitting rotation of a shift spindle by gear shift operation input to rotation of a shift drum through an intermittent feed mechanism and a lost motion mechanism. An upstream rotation holding mechanism is provided to hold in a required rotational position an upstream rotating member of the lost motion mechanism which is rotated by gear shift operation input through the intermittent feed mechanism. When a required level of gear shift operation is done, the gear shift device changes speed adequately, without continuing gear shift operation, and thus improves operability.
US08387476B2
A control system is provided for a multiple clutch transmission (10) having at least three synchronizers (74, 76, 78, 80) with opposed acting alpha and beta pressure chambers (106, 104) to selectively synchronize alpha or beta gears with a rotating shaft. The control system includes a pressure source (124), a sump (120), a first multiplex valve (160) having a first position allowing fluid communication of alpha and beta chambers for two synchronizers (74, 76) with the pressure source (122) and diverting alpha and beta pressure chambers (106, 104) of remaining synchronizers (80, 78) to sump (120). The first multiplex valve (160) has a second position reversing the above action. A second multiplex valve (164) connected with the first multiplex valve (160) having a first position connecting alpha and beta chambers (106, 104) of a given synchronizer with the pressure source (122) and alpha and beta chambers (106, 104) of the other synchronizer with the sump (120). The second multiplex valve (164) has a second position reversing the action. A first regulator valve (170) is connected with the second multiplex valve (164) for selectively connecting the alpha chamber (106) with one of a set of the pressure source (122) and the sump (120). A second regulator valve is provided connected with the second multiplex valve (164) for selectively connecting the beta chamber (104) with one of a set of the pressure source (122) and the (sump 120).
US08387473B2
A temperature sensing sootblower that may be configured as a modification to an existing sootblower or a specially constructed sootblower that, in addition to its normal soot blowing functions, has the capability to measure the flue gas, lance tube, and/or cleaning fluid temperatures. One or more thermocouples or other temperature measuring devices are carried by the sootblower lance tube that is inserted into the boiler. This allows for the temperature of the flue gas, lance tube, and cleaning fluid to be measured as the sootblower lance tube is inserted into and retracted from the boiler. Multiple temperature measuring devices may be located on the sootblower lance to measure the temperature across heat transfer surfaces and at different locations along the lance tube. A data transfer device transmits the temperature measurements from the rotating thermocouple to a non-rotating data acquisition unit for use in boiler cleaning and other operations.
US08387468B2
A device, system and method for analyzing a user's motion using a piezoelectric film to generate a plurality of deformation signals based upon an associated plurality of deformations, an EEPROM to record data associated with the plurality of deformation signals, and a transceiver to receive at least a portion of the recorded data from the EEPROM and to transmit data, wherein the analysis may determine an abnormality in the user's gait.
US08387466B2
An electric part protection member for a projecting contact terminal which projects from a supporting portion of an electric part, includes a bottomed cylindrical cap portion, adapted to be detachably placed over the supporting portion, wherein: the cap portion is formed of a conductive member; and when the cap portion is placed over the supporting portion, the cap portion is electrically connected to a housing of the electric part, and the contact terminals are spaced apart from the cap portion.
US08387459B2
The MEMS sensor according to the present invention includes: a substrate; a supporting portion provided on one surface of the substrate; a beam, supported by the supporting portion, having a movable portion opposed to the surface of the substrate through a space; a resistor formed on at least the movable portion of the beam; a weight arranged on a side of the beam opposite to the substrate; and a coupling portion, made of a metallic material, coupling the beam and the weight with each other.
US08387453B2
A digital tire pressure gauge has a housing having a first and a second end. A port at the first end of the housing is adapted to engage with and open a needle valve of a tire valve stem. The gauge also includes a pressure sensor and a processor in electronic communication with the pressure sensor. A bleed valve is disposed in the housing and a bleed lever is in contact engagement with the bleed valve. When the port is coupled to the tire valve stem, in a first operational mode, the bleed valve is closed and an air pressure measurement is obtained. In a second operational mode, pressing the bleed lever causes the bleed valve to open and to allow air to be bled out from the tire via the pressure gauge.
US08387452B2
A tire includes a flexible piezoelectric element associated with an energy storage device (e.g. a capacitor). The flexible piezoelectric element is mounted in cantilever-beam fashion within a housing so that a first end thereof is fixed to the housing. A loading mass is associated with the second end of the flexible piezoelectric element. A small gap is formed between the inner walls of the housing and the outer surface of the loading mass in order to allow limited flexure of the piezoelectric element. The housing, including the piezoelectric element, is mounted in a crown portion of the tire, preferably on the inner surface of the tire. The piezoelectric element flexes under the action of the longitudinal acceleration when the tire rotates. Sufficient electrical power for powering an electronic device included within the tire is obtained, together with a long durability of the piezoelectric element.
US08387448B2
A method for monitoring performance of a passive selective catalytic reduction system includes operating the internal combustion engine in a preconditioning mode. Subsequent to the preconditioning, an air/fuel excursion is introduced into the exhaust gas feedstream and a signal output from a sensor monitoring the exhaust gas feedstream in the selective catalytic reduction system during the air/fuel excursion is monitored. An operating effectiveness is determined for the selective catalytic reduction system correlated to the signal output from the sensor monitoring the exhaust gas feedstream.
US08387446B2
A measuring device including: a supply circuit for radiofrequency ignition including a transformer including a secondary winding connected to at least one resonator having a resonance frequency higher than 1 MHz, and including two electrodes capable of generating a spark upon an ignition control; a measuring capacitor connected in series between the secondary winding and the resonator; a measuring circuit of ionization current of the combustion gases in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine associated with the resonator, the circuit being connected at terminals of the measuring capacitor; and/or a measuring circuit that measures a voltage at the resonator terminals upon an ignition control, the circuit being connected to terminals of the measuring capacitor.
US08387440B2
A method for detecting and localizing a fuel leakage in the engine of a multi-engine aircraft consisting in determining a fuel consumption for each aircraft engine, in comparing the consumption of each engine with the other aircraft engines, in determining the engine exhibiting the greater fuel consumption ratio, in determining the excess consumption ratio of the aforementioned engine with respect to the other engines, in checking whether the excessive consumption is caused by a leakage and in triggering an alarm if the step is checked. A system for detecting and localizing a fuel leakage in the engine of a multi-engine aircraft including an airborne computer for carrying out the aforementioned method is also disclosed.
US08387431B2
A device for coiling thin metal strip, especially hot-rolled or cold-rolled thin steel strip, includes a drivable coiler mandrel which can be adjusted in diameter by expandable segments and can be adjusted to a coil inside diameter and to a diameter for detaching the finished coil. The device further includes an expansion adapter which can be inserted into the open eye of the coil and is mounted on a holder with a guide.
US08387428B2
A laying pipe configured for rotation about its axis in a rolling mill laying head, comprises a ferrous outer tube having an entry section aligned with its axis, an intermediate section curving away from its axis, and a delivery section having a constant radius measured from its axis. A ferrous inner tube has entry, intermediate and delivery sections respectively lining the entry, intermediate and delivery sections of the outer tube. The inner tube is constrained against movement relative to the outer tube solely by frictional contact with the outer tube. The inner tube is movable incrementally within the outer tube in one direction in response to heating and cooling cycles during rotation of the laying pipe about its axis.
US08387422B2
A pulsator wash system includes a cabinet, a wash tub supported within the cabinet, a wash basket supported within the wash tub, and a drive system for rotating the wash basket. A pulsator is disposed adjacent a bottom of the wash basket and drivingly connected to the drive system. The pulsator includes a base portion, a central hub extending upward from the base portion, and a plurality of radially extending vanes extending upward from the base portion. Each of the plurality of radially extending vanes extends radially from about a peripheral radial edge of the base portion to a location spaced apart from the central hub.
US08387420B2
A drum type washing machine having a suspension supporting a water tub in a vibration isolated manner and including a cylinder, a magnetic field generator fixed in the cylinder, a pair of magnetic members located at both axial sides of the field generator respectively, a smart fluid including a magneto-rheological fluid retained on an inner surface of the generator, a sealing member which is fixed in the cylinder so as to be located below the generator to prevent leakage of the smart fluid so that the smart fluid is retained, and a shaft which is supported so as to be axially reciprocable relatively along the generator, magnetic members, smart fluid, and sealing member such that reciprocation of the shaft does not substantially displace the smart fluid. The generator generates a magnetic circuit including the cylinder and the shaft.
US08387412B2
A jewelry article having one or more interchangeable inserts removably attached thereto. In an aspect, the article has an assembly having an opening and one or more recessed portions, wherein one or more interchangeable inserts are removably attached therein. The one or more inserts have a top portion having a recessed housing to house one or more decorative ornaments, and a base portion having one or more cavities wherein one or more magnets are adhesively affixed therein.
US08387404B2
An air conditioner includes a cabinet positioned on an indoor ceiling. The air conditioner also includes a front panel that is coupled to the cabinet and has an air inlet. The air conditioner further includes a suction panel coupled to the front panel and configured to move to open or close the inlet. In addition, the air conditioner includes a sensor unit positioned on the suction panel, configured to detect a position of an indoor person, and configured to move downward with respect to the suction panel in response to an operation instruction.
US08387403B2
A cooling goods presentation refrigerator for presenting refrigerated goods or frozen goods has a vertical access opening to the goods chamber that is subdivided into vertically superposed compartments. The current of cooling air is conducted out of the head part directly into the shelf compartments arranged underneath it, during which the cooling air flows from the top downward through one shelf compartment after the other. From the lowest shelf compartment, the air is trapped in a collection chamber arranged underneath it and subsequently prepared by the cooling unit for the next circulation. The head part of the goods presentation refrigerator includes an air-permeable separating wall against the adjacent shelf compartment. The shelf compartment bottoms are air-permeable, so that the current of cooling air can flow successively downward through the shelf compartments.
US08387394B2
A gas-turbine burner having a plurality of main swirl generators, each having an inlet flow opening formed by the main swirl generator edge, is provided. In order to achieve a uniform flow of combustion air through the main swirl generator, the gas-turbine burner has an inlet-flow guide means with a flow guide surface which runs from one of the inlet-flow openings to an adjacent inlet-flow opening, to which the main swirl generator edges which form the inlet-flow openings are connected, and the flow guide surface widens from there radially upwards. The main swirl generators are central-symmetrically arranged around a pilot burner and the flow guide surface runs radially outside the main swirl generators.
US08387389B2
A gas turbine engine includes a first flow passage and a main combustion arrangement in the first flow passage. The engine further includes a second flow passage and a first catalytic combustion arrangement in the second flow passage, wherein the second flow passage can communicate with the first flow passage at at least one upstream passage junction upstream of the main combustion arrangement and upstream of the first catalytic combustion arrangement, and the second flow passage can communicate with the first flow passage at at least one downstream passage junction downstream of the main combustion arrangement and downstream of the first catalytic combustion arrangement.
US08387381B2
The present invention relates to an electric booster in which a rotation of an electric motor is converted into a linear motion and transmitted to an output member by a rotation-linear motion mechanism, and the output member pushes a piston of a master cylinder to generate a brake fluid pressure in a pressure chamber in the master cylinder. The present invention is characterized in that an ECU casing containing boards and the like such as a board for controlling the electric motor is coupled to the top of a motor casing constituting the electric motor. The ECU casing is offset in one direction in a plane perpendicular to a plane containing an axis of the master cylinder. A male connector is provided at a side surface of the ECU casing on the opposite side from the offset direction F side, and a space between the male connector and an interference area of the ECU casing with the other components and devices is utilized as a space for attachment/detachment of the male connector to/from the female connector.
US08387377B2
The invention relates to a hydrostatic multi-motor drive (1) with a hydraulic pump (2) and at least one first pair of hydraulic motors. The two hydraulic motors (6, 7) of the first pair of hydraulic motors are connected to one another in series by means of a first working line section (12). A bypass line (15) is provided which connects a first connection (11; 10) of the hydraulic motor (7; 6), which is upstream in relation to a volumetric flow generated by the hydraulic pump (2), to a second connection (9; 8) of the downstream hydraulic motor (7; 6). A first valve unit (18) which interrupts the first bypass line (15) is arranged in the bypass line (15). A first minimum pressure maintaining device (25; 26) for maintaining a minimum pressure at the upstream connection (11; 10) of the downstream hydraulic motor (7; 6) is also arranged in the bypass line (15).
US08387373B2
Provided is an exhaust gas combustion device which is capable of early prevention of clogging, and also a power generator including the device. An exhaust gas combustion device of the present invention includes: a DPF; a sensor which measures the pressure of exhaust gas to be introduced into the DPF; a sensor which measures the pressure of exhaust gas purified by the DPF; and a controller which receives outputs from both sensors and calculates a pressure difference. When the pressure difference is equal to or larger than a preset threshold, the heater is supplied with power from a power generating unit to thereby heat exhaust gas. Accordingly, PM accumulated inside the DPF is combusted and removed, preventing excessive clogging of the DPF even during light-load operation.
US08387368B2
A method for controlling a selective catalytic reduction catalyst in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine is disclosed, wherein the supply of a quantity of a gaseous ammonia reductant to the SCR catalyst uses a closed-loop SCR catalyst model coupled to a SCR-out NOx sensor that measures a SCR-out NOx emission value. The closed-loop SCR catalyst model uses a relationship linking the measured SCR-out NOx value to the NOx conversion efficiency and the ammonia slip. The actual NH3 emission value and/or an actual SCR-out NOx indicative value are computed based upon differentiation of said relationship.
US08387356B2
A method of increasing output of a combined cycle power plant with supplemental duct firing from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) during select periods includes guiding a reheat steam flow to at least one reheat attemperator fluidly connected to the HRSG during the select period. The method further includes increasing reheat attemperation water flow through the at least one reheat attemperator, decreasing a set point temperature of the at least one reheat attemperator for the select period to a lower set point temperature, and raising power output of the combined cycle power plant during the select period.
US08387344B2
A split crimper for use in a crimping assembly for engaging and heat sealing overlapping layers of a packaging material includes a first crimper portion having a crimping surface and a second crimper portion that is secured to the first crimper portion to form a crimper. Portions of the first and second crimper portions cooperate to define an interior cavity, and a heating element is disposed completely within the interior cavity.
US08387337B2
The purpose of this invention is to decrease labor involved in waterproofing via flashing and termination of a pliable membrane roofing system at its perimeters and vertical junctures. As opposed to a standard two piece membrane flashing, the invention provides for a single piece of membrane to be used. The single piece of membrane would be taken from that which has already been installed on the flat portion of the roof. The loose section would be folded and the folded section would be anchored to the roof or vertical junctures. The piece now left loose would be folded over the anchoring device and terminated on the roof or vertical juncture. There are 3 devices disclosed which are intended to serve the purpose of anchoring the folded portion of roof. Elimination of the two piece flashing will greatly decrease the labor involved in roof installation with no loss in roof performance.
US08387333B2
A structural support device for supporting a joist relative to a support, wherein the joist has a web and a bottom, may include a hanger assembly having a seat configured for resting the bottom of the joist thereon, a side portion extending therefrom, and a securing portion extending from the side portion for securing the device to the support, and a web brace assembly operably extending from the hanger assembly at a junction and configured for articulation between a pre-adjusted position and an adjusted position to adjustably engage and align with the web of the joist. A method of making and using are also provided.
US08387331B2
A wind turbine tower which includes a number of sections, connected by bolted joints is disclosed. A bolted joint includes at least one connection of the bearing type and at least one connection of the slip resistant at serviceability type. In one aspect, the bearing type connection includes at least one non prestressed bolt and/or the connection of the slip resistant at serviceability type includes at least one prestressed bolt.
US08387326B2
An insulating siding system contains two components: a sheathing panel and a siding panel. The sheathing panel contains slots or grooves, while the siding panel contains connectors that fit into the slots or grooves. The siding panels are fit or attached to the sheathing panel without the need for fasteners, such as nails or staples, to penetrate the siding panel, creating a uniform exterior.
US08387325B2
An insulated siding member and a method of fabricating an insulating siding member is described. The siding member may include a siding panel, an insulation member and a backing layer. The siding panel may have a cavity that may serve as a molding receptacle to allow the insulating material to be molded directly into the cavity of the remainder of the siding panel. The cavity may also allow for the insulation layer to be applied directly to the panel, whereby there may be no need for an additional adhesive layer to attach the insulation member with the siding panel. Thus, the backing layer may be attached directly to the insulation member. The siding member may have a configuration that may also allow the siding member to be easily engaged with or be interlocked with another siding member to provide for better and more uniform insulation.
US08387315B2
A microclimate cooling system for an indoor/outdoor stadium includes a partially rotatable roof, the rotatable roof having a first position environmentally sealing an interior of the stadium. and a second position exposing a portion of the interior to the atmosphere, a field surrounded by the stadium, and a tiered seating positioned adjacent a first side of the field. The system further includes a raised concrete barrier adjacent a second side of the pitch opposing the first side of the field, a first wall adjacent a third side of the field, and a second wall adjacent a fourth side of the field, the first and second walls perpendicular to the tiered seating extending between at least a portion of the tiered seating and the raised concrete barrier. The system further includes a plurality of air handling units for supplying cooling air to the tiered seating.
US08387311B2
A vehicle door assembly includes an outer handle assembly, a latch mechanism, a rod, and a contact surface. The outer handle assembly includes a moveable handle. The latch mechanism includes a latch for engaging a striker and an outer handle lever operably connected to the latch. The rod connects the outer handle assembly to the latch mechanism. The contact surface is associated with the vehicle door and is inwardly offset from the rod. The contact surface is positioned with respect to the rod such that inward lateral movement of the handle during an outer handle intrusion event results in the rod moving laterally inward and impacting the contact surface. Impact with the contact surface by the rod inhibits the rod from moving the outer handle lever in an unlatching direction.
US08387308B2
The present invention relates to a separately washable rice germination apparatus which has a motor as a power source enabling the continuous circulation of circulating water for supplying moisture needed to germinate rice germs and an impeller rotated by the rotation of the motor, the motor and the impeller being detachably coupled to each other by means of a magnet force, such that scales or foreign substances accumulated in a water tank and the impeller during rice germination can be easily removed therefrom, and that separates a section where circulating water is sucked from a section where the sucked circulating water is pushed upwardly to a germination container, such that the circulation efficiency of the circulating water can be improved.
US08387305B2
A rodent management station includes a housing having a base and a lid together at least in part defining an interior space. The housing has an entry opening and an internal partition structure configured to partition the interior space of the housing into a bait chamber having an entryway spaced from the entry opening. A pathway is defined at least in part by the partition structure and extends away from the at least one entry opening to the entryway of the bait chamber. The partition structure has at least one through-opening therein other than at the bait chamber entryway to provide open communication between the pathway and the bait chamber other than at the bait chamber entryway. The at least one through-opening is sized substantially smaller than the housing entry opening and the bait chamber entryway to inhibit rodents against entering the bait chamber at the at least one through-opening.
US08387303B2
A fishing lure having a buoyant housing containing a power source and an electronic controlling element. A pair of conduction lines may connect the power source with a submersible module which contains an actuator, a means for propelling the submersible module through the water, and a hook. An elongate member or cable may also be used to connect the buoyant housing with the submersible module. A means for increasing/decreasing the length of conduction lines (and optional cable) between the buoyant housing and the submersible module may also be used. Some embodiments operate an electric motor with a propeller, fin, or tail. Some embodiments utilize contacts which may be bridged by water in order to energize the submersible module.
US08387298B2
A buttpad assembly for use on a firearm includes a base wall, a cushion body and a guard element. A firearm buttstock assembly is also included that has a buttstock body and a buttpad assembly. A method of assembling a firearm buttstock assembly is also included.
US08387297B2
Applicants have disclosed a quick connect/disconnect recoil pad for the butt-end of a shoulder-mounted firearm. The recoil pad can be installed and removed without tools or implements, to swap in another recoil pad. Applicants' preferred embodiment comprises: an interchangeable recoil pad assembly having a recoil pad; and a spring-loaded latching means, attached to the rear or butt-end of a gun stock for connecting the recoil pad assembly onto the stock and for later quickly disconnecting the pad assembly, if desired, via a release button housed in the stock.
US08387285B2
According to the present invention there is provided a sports shoe (10) having an upper part (12) configured to receive the foot (14) of a wearer and a sole arrangement (16) which is inclined so as to reduce in height in a forwards direction, wherein the sole arrangement (16) includes a rigid portion (40) and a compressible portion (28) where the rigid portion (40) is thinner than the compressible portion (28) and, in use, is provided between the compressible portion (28) and the foot (14) of the wearer, wherein further the rigid portion (40), in use, is provided beneath the heel (22), lateral aspect of the mid foot, the fifth metatarsal bone (52) and the fifth metatarsal joint (34) of the foot (14) of the wearer.
US08387281B2
An article of footwear promotes complimentary movement and proprioceptive feedback of a user's foot (e.g., to help an infant learn to walk or an adult balance on an uneven surface) while wearing the article of footwear. The article of footwear includes an outsole having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a mid region substantially in between the forefoot and heel regions. The three regions are configured to provide complimentary movement with respect to the user's foot. The forefoot region of the outsole includes a base portion interconnecting ground contact pads configured to move relative to one another, each ground contact pad moving substantially independently of the other relative to the base portion.
US08387269B2
The technology relates to spray dried plasma and methods of making the same. The method includes providing plasma to a spray drying apparatus, spray drying the plasma, at the spray drying apparatus, to form physiologically active plasma powder, the spray drying apparatus configured utilizing one or more parameters, and storing the physiologically active plasma powder.
US08387252B1
A boiler tube clamp including a first portion having a first substantially U-shaped midsection with a first inner surface configured for receiving and pressing against one side of a boiler tube, a first hinge member arranged on one end of the first midsection, and a threaded bolt hingedly attached to the other end of the first midsection, and a second portion having a second substantially U-shaped midsection with a second inner surface configured for receiving and pressing against the other side of the boiler tube. The clamp further includes a second hinge member arranged on one end of the second midsection and hingedly connected to the first hinge member so that the first inner surface and the second inner surface close toward one another. An open slot is arranged at the other end of the second midsection configured for detachably receiving the threaded bolt. A lip extends radially out from an outer surface of the second midsection and arranged adjacent to an edge thereof. A jackscrew extends through the lip for adjusting the distance a boiler tube contained by the clamp extends into a boiler through a boiler header.
US08387242B2
An electrical connector includes a fixing member having a support seat; a plurality of terminals, each having an embed section embedded within the fixing member along an extension direction via an insert-molding process and a contact section exposing from the support seat of the fixing member; and an insulated body for seating on the support seat of the fixing member. The insulated body has an insert face formed with a plurality of terminal holes. The insert face is dented inwardly so as to form a plug reception chamber in spatial communication with the terminal holes. When the insulated body is seated on the support seat of the fixing member, the contact sections of the terminals pass through the terminal holes in the insulated body and are retained within the plug reception chamber.
US08387241B2
A method of fabricating a wiring board including at least one conductor layer and at least one resin insulating layer, the method including a wiring groove forming step of forming a wiring groove in the resin insulating layer by irradiating a surface of the resin insulating layer with a laser, and a wiring layer forming step of forming the conductor layer such that at least a portion of the conductor layer is embedded in the wiring groove to form a wiring layer in the wiring groove.
US08387229B2
A method of joining a first component to a second component, the method comprising preparing the first component by forming an array of projections extending from a bond surface of the first component, each projection having a base, a tapered tip and a tapered overhang beneath the tip, wherein the overhang has an undercut surface which is inclined and faces towards the local bond surface; bringing the components together so as to embed the projections in the second component; and hardening the second component after the array of projections has been embedded into it. Also, a joint so formed.
US08387225B1
Repeated inserting, tightening, loosening, and removing of external threads to internal threads can increase the likelihood of cross threading and thread damage. A spring loaded gear bolt assembly, which promotes alignment of mating threads before applying torque, is described. A spring is disposed on the back end of a bolt shaft to promote alignment of lead mating threads before twisting to engage external to internal threads. A gear chain translates a single hand rotation to thread two bolts into respective affixed internal threaded holes, simultaneously. A spring loaded gear bolt assembly and method described herein promote increased thread life and ease of use ease for test plate securing. Efficient single handed manipulation of multiple bolts simultaneously can be achieved using a test plate assembly, which included spring loaded gear bolt assemblies, as described herein. Applications of a spring loaded gear bolt include infrared adapter test plate assemblies.
US08387220B2
Providing a manufacturing method of a piezoelectric element which contains at least a substrate, a piezoelectric film and an electrode provided between the substrate and the piezoelectric film. The method includes providing an electrode on a substrate, and baking a piezoelectric film after forming the piezoelectric film on the electrode. The electrode includes a mixture layer having an electroconductive oxide and a metal mixed therein. The concentration of the electroconductive oxide in the substrate side of the mixture layer is higher than that in the piezoelectric film side of the mixture layer, and the concentration of the metal in the piezoelectric film side of the mixture layer is higher than that in the substrate side of the mixture layer.
US08387218B2
A belaying system includes a fastening component suspended on a securing means. The fastening component secures a load connected to the fastening component. The fastening component includes a bar. The fastening component and the bar hold the securing means. When unlocked, the bar rotates to enable the fastening component to be removed from the securing means. When locked, the bar cannot rotate and the fastening component cannot be removed from the securing means. The bar is unlocked with an unlocking element. The bar is locked with a locking element. The unlocking element and the locking element are fastened directly or indirectly by and/or on the securing means separately from one another. When the unlocking element is fastened to the fastening component the bar is unlocked and the fastening component remains suspended from the unlocking element. When the locking element is fastened to the fastening component the unlocking element is unfastened.
US08387210B2
An automatic door closing hinge is configured in such a manner that first balls (43) are engaged with a first cam groove (35) formed on an outer peripheral surface of an operating rod in a cylinder (2) at opposed positions so as to have a substantially V-shape at opposed positions thereof, the first balls (43) are engaged with a compression ring (4) urged downward by a compression coil spring (5), the movement of the first balls (43) with respect to the first cam groove (35) is in conjunction with the movement of the compression ring, second balls (65) are engaged with a second cam groove (36) formed under the first cam groove (35) and having substantially the same shape as the first cam groove (35), the second balls (65) are engaged with the piston (6), the movement of the second balls (65) with respect to the second cam groove (36) is in conjunction with the movement of the piston, and air on the lower side of the piston (6) in the cylinder is gradually flowed out according to the movement of the piston.
US08387209B2
A caster assembly has a dual pivot assembly in the caster mounting that is laterally offset, whereby the caster wheels may not only pivot about a wheel pivot axis that extends through the plane of the caster wheel, but also revolve orbitally about a mounting pivot axis that is laterally offset from and parallel to the wheel axis. A transfer plate supports a pair of bearing assemblies, one of them securing a mounting post secured to the bottom of an object. The other bearing assembly supports a cylindrical head post that extends to a clevis-like bracket that supports a caster wheel.
US08387197B2
An oral care implement or toothbrush includes a head and a tooth cleaning element. The oral care implement's mass centroid may be adjusted to guard against the application of excessive force against a user's teeth. Adjustment may be performed using a variety of systems and mechanisms including adjustment of a weight within a portion of the oral care implement. The location of the weight may be modified using a variety of techniques including a screw configuration and/or a slider control.
US08387195B2
Some embodiments of the present invention describe an educational toothbrush that includes a brush head with bristles, a brush neck, and a body. The body includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the body and the bottom portion of the body are configured to operably connect to each other to form the body. The body also includes a button configured to activate the educational toothbrush and deactivate the educational toothbrush.
US08387192B1
A shore-to-dock/boat access system is disclosed for use on a body of water with changing water levels. The system may be composed of non-corrosive fiberglass (or fiberglass-like) materials and include numerous installation components: A gangway supporting structure may be affixed to the shore using support members. A moveable gangway structure may be slideably connected to the gangway supporting structure with the assistance of a slider assembly including, inter alia, cam followers, a pivot unit, and/or runner plate. In addition, methods are disclosed for installing and servicing the system.
US08387189B2
A novel washing method of a washing machine that is capable of performing a washing operation of laundry with reduced washing water consumption and low power consumption and, in addition, sterilizing the laundry is disclosed. The washing method includes supplying washing water containing detergent into a tub to perform a high-concentration washing process, and, before or after the high-concentration washing process, supplying steam into a drum.
US08387185B2
A space saver pillow system comprises a space saver pillow and a bag. The space saver pillow includes a fill and a covering surrounding and enclosing the fill. The fill of the space saver pillow is adapted to generally rebound back to its natural state after being compressed. The bag encloses the space saver pillow and an amount of air. The space saver pillow enclosed in the bag is compressed no more than about 80% of its original size.
US08387173B2
A cistern assembly for a flush toilet includes a cistern housing including a cistern lid and a cistern base, a cistern member pivotally attached within the cistern housing, and an actuator to pivot the cistern member relative to the cistern housing to discharge the stored water. The cistern member has a base wall that forms a chamber to store the water and a passageway to discharge the water from the chamber, the passageway has an internal inlet and a cistern outlet and is shaped to siphon water through the passageway. The actuator tilts the cistern member to actuate discharge of water through the passageway so that when the cistern member is pivoted and the passageway is moved below the water level of the stored water of the chamber, water is drawn through the passageway to the cistern outlet until air within the chamber enters the passageway preventing further water from being drawn into the passageway.
US08387172B2
A system for controlling the duration and volume of a flow of water in a flush of a Toilet, which includes a buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position. The system includes a converting element, for converting the buoyant flush valve to a non-buoyant flush valve which is non-automated in user actuation thereof to a raised open position. A programming element enables programming of a controlling time, for controlling the duration and volume of flow of water in a flush of a toilet. A controlling element is connected to the programming element and the non-buoyant flush valve, for retaining the non-buoyant flush valve in a raised open position upon non-automated user actuation thereof to the raised open position, and for releasing the non-buoyant flush valve from the raised open position for closing the non-buoyant flush valve, within the controlling time.
US08387170B2
A composite material which is elastic, which exhibits a resistive load under deformation which increases with the rate of deformation, which is unfoamed or foamed, comminuted or uncomminuted and which comprises i) a first polymer-based elastic material and ii) a second polymer-based material, different from i), which exhibits dilatancy in the absence of i) wherein ii) is entrapped in a solid matrix of i), the composite material being unfoamed or, when foamed, preparable by incorporating ii) with i) prior to foaming.
US08387163B2
A flexible face mask is provided for protecting the face from outdoor elements. The face mask comprises a nose shield portion configured to cover the user's nose, a pair of cheek shield portions configured to cover the sides of the user's face, and a pair of ear strap portions configured to cover and receive the user's ears and eyewear. A reinforcing strip on the skin-facing side of the nose shield allows the nose shield to better conform to the user's nose. The face mask is configured for attachment to both eye glasses and goggles. For eyeglasses, a pair of small “C” - shaped cuts in the nose shield are configured to receive the nose pads of the eyeglasses. For goggles or eyeglasses, a set of hook and loop patches are utilized, wherein one patch is affixed to the eyewear's bridge and the mating patch is affixed to the nose shield.
US08393007B2
Methods, apparatus, and media for distributing digital content to at least one recipient computing device to be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device in accordance with usage rights information. An exemplary method comprises determining, by at least one sending computing device, if the at least one recipient computing device is trusted to receive the digital content from the at least one sending computing device, sending the digital content, by the at least one sending computing device, to the at least one recipient computing device only if the at least one recipient computing device has been determined to be trusted to receive the digital content from the at least one sending computing device, and sending usage rights information indicating how the digital content may be rendered by the at least one recipient computing device, the usage rights information being enforceable by the at least on recipient computing device.
US08393006B2
A method and computer program product to procure digital rights management (DRM) event data comprises collecting a first set of event data in one or more standardized event data formats, and communicating the first set of event data to an event data collection server for storage. A second set of event data may also be collected in one or more standardized event data formats, which is also communicated to the event data collection server for storage. The method and computer program product may also include storing the first set, and optional second set, of event data in a centralized repository, authorizing access to the event data, and responding to at least one query from an authorized audit computer to provide event data associated with at least one of the first set of event data and the second set of event data retrieved from the centralized repository.
US08393004B2
The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for protecting information for use by mobile devices. In one exemplary embodiment, a system comprises a mobile device, a base, and a memory device. The mobile device has a user input interface, and the base is secured to a user. The mobile device is configured to receive data manually input via the user input interface by the user and to wirelessly transmit the data. The mobile device is further configured to wirelessly transmit a retrieval request in response to a user input. The memory device is mounted on the base. The memory device is configured to receive and store the data wirelessly transmitted by the mobile device. The memory device is further configured to retrieve the data and to wirelessly transmit the data to the mobile device in response to the retrieval request.
US08392996B2
A method, system, computer program product and/or a computer readable medium of instructions for detecting one or more entities which are able to reinfect a processing system with malicious software. The method includes: monitoring, in the processing system, activity indicative of the malicious software reinfecting the processing system; in response to detecting the activity, storing a record of the activity and one or more entities associated with the activity; determining if the malicious software has reinfected the processing system; and in response to determining that the malicious software has reinfected the processing system, analysing the record to detect the one or more entities which were associated with the activity that caused and/or assisted in reinfecting the processing system with the malicious software. There is also disclosed a method, system, computer program product and/or a computer readable medium of instructions for detecting a variant of malicious software in a processing system.
US08392995B2
A method of operating a computing entity in a network having a log mapping computing entity network addresses to vulnerabilities, the method comprising the steps of: using the entity's network address, searching the log to establish what vulnerabilities the entity has; and if the log indicates the entity has a vulnerability, sending data identifying a user of the entity to an administrator of the network.
US08392993B1
A computer-implemented method for delaying termination of a process to capture data relating to a potential threat is described. A process that executes an event that indicates a threat is monitored. The event is allowed to execute on the process until a predetermined indicator is triggered. Data associated with the execution of the event is recorded when the predetermined indicator is triggered. The recorded data is transmitted to a processing system for analysis. The process is terminated from continuing to execute the event.
US08392978B2
A method and apparatus for secure authentication of a hardware token is disclosed. In one embodiment, a host computer fingerprint is used to generate a partial seed for a challenge-response authentication which is performed on the hardware token. In another embodiment, the host computer fingerprint is used as a personal identification number for the hardware token.
US08392975B1
Some embodiments provide a system that authenticates a user. During operation, the system obtains an identifier for the user from an identification card associated with the user and displays a set of images to the user. Next, the system receives an image sequence comprising a sequence of images selected by the user from the set of images. Finally, the system authenticates the user based on the identifier and the image sequence.
US08392966B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for limiting the availability of computational resources to a device to stimulate a user of the device to apply necessary updates. Indication of the n update to the device is received and a determination is made as to whether the update has been applied to the device. The availability of computational resources at the device to use to execute processes at the device are limited in response to determining that the update has not been applied to the device. Processes are executed at the device using the limited available computational resources after the limiting of the availability of the computational resources. A determination is made as to whether the update has been applied to the device after limiting the availability of the computational resources. The limiting of the availability of the computational resources at the device is reversed in response to determining that the update to the device was applied.
US08392958B2
[Object]To make it possible for the reception side to carry out an optimum process for an image signal (image data) depending upon the type of a content.[Solving Means]An AV system 40 composed of an HD recorder 41 and a display unit 42 uses a communication interface of the HDMI. An HDMI source 53 of the HD recorder 41 transmits image data (image signal) in the form of differential signals to an HDMI sink 61 of the display unit 42 through three TMDS channels. The HDMI source 53 inserts content identification information for the identification of the type of a content of image data to be transmitted into an AVI InfoFrame packet placed in a blanking period. A control section 64 of the display unit 42 controls operation of a display processing section 62 which carries out a process for displaying for the image data based on the content identification information (ITC, CT1 and CT0) received by the HDMI sink 61 and a display section 63 for displaying an image.
US08392952B2
In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a technique is implemented to effectively receive streaming multimedia content in digital form, parse and segment the received transport stream and process the segmented content. Such treatment of received programming content provides for efficient storage of such programming content, and effectively provides for access to such content by administrators of a broadband system as well as users of such systems. In accordance with the invention, a technique enables, among other things: the creation of reference frames for, e.g., effective segmentation of programming content; encapsulation of programming content data as a UDP/IP datagram; associating programming content with provider and dedicated resource attributes; monitoring staging processor activity; effectively segmenting programming content that is scrambled; developing a unicast and multicast; compensating for missing or delayed programming content; and propagating video servers of varying manufacturers.
US08392945B2
A video services receiver system and related operating methods provide alternative event information to a customer who is subject to a blackout for a desired event. If the blacked out content is available via a different event on a different service, the system will find the other event and provide an appropriate notification to the customer. A method of providing access to events by a customer associated with a video services receiver begins by identifying a first event on a first service, the first event corresponding to a first presentation of content. The method continues by retrieving an alternative event identifier for the first event and using the alternative event identifier to search for a second event on a second service, the second event corresponding to a second presentation of the content. Thereafter, the method generates an alternative event notification for the customer. The alternative event notification indicates availability of the second event for access by the customer.
US08392931B2
A method for communicating between devices in a network includes creating an I/O tunnel between a first device and a second device through the network. The I/O tunnel is associated with I/O resources in both the first device and the second device, and wherein at least one of the I/O resources comprises a buffer resource. A data transfer operation may be sent between the first device and the second device by consuming at least some of the I/O resources associated with the I/O tunnel. A plurality of commands or a plurality of responses can be aggregated into a single buffer resource. Upon completion of the data transfer operation, the I/O resources that are consumed are automatically renewed.
US08392923B2
A method, system, and computer program product for computing an optimal time interval between polling requests to determine whether an asynchronous operation is completed, in a data processing system. A Polling Request Interval (PRI) utility determines the optimal time interval between successive polling requests, based on historical job completion results. The PRI utility first determines an average job time for previously completed operations. The PRI utility then retrieves a pair of preset configuration parameters including (1) a first parameter which provides the minimum time interval between successive polling requests; and (2) a second parameter which provides the fraction of the average task time added to the first parameter to obtain the time interval between (successive) polling requests. The PRI utility calculates the optimal time between polling requests based on the average job time and the retrieved configuration parameters.
US08392922B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for marshaling results of nested tasks. Unwrap methods are used to reduce the level of task nesting and insure that appropriate results are marshaled between tasks. A proxy task is used to represent the aggregate asynchronous operation of a wrapping task and a wrapped task. The proxy task has a completion state that is at least indicative of the completion state of the aggregate asynchronous operation. The completion state of the aggregate asynchronous operation is determined and set from one or more of the completion state of the wrapping task and the wrapped task. The completion state of the proxy task can be conveyed to calling logic to indicate the completion state of the aggregate asynchronous operation to the calling logic.
US08392909B2
A computer processor subsystem, e.g. called a “target”, in response to receiving an update to vital product data of the system from a source computer processor subsystem, examines the update to detect the vital product data of the target computer processor subsystem stored by the source computer processor subsystem; and, in response to the detected vital product data being incorrect, the target computer processor subsystem forwards its correct vital product data to the source computer processor subsystem having the incorrect vital product data. A computer processor subsystem is the authoritative reference for its vital product data.
US08392906B2
A computer implemented method, a tangible storage medium, and a data processing system build a runtime environment of a system. A profile manager receives a service request containing a profile identifier. The profile identifier specifies a required version of at least one software component. The profile manager identifies a complete installation of the software component, and at least one delta file. The profile manager dynamically constructs a classpath for the required version by preferentially utilizing files from the at least one delta file followed by files from the complete installation. The runtime environment is then built utilizing the classpath.
US08392905B2
The present invention effectively utilizes auxiliary registers and provides a compiler system which secures error detectability when the auxiliary registers are shared for plural uses. The instruction definition resource configuring unit configures, as preparation for processing by the register assigning unit, respective resources such as a register to be defined or referred to by for each instruction in an intermediate code. The instruction definition resource configuring unit detects possibility of instructions each of which is to be decomposed into plural instructions. As for an instruction to be possibly decomposed, the instruction definition resource configuring unit configures a corresponding register in the intermediate code, assuming the corresponding register used for the decomposition to be defined and referred. The register assigning unit uses the register as a general register as far as a live range of the register used for the decomposition does not overlap.
US08392900B1
Systems and methods according to the present invention provide techniques which modify programs having barrier statements. Dependence relations between statements, and enforcement associations between the barrier statements and the dependence relations, in the program are identified. The dependence relations are classified as being either enforceable by point-to-point synchronization or not enforceable by point-to-point synchronization. A subset of the barrier statements, which will enforce those dependence relations that are unenforceable by point-to-point synchronization, are determined. Other(s) of the barrier statements are replaced with a point-to-point synchronization routine.
US08392897B2
An inherently safe code format for representing computer programs is disclosed. The format provides incorruptible referential integrity and uses type separation to achieve intrinsic type safety. The format preserves a safety guarantee found in a source code language representation of the computer program while the computer program proceeds through various stages of the code compilation process.
US08392894B2
A method and system is provided for using an active server page program in a universal web-based active server page framework. The active server page program has associated recordset objects within an active server page framework. The universal web-based active server page framework has associated dataset objects with data structure requirements which are incompatible with data structure requirements associated with the recordset objects. The method and system communicate recordset objects from the active server page program to a recordset-dataset translation mechanism. The dataset objects communicate between the universal web-based active server page program environment and the recordset-dataset translation mechanism. Translating dataset objects to corresponding recordset objects occurs within the recordset-dataset translation mechanism for transmitting data within the dataset objects to the active server page program of the active server page framework.
US08392888B2
A method, article, and system for providing an effective implementation of assembler language translate-n-to-n instructions implemented on 21, 31, and 64-bit architectures, while maintaining backward compatibility with existing systems. The enhanced Extended-Translation Facility 2 (ETF2) instruction set introduces a new operand in an unused field (M3) that facilitates a change in the original instruction format and its intended function. With the ETF2-Enhancement Facility installed, a value of zeros in the M3 field indicates that instruction operation is to continue as originally defined. When a nonzero value is coded in the M3 field a new function is carried out. The assembler accommodates the changes by making the new M3 field optional when coding the instructions. If the M3 field is not coded, the assembler defaults to providing zeros in the M3 field (as found in the original instruction format), and backward compatible operation is provided.
US08392880B2
Embodiments of the invention provide application development tools that allow developers to rapidly build database-aware applications and database unit tests. Embodiments of the invention support multiple scenarios for database-aware application development, including beginning from a database table and automatically creating application code to access the table, beginning from an existing database query, beginning from existing application code that accesses a database, and hybrids or variations of these approaches.
US08392875B2
A dynamic data-modeling system and a content management framework combined into a high-level application development framework is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system for application development, comprises a data-modeling framework configured to enable a user to define a logical data model. The data-modeling framework dynamically translates the logical data model into a corresponding physical data model. The changes to the logical data model are automatically adjusted in the physical data model accordingly. A content management framework is coupled to the data-modeling framework. The content management framework is configured to provide tools to enable the user to manage content associated with the physical data model based on the logical data model.
US08392872B2
A computer program is pseudo translated within an integrated development environment (IDE). Pseudo translation is performed, within an IDE, on one or more first resource files for the computer program, to generate corresponding one or more second resource files, without modifying one or more source code files for the computer program. The computer program is debugged and/or run, within the IDE, using the second resource files, such that the second resource files remain hidden from a user of the IDE, and without changing the user interface language of the computerized system.
US08392863B2
The present invention provides a design method for circuit layout and a rapid thermal annealing method for a semiconductor apparatus. The design method includes: establishing a ternary relationship among a device electric parameter, an annealing temperature and a distributing density of STI patterns, and establishing a binary relationship between the device electric parameter and a gate pattern length; obtaining a difference between distributing densities of STI patterns in a particular region and in a target region; obtaining an electric parameter difference corresponding to the difference between the distributing densities of STI patterns according to the ternary relationship; obtaining a gate pattern length difference corresponding to the electric parameter difference according to the binary relationship; and adjusting a gate pattern length in the particular region according to the gate pattern length difference. As compared with a traditional design method, the design method for circuit layout provided by the invention does not need adding dummy structure patterns, thereby avoiding negative influence to normal electric performance of the semiconductor apparatus by adding dummy structures.
US08392858B2
A method of generating a hazard-free representation of a logic circuit that can leverage the powerful and mature synchronous-circuit CAD synthesis tools. In a representative embodiment of the method, an initial representation of a specified asynchronous logic circuit is synthesized using one of such CAD tools. The initial representation is then analyzed to identify hazardous transitions and modified, e.g., by iteratively inserting additional logic aimed at preventing the identified hazardous transitions from producing glitches, until a hazard-free representation of the specified asynchronous logic circuit is produced.
US08392856B2
A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of line features including at least one real feature which includes a gate electrode portion, and at least one dummy feature. Two of multiple ones of the dummy feature, and at least one of the line features interposed between the two dummy features and including the at least one real feature form parallel running line features which are evenly spaced. The parallel running line features have an identical width, and line end portions of the parallel running line features are substantially flush. Line end portion uniformization dummy features are formed on extensions of the line end portions of the parallel running line features. The line end portion uniformization dummy features include a plurality of linear features each having a same width as each of the line features and spaced at intervals equal to an interval between each adjacent pair of the line features.
US08392848B2
A relativity controller is a scroll bar/window combination that provides a way to see data in relation to both the context of its wholeness and the salience of its contents. To accomplish this, the linear density or other appearance of the scroll bar (acting as a ruler or scale) varies with the density of the document salience (as indicated by different kinds of annotations or marks). It also provides a way to zoom between perspectives. This is usable on many different data types: including sound, video, graphics, calendars and word processors.
US08392841B1
A computer-implemented method includes, on a client system, displaying a translucent overlay over a first web page displayed in a browser. A plurality of visually distinct sections of the first web page is displayed on the translucent overlay. Each section corresponds to a plurality of hypothetical browser sizes used to view the first web page. In each respective section a percentage corresponding to one of a portion of the community of users that can see or cannot see at least the respective section is displayed.
US08392837B2
A method and apparatus for a browser supporting multiple user identifying states. A plurality of browser instances are initiated on a client. One of a plurality of user identifying states is selected for each of the plurality of browser instances. Each selected user identifying state is used in a distinct session between the browser and a server.
US08392834B2
Systems and methods of authoring a multimedia file are described. In one method of authoring a multimedia file, a collection of media objects, including a reference media object of indexed temporally-ordered data structures, is accessed. The reference media object is rendered. While the reference media object is being rendered, a media object in the collection is linked to the reference media object with a rendering time synchronized to the rendering of the reference media object. In another multimedia file authoring method, a collection of inter-linked media objects is accessed. Media objects are sequentially rendered in accordance with a sequence of media object links selected by a user while media objects are being rendered. The sequence of selected media object links and synchronization data are stored to enable reproduction of media object rendering experienced by the user.
US08392833B2
Provided is an image forming apparatus having a preview function and an original paper size automatic detection function, capable of displaying a preview of original image data immediately next a detected original paper size has been switched with a simple operation. On receipt of an operation of a next skip button by a user, a preview image display control portion refers to a paper size recording table and displays a preview of image data of a top page in the group (unit) next to the group in which the preview of the image data of the top page is currently displayed, the group being different in a paper size from the other group.
US08392824B2
A method and apparatus for accelerating processing of a structured document. A hardware XML accelerator includes one or more processors (e.g., CMT processors), one or more hardware XML parser units, one or more cryptographic units and various interfaces (e.g., to memory, a network, a communication bus). An XML document may be processed in its entirety or may be parsed in segments (e.g., as it is received). A parser unit parses a document or segment character by character, validates characters, assembles tokens from the document, extracts data, generates token headers (to describe tokens and data) and forwards the token headers and data for consumption by an application. A cryptographic unit may enforce web security, XML security or some other security scheme, by providing encryption/decryption functionality, computing digital signatures, etc. Software processing, bus utilization and latencies (e.g., memory, bus) are greatly reduced, thereby providing significantly improved XML processing and security processing throughput.
US08392821B2
In a system and method for displaying a video and an overlay or tag, an application that runs through a browser on a client is used to send a request from the client to a server over a computer network. In response to the request, at least the following is sent from the server to the client: a first uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to a location on the network where the video is stored, a second URL corresponding to a location on the network where the overlay or tag is stored, and playlist data. The first and second URLs are associated with different servers on the computer network. The first and second URLs and the playlist data are used at the client to retrieve the video and the overlay or tag, and build a playlist. The client merges the video and the overlay into an integrated media sequence that is played to a user via the browser in accordance with the playlist, and displays the tag. The user is automatically linked to content associated with the overlay or tag when the user clicks on a representation of the overlay or tag displayed on the browser.
US08392817B2
Techniques are provided that allow users to collaborate in relationship to data views, application displays, applications or events. A user can type in a text view related to a specific view in an application display, and the information is shared with other users that take part in sharing that view. A user that expresses an interest in an event is notified about the event and has the capability to interact, in relation to the event, with other users (e.g. by text). The particular form of interaction (and sharing) can be selectively specified. This interaction is comparable to a dynamic bulletin board where the subject is event driven, and where a user can specify who are allowed to participate. In the case of an event interest(s), users specify their interest (e.g. in other user application events or system events) and the system automatically alerts them to the occurrence of the event.
US08392816B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to classifying pages of an electronic document, such as a scanned book page. OCR software is applied to the contents of the electronic document, revealing semantic information about the content of the electronic document. Software-based features are applied to the semantic information to determine the type of page the electronic document is. Page types may include table of contents (TOC), table of figures (TOF), bibliography, index, or other types of pages commonly found in a book, magazine, or other publication. Once determined, the determined page type is stored and used by other software engines.
US08392810B2
In general, techniques are described for performing majority vote error correction techniques. In operation, a communication device comprising a control unit implements the majority vote error correction techniques. The control unit includes a link management module to request a first retransmission of a first communication received over a wireless communication medium in response to detecting a first uncorrectable error in the first communication, requests a second retransmission of the first communication in response to detecting a second uncorrectable error in a second communication received in response to the first retransmission request and receives a third communication in response to the second retransmission. The control unit also includes a majority vote module to, in response to detecting a third uncorrectable error in the third communication, perform a bit-wise majority vote on corresponding bits of the first, second and third communications to generate an error-corrected communication.
US08392808B2
Apparatuses and methods are provided for generating a plurality of redundancy versions using various rate matching algorithms. In some embodiments, a rate matcher is provided that allocates systematic and parity bits to the redundancy versions in a manner that allows all of these bits to be transmitted in at least one redundancy version. In some embodiments, the rate matcher uses a first puncturing algorithm to generate both a first redundancy version and a third redundancy version, but allocates a different proportion of the systematic bits to these redundancy versions. In these embodiments, the second redundancy version may include only bits that were not transmitted in the first redundancy version.
US08392805B2
Erasure-encoded data is stored across a plurality of storage devices in a data storage system. The erasure-encoded data includes k data elements to store on k data storage devices and m parity elements to store on m parity storage devices, wherein for a given minimum Hamming distance d of the data storage system and m≧(d−1), data elements are assigned only to corresponding unique combinations of parity elements of size (d−1).
US08392799B1
A system including a processor, a first-in first-out (FIFO) module, and an arbiter module. The processor includes i) a processor core and ii) a memory. The FIFO module is configured to receive streaming data, output the streaming data to the memory of the processor, and selectively generate a control signal. The arbiter module is configured to adjust, based on the control signal, a priority in which at least one of the processor core and the FIFO module accesses the memory of the processor.
US08392797B2
An error correcting controller for connecting an old host controller having an old error correcting function with a new flash memory which requires a new error correcting function is provided. When the old host controller needs to write data into the new flash memory, the error correcting controller generates a new error correcting code according to the new error correcting function for the data. Then, when the old host controller needs to read the data from the new flash memory, the error correcting controller performs an error correcting procedure according to the new error correcting code and transmits information to the old host controller according to the result of the error correcting procedure and the old error correcting function. Accordingly, it is possible to allow the old host controller to access the new flash memory without changing the architecture of the old host controller.
US08392790B1
Systems and methods for jointly optimizing various parameters of an error-correction code (e.g., a product code or other multi-dimensional code) are provided. In certain embodiments, joint optimization of coverage assignments, configuration assignments, rate assignments, and/or user data length assignments of an error-correction code is performed so as to achieve desired error-protection performance at minimized implementation complexity. In certain embodiments, coverage assignments of an error-correction code are optimized to achieve a desired performance level with minimized implementation complexity.
US08392785B2
Aspects of a method and system for a transmitting antenna selection failure recover mode are presented. Aspects of the system may include a transmitting mobile terminal that enables selection of a sequence of protocol data units (PDU), for example a sequence of sounding frames, which may be transmitted during an antenna selection procedure. During transmission of the selected PDU sequence, the transmitting mobile terminal may receive an antenna selection failure indication frame. The transmitting mobile terminal may enable retransmission of at least one previously transmitted PDU in the PDU sequence based on the failure indication. Transmission of subsequent PDUs in the PDU sequence may resume after the retransmission. Alternatively, upon receipt of the failure indication frame the transmitting mobile terminal may restart the selected frame sequence from the beginning, or may select a subsequent PDU frame sequence.
US08392781B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method of hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) processing. A viterbi decoder is coupled to and follows a descrambler. After the signal has been de-scrambled, it can be stored in a memory in case it needs to be recombined with another packet. This means that the log-likelihood ratios LLRs for each transmitted bit are stored in memory using a finite number of bits (for example, between 4 and 12 bits). If the packet that is currently being processed contains retransmitted information, then the de-scrambled output stored from a previous packet containing the same information can be loaded and combined with the current packet.
US08392779B2
A method of adjusting an interface voltage includes transferring data between a memory device and a controller, and detecting whether an error occurred in the transfer of data. An interface voltage of at least one of the memory device and the controller is adjusted based on the detection.
US08392776B2
An extraction unit of fault assumption and a finish-point FF is provided, the fault assumption is selected from fault assumption information, and a logic trace is executed from the fault assumption toward an output side. A test result of a finish-point FF obtained as a result of the trace from the fault assumption is determined. The maximum value and the minimum value of the propagation route up to the finish-point FF are determined, and a delay margin is determined from the values. A delay range is determined by using the delay margin and the test result, and a fault candidate and a delay range of the delay fault are specified by the process of the determination of the fault candidate and the delay range.
US08392767B2
A system includes a plurality of devices that are connected in series and a controller that communicates with the devices. Each of the devices has a plurality of input ports and corresponding output ports. The outputs of one device and the inputs of a next device are interconnected. The controller is coupled to the first device and the last device of the series-connection. The controller applies a test pattern to the plurality of input ports at the first device connected in series, by the controller. Each data channel defines a data path between corresponding pairs of input and output ports of the first and last devices. A data channel is enabled if the test pattern is detected at its corresponding output port.
US08392766B2
A method for enhancing verification efficiency regarding error handling mechanism of a controller of a Flash memory includes: providing an error generation module, for generating errors; and triggering the error generation module to actively generate errors of at least one specific type in order to increase an error rate corresponding to the specific type. An associated memory device and the controller thereof are provided, where the controller includes: a ROM arranged to store a program code; a microprocessor arranged to execute the program code to control access to the Flash memory and manage a plurality of blocks, and further enhance the verification efficiency regarding error handling mechanism of the controller; and an error generation module arranged to generate errors. The controller that executes the program code by utilizing the microprocessor triggers the error generation module to actively generate errors of at least one specific type to increase an error rate.
US08392763B2
A present invention for estimating a confidence interval includes: receiving a dataset comprising information on software product defects found by a first customer and a second customer, the information comprising numbers of cases of software product defects found by the first customer and the second customer; determining a probability for each case of found software product defect using the frequencies and a total number of software product defects found; determining a plurality of bootstrapping draws from the cases of found software product defects in the dataset; determining an array of conditional probabilities that the first customer may find a given software product defect given that the second customer found the given software product defect, using the numbers of the cases and the probabilities corresponding to the cases in each bootstrapping draw; and determining a confidence interval for the determined plurality of arrays of conditional probabilities.
US08392761B2
A system and method is shown that includes a processor operatively connected to a memory, the processor to include a memory controller to control access to the memory. The system and method also includes a service processor, co-located on a common board and operatively connected to the processor and the memory, the service processor to include an additional memory controller to control access to the memory as part of a checkpoint regime.
US08392757B2
A method and microprocessor are described for efficiently executing load instructions out-of-order (speculatively). The microprocessor includes an enhanced load store unit (LSU) and an enhanced instruction decoder. The enhanced LSU receives a plurality of out-of-order value addresses, and sends a resync signal to the enhanced instruction decoder when an execution error associated with a particular load instruction occurs. The enhanced instruction decoder stores a specific address associated with the particular load instruction, and increments a counter value that indicates how many times the resync signal was sent by the resync predictor. When the counter value reaches a predetermined threshold, subsequent load instructions from the specific address are executed in order (non-speculatively). When a future execution of the particular load instruction indicates that the probability of an execution error has been reduced, the counter value is decremented, facilitating newer load instructions associated with the same address to again be executed speculatively.
US08392747B2
A healthcare communication system includes a first plurality of computer devices operable as a nurse call system. The first plurality of computer devices has core nurse call functionality. The system also includes a second plurality of computer devices communicatively coupled to the first plurality of computer devices. The first plurality of computer devices are interconnected logically and/or physically in a tiered architecture arrangement to provide fault isolation among the tiers so that faults occurring in computer devices of one tier don't affect the operability of computer devices in other tiers and so that faults occurring in any of the second plurality of computer devices don't affect the core nurse call functionality of the first plurality of computer devices.
US08392737B2
A system for controlling power consumption of a network includes at least one terminal to receive a plurality of requests to route data from a plurality of data sources to a plurality of data sinks, where the data sources and the data sinks are connected to each other through a plurality of network nodes forming the network, and a network configuration unit. The network configuration unit includes a selection module configured to select a configuration of the network nodes that allows the network to have a lowest overall power consumption of the network among a plurality of configurations of the network, and an output module configured to output a plurality of instruction signals to the network nodes to perform the network configuration. A network path for transmitting a network flow is selected that does not allow the network flow to be split and flow through another network path.
US08392727B2
A data storage system providing transparent encryption. The data storage system has a hardware encryption/decryption engine and a register coupled to the hardware encryption/decryption engine. The register is for securely storing a key for encrypting and decrypting data. The key may not be read from outside the data storage system. More specifically, the key may not be read by the operating system. The user does not have access to the encryption key, but may have a password that is passed to a controller coupled to the encryption/decryption engine. The controller verifies the password and causes data received from main memory to be encrypted by the hardware encryption/decryption engine using the key. The controller also transfers the encrypted data to the data storage device.
US08392721B2
A method and a system of electronically identifying and verifying an individual utilizing at least one biometric features of the individual is disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating an access apparatus with a means to capture at least one biometric feature of an individual in a secure manner using dynamic encryption, capturing the biometric feature of an individual wherein key features of biometric raw data are extracted, encrypting in a dynamic manner the biometric features, transmitting the encrypted data of the biometric feature to at least one server; and verifying the biometric features captured in the fruit step with a pre-stored biometric feature in the server. Wherein upon positive identification and verification of the individual access is given to an auxiliary means such as but not limited to access to secured doors, database, computer network and servers.
US08392720B2
A method for securing data transmitted over a network to an image display device. In one embodiment, the method may include identifying at least one image display device on the network, selecting the at least one image display device for transmission of data, activating a data protection process to generate locked data and transmitting the locked data to the image display device. The method may further include receiving a key to unlock the locked data such that the data is available to the image display device.
US08392707B2
The gaming network described herein includes network security features, host security features, audit protocols, and design architecture approaches to reduce the possibility of network attacks. The gaming network provides for traffic confidentiality, encryption, message authentication, secure authentication mechanisms, anti-replay protection of traffic, key management mechanisms, robust network availability, misrouting and redirection protection and prevention, rejection of external traffic, and a high entry-barrier to device addition to the network. The host protection and security includes secure host initialization, disabling unneeded components, download verification, disabling of unused IP ports, discarding traffic, strong passwords, dynamic one-time passwords for remote login, disabling default accounts, and appropriate “least-level” device privileges. Audit requirements include integrity protection of audit logs, appropriate definition of auditable events, auditing of anomalous behavior, chain of evidence preservation, shutdown if audit disabled, full log entry audit, personal ID and time access audit trail, and auditing of internal user actions.
US08392706B2
A method and system for searching and collecting electronically stored information are described. Consistent with an embodiment of the invention, configuration and execution of a search are separated in time and location. For example, a search configuration application executing at a first computer system is utilized to generate a search configuration file, which controls the operation of a search agent when the search agent is executing at a target computer system and performing a search of storage devices act of the target computer system. Encryption is utilized to prevent unauthorized access to the search configuration file as well as the search results file generated by the search agent.
US08392692B2
In one embodiment, the present invention determines index values corresponding to bits of a binary vector that have a value of 1. During each clock cycle, a masking technique is applied to M sub-vector index values, where each sub-vector index value corresponds to a different bit of a sub-vector of the binary vector. The masking technique is applied such that (i) the sub-vector index values that correspond to bits having a value of 0 are zeroed out and (ii) the sub-vector index values that correspond to the bits having a value of 1 are left unchanged. The masked sub-vector index values are sorted, and index values are calculated based on the masked sub-vector index values. The index values generated are then distributed uniformly to a number M of index memories such that the M index memories store substantially the same number of index values.
US08392690B2
A management method for reducing the utilization rate of random access memory (RAM) while reading data from or writing data to the flash memory is disclosed. A physical memory set is constructed from a plurality of physical memory blocks in the flash memory. A logical set is constructed from a plurality of logical blocks wherein the data stored in the logical set are stored in the physical memory set. Further, the data stored in each of the logical blocks are stored in one number of physical memory blocks. A mapping table is constructed and includes a hash function, a logical set table, a physical memory set table, and a set status table for managing the relationship among the physical memory sets, physical memory blocks, and logical blocks while reading data from or writing data to the flash memory. Further, the management method operates and maintains the physical memory sets, the physical memory blocks, and the logical blocks at a set level so that the utilization rate of random access memory is reduced to decrease the access capacity of the random access memory while operating the physical memory blocks and the logical blocks of the flash memory.
US08392686B2
A memory module includes several memory devices coupled to a memory hub. The memory hub includes several link interfaces coupled to respective processors, several memory controller coupled to respective memory devices, a cross-bar switch coupling any of the link interfaces to any of the memory controllers, a write buffer and read cache for each memory device and a read synchronization module. The read synchronization module includes a write pointer, a read pointer and a buffer. The write pointer is incremented in response to the receipt of read data. The read pointer increments in response to coupling of the read data from the memory hub. A comparator compares the read pointer an the write pointer, and the comparison is used to adjust the memory timing.
US08392681B2
A computer system includes a first volume that is read and written from a first computer and in which write data is written, a second volume storing journal data in the first volume, the journal data delimited at each predetermined point, a third volume as a virtual volume, a unit that creates, when a backup instruction for the first volume at a predetermined point is received, the third volume from which a second computer reads the journal data and in which the second computer writes the journal data, a unit that maps the journal data to the third volume, and a unit that transfers the write data to a storage device via the second computer or transfers, through the third volume to which the journal data is mapped, the journal data to the storage device via the second computer and backs up the write data and the journal data.
US08392669B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for efficiently and flexibly performing coalesced memory accesses for a thread group. For each read application request that services a thread group, the core interface generates one pending request table (PRT) entry and one or more memory access requests. The core interface determines the number of memory access requests and the size of each memory access request based on the spread of the memory access addresses in the application request. Each memory access request specifies the particular threads that the memory access request services. The PRT entry tracks the number of pending memory access requests. As the memory interface completes each memory access request, the core interface uses information in the memory access request and the corresponding PRT entry to route the returned data. When all the memory access requests associated with a particular PRT entry are complete, the core interface satisfies the corresponding application request and frees the PRT entry.
US08392667B2
Deadlocks are avoided by marking read requests issued by a parallel processor to system memory as “special.” Read completions associated with read requests marked as special are routed on virtual channel 1 of the PCIe bus. Data returning on virtual channel 1 cannot become stalled by write requests in virtual channel 0, thus avoiding a potential deadlock.
US08392658B2
In an embodiment, a cache stores tags for cache blocks stored in the cache. Each tag may include an indication identifying which of two or more replacement policies supported by the cache is in use for the corresponding cache block, and a replacement record indicating the status of the corresponding cache block in the replacement policy. Requests may include a replacement attribute that identifies the desired replacement policy for the cache block accessed by the request. If the request is a miss in the cache, a cache block storage location may be allocated to store the corresponding cache block. The tag associated with the cache block storage location may be updated to include the indication of the desired replacement policy, and the cache may manage the block in accordance with the policy. For example, in an embodiment, the cache may support both an LRR and an LRU policy.
US08392654B2
A method for a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller for migrating a RAID level in spanned arrays is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for a RAID controller for migrating a RAID level in spanned arrays includes receiving a command for a RAID level migration from a first RAID level in spanned arrays to a second RAID level. The method further includes initializing a number of pointers which correspond to a number of the spanned arrays in the first RAID level, and transferring at least one data block of the first RAID level in the spanned arrays using the number of pointers to form the second RAID level.
US08392648B2
A storage system 100, which has a plurality of flash packages 230, has a function for minimizing the imbalance of the number of deletions of each block inside the flash package 230 and a block-unit capacity virtualization function, and efficiently manifests lessening of the imbalance of the number of deletions and reduction in the data storage capacity for the entire storage system 100 by having functions for calculating the number of deletions and the data occupancy of each flash package 230, and for transferring data between the flash packages 230 on the basis of the values of these number of deletions and data occupancy.
US08392647B2
A solid state storage system includes a flash memory area and a memory controller. The flash memory area includes memory blocks and replacement blocks configured to replace bad blocks occurring within the memory blocks. The memory controller is configured to perform a logical-to-physical address mapping on logical blocks including the replacement blocks, and select the replacement blocks using logical addresses of the logical blocks corresponding to the bad blocks.
US08392627B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to semaphores. In aspects, a feedback mechanism is described that uses a semaphore to attempt to maximize throughput of a computer system. Throughput is tracked over periods of time. At or after the end of a period of time, the throughput of the period of time together with other data is used to determine whether a max count for a semaphore is to be changed and by how much. This monitoring of throughput and modifying of the max count may continue over subsequent periods of time to attempt to maximize throughput.
US08392626B2
A programmable channel circuit can include a control circuit having at least one bidirectional I/O terminal, at least one programming terminal, and one or more processing elements, and an interface circuit having first and second field terminals. The interface circuit is coupled to the control circuit via the processing elements. The control circuit can be operable to respond to a programming signal on the programming terminal for automatically selecting one of a plurality of communications modes. The selection couples the bidirectional I/O terminal to the first terminal via one of the processing elements associated with the selected communications mode.
US08392619B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for providing indirect data addressing at an I/O subsystem of an I/O processing system. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving a control word for an I/O operation. The control word includes an indirect data address for data associated with the I/O operation. The indirect data address includes a starting location of a list of storage addresses that collectively specify the data, the list spans two or more non-contiguous storage locations. Data is gathered responsive to the list. The gathered data is transmitted to a control unit in the I/O processing system.
US08392618B2
There is provided an electronic system (10) comprising one or more functionality devices (16, 20, 21) and an electronic device adapted so that the one or more functionality devices (16, 20, 21) are locatable in proximity to the electronic device. The electronic device is operable to recognize the presence of the one or more functionality devices (16, 20, 21). Upon recognition of said one or more functionality devices (16, 20, 21), the electronic device is operable to perform one or more additional functionality features associated with said one or more functionality devices while said one or more functionality devices are in close proximity to the electronic device.
US08392616B2
A method for transmitting a header-compressed packet based on a retransmission mechanism is disclosed according to the present disclosure. The method mainly includes: a header compressor of a sending device obtains feedback information of a header-compressed packet in a transmission process; and the header compressor determines a state of the header compressor according to the feedback information, compresses a header for the packet according to the state of the header compressor, and sends the packet to a decompressor of a receiving device. According to the present disclosure, a header compression mechanism is combined with an automatic retransmission mechanism, so that the header compressor obtains feedback information of an automatic retransmission technology, and estimates the decompression information of the decompressor correctly, so as to change a state machine of the header compressor at proper time and improve transmission efficiency of the packet.
US08392614B2
Systems and methods of device identifier selection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving an enumeration message via a host interface of a device operatively coupled to a host device as well as to one or more other devices and identifying the enumeration message as a command originated by the host device or as a response message from one of the other devices. The method includes, in response to identifying the enumeration message as a command, selectively sending an enumeration response message to the host device. The enumeration response message indicates a distinctive device identifier value. The method also includes, in response to identifying the enumeration message as a response message from one of the other devices, reading from the response message an identifier value used by such other device and at least temporarily storing this identifier value at the device to enable the device to select the distinctive device identifier value.
US08392602B2
An industrial automation system comprising a processor with an updating component coupled to automation devices via a network. The updating component reads control information from machine readable representations of the devices and populates a data structure with the control information. The updating component also updates configuration information of a device from data stored in a file object and/or the data structure, further allowing this transfer to be fragmented into a plurality of messages if the configuration information exceeds a threshold. As well, a vendor deployment methodology is provided that embeds devices and firmware for devices with a Device Type Manager (DTM) prior to deployment and can optionally allow post deployment updates to the DTM.
US08392591B2
Disclosed herein is a method and system for utilizing a digital data capture device in conjunction with a Bluetooth (BT) enabled mobile device for publishing data and multimedia content on one or more websites automatically or with minimal user intervention. A client application is provided on the BT enabled mobile device. In the absence of inbuilt BT capability, a BT communication device is provided on the digital data capture device. The BT communication device is paired with the BT enabled mobile device to establish a connection. The client application detects capture of data and multimedia content on the digital data capture device and initiates transfer of the captured data, multimedia content, and associated files. The digital data capture device transfers the captured data, multimedia content, and the associated files to the client application. The client application automatically publishes the transferred data and multimedia content on one or more websites.
US08392585B1
Methods and systems are provided for connecting an electronic device to a network. In some situations, the electronic device connects to a first network provider and pings a first server having a static internet protocol address and a second server having a dedicated uniform resource locator. If the electronic device receives a response from the first and second server, the electronic device maintains its connection to the first network provider. Otherwise, the electronic device connects to a second network provider and pings the first and second servers.
US08392568B2
Proposed are a computer system and a method of configuring a single name space capable of simplifying the management of a GNS and alleviating the burden of an administrator. A management apparatus collects, from each node, management information and an access log of each of the files managed by the relevant node, extracts a user who satisfies a prescribed condition as a key person for each of the nodes based on the collected management information and access log of each of the files, specifies the key person who is common to the plurality of nodes among the extracted key persons, and requests a server to integrate, as a single name space, the plurality of nodes in which the number of common key persons exceeds a predetermined first threshold. The server integrates, as a single name space, the plurality of nodes in which the number of common key persons exceeds a predetermined first threshold in response to the request.
US08392562B2
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for providing a cookie by an intermediary device comprising a plurality of packet processing engines executing on a corresponding plurality of cores, the cookie identifying a session of a user that was redirected responsive to a service exceeding a response time limit. The cookie may be generated with identifiers based off a name of a virtual server managing a service of a server, and a name of a policy associated with the virtual server. Each packet processing engine of the plurality of packet processing engines may interpret cookies generated by other packet processing engines due to the name of the virtual server and name of the policy, and may provide preferred client connectivity based on cookies included in requests for access to a service.
US08392560B2
An electronic device may present a user interface for making selections related to connecting to a network or selecting a network from a plurality of available networks. Additionally, a user interface may give a user an opportunity to secure to an open, unsecure, connection, for example, an ad-hoc wireless connection, such as may be found at a coffee shop. A selection of security offerings may be made from a user interface screen including pre-populated service providers. A user may be allowed to save preferences for connecting to new networks, as well as preferences related to previously used networks. Further, the user may save preferences for invoking security services on a per-network or pan-network basis. The security service may a known tunneling protocol (i.e. VPN), such as L2TP or PPTP.
US08392545B2
The invention relates to a method for arranging service management in a service management system, the method comprising: defining one or more device management commands on the basis of predetermined mapping instructions and a service management command, transmitting the device management commands to a managed device, specifying in the managed device one or more service management commands on the basis of the received device management commands, and carrying out the defined one or more device management commands.
US08392541B2
In one embodiment, a distributed control technique may enable management of a monolithic routing topology of nodes in a computer network by apportioning the monolithic routing topology into a plurality of regional routing topology domains, each represented by a directed acyclic graph (DAG). The regional topology domains may include a super topology domain that is established as a super-DAG of intermediate nodes interconnected with leaf nodes and rooted by a master node of the computer network. The regional topology domains may further include at least one local topology domain that is established as a local-DAG of intermediate nodes interconnected with leaf nodes and rooted by a local root node of the computer network. Notably, a super node of the computer network may be configured to participate in both the super topology domain as an intermediate node of the super-DAG and the local topology domain as the local root node of the local-DAG.
US08392532B2
The present invention, generally speaking, provides a broad-based solution for acquisition, processing and distribution of media objects including pictures (images), movies, videos, graphics, sound clips, etc via the Internet or the like. And specifically, it is a solution to such systems for use in applications wherein there are multiple originators of media objects that will be viewed in multiple web sites having different viewing requirements. A browser-based prepare and post tool prepares and submits media objects from inside a standard browser to a remote server. A Media Acquisition, Processing and Distribution (MAPD) system receives these media objects, processes them to meet specific requirements, and delivers them for integration into remote databases. MAPD system services include media object submission, processing, hosting and mirroring. The hosting service delivers a media object URL to a remote database, allowing the media object to be requested and served by the media object server. The mirroring service delivers the actual media object to multi-point remote databases to be stored and served by the customer.
US08392524B2
An information processing apparatus includes: an acquiring unit which acquires a related resource having a predetermined relation to an unfixed resource which is unfixed from among a plurality of fixed resources; and an identifying unit which searches the plurality of fixed resources for the acquired related resource and a resource different from the related resource having the predetermined relation as resources to identify the resources to be identified and the unfixed resource.
US08392515B2
A computational system determines that a joining node in the federation infrastructure desires to join an identified subfederation within the federation infrastructure. The system accesses the joining node's group table, where the group table includes membership information identifying subfederations within the federation infrastructure. Each node in the federation maintains neighborhood information for each subfederation of which the node is aware. The system determines that no entry for the identified subfederation exists in the joining node's group table and, based on the determination, routes a group join message to a rendezvous point within the federation infrastructure. The rendezvous point checks its group table for an entry corresponding to the identified subfederation. The system also receives an indication from the rendezvous point indicating that the rendezvous point's group table does not include a corresponding entry for the identified subfederation and that the joining node is the first member of the identified subfederation.
US08392513B2
A mechanism for reducing electronic mail (email) sizes by using a local archive of email components is provided. The mechanism receives the email file, the email file specifying a sender identifier of a sender of the email file, a recipient identifier of a recipient of the email file, and common component information for a common component included in the email file, the common component being a component of the email file that is common amongst a plurality of email files sent from the sender. The mechanism identifies the common component of the email file and determines whether to remove the common component from the email file before forwarding the email file to the recipient based on at least the sender identifier. Based on the determination, the common component is either removed or kept in the email file that is subsequently transmitted to the recipient computer.
US08392504B1
A mobile device application allows a user to participate in a collaborative discussion. The collaborative discussion may allow multiple users to collaborate in a formatted discussion on a variety of topics. The collaborative discussion may be associated with media content provided through a media reader application. A user may act as an administrator to create a collaborate discussion and configure parameters or the collaborative discussion via the user's mobile device. A user may access the media content through the media reader application and provide input to the collaborative discussion in real time. The media may include an electronic book, magazine, article or other media content. The input received from the user may include a comment, vote, brainstorm content, various collaborative engagement structures or other data. The collaborative discussion may be accessed through a mobile device application or a network browser.
US08392503B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises establishing, by an IP-based meeting server via an IP network, a web-based media conference between an identified meeting presenter having a web-enabled presenter client device and identified meeting participants each having at least one corresponding participating client device; receiving, by the IP-based meeting server, monitoring data for each of the identified meeting participants, the monitoring data including, for each identified meeting participant, a detected interaction by the corresponding identified meeting participant with the corresponding participant client device; generating, by the IP-based meeting server, an aggregate attention metric identifying an aggregate focus of attention by the identified meeting participants, based on the received monitoring data; and outputting, by the IP-based meeting server, the aggregate attention metric for display by the web-enabled presenter client device of the identified meeting presenter.
US08392500B2
In one embodiment, the present disclosure is a method and apparatus for location-based, just in time social networking. In one embodiment, a method for providing a social network includes receiving a request from a first user of the social network to provide information from a location of interest specified by the first user, and locating a group comprising at least one other user of the social network, where each of the at least one other user is currently at the location of interest and has volunteered to provide information from the location of interest, wherein the group is selected from a larger group of other users who are at a plurality of locations of interest.
US08392490B2
A method, computer program product and a system for identifying decimal floating point addition operations that guarantee operand alignment and do not require alignment, normalization or rounding are provided. The method includes: receiving an instruction to perform an addition of a first operand and a second operand; extracting a first exponent (EXP) and a first most significant digit (MSD) from the first operand; extracting a second EXP and a second MSD from the second operand; and determining whether alignment between the first operand and the second operand is guaranteed, based on the first EXP, the first MSD, the second EXP and the second MSD.
US08392477B2
A method for transparently navigating through exported file system namespaces on a server using a single mount. When an exported file system is mounted onto a client, the client creates a file system ID structure for the exported file system, wherein the file system ID structure is populated with unique properties of the exported file system, and wherein the unique properties include a file system ID. The client also creates an internal virtual file system structure for the exported file system ID structure, wherein the internal virtual file system structure includes a virtual file system ID. Once the file system and virtual file system structures are created, the client links the file system objects created within the mount to the file system ID structure until a user moves from one exported file system to a second exported file system and a new file system ID is detected.
US08392469B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to model based application management. In aspects, models are defined that include structural and behavioral characteristics, rules, relations, and so forth between entities of an application. An instruction regarding a management function is received. The models are used to generate actions that when executed manage the application in accordance with the instruction.
US08392444B2
A method for creating and using a short-hand interpretation dictionary in a collaboration environment includes creating or editing a document in a collaboration environment, said document comprising at least one short-hand notation; and replacing the at least one short-hand notation with an interpretation from at least one short-hand dictionary.
US08392435B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for presenting search query suggestions. In an aspect, content of a resource that is determined to be responsive to a search query is received, and a candidate set of search query suggestions for the search query is suggested based, in part, on search history data associated with the search query. A final set of search query suggestions based on the search history data and the content of the resource and provided for display on a client device.
US08392424B2
An inner product if formed from an input signal and a hashing vector, to which a dither scalar is added. A binary digit is produced according to a quantization function, wherein the binary digit is zero or one, and wherein the quantization function is non-monotonic and subject to a sensitivity parameter. The steps are iterated while decreasing the sensitivity parameter until a termination condition is reached.
US08392423B2
Various embodiments for preserving data set information in a computing storage environment are provided. In one such embodiment, at least one of a selected portion of an index record of the dataset is stored as a record in a subindex data set. The at least one component of the subindex data set is recoverable into the index record in an event of an error detected within the index record.
US08392421B1
The present invention relates to a method of profiling an Internet endpoint associated with an Internet Protocol (IP) address, an IP prefix, or a domain name, the method includes generating a profiling rule using an Internet search engine, obtaining a search result by inputting the IP address, the IP prefix, or the domain name to the Internet search engine, and classifying the Internet endpoint based on the search result using the profiling rule.
US08392419B2
A computer research tool for inputting, searching, displaying, and analyzing metabolic-related clinical data utilizing a novel graphical user interface (GUI) for visual-statistical data analysis and insight generation and method thereof are disclosed.
US08392411B2
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for providing search results automatically to a user of a computing device. A spoken input provided by a user to a computing device is received. The spoken input is transmitted to a computer server system that is remote from the computing device. Search result information that is responsive to the spoken input is receiving by the computing device and in response to the transmitted spoken input. An alert is provided to the user that the device will connect the user to a target of the search result information if the user does not intervene to stop the connecting of the user. The user is connected to the target of the search result information based on a determination that the user has not intervened to stop the connecting of the user.
US08392404B2
A virtual regulator monitors and manages a plurality of database systems in a domain. Each of the database systems is tuned for a particular type of workload, and the virtual regulator or multiple virtual regulators running in parallel routes a set of one or more queries to a particular database system within the domain based on a cost function for each database system.
US08392401B1
A first query that is substantially similar to a second query is detected. A network of sensors includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a data-source sensor, the first and second queries are addressed to the data-source sensor, and the first query is forwarded by the first sensor to the data-source sensor and the second query is forwarded by the second sensor to the data-source sensor. The data-source sensor provides, to the first sensor, results answering the first query. The first sensor provides the results to the second sensor.
US08392392B1
Search requests may be initiated by a wireless communication device and performed by a voice request broker (VRB). The VRB may evaluate the applicability of various criteria and may select at least one search engine to process the search request according to the applicable criteria. The VRB may transmit the search request to the at least one search engine and the at least one search engine may return a list of one or more results. The VRB may evaluate the applicability of various criteria and may re-sort the results according to applicable criteria. The VRB may transmit the re-sorted results to the wireless communication device from which the search request is initiated.
US08392388B2
System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for adaptive locking of retained resources in a distributed database processing environment are provided. An embodiment includes identifying a locking priority for at least a portion of a buffer pool, determining lock requests based upon the identified locking priority, and granting locks for the lock requests.
US08392382B2
A computer is programmed to compress data of a database in response to database modification language (DML) statements generated by on-line transaction processing (OLTP) systems. In several embodiments, data that is initially added to a database block is left uncompressed until a predetermined condition is satisfied, which happens infrequently (relative to OLTP transactions on the block). When satisfied, the computer automatically compresses all uncompressed data in the block, which increases the amount of unused space in the block. New data is thereafter added uncompressed to the partially compressed block, until satisfaction of a predetermined condition whereby the partially compressed block is again compressed, i.e. re-compressed. Adding of new data to a partially compressed block and its compression are repeated unless another predetermined condition is met, in response to which the block is not further re-compressed, thereby to recognize a limit on the benefit from compression.
US08392380B2
Load-balancing and scaling for analytics data may be provided. A logging system may receive data and select a stager database in which to store the data. The selection may be made according to an identifier associated with the data. The stored data may be processed and stored back to the stager database before being copied to a reporting database. The processed data may be aggregated with other data in the reporting database to provide an analytics report.
US08392379B2
A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that reduces computer file system access time associated with on-access scanning in a computing facility by receiving file access information describing a pattern of access of each accessed computer file, processing the file access information to generate a file access performance cost statistic for each of the accessed computer files, maintaining the file access performance cost statistic for each of the files, generating a file access performance cost mapping of the computing facility's file system relating to the computer files, generating a locality statistic from the performance cost map of a probability that the second computer file will be accessed near the time that the first computer file is accessed, and pre-scanning the second computer file when the probability is high that the second computer file will be accessed when that first computer file has been accessed.
US08392378B2
A system enables cluster-level backup and restore functionality of all Virtual Input/Output Server (VIOS) configuration data within a VIOS cluster and the data of a shared VIOS cluster database. The system comprises a VIOS partition: performing, via a backup/restore utility of the VIOS partition, a cluster level backup, which creates a first VIOS cluster configuration backup file having configuration information about hardware, logical and virtual devices of each VIOS partition within a VIOS cluster and all cluster data from the shared VIOS database of the VIOS cluster; storing the VIOS cluster configuration backup file within a storage location; and responsive to receipt of a VIOS restore command at a VIOS partition: retrieving the configuration backup file from the storage location; restoring a configuration of the hardware, logical and virtual devices of each VIOS within the VIOS cluster to prior state; and restoring the shared VIOS database with the backed-up cluster data.
US08392366B2
The number of machines in a cluster of computers running a distributed database, such as a scalable hyperlink datastore or a distributed hyperlink database, may be changed such that machines may be added or removed. The data is not repartitioned all at once. Instead, only new and merged data stores are mapped to the changed set of machines. A database update mechanism may be leveraged to change the number of machines in a distributed database.
US08392358B2
A method/system considers the phenomenon of slowly changing dimensions in the process of reporting on facts of a collection of facts organized as, or otherwise accessible according to, a dimensionally-modeled fact collection. A report query specifies a temporal mode, and the specified temporal mode is processed to determine a time extent descriptor (e.g., in view of at least one of a context, in which the report query is made, and at least one dimension coordinate constraint). A processed result of querying the dimensionally-modeled fact collection includes appropriate indications of dimension coordinates in view of the time information from the time extent descriptor.
US08392357B1
A trust network database has any number of nodes, each node representing a user e-mail address. Links between nodes represent whether one user trusts another. Trust (that the recipient is trusted) is established when a sender sends an e-mail message to a recipient. The recipient is effectively placed on the white list for the sender. A legitimate e-mail address creates a strong trust link, otherwise it is weak. A spam count tracks by an amount of spam sent by each node. Outgoing e-mail messages are screened to make a determination that the sender trusts the recipient and that information is added to a local or remote trust network. Incoming e-mail messages are first screened to determine that the sender is legitimate. Then, the sender and recipient e-mail addresses are forwarded to the trust network to make a determination as to whether the recipient trusts the sender. A score (based upon number and type of links into or out of a node, the spam count for the node, etc.) for the sender is returned indicating whether or not the e-mail message is likely to be spam. An anti-spam engine is bypassed, used normally, or used aggressively based upon the score.
US08392352B2
A method for automatic generation of a Neuro-Fuzzy Expert System (Fuzzy Logic Expert System implemented as a Neural Network) from data. The method comprising a Data Interface allowing description of location, type, and structure of the Data. The Interface also allows designation of input attributes and output attributes in the Data Structure; automatic Neuro-Fuzzy Expert System generation driven by the Data; Training of the Expert System's Neural Network on the Data and the presentation of results which include new knowledge embedded in the parameters and structure of the trained Neuro-Fuzzy Expert System to a user.
US08392351B2
A system and computer-implemented method for generating temporal footprints to identify tasks is provided. One or more events performed by a user during execution of a task is recorded. Patterns including sequences of two or more of the events are identified. Each pattern occurs at a plurality of occurrences. A determination of whether each pattern is significant is made. A temporal distance between the events in each pattern occurrence for each pattern is identified. A pattern value is determined for each pattern based on a number of occurrences and the associated temporal distance. The pattern value is applied to a significance level. At least one of the patterns is determined to be significant when the pattern value satisfies the significance level. A temporal footprint is generated for the executed task and includes the significant patterns.
US08392347B2
The subject invention provides a method of creating a database for searching for a paint color having a desired texture, a search method using the database, and systems, programs, and recording mediums for carrying out the method and the search. The method for creating a database includes a step (S11) for storing spectral reflectance data and micro-brilliance data of a plurality of paint colors after associating each spectral reflectance data and each micro-brilliance data with a paint color code; a step (S13) for storing texture evaluation values of sample paint colors after associating the each texture evaluation value with the paint color code; a step (S14) for calculating characteristic quantities of the paint colors expressing textures using the spectral reflectance data and the micro-brilliance data, and storing the characteristic quantities after associating the each characteristic quantity with the paint color code; a step (S15) for carrying out a process for training a neural network using the characteristic quantities and the texture evaluation values of the sample paint colors as training data; and a step (S16) for inputting characteristic quantities of the paint colors other than the sample paint colors into the neural network after the training process, and storing output data after associating the each output data with the paint color code.
US08392342B2
Technology is disclosed for communicating surgical information. The technology can receive a first data from a first sensor coupled to a first tool; receive a second data from a second sensor coupled to a second tool; generate a virtual model of a virtual real-time space, wherein the first tool is mapped in the virtual real-time space in relation to a first vital entity and a second vital entity via the first sensor and based on the first data; apply the virtual real-time space against at least a first probabilistic model and a second probabilistic model to obtain a third data about movement of the first tool in relation to the first vital entity and the second vital entity; and output the third data to an output device to convey information about the first tool.
US08392341B2
Disclosed herein are a robot with a judgment system to enable implementation of multi-dimensional recognitions, thoughts and actions, and a control method thereof. The judgment system includes a dialog system and a task-planning system. The dialog system includes a dialog manager to manage the progress of a dialog of the intelligent robot with a user. The task-planning system includes a leader agent, an action agent and an interaction agent and serve to control a goal, plan and action of a task to be performed by the intelligent robot based on the dialog. The judgment system assists separation of concerns and consequently, enhances convenience of development. The judgment system of the robot contains a mechanism that considers a great number of cases, such as a task priority, immediate user input, inherent robot task, etc., enabling implementation of multi-dimensional recognitions, thoughts and actions.
US08392339B2
A system for tracking a location of at least one item is described. The system includes a tag associated with the at least one item during a shipping journey. The tag detects shipping information, including temperature, humidity, shock, etc. The tag sends the shipping information to a master unit. The master unit also detects certain shipping information. The master unit communicates with a central processor to provide the shipping information to the central processor. The central processor relies on the shipping information to determine one of a condition or a location of the item.
US08392337B2
The present teachings relate to a method and system for the processing of mail items within a multiple device document processing environment to ensure generation of unique mail items. The present teachings provides for an improved system and method for assigning and maintaining unique mail item identifiers and processing of the unique mail items in a multiple mail processing device environment to qualify for maximum postal work sharing discounts.
US08392332B1
Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired.
US08392306B2
A method performed by a transfer instrument issuer involves issuing, to a recipient, a certificate which is linked to a national card account obtained by the transfer instrument issuer from an account issuer different from the transfer instrument issuer, without both issuing and providing a physical card for the national card account to the recipient of the certificate, the certificate having been purchased by a purchaser, who is not also the recipient, and containing all information necessary for the purchase of goods or services from any merchant who is capable of processing economic transactions involving one of the plurality national card accounts for which a physical card has issued, but without presentment of the physical card.
US08392304B1
A method, system and computer program product for managing aggregate funds held in custodial deposit accounts by a custodial agent on behalf of a plurality of individuals. According to the present invention, the custodial deposit accounts comprise an omnibus transaction account (“Omnibus TA”) and a Omnibus money market deposit account (“Omnibus MMDA”). A corresponding individual transaction account (“Individual TA”) and individual money market deposit account (“Individual MMDA”) are kept on the books and records of the custodial agent for each individual, representing the amount of the individual's funds deposited in the Omnibus TA and Omnibus MMDA, respectively. According to the present invention, limitations on transfers from the Omnibus MMDA to the Omnibus TA and limitations on transfers from the corresponding Individual MMDAs to the individual TAs are managed by daily allocation of the funds in the Individual TAs and Individual MMDAs.
US08392299B2
Embodiments of the present invention include transfer account systems, computer program products, and associated computer-implemented methods of providing prioritized payments from the proceeds of automatic or direct deposits. Embodiments of the present invention include routing automatic deposit information to a financial institution computer managing a prioritized payment program and formulating an outgoing ACH file with both an entry for an automatic deposit destined for a customer account and an entry for a pre-authorized prioritized payment to a select creditor, so that the automatic deposit is credited to the customer account and relatively instantaneously any prioritized payment is debited from the customer account. According to embodiments of the present invention, the customer account can be a prepaid card account so that a customer has effective access on the prepaid card only to a net value of funds.
