US08445314B2
A structure and method operable to create a reusable template for detachable thin semiconductor substrates is provided. The template has a shape such that the 3-D shape is substantially retained after each substrate release. Prior art reusable templates may have a tendency to change shape after each subsequent reuse; the present disclosure aims to address this and other deficiencies from the prior art, therefore increasing the reuse life of the template.
US08445303B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes steps of forming a semiconductor device layer on an upper surface of a substrate including the upper surface, a lower surface and a dislocation concentrated region arranged so as to part a first side closer to the upper surface and a second side closer to the lower surface, exposing a portion where the dislocation concentrated region does not exist above on the lower surface by removing the substrate on the second side along with at least a part of the dislocation concentrated region, and forming an electrode on the portion.
US08445288B2
The present invention relates to a novel method for analysing carbohydrates. The invention is in particular useful in detecting a terminal monosaccharide which may be released from a glycosylated substrate for example using an exoglucosidase. After relase from the glycosylated substrate the terminal monosaccharide may be captured on a solid support, incubated with a boronate detection agent and detected by aid of the boronate detection agent. The methods of the invention are useful for a variety of purposes including sequencing of carbohydrates, wherein exoglycosidases with predetermined specificity are employed for the release.
US08445287B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining new anticoagulant therapy factors for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy to help prevent excessive bleeding or deleterious blood clots that might otherwise occur before, during or after surgery. The inventive methods and apparatus provide an International Normalization Ratio (INR) based on a coagulation reaction with a blood sample of a living being. Embodiments include methods and apparatus for determining an anticoagulant therapy factor without requiring use of a mean normal prothrombin time determination or an ISI, and may be carried out with the patient sample and a coagulation reagent, where the coagulation reagent may be selected from a number of coagulation reagents. One embodiment provides an INRs value which is determined from a prothrombin time (PT or T1) of a patient blood sample and a theoretical end of test time (TEOT), where a theoretical clotting area is used to determine the INRs value according to the expression, INRs=T1*TEOT*MUL, where MUL is a multiplier that takes into account pixel parity and sampling times. The INRs may be used to determine a course of treatment for a patient or other living being without regard to the specific coagulation regent used to generate the coagulation data (e.g., time and optical activity values).
US08445280B2
A method for creating networks of perfusable microvessels in vitro. Cells including cell types capable of sprouting are seeded 1300 into a channel in a matrix at to activate competency 1304 of the cells for sprouting as microvessels based on the seeding density. The matrix channel is perfused with medium to allow parent vessels to form and for viability 1324. The parent vessels and matrix are incubated and perfused to provide for sprouting of microvessels from parent vessels into the surrounding matrix 1328. The sprouting parent vessels are grown until network forms 1332.
US08445276B2
A device and method for analyzing cells includes a housing with a chamber, a barrier supported by a frame disposed within the chamber, and a plate arranged at a bottom surface of the housing interior of the chamber. The plate is adapted to receive and sustain cells and the barrier separates the plate into at least two contiguous separate areas. In some embodiments, a thin rubber strip is arranged at the bottom edge of the barrier, which facilitates control of the area in which each cell type is grown, the size of the gap between the cells, and helps prevents over growth of the two cell types on to each other.
US08445270B2
The present invention relates to specific immortalized avian cell lines expressing telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), and exhibiting distinct biologics production patterns. More particularly, the present invention relates to immortalized avian cell line capable of either amplifying Flaviviridae but not capable of amplifying Vaccinia virus strain Copenhagen (VV-COP) nor Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), or capable of amplifying both Flaviviridae and Poxviridae. The invention further relates to the use of said immortalized avian cell lines and related methods for producing biologics, including viruses and proteins.
US08445266B2
Apparatus for judging cell detachment, method of judging cell detachment, and cell culture apparatus
An apparatus for judging cell detachment that judges a state of detachment of cells that have been cultured within a cell culture container (cultured cells), includes: an image-capturing unit that captures an image of the cultured cells; and a detachment state judging unit that determines luminance information within the cell culture container based upon image capture data from the image-capturing unit, and judges that the culture cells are detached when the luminance information exceeds a predetermined luminance level.
US08445257B2
The present invention provides genes, polypeptides and expression constructs therefor, recombinant photosynthetic microorganisms, and method of use thereof, such as for the production of branched-chain alcohols (including 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and isobutanol) and derivatives thereof for a variety of uses.
US08445256B2
The present invention relates to liquid mycorrhiza compositions and to methods for colonizing a plant, grass, tree or shrub with one or more mycorrhizas.
US08445255B2
Disclosed are inoculants that include Bacillus bacteria and induce production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by a plant that has been treated with the inoculant.
US08445247B2
Disclosed herein are enzyme powders comprising a spray-dried formulation of at least one CE-7 esterase, at least one oligosaccharide excipient, and optionally at least one surfactant. Also disclosed herein is a process for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters using the aforementioned enzyme powders. Further, disinfectant and laundry care formulations comprising the peracids produced by the processes described herein are provided.
US08445244B2
A non-naturally occurring microbial organism includes a microbial organism having a reductive TCA or Wood-Ljungdahl pathway in which at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding these pathway enzymes is expressed in a sufficient amount to enhance carbon flux through acetyl-CoA. A method for enhancing carbon flux through acetyl-CoA includes culturing theses non-naturally occurring microbial organisms under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce a product having acetyl-CoA as a building block. Another non-naturally occurring microbial organism includes at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to enhance the availability of reducing equivalents in the presence of carbon monoxide or hydrogen, thereby increasing the yield of redox-limited products via carbohydrate-based carbon feedstock. A method for enhancing the availability of reducing equivalents in the presence of carbon monoxide or hydrogen includes culturing this organism for a sufficient period of time to produce a product.
US08445239B2
This invention is in the field of bacterial cultures and specifically relates to the optimization of culture conditions to improve the production of bacterial capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus strains in fed batch culture and to novel purification methods suitable for production scale purification of bacterial capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus strains resulting in higher levels of purity than previously obtained for production scale.
US08445237B2
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Using a Drosophila in vitro system, we demonstrate that 19-23 nt short RNA fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. The short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated by an RNase III-like processing reaction from long dsRNA. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3′ ends mediate efficient target RNA cleavage in the lysate, and the cleavage site is located near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the produced siRNP complex.
US08445235B2
The current invention pertains to a method to produce RTX-toxins ApxI or ApxIII by culturing Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae bacteria in a liquid culturing medium that supports growth of the bacteria, characterized in that air is passed through the medium, wherein the air has a carbon dioxide content above normal atmospheric level to increase RTX-toxin production during the production phase of the RTX-toxins.
US08445221B2
[Object] To provide an FAD-conjugated glucose dehydrogenase having a higher specificity for glucose.[Means for Resolution] A modified glucose dehydrogenase (GLD) which includes a substitution of at least one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues at positions 37, 69, 72, 73, 76, 78, 102, 217, 228, 240, 356, 407, 424, 437, 527, and 530 in an amino acid sequence of a wild-type FAD-conjugated glucose dehydrogenase (GLD) represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and has a decreased ratio of activity for xylose/activity for glucose as compared with the wild-type GLD; a polynucleotide encoding the modified GLD; a recombinant vector containing the polynucleotide; a transformed cell produced by using the recombinant vector; etc.
US08445217B2
Disclosed are methods, systems, and apparatuses for the free solution measurement of molecular interactions by backscattering interferometry (BSI). Molecular interaction can be detected between analytes in free-solution wherein at least one of the analytes is label-free and detection is performed by back-scattering interferometry. Further, molecular interaction can be detected between analytes in free-solution, wherein at least one of the analytes is label-free, wherein one of the analytes is present in a concentration of less than about 5.0×10−7M. Also disclosed are label-free, free-solution, and/or real-time measurements of characteristic properties and/or chemical events using the disclosed techniques. The disclosed methods can have very low detection limits and/or very low sample volume requirements. Also disclosed are various biosensor applications of the disclosed techniques. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08445216B2
The invention provides high affinity antibodies suitable for forming Immunotoxins that inhibit the growth of cells expressing human glycoprotein NMB, including glioblastoma multiform cells, anaplastic astrocytoma cells, anaplastic oligodendroglioma cells, oligodendroglioma cells, and melanoma cells.
US08445214B2
A conjugate comprising a dye-labeled microporous crystal, a stop-cock moiety, and covalently bound thereto an affinity binding agent is disclosed. The dye-labeled microporous crystal is a zeolite crystal, such as a zeolite L crystal, having a large number of channels in its interior into which the dye is loaded. The stop-cock moiety can be functionalized with an amino group to which a carboxyester group can be attached. The affinity binding agent allows for the binding to a biological moiety. The conjugate of the moiety can be used in in-vivo and/or in-vitro imaging applications.
US08445210B2
A microfluidic device for analyzing and/or sorting biological materials (e.g., molecules such as polynucleotides and polypeptides, including proteins and enzymes; viruses and cells) and methods for its use are provided. The device and methods of the invention are useful for sorting particles, e.g. virions. The invention is also useful for high throughput screening, e.g. combinatorial screening. The microfluidic device comprises a main channel and an inlet region in communication with the main channel at a droplet extrusion region. Droplets of solution containing the biological material are deposited into the main channel through the droplet extrusion region. A fluid different from and incompatible with the solution containing the biological material flows through the main channel so that the droplets containing the biological material do not diffuse or mix. Biological material within the droplets can be analyzed and/or sorted by detecting a predetermined characteristic of the biological sample in each droplet and sorting the droplet accordingly.
US08445204B2
The present invention relates to the materials and methods for the identification of methylated nucleotides in samples of genomic DNA. The present invention also relates to methods of diagnosis of specific conditions by identification of specific methylated nucleotides.
US08445201B2
A method, device and system for hybridizing a target oligonucleotide to at least one array comprising a plurality of mixing beads are provided. A target solution is mixed by agitating the mixing beads while the target oligonucleotides are hybridizing to the complementary probes on the array. In another embodiment, a permeable barrier contains the mixing beads, thereby preventing them from contacting the array surface.
US08445198B2
The present invention features methods, kits, and devices for predicting the sensitivity of a patient to a compound or medical treatment. The invention also features methods for identifying gene biomarkers whose expression correlates to treatment sensitivity or resistance within a patient population or subpopulation.
US08445194B2
Random arrays of single molecules are provided for carrying out large scale analyses, particularly of biomolecules, such as genomic DNA, cDNAs, proteins, and the like. In one aspect, arrays of the invention comprise concatemers of DNA fragments that are randomly disposed on a regular array of discrete spaced apart regions, such that substantially all such regions contain no more than a single concatemer. Preferably, such regions have areas substantially less than 1 μm2 and have nearest neighbor distances that permit optical resolution of on the order of 109 single molecules per cm2. Many analytical chemistries can be applied to random arrays of the invention, including sequencing by hybridization chemistries, sequencing by synthesis chemistries, SNP detection chemistries, and the like, to greatly expand the scale and potential applications of such techniques.
US08445182B2
Ultrafine patterns with dimensions smaller than the chemical and optical limits of lithography are formed by superimposing two photoresist patterns using a double exposure technique. Embodiments include forming a first resist pattern over a target layer to be patterned, forming a protective cover layer over the first resist pattern, forming a second resist pattern on the cover layer superimposed over the first resist pattern while the cover layer protects the first resist pattern, selectively etching the cover layer with high selectivity with respect to the first and second resist patterns leaving an ultrafine target pattern defined by the first and second resist patterns, and etching the underlying target layer using the superimposed first and second resist patterns as a mask.
US08445179B2
A method for treating a lithographic printing plate including the step of applying a liquid containing a surfactant to the plate, characterized in that the surfactant includes at least one hydrophilic segment including polyglycerol, and at least one hydrophobic segment selected from an optionally substituted alkylene group, an alkyl or aryl substituted poly(meth)acrylate, an optionally substituted polyester, polyether, polyurethane, polycarbosilane, polysiloxane, polystyrene and/or a polymer including a perfluoroalkyl group with the proviso that the liquid is not applied as a fountain solution.
US08445171B2
A method of preparing a toner, including dripping a toner constituent liquid comprising an organic solvent; and toner constituents comprising a resin and a colorant, which are dissolved or dispersed in the organic solvent through a nozzle to form a droplet; and removing the organic solvent from the droplet, wherein the droplet is dried while contacted with a first de-solvent gas comprising steam in a pre-heated period and at least a part of a constant-rate drying period, or the droplet is dried at least in a pre-heated period and a constant-rate drying period, which include two stages including a first stage and a second stage, wherein the droplet is contacted with the first de-solvent gas including steam in the first stage and a second de-solvent gas having a dew point not greater than −10° C. under ordinary pressure in the second stage.
US08445168B2
The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a photoconductive layer, an intermediate layer made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide on the photoconductive layer, and a surface layer made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide on the intermediate layer, wherein a ratio (C/(Si+C); C2) in the surface layer is 0.61 to 0.75, and a sum of atom density of silicon and carbon is 6.60×1022 atoms/cm3 or more, a ratio (C/(Si+C); C1) and a sum (D1) of atom density of silicon and carbon in the intermediate layer increase continuously from the photoconductive layer toward the surface layer without exceeding C2 and D2, and the intermediate layer has a continuous region in which C1 is 0.25 to C2 while D1 is 5.50×1022 to 6.45×1022 atoms/cm3, the region being 150 nm or larger in a layer thickness direction, and an electrophotographic apparatus equipped therewith.
US08445160B2
An electrolyte membrane on the inside of annular frames with an anode-side electrode catalyst layer, a first gas diffusion layer and a first gas flow channel-forming body stacked on top of the membrane. An electrode catalyst layer, a second gas diffusion layer and a second gas flow channel-forming body are stacked on the underside. Frames have a supply channel supplying fuel gas to the gas flow channel in the first gas flow channel-forming body, a discharge channel discharges the fuel gas. An overhang part that extends outward is on the outer peripheral edge of the first channel-forming body to overlap a flange part of the frame beyond the outer peripheral edge of the anode-side electrode catalyst layer. Penetration of seeping water can be prevented by retaining the seeping water in the overhang part.
US08445152B2
Disclosed is an MEA in which a catalyst layer is coated on both sides of an ion exchange membrane. An ion exchange membrane support film is attached on both sides of an edge portion of the ion exchange membrane, and a PCB is mounted on one surface of the ion exchange membrane support film along an outer line of the catalyst layer of the MEA. Furthermore, a PCB terminal is formed on one end of the PCB, and a connector is connected to the PCB terminal to communicate with an external controller. The PCB includes a heating element, a first temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the heating element, a second temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the MEA, a first contact measuring the resistance of unit cells, and a second contact measuring the voltage of the unit cells, formed in a predetermined arrangement to communicate with the PCB terminal.
US08445147B2
A humidifier assembly for humidifying fuel for use in a fuel cell system, comprising a water heater adapted to receive recycled water and to generate heated water using cathode exhaust, and a fuel saturator adapted to receive deaerated cleansed water, at least a portion of the deaerated cleansed water comprising the heated water, and fuel and to humidify the fuel with a first portion of the deaerated cleansed water, the fuel saturator tower outputting humidified fuel for use in the fuel cell system and a second portion of the deaerated cleansed water for use as recycled water in the water heater.
US08445145B2
A method of purging residual hydrogen from a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes providing an air stream, providing a temporary nitrogen stream by removing oxygen from the air stream with an adsorbent bed and passing the nitrogen stream through the fuel cell stack.
US08445143B2
Disclosed is an electrode comprising an aliphatic nitrile compound, wherein the aliphatic nitrile compound is coated on a surface of the electrode or is incorporated into the electrode active materials. A lithium secondary battery having the electrode is also disclosed. The lithium secondary battery has excellent safety so as to prevent ignition and explosion generated when the internal temperature of the battery is increased due to the heat emission caused by the reaction of an electrolyte with a cathode and the structural collapse of a cathode occurring upon overcharge. Additionally, it is also possible to prevent ignition and explosion when the battery is exposed to high temperature due to an increase in temperature resulting from heating or local short circuit caused by physical impacts. Further, it is possible to solve the problems of an increase in viscosity and degradation in battery performance at a low temperature occurring when an aliphatic nitrile compound is used as an additive for electrolyte.
US08445142B2
An organic electrolytic solution including a lithium salt, an organic solvent, and a compound represented by the formula and a lithium battery employing the organic electrolytic solution. Groups Z1 and Z2 are each, independently, a cyano group, an isocyano group, a substituted or unsubstituted dicyanoethylphosphino group, or a substituted or unsubstituted dialkoxyphosphoryloxy group. Groups R1 through R4 are described fully in the Description. The organic electrolyte solution inhibits decomposition of an electrolytic solution and elution or precipitation of metal ions, and thus the lithium battery including the organic electrolytic solution has excellent cycle characteristics and lifetime characteristics.
US08445141B2
The present invention relates to a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer excellent in ion conductivity and durability, a method for producing the same, a resin composition containing the sulfonic acid group-containing polymer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a polymer electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly, and a fuel cell. The sulfonic acid group-containing polymer of the present invention, in a first embodiment, includes a constituent represented by the following chemical formula 1: wherein X represents hydrogen or a monovalent cation species; Y represents a sulfone group or a ketone group; and n represents an arbitrary integer not less than 2.
US08445140B2
Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) comprising at least one electrolyte salt and at least one linear triblock copolymer A-B-A, in which: the blocks A are polymers that may be prepared from one or more monomers chosen from styrene, o-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, m-t-butoxystyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, m-chlorostyrene, p-chlorostyrene, 4-carboxystyrene, vinylanisole, vinylbenzoic acid, vinylaniline, vinylnaphthalene, 9-vinylanthracene, 1 to 10C alkyl methacrylates, 4-chloromethylstyrene, divinylbenzene, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, tetramethylolpropane tetraacrylate, 1 to 10C alkyl acrylates, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; the block B is a polymer that may be prepared from one or more monomers chosen from ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide (PO), poly(ethylene glycol) acrylates (PEGA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylates (PEGMA). Rechargeable battery cell or accumulator comprising an anode and a cathode between which is intercalated the said solid polymer electrolyte.
US08445139B2
The disclosure relates to bipolar cells including electrodes surrounding a collector. Embodiments of the bipolar cells include a collector containing a high-polymer material. The disclosure also relates to bipolar electrode batteries containing bipolar cells including a collector body containing electrically conductive high-polymer or electrically conductive particles distributed in a high-polymer. By adding such high molecular weight polymer material to the collector, the weight of the collector may be reduced and the output power density per weight of the battery may be improved. The disclosure further relates to methods of forming collecting bodies and electrodes for bipolar cells using an inkjet printing method. Bipolar cells according to the present invention may be used to fabricate batteries such as lithium ion batteries, which may be connected to form battery modules used, for example, to provide electrical power for a motor vehicle.
US08445133B2
An electrode for a charge storage device and a method for forming the electrode. The electrode comprises an electrode body having an essentially continuous phase of an active material, an essentially continuous phase of an electroconductive material, and an essentially continuous phase of void space. The active material is oxidized by applying a potential to the electrode body in the charge storage device so as to transform the active material to an oxide species thereof. The resulting oxide species of the active material has a higher active surface area than the active material prior to the oxidizing.
US08445132B2
A manufacturing method for a battery is provided in the present invention. The manufacturing method includes the steps of: S1 rolling up a positive-electrode structure by a carbon rod; S2 rolling up a separation structure; S3 rolling up a negative-electrode structure; and S4 inserting the carbon rod with the positive-electrode structure, the separation structure and the negative-electrode structure into a paper tube. At least one of the positive-electrode structure and the negative-electrode structure contains chlorophyll. Thus not only is the manufacturing method of the battery simple, and economical, but also natural, non-toxic substances are employed, unlike the conventional batteries, the battery of the present invention will not cause environmental pollution even when discarding after being used.
US08445131B2
A holder case for secondary battery having an improved longitudinal compression property and a lithium secondary battery using the same in which a case for secondary battery includes a case body and a first rib. The case body includes first and second long-side walls opposite to each other, first and second short-side walls, a bottom wall connected to one end portions of the two long-side walls and the two short-side walls, and an opening positioned at the other end portions of the two long-side walls and the two short-side walls while being opposite to the bottom wall. The first rib is disposed on the case body and extends from a middle portion of the first long-side wall to a middle portion of the second long-side wall via the second short-side wall.
US08445125B2
A pouch type battery, including a pouch type bare cell having a terrace and having an electrode tab adjacent to the terrace, the terrace being an empty space defined where a sealing area of the electrode tab is not bent, the sealing area positioned in a direction in which the electrode tab extends, a protective circuit board electrically connected to the electrode tab, the protective circuit board positioned in the terrace and including a protection circuit, an upper case supporting the protective circuit board and encasing an upper portion of the bare cell, and a first barrier protruding downwardly from the upper case and electrically separating the protective circuit board from the electrode tab.
US08445117B2
The present invention discloses corrosion and wear-resistant claddings comprising hard particles and an alloying addition dispersed in a nickel-based alloy matrix. The alloying addition comprises at least one of molybdenum or copper. The cladding does not include cobalt-bonded tungsten carbide particles.
US08445115B2
A method of processing a brazed article includes forming a braze joint with an aluminum component comprising a nano-grained aluminum alloy.
US08445114B2
The invention provides a method and system for electrolytically coating an article. The method includes providing an article to be coated and disposing the article in an electrolytic cell. The cell includes an anode, a cathode in operable communication with the article, and an electrolyte bath. During electrolysis, the electrolyte bath comprises cobalt ions, phosphorous acid, and tribological particles selected from the group consisting of refractory materials, solid lubricants and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The method further includes applying steady direct electric current through the anode, the electrolyte bath and the cathode to coat the article with cobalt, phosphorous and the tribological particles. An improved composition of matter is also provided that may be used as a coating, or the composition may be electroformed on a mandrel to form an article made from the composition of matter.
US08445113B2
When a polymer blend of an NBR and an alkylene oxide-polymerized polymer is used as the electro-conductive elastic layer of an electro-conductive member for electrophotography, a change in shape of the electro-conductive member occurs owing to its expansion due to water absorption, thereby causing image unevenness in some cases. In addition, when the ratio at which the alkylene oxide-polymerized polymer is blended is reduced for suppressing the shape change due to water absorption, image unevenness resulting from the insufficiency of electro-conductivity occurs in some cases. When an electro-conductive member for electrophotography having an electro-conductive elastic layer containing an NBR to which a specific alkylene oxide oligomer is graft-bonded is used, high ionic electro-conductivity is obtained and a change in its shape due to water absorption is reduced.
US08445107B2
Process for production of multicomponent moldings, which comprises producing a molding of which at least one layer is composed of a thermoplastic molding composition composed of A) from 10 to 99.99% by weight of at least one thermoplastic polyester, B) from 0.01 to 50% by weight of B1) at least one highly branched or hyperbranched polycarbonate having an OH number of from 1 to 600 mg KOH/g of polycarbonate (to DIN 53240, Part 2), or B2) at least one highly branched or hyperbranched polyester of AxBy type, where x is at least 1.1 and y is at least 2.1, or a mixture of these, and C) from 0 to 60% by weight of other additives, where the total of the percentages by weight of components A) to C) is 100%.
US08445091B2
An optical disc having at least two metal-containing layers with different compositions and partially overlapping areal extents in the plane of the disc and method of forming the disc are described. The optical disc with dual metallization exhibits visually distinct regions suitable for use for identification purposes.
US08445084B2
An article made of one-way glass is disclosed. The reflective surface of the one-way glass faces inwardly of the article. The article is free of internal or external ornamentation or opaque elements and is illuminated by external light sources reflected within the article by the reflective surface.
US08445082B2
An article in the form of a paper substrate having a first surface and a second surface; an internal paper sizing agent present in an amount sufficient to impart to the paper substrate an HST value of from about 50 to about 250 seconds; one or more optical brightening agents present in an amount below a “green over” effect excess but sufficient to impart an ISO Brightness value of at least about 92; and a metal salt drying agent mixture of multivalent and monovalent metal drying salts in a molar ratio of multivalent to monovalent cations of from about 3:1 to about 1:18 to provide a percent ink transferred (“IT %”) value equal to or less than about 65% and a black print density value of at least about 1.45. Also, a method for treating the optically brightened paper substrate with a mixture of multivalent and monovalent metal drying salts.
US08445081B2
A polarizing plate protective film comprising a cellulose ester, and a saccharide ester compound in which all or a part of OH groups in Compound (A) or in Compound (B) are esterified, wherein Compound (A) consists of one of a furanose structure and a pyranose structure, and Compound (B) consists of two to twelve of at least one type of a furanose structure and a pyranose structure which are bonded in Compound (B); wherein the polarizing plate protective film exhibits Ro of 0-10 nm and Rt of −30 to +20 nm.
US08445079B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical film exhibiting a preferable wavelength dispersion and capable of being formed comparatively thinly.The present invention is an optical film containing the repeating unit represented by the following general formula (II).In the formula (II), A, A′, B, and B′ each denote a substituent, a, a′, b, and b′ denote the number of substituents of the corresponding A, A′, B, and B′. A, A′, B and B′ each independently denote a halogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. R1 and R2 denote a halogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the like. X denotes —CO—, —SO2—, and the like.
US08445075B2
Methods of processing films on substrates are provided. In one aspect, the methods comprise treating a patterned low dielectric constant film after a photoresist is removed from the film by depositing a thin layer comprising silicon, carbon, and optionally oxygen and/or nitrogen on the film. The thin layer provides a carbon-rich, hydrophobic surface for the patterned low dielectric constant film. The thin layer also protects the low dielectric constant film from subsequent wet cleaning processes and penetration by precursors for layers that are subsequently deposited on the low dielectric constant film.
US08445068B2
A method for coating a dispersion slurry containing a solid SAP dispersed in a dispersion medium on a surface of a substrate sheet are provided. The method is characterized in that a first region and a second region are formed on the surface of the substrate sheet with a convex-and-concave pattern wherein the first region have the coating layer in thicker thickness and the second region have the coating layer in thinner thickness or does not scarcely have the coating layer, by means of positioning the rotating pattern roll over the substrate sheet via the cover film, of supplying the dispersion slurry between the substrate sheet and the cover film while rotating the rotating pattern roll, and of pushing the coating layer with the rotating pattern roll via the cover film, when the coating layer of the dispersion slurry is formed.
US08445064B2
A composition for a light emitting body-polymer composite, the composition including a light emitting body; and a cross-linkable composition including a monomer represented by Chemical Formula 1. A light emitting body-polymer composite prepared by cross-linking the composition and a light emitting device including the light emitting body-polymer composite are also provided.
US08445061B2
A method of making an article having a substrate and a material applied thereto includes providing a metered fluid dispensing system having a supply of fluid to be dispensed, an output device having at least one dispensing nozzle, at least two pumps for pumping fluid from the supply to the at least one dispensing nozzle. The pumps are in close proximity to the dispensing nozzle. Output supply passageways interconnect the pumps and the dispensing nozzle, and flow control elements selectively control the passage of the fluid from the pumps to the nozzle. The substrate is conveyed past the fluid dispensing system in a machine direction and fluid is applied to the substrate in a plurality of segments. Each segment has a volume per unit length and is applied in a length in the machine direction to define a pattern. The pattern includes at least some areas in which the fluid is present at a first volume as applied from one of the pumps and at least some areas in which fluid is present at a second volume that is greater than the first volume, as applied from both of the pumps.
US08445060B2
A process for manufacturing decorative papers and/or panels for flooring or surfacing of furniture, wall, finish foils, filter papers or kraft papers for low and high pressure use etc., in which a substantially dry solid composition is prepared in powder form, having a polymer component containing aminopiasts (amino resins) and/or phenoplasts (phenolic resins) and/or mixtures in powder form, used as such and/or mixed with additives; the composition is then applied dry on a support in powder form and is heated after being deposited onto the support to melt the composition and form a coating polymer layer onto the support; the composition may instead be heated first to be molten before and then applied in a fluid form onto the support.
US08445050B2
One aspect of the present invention is concerned with a composition comprising caramelised carbohydrate, which composition, when dissolved in water at a dry solids content of 0.1 wt. %, exhibits: i. an absorption at 280 nm (A280) that exceeds 0.01, preferably exceeds 0.05, more preferably exceeds 0.1 and most preferably exceeds 0.3; and ii. an absorption ratio A280/560 of at least 200, preferably of at least 250. Other aspects of the invention relate to a method of manufacturing a beverage or foodstuff that is resistant to light induced flavor changes, said method comprising introducing into said beverage or foodstuff a composition as defined above; and to a process for the manufacture of said composition.
US08445048B2
The invention relates to a method for producing vegetable products from blanched vegetables, comprising: par frying the blanched vegetables at a par frying temperature and next applying heat and humidity for drying the vegetables.
US08445044B2
The invention provides a food and water thickener and a method for preparing the food and water thickener. The food thickener comprises pretreated mineral water, xanthan, food preservative, a first antimicrobial and chelating agent, and a sequestering agent, wherein the food thickener has a density of between 750 and 1250 grams per liter. The method for producing the thickener incorporates pretreatment of mineral water and xanthan, and specific heating steps. Also provided is method for producing thickened alcoholic beverages. The invention further provides a method for invoking a swallow response in dysphagic patients, the method comprising increasing the mass of food to between 750 mg per liter and 1500 mg per liter; and orally administering the food to dysphagic patients.
US08445039B2
The present invention relates to an antioxidant cosmetic composition, and more particularly to an antioxidant cosmetic composition containing, as an active ingredient, either an extract of at least one of peony, Polygonati rhizoma and lily, processed using a medicinal herb processing technique, or a mixture of said extract and an extract of at least one of unprocessed peony, Polygonati rhizoma and lily.
US08445032B2
A melt-processed protein composition formed from a protein, plasticizer, and an electrophilic reagent is provided. The electrophilic reagent, for instance, may be selected to undergo a nucleophilic addition reaction with free sulfhydryl and/or thiyl radicals to help minimize the formation of disulfide crosslinking bonds that could otherwise lead to protein aggregation during melt processing. To enhance the degree to which the electrophilic reagent can limit crosslinking, a plasticizer is also employed that helps to mediate the adsorption of the electrophilic reagent into the internal structure of the protein, where it can be more stably retained. Furthermore, the temperature and shear rate employed during melt blending may also be selected to be relatively low to help limit polypeptide dissociation, thereby minimizing the impact of aggregation and embrittlement.
US08445029B2
The present invention describes a balanced aqueous electrolyte solution. In particular, a balanced aqueous electrolyte solution that is particularly suitable as a solution for intravenous and subcutaneous infusion because of its being plasma-adapted is described. In addition to the balanced electrolyte solution itself, an electrolyte mixture as well as a process for preparing the balanced electrolyte solution from this mixture, and a medicament comprising the solution and optionally an active ingredient are provided.
US08445025B2
Disclosed are the nanoparticle and the method for the same, and the preparing method includes steps of mixing polyethylenimine (PEI) with the poly(acrylic acid)-bound iron oxide (PAAIO) to form a PEI-PAAIO polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) and mixing the PEI-PAAIO PEC with genetic material such as plasmid DNA to form the PEI-PAAIO/pDNA magnetic nanoparticle. The PEI-PAAIO/pDNA magnetoplex is highly water dispersible and suitable for long term storage, shows superparamagnetism, low cytotoxicity, high stability and nice transfection efficiency, and thus the PEI-PAAIO PEC can replace PEI as a non-viral gene vector.
US08445024B2
The present invention relates to preparations comprising at least one low molecular weight substance and at least one hyperbranched polymer, wherein the hyperbranched polymer comprises a hydrophilic core having polyester units and hydrophobic end groups, said hyperbranched polymer having a molecular weight greater than or equal to 6000 g/mol and a hydroxyl number in the range from 0 to 200 mg KOH/g, the degree of branching being in the range from 20 to 70%, and said hyperbranched polymer having a melting point of at least 30° C.
US08445022B2
Embolization, as well as related particles, compositions, and methods, are disclosed.
US08445001B2
The present invention relates to a protective peptide of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) or a functionally active variant thereof; a composition comprising at least two of such peptides or variants; one or more nucleic acid(s) encoding such peptide or variant; a pharmaceutical composition comprising such peptide or variant, composition, or nucleic acid(s); a method of producing an antibody using such peptide or variant or composition; the use of such peptide or variant and/or composition and/or nucleic acid(s) for the manufacture of a medicament; a method of diagnosing a S. pneumoniae infection using such peptide or variant, composition or a primer and/or probe specific for the nucleic acid(s); a method for identifying a ligand capable of binding to such peptide or variant; and the use of such peptide or variant for the isolation, purification and/or identification of an interaction partner of the peptide.
US08444995B2
Provided is a polypeptide having no more than 100 amino acids, which polypeptide comprises one or more sequences having at least 60% homology with any of SEQ ID 1-6, or comprises two or more epitopes having 7 amino acids or more, each epitope having at least 60% homology with a sub-sequence of any of SEQ ID 1-6 that has the same length as the epitope: SEQ ID 1 DLEALMEWLKTRPILSPLTKGILGFVFTLTVP SEQ ID 2 LLYCLMVMYLNPGNYSMQVKLGTLCALCEKQASHS SEQ ID 3 DLIFLARSALILRGSVAHKSC SEQ ID 4 PGIADIEDLTLLARSMVVVRP SEQ ID 5 LLIDGTASLSPGMMMGMFNMLSTVLGVSILNLGQ SEQ ID 6 IIGILHLILWILDRLFFKCIYRLF wherein, the polypeptide is immunogenic in a vertebrate expressing a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allele, and wherein the polypeptide is not a complete influenza virus protein.
US08444990B2
Anti-Her2 antibodies which induce apoptosis in Her2 expressing cells are disclosed. The antibodies are used to “tag” Her2 overexpressing tumors for elimination by the host immune system. Also disclosed are hybridoma cell lines producing the antibodies, methods for treating cancer using the antibodies, and pharmaceutical compositions.
US08444983B2
The present invention provides antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind the ENDO180 polypeptide and are internalized thereby, to conjugates comprising the molecules, to compositions comprising the antibodies and conjugates and to methods of using the same for delivery of therapeutic agents to cells that express the ENDO180 polypeptide on the surface of the cell for treating cell proliferative diseases or disorders and fibrosis, and for controlling (modulating) tumor progression.
US08444978B2
The present invention relates to biological and medical applications of an anti-CD160 monoclonal antibody (CL1-R2 CNCM I-3204) and of the conservative equivalents thereof. It more particularly relates to the applications of these anti-CD160 compounds in the fields of EC angiogenesis, and NK and T cytokine production.
US08444974B2
Described is the use of antibodies which are directed against human cellular membrane antigens for the vaccination against cancer diseases.
US08444969B2
Compositions and methods for preparing neutrophil-depleted platelet rich plasma are provided. Generally, these compositions comprise a higher concentration of platelets and depressed concentrations of neutrophils relative to whole blood although white blood cells may be at higher concentrations than whole blood. The concentrations of the platelets and/or the white blood cells may be two to eight times the respective concentrations in whole blood. These compositions may have depressed concentrations of red blood cells and hemoglobin. In some variations, the compositions may be useful to treat damaged connective tissue and/or to slow or stop cardiac apoptosis after a heart attack. The neutrophil-depleted platelet rich plasma composition may be delivered in conjunction with reperfusion therapy.
US08444968B2
The present application discloses methods for repairing hyaline cartilage defects. The methods comprise a combination of introducing autologous bone mesenchymal stem cells to a joint, and applying to the joint a membrane comprising a polyester entangled with a polysaccharide. In some aspects, the bone mesenchymal stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells originating in bone underlying the joint. In these aspects, contact between the joint and the mesenchymal stem cells can be effected by introducing apertures through the bone using standard surgical techniques such as microfracture, abrasion, or drilling. Cartilage which forms in response to application of these methods is hyaline cartilage rather than fibrocartilage.
US08444965B2
The present invention relates to tumor cell-based vaccines and methods of using same, wherein the vaccines are based on naturally immune privileged tumor cells that have been genetically modified to express MHC-II restricted peptides derived from endogenously encoded tumor antigens, activate CD4+ T-lymphocytes, provide an array of antigens to which the host is not tolerized and/or induce immunity against the originating tumor cells as well as against metastatic tumor cells.
US08444959B2
Disclosed is a topical skin composition and corresponding methods for its use that includes a first MMP-1 inhibitor, wherein said first inhibitor is an extract from Burretiodendron hsienmu, a second MMP-1 inhibitor, wherein said second inhibitor is an extract from Bauhinia brachycarpa var. cavaleriei, and a third MMP-1 inhibitor, wherein said third inhibitor is an extract from Tetracentron sinense.
US08444954B2
New and improved compounds for use in diagnostic imaging or therapy having the formula M-N—O—P-G, wherein M is a metal chelator having the structure: wherein R1-R5 and FG are as defined herein (in the form complexed with a metal radionuclide or not), N—O—P is the linker containing at least one non-alpha amino acid with a cyclic group, at least one substituted bile acid or at least one non-alpha amino acid, and G is the GRP receptor targeting peptide. In the preferred embodiment, M is an Aazta metal chelator or a derivative thereof. Methods for imaging a patient and/or providing radiotherapy or phototherapy to a patient using the compounds of the invention are also provided. Methods and kits for preparing a diagnostic imaging agent from the compound is further provided. Methods and kits for preparing a radiotherapeutic agent are further provided.
US08444950B2
A method for forming polymer carbon nanotube composites, the method comprising: contacting carbon nanotubes with ozone to functionalize the sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes with at least one oxygen moiety; and reacting the functionalized carbon nanotubes with at least one monomer or at least one polymer or copolymer to attach polymer chains to the sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes.
US08444947B2
The present disclosure provides a method for making a carbon nanotube wire structure. A plurality of carbon nanotube arrays is provided. One carbon nanotube film is formed by drawing a number of carbon nanotubes from each of the plurality of carbon nanotube arrays, whereby a plurality of carbon nanotube films is formed. The carbon nanotube films converge at one spot. The carbon nanotube wire structure is formed by treating the carbon nanotube films by at least one of a mechanical method and an organic solvent method.
US08444942B2
The present invention provides for process for inhibiting the levels of nitrogen oxides in process gas streams from sulfuric acid regeneration and sulfuric acid production plants. Partial oxidation of the nitrogen oxides is achieved by feeding a sub stoichiometric amount of ozone as to nitrogen oxides to the process gas stream.
US08444931B2
An apparatus for the heat treatment of a product, especially a food product such as a food product contained within a hermetically sealed container or pouch of plastics or like material, for example for sterilization, pasteurization or cooking, having a heating unit to bring product from ambient towards a heat treatment temperature and pressure; a retort unit to apply a heat treatment to a product; and a cooling unit to allow product to be brought down from heat treatment temperature and pressure towards ambient; wherein each unit and retort is selectably sealable from the others and from ambient conditions.
US08444925B2
A lignocellulosic biomass saccharification pre-treatment device for easily recovering ammonia water to be used in a pre-treatment for saccharification of a lignocellulosic biomass and recycle use. The device has a mixing unit 2 mixing lignocellulosic biomass and ammonia, a heating unit 3 heating the mixture, a separation unit 4 separating ammonia gas from the mixture to obtain a biomass-water mixture, and a transfer unit 6 transferring the biomass-water mixture to a later process. An ammonia water supply unit 8 supplies ammonia water to the mixing means 2. An ammonia recovery unit 20 recovers ammonia gas as ammonia water. A heat-of-dissolution recovery unit 24 recovers heat-of-dissolution generated when ammonia gas is dissolved in water. A heat pump unit 30 generates heat to be supplied to the heating unit 3 using at least the heat-of-dissolution as a heat source.
US08444919B2
A method for disinfecting a volume or surfaces bounding a volume comprising nebulizing a solution comprising a sterilizing agent in a solvent having a lower boiling point than the sterilizing agent to form a nebulant. The nebulant is subjected to energy of a kind and for a duration sufficient to vaporize solvent in preference to sterilizing agent to increase the concentration of the agent in the nebulant particles. Vaporized solvent is removed from the gas stream at or above atmospheric pressure and, if necessary, the nebulant is cooled to below 70° C. The volume or surfaces are exposed to the nebulant for a time sufficient to sterilize said volume or surfaces. Also, apparatus for carrying out the method.
US08444916B2
The stainless steel of the first embodiment includes C: 0.001 to 0.02%, N: 0.001 to 0.02%, Si: 0.01 to 0.5%, Mn: 0.05 to 0.5%, P: 0.04% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Ni: more than 3% to 5%, Cr: 11 to 26%, and either one or both of Ti: 0.01 to 0.5% and Nb: 0.02 to 0.6%, and contains as the remainder, Fe and unavoidable impurities. The stainless steel of the second embodiment has an alloy composition different from those of the first and third embodiments and satisfies the formula (A): Cr+3Mo+6Ni≧23 and formula (B): Al/Nb≧10 and contains as the remainder, Fe and unavoidable impurities. The stainless steel of the third embodiment has an alloy composition different from those of the first and second embodiments and includes either one or both of Sn: 0.005 to 2% and Sb: 0.005 to 1% and contains as the remainder, Fe and unavoidable impurities.
US08444911B2
A system for applying tension to a component for use in molten metal processing. Preferably, the component includes an outer core and at least one tension rod positioned partially within the outer core. The component is preferably elongated, such as a support post or an impeller shaft. The tension rod applies compression to the outer cover, which makes the outer cover more resistant to breakage if it strikes, or is stricken by, an object.
US08444910B2
Apparatus for operating a shaft furnace, whereby an upper section of the shaft furnace is charged with raw materials which due to gravity descend inside the furnace while the atmosphere prevailing within the shaft furnace causes part of the raw materials to melt and/or to be reduced, and in a lower section of the shaft furnace a process gas is injected so as to at least partly modify the atmosphere prevailing in the shaft furnace. The pressure and/or volume flow of the injected process gas is dynamically modulated within a time span of 40 s. Also, a shaft furnace operable by said method, thus achieving improved through-gassing.
US08444908B2
The present invention relates to an injection-stretch blow molding process (ISBM) for the manufacture of an impact-resistant container with good optical properties from a polyolefin composition comprising a polypropylene and a polyethylene produced with a metallocene-based catalyst.
US08444904B2
A resin gear comprises a rim in an outer peripheral part of a plate, teeth provided on an outer periphery of the rim, a boss provided in a central part of the plate, and a circular rib between the boss and the rim. The resin gear is manufacturable by injection molding that a molten material is injected into a cavity through a plurality of gates arranged at almost equally spaced intervals circumferentially on a forming portion for the circular rib in a direction perpendicular to a side of the plate. The resin gear includes a plurality of inner thin-wall portions on the plate between the circular rib and the boss and a plurality of outer thin-wall portions on the plate between the circular rib and the rim, each of the inner thin-wall portions and the outer thin-wall portions being symmetrically shaped with respect to the radial line passing through each gate corresponding point.
US08444903B2
A method of fabricating a three-dimensional printed part includes injecting a powder layer with an aqueous solution and curing the powder layer by depositing an acid gas on the powder layer to form a rigid structure.
US08444898B2
A robust process for the continuous preparation of solutions of high molecular weight UHMW PO that is capable of producing strong materials at high production capacity, is conservative of capital and energy requirements, and the articles made therefrom.
US08444895B2
Disclosed are water-dispersible fibers derived from sulfopolyesters having a Tg of at least 25° C. The fibers may contain a single sulfopolyester or a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water-dispersible or water-nondispersible polymer. Also disclosed are multicomponent fibers comprising a water dispersible sulfopolyester having a Tg of at least 57° C. and a water non-dispersible polymer. The multicomponent fibers may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the water-dispersible fibers, multicomponent fibers, and microdenier fibers. The fibrous articles include water-dispersible and microdenier nonwoven webs, fabrics, and multilayered articles such as wipes, gauze, tissue, diapers, panty liners, sanitary napkins, bandages, and surgical dressings. Also disclosed is a process for water-dispersible fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs. The fibers and fibrous articles have further applications in flushable personal care and cleaning products, disposable protective outerwear, and laminating binders.
US08444883B2
A method for preparing a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery is provided. The preparing method includes: adding a phosphorus compound to a transition metal oxide dispersion liquid to prepare a coating liquid; drying the coating liquid to prepare a powder including phosphorus oxide coated on the surface of the transition metal oxide; and dry-mixing the powder coated with the phosphorus oxide with a lithium intercalation compound, and then firing the mixture to form a solid solution compound of L1-M1-M2-P—O (where M1 is a transition metal derived from transition metal oxide, and M2 is a metal derived from lithium intercalation compound) on the surface of the lithium intercalation compound. The method for preparing a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery simplifies the conventional preparing process to save process cost, and it provides comparable electrochemical characteristics to a cathode active material obtained from a wet process.
US08444878B2
SubjectThe subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding two or more characteristics. The subject is to provide an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth.Means for Solving the SubjectThe invention provides a liquid crystal composition that has a nematic phase and includes a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature as a first component, a compound having a specific bonding group and a large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and a specific two-ring compound having a small viscosity as a third component, and provides a liquid crystal display device containing the composition.
US08444874B2
Disclosed are methods of transferring heat to or from a fluid or body comprising causing heat to be transferred to or from a composition comprising at least trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluorpropene.
US08444872B2
Disclosed is a magnetic material having high Hc and High Curie point, which is capable of controlling such magnetic characteristics without requiring rare or expensive raw materials. Specifically disclosed is a magnetic material composed of particles of a magnetic iron oxide which is represented by the following general formula: ε-AxByFe2−x−yO3 or ε-AxByCzFe2−x−y−zO3 (wherein A, B and C each represents a metal excluding Fe and different from each other, satisfying 0
US08444858B2
There is provided a method of inhibiting the development of a biofilm adjacent a surface, the method comprising intermittently applying a biofilm inhibiting substance to a collection of microorganisms having biofilm developing potential. Other embodiments are also described.
US08444856B2
A high performance liquid chromatography method to routinely and reproducibly detect and quantitate metal complexes is provided. The metal complexes used in the method of the invention can be different metal complexes, or they can be stereoisomers of the same metal complexes. The high performance liquid chromatography method of the present invention is suitable for the separation of diastereomers of the same metal complexes. Also provided is a chiral high performance liquid chromatography method to separate enantiomers of metal complexes. Superoxide dismutase mimetic compounds are also provided.
US08444855B2
A method for removing contaminants from a fluid-material comprising: providing at least one substrate comprising a three-dimensional knit in an initial configuration made of knitted polymeric fiber which substantially resumes the initial configuration after it is released from stretching or compressing force; and submerging said at least one substrate in a fluidic material for treatment of the fluidic material.
US08444846B2
A method of producing hydrogen from sodium hydroxide and water is disclosed. The method comprises separating sodium from a first aqueous sodium hydroxide stream in a sodium ion separator, feeding the sodium produced in the sodium ion separator to a sodium reactor, reacting the sodium in the sodium reactor with water, and producing a second aqueous sodium hydroxide stream and hydrogen. The method may also comprise reusing the second aqueous sodium hydroxide stream by combining the second aqueous sodium hydroxide stream with the first aqueous sodium hydroxide stream. A system of producing hydrogen is also disclosed.
US08444845B2
A process for producing a fuel, which comprises the step of performing electrolysis on an alcoholic solution or a melt of a fatty acid or salt thereof or fatty acid ester or other derivative or precursor thereof, to decarboxylate said fatty acid or derivative, and produce a mixture of an ether and an alkene.
US08444841B2
A partial plating method capable of applying fine hard gold plating, a laser plating device capable of applying partial plating to a minute region with high positional precision, and a plated member. The partial plating method comprising plating a region to be plated by projecting a laser beam having a wavelength of 330 nm or more and 450 nm or less. A laser plating device comprises a plating tank, a laser oscillator for emitting a laser beam, a conveying device for conveying a member to be plated, a photoelectronic sensor for detecting the position of a positioning hole of the member to be plated, and a galvanometer scanner having a galvanometer mirror capable of scanning the laser beam. The plated member is applied with fine spot plating by the laser plating device.
US08444835B2
An electronic fluidic interface for use with an electronic sensing chip is provided. The electronic fluidic interface provides fluidic reagents to the surface of a sensor chip. The electronic sensing chip typically houses an array of electronic sensors capable of collecting data in a parallel manner. The electronic fluidic interface is used, for example, as part of a system that drives the chip and collects, stores, analyzes, and displays data from the chip and as part of a system for testing chips after manufacture. The electronic fluidic interface is useful, for example, nucleic sequencing applications.
US08444828B2
A pyrolyzer and method is provided for devolatizing coal and other volatile materials. The pyrolyzer has a pyrolyzer furnace housing having at least two screws laterally positioned adjacent and overlapping rotatably mounted within the furnace for moving volatile material through the pyrolyzer furnace housing. The screws have hollow drive shafts with a diverter inside for converging heated fluid to heat the volatile material moving through the pyrolyzer furnace housing. A combustion chamber combusts fuel to create heated exhaust gas for directing through the hollow drive shafts to heat the volatile material. The pyrolyzer furnace housing may have a double wall with a cavity between, capable of receiving heated fluid for further heating of volatile material moving through the pyrolyzer furnace housing.
US08444826B2
A flat woven industrial filtration fabric comprises three layers of weft yarns. A first set of warp yarns interweaves only with paper side layer weft yarns and intermediate weft yarns, and a second set of warp yarns interweaves only with machine side layer weft yarns and the intermediate yarns, the first warp yarns and the second warp yarns interweaving with the same intermediate weft yarns at common turning points. The first warp yarns comprise groups of intrinsic binder yarns forming a single combined path on the paper side surface, and the second warp yarns are woven as individual yarns or in groups, such as pairs or triplets. The distinct nature of the paper side and machine side layers increases the available combinations of weave patterns to optimize the characteristics for each layer, and the distinct centre planes between the three layers provide improved drainage control.
US08444819B2
There are disclosed cationic crosslinked waxy starch products having a Brookfield viscosity of about 700 cps to about 2500 cps and a method for preparing the starch products. Also disclosed is the use of the cationic crosslinked waxy starch products having a Brookfield viscosity of about 700 cps to about 2500 cps in the production of paper products.
US08444818B2
Stable and aqueous compositions of polyvinylamines with cationic starch, and utility for papermaking
A stable aqueous composition comprising polyvinylamine and liquid cationic starch in a ratio of from 90 to 55 parts of polyvinylamine on active basis to 10 to 45 parts of liquid cationic starch on active basis is disclosed. The composition can be used in papermaking as a strength or as a drainage aid.
US08444816B2
The present invention relates to thermoplastic and polyareneazole pulp for use as reinforcement material in products including for example fluid sealing materials, as a processing aid including its use as a thixotrope, and as a filter material. The pulp comprises (a) irregularly shaped, thermoplastic fiber fibrous structures, (b) irregularly shaped, polyareneazole fibrous structures and (c) water, whereby thermoplastic fiber fibrils and/or stalks are substantially entangled with polyareneazole fibrils and/or stalks. The invention further relates to processes for making such thermoplastic and polyareneazole pulp.
US08444809B2
A method for heating a chip slurry in a pulping system including an impregnation vessel and a chemical digesting vessel, the method including: impregnating chips in the impregnation vessel with a liquor; transporting the chips from the impregnation vessel to an upper elevation of the digester vessel; extracting liquor from a lower elevation of the digester vessel, wherein the extracted liquor has a temperature substantially higher than a temperature of the chips being transported to the upper elevation of the digester vessel, and adding extracted liquor from the lower elevation of the digester vessel to the chips being transported from the impregnation vessel to the digester vessel.
US08444795B2
Provided is a pneumatic tire manufacturing method capable of improving the productivity of pneumatic tires each having surface fasteners in its tire inner surface, and of avoiding manufacturing a pneumatic tire having a deteriorated uniformity, as well as of preventing engagement elements of each surface fastener from being crushed. Also, provided is a pneumatic tire manufactured by the pneumatic tire manufacturing method. The pneumatic tire manufacturing method according to the present invention includes the steps of, in making a green tire having two-side fasteners in its tire inner surface in its tire circumferential direction, each two-side fastener including an engagement element group on both sides: covering the engagement element groups on first sides of the two-side fasteners with a protective rubber layer made of an uncured rubber; making a cylindrical first formed body on a making drum, with the two-side fasteners covered with the protective rubber layer being intermittently attached to an inner circumferential surface of the first forming body in a circumferential direction thereof with the engagement element groups on second sides of the two-side fasteners being interposed in between; bonding the first formed body to an inner circumference of an annular second formed body by compression through expanding the first formed body into a toroidal shape, and thereby making the green tire; and curing the green tire inside a mold of a curing machine while pressing the green tire from its inside by a bladder.
US08444794B2
An automatic core joiner and cutter apparatus for use in the recycling of used cores and the manufacture of new conjoined cores is disclosed. The apparatus combines an infeed unit, a milling unit, and an outfeed unit, all controlled by a PC. The infeed unit includes at least two infeed rollers for supporting a used core member. An infeed pusher bar moves these core member into and out of contact with the milling unit. The outfeed unit includes at least two rollers for supporting a core remnant. An outfeed pusher bar moves the core remnant into and out of contact with the milling unit. The milling unit, positioned between the infeed and outfeed unit includes an infeed cutter and an infeed milling bit, an outfeed cutter and an outfeed milling bit. The infeed cutter removes the damaged end of the used core and the outfeed cutter removes the damaged end of a core remnant. The used core is milled by the infeed milling bit and the core remnant is milled by the outfeed milling bit. A glue applicator applies glue to at least one of the milled surfaces and the milled surfaces are mated together to produce a new conjoined core. The infeed cutting and milling operations and the outfeed cutting and milling operations are controlled by the controller and performed at the same time.
US08444790B2
An intumescent fire protection barrier in the form of an adhesive sheet or continuous roll of tape. The barrier comprises laminated layers of an intumescent material, a reinforcing matrix, a pressure sensitive adhesive and a release liner. The intumescent material is adhesively applied to a structural steel substrate and expands by at least 10 times its original thickness during a fire to provide fire protection to the substrate. Multiple layers of the fire protection barrier may be installed on top of one another. This application method dramatically reduces installation time as compared with sprayed on fire protection coatings.
US08444789B2
A decorative wall tile mold for the in-situ production on a building, wherein the mold, which can be demolded twice, is a sheet with pierced work, comprises the following detachable lateral structures: an insider layer: a bottom film is set at the bottom surface thereof, the bottom film and the building have a first combinative force; an outer layer: a surface film is set on the exterior surface thereof, a self-adhesive glue section is set up between the inside layer and the outer layer, which makes the outer layer and the inside layer have a second combinative force, and the second combinative force is less than the first combinative force. A method for the in-situ production of decorative patterns on a building is also provided.
US08444786B2
Solid composite propellants are provided that include a matrix comprising an energetic oxidizer and a binder. A multi-layered reactive thin film is provided in the matrix. The reactive thin film includes metal and inorganic oxidizer. Methods of making the solid composite propellants are also provided.
US08444785B2
Solid composite propellants are provided that include a matrix comprising an energetic oxidizer and a binder. A multi-layered reactive thin film is provided in the matrix. The reactive thin film includes metal and inorganic oxidizer. Methods of making the solid composite propellants are also provided.
US08444782B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a high strength ferritic/martensitic steel. The method includes melting a ferritic/martensitic steel, hot-working the melted ferritic/martensitic steel, normalizing the hot-worked ferritic/martensitic steel at a temperature of about 1050° C. to about 1200° C., tempering the ferritic/martensitic steel at a temperature of about 600° C. or less, and leaving MX precipitates while preventing a M23C6 precipitate from being precipitated, and cold-working and thermal-treating the ferritic/martensitic steel in a multistage fashion, and precipitating M23C6 precipitates. Through the above described configuration, the high strength ferritic/martensitic steel that prevents a ductility from being deteriorated even in a high-temperature environment may be manufactured.
US08444781B1
The subject invention discloses a process for strengthening and obtaining the desired dimensions for a metal part comprising: (1) heating at least a portion of a preformed metal part to a temperature above about 1300° F. to transform the metal in at least said portion of the part to an austenitic state to produce an austenitized preformed metal part, (2) quenching the austenitized preformed metal part to a temperature of 300° F. to 650° F. to put the metal in the preformed part in a metastable austenitic state, (3) coining, drawing or extruding the preformed metal part while said metal of said preformed metal part is maintained in the metastable austenitic state at a temperature of 300° F. to 650° F., and (4) quenching the coined, drawn, or extruded metal part at a temperature which allows for the rapid transformation from austenite to martensite.
US08444780B2
A hot rolled steel strip made by the steps including assembling a twin roll caster, forming a casting pool of molten steel of such composition that the cast strip produced comprises by weight, greater than 0.25% and up to 1.1% carbon, between 0.40 and 2.0% manganese, between 0.05 and 0.50% silicon, less than 0.01% aluminum, counter rotating the casting rolls to solidify metal shells and forming a steel strip, hot rolling the steel strip such that mechanical properties at 10% and 35% reduction are within 10% for yield strength, tensile strength and total elongation, and coiling the hot rolled steel strip at a temperature between 550 and 750° C. to provide a majority of the microstructure comprising pearlite, along with bainite and acicular ferrite. The steel may have a free oxygen content between 5 and 50 ppm or between 25 and 45 ppm.
US08444771B2
Method for cleaning and/or deodorizing a toilet bowl or urinal. In one embodiment, the method involves directly applying an agent to the toilet bowl or urinal. The agent adheres to the toilet bowl or urinal and can be flushed away only after a relatively large number of flushing operations. The agent includes fillers from the group of surfactants and also an adhesion promoter. The viscosity of the agent is at least 30 Pas, measured using a Haake viscometer, plate/plate system, plate diameter 10 mm, at a shear gradient of 2.62 s−1 and 20° C. and the agent is so sticky that it can serve to attach bar-shaped agents to the toilet bowl or urinal, wherein the concentration of the surfactants in the case of an adhesion promoter from the group of polvalkyleneimines is between 7 and 60% by weight. The agent may have associated with it one or more bar-shaped compositions.
US08444768B2
Compositions and methods useful for the removal of organic substances from substrates, for example, electronic device substrates such as microelectronic wafers or flat panel displays, are provided. A method is presented which applies a minimum volume of the composition as a coating to the inorganic substrate whereby sufficient heat is added and immediately rinsed with water to achieve complete removal. These compositions and methods are particularly suitable for removing and completely dissolving photoresists of the positive and negative varieties as well as thermoset polymers from electronic devices.
US08444759B2
A bio-based adhesive and method of making the adhesive replaces or serves as additives for asphalt, sealant, and polymers such as styrene-butadiene-styrene and atactic polypropylene in the manufacture of building or paving materials. The method includes steps of forming a mixture of oil comprising fatty acids group and optionally a powdered material; maintaining the oil-to-powdered-material weight ratio in the mixture between 1 to 0.00001 and 1 to 20; heating the mixture to a reaction temperature greater than 55 degrees Centigrade; maintaining the reaction temperature until the oil is polymerized; and, injecting air into the mixture while polymerizing the oil. The adhesive of this method comprises a renewable polymer and the powdered material.
US08444755B2
An ink-jet recording ink including water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a pigment as a colorant (B), and at least one fluorochemical surfactant selected from compounds represented by Structural Formula (1) below, Structural Formula (1) where R1 denotes any one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group and a perfluoroalkyl group, R2 denotes any one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group and a fluorine-containing group, Rf denotes a fluorine-containing group, and m and n each denote an integer of 1 or greater.
US08444753B2
An exhaust gas purifying system includes an exhaust gas purifying apparatus provided with a gas inlet side connected to an inlet pipe and a gas outlet side connected to an exhaust pipe. A holding sealing material of the exhaust gas purifying apparatus has a first side face and a second side face. The first side face is positioned on the gas outlet side and has a first slanting face formed on the first side face. The first slanting face has a first inside end point and a first outside end point. The first inside end point is positioned between the gas inlet side and the first outside end point. The first slanting face extends from the first inside end point to the first outside end point and is tilted relative to an end face of an exhaust gas treating body of the exhaust gas purifying apparatus.
US08444748B2
A V-pack filter includes a frame construction having a first frame structure and a second frame structure. The V-pack filter also includes first and second panel sections mounted in extension between the first and second frame structures. The first panel section has first and second ends. The second panel section has third and fourth ends. The first and third ends have a first distance therebetween while the second and fourth ends have a second distance therebetween. The second distance is generally greater than the first distance. The first and second panel sections and the second frame structure define an air flow aperture. A seal arrangement circumscribes the air flow aperture and projects outwardly from the second frame structure. The first frame structure defines a first receiver indent. Assemblies and methods are also included.
US08444745B2
Amorphous metal foams and methods of making the same are provided. The amorphous metal foams have properties matching those of natural bone, enabling their use as bone replacement scaffolds. In one embodiment, for example, an amorphous metal foam has a density-dependent stiffness (or Young's modulus, denoted E) ranging from about 640ρ3.75 τo αβouτ 2900ρ0.78, and a density dependent strength (σy) greater than about 8.1ρ2.57, wherein ρ (the density) is less than about 1.7 g/cc.
US08444740B2
A nonwoven fabric for exhaust-gas treatment includes a multiplicity of metallic filaments having at least two types of different contours of the metallic filaments. An exhaust-gas purification device includes a channel structure through which exhaust gas can at least partially flow. The channel structure is made at least partially with such a nonwoven fabric. A method for producing a nonwoven fabric for exhaust-gas treatment is also provided.
US08444739B2
A honeycomb filter including partition walls having a porous partition wall base material and a surface layer provided on only inflow side or both inflow and outflow sides of the partition wall base material, and satisfying the following conditions capable of using as a DPF. The surface layer has a peak pore diameter of from 0.3 μm to 20 μm (exclusive) being equal to or smaller than the average pore diameter of the base material; the porosity of from 60% to 95% (exclusive) when measured by mercury porosimetry being larger than that of the base material; and the thickness L1 of from 0.5% to 30% (exclusive) of the partition wall thickness L2; and mass per filtration area of from 0.01 mg/cm2 to 6 mg/cm2 (exclusive). The base material has an average pore diameter of from 10 μm to 60 μm (exclusive) and a porosity of from 40% to 65% (exclusive).
US08444737B2
A method of firing a green structure to produce a ceramic structure may comprise heating a firing environment during a first stage of firing of a green structure over a first timed temperature cycle having an average ramp rate sufficient to substantially complete burnout of organic material prior to initiation of clay dehydration proximate a core of the ceramic structure. The method may further comprise heating the firing environment during a second stage of the firing over a second timed temperature cycle having an average ramp rate that is faster than the average ramp rate of the first timed temperature cycle.
US08444729B2
An exhaust particulate filter for an engine system includes an array of filter cartridges positioned within a shell, each of the cartridges having an electrically powered heating element coupled therewith. Exhaust gases may be distributed among the cartridges according to a single distribution pattern, and the filter can be regenerated without diverting, dividing or bypassing exhaust gases from the filter. The filter cartridges may be cylindrical or wedge-shaped, or of a variety of other configurations. Regeneration may take place according to a non-axial regeneration propagation profile. Other aspects include feedback control and feedforward control of regeneration based on sensing an electrical resistance property of each of the electrically powered heating elements.
US08444716B1
A soluble solid hair coloring article having zwitterionic direct dye and one or more soluble porous solids containing nonionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, or a mixture thereof, such that the one or more soluble porous solids have a density of from about 0.03 g/cm3 to about 0.15 g/cm3; and methods of applying the soluble solid hair coloring article to hair.
US08444715B2
Dyes, compositions comprising dyes and methods for using the same are provided.
US08444711B2
A composition for the oxidative dyeing of keratin fibers, in particular human keratin fibers comprising (A) a 1-hexyl/heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole compound of the general formula (I), a physiologically compatible water-soluble salt thereof, or mixtures thereof, and; (B) a benzene-1,3-diamine compound of the general formula (II), a physiologically compatible water-soluble salt thereof or mixtures thereof, and (C) an oxidizing agent. wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are as defined herein and a=1 or 2.
US08444699B2
A bone augment for repairing a bone defect. The bone augment includes a porous body and a metallic liner. The porous body defines a bore and is configured to be intraoperatively shaped to correspond to the bone defect. The metallic liner is injection molded within the bore such that portions of the liner interlock with pores of the porous body. The metallic liner is operable to mount an implant to the bone augment.
US08444694B2
A method for treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc comprises the steps of: (a) providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus; (b) removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space; (c) determining the size of the intradiscal space; and (d) sealably introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through the annulus directly into the intradiscal space. The step of determining the size of the intradiscal space may be accomplished by expanding a compliant balloon within the intradiscal space using a contrast medium capable of visualization under fluoroscopy. The curable material is sealably introduced through a vented needle inserted through the opening. The curable biomaterial is introduced until a quantity of the material flows into the vent.
US08444693B2
Assemblies of one or more implant structures make possible the achievement of diverse interventions involving the fusion and/or stabilization of lumbar and sacral vertebra in a non-invasive manner, with minimal incision, and without the necessitating the removing the intervertebral disc. The representative lumbar spine interventions, which can be performed on adults or children, include, but are not limited to, lumbar interbody fusion; translaminar lumbar fusion; lumbar facet fusion; trans-iliac lumbar fusion; and the stabilization of a spondylolisthesis.
US08444689B2
A valve prosthesis, implantation device, and methods for use are provided. The implantation device utilizes movable claspers for both positioning and anchoring the valve prosthesis. Alternative designs of the devices allow different methods for minimally invasive implantation of a sutureless valve prosthesis, including transapical and transcatheter approaches. Also provided is a delivery device for delivery of a medical prosthesis though minimally invasive means.
US08444680B2
A bone plate with a new design that prevents the bushing from rotating and/or dislodging from the screw hole during screw insertion. The plate is provided with through-holes having internal walls with at least one flat that is configured to align with a corresponding flat provided on the outer wall of the bushing. The bushing is inserted by orienting the bushing in a direction perpendicular to the through-hole of the plate so that the center of the bushing is aligned with the center of the through-hole and the flat on the bushing is aligned with the flat on the through-hole of the bone plate. The bushing is introduced into the through hole until the centers are aligned, and then the bushing is rotated about 90 degrees so that the bushing is captured within the through-hole of the plate. Once captured, the bushing cannot rotate, dislodge from, or come out of the plate unless the bushing is turned 90 degrees. The flat on the bushing mates with the flat on the internal wall of the hole (screw hole) to prevent it from rotating within the screw hole, and avoiding the need for a bushing guide during screw insertion.
US08444673B2
Methods of installing a vascular closure device, the vascular closure device adapted for sealing an opening in biological tissue and comprising an anchor, a compressible plug, a cinch and a suture, the method comprising the steps of providing an insertion sheath, inserting the insertion sheath into the opening in the biological tissue, providing a device sheath having the vascular closure device preloaded therein with a proximal portion of the suture attached to the device sheath, subsequent to the step of inserting the insertion sheath, inserting the device sheath into the insertion sheath, and retracting the insertion sheath and device sheath simultaneously, wherein during the retraction, the insertion sheath and the device sheath are fixed to one another and devices adapted to the methods.
US08444667B2
A device for the non-invasive treatment of a vascular defect. The device includes at least one occlusive member having a first unexpanded configuration and a second expanded configuration and at least one securement member for securing the vaso-occlusive device to a support structure at the location of the vascular defect.
US08444663B2
An ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body including a base material and at least one filler material. An alternate ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body having adjoining first and second regions, wherein the first region includes a first material and wherein the second region includes a second material. An ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade and a clamping arm which is operable to open and close toward the blade and which has a transversely and resiliently flexible distal tip. An alternate ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm operable to open and close toward the blade, and a tissue pad attached to the clamping arm and having a clamping surface, wherein at least a portion of the tissue pad is resiliently flexible in a direction substantially perpendicular to the clamping surface.
US08444661B2
Devices, systems and methods for removing foreign bodies within a body lumen are disclosed. An unfolding balloon catheter may include an elongated shaft having an intussuscepting balloon that can be actuated within a body lumen to capture and retrieve an intravascular device. The balloon may be configured to radially and/or axially expand when inflated, enveloping the intravascular device. In certain embodiments, the balloon may be formed by folding the ends of a distensible member inwardly, and then bonding the ends of the distensible member to the elongated shaft to form an expandable sleeve. An adhesive layer located along a portion of the elongated shaft may be used to temporarily secure the balloon to the elongated shaft.
US08444659B2
An apparatus and method for passing a suture through tissue includes a first jaw member having a retaining structure to support a portion of the suture proximate a first surface of the tissue. A second jaw member is associated with the first jaw member. The second jaw member is selectively configurable in a first configuration to perform a first stitch or in a second configuration to perform a second stitch.
US08444655B2
A specimen retrieval instrument comprises a handle assembly, an actuating rod, an introducer tube, and a retrieval bag. In some versions the specimen retrieval instrument further comprises a modular cartridge containing the retrieval bag. Upon translation of the actuating rod within the tube, the cartridge opens, releasing and opening the retrieval bag for receiving a specimen. A center spindle may be included where the spindle includes a slot for inserting a portion of the retrieval bag and wrapping the retrieval bag about the spindle. Some versions of the specimen retrieval instrument further comprise a rotating cam actuator that opens and closes a pair of support arms attached to the retrieval bag. Some versions of the specimen retrieval instrument further comprise rotating curved support arms operable to open and close the retrieval bag. Pins registered to helical grooves may provide rotation of the support arms as the support arms translate.
US08444628B2
A valve for selectively permitting a fluid flow between first and second medical implements is disclosed. The valve has a housing with an interface suitable for receiving a connector portion of a first medical device such as a catheter, and a seal made of a flexible material. The seal has a first end in fluid communication with the interface, a second end suitable for receiving the second medical device, and at least one slit in fluid communication with the first end and the second end. The slit defines a restricted fluid flow path and a relatively small interior volume when in an undisturbed state, defines an expanded fluid flow path and a larger interior volume upon the introduction of the second medical instrument into the slit, and retracts to define a restricted flow path and a small interior volume upon the withdrawal of the second medical device from the seal.
US08444621B2
A sampler cap includes a sampler connector, an analyzer connector and a liquid impermeable closure member, which may be a membrane or a filter. The sampler cap may be used to transfer a test sample to an analyzer without removing the sampler cap from the sampler.
US08444620B2
A method and apparatus for separation, concentration, and/or applying a biological or bio-engineered fluid. Generally, the fluid application device includes a sprayer body to enable the application of the fluid and a container adaptable to enable the separation of the fluid into at least a first component and a second component. The container is releasably coupled to the nozzle. The nozzle is adapted to withdraw at least one of the first component or the second component from the container after the fluid has been separated to apply the fluid to a selected site.
US08444614B2
Disclosed herein are devices, systems and methods for using such devices and systems for treating incisions and wounds. In an aspect, disclosed is a device having a generally planar tension relief module and a flexible sealant structure sized to cover the tension relief module, the flexible sealant structure comprising a lower adhesive surface. The tension relief module includes a conduit structure having a plurality of support structures on an upper surface of the conduit structure and at least one opening extending through the conduit structure from a lower surface to the upper surface. At least a portion of the conduit structure is adapted to be aligned with a longitudinal axis of the incision. The tension relief module also includes opposing adhesive structures coupled to the conduit structure. The lower adhesive surface of the flexible sealant structure and the upper surface of the conduit structure form a flow pathway.
US08444606B2
The invention concerns an injection device for apportioning set doses of a drug from a reservoir to a subject. The injection device comprises a housing having an interior thread formed as an outwardly pointing thread carried on an upstanding tower centrally located in the pen shaped device. This outwardly pointing thread forms a first thread connection with the interior thread of the rotatable scale drum. The injection device further comprises a driver for moving the piston rod forward when moved axially. The driver operates the piston rod through a second thread connection having a pitch different than the first thread connection.
US08444603B2
Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that receives a medical instrument (such as a catheter or the like) and secures the instrument in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some circumstances, the anchor device may allow the anchor device to be used after medical instrument is already in place without the need for a second penetration point for the anchor device.
US08444594B2
The invention relates to a system for the extraction and infusion of a body fluid, in particular a system for the extraction and infusion of blood, having a fluid distribution device with an outer structural element at which several connection ports are formed and an inner structural element which is arranged, at least partially, in a seat in the outer structural element, is displaceable between positions and has a hollow space configured for the intake and discharge of a fluid. The invention also relates to a method for operating a system for the extraction and infusion of a body fluid.
US08444592B2
Surgical fluid management systems and methods of operating surgical fluid management systems which may provide one or more functions associated with suction, irrigation, distention, deficit monitoring, infusion, fluid warming, and the like. Some example embodiments may include infra-red lamps arranged to heat fluid flowing through a disposable cartridge. Some example embodiments may provide a three-dimensional fluid path through the cartridge and/or multi-stage heating capabilities. Some example fluid management systems may be selectable between pressure control and flow control modes.
US08444587B2
An air purging method includes: (a) detecting a low fluid level in a blood circuit indicating a high amount of air in the blood circuit; (b) stopping a blood pump; (c) closing a venous patient line; (d) opening a blood circuit air vent valve and a drain valve; and (e) running the blood pump to meter air through the air vent valve and the drain valve to a drain.
US08444573B2
A biopsy device includes a coring cannula, a retract stylet, and a localization needle. The coring cannula has a longitudinal axis and a shaft centered on the axis. The stylet has a tip containing at least one blade and a central passage. The localization needle has a channel and is slidably disposed within the central passage. A drive mechanism rotates the cannula and moves the cannula in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A guide element has a first end and a second end and is slidably disposed within the channel of the localization needle. The guide element is movable from a first position to a second position within the localization needle.
US08444572B2
A capsule medical device includes a capsule-shaped casing that can be introduced into an in-vivo region of a subject; and a rotation driving unit that generates torque along a circumferential direction of the capsule-shaped casing. The capsule medical device also includes a cutting-obtaining unit that rotates along the circumferential direction of the capsule-shaped casing due to the torque to cut out and obtain a mass of body tissue from the in-vivo region of the subject.
US08444564B2
A method for diagnosing a joint condition includes in one embodiment: creating a 3d model of the patient specific bone; registering the patient's bone with the bone model; tracking the motion of the patient specific bone through a range of motion; selecting a database including empirical mathematical descriptions of the motion of a plurality actual bones through ranges of motion; and comparing the motion of the patient specific bone to the database.
US08444540B2
A device for folding sheets of a medium into a booklet is provided. The device includes a frame; a cam mechanism attached to the frame; a lever attached to the frame, the lever being actuated by the cam mechanism; a first scissor arm attached to the frame, the first scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of first rolls, one of the first rolls being movable by the first scissor arm; a second scissor arm attached to the frame, the second scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of second rolls, one of the second rolls being movable by the second scissor arm; a crease blade for contacting the sheets to create a crease in the sheets; and a controller that controls a position of the crease blade, a gap between the pair of first rolls, and a gap between the pair of second rolls.
US08444537B1
A cable and pulley weightlifting apparatus for preventing injury to a weightlifter that includes a pair of bases, a pair of vertical tubular posts, a pair of upper support brackets, a pair of cables, a pair of counterweights, and safety detent pins. Each vertical tubular post has an upper support bracket attached at the upper end and the lower end is attached to the respective pair of bases. Each cable with a counterweight attached to one end is inserted into the channels of the respective vertical tubular posts. The other cable ends with snap hook connectors attached are inserted into the upper support brackets and connected to a dumbbell cable harness or a barbell. The vertical tubular posts include apertures to receive safety detent pins for the weightbearing bar to be suspended at any desired elevation and providing safety to the user not available with other free weight systems.
US08444536B2
Weightlifting system for doing arm curls having a frame, a seat mounted on the frame for supporting a person using the system, a pair of posts extending upwardly and rearwardly from the front portion of the frame, an arm rest panel mounted on the posts in front of the seat for engagement by the upper arms of a person on the seat, a pair of weight stands positioned next to the legs in front of the arm rest panel, a bar extending between the weight stands in position to be grasped in the hands of a person sitting on the seat with the backs of the upper arms of the person resting against the arm rest panel, and a plurality of weight plates disposed on each of the stands for selective attachment to the bar.
US08444528B2
A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprises a transmission arranged between a drive assembly and an axle drive, such that an input shaft of the transmission is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to the drive assembly and an output shaft of the transmission is connected to the axle drive, and such that the transmission comprises at least one shifting element formed as a claw clutch. To reduce the probability that a tooth-on-tooth position may occur in a shifting element formed as a claw clutch, a torque is applied thereto by at least one transmission-internal assembly and/or at least one transmission-external assembly so that a speed difference at the claw clutch approaches a predetermined nominal value, and engagement of the claw clutch is only started when the speed difference of the claw clutch reaches the nominal value.
US08444524B2
A multi step transmission comprises planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts and shift elements. The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples housing (G). The carrier of gearset (P1) couples shaft (3), which couples housing (G) via brake (03), drive shaft (01) via clutch (13), and shaft (5) via clutch (35). Shaft (5) operatively couples the sun gear of gearset (P3) and couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gear of set (P4). Shaft (1) couples, via clutch (17), shaft (7), which couples the sun gear of gearset (P2), and operatively couples the carrier of gearset (P3). Shaft (6) couples the ring gear of gearset (P1) and the carrier of gearset (P2) The ring gear of gearset (P4) couples shaft (4), which couples housing (G) via brake (04), and output shaft (2) couples the ring gear of gearset (P3) and the carrier of set (P4).
US08444516B2
A compound-input is provided for an electrically variable transmission for a motor vehicle. The compound-input electrically variable transmission has improved input gear ratios that allow the vehicle engine to be operated in its desired efficiency and/or performance range during both city and highway vehicle operation. Further, the multi-speed input electrically variable transmission provides an input brake without the need for a dedicated input brake clutch or braking mechanism and incorporates a reverse gear for reverse operation.
US08444512B2
An animal attractant, such as a liquid scent can be dispersed from a frangible housing by attaching the housing to an arrow and firing an arrow in a designated area frequented by animals. The housing has large fins secured about outer periphery of the housing, enlarging the impact surface of the housing and preventing the housing from being embedded in the soil. As a result, the animal attractant is dispersed above the ground and is not lost in the soil.
US08444509B2
The present invention is directed to custom fitting an individual with golf clubs. To accomplish such, a three-dimensional swing display may depict a golf swing prior to impact of a golf ball by a club head of a golf club. The club head may approach the golf ball at a particular attack angle. The attack angle may be defined relative to a horizontal plane that may be substantially parallel to a ground plane and intersect an optimal impact area on a golf ball. The attack angle may be a negative attack angle or a positive attack angle as defined by an angle of approach by a club head to impact the golf ball during a downswing portion of a golf swing.
US08444500B2
A weight training apparatus which develops strength, suppleness and memory in the muscles used for swinging of a sports implement which may be a baseball bat, tennis racquet, golf club or other sporting implement or equipment. More specifically, the trainer provides for normal use of the sport implement by a user to swing and hit an object such as a golf ball while providing shock absorption to reduce vibration and twisting of the implement upon impact with the object.
US08444499B2
A system and method for shot tracking disclosed herein. The system preferably includes a golf club and a receiver. The golf club preferably includes an active RFID transponder, a power source, a switch and an accelerometer.
US08444496B2
A lateral dynamic simulation device includes a positioning platform (1), a motor mechanism (2) and a carriage (3). The positioning platform (1) has an upright positioned arm (10). The motor mechanism (2) has multiple degrees of freedom and comprises a base (20), a platform (21) and a plurality of stretchable bars (22) to join the base (20) and the platform (21) by the universal joints (220). The carriage (3) has a space (30) at the frontal portion for carrying passengers and a back portion (31) at the rear portion. The base (20) of the motor mechanism (2) is fixed to the arm (10) of the positioning platform (1) and the platform (21) of the motor mechanism (2) is fixed to the back portion (31) of the carriage (3).
US08444489B2
A virtual card system provides a card game which is presented in a three-dimensional representation on monitor screens. The system allows human players to play the card game through the monitor screens. The monitor screen may be touch screens which allow the human players to input commands directly. The card game displayed on the touch screen is adapted for graphical manipulation in response to commands from a human player in real time, for instance to bend a card back at the corner to look on the underside.
US08444486B2
Systems and methods for displaying cues indicating input actions in a rhythm-action game may include: displaying, to a player of a rhythm-action game, a lane divided into at least two sub-lanes, each sub-lane containing cues indicating a drum input element; and displaying, to the player, an additional cue spanning a plurality of the sub-lanes, the additional cue indicating a foot pedal action. In some embodiments, the additional cue may span all the sub-lanes. In some embodiments, each sub-lane may contain cues indicating a drum input element of a set of linearly arranged drum input elements. In other embodiments, each sub-lanes may correspond to a fret button of a simulated guitar and the additional cue may correspond to an open strum.
US08444485B2
Seamless navigation is provided between high-definition audio-video content configured for use with a media player application, and an executable video game packaged with the audio-video content on a digital medium. An API module is distributed to player/consoles. An application provided with the high-definition audio-video content detects the presence of the API module on the player device. In response to detecting the API module, the application provides an interactive feature that uses the API module to load and execute the executable video game in response to user input.
US08444483B2
A browser application and toolbar are described according to some embodiments. The browser application presents wagering game content in a toolbar. Some embodiments are directed to determining that a first player account uses the toolbar to access the wagering game content, determining that a second player account referred the first player account in response to determination that the first player account uses the toolbar, and providing a referral award to the second player account for referring the first player account.
US08444479B2
A method of managing bets is provided. The method includes receiving win bets and group bets. Each win bet includes a bet that a participant selected from a set of participants in an event will win the event. Each group bet includes a bet that one of a subset of the set of participants will win the event. Results of the event identifying a winning participant from the set of participants are received. An amount of a win bet payout for at least a portion of the win bets that comprise a bet on the winning participant is determined. An amount of a group bet payout for at least one of the group bets is also determined. In this manner, a bettor may bet on all participants in an event other than a particular participant, such as the favorite participant, and thus effectively bet against the particular participant.
US08444472B2
Casino games and methods having a set of objects displayed in a screen of a casino gaming machine. Each object has a randomly assigned attribute from a corresponding set of attributes. The casino gaming machine receives the player's input for each of a predetermined number of objects in the set. When selected, a symbol corresponding to the hidden attribute is displayed. After each input, the remaining attributes of the remaining objects not selected are randomly reassigned to each unselected object before the player selects the next object.
US08444470B2
A video-based multi-ball super-roulette gaming system, method and processor-readable media includes a main/primary roulette wheel having a number of ball pockets with betting marks and a circular runway for rotating multiple graphical game balls within the primary roulette wheel. The system permits a player to pay and play multiple balls in order to maximize the action and winning chances with respect to a player. Multiple balls of the game provide increased action for the player while enticing the player to wager more creating increased gaming volume for an operator. Optionally, a secondary multiplier bonus wheel rotates within the vicinity of the primary roulette wheel in order to provide multiplied potential win for the player when configured with, for example, a bonus-wheel super-roulette gaming system and/or method.
US08444465B2
The elegance and simplicity of the present invention is its taking pure electronic video poker in a new direction. This invention, with a portal, takes video poker from a static, single screen playing field with known values to a video poker format with a portal into another playing screen whenever any four of a kind, with maximum coins bet, is made by the player. This invention has a primary playing screen, a portal into an informative secondary screen which moves into a bonus screen. The player becomes interactive with the game on the bonus screen and choices he makes on the touch screen determine the amount of winnings the player will receive. When play has finished on the bonus screen, the primary screen returns and regular play video poker resumes.This innovative invention with a portal into other screens allows the player to be interactive in this game in determining their own winnings.
US08444455B2
A semiconductor wafer is polished, wherein in a first step, the rear side of the wafer is polished by a polishing pad comprising fixedly bonded abrasives having a grain size of 0.1-1.0 μm, while supplying a polishing agent free of solid materials having a pH of at least 11.8, and, in a second step, the front side of the semiconductor wafer is polished, wherein a polishing agent having a pH of less than 11.8 is supplied. A polishing pad for use in apparatuses for polishing semiconductor wafers, has a layer containing abrasives, a layer composed of a stiff plastic and also a compliant, non-woven layer, wherein the layers are bonded to one another by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive layers.
US08444448B2
A manufacturing method of a touch panel having a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes which are formed on one surface of a substrate and extend in directions crossing each other, includes: forming the second electrodes so as to be separated at intersections between the first and second electrodes on the substrate; forming the first electrodes at the intersections on the substrate; forming an insulating film at least on the first electrodes at the intersections using a printing method; and forming bridge wirings that connect the second electrodes separated at the intersections to each other over the insulating film using the printing method, wherein forming partition walls for partitioning at least a part of a profile shape of the insulating film is performed prior to the forming of the insulating film.
US08444446B2
In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a trim angle regulation mechanism, where operation of the transmission is controlled to change the gear position from a second speed to a first speed when detected throttle change amount not less than a first predetermined value and operation of the trim angle regulation mechanism is controlled to start the trim-up operation such that the trim angle converges to a predetermined angle, the operation of the trim angle regulation mechanism is controlled such that the trim angle is decreased based on the detected rudder angle when steering of the outboard motor is started, thereby enabling to appropriately prevent cavitation caused by steering of the outboard motor, so that the boat can be smoothly turned.
US08444439B2
A connector mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket and a receiving member. A receiving space is defined in the mounting bracket. The receiving member includes a main body, a first resilient resisting tab extending outward from a base panel of the main body, and a first resilient contacting tab extending inward from the base panel to resiliently abut a connector interface received inside the main body. The main body is received in the receiving space and the first resisting tab resiliently abuts an inner surface of the receiving space.
US08444438B2
Connectors to connect optional or daughter cards or boards to main or motherboards. One example provides a connector that is capable of supporting high-speed data rates by employing contacts that provide short signal paths and a ground plane to improve signal quality. The space consumed in electronic devices may be reduced by providing a connector having a low profile, while another example may provide a connector having mechanical stability. Another example provides a connector having an increased manufacturability. Other examples include wider contacts for increased current capabilities.
US08444437B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a cage having a front end and an internal compartment. The front end is open to the internal compartment of the cage. The internal compartment is configured to receive a pluggable module therein through the front end. An electromagnetic interference (EMI) gasket is mounted to the front end of the cage such that the EMI gasket is engaged with an electrically connected to the cage. The EMI gasket includes electrically conductive springs that are configured to engage and electrically connect to the pluggable module when the pluggable module is received within the internal compartment of the cage. The EMI gasket including a flange. A bracket is mounted to the front end of the cage such that the bracket extends at least partially around the EMI gasket. The bracket having a wall that is engaged with the flange of the EMI gasket for holding the EMI gasket on the front end of the cage.
US08444434B2
A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly. A contact module is coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a conductive holder that has a first side and an opposite second side. The conductive holder has a front coupled to the front housing. The conductive holder holds a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts. The dielectric frame is received in the conductive holder. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A ground shield is coupled to the first side. The ground shield is electrically connected to the conductive holder. The ground shield has grounding beams that extend therefrom. The grounding beams extend forward of the front of the conductive holder for electrical connection to a corresponding header shield of the header assembly. First and second side shields are coupled to the first and second sides, respectively. The first and second side shields are electrically connected to the conductive holder. The first and second side shields have grounding fingers that extend therefrom. The grounding fingers extend forward of the front of the conductive holder for electrical connection to a corresponding header shield of the header assembly.
US08444432B2
A power and data adapter assembly includes an electrical receptacle assembly having a receptacle housing, removable side tabs and a simplex receptacle. The assembly also includes a data port assembly having the receptacle housing, data port adapter and data port connector. The data port assembly and simplex receptacle assembly are receivable within a channel support through ends of the channel support and are positionable in desired positions along the length of the channel support.
US08444430B2
A plug element, in particular a so-called small form-factor pluggable connector, has a reliable, effective and easily mountable locking mechanism. To accomplish this, an arrangement of a locking element and an actuating element inside of a housing of the connector element is provided. The locking element contains a detent element for latching and locking with a mating piece, into which the connector element can be inserted to form a lockable plug connection. The actuating element contains a grip part, which is guided through a first opening through the housing to the outside.
US08444426B1
A lamp holder connector includes a lamp box and at least one pair of lamp bases assembled to the lamp box. The lamp box includes a first upper holder, at least one pair of first lower holders assembled to the first upper holder, and at least one pair of first terminals received in the lamp box. Each side of the first upper holder defines an elastic portion. An outer face of each elastic portion defines at least one fastening portion. Each lamp base includes a second upper holder assembled to the first lower holder, a second lower holder assembled to the second upper holder, and a second terminal received in the second lower holder. At least one side of the second upper holder defines a receiving groove for receiving the elastic portion. A sidewall of the receiving groove defines at least one fastening hole for buckling the fastening portion.
US08444424B2
A card edge connector (100) includes a longitudinal insulative housing (1), a set of contacts (2), and an ejector (3) rotatablely attached the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a longitudinal direction and a thickness direction, the insulative housing has a central slot (114). The contacts have contacting portions (21) arranged at two sides of the central slot (114) in the thickness direction. The ejector (3) includes a main portion (30), an ejecting portion (35) extending from a first end of the main portion and along the longitudinal direction, a locking portion (31) extending from a second end of the main portion opposite to the first end and along the longitudinal direction, and a lever portion (32) extending from the second end and along the thickness direction.
US08444420B2
A system for project management comprises a guidebook and a series of templates that accept input data from a user and calculate results based on the data. The resultant data is used to operate the system, which comprises the following components: a guidebook comprises the instructions for operating the method and all templates used during the method; standardized templates that are to be used for any project regardless of subject matter; weekly audits of project managers; a project manager certificate program; an auditor training program; a series of performance evaluations for project managers and auditors, and a series of performance analytics designed to correlate hours worked with performance quality to establish optimum task allocation for participants in the system.
US08444417B2
Methods for preventing, reversing, ameliorating or treating dental diseases, disorders or injuries are provided. In particular, methods for preventing, reversing, ameliorating or treating dental diseases of the gingival (gums) and bone are provided. Such methods utilize novel compositions including, but not limited to, extraembryonic cytokine-secreting cells (herein referred to as ECS cells), including, but not limited to, Amnion-derived Multipotent Progenitor cells (herein referred to as AMP cells) and conditioned media derived therefrom (herein referred to as Amnion-derived Cellular Cytokine Solution or ACCS), and Physiologic Cytokine Solution (herein referred to as PCS), each alone or in combination with each other and/or other agents.
US08444399B2
A pump system for conveying a first fluid using a second fluid. The system includes at least a first pump having at least a first rigid outer casing defining a first interior space and a first flexible tube structure accommodated in the first interior space. The interior of the first flexible tube structure is arranged for receiving one of the first or second fluids. The region of the first interior space surrounding the first flexible tube structure is arranged for receiving the other of the first and second fluids. The first flexible tube structure is movable between laterally expanded and collapsed conditions for varying the volume of the interior of the first flexible tube structure, thereby imparting sequential discharge and intake strokes on the first fluid.
US08444394B2
A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
US08444391B2
A propeller drive for boats features a transition cone between the gearbox housing and the propeller hub(s). The propeller hub (that is closest to the gearbox housing) is smaller in cross-sectional dimension than the gearbox housing. The dimension of the front end of the transition cone corresponds to the cross-sectional dimension of the gearbox housing, and the dimension of the rear end of the transition cone corresponds to the cross-section dimension of the (closest) propeller hub. The transition cone has a bulging shoulder between the front and rear ends, the largest peripheral cross-sectional dimension of which is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the front of the transition cone.
US08444390B2
A blade for a turbine engine made by the diffusion-bonding/superplastic-forming (DB/SPF) process has a hollow skin made of front and back panels 1, 3 and internal reinforcement in the form of webs 5 extending between the two faces or panels at an angle to the plane of the blade. The cavities are filled with viscoelastic damping filler 7. In order to allow the blade to deform more easily so that the filler can take up the strain, the webs are pre-buckled so as to compress at least some of the webs. When the blade is deformed, the webs straighten or buckle further, applying a deformation to the filler as they do so and thus dissipating energy. The blade is thus well reinforced against impact but still capable of damping vibrations.
US08444389B1
A multiple piece turbine rotor blade with a shell having an airfoil shape and secured between a spar and a platform with the spar including a tip end piece. a snap ring fits around the spar and abuts against the spar tip end piece on a top side and abuts against a shell on the bottom side so that the centrifugal loads from the shell is passed through the snap ring and into the spar and not through a tip cap dovetail slot and projection structure.
US08444386B1
An air cooled turbine blade with a number of multiple pass serpentine flow cooling circuits extending around the airfoil surface in which a first leg of each serpentine flow circuit is located against a hot wall surface and the second legs and even the third legs of the serpentine flow circuits being located inward from the first legs. The circuits include two-pass serpentine circuits in the leading edge and trailing edge region that discharge into collection cavities, and the mid-chord section of the airfoil is cooled with three-pass serpentine circuits that discharge into long slots that open onto the blade tip.
US08444381B2
A cooling circuit for a turbine bucket having a shank, a platform and an airfoil. The cooling circuit includes a first cooling passage extending from an inlet located at a radially inward end of the shank and adapted to communicate with a turbine wheel-space, the first cooling passage, in use, supplying cooling air to a serpentine cooling circuit extending within and across at least one region of the platform. The serpentine cooling circuit connects with a separate internal cooling circuit in the airfoil, such that the cooling air used to cool the platform is re-used in the airfoil cooling circuit.
US08444378B2
In the area of the support struts and/or the aerodynamic fairings downstream of the stator vanes, the cross-section of the bypass duct of a turbofan engine is enlarged such that the pressure variations caused by the stagnation effect of the installations and reacting on the fan are reduced, enabling the fan to be operated with more efficiency and stability and finally the losses of the overall system and the fuel consumption to be reduced. The cross-sectional enlargement is accomplished by modifying the course of the wall in a limited area, actually by gradually enlarging the flow cross-section in the bypass duct in the axial and in the circumferential direction, with this enlargement being confined to the area around the leading edge of the support struts and/or the aerodynamic fairings.
US08444374B2
The invention relates to a hydroelectric machine. According to the invention, the machine includes: at least two pipes (10, 11) connected to a ballast (8) and to a horizontal bar (14), bearing a vertical axis (15) driving a first gear manipulation box (25) and then the rotor of a first generator (27); blades (16) opposite the openings (12, 13) of the pipes (10, 11), carried by bearings (17) and beams (18), and by a second structure (24) via rolling bearings (22), the beams (18) leading to a hollow cylinder (31) driving, via two sprockets (28, 29) and an axis (30), a second gear manipulation box (31) and then the rotor of a second generator (33); cylindrical steel frames (38, 40, 42, 44, 47, 49) bearing shoulders and rolling bearings (39, 41, 43, 45, 46, 48, 50); a power supply for powering two needle latches (59, 60) via two concentric metal hoops (55, 56) and two brushes (57, 58).
US08444368B2
This invention provides a substrate transport apparatus (100) which transports a substrate (W) placed on a hand portion (10) to a processing apparatus or a predetermined storage unit. The substrate transport apparatus (100) includes a moving means (20) for supporting the proximal side (10b) of the hand portion (10) serving as one end of the hand portion (10), and reciprocally moving the hand portion (10) in the direction of its extension, a tilt detection means (30) for detecting the tilt of a distal end (10a) of the hand portion (10) with respect to the horizontal direction, which accompanies flexure of the hand portion (10) upon placing the substrate (W) on the hand portion (10), and a tilt correction means (40) for generating a pitching motion of the hand portion (10) as a whole so as to cancel the tilt of the distal end (10a) of the hand portion (10).
US08444361B1
A portable log skidder designed for towing with various vehicles comprising a self-contained battery-operated winch is herein disclosed. The skidder comprises a steel frame providing an “L”-shaped configuration. An inverted “U”-shaped structure at a rear location provides an opening and an upper pulley over the open frame. To utilize the log skidder, it is positioned in proximity to a large log. A steel cable is extended from the winch and strapped around one end of the log. Next, the winch is used to raise one (1) end of the log slightly off the ground. The log skidder, along with the log, is then pulled using a vehicle thereto a location where the log can be harvested for firewood, lumber, or other purposes. The log is centered over two (2) pneumatic rubber tires on the frame which carry the weight of the log skidder and the log. The winch is controlled by a tethered remote control unit at a safe distance.
US08444359B2
A blind fastener employs a split bolt element having two symmetrical half sections split at mating separation faces and cooperatively displaceable between a first collapsed position and a second expanded position. A capture portion split bolt has a substantially circular plan form in the first collapsed position with a diameter which is received through an attachment hole in a structural member. A bearing section and a threaded portion both have a substantially circular plan form in the second expanded position while the capture portion has compression surfaces extending with an elliptical major axis greater than the hole diameter in the extended second position to engage a bottom surface surrounding the attachment hole. The bearing section closely engages the attachment hole in the expanded position. A wedge separator element is insertable between the half sections to expand them from the first collapsed position to the second expanded position. A nut is threadably received on the threaded portion and engages a lip on a mounting aperture in a monument to be attached to the supporting structure.
US08444353B2
A cutting tool includes a tool body having a first end engageable with a workpiece and a second end engageable with a spindle of a power tool. A blade extends outwardly from the first end of the tool body and including a cutting edge, the cutting edge being engageable with a workpiece to cut the workpiece. A bit, including a drive shaft and a cutting end extends along an axis of the tool body. The drive shaft extends axially outwardly beyond the first end of the tool body and terminates at the cutting end. The cutting end has a maximum cross-sectional width greater than a maximum cross-sectional width of the drive shaft, and an axial distance from the first end of the tool body to the cutting end is greater than a maximum cutting depth of the cutting tool.
US08444350B2
The gel time of a grouting system may be controlled by providing a resin component separated by a catalyst component, where a carbon component is included in the catalyst component. The catalyst component may include an inhibitor such as a phenolic compound, and/or the resin component may include a promoter such as an aniline compound.
US08444336B2
A lead cartridge adapted for storing leads and capable of being detachably connected to a lead feeding mechanism of a mechanical pencil to supply the leads one by one to the lead feeding mechanism, the mechanical pencil being provided with an interference part, the lead feeding mechanism being provided with a receiving part. The lead cartridge includes a tank part for storing the leads, a tip end connection part capable of being detachably fitted with the receiving part of the lead feeding mechanism, a lead port provided on a tip end side of the tank part to allow one of the leads in the tank part to pass from the tank part, and a swing cover arranged in the lead cartridge to be swingable between a closing position where the swing cover closes the lead port, and an opening position where the swing cover opens the lead port.
US08444334B2
A container with a roto-translatory motion of a stick holder (1) provided with a pair of opposed sticks (3, 3′) in comparison with the support surface plane (4) and upper (5) and lower (5′) pins, that axially slide inside an intermediate body (7), provided with vertical grooves (11, 11′) inside its central wall (10) and slits (8, 8′) and (9, 9′) on its upper (7′) and lower (7″) portions rotating in the inside of a pair of outer bodies (13, 13′). The pins (5, 5′) slide inside annular grooves (14, 14′), helicoidal groove (16, 16′) and (17, 17′) made in the inner wall of these outer bodies (13, 13′), such that the pair of sticks (3, 3′) can be controlled to come out from both ends, upper (7′) and lower (7″) portions of the intermediate body, when the ends are apart from the respective caps/bases (22, 22′) of covering.
US08444326B2
An optical fiber coupling device, comprises a coupling assembly that includes a first ferrule and a second ferrule and an optical fiber having a first end mounted in the first ferrule and a second end mounted in the second ferrule. The first ferrule is disposed in an axial bore of a first barrel and the second ferrule is disposed in an axial bore of a second barrel. The coupling assembly is disposable in a coupling housing configured to receive at least two optical fiber connectors.
US08444323B2
A bearing lock is provided that improves upon existing methods of stabilizing a bearing in an electric motor. The bearing is fit between a rotatable shaft and a nonrotating annular support. The bearing has an inner race surrounding the rotatable shaft and has an outer race surrounded by the annular support. The bearing lock has an annular body with a midportion, an inner wall, and an outer wall. Both the inner wall and the outer wall extend generally in a first direction from the midportion and are spaced from one another to define an annular cavity therebetween. The outer wall has circumferentially-spaced integral tabs that extend at least partially toward the inner wall to provide a biasing force to lock the body to the annular support when the annular support is placed in the annular cavity.
US08444308B2
A vehicular lamp has a semiconductor light emitting element as a light source. The vehicular lamp includes a heat dissipation member that dissipates heat generated by the semiconductor light emitting element; a power supply member that supplies power to the semiconductor light emitting element; a light emitting element holding portion that holds the semiconductor light emitting element in a state of contact with the heat dissipation member; and a housing portion that is secured to a lamp body. The light emitting element holding portion electrically connects the semiconductor light emitting element and the power supply member, the housing accommodates the power supply member and the heat dissipation member, and the light emitting element holding portion is detachably secured to the heat dissipation member.
US08444303B2
An LED lighting device includes a plurality of parallel illumination assemblies each including an elongated metal bar and a plurality of LED elements secured to the bar, and a heat dissipation assembly comprising a metal substrate comprising a plurality of hollow posts arranged in rows on a top surface; a plurality of parallel metal units each comprising a rod releasably secured to both the substrate and the bar, the rod including a plurality of hollow, closed U-shaped members each partially fastened in the post; and a plurality of metal frame members for releasably securing the rods together.
US08444295B2
Various optical system embodiments produce a narrow beam of focused or unfocused light using a compound parabolic concentrator, lens system, and high flux density solid-state light source. Various system embodiments include a solid state light source configured to emit light, and a compound parabolic concentrator having a smaller opening and a larger opening opposite the smaller opening, wherein the light source and the concentrator are operationally positioned with respect to each other for light from the light source to enter the smaller opening of the concentrator and exit the larger opening of the concentrator as a narrower beam of light. Some embodiments include an imaging stage operationally positioned with respect to the concentrator to receive the narrower beam of light at an image plane and relay an image plane to a far field target.
US08444286B2
A lighting apparatus includes a metal mounting fixed to a needed place such as a ceiling or a wall, rod-shaped holding metal fixtures, and a lighting apparatus body constituted by a chassis to which one end portion of each holding metal fixture is loosely fitted, a board which is fixed to the chassis and on which light emitting diodes are mounted as luminous elements, a reflecting panel, a cover (diffusing panel) that covers the light emitting diodes, and so on. By inserting the lock section of the other end portion of each holding metal fixture into an insertion hole and then locking each holding metal fixture on the metal mounting, the lighting apparatus body is held in a state of being separated from the metal mounting.
US08444283B1
An underwater dock light having an internal water cooling system formed from primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary mounting surfaces forming a chamber. Each of the mounting surfaces are each in thermal communication with a light emitting unit generating heat. LED circuit boards are mounted at an angle to produce a large diameter of light in the surrounding water. A light bifurcating structure causes a central portion of light to be a different color than the perimeter. The transparent lens has an opening and a latching structure configured to connect the transparent lens to the end of the transparent cover. A tire valve stem is located on the underwater light and is capable of removing or filling the underwater light with a gas. Antifouling circuitry automatically cycles the underwater light on and off multiple times during periods of non-use. Smart circuitry communicates and accepts commands by a user.
US08444280B2
There is provided a process for the preparation of a suspension of magnetic particles in a polar carrier liquid. The process includes the step of: coating the surface of the magnetic particles with an organic ligand having a hydrophilic chain prior to the suspension. For preparing a magnetically deformable mirror, the suspension of magnetic particles in a polar carrier liquid is coated with a reflective surface layer. A ferrofluid includes a suspension of magnetic particles coated with an organic ligand having a hydrophilic chain in a polar carrier liquid.
US08444277B2
A projector includes: first and second light blocking members adapted to partially block a light beam from a light source, and a drive section adapted to make the first and second light blocking members perform an opening and closing operation. When the corresponding first and second light blocking members are located at a maximum blocking state, with respect to an opening and closing direction of the first and second light blocking members perpendicular to a system optical axis, a first and second support sections support the first and second light blocking members at predetermined positions on the system optical axis side from intermediate positions corresponding to midpoints of areas between edge portions of the first and second light blocking members on the system optical axis side and parts, to which outer edges of the light beam to be blocked are input.
US08444268B2
A system provides an optical image of an object. A first module tracks a reference feature of the object. A second module includes a source for an imaging beam, a scanning device to move the imaging beam along a portion of the object and a detection device receives a signal associated with an image of the portion of the object. The first module controls the position of the imaging beam relative to the reference feature to correct for the motion of the object. A third module detects a distortion of the object and compensates for the distortion.
US08444262B2
An inkjet printer includes a platen, a printing head, a feeding device, a pre-heater and a print heater. The printing head is configured to move in a right-left direction above the platen and to eject solvent ink from nozzles of the printing head on a printing surface of a medium at a printing position. The feeding device is configured to feed the medium on the platen in a forward direction substantially perpendicular to the right-left direction. The temperature controller is configured to control a pre-heater heating temperature of the pre-heater and a print heater heating temperature of the print heater such that a surface temperature of the printing surface of the medium at the printing position becomes within a range of from 30° C. to 70° C.
US08444256B2
There is provided a piezoelectric actuator including: a substrate that is supported by a support portion; a piezoelectric element that includes a lower electrode formed on the substrate, a piezoelectric layer formed on the lower substrate, and an upper electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer; and a driving circuit that applies a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The upper electrode has a first upper electrode that is positioned on an outer peripheral side of the piezoelectric layer and at least one second upper electrode that is positioned on a center side of the piezoelectric layer, and a voltage applied to the first upper electrode is lower than a voltage applied to the second upper electrode.
US08444246B2
An apparatus includes: a drying unit to dry a printing medium on which an image was printed using an inkjet head; a humidification unit to humidify the printing medium that was dried by the drying unit so that the moisture content of the printing medium becomes the equilibrium state in the ambient environment; a colorimetric unit to perform colorimetry on the printing medium that was humidified by the humidification unit; and a calibration unit to calibrate printing properties on the basis of the result of colorimetry by the colorimetric unit.
US08444235B2
A storage system is provided comprising a rail mounted to a surface. A cabinet is supported on said rail. At least one engagement member engages the rail to suspend the cabinet from the rail. The cabinet is supported at an angle relative to the surface. An adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the position of the engagement member relative to the rail for adjusting the angle. A method of mounting a cabinet on a surface is also provided comprising mounting a rail having a flange on a surface. A cabinet as described herein is suspended from the rail by the engagement member. The adjustment mechanism is moved towards or away from the surface to adjust the angle of the cabinet.
US08444234B2
A washing machine of the present invention comprises a top cover where a laundry entrance hole is formed through which laundry is put in from above; a lid assembly coupled to the top cover in a rotatable manner and opening and closing the laundry entrance hole; and a stopper being formed at least in one of the top cover and the lid assembly and preventing the lid assembly from being rotated more than a maximum opening angle. The stopper prevents a lid assembly from being rotated more than a maximum opening angle.
US08444233B2
An electronic device includes a chassis and a bracket. An opening is defined in the chassis. The opening has a first side edge and a second side edge located at opposite sides thereof. A length of the second side edge is greater than that of the first side edge. The bracket is mounted in the opening. The bracket includes a pair of first hooks and a pair of second hooks at opposite sides thereof. A distance between the pair of first hooks corresponds to the length of the first side edge. A distance between the pair of second hooks corresponds to the length of the second side edge. The pair of first hooks is engaged into the opening along the first side edge. The pair of second hooks is engaged into the opening along the second side edge.
US08444232B2
A collapsible showcase including a lower panel; an upper panel detachably mounted on the lower panel; a lower collapsible compartment attached to the lower panel and protruding outwards thereof; an upper collapsible compartment attached to the upper panel and protruding outwards thereof; wherein the lower an upper compartments are folded on the panel to which they are hingedly attached at least at one of their side walls. The showcase also has a collapsible base attached to the lower panel and protruding in a contrary direction from the compartments to provide stability to the showcase. The compartments may be divided in sub-compartments by dividers and the showcase may also include a shelf. When the showcase is folded, the collapsed compartments are located between both panels in a sandwich manner.
US08444222B2
Retractor systems for securing child safety seats in vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a child safety seat includes a web operably coupled to a spool of a web retractor movably positioned under the safety seat. The web can include a first end portion that carries a first anchor connector and a second end portion that carries a second anchor connector. Rotation of the spool in a first direction retracts the first and second end portions of the web toward the retractor. Rotation of the spool in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, allows the first and second end portions to be drawn away from the retractor.
US08444221B2
A booster seat assembly may be used with a bench seat assembly and with a seat belt assembly for each occupant. The booster seat assembly may support at least two child sized occupants and may permit each child sized occupant to access the seat belt assembly for self latching and self unlatching.
US08444219B2
A vehicle seat comprises a rectangular-shaped seat back frame having right and left side frames; a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant that is installed within the vehicle seat; a rear-end collision detector mounted to the seat back frame at a position behind the seat occupant, wherein the rear-end collision detector detects rearward movement of the seat occupant and moves rearward; a link member that supports the rear-end collision detector with the seat back frame therethrough; and a biasing member that biases the link member; wherein: the rear-end collision detector acts such that the rearward movement of the rear-end collision detector reduces a distance between a head of the seat occupant and the headrest, and a lower end portion of the biasing member is coupled to a rear portion of the side frame and disposed posterior to the rear-end collision detector.
US08444216B2
A vehicle wiring structure equipped with a pipe (20), the two ends of which are inserted into the vehicle through an electrical-load-side through-hole and a power-source-side through-hole provided in the floor, and power cables (40a, 40b, 41), which are inserted in the pipe (20) and connect a power source and electrical loads. The power cables pulled out of the end part of the pipe (20) inserted through the power-source-side through-hole (60) are restrained by a first cable guide (70) provided inside the vehicle and are wired to a power source connection part, while the end part of the pipe (20) inserted through the power-source-side through-hole (60) reaches as far as the position where the first cable guide (70) is provided. The pipe (20) is supported by a through-hole seal member (61) that has a pipe through-hole (62) through which the pipe (20) passes and that closes the power-source-side through-hole (60).
US08444211B2
A front pillar (18) for an automobile includes a hollow member (25), an outer panel (28), and an inner panel (29). The hollow member has a curved shape, the entirety of which projects to the outside of a vehicle body. The outer panel is provided to the wall section of the hollow member which is on the vehicle exterior side. The inner panel is formed so as to lie along the wall section of the hollow member on the vehicle interior (34) side, and is provided to the wall section (27) on the vehicle exterior side.
US08444209B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a trim for vehicles capable of reducing the number of parts and thereby reducing the cost when a plurality of shock absorbing portions are required to have different hardnesses from each other. The trim for vehicles according to the present invention is a door trim 20 including a lower board 21, and a pull handle 40 mounted on the lower board 21, further including a plurality of shock absorbing portions with different hardnesses capable of absorbing shock energy, wherein an extension portion 50 of the plurality of shock absorbing portions is formed integrally with the pull handle 40, and the extension portion 50 has a shape extending downward from the pull handle 40.
US08444205B2
A molded component to connect a motor vehicle window with a water box includes a first segment affixable to the vehicle window and a second segment having a detent cavity bounded by a resilient leg and configured to receive a rib of the water box in an insertion direction so as to detachably affix the water box in a frictionally and/or geometrically interlocking manner in the detent cavity. A detent element projects into the detent cavity at an acute angle relative to the insertion direction such that the resilient leg is elastically deformed to a greater extent during an extraction of the rib of the water box from the detent cavity than during an insertion of the rib of the water box into the detent cavity. This facilitates the insertion and presents a greater resistance to the extraction of the rib from the detent cavity.
US08444202B2
This disclosure relates to a display surround for protecting a display area and, in particular, to trim elements for surrounds located around dials in automotive instrument panels. A display surround for protecting a display area comprises a perimeter wall for surrounding the display area and a wall capping piece. The wall extends from a base portion of the wall proximate the display area towards an end portion of the wall away from the display area. The end portion includes a top face, and the top face includes a groove. The capping piece has a tongue. The tongue includes a protuberance on opposite sides and the groove includes a recess on opposite sides. The capping piece is secured in place to cap the wall by seating the tongue within the groove and by engaging each protuberance with a corresponding recess.
US08444189B2
A door open/close system for a vehicle includes: a plurality of door open/close devices 11, 11′ having a latch mechanism 14 including a latch 13 for engaging with an engaging member 12, a motor 16a (16a′) for driving the latch mechanism 14, and a latch state detecting member 21 (21′); and a control member 4 for starting to drive the motor of any one of all the door open/close device when the latch state detecting member of the one door open/close devices detects that the latch mechanism is in the half-latch state, said control member driving synchronously the motors of all the door open/close devices except the one door open/close device to change the latch mechanisms from the half-latch state to the full-latch state when the latch state detecting members of all the door open/close devices except the one door open/close device detect that the latch mechanisms are in the half-latch state in a case that the door of the vehicle is changed from a fully opened state to a fully closed state.
US08444185B2
An extrusion resistant ring that is radially expandable and contactable to accommodate the relative movement of two joined bodies relative to each other. The extrusion resistant ring in combination with an elastomeric diaphragm provides a high pressure seal for down-hole oil drilling apparatus.
US08444171B2
A convertible double stroller comprising a pair of cross bars pivotally connected at a common vertex connected to a pair of telescoping rods creating a generally hour-glass shaped frame assembly having a front end and a rear end, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame assembly, a handle bar attached to the frame assembly rear end, and a pair of seat mounts fixedly attached to each of the telescoping rods, wherein the convertible double stroller may be selectively transitioned between three configurations: (a) a seated configuration wherein the frame assembly is in a fully expanded position thereby positioning the seat mounts in a side-by-side placement for seating; (b) a seated configuration wherein the frame assembly is in a moderately expanded position thereby positioning the seat mounts in a front-to-rear placement for seating; and (c) a storage configuration wherein the frame assembly is in a fully collapsed position for storage.
US08444163B2
A bearing mechanism for a transverse leaf spring that can be mounted in the region of an axle of a vehicle. The bearing mechanism has an outer bearing shell device and insertion devices which are at least partially encompassed by the outer bearing shell device and comprise layer elements with different stiffnesses. In the assembled state, the insertion devices are each disposed between the outer bearing shell device and the transverse leaf spring. In the region of a support surface of the transverse leaf spring, a recess is formed for each of the insertion devices in which the insertion devices engage in a form-locking manner. The insertion devices are each formed in the contact surfaces facing the support surfaces of the transverse leaf spring, having at least one receiving device into which, in the assembled state of the insertion devices, a region of the transverse leaf spring engages.
US08444162B2
A bearing mechanism for a transverse leaf spring that can be mounted near an axle of a vehicle. The bearing mechanism has an outer bearing shell device and insertion devices which have at least some regions encompassed by the outer bearing shell device. Each of the insertion devices comprise at least two layer elements which have different stiffness. In the assembled state, the insertion devices are each disposed between the outer bearing shell device and the transverse leaf spring. The outer bearing shell device comprises a one-piece bearing ring element, and the insertion devices can be operatively connected, at least in a force locking manner, to the bearing ring element and the transverse leaf spring, via tensioning elements.
US08444160B2
A suspension device in which a knuckle for supporting a wheel is supported by arms and a damper is connected to the knuckle. A suspension device (10) is configured in such a manner that the intersection (73) between a line extended from an elastic kingpin axis (68) of a rear wheel (31) and a road surface (72) is located on the rear side, relative to the vehicle, of the ground contact center (74) of the rear wheel. The elastic kingpin axis is tilted forward relative to the vehicle and is disposed below the rotation center (32) of the rear wheel in the vertical direction. A lower connection section (81b) of a damper (18) is provided on a line (33) drawn in substantially the vertical direction from the rotation center of the rear wheel. A damper axis (84) is tilted inward in the width direction of the vehicle and tilted forward relative to the vehicle.
US08444157B2
A wheel set attachment is used in combination with floor maintenance equipment, such as buffers, sanders, grinders, cleaners, etc. (“buffer”), which are typically equipped with small diameter wheels which make transport difficult. The wheel set attachment is conducive for conveying the device up flights of stairs, over obstacles, or conveying the device any appreciable distance. The wheel set attachment of the present invention easily attaches to the buffer without the need for tools and is quickly removed. Once installed, the wheel set attachment is stable and provides a pair of wheels which function as though integral to the buffer.
US08444156B2
A trailer including a plurality of rearwardly-extending frame arms located on opposite sides of said main frame, each of which includes a tandem with a plurality of wheels mounted thereto; a U-shaped cross member for maintaining said main frame level from side to side; at least one length-adjustable member operatively connected to said main frame and at least one of said plurality of frame arms; selective movement of said length-adjustable member causing said distal end of at least one of said plurality of frame arms to move up or down; and an automatic leveling system for moving each said length-adjustable members and each said corresponding frame arm such that said main frame is maintained in a relatively level orientation when said trailer encounters uneven terrain.
US08444131B2
The sheet transporting device of the invention includes: a transferring device (64) adapted to transfer a sheet (30), a conveying device (66; 66A) for conveying a sheet transferred from the transferring device (64) onto the conveying device, and a controlling means (76) adapted to control the speed of the conveying device (66; 66A) and defining a transfer cycle (CT). The controlling means (76) is adapted to slow down the conveying device (66) when a sheet is conveyed by the related conveying device and to accelerate the conveying device when no sheet is present on said conveying device. The invention can be used for the cutting devices of rotary printing machines.
US08444130B2
A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.
US08444121B2
Systems are provided for damping vibrations from a payload. In an embodiment, and by way of example only, the system includes an isolation strut and a gas line. The isolation strut includes a bellows and a piston. The bellows has a first end and a second end, the first end being enclosed, and the second end attached to the piston to define a chamber. The piston includes a damping annulus therethrough having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The gas inlet provides flow communication to the chamber of the bellows. The gas line is coupled to the isolation strut and is in fluid communication with the gas outlet thereof. The system is hermetically sealed to contain a gas therein.
US08444118B1
An apparatus for use in a cooling tower system may include a circulating fluid system. The apparatus may include a mechanism to receive an electrical signal representative of load on the cooling tower system. The apparatus also may include a mechanism to control fluid communication of at least one chemical into the circulating fluid system in response to the electrical signal.
US08444114B2
The present invention is directed to an anchorage extractor. The extractor is used to remove post, anchorage or stake from the ground without using a force generated by a motor. The anchorage extractor comprises a base disposed on the ground to provide a stable support. A lever is connected to a driving wheel that is connected to a rack. The anchorage is attached to the rack and when the lever is actuated, the drive wheel drives the rack upward, removing the anchorage from the ground. An advantage of the present invention is that the direction of the extraction force is parallel to the anchorage axis by adjusting the angle of the extractor. The extractor may be folded on itself or dismantled to be transported.
US08444102B2
An apparatus for holding handheld devices is provided, including a receiving base, an upper cover, a locking unit, at least a resilient unit and at least a weight allocation unit. The receiving base has a shell forming an accommodation space with an upward opening, and at least a concealing space inside. One side of the upper cover is coupled to the receiving base. The locking unit is responsible for affixing the closing, opening or holding positions between the upper cover and the receiving base. When the locking unit is in unlocked state, the resilient unit provides a force to lift the upper cover to the maximum opening position. The weight allocation unit is housed inside the concealing space. The electronic device can be held between the upper cover and the receiving base with a tilt angle.
US08444098B2
A balloon holder caddy system designed to simulate the look of Helium-filled balloons, to reduce the safety hazards associated with traveling with Helium-filled balloons in the passenger compartment of an automobile, and to eliminate repeated trips to a base location and back (a product use location such as is common with real estate agent's sign postings.) Balloon holder caddy system comprises a top gang-clip with multiple balloon neck receiving slots for creating a balloon cluster, a rod for elevating the balloon cluster simulating helium filled balloons, and an intermediate leg gripper and a base gripper for attaching to a sign-post leg using re-useable/releasable zip-ties. The system providing a unique and efficient balloon displaying means.
US08444080B2
A paper dispenser has a brake for a paper roll and a tensioning device for the web of paper and interacts in such a manner that the braking effect of the brake is adapted to the tension in the web of paper. The tensioning device is loaded in a paper path between the two conveying rollers and the paper reel.
US08444070B2
A unit fuel injector (10) has a control valve (40) in which a valve spool (92) is displaceable within a bore (91) of a valve body (90) between a limit of displacement that fully opens an oil outlet port (42) to an oil inlet port (44) while closing an oil drain port (106) to the oil outlet port and a limit of displacement that closes the oil outlet port to the oil inlet port while opening the oil outlet port to the oil drain port. The valve spool has a spool body (96) whose geometry defines an exterior envelope of the valve spool. Permanent magnets (98, 100) are disposed within a bore of the spool body inside of the exterior envelope, and electromagnets (102, 104) are electromagnetically coupled with the permanent magnets for displacing the valve spool within the valve body bore.
US08444056B2
A target, made of two layers, that has an animal design. The animal design on the bottom layer has at least two zones which correspond to a level of effectiveness of a bullet strike within that zone. Each level of effectiveness is indicated by a color and each animal design has at least two levels of effectiveness.
US08444045B2
A method of joining at least two parts includes steps of dispersing a joining material comprising a multi-phase magnetic metal-aluminum powder at an interface between the at least two parts to be joined and applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF). The AMF has a magnetic field strength and frequency suitable for inducing magnetic hysteresis losses in the metal-aluminum powder and is applied for a period that raises temperature of the metal-aluminum powder to an exothermic transformation temperature. At the exothermic transformation temperature, the metal-aluminum powder melts and resolidifies as a metal aluminide solid having a non-magnetic configuration.
US08444043B1
An array of solder balls is attached to solder pads of one of a first substrate and a second substrate. After aligning the array of solder balls relative to solder pads of the other of the first substrate and the second substrate, a thermal-mass-increasing fixture is placed on a surface of the second substrate to form an assembly of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the array of the solder balls therebetween, and the thermal-mass-increasing fixture. The thermal-mass-increasing fixture is in physical contact with at least a surface of a periphery of the second substrate. The thermal-mass-increasing fixture reduces the cool-down rate of peripheral solder balls after a reflow step, thereby increasing time for deformation of peripheral solder balls during the cool-down and reducing the mechanical stress on the solder balls after the cool-down.
US08444042B2
[Problems] To provide a process for producing a thermal sprayed, metal plated steel tube having a metal layer substantially uniform and favorable over the whole surface in a highly productive manner.[Means for solving] A process for producing a metal tube comprising continuously forming a metal plate composed of a first component into a tubular shape and continuously welding its butted ends to form the metal tube, wherein, after the continuous welding, a metal layer composed of a second component which is different from the first component is formed by thermal spraying directly over the surface of the metal tube, the metal layer having no discontinuities in the circumferential and lengthwise directions. Especially it is preferred that the process comprises a process step of making the thickness distribution of the metal layer more uniform after formation of the thermal sprayed metal layer over the external surface.
US08444038B2
A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, an elongate portion, a pair of opposed jaw members and a tissue stop is disclosed. The elongate portion extends distally from the handle assembly, and the pair of opposed jaw members extend distally from the elongate portion. The pair of opposed jaw members include first and second jaw members. The tissue stop cammingly engaged with the first jaw member and is movable between a first position where at least a portion of a stopping portion of the tissue stop is disposed between a tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a tissue-contacting surface of the second jaw member and a second position where the portion of the stopping portion is between the tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a lower surface of the first jaw member.
US08444036B2
A surgical fastener apparatus having a handle, an elongated shaft having a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end extending therefrom. An end effector including a pair of jaws pivoted at a proximal end thereof and movable between an open and closed position. A cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, the cartridge attached to the end effector. An electrically powered actuator for deploying the surgical fasteners, the actuator including a power source and a motor. Means for electrically adjusting the amount of spacing between the jaws when the end effector is in the closed position.
US08444034B2
A gun mounting apparatus for utility terrain vehicles comprising: a first inverted L-shaped tubular member comprising a first attacher, a second inverted L-shaped tubular member comprising a second attacher, an obliquely oriented tubular member having a first tubular member end and a second tubular member end with a gun grip attached to each tubular member end and a first elastic cord and a second elastic cord. The first and the second inverted L-shaped tubular member may be partially inserted into receiving holes in side walls of a bed-box of a utility terrain vehicle and may be additionally secured to the vehicle via the first and second elastic cord which are attached to the first and second attacher. The gun mounting apparatus for utility terrain vehicles is suitable for transporting at least one weapon securely fastened to the gun grips which are attached to the obliquely oriented tubular member.
US08444032B2
A vehicle-mounted equipment carrier includes a hub portion to which is secured a number of vehicle-engaging and equipment-engaging support members. The various support members are each connected to sections of the hub that are movable relative to one another and that include engagement structure to hold the hub sections in desired angular positions with respect to one another. The hub sections can be moved upon disengagement of a clamping mechanism that compresses the hub sections into engagement with one another, and also holds each of the various components of the carrier in connection with one another.
US08444031B2
A harness for the wearing of at least one stage prop by a stage performer includes a frame with a backrest suitable for supporting the stage prop, and elements forming shoulder supports suitable for positioning and/or maintaining the harness in place on the artist's shoulders. The backrest and the elements forming the shoulder supports are rigid. The elements forming the shoulder supports are coupled to the backrest by a pair of elastic coupling elements.
US08444016B2
An apparatus for dispensing milk-based beverages comprises a milk container (4), a pump (8) for conveying the milk from the milk container (4) to a milk outlet (20), supply means (13, 14) for supplying at least one flavoring agent to the milk and means for mixing the at least one flavoring agent with the milk. To this end, a coolable cabinet (2), into which the milk container (4) can be inserted, is arranged in a housing (1). Via a hose line (7), the milk in the milk container (4) reaches a mixing apparatus (9) in a meterable quantity, conveyed by the pump (8) disposed in the hose line (7). At least one flavoring agent is able to be additionally supplied in a metered manner into the mixing apparatus via the supply means (13, 14), and is able to be mixed with the milk; the mixed beverage thus obtained reaches, via an outlet (20), a vessel (21) which can be provided beneath this outlet (20). Flavored cold milk-based beverages can thereby be produced in an optimal way.
US08444010B2
A food dispensing device having a frame with first and second sidewalls in spaced parallel relation that house a heating board and a slant board. The slant board is positioned below the heating board and both slope downwardly. Specifically, the heating board has a plurality of slots therein such that juice from a food product flows through the slots and onto the slant board. Adjacent and below the heating board and slant board is a flange that is positioned such that when a food product is placed on the heating board the food product rolls toward the flange and simultaneously juice flows from off the slant board into a juice tray disposed below the flange.
US08444009B2
A magazine having compartments for receiving cassettes has an outer housing having an open top and an open front side. An inner housing within the outer housing encloses an interior space and defines a plurality of compartments. The inner housing has opposing sidewalls, and spring elements form the compartments. A generally U-shaped feed element is mounted on the inner housing movably reciprocally in the longitudinal direction over a depth of the compartment so that the feed element moves a cassette from one compartment to an adjacent compartment.
US08444001B1
A dinner plate of conventional size and shape includes coupling means on its planar bottom that grasps and retains flexible plastic drink cups, enabling a user to stabilize the plate atop the cup and to hold both securely with one hand. The user squeezes the cup rim and inserts it between diametrically opposing, chordal grooves of the coupling means, the cup's resiliency expanding the rim into the grooves when released. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling means is a coaxial, raised island in the plate bottom that forms a recess into which the cup rim fits, radially inward-extending lugs in the recess walls fitting under the cup rim to secure it against the plate bottom. This leaves the plate bottom flat for use on horizontal surfaces and optimizes nesting of plates for storage and stacking, as well as creating a closure for the cup.
US08443994B1
The present invention is a bottle cap assembly including an anchor, a cap portion, and a retaining device. The anchor attaches to a bottle and has a threaded neck and a ridge extending outward from the threaded neck. The cap portion removably attaches to the anchor and the bottle. The cap portion has a retaining sleeve along an entire circumference of the cap portion. The retaining device keeps the cap portion connected to the anchor, so that the cap portion is not lost. The retaining device includes a rod element housed in the retaining sleeve, and the rim of the retaining sleeve prevents detachment of the rod element from the retaining sleeve. The rod element extends between the anchor and cap portion, while only the anchor remains attached to the bottle.
US08443978B2
A package for a medicament, the package comprising a sleeve and a slide, the slide having a medicament region for containing medicament, the sleeve having opposed first and second major surfaces connected and spaced apart by a side wall to define an internal volume, the side wall further defining a slide opening, the slide being movable parallel to a slide axis between a position in which the medicament region is substantially within the internal volume and a position in which at least some of the medicament region extends outside the internal volume through the slide opening, characterized in that the sleeve includes a shoulder and the package includes biasing means, the sleeve and slide being arranged such that the slide is movable within the internal volume between a secured position, in which slide is substantially prevented from moving parallel to the slide axis by contact between a portion of the slide and the shoulder, and an unsecured position, in which the slide portion can move parallel to the slide axis through the slide opening, the biasing means resiliently biasing the slide to the secured position. The invention extends to a blank for fabricating a sleeve for such a medicament package and to a slide or sleeve for use in such a medicament package.
US08443972B1
A method of packaging a hole saw includes positioning a circular cutting edge portion of the hole saw against a surface of a base member of a hang tag assembly. The base member includes a post that extends from the surface into a hollow interior defined by the hole saw. A cap member of the hang tag assembly is positioned adjacent a mounting portion of the hole saw. The cap member includes a stem and a display card portion. The stem is advanced through a bore defined in the mounting portion and into the hollow interior of the hole saw. The post is then secured to the stem within the hollow interior of the hole saw.
US08443965B2
A take-up machine is provided. Each of upper and lower conveying devices has an endless rotating body and a plurality of take-up pads provided on the surface of the endless rotating body. The take-up machine is configured to pinch a top face and a bottom face of a resin-molded article with the take-up pads of the upper and lower conveying devices to take up the resin-molded article. The take-up machine is installed along an extrusion line of a resin extruder. In a lateral direction orthogonal to an extrusion line, a length of each of the take-up pads is multiple times a length of the resin-molded article to be taken up. Each of the take-up pads has a plurality of supporting potions which are arranged in the lateral direction and capable of supporting resin-molded articles with different shapes. The upper and lower conveying devices are movable in the lateral direction so as to make one of the supporting portions coincide with the extrusion line.
US08443962B2
A removable unit includes an endless belt-like member; a first contact member that contacts an inner surface of the belt-like member; a second contact member disposed upwardly of the first contact member in a direction of gravitational force when the removable unit is mounted to a body of an image forming apparatus; a first cleaning member disposed between the first contact member and the second contact member; and a second cleaning member disposed between the first cleaning member and the second contact member. The first cleaning member prevents an adherent cleaned off by the second cleaning member from moving downward in the direction of gravitational force along an inner peripheral surface of the belt-like member.
US08443953B2
A clutch with high binding ability comprises a plurality of detent components provided between a left and a right lateral plates and each detent component can be pulled back to its original location by a resilient element. The detent block of each detent component is movably positioned between the left and the right lateral plates. The detent element of each detent component is slidably connected onto the detent block. One end of the detent element is provided with a groove for locating a positioning bar therein. Thereby, when the clutch rotates, the radial force of the detent element can be increased in order to enhance the detent ability of the detent element. When the rotational speed of the clutch is decreased to be the rotational speed of passive driving or to be lower than the rotational speed for engagement, the detent element can be pulled back to its original location by means of the elastic element located between the detent block and the detent element.
US08443951B1
A ratchet cylinder for a bicycle hub is provided with a cylinder member, a plurality of ratchet teeth, a plurality of springs and a C-ring. The C-ring circles around the connecting end of the cylinder member and engages in the grooves of the respective ratchet teeth, so as to retain the ratchet teeth in the receiving grooves and allow the ratchet teeth to pivot within a limited angle. The springs are disposed between the ratchet teeth and the ratchet cylinder to keep pushing the respective ratchet teeth of the hub shell into an engagement position with the teeth of the hub shell, so that the ratchet teeth can be surely engaged with the teeth.
US08443947B2
A magneto-rheological fluid damper includes a housing, a magnetically permeable body, a spindle, and a magneto-rheological fluid. Given a plurality of multi-pole two-way magnetic poles and a plurality of multi-pole coils, magnetic lines pass through the magneto-rheological fluid mostly in a direction perpendicular to a gap, such that the magneto-rheological fluid features an enhanced chaining force. Accordingly, the magneto-rheological fluid damper enables an increase in a magnetically permeable area of the magneto-rheological fluid subjected to an applied magnetic field and enhancement of damping force, and is free from a complete system failure.
US08443939B2
A brace rail shield combination for a rail of a ladder having at least one rung having a first portion that has a shape that conforms with an interior cross sectional surface of the rail. The brace rail shield combination includes a second portion that extends from the first portion at a first location to the rung to provide structural support to the rung. The second portion having an attachment portion at a second location spaced apart from the first location that is fixed to the rung. The first portion and the second portion being one continuous piece. A method for using an extension ladder. A method for producing a knee brace rail shield combination.
US08443932B2
A working machine is provided with a revolving upperstructure, working equipment, an engine compartment, a counterweight, a muffler, and an exhaust path for releasing exhaust gas, which has been discharged from the muffler, to an outer side of the revolving upperstructure. The exhaust path includes a tailpipe connected to the muffler and an exhaust pipe for releasing exhaust gas, which has been discharged from the tailpipe, to the outer side of the revolving upperstructure. The counterweight is utilized for the formation of the exhaust path. The exhaust path includes a passage formed in the counterweight and accommodating an upper end portion of the tailpipe inserted therein with a predetermined clearance formed around the upper end portion such that the exhaust gas discharged from the tailpipe can be guided to the exhaust pipe.
US08443908B2
A condensate collector arrangement for a dry pipe sprinkler system comprises a collection chamber and an upstream valve and a downstream valve with an anti-trip arrangement for preventing the upstream valve and the downstream valve to be open at the same time and preferably includes an arrangement to indicate the presence of condensate and a lock for the anti-trip arrangement and an alarm which may be selectively deactivated.
US08443897B2
A subsea safety system (50) for use during a well treatment operation. The subsea safety system (50) includes a tubular string having an inner flow passage (112). At least one valve assembly (116, 134) is positioned within the tubular string. The valve assembly (116, 134) is operable between open and closed positioned to selectively permit and prevent fluid flow therethrough. A frangible liner (134) is disposed within the valve assembly (116, 134). The frangible liner (134) has a close fitting but not fluid tight relationship with the valve assembly (116, 134). The frangible liner (134) is operable to protect the valve assembly (116, 134) from particle flow during the well treatment operation. In addition, the frangible liner (134) is operable to shatter responsive to closure of the valve assembly (116, 134), thereby allowing full operation of the valve assembly (116, 134).
US08443896B2
A substantially cylindrical buoyancy module for a marine riser includes a plurality of buoyancy elements separated along at least one helical separation plane.
US08443891B2
Methods of fracturing a well can include the steps of: (A) obtaining a fracturing job design having at least one treatment interval; (B) running a tubular string into the treatment interval; (C) before or after the step of running, forming one or more tubular string openings in the tubular string, wherein after the step of running, the one or more tubular string openings are positioned in the treatment interval; (D) except for the axial passageway of the tubular string, blocking at least 86% of the nominal cross-sectional area of the treatment interval that is between one of the ends of the treatment interval and the axially closest of the one or more tubular string openings, and, except for the axial passageway of the tubular string, leaving unblocked at least 4% of the nominal cross-sectional area of the treatment interval; and (E) pumping a fracturing fluid through the one or more tubular string openings at a rate and pressure sufficient to initiate at least one fracture in the subterranean formation surrounding the treatment interval.
US08443887B2
A radio frequency applicator and method for heating a hydrocarbon formation is disclosed. An aspect of at least one embodiment disclosed is a linear radio frequency applicator. It includes a transmission line and a current return path that is insulated from the transmission line. At least one conductive sleeve is positioned around the transmission line and the current return path. The transmission line and the current return path are electrically connected to the conductive sleeve. A radio frequency source is configured to apply a signal to the transmission line. When the linear applicator is operated, a circular magnetic field forms, which creates eddy current in the formation causing heavy hydrocarbons to flow. The heat is reliable as liquid water contact is not required. The applicator may operate in permafrost regions and without caprock.
US08443884B2
A setting tool for setting a well tool in a wellbore includes a setting mechanism which is operative to apply a setting force to set the well tool, and an orientation indicator which indicates an orientation of the setting tool. A method of setting a well tool and engaging an assembly with the well tool includes setting the well tool in a wellbore utilizing a setting tool which includes an orientation indicator, and then engaging the assembly with the well tool, thereby fixing an orientation of the assembly relative to the well tool. A method of azimuthally orienting a whipstock in a wellbore includes setting an anchor in the wellbore, the anchor including an alignment device, and indicating an azimuthal orientation of the alignment device relative to the wellbore. The anchor setting and azimuthal orientation indicating are performed using only a single trip into the wellbore.
US08443881B2
The present invention generally relates to an expandable liner hanger capable of being expanded into a surrounding casing. In one aspect, an expandable tubular system is provided. The system includes an expandable tubular. The system further includes an expansion swage for expanding the expandable tubular, wherein the expansion swage is deformable from a compliant configuration to a smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. Additionally, the system includes a restriction member disposed on an exterior surface of the expandable tubular, wherein expansion of the expandable tubular in the location of the restriction member deforms the expansion swage from the compliant configuration to the smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a liner hanger using a cone is provided.
US08443879B2
The disclosure provides a blowout preventer (BOP) system with a ram having a shear blade with a shear blade profile to shear a tubular member disposed in the BOP. The shear blade profile can include a stress concentrator and centering shaped surface. The stress concentrator and the centering shaped surface can be laterally offset from a centerline of ram travel and on opposite sides of the centerline. An opposing second shear blade can have a mirror image of the shear blade profile with the stress concentrator and centering shaped surface reversed to the orientation of the first shear blade. Further, the ram can include a mandrel with a mandrel profile for the tubular member to deform around during the shearing process and to reduce an overall lateral width of the sheared tubular member in the BOP through-bore to allow retrieval of the deformed sheared tubular member from the BOP.
US08443876B1
This invention is a top drive having an inside blowout preventer connected with a rotatable stem. The inside blowout preventer includes a hydraulically actuatable arm. An inside blowout preventer with a rotatable stem is connected to the top drive rotatable stem. The inside blowout preventer has a hydraulically actuatable arm, a hydraulic cylinder, a tubular body having a tubular bore, and a valve operator assembly surrounding the tubular body.
US08443872B2
In an evaporator that constitutes part of a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, first fins having louvers therein are arranged between first and second tubes. Together therewith, a second fin, which does not have any louvers therein, is provided at a boundary portion between a first cooling section, which faces toward a first front passage through which air from a first blower unit flows, and a second cooling section, which faces toward a first rear passage through which air from a second blower unit flows. In addition, air is supplied to the interior of a casing from the first blower unit and is cooled by the first cooling section, which is partitioned by the second fin, whereas air supplied from the second blower unit passes through the second cooling section, which is partitioned from the first cooling section by the second fin.
US08443868B2
An air/refrigerant heat exchanger includes a plurality of coiled tubes. A first tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a phase change material therein. A second tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a flow of cooled refrigerant flowing therethrough and the first tube is in thermal contact with the second tube. A third tube of the plurality of coiled tubes has a flow of air flowing therethrough and the third tube is in thermal contact with the first tube and the second tube.
US08443867B2
A casting method and a casting device for a cast-metal object which are inexpensive and have a high degree of freedom are provided to cast plural types of cast-metal objects simultaneously.A cast-metal object is cast by using a casting device (10) including a mold structure (5) for forming a casting space capable of filling molten metal; and a runner (1) provided separately from the mold structure (5) for supplying molten metal into the casting space in the mold structure (5) by connecting the runner to the mold structure (5), wherein the runner (1) has a dividable structure, and the mold structure (5) has an assembly structure of a plurality of members.
US08443859B2
A manually operated or automated bonding tool for the attachment of a formed adhesive element to a bonding part is disclosed. The bonding tool includes a loading module in which the bare bonding part is loaded, an oven module in which the bare bonding part is heated, an adhesive picking station module in which the adhesive is attached to the heated bare bonding part, and a part transfer module which advances the bare bonding part sequentially from the loading module, through the oven module, and to the adhesive picking station module. The oven module includes an elongated heating block having a bonding part guide by which the bare bonding parts are transferred through the oven and to the adhesive picking station module. The part transfer module is used to push the unheated bare bonding part into and through the oven module and into position on the adhesive picking station module.
US08443855B2
Disclosed is a pneumatic tire including a straight main groove and two wave-shaped main grooves arranged in the center area of a tread, and diagonal grooves arranged in each shoulder area ranging from each wave-shaped main groove to the outer side of the tire, and extending obliquely outward from the wave-shaped main groove to a direction reverse to the tire rotational direction, the rotational direction being specified for the tire. Each diagonal groove is formed to have a convex protruding toward the outer side of the tire, and the extending end portion of the diagonal groove terminates in the shoulder area. Thus, each shoulder area is provided with a non-block pattern in which a land section continues in the tire circumferential direction. Thereby, the pneumatic tire has increased driving stability and uneven wear resistance while substantially maintaining good drainage performance and noise performance against columnar resonance.
US08443853B2
Embodiments provide an inkjet cartridge refilling system. The system may include a drill station configured to drill at least one refilling hole in an inkjet printer cartridge. The system may include an evacuation station configured to remove excess ink from the inkjet printer cartridge. In some embodiments, the excess ink is removed via a vacuum source. The system may also include a filling station configured to provide any of a plurality of inks into the cartridge. Some embodiments provide the ink to the inkjet cartridge via a hole drilled in the cartridge. Other embodiments provide the ink via inkjet nozzles of the inkjet printer cartridge. The system may also include a test station configured to test the refilled cartridge to determine whether it is functioning properly after being filled with ink.
US08443837B2
A coupling device which contributes to a further reduction in the space required to transport a die etc., in which first and second joints are simplified in structure and downsized, and that is advantageous when multiple sets of such first and second joints are installed. The coupling device comprises a female joint and a male joint. The female joint is fitted on a mold and comprises a first valve casing, a first valve body, and a first open/close valve having a first valve seat and a first valve portion. The male joint is fitted on a clamping plate of an injection molding machine and comprises a second valve casing, a second valve body, and a second open/close valve having a second valve seat and a second valve portion. The coupling device further comprises a valve body drive unit. When, in a condition where the front ends of the first and second valve casings and are in contact with each other, the valve body drive unit drives and advances, in the male joint, only the second valve body relative to the second valve casing, the first and second valve bodies and are driven to the valve opening side.
US08443830B2
A heater built-in valve usable even under a high-temperature condition beyond 200° C. is provided. Piston driving means 7 has an upper compressed-air introducing chamber 24 for moving a piston 6 downward, and a lower compressed-air introducing chamber 25 for moving the piston 6 upward. Piston sealing means 8 has an upper bellows 29 that seals the upper compressed-air introducing chamber 24, and a lower bellows 30 that seals the lower compressed air introducing chamber 25.
US08443826B2
A demand valve for gas mixing comprises two or more flow control valves that are connected to separate gas supplies. The demand valve includes a common actuation mechanism, such as a diaphragm arranged to displace levers, each of which, in turn, opens and closes proportionally in a substantially constant ratio a respective flow control valve. Inhalation flow drawn through an outlet causes displacement of the diaphragm and hence opening of the flow control valves. Gas from the separate supplies is therefore mixed in a main chamber to a substantially constant composition, regardless of the flow rate demanded, before being dispensed via the outlet.
US08443809B2
A condom, including a non-porous sheath member, having an open end and a rounded end, and shaped to cover the glans and body portion of a penis, and at least one rib having at least one outer portion and at least one inner portion, wherein the at least one outer portion is attachedly fixed to said non-porous sheath member, and wherein an inner cylinder formed by at the at least one inner portion is exclusive from said non-porous sheath member, and including at least one lubricant within the inner cylinder and at least one hole extending from the inner cylinder through the outer portion to provide for flow of the lubricant outwardly from the inner cylinder through the at least one hole pursuant to application of a predetermined pressure, wherein the at least one rib extends at least one of substantially from the open end to the closed end and substantially about a circumference of the non-porous sheath member.
US08443803B2
A collapsible respiration bag assembly is disclosed and includes a flexible hollow body longitudinally extending about a longitudinal axis thereof between an air intake end and an air outlet end and formed with at least three annular folds. A patient valve is fitted at the outlet end and includes a face mask coupler transversing the longitudinal axis. An intake valve assembly is also included and a face mask fitted with a face engaging rim, a dome portion and a valve coupler detachably connectable to the face mask coupler. The dome portion of the face mask is deformable between an operative, concave position and a convex stowing position, where the dome portion is inverted and where the valve coupler is detached from the face mask coupler. The assembly is configurable between at least one extended, operative position and a fully collapsed stowed position where the annular fold zones at least partially overlap.
US08443801B2
A method and system for controlling fluid flow settings by receiving a precondition pressure wave function, representative of a precondition frequency, a precondition amplitude and a precondition pressure of the fluid flow in the system, establishing an operating pressure wave function, representative of an operating frequency, an operating amplitude and an operating pressure of the fluid flow desired in the system, determining cycle error between the precondition pressure wave function and the operating pressure wave function, converting the cycle error to flow adjustment, and updating an operating flow with the flow adjustment.
US08443800B2
Several methods and a system for a method and system of safeguarding a filling process of a breathable air apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of safety of a building structure includes safeguarding a filling process of a breathable air apparatus by enclosing the breathable air apparatus in a secure chamber of a fill site of the emergency support system of the building structure to provide a safe placement to supply the breathable air to the breathable air apparatus. The method may include ensuring that a prescribed pressure of the emergency support system maintains within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system.
US08443788B2
An internal combustion engine is charged by a compressor such that for example only a fraction of the charge is supercharged for an operating cycle of the internal combustion engine and is supplied via a separate charging channel with the help of a short-stroke valve which is controlled by the camshaft after closure of the inlet of the internal combustion engine such that the suction/charging stroke of the four-stroke process is maintained entirely or partially.
US08443784B2
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention an internal combustion engine includes a piston disposed in a cylinder, a valve configured to control flow of air into the cylinder and an actuator coupled to the valve to control a position of the valve. The internal combustion engine also includes a controller coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to close the valve when an uncontrolled condition for the internal engine is determined.
US08443774B2
The invention relates to a camshaft variator device for an internal combustion engine which includes a crankshaft and a camshaft. The invention includes: a first component which is rigidly connected to the camshaft of the engine, such that the rotation of the first component causes the camshaft to rotate; a second component which is rotated by the crankshaft of the engine; a third component which connects the first and second components to one another and which, in turn, rotates the first component in relation to the second component in order to vary the position and partial speed of the camshaft in respect of the crankshaft; and a fourth component which is used to impart a longitudinal and reciprocating longitudinal movement to the third component. The purpose of the device is to enable the opening and closing time and duration of the valves to be varied by varying the position and partial speed of the camshaft in relation to the crankshaft.
US08443772B2
A drive rotation member is driven by a crankshaft of the engine, and a driven rotation member is rotatable relative to the drive rotation member and secured to a cam shaft of the engine. An electric motor is arranged to rotate together with the drive rotation member and produces a dynamic power when fed with an electric current through brushes. A hollow control shaft is rotatable relative to the drive rotation member and forces the driven rotation member to rotate relative to the drive rotation member when rotated by the power of the electric motor. A bearing device is arranged between the driven rotation member and the hollow control shaft for smoothing a relative rotation therebetween. The bearing device includes a plurality of rollers. A lubrication oil feeding structure is provided for causing the rollers of the bearing device to be submerged in a lubrication oil at least when the engine is in operation.
US08443766B2
A method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine, where, during normal operation in a first controller mode, a charge air temperature controller is set as dominant for a map-controlled thermostatic valve for automatically controlling the charge air temperature (TLL), or, during normal operation in a second controller mode, a coolant temperature limit controller is set as dominant for the map-controlled thermostatic valve for automatically controlling the coolant temperature (TKM). If a charge air temperature sensor fails, the second controller mode is set with the coolant temperature limit controller dominant, and if a coolant temperature sensor fails, the first controller mode is set with the charge air temperature controller dominant.
US08443764B2
The arrangement is for positioning equipment in association with an opening in a boiler wall and has a rotation mechanism that rotates the equipment around a virtual rotation axis that lies within the outer wall of the boiler. During the use of a liquor spreader for the introduction of combustible material, the opening of the liquor spreader is arranged in the virtual center of rotation so that the point at which the combustible material is introduced is retained independently of the angle of rotation. The liquor spreader is united either with a glide device or the guide in the rotation mechanism.
US08443761B2
A veterinary procedure table includes an animal support upon which an animal may be placed during the performance of a veterinary procedure. A sink associated with the animal support is adapted to receive fluid material that may be generated during the performance of the veterinary procedure and to direct the fluid material away from the animal support. The veterinary procedure table further includes at least one sensor for sensing a load disposed on the animal support, and a display communicating with the sensor to indicate a weight associated with the sensed load.
US08443754B2
An atomizer (2) with a rotary atomizing head (4) is mounted on the front side of a housing member (6) in which an air motor (3) is accommodated. A primary external electrode (8) is located around the outer peripheral side of the housing member (6) in such a way as to encircle the housing member (6). A secondary external electrode (10) is located on the front side of the housing member (6), in a position closer to the rotary atomizing head (4) than the primary external electrode (8). A first high voltage (V1) in the form of a direct-current voltage is supplied to the primary external electrode (8) from a first high voltage generator (11). On the other hand, a second high voltage (V2), in the form of a pulsating voltage (V2p) consisting of a series of intermittent pulses in a range lower than the first high voltage (V1), is supplied to the secondary external electrode (10) from a second high voltage generator (12).
US08443749B2
A floating island comprising one or more modules each comprised of one or more layers of permeable and porous matrix comprised of post-consumer carpet fibers and a top covering and a bottom covering around each layer. Alternate embodiments include layers comprised of polyethylene terephthalate bottle-fiber matrix and/or jute or coir fibers. A method of manufacturing the floating island module described above.
US08443747B1
A releasable mooring pendant apparatus that can be coupled or decoupled to a boat. The apparatus comprising of a pair of clips, one at each end of a rod, with each clip comprising hook and ring sections, and an opening therebetween defining a mouth. A movable arm placed under tension to biasly maintain each clip in a closed position, and each clip may only be opened upon activation through the intermedium of a functional retractor lever by a boater pulling on a cable, wherein a functional retractor lever causes a greater force on the movable arm such that the clip is caused to open. The mooring pendant apparatus operates as an extension of the boater's arm, and it can be utilized either by keeping the apparatus on the boat or leaving it connected to the mooring line and also to the mooring ball.
US08443746B2
Boats including elevated walkways that are useful for increasing cabin height in a boat, such as a bow rider style boat, are described. Such elevated walkways are elevated relative to either a cockpit deck portion or a deck portion of a bow area and can be used to connect the bow area to the cockpit area. The cabin of a boat with an elevated walkway as described is located at least partially below the elevated walkway. The portion of the cabin below the elevated walkway has a ceiling area that is elevated relative to either the deck portion of the bow area or the cockpit area deck portion where the elevated walkway overlaps the cabin space. Elevated walkways as described herein are located on the boat such that they either overlap the central longitudinal axis of the boat or the end of the elevated walkway near the cockpit is located between port and starboard dash consoles.
US08443740B2
A cyclonic incinerator includes a cylindrical outer burn chamber having a defining wall, a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a forced air opening extending through the wall between the first end and the second end. A forced air manifold is provided which is adapted to direct forced air into the forced air opening of the outer burn chamber to create a cyclonic air flow about the central axis of the outer burn chamber. A cylindrical inner burn chamber is concentrically disposed within the outer burn chamber. The inner burn chamber has a defining wall, a first end and a second end. The first end of the inner burn chamber has an exhaust gas opening. The second end of the inner burn chamber is in communication with the outer burn chamber. A gas inlet is positioned at the first end of the outer burn chamber.
US08443739B2
Through the addition of tertiary air and a reduction of secondary air, NOx emissions from a waste-to-energy (WTE) boiler may be reduced. The tertiary air is added to the WTE at a distance from the secondary air, in a boiler region of relatively lower temperatures. A secondary NOx reduction system, such as a selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) system using ammonia or urea, may also be added to the boiler with tertiary air to achieve desirable high levels of NOx reductions. The SNCR additives are introduced to the WTE boiler proximate to the tertiary air.
US08443735B2
Truck assemblies, systems and methods are provided for transferring weight supported by various wheels, and axles. An example truck assembly may include a truck frame element, and a carrier coupled with the truck frame element. A bias may be configured to bias the carrier away from the truck frame element. An actuatable linkage arrangement may include a compliant linkage coupled with the carrier. The compliant linkage may pull the carrier against the bias in a first direction.
US08443729B2
The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a centerfire rifle cartridge with a case having a head having a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder, and a neck extending from the shoulder and defining a mouth receiving a bullet. The body has a straight external surface free of a protruding belt, and has a maximum diameter sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action of magnum width. The cartridge has an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action such as a short action or a long action.
US08443718B2
The invention proposes a device for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule provided to the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (22) for inserting a capsule (24) into a receiving chamber (25) of the device, a closing mechanism (21) to selectively enclose said capsule by a relative movement of at least two enclosing members (10, 25b), and at least one injection member (1) comprising a support member (2) and at least one injection element (3), for receiving a liquid, attached to said support member (2) which is arranged to inject liquid into a capsule (24) provided to the device, wherein the injection member (1) is releasably mounted on a support (10) at the injection side of said receiving chamber (25) by means of a releasable connection mechanism (4a, 4b, 12).
US08443717B2
A capsule for preparing drinks by passing a liquid through a powdered substance (9) contained in a chamber (8) made in the capsule (1). The chamber (8) is delimited on at least one side by at least one filter element (7) having a plurality of through-holes (12) extending from a first face (13) of the filter element (7) facing the inside of the chamber (8), to a second face (14) of the filter element (7). At least at the first face (13), the through-holes (12) have inlet sections (15) extending according to a main trajectory of extension and each having a length, measured along the main trajectory of extension, greater than their width, measured transversally to the main trajectory of extension.
US08443716B2
A piston head is formed to have a bowl, micro chambers in the piston body adjacent to the bowl, and orifices providing communication between the micro chambers and the bowl. The micro chambers are formed in the piston head by using grooves that in part define the volume of the reaction chambers, and which are completely sealed from above with permanently secured plugs.
US08443714B2
A brake stud housing assembly and method of construction of such assembly for vehicles that exhibits increased shock resistance and vibration reduction capability, allowing for increased durability of a brake housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a vibration dampening layer having an adhesive material that provides a permanent connection between the housing shell and reinforcing plate, which transfers both tensile and compressive loading forces between the housing shell and reinforcing plate in order to reduce vibration and stress.
US08443707B2
An apparatus is disclosed that is a self-contained gas management system (hereinafter “GMS”) that accommodates individual canisters of highly energetic small munitions, but is not so limited. By decoupling the gas management system for a given munition from an adjacent munition, the risk of downing a multi-pack launcher or munition adapter is reduced. Thermal wear, overheating, restrained firing and aft closure debris can be isolated through the separation of gas management systems. In addition, the GMS allows for ease of replenishment and maintenance of a given sub-cell of a multi-pack system. The GMS works with existing munitions and canisters without the need to modify them. Each GMS is dimensioned to fit the canistered munition it receives as well as the launch system with which it is used. The illustrative GMS comprises a plenum, and a first and a second uptake structure. The plenum receives the exhaust from the canistered munition when the munition fires. The plenum is fluidically coupled to the first and second uptake structures. The uptake structures in the illustrative embodiment receive the missile exhaust from the plenum and vent the exhaust to the atmosphere. In the illustrative embodiment, the first and second uptake structures are disposed along opposite sides of the canistered munition, flanking it.
US08443706B2
A fabric comprising a first plurality of yarns, a second plurality of yarns and a third plurality of yarns wherein the first, second and third pluralities of yarns have a yarn orientation that is different from each other. The third plurality of yarns is oriented in an axial direction. The second plurality of yarns is interwoven with the first plurality of yarns. The third plurality of yarns have no crimp. The yarns of the second plurality of yarns have an average linear density greater than or equal to the average linear density of the yarns of the first plurality of yarns and the yarns of the third plurality of yarns have an average linear density greater than the average linear density of the yarns of the second plurality of yarns and less than three times the average linear density of the yarns of the first plurality of yarns.
US08443702B2
To make improvements in torque wrenches with a torque limiter that uses a cam mechanism and to provide a torque wrench that realizes more stable operation and is capable of highly precise tightening. In a torque wrench with a torque limiter that uses a cam mechanism, a solid columnar roller member 14 is engaged with a cam part 7 of a cam shaft 8 such that it is rotatably supported by a roller support lever member 12 mounted in a head portion 2 such as to be rotatable around a support shaft 16 and such that it is pressed against the cam part 7 by a spring force transmitting rod 18 biased by a torque setting spring. The roller support lever member 12 is configured such that the distance r2 from the support shaft 16 to a point of application of force of the spring force transmitting rod 18 is longer than the distance r1 from the support shaft 16 to the roller member 14.
US08443694B2
A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.
US08443684B2
The subject is a rotary drive device (1), which has a device housing (7) in which drive means (2) are disposed that are in driving communication with a rotatably supported power takeoff part (4). The power takeoff part (4) has a power takeoff disc (5) that is received at least partly in a bearing receptacle (25) of the device housing (7), the power takeoff disc being surrounded by an annular roller bearing unit (33). The roller bearing unit has a bearing assembly (34) with rolling elements (35) and with one inner and one outer running surface arrangement (37, 38), and the entire bearing assembly (34) is disposed inside the bearing receptacle (25) and is surrounded radially outward by a boundary wall portion (27) of the device housing (7).
US08443673B2
A geophone including a plurality of ferromagnetic masses (e.g., magnets) disposed to oscillate on one or more compliant elements (e.g., springs) in a manner that produces a steep flux gradient at one or more conductive coils is disclosed. The magnetic masses are positioned with like poles facing each other so as to compress the magnetic field gradient. The coils may be positioned in the flux gap either between the magnets, in close proximity to the magnets, or surrounding the magnets. Vibration measurements may then be detected from the movement of at least one of the magnetic masses.
US08443665B2
A micro gyro consisting of a vibrating micro scale structure produces a signal whose characteristic frequency shifts in proportion to the applied angular velocity. The vibrating structure consists of a suspended proof mass resonator supported on springs and connected to at least one detector resonator. The structure can be made with multiple semiconductor materials such as silicon, poly-silicon, silicon dioxide, and silicon nitride, using one of many MEMS fabrication processes. The proof mass resonator is designed to have two closely coupled resonant frequencies, with one resonant mode for the drive motion and the second resonant mode for the sense motion. Detector resonators are connected to the vibrating structure such that when the proof mass resonator oscillates due to the Coriolis force in its sense mode, the connections to the detector resonators are stressed by the proof mass resonator, thus changing the resonant frequency of the detector resonators. By measuring the shift in the resonant frequency of the detectors, the applied angular rate can be determined.
US08443664B2
An equalizing tank for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system, with a housing including a housing upper part and a housing lower part, and with a device for monitoring the fluid level in the equalizing tank, the device including a switching unit which is fastened to the housing and has a plug-in connector and a contact carrier, a portion of which projects into a guide pipe which extends into an interior space of the tank, and a sensor element or switching element which is arranged on the contact carrier in the region of the guide pipe and which can be switched by a transmitter in a switching point at which the switching unit generates a signal for an electronic control unit.
US08443663B1
An embodiment of concentrically-mounted disks, designed for sailing, which can be used in conjunction with a navigational chart and/or a compass to calculate boom/mainsail angles in degrees relative to a sailboat's course heading, calculating all sailable compass headings. Calculations factored by transitioning boom/mainsail angles, apparent wind ratios, angle of attack, and the areo-hydrodynamics of sailing. Further providing depictions of course heading, relative position of boom/mainsail, apparent wind direction, and coordinates relative to a navigational chart.
US08443654B2
A device monitors an obstruction of two fluid filters of a fluid circulation system of a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. A first obstruction sensor sends a first detection signal of an obstruction of a first filter. A second obstruction sensor sends a second detection signal of an obstruction of a second filter. A processor includes a monitoring input to measure the first and second detection signals. The first obstruction sensor includes a Wheatstone bridge including a strain gauge resistor. The second obstruction sensor is connected in parallel with the strain gauge resistor. The first detection signal is sent over a first predetermined variation range. The second detection signal is sent over a second predetermined variation range, distinct from the first variation range. The processor identifies the obstruction of one of the fluid filters as a function of one of the variation ranges of the detection signals.
US08443649B2
In a mass flow controller verifying system, there are provided a verifying gas line arranged in parallel to influent flow gas lines and joined into a post-confluent flow gas line, a reference volume calculating portion adapted to calculate a reference volume determined for a specified piping of a gas piping system, a verifying parameter calculating portion adapted to calculate a verifying parameter based on time series data of a measurement pressure measured by a pressure measurement unit during a control of a flow rate by a mass flow controller to be verified, and a comparing portion adapted to compare a reference parameter set based on the reference volume and the verifying parameter, whereby the verifying system can be introduced into an existing gas piping system used in a semiconductor manufacturing process and so forth at a low cost and is capable of verifying a mass flow controller quickly and accurately.
US08443643B2
A burr removing method includes: pressing, by using a work pressing device (7), the upper surface of a work (W) around a work edge (WE), along which a burr occurs, so as to be relatively freely movable, the work (W) held on a work table in a plate material processing machine so as to be freely movable in X- and Y-axis directions; when the work (W) relatively moves with respect to the work pressing device (7) in the X- and Y-axis directions, vibrating a striker (35) vertically, the striker (35) provided at a position below the work pressing device (7) so as to be freely vertically movable; and, when the striker (35) moves upward, crushing the burr. A burr removing device includes: a freely vertically movable striker (35) equipped with a burr striking portion (33) at the upper end thereof for striking a burr from the lower side and provided on a base member (29) attachable to and detachable from a work table or a die holder (5) in the plate material processing machine; and a vertical movement actuator being used for vertically moving the striker (35) and provided on the base member (29) or in a burr removing unit (37) equipped with the striker (35).
US08443642B2
A method of forming a tubular member with portions having finished corners formed in a hydroforming operation by initially forming a pre-form that includes sharp corners. The pre-form includes bulges of the tube material between the sharp corners that flow toward the intended corner locations as the tubular member is hydroformed. The bulges may be external ribs or internal recesses.
US08443639B2
A resistant mechanical combination lock and improvements thereto are described herein to include one or more of the following features: an improved combination change/set feature that includes a tumbler interlocking lever with digitated micro-fingers suitable for interdigitating with digitated micro-fingers on the peripheral edge of a combination tumbler ring, the tumbler interlocking lever and the combination tumbler ring sandwiched between a pair of outer gate rings to form a tumbler wheel assembly; a key stabilization feature in which an internal boss and a pivot recess together help stabilize the change key when changing the combination of a lock to help prevent “lock out”; an improved duress feature that includes a duress tumbler wheel assembly (that includes a duress lever) and an interchangeable microswitch; and/or a fence control feature that preferably includes an overcenter spring and trigger plate for controlling fence contact with the drive cam.
US08443636B2
Laundry washing machine (1) provided with a casing (2) and with a vibration damper (7) which is fixed to the casing (2) so as to reduce vibrations transmitted to the latter; the vibration damper (7) comprising a supporting frame (8) rigidly fixed to the casing (2), an oscillating mass (9) housed inside the supporting frame (8), and at least one block (10) of viscoelastic polymeric gel interposed between the oscillating mass (9) and the supporting frame (8) to floating support the oscillating mass (9).
US08443630B2
A method for manufacturing a primary preform for optical fibers using an internal vapor deposition process, including the steps of: i) providing a hollow glass substrate tube having a supply side and a discharge side, ii) surrounding at least part of the hollow glass substrate tube by a furnace, iii) supplying a gas flow, doped or undoped, of glass-forming gases to the interior of the hollow glass substrate tube via the supply side thereof, iv) creating a reaction zone in which conditions such that deposition of glass will take place on the interior of the hollow glass tube are created, and v) moving the reaction zone back and forth in longitudinal direction over the hollow glass substrate tube between a reversal point located near the supply side and a reversal point located near the discharge side of the hollow glass substrate tube.
US08443629B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an ultra-thin glass substrate, the method including: a feeding step of feeding a preform for a glass substrate to a production line while being held; a heating step of heating the preform fed from the feeding step to a temperature around a softening point thereof; and a drawing step of drawing the preform that has softened in the heating step to form an ultra-thin glass substrate, in which the preform has been wound on a cylindrical first winding roll.
US08443627B2
There is provided a method of making a heat treated (HT) coated article to be used in shower door applications, window applications, or any other suitable applications where transparent coated articles are desired. For example, certain embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making a coated article including a step of heat treating a glass substrate coated with at least a layer of or including diamond-like carbon (DLC) and an overlying protective film thereon. In certain example embodiments, the protective film may be of or include both (a) an oxygen blocking or barrier layer, and (b) a release layer. Following and/or during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, or the like) the protective film may be removed. Other embodiments of this invention relate to the pre-HT coated article, or the post-HT coated article.
US08443622B2
An air conditioner includes a case provided with openings, a heat exchanger disposed in the case, one or more fans disposed in the case, and a variation unit that is movably disposed around the fans to vary air inlet and outlet directions.
US08443616B2
A replacement basin for a refrigerated counter having an integral basin and a method of installing that replacement basin is disclosed. Upon removing of the existing integral basin, the replacement basin may be mounted to the refrigerated counter, connected to the counter's existing refrigeration system, and then used to support one or more removable product filled bins or containers.
US08443614B2
Provided is a refrigerator with a dispenser assembly capable of sensing the height of a vessel and water level using a remote sensor by employing changes in electrostatic capacitance, in order to enable a user to automatically dispense water to a desired level regardless of the material or size of a vessel.
US08443613B2
Systems and methods are provided for conditioning air inside an enclosure. The systems and methods may comprise: (1) a plurality of flow tunnels for passage of a heat-transfer fluid; (2) a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels for thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; (3) an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; (4) a thermal exchange assembly for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air to result in conditioning of the air; and (5) an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the enclosure.
US08443611B2
A system for damping combustor nozzle vibrations includes an end cover and a combustion chamber downstream from the end cover. First and second sets of nozzles extend axially between the end cover and the combustion chamber. The second set of nozzles is adjacent to the first set of nozzles. The system includes means for damping vibrations between the nozzles with a gap between the means for damping vibrations. A method for damping combustor nozzle vibrations includes flowing a working fluid through first and second sets of nozzles, wherein the first set of nozzles includes a damping member attached to and circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the first set of nozzles, and contacting at least one nozzle in the second set of nozzles with the damping member on at least one nozzle in the first set of nozzles.
US08443609B2
A gas-turbine burner for a gas turbine includes a fuel nozzle 1 having several fuel exit holes 23, which are each connected to a fuel line 5, 7, 29, 30, through which fuel can be passed selectively Between individual fuel exit holes 23, different static pressures of the airflow are provided between fuel lines flown by fuel and fuel lines not flown by fuel.
US08443603B2
An intake manifold assembly for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle includes a plenum, a plurality of lower runners coupled to and in fluid communication with the plenum, and a plurality of upper runners. Each of the upper runners is coupled to and in fluid communication with one of the lower runners. The plurality of upper runners includes a single dedicated upper EGR runner configured for supplying combustion air to at least two dedicated EGR cylinders. A primary throttle body is coupled to the plenum and configured for regulating a flow rate of compressed combustion air through the plenum. An EGR throttle body is coupled to the dedicated upper EGR runner and configured for regulating a flow rate of the compressed combustion air through the dedicated upper EGR runner to control the flow rate of the compressed combustion air to the dedicated EGR cylinders.
US08443601B2
A method for controlling the wastegate in a turbocharged internal combustion engine including the steps of: determining, during a design phase, a control law which provides an objective opening of a controlling actuator of the wastegate according to the supercharging pressure; determining an objective supercharging pressure; measuring an actual supercharging pressure; determining a first open loop contribution of an objective position of a controlling actuator of the wastegate by means of the control law and according to the objective supercharging pressure; determining a second closed loop contribution of the objective position of the controlling actuator of the wastegate; and calculating the objective position of the controlling actuator of the wastegate by adding the two contributions.
US08443600B2
Actuator comprising elements made of shape memory alloy with broadened range of working temperatures
An actuator is described in which a functional element is made of a shape memory alloy, and the actuator includes means for increasing the load applied onto the functional element when the external temperature increases, thus causing a consequent variation of transition temperatures characterizing the hysteresis cycle of the functional element.
US08443598B1
A drive apparatus for a zero turn vehicle or similar application comprising a pair of pumps mounted in a common housing and having coaxial input shafts and an input shaft mounted in the common housing perpendicular to the two pump shafts. A pair of center sections or end caps including hydraulic porting are mounted to opposite ends of the common housing, and each center section has a hydraulic motor mounted thereon external to the common housing.
US08443591B2
An engine control system comprises an oxygen comparison module and a regeneration control module. The oxygen comparison module compares an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas of an engine to an oxygen threshold. A regeneration control module initiates regeneration of a particulate filter and controls regeneration based on the oxygen comparison and at least one of a particulate filter load, a particulate filter temperature, and a speed of the engine.
US08443590B2
A control system comprises an exhaust treatment system, an electric heating module, and an exhaust heating module. The exhaust treatment system comprises a particulate matter (PM) filter and an electric heater. The PM filter includes M zones that receive exhaust gas of an engine and filter PM from the exhaust gas. The electric heater heats exhaust gas input to N of the M zones, wherein M is an integer greater than one and N is an integer less than M. The electric heating module activates the electric heater to heat exhaust gas input to the N zones to regenerate the N zones. The exhaust heating module heats exhaust gas input to the M zones by controlling an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas after the N zones regenerate.
US08443584B2
An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
US08443583B2
Apparatus and methods for combustion of fuel. Some embodiments of the inventions include a fuel nozzle which injects fuel into a combustion channel of a wave rotor combustor or a pulse detonation combustor In some embodiments the combustion process includes a backward-propagating detonation wave within a substantially closed channel which compresses discrete quantities of combustible and noncombustible mixture. Yet other embodiments include a precombustion chamber integrated into the wave rotor, the outlet stator or both.
US08443576B2
A casing member for assembly with an opposed identical casing member to encase a post includes an elongate body portion having spaced apart first and second side edges extending lengthwise of the body portion. First and second connectors are adjacent the first and second side edges respectively, and extend lengthwise therealong. The first connector includes a first tongue protruding from the body portion along a tongue axis. The second connector includes a groove bounded at least partially by spaced apart first and groove second sidewalls joined to the body portion. The first groove has a groove axis parallel to both the groove sidewalls and the tongue axis. The first tongue is inter-engageable with the first groove of the opposed identical casing member and the first groove is inter-engageable with the first tongue of the opposed casing member so as to secure the two casing members together about the post.
US08443571B2
In one example, we describe a method of construction and assembly for a very large wind power generator (or windmill or wind turbine unit), for sea, coast line, or in-land installment. In other examples, we describe the improvements on components of a wind power generator (or windmill or wind turbine unit). In one example, we describe a method of avoiding or minimizing problems with the weather forecasts or military radar interferences, for large wind mills or wind farms.
US08443562B2
The form for a concrete footing (10) is a mold for receiving concrete for footings on construction projects. The form has a housing (12), and a plurality of horizontal support members (16) that extend across the hollow interior of the housing. The form may be manufactured from plastic, cardboard, concrete or other materials. Vertical tubes (14) extend from the top and bottom and are hollow to allow for in situ soil sampling after the footing has been set in the excavation.
US08443560B2
A concrete form block for construction of a building includes first and second panel devices, each having inner and outer faces separated by ribs. Projecting connectors are disposed on the inner faces and each has a pin-receiving aperture. U-shaped couplers are used to connect the two panel devices together so that their inner faces are parallel. Each connector has first and second connecting pins and these are received in the apertures of the connectors of the panel devices, with each pin being pivotable in its aperture after insertion. The panel devices can be moved from a collapsed configuration having at least a reduced space between the inner faces and an in-use configuration with more space between these faces. There is also disclosed a panel structure having upper and lower channel forming frames connected to an outer wall portion thereof. These form a channel for receiving equipment for utilities.
US08443548B2
A transplantable plant container assembly is provided for containing a growing medium for a plant that significantly promotes air root pruning. The container assembly includes a container device that includes a sidewall support and a bottom support collectively defining an interior cavity. The sidewall support is comprised of a lattice framework defining a plurality of spaced apertures that extend from an interior wall to an exterior wall thereof. A relatively thin, moisture absorbent liner material is disposed adjacent to the lattice framework. The liner material is sufficiently penetrable to enable root penetration therethrough, by the plant, at the apertures. However, the liner material must also have sufficient structural integrity, when moist, to bound the growing medium and moisture across the spaced apertures of the lattice framework when contained in the interior cavity.
US08443533B2
An apparatus and method provide for display and cable management includes a base and a display device. The display device removably attaches to the base. When the display device is attached to the base, an aperture is created or reduced in size. The aperture allows a smaller first portion of a cable to pass through, but prevents a larger second portion of the cable from passing through. When the cable is drawn through the aperture and released, the weight of the cable retracts it through the aperture. The display device and base may include features that cooperate to resist detaching the display device when the cable is drawn through the aperture. The display device may include a graphic insert. The base may be shaped to sit on a horizontal surface and present the display device for viewing by a person standing or sitting nearby.
US08443526B2
A robot compliance device includes first and second discs (12, 30) spaced along a first axis (X). A column (24) is interconnected between the first disc (12) and a beam (14) intermediate the first and second discs (12, 30). A compliance member (40) is mounted around the column (24) between the first disc (12) and the beam (14). First and second canted resilient plates (50) are interconnected between the compliance member (40) and the beam (14) and spaced from each other along a second axis (Y) perpendicular to the first axis (X) and are at a first acute angle with and spaced from the first axis (X). Third and fourth canted resilient plates (52) are interconnected between the second disc (30) and the compliance member (40) and spaced from each other along a third axis (Z) perpendicular to the first and second axes (X, Y) and are at a second acute angle with and spaced from the first axis (X).
US08443523B2
A door lock locator configured to attach to a door having a latch edge and to locate the door lock in relation to a strike plate. The door lock locator includes an edge wall having an edge hole locator, a first wall extending from the edge wall and including a bore hole locator, a second wall extending from the edge wall and cooperating with the first wall to attach the door lock locator to the door. The door lock locator also includes a strike plate locator coupled to one of the edge wall, the first wall, and the second wall. The strike plate locator has a protrusion that selectively engages the strike plate to locate the edge hole locator and the bore hole locator.
US08443516B2
The present invention relates to a refurbished cylinder roller and a process for refurbishing cylinder rollers for use in printing machines. More particularly, the present invention also relates to a process for refurbishing metallic gravure cylinder rollers by replacing the worn outer plating layers with an extruded and thermally cured electrically conductive polymer material, and thereafter electroplating new outer plating layers thereon, the new plating layers including a new printing image formed therein. The present invention also relates to a refurbished gravure cylinder roller which includes a core member extending along an axial length, an image-carrying layer having a printing image formed therein and arranged circumferentially about the core member, and an electrically conductive intermediate polymer layer arranged between the core member and the image-carrying layer, where the intermediate polymer material has a conductivity selected to permit electro-plating of the image-carrying layer directly thereon.
US08443511B2
A scalable MEMS inductor is formed on the top surface of a semiconductor die. The MEMS inductor includes a plurality of magnetic lower laminations, a circular trace that lies over and spaced apart from the magnetic lower laminations, and a plurality of upper laminations that lie over and spaced apart from the circular trace.
US08443507B2
A method for forming a reinforced toolbox includes the step of: injection molding step: injection molding a toolbox with plastic material; extruding step: extruding a protector strip with aluminum; cutting step: cutting the protector strip into a plurality of protectors; assembling step: assembling the protector with the toolbox.
US08443506B2
A method is provided for forming a barbed medical device which includes the steps of providing a blank workpiece and forming at least one barb on the blank workpiece by applying vibrational energy to a tool and bringing the tool and the blank workpiece into contact with each other at an angle such that the tool cuts into the surface of the blank workpiece. A barbed medical device formed by this method is also provided.
US08443500B2
A universal rubber bushing-extracting tool includes a threaded rod and two pushing units. Each of the pushing units includes a nut, a mount, a bearing and two pushers. The nut is engaged with the threaded rod. The mount includes at least two slots defined therein. The bearing bears the mount on the nut. Each of the pushers is movably located in a related one of the slots. The pushers of one of the pushing units push an internal ring of a rubber bushing and the pushers of the other pushing unit push an external ring of the rubber bushing.
US08443492B2
The collar is made from a metal strip formed into a loop, and has a fastening stud and an ear that project radially. The ear is provided with an aperture into which a free end portion of the stud can be inserted for the purposes of fastening and of tightening the collar. The collar further has engagement surfaces for engaging with a tightening tool, which surfaces project radially and are situated respectively behind the ear and behind the stud. The stud and the engagement surface that is situated behind the stud are formed in a common projection and have side cheeks that are raised relative to the plane of the strip, and that are common to them. The ear is also formed by a projection.
US08443489B2
A counterbalance assembly for an appliance hinge includes a base including first and second spaced-apart side walls and a transverse face wall. The base includes: (i) a channel located between the first and second side walls; and, (ii) a notch comprising first and second notch portions respectively located in said first and second side walls. A rotating cam is supported on the base. The cam includes: (i) a camshaft that extends between the side walls and that is adapted for rotation about an axis of rotation, with a first end of the camshaft located in the first notch portion and a second end of the camshaft located in the second notch portion; and, (ii) a lobe that projects from the camshaft. The hinge assembly includes a biasing spring that comprising an inner end engaged with the base and an outer end spaced from the base. The outer end of said spring is located outside the channel. A spring rod includes an outer end operatively coupled to the spring and an inner end operatively coupled to the lobe of the cam such that the spring biases the spring rod to an extended position.
US08443478B2
This invention relates to a mechanism for use in a device that comprises a system for collecting dirt and debris from a variety of floor and upholstery surfaces. In particular the mechanism lifts and directs unwanted debris particles to a waste reservoir for the purpose of cleaning and grooming floor surfaces. The debris collection mechanism can be, but is not limited to its use in a handle operated cordless motorized floor sweeper to collect and gather unwanted debris and dust. The device includes a head unit that incorporates two easily removable elongate cylindrical rotating cleaning bars that are driven such that they contra rotate, and are positioned close to one another at the forward region of the head unit. A removable debris reservoir, removable rechargeable power source and handle incorporating a device operation switch are also included.
US08443471B2
A rope assembly, according to various embodiments, comprises: (1) a braided rope comprising a plurality of braided strands; and (2) a rope fastener that is adapted to: (A) be attached to the braided rope adjacent a first end of the braided rope; (B) allow a user to selectively form a braided rope loop of a first particular circumference by fitting the rope fastener through the plurality of braided strands at a first particular location on the braided rope; and (C) allow a user to selectively form a braided rope loop of a second particular circumference by fitting the rope fastener through the plurality of braided strands at a second particular location on the braided rope. In various embodiments, the rope fastener is shaped for selectively preventing the rope fastener from returning through the plurality of braided strands after the rope fastener has been fitted through the plurality of braided strands.
US08448261B2
A method of analyzing a sample that includes applying a first set of energies at a first set of frequencies to a sample and applying, simultaneously with the applying the first set of energies, a second set of energies at a second set of frequencies, wherein the first set of energies and the second set of energies form a multi-mode coupling. The method further includes detecting an effect of the multi-mode coupling.
US08448252B1
The present invention provides a system and method of facilitating compliance to one or more information sharing regulations. The present invention provides a computer system equipped with a processing unit capable of receiving input information and extracting one or more data sharing guidelines. The present invention utilizes the relationship between the parties and the data at issue to construct a data sharing arrangement. Each data sharing arrangement may be cross-referenced to one or more data sharing guidelines designed to assist the user to determine what privacy regulations apply and how to comply with same.
US08448245B2
A method and system for automated identification of phishing, phony, and malicious web sites are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method, comprises receiving a first input, the first input including a universal resource locator (URL) for a webpage. A second input is received, the second input including feedback information related to the webpage, the feedback information including an indication designating the webpage as safe or unsafe. A third input is received from a database, the third input including reputation information related to the webpage. Data is extracted from the webpage. A safety status is determined for the webpage, including whether the webpage is hazardous by using a threat score for the webpage and the second input, wherein calculating the threat score includes analyzing the extracted data from the webpage. The safety status for the webpage is reported.
US08448235B2
An initiating device: generates a message having an ISAKMP-based header that includes a security parameter index (SPI) field; identifies a key in the SPI field of the ISKMP-based header; and sends the message to a responding device. The responding device: receives the message; extracts the key identifier; and when a shared key is selected using the key identifier, uses the selected shared key to establish, with the initiating device, a session having a secure tunnel.
US08448233B2
According to one embodiment, a security gateway (SG) is coupled between a hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) client and a web application server. Responsive to a first HTTP message being transmitted between the HTTP client and the web application server as part of an HTTP session, the SG generates security gateway session security state information (SGI) based on a policy. The SG also generates a digital signature (SGS) from the SGI, creates an SG signed session security state information cookie (SGC), and sends the SGC to the HTTP client for storage instead of storing the SGI in the SG. Responsive to a second HTTP message of the HTTP session, the SG attempts to validate a claim made in the second HTTP request using at least the policy and the SGC that is supposed to be returned with the second HTTP message.
US08448225B2
An authority group definition that defines a combination of utilization authorities as an authority group, user information required to register local user information or to convert externally acquired user information into a format that is available, connection and authentication method information that defines a connection method and an authentication method for the external system etc., and authority conversion information required to map authority-related items of the externally acquired user information to the authority group. A login process section includes a login screen process section which allows a client PC to controllably display a login screen on an interface, a user information acquisition section which acquires user information from basic external operation systems and a local server, an authentication process section, a user information conversion process section, and a user information update process section.
US08448210B2
Electronic program guide (EPG) systems and methods are operable to incorporate image information into an EPG generated at a media device. An exemplary embodiment receives an image associated with a program, processes the received image into a rich media EPG image, receives program presentation schedule information that specifies a presentation schedule of a plurality of programs, wherein the program is one of the plurality of programs scheduled for presentation, associates an identifier with the rich media EPG image and the program, and generates a rich media EPG schedule based upon the received program presentation schedule information and the identifier.
US08448209B2
A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement.In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.
US08448202B2
There is provided a motor including: a rotor case having a chucking device, on which a disk is mounted, press-fitted and coupled thereto; and disk support members mounted on an upper surface of the rotor case to support a bottom surface of the disk, and having each of flow path portions therebetween allowing for airflow in a space between the disk and the rotor case, wherein a push portion is disposed in at least one of the rotor case and the disk support members to accelerate the airflow through the flow path portions when the rotor case rotates.
US08448199B2
A spindle motor includes a rotor made of metal including a substantially circular top surface section and a tubular skirt section arranged at a predetermined space from an outer periphery of the top surface section and a disk table of synthetic resin outsert-molded in the rotor and including a table main body section located on an outer surface side of the rotor and a rotor-inner-surface superimposing section located on an inner surface side of the rotor. First resin lead-in holes are provided in the tubular skirt section and an inner surface of the table main body section located on the outer surface side of the rotor is connected to the rotor-inner-surface superimposing section located on the inner surface side of the rotor through the first resin lead-in holes.
US08448196B2
An electronic device including a mechanism for changing the relative positions of two circuit boards such as in an optical disc drive is provided. A flexible printed circuit electrically connected between the two circuit boards changes shape to suppress fluctuations in the transmission characteristics occurring due to contact with metal such as a case, and provides stable signal transmission. The flexible printed circuit includes at least one or more differential lines, a fixed unit affixed to a case at least at one location, and a movable unit that changes shape according to the relative positions of two cases. The lines adjacent to the differential line are a grounded surface, and the flexible printed circuit is formed to narrow the distance between the movable unit lines more than the distance between the fixed unit lines.
US08448195B2
To develop optical discs stored while being stacked and to load them to a plurality of recording/reproducing devices simultaneously. Trays for mounting optical discs are stacked to configure an optical disc transportation body, and the portions being exposed without overlapping when the stacked trays are viewed from the stacking direction are utilized as tray operation portions for handling. Supporting portions abutting against the tray operation portions inherent to respective trays in one to one correspondence are fixed with an interval in the vertical direction to the frames configuring a tray distributing/holding portion. The tray operation portion of each tray is held by the supporting portion at each position by moving the optical disc transportation body downward along the frames, and intervals corresponding to the arrangement pitch of recording/reproducing devices are formed between respective trays.
US08448184B2
A method of and an apparatus are provided for signaling a transmission code set in data broadcasting. A client using the transmission code set signaling method includes a demultiplexer demultiplexing a packetized elementary stream (PES) packet corresponding to a program selected by a user from the broadcasting stream received by the system interface, an image decoder decoding the demultiplexed PES for images, a sound decoder decoding the demultiplexed PES for sound, and a CPU fetching information about a transmission code set of a character string used in an object carousel message from the demultiplexed message PES and decoding the character string used in the object carousel message based on the fetched information about the transmission code set.
US08448179B2
Multiple parallel passive threads of instructions coordinate access to shared resources using “active” semaphores. The semaphores are referred to as active because the semaphores send messages to execution and/or control circuitry to cause the state of a thread to change. A thread can be placed in an inactive state by a thread scheduler in response to an unresolved dependency, which can be indicated by a semaphore. A thread state variable corresponding to the dependency is used to indicate that the thread is in inactive mode. When the dependency is resolved a message is passed to control circuitry causing the dependency variable to be cleared. In response to the cleared dependency variable the thread is placed in an active state. Execution can proceed on the threads in the active state.
US08448177B1
Systems, methods and computer readable media can include prioritizing tasks associated with a group of users based on number of times the users have monitored the status of a task. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for task prioritizing, the tasks may be prioritized based on the number of users associated with a task, the importance of each user associated with a task, and the way the task was identified.
US08448175B2
A method and system of deadlock detection in a parallel program, the method comprising: recording lock events during the operation of the parallel program and a first order relation among the lock events; converting information relevant to the operation of the parallel program into gate lock events and recording the gate lock events; establishing a second order relation among the gate lock events and lock events associated with the gate lock events and adding the second order relation to the first order relation; constructing a lock graph corresponding to the operation procedure of the parallel program based on the added first order relation; and performing deadlock detection on the constructed lock graph. The deadlock detection method of the invention can improve the accuracy of deadlock detection without depending on the deadlock detection algorithm per se, and can be applied with facility to various development environments and reduce development costs.
US08448174B2
An information processing device which has a plurality of process units for performing various kinds of processes includes a detecting unit that detects a processing loads of the process units; a determining unit that determines whether a total amount of the processing loads detected by the detecting unit is equal to or larger than a specific value; a designating unit that designates a process unit having a process state to be controlled, based on the processing loads of the process units detected by the detecting unit, when the determining unit determines that the total amount is equal to or larger than the specific value; a process identifying unit that identifies a process having an execution state to be controlled among processes being performed by the process unit designated by the designating unit; and a control unit that controls the execution state of the process identified by the process identifying unit.
US08448173B2
A method, apparatus, and computer readable article of manufacture for executing a transaction by a processor apparatus that includes a plurality of hardware threads. The method includes the steps of: creating a main software thread for executing the transaction; creating a helper software thread for executing a barrier function; executing the main software thread and the helper software thread using the plurality of hardware threads; deciding whether the execution of the barrier function is required; executing the barrier function by the helper software thread; and returning to the main software thread. The step of executing the barrier function includes: stalling the main software thread; activating the helper software thread; and exiting the helper software thread in response to completion of the execution.
US08448166B2
Migration of a user state from a source computing device to a destination computing device using a state migration point (SMP) is disclosed. The destination computing device may be the same as the source computing device but with a different operating system. The user state is securely stored by the SMP until the user state is restored on the destination computing device or a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Additional SMPs can be added without an architectural change. SMPs can be used to simultaneously migrate the states of multiple users of the source computing device to multiple destination computing devices. The SMPs can be restricted to migrate only the user states of computing devices with particular IP subnets. The SMPs can retain user states for a period of time after restoration in order to provide a backup, if necessary.
US08448163B2
Web applications are deployed for execution within the existing framework of Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) when they are written in the commonly-employed Java™ (trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc) 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) language. The intended deployment of J2EE web applications is detected and the J2EE application contents are converted into appropriate OSGi bundles using a provisioner. The provisioner employs its list of available provision providers to create the OSGi bundles that correspond to the J2EE application contents.
US08448160B2
An application programming interface (API) provides a set of functions for application developers to build software programs that automatically detect, download, and install desired software updates.
US08448147B2
A coverage analysis tool may determine coverage in respect to heterogeneous coverage tasks associated with different hierarchy levels of a tasks hierarchy. The coverage analysis tool may iteratively refine coverage tasks to determine coverage of sub-tasks. In some cases, coverage tasks may be unrefined in order to reduce overhead of coverage analysis in performance of the software under test, such that the software under test may perform in an essentially similar manner as in non-testing mode.
US08448145B2
Methods and systems for generating verification conditions and verifying the correctness of a concurrent system of program threads are described. The methods and systems determine and employ mutually atomic transactions to reduce verification problem sizes and state space for concurrent systems. The embodiments provide both an adequate and an optimal set of token-passing constraints for a bounded unrolling of threads.
US08448142B2
Mechanisms are provided for debugging a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer application code. The mechanisms detect a user interaction with a first renderable object of the GUI during execution of the computer application code. The mechanisms identify one or more second renderable objects of the GUI that are reachable from the first renderable object based on an identity of the first renderable object and a type of the user interaction. Moreover, the mechanisms apply one or more compliance rules to the first renderable object and one or more second renderable objects, the compliance rules specifying requirements for at least one relationship between the first renderable object and the one or more second renderable objects. Additionally, the mechanisms output results of the application of the one or more compliance rules to the first renderable object and one or more second renderable objects.
US08448138B2
Technologies are described herein for recording user-driven events within a computing system. An interface is established between a recorder application and an input method editor (“IME”) executing on the computer system. Through the use of the interface, the recorder application can obtain and record data identifying user-driven events that are performed within the IME. An interface is also established between the recorder application and a UI control that does not expose data regarding user-driven events through standard system calls. Through the use of the interface, the recorder application can obtain and record data identifying user-driven events detected at the UI control. The recorder application can also provide data identifying the recorded user-driven events directly to a bug tracking application program for inclusion in a bug database.
US08448136B2
Methods are provided for creating a composite program module within a computing ecosystem. The ecosystem comprises physical and/or virtual computing resources of a company, department or other organization. When a user discovers a grouping of modules that is useful to him, the ecosystem or his workspace allows him to create a composite module that comprises the group of modules. He can then access their combined functionality by activating just the composite module, in which case all the modules are automatically opened, without having to activate each one individually. Further, the ecosystem may suggest complementary program modules to a user based on his pattern of activity with one or more other modules. A composite program module may be created to include a suggested complementary module, or just modules discovered independently by the user.
US08448134B1
A computer-implemented method for reliably identifying controls invoked during quality-assurance reviews of user interfaces may include: 1) identifying at least one user-interface control invoked during an initial quality-assurance review of a user interface, 2) for each identified user-interface control, identifying an object-tree path that is followed when invoking the user-interface control, 3) storing the object-tree path for the user-interface control in a data structure, and then 4) using the object-tree path during a subsequent quality-assurance review to automatically identify and invoke the user-interface control.
US08448131B2
A test data creation and execution system provides an efficient way to dramatically improve testing of web service based applications. The test data creation and execution system assists testers in identifying and executing various combinations of unit tests, as well as integration and regression testing of web services and methods of web services. The test data creation and execution system provides testers the functionality to rapidly produce high quality web services based applications.
US08448126B2
This invention provides a compliance assessment system and tool for efficiently assessing compliance programs and managing compliance program assessments across an organization. Compliance activities are measured against a group of Compliance Program Element Requirements (CPR's) that are used to assess LOB compliance programs. The CPR's define the minimum standards for the LOB's documentation and execution of its compliance program. Assessment results are documented and a compliance program assessment data sheet is developed. A rating is also provided for the status of the documentation supporting the compliance program and the effectiveness of the execution of the compliance program. From these inputs the tool of the invention automatically calculates a score representative of the adequacy and effectiveness of the compliance program. The tool also assigns a color code based at least in part on the score. Reports may be generated that can be used to determine compliance trends.
US08448123B2
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing enhanced net routing with improved correlation of pre-buffered and post-buffered routes on a hierarchical design of an integrated circuit chip. In initial wiring steps the nets are routed, and then buffers are add along the net route based upon predetermined electrical parameters. Responsive to adding the buffers, distance based constraints are added to the nets. Then the nets that have been modified are rerouted.
US08448120B2
A method includes performing a place and route operation using an electronic design automation tool to generate a preliminary layout for a photomask to be used to form a circuit pattern of a semiconductor device. The place and route operation is constrained by a plurality of single patterning spacer technique (SPST) routing rules. Dummy conductive fill patterns are emulated within the EDA tool using an RC extraction tool to predict locations and sizes of dummy conductive fill patterns to be added to the preliminary layout of the photomask. An RC timing analysis of the circuit pattern is performed within the EDA tool, based on the preliminary layout and the emulated dummy conductive fill patterns.
US08448114B1
A method for balancing both edges of a signal of an integrated circuit (IC) design includes defining a virtual cell to have the same geometry as that of a port of the IC design. First and second input pins of the virtual cell are defined for detecting rising and falling edges. The first and second input pin geometries are defined to be the same as that of the corresponding pins of the port. The virtual cell is overlapped with the port so the first and second input pins are connected to the corresponding port network. The first and second input pins are configured as sinks for clock and buffer tree synthesis. An EDA tool identifies the first and second input pins as additional parallel sinks on the port network and balances the rising and falling edges of the signal at the port.
US08448113B2
A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product efficiently manage timing parameters in a circuit. Multiple instances of a definition are implemented onto a circuit. A set of related pins from the multiple instances are defined, and a common assertion value is asserted against all pins in the set of related pins.
US08448103B2
A methodology for varying the depth of a design feature on a semiconductor wafer. Vias are formed according to design requirements. Nonfunctioning vias may also be placed at a location with respect to a design feature. After vias are formed, the semiconductor wafer is caused to undergo an ashing process followed by the application of an organic planarizing layer. The design features are then formed. If the depth of the design features does not meet design requirements, another semiconductor wafer may be processed to meet design requirements by varying the ashing conditions, choice of organic planarizing layer and/or the nonfunctioning and/or functioning via placement. Design features having various depths on a single semiconductor wafer may be formed with a single lithographic process.
US08448097B2
Roughly described, a design rule data set includes rules on derived layers. The rules are checked by traversing the corners of physical shapes, and for each corner, populating a layout topology database with values gleaned from that corner location, including values involving derived layers. After the layout topology database is populated, the values are compared to values in the design rule data set to detect any design rule violations, including violations of design rules defined on derived layers. Violations are reported in real time during manual editing of the layout. Preferably corner traversal is performed using scan lines oriented perpendicularly to edge orientations, scanning in the direction of the edge orientations. Scans stop only at corner positions on physical layers, and populate the layout topology database with what information can be gleaned based on the current scan line, including information about derived layers. The scans need not reach corners simultaneously.
US08448096B1
Disclosed is a method and system for processing the tasks performed by an IC layout processing tool in parallel. In some approaches, the IC layout is divided into a plurality of layout portions and one or more of the layout portions are processed in parallel, where geometric select operations are performed in which data for different layout portions may be shared between different processing entities. One approach includes the following actions: select phase one operation for performing initial select actions within layout portions; distributed regioning action for local regioning; distributed regioning action for global regioning and binary select; count select aggregation for count-based select operations; and select phase two operations for combining results of selecting of internal shapes and interface shapes.
US08448087B2
A computer-implemented method for navigating between sections in a display space is furnished. The sections in the display space are each assigned to a particular location of the display space, and representatives are provided which are each assigned to a particular section in the display space using an unambiguous relation. The method for navigating includes the following steps: selecting at least one representative that is assigned to a particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation; and navigating to the particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation with the particular section in the display space.
US08448079B2
An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus includes: a display unit which displays an image; a detection unit which detects a position on the display unit designated from an outside; an original image display unit which displays an original image based on original image data in a first display area on the display unit; a specifying unit which, when a position within the first display area is designated from the outside, specifies a designated region corresponding to the designated position in the first display area based on a detection result of the detection unit; and a combining unit which displays at least a part of an additional image in the designated region in the first display area to display a combined image, in which the original image and the additional image are combined, on the display unit.
US08448060B2
A method, system and software tool for processing an electronic form, represented by a form template including data and user interface elements, are provided. The form is rendered in accordance with the data and user interface elements of the loaded form template. A form viewer provides one or more graphic objects representing form controls. A composite template is created by adding, to the form template, an action element associated with each form control for which a graphic object is provided by the form viewer. The form is then processed according to the composite template and displayed to a user.
US08448058B1
Methods and apparatuses are provided which may be implemented to in various computing devices to provide a presentation service through which content from two or more applications running on one or more computing devices may be shared along with selective annotation content.
US08448047B2
A storage device is for restoring the data saved in a nonvolatile memory to a cache memory, even if there is not a read response from the nonvolatile memory. In a data saving operation, parity data of to-be-saved data is generated, and the to-be-saved data and the parity data having CRCs and AIDs added thereto are written into a flash memory. In a data restoring operation, if an operation to read data from the flash memory is not completed within a predetermined period of time, the data reading operation is suspended, and additional data is set. The to-be-saved data having a data error corrected with the parity data is then written into the cache memory.
US08448045B2
Values are grouped into a first set of groupings of values. Based on inner codes, the number of groupings in the first set of groupings that have at least one erroneous value is determined. If the number of groupings in the first set of groupings that have an erroneous value is fewer than a maximum number of groupings that can be corrected by outer codes, a seek operation is begun. During the seek operation, the outer codes are used to detect and correct the erroneous values that were produced during the reading of values. In other aspects, a parity section for a data section of a data storage device is dirtied before writing any data to the data section such that if writing to the data section is interrupted, the parity section will indicate that it should not be used to correct data read from the data section.
US08448043B2
A nonvolatile memory device comprises overwritable memory cells. In an overwrite operation, data is read from a selected region of the nonvolatile memory device and combined with overwrite data to produce combined data. An error correction code is then generated for the combined data and the overwrite data and the error correction code are stored in the selected region.
US08448041B1
Low-density parity-check (LDPC) encoding is performed by encoding input data using a first sub-matrix of a parity check matrix to obtain intermediate data. The parity check matrix includes the first sub-matrix and a second sub-matrix having a matrix inversion. The intermediate data is encoded using the matrix inversion of the second sub-matrix of the parity check matrix.
US08448040B2
A decoding device allowing a high-speed decoding operation. In a decoding section (215), if a degree of a check equation by a check matrix is D and the relationship between the check equation of the j+first row of the check matrix and the cheek equation of the jth row is shifted by n-bit, row processing operation sections (405#1 to 405#3) and column processing operation sections (410#1 to 410#3) perform the operation of a protograph in which the columns of the check matrix are delimited for each “(D+1)×N (N: natural number),” and the rows of the check matrix are delimited for each “(D+1)×N/n,” and formed as the processing unit of the row processing operation and column processing operation.
US08448039B2
Embodiments of the present invention are methods for breaking one or more trapping sets in a near codeword of a failed graph-based decoder, e.g., an LDPC decoder. The methods determine, from among all bit nodes associated with one or more unsatisfied check nodes in the near codeword, which bit nodes, i.e., the suspicious bit nodes or SBNs, are most likely to be erroneous bit nodes. The methods then perform a trial in which the values of one or more SBNs are altered and decoding is re-performed. If the trial does not converge on the decoded correct codeword (DCCW), then other trials are performed until either (i) the decoder converges on the DCCW or (ii) all permitted combinations of SBNs are exhausted. The starting state of a particular trial, and the set of SBNs available to that trial may change depending on the results of previous trials.
US08448030B2
The invention discloses a method and a system for optimizing address generation for simultaneously running proximity-based Built-In-Self-Test (BIST) algorithms. The method also describes simultaneously testing proximity-based faults for different memories having column multiplexers of different sizes using the BIST algorithms. The system described above may be embodied in the form of a Built-In-Self-Test (BIST) controller. Further, the method includes selecting a memory having the largest size of column multiplexer (CMmax). After selecting the memory, size of an address-width register is extended to form an extended address-width register. Thereafter, an extended width address is generated using the extended address-width register and the extended width address is used to generate addresses for the memories. After generating the addresses, read and write operations are performed on the memories based on pre-defined rules, wherein the read and write operations provide testing of the memories.
US08448026B2
Logging for a transaction is coordinated when provided by applications implemented on multiple nodes. An indicator is set, prior to activity occurring related to a transaction, to log information for a transaction based on specified criteria. A first application implemented on a first node generates, based on the set indicator, a first detailed log for activity occurring related to the transaction. A transaction identifier and the indicator are passed to a downstream second application implemented on a second node. A second detailed log for activity occurring related to the transaction is generated by the downstream second application based on the set indicator. The first detailed log is correlated with the second detailed log.
US08448025B2
The present invention determines the type of each piece of system information including a plurality of index values indicative of abnormality levels of a monitoring target device, as follows. The system information and identification information for the system information are sequentially received from the monitoring target device configured to sequentially output the system information together with the identification information for the system information. The piece of the received system information is compared with a predetermined determination criterion and thus determined to be of a particular type based on a result of the comparison. The determined type is output in association with the identification information. Input information indicative of a true type is accepted and stored in association with the identification information. The determination criterion is updated based on the piece of the system information and the information indicative of the true type. In the type determination procedure, an index value irrelevant to the abnormality level of the monitoring target device is included in the piece of the system information for comparison with the determination criterion.
US08448020B2
A method begins when a dispersed storage (DS) processing unit of a DS unit has at least one of DS unit operational data and DS unit operating system algorithm to store. The method continues with the DS processing unit encoding at least a portion of the at least one of DS unit operational data and DS unit operating system algorithm in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function to produce a plurality of data slices. The method continues with the DS processing unit storing at least some of the plurality of data slices in memory devices of the DS unit in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function.
US08448007B2
A method includes buffering an initial amount of data of a data set transmitted from a MAC. When an amount of time for data associated with the data set to fill a PHY buffer approaches an amount of time for a far-end PHY to transition from a second far-end PHY power mode to a first far-end PHY power state, a remaining amount of data of the data set transmitted from the MAC is buffered and the data is transmitted to the far-end PHY after it transitions to the first far-end PHY power state. When the amount of time for data associated with the data set to fill the buffer exceeds the amount of time for the far-end PHY to transition to the first far-end PHY power state, a data delay indicator is transmitted to the MAC to preempt the MAC from transmitting the remaining amount of data.
US08448003B1
An integrated circuit includes a circuit including a plurality of functional blocks, a sensor associated with one of the plurality of functional blocks for sensing a state of activity thereof, and a sleep switch receiving an output from the sensor and placing the associated functional block in a sleep state in response to the sensed state of activity.
US08447994B2
One or more computational units of a computer system are selectively altered in terms of performance according to which of the one or more computational units has a higher performance sensitivity than others of the computational units.
US08447991B2
A card authentication system. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for authenticating a data card having an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card, the method including reading information from the data card, the data card information including the intrinsic magnetic characteristic and the recorded data on the data card, encrypting the data card information, sending the encrypted data card information, receiving the encrypted data card information, decrypting a portion of the encrypted data card information, the portion including the intrinsic magnetic characteristic, generating a score indicative of a degree of correlation between the intrinsic magnetic characteristic of the data card information and a stored value, and determining an authenticity of the data card based at least in part on the score.
US08447986B2
A license to use content (e.g., a movie, song, application, etc.) is provided to a consumer. The license allows for use of the content by the device the consumer is using (e.g., logged into) and devices near the device the consumer is using. For example, a first computing device obtains a license to restricted content. A second computing device obtains a copy of the restricted content; however, the second computing device is not licensed to use the content and may not be able to access the content because the content is encrypted or otherwise restricted. The first computing device is brought into proximity with the second computing device. In response to detecting that the first computing device is in proximity with the second computing device, the second computing device is provided with legal access to the restricted content. The second computing device can then decrypt (or otherwise access) and play the content.
US08447981B2
A method for generating and distributing MIP security key after Re-Authentication, including: an AAA Server generates an EMSK during a Re-Authentication process; the MS generate a new first MIP security key for the MS according to the EMSK, and replaces the corresponding old first MIP security key with the new first MIP security key; and a HA receives new second MIP security key information for the HA which is sent by the AAA Server actively, or requests from the AAA Server the new second MIP security key information for the HA, and replaces the corresponding old second MIP security key that is locally stored with the new second MIP security key that is sent by the AAA Server actively or requested from the AAA Server. The present invention ensures execution of MIP Registration process after Re-Authentication.
US08447977B2
The authentication of a device with a server over a network includes authenticating, by the device, the server so as to establish a secure connection with the server. The device communicates identification information of the device to the server, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the device to the server. The server determines the credibility of the device using the identification information communicated by the device. In a case where the server determines that the device is credible, the server creates a first authentication token for the device, stores the first authentication token, and transfers the first authentication token to the device using the secure connection, and the device stores the first authentication token. The server authenticates the device using the first authentication token.
US08447974B2
An approach is provided for managing access rights of users to information spaces using signatures stored in a memory tag. A signature manager caused reading of a memory tag to initiate a request, from a device, for an initial access to an information space. The request includes an authorization signature associated with the device. The signature manager determines a level of access to the information space by comparing the authorization signature against a lattice of signature primitives associated with the information space. The signature manager then modifies the authorization signature based on the determination and stores the modified authorization signature for validation of subsequent access to the information space by the device.
US08447963B2
A method and system for managing a large number of servers and their server components distributed throughout a heterogeneous computing environment is provided. In one embodiment, an authenticated user, such as a IT system administrator, can securely and simultaneously control and configure multiple servers, supporting different operating systems, through a “virtual server.” A virtual server is an abstract model representing a collection of actual target servers. To represent multiple physical servers as one virtual server, abstract system calls that extend execution of operating-system-specific system calls to multiple servers, regardless of their supported operating systems, are used. A virtual server is implemented by a virtual server client and a collection of virtual server agents associated with a collection of actual servers.
US08447960B2
A system and method for enhancing performance of a computer which includes a computer system including a data storage device. The computer system includes a program stored in the data storage device and steps of the program are executed by a processer. The processor processes instructions from the program. A wait state in the processor waits for receiving specified data. A thread in the processor has a pause state wherein the processor waits for specified data. A pin in the processor initiates a return to an active state from the pause state for the thread. A logic circuit is external to the processor, and the logic circuit is configured to detect a specified condition. The pin initiates a return to the active state of the thread when the specified condition is detected using the logic circuit.
US08447953B2
A microprocessor architecture comprises a plurality of processing elements arranged in a single instruction multiple data SIMD array, wherein each processing element includes a plurality of execution units, each of which is operable to process an instruction of a particular instruction type, a serial processor which includes a plurality of execution units, each of which is operable to process an instruction of a particular instruction type, and an instruction controller operable to receive a plurality of instructions, and to distribute received instructions to the execution units in dependence upon the instruction types of the received instruction. The execution units of the serial processor are operable to process respective instructions in parallel.
US08447944B2
An object is to enable efficient shredding of recording media in association with migration. An information processing device (a server device 3) receives a data input/output request in a unit of a file transmitted from a client device 2, and performs writing and reading of data to and from a storage system 10 having a recording medium (hard disk drive 171) in which a file entity specified in the received data input/output request is stored in units of data blocks. The information processing device is communicatively coupled to a different storage device which is a migration destination of data. In the case where after the migration of certain data, different data is written in a data block of the certain data in an overlapped manner, the data block is not shredded if the data block is already shredded related to either of the overlapped certain and the different data after the migration.
US08447943B2
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of controlling a storage system comprises storing data in a first volume in the storage system which has volumes including the first volume and a plurality of second volumes; prohibiting write I/O (input/output) access against the first volume after storing the data in the first volume; performing subsequent write requests received by the storage system against the second volumes in the storage system after storing the data in the first volume, each write request having a target volume which is one of the second volumes; and in response to each one write request of the write requests, determining whether the target volume of the one write request is write prohibited or not, and performing the one write request only if the target volume is not write prohibited.
US08447942B2
Content storage using quotas as described. In an implementation, an apparatus comprises memory to store content obtained via a network connection and one or more modules to manage storage of the content using one or more quotas. A first one of the quotas specifies a maximum amount of the memory that is permitted to be used to store the content for a first user and a second one of the quotas specifies a maximum amount of the memory that is permitted to be used to store the content for a second user.
US08447930B2
Various embodiments of the present invention manage a hierarchical store-through memory cache structure. A store request queue is associated with a processing core in multiple processing cores. At least one blocking condition is determined to have occurred at the store request queue. Multiple non-store requests and a set of store requests associated with a remaining set of processing cores in the multiple processing cores are dynamically blocked from accessing a memory cache in response to the blocking condition having occurred.
US08447926B2
A method of controlling an ODD archive system comprising three or more ODDs is provided comprising storing information on a parity drive in a memory, and setting a parity drive in which parity data is to be recorded based on the information when data recording is requested in a RAID 3 or 4 manner. The information on the parity drive may include a cumulative value of number of times by which each ODD has been set as the parity drive up to now. Or the information on the parity drive may be managed for each of one or more magazine having optical discs the number of which is equal to or less than the number of ODDs included in the archive system.
US08447921B2
A method for maintaining vital product data (VPD) contained in an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) on a field replaceable unit (FRU) of a computer system that has a cache. The method includes maintaining a copy of the VPD in the cache, retrieving the copy of the VPD from the cache upon receiving a read request of the VPD, and, upon receiving a write request to write data to the VPD, writing the data to the copy of the VPD, determining whether the VPD in the EEPROM is in synchronization with the copy of the VPD in the cache, and, if the VPD and the copy of the VPD are in synchronization, writing the data to the EEPROM.
US08447919B1
Flash memory is written to by determining a measure of health for each of a plurality of locations in flash memory. At least one of the plurality of locations in flash memory is selected based at least in part on the determined measures of health and the selected location(s) in flash memory is/are written to.
US08447914B2
A memory system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a memory amount required for management table creation is reduced by adopting a nonvolatile semiconductor memory including a plurality of parallel operation elements respectively having a plurality of physical blocks as units of data erasing and a controller that can drive the parallel operation elements in parallel and has a number-of-times-of-erasing managing unit that manages the number of times of erasing in logical block units associated with a plurality of physical blocks driven in parallel.
US08447908B2
The present invention relates to a multilevel memory bus system for transferring information between at least one DMA controller and at least one solid-state semiconductor memory device, such as NAND flash memory devices or the like. This multilevel memory bus system includes at least one DMA controller coupled to an intermediate bus; a flash memory bus; and a flash buffer circuit between the intermediate bus and the flash memory bus. This multilevel memory bus system may be disposed to support: an n-bit wide bus width, such as nibble-wide or byte-wide bus widths; a selectable data sampling rate, such as a single or double sampling rate, on the intermediate bus; a configurable bus data rate, such as a single, double, quad, or octal data sampling rate; CRC protection; an exclusive busy mechanism; dedicated busy lines; or any combination of these.
US08447902B2
A method and apparatus for predictive switching an output have been disclosed.
US08447900B1
A first in, first out (FIFO) buffer system includes memory with a plurality of memory blocks. A first FIFO control module generates and assigns a first random sequence to the memory blocks and stores first data in the memory blocks according to the first random sequence. A second FIFO control module generates and assigns a second random sequence to the memory blocks that is different than the first random sequence and stores second data in the memory blocks according to the second random sequence.
US08447897B2
A method for controlling bandwidth in a direct memory access (DMA) unit of a computer processing system, the method comprising: assigning a DMA job to a selected DMA engine; starting a source timer; and issuing a request to read a next section of data for the DMA job. If a sufficient amount of the data was not obtained, allowing the DMA engine to wait until the source timer reaches a specified value before continuing to read additional data for the DMA job.
US08447891B2
A computer-implemented method may include determining a number of virtual functions that each port of a hardware input/output adapter is capable of supporting. The computer-implemented method may include assigning a first portion of internal resources of the hardware input/output adapter to each port of the hardware input/output adapter. The computer-implemented method may also include, for a particular port of the hardware input/output adapter, assigning a second portion of the internal resources to each virtual function that the particular port is capable of supporting. The second portion of the internal resources may be a subset of the first portion of the internal resources. The computer-implemented method may further include configuring a virtual function prior to a runtime to use the assigned second portion of the internal resources.
US08447888B2
A method and apparatus for enhancing/extending a serial point-to-point interconnect architecture, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is herein described. Temporal and locality caching hints and prefetching hints are provided to improve system wide caching and prefetching. Message codes for atomic operations to arbitrate ownership between system devices/resources are included to allow efficient access/ownership of shared data. Loose transaction ordering provided for while maintaining corresponding transaction priority to memory locations to ensure data integrity and efficient memory access. Active power sub-states and setting thereof is included to allow for more efficient power management. And, caching of device local memory in a host address space, as well as caching of system memory in a device local memory address space is provided for to improve bandwidth and latency for memory accesses.
US08447886B2
A distributed spreadsheet application executes at a server and a client in a network. The networked spreadsheet application can generally be used without requiring a user to install any specific spreadsheet software prior to using the application. In one implementation, the spreadsheet application may include a client engine that executes within browser programs of a plurality of client computing devices and server logic. The server logic may be configured to distribute the client engines to the plurality of client computing devices of the spreadsheet application when requested through the browser programs of each of the plurality of client computing devices. The server logic synchronizes a single spreadsheet document that is simultaneously open at the plurality of client computing devices.
US08447879B2
An in-band signaling method that enables secure updates of a care-of-IP address for a mobile host that roams between access networks. In the illustrative embodiment described herein, a mobile host includes an intelligent interface that handles IP networking functions and tunnels IP packets between the mobile host and the mobile host's home agent/remote access server (HA/RAS) transparently, as if the mobile host established a connection to a communicating or destination host (DST) from the home network (where the HA/RAS resides). In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided an in-band signaling method that employs encrypted three-way handshake signaling messages that are embedded in encapsulated IP packets to enable care-of IP address updates. This method can effectively protect mobile hosts from denial-of-service attacks and is transparent to NAT/NAPT firewalls. The signaling messages are communicated between the home agent and the mobile host, in a manner transparent to any NAT/NAPT firewall in the network.
US08447872B2
Link level load balancing is provided based on time utilization of a link or workload utilization of a device. Time utilization achieves load balancing by giving each device the same amount of connection time to perform Input/Output tasks. Workload utilization achieves load balancing by managing a number of frames or bytes transmitted to each device.
US08447871B1
An apparatus is related to connection management for a communications network. A control component receives a data flow requesting a resource from a client, identifies the client, and determines when the data flow is unassociated with a connection to a requested resource. The control component selects a new content server for an unassociated resource request when either the identified client was previously unknown or the identified client has exceeded a maximum number of connections with a previously selected content server. The control component selects the previously selected content server when the identified client has not exceeded the maximum number of connections. A switch component is employed to maintain a connection between the client and the selected content server such that the client receives the requested resource. Utilizing cached connection information for up to “N” connections enhances the speed of connections between the client and the selected content server.
US08447864B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a distributed, differential electronic-data storage system that includes client computers, component data-storage systems, and a routing component. Client computers direct data objects to component data-storage systems within the distributed, differential electronic-data storage system. Component data-storage systems provide data storage for the distributed, differential electronic-data storage system. The routing component directs data objects, received from the clients computers, through logical bins to component data-storage systems by a compression-enhancing routing method.
US08447861B2
There is provided a communication device including: a data acquisition unit that acquires sensed data related to a signal receiving condition in a spectrum assigned to a first communication service; a determination unit that determines which of a first area inside a service area of the first communication service where a signal receiving condition is suitable, a second area inside or in a peripheral part of the service area where a signal receiving condition is not suitable and a third area outside the peripheral part of the service area the communication device is located based on the sensed data acquired by the data acquisition unit; and a secondary usage starting unit that starts usage of a second communication service using a part or whole of the spectrum assigned to the first communication service by a procedure different depending on a kind of the area where the communication device is located determined by the determination unit.
US08447858B1
An access point (AP) includes a control module that defines N basic service set identifiers (BSSID's) each corresponding to a class of service and having M service parameters, where N and M are integers greater than one. The AP includes an AP scheduling module that schedules communication between the AP and a plurality of client stations based on the N BSSID's and that determines a quality of service for the communication based on the N BSSID's and the M service parameters.
US08447852B1
A system for brand management using social networks comprising an application server, social network crawler software modules, third party service integration software modules, an analytics server, a report generator, a search engine, a behavioral analysis engine, a recommendation engine, and a database. A user registers and provides data pertaining to a brand. Upon retrieving content from a plurality of social networks pertaining to the brand, the analytics server module analyzes the content to a content value specific to the brand among members of the social networks. The behavioral analysis engine obtains content elements generated by a first member a social network and analyzes the first member's behavior to compute an audience value of the first member. The report generator prepares reports specific to the brand, the reports comprising at least indicia of content value, indicia of audience value, and recommendations for improving member engagement with the brand.
US08447842B2
A method for content storage on behalf of participating content providers begins by having a given content provider identify content for storage. The content provider then uploads the content to a given storage site selected from a set of storage sites. Following upload, the content is replicated from the given storage site to at least one other storage site in the set. Upon request from a given entity, a given storage site from which the given entity may retrieve the content is then identified. The content is then downloaded from the identified given storage site to the given entity. In an illustrative embodiment, the given entity is an edge server of a content delivery network (CDN).
US08447841B2
A system and method for upgrading remote control application resident on a device. To this end, a markup language file is created. The markup language file has a representation of information used to setup the remote control application to communicate with an appliance. The markup language file may be executed, on the device or an intermediate client with which the device is synchronized, to upload the representation of the information to a remote server. At the remote server, the uploaded information is used to automatically display user-selectable, downloadable data files relevant to the control of the appliance. Downloaded data files, which may include command codes and/or graphical user interface elements, may be used within the device to upgrade the ability of the remote control application to communicate with the appliance. The information uploaded to the server may also be used to generate demographic data regarding consumer preferences.
US08447839B2
A three-layer management protocol device emulator and method that emulates numerous Web management protocol devices using a single virtual machine. A client on a network believes that there are a large number of Web management protocol devices on the network. Embodiments of the emulator and method use a three-layer multiple-endpoint model. A proxy layer is used to emulate multiple devices by building an endpoint pool containing a large number of endpoint pairs corresponding to the emulated devices. The presentation layer is used to specifically translate and parse the Web management protocol, and the logic layer represents the logic for a specific Web management protocol device being emulated. Embodiments of the emulator and method receive a request from a client on the network, use the proxy layer, presentation layer and logic layer to process the request and obtain a response, and then send the response back to the requesting client.
US08447836B2
The services of an HTTP or HTTPS server, being implemented by or running on a first electronic device that is a portable device, are offered to an application running on a second electronic device by exchanging HTTP messages between the first electronic device and the second electronic device over a local communication channel according to the Bearer Independent Protocol. The application running on the second electronic device may use the TCP/IP protocol for exchanging HTTP messages with the server. A gateway is employed on the second electronic device, which manages the local communication channel and performs protocol conversion, Bearer Independent Protocol—TCP/IP, for messages received from the application running on the second electronic device, and protocol conversion, TCP/IP—Bearer Independent Protocol, for messages being sent to the server, where the second electronic device is a terminal hosting the portable device.
US08447834B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for a computer system for downloading an application from a computing client onto a mobile information device through wireless telecommunications. An application is located from a multitude of resources available on the World Wide Web through the Internet. After an application is selected from a particular resource, it is uploaded onto the computing client. A web server receives this uploaded application by means of the Internet. Another server is used as an intermediate communications device to receive notification from the web server of the available uploaded application. This intermediate communications server notifies the mobile device by way of wireless telecommunications of a pending application that is ready for downloading onto the mobile device. The mobile device user downloads the application, which is also accomplished via wireless telecommunications.
US08447832B2
A system and method for providing a web-based operating system is disclosed. A web-based operating system is downloaded from a server to a network-enabled device. The web-based operating system provides a platform from which to run web-based computer applications. Web-based computer applications are downloaded from the server onto the network-enabled device, and executed in conjunction with the web-based operating system. Those portions of the web-based operating system software and web-based computer application software are downloaded to the network-enabled device as needed. A component-based environment for the development and deployment of a web-based operating system and web-based computer applications is also provided. Components are deployed within library files as part of a component-based development model. The web-based operating system downloads those library files needed to execute the web-based computer applications.
US08447831B1
A system and method for management and processing of resource requests are provided. A content delivery network service provider receives a DNS query from a client computing device corresponding to a requested resource from the client computing device. The content delivery network service provider associates the requested content into a set of content segments. For each content segment, the content delivery network service provider identifies the network address of a registered content provider, such as peer computing device, and a cache component of the content delivery service provider. The content delivery network service provider also provides tokens for requesting the content from a registered content provider. The client computing device obtains the content from the registered content providers and/or the cache component of the content delivery network service provider. Thereafter, the content delivery network service provider reconciles with the registered content providers for content provided to client computing devices.
US08447830B2
A method and systems for multicasting web content to users is disclosed. According to the invention, the behavior of Internet users is analyzed for determining user profiles. The data accessed by a user are multicast to all the users sharing the same profile. Optionally, information relative to the number of access to the document is provided to the users to whom data are multicast.
US08447827B2
A method for providing local access to managed content is disclosed. The method comprises receiving from a remote host a request to perform an operation with respect to content associated with a set of managed content and obtaining information required to respond to the request. The method further comprises providing in response to the request a content locator usable to perform the requested operation through direct communication with a local content system associated with the remote host.
US08447818B2
A first queue stores messages to be consumed. A second queue temporarily stores completely duplicative messages that have message identifiers equal to message identifiers of messages currently being processed s and that have times equal to times of the messages being processed; processing of the completely duplicative messages never occurs. By comparison, a partially duplicative message has its processing delayed until the message of which it is partially duplicative has been finished being processed. A partially duplicative message has a message identifier equal to a message identifier of a message referenced within the non-persistent store and has a time unequal to a time of the message referenced within the non-persistent store is moved from the first to the second queue. A non-persistent store stores references to the messages currently being processed. Once the messages are finished being processed, the references to them are removed from the non-persistent store.
US08447817B2
Architecture that employs an abstraction of a mailbox store that allows clients to connect to alternate mailboxes associated with a single mail-enabled user, using the same mechanism the user utilizes to connect to the user's main mailbox. On top of this basic infrastructure, new features can be built, including server-hosted e-mail archives and mailboxes mirrored from other e-mail systems. In support thereof, the architecture also includes a mechanism for mailboxes to expose all or only a subset of mailbox features, and to advertise which mailbox features are supported.
US08447801B1
Apparatus and methods for sharing electronically rendered information between a plurality of devices over a data communications network with limited used of network data storage is described. Content may be shared automatically between members of a share group, without interactive content-sharing operations being executed by users. The embodiments include content tagging, commenting, searching, and syncing of content. Action metadata messages, that are not viewed by a user of a device, may be sent separately from content portions to notify share-group members of content to be shared. Sharing of content can be accomplished via peer-to-peer links as well as intermediary links, which may execute concurrently.
US08447791B1
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for generating commands used to modify a plurality of limit key values includes determining a current value for each of the plurality of limit keys, determining a new value for each of the plurality of limit keys, and generating a normalized internal key for the current values and the new values of each of the limit keys. The method further includes iteratively determining a sequence order for each limit key using the current normalized internal keys and the new normalized limit keys and using the sequence order of each limit key to generate commands used to change the value of each limit key from the current value to the new value. The method may also include generating data used to indicate that a sequence order could not be determined.
US08447790B2
An electric device for executing a process based on a map data includes: a map data memory; a work memory; and a CPU for developing a map data from the map data memory into the work memory. The CPU executes the process based on the developed map data. The map data provides a road network defined by unit links and link connection relationships, and includes an attribution data in each link. The CPU generates a node table according to the attribution data. The node table stores a link connection information in each node as the connection point coupled with links. The link connection information provides identification of the links coupled with each other at a corresponding node. The CPU writes the node table as the developed map data into the work memory.
US08447789B2
A computer system implemented method of creating and using structured data from a textual input, comprising: providing a table for structured data, receiving at least one textual input, dividing at least a portion of the textual input into paragraphs, for each of the paragraphs, creating a profile by extracting predicative phrases from the paragraph, for each of the predicative phrases, extracting a noun from the predicative phrase, for each extracted noun, receiving a textual definition from the dictionary corresponding to the noun, dividing the textual definition for each noun into definition paragraphs, and creating a profile for each definition paragraph by extracting predicative phrases of the definition paragraph, comparing the profile of the definition paragraphs to the profile of the paragraph containing the noun based upon an algorithm for compatibility; and adding the predicative phrase containing the noun into the table for structured data if the algorithm is satisfied.
US08447779B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for conditionally allowing an application of an entity access to data of another entity in an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for conditionally allowing an application of an entity access to data of another entity in an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to limit such access to the data, as desired. Furthermore, embodiments of such mechanisms and methods may provide additional security when sharing data among different subscribers to an on-demand database service.
US08447778B2
A system continuously improves the sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy of treatment ordering templates. A repository of information comprises multiple candidate order sets individually including multiple candidate items for order and associated corresponding related order parameters. An individual item for order is associated with multiple related order parameters. A data entry monitor monitors user selection of candidate items from a candidate order set and records candidate item usage data identifying items selected by a user for order from individual particular candidate order sets for multiple different candidate order sets. A data processor determines from the candidate item usage data at least one of, (a) data indicative of the number or proportion of candidate items of a particular candidate order set that were selected by a user during order entry and (b) data indicative of the number or proportion of candidate items of a particular candidate order set that were not selected by a user during order entry.
US08447775B2
A database query user interface combines the user convenience of simple text searching with the expressive refinements of powerful query language. The database query user interface includes a query text string input from a user including one or more terms of a chunk expression language format. The database query user interface further includes a syntactical prompt for constructing a multi-element chunk expression language database query that is syntactically correct and complete and includes the text string input from the user. For example, the syntactical prompt is selected from the database based upon a weighted analysis of database information relating to database elements included in the text string input from the user. A database query formed according to the present user interface may then be persisted or stored as a database query object.
US08447772B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of optimizing a query, including determining an execution plan for use in executing the query, based on a monetary cost of the energy needed to execute the query. A query optimization component may determine a plurality of execution plans for the query. The query optimization component may then select one of the plans to use in executing the query based on the monetary cost calculated for the plan.
US08447764B2
A method is carried out by storing information describing configurations of discussion threads formed of respective series of EMTs that are exchanged among at least two individuals. The discussion threads have a root EMT, zero or more reply EMTs, and a last offspring EMT. The method is further carried out by compacting the EMT discussion threads, and indexing the compacted EMT discussion threads.
US08447759B2
Suggesting to a user most likely search assets that address a searched topic in each of a number of different software applications is provided. In response to a search for help or general information content associated with a given application, suggested help or general information content associated with a number of different applications or different versions of a given application is provided.
US08447755B1
There is disclosed various embodiments of computer systems and methods for analyzing multi-dimensional trends from two dimensional hierarchical data by comparing and analyzing two hierarchies and their associated attributes. Certain embodiments may comprise: providing a database of previous time slice data, receiving new time slice data, comparing the new time slice data to the database of previous time slice data, generating additional attributes, incorporating the additional attributes and the new time slice data into the database so that analysis may be performed between the two hierarchies.
US08447750B2
Techniques for a rating system are described, including presenting a visual field including two or more axes, each axis representing a criterion associated with an asset, receiving a user rating associated with the asset, the user rating including a point on the visual field, and updating a presentation of the visual field to include the user rating. Further, techniques for spatial searching within the rating system are described, including presenting a visual field including two or more axes, each axis representing a criterion, receiving a search inquiry including a shape input on the visual field, searching assets in response to the search inquiry, and displaying a subset of the assets determined from the searching.
US08447742B2
According to one embodiment, a storage apparatus includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit and a control module. The control module stores the address of a block data item and a block identifier unique to the block data item, included in a write request, in the second storage unit such that the address and the block identifier are associated with each other when a request to specify the writing of data including the block data item into the storage apparatus has been generated at a host apparatus and when the host apparatus has transmitted the write request because the data item has coincided with any one of the block data items stored in the cache of the host apparatus.
US08447735B2
A backup program running on a computing device receives a search query. The backup program transmits the search query to a search program. The backup program receives search results corresponding to the search query from the search program. The search results include a list of data objects stored on a storage device and that satisfy the search query. The backup program backs up one or more selected data objects of the list of data objects. The backup program can periodically and automatically without user interaction retransmit the search query to the search program, and receive updated search results corresponding to the search query from the search program. The updated search results include an updated list of data objects stored on the storage device that satisfy the search query. The backup program can then back up the data objects within the updated list of data objects.
US08447725B2
A minimized journaling mechanism stores minimized journal data in a format that allows for display and outputting the journal data in human-readable form. When a change to a record occurs, instead of writing only the changed bytes, all of the bytes in each field that changed are written to the journal, along with all of the bytes in each field selected to be always journaled. A default object is created with default data in all of the fields. When the journal entry needs to be output in human-readable form, the default object is read, and the minimized journal entry is then overlaid on the default object. The result is an object that contains default data in all non-selected fields that were not changed, with the journal data in all fields and that did change and in all fields that were selected to always be journaled.
US08447724B2
Determining metadata associated with a graph-based computation includes functionally transforming metadata associated with a first portion of a graph to generate transformed metadata associated with a second portion of the graph; determining a third portion of the graph related to the second portion of the graph; and propagating the transformed metadata from the second portion of the graph to the third portion of the graph.
US08447717B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node and machine-readable storage medium including a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) receiving a plurality of related service requests from different devices. The PCRN may proceed to generate a policy and charging control (PCC) rule based on at least one service request and other information stored in the PCRN if a mate service request does not arrive during the duration of a waiting timer. If the mate service request arrives subsequent to the expiry of the waiting timer, the PCRN may then generate a subsequent PCC rule to replace the previously generated rule, with the new PCC rule incorporating information from both of the mate service requests.
US08447714B2
A system, method and computer program product for producing spike-dependent plasticity in an artificial synapse is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for producing spike-dependent plasticity in an artificial neuron comprises generating a pre-synaptic spiking event in a first neuron when a total integrated input to the first neuron exceeds a first predetermined threshold. A post-synaptic spiking event is generated in a second neuron when a total integrated input to the second neuron exceeds a second predetermined threshold. After the pre-synaptic spiking event, a first pulse is applied to a pre-synaptic node of a synapse having a phase change memory element. After the post-synaptic spiking event, a second varying pulse is applied to a post-synaptic node of the synapse, wherein current through the synapse is a function of the state of the second varying pulse at the time of the first pulse.
US08447709B2
According to one embodiment, an information terminal includes a storing unit configured to store image pickup data picked up in time series by an image pickup apparatus that picks up images of a sales floor and sales data obtained by recording sales of a commodity displayed in the sales floor and date and time of registration of the sales; a list display unit configured to list-display videos of a predetermined sales floor in time series at every predetermined time interval on the basis of the image pickup data; a totalizing unit configured to totalize, at the every time interval, list-displayed sales of the commodity of the sales floor on the basis of the sales data; and a sales display unit configured to display the totalized sales of the commodity at the every time interval.
US08447706B2
A method for a computer-aided control of a technical system is provided. The method involves use of a cooperative learning method and artificial neural networks. In this context, feed-forward networks are linked to one another such that the architecture as a whole meets an optimality criterion. The network approximates the rewards observed to the expected rewards as an appraiser. In this way, exclusively observations which have actually been made are used in optimum fashion to determine a quality function. In the network, the optimum action in respect of the quality function is modeled by a neural network, the neural network supplying the optimum action selection rule for the given control problem. The method is specifically used to control a gas turbine.
US08447703B2
A sensor device for detecting product quality conditions is attached to each product to be delivered, and constant monitoring is performed on quality conditions of stock products in a storage room of a delivery center for quality assurance. For products in a storage room of a delivery truck, constant monitoring is also performed on quality conditions thereof in the same manner. If a quality abnormality is found in a product in the storage room, information regarding product sensing items and information regarding the current location of each delivery truck are processed to select a replacement stock product less susceptible to recurrence of a similar quality abnormality at the time of redelivery.
US08447700B2
System and method for authorizing transactions, such as payments or money transfers. A source entity may initiate a transaction with a target entity via a first communications channel. In initiating the transaction, the source entity may indicate that the transaction is to be performed through a transaction authorization service. The target entity may send a transaction initiation message to the transaction authorization service. In response to receiving the transaction initiation message, the service may authorize the transaction with the source entity via a second communications channel. To authorize the transaction, the source entity may provide a PIN number or other identifier via the second communications channel. After receiving and validating the response from the source entity, the transaction authorization service may inform the target entity that the transaction is authorized. The target entity may then complete the transaction with the transaction authorization service and the source entity.
US08447696B2
Systems and methods for establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a peripheral. The mobile device is configured to determine whether to handle user approval of the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral. Through the mobile device, an input mechanism is provided for the user to provide input. The input is used in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral.
US08447687B2
The method and system provides consumers with the ability to define and control their identity and accounts to minimize vulnerability to identity theft and credit fraud. This is accomplished using a centralized system where consumers can define their identity and account profile and define rules that control access to their identity and accounts. This process works independently of existing credit bureaus and credit authorization processes, creating a dual authentication and authorization system. The primary feature of the invention is a centralized database that is controlled by consumers. The database contains information and rules defined by the consumer that will proactively protect their identity and accounts. The idea is to minimize the allowable access to consumer's identity and accounts. This creates an additional layer of protection that eliminates fraud.
US08447679B2
Systems and methods are described for processing and clearing derivatives products with a binary outcome and having a final settlement based on a triggering event. A computer system configured to process and clear derivative products can accept initial and adjusted performance bonds from buyers and sellers, and adjust the market price of the derivative product at intervals. The market price may be adjusted on a mark-to-market basis and through analysis of other information, e.g., the credit rating of a reference entity. As a result of price adjustments, cash flow may be generated between buyers and sellers. The derivative product may pay a predetermined final settlement amount or percentage upon the triggering of a predetermined event. However, upon expiration of the derivative product, the derivative's market price is settled to zero and the agreement is terminated.
US08447677B2
Systems and methods for determining the likelihood that a group of transactions may be structured to avoid a limit or reporting requirement, such as a government reporting requirement, are disclosed. The frequency distributions of a customer's transactions for different value ranges are compared to determine whether transactions within a target range occur randomly or at an unexpected level. In another embodiment, the frequency distribution of a customer's transactions is compared to a frequency distribution created by randomly sampling a distribution of similar transactions to determine whether the customer's transactions occur randomly.
US08447674B2
A multi-stage filtering process and system for fraud detection is disclosed. The process includes one or more preliminary filtration stages followed by one or more additional filtration stages that may include customer history filters that provide for enhanced screening for fraudulent activity. Over a plurality of transactions, a portion of the transactions are cleared for processing (e.g., deemed not likely fraudulent or of too low value to continue processing) after each filtration stage. As such, acceptable transactions are not unnecessarily scrutinized.
US08447664B1
A method and system for managing inventory by expected profitability. In one embodiment, a method may include individually evaluating a respective expected profitability for each of a number of inventory items, and individually determining a disposition of each of the number of items dependent upon its respective expected profitability. In one particular implementation of the method, individually evaluating the respective expected profitability of a given item may include forecasting an estimated date of transaction corresponding to the given item, forecasting an estimated revenue corresponding to the given item as of the estimated date of transaction, estimating accrued costs of holding the given item until the estimated date of transaction, and comparing a total cost of the given item against the estimated revenue, where the total cost may include the accrued costs of holding the given item until the estimated date of transaction.
US08447659B2
A method and apparatus for generating a media campaign from information about available units stored in a central database, including a set of first characteristic data and associated behavior information and a set of media formats for the available units and associated behavior information. Selective criteria is entered based on the first characteristic data at a remote computer coupled to the central computer database via a network and web server for a search of the information stored in the database, and a search is generated based upon the selective criteria, the search identifying the certain behavior information corresponding to the first characteristic data and media format information associated with that certain behavior information. Results of the search are displayed at the remote computer, the results constituting matching media format information and associated information. The user then selects among the media formats from the search results to constitute the media campaign.
US08447657B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing service procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Project Processing process component; a Purchase Request Processing process component; a Purchase Order Processing process component; a Purchasing Contract process component; a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component; an RFQ Processing process component; and a Time and Labor Management process component.
US08447652B2
A system and method for targeting advertising to devices based on the applications installed on the device are provided. The system and method comprise retrieving data pertaining to the applications a user has installed on a device and assigning the applications weights based on their patterns of usage. The applications are categorized according to their genre and/or the time of day during which they are typically used, and each category is assigned a priority value based on the patterns of usage of the applications therein. An advertisement corresponding to the highest priority category is delivered to the device.
US08447645B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for dynamic product pricing. According to one embodiment, sale characteristics for a plurality of products are stored in a database. A user places a sale order including information associated with a product to be listed on a website, and a market price for the product is calculated based on the stored sale characteristics of the product. The sales characteristics include a queue of current list prices of the product as well as recent sale prices, with the queue having the number of the product available for sale at each different price. A suggested list price is displayed to the seller based on the market price. The seller is provided with a means for adjusting the suggested list price or listing the product at the suggested list price.
US08447642B2
A method and system for the publishing, management and distribution of local content via a plurality of Internet media types. The method and system provides for single entry of local content and automated mass distribution via the Internet. A key component of the method and system is the categorizing and organizing of local content at the point of publishing by the system and/or author of the local content which allows for delivery and/or placement of the local content to a more relevant reader across the plurality of Internet media types.
US08447639B2
Systems and methods are described for processing queue data and for providing queue messaging over a network. An illustrative queuing system includes a first queue configured to hold resource requests from a plurality of users, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine or estimate whether a resource requested by a first resource request submitted by a first requester will be available when the first resource request will be serviced, and to transmit a message over a network to the first requester indicating that the requested resource will not be available when the queued request is serviced if it is estimated or determined that the requested resource will not be available when the first request is serviced.
US08447637B2
A computer system for processing of data associated with insurance coverage includes a data storage device storing data indicative of: an insured; a maximum benefit amount payable under the insurance coverage; a first category of risks; a second category of risks; a first benefit allocation corresponding to the first category of risks; and a second benefit allocation corresponding to the second category of risks; the benefit allocations being fractions of and totaling the maximum benefit amount. A processor of the system is configured to, responsive to the receipt of data indicative of a claim, determine eligibility for a benefit, and responsive to determining that the insured is eligible, provide output data indicative of a benefit amount, the benefit amount for each of the categories of risks having a maximum equal to the corresponding benefit allocation.
US08447630B2
The present invention relates to a central (root) directory and the synchronization of unique identifiers associated with a payment addresses and permission preferences at different institutions. In a preferred embodiment, each unique identifier associates an account owner's permissions preference for the release of personal identifying information without the need for transaction-by-transaction explicit permissions or blanket implicit permissions. An asset transfer deposit account (for information and/or monetary assets) may be set up as a deposit only account. In this way, the present invention can be effective in eliminating many privacy concerns of account owners and security requirements of an information asset repository.
US08447628B2
Unfilled prescriptions are submitted to a registry comprising pre-qualified pharmacies for a “reverse auction” in which the pharmacies bid for the opportunity to fill the prescription. The pharmacies are allowed to bid based on price and/or offering ancillary services. The auction may also be used to bid on supplying specified pharmaceutical cognitive services. The method may also include obtaining cost comparisons with generic substitutes or similar alternative pharmaceutical products. The system may further comprise automatically requesting a review by the prescriber for a list of similar substitutes or prior-authorization for third-party payers. The winner of the reverse auction is selected by the customer. A prescription benefits manager may offer options of a reverse auction, or non-auction fulfillment of the unfilled prescription in accordance with a benefit plan design.
US08447626B2
A medical communication system (10) comprises peer devices (44, 46) which provide medical services which are used for patient monitoring, patient management or other medical procedures involving patients and/or clinicians. A mobile device (12) includes a short-range interface device (22) for discovering peer devices (44, 46) and associated peer devices services (66). A positioning component (14) determines a location of the mobile device (12). An identification component (60) reads a patient identification device (48) and a clinician identification device (50) and identifies a patient (32) and a clinician (30) at the location of the mobile device (12). A visibility manager (120) limits information and services available to the mobile device (12) to current context relevant information and services which are based at least on one of the identity of the patient (32), the identity of the clinician (30), and the identified mobile device location.
US08447623B2
A method for selling a product which allows a customer to comparison search for, and obtain as a part of a purchase transaction, the competitive terms for a product following product acquisition. The method includes conveying the product to the customer prior to at least one transaction term of the sale being finalized, determining a final value of the transaction term, and completing the sale using the final value of the transaction term as a term of the sale.
US08447621B2
The present invention proposes a new method and a new apparatus for enhancement of audio source coding systems utilizing high frequency reconstruction (HFR). It utilizes a detection mechanism on the encoder side to assess what parts of the spectrum will not be correctly reproduced by the HFR method in the decoder. Information on this is efficiently coded and sent to the decoder, where it is combined with the output of the HFR unit.
US08447618B2
A residual signal decoding method including dividing a signal into a plurality of sub-bands in a frequency domain, wherein the signal is in a residual signal and is encoded with respect to an effective residual signal exceeding a masking curve that is generated with respect to a multi-channel audio signal, transforming the frequency domain into a time domain, and restoring the signal as an effective residual signal by synthesizing signals of the domain-transformed sub-bands.
US08447610B2
Techniques for generating synthetic speech with contrastive stress. In one aspect, a speech-enabled application generates a text input including a text transcription of a desired speech output, and inputs the text input to a speech synthesis system. The synthesis system generates an audio speech output corresponding to at least a portion of the text input, with at least one portion carrying contrastive stress, and provides the audio speech output for the speech-enabled application. In another aspect, a speech-enabled application inputs a plurality of text strings, each corresponding to a portion of a desired speech output, to a software module for rendering contrastive stress. The software module identifies a plurality of audio recordings that render at least one portion of at least one of the text strings as speech carrying contrastive stress. The speech-enabled application generates an audio speech output corresponding to the desired speech output using the audio recordings.
US08447607B2
A mobile system is provided that includes speech-based and non-speech-based interfaces for telematics applications. The mobile system identifies and uses context, prior information, domain knowledge, and user specific profile data to achieve a natural environment for users that submit requests and/or commands in multiple domains. The invention creates, stores and uses extensive personal profile information for each user, thereby improving the reliability of determining the context and presenting the expected results for a particular question or command. The invention may organize domain specific behavior and information into agents, that are distributable or updateable over a wide area network.
US08447603B2
A method that includes: generating an utterance-specific scoring model for each one of a plurality of obtained speech utterances, each scoring model usable to estimate a level of speech naturalness for a respective one of the obtained speech utterances; presenting a plurality of human-testers with some of the obtained speech utterances; receiving, for each presented speech utterance, a plurality of human tester generated speech utterances being at least one human repetition of the presented speech utterance; updating the scoring model for each presented speech utterance, based on respective human-tester generated speech utterances; and obtaining a speech naturalness score for each presented speech utterance by respectively applying the updated utterance-specific scoring model to each presented speech utterance.
US08447599B2
Techniques for generating, distributing, and using speech recognition models are described. A shared speech processing facility is used to support speech recognition for a wide variety of devices with limited capabilities including business computer systems, personal data assistants, etc., which are coupled to the speech processing facility via a communications channel, e.g., the Internet. Devices with audio capture capability record and transmit to the speech processing facility, via the Internet, digitized speech and receive speech processing services, e.g., speech recognition model generation and/or speech recognition services, in response. The Internet is used to return speech recognition models and/or information identifying recognized words or phrases. Thus, the speech processing facility can be used to provide speech recognition capabilities to devices without such capabilities and/or to augment a device's speech processing capability. Voice dialing, telephone control and/or other services are provided by the speech processing facility in response to speech recognition results.
US08447594B2
A method for coding data, includes: grouping data into frames; classifying the frames into classes; for each class, transforming the frames belonging to the class into filter parameter vectors, which are extracted from the frames by applying a first mathematical transformation; for each class, computing a filter codebook based on the filter parameter vectors belonging to the class; segmenting each frame into subframes; for each class, transforming the subframes belonging to the class into source parameter vectors, which are extracted from the subframes by applying a second mathematical transformation based on the filter codebook computed for the corresponding class; for each class, computing a source codebook based on the source parameter vectors belonging to the class; and coding the data based on the computed filter and source codebooks.
US08447591B2
An audio encoder/decoder uses a combination of an overlap windowing transform and block transform that have reversible implementations to provide a reversible, integer-integer form of a lapped transform. The reversible lapped transform permits both lossy and lossless transform domain coding of an audio signal having variable subframe sizes.
US08447590B2
A voice emitting and collecting device that is capable of picking up/outputting a voice emitted from a talker at a high S/N ratio by eliminating the influence of a diffracting voice despite a simple configuration is provided. A signal differencing circuit 191 outputs difference signals MS1 to MS4 between voice collecting beam signals MB11 to MB14 and voice collecting beam signals MB21 to MB24. A level comparator 195 selects the difference signal having a maximum level. A signal selecting circuit 196 selects voice collecting beam signals MB1x, MB2x of the difference signal MS that is selected/pointed by the level comparator 195. A subtracter 199 subtracts the voice collecting beam signal MB2x from the voice collecting beam signal MB1x, and output a resultant signal. Accordingly, main components of the diffracting voice can be removed from the voice collecting beam signal.
US08447580B2
Methods and systems for modeling a multiprocessor system in a graphical modeling environment are disclosed. The multiprocessor system may include multiple processing units that carry out one or more processes, such as programs and sets of instructions. Each of the processing units may be represented as a node at the top level of the model for the multiprocessor system. The nodes representing the processing units of the multiprocessor system may be interconnected to each other via a communication channel. The nodes may include at least one read element for reading data from the communication channel into the nodes. The node may also include at least one write element for writing data from the nodes into the communication channel. Each of the processing unit can communicate with other processing unit via the communication channel using the read and write elements.
