US08524274B2

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition made from an active ingredient included in liposomes for topical application, whereby the liposomes have an aqueous medium in the interior thereof and contain at least one active ingredient therein which exerts a direct or indirect relaxing effect on smooth musculature and is preferably selected from the group of prostaglandins, adenylate cyclases, cAMP, AMP, ATP, NO-synthetases, nitrogen monoxide (NO), NO compounds, nitrates, guanylate cyclases, cGMP, GMP, GTP and phosphodiesterases, in particular, Sildenafil. The invention further relates to a method for production of said composition, optionally, in sterile form and the use of the liposomes supporting the active ingredient in various galenic forms for external application in the genital region, for prophylaxis and/or therapy of sexual disorders in men or women and/or for increase of sexual sensitivity.
US08524264B2

A method for forming an antimicrobial composition that includes mixing an antimicrobially active botanical oil (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, etc.) and protein within a melt blending device (e.g., extruder) is provided. Despite the problems normally associated with melt processing proteins, the present inventors have discovered that the processing conditions and components may be selectively controlled to allow for the formation of a stable, melt-processed composition that is able to exhibit good mechanical properties. For example, the extrusion temperature(s) and shear rate employed during melt blending are relatively low to help limit polypeptide dissociation, thereby minimizing the impact of aggregation and embrittlement. While the use of such low temperature/shear conditions often tend to reduce mixing efficiency, the present inventors have discovered that a carrier fluid may be employed to enhance the ability of the botanical oil to flow into the internal structure of the protein where it can be retained in a stable manner. The composition is also typically anhydrous and generally free of solvents. In this manner, the protein will not generally disperse before use and prematurely release the botanical oil.
US08524259B2

Systems and methods for delivering release materials, for example drugs and other bioactive materials. Crystalline polymeric systems, referred to as CYC carriers, are associated with the release materials, through chemical bonding or through physical association. The crystallinity of the CYC carriers results from the presence of crystallizable side chains, for example long chain n-alkyl moieties, which results in relatively low and sharp melting temperatures. One class of CYC carriers, referred to as CYSC polymers, have a majority of the crystallizable side chains pendant from the polymer backbone. Another class of CYC carriers referred to as ECC polymers, have a majority of the crystallizable side chains attached to terminal units of the polymer backbone. The ECC polymers can for example be obtained by modification of PLGA polymers. The CYC carriers in another class of non-polymeric. Some CYC carriers, referred to as CYC assemblies, have enhanced crystallinity as a result of the physical association of crystallizable moieties which are present in different types of molecule, for example between a polymer containing crystallizable moieties and a monomer containing crystallizable moieties. For some uses, particularly the delivery of drugs, a bioerodable CYC carrier is preferably used.
US08524245B2

The present invention relates to the use of antrodia camphorata in the treatment of skin conditions, such as acne vulgaris, urticaria and eczema, allergic rhinitis, diabetes mellitus and its complications, cancer cachexia, hypercholesterolemia, gout in a subject in need of such treatment. The present invention is also directed to the use of antrodia camphorata in the prevention and treatment of oral cancer and arterial restenosis, in a subject in need of such prevention. The methods comprise the steps of: identifying a subject in need thereof, and administering to the subject a formulation comprising an effective amount of antrodia camphorata, whereby the symptoms in the subject are reduced or prevented. The composition can be a pharmaceutical composition or a nutraceutical composition.
US08524243B2

The present invention relates to avirulent Salmonella Gallinarum variants by inactivating virulence gene clusters of Salmonella Gallinarum (SG), a main pathogen of avian salmonellosis, and various uses thereof notably in the production of Salmonella-specific lytic bacteriophages, pharmaceutical compositions and feed additives.
US08524235B2

Antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof that bind to human protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (HPTPβ), and uses thereof.
US08524230B2

Novel methods and drug products for treating autoimmune ocular inflammatory disease are disclosed, which involve administration of agents that antagonize one or both of IL-17 and IL-23 activity.
US08524229B2

The method of treatment for diseases accompanied by disturbances of the vascular tone utilizes the use of ultra low doses of antibodies to a protein or a peptide involved in the vascular tone regulation or mediating the effects of other regulators; these antibodies are used in activated form produced by multiple subsequent dilution and external impact.
US08524226B2

The invention provides methods for treating an obstructed biological conduit that include administering to the conduit an agent that can degrade extracellular matrix of obstructing tissue. Particular methods include delivery of an enzyme or a mixture of several enzymes to the area or region of obstruction wherein the enzyme(s) have the capability to degrade extracellular matrix components within the obstruction thereby restoring the normal flow of transported fluid through the conduit. The invention also includes prophylactically dilating a section of conduit to minimize the risk of obstruction formation. The invention further includes methods for prolonging patency of hemodialysis access.
US08524220B1

Bacteria which co-express protease inhibitors and protease sensitive therapeutic agents, which are surface displayed, secreted and/or released and result in their localized production and maintenance within a target tissue and inactivation outside of the target tissue, thereby increasing therapeutic activity and reducing the systemic toxicity. The bacteria may be attenuated, non-pathogenic, low pathogenic or a probiotic. Protease sensitivity may be further accomplished by engineering protease degradation sites within the therapeutic agents, further enhancing the inactivation outside of the target tissue while retaining activity within the target tissue through co-expression of a protease inhibitor. Novel chimeric proteins secreted by bacteria, including chimeric toxins targeted to neoplastic cells, tumor matrix cells and cells of the immune system, and combination therapies of these protease inhibitor:chimeric toxin-expressing bacteria together with small-molecule and biologic agents are also described. Non-conjugative bacteria limiting exchange of genetic material, and antibody resistant bacteria are also provided.
US08524215B2

An absorbable PEG-based hydrogel prepared from a multi-arm-PEG-vinylsulfone having about 3 to about 8 arms and a multi-arm-PEG-R-sulfhydryl having about 3 to about 8 arms; where R is defined as an ester linkage, such as carboxylate ester, lactate ester, and isobutyrate ester have been disclosed. Additionally, sustained release compositions that are prepared from an absorbable PEG-based hydrogel and a protein have been disclosed which provide sustained release of proteins and peptides.
US08524214B2

Polyal-Drug conjugates comprising a variable rate-releasing linker are described along with methods of making such conjugates. Uses for such Polyal-Drug conjugates is also described.
US08524212B2

The present invention provides a method for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis with a pharmaceutically acceptable anion exchange resin such as, for example, colestimide.
US08524211B1

A cosmetic composition is provided which includes a triglyceride, a castor oil, glycerin, and a polyglyceryl ricinoleate. The composition is a vegetable sourced alternative to petrolatum and has been found to be an excellent moisturizing composition and delivering good skinfeel properties and lustre to skin.
US08524206B2

The present invention is drawn to a carrier composition containing: (a) at least one polyamine compound comprising at least two amino groups; (b) at least one nonionic surfactant; (c) at least one anionic silicone; and (d) at least one water-insoluble material, and wherein the composition, when combined with an aqueous phase, forms an aqueous delivery system which is both stable, and clear to slightly hazy/limpid in appearance.
US08524199B2

The present invention is directed to a toothpaste composition comprising a binder, an abrasive, a foaming agent, water, and polyethylene glycol, wherein the binder comprises semi-refined carrageenan. The toothpaste composition has improved shelf life.
US08524197B2

A chewable confectionery dental composition delivering to the mouth a unit dose of a plaque reducing enzyme the composition comprising an enzyme and a non-cariogenic sweetener, the enzyme being incorporated in the composition at a temperature less than about 80° C.
US08524190B2

Embodiments and aspects of the present invention relate to an enhanced hexagonal ferrite magnetic material doped with an alkali metal. The material retains substantial magnetic permeability up to frequencies in the GHz range with low losses. The material may be used in high frequency applications in devices such as transformers, inductors, circulators, and absorbers.
US08524181B2

The invention relates to a device for the qualitative and/or quantitative determination of at least one component of a chemically reducible gas mixture, an exhaust gas catalytic converter utilizing such a device, a vehicle including such a catalytic converter, a process for preparing such a device, a process for monitoring the NOx emissions of a vehicle, and the use of such a device.
US08524174B2

A fluid cartridge, comprising a channel layer within which at least one circumferentially sealed fluid channel is formed, the channel layer comprising a substrate and an elastic layer fixedly arranged on the substrate, wherein the substrate has a rigidity being greater than that of the elastic layer, and wherein the at least one fluid channel is defined on at least one side thereof by the elastic layer.
US08524167B2

A system includes a portable source of gaseous chlorine dioxide (CD). The source has first source and return couplings for sealingly connecting to a CD generation flow path comprising at least one gas conduit. The CD generation flow path comprises second source and return couplings for sealingly connecting the source to a device to be treated with the CD generation flow path, or a tent structure enclosing the device to be treated. A portable scrubber has third couplings for sealingly connecting to a scrubbing flow path comprising at least one gas conduit for removing the CD from the device or tent structure. The gas conduit has fourth couplings for connecting the device or tent structure to the scrubbing flow path.
US08524163B2

An ozone generating apparatus is provided which includes a pair of electrodes for producing a discharge by the application of an ac voltage therebetween, and at least one dielectric provided between the pair of electrodes. A source gas containing oxygen is provided into a discharge space in which the discharge is produced to generate ozone by the action of the discharge. A surface lying between at least one of the pair of electrodes and the discharge space and in contact with the discharge has a surface resistivity of 104Ω to 1011Ω. The source gas provided into the discharge space includes ultrapure oxygen having a purity of not less than 99.9%.
US08524160B2

A catalyst separation system is provided with: a reactor where hydrocarbons are synthesized by a chemical reaction of a synthesis gas including carbon monoxide gas and hydrogen gas as main components, and a catalyst slurry having solid catalyst particles suspended in a liquid; filters which separate the hydrocarbons and the catalyst slurry; and a gas-liquid separator which separates the liquid hydrocarbons flowing out of the filter into gas hydrocarbons and liquid hydrocarbons.
US08524150B2

A dental alloy with a high gold content that is devoid of palladium and copper. To achieve high mechanical stability, the dental alloy contains between 75 and 95 wt. % Au, between 5 and 20 wt. % Pt, between 0.5 and 3.5 wt. % Zn and/or Sn and/or In, between 0.1 and 0.8 wt. % of an element of a group I, in addition to a single particle refiner of a group II. The weight fraction of the element of group I is between 2 and 6 times that of the single particle refiner of group II, and one element of group I is represented by Nb or Ta or Ti or V and the particle refiner of group II is represented by Ir or Rh.
US08524146B2

Disclosed are degassers, couplings, impeller shafts and impellers for use in molten metal. One such coupling transfers gas into an impeller shaft, the coupling having a smooth, tapered internal surface to align with a corresponding surface on the impeller shaft and help prevent gas leakage and to assist in preventing damage to the impeller shaft. Improved impellers for shearing and mixing gas are also disclosed, as is a degasser including one or more of these components.
US08524143B2

A method of forming a container from bi-axially orientable plastics material and having an integral handle with the steps of forming a preform having a neck portion and an expandable portion below the neck portion, with the neck portion including a locating ring above the expandable portion and a handle molded to the non expandable at one end and molded to the expandle portion at the other end. Where the molded-in handle is the approximate length of the handle of the finished container. The unblown preform of orientable plastics is inserted into a blow molder and thereafter stretched by a stretch rod. During the stretch process the handle on the preform unbends rather than stretching to form the approximate shape of the handle in the finished container. The blow mold then closes on the stretched preform thus capturing the handle. Blow gas is then injected into the interior.
US08524142B2

The invention concerns a process for producing products of individual geometry, in particular dental prostheses or dental auxiliary parts, comprising the steps of producing a plurality of products on the surface of a substrate plate by means of selective hardening, in particular by means of selective sintering or melting, in which the material is applied in successive layers, after each layer application one or more predetermined regions of the applied layer is selectively hardened by means of an energy-rich radiation and connected to one or more regions of the subjacent layer, wherein the predetermined regions are predetermined on the basis of a cross-sectional geometry of the product in the respective layer. According to the invention the successive layers are applied in layer planes oriented inclinedly relative to the surface of the substrate plate. The invention further concerns an apparatus for carrying out such a process.
US08524135B2

A mold assembly for manufacturing concrete blocks in an automated dry-cast block machine. The mold assembly includes a plurality of liner plates which together form a mold cavity, wherein at least one of the liner plates includes an internal network of shafts which is configured to receive and provide a flow path for heated fluid to pass through to heat the at least one liner plate.
US08524134B2

A method of molding a polymeric material to create a desired texture therein using an alumina mold having a plurality of cylindrical pores disposed therein, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a porous alumina master having a plurality of cylindrical pores dispersed therein, said plurality of cylindrical pores corresponding to projections to be imparted to a surface of a film; disposing a polymeric material between a film and the porous alumina master; and c) applying mechanical pressure to roll the porous alumina master into the polymeric material, wherein the texture imparted to the polymeric molding material comprises projections corresponding to the cylindrical pores of the porous alumina master. A release agent is applied to the porous alumina master prior to disposing the polymeric molding material between the porous alumina master and the film.
US08524131B2

A method of insert molding comprises placing in a first mold a curable rubber composition comprising a reactive species; placing on a surface of the rubber composition a first thermoplastic material in a film or layer comprising a group reactive with the reactive species of the rubber composition; curing the rubber composition in the mold to form a first molded article of cured rubber having a first thermoplastic material layer covalently bonded through reactive of the reactive species and the group; placing the first molded article as an insert into a second mold, the cured rubber contacting an inside surface of the second mold and the thermoplastic layer facing into the second mold cavity; closing the second mold and injecting into the second mold a second thermoplastic material that to form a second molded article comprising the first molded article thermally welded and/or covalently bonded to the second thermoplastic material.
US08524127B2

Methods of manufacturing a panel and resulting panels include a plurality of microholes arranged in a pattern and filled with light transmissive polymeric material. The light transmissive polymeric material occludes the microholes and is set, or cured, by exposure to an energy source using at least two discrete exposure periods separated by an idle or rest period.
US08524125B2

Novel smoldering suppressing compositions containing a metal complex of ammonium superphosphoric acid and having a high phosphate content, and processes for their preparation, are disclosed. Further disclosed are formulations containing these compositions and articles-of-manufacture having these formulations applied thereon. These novel formulations are particularly effective as smoldering suppressants for textiles, and are characterized by a high washing fastness.
US08524123B2

A sputtering target which is composed of a sintered body of an oxide which contains at least indium, tin, and zinc and includes a spinel structure compound of Zn2SnO4 and a bixbyite structure compound of In2O3. A sputtering target includes indium, tin, zinc, and oxygen with only a peak ascribed to a bixbyite structure compound being substantially observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD).
US08524112B2

Elemental fluorine and carbonyl fluoride are suitable etchants for producing microelectromechanical devices (“MEMS”). They are preferably applied as mixtures with nitrogen and argon. If applied in Bosch-type process, C4F6 is a highly suitable passivating gas.
US08524107B2

A magnetocaloric structure includes a magnetocaloric material and at least one protective layer. The magnetocaloric material has bar type or plank type. The protective layer is disposed on the magnetocaloric material.
US08524106B2

A thermoelectric material of the p-type having the stoichiometric formula Zn4Sb3, wherein part of the Zn atoms optionally being substituted by one or more elements selected from the group comprising Sn, Mg, Pb and the transition metals in a total amount of 20 mol % or less in relation to the Zn atoms is provided by a process involving zone-melting of a an arrangement comprising an interphase between a “stoichiometric” material having the desired composition and a “non-stoichiometric” material having a composition deviating from the desired composition. The thermoelectric materials obtained exhibit excellent figure of merits.
US08524105B2

Compositions are described which are useful in many applications such as fire extinguishing or refrigeration. The compositions may include a hydrochlorofluorocarbon such as 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane, a dispersant such as CF3I, and an inert gas such as argon, and may in some embodiments be held under pressure. For example, some fire extinguishing compositions may be composed of 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane, CF3I, and argon.
US08524102B2

An ashing device and ashing method that can positively remove resist from a wafer while preventing degradation of the film material properties of exposed porous Low-K film on the wafer. The ashing device of the present invention introduces a gas to a dielectric plasma generating chamber 14, excites said gas to generate a plasma, and performs plasma processing using said gas plasma on a processing work S in use of a Low-K film. The ashing gas introduced from a gas regulator 20 is an inert gas to which H2 has been added. The configuration is formed so that plasma is generated from the gas blend, and the resist is removed by the hydrogen radicals generated.
US08524101B2

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. In the method, a connection hole such as a via hole is formed in an interlayer insulating film by plasma etching with high etching uniformity regardless of the array density of connection holes. In the method, an upper layer film having a mask pattern is formed on the interlayer insulating film present on a substrate. A gas required for dehydration is then supplied to the substrate under the condition that an upper surface of the interlayer insulating film is exposed in order to remove moisture from the interlayer insulating film. A portion of the interlayer insulating film is etched to form a connection hole in which an electrical connection portion is to be embedded.
US08524090B2

A flexible blood filter allowing smooth flow of a liquid and being excellent in separation resistance, pressure resistance and centrifugation resistance. The blood processing filter, comprising a first filter element for removing aggregates from blood, a second filter element for removing leukocytes provided in the downstream of the first filter element, and the third filter element having gas permeability of 3 to 40 cc/cm2/sec per thickness of 1 cm provided between the second filter element and the outlet port side container.
US08524078B2

The present invention relates to a water tank and to a filter cartridge connection element which can be connected to said water tank, and also to fixing means for fixing said filter cartridge connection element to the tank. In this case, the fixing means are distinguished in that they are formed such that the filter cartridge connection element can no longer be detached from the tank without being destroyed.
US08524070B2

A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating the effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit employing a small primary fractionator, i.e., a rectifier. The method comprises cooling the gaseous effluent, e.g., by direct quench and/or at least one primary heat exchanger, and then cooling the gaseous effluent to a temperature at which tar, formed by reactions among constituents of the effluent, condenses, e.g., in a secondary exchanger. The resulting mixed gaseous and liquid effluent is passed through a rectifier, to cleanly separate quench oil from the gaseous effluent comprising a pyrolysis gasoline fraction, whose boiling point can be lowered as a result of the rectifier treatment. The effluent is then cooled to condense a liquid effluent comprising pyrolysis gasoline and water condensed from steam, which fractions are separated in a distillate drum. The cooled gaseous effluent is directed to a recovery train to recover light olefins. At least a portion of the pyrolysis gasoline-containing fraction can be recycled to the rectifier to enhance separation of the quench oil from the pyrolysis gasoline fraction.
US08524065B2

Embodiments of systems and methods for electrocoating a part are presented herein. According to one embodiment, an electrocoating system comprises a tank, a pump in fluid communication with the tank, and an external anode positioned outside of the tank. The external anode is a substantially membrane-free metal pipe configured to provide an electric charge to a fluid for electrocoating a part. The system may further comprise one or more internal nozzles positioned inside of the tank to direct an electrically charged fluid from the pump into the tank for electrocoating a part. In addition, the system may further comprise one or more external nozzles positionable outside of the tank to direct an electrically charged fluid from the pump to one or more selected areas of a part positioned for electrocoating outside of the tank.
US08524064B2

A dielectrophoresis apparatus for separating particles from a sample, including an apparatus body; a dielectrophoresis channel in the apparatus body, the dielectrophoresis channel having a central axis, a bottom, a top, a first side, and a second side; a first mesa projecting into the dielectrophoresis channel from the bottom and extending from the first side across the dielectrophoresis channel to the second side, the first mesa extending at an angle to the central axis of the dielectrophoresis channel; a first electrode extending along the first mesa; a second mesa projecting into the dielectrophoresis channel from the bottom and extending from the first side across the dielectrophoresis channel to the second side, the second mesa extending at an angle to the central axis of the dielectrophoresis channel; a space between at least one of the first electrode and the second side or the second electrode and the second side; and a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08524057B2

Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in the concentration of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), hydrogen ions, and nucleotide triphosphates.
US08524048B2

Processes and systems for purifying silane-containing streams are disclosed with relatively less silane being lost in impurity streams by use of distillation and/or condensation operations.
US08524036B2

The present invention relates to cost-effective and environmentally friendly polyester surfactants for use in flotation deinking. The improved ink collection of the present invention can result in deinked pulp of high quality and/or yields that has excellent brightness and effective residual ink concentration values.
US08524035B2

Methods and apparatus provide for a conformable polishing head for uniformly polishing a workpiece. The polishing head includes an elastic polishing pad mounted on an elastic membrane that seals a cavity in the polishing head. The cavity is pressurized to expand the membrane and press the polishing pad down on the top surface of the workpiece, such that the polishing pad conforms to the surface and applies a substantially uniform pressure distribution across the workpiece and thereby uniformly removes material across high and low spots on the workpiece.
US08524033B2

To provide: a coated wood composite having surface properties such as transparency, smoothness, gloss, uniformity, and depth, and excellent in various physical properties such as durability and strength; and a method for producing such a coated wood composite efficiently and easily. A coated wood composite produced by placing an unsaturated polyester resin composition on a decorative veneer and heat-pressing the decorative veneer and the composition placed thereon to mold the composite, wherein the unsaturated polyester resin composition comprises: an unsaturated polyester; a polymerizable monomer; and an isocyanate component essentially including an aliphatic diisocyanate.
US08524032B2

A method for producing a joined structure involving pressure-bonding a first circuit member and a second circuit member together via a connecting film while the circuit members are being heated, to thereby join the circuit members with each other, wherein the connecting film is defined and includes first and second layers wherein one of the first layer and the second layer is a conductive particle-containing organic resin layer, and the other layer is an insulating organic resin layer containing no conductive particles, and wherein the minimum melt viscosity of the conductive particle-containing organic resin layer is ten times or more greater than the minimum melt viscosity of the insulating organic resin layer.
US08524026B2

A former for fabricating a gas composite material casing for a gas turbine, which is obtained by forming fiber reinforcement as superposed layers of a fiber texture and densifying the fiber reinforcement with a matrix, is disclosed. The former has two cheekplates and an annular wall with an outside surface presenting a profile that corresponds to the profile of the inside surface of the casing that is to be fabricated. The annular wall of the former includes a removable fastener device for fastening a fiber texture layer and serving to hold the first layer of the fiber texture mechanically while the fiber texture is being wound on the former.
US08524021B2

An inspection system (9) includes an idler wheel (61) that is coupled to a fabrication system (8) and is in contact with a backing layer (65) of an applied material (64), A rotation sensor (63) monitors the idler wheel (61) and generates a rotational signal. A controller (24) is coupled to the rotation sensor (63) and determines a characteristic of one or more flaws and FOD (19) on a composite structure (12) in response to the rotation signal.
US08523994B2

Hydrogen sulfide evolution from asphalt may be reduced or eliminated using an additive to act as a scavenger. Zinc oxide, when present in the form of nano-particles is an effective component is preventing or mitigating the evolution of hydrogen sulfide from asphalt. Zinc sulfonate may also be used. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US08523993B2

A composition for a reduced viscosity hydrophobic thickener system for thickening a polymer-containing aqueous system, a method for providing a reduced viscosity thickener system for a polymer-containing aqueous system, and a method for increasing the viscosity of a polymer-containing aqueous system are disclosed.
US08523992B2

The present invention provides a magenta recording ink composition including at least a solid solution pigment (A) containing quinacridone, a lake pigment (B) having a xanthene structure, an aqueous solvent, and water, wherein the solid solution pigment (A) has visible light absorption peaks at wavelength ranges of from 510 nm to 530 nm and from 540 nm to 560 nm, and a mass ratio (B/A) of the lake pigment (B) to the solid solution pigment (A) falls within the range of 0.1 to 5.
US08523983B2

A device in connection with a circular precipitator (1) for a two-stage electrostatic filter, wherein the precipitator (1) is formed of at least two strip-like electrode elements wound around a centrally arranged bobbin and the electrode elements are arranged at a distance “d” from one another so that gaps are formed between the electrode elements, wherein the device includes elements for rotating the precipitator (1) about its center axis and wherein a vacuum cleaner nozzle (27) is arranged on one side of the precipitator (1), the vacuum cleaner nozzle (27) being situated in the immediate vicinity of the precipitator (1). It is significant for the device that the vacuum cleaner nozzle (27) is provided with at least two elements (35/36) designed to penetrate into the gaps between adjacent electrode elements of the precipitator (1).
US08523982B2

A separation membrane module for separating a specific component from a mixture containing a plurality of components includes a plurality of separation stages each including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged in parallel to each other. The separation stages are connected in series via connection portions allowing passage of the mixture. At lease one parameter relating to separation by the hollow fiber membrane or membranes in each separation stage is determined to provide effective separation throughout the separation stages.
US08523980B2

An apparatus for water reclamation includes an inlet head for admitting warm humid ambient air, a buried pipe coupled at a first end to the inlet head and sloping downward in the ground from the first end. Water condenses as the air is cooled in the buried pipe and collects in a cistern coupled at a second end of the buried pipe. A tube coupled at a lower end near the second end of the buried pipe includes a heated element extending at least partially into the tube from an upper end of the tube. Cooled air is heated by the heated element and is expelled at the top of the tube. A heater is coupled to an upper end of the heated element. The heater may be a solar collector with a Bernoulli aperture.
US08523979B2

A process for removing acid gases from a fluid stream in which a) the fluid stream is treated with an absorption liquid which comprises at least one amine, a stripping aid, and water, wherein the stripping aid is selected from water-miscible liquids, the boiling temperature of which at atmospheric pressure is lower than that of water, b) the treated fluid stream is treated with a liquid aqueous phase in order to convert entrained stripping aid at least in part to the aqueous phase, c) the loaded aqueous phase is heated in order to expel the stripping aid at least in part, and d) the regenerated aqueous phase is cooled and at least in part recycled to step b). The stripping aid promotes the regeneration of the absorbent by stripping. Emissions of the stripping aid via the treated fluid stream are avoided by the treated fluid stream being scrubbed with a liquid aqueous phase.
US08523976B2

The present invention relates to a metal powder mixture that is suitable for producing sintered bodies. The powder mixture is suitable as a binder for hard metals and contains: a) at least one prealloyed powder selected from the group of iron/nickel, iron/cobalt, iron/nickel/cobalt and nickel/cobalt; b) at least one element powder selected from the group of iron, nickel and cobalt or a prealloyed powder selected from the group consisting of iron/nickel, iron/cobalt, iron/nickel/cobalt and nickel/cobalt which is different from component a). The invention also relates to a cemented hard material which uses the inventive powder mixture and a hard material powder, wherein the overall composition of the components a) and b) together contains not more than 90% by weight of cobalt and not more than 70% by weight of nickel and the iron content.
US08523972B2

An air filtration system including a pre-filtration unit having a filter section and a spacer section attached to the filter section and extending downstream from the filter section, a pre-filter attachment device having a pre-filter securing section and a first plurality of coupling members, and a filtration unit. The filter section includes a pre-filter. The spacer section includes an at least partially open end located on a downstream side of the spacer section to expose a downstream face of the pre-filter. The filtration unit includes a filter frame, an upper section thereof including an upstream-facing surface having a plurality of openings, a filter secured inside the lower section of filter frame, and a second plurality of coupling members located on the filter frame and coupleable with the first plurality of coupling members of the pre-filter attachment device to removeably secure the pre-filtration unit to the filtration unit.
US08523969B2

An air filter (30) intermittently rotates by a predetermined rotation angle at each time, while being in contact with a bristle portion (51b) of a rotating brush (51). Accordingly, dust on the air filter (30) is scraped by the bristle portion (51b). The brush member (51) rotates about an axial center of a shaft (51a) at each stop of the intermittent rotation of the air filter (30), to come into contact with a cleaning brush member (52). According, dust on the brush member (51) is removed by the cleaning brush member (52).
US08523968B2

A bonded abrasive article including a plurality of abrasive grains and an organic bond material, and a method for making said bonded abrasive article, are described herein. The abrasive article has a non-reinforced yield strength of at least about 28 MPa. An abrasive mix is also described herein, including abrasive grains, a bond material and an agglomeration inhibitor. The abrasive mix has a loose bond content that is less than approximately 9.9 %.
US08523967B2

The invention relates to a liquid resin composition intended for manufacturing abrasives that comprises at least one novolac resin having a glass transition temperature less than or equal to 60° C., at least one reactive diluent and optionally at least one crosslinking agent. Application of the resin composition for producing abrasive articles, especially bonded abrasives and coated abrasives. It also relates to the abrasive articles comprising abrasive grains connected by such a liquid resin composition.
US08523965B2

Methods, systems and devices for treating and remediating or abating carbon containing wastes to produce clean water, non-toxic, non-hazardous ash has been taught and described, the method, systems and devices are particularly suited to treating aqueous hydrocarbon containing waste streams generated in the oil and gas drilling and hydrofracking industry including electrocoagulating which removes flocculent, the flocculent is removed and then the aqueous stream is separated into light fractions and heavy fractions. The heavy fraction and flocculent are recombined and then gasified to produce syngas and ash, the syngas can then be used in generating power.
US08523963B2

The present invention constitutes a heat treatment apparatus like a fluidized-bed dryer for heat treating a particulate material in a low temperature, open-air process. Preferably, available waste heat sources within the surrounding industrial plan operation are used to provide heat to the dryer. Moreover, conveyor means contained within the dryer can remove larger, denser particles that could otherwise impede the continuous flow of the particulate material through the dryer or plug the fluidizing dryer. This invention is especially useful for drying coal for an electricity generation plant.
US08523960B2

Alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters are produced from a bio-component feed, preferably containing triglycerides. The triglycerides can be reacted with an alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, which can provide improved low temperature properties and/or improved oxidative stability in petrochemical products, relative to non-alkoxylated versions of the fatty acid alkyl esters.
US08523957B2

A process for using reduced vat dyes in a continuous dyeing process for production of dyed yarns and fabrics of different colors. In the process, dye composition is introduced to a treatment unit for reduction to desired dye composition. The dye concentration in the treatment unit is lower than feeding dye concentration so that dye precipitation does not occur, but significantly higher than the circulating dye concentration so that the dye is reduced efficiently. Although the preferred location for the treatment unit is before the circulation line, it may be at any location before the dip-dye tank.
US08523944B2

Improved methods and apparatuses for vertebral body distraction and fusion in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ flexure members. Flexure members connect a plurality of structural members to end plates on one end and blocks on another end. Upon insertion into the disc space, a drive screw or similar mechanism can be actuated to drive expansion blocks closer together, which causes flexure members to deflect, resulting in expansion of the structural members and distraction of the end plates. The distracted device can then remain in the body and be used for vertebral body fusion.
US08523942B2

A variable focus intraocular lens comprises an optic coupled to at least one haptic at a flexion that sets a non-zero angle between the optic and the haptic.
US08523938B2

A stent includes a stent body in which struts are joined mutually while intersecting and which is formed tubularly as a whole, and a drug coat layer on the outer surface of the struts. The strut has a bend which is deformed as the stent body expands/contracts in the radial direction, and the drug coat layer with which the bend is coated is formed in such a manner that the drug coat layer is mountain-shaped in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the strut and the ridgeline of the mountain shape extends in a wavy shape along the longitudinal direction of the strut. The drug coat layer deforms relatively easily without using plasticizer as the stent deforms and is not so susceptible to causing problems such as peeling, destruction, damage or falling off of the drug coat later.
US08523933B2

An endovascular introducer which has a handle assembly, a stent graft deployment device and a stent graft retained on the stent graft deployment device. The handle assembly has a first part and a second part, the second part to be moved relative to the first part. The first part has a fixed portion to be gripped and held by a user and a rotating portion to be rotated. A one way clutch arrangement transfer rotation to co-acting first screw threads so that relative longitudinal motion between the first part and the second part occurs. The deployment device has a pusher assembly and a sheath to cover the stent graft on the pusher assembly. The sheath is connected to the second part so that rotation of the rotating portion causes retraction of the sheath.
US08523932B2

A self-expanding medical device delivery system includes a plurality of trigger wires. The trigger wires retain a self-expanding medical device by forming a bend about structural members located on the proximal portion of the medical device. The proximal portions of the trigger wires have a greater diameter than the distal portions of the trigger wires to provide increased bending strength. An operator releases the self-expanding medical device by withdrawing the trigger wires in the distal direction. In some embodiments, a small portion at the proximal end of each trigger wire has a smaller diameter than the rest of the proximal portion. In other embodiments, the proximal and distal portions of each trigger wire each have a greater diameter than the center of the trigger wire.
US08523928B2

A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction comprising a heating element that applies heat to the inside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands, which assists in the expression of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands to restore sufficient sebum flow to the lipid layer to treat dry eye. Temperatures at the meibomian glands reach desired higher temperature levels more quickly and efficiently when heating the inside of the eyelid, which may assist in removing obstructions in the meibomian glands. Less time may also be required to reach desired temperature levels when applying heat to the inside of the eyelid. A force application device may also apply force to the patient's eyelid to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland, including from a channel of the meibomian gland, and to increase the temperature level and/or reduce the time to reach desired temperature levels.
US08523926B2

A device comprises an energy source capable of generating short bursts of energy at a variable pulse repetition rates. The repetition rates range from a single shot to several hundreds Mega-Hertz so that selective, three dimensional interactions with a volumetric zone of skin or issue can be created substantially without damage or substantial changes to overlying or underlying or surrounding tissue or skin.
US08523918B2

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the provision of spinal therapy to three or more adjacent motion segments accessed through a trans-sacral approach. The spinal therapies include fusion and dynamic stabilization with and without a distraction of the most cephalad motion segment of the two or more adjacent motion segments provided therapy. The disclosure includes methods and apparatus to impart a distraction on a second more caudal motion segment after providing therapy to the more cephalad motion segment.
US08523914B2

A bone anchor including a bone engaging portion, a tool engaging portion configured for engagement with an anchor removal tool, a head portion having a transverse base portion and two arm portions that together define a U-shaped channel, and a reduced strength portion extending between the tool engaging portion and the head portion and defining a region of reduced strength to provide a pre-defined fracture initiator or break zone. In another embodiment, the bone anchor includes a proximal head and a threaded shank having a plurality of thread turns adapted for anchoring to bone and extending along a threaded length that is at least twice the overall height of the proximal head, and a plurality of grooves circumferentially interrupting at least one of the thread turns along a proximal region of the threaded shank and sized and shaped for engagement with an anchor removal instrument.
US08523906B2

Apparatus and devices for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct ipsilaterally with an additional spinal construct in a patient are disclosed. The additional spinal construct comprises a rod connector that includes an elongate additional rod integrally attached thereto. The additional rod is placed through an access port in a first orientation generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the access port and rotated to a different second orientation generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the access port. During such rotation the additional rod is moved subcutaneously beneath the skin of the patient from the existing spinal rod to an additional bone engaging implant. In another arrangement, the extension of an existing spinal construct in a minimally invasive procedure comprises a rod connector having an offset support for receiving an additional spinal rod that may be placed laterally interiorly or exteriorly of the existing spinal construct.
US08523905B2

An intervertebral stabilization system for at least three vertebrae comprising pedicle screws attachable to the vertebrae; at least one rod for the connection of at least two pedicle screws to form a rigid stiffening system; and at least one band which is capable of being pre-stressed in tension and which is surrounded in the implanted state of the stabilization system by at least one compressible pressure member arranged between two adjacent pedicle screws for the connection of the pedicle screws to form an elastic support system, wherein a common pedicle screw is associated both with the stiffening system and with the support system and the band can be connected or is connected to the rod by means of a band attachment.
US08523904B2

Spinal implants for limiting flexion of the spine are implanted between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process or sacrum. The implants include upper straps which are placed over the upper spinous process, while the lower portions of the implant are attached to the adjacent vertebra or sacrum. The attachments may be fixed, for example using screws or other anchors, or may be non-fixed, for example by placing a loop strap through a hole in the spinous process or sacrum.
US08523899B2

Disclosed is a treatment device for an endoscope including a treatment part that is adapted to treat tissue within a body cavity, a manipulating part that is adapted to manipulate the treatment part, a manipulation shaft member that connects the treatment part and the manipulating part, a multi-wire coil sheath that is formed by spirally winding a wire bundle having a plurality of element wires arranged in a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of fixing portions that is arranged between a distal end and a proximal end of the multi-wire coil sheath and restricts a first relative movement between the plurality of element wires and a second relative movement between parts of the wire bundle that are adjacent to each other as being spirally wound. The manipulation shaft member is inserted into the multi-wire coil sheath so that the manipulation shaft member is capable of being advanced and retracted.
US08523887B2

The present invention pertains to a stiffened balloon which can be used in angioplasty, endovascular, and valvuloplasty procedures or as a delivery balloon to deliver a stent or a stent-graft. Longitudinally discontinuous stiffening members connected to the expandable balloon stiffen the balloon but allow it to be navigated through curved passages. Projections on the stiffening members may engage, incise, crush, fracture, or pierce occlusions or retain a stent or stent-graft. Radio-opaque portions may be referenced to determine orientation. Longitudinally continuous stiffening members bearing projections and connected to the balloon perform in a similar manner.
US08523885B2

An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. A drive element is associated with and engages the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct. A load monitor ensures that excessive pressure is not applied to a patient's body organ or duct.
US08523883B2

Apparatus and methods are provided for thermally and/or mechanically treating tissue, such as valvular structures, to reconfigure or shrink the tissue in a controlled manner. Mechanical clips are implanted over the leaflets of a valve, e.g., in the heart, either alone or after thermal treatment to cause the valve to close more tightly. The clips are delivered by a catheter and may be configured to traverse directly over the valve itself or to lie partially over the periphery of the valve to prevent obstruction of the valve channel. The clips can be coated with drugs or a radiopaque coating. Alternatively, individual anchors with a tensioning element, like a suture, may be used to approximate the valves towards each other. The catheter can also incorporate sensors or energy delivery devices, e.g., transducers, on its distal end.
US08523872B2

A tibial resurfacing system is provided that includes a drill guide, bone chisel and implant. In one aspect, the system includes a drill guide that includes a targeting ring that is shaped to be placed on the superior tibial surface and a bore section that is connected to the ring to create an axis through the tibia to the superior tibial surface in the vicinity of the targeting ring. The drill guide permits a drill pin and/or drill to be advanced through the tibia to the superior tibial surface. In another aspect, a bone chisel is provided that includes an elongated tubular structure having a first end and a bone-cutting end, and the bone-cutting end is terminated in a transverse angle thereby creating an elliptical bone-cutting face. In another aspect, an implant is provided that includes an angled bearing element formed of a cylindrical member having a first end and a second end. The first end is formed at an angle that creates an elliptical face of the first end, and the first end defines a load-bearing surface of an articular surface.
US08523870B2

A chamfer resection guide assembly for effecting chamfer cuts into a resected distal surface of a femur in connection with a distal total knee implant has an anchor member configured for anterior referencing of the chamfer cuts, a block member including one or more cutting guide slots for guiding a cutting tool for making chamfer resections and a camming member. The camming member operably connects the block member and the anchor member and the position of the block member with respect to the anchor member is adjusted by operation of the camming member thus allowing adjustment of the position of the cutting guide slots with respect to the anchoring member.
US08523869B2

A system for preparing a trochlear region of a resected femur is disclosed. The system includes a reamer guide and a reamer. The reamer guide has a first arcuate portion, a second arcuate portion, a wall, a protrusion connected to the wall, a leg connected to one of the first or second arcuate portion, and a distal tip portion connected to the leg. The reamer is adapted to rotatably connect to the distal tip portion, and the reamer has a first end portion, a second end portion, and one or more flutes.
US08523863B2

A system for securing a bone fixation device to a bone comprises a flexible longitudinal element configured to wrap about and stabilize one of a target portion of bone and a bone stabilizing element. The longitudinal element includes a plurality of projections extending distally from a first surface thereof. Each projection includes a proximal abutting surface in combination with a bone fixation element including a channel extending therethrough sized and shaped to slidably receive therein a portion of the longitudinal element distal of the head. The bone fixation element includes a recess shaped to receive the head and prevent the head from being drawn distally through the channel. The bone fixation element or the longitudinal element includes a tab configured to engage one of the proximal abutting surfaces to prevent the projections of the longitudinal element from moving proximally relative to the tab.
US08523851B2

Thermal, electrosurgical and mechanical modalities may be combined in a surgical tool. Potentially damaging effects in a first modality may be minimized by using a secondary modality. In one example, thermal hemostasis may thus help electrosurgical applications avoid the adverse tissue effects associated with hemostatic monopolar electrosurgical waveforms while retaining the benefits of using monopolar incising waveforms.
US08523848B2

The present invention presents novel methods for performing noninvasive vasectomies in animals, including humans, and vasectomy clamps for use in such procedures. The invention further presents an apparatus for use in noninvasive male sterilization procedures. More specifically, the invention presents the application of lasers for noninvasive thermal coagulation and occlusion of the vas. Non-contact cooling of the tissue surface, for example, via cryogen or other cooling spray, prevents scrotal skin burns during the procedure. Both the laser radiation and cooling spray are delivered in a non-contact mode to the tissue. This procedure also preserves the surgical field-of-view, potentially allowing the urologist to visually monitor the skin surface during subsurface heating of the vas and preventing the formation of scrotal skin burns.
US08523847B2

Handpieces which comprise characteristic data storage systems electronically storing characteristic data, devices comprising these handpieces, methods of characterizing the device components, and methods of adjusting the device components based on stored characteristic data are described. The handpieces can be repeatedly connected to, disconnected from, and reconnected to an optical energy system comprising at least one optical energy source and at least one controller by a treatment provider. When the handpieces are connected to an optical energy source and a controller, the component characteristic data is accessed and used to adjust one or more of the components in order for the components to function together within a pre-determined tolerance. Once the components are connected and adjusted, the device can be used to provide an optical energy based medical and/or cosmetic treatment to a tissue such as, for example, human skin.
US08523846B2

A corneal surgery apparatus which comprises a laser irradiation optical system and an eye position change detection unit comprising an illumination optical system and an image pick-up camera picking up an anterior-segment image of a patient's eye and detecting the change in eye position based on an iris pattern in the image, and is arranged such that an irradiation position tracks movement of the eye to ablate a cornea, wherein the apparatus further comprises a contrast adjustment unit extracting a pupil portion and an iris portion based on luminance information of the image, and increasing/decreasing a set value of an illumination light amount and/or a set value of a gain of the camera to increase a contrast of the pupil portion to the iris portion and/or a contrast of the iris pattern within a range that luminance at the iris portion is not saturated.
US08523844B2

A surgical instrument includes a handle, an elongated shaft and an end effector extending distally from the shaft. A tensile member is preloaded with a tensile force and extends at least partially through the shaft. A preload mechanism for adjusting the tensile force includes first and second guides in contact with the tensile member to restrain the tensile member at respective first and second lateral distances from a longitudinal axis. A third guide is disposed longitudinally between the first and second guides and is in contact with the tensile member to restrain the tensile member at a third lateral distance from the longitudinal axis. The third guide is movable to vary the third lateral distance and a corresponding length of the tensile member disposed longitudinally between the first and second guides to thereby vary the tensile force.
US08523842B2

A catheter has an outer peripheral portion (15) in the form of a tube and an internal wall (16, 26) within the tube forming a plurality of lumens (11a, 11b, 21a, 21b). Axially extending linear contrastradiography sections (17a, 17b, 27a, 27b) of radiopaque material are formed at a plurality of intersection points between the outer peripheral section and the wall, the peripheral extent (a, b) of the respective contrastradiography sections being different.
US08523838B2

The present invention relates to a connector device to connect a first and a second fluid container, directly or indirectly. The connector device exhibit a first and a second connection means, a pierceable barrier member, a piercing member, a fluid transfer channel and a pressure normalization channel. The pressure normalization channel is arranged to normalize an increasing pressure inside second fluid container. A valve arrangement permitting fluid to flow in a first and a second direction is arranged in the pressure normalization channel. The valve arrangement exhibit a cracking pressure in at least the first direction. The present invention provides for a connector device which reduces the risk of clogging the barrier filter.
US08523833B2

The sanitary napkin includes an inner core of absorbent material that is spirally or helically wound along its length and tapers in diameter from a larger first end to a smaller second end. A layer of soft, pliable, liquid-pervious material encapsulates the inner core. The larger end of the napkin is configured in a thin flat profile and is provided a string or other positioning member to enhance placement and removal of the napkin. Although described above as an absorbent pad for vaginal discharge, it is recognized that the napkin could also be used to absorb rectal discharge in instances after hemorrhoid surgery and the like.
US08523826B2

Embodiments of luer-type needle-free valve devices are disclosed. One of the novel aspects of the invention is its ability to transform from an open state to a closed state. The open position eliminates the potential for a differential pressure to exist between the volume connected to the inlet and outlet of the valve fitting. The closed position enables the device to maintain a differential pressure between the volume connected to the inlet and outlet of the valve fitting. The invention is useful in manufacturing sterile medical devices by allowing all surfaces to communicate with the sterilizing agent when the valve is in an open configuration when it is in a closed position.
US08523823B2

A medical device for insertion into a body having a surface covered by a detachable cover. The cover may be detached from the surface and removed from the body while the device is inserted in the body. The device may be, for example, a catheter, cannula, drain, stent, pacemaker, or electrode.
US08523821B2

A device for transferring fluids between an internal structure in a living body and an exterior thereof comprises a housing including a pressure activated lumen extending to a distal end opening to a power injection lumen that extends to a distal port configured for connection to a fluid conduit extending to a target structure within the body and a pressure activated valve extending across the pressure activated lumen and controlling fluid flow therethrough, in combination with a proximal port coupled to the housing for movement between a first position in which a proximal end of the power injection lumen opens to the proximal port and a second position in which a proximal end of the pressure activated lumen opens to the proximal port.
US08523806B2

A sprayer is capable of inhibiting or preventing clogging occurring in a nozzle upon ejection of a liquid through the nozzle. A sprayer includes liquid supply for separately supplying a first liquid and a second liquid different in liquid composition, and a nozzle. The nozzle includes a first flow path and a second flow path along which passes the first liquid and the second liquid supplied from the liquid supply. In addition, the nozzle includes a third flow path along which passes a gas. A merge part is provided at which the first flow path and the second flow path merge at their respective halfway parts. A vent is provided at the merge part for allowing the gas which has passed through the third flow path to flow into the merge part.
US08523799B2

A method for priming a blood tubing set having a venous line and an arterial line whose connections at the patient side are in communication with two separate inlets of a chamber of, in particular, a bag and whose connections at the machine side are in communication with a dialyzer. The method includes the steps of parallel filling of both the venous and the arterial lines via a feed line so that priming liquid flows through both inlets into the chamber; and circulation of the priming liquid in the circuit of the lines, the dialyzer and the chamber via a pump so that one of the inlets of the chamber acts as an inlet and the other as an outlet.
US08523797B2

A point of care fluid testing system for determining properties of a fluid comprises a patient connection, a primary fluid routing portion, a pump, a secondary fluid routing portion, and a flushing fluid connection. The patient connection connects the system to a patient. The primary fluid routing portion has a pump region, a fluid transfer region, and an in-line testing region. The pump region pumps the fluid sample from the patient to the testing portion and back to the patient. The in-line testing region evaluates a first characteristic of the fluid sample. The fluid transfer region transmits a portion of the fluid sample out of the primary fluid routing portion. The secondary fluid routing portion includes an off-line testing portion that receives the portion of the fluid sample transmitted from the fluid transfer region. The off-line testing portion evaluates a second characteristic of the fluid sample.
US08523788B2

An in-vivo examining device, system and method for identifying the presence of strictures in the small bowel are provided. The in-vivo examining device includes a monitoring mechanism that becomes deactivated when exposed to in-vivo substances native to the small bowel or the colon, and a degradable device body that includes at least a first body portion which degrades at a slow rate when exposed to in-vivo substances native to the small bowel and at a fast rate when exposed to in-vivo substances native to the colon. The degradation of the degradable device body exposes the monitoring mechanism to substances native to the small bowel or the colon and thus indicates whether the examining device has safely passed through the small bowel or whether it is retained in the small bowel due to strictures in the small bowel.
US08523787B2

A method, including measuring a force exerted by a probe on tissue of a patient and measuring a displacement of the probe while measuring the force. The method further includes detecting a tenting of the tissue responsively to a relation between the measured force and the measured displacement.
US08523774B2

An ultrasonic beamformer may include an input signal line for each ultrasonic transducer element configured to carry a broadband pulse from the ultrasonic element. The ultrasonic beamformer may include a number of signal shifters that is substantially less than the number of transducer elements. Each signal shifter may be configured to shift a broadband pulse in a way that is different from the way the other signal shifters are configured to shift a broadband pulse. For each of the input signal lines, a multiplexer may be configured to electrically connect the broadband pulse received on the input signal line to a selected one of the signal shifters. A multiplexer controller may be configured to generate the control signal for each of the multiplexers in a fashion that causes the ultrasonic beamformer to substantially compensate for the differences in the distances. A comparable configuration may be used for transmission.
US08523760B2

The invention relates to devices and methods for reforming tissue surrounding the airway of a subject suffering from obstructive sleep apnea so as to open the airway and alleviate the occurrence of apneic events. Devices comprise a combination of resiliently deformable material and bioerodible material. The deformable portion of the device has a preferred shape that corresponds to the desired final shape of the device once placed in an airway. In making a transplant-ready device, however, the deformable portion is placed into a deformed shape and constrained in that shape by the bioerodible material. After implantation, the device gradually assumes the preferred shape as the constraining bioerodible material erodes. As the device gradually reforms toward the preferred shape, it reforms the tissue into the therapeutically desirable configuration. The gradual nature of the shape change generally stabilizes the device in the tissue, and supports tissue reforming into a stable configuration.
US08523754B2

A system for treating patients includes a first magnetic device including a set of four magnetic discs arranged in a square array, the four magnetic discs including two having negative magnetic poles lying in a first plane and two having positive magnetic poles lying in the first plane, wherein the two magnetic discs having negative magnetic poles extend along a first diagonal line and the two magnetic discs having positive magnetic poles extend along a second diagonal line that crosses the first diagonal line, and a housing containing the four magnetic discs for maintaining the magnetic discs in the square array arrangement, the housing including an alignment marker for aligning the first magnetic device on a patient.
US08523743B1

The present invention includes a user-operated stretching machine for stretching limbs and other body parts of a user. The machine includes a cable system extending from a user operated double reel cable drum to pulleys located at the end of a pair of arms extending angularly from a carriage. The carriage is attached to a curved upright in such a way as to be movably attached to the upright enabling stretching to take place at various angles relative to the upright and user's body.
US08523742B2

A baby walker is introduced herein. The baby walker includes a base and a pair of shoulder straps. The base is made by flexible materials such as plastics, or the similar materials. In one exemplary embodiment, the base of the baby walker may be packaged in a deflated form, and may be filled with air to form a shape as desired for an operation mode. The baby walker further includes a pair of shoulder straps which are firmly and fixedly attached in a peripheral upper side of the base. When the baby is placed in a central cavity of the base, the pair of the shoulder straps can be placed alongside the two shoulders of the baby. When the baby wears the baby walker and stands up, the whole baby walker is lifted up for a height above the ground level.
US08523741B2

The present invention relates to a method and system for monitoring sport related fitness by estimating muscle power and joint force of limbs, in which the system comprises a sensing module and a force/track detection module, wherein sensor values from the sensing module are fed to the force/track detection module to be used as base for estimating feature parameters and classifying a motion series relating to muscle power and joint force of limbs so as to obtain skill-related fitness parameters corresponding to the sensing of the sensor module.
US08523738B2

A method of shifting a power distribution unit for a vehicle from a first operating state to a second operating state is provided. The method includes the step of adjusting a rotational speed of a portion of a second axle assembly using a clutching device to impart energy to a lubricant within the second axle assembly. A controller in communication with a power source of the vehicle adjusts an operating condition of the power source to facilitate moving the clutching device. The power distribution unit includes an inter-axle differential capable being placed in a locked condition by the clutching device and of accommodating a rotational difference between a first output gear and a second output gear with the inter-axle differential.
US08523737B1

A method for controlling a vehicle drivetrain includes de-energizing a clutch that connects a differential output to a wheel, rotating said component through a sump by pulsing the clutch when a speed of a differential component is less than a reference speed, and cyclically pulsing the clutch while a speed of said component exceeds the reference speed and a count of a timer, started when the clutch is de-energized, exceeds a reference count.
US08523735B1

A method for executing a transmission shift in a hybrid transmission including first and second electric machines includes executing a shift-through-neutral sequence from an initial transmission state to a target transmission state including executing an intermediate shift to neutral. Upon detecting a change in an output torque request while executing the shift-through-neutral sequence, possible recovery shift paths are identified. Available ones of the possible recovery shift paths are identified and a shift cost for each said available recovery shift path is evaluated. The available recovery shift path having a minimum shift cost is selected as a preferred recovery shift path and is executed to achieve a non-neutral transmission state.
US08523728B2

The 8-speed transmission which comprises an input shaft (AN), an output shaft (AB), four planetary gearsets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4), eight rotary shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), and five shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E). The input shaft is directly connected to the fourth planetary gear set while the output shaft is directly connected to the third planetary gear. A third shaft directly connects one element of the first planetary gear set with one element of the fourth planetary gear set. A fifth shaft directly connects one element of the second planetary gear set with one element of the third planetary gear set. A sixth shaft directly connects one element of the first planetary gear set with one element of the third planetary gear set. A seventh shaft directly connects one element of the fourth planetary gear set with one element of the fifth shifting element.
US08523717B1

The hunting arrow having a hole boring head includes an arrow shaft that attaches an arrowhead comprised of points that are notched into the head such that the arrowhead and at least a portion of the arrow shaft have an open hole in the center in order to cut a hole through the skin and flesh of game for unimpeded blood loss therefrom. The points constructed of notches are concentrically, arranged, and require at lease a portion of the arrow shaft to be hollowed such that the open hole extends rearwardly with respect to the shaft. The hunting arrow may include a plurality of external blades that extend radially from the exterior surface of the arrowhead, and may be centered about each of the points.
US08523715B2

Certain embodiments of the present system deal with a basketball goal assembly which adjustably supports a backboard assembly and a rim assembly to enable players to play the game of basketball. In certain preferred aspects, the rim assembly is connected directly to the support arrangement so that force applied to the rim assembly is transmitted directly to the support assembly and is not transferred to the backboard assembly.
US08523712B2

A training and coordination device including a projectile member such as a ball or sack secured to an elastic string is described. The first end of the elastic string is attached to a location and the second end is connected to the projectile member. At least an end portion of the elastic string secure to the projectile member comprises multiple strands of an odd number. The multiple strands of the elastic string in conjunction with the elasticity of the string generate a random motion of the sack when the sack moves relative to the string.
US08523704B2

Golf club heads with ribs are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08523703B2

A putter type golf club head having a unique ball striking face configuration to eliminate the dimple effect of grooved putters formed with a series of grooves and intermediate land areas between the grooves extending in a longitudinal direction across the striking face. Each of the grooves is characterized by a plurality of repeating, non-linear wave forms located at the center of the striking face and extending outwardly therefrom.
US08523699B2

A golf ball lifting device is provided comprising: a golf ball gripper with a mechanical feature and a magnetic feature; and a gripper mount for attachment to a golf club. The mount has a mechanical feature and a magnetic feature. The mechanical and magnetic features of the gripper and mount are arranged for mutual cooperation, the mechanical and magnetic cooperation together assisting to maintain engagement between the gripper and mount when the gripper is mounted on the mount. The mount magnetic feature is arranged to enable the picking up of a magnetic golf ball marker, at least when the gripper is not mounted on the mount.
US08523692B2

An apparatus for entertaining multiple guests includes a device that selectively generates a flame and a barrier interposed between each guest and the flame. The barrier is configured to remain transparent throughout multiple repetitions of use of the device for generating a flame. A method of entertaining guests is also presented.
US08523687B2

A joint, particularly a constant velocity ball joint, including an inner hub and an outer hub, which hubs exhibit respective inner and outer ball tracks which are associated with each other in pairs, and further including balls disposed in the pairs of associated inner and outer ball tracks, the tracks being configured such that at the contact points of the balls with the ball tracks the tangential planes form an angle of inclination, and the ball tracks exhibiting at any given time a continually changing curvature, as a result of which the angle of inclination is constant.
US08523686B2

A coupling means (10) extending along a longitudinal axis of symmetry (100) from a first plate (11) towards a second plate (12), which plates are connected together by a link member (20). Said link member (20) is provided with a first hub (21) secured to said first plate (11) and with a second hub (22) secured to said second plate (12), a first end section (21′) of the first hub (21) being connected to a second end section (22′) of the second hub (22) by link means (30), said link means (30) comprising a first web (31) connecting said first end section (21′) to a maximum section (33) of said link means (30), said link means (30) having a second web (32) connecting a second end section (22′) of said second hub (22) to said maximum section (33).
US08523684B2

Various embodiments may include an apparatus operable to determine a value of a statistic describing cards that have been dealt from a deck.
US08523674B2

The present invention provides a video game controller and apparatus that may be used by two or more players. The users physically manipulate the control device cooperatively to the kinesthetic feedback of the other player(s) to control the events of the video game. By working together through orientation of the controller, the players can jointly move the video game object on the screen and/or govern the play of the game.
US08523662B2

Various embodiments of the gaming system of the present disclosure enable a player to play a secondary or bonus game, in which the player has the chance to play for a designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game. The probability of triggering the secondary or bonus game varies based on the player's primary game wager. Additionally, the probability of winning a designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game varies based on the player's primary game wager. In one embodiment, as the primary game wager increases, the odds of triggering the secondary or bonus game increase, but not in direct proportion to the wager. Similarly, the odds of winning the designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game increases, but not in direct proportion to the wager.
US08523661B2

A method of awarding an award on a gaming machine is set forth. The method includes selecting an eligibility criterion or eligibility criteria from a plurality of possible eligibility criteria. The selected criterion is deemed to be an active award trigger event. Game play activity on the gaming machine is then monitored for occurrence of this trigger event. When the active award trigger event occurs, the award is awarded. Following award of the award, or following the occurrence of another event, the selected eligibility criterion are rendered inactive award trigger event, and another eligibility criterion is selected as the active award trigger event.
US08523656B2

A gaming environment is described. If the predetermined condition is met and the free game is shifted, reels are changed to other reels to be used in the free game. Also, in the free game, reel display portion on which the WILD symbols are displayed on all of the symbol display portions, the reel display portion is held in following games. The WILD symbols are consecutively displayed with the predetermined number (which is greater or equal to the number of symbol display portions of one reel display portion) on the reels used in the free game. Therefore, the probability where WILD symbols fill on the all of the can be enhanced, one or more aspects of the invention can provide higher interest to the player.
US08523655B2

The present invention discloses a computerized gaming system configured to support operating at least one secondary game in conjunction with a primary game and a method of operating thereof. The method of operating comprises activating a primary game based on simulating rotation of reels; activating a secondary game based on simulating rotation of reels; in response to a predefined player's input, providing a simulation of rotation of reels in the primary game thus giving rise to a primary spin; upon completion of the primary spin, automatically initiating and providing a simulation of rotation of reels in the secondary game thus giving rise to a secondary spin; generating one or more results for the primary game in accordance with the primary spin; generating one or more results for the secondary game in accordance with the secondary spin; and displaying the respective results. The results generated in accordance with the secondary spin are independent from the results generated in accordance with the primary spin.
US08523651B2

A gaming system and method that analyzes and evaluates a player's play input in accordance with a statistically optimal play and generates an acknowledgement where the play input is consistent with an optimum play in response to a particular game condition. The gaming system features at least one display device, at least one player input device, at least one programmable processor coupled to the display device and at least one storage unit coupled to the processor. The storage unit stores a plurality of instructions executable by the programmable processor for performing the method.
US08523647B2

A multilevel game includes a base game in which game credits and free passes may be accumulated and saved for play in a bonus event. The bonus event comprises a tic tac toe-like game in which a player is required to correctly answer trivia questions in order to receive a marker in a space of a matrix. Upon correctly answering trivia questions or presenting free passes in lieu of correct answers to trivia questions associated with a prespecified number of spaces in a prespecified arrangement on the matrix, the player may be granted an award or access to a next-higher level of the bonus event. Nonwinners of the bonus event are returned to the base game. Various other features include “double-or-nothing” bonus play. The multilevel game may be effected by a gaming machine or a system that includes a gaming machine.
US08523645B2

A golf club head has structure for assisting a golfer, and a head cover has structure for supporting the golfer-assisting structure. In one aspect, the golfer-assisting structure provides a visual indicator, such as an alignment marker, a ball impact indicator, a temperature indicator, or the like. In another aspect, the golfer-assisting structure includes sensor(s) and/or other electronic components for measuring swing characteristics, course conditions, global position, or the like. The supporting structure may provide a source of energy, such as a power source, a light source, or a heat source. In some aspects, the supporting structure may include a processor for receiving data from the golfer-assisting structure, and may transmit data to a display on the head cover and/or to an external source.
US08523634B2

The invention relates to a method for the grinding of a profile (1) of a workpiece (2) with a gear or profile grinding machine (3), wherein the profile (1) which has to be ground is successively at first ground during a roughing operation with a roughing grinding tool (4) and is afterwards ground during a finishing operation with a finishing grinding tool (5), wherein a stock of the profile (1) which has to be removed is ground by the roughing and the finishing operation, wherein the roughing grinding tool (4) and the finishing grinding tool (5) are arranged coaxially on a common tool spindle (6) or on two separate tool spindles and wherein a translational movement is created between the grinding tools (4, 5) and the workpiece (2) in a direction of a first axis (x) for carrying out a grinding stroke. To improve the cost effectiveness and the quality of the grinding process the invention is characterized in that the at least one tool spindle (6) or the workpiece (2) is swiveled around an axis (A) of rotation which is directed in the direction of the first axis (x) by a predetermined angle (α) during the execution of the roughing operation or the finishing operation from a basic position (I) into a swivel position (II) in such a way that the grinding tool (5) which is not in operation can be passed over the profile (1) to be machined without collision.
US08523631B2

A bra to be worn during vigorous physical activity includes a stretch front panel and a stretch back panel. The back panel forms a back portion of a left and right shoulder strap. Non-stretch fabric connects the front panel and the back panel and forms the front portion of the left and right shoulder straps. The bra also includes a rib band configured to encircle a wearer's torso.
US08523624B2

A spark plug includes a tubular metal shell, an insulator, a cylindrical center electrode, and a ground electrode. The ground electrode has an inclined portion, a straight portion, and a bend between the inclined and straight portions. The inclined portion extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the center electrode from a base end of the ground electrode, which is joined to an end of the metal shell, to the bend that is positioned closer to the center electrode in the radial direction of the center electrode than the base end. The straight portion extends substantially parallel to the axial direction of the center electrode from the bend to a tip end of the ground electrode. The straight portion has an inner side surface facing the side surface of an end portion of the center electrode through a spark gap in the radial direction of the center electrode.
US08523620B2

This invention is The Floating Transom. The floating transom comes with manual control, and two 12 volt hydraulic systems, and clamps on the back of a boat, extending a new transom eighteen inches behind the boats transom. When traveling in ten inches of water the floating transom allows the boat motor to be picked up, lifting up the boat motor until the lower unit is flush with the bottom of the boat. The adjustable trim on the floating transom allows the back plate, which the boat motor clamps on. To adjust the angle of the boat motor, making the boat move flat on the top of the water. The lower unit of the boat motor rides in the wake the boat forms, making the water pump work, cooling the boat motor. Allowing you to move up or down shallow water rivers.
US08523617B2

Implantable medical devices include headers having various features such as a modular design whereby the header is constructed from a series of stacked contact modules. Additional features include a feedthrough where pins exiting a housing of the implantable medical device extend into the header to make direct electrical connection to electrical contacts present within the header where those electrical contacts directly engage electrical connectors of leads inserted into the header. Other features include electrical contacts that are relatively thin conductors on the order of 0.040 inches or less and may include radial protrusions where the radial protrusions establish contact with the electrical connectors of the lead. Furthermore, electrical contacts may be mounted within the header in a floating manner so that radial movement of the electrical contact may occur during lead insertion.
US08523615B2

A compression connector for mounting to a print circuit board includes an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals received in the housing. The housing includes a first mating surface and a second mating surface opposite to the first mating surface. A number of terminal passageways are disposed between and running through the first and second mating faces. Each terminal includes a retaining section. Each of terminal passageway defines a retaining slot along a height direction orienting from the first mating surface to the second mating surface to receive the retaining section of the terminal and two limited portions at two ends of the retaining slot in the height direction so as to allow the retaining section to move in the height direction without dropping out.
US08523604B2

A terminal block has conductors extending from devices placed one over another placed on nuts (10) and fastened by a bolt. A heat sink (40) is arranged below the nuts and an insulating plate (20) is sandwiched in close contact with the nuts (10) and the heat sink (40). A molded resin part (60) covers these three members (10, 20 and 40). The insulating plate (20) includes nut accommodating portions (21) capable of accommodating the nuts (10) and bolt escaping recesses (26) projecting downward from a bottom plate (22) of the insulating plate (20). The heat sink (40) includes accommodation recesses (43) into which the bolt escaping recesses (26) fit. The molded resin part (60) is molded with the nuts (10) accommodated in the nut accommodating portions (21) and the accommodation recesses (43) and the bolt escaping recesses (26) fit to each other.
US08523601B2

A line receptacle device comprising a first housing part, a second housing part, an entry channel for a line and a strain relief device that is configured to move from a first position into a second position, and if configured such that, in the first position the line can be introduced through the entry channel and in the second position the line can be clamped into the entry channel, in which case the strain relief device also has a locking device which, on transition from the first position into the second position, interacts with a retaining device disposed in the first housing part and the second housing part such that the housing parts are locked together.
US08523594B2

A housing (10) is formed with jig insertion holes (20) penetrating through an outer wall (19) located at a side of deformation spaces (17) opposite to locking lances (14). Deformation restrictions (42) of a front retainer (40) are formed with guides (49) that are cut out to allow an unlocking jig inserted through the jig insertion hole (20) to reach the locking lance (14) when the front retainer (40) is at a retracted position and to position the unlocking jig in a width direction crossing both a resiliently deforming direction of the locking lances (14) and an inserting direction of terminal fittings (30) into cavities (13).
US08523589B2

When a power plug locking device moves a plate to a lock position or unlock position, the plate is rotated toward an operational end position with a power plug lock motor while the current of the motor is detected. When the plate comes into contact with a switching piece of a switching mechanism, the switching piece applies a load to the plate. When the current flowing through the motor becomes greater than or equal to a threshold, the supply of power to the power plug lock motor is stopped. Then, switching load of the switching mechanism 48 pushes and moves the disk to an operational end position (lock position or unlock position).
US08523588B2

An implantable lead has a distal lead portion with at least one electrode electrically connected to a connector ring through a conductor running in a lumen of the lead. A proximal lead portion includes the connector ring, a connector pin and a connector coupling mechanically and coaxially connected to each other with the connector coupling as a bridging element. A rotational lock in the form of a circumferential element of an elastically deformable, flexible material is provided in the connector coupling in the interface between the coupling and the connector ring. This rotational lock prevents any rotation of the connector pin to be propagated into a rotation of the connector coupling and consequently reduces the risk of damages to internal lead components due to any such unintentional coupling rotation.
US08523585B2

A line system for an aircraft cabin has a line channel with a first surface and a second surface facing in an opposite direction with respect to the first surface. The line system also includes at least one conductor running in the line channel a plurality of first plug channels which enable contacting of the at least one conductor through the first surface, and at least one second plug channel which enables contacting of the at least one conductor through the second surface. At and at least one connector plug with an elongated contact pin which contacts the at least one conductor through the second plug channel, the contact pin having a first section situated in the second plug channel and a second section situated outside the second plug channel.
US08523580B2

An electrical connector includes a housing and a plurality of terminals disposed in the housing. The housing includes a bottom wall and a protruding wall. The terminal includes a held portion for being held in the housing, a base portion, a transition portion, an elastic arm portion and a contact portion. The protruding wall includes a plurality of vertical wall portions and a displacement receiving recess. The housing has an opening penetrating the bottom wall at least at a lower side of the displacement receiving recess. The displacement receiving recess communicates with the opening. Further, the base portion and the transition portion of the terminal are situated outside of the displacement receiving recess.
US08523563B1

A protective collar for a kiln that has a rigid body portion and a shape and size substantially corresponding to the shape and size of at least a portion of the peripheral edge surface of the kiln sidewall. Depending on the kiln, the protective collar can be round, oval, faceted, or otherwise shaped. The collar can be a complete ring or just a portion thereof. A plurality of stops, which can be fixed or pivoting, spaced along the body portion of the protective collar can prevent dislocation of the collar when applied to the kiln. The stops can be adjustable in location to avoid obstructions on the kiln. A properly selected protective collar can enable a method for protecting the firebrick in a kiln where the protective collar is applied with the shapes of the protective collar and the peripheral edge surface of the kiln sidewall substantially aligned.
US08523555B2

A nano imprint master and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes: implanting conductive metal ions into a substrate including quartz to form a conductive layer inside the quartz substrate; coating a resist on the quartz substrate in which the conductive layer is formed, to form a resist coating layer; exposing the resist coating layer to an electron beam to form micropatterns; etching the quartz substrate by using the resist coating layer, in which the micropatterns are formed, as a mask; and removing the resist coating layer to obtain a master in which micropatterns are formed.
US08523548B2

A single-screw compressor includes a casing, a screw rotor accommodated in the casing, a gate rotor, and a gate rotor supporting member rotatably supporting the gate rotor. The gate rotor includes a plurality of flat-plate-shaped gates formed in a radial pattern and meshing with a helical groove of the screw rotor. Fluid in a compression chamber defined by the screw rotor, the casing and the gates is compressed when the screw rotor is rotated. The gate rotor supporting member includes a gate supporting portion supporting each gate from a back surface side. The gate rotor and the gate rotor supporting member form a gate rotor assembly including a pressure introduction channel configured and arranged to introduce a fluid pressure on a front surface side of each gate into a gap between a back surface of the gate and the gate supporting portion.
US08523539B2

The invention is directed to a multi-disk centrifugal pump suitable for pumping fluids, including biocompatible fluids, such as blood. The design of the pump components is optimized to reduce or eliminate the probability of clotting and hemolysis when pumping blood, and to be energy efficient and resistant to physical shock for portable applications.
US08523534B2

A high-pressure pump for supplying fuel to an internal-combustion engine has a pump body and an actuating shaft which extends along a longitudinal axis and which is supported rotatably about the longitudinal axis by the pump body. The shaft has an eccentric portion and a prismatic jacking end. A first pumping station has a gear engaged with the prismatic jacking end and a second pumping station has at least one piston. The piston is slidable relative to the pump body transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis and is actuated by the eccentric portion of the actuating shaft. The prismatic jacking end is made of a harder material than the material with which the remainder of the actuating shaft is made.
US08523525B2

A snubber associated with a rotatable turbine blade in a turbine engine, the turbine blade including a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall opposed from the pressure wall. The snubber assembly includes a first snubber structure associated with the pressure sidewall of the turbine blade, a second snubber structure associated with the suction sidewall of the turbine blade, and a support structure. The support structure extends through the blade and is rigidly coupled at a first end portion thereof to the first snubber structure and at a second end portion thereof to the second snubber structure. Centrifugal loads exerted by the first and second snubber structures caused by rotation thereof during operation of the engine are at least partially transferred to the support structure, such that centrifugal loads exerted on the pressure and suctions sidewalls of the turbine blade by the first and second snubber structures are reduced.
US08523523B2

Providing cooling within hollow blades such as high pressure turbine blades in a gas turbine engine is important to maintain these components within operational margins for the materials from which they are formed. Traditionally, coolant flows in hollow passages have been used along with impingement apertures towards a leading passage for cooling effectiveness. It is known that opposed undulations or ribs can create rotational vortices within the passage. By shaping shaped portions between the opposed undulations and possibly providing undulations upon these shaped portions themselves it is possible to generate stronger more powerful vortices within the passage. These vortices are coupled with the impingement orifices to create proportionally greater impingement jet flow and pressure and therefore cooling effectiveness within the leading passage.
US08523521B2

Provided is a wind turbine generator including an electric pitch-control device that efficiently utilizes the entire circumferential teeth of a ring gear of a wind turbine blade so as to eliminate the need for work at high elevation using a crane or the like even when the teeth of the ring gear are partly broken. A wind turbine generator having an electric pitch-control device that performs pitch-angle control by using a motor to drive a pinion gear that meshes with a ring gear of a wind turbine blade includes a plurality of pinion-driving-mechanism securing supporters or a fixing/releasing switching part as a meshing-region changing mechanism that changes a pitch-angle-control meshing region of the ring gear that meshes with the pinion gear during the pitch-angle control.
US08523506B2

Consistent with embodiments described herein, a one-piece staple for affixing electrical or communications wires or staples includes a body portion and at least three leg elements extending from the body portion. The first leg element and the second leg element define a first cable receiving area, and the second leg element and the third leg element define a second cable receiving area. The at least three leg elements are configured for secure insertion into a structural support element.
US08523502B2

The invention relates to a transport wagon for receiving cargo, particularly made of agricultural harvest products, such as bales pressed from straw or silage. Such wagons comprise a loading platform, which extends beneath the cargo and is delimited by longitudinal and lateral side parts, wherein the transport chamber is accessible, particularly when the longitudinal side walls are opened. According to the invention, at least one of the longitudinal side walls is provided with a support device, by means of which the longitudinal side wall can be displaced from an open position close to the ground into a closed position, in which it captures at least one upper layer of the stacked cargo and secures it laterally.
US08523490B2

Temporary platforms and methods of securing such platforms to an offshore structure include a plurality of clamps secured to an existing portion of the offshore structure at a selected height. A receiver member can be secured to the clamps at a selected horizontal position, and a temporary platform structure can be secured to the receiver member, thereby providing a temporary platform that can be installed, removed, and repositioned, as needed, for a variety of purposes. Such platforms are usable in place of elevating boats and similar vessels, enabling operations to be conducted independent of the depth of the water.
US08523487B2

A method for disposal of desalination concentrated brine waste product from a desalination process provides that the desalination concentrated brine waste product is injected, along with a carbon dioxide waste product, typically into an imperviously capped porous rock formation, typically including a saline aquifer. The desalination concentrated brine waste product and the carbon dioxide waste product (i.e., which may be injected as a supercritical liquid) may be injected simultaneously or sequentially. The method provides for environmentally acceptable disposal of the desalination concentrated brine waste product and the carbon dioxide waste product.
US08523480B2

The present invention relates to a soil compaction device, in particular such as a tamper or a vibration plate device, having an internal combustion engine and a tank container for receiving fuel for the operation of said internal combustion engine. According to the present invention, there is at least one clamping device on the soil compaction device which has a mechanical effect on an elastically flexible section of a fuel line arranged between the tank container and the internal combustion engine in order to be able to disconnect the fuel flow, wherein the clamping device is mechanically coupled to a manually actuated gas actuation apparatus and/or start-stop apparatus for the internal combustion engine, or integrated therein, wherein at least one roll or roller is arranged on the extension which has an effect on the elastically flexible section of the fuel line in order to disconnect the fuel flow.
US08523473B2

A dual type cosmetics case includes a plurality of liquid containing parts and inlets partitioned from each other by a vertical partition wall. A plurality of stems immersed into the respective liquid containing parts are mounted in such a way as to be detachably coupled to the liquid containing parts. Each stem is selectively coupled to a cap and then used. The dual type cosmetics case is advantageous in that different kinds or colors of cosmetic liquids are held in one case, so that a user need not carry or keep several different cosmetics, and thus, especially while traveling, the volume of items which are to be carried by a person can be reduced. Further, costs for purchasing cosmetics can be reduced, so that the cosmetics case is very economical.
US08523467B2

The present invention is directed generally to building tools that are high quality, durable, and in some case lightweight. For example, various tools may made by forming multiple sections into a single integrated piece by, for example, casting the parts using a molding process so as to reduce manufacturing cost and increase the structural durability of the tool. Further, various tools may be made, at least in part, using a material including magnesium to reduce the weight of the tool. Still further, various tools may be made using one or more protective coatings for protecting various metals against corrosion, for example, using a high impact coating such as paint covered with a clear coat of lacquer.
US08523463B2

A method for producing at least one printed product, the method including conveying the printed product to a processing apparatus, wherein the printed product includes a detectable identification code. The method further includes supplying the printed product to at least one tool of the processing apparatus and processing the printed product with the at least one tool. The processing includes detecting data, with a reading device, from the detectable identification code on the printed product and transmitting the data to a control unit. The processing further includes controlling, by the control unit, the at least one tool to process the printed product in dependence of the transmitted data.
US08523459B2

Disclosed are multifiber ferrule assemblies and methods for manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, a finished multifiber ferrule can be provided with a front end having a first front surface that extends beyond a second front surface, thereby inhibiting interaction with a laser beam during processing. A plurality of optical fibers can be fixed within respective optical fiber bores and extend from respective optical fiber bore openings to a position beyond the first front surface. The plurality of optical fibers can be processed by cutting and polishing with a laser beam for providing each optical fiber with a final polished end surface located beyond the first front surface. In further embodiments, an offset structure is positioned with respect to a finished multifiber ferrule after cutting and polishing the optical fibers.
US08523457B2

An optical-fiber connector includes an insulative main body having a pair of optical components extending forwardly therefrom. Each optical component defines at least one lens and a guiding post located at outside of the lens. Each guiding post defines a through hole extend through the guiding post and the main body in a front-to-back direction and fulfilled with the air for transmitting a test light. The test light from the through hole of the guiding post acts as an accurate measuring reference of the true position between the lens and the fiber because of having no displacement of the light path through a through hole.
US08523454B2

A fiber optic splice housing and integral dry mate connector system. In a described embodiment, a fiber optic connection system includes optical fiber sections in respective conduit sections. Each of the conduit sections is received in the housing assembly. An optical connection between the optical fiber sections is positioned within the housing assembly.
US08523453B2

An axial radial bearing for a rotor shaft of a wind power installation, which has a vertical circular outer disk, inner ring arranged coaxially to the outer disk, and two circular shaft washers axially arranged on both sides of the outer disk. At least one row of rolling bodies, held at equal distances by a bearing cage, extends between the shaft washers and outer disk, forming the rolling bearings for receiving axial forces, while at least one other row of rolling bodies, optionally held at equal distances by another bearing cage, is arranged between the outer disk and inner ring, forming a third rolling bearing for receiving radial forces. The two rolling bearings for receiving radial forces are formed by two tapered roller bearings oriented towards the longitudinal axis of the bearing by the small front sides, or by a double-row angular ball bearing or by two axial ball bearings.
US08523450B2

A ball bearing includes an inner ring having a raceway surface, an outer ring having a raceway surface, a plurality of rolling elements rollably disposed between the raceway surface of the inner ring and the raceway surfaces of the outer ring, and a resin cage configured to retain the plurality of rolling elements between the inner ring and the outer ring. The cage is a crown type cage having an annular base portion and a plurality of pockets formed in an axial end face of the annular base portion, in which the pockets retain the rolling elements. An axial distance between an axial position of a center of gravity of the cage and a curvature center of a spherical or cylindrical inner surface of each of the pockets is 0.6 or more times a radius of curvature of the inner surface. A hybrid vehicle transmission has this ball bearing.
US08523447B2

A wheel bearing arrangement that has a wheel hub, which is operatively connected to an outer ring by way of rolling elements and a wheel flange. The wheel flange, together with a protective ring forms a first gasket. The protective ring surrounding the outer ring of the wheel hearing arrangement. This approach is of particular interest for non-driven wheel bearing arrangements in which the side of the wheel bearing facing the vehicle can be protected by a cover used on the vehicle side.
US08523437B2

A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom.The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure.The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.
US08523418B2

The present invention provides an LED light bar and a backlight module of liquid crystal display device. The LED light bar of liquid crystal display device includes: a metal core printed circuit board and an LED chip mounted on the metal core printed circuit board. The metal core printed circuit board includes a metal substrate, an insulation layer formed on the metal substrate, and a circuit formed on the insulation layer. The LED chip has leads to electrically connect with the circuit. The insulation layer forms a hollow portion corresponding to the LED chip. The LED chip is received in the hollow portion and the LED chip has an undersurface engaging the metal substrate. The present invention has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and makes an LED light bar showing improved heat dissipation performance.
US08523411B2

An aim is to provide a light source device that can be assembled more easily than conventional light source devices. A light source device 100 comprises a light emitting module 150, a mount 140, a lighting unit 110, and a case 120, wherein the lighting unit 110 has a pair of pin terminals 112a and 112b, each of the mount 140 and a substrate 151 of the light emitting module 150 has a pair of through-holes 154a and 154b, and a pair of feed terminals 153a and 153b are disposed at positions of the substrate 151 corresponding to the through-holes 154a and 154b, the pair of pin terminals 112a and 112b being electrically connected to the pair of feed terminals 153a and 153b by penetrating through the through-holes 154a and 154b of the mount 140 and the substrate 151.
US08523404B2

An illumination device, comprising a basic body (1) having a cutout (5), a reflector (51), which is formed at least by parts of the cutout (5), and at least one optoelectronic semiconductor component (20) arranged in the cutout (5), wherein the semiconductor component (20) has an optical element (3) designed for directing at least part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the semiconductor component (20) during operation onto the reflector (51), wherein a radiation exit area (61) of the illumination device is at least twice as large as the sum of the radiation exit areas (44) of the semiconductor components.
US08523403B2

A reflector spotlight luminaire includes a housing defining an optical axis. The light source is provided that includes one or more white light emitting LEDs, the lights being arranged to direct a beam of white light along the axis of the housing, such as being reflected from an ellipsoidal reflector. An image engine in the form of an LCD panel intercepts the beam of white light traveling along the axis to modify and enhance the beam of white light with image data, such as color, shape, animation, etc. Conventional projection optics accumulates the image emitted by the image engine, projects the optically enhanced light beam through the housing onto a projection surface.
US08523394B2

Disclosed herein is an LED-based light for replacing a fluorescent bulb in a conventional fluorescent light fixture. The LED-based light includes a housing having a first end opposing a second end, a circuit board disposed within the housing and extending along a longitudinal axis of the housing, at least one LED mounted to the circuit board, at least one end cap disposed on one of the first and second ends of the housing, the end cap including a switch and at least one electrically conductive pin configured for physical and electrical connection to the light fixture; and circuitry configured to provide a current path between the at least one LED and the at least one electrically conductive pin, wherein the switch is configured to selectively disconnect the current path.
US08523393B2

A lighting device may be provided that includes a case including: a bottom plate; walls extending from ends of the bottom plate; and louvers coupled to and inclined from respective edges of the walls; a light emitter disposed on the bottom plate; and a diffuser plate spaced apart from the light emitter and disposed between the walls, wherein each of the louvers is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the diffuser plate and wherein the light emitter includes an LED.
US08523385B2

The LED grow light fixture uses a densely-packed array of high-brightness LEDs that are not individually packaged where the array behaves similarly to a point source of light. The extended point source LED array, with its lens and associated reflector, result in a concentrated, partially-collimated light source, such that the intensity of the light does not diminish rapidly as distance from the light source increases. The LED array contains a plurality of LED strings that may be separately controlled, thereby allowing the spectral content of the LED grow light to be varied, to facilitate desired plant growth at various stages of plant life. The light emitted at each of the multiple different wavelengths from the array is evenly distributed, when the objects being illuminated by the array are at a distance of less than about 6 feet or even less than 1 foot from the array.
US08523384B2

A light emitting device having a simple structure and high decorating characteristics is provided.The light emitting device comprises an emission source for outputting lights having different colors from different emission parts; and a transmitting resin having a conically shaped reflection surface for reflecting lights output from each of the emission parts, and covering the light emitting source, wherein the emission source is provided so that one or more of the emission parts are located away from a central axis of the conical shape.
US08523379B2

The extendible multifunction light comprises of several electronic functions which communicates with the use of speaker and microphone with each other based on the specific commands that maybe prompted by the user or by programming such response with the use of the control panel. Each of the functions process data which can be stored in the memory of the product which can be transferred into the user's personal computer. A user may transfer information from his or her computer to download into the product. The product may transform itself from a flare to a flashlight; to be extended for use for walking, hiking and skiing. The product has a camera for recording video and audio information, a GPS system for tracking the user, an MP3 player for downloading music, motion detector, LCD navigator screen, breath analyzer and fingerprint scanner.
US08523374B2

This present embodiment relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an exterior member which defines the appearance of the refrigerator and in which a transmissive part, through which light is passed, is formed; a decoration member provided at a rear side of the exterior member; and a light-emitting unit which emits light toward the decoration member.
US08523372B2

Assemblies compliant with night vision imaging system (NVIS) standards are described. Versions of the assemblies incorporate filtering material into an encapsulant for a light-emitting diode (LED) die, avoiding any necessity of using external filtering agents. Alternatively or additionally, filtering material may be incorporated into a housing of an encapsulated LED.
US08523371B2

In a conventional vehicle outside mirror device, there has been a problem that a frictional wear occurs. According to the present invention, an interposing member 6 is provided between a shaft holder 9 and a gear case 11. An electrically rotation range restricting mechanism is a mechanism in which an electrically driven rotation range of a mirror assembly 4 is restricted, and is comprised of abutment faces 33, 34, 43, 44 which are provided at the interposing member 6 and the shaft holder 9. A buffering mechanism is a mechanism which causes the mirror assembly 4 to rotate for the sake of buffering, and is comprised of engagement portions 38, 45 which are provided at the interposing member 6 and the gear case 11. The electrically driven rotation range restricting mechanism and the buffering mechanism are separated from each other. As a result, the present invention can prevent a frictional wear from occurring between the interposing member 6 and the shaft holder 9 and between the interposing member 6 and the gear case 11.
US08523368B2

A projection image display apparatus including a detachably attachable light source unit includes: a storage means provided to the light source unit and having previously stored therein information that the light source unit is a genuine product; a determination means making a comparison with the information in the storage means to determine whether the light source unit is the genuine product; and a light source control means controlling an output of the light source unit in accordance with a result from the determination means.
US08523366B2

A projector includes: an image projection unit which projects an image corresponding to image information; an image pickup unit which shoots the image projected from the image projection unit; an image switching unit which switches state of the image based on a predetermined phenomenon; and a projection condition control unit which allows the image projection unit to project a predetermined test image at the time when the image switching unit switches state of the image, and allows the image pickup unit to shoot the projected test image to control projection condition of the image based on the picked-up image result.
US08523353B2

A method of calculating a shaping setpoint for an ophthalmic lens along a longitudinal profile includes: an operation of acquiring an initial longitudinal profile; an operation of centering the initial longitudinal profile on the lens; an operation of searching for two remarkable points of the initial longitudinal profile as a function of determined criteria; an operation of calculating a modified axial coordinate for each remarkable point in order to ensure proper mounting and esthetic appearance of the lens in its eyeglass frame; and an operation of calculating a final longitudinal profile resulting from a transformation of the initial longitudinal profile that is such that the final longitudinal profile passes through the two remarkable points.
US08523346B2

A transport device may include a transport mechanism including a supporting member configured to support a placed medium and transport the medium. The transport device may also include a first charging device configured to alternately charge the supporting member with one polarity and an opposite polarity. The transport device may further include a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the medium to the supporting member. The transport device may yet further include a second charging device configured to alternately charge the medium with one polarity and an opposite polarity for transferring the medium with the transfer mechanism before the transfer mechanism places the medium on the supporting member. The transport device may yet further include a control unit configured to control at least one of the transport mechanism, the transfer mechanism, the first charging device, and the second charging device.
US08523334B2

An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.
US08523328B2

A method of ejecting liquid includes providing a liquid dispenser including a substrate and a diverter member. Portions of the substrate define a liquid supply channel and a liquid return channel. The diverter member includes a MEMS transducing member positioned in contact with a compliant membrane. The compliant membrane is anchored to the substrate such that the compliant membrane forms a portion of a wall of the liquid dispensing channel. A continuous flow of liquid is provided from a liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply. The diverter member is selectively actuated to divert a portion of the liquid flowing through the liquid dispensing channel through outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel when drop ejection is desired.
US08523326B2

A head unit fixed to a case in a position in which a nozzle forming surface thereof faces a first surface side of a head fixing portion, and a wiring substrate is arranged on a second surface side opposite from the first surface on a portion. A supply flow channel in the case communicate with a common liquid chamber at an end portion of the communicating flow channel in a first direction, and a flexible cable is disposed inside the supply flow channel in the case in the first direction.
US08523324B2

A liquid discharge head substrate includes an external terminal, a diode, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer. The external terminal is configured to connect to an external. The first conductive layer is connected to the external terminal for causing an input current to flow from the external terminal, and the diode includes an anode and a cathode. The second conductive layer is connected to the first conductive layer and one electrode of the anode and cathode, and causes a surge current generated when a surge voltage is applied from the external terminal, to flow from the first conductive layer to the one electrode. The third conductive layer is connected to the other electrode of the anode and the cathode and passes the surge current flowing from the one electrode to the other electrode. The first conductive layer includes a part laminating with the second conductive layer sandwiching an insulation layer, and does not include a part laminating with the third conductive layer.
US08523322B2

A fluid ejector having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an orifice that allows fluid in contact with the inner surface to be ejected. The fluid ejector has a non-wetting monolayer covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the fluid ejector and surrounding an orifice in the fluid ejector. Fabrication of the non-wetting monolayer can include removing a non-wetting monolayer from a second region of a fluid ejector while leaving the non-wetting monolayer on a first region surrounding an orifice in the fluid ejector, or protecting a second region of a fluid ejector from having a non-wetting monolayer formed thereon, wherein the second region does not include a first region surrounding the orifice in the fluid ejector.
US08523320B2

The present invention provides a recording apparatus including recording heads each including a plurality of nozzle arrays that are arranged so as to overlap, wherein overlapping portions of the recording heads for two different colors are separated from each other with a distance therebetween in an array direction of nozzles.
US08523318B2

A carriage printer includes a printhead; a carriage guide disposed along a carriage scan direction, the carriage guide including a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a carriage for transporting the printhead along the carriage scan direction across the print region, the carriage including a bearing surface that is configured to contact the carriage guide as the carriage transports the printhead; a plurality of carriage guide supports each including a support surface, the plurality of carriage guide supports including a first carriage guide support disposed proximate the first end; a second carriage guide support disposed proximate the second end; and a third carriage guide support disposed between the first carriage guide support and the second carriage guide support; a first biasing force applied in a bias direction proximate the first end; and a second biasing force applied in the bias direction proximate the second end.
US08523314B2

Suitable preliminary discharge conditions are set for a recording head using reaction liquid in bidirectional recording. While the recording head makes a reciprocating motion and scans a recording medium, a preliminary discharge of the reaction liquid is executed after recording on the recording medium from discharge ports on the rear side in a direction in which the recording head travels and a preliminary discharge of ink is executed when a preliminary discharge of the reaction liquid is not executed.
US08523302B2

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator body, a door to open and close the front of the refrigerator body, and a door handle provided at one side of the door. The door handle includes a handle unit having a grip part to allow a user to grip the door handle, an actuating rod fixed inside the handle unit such that the actuating rod is moved along with the handle unit, a guide unit to guide movement of the actuating rod, a pusher configured to be advanced and retreated through movement relative to the actuating rod to push the refrigerator body, and a gear unit disposed between the actuating rod and the pusher such that the gear unit is engaged with the actuating rod and the pusher.
US08523298B2

In a tracklaying gear with a frame having an idler wheel linear guide in which at least one guide piece holding the idler wheel axle is movable, and on which a tensioning means of a tensioning device supported in the frame can act in the guidance direction, at least one mechanically guided and centered elastomer spring body is installed to bulge under axial compression, such that the spring body can be readjusted, the elastomer spring body consisting of an elastomer material largely incompressible as a spring.
US08523296B2

An electric drive vehicle having an induction motor for braking or driving wheels, a motor controller for controlling the induction motor, and mechanical brakes for braking the wheels, wherein while the vehicle is in halt in a state that the mechanical breaks are not operating, the motor controller applies DC voltage or AC voltage in a frequency range of −1 Hz to +1 Hz to the stator of the induction motor to make the induction motor generate torque for stopping the vehicle and maintain the vehicle in a halt state.
US08523295B2

The invention relates to a hydraulic assembly of a vehicle brake system with traction control. Hydraulic assemblies include a housing block, which is to be fitted with hydraulic components, and an electronic control unit for activating the components. It is known for a hydraulic connection for a pressure sensor to be provided on a housing block and for the signal of the pressure sensor to be taken into consideration for brake pressure regulation in the control unit. The invention proposes an advantageous arrangement of at least one second hydraulic connection for a second pressure sensor on the housing block in combination with blind bores of the hydraulic connections. The blind bores can be positioned in a variable fashion and formed with different lengths during the production of the housing block. In this way, it is possible for the pressure in different hydraulic partial regions of a vehicle brake system to be sensed in an application-specific manner. The number of such hydraulic connections for pressure sensors has no influence on the external dimensions of the housing block.
US08523289B2

A cutting bit retention assembly (399) that includes a cutting bit holder (500), which receives a cutting bit (58) and has shank (504) that extends into a bore (418) in a support (400). The shank section (504) of the cutting bit holder (500) presents a surface (530) defined by a notch (528) that selectively cooperates with a retention pin (670). A transverse bore (430) in the support (400) carries the retention pin (670). The retention pin (670) is selectively movable to any one of several positions. One position is a non-retaining position wherein the retention pin (670) does not engage the notch surface (530). Another position is a retaining position in which the retention pin (670) engages the notch surface (530) to urge the cutting bit holder into the cutting bit holder bore (418). Still another position is an ejecting position in which the retention pin (670) engages the notch surface (530) to urge the cutting bit holder (500) out of the cutting bit holder bore (418).
US08523285B2

A seat (10) for a utility vehicle comprising a base (12) and a back support (14) is provided. The back support has an asymmetric profile (18) which includes a cut-away portion (20) at a position corresponding to a user's first shoulder, and a mounting point (25) corresponding to a point located above the user's second shoulder for attachment of a three-point harness (22, 24). Provision of the cut-away portion on one upper corner of the seat maintains a portion on the opposite side of the seat for location of the three-point harness thus delivering increased freedom of movement for the operator whilst incorporating safety requirements.
US08523281B2

A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a guide plate and a gear plate. The gear plate has a plurality of internal gear teeth and an inner diameter. A hub is attached to a shaft that connects two recliners on opposite sides of the seat. The guide plate, the gear plate and a cam are retained on the hub by a retainer clip. Two locking elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have a plurality of external gear teeth that selectively engage the internal gear teeth. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam surfaces with one of the engagement surfaces unlocking the external gear teeth from the internal gear teeth. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. The inner diameter of the gear plate is received on the retainer clip that provides a bearing surface for rotation of the gear plate.
US08523280B2

In a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion that are placed in one of a normal position and a reclining position that is more reclined than the normal position, a link mechanism is operable to change the positions of the seat back and the seat cushion by moving the seat back and the seat cushion in relation to each other, so that a back contact point of the seat back, where a predetermined portion of the back of the seated person contacts the seat back, contacts the predetermined portion of the back of the seated person in both the normal position and the reclining position, and so that an ischial contact point of the seat cushion, where a tuber-of-ischium of the seated person contacts the seat cushion, contacts the tuber-of-ischium of the seated person in both the normal position and the reclining position.
US08523278B2

A sliding roof device for a vehicle, in particular for an automobile, is provided. The device has a movable panel, the front region of which is mounted such that it is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, while the rear region is hinged to at least one push-out lever that is likewise mounted such that it is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The sliding roof device additionally comprises drive devices configured to displace the movable panel by directly driving each push-out lever in the direction of a displacement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
US08523276B2

A vehicle includes an underbody structure element, a technical front panel, and at least one body shell structure element. The technical front panel includes a central part carrying vehicle cooling elements, opposed parts fixed to opposite vertical edges of the central part, and a top cross member including a top edge. One end of the body shell structure element includes two opposed rails extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and two opposed parts that accept the technical front panel. The technical front panel pivots about a transverse axis of the vehicle on the underbody structure element when being mounted to the body shell structure element. The technical front panel is separated from the underbody structure element when fully mounted to the body shell structure element.
US08523275B2

A polycarbonate window system having an integrated ROPS that reduces the thickness of cab posts of machine such that the operator's visibility is increased. The polycarbonate window system also facilitates secure retention of the polycarbonate window without requiring holes to be formed near the periphery of the polycarbonate window, thereby increasing the structural integrity of the polycarbonate window.
US08523272B1

A panel assembly for a vehicle and a method of supporting the panel assembly is disclosed. The panel assembly includes a first wall and a bracket adjacent to the first wall. The bracket has a first platform facing the first wall. The panel assembly further includes a first support member attached to the first platform and defining an initial state and a final state. The first support member and the first wall define a first gap therebetween when in the initial state. The first support member is expandable to contact the first wall to remove the first gap when in the final state for supporting the first wall to prevent deformation of the first wall.
US08523269B2

A vehicle window panel mounted in a window opening formed in a vehicle to close the opening includes a panel body obtained by molding a resin material. A light-transmitting window is integrally connected to the panel body, and a protrusion is integrally connected to the panel body to protrude toward at least one of an inside or outside of the vehicle.
US08523262B2

A vehicle seat rear floor latch and positioner assembly (22) for a vehicle seat (10) movable between a seating position, a generally horizontal nonuse position, and a generally vertical storage position as well as being removable from the vehicle to increase cargo capacity.
US08523261B2

The subject of the invention is a wall cover on the inner side of a bellows of a transfer between two pivotably interconnected vehicles, wherein the side wall cover is held by two holding devices, wherein each holding device is arranged at the body of a vehicle and wherein the holding device receives the side wall cover to be able to be rolled up when the length of the side wall cover shortens during travel around a curve.
US08523258B2

In a structure for mounting a subframe, located under a vehicle body, to the vehicle body via an elastic assembly, the elastic assembly includes: a first mounting member located under the vehicle body and over the subframe; a second mounting member located immediately above the first mounting member; and an elastic member disposed between the first and second mounting members. The first mounting member is mounted to the vehicle body, while the second mounting member is mounted to the subframe.
US08523252B2

A disclosed lift device serves as a work piece handling tool for performing service operations on a mechanical component, such as a power cylinder head of a gas engine compressor. The lift device may be attached to the cylinder head and used to securely and efficiently remove (and install) the cylinder head from the gas engine compressor. The lift device may also provide a free-standing base for holding the cylinder head securely in a manner that provides access for servicing operations. The advantages of the lift device include a single mounting and unmounting operation for the entire duration of the servicing operations.
US08523251B1

A bumper fascia support assembly includes a front support, a bracket and a bumper fascia. The bracket has a support attachment end, a body section and a fascia attachment end. The support attachment end is fixedly attached to a forward facing surface of the front support. The bumper fascia has a central section fixedly attached to the fascia attachment end of the bracket. The body section of the bracket has a controlled deflection structure that is configured with respect to the support attachment end and the fascia attachment end to deform downwardly in response to a prescribed impacting force being applied to the bumper fascia so that the fascia attachment end and the central section of the bumper fascia move downward relative to the support attachment end absorbing impact energy.
US08523250B2

A top-and-bottom latch structure for a lock mainly includes a lock formed by a casing, and a lock tongue, a lock core, a handle spindle, and other components disposed in the casing. The handle spindle is provided with a first and a second protruding rod disposed at different angles, and is respectively provided with a first and a second braking piece above and under the handle spindle, so that the two braking pieces are respectively clamped by the protruding rods. The top-and-bottom latch structure for a lock further includes: two fixing members, respectively connected to the braking pieces; and tact switches, connected to a door panel by the fixing members via connecting rods. Therefore, when the door is closed, the tact switches once touching the door frame are embedded into the door frame and the fixing members move downwards to rotate the handle spindle and lock the lock tongue.
US08523242B2

A connection-structure of a flexible tube, in which the flexible tube is fitted to an end portion of a metal pipe, comprises an annular projection, a first radially enlarged portion, a seal ring and a second radially enlarged portion. The annular projection is formed on an outer surface of the end portion of the metal pipe. The first radially enlarged portion is formed on the tip side of the metal pipe relative to the projection, defining a first annular groove with the projection. The seal ring is fitted into the annular groove. The second enlarged portion is formed on the base side of the metal pipe relative to the projection, defining a second annular groove with the projection. The tip portion of the flexible tube is positioned close to the maximum diameter portion of the second enlarged portion.
US08523233B2

An improved mobile fluid storage tank having a base, substantially vertical front wall, a substantially rear wall, a pair of substantially parallel side walls and a roof structure. The roof structure has a rear roof portion and a front roof portion. The rear roof portion is substantially parallel with the base and extends along the rear portion of the two side walls while the front roof portion is comprised of a single sloping section which extends from the forward end rear roof portion to the vertical front wall. The intersection of the front and rear roof portions being selected to provide the optimum volume of fluid content of the tank.
US08523231B2

A riding mower includes a pair of right and left front wheels; a pair of right and left rear wheels; a driver's seat provided between the rear wheels and the front wheels; an engine provided in the rear of the driver's seat; and a mower provided under the driver's seat. The riding mower is capable of being mounted with a fuel gas cylinder sideways on a side of the engine in which an operation section of the fuel gas cylinder faces backward. The riding mower further includes a guard member that is opposed to a rear surface of the fuel gas cylinder and is switchable between a protection position to cover the rear side of the operation section and an open position to open the rear surface of the fuel gas cylinder.
US08523229B1

A height adjuster assembly for motor vehicle belt restraint systems adapted to be mounted to a motor vehicle “B” pillar for affixing a D-ring belt anchorage. The height adjuster assembly can be moved to a plurality of vertical positions for optimally locating a seat belt and D-ring. The adjuster assembly includes a slider assembly movable along a rail preferably formed by a roll forming operation. A rotatable pawl within the slider assembly is biased into engagement with the rail teeth and is held in a normally locked position. A pushbutton can be actuated to rotate the lock pawl to a disengaged position allowing vertical adjustment. The system features few parts, low-cost construction, and provides high structural integrity.
US08523212B2

A cycle (1) for use by a rider (11) over a terrain surface (36). The cycle (1) includes a frame (2) having front (3) and rear (4) portions; a seat (13); a front wheel (5) rotatable about a primary axis (17) and attached to a steering member (7); a steering mechanism (8) coupled to the steering member (7); a rear wheel (6), rotatably attached to the rear frame portion (4); a drive mechanism (21 or 88) operatively coupled to the front (5) and/or rear (6) wheel; at least one footrest (12, 92) on the front wheel (5). The steering member (7) is pivotally attached to the front frame portion (3) for rotation about a secondary axis (15) orthogonal to the primary axis (17). The cycle (1) is configured such that a rider (11) can be seated on the seat (13) in operative contact with the steering mechanism (7) when the cycle (1) is in motion, while permitting both feet of the seated rider (11) to reach the terrain surface (36) when the cycle (1) is stationary.
US08523211B2

A knee roller that is easy to use and provides improved maneuverability is disclosed. The knee roller may include a support frame for supporting a handlebar assembly, a knee support and a pair of coaxial wheels. The pair of coaxial wheels may be positioned substantially underneath the knee support, where the pair of coaxial wheels rotates about a common rotation axis, and a vertical plane defined by the rotation axis intersects the knee support. The position of the pair of coaxial wheels with respect to the knee support substantially distributes a weight received at the knee support over the pair of coaxial wheels and allows the knee roller to turn about a vertical axis perpendicular to and intersects with the rotation axis.
US08523209B2

A semi-trailing arm axle for a motor vehicle which comprises a semi-trailing arm (1) for each wheel (4) of the axle. Each semi-trailing arm (1) is flexible about the vertical axis and is mounted to the body or on a support frame by at least one mounting (2, 3). Each wheel (4) of the axle is connected to its respective flexible semi-trailing arm (1) by way of at least one wheel bearing (5), and the flexible semi-trailing arm (1) is the sole wheel-guiding element.
US08523206B2

A steering gear of a motor vehicle is fastened to a chassis via several bearing points, each of which includes, but is not limited to bolt penetrating eyes of the chassis and the steering gear and an elastic sleeve. The elastic sleeve of at least a first of the bearing points is accommodated in the eye of the chassis.
US08523205B2

A swing skateboard includes a board body, a front roller unit and a rear roller unit. The front roller unit has a front roller fork rotatably disposed under a bottom face of the board body, and a front roller rotatably mounted on the front roller fork. The rear roller unit has a rear roller shaft mounted under the bottom face of the board body, and two rear rollers respectively rotatably disposed at two ends of the rear roller shaft. A user can wiggle his/her body to tilt the board body of the skateboard and laterally swing the front roller unit so as to control and move the skateboard forward.
US08523204B2

A structure of connectable skateboard includes a skateboard body that carries casters. The skateboard body has a front end forming a plurality of connection lugs and a rear end forming a plurality of mating slots at locations corresponding to the connection lugs, whereby with the inter-engagement between the connection lugs and the corresponding mating slots, multiple skateboard bodies can be inter-connected to each other to form a connected skateboard assembly.
US08523203B1

A suspension system is disclosed that suspends a trailing axle with steerable wheels from the body of a motor vehicle with a carriage and a pair of actuators. The axle is directly suspended from the carriage and the actuators operate to establish the carriage and thereby the axle in a stowed condition on the vehicle body and in an active condition where the axle trails the vehicle at a substantial distance and is forced by the actuators to help support the vehicle. And the actuators are pivotally connected to the vehicle body at a location above the highest possible height of the center of gravity of the maximum allowable load supported by the vehicle body to thereby enhance vehicle roll stability with the trailing axle suspension system while providing for significant travel of the axle relative to the frame of the vehicle in accommodating road grade differences between the trailing axle wheels and the wheels of the primary axles normally supporting the vehicle frame and also blocking road surface produced shock forces on the trailing axle wheels from the vehicle body.
US08523202B1

A suspension system is disclosed that suspends a trailing axle with steerable wheels from the tailgate of a motor vehicle with the use of a carriage, a pair of actuators and gas springs. The carriage is pivotally connected to the tailgate, the axle is directly suspended from the carriage and the actuators are pivotally connected to the carriage and tailgate and adapted to establish the carriage and thereby the axle in a stowed condition on the tailgate and in an active condition where the axle trails the vehicle at a substantial distance and the actuators are connected to the tailgate so as to contribute in an enhanced manner to the roll stability of the vehicle.
US08523190B2

A device for holding an essentially cylindrical work piece (22), in particular a jewelry ring, for machining with a laser beam (L) has at least one chuck (20) that is supported so that it is able to rotate around a rotation axis (18) and that is provided for centrally holding the work piece (22) by means of first clamping elements (30), which automatically fix the work piece (22) in position through the exertion of a spring force.
US08523185B1

A target shooting system includes a gun which shoots a projectile at a target which is part of a target assembly. The target includes a sensor which senses a projectile hit, and passes an electronic signal to a target information processor located in the target assembly. The target information processor processes the hit information, and transmits a target hit signal to a system processor over a wireless rf link. The system processor stores and displays the hit information, and broadcasts a hit announcement to the shooter.
US08523179B2

A document feeding device includes a document reader, a drive roller and a plurality of driven rollers. The document reader is configured to read a document fed in a feeding direction. The drive roller is disposed upstream of the document reader in the feeding direction. The plurality of driven rollers is disposed opposite to the drive roller to form nips therebetween. The plurality of driven rollers is supported by one common shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction. A position of at least one nip formed by at least one of the plurality of driven rollers is offset downstream or upstream of other nips formed by other driven rollers.
US08523175B2

A sheet transport apparatus includes a sheet transport portion that transports a sheet in a first transport direction and a second transport direction, a bending member that bends without breaking the sheet by corrugating the sheet in an orthogonal direction, and a restriction member that restricts, in a perpendicular direction, a corrugation in the sheet bent by the bending member. The restriction member is provided on an upstream side in the first transport direction of the bending member.
US08523174B2

An improved rotator/translator mechanism includes multiple thin discs that mate with an idler roll to distribute nip pressure and spin at different rotational velocities to produce the same linear velocity at the nip and thereby reduce marking on certain media.
US08523167B2

A device is described for directing sheets (2) which has at least two inlets for the sheets, a first inlet (A1) and a second inlet (A2), associated respectively to a first sheet infeeder line (L1) and a second sheet infeeder line (L2), and an outlet (AU) for the sheets. A support member is associated to the first inlet (A1) in order to restingly receive at least one sheet (2) which enters the first inlet (A1)) for transfer of the sheet (2) towards the outlet (AU). A guide and transfer element (D2) is associated to the second inlet (A2) for guiding at least an entering sheet into the second inlet (A2) and to transfer the sheet towards the outlet (AU). The guide and transfer element (D2) and the support member (S) are reciprocally arranged for conveying the sheets (2) towards the outlet along a common outlet direction (DAU).
US08523165B2

A recording media sheet processing system includes a folding device including a folding unit to fold a sheet and a squeezing unit to squeeze the folded sheet, an insertion device to insert in an envelope an enclosure, and a controller. The folding device. The controller includes an envelope selector, a selector for selecting whether to fold the sheet and a folding style of the sheet, a first storage unit for storing a folding-related equivalent quantity into which a quantity of each sheet is converted corresponding to the folding style and the number of times the sheet is squeezed, a second storage unit for storing a maximum quantity of sheets insertable, a calculator to calculate a total converted quantity of the enclosure, a determination unit to determine whether the selected envelope type accommodates the enclosure, and a squeezing setter to set the number of times of squeezing.
US08523160B2

An embodiment of the present invention is a clamp system for use in screen printing, including first and second jaw members, screws, an extension member, and a registration pin. The jaw members are aligned and have respective facing flat surfaces and openings. The screws threadedly connect to respective openings and set the distance between jaw members for clamping a frame. The extension member remains flush to the flat surface of the first jaw member and has a housing extending orthogonal to alignment of the jaw members. The registration pin engages a hole on the housing and extends parallel to jaw members and orthogonal to the housing. The blunt end of the pin abuts a platen. All platens maintain the same position relative to the frame, when abutting the blunt end. The registration of platens to the frame allows for multiple consistent ink application onto a substrate.
US08523153B2

A spring, provided between a first member and a second member, includes a main body portion having a hole portion; a cylindrical portion provided at the radially inner circumference and the radially outer circumference of the main body portion; and a corner portion formed at a boundary portion between the main body portion and the cylindrical portion; in which the main body portion is extended to a crossing direction with respect to a direction along suppress strength provided from the first member and the second member, the cylindrical portion has an abutting portion protruding from each circumference of the main body portion toward one of the first member and the second member and abutting thereat, the corner portions can be elastically deformed while varying angles thereof according to the suppression strength, and the corner portion defines a tangent line along the main body portion, and at least one of tangent lines of the corner portions makes a predetermined angle with respect to a straight line between the radially inner circumference and the radially outer circumference of the main body portion.
US08523148B2

An improved jack assembly for use with a trailer tongue of a towed vehicle. The jack assembly including telescoping height adjustment of the assembly, a pivot assembly for pivoting between a vertical and horizontal stowed position, and a clip for maintaining a handle assembly in a stowed position when not in use. The jack assembly also includes the use of bushings for the telescoping tubes to enhance the sliding movement between the tubes and aid in maintaining the axial alignment of the tubes thereby extending the life of the jack assembly. The pivot assembly further includes an attachment bracket that may be rotated to accommodate at least two different sizes of trailer tongues.
US08523146B2

A preferred embodiment of a system includes a lifting device for lifting a motor vehicle, a support structure for mounting the lifting device in a pit, and a carriage for supporting the lifting device from the support structure and being movable within the support structure. The system also includes a cover coupled to opposite sides of the carriage so that the cover extends away from the carriage and continuously between the opposite sides of the carriage.
US08523143B2

A detachable fluid coupling for connecting an inkjet printhead with an ink supply, the detachable coupling having a fixed valve member defining a valve seat, a sealing collar (146) for sealing engagement with the valve seat (148), a resilient sleeve (126) having one annular end fixed relative to the fixed valve member (128), and the other annular end engaging the sealing collar to bias it into sealing engagement with the valve seat. The coupling also having a conduit opening (150) that is movable relative to the fixed valve member for engaging the sealing collar (146) to unseal it from the valve seat. Unsealing the sealing collar from the valve seat compresses the resilient sleeve (126) such that an intermediate section of the sleeve displaces outwardly relative to the annular ends. With a resilient sleeve that buckles or folds outwardly, the diameter of the coupling is smaller that the conventional couplings that use an annular resilient element that biases the valve shut remaining residual tension. With a smaller outer diameter, the couplings for all the different ink colors can be positioned in a smaller more compact interface.
US08523136B2

An engine mount assembly is provided for mounting an engine to a vehicle frame. The engine mount assembly includes an elastomeric material snubber element having a generally elongated configuration with axial end faces and a coaxial bolt passage defined therethrough. A tubular sleeve has an inner shape sized for sliding receipt of the snubber element therein. The tubular sleeve has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile such that a bottom longitudinal cross-sectional portion of the tubular sleeve extends axially beyond the end faces of the snubber element and defines an enlarged attachment footprint for the tubular sleeve to a vehicle frame flange.
US08523135B2

A device that facilitates the support of a post or shaft in such a way that the post is connected rigidly to a foundation or otherwise connected to a fixed position. If a condition arises that causes the post to become stressed physically the device will allow separation of the post from a mounting on the foundation or fixed position before the said post is physically damaged. The post itself may be round, square, rectangular, channel shape, or any other shape in profile. In some cases the post is the primary support for such things as roadside sign posts, signs, signals, lights, warnings, or markers, that are commonly held by the roadside in a fixed and elevated position so that they are easily visible to passing motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians. The device can also be used to support other types of signs, signals, or devices unrelated to traffic or transport.
US08523130B2

Embodiments of the present invention include a deployment apparatus comprising a deployment object, a deployment arm, a deployment link, a pivot housing, at least two linear guides, and a gas spring. The deployment object is coupled to the deployment arm, which is pivotally coupled to the deployment link. An opposing end of the deployment link is fixedly coupled to a structure. The pivot housing is adjacent the connection between the deployment link and the deployment arm. The pivot housing is slidingly engaged with the at least two linear guides. The gas spring is coupled to the pivot housing, which pushes the pivot housing to an upper end of the at least two linear guides and causes the deployment link to rotate the deployment arm from a stowed angle to a released angle and results in a displaced vertical distance.
US08523129B2

A mounting system for mounting a display device to a surface, the mounting system adjustable in multiple degrees of freedom to selectively position and orientate the attached device relative to the mounting surface and/or other collocated display devices. According to various embodiments, a surface bracket is configured to attach to a mounting surface and an arm assembly operatively couples the surface bracket with a mount carriage. A mount bracket is movably coupled to the mount carriage and is selectively movable in a plane substantially parallel to the surface. A plurality of device bracket assemblies are coupled to the mount bracket. Each of the device bracket assemblies is selectively movable to translate, pivot and tilt the attached device.
US08523128B2

A mounting bracket for securing a raingutter-mountable roof rack system to the bed or cargo management rail of a pickup truck or SUV. The bracket comprises a simple device with a minimal number of parts required for removably clamping the bracket to the side member of a vehicle bed. The bracket is simple to install, may be located anywhere along the side of the vehicle bed, and does not require the presence of a bed cover system for attachment to the vehicle. The bracket attaches to the side of the vehicle's bed in a manner that does not consume a substantial amount of space within the bed of the vehicle, and it may be used in conjunction with a tonneau cover without interfering with the operation of the cover.
US08523126B2

Wall mountable accessory assemblies suitable to be mounted in a bathroom are disclosed. As an example, there is a grab bar assembly that has at least one mounting bracket, a grab bar, and a set screw. The bracket includes a rearward portion mountable to the wall and a frontal portion having a first recess which is forwardly open. The bracket also has a side catch groove structure. A projection on the grab bar is laterally slid into the catch groove structure and interfit therewith. The screw is inserted in the first recess so as to thereby drive a portion of the grab bar forward, inhibiting relative movement between the grab bar and the bracket.
US08523121B2

A sprinkler elevating apparatus is provided for use on an irrigation device. The sprinkler elevating apparatus includes a sprinkler support body and a midline hose coupling body. The sprinkler support body is configured to support the sprinkler at an elevated position relative to the irrigation device. The midline hose coupling body is carried by the sprinkler support body. The midline hose coupling body has a contact portion configured to affix to a midline section of a flexible hose drop of the irrigation device. A method is also provided.
US08523119B1

A support bracket is provided for use with a fixture for mounting a water closet connected to a water conduit of radius R. The fixture has a plurality of bolts at predetermined locations to which the bracket is mounted during use of the bracket. The support bracket has an elongated member with a longitudinal axis. A first end of the elongated member has at least one aperture sized and located therein to allow the bracket to be fastened to the bolts on the fixture during use of the bracket. A distal end of the bracket has a shaped opening therein. The shaped opening is formed of overlapping circles, resulting in a hole with circular ends of a radius of about R. The shaped opening has two opposing sides each with a cycloid shape and having opposing cusps of the cycloid shape aligned to define at least two circular openings of a radius of about R. The openings are centered on a straight line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The shaped opening can be formed in the bracket, or formed in an insert placed in a hole in the bracket.
US08523115B2

Systems, apparatus, and program product and methods for controlling boundary layer flow across an aerodynamic structure which can produce separate regions of flow structures at different strengths by means of dielectric-barrier-discharge (DBD) type plasmas, are provided. An example of such apparatus provides plasma regions that are capable of being individually controlled by voltage and/or frequency, and modulated for the purposes of flow control. The apparatus includes an electrode assembly fitted with electrodes on either side of a dielectric such that different electrode geometries and arrangements create isolated regions of plasmas which results in separate regions of flow structures. These regions may be further controlled and modulated by the use of electronic-switching to produce irregularly shaped flow structures and strengths including those having a primarily vertical component.
US08523111B2

A method of stiffening a rib (19, 20) during the assembly of an aircraft wing is described. A stiffener panel (40, 41) is attached to a face of the rib (19, 20). The rib is aligned with one or more wing components with the stiffener panel (40, 41) attached. An assembly operation such as drilling (16) is performed with the rib aligned and the stiffener panel attached. The stiffener panel (40, 41) is removed from the rib after the assembly operation. The stiffener panel has a resilient external sealing ring which is mounted on a face of the panel and forms an external perimeter of a vacuum cavity; and at least one resilient internal sealing ring which is mounted on the panel (20, 21) within the perimeter defined by the external sealing ring and forms an internal perimeter of the vacuum cavity. The stiffener can be attached to the rib by a vacuum clamping force, the vacuum being sealed by the external and internal sealing rings. The internal sealing ring(s) seal any holes which are present in the rib. The stiffener (40, 41) can support the rib (20, 21) during alignment to give it the required flatness.
US08523106B2

A nose landing gear arrangement including a leg assembly with a pivot axis A at one end thereof and a landing gear wheel mounting at the other end thereof. Two stays are provided, each stay being mounted at one end thereof to the leg assembly and mountable at the other end thereof to an aircraft. Each stay includes an upper stay part and a lower stay part which are hinged together by means of a simple hinge. The upper stay part has a cardan joint at its end spaced from the hinge to enable hinged mounting to an aircraft. The lower stay part has a cardan joint at its lower end spaced from the hinge, the cardan joint of the lower stay part hingedly mounting the lower stay part to the leg assembly. The leg assembly and the stays are arranged so that the stays extend from the leg assembly on opposite sides thereof and the stays fold into a stowed position so that they lie substantially alongside the leg assembly when the leg assembly is retracted.
US08523102B2

A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix and a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. A sensor management tool is provided for input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
US08523098B2

A cord organizer has a base with first and second posts extending therefrom. First and second flexible nubs couple with the first post and the second post, respectively. The result is a cord organizer formed of two posts around which a cord may be wrapped in a figure-eight pattern. The flexible nubs help to hold the cord onto the posts by preventing the cord from slipping off the ends of the posts on its own. However, when the cord is to be un-stowed from the cord organizer, the cord can be pulled straight away from the cord organizer, causing the flexible nubs to elastically flex to allow the cord to pass without requiring undue pivoting or rotating of the cord organizer, and further without causing twisting of the cord about its longitudinal central axis. The flexible nubs may be removable and replaceable to enable personalized customization of the cord organizer.
US08523097B2

A vehicular seat belt device including: a belt reel on which a webbing that restrains an occupant is wound; an actuator that generates instantaneous rotational drive force by gas that is generated during an emergency; a flywheel that rotates by the rotational drive force of the actuator; a speed increasing mechanism that is housed inside the flywheel and that increases the rotational speed of the actuator and transmits it to the flywheel; and a connecting and disconnecting unit that connects a low-speed rotation side of the speed increasing mechanism and the belt reel during rotation of the flywheel, wherein the belt reel rotates to the webbing winding-up direction by the rotational drive force of the actuator.
US08523083B2

A thermostat is configured for automated compatibility with HVAC systems that are either single-HVAC-transformer systems or dual-HVAC-transformer systems. The compatibility is automated in that a manual jumper installation is not required for adaptation to either single-HVAC-transformer systems or dual-HVAC-transformer systems. The thermostat has a plurality of HVAC wire connectors including a first call relay wire connector, a first power return wire connector, a second call relay wire connector, and a second power return wire connector. The thermostat is configured such that if the first and second external wires have been inserted into the first and second power return wire connectors, respectively, then the first and second power return wire connectors are electrically isolated from each other. Otherwise, the first and second power return wire connectors are electrically shorted together.
US08523067B2

The present invention provides a system that facilitates the selection of purchasable items for use in an environs defined by the customer. In one aspect, the system includes a processing element capable of proposing a plurality of purchasable items to the customer for selection by the customer. The processing element also is capable of receiving data representing the environs and data representing at least one purchasable item selected by the customer. The processing element is further capable of generating and displaying a three-dimensional graphical representation of the environs and each purchasable item or items selected by the customer so that the customer can visualize the items in the environs.
US08523062B2

A method of creating a single transaction card is disclosed and comprises embossing the single transaction card within a pocket to form embossed characters on a first surface of the single transaction card, filling the pocket with a fill panel to provide a substantially flush surface on a second surface of the single transaction card, wherein a third surface of the fill panel is in uniform, direct contact with an interior of the pocket. Another method is disclosed for machining a face pocket within a single transaction card and disposing a microchip therein. In various embodiments, a single transaction card is comprised of a continuous metal layer, such as, for example, titanium.
US08523057B2

An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records, such as user cards, to cause machine user authorization and financial transfers. Account data read from a user card is associated in a data store with instructions for displaying a customer interface uniquely associated with the particular bank where the user holds the account. The customer interface includes user-selectable financial transaction options. The arrangement enables the customer interface of the user's home bank, with which the user is familiar, to also be automatically displayed when the user operates automated banking machines of other banks.
US08523053B2

The embodiments presented herein provide for systems and methods for allowing different types of transactions, e.g., credit or debit transactions, over different payment networks, e.g., Visa or STAR networks, using contactless payment devices. In embodiments, a merchant and/or consumer can select if he or she wants a debit or credit transaction. The merchant point-of-sale (POS) device can process these choices and transmit the request to the contactless payment device. In embodiments, the contactless payment device includes two or more applications (one for credit transactions and one for debit transactions) for conducting transactions and transmitting the requested information to the merchant POS device. The merchant POS device can then use the information received from the contactless payment device to complete the transaction over the requested network.
US08523052B2

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for visualizing results of elections. A set of ballots, each including one or more areas for expression of intent, are received and analyzed with a computerized image analysis tool. The image analysis tool provides a score associated with the areas for expression of intent for one or more of the set of ballots. The analyzed areas are displayed on an image-display device according to a predetermined criterion.
US08523051B2

A refuse collection apparatus includes a body portion extending between upper and lower ends. The apparatus includes a refuse container having bottom and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and defining an open top and an interior area. A lid is releasably coupled to an upper edge of the side wall and configured to cover the container open top, the chute lower end being fixedly attached to the lid. An exhaust fan is operatively mounted to the lid in communication with the container interior area and configured to withdraw air from the container interior area when actuated. An input station is coupled to the chute upper end and configured to interface with the building wall, the input station having an access door movable between open and closed configurations selectively allowing and preventing access to the chute body portion, respectively.
US08523048B1

An article may include a single piece of material, such as corrugated cardboard, with scores situated such that when folded along the scores a square or rectangular container is formed with first and second adjacent triangular subcontainers. The article may include locking tabs to join the first triangular subcontainer with slots in the second triangular container which results in a near square box. The insert subcontainers complete with 2 bottles are then placed in a box for shipping. The added protection and buffer zones provide additional protection in the event the carton receives a sudden impact such as being dropped.
US08523043B2

A surgical tool system includes a surgical tool for cutting and stapling tissue and a tactile feedback system integrated onto a handle of the tool that generates relevant feedback in at least the form of haptic effects to the user. The tactile feedback alerts the user of tissue properties, i.e., the type of tissue or other structures located within the jaws of the stapler, whether the quantity or thickness of tissue located within the jaws of the stapler is appropriate for the selected stapler cartridge, whether the proper length of staples has been fired based on the length of tissue located in the jaws, whether a blood vessel is located within the jaws of the stapler, whether the stapling process has successfully sealed the tissue located within the jaws of the stapler, the position of the cutting element, and/or when the stapling procedure or firing cycle is completed.
US08523040B2

A surgical stapling device for deploying staples connected with suture to tissue includes a handle having a staple actuator mechanism, a tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from the handle, and a staple cartridge mounted on the support shaft and connected to the staple actuator mechanism for applying one or more staples to the tissue. The cartridge has a cartridge housing adapted to receive a plurality of staples in a row for longitudinal movement therethrough and an anvil mounted on the housing. The cartridge further includes a mechanism for advancing the forwardmost staple in the row into engagement with the anvil, and a suture guide supporting a length of suture that extends in a loop for attachment to the staples as they are secured to the tissue.
US08523029B2

An attachment mount for removably attaching articles to a MOLLE/PALS-compliant garment or the like. The mount is unitary with openings for affixing an article. A pair of resiliently compressible outer tines with a barb are compressed inwardly to be inserted through a pair of adjacent loops in a first horizontal webbing and then into a vertically-aligned pair of adjacent loops in a second webbing. Upon exiting the loops of the second webbing, the barbs spring outwardly to catch upon a lower edge at spaced stitched areas of the second webbing. Inner tines are directed overtop of the first webbing and into the same loops in the second webbing occupied by the outer tines, with the stitched area between the loops straddled by the inner tines.
US08523028B1

Disclosed is a child-carrying device designed to help a wearer support a child, baby, infant, or toddler with their arms and accommodate a variety of holding positions. The child-carrying device includes a dual-shoulder harness, a rigid bar assembly including a rigid bar, and a hand/wrist support assembly slidable along the rigid bar. The rigid bar assembly is secured transversely between frontal strap portions of the harness. The movable hand/wrist support assembly can freely move along a portion of the bar toward on either side of the front of the wearer's rib cage, and optionally rotate about the bar. The device allows the wearer to support a child with their arm using minimal exertion.
US08523025B2

The dispensing closure for a container for dispensing a liquid contained therein, includes a closure body adapted to be mounted on the container. The closure body has an upper wall and a skirt depending downwardly therefrom and a dispensing orifice positioned thereon. A tubular flow modulating structure depends downwardly from the upper wall of the closure body. The tubular flow modulating structure has an inner surface configured and arranged to control the flow of liquid through the dispensing orifice and includes at least one dependent capillary slot. Optionally, the dispensing closure further includes a syneresis capture structure depending downwardly from the upper wall to prevent syneresis fluid from flowing through the dispensing orifice during the dispensing of the liquid contained within the container.
US08523023B1

A aerosol container resuscitator restores functionality to a damaged or otherwise compromised aerosol container by being attachable to the annular container rim adjacent the container outlet, and by opening the valve of the compromised outlet and subsequently directing the aerosol container's product as purposed. The aerosol container resuscitator comprises an annular fitting assembly and a driver assembly. The fitting assembly comprises a fitting structure and a clamping structure. The fitting assembly aligns, secures, and interfaces the driver assembly to the container, which driver assembly comprises gasket structures, spring structures, a sleeve structure and a driver structure. The sleeve structure comprises communicating cavities in which the driver structure is received. The gaskets seal and prevent discharged aerosol container's product from circumventing the driver structure of the driver assembly. The springs allow relative translation between the fitting assembly and the driver assembly and between the sleeve structure and the driver structure.
US08523022B2

A system and method for dispensing a predetermined portion of a beverage or drink additive using a cost effective portion control valve that replaces electrical components with mechanical components. The present invention dispenses a controlled portion of a beverage when a lever is activated. A magnetically coupled linkage system can control the exact amount of fluid dispensed. A valve block contains a beverage input, a beverage outlet, and a valve seal. A lever arm is connected to the valve seal and connected to a magnetic housing containing a valve magnet. A yoke pivots about the valve block where the yoke contains a yoke magnet aligned to interface with the valve magnet. A lever arm return spring is connected to the lever arm and the valve block to bias the lever arm return spring to a resting position. As the yoke pivots beyond a predetermined distance, the yoke magnet separates from the valve magnet allowing the lever arm to return to the resting position closing the valve.
US08523017B2

A mixing and dispensing apparatus having first and second containers. The first container has a main body portion which retains a first substance. A separate compartment is located in the first container and an internal passageway is formed between the main body portion and the compartment. The second container is configured to retain a second substance, and is compressible. The second container has a top end and a closed spout, wherein the closed spout is located in the compartment with the spout extending through the internal passageway into the main body portion of said first container. A release mechanism is formed by a plunger extending within the second container. The plunger has a first end in communication with the top end of the second container, and a second end aligned with the closed spout. The second end opens the closed spout when the second container is compressed to release the second substance into the main body portion of the first container.
US08523016B2

A container having a body, the body defining a cavity for storing dispensable cavity contents and having an opening, a covering for covering said opening; and a lid connected to the body by a failure zone and openable, in use, after failure of the failure zone, about a hinge formed by the covering. The lid may have a re-closable arrangement, the covering may be hinged with the container and may include strengthening ribs. The body may also have multiple cavities and multiple lids.
US08523013B2

Containers for contents in a liquid bath, which are resealable and have an elevating lift therein. The lift is preferably operated by an operator that fits within the container. The lift engages both a feature on the operator and a feature on the container. A slope differential exists between the operator feature and the container feature. Rotation of the operator relative to the container results in longitudinal movement of the lift within the container. The lift can be moved toward an upper position to raise at least a portion of the contents out of the liquid bath to facilitate dispensing of the contents.
US08523006B2

The structurally reinforced container includes a base having a bottom, side walls, corners and a top peripheral edge defining an open top end. A number of ridges are formed in at least one of the side walls and corners. The ridges are in the configuration of at least one arch that has an apex where the apex of the at least one arch is proximal to the open top end of the base. A lid resides in communication with the top peripheral edge of the base to releasably close the top end of the base. The integrated arches provide reinforcement to the base of the container to increase top load resistance without increasing the thickness of the material used.
US08522996B2

The present invention discloses a disposable bioreactor, consisting of a container and a cap, which is connectable to the same and cannot be detached without destruction. For this purpose, the cap comprises a retaining structure with a plurality of locking arms running in the lateral direction, while the locking arms are adapted to be resiliently shortened in the longitudinal direction and to be locked vertically to the longitudinal direction in the container by way of a retaining surface.
US08522990B2

A holographic sealing member for a container is designed for attachment to the rim of an opening in the container. The holographic sealing member comprises a holographic layer having an upper plastic layer on its upper side and a lower embossed image layer on its lower side. A sealant or adhesive layer is attached to at least those portions of the lower side of the holographic layer that are intended to come into direct contact with the container's rim when the sealing member is placed upon and is sealed to a container. A metal foil layer lies over and covers and is adhesively bonded to the upper side of the holographic layer and may be inductively heated to actuate the heat actuated sealant. A tab covers and is adhesively bonded to the metal foil layer and may be pulled to remove the sealing member from a container. After this sealing member is attached to a container, and when the tab is pulled to remove the sealing member from the container, almost the entire sealing member pulls away from the container, but those portions of the holographic layer's lower embossed image layer that are attached directly to the rim of the container by the sealant or adhesive layer remain attached to the rim of the container to form a hologram that runs around the container's rim.
US08522989B2

A hollow plastic container having a closed lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the closed base, and an upper portion having a dispensing opening therein extending upwardly from the sidewall. The container also includes a digitally printed base coat on the sidewall having a thickness of from 1 to 200 microns, and preferably includes printed areas over at least portions of the base coat to provide a distinctive appearance.
US08522981B2

A screening machine of the type used to separate or classify mixtures of solid particles of different sizes includes a fixed base and a perforate screen mounted for movement relative to the base during a screening operation. The screens are pre-tensioned and mounted in a perimeter frame for separating various granular and particulate material. The frame is slid into the side of the machine in a direction parallel with two opposing bevel lips at the ends of the frame which mate in the screening machine with a complementary channel such that when the screen is raised into sealing contact in the screening machine, the bevel ends of the screen panel frame align the screen panel in the machine. The bevels on the screen panel frame provide a positive sealing surface for contact with the adjacent portions of the channel to prevent product from escaping off of the screen during use.
US08522978B2

A flexible container including opposing closed first and second edges, a closed third edge and an open side or end. The flexible container may include an unclosed area extending beyond one of the closed edges forming the flexible container. The unclosed area may include a first opening tab and a second opening tab configured to be pulled apart in order to initiate opening of the flexible container. The first opening tab and second opening tab may each include at least two openings. The opening may be positioned so as to channel a stress concentration proximate a heat seal. The flexible container may be formed of multi-layer film having a first outer layer, a second outer layer and directly adhered to the first outer layer an internal layer formed of a blend of at least two resin components that are partially compatible.
US08522973B2

A toothbrush holder is disclosed. The toothbrush holder includes a tubular body that is sized to contain a toothbrush. The tubular body is formed of a light-transmissive material and has a lower segment and an upper segment that are releasably secured together so that the toothbrush can be positioned inside. A weighted base is affixed to the bottom of the lower segment. A cap is affixed to the top of the upper segment and is formed of a light-transmissive material. A light source is secured within the cap.
US08522972B2

A disposable razor package having a plurality of shaving razors each with a proximal end portion with a cartridge and a distal end portion. A tub is provided having a generally level bottom surface defined by a perimeter wall dimensioned to receive the plurality of shaving razors. At least one of the shaving razors contacts the bottom surface of the tub. A plurality of retaining members project from the bottom surface of the tub. At least one of the retaining members has a top surface with notch that engages at least one of the cartridges.
US08522968B2

A beverage flavoring applicator may have a housing having an internal channel, a cup assembly disposed in the internal channel, the cup assembly having a first cup having a first chamber with a first flavoring substance disposed in the first chamber, a second cup having a second chamber with a second flavoring substance disposed in the second chamber, the first and second cups being nested one within the other, and a plunger slidably engaged with the housing, the plunger having a spike configured to rupture the first and second cups upon movement of the plunger from a first position to a second position with respect to the housing, thereby dispensing the first and second flavoring substances from the applicator. The applicator may engage with a beverage container, either with or without an adapter. Some embodiments may have a bottle opener. Methods of making such applicators and adapters are also described.
US08522967B2

A cell tray suitable for accommodating bottles of at least two different sizes. The cell tray has a loading surface to receive bottle bottoms in a matrix-like loading pattern and holding devices to receive and lock into place bottle mouths loaded onto a similar cell tray beneath said holding devices in a stack of cell trays. The holding devices are arranged as to align with at least two separate loading patterns on the loading surface. The first loading pattern is formed by a first plurality of holding devices arranged in a matrix-like formation having a first number of rows and columns. The second loading pattern is formed by a second plurality of holding devices arranged in a matrix-like formation having a second number of rows and columns. The second number of rows and columns is at least one less than the first number of rows and columns.
US08522966B1

A beverage carrying assembly includes a panel that has a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a front edge and a rear edge. The panel has a pair of major bend lines each extending from the front edge to the rear edge. Each of the major bend lines defines a first portion, a second portion and a middle portion wherein the middle portion includes openings for receiving beverage cups. The first and second portions each include grooves and insertion tabs for allowing multiple ones of the panels to be secured together in stacked configuration for holding several beverage cups.
US08522957B2

An overhead conveyor system for transporting articles, especially for transporting vehicle bodies, in a surface treatment line comprises at least one transport carriage which has a fastening device to which at least one article can be fastened. The transport carriage can be displaced along a track carrying it by at least one drive means. The fastening device is received so that it can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation. The invention further relates to a dip coating line comprising at least one dip-coating tank which can be filled with a treatment liquid, into which tank articles to be treated can be dipped. The dip coating line comprises a conveying system which displaces the articles to be treated towards the dip-coating tank, into the interior of the dip-coating tank, out of the dip-coating tank and away therefrom.
US08522953B2

A conveyer device conveys a component assembly including a female screw component having a through hole defining a female screw, an assembling component to be assembled to the female screw component from above, and a bolt to be screwed to the female screw of the female screw component from above the assembling component to fix the assembling component. The conveyer device also includes a holding member for holding the female screw component and a screwing restriction mechanism for restricting the bolt, held by the assembling component while unscrewed from the female screw, from being screwed to the female screw. Thus, when the component assembly, to which the bolt is temporarily assembled without being engaged with the female screw, is conveyed while being held by the holding member via the female screw component, the bolt is prevented from being unintentionally screwed into the female screw as the result of vibration etc. caused by the conveyance.
US08522951B2

A moving walkway including a band (1) of pallets (2) moveable on side guides (4-5) and a drive mechanism formed by a pair of drive wheels (6) having a common shaft (7). The wheels have free-rotating peripheral rollers (9) engaging with formations (15) of the pallets (2) on their inner surface.
US08522943B2

An electromagnetic (EM) clutch assembly includes input and output discs, a plunger, a control solenoid, and a controller. The input disc is connected to a rotatable input member, and defines an input face having a mechanical feature. The output disc is connected to a rotatable output member, and includes a bore wall defining a bore. The plunger is positioned at least partially within the bore. The controller transmits a time-varying electrical control signal to the solenoid to thereby resonate the plunger toward the input disc, and transmits a steady-state electrical control signal to capture the plunger in an engaged position. Rotation of the discs is controlled until the plunger encounters the mechanical feature, thereby placing the assembly in an engaged state. A vehicle having a transmission and the EM clutch assembly is also disclosed, as is a method for controlling the clutch assembly via the electrical control signals.
US08522934B2

A lockable piston-cylinder unit includes a cylinder having at least one axially facing counterstop; a piston dividing the cylinder into a first working chamber and a second working chamber; a piston rod extending through the first working chamber to a free end outside the cylinder; and a fastening tube having a first end in which the free end of the piston rod is fixed, a second end which receives the cylinder coaxially, and at least one axially facing supporting stop. When the piston rod is extended to maximum extension, the fastening tube is rotatable relative to the cylinder from a release position, wherein the supporting stop is offset from a respective counterstop, to a locking position, wherein the supporting stop faces the counterstop so that the fastening tube cannot move axially relative to the cylinder.
US08522931B2

A disk brake rotor includes a first rotor portion, a second rotor portion and a third rotor portion. The second rotor portion has an annular portion and at least one ventilation hole. The third rotor portion also has an annular portion. The first portion is attached to and disposed between the second rotor portion and the third rotor portions, such that a surface of the first rotor portion is an exposed area exposed by the at least one ventilation hole.
US08522926B2

A lubricant applicator unit for pressure relief valves for a system for applying pressure relief valves to packaging during a packaging process, including a vacuum applicator for temporarily separating layers of the valve when the lubricant is applied. A pressurized nozzle sprays or atomizes the lubricant into the valve opening. Graphite suspended in liquid silicone is used as the lubricant; it is recirculated in a reservoir to keep the graphite in suspension. Optical sensors check for valves before the entrance to, and after exit from, the vacuum applicator.
US08522924B2

A vehicle drive apparatus includes a case main body portion accommodating the speed change mechanism; supply oil passages that are formed in the case main body portion and supply pressure oil to the speed change mechanism; a connection case portion connecting the engine and the case main body portion; a mechanical oil pump positioned in a connection region between the case main body portion and the connection case portion and having an inlet oil passage and an outlet oil passage which are connected to the supply oil passage; an electric oil pump capable of supplying pressure oil to the supply oil passages in parallel with the mechanical oil pump; and connection oil passages that are provided in the connection case portion and allow an inlet oil passage and an outlet oil passage of the electric oil pump to communicate with the supply oil passages.
US08522921B2

A method of providing a traversable path along a surface that includes the steps of placing a portable pathway onto the surface, securing the portable pathway in situ, and adjusting the step to a desired position. The method includes the portable pathway having at least one adjustable step connected thereto. A portable pathway apparatus for providing a traversable path over a surface that includes a pliable frame member comprising one or more layers of reinforced rubber, at least one step adjustably connected to the pliable frame member, whereby at least one step includes an adjustment mechanism associated with a horizontal member. The apparatus has at least one securing element coupled with the pliable frame member, the securing element configured to secure the portable pathway to the surface. The surface includes a contour with at least a first angled surface and a second angled surface, and the pliable frame member forms to the contour.
US08522920B1

A tree stand that contains a y-axis frame adjustable along the y-axis, x-axis frame adjustable along the x-axis, and z-axis frame adjustable along the z-axis. In use, at least one securing strap secures the y-axis frame to a tree. To adjust the y-axis frame along the y-axis, the securing strap is loosened and the y-axis frame can be repositioned almost anywhere along the tree that will support the tree stand. To adjust the x-axis frame along the x-axis, the x-axis frame can be rotated around a rotational support means on the y-axis. To adjust the z-axis frame along the z-axis, a z-axis frame support is attached to the x-axis and connects to one of at least two z-axis adjustment means on the x-axis.
US08522895B1

A power tool is disclosed. The power tool generally includes a tool body and an internal portion positioned within the tool body. A work piece is operatively coupled to the internal portion. Two handles are positioned on the tool body adjacent the work piece to provide for increased accuracy and comfort for the user during operation of the power tool. The power tool may be engaged with a plurality of work pieces to achieve different results depending on the embodiment of the power tool. The power tool may either be pneumatically or electrically powered, and may be of varying sizes and configurations. A throttle lever adapted to allow the user to control the speed of the internal portion is positioned on one of the handles.
US08522891B2

A vibration generator for a vibration pile driver, comprises imbalance masses that can rotate, which are disposed on shafts. A hydraulic drive having a changeable suction volume is disposed on the generator. A vibration pile driver consists of the vibration generator and a mast for movably supporting the vibration generator and/or an accommodation for a pile-driven material.
US08522882B2

A pump system and method comprising a pump barrel adapted for use within a well. A reciprocating plunger disposed within the pump barrel and operatively engaging a connector between the plunger and a pumping unit. The connector operatively engages the pumping unit and further comprises an inner and outer portion with a groove between the inner and outer portions; one or more ports disposed between the inner and outer portions and accessing an inner cavity of the connector; and the inner portion further comprising one or more ports accessing the inner cavity of the connector. The pump system and method further comprising a cage valve to create hydraulic pressure to expel trapped debris.
US08522881B2

Systems and methods for the prevention or dissolution of hydrates in an undersea well. One example system includes a submersible isolation bell for capturing effluent being exhausted from the well, and an umbilical. A power cable supplies electric power to the submersible isolation bell, for example for heating of the interior of the submersible isolation bell to prevent or discourage the formation of methane hydrates and the precipitation of other byproducts. Diluents may be supplied to the submersible isolation bell to further discourage the formation of hydrates and precipitation of other byproducts. The diluents may be heated locally at the submersible isolation bell, using electric power supplied by the power cable. A conformable seal may substantially seal the submersible isolation bell to a riser or other structure at the wellhead.
US08522874B2

A treatment fluid for a well includes: (a) a water-soluble polymer, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises a polymer of at least one non-acidic ethylenically unsaturated polar monomer; (b) an organic crosslinker comprising amine groups, wherein the organic crosslinker is capable of crosslinking the water-soluble polymer; (c) a weak organic acid; and (d) water; wherein the treatment fluid is a crosslinkable polymer composition.
US08522873B2

Disclosed are spacer fluids comprising cement kiln dust (“CKD”) and methods of use in subterranean formations.
US08522863B2

A fracturing system for wells has a propellant charge having a known surface area for combustion, and a combustion rate as a function of pressure with lower combustion rates at lower pressures and rapidly increasing combustion rates at higher pressures separated by a knee in the combustion rate function. The propellant charge is initially sealed within a vessel as it is inserted into a well. The system also includes means for creating openings in the vessel on ignition of the propellant charge in the well, such that the openings have a known combined flow area selected to create a condition of choked flow of combustion gases from within the vessel and maintain pressures within the vessel below the knee in the combustion rate function.
US08522860B2

The invention relates to a fastening and joining element (4) for fixing and connecting heat exchangers of a heat exchanger assembly in a motor vehicle. Said fastening and joining element (4) comprises at least one hole (4b) for positively accommodating a heat exchanger as well as a fastening part (4a) encompassing a profiled fastening member.
US08522859B2

A phase change material (PCM) heat exchanger device comprising heat exchanger cells (1a, 1b) operating on the regenerative countercurrent principle, one or more phase change material (PCM) accumulators (2, 3) provided in the heat exchanger cells and one or more vortex tubes (6, 7, 8). When the directions of the air, gas and liquid flows are cyclically reversed in the apparatus, energy is recovered into the heat exchanger cell and the PCM accumulator, and during the subsequent cycle, the energy is released from the heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator. While one heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator is being charged, the other heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator is simultaneously discharged. Warm air exits a first outlet port while cold air exits a second outlet port of the one or more vortex tubes. The fluid flows heat or cool the heat exchanger cells and associated PCM accumulators.
US08522856B2

A method of manufacturing an optical component that is provided with an optical element, and an optical element holding component that holds an outer circumferential portion of the optical element includes: placing the optical element on an interior side of a metal die that molds the optical element holding component, and in which an incident side protective component that protects an optical surface on an incident side of the optical element is placed against this optical surface on the incident side, and placing an emission side protective component that protects an optical surface on an emission side of the optical element against this optical surface on the emission side; and filling the interior of the metal die with a molten metal material so that the optical element holding component which is formed from an amorphous alloy is injection molded integrally with the optical element.
US08522848B2

The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling substrates with functional blocks, using a printhead to deliver individual functional blocks to the appropriate locations on the substrates. In an embodiment, the functional block releasing mechanism comprises a heat source to provide thermal energy and a light source to provide photon energy, wherein the heat source and the light source enable releasing individual functional blocks from the reservoir for positioning on the substrate. The heat source can comprise an array of heating elements, such as thin film heating elements, which can provide localized heating to individual elements, thus enabling releasing individual functional blocks. The light source can comprise a laser beam and a moving mechanism to move the laser beam to the individual functional blocks.
US08522847B2

The invention relates to a tire having a tread of a cured rubber composition which contains dual silica moieties in a sense of containing both hydrophilic precipitated silica and in situ hydrophobated precipitated silica.
US08522843B2

A bi-directional pocket member that retains a stump cutter tooth. The pocket affixes to a selected wheel side surface of a driven wheel, which has a first wheel side surface and a second wheel side surface. The pocket member has a pocket body, which has a first pocket edge, a second pocket edge, a first pocket side surface, a second pocket side surface, a radial inward pocket portion and an integral radial outward pocket portion. The radial inward pocket portion contains attachment bores used to operatively attach the pocket member to the driven wheel. The radial outward portion contains a retention bore used to retain the stump cutter tooth.
US08522840B2

Disclosed is a scoop for retaining and dispensing a powder into a bottle. The scoop is formed from a housing having generally slanted sides downwardly to a spout having a slanted opening. A handle is affixed to the housing. An actuating mechanism covers the spout-slanted opening and is formed from a generally flat slide, a hand graspable element, optionally for movement of the slide from a closed state to an open state, and a switch, also for movement of the slide from a closed state to an open state. A pair of elongate ears is carried by the spout and housing and disposed adjacent to the slanted opening for retaining the slide and permitting movement of slide.
US08522837B2

Gas canister retaining structure includes: a gas canister cover pivotable between an opened position for attaching/detaching a cassette gas canister to/from the retaining structure and a closed position for accommodating and holding the gas canister in place within the canister cover; a mouthpiece support section provided inside the gas canister cover for supporting a mouthpiece portion of the cassette gas canister with a jet nozzle of the cassette gas canister received in a nozzle receiving port provided in the mouthpiece support section; and a shutter member pivotable between an opened position for opening the nozzle receiving port and a closed position for closing the nozzle receiving port.
US08522827B2

A protective seal, a protective seal kit, and a method for sealing a joint region between pipes are provided. The protective seal includes a first wrap, comprising a corrosion-resistant material, wrapped around a seal region, contacting the outer surface of the pipeline assembly. A second wrap, comprising a self-adhering fiberglass composite, wraps around the first wrap. The kit includes a flexible wrap fabricated, in part, from a corrosion-resistant material, and a second flexible wrap fabricated, in part, from a fiberglass cloth impregnated with a resinous pliable-plastic material. The method includes wrapping a corrosion-resistant, inner wrap around first and second pipes such that this wrap surrounds the joint region and adheres to the pipes. A fiberglass-composite outer wrap is wrapped around the inner wrap and the first and second pipes such that the outer wrap surrounds the inner wrap and adheres to the pipes. The outer wrap is cured.
US08522820B2

A valve system is provided including a valve seat, an outlet passage and a stop valve. The valve seat has a crenulated portion. The crenulated portion has an annular recess and a plurality of teeth that are separated by a plurality of circumferential gaps. At least one of the teeth has an angled surface that borders between one of the plurality of circumferential gaps and the respective one of the plurality of teeth. The angled surface is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis that extends radially outwardly from a central axis of the valve seat. The outlet passage is located downstream of the valve seat for directing flow out of the valve assembly. The stop valve is located within the annular recess of the crenulated portion.
US08522817B1

An insulation gas recovery and charge apparatus is provided comprising a pump, a connect, an inflatable collection device and at least one valve.
US08522806B2

An outdoor canopy includes a canopy frame, a canopy shelter and a side entrance arrangement. The canopy frame includes a roof frame and a legs frame downwardly extended from the roof frame to form a canopy area. The canopy shelter is waterproof and is detachably fastening at the canopy frame to define a ceiling wall, a front wall, a rear wall and two sidewalls for enclosing the canopy area therewithin. The side entrance arrangement is formed on one of the sidewalls of the canopy shelter to serve as an additional entrance, which includes a side entrance opening formed on the corresponding sidewall of the canopy shelter and comprises at least one entrance fabric operatively mounted on the corresponding sidewall. The roof frame further comprises an addition support arrangement cooperatively and detachably engaged with the horizontal bars for creating a three-point support to reinforce the canopy frame.
US08522805B2

A self-opening/closing umbrella includes a central shaft unit having an improved structure. The central shaft unit forms a raised channel on one side of a third shaft segment and a pulley is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the raised channel. A second shaft segment has a top to which an internal plug including a pulley is fixed and includes a first pull rope having an end fixed to a bullet-head member and an opposite end extending upward to warp around the pulley of the internal plug, projecting through a sideway slot, extending downward to wrap around the pulley inside the third shaft segment for upward extension to fix to a top end of the third shaft segment. A second pull rope has an end fixed to the internal plug and an opposite end extending across a top cap to project outward to fix to the runner.
US08522801B2

A method for cleaning a substrate is provided. The method initiates with disposing a fluid layer having solid components therein to a surface of the substrate. A shear force directed substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate and toward an outer edge of the substrate is then created. The shear force may result from a normal or tangential component of a force applied to a solid body in contact with the fluid layer in one embodiment. The surface of the substrate is rinsed to remove the fluid layer. A cleaning system and apparatus are also provided.
US08522792B2

A smoking cessation tobacco pipe helps smokers to fully and directly realize the harm of tobacco to a human body when they are smoking and give up smoking and publicize smoking cessation. The tobacco pipe is a transparency which is assembled with a top cover part (2) integrated with a smoke-inlet pipe (3) and a smoke-outlet pipe (4), a box body part (1), a bottom cover part (6) and a smoking pipe part (5), wherein the smoke-outlet pipe (4) is connected with the smoking pipe part (5), and when in use the tobacco is placed at the opening of the smoke-inlet pipe (3). A series of tiny holes are provided on the smog route from the smoke-inlet pipe (3) to the smoke-outlet pipe (4), where the tiny holes are arranged and assembled to form warning characters or patterns, which warn that smoking is harmful to health. The characters and patterns are strengthened due to the adhesive attachment of smoke. The smokers are warned when the smokers are smoking, so that the smokers can reduce the intake of harmful ingredients like tar. The assembly smoking cessation tobacco pipe with tiny holes can accomplish the purpose of helping smokers to give up smoking and publicizing smoking cessation.
US08522791B2

An apparatus for filling a prefabricated cigarette tube includes a housing, a tobacco chamber with a tobacco holder, and a movable pressing bar configured so as to form tobacco introduced into the tobacco chamber into a tobacco strand. An abutment for an end of the tobacco strand is assigned to the tobacco holder, wherein a first length of the to be formed tobacco strand is adjustable to prefabricated cigarette tubes having different filling-cavity lengths by adjusting a second length of the pressing bar. A slider is configured to be moved relative to the housing so as to fill the prefabricated cigarette tube with the tobacco strand. The tobacco holder is displacably arranged relative to the abutment in a movement direction of the slider by a distance which approximately corresponds to the different filling-cavity lengths.
US08522788B2

Various embodiments of a tracheostomy tube having neck flanges with filleted ends are provided. In certain embodiments, the neck flange may include a fillet extending from a bottom surface of the neck flange to a tip of the neck flange. In addition, the filleted end may also be tapered from a top surface of the neck flange to the tip of the neck flange. The neck flange may also include several curved edges, such as curved edges from the tip of the neck flange to side surfaces of the neck flange, and a curved bottom surface from side surface to side surface of the neck flange.
US08522779B2

Methods and systems involve coordinating therapies used for treating disordered breathing. Disordered breathing therapies may include cardiac electrical stimulation therapy and external respiratory therapy as well as other therapies for treating disordered breathing in a patient. The therapies delivered to the patient may be coordinated to enhance effectiveness of the therapy, to reduce therapy interactions, to improve patient sleep, or to achieve other therapeutic goals.
US08522778B2

A nasal delivery device for and a method of delivering a substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the delivery device including: a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject; a substance supply unit for supplying a substance for delivery through the nosepiece; and a delivery prevention mechanism for preventing delivery of a substance through the nosepiece until the nosepiece is properly fitted to the nostril of the subject.
US08522774B2

An aerosol apparatus including a nebulizer device and a mask suitable for receiving a substance substantially in the sol state from the nebulizer device is described. The apparatus also includes a display device able to display a sequence of images to a patient while he/she is using the apparatus. The display device may be a DVD player which conveniently is able to be separated from the aerosol apparatus. The apparatus is particularly suitable for use by patients who are children.
US08522764B1

A bowstring release mechanism includes first and second jaws pivotally connected to a housing with a trigger section operably associated with the jaws for moving the jaws between open and closed positions. The jaws include opposing faces that are in a juxtaposed relationship when the release mechanism is in a closed position. Due to deviations in manufacturing tolerances and wear, a gap between the jaw faces may vary in size. To that end, an adjustment portion is operably associated with the trigger and jaws for precisely adjusting the size of the gap. A second adjustment portion for adjusting the sensitivity of the trigger section is also provided.
US08522758B2

A number of systems and methods are disclosed which increase the replenishment interval for anti-knock fluid. This is especially important during activities which require a large amount of anti-knock fluid, such as towing. In some embodiments, the systems and methods are used to reduce anti-knock fluid consumption. For example, changes to engine operation, such as rich operation, spark retarding, upspeeding, and variable valve timing, all serve to reduce the amount of anti-knock fluid required to eliminate knocking. In other embodiments, the composition of the anti-knock fluid is modified, such as by using a higher octane fluid, or through the addition of water to the anti-knock fluid. In other embodiments, the replenishment interval is increased through a larger anti-knock fluid storage capacity. In one embodiment, a three tank system is used where the third tank can be used to store gasoline or anti-knock fluid, depending on the driving conditions.
US08522748B2

A method is provided for diagnosing the integrity of a swirl generating system for an internal combustion engine. The swirl generating system includes, but is not limited to swirl controlling elements that are individually located in a respective air passage connecting the intake manifold of the engine to an intake port of an engine combustion chamber, an actuator having a movable shaft, a cinematic chain for mechanically connecting the swirl controlling elements to the actuator movable shaft, an actuator control unit for normally moving the actuator movable shaft in a first direction towards a first final position, and in a second opposite direction towards a second final position, and actuator sensor for sensing the position of the actuator movable shaft. The method providing to arrange at least a mechanical stop for directly acting on one component of the cinematic chain, in order to indirectly limit the movement of the actuator movable shaft in the first direction at a first checking position coincident or beyond the first final position, command the actuator control unit for moving the actuator movable shaft in the first direction towards the first checking position, and verify through the position sensing means whether the actuator movable shaft stops in the first checking position (CP1) or goes beyond.
US08522744B2

An internal combustion engine wherein the oil heat radiation amount from an oil chamber can be increased. A crank side oil chamber formed in a crankcase is divided into a first oil chamber and a second oil chamber with first openings for communicating with a transmission side oil chamber formed in a transmission case being provided in the first oil chamber while a second opening for communicating with the second oil chamber is provided in the transmission side oil chamber.
US08522738B2

A vehicle engine includes: a cylinder head; a cam housing fixed to a top of the cylinder head; a cam cap fixed to a top of the cam housing; a camshaft that is rotatably supported between the cam housing and the cam cap; a cam provided around the camshaft; a rocker arm that is pushed by the cam; a supporting member that supports one end of the rocker arm from below; a cylindrical bore portion for mounting the supporting member; and a base portion for supporting a bottom surface of the supporting member. The bore portion is provided integrally with the cam housing. The base portion is provided integrally with the cylinder head.
US08522737B2

An intermediate lock mechanism is formed by first and second lock pins, an advancement restricting groove, and a retardation restricting groove. The first and second lock pins are arranged in a vane rotor 2 and projectable and retractable independently from each other. The advancement restricting groove is formed in a cover and becomes engaged with the first lock pin when the first lock pin is projected, thereby locking, at an intermediate lock phase, rotation of the vane rotor to the advancing side. The retardation restricting groove is formed in a cam sprocket and becomes engaged with the second lock pin when the second lock pin is projected, thereby locking, at the intermediate lock phase, rotation of the vane rotor to the retarding side. In this manner, reliable locking is ensured, and chattering of the vane rotor is easily prevented when locking is performed.
US08522735B2

Disclosed is a valve stopping device for an internal combustion engine that does not allow valves for all cylinders to stop in the closed state even in the event of a failure.The valve stopping device includes a control device 2 and a plurality of actuators 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, which stop either an intake valve or an exhaust valve. The actuators 4A, 4D for some of a plurality of cylinders included in the internal combustion engine stop a valve in the closed state when energized. The actuators 4B, 4C for the remaining cylinders stop a valve in the closed state when energized. The control device 2 provides control on an individual actuator basis to determine whether or not to energize the actuators 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D.
US08522733B2

A device for variably adjusting control times of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine. The device has a drive element, an output element, a rotation angle limiting device and a control valve and counter-working pressure chambers are also provided. Phase adjustment between the output and drive element is initiated by applying pressure to one pressure chamber while discharging the other pressure chamber. The rotation angle limiting device can be locked or unlocked to prevent or allow phasing. The control valve has a valve housing and a control piston. An inflow connection, an outflow connection, a control connection and two working connections are embodied on the valve housing.
US08522732B2

A barrel engine has a longitudinal output shaft defining a longitudinal axis. A plurality of cylinders is disposed about the output shaft and are each generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. A cam plane is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the open ends of the cylinders and a second end of the engine housing. A cam plate is disposed in the engine housing and supported for rotation about the longitudinal axis. The cam plate has a central portion and an outwardly extending cam portion. The cam portion has a cam surface that undulates from one side of the cam plane to the other. A flywheel has a plurality of lobes, each lobe being disposed generally in alignment with an area where the cam surface undulates closest to the open end of a cylinder.
US08522712B2

In a template treatment of forming a film of a release agent on a treatment surface of a template, the treatment surface of the template is first cleaned. Thereafter, in a coating unit, the release agent is applied to the treatment surface of the template. The release agent on the template is then dried. Then, alcohol is applied to the release agent on the template to make the release agent adhere to the treatment surface of the template and to remove an unreacted portion of the release agent. Thereafter, the alcohol on the template is dried and removed. In this manner, a film of the release agent is formed in a predetermined film thickness on the treatment surface of the template.
US08522711B2

The present disclosure provides for an apparatus for transferring fluid. The apparatus has a fluid transfer component, a fluid receiving component, a fluid supply, and a fluid motivating component. The fluid transfer component comprises first surface, a second surface, a non-random pattern of distinct pores each defining a pathway between the first and second surfaces, each pathway having a single entry point at the first surface and a single exit point at the second surface. The pores are disposed at preselected locations to provide a desired pattern of permeability. The fluid receiving component comprises a fluid receiving surface. The fluid supply is adapted to provide a fluid in contact with and at a constant fluid pressure with each of said pores. The fluid motivating component is adapted to facilitate transport of the fluid from the first surface through the pores to the second surface.
US08522703B2

A multi-needle sewing machine including a plurality of needle bars including a specific needle bar allowing detachable attachment of a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of a punch workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes; a transfer mechanism that allows detachable attachment of a punch workpiece holder a detector that detects the attachment of the punch workpiece holder on the transfer mechanism; and a controller that when the attachment of the punch workpiece holder is detected by the detector, executes a punch engraving operation on the punch workpiece with the punch needle by selecting the specific needle bar and by controlling a needle-bar selector/driver mechanism and the transfer mechanism based on punch engraving pattern data which is pre-stored or given by external components.
US08522698B2

In a combustible energy recycling system and its method, the system includes an airtight incinerator body, a gas intake module and a blower. The incinerator body is filled with a combustible waste material, and the gas intake module installed in the incinerator body includes gas intake pipes, and one of the gas intake pipes is an ignition pipe for igniting the waste material in the incinerator body for a smoldering combustion, and an air outlet pipe of the blower is interconnected to the gas intake module for guiding outside air into the incinerator body, such that the outside air can move slowly upward with a high-temperature dense smoke produced in the smoldering combustion and surround every cross-section in the incinerator body for a uniform smoldering combustion, and a gas containing combustible energy in the dense smoke can be guided to a gas recycling mechanism for recycling and reusing the gas.
US08522694B2

A pallet having a three dimensional body exhibiting a generally planar upper surface and a plurality of depth extending underside portions defining a plurality of spaced apart forklift receiving apertures. A plurality of impact absorbing members are positioned at spaced locations about a perimeter of the body. A structural defining inner grid includes pluralities of spaced apart and crosswise extending ribs for supporting inner extending reinforcing members seating within pockets defined in said ribs and including at least one of lengthwise and diagonal extending members.
US08522685B1

A fragmentation warhead includes a cylindrical fragmenting body, a pair of concentric cylindrical liners within, made of plastic, and an explosive charge disposed within the innermost liner. In one embodiment, one liner provides various “legs” of liner material and the other liner provides various open receptacle areas, into which such legs may come to rest when the liners are slid together and/or rotated relative to one another. Various recessed and/or raised areas of liner material can thus be randomly created by such adjustments, which lead to select fragmentation of the warhead upon detonation.
US08522681B2

A panel for tensioning fabric such as a silkscreen mesh is described. The panel includes locking strips secured to the edges using stitching through the mesh and locking strips. A method for fabricating the panel and tensioning the panel on a frame is also described. Locking strips may be stitched to edges of the fabric or mesh.
US08522679B2

A press with gripper rails for grasping and relocating workpieces onto a work table, the gripper rails being movable in a horizontal plane and vertically by a transfer device. The gripper rails are connected to the respective parts of the transfer device by gripper rail couplings, a locking mechanism with a tie rod being provided, which locks or frees the gripper rail coupling. To actuate the locking mechanism, an actuating element is provided which displaces the tie rod between a holding position and a releasing position and which can be actuated by the gripper rail coupling being lowered or raised. Furthermore, the locking mechanism has a spring element which holds the tie rod in the holding position. Finally, the locking mechanism has a latching mechanism with a detent, which fixes the tie rod in the releasing position and which is freed automatically when the gripper rail coupling is being coupled.
US08522675B2

A food holding cabinet having one or more food-holding compartments has two or more zones in a compartment, wherein holding temperatures can be different from each other. A shelf made of glass-ceramic passes infrared energy from two or more heating elements attached to the glass-ceramic shelf. Energy emitted from the different heating elements effectuate different temperatures of localized regions of the glass-ceramic and impart different amounts of heat energy into a food item or food holding trays above the heating elements.
US08522674B2

A steamer system for culinary use comprises one or more stackable food receptacles (4) having lower surfaces provided with steam-receiving openings, a removable base (12) to which a lower receptacle is releasably securable, and a cover for the uppermost receptacle releasably securable thereto and formed with a carrying handle (34), the receptacles (4), base (12) and lid (14) being securable with releasable clips (20).
US08522673B2

A food heating device includes a platen (101) and a pair of conveyor segments (103). A first conveyor segment is arranged and spaced to transport a food product (201, 203, 205) between a first side of the platen (101) and the first conveyor segment (103). A second conveyor segment (103/703/903) is arranged and spaced to transport the food product between a second side of the platen (101) and the second conveyor segment (103/703/903). A transfer device (505/705) may be disposed at one end of the platen (101) such that the transfer device transfers the food product (203) from the first side of the platen (101) to the second side of the platen (101).
US08522672B2

A food cooking oven includes a cooking chamber, two heaters located in the cooking chamber for cooking food in the chamber, and a control circuit for controlling operation of the heaters, individually, in terms of at least one of time of operation and power supplied to the heaters. A conveyor in the cooking chamber conveys food successively past the heaters for cooking. Also included is a user control device for entering a cooking control signal of the control circuit to control the operation of the heaters as the conveyor conveys food past the heaters, thereby determining how the food is cooked.
US08522668B2

A beverage brewing system for producing on demand iced tea. The beverage brewing system may include a concentrated beverage brewer, one or more brew water circuits in communication with the concentrated beverage brewer, one or more makeup water circuits, and one or more back pressure valves in communication with the brew water circuits and the makeup water circuits.
US08522666B2

A brake actuator can include a first housing part having a first peripheral wall, a second housing part having a second peripheral wall, and a flexible diaphragm located between the first housing part and the second housing part and compressed between a point of contact on the first housing part and a point of contact on the second housing part. At least one of the points of contact may protrude inwardly from the peripheral walls. The diaphragm may have a peripheral edge that does not extend radially beyond at least one of cylindrical profiles defined by the housing parts.
US08522665B2

A hand pump with a rotatable portion of the pump head. The needle or adapter for attaching the pump to an inflatable is associated with the rotatable portion of the pump head so that the needle may be positioned in a first position for use and a second position for storage. The needle is protected by a sleeve when in the second position.
US08522661B2

The present disclosure relates to mobile equipment for detonating explosives and a motorized unit for securing roads, tracks or similar. According to the present disclosure, the mobile equipment includes a supporting structure with a transverse beam having explosive-activation means mounted thereon, said means comprising at least a mass decoy device, a mechanical decoy device, a thermal electrical decoy device and controllable clearing means.
US08522660B2

A sheet processing apparatus, by which a failure in control does not occur even if cutting wastes are conveyed by a conveying unit and an image forming apparatus having the sheet processing apparatus are provided. The sheet processing apparatus has a cutter unit for cutting a sheet, a dust box for accommodating the cutting wastes, a conveying belt pair which conveys the cut sheet, sensors for detecting the sheet conveyed by the conveying belt pair, and a controller for controlling conveyance of the sheet based on the signals detected by the sensors, wherein when the length of the sheet detected by the sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the controller does not determine the sheet as a sheet.
US08522657B2

A slide-type cutting machine ensures safer operation of cutting wood or the like and can be housed in a compact state. A linear guide unit 3 includes a slide shaft 33 moving in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of a cutting section 4, a first slide holder 31 for guiding the movement of the slide shaft 33, and a second slide holder 34 located at a lower end of the slide shaft 33 and for restricting the movement of the slide shaft 33 by abutting against the first slide holder 31. A linkage element 5 includes a first link 51 having one end connected to the cutting section 4 and the other end connected to the second slide holder 34, and a second link 52 having one end connected to the first slide holder 31 and the other end connected to the first link 51.
US08522650B2

An angle nut runner capable of accurately measuring a genuine tightening force includes an output shaft pivotally supported approximately perpendicular to the rotating shaft 1 of the drive source, a strain measuring mechanism for measuring a strain generated in the output shaft is disposed on the output shaft.
US08522648B2

A sheath removing unit according to the invention includes a sheath removing blade that includes a pair of blade bodies disposed so as to face each other, and an optical fiber guide that includes first guide body and the second guide body. The first guide body includes a first protruding portion that is disposed so as to be superimposed on a first blade body of the blade bodies and protrudes from the first blade body toward a second blade body. The second guide body includes a second protruding portion that is disposed so as to be superimposed on the second blade body and protrudes from the second blade body toward the first blade body. The first protruding portion includes a lower inclined portion, which is inclined outward toward a protruding direction of the first protruding portion, on the surface thereof facing the second guide body. The second protruding portion includes an upper inclined portion, which is inclined outward toward a protruding direction of the second protruding portion, on the surface thereof facing the first guide body.
US08522647B1

An eccentric gear for a tattoo machine allows the throw of the needle of the machine to be quickly and easily changed without the need to adjust the springs of the machine. The eccentric gear, which is rotatably connected to the output shaft of the motor and also to the linkage bar, has a body member that has a channel on its upper surface. A slide plate, to which the linkage bar is rotatably connected, is slidably disposed within the channel so that movement of the linkage bar-slide plate connection point closer to or farther away from the longitudinal axis of the output shaft, decreases or increases the throw of the needle respectively. A set screw frictionally locks the slide plate within the channel.
US08522645B2

In a vacuum chamber, the edge of each blade group is subjected to an ion beam treatment under predetermined conditions using a plasma ion gun and argon as a medium, and is subjected to a plasma ion implantation of nitrogen plasma under predetermined conditions using a plasma ion implantation gun. As a result, it is possible to provide a blade member having an edge of a cutting quality enhanced by increasing the sharpness, a blade member having an edge of a rigidity enhanced by increasing the hardness, and a working apparatus capable of working those edges efficiently.
US08522643B2

A cam follower for a high-pressure fuel pump of an internal combustion engine, which has a cam roller that is accommodated in a pocket of the cam follower. The cam roller has a bore and the bore is mounted by on a pin which is seated at the ends in receptacles of opposite walls of the pocket. The cam roller runs with its end sides directly in front of the walls. Each end side of the cam roller takes the form of an outer surface of a spherical zone, and each wall is smooth and straight, at least in the region of its run-on piece at the respective end side of the cam roller.
US08522639B2

The present invention provides a steering apparatus that can provide good operation feeling in telescopic adjustment and can have a very simple configuration. The steering apparatus has a fixed bracket, a movable bracket, a sliding shaft support member, and a tightening tool. The sliding shaft support member is constituted by a main sliding unit made of an inelastic resin and buffer portions made of a rubber or an elastic resin. The buffer portions are fixedly attached to both sides of the main sliding unit in the front-rear direction, the upper and lower surfaces of the main sliding unit are in a state of sliding contact with both guide edges of a long hole for telescopic adjustment of the movable bracket, and the buffer portions can abut only on both stop end edges and do not come into contact with the two guide edges.
US08522636B2

The present invention provides a rectilinear motion device 1 including: a linear rack 13 having a plurality of teeth 13T; a main drive pinion 24 that meshes with the teeth 13T of the rack 13; an auxiliary drive pinion 25 that meshes with the teeth 13T of the rack 13 in a position away from the main drive pinion 24; a main drive motor 22 that rotationally drives the main drive pinion 24; an auxiliary drive motor 23 that rotationally drives the auxiliary drive pinion 25; and a movable carrier 20 to which the main drive motor 22 and the auxiliary drive motor 23 are secured and that moves along the rack 13 with rotational driving of the main drive motor 22 and the auxiliary drive motor 23, wherein the auxiliary drive motor 23 is rotationally driven, in stopping the moving movable carrier 20, in a reverse direction to a driving direction of the main drive motor 22 in motion.
US08522634B2

Disclosed is a powertrain comprising a three speed transmission and an electric motor.
US08522630B1

A system for retrieving a fluid sample from a fluid source. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a system for insertion of a probe into a pressurized fluid stream by means of male threads which are threadly engaged in a female threaded housing. An elastomeric seal is employed to form a fluid barrier around a segment of the probe's outer surface.
US08522625B2

A flow measuring arrangement for measuring flow through a measuring tube comprises at least one constriction located in the measuring tube, which effects a reduction of a volume through which a medium flows; at least one deflectable membrane applied to said constriction, wherein deflection of the membrane effects a change of a volume through which medium flows in the measuring tube; a pressure measuring system connected to the measuring tube for measuring pressure (Δp, p); measuring electronics, which determines flow based on the measured pressure (Δp, p); an apparatus for producing a time variable deflection of the membrane and a diagnostic system, which determines an affect of said deflections of the membrane on the measured pressure (Δp, p), and which diagnoses the flow measuring arrangement based on the deflections and determined effects thereof on the measured pressure (Δp, p).
US08522623B2

A system is provided with an ultrasonic flow meter. The ultrasonic flow meter includes a first ultrasonic transducer disposed about a fluid flow path, and a pressure balancing system configured to pressure balance the first ultrasonic transducer relative to a fluid flow along the fluid flow path.
US08522614B2

In-line inspection methods are provided. The methods comprise measuring at least two parameters/properties of a prepreg and/or laminate during the manufacture thereof. In some embodiments, the data collected using the inline inspection methods may be processed and/or provided to a manual or automated controller, in order to provide a closed loop method for the manufacture of the prepregs and/or laminates. Apparatus for carrying out the methods are also provided, as are articles comprising a prepreg and/or laminate made using the apparatus.
US08522611B2

Acoustic waves from a controllable downhole acoustic source in a cased borehole are focused into a region of an earth formation. A hydrophone is used to monitor acoustic signals for onset of cavitation. The estimated pressure from the source in the focus region provides an estimate of formation pore pressure.
US08522608B2

An offset in the signal of a pre-catalytic converter lambda probe of an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine affects a measured oxygen intake storage capacity and a measured oxygen removal storage capacity of an oxygen store with identical magnitude, but with opposite mathematical sign, so that their sum is independent of the offset. The oxygen intake storage capacity and the oxygen removal storage capacity are hereby determined until the output signal of the post-catalytic converter probe exceeds an intermediate threshold value of, for example, 0.45 V for intake and 0.8 V for removal. Exposure of the oxygen store to rich and/or lean exhaust gas is maintained after this threshold value has been crossed to ensure that the oxygen store is indeed sufficiently filled after the oxygen intake storage capacity has been measured, or is sufficiently emptied after the oxygen removal storage capacity has been measured.
US08522607B2

In a method and a device for checking the adjustment of a plurality of actuators driven by a common drive in different mass flow channels of an internal combustion engine, the actuators are adjusted between a first limit stop and a second limit stop in the particular mass flow channel. The actuators are brought by their common drive to the first limit stop. A first value of a variable that is characteristic of a position of the common drive of the actuators is determined when the first limit stop is reached. The actuators are brought by their common drive to the second limit stop. A second value of the variable that is characteristic of the position of the common drive of the actuators is ascertained upon reaching the second limit stop. A difference is determined between the first value and the second value. The difference is compared in terms of absolute value to at least one predefined threshold value. An error in the adjustment of the actuators in the various mass flow channels is recognized when the absolute value of the difference deviates unacceptably from at least one predefined threshold value.
US08522602B2

A system is provided for detecting a liquid sample, and includes: a flow cell assembly formed with a sample receiving space therein, and inlet and outlet channels extending to the sample receiving space for guiding the liquid sample into and away from the sample receiving space; a sensor device including a sample detecting unit that is disposed in the sample receiving space, and that is operable to detect the liquid sample and to generate a detection signal accordingly, and a signal conducting unit that is connected electrically to the sensor device for conducting the detection signal therefrom; and a liquid introducing unit and a liquid discharging unit coupled to the inlet and outlet channels and cooperating therewith to form an introducing path and a discharging path for introducing the liquid sample into and for discharging the liquid sample from the sample receiving space, respectively.
US08522598B2

A control device with a valve adjusted by a control element is provided. A position sensor detects an actual position of the control element and an electro-pneumatic position controller generates a pneumatic control variable as a function of the actual and desired positions. The pneumatic control variable is supplied to the control drive via a magnetic valve activated by a supply voltage supplied by an instrumentation and control device. For carrying out a test of the magnetic valve, the magnetic valve is deactivated briefly. To initiate, monitor, and evaluate the test of the magnetic valve, the supply voltage is supplied to the magnetic valve via a controllable switch. The controllable switch is opened by a magnetic valve test signal generated by the instrumentation and control device. The magnetic valve test signal is supplied to the controllable switch via a limit switch which is opened when the control element reaches a specified position.
US08522597B2

A method and system for automatically calibrating a pressure sensor in a hydrogen storage system for a fuel cell vehicle. A low-range pressure sensor in the fuel cell system, which has much greater accuracy at low pressure readings, is used to calibrate a high-range pressure sensor in the hydrogen storage system. This calibration can only be done when a pressure regulator situated between the two sensors is in a fully open position. In such a condition, the high-range sensor can be calibrated to the value of the low-range sensor, thus improving the accuracy of the high-range sensor's readings. The calibration can be a simple setting of the high-range sensor to the value of the low-range sensor under static conditions, or the calibration can be done while gas is flowing from the hydrogen storage system to the fuel cell by accounting for the pressure drop between the two sensors.
US08522593B2

A method for producing highly dimensionally accurate, deep-drawn half shells with a base region, a body region and a flange region, includes firstly forming a pre-formed half shell from a blank and then shaping the pre-formed half shell into a finally formed half shell, wherein the pre-formed half shell has excess blank material due to its geometric shape and wherein, owing to the excess material during the shaping of the pre-formed half shell into its final shape the half shell is compressed into the finally formed half shell by at least one further pressing process. The method requires that the pre-formed half shell has excess blank material in a transition region between the body region and flange region.
US08522591B2

The invention relates to a method for changing/transporting a fire roll set (7, 8) and a second roll set (22) on a transversal displacement platform (23) in the region of a roll stand (4) in a roll hall, in or counter to the direction of rolling. During the changing/transporting of the first and the second roll set (7, 8, 22) by the transversal displacement platform (23), a roll changing hole (10) is completely transversed/covered. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method.
US08522581B2

A safety shield for double-lock leg cuffs having a first lock for disengaging or releasing the leglets after the same have been applied to the legs of a prisoner, and a second lock for fixing the preset contracted position of the leglets on the prisoner's legs. The box-like shield comprises access slots in a wall thereof through which a portion of the associated leg cuff key may be inserted to actuate the second lock without opening the shield or revealing the first lock or removing the shield from the leg cuffs. This arrangement permits the shields to be secured over the leg cuffs prior to application to a prisoner and thereby enhances the officer's safety. The safety shield is also suitable for use with handcuffs including a pair of wristlets pivotally and rotatably connected by either an enlarged ring portion or a short link chain.
US08522577B2

A knitted component may incorporate an inlaid strand. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
US08522575B2

To provide a measure for reducing the leaching values of alkali components defined in ISO4802 and the like as much as possible in a glass container for use in storage or the like of pharmaceuticals or the like. The measure includes a container converting process of processing a glass tube into a container shape having a bottom and an opening to form a vial and a fire blast process of scanning an inner surface of the vial with a flame of a point burner while emitting the flame to an internal space of the vial and applying the flame to the inner surface.
US08522574B2

Methods of reducing the concentration of low boiling point components in liquefied natural gas are disclosed. The methods involve dynamic decompression of the liquefied natural gas and one or more pre-fractionation vessels. Particular embodiments are suited for recovering helium and/or nitrogen enriched streams from a liquefied natural gas stream.
US08522573B2

A system for conversion of waste and solar heat energy into a carbon sequestration device, including as a collector for collecting carbon dioxide gas from a carbon dioxide gas source, such as ambient air. The Joule Thompson effect is used to cool and thereby refrigerate/liquefy ambient air and then extracting carbon dioxide therefrom, comprising steps of and means for providing a hydride heat engine, operating the hydride heat engine utilizing hydride thermal compression technology to compress hydrogen gas and thereby to cool ambient air to a temperature rendering air into a refrigerated/liquefied state by use of a Joule-Thompson type process, and extracting carbon dioxide from the refrigerated/liquefied ambient air and collecting the carbon dioxide.
US08522570B2

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that cools an integrated circuit (IC) chip within a computer system. During operation, the system converts heat generated by a heat-generating device within the computer system during operation of the computer system into thermoelectric power. Next, the system supplies the thermoelectric power to drive a fluid pump. Finally, the system uses the fluid pump to conduct heat away from the IC chip.
US08522569B2

A method and system of utilizing waste heat from a plurality of data center equipment comprising the steps of collecting waste heat from a plurality of data center equipment and utilizing said waste heat as the driving heat input for a heat driven engine. Heat recovery means collects waste heat from heat-producing equipment and transfers it in the form of hot water to drive a heat driven engine such as a chiller or heat pump. The output of the heat driven engine may be put to many productive uses, thereby reducing the over all energy load on the data center.
US08522565B1

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator housing having an open upper end. Fitted beneath the open upper end are a removable cooling unit which has an inlet opening and an outlet opening both in communication with the interior of the refrigerator. The cooling unit draws air into the cooling unit, cools the air, and recirculates it into the refrigerator. The cooling unit can be removed from the lower front end of the housing for repair, and can be replaced with a similar unit so that the refrigerator can continue to be used.
US08522561B2

A fuel nozzle for a turbine engine has a central body member with a pilot, a surrounding barrel housing, a mixing duct and an air inlet duct. The fuel nozzle additionally has a main fuel injection device located between the air inlet duct and the mixing duct. The main fuel injection device is configured to introduce a flow of fuel into the barrel member to create a fuel/air mixture which is then premixed with a swirler. The fuel/air mixture then further mixes in the mixing duct and exits the nozzle into a combustor for combustion. The geometry of the fuel nozzle ensures that pressure waves from the combustor do not create a time varying fuel to air equivalence ratio in the flow through the nozzle that achieves a resonance with the pressure waves.
US08522556B2

In an air-staged diffusion nozzle for a gas turbine combustor, air is mixed with the gas fuel and expanded in a downstream burner tube. Introduction of air, passing downstream from the tip of the nozzle to the burner tube space forces hot gases away from and cools the nozzle tip. Air flow through an inner swirler or through cooling holes on the nozzle tip may be arranged to establish a cooling flow volume and direction that advantageously interacts with gas fuel-air flow from an outer swirler to improve fuel-air mixing in the burner tube, helping to reduce emissions and soot formation.
US08522546B2

A hydraulic brake system includes a piston that separates a first pressure chamber from a second pressure chamber of a cylinder bore. A valve within a piston bore is movable between three positions. In the first position, the first and second pressure chambers are in fluid communication with a low-pressure fluid supply; in the second position, the second pressure chamber is isolated from the first pressure chamber and the low-pressure fluid supply; in the third position, a high-pressure fluid supply is in fluid communication with the second pressure chamber, allowing high-pressure fluid to flow into the second pressure chamber. High pressure in the second pressure chamber moves the boost piston, applying boosted braking pressure to a vehicle brake. Pressure in the second chamber against a surface of the valve biases the valve toward the first position. An accumulator stores pressurized fluid and provides the high-pressure fluid supply, enabling on-demand brake boosting force during engine-off operation of a hybrid vehicle.
US08522540B2

A counterbalancing arrangement and a method for counterbalancing two mutually movable parts, which is arranged to counteract the gravitational force of at least one of the movable parts. The counterbalancing arrangement includes a gas spring and a compressor system. The compressor system is designed to sense a pressure in the gas spring and to adjust the pressure if the pressure deviates from a predetermined value. The counterbalancing arrangement can be used for counterbalancing an industrial robot arm and is capable of maintaining its working capacity regardless of any gas leakage and variations in the ambient temperature so as to result in very few unwanted stops occasioned by a need for servicing the balancing spring of the counterbalancing arrangement.
US08522539B2

Disclosed is a gas pressure actuator whose actuator body has a cylinder, a piston and a gas generator in which a powder is loaded, and the gas generator is positioned at an end portion of the cylinder. The gas generator injects a high pressure gas into the cylinder by the combustion of the powder, thereby moving the piston. The actuator body is provided with a coating which covers the entire actuator body from outside. The coating is a resin coating having electrically insulating, waterproof, and dustproof characteristics.
US08522533B2

When an internal combustion engine is in a low rotation speed driving condition, a duration of the low rotation speed driving condition is measured, and when this duration exceeds a predetermined time, the forced regeneration control is performed. Thus, even when an exhaust flow rate is small and an estimation of a particulate matter accumulated amount due to a pressure difference between front and back sides of a filter is difficult, a forced regeneration time can be accurately judged, the deterioration of fuel efficiency that is caused by excessive trapped particulate matter can be avoided, and thermal runaway that is caused by the excessive particulate matter, and the melting damage of the diesel particulate filter due to this thermal runaway, can be prevented.
US08522532B2

Provided is an exhaust-treatment device for a diesel engine, said device being capable of suppressing engine noise. In a first stage P1 of an exhaust-temperature-raising process, a target engine speed is set to a prescribed first target speed R1 and an intake throttle valve 41 is set to a prescribed first degree of opening O1. In a second stage P2, the target engine speed is maintained at the first target speed R1 and the intake throttle valve 41 is set to a position more closed than the first degree of opening O1. When a set duration T2 for the second stage P2 has come to an end, the intake throttle valve 41 is at a second degree of opening O2, which is maintained in third and subsequent stages P3/P4. In said third and subsequent stages P3/P4, as a set duration T3/T4 for each stage P3/P4 passes, the target engine speed is updated to a target speed R2/R3 higher than the target speed R1/R2 during the immediately prior stage P2/P3, and the temperature of DPF1 upstream exhaust gas 12 is increased.
US08522529B2

An aircraft propulsion unit including a turbojet and a heat exchanger located above the turbojet and drawing a cooling air stream and a hot air stream in the turbojet. Wherein the cooling air intake and hot air intake surfaces in the housing are directed forward of the turbojet and have normal lines inclined relative to the axis of the turbojet. The embodiment also concerns an aircraft equipped with at least one such propulsion unit.
US08522520B2

A yarn spun from a plurality of nano-fibers is provided and is characterized in that at least some of the nano-fibers are folded with the folds occurring at predeterminable distances which are integer multiples of a specific spacing. The folds result from spinning the nano-fibers onto a plurality of moving conductive strips which are inclined to their direction of movement. A process and apparatus for producing such yarn is also provided.
US08522517B2

A reel gang mower has a plurality of front reel cutting units and at least trailing one rear reel cutting unit. Each rear reel cutting unit is centered on a gap between a pair of adjacent front cutting units to cover the gap. Each rear reel cutting unit has a cutting width that is wider than a common cutting width of the front reel cutting units by an amount which is sufficient to maintain positive overlap between the front and rear reel cutting units while mowing when turning or in sidehill mowing such that substantially no uncut strips of grass are left in a cut grass swath provided by the mower.
US08522510B2

A method of covering a roof deck includes laying a course of starter shingles in a side-by-side relationship at an eave edge of a roof deck. A starter shingle of the course of starter shingles is a laminated starter shingle comprising an underlay sheet laminated below an overlay sheet. A plurality of successive generally horizontal courses of covering shingles are laid above the course of starter shingles. The covering shingles in each of the courses of covering shingles are laid in a side-by-side relationship and horizontally offset from the covering shingles in adjacent courses. Each covering shingle of the courses of covering shingles includes a headlap portion and a butt portion. The butt portion includes a plurality of tabs separated by cutouts. The starter shingles include an exposed portion extending between the tabs of the covering shingles.
US08522508B1

In various embodiments, this invention includes a wall assembly having an interior generally vertical wall having a wall face, an exterior generally vertical wall confronting and being spaced from the wall face, and a generally horizontal ledge extending perpendicularly to the interior and exterior walls. A cant member is installed above grade on the wall assembly and has a upper portion, a lower portion and a cant portion intermediate the wall and lower portions. The upper portion is juxtaposed in face-to-face relation to the wall face and the lower portion is juxtaposed in face-to-face relation to the ledge with the cant portion extending between the wall and lower portions such that a flashing is supported by the cant and moisture on the wall face of the interior wall is diverted by the cant member along the cant portion toward the exterior wall and away from the wall assembly. The invention also extends to a cant member as described in various embodiments herein as well as a method of constructing a wall assembly.
US08522503B1

The present disclosure is directed to a precast collar for providing a protective structure (ex.—a surround structure), a proprietary support structure and an appearance-enhancing (ex.—non-distracting) base accessory for a pole foundation and a pole (ex.—for a utility pole foundation and utility pole). The precast collar may be formed of precast concrete and may be of sufficient dimensions and construction for at least substantially surrounding and for protecting a support structure and body structure portion of a pole foundation. The precast collar may form a recessed portion for receiving a support structure of a pole foundation. The precast collar may be supported upon the pole foundation via the support structure of the pole foundation, while providing access to a base structure of the pole foundation via a cavity formed through the collar, so that said base structure may be connected to a pole.
US08522494B2

Support wires can be used to hold up light tiles to provide a lightweight display system.
US08522492B2

A solar panel mounting structure includes: a fixation member as an angle member firmly fixed onto a roofing composed of a metal plate as a magnetic material; solar panels, each of which is rotatably held on the fixation member while interposing an insertion/extraction hinge mounted on an upper edge of an erected portion of the fixation member; and a magnetic engaging device provided between the solar panel and the roofing in order to detachably fix the solar panel to the roofing. The fixation member is firmly fixed to the roofing while interposing a double-sided adhesive tape and an adhesive agent therebetween. The magnetic engaging device includes: a cup-like casing mounted to a lower surface of the solar panel by a screw; and a ferrite magnet firmly fixed into the casing.
US08522486B2

An inflatable mold assembly for forming a hollow composite construction member that is suitable for use as a building material has a longitudinal axis. The mold assembly further has a flexible, substantially tubular bladder wall defining an elongated inflatable cavity. A reinforcing fabric is positioned concentrically around the flexible bladder wall. A flexible air-impervious outer layer is positioned concentrically around the fabric, with the bladder wall and the outer layer defining an elongated annular space, and with the fabric being positioned within the elongated annular space.
US08522485B2

A center-channel protector for a vehicle sash door is arranged between a main sash and a center channel. A body of the protector has an H-shaped upper-end surface which is compatible to cover the upper end of the center channel. The body integrally includes a pair of branch covering portions corresponding to a pair of branch portions constituting the center channel and a middle covering portion disposed between the branch covering portions so as to connect the both branch covering portions therewith. An engaging portion is provided with the body and is mechanically engaged, in a direction intersecting a vertical direction, with an engaged portion which is provided with a center channel side. In collaboration with the engaged portion, the engaging portion constitutes a fastening mechanism by which the protector is fastened on the center channel.
US08522482B2

A door opener assembly having a rotatable arm-bar for hands-free use by individuals in high-traffic pedestrian conditions. The rotatable arm-bar has a distal knobbed end and allows users to easily position a wrist or forearm within the hook and to move laterally, as the person moves, as the door is opened and thereafter provides a slide-release of the forearm or wrist. The smooth surface and design of the arm-bar allows users to disengage from contact without risk of injury occurring such as from the unexpected opening of the door from the opposite direction.
US08522478B1

A shutter kit comprising frame components, louvers, inserts, louver clips and tilt bars are combined as a ready to assemble shutter. The frame components are configured to assemble into a shutter frame. The louvers are adapted to fit within the shutter frame. The inserts are adapted to attach to stiles of the frame components. The louver clips are capable of rotatably attaching at regular intervals along the length of the inserts and removably retaining the louvers. The tilt bars are adapted to rotatably interconnect the louver clips. In one embodiment, the inserts, louver clips and tilt bars are preassembled into trees adapted to insert into an assembled shutter frame.
US08522463B2

An ironing device includes a base, a handle moveable relative to the base, and a resilient member biasing the handle in an upper position and allowing movement of the handle upon exertion of a force thereon by a user towards a lower position. Further, a steam controller is operatively connected to the handle such that release of steam of the ironing device is intuitively controlled by the force exerted on the handle by the user. A console is connected with the base and is provided with at least one operating button. The handle includes a recess for accommodating the console, where the console and the handle are configured so that an operating button is operable with the same hand that holds the handle.
US08522462B2

Piezoelectric pump for a household electric appliance having a moving wall interposed between a first casing element defining a pumping chamber with the moving wall, and a second casing element applying pressure to the periphery of the moving wall in order to hold the latter in position. The moving wall has an exterior face in contact with a piezoelectric actuator designed to cause the moving wall to move so as to bring about a periodic variation in the volume of the pumping chamber under the action of the piezoelectric actuator wherein the first casing element and the second casing element are held together under stress by an elastic clip, the elastic clip applying a pressure that tends to compress the first casing element onto the second casing element.
US08522457B2

A sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, includes a unidirectional bending element. The unidirectional bending element enables a dorsal bending of the sole (bending of the sole in the direction upward and away from the ground) and blocks a plantar bending of the sole (bending of the sole in the direction downward and towards the ground). The unidirectional bending element may be arranged at a first layer of the sole and may vertically project from the first layer.
US08522448B2

A measuring wheel includes a handle set, a first rod, a second rod, a wheel seat and a wheel. The first rod is mounted on the handle set and has a first seat mounted on the first rod. The first seat includes a first body, a first pivotal portion and a buckling unit. The first body has an assembling groove and a supporting recess. The second rod is pivotally connected with the first rod and has a second seat assembled with the first seat. The second seat includes a second body and a second pivotal portion. The second body has a supporting block and a buckling groove defined in the supporting block. The buckling unit has an end aligning with an outer periphery of the supporting recess in the bottom surface of the first body to prevent from hitting.
US08522444B2

A cable control set for extended reach garden shears, the extended reach garden shears having a cutting section comprising at two blades pivoted together, the cutting section attached to a first location of an extension rod, the cutting section capable of being driven by the cable. Two guiding rollers are pivoted onto a second location of the extension rod, and the cable is placed between the two guiding rollers, a rotatable member is pivoted onto an opposite side of the extension rod by a corresponding securing member; and a rotating arm is pivoted onto a top surface of the rotatable member via a corresponding securing member, and the two auxiliary rollers are pivoted onto the one end of the rotating arm, the cable is placed between the two auxiliary rollers.
US08522437B2

An apparatus for assembling a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a single-cell workstation including a device that retains a wheel, and a plurality of sub-stations. The device moves the wheel to each of the plurality of sub-stations, without releasing the wheel, to assemble a tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.
US08522432B2

A method for manufacturing radial pistons for a hydraulic motor by machining cylindrical transverse holes at regular intervals in a bar, and, in order to form two adjacent pistons, cutting up the bar on a transverse cutting-up plane passing through one of said holes so that a first portion of said hole forms a cradle-shaped recess in the base of the first one of the two adjacent pistons and so that another portion of said hole forms a cradle-shaped recess in the top of the second one of the two adjacent pistons.
US08522429B2

A method of forming the wiring board. The wiring board includes a first substrate, and a second substrate having a smaller mounting area than a mounting area of the first substrate. A base substrate is laminated between the first substrate and the second substrate such that the first substrate extends beyond an edge of the second substrate, and at least one via formed in at least one of the first substrate or the second substrate. A thickness of a portion of the base substrate that is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate is greater than a thickness of a portion of the base substrate that is not sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08522428B2

A method for producing a sensor board includes the steps of preparing an insulating layer; forming at least a pair of electrodes on the insulating layer; and forming a conductive layer by spraying a conductive component-containing liquid onto the insulating layer by an ultrasonic spray method so as to cover the electrodes.
US08522424B2

According to an aspect of an embodiment, a wiring connection apparatus comprises a tray including a plurality of wiring connection members for connecting a plurality of wiring and a tray holder body, which holds the tray, wherein the tray is rotatably provided in the tray holder body, and a wiring introduction opening for introducing the plurality of wiring into the tray is formed in proximity to an axis of rotation of the tray.
US08522423B2

A device for feeding and attaching corrective elements for unbalance correction on propeller shafts in a balancing machine includes an attachment device positionable longitudinally to the rotor axis, with a receptacle for receiving a corrective element attachable to the outer rotor circumference. Associated with the balancing machine is a supply unit supplying corrective elements measured for the individual unbalance correction. A feeding device feeds supplied corrective elements to the attachment device and includes a transfer shuttle for performing reciprocating movements between the supply unit and the attachment device on a guideway parallel to the rotor axis via a controllable motion drive mechanism. The transfer shuttle includes a loading device for performing an active loading operation by displacing a corrective element from a receptacle of the transfer shuttle into the receptacle of the attachment device, the loading device being driven via the controllable motion drive mechanism of the transfer shuttle.
US08522419B1

Techniques and apparatuses to provide vibration reduction of a workpiece when performing machining operations are disclosed. In various embodiments, a machine tool includes a shank having at least one end configured for engagement with a machine operable to rotate the shank. A cutting portion has a diameter defined by features used to remove material from a workpiece. The cutting portion is coupled to the shank. A vibration reduction dampener may be located between the shank and the workpiece.
US08522418B2

A protective helmet includes an outer shell having a generally dome-shaped section and a brim extending outwardly from the dome-shaped section. The dome-shaped section and the brim are formed from a thermoplastic material. The helmet further includes a brim support in operative connection with at least a portion of the brim. The brim support is formed from a material that is more heat resistant than the thermoplastic material. The brim support is sufficiently rigid to limit deformation of the brim upon exposure to high temperature. The brim support material can, for example, have a melting point above 500° F. A method of limiting high-temperature deformation in a helmet includes molding an outer shell of the helmet to consist essentially of thermoplastic material, the outer shell comprising a generally dome-shaped portion and a brim extending outwardly from the dome-shaped section by at least 2.5 inches at the rear of the helmet; and operatively connecting a rigid brim support to the brim, the brim support being formed from a material that is more heat resistant than the thermoplastic material.
US08522413B2

A system for fluidic coupling and uncoupling of fluidic conduits and a microfluidic chip, wherein the fluidic conduits are connected mechanically to a first structural part and the microfluidic chip is carried by a second structural part. The structural parts are moved perpendicularly toward and away from each other by means of a mechanism provided for this purpose. Outer ends of the fluidic conduits can thus be moved over a determined distance substantially perpendicularly to the outer surface of the microfluidic chip and connecting openings in the outer surface of the microfluidic chip. This enables accurate realization of fluidic coupling and uncoupling without the occurrence of undesirable moments of force and with minimal risk of damage to the fluidic conduits or the connecting openings. With such system requirements which can be set in respect of convenience, speed, temperature resistance, sealing, chemical resistance, reproducibility and so forth, can be fulfilled.
US08522411B1

A method of fabricating a piezoelectric resonator includes providing a bottom electrode and a piezoelectric layer coupled to the bottom electrode. A bottom metal layer of a top electrode is deposited on the piezoelectric layer. A top metal layer of the top electrode is deposited on the bottom metal layer. A photoresist layer is deposited on the top metal layer. The photoresist layer is patterned and etched. The top metal layer is patterned and etched while the etched photoresist layer remains. The bottom metal layer is patterned and etched such that an entire perimeter side surface of the top metal layer is recessed relative to a perimeter edge of the bottom metal layer. The etched photoresist layer is removed. A passivation layer is deposited on the top and bottom metal layers such that the top and bottom metal layers are isolated from a subsequent metal etch step.
US08522402B1

A separately operating cargo strap collector for use with a ratchet-buckle assembly of known construction having longer and shorter straps and a ratchet-buckle. The strap collector includes sidewalls connected to upper and lower walls forming a channel through which the longer strap passes with a clamp in the channel for attaching the strap collector to the longer strap. The sidewalls and upper wall forming a magazine for folds of excess longer strap after the longer strap is tightened by the ratchet-buckle. A pair of lever arms are journaled in the sidewalls with a finger for clamping the folds of excess strap against the bottom wall of the magazine.
US08522401B2

A hinge apparatus for a portable communication device having a body, a folder, and a rotary hinge module mounted between the body and the folder. The hinge apparatus includes at least one gear hinge part for opening and closing the body and the folder on a first hinge axis. The hinge apparatus also includes a hinge connection part for coupling the at least one gear hinge part to the rotary hinge module. The rotary hinge module allows for rotation of the folder about a second hinge axis perpendicular to the first hinge axis.
US08522392B2

A wiper system having an electric motor operatively associated with a primary pivot shaft assembly. Also included is a secondary pivot shaft assembly. A first windshield wiper is coupled to the primary pivot shaft assembly, and a second windshield wiper is coupled to the secondary pivot shaft assembly. The system includes a cable assembly having at least one cable operatively associated with the primary pivot shaft assembly and the secondary pivot shaft assembly, wherein the electric motor is capable of rotating the primary pivot shaft assembly and the first windshield wiper, wherein rotation of the primary pivot shaft assembly generates tension in the at least one cable, and wherein the at least one cable tension generates rotation of the secondary pivot shaft assembly and the second windshield wiper.
US08522386B2

An oral care implement comprising tooth cleaning elements and a tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head and a handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a first face of the head; a receiving cavity formed into a second face of the head opposite the first face; and a soft tissue cleanser formed of an elastomeric material that is injection molded into the receiving cavity to bond the soft tissue cleanser to the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a plurality of projections extending beyond the second face of the head.
US08522381B1

A system and method for replacing existing deteriorated piers of bridges in the same location as the existing pier, without the use of temporary bents comprising the steps of: installing one or more drilled shaft, preferably round, columns in the earth on opposite sides of the existing pier to be replaced transverse to the axis of the bridge; installing at least one temporary support bracket or embedded support beam on each of the columns; installing a temporary transverse girder onto the support brackets or beams of two columns; installing temporary support posts on the transverse girder; transferring the load from the pier to the temporary transverse girders once the columns have attained adequate strength; removing the pier to an elevation below the cap; constructing a new cap; transferring the load from the temporary girders to the new cap once the cap has attained adequate strength; and removing the temporary supports.
US08522377B2

A bed skirt support (10) is disclosed comprising a relatively flat, central portion or decking (14) having at least on side support section (16, 18, 20) removably or fixedly attached thereto. Said bed skirt support has fully separated corners and multiple layers, each of which does not have to be lofted at the same gathering ratio as its adjacent layers.
US08522373B2

A mounting assembly is used to mount a curved rod to a mounting surface. The mounting assembly includes a base, a guide and a cover. The base is fixed to the mounting surface by inserting screws through holes in the base and into the mounting surface. The guide fits around the base and can move along a length of the base. The cover is placed over the base and secured to the guide, such that the cover can also move along the length of the base. The mounting assembly interfaces with an end of the curved rod that approaches the mounting assembly at a given angle. Movement of the cover allows the mounting assembly to interface with ends of curved rods approaching the mounting assembly over a range of angles. The mounting assembly can include a shaft that is connected to the base and interfaces with the end of the curved rod.
US08522372B1

A vertical pipe has an upper end and a lower end. The vertical pipe is adapted to be coupled to a pool water outlet. A T-coupler has horizontal first and second legs and a downward extending vertical third leg receiving the T-coupler. Transparent first and second sleeves are attached to the first leg and second legs. Each sleeve has an end cap. An inner cylinder is provided within the second sleeve. The inner cylinder has closed and open ends. A power cylinder is provided within the first sleeve. A gasket hydraulically seals the first sleeve from the second sleeve and the T-coupler. A light source is coupled to the power cylinder extending into the T-coupler. Apertures are provided in the second sleeve. The apertures face upwardly and outwardly.
US08522370B2

A device for spraying an inner surface of a wall of an enclosure with a fluid is disclosed. The device includes a reservoir for the fluid, a nozzle assembly through which the fluid can be sprayed on the inner surface of the wall of the enclosure, a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir and the nozzle, a pump for delivering fluid from the reservoir through the fluid conduit and to the nozzle when the pump assembly is activated, and a controller in electrical communication with the pump wherein the controller executes a stored program to activate and deactivate the pump. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle which directs the fluid in a fluid path, and the nozzle assembly further includes a deflection shield that is dimensioned to contact and redirect fluid in the fluid path, and the nozzle assembly further includes mounting structure for attaching the nozzle near the inner surface of the wall of the enclosure. The flow off of the deflector shield is laminar.
US08522367B2

A pocket for a garment is disclosed. The pocket comprises a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion to form a partially-enclosed space. The partially-enclosed space comprises a region defined by (1) a first line corresponding substantially to a line of flexion of a hip joint of a wearer of the garment, (2) a second line corresponding substantially to a centerline of a thigh of a wearer of the garment, and (3) a third line corresponding approximately to an inseam of a wearer of the garment. The region is configured and disposed to substantially conceal an object (e.g., a handgun magazine) retained in the region from a person viewing the garment. The pocket further comprises a retaining device disposed in the region. The retaining device is configured and disposed to hold the object in a fixed position in the region.
US08528107B1

An administrator may set restrictions related to the operation of a virtual machine (VM), and virtualization software enforces such restrictions. There may be restrictions related to the general use of the VM, such as who may use the VM, when the VM may be used, and on what physical computers the VM may be used. There may be similar restrictions related to a general ability to modify a VM, such as who may modify the VM. There may also be restrictions related to what modifications may be made to a VM, such as whether the VM may be modified to enable access to various devices or other resources. There may also be restrictions related to how the VM may be used and what may be done with the VM. Information related to the VM and any restrictions placed on the operation of the VM may be encrypted to inhibit a user from circumventing the restrictions.
US08528101B1

A computing data center that contains a set of physically isolatable units of computing resources for which a physical security exception action plan is to be provided. Upon determining that a security event has occurred for one or more physically isolatable units, the computing data center implements physical security settings on potentially affected computing resources so that a physical security exception action plan can be met. The computing data center may, for example, remove data from the physically isolatable units and make the removed data available elsewhere.
US08528093B1

A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to perform a static analysis of a set of target code to identify a first set of security issues. A dynamic analysis of the target code is executed to identify a second set of security issues. The first set of security issues and the second set of security issues are compared and common security issues are reported.
US08528092B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying unwanted activity utilizing a honeypot accessible via virtual local area network (VLAN) trunking. In use, a honeypot device is allowed to be accessed via VLAN trunking. Furthermore, unwanted data is identified, utilizing the honeypot device.
US08528083B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enveloping a thread of execution within an IDT-based secure sandbox. In one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide that a request is received from an application, the request being generated using an application programming interface of a device driver. After the request is received a call gate descriptor for a call gate is added to a segment descriptor table for the application. The call gate descriptor specifies: (a) that the call gate can be called from a first privilege level of the application; and (b) that the call gate requests a second privilege level higher that the first privilege level. A call gate selector for the call gate descriptor is provided to the application in response to the request.
US08528082B2

A security disposing method and device for the input data involves generating an interference data according to a predefined rule when inputting the data, and mixing the input data with the interference data and sending the mixed data, and parsing out the interference data according to the predefined rule after receiving the mixed data, and separating the input data according to the parsed interference data.
US08528078B2

The authenticity of a website is determined using a unique string of characters known only to the user and the website on each page of the website that is displayed to the user, with a false site being incapable of displaying this unique string of characters, thereby putting the user on notice that the current site is not the authentic one the user desires to access. Voice methods for conveying one-time pass codes to users and for permitting customer institutions to select authentication rules are also disclosed.
US08528072B2

A method, apparatus, and system for accessing at least a portion of a device based upon an access input. An access input is received. The access input includes information for gaining access to one or more functions of the device. A user access mode of the device is changed from a first access mode to a second access mode based upon at least in part on the access input. An application is selected in the device in response to changing from the first access mode to the second access mode. At least a portion of the output of the selected application is provided.
US08528046B2

An information handling system includes a host mapped general purpose input output (GPIO), a shared memory, a board management controller, and a cryptography engine. The host mapped GPIO includes a plurality of registers. The board management controller is in communication with the host mapped GPIO and with the shared memory, and is configured to control accessibility to the plurality of registers in the GPIO, and to control write accessibility of the shared memory based on a private key received from a basic input output system requesting accessibility to the plurality of registers and write accessibility of the shared memory. The cryptography engine is in communication with the board memory controller, and is configured to authenticate the private key received from the board management controller.
US08528045B2

According to some embodiments, a member authentication request is received at a security server from a client server. The member authentication request may be associated with, for example, a member attempting to access confidential information from the client server. A secure key associated with the member may be determined and data associated with that key may be transmitted to the member (e.g., via his or her wireless device or computer). Secure key information may be received from the member and validated. Based on the validated secure key information, it may be arranged for the member to receive the confidential information from the client server.
US08528044B2

An information processing apparatus that can easily and safely transmit data. A registering unit registers first authentication information in association with user information indicating a first user. The first authentication information is necessary for the first user to log on to the information processing apparatus. A generating unit generates an address data that is used to transmit data from an external apparatus to the information processing apparatus and includes the user information and second authentication information. A transmitting unit transmits the address data to the external apparatus. An authenticating unit authenticates by utilizing the second authentication information included in the address data when the data is transmitted based on the address data from the external apparatus. A storing unit stores the received data in association with the first user when the authentication by the authenticating unit succeeds.
US08528041B1

A computer-implemented method, network management system, and network clients are provided for out-of-band network security management. The network management system includes routers, firewalls, and out-of-band interfaces. The out-of-band interface of the network management system transmits access control lists to network clients connected to a trusted network. The trusted network connects the routers, firewalls, and network clients. The firewalls receive access control lists from the network management system to police communications that traverse the trusted network and an untrusted network. The routers receive access control lists from the network management system to police communications that traverse the router within the trusted network. The access control lists for the routers and firewalls are transmitted over a network interface to the trusted network and are transmitted separately from the access control lists for the network clients.
US08528034B2

A modem system may include modems that have multiple upstream transmitters for transmitting signals upstream in a communication network. In some embodiments herein, one or more of those upstream transmitters may be retasked to transmit downstream signals for reception at devices within a modem's premises. The downstream signal may be modulated differently from its original modulation as received by the modem, and may be modulated in a manner that can be received by legacy components on the premises, such as analog televisions.
US08528033B2

Methods and systems for providing subscription data are described. Subscription data may be received from a subscription data source. The video content may be provided for presentation. A determination may be made of whether the subscription data is contextually relevant to the video content. The subscription data may be provided for presentation in accordance with the determination and the providing of the video content.
US08528031B2

In one embodiment consistent with the invention a method of quality of service (QOS) data aggregation and service management for Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) involves receiving data from a plurality of DDRIVL collector devices representing QOS service for sets of IPTV content providers assigned to each collector device, with each collector device being in a separate specified region of Internet service; evaluating from a geographic and interconnection perspective the data from the plurality of collector devices to isolate IPTV receivers located in areas where problems with IPTV service is likely to be occurring; and populating the isolated IPTV receivers with channel set tuning information that either excludes or flags the channels that may be having problems with IPTV service. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08528029B2

Apparatus and method for providing and receiving media programming information including providing programming package information comprising attributes of a package of media presentation channels. Further, a subscription characteristic is defined that determines an ability subscribe to the package and to present the programming package information on a device. The device operates to compare the subscription characteristic with device-related subscription information. A subscription is allowed and/or the programming package information is presented on the device based on a predetermined relationship between the subscription characteristic and the device subscription information.
US08528017B2

Closed caption (CC) data is carried across a digital interface such as HDMI by a source such as a set top box arrange CC data into a HDMI packet that is then transmitted, along with video packets, across the interface to a sink such as a TV. The CC data is kept in the same format that it was received and the TV's decoder processor processes the packets and renders CC text as if the CC data had been received by the tuner of the TV.
US08528016B2

A set-top box may receive program guide information from a server. The program guide information may identify a group of programs and specify, for each program, an indicator of set-top boxes tuned to the each program or providing the each program. The set-top box may further provide, to a display and using the received program guide information, a program guide, where the program guide represents each program, in the group of programs, as a shape, and where a size of each shape corresponds to the indicator of set-top boxes tuned to the represented program or providing the represented program. The set-top box may also receive updated program guide information from the server and dynamically increase or decrease at least one shape in the program guide, based on the updated program guide information.
US08528010B2

An optical disc apparatus includes: a chassis; an optical pickup that is movably disposed on the chassis; a flexible member including wiring, which extends out from the optical pickup; and a wall portion that is provided in a standing manner at one end portion of the chassis. In the optical disc apparatus, an opening that allows the flexible member to be disposed in a bent state is formed through the chassis, and a first cutout is formed at the wall portion so as to be continuous with the opening.
US08528009B2

An electronic device includes a housing having top and bottom walls, and an optical disk drive disposed in the housing between the top and bottom walls and including a supporting plate, and a motor shaft disposed at the center of the supporting plate. An optical disk drive support module includes an upper support unit provided on the top wall and having a rotatable element disposed above the motor shaft, a lower support unit provided on the bottom wall below the motor shaft, a bracket connected to the optical disk drive and including top and bottom plates. When the optical disk drive is inserted into the housing, the top plate presses the rotatable element downwardly toward the motor shaft, and the bottom plate pushes the lower support unit upwardly toward the supporting plate. A rolling unit is provided on the top plate, and is in rollable contact with the rotatable element.
US08528001B2

A system and method for automatically controlling run-time parallelization of a software application. A buffer is allocated during execution of program code of an application. When a point in program code near a parallelized region is reached, demand information is stored in the buffer in response to reaching a predetermined first checkpoint. Subsequently, the demand information is read from the buffer in response to reaching a predetermined second checkpoint. Allocation information corresponding to the read demand information is computed and stored the in the buffer for the application to later access. The allocation information is read from the buffer in response to reaching a predetermined third checkpoint, and the parallelized region of code is executed in a manner corresponding to the allocation information.
US08527996B2

A method and system for throttling a plurality of operations of a plurality of applications that share a plurality of resources. A difference between observed and predicted workloads is computed. If the difference does not exceed a threshold, a multi-strategy finder operates in normal mode and applies a recursive greedy pruning process with a look-back and look-forward optimization to select actions for a final schedule of actions that improve the utility of a data storage system. If the difference exceeds the threshold, the multi-strategy finder operates in unexpected mode and applies a defensive action selection process to select actions for the final schedule. The selected actions are performed according to the final schedule and include throttling of a CPU, network, and/or storage.
US08527993B2

Techniques are provided which may be implemented in various methods and/or apparatuses that to provide a tasking system buffer interface capability to interface with a plurality of shared processes/engines.
US08527990B1

A computer-implemented method for migrating virtual machines may include: 1) identifying a request to migrate a virtual machine from a primary site to a secondary site, the primary site including a primary storage device used by the virtual machine and configured for asynchronous replication to a secondary storage device at the secondary site, 2) identifying a difference map that reflects differences between data on the primary storage device and the secondary storage device, 3) initiating the virtual machine at the secondary site, 4) intercepting an input/output attempt from the virtual machine at the secondary site to the secondary storage device, 5) determining, based on the difference map, that a region of the input/output attempt has not been synchronized from the primary storage device, and 6) retrieving the region from the primary storage device before allowing the input/output attempt to proceed. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed.
US08527986B1

A method of identifying a problem with a mobile application, comprising an emulation application initiating execution of a mobile application, the emulation application providing an execution environment that simulates a portable communication device in which the mobile application executes, wherein the emulation application is stored in a memory and executed by a processor of a computer; the emulation application detecting that the mobile application has self-reinstalled twice in succession; and the emulation application, based on detection of successive reinstallations, transmitting notification to an application store that the mobile application has self-reinstalled twice in succession.
US08527961B2

A debugging tool pauses or stops the execution of a computer program midway through the evaluation of a single line of source code that contains multiple expressions. A debugging tool pauses or stops the execution of a computer program after evaluating and executing one or more expressions within a particular line of source code, but before evaluating and executing one or more other expressions within that same particular line of source code. Thus, programmers can use such a debugging tool to debug a computer program at a level of granularity that is finer than source code line-level. Programmers can use such a debugging tool to debug a computer program, using breakpoints and/or stepping, at an expression-level of granularity.
US08527957B2

Systems, methods, computer program products, and the like for testing to validate software operations are described. A first part of a test can be executed in a tenant currently having a first system state. The tenant can be transitioned from the first system state to a second system state. The transitioning can have an unknown effect on a business process or business scenario running in the tenant. A second part of the test can be executed in the tenant while the tenant is in the second system state. Upon completion of the test, it can be determined whether the transition of the tenant from the first system state to the second system state negatively impacts the running of the business process or business scenario.
US08527948B2

The invention relates to a process for the automatic matching of a control software component to a control unit network in order to permit communication between control software components of the control unit network, whereby the control unit network-independent communication commands of a control software component in the program code are replaced by control unit network-dependent communication commands.
US08527946B2

The present invention provides a programming model based on a relational view of the heap which defines identity declaratively, obviating the need for equals( ) and hashcode( ) methods. Each element in the heap (called a tuple) belongs to a relation type and relates an immutable identity to mutable state. The model entails a stricter contract: identity never changes during an execution. Objects, values, and singletons arise as special cases of tuples.
US08527937B2

Building a software product in an integrated development environment using build styles. Applying a plurality of build styles, each of the build styles comprising a dictionary of build settings, to a target, determining an order of precedence for the build styles and other dictionaries containing build settings, and building a software product using said target and said build styles.
US08527936B2

An improved method, system, user interface, and computer program product is disclosed for performing graphical analysis of coverage. According to some approaches, a graphical user interface uses treemaps to provide analysis of verification coverage. This allows the user to efficiently obtain the overall and/or complete picture of the coverage space, as well as the relative size of nodes in terms of number of coverage elements contained in them. Moreover, the present treemap approach provides relative comparison of coverage of the nodes and allows the user to identify whether there is any missing coverage, and if so, whether the missing coverage evenly balanced. This information is very useful for the decision made by the user regarding overall coverage and steps to be taken to improve the coverage.
US08527934B2

Disclosed is an improved mechanism and method for implementing electronic designs. According to some approaches, a method, mechanism, and compute program product is disclosed for implementing electronic designs that allows visual editing of complex objects with advanced editing features, which also provides for automated correspondence of the editing results to parametric values for a programmable object in the design.
US08527928B1

A computer-readable medium stores a specification for a circuit layout. The specification includes: a configuration of rooms for placing devices, one or more room constraints for the configuration of rooms, one or more groups of devices for the rooms, and one or more device constraints for devices in a same room. The configuration of rooms may include a tree-structure for the rooms. The room constraints may include a common symmetry line for a first room and a second room. The device constraints may include a self-symmetry constraint for a first device about a symmetry line in a first room. The device constraints may include a symmetry constraint for a first device and a second device about a symmetry line in a first room. The devices may include analog or RF (radio frequency) devices.
US08527927B2

Some embodiments provide a system that facilitates the creation of a design in an electronic design automation (EDA) application. During operation, the system determines a processing order for processing a set of cells in the design. In some embodiments, the processing order can be a reverse-levelized processing order. Next, the system may select a cell for performing area recovery according to the processing order. The system may then tentatively perform an area-recovery operation on the selected cell. Next, the system may determine a zone around the selected cell. Next, the system may propagate arrival times within the zone to obtain updated slack values at endpoints of the zone. The system may compute one or more timing metrics at the endpoints. If the updated slack values do not degrade the timing metric(s) at the endpoints, the system may accept the area-recovery operation of the selected cell.
US08527925B2

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for estimating a clock skew. The method comprises: obtaining a basic clock skew of each clock tree in the circuit; judging whether two units are in a same clock domain; if they are in different clock domains, estimating the clock skew between units to be a larger one of basic clock skews of the clock trees corresponding to these two unit; if these two units are in the same clock domain, further judging whether they are in a same hierarchical logic block; if they are in different hierarchical logic blocks, estimating the clock skew between units to be the basic clock skew of the clock tree of these two units plus additional clock skew caused by different hierarchical logic blocks. The apparatus is corresponding to the method. With the method and apparatus, the clock skew in the circuit can be estimated more accurately, which improves the efficiency of circuit design.
US08527921B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system which verifies a circuit design by biasing input stimuli for the circuit design to satisfy one or more temporal coverage properties to be verified for the circuit design. This system performs a simulation in which random input stimuli are applied to the circuit design. The system performs the simulation by using a finite state automaton (FSA) instance for a temporal coverage property to observe inputs and outputs of the circuit, and by using soft constraints associated with the FSA instance to bias the input stimuli for the circuit design so that the simulation is likely to progress through a sequence of states which satisfy the temporal coverage property.
US08527914B2

A flare map calculating method of an embodiment calculates an optical image intensity distribution in each division region set in a pattern region. Furthermore, an average value of the optical image intensity distribution is calculated in each division region. A pattern or plural patterns, which has a pattern density corresponding to the average value, is calculated as a corresponding density pattern in each division region. Furthermore, a density map, which represents a pattern density distribution within the pattern region, is generated based on the corresponding density pattern, and a flare map representing a flare intensity distribution within the pattern region is calculated by convolution integral of the density map and a point spread function.
US08527898B2

A direction-based data entry system displays a field having an initial value and a field location. When the user selects the field, the direction-based data entry system enters a data entry mode in which an auxiliary data entry tool is not displayed. To enter a new value for the field, the user indicates movement across the display relative to the field. As the user indicates movement, the direction-based data entry system may display an indication of a new value for the field represented by the movement. When the new value is the value that the user wants entered into the field, the user terminates the movement, which causes the new value to be the current value for the field.
US08527896B2

A graphical user interface is provided that has two distinct sections. A first area has an array of menu items. When a menu item is hovered over by a pointer, an icon such as a contextually-related animated icon is displayed on a second area and changes its appearance in such a way as to indicate to the user the location of the pointer and/or the consequence of selecting that menu item.
US08527894B2

A computer-implemented method of navigating a GUI can include, responsive to a user input initiating a navigation mode, overlaying, atop of the GUI located within a first layer, a virtual keyboard within a second layer, wherein the virtual keyboard includes a plurality of virtual keys. The method can include, for each virtual key, associating the virtual key with a region of the first layer including an area of the GUI beneath the virtual key. The method can include mapping each virtual key with a physical key of a physical keyboard communicatively linked with a computer rendering the GUI and, responsive to a user input selecting a physical key of the physical keyboard, selecting a region corresponding to the selected physical key. A level of magnification for the selected region can be increased within the first layer while keeping the virtual keyboard sizing constant.
US08527893B2

This patent application relates to taxonomy editing. One implementation involves a taxonomy editor configured to generate a visual representation of a taxonomy associated with a set of scientific papers. The taxonomy editor includes a properties module configured to identify properties relating to an individual node of the taxonomy and a statistics module configured to determine trends relating to the individual node. The taxonomy editor further includes a similarity module configured to evaluate keyword similarity relative to individual scientific papers associated with the individual node. The taxonomy editor also includes a suggestion module configured to utilize the properties, the trends and the keyword similarity to identify potential modifications to the taxonomy. The taxonomy editor is further configured to present at least some of the potential modifications, the properties, the trends, and the keyword similarity concurrently with the visual representation of the taxonomy.
US08527889B2

An application and method for dynamically presenting data regarding end points and services relative to a subscriber. In one embodiment, the application is operable with a service management system and is configured to employ the service management system to determine relationships between a subscriber and services and end points associated therewith and generate a user interface that provides a view, based on the relationships, of at least one of: (1) one of the services in terms of end points that play roles in the one of the services and (2) one of the end points in terms of services in which the one of the end points plays a role.
US08527880B2

A method and apparatus for viewing desired portions of a multimedia presentation. Desired portions of a multimedia presentation are determined. In one embodiment, an editor may determine which portions of the presentation are desired. Alternatively, or additionally, specified criteria may be applied to the presentation to determine the desired portions. An annotation file is then created based upon the determined desired portions of the multimedia presentation. The annotation file contains pointers corresponding to the desired portions of the multimedia presentation. Annotation management software may be use the annotation file to cause a display device to display only desired portions of the presentation. The annotation file may be applied to a broadcast presentation or a recorded program file. In one embodiment the annotation file may contain information related to the desired portions of the multimedia presentation and/or the remainder of the multimedia presentation.
US08527879B2

An editing method includes: detecting a selection of first and second clip portions of a source media depiction, generating corresponding first and second block icons and snapping hands-free the first and second block icons across the screen to a linear queue so that the blocks are snugly adjacent, detecting a move of the first or second block icon relative to one another substantially along the queue, and if the first or second block icon overlaps the other by substantially one half of the other block icon, reversing displayed positions in the queue of the first and second block icons.
US08527878B2

A computer program of the type commonly known as a “wizard” is disclosed that initializes user interface software for controlling an audio conferencing device. The wizard allows the desired audio inputs (e.g., microphone, telephones, etc.) and audio outputs (speakers, recording devices, etc.) to be chosen by an audio system administrator. Thereafter, the wizard allows an audio conferencing device (or devices) to be chosen by the administrator, or allows such a device(s) to be optimally chosen dependent upon the chosen inputs and outputs. The wizard then maps the inputs and outputs to the input and output ports on the audio conferencing device. When the administrator finishes the wizard, the wizard computes the mapping parameters and other audio-optimizing parameters for the selected inputs and outputs. These parameters are then loaded into the user interface software automatically.
US08527875B2

The information processing apparatus includes a screen display unit configured to display a first screen that displays content acquired from an external server and a second screen that displays content stored in the information processing apparatus, an accepting unit configured to accept language information about selection of a language to be used to display the first screen, a notification unit configured to notify a predetermined external server of the accepted language information and address information representing an address of the content, a first determination unit configured to determine whether the predetermined external server is a specific external server, and a setting unit configured to, when the first determination unit determines that the predetermined external server is the specific external server, set a language to be used to display the second screen to the same language as that of a received content.
US08527874B2

The invention is directed to a system and method of organizing search results. The invention may leverage a chronological timeline of user action information to infer relationships between objects in a search result. The search may be iterative. Search results may be graphically represented as tiles. In one embodiment, the tiles may provide a graphical representation of users associated with an object. The tiles may be updated dynamically upon user action that occurs subsequent to the search. In an alternative embodiment, search results are organized by object type and each tile represents an object within a particular object type. A default action may be associated with an object type.
US08527869B2

The invention includes a method and system for personalizing displays of published Web pages provided by Web content providers to meet the interests of Web users accessing the pages, based on profiles of the users. The system preferably provides to the requesting user, through a proxy server, an edited version of the HTML file for the original published Web page that is served by a host Web server. The system uses user profiles that may include demographic and psychographic data to edit the requested Web page. The content of a Web page as published by a host Web server may be coded to correlate components of the Web page with demographic and psychographic data. The user profiles may then be used to filter the content of a coded Web page for delivery to a requesting user. The system may rearrange content on a published Web page so that content determined to be of higher interest to a user is more prominently featured or more easily or quickly accessible. The system may also delete content on a published Web page that is determined to be of low interest to a user. In embodiments of the invention, a single proxy server or proxy server system personalizes Web pages from multiple Web servers, using a single user profile for a user.
US08527861B2

A method for processing a page character array finds links and creates link groups containing adjacent link characters. Adjacency of link characters is preferably defined as characters which are separated by any combination of no characters, blank space characters, line feed characters, or separator characters, such as vertical or horizontal separator bars or other separator characters. Once link groups have been defined, the method lays out each link group for display in an optimized form. Links are displayed as buttons. An optimized form of display includes centering all the buttons in a vertical list. Another optimized form of display includes laying out the link group as a rectangular matrix of buttons. According to another aspect, each of the links in a link group are logically mapped to a distinct user input, such as a key or voice command. The logical mapping aspect and optimized display aspect are optionally combined for certain types of hardware. For example, if keys are physically adjacent to any part of the display, the links are displayed near the keys, or in horizontal and/or vertical alignment with the keys, so that the key to which a link is mapped is apparent from its position on the display screen. As another example, the name of key or command to which a link is mapped is displayed within or beside the button containing the name of the link.
US08527853B2

A Golay-code generator configured for generating Golay complementary code pairs comprises a sequence of delay elements configured for providing a predetermined set of fixed delays to at least a first input signal and a sequence of adaptable seed vector insertion elements configured for multiplying at least a second input signal by a variable seed vector, wherein each of a plurality of seed vectors corresponds to at least one predetermined piconet. The Golay-code generator may further comprise multiplexers configured for switching inputs and outputs of at least two delay elements in the sequence of delay elements to produce a plurality of compatible delay vectors. The Golay-code generator may further comprise a code-truncation module configured to shorten the Golay complementary code pairs for producing a plurality of daughter codes. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08527849B2

The subject disclosure describes a method for performing error code correction, the method includes, loading a code word including a plurality of encoded bits into a memory array, initializing, into one or more of a plurality of memory units, a plurality of bits associated with each of the encoded bits, wherein the plurality of bits initialized for each of the encoded bits is based on a value of the associated encoded bit and wherein the plurality of encoded bits and the plurality of bits initialized for each of the encoded bits includes soft information. In certain aspects, the method further includes decoding the code word using the soft information and outputting the decoded code word from the memory array. A decoder and flash storage device are also provided.
US08527843B2

The iterative decoding of blocks may be continued or terminated based on CRC checks. In an example embodiment, one iteration of an iterative decoding process is performed on a block whose information bits are covered by a CRC. The iterative decoding process is stopped if the CRC checks for a predetermined number of consecutive iterations. In another example embodiment, a decoding iteration is performed on a particular sub-block of multiple sub-blocks of a transport block, which includes a single CRC over an entirety of the transport block. The CRC is checked using decoded bits obtained from the decoding iteration on the particular sub-block and decoded bits obtained from previous decoding iterations on other sub-blocks of the multiple sub-blocks. The decoding iteration is then performed on a different sub-block if the CRC does not check. Also, the decoding iterations for the sub-blocks may be terminated if the CRC checks.
US08527838B2

A memory controller comprises at least a memory control processing module and/or a distributed storage processing module. A method begins by the memory control processing module receiving a memory access request regarding a data segment. The method continues with the memory control processing module interpreting the memory access request to determine whether an error coding dispersal function of the data segment is applicable. The method continues with the memory control processing module sending the memory access request to the distributed storage processing module when the error coding dispersal function is applicable. The method continues with the distributed storage processing module performing the error coding dispersal function on the data segment to produce an error coded processed data segment. The method continues with the distributed storage processing module sending the error coded processed data segment to the memory control processing module.
US08527833B2

A parameterized interleaver design process is provided, which optimizes the design for interleavers of any size, and can be completely specified using only a few design parameters. According to the parameterized interleaver design process an interleaver π(i) of a length N is generated. A number of subpermutation masks are defined, and a first intermediate interleaver permutation is partitioned into a number of subgroups, wherein the number of subgroups corresponds with the number of subpermutation masks. Each of the subgroups of the first intermediate interleaver permutation is partitioned into a number of further subgroups, and each of the subpermutation masks is applied to each of the further subgroups of a corresponding subgroup of the first intermediate interleaver permutation, resulting in a corresponding portion of a second intermediate interleaver permutation. The resulting interleaver π(i) is generated based at least in part on the first and second intermediate interleaver permutations.
US08527831B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for decoding data. As an example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a multi-tier decoding circuit having a first tier decoding circuit operable to decode portions of an encoded data set exhibiting low row weight, and a second tier decoding circuit operable to decode portions of an encoded data set exhibiting high row weight.
US08527819B2

A method for data storage includes performing an erasure operation on a group of analog memory cells (32). One or more of the memory cells in the group, which failed the erasure operation, are identified as erase-failed cells. A storage configuration that is used for programming the analog memory cells in the group is modified responsively to the identified erase-failed cells. Data is stored in the group of the analog memory cells using the modified storage configuration.
US08527818B2

An interface with universal serial communication comprises a switching device, a medium device, and a data restoring device for transmitting the data and obtaining the serial communication via one signal line that is inter-strung by afore devices. By simplifying such communication device, the compatibility thereof could be enhanced. Moreover, during the data transmission, computation made by an error coefficient and an error beyond value in the switching device allows the transmitted data to be kept within an acceptable noise value, so that the accuracy of the data could be assured.
US08527806B2

The present invention provides an information processing device having a CPU which executes an OS and firmware, and a plurality of memory controllers which are connected to the CPU, control writing to and reading from a plurality of memory units, and perform error monitoring, wherein the plurality of memory units each connected to the plurality of memory controllers, the memory controllers sequentially read memory areas of the plurality of memory units connected to the memory controllers, and perform error area monitoring, and the firmware converts addresses recognized by the memory controllers corresponding to the error areas into logical addresses recognized by the OS, and supplies the logical addresses to the OS.
US08527799B2

An image processing apparatus that is capable of being instructed to power off, by a power switch or a command from an external apparatus, and is capable of executing the restart thereof under appropriate conditions. When power-off is instructed, shutdown is started. Upon completion of the shutdown, if the power switch is on, and at the same time the power-off has been instructed by the power switch of the apparatus, the restart of the apparatus is executed, whereas upon completion of the shutdown, if the power-off has been instructed by a command from the external apparatus, the restart of the apparatus is not executed.
US08527797B2

Systems and methods of leakage control in an asynchronous pipeline are disclosed. In an embodiment, a signal is received from a preceding stage at an operative stage of an asynchronous circuit device, and a switch associated with the operative stage is activated in response to the control signal being sent to the operative stage to enable power to the operative stage.
US08527788B2

A network wake up system includes a network card, a controller, a south bridge chip, and a baseboard management controller (BMC). The network card receives a network wake up data packet, and outputs a network wake up signal. The BMC determines whether a temperature of the computer is in a predetermined temperature range and determines whether a voltage of the computer is normal, and outputs a state signal to the controller. If the temperature of the computer is in the predetermined temperature range and the voltage of the computer is normal, the controller wakes up the computer at the power-off state. If the temperature of the computer is not in the predetermined temperature range or the voltage of the computer is abnormal, the controller fails to output the network wake up signal to the south bridge chip, so that the computer at the power-off state cannot be woken up.
US08527786B2

An electronic apparatus includes a power receiving unit that receives electric power supplied from the power supply apparatus in a non-contact manner; and a control unit that controls the electronic apparatus to be set in a second state until a predetermined time elapses since identification information is assigned from the power supply apparatus and controls the electronic apparatus to be set in a first state if the predetermined time has elapsed, wherein, if the power supply apparatus detects an electronic apparatus that is set in the first state, the power supply apparatus assigns identification information to the detected electronic apparatus.
US08527781B2

A solid state disk system is disclosed. The system comprises a user token and at least one level secure virtual storage controller, coupled to the host system. The system includes a plurality of virtual storage devices coupled to at least one secure virtual storage controller. A system and method in accordance with the present invention could be utilized in flash based storage, disk storage systems, portable storage devices, corporate storage systems, PCs, servers, wireless storage, and multimedia storage systems.
US08527777B2

A prover of a data processing system may prove to a verifier of the system that the prover satisfies a condition imposed by the verifier. The prover holds in memory at least one cryptographic credential in which are encoded a biometric template characteristic of the prover and a set of prover attributes such that each of the template and attributes are bound to a common secret value of the prover. A biometric measurement is made of the prover, which then communicates with the verifier to make a cryptographic proof demonstrating: possession of the cryptographic credential; that the biometric measurement matches the biometric template encoded in the cryptographic credential; and that the set of prover attributes encoded in the cryptographic credential satisfies the condition imposed by the verifier. The cryptographic proof is made without revealing the template or the at least one credential to the verifier.
US08527776B2

Detecting harmful or illegal intrusions into a computer network or into restricted portions of a computer network uses a process of synthesizing anomalous data to be used in training a neural network-based model for use in a computer network intrusion detection system. Anomalous data for artificially creating a set of features reflecting anomalous behavior for a particular activity is performed. This is done in conjunction with the creation of normal-behavior feature values. A distribution of users of normal feature values and an expected distribution of users of anomalous feature values are then defined in the form of histograms. The anomalous-feature histogram is then sampled to produce anomalous-behavior feature values. These values are then used to train a model having a neural network training algorithm where the model is used in the computer network intrusion detection system. The model is trained such that it can efficiently recognize anomalous behavior by users in a dynamic computing environment where user behavior can change frequently.
US08527775B2

A first storage device provides a host device with access to a private memory area by communicating a password between the first storage device and a second storage device via the host device using a double-encryption scheme. In one embodiment, a host device receives a twice-encrypted password from a first storage device, sends the twice-encrypted password to a second storage device, receives a once-encrypted password from the second storage device, decrypts the once-encrypted password to obtain the password, and sends the password to the first storage device. In another embodiment, a first storage device sends a twice-encrypted password to a host device, receives the password from the host device after the twice-encrypted password is decrypted by a second storage device and the host device, and provides the host device with access to the private memory area only if the password matches one that is stored in the first storage device.
US08527774B2

A gateway server interoperates with client and remote server systems to provide stateless security management for a distributed Web application. A Web client application on the client system initiates a WebSocket connection directed to a remote Web service by performing an authentication challenge directed to a user of the Web-browser client where a secure token is not present in a local store instance corresponding to the client application. The authentication challenge obtains the user credentials and then exchanges the user credentials with the gateway server for a secure token. The secure token is then sent in a protocol specific connect message to the gateway server. The gateway server, in response to receipt of the connect message, initiates a WebSocket connection directed to the remote Web service by inspecting the connect message to recover the secure token, evaluating the secure token to obtain user credentials, injecting the secure token with the user credentials, and sending the connect message to the remote Web service.
US08527771B2

A method of managing revocation when an alternate transmission method, using an alternate transmitter identity and an alternate receiver identity, is juxtaposed into an original transmission system, the original transmission system having its own original transmitter and receiver identities that communicate via an original transmission method involves at an alternate transmission receiver (ATR), providing a digital certificate, the digital certificate cryptographically binding the ATR identity to an original transmission (OT) re-transmitter identity; at the ATR, responsive to an initiation of a communication session from an alternate transmission transmitter (ATT), sending the digital certificate to the ATT using the alternate transmission method; at the ATT, extracting the original transmission identity from the certificate and sending it to the original transmission transmitter (OTT) using the original transmission method for checking in a revocation list; and if the OT identity is found to be in the revocation list, preventing copy protected content from being sent from the OTT. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08527769B2

A cryptographically-secure component is used to provide read-undeniability and deletion-verifiability for messaging applications. When a messaging application of a sending node desires to send a message to a messaging application of a receiving node, the sending node requests an encryption key from the receiving node. The cryptographically-secure component of the receiving node generates an encryption key that is bound to a state of the receiving node. The messaging application of the sending node encrypts the message using the encryption key and sends the encrypted message to the messaging application of the receiving node. Because the encryption key used to encrypt the message is bound to the state associated with reading the message by the cryptographically-secure component, if the receiving node desires to decrypt and read the encrypted message, the receiving node may advance its state to the bound state to retrieve the decryption key.
US08527761B2

A client hosted virtualization system includes a processor to execute code, a non-volatile memory, and a switch. The memory includes code to implement a basic input/output system (BIOS) for the CHVS, and code to implement a virtualization manager. The virtualization manager is operable to initialize the CHVS, authenticate a virtual machine image associated with a virtual machine, and launch the virtual machine on the CHVS. The switch is operable to select one of a first state and a second state. The processor operates to execute the BIOS code when the switch is in the first state and to execute the virtualization manager code when the switch is in the second state.
US08527758B2

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for facilitating network transactions including user identity verification over a network provide strong mutual authentication of client web application to server side application server, provide session encryption key negotiation after authentication to continue encryption during communication, and provide a high-level encryption technique referred to as an effective zero knowledge proof of identity (eZKPI) algorithm. In various implementations, the eZKPI algorithm is adapted to couple something the user Knows (e.g., a password) with something the user Has (e.g., a biometric signature) to create a stronger identity authentication proof for access to a mobile device and applications running on that device.
US08527745B2

An I/O device includes a host interface configured to process function level reset (FLR) requests in a specified amount of time. The host interface includes a control unit and groups of configuration space registers, each group corresponding to a function. The host interface also includes application availability registers, each associated with a respective function, and which may indicate whether application hardware within the respective function is available for access by a corresponding application device driver. The I/O device also includes application hardware resources associated with a respective function. In response to receiving an FLR request of a particular function, the control unit may cause the associated application availability register to indicate that the application hardware within the particular function is not available to the driver. The control unit may reset the corresponding configuration space registers within a predetermined amount of time and reset the associated application hardware resources.
US08527740B2

A system and method for enhancing barrier collective synchronization on a computer system comprises 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 being executed by a processor. The system includes providing a plurality of communicators for storing state information for a bather algorithm. Each communicator designates a master core in a multi-processor environment of the computer system. The system allocates or designates one counter for each of a plurality of threads. The system configures a table with a number of entries equal to the maximum number of threads. The system sets a table entry with an ID associated with a communicator when a process thread initiates a collective. The system determines an allocated or designated counter by searching entries in the table.
US08527717B2

A content data storage device which stores content data which includes a wide-band content and a narrow-band content includes a buffer memory temporarily storing the content data to be externally input, a storage unit including a plurality of nonvolatile memories configured to be written for each page and storing in turn the content data to be output from the buffer memory, and a controller controlling an output from the buffer memory so as to output content data of one page to the storage unit when the content data of not less than one page is stored in the buffer memory, wherein the controller adds dummy data to the narrow-band content as the content data of one page, if the narrow-band content stored in the buffer memory reaches the prescribed capacity.
US08527713B2

A Block Normal Cache Allocation (BNCA) mode is defined for a processor. In BNCA mode, cache entries may only be allocated by predetermined instructions. Normal memory access instructions (for example, as part of interrupt code) may execute and will retrieve data from main memory in the event of a cache miss; however, these instructions are not allowed to allocate entries in the cache. Only the predetermined instructions (for example, those used to establish locked cache entries) may allocate entries in the cache. When the locked entries are established, the processor exits BNCA mode, and any memory access instruction may allocate cache entries. BNCA mode may be indicated by setting a bit in a configuration register.
US08527693B2

An auto-commit memory is capable of implementing a pre-configured, triggered commit action in response to a failure condition, such as a loss of power, invalid shutdown, fault, or the like. A computing device may access the auto-commit memory using memory access semantics (using a memory mapping mechanism or the like), bypassing system calls typically required in virtual memory operations. Since the auto-commit memory is pre-configured to commit data stored thereon in the event of a failure, users of the auto-commit memory may view these memory semantic operations as being instantly committed. Operations to commit the data are taken out of the write-commit path.
US08527692B2

A data storage apparatus includes a non-volatile hard disk drive platter, a coupling interface for removably receiving a non-volatile solid state device operable as a cache. The data storage apparatus also includes a communication line functionally connected to the hard disk drive platter and the coupling interface and a storage controller are connected to the communication line to control operations of the hard disk drive platter and the solid state device, in which the storage controller is to determine whether the solid state device is coupled to the coupling interface and to modify operations of the hard disk drive platter based upon whether the solid state device is coupled to the coupling interface.
US08527691B2

A nonvolatile storage device includes a controller and a nonvolatile memory. The controller has: a logical-physical address conversion part for converting a logical address designated by a host device into a physical address; and a boot code address conversion part for converting boot code address information designated by the host device into a physical address. After the power-on and before the logical-physical address conversion part becomes usable, a boot code is read from a part of region which can be accessed by designating a logical address from the host device by designating the boot code address information from the outside. Thus, it is possible to rapidly start the nonvolatile memory system after the power-on. In the state where the logical-physical address conversion part can be used, data-reading and data-writing are carried out by designating a logical address from the host device.
US08527689B2

An apparatus generally including an internal memory and a direct memory access controller is disclosed. The direct memory access controller may be configured to (i) read first information from an external memory across an external bus, (ii) generate second information by processing the first information, (iii) write the first information across an internal bus to a first location in the internal memory during a direct memory access transfer and (iv) write the second information across the internal bus to a second location in the internal memory during the direct memory access transfer. The second location may be different from the first location.
US08527674B2

Embodiments related to switching of data packets have been described.
US08527671B2

Disclosed herein is a method of accessing a slave device from a circuit including a central processing unit, a data transfer engine, and an interface to the slave device. In one embodiment, the method includes: executing code on the central processing unit to set up the data transfer engine to access the slave device; and based on the set-up, operating the data transfer engine to supply a read request word to a transmit buffer of the interface for transmission to the slave device, and, after return of a corresponding response word to a first-in-first-out receive buffer of the interface, to disable the first-in-first-out receive buffer from receiving any further data such that the last word therein is assured to be the response word. The method further includes using an underflow mechanism of the first-in-first-out receive buffer to determine the last word therein and hence determine the response word.
US08527670B2

A method for modifying a USB device driver matching string includes: when a plug-and-play manager sends a request for querying device information to a physical device object, capturing, by a filter driver, the request for querying device information, and sending the request to an enumeration driver; receiving, by the filter driver, device information that is returned, according to the request for querying device information, by the enumeration driver, and forming, according to the returned device information and compatibility information of the device, a device driver matching string; and sending the device driver matching string to the plug-and-play manager.
US08527661B1

A network system gateway and method providing remote direct memory access controls to separate data path from control path. Control operations are passed between the gateway and a control processor node, and data is passed between the gateway and a memory node via remote direct memory access operations. The memory node may also receive instructions for the remote direct memory access operations through proxy remote direct memory access messages received from the control processor node.
US08527660B2

A system enables data synchronization for data files shared between or among multiple devices. When a shared data file is modified on one of the computing devices, metadata describing or otherwise enabling recreation of that modification are generated. To enable synchronization of the shared data file, the metadata—rather than the modified shared data file—are transmitted to other devices. These other systems can then use the metadata to recreate the modification of the shared data file and thus achieve data synchronization without requiring retransmission of the shared data file after each modification thereto.
US08527659B2

A method and apparatus for providing enhanced functionalities in a CPNS enabler are discussed. According to an embodiment, a method includes receiving content translation capability information and function information from each of the CPNS entities; compiling CPNS translator information for the CPNS enabler based on the content translation capability information and the function information; receiving a request to translate a content along with the content from a certain CPNS entity among the CPNS entities; determining whether a CPNS server can translate the content in response to the request based on the CPNS translator information; translating the content if the determining step indicates that the CPNS server can translate the content; and transmitting the translated content to the certain CPNS entity.
US08527657B2

In a server-implemented video game or simulation, a method for providing updates to a remote client regarding a plurality of objects located in a virtual spatial field of the simulation. The method comprises operations of receiving an update locus from the remote client, the update locus indicating a client-specified position within the virtual spatial field of the server-implemented simulation; determining a distance of each of the plurality of objects from the update locus; sorting the plurality of objects according to their determined distances from the update locus; determining an update rate for each of the plurality of objects based upon their sorted order; and sending updates regarding each of the plurality of objects to the remote client according to the determined update rates.
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