US08685905B2
Disclosed are methods in which an aliphatic polyether selected from polyalkylene oxides with monomer units having 3 to about 10 carbon atoms and polyvinyl ethers with ether groups having 2 to about 8 carbon atoms is added to a hydrocarbon lubricant; such methods in which the hydrocarbon lubricant comprises oxidation products that are dissolved by the addition of the polyether or polyvinyl ether; hydrocarbon lubricants containing a polyether selected from polyalkylene oxides with monomer units having 3 to about 10 carbon atoms and polyvinyl ethers with ether groups having 2 to about 8 carbon atoms; methods of lubricating machines with these lubricants; lubrication systems including these hydrocarbon lubricants; and machines including these lubrication systems.
US08685903B2
An embodiment includes a method of servicing a well bore. The method may comprise introducing a lost circulation composition into a lost circulation zone, the lost circulation composition comprising hydraulic cement, nano-particles, amorphous silica, clay, and water. The method further may comprise allowing the lost circulation composition to set in the lost circulation zone. Another embodiment includes a lost circulation composition. The lost circulation may comprise hydraulic cement, nano-particles, amorphous silica, clay, and water.
US08685901B2
A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation, comprising placing into a wellbore a composition comprising a calcium aluminate cement and a polyvalent cation-containing compound, and allowing the composition to set. A method of increasing the thickening time of a calcium aluminate cement comprising contacting the calcium aluminate cement with a polyvalent cation-containing compound. A method of adjusting the thickening time of a calcium aluminate cement comprising contacting the calcium aluminate cement with a polyvalent cation-containing compound and at least one other set modifier.
US08685893B2
The transformation yield of electroporation is increased by using higher DNA concentrations and DNA affinity purification. Fusion proteins of a viral coat protein variant and a heterologous polypeptide are useful in phage display systems.
US08685892B2
The present invention relates to methods, compositions and systems for detecting perchlorate in a sample. Compositions useful for detecting perchlorate in a sample include those comprising a perchlorate reductase, a reductant and an electron shuttle. In an exemplary embodiment, the composition comprises perchlorate reductase from Dechloromonas agitata, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and N-methylphenazinium methylsulfate. The present invention also provides for methods of using the compositions disclosed herein, as well as systems thereof. In some exemplary embodiments, the methods comprise a concentration step, in which, for example, the sample is contacted with a cationic solid phase extraction column. Employing this step provides certain advantages such as a lowered detection limit and the removal of contaminants.
US08685890B2
The invention relates to a method for providing a multispecific peptide ligand comprising a polypeptide covalently linked to a molecular scaffold at three or more amino acid residues and capable of binding to two or more separate targets, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first repertoire of polypeptides, each polypeptide comprising two or more reactive groups capable of covalent linkage to a molecular scaffold, and at least one loop which comprises a sequence of two or more amino acids subtended between two of said reactive groups; (b) providing a second repertoire of polypeptides as described in (a); (c) joining at least one loop of one or more members of the first repertoire to at least one loop of one or more members of the second repertoire to form at least one polypeptide comprising two loops, and (d) conjugating the composite polypeptide(s) to a molecular scaffold at at least three amino acid positions.
US08685887B2
The present application relates to surfactant compositions comprising a) at least one phosphated arylphenol alkoxylate surfactant having an average degree of alkoxylation of from 4-8; and b) at least one alkylamine alkoxylate surfactant having an average degree of alkoxylation of from 2-12 and to the use of these compositions in pesticide formulations comprising solid or encapsulated pesticidally active ingredients or formulation aids and methods for improving the re-suspension properties of pesticide suspensions.
US08685881B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing esters from triglycerides by using solid heterogeneous catalysts comprised of calcined calcium carbonate, particularly for obtaining biodiesel.
US08685878B2
A multimetallic nanoscale catalyst having a core portion enveloped by a shell portion and exhibiting high catalytic activity and improved catalytic durability. In various embodiments, the core/shell nanoparticles comprise a gold particle coated with a catalytically active platinum bimetallic material. The shape of the nanoparticles is substantially defined by the particle shape of the core portion. The nanoparticles may be dispersed on a high surface area substrate for use as a catalyst and is characterized by no significant loss in surface area and specific activity following extended potential cycling.
US08685876B2
A supported platinum catalyst comprising an open-pored support material and platinum of oxidation state 0, wherein an XRD spectrum of the catalyst is free of signals of elemental platinum.
US08685874B2
A ceramic material having a high toughness can include carbon and a transition metal. The transition metal can have an elemental body centered cubic structure at room temperature. A substantial amount of the ceramic can be of a rhombohedral ζ phase of the transition metal and carbon. These materials can have a high thermal shock resistance, high fracture toughness, and good high temperature performance. A particulate mixture of a carbon source and a transition metal source can be assembled (12) and reacted (14) under high pressure and high temperature. The transition metal source can include a transition metal of a metal which has an elemental BCC structure at room temperature. The particulate mixture carbon to transition metal ratio is chosen so as to achieve a zeta phase carbide and processing is affected in order to retain the zeta phase at a substantial weight percent of the material (i.e. greater than about 5 wt %). The carbide ceramic can be cooled (16) and depressurized (18) to acquire the ceramic material.
US08685870B2
Absorbent sheet materials are produced from a coformed blend of absorbent fibers and extensible meltblown polymer fibers. Laminates of these extensible coforms are prepared with layers of extensible polymeric fibers or filaments. The absorbent sheet materials are incrementally stretched to improve softness and drape.
US08685866B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including alternately repeating a process of forming a first metal oxide film including a first metal element and a process of forming a second metal oxide film including a second metal element on a substrate accommodated in a processing chamber, so as to form a third metal oxide film including the first and second metal elements with a predetermined composition ratio on the substrate. One of the first and second metal elements of the third metal oxide film has a concentration higher than a concentration of the other, and one of the first and second metal oxide films including the higher-concentration metal element is formed in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) mode or an atomic layer deposition (ALD) saturation mode, and the other of the first and second metal oxide films is formed in an ALD unsaturation mode.
US08685864B2
In a method for the treatment of a substrate surface of a flat substrate with a process medium at the substrate underside, the process medium has a removing or etching effect on the substrate surface. The substrates are wetted with the process medium from below in a manner lying horizontally. The upwardly facing substrate top side is wetted or covered with water or a corresponding protective liquid over a large area or over the whole area as protection against the process medium acting on the substrate top side.
US08685863B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor process, a semiconductor element and a package having a semiconductor element. The semiconductor element includes a base material and at least one through via structure. The base material has a first surface, a second surface, at least one groove and at least one foundation. The groove opens at the first surface, and the foundation is disposed on the first surface. The through via structure is disposed in the groove of the base material, and protrudes from the first surface of the base material. The foundation surrounds the through via structure. Whereby, the foundation increases the strength of the through via structure, and prevents the through via structure from cracking.
US08685855B2
A tray for film formation by a CVD method includes a tray main body (2) and a supporting member (3) mounted on the tray main body (2) for supporting a silicon wafer (5). The supporting member (3) has a holding portion (3c), on which the silicon wafer (5) is directly placed. The holding portion (3c) has its lower surface (3d) apart from a surface (2a) of the tray main body that is opposed to and apart from the supported silicon wafer (5), whereby the thickness distribution of an oxide film formed on the silicon wafer can be made uniform. The tray has a structure for reducing a contact area between the supporting member (3) and the tray main body (2), with the holding portion (3c) having a tilted surface with its inner circumferential side closer to the tray main body surface (2a) that is opposed to the silicon wafer.
US08685853B2
A method for creating a dual damascene structure while using only one lithography and masking step. Conventional dual damascene structures utilize two lithography steps: one to mask and expose the via, and a second step to mask and expose the trench interconnection. The novel method for creating a dual damascene structure allows for a smaller number of processing steps, thus reducing the processing time needed to complete the dual damascene structure. In addition, a lower number of masks may be needed. The exemplary mask or reticle used within the process incorporates different regions possessing different transmission rates. During the exposing step, light from an exposing source passes through the mask to expose a portion of the photoresist layer on top of the wafer. Depending on the transmission rate of the different regions, different thickness of the photoresist layer are exposed and later removed by a developing solution, which allows a subsequent etch process to remove portions of both the dielectric layer and photoresist layer to create a dual damascene structure.
US08685850B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, the gate contact is formed by a selective deposition on the gate electrode. One acceptable technique for the selective deposition is by plating. Plating is one process by which a metal structure, such as a gate contact, may be formed directly on the gate electrode. The plating is carried out by immersing the semiconductor die in a plating solution with the gate electrode exposed. The gate contact is plated onto the gate electrode and thus is ensured of being fully aligned exactly to the gate electrode. After this, the appropriate dielectric layers are formed adjacent the gate contact and over the source and drain to ensure that the gate electrode is electrically isolated from other components of the transistor.
US08685849B2
A semiconductor device in one embodiment includes a depletion junction, a peripheral region adjacent the depletion junction, and a buffer layer. The buffer layer is adapted to reduce localization of avalanche breakdown proximate the interface between the depletion junction and the peripheral region.
US08685839B2
In a semiconductor wafer with a supporting tape attached to the back side of the wafer, a coating member having a refractive index close to that of the supporting tape is formed on a pear-skin surface of the supporting tape to thereby planarize the pear-skin surface. Thereafter, a pulsed laser beam is applied from the upper side of the coating member to the semiconductor wafer in the condition where the focal point of the pulsed laser beam is set at a predetermined depth in the semiconductor wafer. Accordingly, the pulsed laser beam can be sufficiently focused inside the semiconductor wafer to thereby well form a modified layer inside the semiconductor wafer.
US08685836B2
A method for forming a silicon layer according to inventive concept comprises: preparing an SOI substrate; applying an etchant or vapor of the etchant to the SOI substrate; and irradiating a light to the SOI substrate.
US08685822B2
A semiconductor component that includes gate electrodes and shield electrodes and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor component. A semiconductor material has a device region, a gate contact region, a termination region, and a drain contact region. One or more device trenches is formed in the device region and one or more termination trenches is formed in the edge termination region. Shielding electrodes are formed in portions of the device trenches that are adjacent their floors. A gate dielectric material is formed on the sidewalls of the trenches in the device region and gate electrodes are formed over and electrically isolated from the shielding electrodes. The gate electrodes in the trenches in the device region are connected to the gate electrodes in the trenches in the gate contact region. The shielding electrodes in the trenches in the device region are connected to the shielding electrodes in the termination region.
US08685815B2
Embodiments of a dielectric layer containing a hafnium tantalum titanium oxide film structured as one or more monolayers include the dielectric layer disposed in a transistor. An embodiment may include forming a hafnium tantalum titanium oxide film using a monolayer or partial monolayer sequencing process such as reaction sequence atomic layer deposition.
US08685813B2
Embodiments of a method of integration of a non-volatile memory device into a MOS flow are described. Generally, the method includes: forming a dielectric stack on a surface of a substrate, the dielectric stack including a tunneling dielectric overlying the surface of the substrate and a charge-trapping layer overlying the tunneling dielectric; forming a cap layer overlying the dielectric stack; patterning the cap layer and the dielectric stack to form a gate stack of a memory device in a first region of the substrate and to remove the cap layer and the charge-trapping layer from a second region of the substrate; and performing an oxidation process to form a gate oxide of a MOS device overlying the surface of the substrate in the second region while simultaneously oxidizing the cap layer to form a blocking oxide overlying the charge-trapping layer. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08685812B2
A logic switch intentionally utilizes GIDL current as its primary mechanism of operation. Voltages may be applied to a doped gate overlying and insulated from a pn junction. A first voltage initiates GIDL current, and the logic switch is bidirectionally conductive. A second voltage terminates GIDL current, but the logic switch is unidirectionally conductive. A third voltage renders the logic switch bidirectionally non-conductive. Circuits containing the logic switch are also described. These circuits include inverters, SRAM cells, voltage reference sources, and neuron logic switches. The logic switch is primarily implemented according to SOI protocols, but embodiments according to bulk protocols are described.
US08685793B2
An assembly and method of making same are provided. The assembly can be formed by juxtaposing a first electrically conductive element overlying a major surface of a first semiconductor element with an electrically conductive pad exposed at a front surface of a second semiconductor element. An opening can be formed extending through the conductive pad of the second semiconductor element and exposing a surface of the first conductive element. The opening may alternatively be formed extending through the first conductive element. A second electrically conductive element can be formed extending at least within the opening and electrically contacting the conductive pad and the first conductive element. A third semiconductor element can be positioned in a similar manner with respect to the second semiconductor element.
US08685792B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: providing a mountable integrated circuit system having an encapsulation with a cavity therein and a first interposer exposed by the cavity; mounting a second interposer over the first interposer for only stacking a discrete device thereover, and with the second interposer over the encapsulation and the cavity; and mounting an electrical component over the second interposer.
US08685783B2
On a first structure having a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer a crown is formed through the third dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. A fourth dielectric layer is deposited over the first structure and thereby is over the crown. A portion of the fourth dielectric layer is removed to form a first spacer having a remaining portion of the fourth dielectric layer. A portion of the third electric layer is also removed during the removal of the portion the fourth dielectric layer, resulting in a second spacer having a remaining portion of the third dielectric layer. A second structure is thereby formed. A phase change material layer is deposited over the second structure. An electrode layer is deposited over the phase change layer. Portions of the electrode layer and the phase change layer are removed by a chemical-mechanical-polishing process to form a phase change region having a remaining portion of the phase change layer and to form an electrode region having a remaining portion of the electrode layer.
US08685777B2
The fabrication of a semiconductor fixed structure defining a volume, for example of a MEMS micro electro-mechanical system includes, determining thicknesses beforehand depending on the functional distances associated with elements. At least one element is formed on a substrate by thermal oxidation of the substrate so as to form an oxide layer followed by selective etching of the oxide layer so as to define the volume in an etched portion by baring the underlying substrate so as to define the element in an unetched portion, and later oxidation of the substrate so as to form an oxide layer, in order to obtain the elements at the functional distances.
US08685768B2
The inventive concept provides organic light emitting diodes and methods of manufacturing an organic light emitting diode. The organic light emitting diode includes a substrate, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer formed on the substrate, an organic light emitting layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer and generating light, and a scattering layer between the first electrode layer and the substrate or between the first electrode layer and the organic light emitting layer. The scattering layer scatters the light.
US08685761B2
A method of making an electronic device with a redistribution layer includes providing an electronic device having a first pattern of contact areas, and forming a redistribution layer on a temporary substrate. The temporary substrate has a second pattern of contact areas matching the first pattern of contact areas, and a third pattern of contact areas different than the second pattern of contact areas. The second pattern of contact areas is coupled to the third pattern of contact areas through a plurality of stacked conductive and insulating layers. The first pattern of contact areas is coupled to the second pattern of contact areas on the transferrable redistribution layer. The temporary substrate is then removed to thereby form a redistributed electronic device.
US08685753B2
Methods are provided for detecting and optionally quantitating multiple analytes, including nucleic acid and/or polypeptide analytes, in particle-based assays that can be highly multiplexed. Compositions, systems, and kits related to the methods are also featured.
US08685751B2
A method of continuously regulating fluid pressure of a first fluid in a fluid flow path by continuously adjusting at least one fluid flow characteristic of a second fluid flow which is engaged with the first fluid flow through a flexible barrier.
US08685736B2
The invention provides for the use of isolated polynucleotides encoding maize poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteins to identify endogenous PARP encoding genes or cDNAs from a plant and to produce plant cells and plants with high vigor.
US08685734B2
The present invention is directed to an improved method of purifying virus, particularly reovirus. Infectious virus can be extracted from a cell culture with a detergent to produce high titers of virus, and the virus can then be purified by simple steps such as filtration and column chromatography. Viruses and compositions comprising the viruses prepared according to the present invention are also provided.
US08685731B2
The invention relates to a process for the coloring of cells, preferably E1-immortalized HER cells, more preferably PER.C6 cells in a reactor in suspension in a cell culture medium, wherein the cells produce a biological substance, preferably an antibody, wherein at least one cell culture medium component is fed to the cell culture and wherein the cell culture comprising the cells, the biological substance and cell culture medium is circulated over a separation system and wherein the separation system separates the biological substance from substances having a lower molecular weight than the biological substance and wherein the biological substance is retained in or fed back into the reactor. Preferably part of the substances of lower molecular weight is continuously removed from the cell culture.
US08685726B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for maintaining undifferentiated pluripotent stem cell cultures.
US08685719B2
The invention relates to production of lysine, and provides several isolated polynucleotide molecules useful for the production of L-lysine. One such polynucleotide encodes an aspartate kinase (ask), an aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (asd) and a dihydrodipicolinate reductase (dapB). Other polypeptides encode ask, asd, dapB and a diaminopimelate dehydrogenase (ddh); ask, asd, dapB, ddh and an ORF2 poypeptide; and ask, asd dapB, ddh, ORF2 and a diaminopimelate decarboxylase (lysA). The invention further provides methods of making and using the polynucleotides, and methods to increase the production of L-lysine.
US08685717B2
An apparatus comprising an assembly and a cover. The assembly comprises a sample block configured to receive a microtiter tray having a plurality of vials, each vial comprising a cap having a surface and a perimeter. The cover comprises a platen, vertically and horizontally displaceable in relationship to the sample block, the platen having a plurality of recesses. Each recess corresponds to a respective vial and is shaped and arranged to clear the surface of its respective cap when the cover is displaced onto the sample block. The cover includes a skirt in contact with and surrounding a perimeter of the platen. The skirt is configured for mating with a perimeter of a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block, and also configured such that the cover contacts a microtiter tray when a microtiter tray is received in the sample block.
US08685711B2
Disclosed are methods, kits, and compositions for the highly sensitive detection of molecules. The methods, kits, and compositions are useful in determining concentrations of molecules in samples to levels of 1 femtomolar, 1 attomolar, or lower. The methods, kits, and compositions also allow the determination of concentration over a wide range, e.g., 7-log range, without need for sample dilution.
US08685705B2
The invention concerns the production of cholesterol of the Fungi kingdom. More particularly, the invention concerns genetically modified Fungus independently producing cholesterol from a simple carbon source. The invention also concerns the use of the inventive Fungus for producing non-marked and marked cholesterol.
US08685696B2
The present invention is directed to isolated bacteriophages having specificity and lytic activity against strains of Salmonella species, methods of using the bacteriophages, progeny and derivatives derived therefrom, to control the growth of Salmonella species in various settings (e.g., food safety, sanitation, probiotics).
US08685693B2
The specification discloses Clostridial toxins or Clostridial toxin chimeras comprising an inactivation cleavage site, polynucleotide molecules encoding such toxins or chimeras, compositions comprising such toxins or chimeras, and method of producing such toxins or chimeras.
US08685689B2
Specified restriction endonucleases have been characterized for the first time by their amino acid and DNA sequences. These sequences and those with at least 90% identity thereto have been used as probes in sequence similarity analyses to identify sequence matches in a sequence database that corresponds to novel restriction endonucleases or isoschizomers. The sequence similarity analyses includes selecting a positive sequence match from any sequence producing an expectation value of less than or equal to e−02.
US08685683B2
The present invention relates to newly identified genes that encode proteins that are involved in the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (hereinafter also referred to as Vitamin C) and/or 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (hereinafter also referred to as 2-KGA). The invention also features polynucleotides comprising the full-length polynucleotide sequences of the novel genes and fragments thereof, the novel polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and fragments thereof, as well as their functional equivalents. The present invention also relates to the use of said polynucleotides and polypeptides as biotechno logical tools in the production of Vitamin C and/or 2-KGA from microorganisms, whereby a modification of said polynucleotides and/or encoded polypeptides has a direct or indirect impact on yield, production, and/or efficiency of production of the fermentation product in said microorganism. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms. The invention also relates to genetically engineered microorganisms and their use for the direct production of Vitamin C and/or 2-KGA.
US08685678B2
Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
US08685671B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a human-type glycoprotein having reduced glycosylation by genetically manipulating an enzyme involved in glycosylation using a Hansenula polymorpha system. In detail, the present invention relates to a process for producing a human-type glycoprotein by identifying a dolichyl-phosphate-mannose dependent α-1,3-mannosyltransferase gene from H. polymorpha, constructing a H. polymorpha mutant strain producing a glycoprotein exhibiting reduced glycosylation by disrupting the identified gene, and subjecting the mutant strain to various genetic manipulations for the synthesis of human-type glycan.
US08685669B2
The invention provides humanized mouse anti-human IL-31 antibodies and antibody fragments that are capable of binding IL-31 and thereby neutralizing, inhibiting, limiting, or reducing the proinflammatory or pro-pruritic effects of IL-31.
US08685668B2
This invention relates to methods of expressing eukaryotic proteins in prokaryotic hosts, particularly eukaryotic proteins that require formation of disulfide bridges for biological activity. Various approaches are used including fusion to thioredoxin, cytoplasmic expression of disulfide isomerases, deficiencies in thioredoxin and/or glutathione reductases, deficiencies in proteases, and the like. The method is applicable to express monomeric and dimeric forms of the eukaryotic protein with biological activity such as monomeric and dimeric forms of a disintegrin or a disintegrin domain. Included are the vectors, host cells expressing the proteins, the expressed proteins and methods of using the proteins.
US08685663B2
A method for measuring cholesterol in low-density lipoprotein contained in a sample, which comprises reacting a sample with (i) a combination of cholesterol ester hydrolase and cholesterol oxidase or (ii) a combination of cholesterol ester hydrolase, an oxidized coenzyme and cholesterol dehydrogenase in the presence of: [a] a polyoxyethylene-polyoxyalkylene alkylaryl ether; [b] one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxyalkylene copolymer, a polyoxyethylene alkenyl ether, a polyoxyethylene branched alkyl ether, and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxyalkylene branched alkyl ether; [c] one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine, a tertiary amine, and a quaternary ammonium; and [d] a polyanion, and measuring a substance formed or consumed in the reaction.
US08685655B2
A method for dissociating avidin or streptavidin efficiently from a biotin derivative, thereby making it possible to isolate a target material efficiently under a mild condition in a short period, and a dissociation agent for use thereof, are provided.The method for dissociating avidin or streptavidin from a biotin derivative, includes mixing a combination of avidin or streptavidin with desthiobiotin with a water-soluble polymer to which biotin or a derivative thereof is bound.
US08685651B2
A humanized antibody derived from mouse monoclonal anti-CD4 antibody B-F5 is able to activate CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells and is useful for preparing immunosuppressive compositions.
US08685626B2
During a multiple patterning process every nth element of the pattern is removed. The removal of the elements of the patterns happens after the pattern has been printed into the radiation sensitive material or etched into substrate. Advantageously, the original mask is not varied, and another exposure step is used to remove the elements of the pattern.
US08685622B2
a method for preparing a lithographic printing plate that includes imagewise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a coating provided on a support having a hydrophilic surface, the coating containing thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared radiation absorbing dye characterized in that the coating further comprises a phenolic stabilizer.
US08685619B2
A resist composition having a resin having a structural unit represented by the formula (I), a resin being insoluble or poorly soluble in alkali aqueous solution, but becoming soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid and not including the structural unit represented by the formula (I), and an acid generator represented by the formula (II), wherein R1, A1, A13, A14, X12, R23, R24, R25, X21 and Z1+ are defined in the specification.
US08685618B2
A resist composition having; (A1) a resin having a structural unit represented by the formula (I), (A2) a resin having a structural unit represented by the formula (II) and being insoluble or poorly soluble in alkali aqueous solution, but becoming soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid and not including the structural unit represented by the formula (I) and (B) an acid generator. wherein R1, A1, A13, X12, A14, R3 and ring X1 are defined in the specification.
US08685615B2
A resist underlayer film forming composition used in a lithography process includes: a polymer (A) containing a unit structure having a hydroxy group, a unit structure having a carboxy group, or combination thereof; a crosslinkable compound (B) having at least two vinyl ether groups; a photoacid generator (C); a C4-20 fluoroalkylcarboxylic acid or a salt of the fluoroalkylcarboxylic acid (D); and a solvent (E). The polymer (A) includes a unit structure selected from unit structures of Formula (1), Formula (2), and Formula (3);
US08685606B2
Disclosed is a toner for electrostatic image development that satisfies both low-temperature fixing ability and excellent high-temperature storage stability, achieves excellent charge property and shatter resistance, and consequently can form a high-quality image even by a high-performance machine such as a high-speed machine.The toner is composed of toner particles obtained by forming a shell layer containing a styrene-acryl-modified polyester resin on the surface of each of core particles comprising a binder resin containing at least a styrene-acrylic resin. The styrene-acryl-modified polyester resin is obtained bonding a styrene-acrylic polymer segment to a terminal of a polyester segment, and the content of the styrene-acrylic polymer segment in the styrene-acryl-modified polyester resin is 5% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less.
US08685604B2
A toner including a colorant and a first binder resin is provided. The first binder resin has first and second glass transition points at a temperature Tg1 of −20 to 20° C. and a temperature Tg2 of 35 to 65° C., respectively, measured by a differential scanning calorimeter at a heating rate of 5° C./min. A ratio h1/h2 of a baseline displacement h1 observed in the first glass transition point to a baseline displacement h2 observed in the second glass transition point is less than 1.0. The first binder resin has a structure in which a first phase is dispersed in a second phase. The first and second phases consist of portions having larger and smaller phase difference values, respectively, than an intermediate value between maximum and minimum phase difference values in a binarized phase image obtained by an atomic force microscope with a tapping mode method.
US08685600B2
There is provided an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate; an intermediate layer; a photosensitive layer; and a surface layer, in this order, the surface layer including two or more charge transporting materials each including a reactive substituent and respectively having mutually different ionization potentials, in an amount of 90% by weight or more relative to the total solid content of the surface layer, and the content ratio X of each of the two or more charge transporting materials satisfying the following Formula (1). X(n) represents a content ratio (weight %) of a charge transporting material that has the nth highest ionization potential among the two or more charge transporting materials; X(n−1) represents a content ratio (weight %) of a charge transporting material that has the (n−1)th highest ionization potential among the two or more charge transporting materials; and n is an integer of two or more and represents a variable equal to or lower than the number of charge transporting materials contained in the surface layer. X(n−1)≧X(n) Formula (1).
US08685595B2
The present invention relates to a novel holographic photopolymer based on prepolymer-based polyurethane compositions, the preparation of said photopolymer and its use for a very wide range of optical applications.
US08685587B2
A discharge port is located at a lower portion of the case of a gas-liquid separator. A discharge valve is located at the discharge port. A water retaining portion is located at the bottom of the case. The water retaining portion is located at a position lower than the discharge valve. An upward inclination surface is formed on the bottom of the water retaining portion. The upward inclination surface is inclined upward toward the discharge valve. A downward inclination surface is formed on the bottom of the water retaining portion. The downward inclination surface is inclined downward toward the upward inclination surface. A cover portion is located in an upper portion of the water retaining portion. The cover portion defines a gas passage in an upper portion of the water retaining portion. The gas passage is open at a portion closer to the inlet and connected to the discharge valve.
US08685582B2
A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell and at least one air conveyor that conveys a process air flow to the fuel cell. At least one heat exchanger is also provided, through which the process air flow flows after the air conveyor and through which a cooling medium flow flows. A region with catalytically active material is arranged in the flow direction of the process air flow before or in the region of the heat exchanger. In addition a fuel can be fed to the region with the catalytically active material.
US08685581B2
A fuel cell system (10) comprises a fuel cell (14) and an evaporative cooling system (16), which is in thermal contact with the fuel cell (14), in order that heat generated by the fuel cell (14) during operation of the fuel cell (14) is absorbed through evaporation of a cooling medium and is removed from the fuel cell (14). The fuel cell system (10) further comprises a device (22) for sensing the pressure in the evaporative cooling system (16). A control unit (24) is adapted to control the operating temperature of the fuel cell (14) in dependence on signals that are supplied to the control unit (24) from the device (22) for sensing the pressure in the evaporative cooling system (16), in such a way that the cooling medium of the evaporative cooling system (16) is transferred from the liquid to the gaseous state of matter by the heat generated by the fuel cell (14) during operation of the fuel cell (14).
US08685570B2
At least one of an aqueous solution A containing lithium, an aqueous solution B containing iron, manganese, cobalt, or nickel, and an aqueous solution C containing a phosphoric acid includes graphene oxide. The aqueous solution A is dripped into the aqueous solution C, so that a mixed solution E including a precipitate D is prepared. The mixed solution E is dripped into the aqueous solution B, so that a mixed solution G including a precipitate F is prepared. The mixed solution G is subjected to heat treatment in a pressurized atmosphere, so that a mixed solution H is prepared, and the mixed solution H is then filtered. Thus, particles of a compound containing lithium and oxygen which have a small size are obtained.
US08685566B2
A process to induce polymerization of an organic electronically conductive polymer in the presence of a partially delithiated alkali metal phosphate which acts as the polymerization initiator.
US08685564B2
A magnesium battery includes a first electrode including an active material and a second electrode. An electrolyte is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte includes a magnesium compound. The active material includes an inter-metallic compound of magnesium and antimony. The active material also includes antimony or an alloy of bismuth and antimony.
US08685560B2
The battery comprises a can, a cap, and a seal. The cap fits into the can to build a housing with a closed interior volume, and the seal sealing cap and can in relation to one another. A porous membrane spills the interior volume into two subcells with each subcell containing one or multiple layers of electrolyte and one or multiple layer structures. The latter comprise a conducting film at least partially coated with active material and contain one or more through-holes. The layer structure is parallel to the porous membrane and the conducting film is connected to either can or cap. This construction allows for a large area of contact between active material and electrolyte and as between electrolyte and porous membrane which result in a high performance of the battery.
US08685558B2
A drive battery assembly of an electric, fuel cell or hybrid vehicle has a plurality of battery cells (10), which are outwardly closed by their own individual cell housings (12) and are combined into a cell stack. At least one cooling fin (16) planarly abutting the cell housings (12) removes heat by way of coolant. Canals (28) for coolant are formed by the walls of the two-walled cooling fins (16) being distanced in sections.
US08685555B2
A safety current interrupter device for a rechargeable cell is provided comprising a deformable material (2) adapted to deform when the temperature reaches a threshold value, a deformable membrane (3) adapted to deform under the effect of pressure and/or deformation of the deformable material (2), and an electrically conductive link member (4), adapted to break as a result of the deformation of the deformable membrane (3).
US08685554B2
A battery system includes a battery module that has a plurality of batteries which are provided with release portions each for releasing internal gas when an internal pressure is increased, and an exhaust portion which is provided with an opening portion and guides gas released from the release portions to the opening portion, a non-resettable switch element which is provided at a position where the guided gas passes in a vicinity of the opening portion, and is changed from a first state preset as one of an opened state and a closed state into a second state as the other one of the opened state and the closed state when a preset reference temperature or higher is reached, and a high-temperature abnormality determination unit which determines that the battery module has an abnormality when the switch element is in the second state.
US08685549B2
A nanocomposite article that includes a single-crystal or single-crystal-like substrate and heteroepitaxial, phase-separated layer supported by a surface of the substrate and a method of making the same are described. The heteroepitaxial layer can include a continuous, non-magnetic, crystalline, matrix phase, and an ordered, magnetic magnetic phase disposed within the matrix phase. The ordered magnetic phase can include a plurality of self-assembled crystalline nanostructures of a magnetic material. The phase-separated layer and the single crystal substrate can be separated by a buffer layer. An electronic storage device that includes a read-write head and a nanocomposite article with a data storage density of 0.75 Tb/in2 is also described.
US08685548B2
Compositions including one or more a central cores having a cyclic group, and a plurality of arms extending from the central cores, wherein the arms comprise perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) or its derivatives. Methods of preparing the compositions are also provided. Methods of preparing storage media that incorporate the compositions therein are further provided.
US08685547B2
Aspects are directed to recording media with enhanced magnetic properties for improved writability. Examples can be included or related to methods, systems and components that allow for improved writability while reducing defects so as to obtain uniform magnetic properties such as uniformly high anisotropy and narrow switching field distribution. Some examples include a recording medium with an exchange tuning layer inserted between the hard layer and the soft, semi-soft or thin semi-hard layer so as to maximize the writability improvement of the media. Preferably, the exchange tuning layer is granular and reduces or optimizes the vertical coupling between the hard layer and the soft, semi-soft or semi-hard layer of a magnetic recording or storing device.
US08685541B2
Disclosed are electroluminescent materials comprising a homopolymer based on recurring structural units of the formula (I) wherein R9, R9′ R9″, R11, R13 R14, R11′, R13′, R14′ independently are H or an organic substituent, where at least one of R9, R9′ R9″, R11, R13 R14, R11′, R13′, R14′ comprises a group R10 of the formula —(Sp)x10-[PG′]< wherein Sp is a divalent organic spacer, PG′ is a group derived from a polymerizable group, and x10 is 0 or 1, with substituents and spacer as defined in claim 1. Further disclosed are some novel polymers of this class as well as monomers for their preparation. The homopolymers are advantageously used as a host material in devices further comprising a luminescent component, which is usually selected from phosphorescent metal complexes and fluorescent dopants.
US08685538B2
Stable nanoparticles comprising poorly soluble drugs are disclosed, as well as methods of making and methods of using such nanoparticles, e.g., as therapeutics and diagnostics.
US08685536B2
A polyamide-imide resin insulating coating material, which is obtained by reacting an isocyanate component with an acid component, has a main solvent component of γ-butyrolactone. In the coating material, a total compounding ratio of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is 85 to 98 mol %, where the total compounding ratio is given by averaging a compounding ratio of MDI to the isocyanate component and a compounding ration of TMA to the acid component.
US08685534B2
In one embodiment the present invention provides for a high thermal conductivity resin that comprises a host resin matrix 32 a high thermal conductivity filler 30. The high thermal conductivity filler forms a continuous organic-inorganic composite with the host resin matrix, and the fillers have an aspect ratio of between 3-100. The fillers are substantially evenly distributed through the host resin matrix, and are aligned in essentially the same direction. In some embodiments the resins are highly structured resin types.
US08685532B2
The present invention relates to composites comprising inorganic micro pigments and/or fillers in the form of surface-phosphated microparticles, whose surface is at least partially coated with finely divided with alkaline earth carbonate nanoparticles by means of binders based on copolymers comprising as the monomers one or more dicarboxylic acids and one or more monomers from the group of diamines, triamines, dialkanolamines or trialkanolamines and epichlorohydrin, a method for producing such composites, aqueous slurries thereof and the use thereof in papermaking or in the field of production of paints and plastics as well as the use of the binders for the coating of microparticles with nano alkaline earth carbonate.
US08685527B2
A member a support for a device includes a mass of rubber delimited by two substantially parallel opposite surfaces forming respectively a supporting surface and a surface for connection with a tire. The mass includes an opening arranged in the connecting surface delimiting a recess arranged in the mass, and the opening does not lead to outside of the connecting surface.
US08685523B2
There are provided an optical surface protection film capable of permitting even a visual inspection of a coated body having a fine roughness, such as a prism sheet, to be performed under the condition that the protection film is attached to the coated body and excelling in adhesion reliability without an optical adverse effect on the coated body, and an optical film with the surface protection film. The optical surface protection film (1) has a base material layer (10) and an adhesive layer (12) stacked on one surface of the base material layer. The surface of the base material layer (10) on the side of the adhesive layer (12) has an arithmetic surface average roughness (Ra2) of 0.65 μm or less. The other surface of the base material layer (10) has an arithmetic surface average roughness (Ra1) of 0.6 μm or more.
US08685521B2
The invention provides a stitchbonded nonwoven fabric comprising a nonwoven web, stitches of a first yarn, and stitches of a second yarn wherein the first yarn comprises polyester bicomponent fibers exhibiting latent crimp and comprising poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate). The invention further provides a process for making such stitch-bonded nonwoven fabric.
US08685515B2
A refrigerant-transporting hose having excellent low-refrigerant permeability, acid resistance, and flexibility includes a tubular resin layer for contacting with a refrigerant, in which the resin layer is formed of a resin composition containing (A) an aliphatic polyamide; (B) a semi-aromatic polyamide; and (C) an elastomer, in which a weight mixing ratio “component (A)/component (B)” between the component (A) and the component (B) is 95/5 to 60/40, and the component (A) and the component (B) are in a compatible state.
US08685505B2
There is provided a dimensionally stable laminated paperboard material having a tear-resistant polymer film core. The tear-resistant paperboard laminate is a multi-layer paperboard laminate with an integral polymer core having a tear resistance a thickness of at least 1 mil and a tear resistance of at least 350 grams of force in machine direction and 400 grams of force in cross direction, as measured by the Elmendorf tear propagation test. Two paperboard substrates are bonded on respective opposite sides of the polymer core, to provide printability, facilitate adherence and prevent frictional resistance. The multi-layer paperboard-polymer-paperboard laminate is particularly useful for child-resistant, senior-friendly and pilfer-proof packaging and may be printed on, hot-stamped, embossed, die-cut and glued using conventional printing and converting techniques. An adhesive laminating process and an extrusion laminating process for manufacturing the laminate are also disclosed.
US08685503B2
A surface-treated paper produced by applying a surface sizing composition to at least one surface of a base paper, wherein said surface sizing composition comprises a non-film-forming polymer latex and a metallic salt, said non-film-forming polymer latex has a minimum film-forming temperature (MFFT) of greater than 70° C., and said surface sizing composition does not form a continuous film on the treated surface.
US08685496B2
An alignment layer is tested using an AFM (Atomic Force Microscope) and a FT-IR (Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscope) under various process conditions so that inferiority of the alignment layer can be detected and optimum process conditions can be obtained, thereby minimizing the inferiority of the alignment layer by applying the optimum process conditions.
US08685492B2
A method is provided for producing a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) sheet of a nonwoven fabric substrate, whereby the inherent performance of the PSA is more fully exploited using an aqueous dispersion-type PSA composition. This method comprises preparing an aqueous dispersion-type PSA composition and a nonwoven fabric substrate serving as a support. The method also comprises forming PSA layers which impregnate the substrate and which are obtained by drying the composition. These PSA layers impregnate the substrate so that the area of gaps observed in a vertical cross-section perpendicular to the machine direction of the substrate is about 500 μm2/400 μm or less.
US08685483B2
This invention relates to electrolyte formulations and methods of use thereof to treat or prevent dehydration and taste fatigue. The electrolyte formulation of the invention addresses the needs of a broad population, particularly the needs of an older population. The electrolyte formulation of this invention comprises a dietary fiber source, such as Acacia Gum, a sodium ion source, a potassium ion source, a calcium ion source, a chloride ion source, and a citrate ion source.
US08685477B2
A method and apparatus for preparing a single serving of a frozen slurry beverage in a disposable drink container or cup by preparing a supply of fine frozen particles of water in the form of ice flakes and/or ice nuggets of compressed ice flakes, depositing a predetermined quantity or amount of the fine frozen particles of partially frozen water into a disposable single serving drinking cup or container, dispensing or adding a predetermined quantity or amount of flavored liquid beverage mix into the disposable single serving drinking cup or container and blending the fine frozen particles of partially frozen water and the flavored liquid beverage mix into a substantially uniform frozen slurry beverage of a predetermined consistency.
US08685476B2
Polydimethylsiloxane and/or siloxane (silicone)-derived chemical compounds are used to coating harvested forages to protect against rain and/or other weather damage and to suppress mold and spoilage in harvested forages. The PDMS compound and derivatives thereof are also found to suppress the damage resulting from oxidation within the feedstuff mass. When applied, PDMS coats the feedstuff and is included in the moisture portion of the feed or forage mass. This helps preserve the feed quality and slows the damaging effects of spoilage organisms and oxidation.
US08685475B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing fermented tea having superior flavor using Bacillus sp. strains isolated from Korean traditional fermented foods.
US08685471B2
Pest control compositions, blends, and formulations are disclosed. The blends contain, in a synergistic combinations, at least two ingredients such as Lilac Flower Oil, D-Limonene, Thyme Oil, Lime Oil, Black Seed Oil, Wintergreen Oil, Linalool, Tetrahydrolinalool, Vanillin, Isopropyl myristate, Piperonal (aldehyde), Geraniol, Geraniol 60, Triethyl Citrate, and Methyl Salicylate.
US08685467B2
An apparatus for controlled delivery of nitric oxide. A pump draws air through an activated carbon filter and into a reaction chamber. The generation of nitric oxide occurs in the reaction chamber. A second pump draws the gas in the reaction chamber through a calcium hydroxide filter and delivers the nitric oxide through an orifice, or aperture, that controls the flow of nitric oxide delivered. The nitric oxide is filtered through a calcium hydroxide filter just prior to being made available for various nitric oxide therapies. Topical applications that provide a nitric oxide therapy to a surface are also provided.
US08685456B2
The present invention is directed to topical compositions, comprising isoflavone nanoparticle compositions. The isoflavone nanoparticle compositions contain isoflavone in the form of nanoparticles and preferably a carrier. In the topical compositions recrystallization of the isoflavone to bigger particles is avoided.
US08685455B2
An object of the present invention is to increase the rate at which lignan-class compounds are absorbed into the body, namely, to provide fast-acting lignan-class compounds.Provided is an oil-in-water emulsion which comprises a water phase and an oil phase comprising at least one kind of lignan-class compounds dissolved therein and being emulsified in the water phase, wherein the oil droplets which serve as a dispersion phase in the emulsion are made finer by high-speed agitation or other method so that their average particle size is 1000 nm or smaller, preferably 500 nm or smaller, and more preferably 300 nm or smaller, whereby the rate at which lignan-class compounds are absorbed into the body is improved to impart immediate action.
US08685451B2
This invention pertains to a multi-layered tablet for a triple combination release of active agents to an environment of use. More particularly, the invention pertains to a multi-layered tablet (1) comprising two external drug-containing layers (2 and 3) in stacked arrangement with respect to and on opposite sides of an oral dosage form (4) that provides a triple combination release of at least one active agent. In one embodiment of the invention the dosage form is an osmotic device. In another embodiment of the invention the dosage form is a gastro-resistant coated core. In yet another embodiment of the invention the dosage form is a matrix tablet. In a different embodiment the dosage form is a hard capsule.
US08685437B2
The invention relates to the film products and methods of their preparation that demonstrate a non-self-aggregating uniform heterogeneity. Desirably the films disintegrate in water and may be formed by a controlled drying process, or other process that maintains the required uniformity of the film.
US08685424B2
A method of preparing antimicrobial-containing polymeric products is provided, the method involving electrospinning a dispersion comprising a dispersible polymer, a fiberizing polymer, and one or more antimicrobial agents. The electrospun material is heated to remove solvent and the fiberizing polymer, giving a nonwoven polymeric material having antimicrobial agent incorporated therein. The material can be in the form of, for example, a non-woven sheet, tube, or covering.
US08685421B2
A wound spacer device comprising multiple beads connected by non-absorbable suture material is disclosed. The device can be applied, for example, by a first responder to an injured individual, or can be applied by a trauma treatment facility, such as a Level 2 medical unit. In typical embodiments the device allows for site-specific controlled elution of an antimicrobial agent, such as Tobramycin, including defined elution over a period of time, such as 48 or 72 hours.
US08685419B2
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, a colorant comprising an inorganic fibrous matrix with tunnels and organic dye compounds incorporated at least partially in said tunnels, said compounds being selected from the indigoids, and present in an amount such that the weight ratio of colorant to matrix is greater than or equal to 0.028.The invention also relates to a method of cosmetic treatment of keratinous materials, comprising the application of said cosmetic composition.
US08685416B2
Methods for inducing an immune response to a tumor in a subject are disclosed herein. These methods include selecting a subject with a tumor and administering a therapeutically effective amount of apoptotic tumor cells conjugated to a CpG oligodexoynucleotide (ODN) to the subject. In some embodiments, the CpG ODN is a K-type or a D-type CpG ODN. Methods for treating a tumor in a subject are also disclosed herein. These methods include selecting a subject with a tumor and administering a therapeutically effective amount of apoptotic tumor cells conjugated to a CpG oligodexoynucleotide (ODN) to the subject. In some embodiments, the tumor cells are autologous. In additional embodiments, the tumor is a lymphoma, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer or a lung cancer.
US08685404B2
Methods are provided for the treatment of subjects with cognitive or neuropsychiatric impairment induced by substance addiction and for increasing cognitive function in a subject with substance addiction. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule including covalently linked first, second, and third domains; wherein the first domain is an MHC class II β1 domain and the second domain is an MHC class II α1 domain; or wherein the first domain is an MHC class I α1 domain and the second domain is an MHC class I α2 domain; and wherein the third domain is covalently linked to the first domain and comprises an antigen of the central or peripheral nervous system.
US08685400B2
Compositions and methods for reducing inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) of a mammal that has been subjected to a stroke, traumatic injury to the CNS such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), or having an autoimmune or CNS disease have been developed. The compositions and methods described herein include antibodies that specifically bind to at least one component (e.g., ASC, NALP1) in a mammalian inflammasome (e.g., the NALP1 inflammasome) and have use as treatments for SCI, TBI, stroke, and autoimmune and CNS diseases in a mammal. In a rodent model of SCI, therapeutic neutralization of ASC using a polyclonal antibody that specifically binds to ASC inhibited the inflammasome, reduced caspase-1 activation, XIAP cleavage, and interleukin processing, resulting in significant tissue sparing and functional improvement. Additionally, in a rodent model of TBI, neutralization of ASC after TBI reduced caspase-1 activation and XIAP cleavage. Further, in a rodent thromboembolic stroke model, neutralization of NLRP1 resulted in reduced histopathological damage in mice and reduced cytokine activation, suggesting that the inflammasome complex forms in the brain after stroke and is a therapeutic target for reducing the detrimental consequences of post-stroke inflammation.
US08685398B2
Novel polypeptides comprising a chemokine-binding peptide and an Fc fragment are disclosed. The polypeptides are capable of binding to certain chemokines so as to modulate their activity. These polypeptides can be used to modulate in vivo chemokine-dependent processes such as inflammation and autoimmunity, and to treat associated conditions.
US08685394B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed which are useful of the treatment and prevention of proliferative disorders. Such Compositions comprise inter alia an anti-CTLA-4 agent, e.g. ipilimumab or tremelimumab in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents such as dasatinib, imatinib, paclitaxel, gemcitabine, cisplatin or etoposide.
US08685391B2
Dermatological and cosmetic compositions and methods are provided to reduce the appearance of biological and/or environmentally-caused aging.
US08685379B2
The present invention relates to a high concentration functional material gel composition and effective delivery composition thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a high concentration functional material gel composition comprising a small organic molecule having at least one of a carbonyl group and at least one of an isolated hydroxyl group from the carbonyl group as a defined mandatory element holding and delivering amounts of functional materials. This is achieved without depending on employing additional incompatible materials in the functional composition, including for example inorganic salts, polymers, absorbents petroleum waxes, and paraffin hydrocarbons.
US08685377B2
Agent for treating fibers containing keratin, particularly human hair, having in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, (a) at least one amphiphilic, cationic polymer comprising at least one structural unit of formulae (I) to (IV), wherein R1 and R4 independently=H or methyl; X1 and X2 independently=O or NH, A1 and A2 independently=ethan-1,2-diyl, propan-1,3-diyl or butan-1,4-diyl, R2, R3, R5 and R6 independently=(C1-C4) alkyl, R7═(C8-C30) alkyl, and (b) at least one film-forming anionic and/or stabilizing anionic polymer comprising at least one structural unit of formula (V) and at least one structural unit of formula (VI), wherein R8 and R9 independently=hydrogen or methyl, with the proviso that R8 and R9 are not simultaneously methyl, R10=hydrogen or methyl, R11=carbamoyl, linear or branched (C4 to C12) alkylaminocarbonyl, linear or branched (C4 to C12) alkylaminoethyl-aminocarbonyl, linear or branched (C4 to C12) alkylaminopropyl-aminocarbonyl, linear or branched (C4 to C12) alkyloxycarbonyl, linear or branched (C4 to C12) alkylaminoethyloxycarbonyl, linear or branched (C4 to C12) alkylaminopropyloxycarbonyl, linear or branched (C2 to C12) acyloxy, A3=hydroxyl or an organic group having at least one sulfonic acid group that bonds through an oxygen atom or an NH group to the structural fragment. The invention also relates to use of agents for temporarily styling hair and for haircare, particularly as aerosol hairspray or aerosol hair mousse.
US08685375B2
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition for caring for and/or making up keratin fibers, in stick form, which can be applied dry, (i), in the form of an emulsion comprising a fatty phase dispersed in an aqueous phase, the said fatty phase comprising carnauba wax and/or synthetic beeswax, in a content of at least 2% by weight relative to the total weight of the said composition, and (ii) having a shear hardness of between 375 g/m and 5000 g/m, the said shear hardness being measured at 20° C. on a cylindrical stick using a rigid tungsten wire 250 μm in diameter, by advancing the wire relative to the stick at a rate of 100 mm/minute. The invention also relates to the process for coating keratin fibers comprising at least one step of applying a composition in accordance with the invention.
US08685367B2
Preferred embodiments relate to compositions of inherently radiopaque, biocompatible, bioresorbable polymeric particles and methods of using them for embolizing a body lumen.
US08685343B2
An apparatus and methods for concentrating samples for application to microfluidic devices are disclosed. The methods involve electrophoresing charged molecules from a high volume sample into a smaller volume. The analyte of interest can be a charged molecule or can be modified to be charged using, for example, one or more ionic moieties.
US08685340B2
A liquid dispenser for a microfluidic assay system is described. The dispenser includes at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to a target receptacle. A pin tip at one end of the transfer pin is structured to cooperate with an opening in the target receptacle. The tip uses capillary action to transfer the sample from the pin to the receptacle.
US08685335B2
A chemical release system. Implementations may utilize implementations of a first cartridge that include a body coupled with a cartridge head at a first end and coupled with an end plug at a second end where the cartridge head includes a through hole configured to engage with an annular flange in a main head. The body may have an internal cross section. The first cartridge may also include a flow restrictor plate disposed within the body between the first end and the second end where the flow restrictor plate is oriented substantially parallel to the cartridge head within the body, includes only one opening therethrough, and substantially conforms with the internal cross section of the body. The body may include one or more through holes in a side of the body located between the flow restrictor plate and the cartridge head.
US08685328B2
In order to remove a pathogenic effect of a microorganism in a room or a work space in a short period of time, an ion diffusing apparatus, which includes an ion generator (17, 18) for generating positive ions each including H+(H2O)m and negative ions each including O2−(H2O)n, where m and n are arbitrary integers, and a blower for delivering the positive ions and the negative ions, which are generated from the ion generator (17), from a blowout opening, is operated to widely distribute, with a high concentration, the positive ions and the negative ions in the room.
US08685323B2
Methods and apparatuses for encapsulating inorganic micro- or nanostructures within polymeric microgels are described. In various embodiments, viruses are encapsulated with microgels during microgel formation. The viruses can provide a template for in situ synthesis of the inorganic structures within the microgel. The inorganic structures can be distributed substantially homogeneously throughout the microgel, or can be distributed non-uniformly within the microgel. The inventive microgel compositions can be used for a variety of applications including electronic devices, biotechnological devices, fuel cells, display devices and optical devices.
US08685318B2
An apparatus for sanitizing oral appliances is provided. The apparatus includes a housing movable between open and closed positions, at least one ultraviolet light source for emitting one or more sanitization means within the sanitizing chamber, and at least one power source for powering the ultraviolet light source. In the open position the housing allows insertion of the appliance, and in the closed position the housing defines a sanitizing chamber. The apparatus may include an appliance suspension system. The apparatus may include a reflective interior surface provided on at least a portion of the sanitizing chamber. The ultraviolet light source may be adapted to generate ozone within the sanitizing chamber. The apparatus may include control circuitry connecting the ultraviolet light source to the power source for the purpose of activating and deactivating the ultraviolet light source.
US08685316B2
A Ni-based heat resistant alloy has a composition of, by mass percent, carbon: 0.001 to 0.1%, chromium: 16 to 22%, aluminum: 0.5 to 1.5%, molybdenum: 0.1 to 2.0%, tungsten: 0.1 to 6.0%, niobium: 3.5 to 5.5%, titanium: 0.8 to 3.0%, iron: 16 to 20%, and the balance being nickel and inevitable impurities. A parameter Ps indicating a segregation tendency is in a range of Ps≧−3.5. The parameter Ps is represented by Formula (1). Ps=1.05×Al content+0.6×Ti content−0.8×Nb content−0.3×Mo content (1)
US08685315B2
A strength-ductility balance at a high temperature above 1000° C., particularly a high temperature above 1050° C. is improved by rendering a chemical composition of Cr-based alloy into Cr: more than 60 mass % but less than 65 mass %, C+N: not more than 20 mass ppm, S: not more than 20 mass ppm, O: not more than 100 mass ppm, O as an oxide: not more than 50 mass ppm, and the remainder being Fe and inevitable impurities.
US08685314B2
First and second components, which may be metallic components, are joined together in a process including introducing a sinterable powder between the components, the powder being retained within a receptacle, displacing the second component towards the first component to compress the powder, and subsequently applying heat and pressure to the powder to form a sintered bond.
US08685311B2
A melt spinning apparatus includes an apparatus body and a nozzle for extruding melted resin, a primary hot air passage formed around the nozzle, and a secondary hot air passage formed in a zone outside of the primary hot air passage, which are formed in the apparatus body. The primary hot air passage discharges primary hot air onto fibers of the melted resin extruded from the nozzle. The secondary hot air passage discharges secondary hot air to maintain the temperature of the primary hot air. The discharge angle of the secondary hot air from the secondary hot air passage is set in a range of 0° to 50° with respect to the direction of the melted resin extruded from the nozzle. The secondary hot air forms an air curtain that blocks the atmospheric air.
US08685308B2
Disclosed is an injection mold for washing machine diaphragms wherein the operations of an uppermost first slide core to support the upper part of a first step of a diaphragm manufactured in a cavity and a cam core to support the lower part of a second step of the manufactured diaphragm are controlled to automatically separate the manufactured diaphragm from the cavity.
US08685303B2
A mine support includes an elongate metal member and a coating comprising post-consumer recycled thermoplastic disposed on the member. The thermoplastic may include post-consumer recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate), and the coating may be an injection molded coating. A first layer of the coating may be provided with a thickness at least about 0.1 mm and a crystallinity between about 16% and about 30%, and a second layer of the coating may be provided with a thickness at least about 0.1 mm and a crystallinity between about 6% and about 14%. Either the first layer or second layer may contact the elongate metal member.
US08685302B2
Monolithic acoustically-treated composite structures and methods for fabricating the same are provided. A monolithic acoustically-treated composite structure comprises an internal frame assembly comprising a unitary composite frame structure and at least one acoustic panel assembly. The unitary composite frame structure defines a shape of the monolithic acoustically-treated composite structure to be fabricated. A composite overlay covers the internal frame assembly. The method for fabricating the monolithic acoustically-treated composite structure comprises forming the unitary composite frame structure, including the at least one acoustic panel in the unitary composite frame structure, and covering the internal frame assembly with the composite overlay.
US08685300B2
The present invention relates to a thermoforming device for thermoforming a product (1) from a plastic foil (23), and to a corresponding method. The invention relates particularly to a thermoforming process and device in which a slot (2) is arranged in a product (1) to be formed. The invention also relates to a product (1), particularly a flowerpot, manufactured using this thermoforming device or method. The thermoforming device is characterized in that the cutting sleeve (10) and cutting plate (7) and/or hold-down element (8) define an auxiliary cutting line through which the plastic foil (23) is cut in order to arrange a slot (2) in the product (1) to be formed. The functions of slot-forming and product-foil separation are hereby performed by substantially the same components.
US08685298B2
A process for hot shaping a workpiece of metal or an intermetallic compound at a temperature of higher than about 1000° C. The method comprises at least partially coating the surface of the workpiece with a coating agent that comprises an oxide phase and an additive and/or an adhesive before processing the workpiece into a formed body or a rolling product. A coating agent for reducing the heat emission from the workpiece comprises a predominant amount of an oxide phase. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08685283B2
Micelle-templated superficially porous particles having a solid core and an outer porous shell with ordered pore structures and a narrow particle size distribution, such as about ±5% (one sigma), and a high specific surface area of about 5 to about 1000 m2/g.
US08685282B2
A process for the production of syngas and hydrogen starting from liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and/or oxygenated compounds, also deriving from biomasses, and mixtures thereof, envisages recourse to a membrane reactor in an architecture that uses a succession of reaction and separation stages. The process includes a section for pre-heating the reagents, a number of sections for short-contact-time catalytic partial oxidation for producing syngas and hydrogen in a number of stages followed by separation of hydrogen produced via membranes, a thermal-recovery section, a section for removing produced carbon dioxide, and a section for cooling and removing condensate. Optionally, the process includes a section for purifying obtained hydrogen via pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) and generating purge gas with medium calorific value. Furthermore, the process includes a section for hydrodesulphuration of the reagents and could include a section for conversion of the CO2 and H2 produced by a reverse-water-gas-shift (RWGS) reaction.
US08685279B2
Phosphor that can provide white LED that uses a blue LED or an ultraviolet LED as a light source and that has superior luminous efficiency. This phosphor includes, as a main component, α-type sialon represented by a general expression: (M1)x(M2)y(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (where M1 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Li, Mg, Ca, Y, and lanthanide element (except for La and Ce) and M2 is one or more types of elements selected from a group consisting of Ce, Pr, Eu, Tb, Yb, and Er, and 0.3≦X+Y≦1.5 and 0
US08685278B2
It is provided a fluorescent zirconia material including a fluorescent component and emitting fluorescence when excited with a light of a predetermined wavelength, the fluorescent component including a fluorescent material, the fluorescent material including at least one kind of Y2SiO5:Ce, Y2SiO5:Tb, (Y, Gd, Eu)BO3, Y2O3:Eu, YAG:Ce, ZnGa2O4:Zn and BaMgAl10O17:Eu and the fluorescent material being capable of emiting the fluorescence when subjected to firing treatment at temperatures ranging from 1300 to 1600(° C.) under oxidizing environments.
US08685270B2
A method for producing a semiconductor wafer sliced from a single crystal includes rounding an edge using a grinding disk containing abrasives with an average grain size of 20.0-60.0 μm. A first simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed wherein the semiconductor wafers are processed between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 5.0-20.0 μm, wherein the semiconductor wafer is placed in a cutout in one of a plurality of carriers rotatable by a rolling apparatus such that the semiconductor wafer lies in a freely movable manner in the carrier and the wafer is movable on a cycloidal trajectory. A second simultaneous double-side material-removing process is performed including processing the semiconductor wafers between two rotating ring-shaped working disks, each working disk having a working layer containing abrasives having an average grain size of 0.5-15.0 μm.
US08685259B2
The present invention concerns a fluid distributor in a multistage column, each plate P of the column being divided into a certain number of panels Pa, and each panel Pa being equipped with a distributor of the invention, said distributor comprising: a) a solid jet breaker located substantially in the axis of the outlet opening of the collecting baffle of the panel Pa; b) an intermediate perforated plate extending laterally beyond the jet breaker, with a degree of opening in the range 10% to 40%; c) a distribution plate extending over the entire panel Pa, and with a degree of opening in the range 5% to 20%.
US08685254B2
A method is generally described which includes environmental alteration. The method includes determining a placement of at least one vessel capable of moving water to lower depths in the water via wave induced downwelling. The method also includes placing the at least one vessel in the determined placement. Further, the method includes generating movement of the water adjacent the surface of the water in response to the placing.
US08685245B2
A method and an apparatus for separating suspended matter from liquid includes a concentrator filter that draws the liquid out of the suspension while the filter kept unblocked by a sparging filter that allows scrubbing of the concentrator filter by gas bubbles. This invention can be used to replace cross-flow filtration and centrifugation in the bioprocess industry and to reduce the volume of suspensions to concentrate the yield of the end product in the chemical industry.
US08685220B2
The invention provides a capillary electrophoresis apparatus which can improve the operability and measuring speed. According to the invention, a sensor for identifying the type of sample containers is fixed at the position away from a capillary anode electrode. The sensor is made to be closer to the sample containers by moving a moving stage so that the sample containers disposed on the moving stage can be identified by the sensor. A fixing apparatus for fixing at least a pair of sample containers is provided on the moving stage.
US08685219B1
An apparatus for capillary zone electrophoresis includes a polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned in a capillary tube for analytical separations of macromolecules. The capillary comprises a passage defined by passage walls comprising fused silica and the polyelectrolyte multilayer positioned within the passage. The polyelectrolyte multilayer comprises layers with alternating charge. The apparatus includes a power supply having a positive electrode and a negative electrode for generating an electric field therebetween and a sensor positioned adjacent the passage for sensing macromolecules.
US08685218B2
A precision flow controller is capable of providing a flow rate less than 100 microliters/minute and varying the flow rate in a prescribed manner that is both predictable and reproducible where the accuracy and precision of the flowrate is less than 5% of the flow rate. A plurality of variable pressure fluid supplies pump fluid through a single outlet. Flowmeters measure the flow rates and a controller compares the flow rates to desired flowrates and, if necessary, adjusts the plurality of variable pressure fluid supplies so that the variable pressure fluid supplies pump fluid at the desired flow rate. The variable pressure fluid supplies can be pneumatically driven.
US08685207B2
Finely divided, starch-containing polymer dispersions which are obtainable by free radical emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of at least one redox initiator and starch, (a) from 30 to 60% by weight of at least one optionally substituted styrene, (b) from 1 to 60% by weight of at least one C1-C12-alkyl acrylate and/or C1-C12-alkyl methacrylate, (c) from 0 to 10% by weight of at least one other ethylenically unsaturated copolymerizable monomer, being used as ethylenically unsaturated monomers and (d) from 15 to 40% by weight of at least one degraded starch which has a molar mass Mw of from 1000 to 65 000 g/mol being used as the starch, the sum (a)+(b)+(c)+(d) being 100% and being based on the total solids content, and the polymerization being carried out in the presence of at least 0.01% by weight, based on the monomers used, of at least one terpene-containing chain-transfer agent, processes for the preparation of the finely divided, starch-containing polymer dispersions by emulsion polymerization of the monomers (a), (b) and (c) with redox initiators in the presence of (d) degraded starch and at least 0.01% by weight, based on the monomers used, of at least one terpene-containing chain-transfer agent, and use of the finely divided, starch-containing polymer dispersions as sizes for paper, board and cardboard.
US08685206B2
A fire resistant fluff pulp web made from a fluff pulp web, a fire retardant component present in and/or on the fluff pulp, and a fire retardant distributing surfactant which distributes the fire retardant component in and/or on the fluff pulp web in a manner so that the fluff pulp web passes one or more fire resistance tests. Also, a process for preparing these fire resistant fluff pulp webs, as well as for treating outer fibrous layers comprising an air-laid mixture of these fire resistant fluff pulp fibers and bicomponent fibers with up to about 5% additional fire retardant and which are used in fire resistant air-laid fibrous structures useful in upholstery, cushions, mattress ticking, panel fabric, padding, bedding, insulation, materials for parts in devices and appliances, etc.
US08685204B2
An object of the invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film-peeling method capable of easily detaching the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film from a glass substrate with no damage to the glass substrate or no adhesive deposit on the glass substrate, and to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film suitable for use in such a peeling method. The invention is directed to a method for peeling a pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film from an optical film-carrying glass substrate including a glass substrate and the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film bonded thereto, which includes: exposing the optical film-carrying glass substrate to an environment at a temperature of 40 to 98° C. and a relative humidity of 60 to 99% for three minutes or more; and then peeling the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film from the glass substrate under the environment.
US08685202B2
In a method for manufacturing a printed circuit board, a substrate, including a number of plated through holes (PTHs) is provided. Each of the PTHs has an electrically conductive layer plated on its inner wall and includes an electrically connecting portion and a stub. A protective layer is formed on a surface of the substrate adjacent to the stub. An etching device, including an upper plate and a number of spray tubes corresponding to the PTHs, is provided. Each of the spray tubes includes a protruding portion beyond the upper plate. The substrate is arranged in such a manner that the protective layer is in contact with the upper plate and the protruding portions are received in the stubs. After that, the protruding portions spray an etchant to etch and remove the electrically conductive layer of the stubs, and the protective layer is removed.
US08685193B2
An expansion band includes a first layer, a second layer, a shrinking layer for shrinking said first layer and said second layer, a bond line for sealing said first layer and said second layer to form an inner space therein and dividing said inner space into a plurality of air passages which can communicate with each other, a plurality of air passages formed between said first layer and said second layer, and an air nozzle communicate with said air passage.
US08685192B2
A method of and an arrangement for producing a fixing part, for example in the form of a touch-and-close fastener part, includes the formation of a carrier structure (10) provided with stem-like fixing elements (12) connected to one another at least in pairs via intermediate elements (14) to form cramp-like, in particular U-shaped, fixing parts (16). The stem-like fixing elements (12) engage through the carrier structure (10) and project beyond it. Each intermediate element (14) extending between these fixing elements (12) is arranged on the carrier structure (10). The respective fixing part (16) is introduced as a whole into the carrier structure (10) which, for this purpose, is designed in the form of a cramp-like, in particular U-shaped, molding prior to introduction.
US08685190B2
A method is provided for making an elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment. An elastic element applicator is provided that is configured to move a section of a continuous strand of elastic element generally about a plane. A first web of material is conveyed in a first web moving direction such that the first web intersects the plane. Then, the applicator is operated to move the elastic element about the plane, thereby applying the section of elastic element onto the first web along a direction generally transverse to the web moving direction and such that the first web draws the continuous elastic strand from the elastic element applicator as the first web is conveyed away from the plane. The elastic element applicator may be in the form of a spin cylinder or bracket that is operated to spin the elastic element about the moving first web, thereby applying the elastic element on the first web.
US08685188B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for fractionating gypsum slurry which can surely control the density of the gypsum slurry fractionated from the mixer (fractionated slurry), which can restrict change of the flow rate of the fractionated slurry, and which can reduce the consumption of foam or foaming agent. The fractionation apparatus (30) fractionates the gypsum slurry from a mixer (4) for mixing calcined gypsum and water. The mixer has a hollow connector section (50), which allows the gypsum slurry to flow from a mixing area inside of the mixer into a chute section (5), and the chute section (5) discharging the inflow of gypsum slurry through its slurry discharge port onto a gypsum board liner paper. The fractionation apparatus has a slurry fractionation port (33) opening to the chute section or the hollow connector section, and causes a part of the gypsum slurry in the chute or hollow connector section to be delivered to a slurry delivery conduit (11,13,19).
US08685185B2
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to materials processing methods using femtosecond duration laser pulses, and to the altered materials obtained by such methods. The resulting nanostructured (with or without macro- and micro-structuring) materials have a variety of applications, including, for example, aesthetic applications for jewelry or ornamentation; biomedical applications related to biocompatibility; catalysis applications; and modification of, for example, the optical and hydrophilic properties of materials including selective coloring.
US08685184B2
Described herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for shape-setting hyperelastic, single-crystal shape memory alloy (SMA) material while preserving the hyperelastic properties of the material. Also described are hyperelastic, single-crystal SMA devices that have been shape set by these methods. In particular, described herein are hyperelastic, single crystal SMA dental archwires and methods of forming them while preserving the hyperelastic properties, e.g., without significant grain boundaries in the crystal structure.
US08685175B2
An apparatus and process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon which includes a first drier and a second drier; and a reaction zone communicating with at least the first drier. The first drier operates at a first condition to dry the reactant and the second drier operates at a second condition during regeneration. The used regenerant remaining in the second drier after regeneration can (1) pass through a vent-to-flare assembly in a batch-wise manner; (2) pass through a downflow-depressure-to-low-pressure-device assembly in a batch-wise manner; (3) pass through a cross-over piping purge assembly to minimize upsets in the reaction and fractionation zones when the second drier is placed back in operation; or any combination of (1) (2) and/or (3) to minimize upsets in the reaction and fractionation zones when the second drier is placed back in operation.
US08685154B2
The methods and compositions of the present invention provide an ink jet ink having a colorant, an aqueous vehicle, and water stable and water soluble phthalocyanine and/or naphthalocyanine dye chromophores.
US08685153B2
This invention relates to an adsorbent system, adsorbent cartridge, and external canister for removing gaseous contaminants from air or another gas.
US08685149B2
A breather 2 on a top of a tank body 1 is opened through a carbon dioxide permeable membrane 3 to an atmospheric air so as to take an inert gas containing plenty of carbon dioxide permeated through the membrane 3 into the tank body 1 by a negative pressure due to reduction of a fuel F in the tank body 1.
US08685146B2
Processes and apparatuses are provided for preparing liquified natural gas from a natural gas feed that comprises C5 to C7 hydrocarbons and C8 or greater hydrocarbons. An exemplary process includes effecting the preferential adsorption of the C8 or greater hydrocarbons from the natural gas feed over adsorption of hydrocarbons having less than 8 carbon atoms to provide a C8-depleted natural gas stream. The process continues with effecting the preferential adsorption of the C5 to C7 hydrocarbons from the C8-depleted natural gas stream over adsorption of hydrocarbons having less than 5 carbon atoms to form a C5 to C8-depleted natural gas stream. The C5 to C7 hydrocarbons are preferentially adsorbed with higher selectivity and capacity than adsorption of the C5 to C7 hydrocarbons during preferentially adsorbing the C8 or greater hydrocarbons. The C5 to C8-depleted natural gas stream is then liquified.
US08685139B2
A method is described for smelting fragmentized aluminum scrap, with the aluminum scrap to be smelted being molten in a furnace after thermal pre-treatment in a hot-gas stream. In order to provide advantageous process conditions it is proposed that the aluminum scrap is subjected at first in a continuous flow of material to the thermal treatment and is smelted thereafter, and that from the hot gas stream guided in a circulation for the thermal treatment of the aluminum scrap a partial stream is branched off and is guided into the furnace.
US08685128B2
A filter element arrangement is provided which includes a media pack comprising Z-filter media, a preform and an overmold sealing a portion of the interface between the preform and the media pack, and also forming an air cleaner seal for the filter element. The overmold preferably comprises molded, foamed, polyurethane. A variety of media pack shapes can be used.
US08685118B2
A wax comprises a metathesis product and/or a product that resembles, at least in part, a product which may be formed from a metathesis reaction. The wax may be used to form articles, for example, candles (container candles, votive candles, and/or a pillar candles), crayons, fire logs, or tarts. The wax commonly includes other components in addition to the metathesis product.
US08685116B2
The present invention relates to a shading process characterized by using a composition comprising a phthalocyanine to which at least one dyestuff is attached through a covalent bonding, to shading compositions, to new compounds used in these shading compositions as well as to the production of these new compounds.
US08685113B2
Disclosed is a first composition of an oxidative permanent hair dye product that includes a C1-C4 alcohol, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, an antioxidant, an oxidative dye, a C14-C22 fatty alcohol, a metal sequestering agent, an alkali agent, and purified water. According to the oxidative permanent hair dye product according to the present invention, foams generated by mixing a liquid first composition that includes a dye and a liquid second composition that includes an oxidant continuously retained on hair for more than 30 minutes, and thus hair, even close to the root, can be simply and conveniently colored in the same manner as shampooing without using a comb or brush.
US08685111B2
An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a composition suitable for leather tanning comprising zeolite treated with monocarboxylic acid and to a method for manufacturing said composition. An embodiment of the present disclosure method comprises providing zeolite into a reactor and keeping said zeolite in motion while introducing concentrated monocarboxylic acid thereto provided that the mean temperature of the resulting composition is 50° C. or below.
US08685109B2
A prosthetic foot includes a foot member, a heel member operatively coupled to the foot member. At least one of the heel member and foot member define an arch portion that faces a support surface that the prosthetic foot contacts during use. An insole member contacts said arch portion, the insole member configured to facilitate a rollover of the prosthetic foot in at least one of a lateral-medial and a medial-lateral direction during ambulation.
US08685098B2
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
US08685094B2
An orthopedic device set, including: a plurality of intervertebral spacer elements, each spacer element having a different axial thickness from each other element, the axial thicknesses being selected to increase by an increment from one element to another; and an instrument for holding ones of the intervertebral spacer elements, the instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a selectively grasping subassembly for alternatively rigidly holding each spacer element at the distal end so that the spacer element cannot move relative to the instrument, and releasing the spacer element.
US08685087B2
In a first aspect, the invention provides an IOL having an optic with a peripheral section including one or more visually observable markers formed on the optic peripheral section and located within the visually observable zone of a surgeon viewing the IOL in the implanted condition through the pupil. In a second aspect of the invention, the IOL peripheral section includes an edge provided with a plunger engagement segment configured to inhibit off-axis movement of a plunger tip when engaged therewith.
US08685084B2
A kit for implanting a prosthetic vascular conduit includes a prosthetic vascular conduit for coupling to a prosthetic valve having an annular portion. The conduit includes a terminal collar member for receiving the valve. The kit further includes a holder including a shaft and a hub including a receiving portion configured for housing a prosthetic valve. The conduit is fitted on the holder so that at least a portion of the conduit wraps over the receiving portion of the hub. A sleeve member fitted onto the conduit in a position corresponding to the receiving portion of the hub, and a portion of the collar member is wrapped or folded over the sleeve member. The sleeve member is slidable away from the hub to unwrap the collar member such that it is disposed around the annular portion of a prosthetic valve.
US08685082B2
The present invention provides a base material which can be formed into valved lumen shape tissue having an ampulla and a leaflet consisting of body tissue. Specifically, the base material includes a first column 5 that forms an upstream tubular section 4 of a blood vessel 3, a second column 7 that forms a downstream tubular section 6 of the blood vessel 3, a plurality of bulges 10 for forming an ampulla 8 and a leaflet 9 of the blood vessel 3, and engagement means 11 that causes the bulge 10 to engage the first column 5 and/or the second column 7. The engagement means 11 includes recesses 15a and 15b in axial end surfaces of one or both of the first column 5 and the second column 7, and an engagement section 18 that overhangs from a bulge body 17 and engages the recesses. An outer peripheral surface of the body 17 of the bulge 10 is an ampulla forming surface 20, and a gap provided between the bulge body 17 and the first column 5 and/or the second column 7 is a leaflet forming section 22.
US08685080B2
An endo luminal support structure (10) includes strut members (11) interconnected by swivel joints (15) to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve (100) within a body lumen.
US08685073B2
An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction caused by meibomian gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the meibomian gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material.
US08685072B2
A device and method for restoring functionality of blood vessels are disclosed. Laser energy is accurately and precisely applied in order to restore vessel functionality. This is accomplished by a controlled, reliable and specific shrinkage and/or strengthening of the vessel structure by controlled transport of laser radiation via an optical fiber to the treatment site. Laser wavelength is chosen according to the required penetration depth in tissue. In a preferred embodiment, wavelength of approximately 1470 nm is used. A mini-endoscope is preferably used to control the process by visual inspection from the inside of the vessel but other means may also be combined to control the procedure. Full 360° radial emission, i.e., delivery of laser radiation perpendicularly or fairly inclined relative to the veins axis, is beneficial, and is accomplished by means of a radial emitting fiber. In another preferred embodiment, a 360 degree radiation pattern can be achieved by using a twister or side-emitting fiber, along with rotational and sweeping movements to apply energy in an even, more-controlled, and guided manner. Valve function is restored to recover whole vein functionality, avoiding the need of closing it. In a preferred embodiment, energy is applied from the outside of the vessel, by inserting a device through the skin and tissue. In another preferred embodiment, specific radiation absorbers are located at suitable positions inside the vessel wall, to selectively target radiation to tagged locations. Vessel function is restored preserving its structure. A wide range of vessel diameters are effectively treated. Vessels include veins, arteries and fistulas.
US08685070B2
A faceted bone screw and a method for manufacturing the same includes a screw thread configuration having facets that are incorporated into one or more of the leading edge, trailing edge or root of the thread. The facets are generally made up of a plurality of transitioning peaks and valleys which vary the depth of the thread and are disposed in one or more locations throughout the threaded portion of the bone screw. The facets operate to reduce the torque required to drive the bone screw into bone, while at the same time operate to assist in anchoring the bone screw within the bone once inserted therein, and thereby reduce the possibility for the screw backing out after insertion.
US08685068B2
A disposable single indication orthopedic trauma surgical kit has no bone plates other than a single bone plate precontoured and sized to match an anatomic shape of a portion of a bone of a patient's extremity. The single bone plate has a plurality of fastener apertures. The surgical kit also has a plurality of fasteners with heads that are dimensioned to mate with the fastener apertures. The surgical kit also has a disposable torque driver adapted to engage the fastener heads. The foregoing components are contained in a sterile sealed container.
US08685061B2
A prosthesis for the replacement of multiple diseased or traumatized spinal facets comprises a portion that replaces at least a bony portion of the facets to be replaced and where the prosthesis attaches to the vertebra in a manner that does not require attachment to, or abutment against, the lamina. Multiple configurations of the prosthesis provide for replacement of the two inferior facets, the two superior facets, a superior and inferior facet, or all four facets. A method of installing the prosthesis is provided that is comprised of the steps of resecting at least a portion of the facets that carry the diseased or traumatized spinal facets and attaching the prosthesis in a manner that does not require attachment or abutment against the lamina.
US08685054B2
A valvuloplasty balloon assembly includes a balloon (50) provided with end shoulders (64, 66) preferably integral with end cones (54, 56) of the balloon (50). The end shoulders (64, 66) provide a substantially perpendicular stop shoulder (68) at either end of the cylindrical portion (52) of the balloon (50). The restraining shoulders (64, 66) act to hold the balloon (50) within a valve (16) of a heart (10), for instance. This prevents unwanted slippage of the balloon (50) during a valvuloplasty procedure and thus prevents possible damage caused as a result of such slippage.
US08685053B2
A catheter assembly comprises a manifold positioned at a proximal end of the catheter assembly. A tether member has a proximal end region fixedly engaged to a portion of the manifold. A proximal tubular member has a first end region engaged to the manifold. The proximal tubular member is disposed about at least a portion of the tether member. At least a portion of the tether member distal of the manifold is fixedly engaged to at least a portion of the proximal tubular member.
US08685052B2
Various medical devices and methods for cutting, evacuating and/or performing work on tissue are provided. The devices and methods may utilize a reciprocating mechanism or motor powered by suction from a vacuum source. The medical devices and methods may be used on tissue in various regions of a patient's body and for treating various conditions, e.g., for performing a polypectomy.
US08685045B2
Medical suturing devices, systems, and methods will be useful for endoscopic (with or without access ports) or other surgeries in which access is limited, including ear, nose, and throat procedures. Articulation motions may be transferred from a handle to needle grasping jaws using an axial movement of a shaft that has axial stiffness (such as being stiff in compression) and lateral flexibility or an axial movement of a cable. An extension body (within which the shaft or cable moves) between the handle and jaws can be pre-bent or custom bent by the user. Portions of the devices may be disposable, replaceable, and/or reusable. A spring adjacent the clamp may open the clamp or impose a gripping force.
US08685042B2
The various embodiments of the present inventions provide stabilization devices and methods for use of the stabilization devices with minimally invasive gynecological procedures such as methods of preventing pregnancy by inserting intrafallopian contraceptive devices into the fallopian tubes.
US08685022B2
A device (1) according to the invention for externally fixing broken bones (62, 62′) of a patient, particularly the extremities, comprises a support (11) composed of a plurality of joint elements (2, 2) that are stringed together, wherein said support can be disposed outside the body of the patient. The proximal ends (41) of at least two percutaneously disposed pins (4) are anchored in the bone tissue (61) of the patient, and the distal ends (42) are fixed to the support (11). The joint elements (2) are stringed on a central tensile force element (3), and in each case two adjoining joint socket (22). The individual ball joints, and thus the support (11), can be fixed in a reversible frictionally engaged manner by applying a tensile force of the central tensile force element (3). The joint elements (2, 2′) in turn are designed such that a pin (4) can be fastened to the support (11) in a clamping and/or frictionally engaged manner by applying the tensile force of the central tensile force element (3).
US08685020B2
Various forms of surgical instruments are disclosed. In various embodiments, an end effector having operable and closable jaws is attached to a distal end of an elongate shaft such that portions of the jaws are axially offset from the elongate shaft. Other jaw embodiments are coupled to an actuation arrangement that permits portions of the jaws to be moved out of axial alignment with the elongate shaft. Other jaw embodiments are configured to facilitate tissue dissection. Electrosurgical instruments are also disclosed. One embodiment employs a flexible electrode that is conformable to tissue.
US08685018B2
An electrosurgical wand. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are electrosurgical wands including an elongate housing that defines a handle end and a distal end, a first discharge aperture on the distal end of the elongate housing, a first active electrode of conductive material disposed on the distal end of the elongate housing, a first return electrode of conductive material disposed within the first fluid conduit, and an aspiration aperture on the distal end of the elongate housing fluidly coupled to a second fluid conduit.
US08685012B2
A method and apparatus that will alter the fibrous strands in the fatty layers of the skin to reduce the appearance of cellulite and adipose tissue. Electromagnetic energy is used to selectively shrink or alternatively photoacoustically ablate the collagen in the constricting bands of connective tissue that causes the dimpled appearance of cellulite and adipose tissue while avoiding damage to the surrounding fatty cells.
US08685009B2
An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members configured to grasp tissue therebetween. The assembly also includes a thread-like member having a first end coupled to at least one jaw member and a drive member coupled to a second end of the thread-like member. The drive member is configured to position the thread-like member between a first position and a second position, wherein the thread-like member cuts tissue when positioned in the second position.
US08685007B2
A method and a device for forming cut surfaces in a transparent material, particularly in the cornea, by producing optical breakthroughs in the material by application of laser radiation focused into the material. The focal point is adjusted in three dimensions to form the cut surface by the sequential arrangement of optical perforations. The focal point is guided in such a manner that cutting is divided into at least two steps, and in at least one of the steps, the formation of the cut is carried out with a path radius that decreases in size, and in one of the steps, the cut formation is carried out with a path radius that increases in size.
US08685005B2
A light delivery system to provide light treatment to a patient includes a catheter assembly having a plurality of light sources that transmit light towards a target site within a patient. In one embodiment, the light delivery system has a plurality of light sources mounted to a flexible transparent base that extends at least partially through a distal tip of the catheter assembly. The light sources can be wire bonded or mounted in a flip chip arrangement onto the base. In one embodiment to produce the distal tip, an array of light energy sources can be held by an array of holders of a fixture device. A vacuum is applied to secure each light energy source in a corresponding holder. While the vacuum is applied, the energy sources are electrically connected by wire bonding. The vacuum can be reduced or stopped thereby permitting removal of the light energy sources from the fixture device.
US08684988B2
A disposable absorbent article includes two laterally opposing longitudinally extending barrier cuff strips attached to an interior surface of an absorbent assembly in laterally opposing attachment zones. Each barrier cuff strip may include a water-impermeable layer and may be extensible. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to each barrier cuff strip adjacent to its proximal edge. When the article is worn, the elastic gathering members contract and raise the barrier cuff strips to form side barriers. The absorbent assembly includes an absorbent core that may contain superabsorbent particles, which may be contained inside pockets. A portion of the absorbent assembly such as the portion that lies between the barrier cuff strip attachment zones may be extensible and may include a water-impermeable layer. The laterally opposing attachment zones may act as dams preventing a lateral flow of liquid bodily waste.
US08684973B2
A micropump, which in particular is a pump for a medicinal active substance and which may be an insulin pump or an analgesic pump, has at least one valve, which has a valve chamber, and has a pump chamber. At least one immobile structural element, which reduces the valve chamber volume, is provided in the valve chamber.
US08684970B1
A therapeutic apparatus for treating body tissue comprises a vessel enclosing a detonation chamber into which a detonatable mixture is introduced and then detonated using an igniter to form at least one shockwave and/or acoustic wave. A wave guide assembly having a converging geometry directs the wave to a tip of the wave guide assembly that is placed in contact with tissue to be treated by the wave. The wave guide assembly may include a wave focusing section surrounding the vessel, a flexible conduit connected to the wave focusing section and a needle connected to the conduit and sized for insertion into patient tissue to be treated. A cap connected to the end of the needle is formed from material permitting the wave or waves generated in the detonation chamber to pass therethrough to treat the patient tissue into which the needle is inserted.
US08684963B2
Multi-lumen catheter having a monolithic elongate tubular shaft member having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal length therebetween. The tubular shaft member has an outer cross-sectional dimension that varies along the length of the tubular shaft member. The tubular shaft member has an inner core made of a first material and an outer layer made of a second material. The inner core has a first lumen and a second lumen defined therein, the first lumen having a first lumen cross-section and a length extending at least along a portion of the length of the tubular shaft member. The first lumen cross-section is substantially uniform along the length of the first lumen. The second lumen has a second lumen cross-section and a length extending along the length of tubular shaft member. The second lumen cross-section is substantially uniform along the length of the second lumen.
US08684961B2
An insert for a breast-receiving funnel of a breast pump includes an elongate inflatable bladder which defines a pressure chamber. The elongate inflatable bladder is configured to fit in a teat receiving space of the breast receiving funnel so that the bladder extends from an inner end of the funnel towards an outer end of the funnel. The bladder lies between a user's teat and the funnel when a breast is inserted in the funnel, such that the elongate inflatable bladder is configured to deform towards a user's teat located in the teat receiving space in a predetermined manner when a pressure difference is applied between the teat receiving space and the pressure chamber such that a peristaltic action is applied to the user's teat, to aid the expression of milk therefrom.
US08684957B2
A method of using and assembling a device configured to treat a spine of a patient is provided. The method of assembling includes providing a support member configured to be connected to a torso of a patient and coupling an actuator mechanism to the support member, the actuator mechanism configured to distract a spine of the patient relative to the torso by extending in a generally superior direction relative to the support member.
US08684956B2
A device for directing a liquid onto a plurality of surfaces of the oral cavity, the device including a chamber for maintaining the liquid proximate the surfaces, where the chamber is defined by front, rear and base inner walls of the device and the front and rear inner walls each include a plurality of openings, the devices further including a first manifold and a second manifold, a first port and a second port; and means for providing an effective seal of the device within the oral cavity.
US08684955B2
A back kneading device capable of causing a massage mechanism to protrude forward and return to an original normal position is provided with no increase in size and complexity in construction. The back kneading device mounted in a chair massage apparatus includes the massage mechanism having a pair of right-hand and left-hand massage members, a base member for pivotally supporting the mechanism at its lower end, a vertical movement mechanism for imparting a vertical motion to the base member, an advancing and retracting mechanism for rockably driving the massage mechanism, and a rock restricting mechanism for an adjusting an angle of rotation of the massage mechanism so that, when the device is in an upper position, an upper end of the massage member protrudes forward, whereas, in a lower position, a lower end thereof protrudes forward.
US08684947B2
This invention describes a method for processing pressure signals derivable from locations inside or outside a human or animal body or body cavity. Different aspects of the invention relate to a method for optimal differentiating between cardiac beat- and artifact-induced pressure waves, a method for obtaining new and improved information from said pressure signals, a method for obtaining signals predicting pressures inside a body or body cavity from pressure signals outside said body or body cavity. In particular, this invention describes a method for modifying individual continuous non-invasive pressure-related signals into signals highly predictable of the corresponding invasive pressure-related signals based on already established relationships that can be used for formula-based adjustments of individual signals solely obtained by a non-invasive approach.
US08684945B2
An improved digital tuning fork device for administering a vibratory sensation test to a human subject comprising an integrated vibratory mechanism and timer, with the vibratory mechanism generating vibrations having a known frequency and amplitude, with the amplitude of the vibrations degrading over time to replicate in a controlled manner the natural degradation of vibrations generated by a mechanical tuning fork, and a method of use thereof.
US08684944B2
A thermometer is described which is suitable as an indwelling thermometer to detect pyrexia or oestrus in a mammal. The thermometer provides a continued signal that a predetermined reference temperature has been exceeded, which temperature is selected to be indicative of pyrexia or oestrus in a given species and may change according to species.
US08684943B2
A method, system, stethoscope and server for classifying a cardiovascular sound recorded from a living subject. The method comprises the steps of: identifying diastolic and/or systolic segments of the cardiovascular sound; dividing at least one of the identified diastolic and/or systolic segments into a number of sub-segments comprising at least a first sub-segment and at least a second sub-segment; extracting from the first sub-segment at least a first signal parameter characterizing a first property of the cardiovascular sound, extracting from the second sub-segment at least a second signal parameter characterizing a second property of the cardiovascular sound; and classifying the cardiovascular sound using the at least first signal parameter and the at least second signal parameter in a multivariate classification method.
US08684941B2
An electronic sphygmomanometer determines whether a position of a measurement site falls within a proper range, and notifies whether the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range. When determination is made that a time in which the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range is not less than a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), measurement of a blood pressure is automatically started. When determination is made that a time in which the position of the measurement site is out of the proper range is not less than a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds), the measurement of the blood pressure is started. Further, whether the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range is notified while correlated with the measurement result.
US08684940B2
An electronic sphygmomanometer acquires a patient ID and recommended site information read from an ID card before measurement. The recommended site indicating the site to be attached to a cuff of a left site or a right site is thereby specified for every person to be measured (patient ID). Thereafter, the site to be attached to the cuff is guided by notifying the specified recommended site to the person to be measured.
US08684929B2
The invention comprises a method for visualising a chronological sequence of measurements, in particular obtained from a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) process, comprising the step of presenting measured data in polar coordinate graphing system. A device 100 is disclosed that comprises a measuring unit 101, in particular a continuous glucose measuring unit, a communication link 103 for transmitting the measured data, in particular a wireless transmission device with a sending 104 and a receiving part 105, and a display 110, optionally with a computing unit 107 that is designed and programmed to visualise data obtained from the measuring unit according to the previously described method, in particular a mobile phone display, MP3 player display, handheld computer display, laptop computer display, personal computer display or other display device being addressable by the communication link. The method and the device enable both the patient and the physician or HCP to improve their recognition of important and/or periodic events during a chronological sequence of (CGM) measurements.
US08684926B2
A system and method for knowledge verification utilizing biopotentials and physiologic metrics, which includes a computer-based device having stored thereon Probe, Relevant and Gallery image data, and a biopotential amplifier removably connected to a human subject via disposable Ag/Ag—Cl electrodes. Furthermore, the system comprises an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to digitize said biopotential data for subsequent storage on said computer-based device, analysis software for discriminating said subject's event-related response to the exogenous stimuli, a visual display system comprising an LCD video monitor, and control software for presenting the Probe, Relevant and Gallery visual stimuli in a weighted, pseudo-random sequence which can be modulated by the outcome of said analysis software. Probe image data are not generally known to said human subjects but relevant to the knowledge to be verified; Relevant image data are generally known to said human subjects but not relevant to the knowledge to be verified; and Gallery image data are not generally known to said human subjects and not relevant to the knowledge to be verified. Said knowledge verification system can utilize parametric or non-parametric, e.g., artificial neural networks, analysis to provide an output of verification, or non-verification of knowledge of interest. Exemplary headband and electrode configurations optimized to produce the desired signals are disclosed.
US08684923B2
A method of aggregating medical information can include receiving, at a remote aggregation system, individual syndromes collected by mobile personal medical devices associated with respective bodies as the mobile personal medical devices move within an environment, aggregating the individual syndromes at the remote aggregation system, and determining whether an environmental syndrome exists for at least some of the individual syndromes. Related systems and computer program products are also disclosed.
US08684907B2
In an exemplary embodiment an adjustable urethral sling includes a flexible mesh support having a mesh envelope at a suburethral potion and an expansion chamber within the mesh envelope. A conduit may be provided that extends along the flexible mesh support and that is in fluid communication with the expansion chamber. When installed in a patient the sling may loop under the urethra and out exit sites. An access port may be provided in a subcutaneous pocket and attached to the conduit to allow for remote expansion of the expansion chamber from a desirable location to allow adjustment of the sling with the patient in a standing position. The mesh envelope allows tissue ingrowth around the container so that the container can be expanded for a long period of time after implantation. The expansion chamber may be U-shaped to provide lateral closing pressure to the urethra when expanded.
US08684899B2
A method for brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity of a breast including, positioning a distal end of a brachytherapy device within the cavity, expanding an expandable surface portion located between proximal and distal ends of the device within the cavity, the source lumen tubes defining a curved configuration within the cavity; and positioning a source of radiation sequentially within one or more source lumens of the source lumen tubes according to a brachytherapy treatment plan. The device includes an inner tube, and a plurality of source lumen tubes located around the inner tube and including distal ends secured together with the inner tube at the distal end disposed within the body cavity, the source lumen tubes comprising proximal portions sufficiently long to extend outside the breast.
US08684882B2
In a power tool, a tubular gear case is disposed frontwardly of a motor and configured to accommodate a planetary gear speed reduction mechanism, a tubular motor bracket is attached to the motor and configured to connect the motor and the gear case together, and at least one pin is pierced through the motor bracket and the gear case to connect the motor bracket and the gear case together. The pin is engaged with a first-stage internal gear located at a first stage of the planetary gear speed reduction mechanism whereby the first-stage internal gear is restrained from rotating and located in position in an axial direction thereof.
US08684881B2
Provided is a transmission gear box for bikes including: crank arms that receive a rotational driving force from rotatable pedals of each bike and transmits the received rotational driving force to a main shaft; a transmission gear unit that receives the rotational driving force from the main shaft and performs a transmission mode shifting operation at a gear tooth ratio according to a selected transmission mode gearshift; a lever manipulation unit that selects one of the transmission mode gearshifts of the transmission gear unit according to manipulation of a transmission mode shift lever, to thus manipulate one of cables connected to the respective transmission mode gearshifts; and a clutching unit that is operated by one cable selected by the lever manipulation unit to thus make one of ring gears of the transmission gear unit fixed in a gear tooth engagement coupling manner and to thereby manipulate a transmission mode shifting process of the transmission gear unit.
US08684872B2
A tensioner for tensioning flexible drives employs an extruded shaft which can provide a relatively complex cross sectional shape to provide anti-rotation features to inhibit rotation of a pivot bushing located on the shaft. The pivot bushing has a frustoconical outer shape, as does the pivot surface of the hub of the tensioner arm which pivots on the pivot bushing. A dampening spring urges the pivot bushing towards the tensioner arm's pivot surface, providing for wear compensation and for dampening. The degree of dampening which is generated between the pivot bushing and the tensioner hub can be selected in a variety of manners: by varying the spring force; by changing the effective contact surface area between the pivot bushing and pivot surface; and/or by changing the coefficient of friction between the pivot bushing and the pivot surface.
US08684864B2
A face insert for golf club head in one embodiment can comprise a substrate comprising a score line groove-free front surface. A cover layer is provided at least on the front surface of the substrate. The cover layer can alternatively overlay at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the substrate. The cover layer comprises a ball-striking surface spaced by the cover layer from the substrate. Plural elongated score line grooves can extend into the polymer layer from the ball-striking surface. In addition, visible markings are interposed between the cover layer and the front surface of the substrate, the visible markings being visible through the cover layer. In one form the visible markings comprise elongated score line markings and target markings in a central portion of the substrate. The visible markings can be screen-printed markings, which are then protected by the cover layer from wear. The cover layer can be molded and can be a polymer layer. The score line grooves can be formed, for example, by molding during molding of the polymer layer.
US08684863B2
A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member secured to a weight mount. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it has a low profile and so that it interacts with an angled abutment portion of the weight mount to locate the weight member in the golf club head.
US08684861B2
A golf club head has a striking face with a plurality of scorelines including a first scoreline and a second scoreline adjacent thereto. The striking face also has a plurality of auxiliary grooves each spaced from the scorelines. In a first imaginary vertical plane, a first path is formed by a first intersection between the first imaginary vertical plane and the striking face, and the auxiliary grooves have a first concentration no less than 0.17 measured between the first and second scorelines. A second imaginary vertical plane is horizontally spaced from the first imaginary plane. A second path is formed in the second imaginary vertical plane by a second intersection between the second imaginary vertical plane and the striking face. The auxiliary grooves in the second imaginary vertical plane have a second concentration that is different from the first concentration measured between the first and second scorelines.
US08684846B2
Flexibly configurable button panels for electronic devices and dynamic display systems for wager based gaming machines are disclosed. Button panels include a flexible cable, surface mount or other cable connectors spaced along and coupled thereto, and button assemblies coupled thereto via the cable connectors to provide electrical access from buttons to circuit lines. Relative physical locations of buttons are then reconfigurable to form different button panel configurations while the buttons remain coupled to the flexible cable. A dedicated dynamic button panel controller for processing button functions and a button panel identification device having an identification code can also be provided. Buttons can be removably coupled to the cable connectors, and can also include dynamic displays thereupon. Other gaming machine dynamic displays can also be provided. Separate dynamic display controllers can be provided to control dynamic displays directly to alleviate processing burdens on the master gaming controller.
US08684841B2
A storage medium having stored thereon a game program executable by a computer 21 of a game apparatus 1 including touch coordinate pair input means for outputting coordinate information based on a predetermined coordinate system in accordance with a touch operation performed by a player. A first object P1 and a second object P2 are displayed on a display screen based on first object position data DC3 and second object position data DC5. While input coordinate pairs are being detected, the first object position data DC3 is updated based on the input coordinate pairs. The second object position data DC5 is updated based on the first object position data DC3.
US08684840B2
In a game which is implemented as a plurality of player characters move on a map, one or more desired player characters, from among the plurality of player characters, are moved toward a desired position on the map by means of an easy operation.A game is carried out on a game apparatus in which a touch panel is disposed on a front surface of a display device on which a game screen is displayed. All player characters 100 displayed in a range enclosed by means of an operation carried out on the touch panel in such a way as to enclose positions of the player characters 100 displayed on the game screen are set as selected characters. When a pressing operation has been carried out on the touch panel with respect to a position displayed on the game screen, a position on a field corresponding to the position input by means of the operation is set as a destination of the selected characters. In this way, all the player characters for which the destination has been set are moved toward the position of the destination.
US08684838B2
A gaming method for presenting both gaming content based video signals and secondary video signals over a single display using a Display Manager is disclosed. The Display Manager receives one or more video signals from a Gaming Controller and one or more video signals from a system device, and then displays one or multiple video signals on one or more shared displays. The screen may be split between multiple signals, or one or more signals may overlay one or more background signals. The overlaid signals may completely obscure the background signals, or they may provide a level of transparency by allowing the background signal to be partially or completely visible. The Display Manager splits, overlays, superimposes, or otherwise shares the display among the video input signals. A touch router device interprets touches at a touch screen shared display to transform coordinates to enable interpretation of the player's touch inputs.
US08684823B2
Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines, gaming systems, methods, and computer-readable media for presenting a multi-tiered promotional game having a promotional base game component, promotional bonus game component, and a cash giveaway component. According to one embodiment, the gaming system includes a player tracking system having a database of player gaming data that includes a record of multi-tiered promotional game entry points and multi-tiered promotional bonus game entry points. The gaming system also includes a plurality of gaming devices in communication with the player tracking system, wherein each gaming device presents a primary game. The gaming devices also include a secondary display associated with each gaming device, wherein the secondary display is capable of presenting a promotional base game or a promotional bonus game. The gaming system further includes a multi-tiered promotional game server in communication with the secondary display, wherein the multi-tiered promotional game server manages the promotional base game and the promotional bonus game.
US08684817B2
Method and apparatus are described for conducting a secondary game at a gaming device. In various embodiments, a player may acquire equity in the secondary game in such forms as a location of a game character, a number of symbols aggregated, a degree of completion of a puzzle, or a defensive provision. Certain symbols or outcomes in a primary game, however, may cause the player to lose equity in the secondary game.
US08684813B2
Methods and systems for providing a lottery ticket to a player of a hybrid game having a gambling game portion and an entertainment game portion are provided. One or more lottery tickets are generated by a lottery system and transmitted to the hybrid game where the one or more lottery tickets are held in a queue. Attendant rules for issuing a lottery ticket are also transmitted to the hybrid game. The hybrid game receives player actions from the entertainment portion of the hybrid game and, based on the player actions and the attendant rules, awards a lottery ticket to the player.
US08684809B2
Systems, apparatuses and methods for increasing potential payout opportunities using multiple card indicia representing multiple cards. One embodiment involves determining whether any one or more of a plurality of cards of a draw poker hand are to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia representing multiple cards, presenting the plurality of cards of the draw poker hand, including the one or more of the plurality of cards determined to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia, facilitating user identification of which of the plurality of cards to hold, replacing the cards that are not held, and identifying a plurality of resulting hands, each of the plurality of resulting hands including a different subset of a total of the indicia of the cards that were held, the cards that were replaced, and any cards provided with multiple card indicia.
US08684804B2
A photographing device having a game function which determines win/loss of photographing devices based on information regarding image files, is provided with a first parameter obtaining unit configured to obtain a first parameter regarding a first image file which was generated by the photographing device, a second parameter obtaining unit configured to obtain a second parameter regarding a second image file which is stored in another photographing device, a score calculating unit configured to calculate scores regarding the first image file and the second image file based on the first parameter and the second parameter, respectively, a win/loss determining unit configured to determine win/loss of the photographing device and the other photographing device, and generate win/loss information, a recording unit configured to store the win/loss information, in accumulated manner, as intrinsic information which is intrinsic to the photographing device, and a notifying unit configured to output the accumulated win/loss information.
US08684800B2
A body armor cooling system for law enforcement officers or military or security personnel having a hook-shaped nozzle attached to one end of a flexible hose member and a bellows assembly attached to the other end of the flexible hose member. The end of the hook-shaped nozzle is tucked beneath the protective armor that the law enforcement officer is wearing in order to provide a cooling effect. The bellows assembly is connected to the air conditioner vent opening on the dash of the vehicle. The bellows assembly makes an air tight seal with the dash of the vehicle and it can easily be attached and detached. A universal vent attachment system makes the present invention usable in any vehicle.
US08684799B2
An apparatus and method for cleaning carcasses is described and illustrated, as is a device for mixing a cleaning substance that can be used in such applications. In some embodiments, the apparatus and method utilize a multi-phase cleaning substance spraying procedure in which the cleaning substance has desired levels of chlorine dioxide and is delivered to the carcasses at desired flow rates, both of which can vary between phases of the procedure and/or at different locations of the carcasses being cleaned.
US08684780B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a display device including the same, and associated methods, the OLED display including a substrate member, an organic light emitting element on the substrate member, and a liquid crystal polymer layer on the organic light emitting element, wherein the liquid crystal polymer layer is configured to delay a phase of light passing therethrough.
US08684778B1
A paddle device. First and second paddle assemblies each have a paddle blade extending from a paddle end of a paddle arm so that the paddle structures each have a paddle blade end and a paddle arm end. A hand crankable crank shaft arrangement have a center and first and second ends and having handle segments. The paddle arm end of the first paddle structure is coupled to the first end of the crank shaft arrangement and the paddle arm end of the second paddle structure is coupled to the second end of the crank shaft arrangement. First and second handle grips are rotatably coupled to the crank shaft arrangement so as to permit the crank shaft arrangement to rotate with respect to the first and second handle grips when the crankshaft arrangement is cranked. This abstract is not to be considered limiting.
US08684774B1
A wedge connector assembly for forming an electrical connection with an elongate electrical conductor includes a resilient spring member and a cam wedge member. The spring member defines a spring member channel. The spring member channel has a spring member channel axis and is configured to receive the electrical conductor such that the electrical conductor extends along the spring member channel axis. The cam wedge member is mounted on the spring member such that the cam wedge member is rotatable relative to the spring member about a pivot axis to a locking position wherein the cam wedge member captures the electrical conductor in the spring member channel and elastically deflects the spring member.
US08684771B2
An electrical contact is provided for an electrical receptacle. The contact includes a main body, a first segment that is an extension of the main body and substantially parallel to the main body, a second segment substantially perpendicular to the main body and the first segment, a third segment substantially perpendicular to the second segment and substantially parallel to the main body and the first segment, a first wipe that extends from the first segment, a second wipe that extends from the second segment, and a third wipe that extends from the third segment.
US08684770B2
A cable connector assembly has a first connector, a second connector and a ribbon cable connecting the first and the second connectors. The first connector includes a first insulating housing, a number of first contacts and a first shielding covering the first insulating housing. Each first contact includes a first contacting portion, a first retaining portion and a first connection portion. The first shielding has a first grounding section. The second connector includes a second insulating housing, a number of second contacts and a second shielding. Each second contact includes a second contacting portion, a second retaining portion and a second connection portion. The second shielding has a second ground section. The ribbon cable includes a number of wires, each wire having one end electrically connecting with the first connection portions and the first grounding section and having the other end electrically connecting the second connection portions and the second ground section.
US08684766B2
A connector includes an insulator including contact insertion grooves and partition walls positioned therebetween, the contact insertion grooves being elongated in an insertion/removal direction of a thin plate-shaped object inserted into the insulator and arranged in a direction orthogonal thereto; and contacts inserted into the contact insertion grooves, each contact including first and second contact portions, and a connecting portion which connects the first and second contact portions to each other, wherein at least one of the first and second contact portions comes in contact with the thin plate-shaped object when the thin plate-shaped object is inserted into the insulator. A hollow portion is formed in each partition wall of the insulator so as to overlap part of each contact as viewed in a contact arranging direction, and so as to be prevented from being communicatively connected with the contact insertion grooves by the partition walls.
US08684751B2
A connector assembly includes a circuit board, a signal plug and a cable. The circuit board has at least one pair of traces of the same length. The signal plug is disposed at a front side of the circuit board, and has at least one pair of terminals of the same length that are respectively conducted to a paired first signal contacts of the pair of traces. The cable extends from the circuit board in a left-right direction and conducts to the circuit board. An extension direction of the cable is substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction of the signal plug. The cable has at least one pair of differential signal lines that are respectively conducted to a paired second signal contacts of the pair of traces.
US08684747B1
An intelligent tutoring system can be implemented using filters, predictive modeling, and a knowledge warehouse, which allows content to be dynamically selected for individualized presentation to a learner. Such an intelligent tutoring system can be implemented using a variety of techniques, including polynomial vector equations in modeling, extensible markup language storage formats for presentation data, and a knowledge warehouse with information stored in data cubes.
US08684745B2
Method and apparatus are provided for a hand-held planetarium which displays a sky pattern comprising graphical representations of one or more celestial objects. A sensing system comprising one or more sensors provides information about an orientation of the device. A controller receives the information about the orientation of the device from the sensing system and determines therefrom an altitude angle of a pointing axis and an azimuthal angle of the pointing axis. The controller accesses a database of celestial objects and determines, from within the database, one or more selected celestial objects for display based at least in part on a measure of proximity of the celestial objects to the pointing axis. Graphical representations of the one or more selected celestial objects are displayed on a display screen. The planetarium may switch between a normal orientation mode and a downward facing orientation mode.
US08684744B2
An injection training dummy, including a) a three-dimensional shell member which can be penetrated by an injection needle, and b) a closure member detachably interconnected with the shell member, wherein c) the shell member and the closure member constitute a chamber into which liquid can be injected through the injection needle, and d) the shell member and the closure member are designed such that they do not absorb the liquid.
US08684741B2
A method and apparatus for analyzing pattern colorings and evaluating various psychological symptoms or disorders in art therapy are disclosed. The method suggests performance-related elements such as completeness, accuracy and degree of concentration as elements, can objectively and quantitatively rate these elements as well as various color-related elements, can detect the changes of these elements in pattern colorings, can estimate the levels and changes of psychological symptoms and disorders and determine whether the symptoms and disorders are serious or not, can acquire various kinds of knowledge in the field of art therapy and establish a knowledge base, and can interpret the pattern colorings based on the analysis and knowledge base. The apparatus consists of units obtaining inputs of characteristics of clients, analyzing and rating the various elements in the pattern colorings, and outputting various kinds of information to the clients, parents, teachers, and art therapists.
US08684737B1
A firearm trigger trainer, for aiding a trainee in developing a smooth trigger control, has a handle, sized and weighted to represent the actual weight and feel of the real firearm, but without a gun barrel, thus providing a non-threatening, non-fear inducing appearance of the firearm trigger trainer. The trigger member is coupled to a single biasing spring for biasing the trigger member for simulating triggering forces used in firing a real firearm; and the method instructs the trainee to smoothly actuate the trigger member over and over to produce smooth, even pressure to the trigger, thus enhancing accuracy of shots using real firearms. Two or more removable biasing springs having different stiffness are provided for substituting one spring for another to correspond to a particular firearm.
US08684732B2
A system, method and device design to prevent, treat and maintain dental periimplant infections including a dental implant to be inserted into a jawbone of a patient that includes a base segment provided at one distal end of the implant which is configured to be put inside and come in contact with the jawbone, an abutment portion provided on an end opposite to the one distal end of the implant to which an artificial tooth is configured to be attached, and a plurality of removable segments which are configured to be put inside and come in contact with the jawbone and are removably attached to the base segment. If an infection is diagnosed around an implant site, infected removable segments can be extracted while maintaining positioning of the uninfected removable segments and the base segment. The infected removable segments are replaced with cleaned or sterilized removable segments.
US08684731B2
A capsule for receiving and delivering high-viscosity dental materials has a housing which defines an interior chamber. The housing and the interior chamber have a first section, a transition area, and an exit nozzle. The interior chamber of the transition area tapers continuously towards its second end. The interior chamber of the transition area is defined by the outer surfaces of an oblique truncated cone with an opening angle of approximately 55°.
US08684718B2
First, a horizontal nozzle is inserted between an upper mold section and a lower mold section in a horizontally extending state. Then, liquid resin is horizontally discharged from a discharge port of the horizontal nozzle. Thus, the liquid resin is supplied into a cavity. Thereafter the upper mold section and the lower mold section are closed. Consequently, an electronic component mounted on a substrate is dipped in the liquid resin stored in the cavity. Therefore, the electronic component is resin-sealed on the substrate by compression molding.
US08684715B2
A vane machine for expansion or compression of gases, air, engine exhaust, vapors or a mixture thereof, includes a housing with a cylindrical space having inlet and outlet ports, a shaft offset in parallel or eccentric relative to a central housing axis and first and second circular discs on the shaft mutually offset in parallel. Slides are guided by the circular discs and displaceable in direction of an inner housing wall. Vane cells are formed by two neighboring slides and an adjoining region of the wall and volumes of the vane cells in vicinity of the inlet and outlet ports differ. To obtain reliability and efficiency, each circular disc has a plurality of circular arcuate slots, each slide can have a circular arc shape on an end facing the housing, and the circular arcuate part of each slide moves into circular arcuate slots of first and second circular discs.
US08684714B2
An orbital engine with a first outer generally tubular body with a first axis, and a second generally tubular inner orbiter body with a second axis, the second inner body being moveable within the first outer body. The first and second axes are parallel, but not colinear. The second inner body revolves, but does not rotate, within the first outer body Vanes extending generally radially relative to both the inner and outer bodies define multiple chambers in the space between the outside of the inner body and the inside of the outer body. The vanes reciprocate relative to both the inner and outer bodies, and no vane traverses the entire inner surface of the outer body. When fitted with ports in the outer body and valves, the orbital engine may be implemented as an internal combustion engine, gas compressor, liquid pump, air motor, blower, fan or turbine, etc.
US08684705B2
The disclosure describes systems and methods relating generally to filtration. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to controlling the operation of a pump using filter information. A removable filter can include an electronically readable tag storing filter information. The filter information can be read by a tag reader and rules applied to the filter information to determine whether or how to operate a pump.
US08684697B2
A steam turbine nozzle airfoil with integral inner and outer sidewalls is engaged with an inner ring and an outer ring in a nozzle assembly. Previous designs required large clearances between radial surfaces to permit simultaneous circumferential loading of the inner and outer sidewall into the inner and outer rings. The inventive arrangement provides for breech loading of the inner sidewall into the inner ring which allows near line-to-line radial contact on the hooks between the rings and the integral sidewalls of the Singlet nozzle airfoil. Tighter radial clearance overcome problems with loose assembly such as movement during welding, gaps leading to stress risers and performance issues associated with nozzle throat control.
US08684693B2
The invention relates to a device for adjusting the angle of attack of a rotor blade of a wind power plant, comprising a flexible clad drive train that can be moved by a driving wheel, wherein the rotor blade can be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof by said drive train in opposite directions. According to the invention, the clad drive train can be moved only in a single plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the driving wheel and engages on a pivot bearing ring forming an end piece of the rotor blade, and the driving wheel is connected to a motor/transmission unit, which is mounted on the hub of the rotor blade, for the individual adjustment of the rotor blade.
US08684691B2
A squealer tip formed from a pressure side rib and a suction side rib extending radially outward from a tip of the turbine blade is disclosed. The pressure and suction side ribs may be positioned along the pressure side and the suction side of the turbine blade, respectively. The pressure and suction side ribs may include chamfered leading edges with film cooling holes having exhaust outlets positioned therein. The film cooling holes may be configured to be diffusion cooling holes with one or more tapered sections for reducing the velocity of cooling fluids and increasing the size of the convective surfaces.
US08684690B2
A variable chord morphing helicopter rotor blade is disclosed. The variable chord morphing helicopter rotor blade includes an extensible quasi-static chord section connected to the rotor blade, an adjusted airfoil chord length of the rotor blade corresponding to extension of the quasi-static chord section relative to a baseline airfoil chord length, the adjusted airfoil chord length determined according to helicopter flight conditions.
US08684677B1
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted on a turbine shaft within a housing assembly for rotation about a turbine axis, the housing assembly defining a gas flow inlet passage upstream of the turbine wheel; an annular wall member defining a wall of the inlet passage and which is displaceable in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis to control gas flow through the inlet passage; at least one moveable rod operably connected via a first end of the rod to the annular wall member, the rod being moveable to control displacement of the annular wall member, the rod extending in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis; wherein the rod is provided with a region of reduced radius which extends only partly around the rod, the region of reduced radius being remote from a second end of the rod to which a component of an actuator assembly for moving the rod is connectable.
US08684674B2
A shroud for turbine engines. The shroud has an integrated anti-rotation device that prevents circumferential movement of the shroud during normal engine operation, and which allows for circumferential installation in split annular case designs. Since the anti-rotation device is an integral part of the shroud and/or annular split turbine case, no additional parts are necessary for assembly or disassembly. Moreover, existing annular split turbine cases can be reworked to accept the anti-rotation device and yet still be backwards compatible with original shroud designs.
US08684671B2
A turbomachine casing forming a continuous annular ring extending over 360° around a bladed wheel and serving as a propagation medium for rotating waves, each rotating wave being generated by two standing waves of the same frequency, and the casing including at least one longitudinal stiffener at its outer periphery that is dimensioned and positioned in such a manner as to separate the frequencies of the two standing waves of at least one given rotating wave.
US08684645B2
The present disclosure relates to a removable gate for defining storage areas in a transport trailer. The removable gate includes a first elongated housing, a second elongated housing and a pair of supports. Each elongated housing carries a pair of outwardly biased retractable members. When in the extended position the retractable members engage supports thereby securing the gate in a desired position. Retracting the members permits removal and repositioning of the gate. The removable gate is pivotal about the first elongated housing upon retraction of the second pair of retractable members, and pivotal about the second elongated housing upon retraction of the first pair of retractable members.
US08684642B2
A cutting insert has an upper face, a lower face, a side face, an upper cutting edge, a lower cutting edge and a through hole. The upper face has a substantially polygonal shape. The side face has a first side face and a second side face. The first side face has at least one upper concave part and at least one lower concave part. The at least one upper concave part and the at least one lower concave part are separated from each other through a thick part being continuous along a width direction of the side face. The thick part has a curved region extending in the shape of a wave from one end to the other end in the width direction of the first side face in a side view.
US08684634B2
Provided is a cage for protecting a worker in an excavation. The cage includes spaced apart side panels formed from a material suitably-strong to withstand a force exerted on the side panels by a collapsing wall of the excavation. A plurality of cross members extend between the side panels to substantially maintain a distance separating the side panels when subjected to the force exerted by the collapsing wall of the excavation. And a connection head that is cooperable with a coupler supported by a boom of a piece of mechanized equipment is included to couple the cage to the boom. The connection head is coupled to one or both of the side panels, one or more of the cross members, or one or both of the side panels and at least one of the cross members.
US08684626B2
A permeable paver that has water permeability of on average about 1 inch per hour and compressive strength of an average of about 8000 psi, the paver manufactured by forming a mixture comprising blast-furnace slag, sand, gravel and portland cement into predetermined sizes, shapes and colors as desired utilizing a hydraulic-type or equivalent compacting block forming machine.
US08684621B2
A ball joint includes a joint housing having a recess, a ball stud having a ball head, a sealing bellows having a sealing seat on the housing side and a sealing seat on the stud side in the form of a bellows mouth which is adapted to be brought into contact with the ball stud, a bellows body of the sealing bellows extending between the sealing seat on the housing side and the bellows mouth, and further includes a joint socket, the ball head being accommodated for swiveling motion within the joint socket, and the joint socket being inserted in the recess of the joint housing.
US08684619B2
A device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The device has a sole plate with permanent bristles and a removable/replaceable pad. The device also has a replaceable, on-board supply of cleanser. The pad/cleanser may be replaced when depleted and replaced with a new pad/cleanser or may simply be replaced with a new pad/cleanser when that pad/cleanser is more suitable for a particular cleaning task.
US08684613B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for camera integration with cover glass and for processing cover glass to provide a camera window for an electronic device are disclosed. A camera window can be integrated into the cover glass. The apparatus, systems and methods are especially suitable for cover glasses, or displays (e.g., LCD displays), assembled in small form factor electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, media players, personal digital assistants, remote controls, etc.). The apparatus, systems and methods can also be used for cover glasses or displays for other relatively larger form factor electronic devices (e.g., portable computers, tablet computers, displays, monitors, televisions, etc.).
US08684607B2
A thrust sliding bearing 1 includes an synthetic resin-made annular bearing body 5 having an annular upper surface 2, an annular outer peripheral surface 3, and an annular lower surface 4; a synthetic resin-made annular bearing body 7 having an annular lower surface 6; a sheet metal-made reinforcement member 10 having an annular lower surface 8 and an annular upper surface 9; a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing piece 11 interposed between the annular upper surface 9 of the reinforcement member 10 and the annular lower surface 6 of the bearing body 7; and a synthetic resin-made radial sliding bearing piece 16 disposed between an annular inner peripheral surface 13 of a hollow cylindrical portion 12 of the reinforcement member 10 and an annular outer peripheral surface 15 of a hollow cylindrical portion 14 of the bearing body 7.
US08684590B2
A device for mixing powder of the like with a liquid, the device including both a dispersion tube having its bottom portion open and designed to be in the liquid and having a delivery orifice for powder or the like in its top portion, and a mixer located in the dispersion tube and including a first rotary stirrer disposed in the vicinity of the bottom end of the dispersion tube and suitable for creating a first downward stream in the dispersion tube. The mixer further includes a second rotary stirrer disposed between the delivery orifice for powder or the like and the first rotary stirrer, and suitable for creating a second downward stream in the dispersion tube.
US08684585B2
An illumination device and a lens thereof are provided. The lens includes a surrounding sidewall, a light-incident surface, a light-incident structure, and a light-emitting surface. The surrounding sidewall includes two planar portions opposite to each other and two arc-surface portions opposite to each other to surround a reference axis. The light-incident surface is located at a side of the surrounding sidewall to receive a light emitted from a point light source. The light-incident structure located on the light-incident surface includes a plurality of bar-shaped protrusions. Each bar-shaped protrusion includes a plurality of first light-diffusing surfaces not parallel to the light-incident surface. The light-emitting surface is located at the other side of the surrounding sidewall and is opposite to the light-incident surface. The light-emitting surface is substantially circular. A cross-section area of the lens gradually increases from the light-incident surface to the light-emitting surface.
US08684579B2
An electronic device includes a display module, a base and a keyboard module. The display module is pivoted on the base. The keyboard module is disposed on the base. The keyboard module has a plurality of keys. Each of the keys includes a main body and an imprinted structure. The main body has a top surface. The imprinted structure is disposed on the top surface of the main body and includes a light guiding portion and a light scattering portion. A light emitted by the display module illuminates the keyboard module. The light is guided towards a specific direction when the light passes through the light guiding portion, and the light is scattered in other directions when the light passes through the light scattering portion.
US08684575B2
A lighting unit including a lens body can achieve luminous flux utilization efficiency equal to or greater than a conventional lighting unit even with a reduced width of the lens body. A vehicle lighting unit can be constituted by a plurality of the lighting units. The lighting unit can include an LED light source, and a lens body disposed in front of the LED light source so that light emitted from the LED light source can be incident thereon. The lens body can include a lens portion configured to receive the light from the LED light source to collect the light, a front surface including the lens portion, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, a first end surface functioning as a light exiting surface having a substantially rectangular shape greater in width than in thickness, and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface.
US08684572B2
An LED connector assembly includes a housing having a cavity formed therein. A connector interface is positioned on the housing to receive electrical wiring from a power source. An LED package is provided having at least one LED die coupled thereto. The LED package is removably received in the cavity of the housing and retained using features in the LED package and housing. The LED package is electrically coupled to the connector interface to provide power to the at least one LED die.
US08684559B2
Solid state light sources, lighting devices and lamps arranged to provide emission with a warm temperature and high CRI. One embodiment of a solid state lighting device according to the present invention comprises a light emitting diode (LED) device capable of emitting light in an emission spectrum. A filter arranged so that at least some light from the LED light source passes through it, with the filter filtering at least some of one or more portions of the light source emission spectrum. The resulting light source light has a different temperature but substantially the same CRI after passing through the filter.
US08684558B2
A light bar structure including a base, a flexible circuit board (FCB), a first circuit, a second circuit, and a first connector is provided. The base has first and second surfaces. The FCB is on the first surface. The first circuit on the FCB includes N+1 serial first conductive contact pads, N light-emitting elements, and a first conductive wire. N≧1 and N is a positive integer. The second circuit on the FCB includes N+1 serial second conductive contact pads, and a second conductive wire. To form a closed loop, the first connector connects a first one of the first conductive contact pads and a first one of the second conductive contact pads and the second connector connects a (i+1)-th one of the first conductive contact pads and a (i+1)-th one of the second conductive contact pads. 1≦i≦N and i is a positive integer.
US08684554B2
A solar assembly includes a base and at least one LED coupled to the base. An illumination panel having a first end and a second end is provided. The first end is coupled to the base. The illumination panel extends from the base between the first end and the second. The illumination panel reflects light emitted from the at least one LED. A solar panel receptacle is positioned at the second end of the illumination panel. A solar panel housing is removably attached to the solar panel receptacle. The solar panel housing has a solar panel to power the at least one LED.
US08684547B2
A backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same are disclosed. The backlight unit includes an optical sheet, a reflector having a reflective surface spaced apart from the optical sheet and having an inclined surface, a fixture connected to one side of the reflector, and a light source disposed to one side of the reflector.
US08684546B2
Modulated light sources are described. A modulated light source may have first light sources that are configured to emit first light, which has first color components that occupy a range that is beyond one or more prescribed ranges of light wavelengths. The modulated light source may also have a light converter that is configured to be illuminated by the first light. The light converter converts the first light into second light. The second light has one or more second color components that are within the one or more prescribed ranges of light wavelengths. Strengths of the one or more second color components in the second light are monitored and regulated to produce a particular point within a specific color gamut.
US08684541B2
A lighting apparatus used for a projection type display is provided, which can change the incident ray volume to an optical modulation device without changing the optical output intensity of the lamp, and can exhibit excellent effects in expressive power of an image and adaptability to the use environment. The lighting apparatus of the present invention comprises; a light source, two fly-eye lenses constituting a uniform lighting device, and a shading plate arranged between these fly-eye lenses and constituting a dimming device for adjusting the amount of light of the outgoing light from the light source. The angle of inclination of the shading plate is controlled based on an image signal supplied to the optical modulation device, thereby enabling adjustment of the amount of light.
US08684538B2
In various embodiments, a method for projecting at least one light beam is provided. The method may include providing at least one light beam; and setting a time base of a processor configured to control the at least one light beam as a function of a deflection of the at least one light beam.
US08684531B2
An image signal storing unit stores an image signal provided from the outside. An image processing unit appropriately processes the image signal stored in the image signal storing unit in accordance with the instruction from an adjusting unit. A projecting unit projects, onto a display area, light corresponding to an image created by the image processing unit. A display size determination unit computes the display size of the picture plane displayed on a screen based on an image captured by the camera provided adjacent to the projection-type video-image display device. The display size determination unit then determines whether or not the display size of the picture plane is equal to or larger than a predetermined upper-limit size.
US08684523B2
A spectacle lens includes a first region which is located in at least part of a portion of a lens where a pivotal angle of an eyeball of a wearer ranges from 20 to 60 degrees and in which correcting astigmatism has priority over correcting average power based on prescribed power, and a second region which is formed inside the first region and in which correcting the average power has priority over correcting the astigmatism.
US08684520B2
A lens is provided that is capable of preventing or slowing the progression of myopia when worn by a person. The lens has a power profile that reduces on-axis and off-axis hyperopic defocus created by the optics of the eye by creating on-axis and off-axis myopic defocus. The on-axis and off-axis myopic defocus is created by providing light rays that pass through a central vision region of the optical portion and light rays that pass through a peripheral region of the optical portion an increase in positive (plus) power. The overall effect is to prevent or slow the progression of myopia without any perceptible degradation in the person's central vision.
US08684518B2
An elastic miniaturized hinge used in eyeglasses. A first element fixed to the front portion of eyeglasses, and a second element fixed to a temple of the eyeglasses, said first and second elements are rotatably fixed to each other by means of a shaft. A first end portion of the shaft rotatingly fixed to the first element, a portion of the shaft adjacent to the first end portion housed in a through hole made in the second element. A second portion of the shaft is housed in the internal space of a helical elastic and fixed to the shaft, so that the rotation of the shaft and therefore of the second element with respect to the first element is counteracted by the action of the helical elastic.
US08684510B2
A drying device includes a drying unit configured to carry out a drying process on a recording medium by blowing heated air from a discharge port formed at a location partway along the conveyance path of the recording medium as the medium is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. A drying zone is disposed on the downstream side of the drying unit in the conveyance direction over the front face of the recording medium so that the air blown from the discharge port is retained in the drying zone. An upper surface of the drying zone is defined by an extended surface portion of an outer surface of a housing of the drying unit, the extended surface portion extending from the discharge port toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction to cover the conveyance path from above.
US08684499B2
A method enables multiple inkjet printhead dies to be manufactured by bonding a single wafer to a single polymer layer. Multiple die sites on the single wafer are arranged in a predetermined pattern that corresponds to the pattern in which a plurality of aperture arrays are arranged in the polymer layer. The die sites on the wafer and the aperture arrays in polymer layer are aligned, the wafer and polymer layer are bonded, and the bonded wafer and polymer layer are cut to form a plurality of inkjet printhead dies.
US08684495B2
A liquid ejection head includes: a plate base material; and an actuator; wherein the plate base material has: ejection holes having recessed portions; and an ejection face having ejection openings. The recessed portions include pairs each constituted by two recessed portions located side by side and at least one of which has the ejection openings. A shortest line segment of a certain pair is equal to or shorter than that of another pair, an average value of lengths of the respective recessed portions constituting the certain pair is not larger than that of lengths of the respective recessed portions constituting another pair.
US08684488B2
A liquid ejecting device is provided. The liquid ejecting device includes a conveyer, liquid ejecting heads with nozzles to eject droplets of liquid, an liquid purging unit to purge the liquid out of the nozzles, a detector unit to detect presence of a recording medium, a storage unit to store length of the recording medium, a judging unit to judge whether the recording medium is jammed in a conveyer path, a head identifier unit to identify an overlapping liquid ejecting head assumedly facing the jammed recording medium based on the detected result obtained by the detector unit and the length of the recording medium, and an purge controller unit to control an amount of the liquid to be ejected from the nozzles in the remaining liquid ejecting heads to be smaller than an amount of the liquid to be ejected from the nozzles in the identified overlapping liquid ejecting head.
US08684473B2
A gear pump includes: a drive shaft; a first gear; a second gear; a first plate disposed between the first gear and the second gear, and arranged to liquid-tightly seal the first surfaces of the first and second gear; a pair of second plates disposed, respectively, on the second surfaces of the first and second gears, and arranged to liquid-tightly seal the second surfaces of the first and second gears, each of the second plates including a tooth top sealing portion having a seal surface arranged to seal a tooth top of the first gear and a tooth top of the second gear, and to form a suction portion with the first plate and the second plate; and an urging member arranged to urge the drive shaft toward the seal surface of the tooth top sealing portion of one of the first and second plates.
US08684463B2
An apparatus for selectively moving a seat back of a motor vehicle seat relative to a seat bottom includes an armrest movably mounted to the vehicle seat, a seat back actuator and mechanical linkage engaged with and between the armrest and the seat back actuator. The armrest has a first position that supports an arm of an occupant of the motor vehicle seat, and is movable from the first position to a second position. The seat back actuator is responsive to actuation to allow the seat back of the vehicle seat to be moved relative to the seat bottom, and is responsive to release thereof to block movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom. The mechanical linkage is responsive to movement of the armrest from the first position to the second position to actuate the seat back actuator and to otherwise release the seat back actuator.
US08684458B2
A swing assembly has a seat with a folding back that locks the swing automatically when the back folds from an upright configuration to a flat configuration so the swing is stable. The swing assembly includes an upper cross bar having two ends, a lower cross bar having two ends and a lateral support attached to each end of the upper cross bar and the lower cross bar, respectively. The swing assembly has a seat with two ends and a back. The back foldably attaches to the seat. A pair of seat supports attached to each end of the seat and moveably attach to a hanging support mounted on the upper cross bar adjacent each lateral support. A lower back support hangs from the seat back to automatically aligns with and lock with the lower cross bar when the swing moves from the upright configuration to the flat configuration.
US08684449B2
The invention relates to a B-pillar for a vehicle including a main section (20) with a hat-shaped section (21) comprising a central flange (22), two web portions (23, 24) and two side flanges (25, 26). At least the hat-shaped section (21) is press-hardened and has a breaking strength in excess of 1400 MPa and the side flanges (25, 26) of the hat-shaped section (21) have a breaking strength below 1100 MPa along at least part of the length of the side flanges (25, 26). The B-pillar (13) includes a cover plate (40) welded to the side flanges (25, 26) of the hat-shaped section (21) so as to form a closed profile, the cover plate (40) having a breaking strength below 1100 MPa at least in the region in which it bears against the side flanges (25, 26). The side flanges (25, 26) of the hat-shaped section have a breaking strength below 1100 MPa in the region in which the side flanges bear against the cover plate (40).
US08684448B2
A system and method aerodynamic fairings including a gap fairing. The gap fairing includes multiple panels. The multiple panels are interconnected utilizing connectors to form a half conical shape extending from a front portion of a trailer. The gap fairing also includes supports connected to the multiple panels through support structure of the trailer.
US08684445B2
A vehicle door arrangement having a vehicle door for closing a door opening in a bodywork of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and having a pivoting device, which comprises a carrier arm bearing the weight of the vehicle door and at least one guide arm controlling the movement of the vehicle door, wherein the carrier arm and the guide arm are of the same length and are arranged pivotally mounted on the vehicle door and the bodywork in such a way that the arms form a parallelogram. The support arm is pivotally mounted level with a horizontal bodywork section defining a lower limit of the door opening.
US08684439B1
Telescoping side rails for a pickup truck are extensible, hidden vertical pillars within each side wall of a pickup truck. The extensible vertical pillars are connected at the top by the side rail sitting atop the side walls. A set of telescoping pillars is added to each of the two side walls bordering the bed of the pickup truck. When extended, either manually or via a powered option, the vertical pillars, which are joined at the top by the side rail, form a skeleton structure of a tall side wall. The side rail is an added stabilizing connection. The skeleton structure can be used alone or with added horizontal beams inserted through horizontal access ports in the extended pillars. Preferably, the access ports allow passage of a standard 2×4 or other stake through the pillars to create added structural stability to each set of telescoping pillars.
US08684435B1
A tailgate inner-handle is vertically rotatably mounted and includes: cylinders having sliding holes formed in outer circumferential surfaces along a longitudinal direction; pistons inserted in the cylinders and having fitting holes; a handle mounted at one end of the piston; a carrying bar entering the cylinders through the sliding holes to be inserted in the fitting holes; a motor connected so as to slide the carrying bar; and a control module configured to apply power to the motor according to whether the tailgate is opened or closed. The inner-handle according to the present invention protrudes from the tailgate or returns to an original position according to an opening/closing state of the tailgate, so that a user may more easily and conveniently hold the inner-handle regardless of a height of the user without needing to adjust an opening angle of the tailgate.
US08684427B2
In one embodiment, an energy absorber, comprises: a plurality of crush lobes including a base and sides extending from the base to an outer wall; and a composite insert in the energy absorber. The insert comprises a second plastic material and reinforcement. The second plastic material is different than the crush lobe material. The insert is located at an area of the crush lobes, and wherein the area is the side and/or the outer wall. In another embodiment, an energy absorber comprises: a plastic frame; thermoplastic crush lobes extending from the frame, wherein the crush lobes comprise an outer wall, an extending wall, and a base; and a plastic insert located at an area having a volume of the crush lobes, wherein the insert occupies less than or equal to 90% of the area volume. The insert comprises reinforcement and a plastic material different than the thermoplastic crush lobes.
US08684422B2
The disclosure relates to a fixing mechanism for fixing a component. The fixing mechanism includes a base, a bottom wall disposed on the base, and two lateral walls disposed on the base and connected to the bottom wall. A containing space is formed between the base, the bottom wall, and the two lateral walls. The fixing mechanism further includes a hook. The hook includes a cantilever portion and a hooking portion. The cantilever portion is connected to the bottom wall and for pressing against the component when the component is contained inside the containing space. The hooking portion is connected to the cantilever portion and engages with a lateral surface of the component when the component is contained inside the containing space. The fixing mechanism further includes two engaging parts for laterally engaging against the component when the component is contained inside the containing space.
US08684413B2
A pretensioning device (10) for a safety belt, of a motor vehicle, having a gas generator (17), a piston (21) guided in a tube (16), which closes a pressure area (20) in the tube (16) that is pressurized by the gas generator (17) whereupon the piston (21) is able to move in a pretensioning movement which is able to be conveyed to the safety belt by means of an inertia body (19a) resting on a front face (9) of the piston (21). The piston (21) forms a pass-through opening (1) releasable upon exceeding of a predetermined pressure and a recess (26) is provided in the front face (9) with an inertia body (19a) resting thereon, so that a flow connection is created from the pass-through opening (1) to the area (25) located behind the piston (21) in the direction of the pretensioning movement (S).
US08684400B2
A knee airbag (100) which is deployed between the vehicle occupants and a vehicle structure (2) and a gas generator (4) for filling the knee airbag (100) with inflating gas, wherein the knee airbag (100) has a base chamber (10) which is filled first with inflating gas, and at least one further upper chamber (20, 30) which receives the inflating gas conducted through the base chamber (10). A flow obstacle (12, 23) for the inflating gas is arranged between the base chamber (10) and the one or more upper chambers (20, 30). The one or more upper chambers (20, 30) is rolled up or collapsed and is secured in the rolled-up or collapsed state, the securing (21, 22) being designed in such a manner that it fails when a predetermined degree of filling of the base chamber (10) is reached.
US08684394B2
A snow board comprises an elongate board and at least one binding mounted transverse the longitudinal axis of the board. The binding includes an anchor pivotally mounted on the binding. The anchor moves between two operative positions to lock, and then release, the heel of a boot in the binding. A motor assembly increases and decreases the tension in a cable to move the anchor between the two operative positions. The motor assembly is remotely controlled.
US08684393B2
A ski which when it is flat on a horizontal plane, and loaded at its waist in such a way that the edges touch said horizontal plane at the waist, has a side cut extending between the front and rear contact lines; when it is pivoted around its longitudinal axis and tilted by a non-zero angle α relative to said horizontal plane, and loaded at its waist in such a way that one of the edges touches said plane at the waist, has a side cut extending between two end contact points, front and rear respectively wherein for a tilt (α) equal to 35°, the ratio of the distance (Dα) separating the front end contact point and the front contact line, related to the distance (D) separating the mid-point (9) of the shoe and the front contact line, is more than 12%.
US08684389B2
A tow hitch comprises an elongated tubular shank of rectangular cross-section having four side walls; and at least one tow ball mounted to an adjacent side wall of the shank with a mounting shank extending from a base of the tow ball through a first hole in the adjacent side wall and a second hole in a side wall opposite the adjacent side wall.
US08684381B2
A stabilizer bar for a commercial vehicle which comprises an elongate torsion spring (5), two suspension arms (6, 7) which are securely connected to and extend away from the torsion spring (5) and, between which the torsion spring (5) extends. An actuator (12) is connected in parallel with the torsion spring (5) and is connected to the torsion spring (5) or the suspension arms (6, 7) with the intermediate connection of hinge joints (23, 25) or leaf springs (17, 19).
US08684367B2
Methods and apparatus for regulating the function of a suspension system are disclosed herein. Suspension characteristics often contribute to the efficiency of a suspended system. Depending on the desired operating parameters of the suspended system, it may be desirable to alter the functional characteristics of the suspension from time to time in order to maintain or increase efficiency. The suspension hereof may be selectively locked into a substantially rigid configuration, and the damping fluid may be phase separated and/or cooled to increase damping rate during use (or offset rate degradation). The suspension hereof may generate power usable to achieve any or all of the foregoing or to be stored for use elsewhere in the suspended system or beyond.
US08684366B2
A vehicle height adjustment device affords better footing by ensuring that a vehicle height is lowered upon vehicle stop.A vehicle height adjustment device 100 in a vehicle has means (ECU) for predicting a vehicle stopping predicted time, and when a predicted vehicle stopping predicted time is not more than a predefined reference vehicle stopping time, implementing a vehicle height lowering control mode, and enabling a vehicle height lowering operation through switching of a switching valve.
US08684349B2
A sheet feeder, including; a sheet holding portion; a sheet supply portion; an inclined member having an inclined surface and configured to guide each sheet in a sheet feed direction; and separation protrusions which are provided on the inclined member and each of which protrudes from the inclined surface such that a distal end thereof is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than a proximal end thereof, wherein each separation protrusion has a contact surface and said each sheet comes into contact with one or more contact surfaces of the separation protrusions, and wherein each separation protrusion protrudes from the inclined surface such that the distal end of one of the separation protrusions is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than the proximal end of another of the separation protrusions that is located immediately downstream of the one of the separation protrusions in the sheet feed direction.
US08684348B2
A sheet supplying device includes a recording media container to accommodate a stack of recording media therein, a sheet feeding unit to feed a recording medium from the stack of recording media in the recording media container, a frame to support the recording media container and the sheet feeding unit, a holder to hold the recording media container by surrounding the outer circumference of the recording media container, and a locking mechanism to engage the frame and the holder with each other. The recording media container is detachably attachable to the frame in a first detaching and attaching operation and a second detaching and attaching operation. The locking mechanism causes the frame and the holder to engage at removal of the recording media container in the first detaching and attaching operation.
US08684343B2
A composite fabrication vent assembly for connection to an inflatable bladder, the combination of a vent assembly and an inflatable bladder, and a method of mechanically connecting a vent assembly and a bladder. The vent assembly comprises a body member having a first clamping surface, a clamping member having a second clamping surface, and a carriage member interconnecting the body member and the clamping member, with the first and second clamping surfaces in opposing relationship. With the open end of an inflatable bladder inserted between the opposed clamping surfaces, the carriage member is adapted to translate the body member and clamping member toward one another to form an airtight seal with the inflatable bladder. A controlled source of pressurized gas, connected to a gas inlet of the vent assembly, can then inflate and deflate the bladder in a controlled manner through one or more passageways in the vent assembly.
US08684336B1
An improved crown pulley assembly attached to an upper end of a vertical drilling rig derrick mast used in conjunction with an improved top drive assembly which is used within the drilling rig derrick for the drilling of a well, the improved crown pulley assembly having a crown frame supporting a plurality of pulleys with the top drive providing two sets of paired top drive pulleys, the pulleys suspending a single drive cable through the plurality of pulleys with an anchor end of the single drive cable affixed below the derrick and the winch end of the cable attached to a winch to raise and lower the improved top drive assembly within the drilling rig derrick.
US08684316B2
A trailing edge flap mechanism incorporates a support beam, a flap carrier beam supporting an aerodynamic flap, a first link interconnecting a first and second rotation points and a second link interconnecting third and fourth rotation points. The support beam has a ground connection on a first fixed axis of rotation. A connecting link has a ground connection on a second fixed axis of rotation and is connected to the first link intermediate the first and second rotation points. An actuator is connected with a drive link pivotally engaged to the first link for initial forward and aft movement of a nose profile of the Fowler flap substantially parallel to the wing lower surface with extending aft movement providing a rapidly changing angle of the flap with respect to the wing upper surface.
US08684301B2
An aircraft nacelle includes a wave attenuation panel which limits or prevents the propagation of at least one wave produced during the pumping of the power plant and includes a layer that is in contact with the air flow that can allow passage of the at least one wave, at least one alveolar structure, and a reflective or impermeable layer, wherein the wave attenuation panel is inserted between the air intake and the power plant, and the layer that is in contact with the air flow ensures the continuity of the aerodynamic surfaces that are arranged downstream and upstream and the wave attenuation panel includes inserts that can be inserted between the air intake and the power plant so as not to crush the wave attenuation panel.
US08684300B2
An aircraft landing gear comprising: a shock-absorbing main leg having a sprung part for attachment to an aircraft and an un-sprung part including a slider and an axle carrying at least one wheel, the wheel having a toothed ring gear; a drive transmission mounted externally on the sprung part, or on the un-sprung part, of the main leg, the drive transmission having at least one motor and a drive pinion for meshing with the toothed ring of the wheel; and an actuator for lifting the drive transmission into and out of driving engagement with the toothed ring and for maintaining the driving engagement as the landing gear deflects during a ground taxiing operation. Also, a method of operating the aircraft landing gear.
US08684288B2
The method and systems efficiently extract recyclable materials from a mixed solid waste stream. The methods and systems use sizing, density and dimensional separation to produce intermediate waste streams that are enriched in particular recyclable materials. The recyclable materials can then be efficiently sorted from the individual intermediate streams using mechanized sorting equipment.
US08684281B2
In accordance with certain embodiments, a spray system is provided with a spray tip including a core tip structure having a first material, wherein the core tip structure includes a liquid passage extending to a liquid exit orifice. The spray tip also includes a wear resistant coating disposed about the core tip structure, wherein the wear resistant coating has a second material relatively harder than the first material.
US08684279B1
A railroad alignment system for easily and efficiently lifting and aligning railroad tracks during installation. The railroad alignment system generally includes first vertical support and a second vertical support with a horizontal support extending therebetween. The vertical supports are vertically adjustable through use of a pair of adjustment members. A clamp assembly extends downwardly from the horizontal support at a position midway between the first vertical support and second vertical support. Through use of a pair of adjustment members, the clamp assembly may be closed to secure a track in place for alignment and lifting.
US08684271B2
A code that stores a history of what has been done to it and where it has been. The history can be stored in a local memory. The code can be changed based on that history.
US08684264B2
A mobile communication device and a data verification system applying a smart card having double chips are applicable to data verification processing when the mobile communication device drives the smart chip to perform transaction with a front end access device. The mobile communication device includes a wireless communication unit, a processing unit and a smart chip. When the processing unit receives a transaction request sent by the front end access device or the processing unit executes a transaction procedure, the processing unit performs data verification processing during transaction through the smart chip.
US08684262B1
An automated banking machine is operative to cause financial transfers responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative to cause a determination to be made that read card data corresponds to stored data for an account authorized to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine is operative to cause the value of cash dispensed or received to be assessed or credited to the financial accounts corresponding to card data.
US08684257B2
A plurality of conductor bars are positioned within slots of a laminated electric steel disc stack, and the ends of the conductor bars are brazed to end rings to manufacture a rotor. The method includes inserting the conductor bars into the slots of the disc stack, providing the end rings with slots for receiving the ends of the conductor bars; positioning spacers of braze material adjacent each end of each of the conductor bars to create a gap between the end rings and the steel disc stack; and applying heat to melt the braze material of the spacers whereby braze material is furnished by the spacers of braze material to braze the first and second ends of the conductor bars to the first and second end rings. Channels are provided in the face of the end rings facing the steel disc stack to drain away excess braze material.
US08684255B2
A method of manufacturing an elongate insert configured to be integrated by CIC in a metal container, including coated yarns bonded together, the coated yarns being formed from metal-coated ceramic fibers. The method includes placing the coated yarns side by side in a bundle and pulling the fiber bundle through a shaping element so as to compact the fiber bundle transversely while forming the fiber bundle so as to have a defined cross section. A metal part incorporating a fibrous insert can be manufactured by the CIC technique.
US08684239B2
An apparatus for pulsed dispensing of liquid. The apparatus includes a syringe body structure communicating with an input passage for pressurized actuation air, and communicating with an exit passage for allowing discharge of the liquid. An air input passage flow air controller is operative to increase the flow rate of the input air in accordance with a relationship that depends at least partially on a reduction of liquid volume in the syringe body structure resulting from a previous pulsed dispensing operation.
US08684236B2
A dispensing apparatus including a product dispenser in which product is dispensed by manual movement of an activation mechanism as, for example, by moving a lever with a person's hand, arm or foot. The dispensing apparatus includes a piezoelectric electrical generator for generating electrical energy as a result of the manual movement of the activation mechanism. The piezoelectric generator is carried on an elongated cantilevered spring member which biases an activation mechanism to return to an unbiased position after deflection by a user to dispense fluid. The electrical energy from the generator may be utilized in the dispensing apparatus to power a data communication unit for receiving information about the product dispenser and transmitting the information to a receiver, preferably but not necessarily wirelessly. The relative amounts of electrical energy generated may be used to estimate the amount of fluid dispensed and the extent to which a fluid reservoir is full.
US08684235B2
A trigger-type liquid sprayer of the present invention is provided with a liquid sprayer body 2 having a nozzle 21 and a trigger lever 22 and a shroud 3 covering the liquid sprayer body 2 and sprays a liquid from a spray hole 211 in the nozzle 21 by a pulling operation of the trigger lever 22. The nozzle 21 is rotatable with respect to the liquid sprayer body 2 and provided so as to open/close a flow passage for the liquid according to a rotational position of the nozzle 21 when an operation lever 24 mounted on the nozzle 21 is rotationally moved, and an abutment portion 31 for positioning the nozzle 21 at a position where the flow passage is opened through abutment of the operation lever 24 is provided at the shroud 3.
US08684230B1
A collapsible container for dispensing viscous materials has a bottle section with exterior screw threads and a cap element with nozzle aperture and internal, mating yet greater in density screw threads so that relative turning of the bottle section with respect to the cap section causes dispensing of material and collapsing of the bottle section into the cap element. The exterior screw threads are provided with uniformly spaced surface discontinuities. The cap element is provided with a resilient, inwardly directed tab which glides over the exterior edge of the screw threads of the bottle section as the bottle section is rotated with respect to the cap element until the tab aligns with a discontinuity thereof which causes an audible or tactile click to be sensed for ensuring uniformity and ease of exact dosing.
US08684227B2
A merchandise display hook for displaying items of merchandise includes a support rod and a helix disposed about the support rod and extending along at least a lengthwise portion of the support rod. The support rod includes mounting structure for mounting the display hook to a display fixture and has a first end adjacent the mounting structure and a second end opposite the first end adjacent the helix for loading the items of merchandise onto the support rod and for dispensing the items of merchandise from the support rod. The merchandise display hook further includes a time delay mechanism attached to the helix adjacent the second end of the support rod so as to define a space therebetween for loading and dispensing the items of merchandise. The time delay mechanism includes a gear assembly configured for permitting the items of merchandise to be loaded onto the support rod at a rate that is faster than the rate at which the items of merchandise can be dispensed from the support rod.
US08684222B2
A tray, in particular for catering purposes onboard aircrafts, including a tray body defining a receiving surface for receiving thereon items to be carried by use of the tray. The tray body includes an interlocking device for releasably engaging an interlocking device of the tray body of a similar tray, when at least two trays are positioned such that the receiving surfaces of the tray bodies are overlapping each other partially. The interlocking device of the trays interacting such that when one of the trays is drawn in a drawing direction, the other tray is moved along in the drawing direction.
US08684218B1
Vessel including a unitary or two-part vessel base having an intermediate wall portion, upper and lower wall portions on opposite sides of the intermediate wall portion, and upper and lower seal rims adjacent the respective upper and lower wall portions. The upper and intermediate wall portions define an upper chamber space including at least one upper chamber. The lower and intermediate wall portions define a lower chamber space including at least one lower chamber. The seal rims include edges configured to provide suction when pressed against a flat surface, preferably when these rims are wet. Lids engage with upper and lower lid-receiving portions, respectively, defined by the vessel base to selectively close the upper or lower chamber space. The two-part vessel base has a mating structure to facilitate selective attachment and separation.
US08684214B2
Provided is a degassing container for a refrigerator in which a portion of air within a storage space is forcedly discharged to allow the storage space to become a low pressure state. The degassing container includes a case, a door, a gasket, a pressing part, and a degassing adjustment part. The case has an opened side. The door selectively shields the opened side of the case. The gasket is interposed between the door and the case and elastically deformed and closely attached when the door is shielded. The pressing part is provided in the door and the case and selectively closely attaches the door by a rotation operation. The degassing adjustment part selectively enters and exits air within the case by operating the pressing part. Therefore, the refrigerator has improved storage performance.
US08684208B2
A container that is re-useable and may be disassembled for cleaning and reassembled and resealed for use as a beverage or foodstuffs container. The container assembly for storing foodstuffs or liquids includes an annular upper body with a first end adapted to receive a cap, and a second open end which connects with an annular lower body including a first open attachment end and a second closed bottom of container end and a seal which is compressed when securing the upper and lower bodies together.
US08684205B2
A device that assists with equalizing air pressure within a bottle with the atmospheric air pressure as liquid is being poured from the bottle and includes one or more relatively short air tubes. The air tubes are situated with an upper inlet rim of the air tubes located flush with or relatively near the bottle rim. Whether an insert or integrated into the manufacture of a container, the one or more air tubes that extend partially into the container allow air to pass into the container as the liquid exits the container. The pressure equalizer not only minimizes or prevents the common glugging effect, but it allows liquid from a bottle to be poured smoothly at any angle and orientation. A cap incorporating a detachable pressure equalizer is also described.
US08684204B2
The invention relates to a locking cover (1), made of a molded plastic material, for a vessel having a neck, intended for locking a plug (4) in the neck (3) of the vessel (2), including a wire-cap (6) which surrounds the plug and the neck, a ring (7) which is attached around the wire-cap (6) and shaped so as to have a central opening (17) providing access from the outside of the cover (1) to the inside of the vessel via the plug, and a cap (23) attached to the ring and shaped so as to close said opening (17). The cap (23) comprises attachment tabs (25) which are spaced apart from each other along the annular periphery of the opening (17) of the ring (7) and which are clamped between the ring (7) and the wire-cap (6).
US08684201B2
The present invention relates to a drinking apparatus including a vent system that removably connects to a drinking container. The vent system is used to create a variety of leak resistant drinking containers, such as toddler drinking cups, baby bottles, and other drinking containers. The vent system includes a substantially rigid disc portion and base portion, the base portion including base air vent channels merging into an integral one-way valve. The vent system provides passage for air from the exterior of the bottle to the interior of the bottle, but it does not allow liquid to exit the bottle via the vent system. An optional anti-bubble tube may be used with the vent system to provide for air entering the inverted container to reach an air pocket formed in the bottom portion of the container.
US08684199B2
A coupler yoke and a coupler draft gear are used in the field of carriages of a railway and aim at solving the problems of lower strength, low safety and reliability and the like in the prior art. The coupler yoke comprises a hollow yoke body with the cross section being in a long concentric-square shape, the inner side surface of the one end of the hollow yoke body is a bearing surface, and at least part of the heavy loading area of the bearing surface protrudes outwards relatively to the end surface of the light loading area. The coupler yoke is used for connecting couplers between the carriages of a train, so that the carriages are connected to form the train for transmitting the tractive force in the transportation; the distribution pattern of the existing bearing surface is changed due to the arrangement of a middle groove.
US08684194B2
A wine rack for mounting on a wall or other surface, the wine rack including at least a first and second pair of support members. In one embodiment, the first pair of support members may support at least a first and a second wine bottle in a substantially parallel relation to the wall, wherein the second bottle is positionable proximate the wall, and wherein the label of the first wine bottle is visible to a person standing in front of the wine rack.
US08684188B2
A hydrophilic filtration membrane having high chemical resistance, high strength, high water permeability and high blocking performance, and being superior in fouling resistance is provided. A hydrophilic filtration membrane containing a hydrophilic polyethersulfone having a contact angle of 65 to 74 degree, a molecular weight of 10,000 to 100,000, and the number of hydroxy groups of 0.6 to 1.4 per 100 polymerization repeating units. The hydrophilic filtration membrane may additionally contain a polyvinylpyrrolidone having a molecular weight of 10,000 to 1,300,000.
US08684186B2
A sifting implement for use with a container, such as a wheelbarrow or bucket. The sifting implement includes a frame having an opening through which compost, dirt, rocks, sand, or other material is sifted. A primary screen is supported in the opening to catch larger items in the material being sifted. Other screens are used for separating different size materials. A bracket is attached to the implement and engages an edge of the container, which allows the implement to be tilted in order to dump the larger items. The sifting implement also includes a containment border disposed around the opening to direct the separated items toward the front of the implement when the implement is tilted to dump the items.
US08684183B2
Described is a portable carrying case for storing and transporting culinary essentials such as cooking equipment, instruments and accessories such as cutlery, spices, cookbooks, scales and other assortment of kitchen necessities. A knife compartment within said portable carrying case may be detached to serve as a standalone knife retaining compartment.
US08684182B2
A package is disclosed including a blister and a folded paperboard card, and having features that provide for the package to be displayed in a self-standing configuration.
US08684172B2
An analyte sensor container system is provided for storing and dispensing analyte sensors. The analyte sensor container system includes a container body having a moveable member received therein. The moveable member may have one or more compartments with one or more analyte sensors supported thereon and a lid hinged to the container body. An elevator mechanism causes relative movement between the container body and moveable member upon opening and closing the lid. As such, the one or more analyte sensors are readily accessible to a user when the lid is opened, and retract into the container body upon lid closure. Methods of storing analyte sensors are provided as are numerous other aspects.
US08684167B2
An apparatus for dispensing a pallet sleeve beneath a load comprises a conveyor component including conveyor elements configured to convey the load thereon in a first direction, one or more stations spaced apart along the first direction and a mechanism for changing the relative vertical positions of the conveyor elements and the stations. The apparatus further includes a pallet sleeve dispenser adjacent the conveyor component and configured for storing pallet sleeves in spaced apart sections aligned with a corresponding station. A drive element associated with each of the stations is configured to engage a pallet sleeve to drive the pallet sleeve from the dispenser to the conveyor component in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A retention mechanism is provided to support a stack of pallet sleeves above a lowermost sleeve being driven from the dispenser to the position underneath the load on the conveyor component.
US08684163B2
A destroying apparatus aims to destroy electronic elements with magnetic substance. The destroying apparatus includes a conveying unit and a destroying unit. The conveying unit includes a collection plane to hold a plurality of electronic elements, at least one picking arm spinning against the collection plane to form a conveying path, a barrier portion connecting to the collection plane to block the electronic elements on the conveying path, and a release passage corresponding to the barrier portion to allow the electronic elements to escape the conveying path. The picking arm includes a magnetic attraction portion to attract the magnetic substance on the conveying path. The destroying unit is located correspondingly to the release passage and includes a plurality of cutting elements and a cutting path between the cutting elements to communicate with the release passage.
US08684154B2
A banknote handling apparatus stores a code list in which codes of banknotes stored in a storage unit are arranged in order in which the banknotes are stored. The banknote handling apparatus reads the codes when the banknotes are sequentially fed from the storage unit, and checks a target group of the codes of N successive banknotes including the last fed banknote (N is a natural number not less than 2) against the code list. When the target group and a reference group of the codes of N successive banknotes in the code list match each other, the banknotes remaining in the storage unit after the feeding of the banknotes are identified by regarding one of the codes of the reference group in the code list as a boundary.
US08684149B2
A brake disk includes a disk chamber and a one-piece component made up of a friction ring having connecting links, a supporting ring and extensions developed on the supporting ring. In order to prevent cracking caused by tensile stresses, which may occur during the temperature increase in response to braking, recesses are developed at the transition between the supporting ring and the disk chamber.
US08684146B2
A wear adjustor adjusts the wear of brake pads and a brake disc of a pneumatic disc brake having a rotary-lever-actuated brake application device. The adjustor is insertable into an adjusting spindle and attached to a caliper of the disc brake by way of a mounting disc. An axial bearing is formed axially on one side of a drive ring and a ball ramp coupling with a freewheel function is formed axially on the opposite side of the drive ring. The ball ramp coupling has balls, has the drive ring arranged at the drive-input side axially between the axial bearing and the balls thereof, and has a drive-output-side clutch ring. A cone clutch is arranged between the drive-output-side clutch ring and a spring sleeve for a cylindrical spring. A torque-dependent coupling with positive restraint is arranged axially between the cone clutch and the spring sleeve.
US08684127B2
An electric power steering system includes a shaft coupling that drivably couples a worm gear to an output shaft such that the worm gear is tiltable with respect to the output shaft. The shaft coupling includes a fixing part coupled to the output shaft and a cylindrical part having an inner periphery in rectangular cross section and fixed to the fixing part. A coupling part that is inserted in the cylindrical part and that has an outer periphery in non-circular cross section, engageable with the inner periphery, is formed at a proximal end part of the worm gear, and the outer periphery is ridged such that gaps that allow the coupling part to tilt are provided inside the cylindrical part. Then, the cylindrical part presses an inner ring of the first rolling bearing toward an axially distal end side of the worm gear.
US08684125B2
An articulated steering load-carrying vehicle (1) with a front portion (2), which by a steering joint (10) is connected to a rear portion (3), and in which the front portion (2) includes a first power engine (12) and at least one forward driven wheel pair (5, 5′), and in which, the rear portion (3) includes a load receiving device (6) and at least two driven wheel pairs (7, 7′; 8, 8′). A second wheel pair (8, 8′) of the at least two driven wheel pairs (7, 7′; 8, 8′) on the rear portion a second wheel pair (8, 8′) is steeringly connected to the rear portion. A system for driving of such a load-carrying vehicle is also provided.
US08684124B2
A suspension system for use with a motorcycle includes a device for producing a supply of pressurized air. The suspension system is operably disposed between a frame member and a wheel frame member of the motorcycle. The suspension system comprises at least one double-acting pneumatic cylinder.
US08684117B2
Various methods and systems are provided for a vehicle with an engine system and a power dissipation system. One example method includes, during directing airflow from an airflow generating device to cool a component of the power dissipation system, and directing the airflow from the airflow generating device to cool a component of the engine system.
US08684110B2
A sidewall coring apparatus for obtaining a plurality of formation cores from a sidewall of a wellbore includes a core catching tube configured to be sealed downhole and to store the plurality of formation cores therein. The core catching tubes includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve concentric with the inner sleeve. The inner and outer sleeves include corresponding slots configured to align in response to relative movement of the inner and outer sleeves, and when aligned the slots of the inner and outer sleeves allow evacuation of fluid from the core catching tube as each of the plurality of formation cores is inserted into the core catching tube.
US08684106B2
A battery pack 10 includes a housing 11, a group of cells 12, a board 13, a plurality of second terminals 14, and a cover 15. An opening 16c is formed in the housing 11. The board 13 has a terminal arranging part 13A. A plurality of the second terminals 14 are arranged on the terminal arranging part 13A of the board 13. The cover 15 has a plate-like shape, and covers an area of the board 13 which is positioned between the terminal arranging part 13A and the opening 16c.
US08684104B1
A detachable head for ramming a pipe casing including an external ring having a first diameter, wherein the first diameter is operatively sized to enable the external ring to engage with an outer surface of the pipe casing, a reaction ring having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter, and operatively sized to enable the reaction ring to engage with a front surface of the pipe casing, an internal ring having a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is smaller than both the first and second diameters, and operatively sized to enable the external ring to engage with an inner surface of the pipe casing, and wherein the reaction ring is secured between the internal and external rings.
US08684102B2
A seeding implement is provided that includes a depth adjustment mechanism configured to facilitate rapid reconfiguration of a ground engaging tool for varying penetration depths. In an exemplary embodiment, the seeding implement includes a ground engaging tool and a packer arm pivotally coupled to a packer support structure. The seeding implement also includes a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer arm, and configured to rotate across a soil surface to limit a penetration depth of the ground engaging tool into the soil. The seeding implement further includes a depth adjustment assembly including a slot within the packer support structure, a corresponding slot within the packer arm, and a fastener disposed through the slots. In this configuration, the penetration depth of the ground engaging tool is varied by adjusting a position of the fastener within the slots.
US08684101B2
A temperature-activated valve for a conventional fire sprinkler utilizing a hyperelastic single-crystal shape memory alloy is described. The shape-memory element expands as it is heated, forcing a bolt to break, thereby opening the sprinkler valve. The devices described are less susceptible to accidental breakage than conventional actuators, and have fewer moving parts. Transition temperature of the shape memory alloy can be tuned to a narrow range.
US08684096B2
Anchor assemblies for installation within an existing conduit. The anchor assemblies have a nondeformable mandrel, an expandable metal sleeve, and a swage. The expandable metal sleeve is carried on the outer surface of the mandrel. The swage is supported for axial movement across the mandrel outer surface from a first position axially proximate to the sleeve to a second position under the sleeve. The movement of the swage from the first position to the second position expands the sleeve radially outward into contact with the existing conduit.
US08684094B2
A flow control system for use with a subterranean well can include a flow chamber through which a fluid composition flows, and a closure device which is biased toward a closed position in which the closure device prevents flow through the flow chamber. The closure device can be displaced to the closed position in response to an increase in a ratio of undesired fluid to desired fluid in the fluid composition. A structure can prevent the closure device from being displaced to the closed position. The fluid composition can flow through the structure to an outlet of the flow chamber.
US08684090B2
A telescopic riser section device for a riser which is arranged to connect a wellhead to a surface vessel, the telescopic riser section being placed between the wellhead and the riser and being provided with at least one actuator arranged to apply a downward tensile force to the riser; an actuator-pressurizing circuit being connected to the at least one actuator and being arranged on the riser section and/or on the riser.
US08684089B2
The present invention relates to a fluid circulation system for circulating fluid in a subsea cavity, the cavity being filled with a first fluid and having first and second end ports. The system comprises a container (26) containing a second fluid, fluid lines (21, 27) extending from the container to the first and second end ports of the cavity, respectively, and a pump (22) for exchanging the second fluid provided in the container (26) and the first fluid provided in the subsea cavity (10). The invention also relates to a method for circulating fluid in a subsea cavity.
US08684082B2
The present invention includes methods relating to the setting of fluids or slurries in a wellbore. In one embodiment, a method of isolating a portion a wellbore by preparing a sealant composition comprising a fluid component and a polymeric additive component, placing the sealant composition into a wellbore and subjecting the sealant composition to ionizing radiation. The ionizing radiation can cause bonding between polymeric additive components and create a polymer matrix within the sealant composition that increases the mechanical strength of the sealant composition.
US08684078B2
A system for attaining and maintaining a pre-determined fluid level in a petroleum-producing well having a pump, such as a progressive-cavity pump, and a pump motor having a variable-frequency drive control using two sensors: a pump pressure sensor located at the pump depth and a casing pressure sensor located at the casinghead of the well. A programmable computer is connected to the first and second pressure sensors and the motor speed control so that the programmable computer controls the operation of the pump motor to attain and maintain a target fluid level in the well over a predetermined time interval for reaching the target fluid level in the well. The programmable computer computes an error signal to control a variable frequency drive motor, where the error signal is computed periodically from the difference between in the actual fluid level in the well and the target fluid level in the well according to a rate reference curve. In general, the rate reference curve is generated according to an exponential or hyperbolic function.
US08684073B2
Present invention regards a device for injection and stimulation of fluids in a wellbore, where the device is typically is installed in Christmas trees, wellheads or subsea. The device comprises two separable sections, where the section that is mounted/arranged within the Christmas tree or wellhead, will remain in a closed position even if the other section due to external forces is broken off or in other ways is damaged.
US08684068B2
An apparatus and method for controlling the horizontal oscillation of an edge dam of a twin roll strip caster is provided. The apparatus includes an oscillation unit which horizontally oscillates an oscillation plate in accordance with an oscillation waveform so that an edge dam refractory coupled to the oscillation plate horizontally oscillates, a servo valve which outputs the oscillation waveform to the oscillation unit, and a control unit which applies the oscillation waveform to the servo valve, thus controlling the horizontal oscillation of the oscillation unit. The amplitude, frequency and waveform of the oscillation are variably controlled depending on casting conditions. The edge dam horizontally oscillates, using the servo valve and a hydraulic cylinder, thus rapidly removing edge skull and suppressing the generation and growth of skull, thereby preventing a casting roll or edge dam from being damaged.
US08684061B2
A confined space control cover that covers a man-way to a confined space area that includes a polyester base cover and an attachment perimeter orifice that covers the man-way, a heavy nylon strapping with two ends that is utilized to secure the confined space control cover over the man-way and a plurality of steel eyelets that are disposed on both ends of the strapping. A lock is placed through the eyelets on both ends to secure the control cover to the man-way. The control cover also includes a warning sign disposed on the front of the base cover to prevent persons from entering the confined space area and a maintenance tag that is attached to the strapping to indicate maintenance activity performed near or within the confined space area or man-way.
US08684057B2
The invention is for enabling one piece of rotation driving means 17 to drive to rotate both of an outer side shaft portion 3 of a drum shaft 1 and a screw shaft 4 on an inner side as a driving apparatus 10 of a tire building drum D, including an outer shaft 13 connected to the outer side shaft portion 3, a middle shaft 14 connected to the screw shaft 4, one piece of the rotation driving means 17 connected to the middle shaft 14 by way of a rotation transmitting member 18, and a clutch 26 interposed between the rotation transmitting member 18 connected to the middle shaft 14 and the outer shaft 13, and constituted to transmit rotation of the rotation driving means 17 to both of the middle shaft 14 and the outer shaft 13 in connecting the clutch 26 and transmit the rotation of the rotation driving means 17 only to the middle shaft 14 in cutting the clutch 26.
US08684052B2
The invention relates to a device comprising a profiled rail (10) and at least one fastening element (12) for fixing a machine tool and/or a workpiece to the profiled rail (10). The fastening element (12) is provided with at least one clamping jaw (22, 24) and a clamping means (26) that is effectively connected to the clamping jaw (22) in order to brace the clamping jaw (22) with the profiled rail (10). According to the invention, the clamping means (26) is embodied as an eccentric lever.
US08684048B2
A standalone packaging manipulation apparatus performing predetermined packaging manipulation operations on bags being transported along an arcuate transportation path of a rotary-type bag transportation apparatus, the standalone packaging manipulation apparatus including a main arm that pivots and also extends and retracts in a horizontal plane, a sub-arm provided at a distal end portion of the main arm so as to ascend and descend and to rotate in the horizontal plane, and filling nozzle provided on the sub-arm with a predetermined spacing therebetween and simultaneously filling a plurality of bags with liquid. The operation of these elements is performed by mutually independent servomotors.
US08684046B2
A puncture repair kit has a bottle unit positioned with greater stability. A puncture repair kit includes a compressor device, and a bottle unit in which a cap is attached to an opening in a bottle container which houses a puncture sealing agent. The compressor device includes a compressed air discharge port. The cap includes an air intake port for feeding compressed air from the compressed air discharge port into the bottle container, and a sealing agent/compressed air removal port for removing puncture sealing agent and compressed air in succession from the bottle container by feeding in compressed air. When the cap of the bottle unit is oriented downwards, the air intake port is directly connected with the compressed air discharge port. When this direct connection is made, the basal plane of the cap and the basal plane of the compressor device are flush with each other.
US08684042B2
The aircraft comprises: a fuel valve; an actuator for controlling the valve; and a tank panel extending between the valve and the actuator. It is arranged in such a manner that the bearing point(s) between the panel and a first one of the members selected from the valve and the actuator, and preferably the actuator, is/are provided by means of the second one of these members.
US08684035B2
The invention relates to a quick connect coupling (15) for connecting hydraulic lines, especially in earth moving machines and the interchangeable add-on devices and tools thereof. The quick connect coupling (15) comprises a first and a second connecting part (15a or 15b) which can be releasably coupled along a coupling axis to transfer a hydraulic liquid. In order to avoid axial forces during coupling, the hydraulic liquid to be transferred, in the coupled state, emerges from the one connecting part (15a or 15b) at a right angle to the coupling axis and enters the other connecting part (15b or 15a) at a right angle to the coupling axis.
US08684028B2
A fuel quality traceable and remote system for monitoring and controlling fuel characteristics during transport from a fuel supply to a supplied device is provided. The system includes one or more subsystems that include at least one sensor monitoring the characteristics of the fuel. The sensor operably sends the data relating to the characteristics to a data register-transmitter which sends the data to a base station that uploads the data to a remote server. The remote server is remotely accessible by a user. The system can also generate warning messages to warn a user when the characteristics are outside a tolerable range. Further, the system can automatically or manually interrupt fuel transport when the characteristics are outside a tolerable range.
US08684027B2
A protective cover of the present invention is adapted to be disposed on a wall-mounted faucet. The protective cover includes a cover plate. Two protruding posts, two abutting posts, and two extension posts vertically extend from one surface of the cover plate. Each distal end of the protruding posts is formed with a location hole. Each distal end of the extension posts is formed with a hook portion. Therefore, the protruding posts and the abutting posts can abut against the wall-mounted faucet so as to make the location hole receive the location shafts of the faucet and make the hook portions abut against the faucet. Thereby, the present invention can be firmly disposed on wall-mounted faucets to provide a protective effect.
US08684025B2
A dual faucet structure includes a main body and two metallic pipes integrally formed with a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe of the main body. The main body has a water outlet between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe. Each of the two metallic pipes has axial protrusions or grooves around an inner wall thereof. The cold water pipe and the hot water pipe have mating grooves or protrusions on outer walls thereof by injection molding to connect with the two metallic pipes. The present invention uses the environment friendly material to form the main body which connects with the metallic pipes. The dual faucet structure of the present invention is cost-effective and provides stable water flow and is environment friendly and has larger torque.
US08684024B2
A spill containment system is attachable to a riser pipe with an axially moveable seal. The spill containment system allows access to a drop tube in the riser pipe via a removable liquid communication assembly. The spill containment system includes a sealed interstitial space, which remains sealed during installation, service and use of the system. The spill containment system is protected by a weather resistant cover assembly.
US08684017B2
So that a drive (38, 50, 52) can be formed in the case of a standing parasol (2) having a mast (12) and a collapsible parasol canopy with canopy and support struts (4, 6), in which the canopy struts (4) and the support struts (6) are respectively connected to an upper or a lower articulation ring (8, 10), and in which the upper articulation ring (8) is connected to a telescopic tube (22) which is guided in the mast (12) and can be raised and lowered and the telescopic tube (22) for raising and lowering is connected to a circulating member (34), it is proposed that the circulating member (34) may be actuated by way of an upper deflection roller (36) and a drive gear (50) that is arranged on the mast (12), and that the upper deflection roller (36) is arranged on a deflection support by means of a deflection roller bearing (28), the deflection support being secured to the mast and projecting into the telescopic tube (22).
US08684014B2
Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus and a liquid processing method, which can process an entire wafer at a sufficiently high temperature and can sufficiently suppress adhesion of particles on a surface of the wafer, when the peripheral portion of the wafer is processed. The liquid processing apparatus includes a holding part to hold the substrate, a rotation driving part to rotate the holding part, and a shield unit. The shield unit includes an opposed plate opposed to the substrate held by the holding part, a heating part to heat the substrate through the opposed plate, and a heated gas supplying part to supply heated gas to a surface of the substrate held by the holding part.
US08684013B2
An eye makeup fallout protector for use in shielding the user's face beneath the eye during the application of eye makeup includes a planar flexible shield member and supporting handle. The shield member is curved to conform generally to the user's lower eyelid. The handle is removable to facilitate cleaning and replacement of the shield member.
US08684012B1
A hair roller system that comprises a hair roller having a heating element, a battery, and a signal receiver is described. In one embodiment, the hair roller system also comprises a signal output device that allows a user to activate a hair roller to heat after being placed in their hair. Activating a heating element in a hair roller after it is placed in a person's hair avoids burns and discomfort from handling excessively hot rollers. In some embodiments, a hair roller may comprise an on/off switch, a temperature set point feature, and/or a heat duration set point feature.
US08684010B2
A guided medical propulsion capsule driven by strong electro-magnetic interaction between an external AC/DC magnetic gradient-lobe generator and a set of uniquely magnetized ferrous-conductive elements contained within the capsule. The capsule is navigated through the lumens and cavities of the human body wirelessly and without any physical contact for medical diagnostic, drug delivery, or other procedures with the magnetically guiding field generator external to the human body. The capsule is equipped with at least two sets of magnetic rings, disks and/or plates each possessing anisotropic magnetic properties. The external magnetic gradient fields provide the gradient forces and rotational torques on the internal conductive and magnetic elements needed to make the capsule move, tilt, and rotate in the body lumens and cavities according to the commands of an operator.
US08684009B2
Systems and method utilizing microelectronic devices for determining relative positions such as distances and/or angles between at least two points is described. The points may be locations of parts of the body such as the fingers on a person's hand. A first microelectronic device is adapted to emit magnetic signals and at least a second microelectronic device is adapted to receive the magnetic signals, wherein a controller is adapted to communicate with the first and second microelectronic devices. The second microelectronic device and/or the controller are adapted to determine a distance and angle between the first and the second microelectronic devices based on the strength of the magnetic signals received by the second microelectronic device.
US08684007B2
The oral appliance for the treatment of sleep apnea provides greater comfort to the user and maintains an open air passage through the mouth by preventing the tongue from blocking the windpipe during sleep. The appliance has a mouthpiece including a frame of hard material and a tooth tray of softer material that conforms closely to the tooth pattern of the user. A spoon-like tongue depressor extends adjustably from the forward center of the device, the tongue depressor having a downward convex bowl that holds the tongue away from the windpipe of the user. The tongue depressor has a stein captured by and rotating in the adjuster, so that the tongue depressor may be prevented from rotating as the adjuster is threaded inwardly or outwardly in the front of the device. An air passage is preferably provided to each side of the tongue depressor adjuster.
US08684001B2
Methods and apparatus for treatment of medical disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and congestive heart failure are disclosed. A method involves delivering pressurized air, oxygen or other breathing gas to a patient during a respiratory cycle, where pressure of the air is decreased according to an expiratory unloading factor during expiration. The timing and magnitude of the pressure change may be fully automated and responsive to feedback from a motor load sensor, optionally in combination with a pressure sensor.
US08684000B2
CPAP treatment apparatus is disclosed having a controllable flow generator (34, 38, 40) operable to produce breathable gas at a treatment pressure elevated above atmosphere to a patient by a delivery tube (32) coupled to a mask (30) having connection with a patient's airway. A sensor (44, 50, 56, 58) generates a signal representative of patient respiratory flow, that is provided to a controller (54, 62, 64). The controller (54, pressure. In one preferred form the increase in pressure is zero if the treatment pressure before the apnea exceeds a pressure threshold. Below the pressure threshold the increase in pressure is an increasing function of the duration of the apnea multiplied by the difference between the pressure threshold and the current treatment pressure.
US08683991B2
A cooking top, in particular a cooking top suitable for household use, comprises: an upward facing top cover, a first gas burner in turn comprising first flame divider means which put the first burner in operative communication with the outside of the top cover, the flame divider means comprising first flame outlets in turn comprising outlet sections, said outlet sections defining a first crown which defines and at least partly surrounds a first portion of the cooking top, and a second gas burner in turn comprising second flame divider means in operative communication with the outside of the top cover, the second flame divider means comprising second flame outlets in turn comprising outlet sections, the second flame divider means being formed in the first portion of the cooking top, the first and the second flame divider means being separate and independent of each other with the outlet sections of the first and/or second flame outlets facing upwards at least partly.
US08683981B2
A fuel supply system includes a low pressure fuel pump, which suctions and discharges fuel accumulated in a fuel tank, and a high pressure fuel pump, which suctions and discharges the fuel discharged from the low pressure fuel pump and supplies the fuel to a fuel injection valve installed in an internal combustion engine, the low pressure fuel pump, high pressure fuel pump, and fuel injection valve being connected in series, wherein the low pressure fuel pump and high pressure fuel pump are configured in such a way as to be driven or stopped independently of each other, one by each motor, and the pressure of the fuel discharged from the high pressure fuel pump is made variable by a combination of the drive or stop of the low pressure fuel pump and the drive or stop of the high pressure fuel pump.
US08683976B2
Methods and systems are provided for identifying and indicating degradation of an engine cylinder spark plug. In response to a cylinder misfire event during selected engine operating conditions, followed by an occurrence of a threshold number and/or rate of pre-ignition events in the same cylinder, a controller may determine that the spark plug is degraded. The controller may limit combustion in the cylinder in response to the degradation. Additionally, cylinder pre-ignition mitigating steps may be taken.
US08683971B2
An intake manifold includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece includes a first branch pipe half portion and an intake air introducing portion. The second piece is connected to the first piece by vibration-welding and includes a second branch pipe half portion, an additional body, and a connecting portion. The second branch pipe half portion is connected to the first branch pipe half portion. The additional body is connected to the intake air introducing portion. The second branch pipe half portion and the additional body are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance. The connecting portion connects the second branch pipe half portion to the additional body.
US08683952B2
An automated cat litter box includes a cat litter tray, a cat litter return bin that collects soiled cat litter from the cat litter tray and that returns recycled cat litter to the cat litter tray, a control unit, and one or more drive units operated by the control unit to drive the cat litter tray and the cat litter return tray to automatically recycle the soiled cat litter during a cat litter box cleaning cycle.
US08683948B2
An animal feeder for mounting to a tree includes a feed storage bin having a bottom opening positioned to deposit feed on to a dispersion disc positioned within a cowling to distribute feed through a directional opening in the cowling by rotating the disc with a timer controlled motor mounted below it and a gripper for mounting on a tree.
US08683939B2
A bookmark for marking pages in a book includes a laminar element for insertion between laminar book parts. A magnetic clip provides attractive clipping force through a laminar book part for gripping the laminar book part. A hinge part defines at least one abutment area in which the hinge part abuts the laminar book part. A releasable page holder includes a flexible element and a page retaining element, the flexible element being attached, at a first end, to the laminar element and, at a second end, to the page retaining element. The first end is located adjacent an edge of the laminar book part and extends from the first end along an edge of the laminar book part, and the second end is movable with respect to the first end by means of flexing of the flexible element away from the laminar book part towards the second end of the elongate flexible element, to enable the page retaining element to engage and retain the page whilst the bookmark is held in place on the laminar book part by the magnetic clip.
US08683938B2
Provided is an underwater posture stabilization system which, by being attached to various underwater equipment such as undersea equipment and underwater vehicles having different shapes and positions of the center of gravity according to their purpose and the like, allows simply and reliably setting their posture in water (basic posture), is excellent in versatility, is not only excellent in posture stability since, when the posture inclines under the effect and the like of tidal currents and pulsating currents, a moment to restore the posture to its original posture naturally acts, but is also capable of easily changing the posture as needed, and also is capable of stably controlling the posture even in the presence of complicated tidal currents and pulsating currents, and is excellent in reliability, stability, and certainty of posture control. The underwater posture stabilization system includes a frame to be attached to an apparatus body of the underwater equipment, a pair of sliding portions arranged so as to be freely movable back and forth on both side portions of the frame, a support member freely movable up and down which is fixed at a lower end thereof to each sliding portion, and arranged upward or obliquely upward, and a floating body arranged at a tip of each support member.
US08683935B2
A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to connect a floating structure to be moored to the seabed wherein disconnection and connection of the mooring leg is done by pulling in and out a connector elongated body extending in the mooring leg direction. The connector has a latch mechanism for fixation of the mooring leg to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement in the direction of the seabed, and a flexible part with a double articulation axis located at the bottom of the connector body above the attachment member, the connector body being received in a housing which is fixed to a part of the structure to be moored, wherein the latch mechanism includes guiding elements and followers or orientation pins between the body of the connector and the housing.
US08683933B1
The Device object of the present invention is a solid rocket motor integrated into a propulsion system. The system is designed to be effective for most type of transportation including airplanes, submarines, trains, and ships, such as oil tankers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08683918B1
A system for removing debris from tree crop product utilizes a plurality of screening and transport rollers which have disk-shaped members having projections that are curved and extend rearwardly in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the rollers, at least a portion of the projections of adjacent rollers overlapping to form voids.
US08683913B2
A piston includes a piston head, a ring zone and a piston skirt having load-bearing skirt wall sections and rear connecting walls which interconnect the skirt wall sections and piston-pin bosses which run on a boss axis that is set back from a piston axis and penetrate the connecting walls. The peripheral lower edge of the connecting walls is convex in relation to an axis and the upper edge of said connecting walls, preferably below the ring zone, is concave in relation to an axis perpendicular to a piston-pin axis. The piston is equipped with a reinforced section in the vicinity of the piston head running radially behind the ring zone.
US08683912B2
A hydraulic cylinder contamination prevention system for preventing large and small contaminants from entering into a hydraulic cylinder, including a hydraulic cylinder rod cover for underwater use with at least one automatic valve for preventing water circulation between the outside environment and the enclosed environment of the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is stationary, egress of water from the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is retracted, and ingress of water into the cylinder rod cover when cylinder is extended, and an external and abrasive cylinder rod scrubber.
US08683910B1
A hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder assembly having a cylinder, defining an inner hydraulic chamber and being for reciprocating receipt of a piston and piston rod therein; a piston rod extending from the inner hydraulic chamber exteriorly of the cylinder; and a piston head assembly connected with the piston rod and disposed for reciprocation within the cylinder assembly. The piston head assembly includes a piston head and a valve assembly including a passageway defined in the piston head and a valve member having an outer surface and being sized and configured for reciprocation in the passageway between extended and retracted positions therein, the valve member defining at least one flat defined along the outer surface and at least one transition surface between the outer surface and the flat, the transition surface forming an angle with the flat of less than 90 degrees.
US08683906B2
A ammunition loading machine is provided. The ammunition loading machine includes a base frame. A rake assembly is mounted to the base frame and configured to index a linear row of cases along a first linear axis. A platen assembly is also mounted to the base frame and is movable relative to the base frame along a second linear axis that is orthogonal to the first linear axis. A propellant hopper is fixedly mounted to the base frame. The platen assembly is movable relative to the propellant hopper to transfer propellant from the propellant hopper to a propellant filling mechanism that is movable with the platen assembly. The rake assembly is adjustable to accommodate multiple different sizes of cartridges. The rake assembly and platen assembly are commonly linked to a cam drive mechanism for simultaneously moving the rake assembly and the platen assembly.
US08683904B2
A target transportation device includes a first transportation portion which is capable of applying a transportation force toward a downstream side from an upstream side of a transportation path to a target, a second transportation portion which is provided on the transportation path at a position at the downstream side with respect to the first transportation portion in a transportation direction and is capable of applying a transportation force toward the downstream side from the upstream side of the transportation path to the target while nipping the target, and a cutting member which is provided on the transportation path at a position between the first transportation portion and the second transportation portion and is capable of cutting the target in the width direction perpendicular to the transportation direction of the target. The second transportation portion is configured so as to be capable of changing a nipping position of the target in the transportation direction of the target.
US08683894B1
A positioning structure for a ratchet wrench contains a ratchet wrench including a driving head, a receiving cavity, a first groove, a second groove, and a hole. The receiving cavity has a driving member, and the driving member having a toothed portion. The first groove has two opposite retaining blocks each having a plurality of locking teeth so as to engage with the toothed portion and having an orifice and a receiving aperture, and between two receiving apertures is defined a first resilient element. The second groove has a directional control member mounted, and the directional control member has a limiting portion, a recessed portion, an actuation portion, and a shaft, wherein a second resilient element is fitted onto the shaft and is inserted into the hole of the second groove, and the actuation portion is inserted into two orifices of the two retaining blocks.
US08683882B2
A spherical bearing provides a passive apparatus that enables a contact sensor that needs to self-align to the surface of a test object. In some embodiments, the contact sensor is a transducer. This self-alignment apparatus may be used in a measurement system for aligning the face of a contact transducer to the surface of a material to be measured. The spherical bearing may be dry or may be lubricated with a liquid or with pressurized air to minimize the bearing friction and enable the transducer to self-align. The upper portion of the spherical bearing is preferably attached to a spring-loaded piston. The transducer is preferably attached to the lower portion of the spherical bearing. The spring-loaded piston holds the spherical bearing portions together and centers the floating lower bearing portion after each measurement operation. A cowling preferably retains the lower bearing portion between measurements.
US08683872B1
A test weight providing an elongated flanged beam having a web, an upper flange connected to the web and a lower flange connected to the web. A pair of openings in the upper flange are provided on the opposing sides of the web. Plurality of plates are connected to the beam, each plate resting upon the lower flange and extending upwardly towards the upper flange. A pair of padeye lift plates are provided, one on each side of the web, each padeye plate having a portion that extends above the upper flange and through an upper flange opening. The test weights are stackable one a upon the other, wherein each of the padeye plates can be pinned to the flanged beam.
US08683867B2
An aspect of a pressure sensor package is that a condensed droplet can be prevented from solidifying and blocking the hole of a pressure inlet pipe, without increasing the external dimensions of the package. Aspects of the invention include a groove in a wall surface of a hole of a pressure inlet pipe, a droplet condensed on the wall surface spreads along the groove by a capillary action, and it is possible to prevent the hole of the pressure inlet pipe being blocked by the droplet.
US08683856B2
Active air-fuel ratio control is performed to alternately control an air-fuel ratio in an area located upstream of a catalyst between a lean side and a rich side. The amount of oxygen absorbed and released by the catalyst during lean control and rich control of the air-fuel ratio is measured. When an output from the post-catalyst sensor reaches a predetermined threshold, switching is carried out between the lean control and the rich control, and the measurement of the amount of oxygen is ended. The threshold is set to be reached before the output from the post-catalyst sensor reaches a predetermined reference value. Whether the catalyst is normal or abnormal is determined based on the amount of oxygen measured until the output from the post-catalyst sensor reaches the threshold and behavior of the output from the post-catalyst sensor observed after the output from the post-catalyst sensor reaches the threshold.
US08683855B2
A competence diagnosis system for a urea water temperature sensor that can limit a diagnosis during a cold start. The system includes a cold start condition determination unit that obtains a difference between an engine cooling water temperature and an ambient temperature, a difference between an engine cooling water temperature and a fuel temperature, and a difference between an ambient temperature and a fuel temperature by using an engine cooling water temperature, an ambient temperature, and a fuel temperature measured immediately after engine starting, and allows a diagnosis by the competence diagnosis unit when the temperature differences are less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
US08683850B2
A bias value associated with a sensor, e.g., a time-varying, non-zero value which is output from a sensor when it is motionless, is estimated using at least two, different bias estimating techniques. A resultant combined or selected bias estimate may then be used to compensate the biased output of the sensor in, e.g., a 3D pointing device.
US08683840B2
To produce closure elements for metal touch-and-close fasteners in a metal carrier (3), notches (13) corresponding to the outlines of hook elements (1) are made, while leaving a connecting line for each notch. Bending operations are carried out to raise the regions delimited by the notches (13) out of the plane of the carrier (3) as hooking elements (1) around the connecting lines serving as bending lines. The carrier (3) is guided through the region (5) of the tooth engagement between rotational bodies (7, 9) having peripheral teeth. The tooth shapes of the rotational bodies (7, 9) and the type of the tooth engagement are selected such that the tooth engagement cuts the notches (13) and stamps the metal carrier the bending operations.
US08683836B2
An apparatus and method for forming a style line with a sharp radius in a metal with lower formability than that of mild steel is disclosed. The apparatus and method use a die set with a means to back a portion of the metal having the style line formed with a material that moves with the surface of the style line as it is formed. In one embodiment an elastic member backs the metal panel, and in another embodiment a fluid medium backs the metal panel where the style line is formed. The apparatus and method achieve sharper radius style lines in metals like aluminum, advanced high strength steel, and ultra-high strength steel than a traditional hard surface die set can achieve.
US08683828B2
A guide kit for aiding a user in at least one of knitting and crocheting a predetermined item includes at least one template member of at least a portion of the predetermined item, a set of guidelines for one of knitting and crocheting such predetermined item, these guidelines at least including: (i) one of partially knitting or crocheting a predetermined fraction of each portion; and (ii) repeatedly superimposing the fraction on the template during one of knitting and crocheting until portion is complete. Also included are packaging for parts of the guide kit and illustrations on either the guidelines or the packaging providing examples illustrating potential predetermined items.
US08683826B2
An earring and method of using same to accessorize a wearer's appearance. A band is preferably detachably engageable with the earring body. The band may be colored to facilitate color coordination by a wearer.
US08683825B2
A system and method for recovering helium-3 from helium. A distillation column having a top section that is smaller in diameter than a main section is provided. The column also includes an intermediate condenser that condenses vapor from the main section and above a helium feed stream. Reflux to the column can be provided by liquid helium-3 from a conduit or from an overhead condenser. In a preferred cycle, the distillation column is operated at a subatmospheric pressure, and in a temperature range between 2.3 K and 4.3 K.
US08683822B2
A refrigerator includes a freezing chamber door provided with an ice-making assembly. Ice made by the ice-making assembly can be immediately drawn out to the outside by opening an exclusively used home-bar door. In addition, an ice-making case is coupled by a coupling formed integrally with the freezing chamber door and the ice-making case without a coupling tool or operation. Moreover, if a water bucket is installed to the ice-making case, a water supply hole of the lower end of the water bucket is opened by an opening and closing structure, so that water in the water bucket is automatically supplied to an ice tray. In addition, an ice-separating lever having a ⊂ shape is provided to simultaneously rotate a plurality of ice trays. Meanwhile, an ice bank cooperates with the home-bar door to be drawn out forward as the home-bar door is opened.
US08683814B2
A gas turbine engine component includes a gas path wall having a first and second opposing surfaces and a baffle positioned along the gas path wall. The baffle has impingement holes for directing cooling fluid onto the first surface of the gas path wall. A cooling hole is formed in the gas path wall and extends from a metering section having an inlet in the first surface through a transition to a diffusing section having an outlet in the second surface. A longitudinal ridge extends along the cooling hole between the transition and the outlet. The longitudinal ridge divides the diffusing section of the cooling hole into first and second lobes.
US08683810B2
An injection device including at least one injection plate adjacent a combustion space of a combustion chamber, and at least one first injection nozzle including a first entry bore having a first discharge into the combustion chamber, and a first orifice bore, having a cross-sectional dimension less than or equal to the first entry bore, coaxially arranged with the first entry bore and remote from the first discharge. At least one second injection nozzle includes a second entry bore having a second discharge into the combustion chamber, and a second orifice bore, having a cross-sectional dimension less than or equal to the second entry bore, coaxially arranged with the second entry bore and remote from the second discharge. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08683802B2
The present invention relates to an installation and a process implementing the installation for converting thermal energy available in a given environment into useful energy. The installation and process use pressure differentials between a hot and a cold column of a pressurized fluid to create a continuous flow in a fluid. The flow drives in rotation elements the rotational energy of which is converted to a useful energy.
US08683790B2
A diffuser for aiding in the vaporization and mixing of an injected reactant with the exhaust gas feed stream of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system is disclosed. The diffuser is disposed within an exhaust gas conduit of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system and has an impingement surface and a baffle plate disposed downstream of and adjacent thereto. The baffle plate extends outwardly from the diffuser, to terminate at a baffle plate tip that is located intermediate of the diffuser and an inner wall of the exhaust gas conduit. The baffle plate is operable to trap a portion of an exhaust gas feed stream, and a reactant resident therein, to increase the vaporization and residence time of the reactant in the exhaust gas feed stream.
US08683789B2
An exhaust valve assembly includes a flapper valve that is mounted on a shaft for rotation within an exhaust component housing between a closed position, an intermediate position, and an open position. An electric actuator is coupled to the shaft to control movement of the flapper valve. The electric actuator moves the flapper valve to the open position for high speed engine conditions. When engine speeds are lowered, and while all engine cylinders remain active, the electric actuator moves the flapper valve to the intermediate position. Once the flapper valve is in the intermediate position, if an engine cylinder is subsequently deactivated, the electric actuator quickly and quietly moves the flapper valve from the intermediate position to the closed position.
US08683785B2
A method for regenerating an open particle separator includes at least determining at least one parameter, as a characteristic variable of a regeneration capability of the open particle separator. The at least one parameter is compared with a first threshold value. At least one portion of a comparison period during which the parameter has reached the first threshold value is determined. The portion is compared with a first minimum portion corresponding to a minimum regeneration time in the comparison time period. Measures are initiated to influence the parameter so that the parameter lies at least according to the first minimum portion and the first threshold value is reached and/or the open particle separator is regenerated. A motor vehicle having at least one open particle separator is also provided.
US08683783B2
Disclosed is an exhaust purification device for an internal combustion engine provided with a venturi-shaped mixing chamber (13) upstream of a NOx catalyst (16), said mixing chamber (13) formed continuously from a tapering part (13a) along which the radius decreases in the downstream direction, a waist part (13b) at which the radius is at smallest, and a widening part (13c) along which the radius increases in the downstream direction. A vane plate (18) and an aqueous urea solution spray nozzle (19) are arranged inside the tapering part (13a). The ratio (a/b) of the distance (a) between the vane plate (18) and the center of the waist part (13b) and the distance (b) between the center of the waist part (13b) and the mouth of the NOx catalyst (16) is set between 0.5 and 1.0.
US08683776B2
A method for introducing at least one substance into a sealed enclosure holding at least one product. The sealed enclosure having at least one conduit through which one of gas or fluid may flow into or out of the sealed enclosure. Air is evacuated from the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit to create a predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure and a predetermined quantity of the at least one substance is injected into the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit.
US08683774B2
A method of producing a light steel structural member includes the steps of: forming surface treatment in a piece of sheet material; forming a plurality of embosses in the sheet material; and shaping the sheet material into a predetermined shape to form a light steel structural member. A light steel structural member includes a web portion, and a pair of flange portions. The web portion has a web face. The pair of flange portions each extend generally orthogonally from each side of the web portion. Each flange portion is in a plane that is generally parallel to the plane of the other flange portion. Each of the flange portions has a flange face. At least one of the web face and the flange face has a plurality of embosses formed therein; and at least one of the web face and the flange face has a surface treatment formed therein.
US08683769B2
A modular sub-flooring system for supporting an overlayment above a ground surface includes a plurality of sub-floor tiles situated about a ground surface, with each sub-floor tile having a substantially-flat top surface that is adapted to receive and support an overlayment, and a connection interface with opposing engagement surfaces. The sub-flooring system also includes a plurality of removable bridge connectors, with each of the bridge connectors having a plurality of tile interfaces, and with each tile interface having complimentary engagement surfaces configured to engage with the opposing engagement surfaces of the connection interfaces. The tile interfaces of the bridge connectors couple to the respective connection interfaces of any adjacent sub-floor tiles to restrain the relative vertical movement between the adjacent sub-floor tiles while facilitating controlled relative lateral movement between the sub-floor tiles.
US08683768B2
A ceiling panel clip with improved characteristics includes a torsion spring retaining loop that has a free end captured beneath a frame member of the ceiling panel. The retaining loop at one end thereof is integral with a base portion of the clip and the free end extends downwardly to the base portion. The base portion and retaining loop preferably cooperate to capture a coiled portion of a torsion spring used to suspend the ceiling panel. Preferably, securing legs of the torsion spring are biased inwardly to allow the coiled portion to be inserted on the retaining loop. Release of the securing legs captures the coiled portion on the clip.
US08683753B2
The subject of the invention is an enclosure for secondary distribution modular switchgears, applicable in protecting switchgears both against adverse weather conditions and against unauthorized inspections of high, medium and low voltage switch gear, and also against accidental access by unauthorized persons, or by wild animals and birds.The inventive enclosure containing a base-frame (3) to which the enclosure walls are attached and which is provided with a roof cover is characterized in that the base frame (3) is formed by a metal truss and contains two extreme base-frame modules, the left one (20) and the right one (23,) and at least one middle module (21 and/or (22) which are connected with one another by means of a pair of permanent connections formed by a socket (27a) and a prong (27b) and fastening and earthing plates (28a, 28b).
US08683751B2
A roof attachment assembly to be mounted on a roof substrate. The assembly comprises a plate having a substantially frustoconical protrusion, the plate defining a first surface and a second surface and including an aperture. The assembly further comprises a first membrane positioned adjacent to the first surface of the plate, a second membrane positioned adjacent to the second surface of the plate, a bracket positioned proximate the second membrane and the second surface of the plate, the bracket operable to support one or more roof-mounted fixtures, and a fastener extending through the bracket, the membranes, and the plate, the fastener operable to couple the bracket, the membranes and the plate. The assembly also comprises a second fastener that substantially mates with the bracket, wherein at least one of the fastener, the plate, the first membrane, and the second fastener includes at least one pre-determined breaking point.
US08683745B2
A door assembly that includes a single glass unit having at least first, second and third panels, a front surface, a rear surface, and an outside edge. At least one of the first, second or third panels is a transparent LCD panel on which media can be displayed. The single glass unit also includes a frame that at least partially surrounds the outside edge of the single glass unit, and electronic components in electrical communication with the LCD panel.
US08683743B2
The present invention discloses a grain germinating system comprising a temperature controlling device, an incubation device, a drying device and a monitoring device. The temperature controlling device comprises a heat pump module, an air conditioning module and a piping module. The heat pump module can output a high or low temperature heat exchanging liquid. The temperature of a culture medium of a grain is adjusted by the incubation device. The incubated grain is dried by the drying device. The air conditioning module is for a plant building. The piping module is connected with the heat pump module, and is provided for the high or low temperature heat exchanging liquid to flow. The incubation device and the drying device are heated by the high temperature heat exchanging liquid. The drying device is cooled by the low temperature heat exchanging liquid provided for the air condition of the plant building to use.
US08683735B1
The presently disclosed technology is directed to an outrigger assembly for a sport fishing boat. The outrigger assembly is provided with a base plate that mounts on the forward area of a T-top of the fishing boat. An outrigger pole containment assembly is in turn mechanically affixed to the base plate. A pair of telescoping outrigger poles is positioned within the outrigger pole containment assembly such that they are in a horizontally opposed configuration. Each pole is formed from a plurality of elongated tubular extensions, in a nested relationship, and is extensible outward to either the starboard or port side of the boat when being deployed. The outrigger assembly is provided with a plurality of manual or electrically operated reels for traversal of several fishing lines through line guiding means provided integral with the telescoping poles.
US08683732B2
The scope ring includes a clamping mechanism, which provides an enhanced connection for Weaver and Picatinny style rails and rail bases. The scope ring includes a base member and a rail clamping member that bolt together at an angle and form the improved clamping mechanism. Tightening the fasteners draws the contact surfaces of the base member and the rail clamping member laterally inward against the sides of the rail base and vertically downward against the top of the rail base.
US08683731B2
A firearm laser sight alignment assembly includes a laser module for emitting a beam along an optical axis, the laser module having an outer seat. The alignment assembly encompasses a resilient grommet mechanically engaging the outer seat in a first adhesive free interference fit. The grommet includes an external seat sized to form adhesive free interferences fits with a laser cover and the housing, as the laser cover engages the housing to retain the grommet with respect to the housing and the laser cover. Upon operable assembly, the interference fits substantially preclude axial and longitudinal movement between the grommet and the laser module as well as the grommet and the laser cover and housing, while allowing angular movement of the laser module to a desired alignment position.
US08683725B2
A magazine-latching assembly for a firearm is described. The magazine-latching assembly includes a latch body that is slideably disposed in a receiver. The latch body includes a notch that accepts an aft tab on a magazine. A locking member is pivotally disposed in the latch body and engages the receiver to lock the latch body in a forward position in which the magazine is locked into the receiver. The assembly includes a magazine-release lever that forms a portion of a trigger guard. Actuation of the magazine-release lever pivots the locking member out of engagement with the receiver, moves the latch body out of engagement with the aft tab of the magazine, and draws the forward tab of the magazine out of engagement with the receiver. The magazine-latching assembly is useable with twin-tab magazines and with bullpup-style firearms. The magazine-release lever is also configured for ambidextrous operation of the firearm.
US08683720B2
The present disclosure provides a hitch suspension system that reduces a transfer of energy (e.g., provides a smoother ride) between two bodies hitched together, such as between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle/trailer. In an embodiment, the suspension system includes a hydraulic cylinder with an extendable rod in fluid communication with a fluid pump. A control valve is fluidly coupled between the hydraulic cylinder and the fluid pump and is configured to adjust an extension length of the rod. Additionally, a variable orifice that adjusts resistance to extension and retraction of the rod is fluidly coupled between the hydraulic cylinder and the control valve. A first fixed restrictive element is fluidly coupled in series with the variable orifice to dissipate energy ad the rod extends and a second fixed restrictive element is fluidly coupled in series with the variable orifice to dissipate energy as the rod retracts.
US08683709B2
A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) with multi-bus arm technology that includes a manually positionable articulated arm portion, a measurement device, and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is configured to receive a position signal from the arm portion and to provide data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. The AACMM further includes a probe end, an accessory device, an encoder data bus, and a first device data bus. The encoder data bus is coupled to the arm portion and the electronic circuit, and the encoder data bus is configured to send the position signal to the electronic circuit. The first device data bus is coupled to the accessory device and the electronic circuit. The first device data bus is configured to operate simultaneously with and independently of the encoder data bus for sending accessory device data from the accessory device to the electronic circuit.
US08683707B1
A method and apparatus for a magnetic field dipole based transmitter and magnetic field sensor receiver to detect and/or determine the position and/or orientation of a user's receiver; in some embodiments accuracy to less than one foot is achievable; in some embodiments a receiver is located in a cellular phone. An exemplary communications protocol for a location network service is disclosed.
US08683702B2
A folding knife capable of preventing automatic folding, which includes a handle having first, second and third plates, and a blade pivotally connected between the first and second plates by a pivot. The second plate is provided with a resilient stopper having a first end fixed to the second plate and a second end extending toward the first plate in a slanting manner. The third plate has one side corresponding in position to the second plate and concavely provided with an engaging hole. When the blade is fully rotated out of the handle, the second end of the resilient stopper presses against one end of the blade and thereby keeps the blade fully rotated out of the handle. Thus, when a force applied to the blade is excessively large, the resilient stopper will not be shifted away from the position against the blade.
US08683699B2
A production method of a disk drive device includes: an assembling process of assembling a subassembly by incorporating at least a bearing unit in a hub in a clean room; a pouring process of pouring a lubricant in the bearing unit; a cleaning-liquid discharging process of discharging a cleaning liquid to the hub; a cleaning-liquid intake process of taking in the cleaning liquid discharged to the hub; and a sealing process of sealing the subassembly in a seal-material.
US08683693B2
A dental implant apparatus including an implant having an external threaded wall adapted to be implanted in a patient's bone, said implant being provided with a cylindrical axial cavity having an internal thread accessible from a first end. The dental implant apparatus further includes a screw comprising a threaded stem adapted to be helicoidally coupled with the internal thread of said cavity of the implant, wherein said screw is a single piece made entirely of a NdFeB (Neodymium-Iron-Boron) compound comprising silicon.
US08683672B2
A gas sensing device (nanosensor) includes a substrate with at least a pair of conductive electrodes spaced apart by a gap, and an electrochemically functionalized semiconductive nanomaterial bridging the gap between the electrodes to form a nanostructure network. The nanomaterial may be single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) functionalized by the deposition of nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of an elemental metal (e.g., gold or palladium), a doped polymer (e.g., camphor-sulfonic acid doped polyaniline), and a metal oxide (e.g. tin oxide). Depending on the nanoparticles employed in the functionalization, the nanosensor may be used to detect a selected gas, such as hydrogen, mercury vapor, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, methane, water vapor, and/or ammonia, in a gaseous environment.
US08683660B2
A snap button wherein when a male snap is removed from a female snap, a rotation between the snaps is limited, but is permitted normally. A male-side grooved surface is provided on a male snap radially outward from a projection of the snap with a plurality of grooves formed so that peaks and troughs of the grooves are arranged continuously in the circumferential direction. A female-side grooved surface similar to the male-side grooved surface is provided on a female snap radially outward from a projection-receiving space of the snap. The female-side grooved surface is inclined relative to the male-side grooved surface. When the male snap is removed from the female snap, each axis of the male snap and the female snap, which are yet in a coupled state, inclines relative to each other, causing the male-side grooved surface and the female-side grooved surface to partially engage with each other.
US08683649B2
In an automatically closing hinge, a first body and a second body are mounted on a fixed shaft, and axial and radial moving members are adjacently disposed inside the fixed shaft. The second body pivoting rearward in relation to the first body enables an inward radial movement of the radial moving member, and during the inward radial movement the radial moving member causes a forward axial movement of the axial moving member. An energy storing member in the fixed shaft is configured to store energy during the forward axial movement of the axial moving member and to release energy for driving the axial moving member to make a reverse axial movement. During the reverse axial movement the axial moving member pushes the radial moving member to make an outward radial movement. The radial moving member during such outward radial movement drives the second body to pivot forward.
US08683640B2
A fabric care device comprising a body having first and second ends for attaching respective first and second fabric care attachments, wherein at least one of the first and second ends is adapted to detachably attach one of the first and second fabric care attachments. An attachment for a fabric care device selected from the group consisting of a depiller, a delinter, a fabric pile restorer, and a brush.
US08683628B2
A patient support table is provided. The patient support table includes a table plate that may be moved manually or by at least one motor having a control facility. At least one sensor is provided on the table plate. The at least one sensor is operable to determine a force exerted by a user on the table plate for table plate movement and produce a sensor signal. The at least one sensor is operable to communicate with the control facility of the motor. The control facility is operable to control the motor as a function of the sensor signal that is based on a predetermined reference force value such that the reference force value is not exceeded during the table movement.
US08683622B2
A drain system for a tub of the type having a tub body defining a bathing cavity, a doorway with door sill in the tub body and a door in the doorway. The drain system comprises a drain piping section adapted to be in fluid communication with a tub drain hole in a bottom of the bathing cavity for drainage of bathing liquid therethrough. A drain unit is adapted to be connected to a door drain hole in the door sill for drainage of liquid therethrough. The drain unit has an inner cavity and a check valve held releasably captive in the inner cavity. The check valve is manually removable from an exposed surface of the door sill. A pipe connects the drain unit to the drain piping section to direct liquid collected by the drain unit to the drain piping section.
US08683617B2
Helmets and methods for manufacturing a helmet are described. An example helmet includes an upper helmet component having a shell and a shock absorbing liner and further having a lower helmet component having a shell and a shock absorbing liner. The shock absorbing liner of the lower helmet component has an angled interface portion to which the upper helmet component is attached. A vent sill is attached to the shock absorbing liner of the upper helmet component and a vent shutter is slidably attached to the vent sill. An example method include forming a first in-mold component having a shell and shock absorbing liner and forming a second in-mold component having a shell and shock absorbing liner, the shock absorbing liner having a seamless headform. After a vent shutter assembly is attached to the first in-mold component the second in-mold component is attached to the first in-mold component.
US08689359B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for investigating surface properties of different materials, which make it possible to carry out atomic force microscopy with a simplified and faster shear force method. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized by perpendicular orientation of the measuring tip of a self-actuated cantilever with respect to the surface of the sample. A piezoresistive sensor and a bimorph actuator are preferably DC-isolated. The measuring tip is in the form of a carbon nanotube, in particular. A plurality of cantilevers can be arranged in the form of a cantilever array which is characterized by a comb-like arrangement of individual pre-bent cantilevers. The method according to the invention is distinguished by a fast feedback signal on account of the distance between the measuring tip and the surface to be investigated being regulated using the change in a DC signal which supplies the actuator.
US08689356B2
A handheld device is configured to be connectable to a storage media that holds a unique media identifier and holds a content key data used to decrypt an encrypted content data. A content data delivery system is provided that is configured to be able to deliver various data to the handheld device and to make a content data available to the handheld device. The system includes a member-registration information database that holds member-registration information including a data pair of a handheld-device identifier related to the relevant handheld device and the relevant media identifier. The media identifier held by the storage media is verified with the member-registration information database.
US08689354B2
A method begins by a processing module receiving, from a user device, a request to access secure data, wherein the request includes a user identification code and at least one object name for the secure data. The method continues with the processing module processing the request to determine a security level associated with the user device and to determine security parameters associated with the secure data. The method continues with the processing module determining a level of access to the secure data based on the security level associated with the user device and the security parameters. The method continues with the processing module retrieving a set of encoded data slices from dispersed storage units, wherein the set of encoded data slices includes less than a reconstruction threshold number of encoded data slices and generating a response that includes the set of encoded data slices when the level of access is a partial access level.
US08689342B2
An event condition is checked, using a computer and data content of the computer is additionally protected in relation to a normal data protection according to the event condition. The event condition is detecting by the computer a remote command and/or detecting a state according to a policy.
US08689341B1
Quarantine periods longer than anticipated working lifetimes for phishing websites are used to protect users from phishing attacks. A central server or the like receives data indicating user attempts to submit confidential information to websites from a plurality of user computers. The received data is aggregated, and used to track website activity concerning solicitation of confidential information. The central server acquires and maintains current statistical data concerning phishing website lifetimes. The aggregated data concerning attempts by users to submit confidential information to websites and the current statistics concerning phishing website lifetimes are used to determine appropriate quarantine periods for websites, which can be enforced when users try to transmit confidential information to these websites.
US08689337B2
Systems and methods are provided for identifying a video object using digital fingerprints. The digital fingerprints are generated from information extracted from the video object including encoded video. The digital fingerprints can be calculated in a manner that permits identification of both the video object and operational characteristics of the video object based on matching calculated digital fingerprints with known fingerprints of known video objects. Systems and methods are described that allow a DVD to be uniquely identified and identify whether the DVD is original, copied or pirated. Systems and methods are described for computing digital fingerprints from strings of bits in which certain additional data is optionally embedded. Systems and methods are described that permit media players to access known signatures of known video objects maintained on one or more databases and to identify video objects presented for playing on the media player.
US08689336B2
A method for real-time threat monitoring includes identifying two or more real time vulnerabilities, each associated with one or more objects of an enterprise, correlating the two or more real-time vulnerabilities to each other, applying an exposure tiering model to the correlated real-time vulnerability, thereby classifying the correlated real-time vulnerability into risk tiers, and initiating an alert based on the correlated real-time vulnerability and the exposure tiers into which the correlated real-time vulnerability is classified. According to other embodiments a method includes applying an exposure methodology to log data contained in one or more object logs thereby identifying one or more security events, applying an exposure tiering model to the one or more security events, thereby classifying the security events into exposure tiers, and initiating an alert based on the security events and the exposure tiers into which the security events are classified.
US08689334B2
A method of preventing a customer programmable device from causing security threats to itself or to a communication system is provided. The method includes establishing one or more thresholds by programming or configuring of the device, detecting whether one or more of the thresholds have been exceeded using one or more detection mechanisms, and taking action in response to each threshold that has been exceeded.
US08689333B2
A computer worm defense system comprises multiple containment systems tied together by a management system. Each containment system is deployed on a separate communication network and contains a worm sensor and a blocking system. In various embodiments, the computer worm may be transported from a production network, where the computer worm is not readily identifiable, to an alternate network in the worm sensor where the computer worm may be readily identifiable. Computer worm identifiers generated by a worm sensor of one containment system can be provided not only to the blocking system of the same containment system, but can also be distributed by the management system to blocking systems of other containment systems.
US08689330B2
A system including a content server and a plurality of instant messaging clients is configured to enable each client device to scan for malware on incoming or outgoing instant messages. The content server may receive malware configuration information and distribute the malware configuration information to each client device. Each client device may employ the malware configuration information to perform a number of actions, including determining one or more malware scanners to use, selectively scanning incoming or outgoing instant messages, reporting instances of malware that are detected, or selectively restricting one or more instant messaging functions. The system may include a malware information repository that receives and reports of detected malware, analyzes the reports, and determines sources of malware.
US08689329B2
A mechanism on a server divides a page of content into sections defined by dividers, and renders the page stream with dividers to a browser. The browser reads the web page with dividers, and partitions the DOM for the page to create partitions in the DOM according to the sections in the page. Partitioning the DOM allows scripts in each partition to be scoped according to defined access rights for each partition. In this manner, a script in one DOM partition cannot access information in another DOM partition unless the access rights for the partition that contains the script allow it. By scoping scripts to appropriate DOM partitions, potential hacker attacks may be prevented.
US08689328B2
A method may include receiving a session control protocol request message and fingerprinting the received session control protocol message. The method may further include comparing the fingerprint of the received request message to a list of fingerprints associated with known malicious user agents and rejecting the request message when the fingerprint of the received message matches any fingerprint in the list of fingerprints associated with known malicious user agents. The method may include comparing the fingerprint of the received request message to the list of fingerprints associated with known non-malicious user agents and accepting the request message when the fingerprint of the received message matches any fingerprint in the list of fingerprints associated with known non-malicious user agents.
US08689324B2
Techniques to explain authorization origins for protected objects in an object domain are disclosed. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit, a request processor component operative on the processor circuit to receive and process a request for an authorization origin of a resource object, the authorization origin comprising an access control with a permission arranged to control access to the resource object based on an identity, and a resource origin component operative on the processor circuit to identify the authorization origin of the resource object from a set of interrelated resource objects and associated access controls, retrieve authorization origin information for the authorization origin, and present the authorization origin information in a user interface view. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08689320B2
If the validity of authorization information read from a USB key is verified (S1 to S4), use-information that indicates “used” is written in both of the nonvolatile memory and the USB key (S7). In a case of an initial use of an image forming apparatus (Cp=1, S8), a screen for selecting whether to perform a secure format on a hard disk device or not is displayed on a control panel (S9). If an instruction from the control panel indicates performing a secure format (S10), or if the use of the image forming apparatus is not a first time (Cp>1, S8), overwrite process on the hard disk with dummy data device is performed (S13, S14), and a logical format is performed regardless of a selection on the screen (S16).
US08689318B2
The present invention relates to trust in computing platforms and the like. In particular, embodiments of the invention provide a trusted computing entity (64), providing an environment comprising one or more of a set or sets of available security algorithms (62), the entity (64) being adapted to operate on data (702), which data has associated security criteria (704), only if the environment meets the associated security criteria.
US08689315B2
A method and system are provided for adding, removing, and managing a plurality of network policy filters in a network device. Filters are installed in a framework and designated as active or disabled. Each filter has a priority. When a new filter is to be installed into the framework, it is compared to installed filters to determine if a conflict exists. If no conflict exists, the new filter is added as an active filter. If a conflict exists, a higher priority conflicting filter is added as active and a lower priority filter is added as inactive.
US08689313B2
An exemplary method of the invention is for connecting a plurality of clients to one another over a computer network for communication of real-time streaming data to one another, with at least one of the clients being separated by a security device from the network. Exemplary steps include each of the clients communicating a request to the server including a client address and a conference identifier, the server using the conference identifier to identify a conference address, and the server communicating a confirmation to each of the clients in a first protocol containing the at least one conference address. The at least one security device recognizes one or both of the confirmation and request as a signal to allow traffic to pass from said conference address to the respective client separated from the network by the security device. Each of the clients communicates real time streaming data to the conference address in a second protocol, and the server communicates real time streaming data received from each of the clients in the second protocol at the conference address to the others of the clients whereby the plurality of clients share real-time streaming data.
US08689302B2
A method, and system, and computer program product for authenticating a user. A first server of a plurality of servers receives an access request from the user to access a federated computing environment that comprises multiple servers. After receiving the access request, the first server: receives input authentication information from the user, obtains a server address of a second server having an authentication policy that matches an authentication policy of the first server, transmits the input authentication information to the second server via the server address of the second server, receives from the second server a notification that the second server has successfully authorized the user, and permits the user to access the federated computing environment.
US08689296B2
A system and method for controlling distribution and use of digital identity representations (“DIRs”) increases security, usability, and oversight of DIR use. A DIR stored on a first device may be obtained by a second device for use in satisfying the security policy of a relying party. Release of the DIR to the second device requires permission from a device or entity that may be different from the device or entity attempting to access the relying party. Further, the use of the DIR to obtain an identity token may separately require permission of even a different person or entity and may be conditioned upon receiving satisfactory information relating to the intended use of the DIR (e.g., the name of the relying party, type of operation being attempted, etc.). By controlling the distribution and use of DIRs, security of the principal's identity and supervisory control over a principal's activities are enhanced.
US08689295B2
Systems and methods provide security to HTTP applications. Responses sent from a server, such as a web server, are analyzed and a signature is generated for each HTML object in that page. The signature is encrypted and sent to a client along with the contents of the page. When a client later sends a request, the system checks the signature associated with that request with the contents of the request itself. If the values, variables, lengths, and cardinality of the request are validated, then the request is forwarded to the web server. If, on the other hand, the request is invalidated, the request is blocked from reaching the web server, thereby protecting the web server from malicious attacks. The systems and methods offer security without being limited to a session or user.
US08689287B2
A federated credentialing system, and a correspond method, includes credential issuers that interact with relying parties to provide system users with access to protected resources within the system. The system includes a relying party federated domain server including devices for identifying users and authenticating user access credentials and a credential issuer domain server including devices for verifying user identities and access credentials. The access credentials may be single smart cards. The single smart cards are operative to provide user access to both logical and physical protected resources of the relying party. The system also includes a federated trust broker in communication in communication with the relying party and credential issuer federated domain servers. The trust broker receives authorization requests from the relying party, routes the received requests to the credential issuer and receives in return authorization responses from the credential issuer and routes the responses to the relying party. The relying party grants users access to the physical and the logical protected resources based on information contained in the responses.
US08689281B2
A method includes obtaining input to modify a policy of a set of context-aware document policies. A policy of the set is applicable to a requested action on a document so as to indicate allowability of the requested action based at least on satisfaction of a condition of the policy that relates to a content of the document. When a plurality of policies of the set are applicable to the requested action on the document, allowability of the requested action is determined by the allowability that is indicated by application of the applicable policy with a highest priority. The modified policy is compared with another policy of the set. If the comparison indicates the modified policy and the other policy are applicable to a single requested action on a single document, the set of policies is automatically ensured to remain self consistent.
US08689279B2
To comply with a policy for a computing device indicating that data written by the computing device to the storage volume after activation of the policy be encrypted, an encrypted chunks map is accessed. The encrypted chunks map identifies whether, for each chunk of sectors of a storage volume, the sectors in the chunk are unencrypted. In response to a request to write content to a sector, the encrypted chunks map is checked to determine whether a chunk that includes the sector is unencrypted. If the chunk that includes the sector is unencrypted, then the sectors in the chunk are encrypted, and the content is encrypted and written to the sector. If the chunk that includes the sector is encrypted or not in use, then the content is encrypted and written to the sector.
US08689277B2
A method of providing a location of a target device to an application implementing a location based service includes receiving a request for a location of the target device from the application at a location server, the request including a location reference having a user reference referring to user information corresponding to the target device and stored in at least one data source. The method further includes retrieving the user information from the at least one data source using the user reference, determining the location of the target device based at least in part on the retrieved user information, and providing the determined location of the target device to the application.
US08689271B2
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for delivering purchase information comprising storing purchase information for a purchase of a user in a set top box. The set top box (STB) is configured to receive and display the broadcast signals through a tuner onto a display device. The STB establishes a connection to the Internet through a user initiated action (e.g., when the user accesses the Internet using the STB). A new transmission control/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection is obtained using the established user-initiated Internet connection without the user requesting the connection. A secure electronic connection is established with a server through the new TCP/IP connection. The purchase information is then transmitted from the STB through the secure electronic connection to the server.
US08689265B2
A multimedia mobile personalization system provides a remote control that detects a user's electronic tag, e.g. an RFID tag. The remote control notifies a multimedia device of the user's identity. The multimedia devices tailors it operations to the user's preferences stored locally. Multimedia content such as broadcast or recorded television programs, music play lists, and the like could be sorted, displayed, or restricted, depending on the user identifier.
US08689263B2
A frequency translation module for delivering satellite signals to Integrated Receiver Decoders (IRDs). The module comprises at least one input for receiving polarized satellite signals, wherein at least one input is coupled to at least one low noise block amplifier (LNB), at least one legacy output, the legacy output coupled to the input through a multiswitch, wherein each legacy output selects a polarization of a satellite signal based on a Legacy IRD command directly to the multiswitch, and at least one combined output, the combined output coupled to the multiswitch through an interface, wherein at least one new IRD selectively commands the frequency translation module such that each new IRD receives a portion of a satellite signal based on commands received from each IRD.
US08689258B2
Systems and methods are operable to retrieve a previously broadcast initial portion of a media content event. An exemplary embodiment stores a media content event at a first media device as the media content event is communicated over a broadcast system; receives a request at the first media device from a second media device, wherein the request identifies an initial portion of a media content event that has previously been communicated over a broadcast system; identifies the initial portion of the media content event from the stored media content event; retrieves the identified initial portion of the media content event; and communicates the initial portion of the media content event from the first media device to the second media device.
US08689249B2
Provided is a method of receiving digital television programming content from a television service provider, receiving a first user input of a selected digital television programming content, receiving a message from a system, in response to receiving the message, causing a notification to be displayed on the television as an overlay over the displayed television programming content, receiving a first user command, determining a first control message to transmit to the system in response to receiving the first user command, transmitting the first control message. Also provided is a system including a video camera, an entry way security system, an HVAC system, a lighting system, an alarm system, or other system. User inputs may be received via a remote control to a set top box or from a computing device at a remote computer system through the internet and/or a mobile telephone network.
US08689221B2
In an embodiment, asynchronous conflict events are received during a previous rollback period. Each of the asynchronous conflict events represent conflicts encountered by speculative execution of a first plurality of work units and may be received out-of-order. During a current rollback period, a first work unit is determined whose speculative execution raised one of the asynchronous conflict events, and the first work unit is older than all other of the first plurality of work units. A second plurality of work units are determined, whose ages are equal to or older than the first work unit, wherein each of the second plurality of work units are assigned to respective executing threads. Rollbacks of the second plurality of work units are performed. After the rollbacks of the second plurality of work units are performed, speculative executions of the second plurality of work units are initiated in age order, from oldest to youngest.
US08689215B2
Methods, data structures, instructions, and techniques for structured exception handling for user-level threads in a multi-threading system are provided. Registered filter routines may be dispatched to a thread unit not managed by the operating system (OS). The dispatch may occur by allowing an OS-managed thread unit (proxy) to invoke the OS-provided structured exception handling service (including dispatcher) on behalf of the sequestered thread unit. Alternatively, an OS-managed thread unit may include dispatch code and may, without OS intervention, dispatch the filter routine to the sequestered thread unit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08689214B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for replication of machine instances in a computing environment. A clone machine instance is instantiated from a machine image associated with an original machine instance. A stored execution state of the original machine instance is applied to the clone machine instance. At least a portion of a series of stored events received by the original machine instance is applied to the clone machine instance.
US08689211B2
A method for migrating a virtual machine (VM) in a computing environment is provided. The method comprises receiving a request to migrate a VM executing on a source host to a destination host; defining a recovery point to which the VM is restored during recovery from a fault; and iteratively copying a memory of the source host associated with the VM to the destination host. During the copying, the original state of each page in the memory is preserved. At some point, the VM suspends executing on the source host, copies state information associated with the VM to the destination host, and resumes executing on the destination host. If a fault is detected on the source host, the VM is restored to the recovery point using preserved information.
US08689206B2
A continuously operating system is provided and includes a processor and a computer readable medium to which the processor is operatively coupled, the computer readable medium having executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause the processor to continuously load an operating system and to simultaneously operate as at least first and second mechanisms. The first mechanism loads a new module, which is a new version of an in-memory module of the operating system, into the operating system, and the second mechanism isolates and interrupts current access to the in-memory module such that subsequent access is to the new module.
US08689200B1
A system and method for optimizing the object codes of a computer program is disclosed. The method includes receiving one or more object code units associated with an executable program; identifying, among the object code units, a first program entity and a first set of operations associated with the first program entity and a second program entity and a second set of operations associated with the second program entity, each program entity having an object code segment and an associated address; updating the object code units by inserting a predefined instruction before the first program entity's object code segment and causing the second set of operations to be associated with the predefined instruction if the first program entity's object code segment is identical to the second program entity's object code segment; and combining the updated object code units into the executable program.
US08689196B2
The display of a debugging interface for use with parallel computing. When a break state has been entered in a particular code context (such as a method) by a particular execution context (such as a thread), related execution contexts are found that were also executing in the particular code context. While in the break state, multiple expressions are then evaluated for each of the execution contexts. The results are then displayed with perhaps navigation controls that allow the results to be efficiently navigated.
US08689194B1
A computer readable medium including executable instructions that when executed perform a method for validating an optimization in generated code using an executable constraints document is provided. The medium can include instructions for relating an assumption to the optimization during code generation. The medium can include instructions for generating the executable constraints document during the code generation, the executable constraints document including information about the relating; and the medium can include instructions for executing the constraints document when the validating is performed, the validating including performing an operation based on a validation result produced by the validating, where the operation includes displaying the validation result to a user, storing the validation result, sending the validation result to a destination, or modifying the generated code.
US08689193B2
A method and apparatus for protecting computer systems from a virus are disclosed. For example, the present method protects against a class of computer viruses that replicate themselves by making use of the knowledge that a specific piece of software code or data component that always resides at a specific relative memory location in RAM for all instances of the software. In one embodiment, the present method divides a software application into a plurality of components and creates distinct copies of the software application by varying the locations of the components when loaded onto a computer system.
US08689191B2
Automated refactorings as implemented in modern IDEs for Java usually make no special provisions for concurrent code. Thus, refactored programs may exhibit unexpected new concurrent behaviors. We analyze the types of such behavioral changes caused by current refactoring engines and develop techniques to make them behavior-preserving, ranging from simple techniques to deal with concurrency-related language constructs to a framework that computes and tracks synchronization dependencies. By basing our development directly on the Java Memory Model we can state and prove precise correctness results about refactoring concurrent programs. We show that a broad range of refactorings are not influenced by concurrency at all, whereas other important refactorings can be made behavior-preserving for correctly synchronized programs by using our framework. Experience with a prototype implementation shows that our techniques are easy to implement and require only minimal changes to existing refactoring engines.
US08689187B2
A test object can be selectively included in a test run based on predicting the behavior of the test object. In one embodiment, the present invention includes predicting how likely the test object is to produce a failure in a test run and deciding whether to include the test object in the test run based on the predicted likelihood. This likelihood of producing a failure may be based on any number of circumstances. For example, these circumstances may include the history of prior failures and/or the length of time since the test object was last included in a test run.
US08689180B2
Systems and methods for detecting resource leaks in a program using static analysis are disclosed. Dynamically adjustable sets of must-access paths can be employed for aliasing purposes to track resources intra- and inter-procedurally through a program. Actionable reports are also disclosed, in which resource leaks are prioritized, filtered and clustered to improve utility.
US08689173B2
A mechanism is provided for detecting pattern occurrences utilizing a transformation software application on a computer. An input model is received in which the transformation software application is configured to detect model elements playing pattern roles, and report them in an output model (conforming to new pattern result language). A pattern specification is configured as a declarative transformation relation that is used by the transformation software application to detect pattern occurrences in the input model. Pattern occurrences are reported in the output model, where the pattern occurrences are instances of the pattern detected in the input model.
US08689169B2
Disclosed are a method, system, and computer program product for providing customizable information in designing electronic circuits with electrical awareness. The method or the system displays a portion of a physical design of an electronic circuit in a first display area. The method or the system receives or identifies a user's or a system's manipulation of the portion of the physical design of the electronic circuit. The method or the system then determines and displays an in situ response to the manipulation in the first display area. The method or the system may further display, in the first display area or in another display area, result(s) relating to the physical data of a component, electrical parasitic(s) associated with the physical data, electrical characteristic(s) associated with the physical data or the electrical characteristic(s), or other element(s) of the physical design that is impacted by the manipulation.
US08689167B2
A layout design apparatus includes: a memory unit to store design data of a hierarchical layout of a multilayer circuit including a macro; a channel count calculation unit to calculate a channel count of channels available to lead wiring from a terminal of the macro to a wiring layer based on the design data stored in the memory unit; and a path calculation unit to calculate a path for leading wiring from a terminal of the macro to the wiring layer in ascending order of the channel count.
US08689157B1
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for verifying an integrated circuit (IC) design. The method receives a process description file that specifies a process technology for building the IC. The process description file describes a particular device type in which a first conductor overlaps a second conductor by recessing from the second conductor in one or more cut-outs. Based on the process description file, the method finds a section of the IC design that matches the particular device type and uses the description of the particular device type to compute a capacitance value and a resistance value for the section of the IC design.
US08689153B1
A method for importing a design in hardware description language (HDL) into a system level design tool includes setting a sampling time. The simulation model template is generated with the sampling time according to a selected simulation model type.
US08689150B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes preparing a layout of the semiconductor device, obtaining contrast of an exposure image of the layout through a simulation under a condition of using a crosspole illumination system, separating the layout into a plurality of sub-layouts based on the contrast of the exposure image, forming a photomask having a mask pattern corresponding to the plurality of sub-layouts, and performing an exposure process using the photomask under an exposure condition of using a dipole illumination system.
US08689145B2
The present invention can include three-dimensional remote control systems that can detect an absolute location to which a remote control is pointing in first and second orthogonal axes and an absolute position of the remote control in a third orthogonal axis. Remote control systems of the present invention can employ absolute position detection with relative position detection. Absolute position detection can indicate an initial absolute position of the remote control and relative position detection can indicate changes in the position of the remote control. By combining absolute and relative position detection, remote control systems of the present invention can track remote controls more precisely than systems that only employ absolute position detection. The present invention also can include methods and apparatus for zooming in and out of an image shown on a display based on the absolute position of the remote control in the third axis.
US08689141B2
In one example, a computing device executes a plurality of application processes, each of which has an associated graphical user interface element. The computing device renders a common graphical user interface on a presence-sensitive screen. The common graphical user interface includes a currently rendered graphical user interface element associated with a currently selected application process from among the plurality of application processes; a tab row comprising a plurality of tabs, wherein each of the graphical user interface elements corresponds to one of the plurality of tabs; and a slide bar positioned proximate to the tab row. The computing device renders a first tab in the tab row with a larger size than other graphical tabs in the plurality of tabs responsive to receipt by the presence-sensitive screen of a gesture input associated with a region of the slide bar that is closest to the first tab.
US08689140B2
A remote control unit of an air conditioning apparatus includes a display unit, a cursor-moving member, a confirmation member, and a controller. The display unit displays a menu and a cursor that indicates an item among a plurality of items inside the menu and is moved by the cursor-moving member when operated by a user. The confirmation member is configured to decide that the item is to be executed. The controller controls the display unit in response to the cursor-moving member or confirmation member being operated. The controller positions an item corresponding to a predetermined input at the top of the menu upon receiving the predetermined input.
US08689137B2
An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls of a database application. When a task-based functionality tab is selected from the user interface, selectable functionality controls provided by the associated database application for performing aspects of a task related to the selected tab are presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above a workspace in which a user is entering or editing data. Upon selection of a different task-based functionality tab, the presentation of functionality controls associated with the first task is removed, and selectable functionality controls associated with the second selected task-based functionality tab are presented in the user interface. The selectable functionality controls presented in the user interface are grouped into logical groupings for more efficient utilization. An extensibility model is provided for allowing users to develop and use customized user interfaces and to allow utilization of legacy user interfaces.
US08689132B2
In a computer-implemented method, a portion of an electronic document is displayed on a touch screen display of a portable multifunction device. The displayed portion has a vertical position and a horizontal position in the electronic document. An object is detected on or near the displayed portion of the electronic document. In response to detecting the object, a vertical bar and a horizontal bar are displayed on top of the displayed portion. The vertical bar has a vertical position on top of the displayed portion that corresponds to the vertical position in the electronic document of the displayed portion. The horizontal bar has a horizontal position on top of the displayed portion that corresponds to the horizontal position in the electronic document of the displayed portion. After a predetermined condition is met, display of the vertical bar and of the horizontal bar is ceased.
US08689128B2
A method is performed by an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying a progress icon; detecting a contact at a location that corresponds to the progress icon; detecting contact movement that comprises a first component in a direction corresponding to movement on the display parallel to a first predefined direction and a second component in a direction corresponding to movement on the display perpendicular to the first predefined direction; and, while detecting movement of the contact: determining a current offset distance; and, in response to detecting a current first component of movement of the contact, moving the current position within the content at a scrubbing rate, wherein: the scrubbing rate decreases as the current offset distance increases, and the direction of movement of the current position within the content is in accordance with the direction of the current first component of movement.
US08689124B2
In accordance with a method for simplifying user management of products during online shopping, an informal storage space for a merchant's web site may be displayed when web pages from the merchant's web site are displayed. The informal storage space may be separate from a shopping cart for the merchant's web site. The informal storage space may include visual identifiers for products that are currently added to the informal storage space. Users may be permitted to compare the products that are currently added to the informal storage space. Users may also be permitted to make modifications to the informal storage space. State information for the informal storage space may be updated to reflect the modifications made to the informal storage space.
US08689110B2
A computer-readable medium, computer-implemented method, and multi-channel user interface system are provided. In one embodiment, a computer-readable medium has instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method. The instructions include providing source code and metadata for a base set of user interfaces, where the base set of user interfaces is capable of being executed on multiple channel. The metadata is capable of configuration for a specific channel. The configuration of metadata for a specific channel includes projecting one or more task flows from a task flow template and configuring one or more regions for each task flow.
US08689104B2
A method of providing a description of a remote control device to a communication device configured to interact with an electronic device over a communication network as a remote control device is presented. In the method, the communication device transfers an indication of the electronic device over the network to a communication node. Afterward, the communication device receives the description of the remote control device associated with the electronic device from the node over the network. The communication device transfers a command associated with the remote control device over the network to the electronic device, wherein the command is generated using the description of the remote control device.
US08689102B2
User interface for creating and using media keys. A user interface is provided for outputting media data corresponding to one or more media keys. The same user interface may be used to output media data of different types. The user interface provides user selectable options for performing various actions such as scanning one or more media keys, accessing and loading media data corresponding to media keys, performing actions on the media data accessed for the media keys, generating media keys, creating collections and media keys for collections, performing actions on collections, and other actions.
US08689091B2
In a system, a data receiving device comprises a timing signal generation unit that generates a timing signal used for receiving the divided transmission data in each of the transmission paths, a data receiving unit that receives the divided transmission data transmitted by the data transmitting device for each of the transmission paths by using the timing signal generated by the timing signal generation unit, and an error detection unit that extracts the error detection information from the divided transmission data received for each of the transmission paths by the data receiving unit and detects an error of transmission data included in the divided transmission data by using the extracted error detection information.
US08689082B2
A method of operating a memory controller includes reading data from a first block of a memory device; detecting degraded pages from a plurality of pages of the first block and counting a number of the degraded pages in the first block; and recharging or reclaiming the first block, which includes the degraded pages, based on the counted number of the degraded pages.
US08689080B2
In some example embodiments, a method includes performing a memory scrub of a memory across a scrub cycle of multiple scrub cycles. The method includes identifying correctable errors of symbols in the memory that are a result of accesses from a section of the memory in response to the memory scrub. The method also includes performing an analysis across the multiple scrub cycles, wherein the performing of the analysis comprises determining whether at least two symbols across the multiple scrub cycles have at least one correctable error. The method includes responsive to determining that at least two symbols across the multiple scrub cycles have at least one correctable error, executing at least one repair of the memory that includes the section of memory.
US08689073B2
A method is provided for reuse of one of a plurality of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) Process ID. The method includes receiving signaling used to associate at least one of the plurality of HARQ Process IDs with semi-persistent scheduling. The method further includes determining an activation of a semi-persistent resource. The method further includes receiving a non-semi-persistent data communication utilizing the at least one of a plurality of HARQ Process IDs.
US08689063B2
A Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) apparatus and a method for implementing JTAG data transmission are disclosed. The JTAG apparatus includes an isolation circuit connected with a processor and pins of a JTAG programmable logic device, wherein the isolation circuit has a register/registers corresponding to the pins of the JTAG programmable logic device. Based on a high or low level signal written into the register/registers of the isolation circuit by the processor, the isolation circuit drives the pins of the JTAG programmable logic device, and transmits the JTAG data corresponding to the high or low level signal from the processor to the JTAG programmable logic device. The isolation circuit is used to implement protection of a JTAG interface or a serial port of a personal computer connected with the JTAG apparatus.
US08689059B2
A system and a method for handling a system failure are disclosed. The method is adapted for an information handling system having a basic input and output system and a micro-controller. The method includes the following steps: sending, via the micro-controller, a signal; checking, via the micro-controller, whether an acknowledgement is received from the basic input and output system responsive to the signal; and scanning, via the micro-controller, a type of a system failure in response to the acknowledgement being not received.
US08689055B2
A tool for detecting potential impairment in an electronic device. The tool classifies the user input into various categories and determines some measurement, typically a rate of input per user or per time, for determining average use statistics of the electronic device. The tool then determines if a calculated measurement based on user inputs deviates from the average use statistics past some threshold level of deviation. In response to surpassing the threshold level of deviation, the tool identifies the electronic device as potentially impaired.
US08689054B1
A system for operating a virtual machine using a first site and a second site of an active/active system is provided. A host cluster and a director cluster may be identified at each of the first site and the second site. A first link may be provided between the host clusters of the first and second sites. A second link may be provided between the director clusters of the first site and second sites. While the virtual machine is operating on the first site, storage data may be transferred from the first site to the second site. An image of the virtual machine may be transferred from the first site to the second site. At least one of the following may be performed: (i) the storage data is transferred using the first link or (ii) the image of the virtual machine is transferred using the second link.
US08689049B2
Techniques for taking corrective action based on probabilities are provided. Request messages may include a size of a data packet and a stated issue interval. A probability of taking corrective action based on the size of the data packet, the stated issue interval, and a target issue interval may be retrieved. Corrective action may be taken with the retrieved probability.
US08689045B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed for reloading software images. A copy module copies application metadata for an application image to an application metadata copy. The application metadata and application image are stored on a writable memory of a data processing device. The application metadata copy is stored remotely from the data processing device. A detection module detects an operational anomaly. An erasure module erases at least the application image on the writeable memory in response to detecting the operational anomaly. An identification module identifies the application image from the application metadata copy. A reload module reloads the application image to the writable memory using the application metadata copy.
US08689038B2
An automated and scalable system for total real-time redundancy of a plurality of client-server systems, wherein, data is replicated through a network connection and operationally located on a virtual machine that substitutes for a failed client-server system, wherein the virtual machine is activated and installed on the cloud computing environment. Monitoring applications are installed on both the client-server systems and the cloud computing environment. System components are identified, a network connection is initiated, a heartbeat is established, data replication is automated, system failure is detected, failover is initiated, and subsequent client-server restoration is automated.
US08689037B2
A method of controlling core clocks in a multicore central processing unit is disclosed and may include executing a zeroth dynamic clock and voltage scaling (DCVS) algorithm on a zeroth core and executing a first DCVS algorithm on a first core. The zeroth DCVS algorithm may operable to independently control a zeroth clock frequency associated with the zeroth core and the first DCVS algorithm may be operable to independently control a first clock frequency associated with the first core.
US08689035B2
An interface board includes a synchronizer that synchronizes a first time that is a time of the interface board to a base time based on a master synchronization signal that is supplied by an external master time source and that defines the base time. The interface board also includes a comparator that compares a phase of a first synchronization signal that synchronizes to the first time with a phase of a shared synchronization signal sent by an interface controller that controls the interface board, and a notifier that notifies another interface board of a comparison result of the comparator.
US08689032B2
An information processing apparatus capable of installing a plurality of storage units includes a first supply unit configured to supply electric power to the plurality of storage units, a second supply unit configured to supply electric power to the plurality of storage units, when the first supply unit stops supplying electric power to the plurality of storage units, a charging unit configured to charge the second supply unit, a measurement unit configured to measure a time during which the second supply unit supplies electric power to the plurality of storage units, a detection unit configured to detect a number of the storage units installed on the information processing apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine a time during which the second supply unit should be charged, based on the time which has been measured by the measurement unit and the number of units which has been detected by the detection unit, and a control unit configured to perform control that the charging unit charges the second supply unit for a period of the time which has been determined by the determination unit.
US08689026B2
A wireless internet card to support enhancing power efficiency. The wireless internet comprises a front end comprising shared frequency resources. The wireless internet card also comprises a first wireless block and a second wireless block. While the first wireless block is in low-power mode, the second wireless block may get access to the shared radio frequency resources without waking-up the first wireless block thus enhancing the power efficiency. The second wireless block sends a request to the first wireless block to use shared radio frequency resources. A coexistence block coupled to the second wireless block and the first wireless block may wait for a time duration to elapse after the request is received and may allow the second wireless block to use the shared radio frequency resources if the time duration is elapsed.
US08689017B2
A server power manager and method for dynamic server power management are generally described herein. The server power manager is configured to implement one or more server management policies that identify target server power consumption and/or target functionality for the server system. The server power manager determines an amount of excess processing capability and/or an amount of excess physical memory based on the target server power consumption and the target functionality. The server power manager may transition a processor core to a lower-operational state when at least a predetermined amount of excess processing capability is determined while maintaining server system functionality. The server power manager may transition a memory module to a lower-operational state when at least a predetermined amount of excess physical memory is determined while maintaining the server system functionality.
US08689009B2
The invention provides a method for accessing the mass memory of a data carrier with a mass memory and a chip. The data carrier has been or is personalized by an individual date of a use device which is or has already been stored in(to) the chip to a use device for accessing the data carrier, so that the data carrier can only be used with this use device.
US08689008B2
A new and improved operating system comprising a series of self-contained interconnected modules and service layers for connecting proprietary systems together and extracting and translating data therefrom enables existing software systems to operate and cooperate in an existing software ecosystem while allowing flexible connections with both existing and new applications.
