US07915044B2
The present invention relates to an electrofusion microelectrode made of a tube having a first proximal end and a second distal end. The tube has an electrically conductive coating on its exterior surface that extends continually from the first proximal end of the tube toward the second distal end of the tube. Also disclosed is an electrofusion microelectrode unit having an electrofusion microelectrode and a holding tool capable of receiving the electrofusion microelectrode at the second distal end of the tube. The present invention also relates to a system having two or more electrofusion microelectrodes of the present invention and to methods of manipulating cells and/or cellular components using the electrofusion microelectrodes, units, and systems of the present invention.
US07915034B2
An apparatus for the culturing of oocytes, embryos, stem cells and cells allows the culturing of the specimens by communally growing or grouping of the specimens and maintains identification of the specimens and allows for the ease in use and location of the specimens in the apparatus. The ability to group the embryos increases cleavage rates, embryos scores and increases the likelihood of better embryos and pregnancy results. This will increase the chances of the survival and future growth or use of the specimens. The apparatus takes the form of a dish which is formed with a plurality of integral wells in which the specimens are placed. The wells or chambers may be subdivided into separate compartments which contain individual embryos or other specimens that are being cultured. The compartments will be interconnected so that the culturing media and culturing byproducts from each specimen can be shared by all of the specimens in any one well, but so that the specimens cannot migrate from one compartment to another.
US07915033B2
A method and system for providing a container for investigating at least one specimen are described. The method and system include providing a dish. The dish includes a floor, a plurality of sidewalls, and at least one pedestal. The floor has a perimeter. The plurality of sidewalls coupled with the floor proximate to the perimeter. The at least one pedestal resides on a portion of the floor and is pedestal configured to support at least one microscope slide distal from the floor. The at least one microscope slide bears the specimen(s) for investigation.
US07915029B2
A tube and float system for use in separation and axial expansion of the buffy coat is provided. The system includes a transparent, or semi-transparent, flexible sample tube and a rigid separator float having a specific gravity intermediate that of red blood cells and plasma. The sample tube has an elongated sidewall having a first cross-sectional inner diameter. The float consists of a main body portion and one or more support members protruding from the main body portion to engage and support the sidewall of the sample tube. The main body portion and the support members of the float have a cross-sectional diameter less than that of the first cross-sectional inner diameter of the tube when the sample tube is expanded, such as by centrifugation. The main body portion of the float together with an axially aligned portion of the sidewall define an annular volume therebetween. The support members protruding from the main body portion of the float traverse said annular volume to produce one or more analysis areas. During centrifugation, the centrifugal force enlarges the diameter of the tube to permit density-based axial movement of the float in the tube. Thereafter, the centrifugal force is reduced to cause the tube sidewall to return to its first diameter, thereby capturing the float and trapping the buffy coat constituents in the analysis area. The buffy coat constituents can then be evaluated or measured.
US07915026B2
Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods.
US07915024B2
The present invention provides methods of improving growth performance, improving the efficiency of feed utilization, increasing feed digestibility, and decreasing mortality of immature and developing animals receiving animal feed. Methods of producing a crude keratinase enzyme extract and animal feed supplements for achieving the same are also provided.
US07915019B2
A process for preparing an optically active (S or R)-β-amino acid represented by formula (II): wherein R represents an alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, cycloalkyl group, aralkyl group, aryl group or heteroaryl group each of which may have a substituent(s), and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and an optically active (R or S)-β-amino acid ester represented by formula (III): wherein R has the same meaning as defined above, R1 represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent(s), and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom, provided that it has a reverse absolute configuration to that of the compound of the formula (II), which comprises selectively hydrolyzing water and one of enantiomers of a β-amino acid ester represented by formula (I): wherein R and R1 have the same meanings as defined above, which is a racemic mixture, in the presence of a hydrolase in an organic solvent.
US07915015B2
The identification of pre-defined mutations expected to be present in a minor fraction of a cell population is important for a variety of basic research and clinical applications. The exponential, analog nature of the polymerase chain reaction is transformed into a linear, digital signal suitable for this purpose. Single molecules can be isolated by dilution and individually amplified; each product is then separately analyzed for the presence of pre-defined mutations. The process provides a reliable and quantitative measure of the proportion of variant sequences within a DNA sample.
US07915010B1
The present invention relates in part to isolated nucleic acid molecules (polynucleotides) which encode Rhipicephalus sanguineus glutamate gated chloride channels. The present invention also relates to recombinant vectors and recombinant hosts which contain a DNA fragment encoding R. sanguineus glutamate gated chloride channels, substantially purified forms of associated R. sanguineus glutamate gated chloride channels and recombinant membrane fractions comprising these proteins, associated mutant proteins, and methods associated with identifying compounds which modulate associated Rhipicephalus sanguineus glutamate gated chloride channels, which will be useful as insecticides.
US07915005B2
The invention generally provides a biomarker for sleepiness, a method for detecting sleepiness, and a method of identifying nucleic acids associated with sleepiness.
US07915004B2
Method for determining the level of PTX3 protein in a sample of a biological fluid; hybridoma capable of producing a rat anti-PTX3 monoclonal antibody where said hybridoma is selected from the group comprising MNB10 and Pen-3; specific anti-PTX3 rat monoclonal antibody selected from the monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridomas MNB10 and Pen-3; kit for determining the level of PTX3 protein in a biological fluid wherein the said kit includes a rat anti-PTX3 monoclonal antibody.
US07914999B2
The invention provides a lysis reagent and method for preparing a test sample for use in an assay, wherein the method yields a homogeneous lysis mixture suitable for use in automated pipetting systems without the need for a centrifugation step. The lysis reagent includes a glycol and an alcohol. Other aspects of the invention include related immunoassays and test kits.
US07914996B2
Provided is a polynucleotide including at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1-12 and including a nucleotide at position 101 of the nucleotide sequence, or a complementary polynucleotide thereof.
US07914994B2
An analyte is separated from a fluid sample by introducing the sample into a cartridge having a sample port and a first flow path extending from the sample port. The first flow path includes an extraction chamber containing a solid support for capturing the analyte from the sample. The cartridge has a second flow path for eluting the captured analyte from the extraction chamber, the second flow diverging from the first flow path after passing through the extraction chamber. The sample is forced to flow through the extraction chamber and into a waste chamber, thereby capturing the analyte with the solid support as the sample flows through the extraction chamber. The captured analyte is then eluted from the extraction chamber by forcing an elution fluid to flow through the extraction chamber and along the second flow path.
US07914984B2
Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving cationic conjugated conformationally flexible polymers are provided. A method for the synthesis of cationic water-soluble polymers with linkages along the polymer main chain structure which disrupt the ability of the polymers to form extended-rod structures is provided. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.
US07914982B2
The invention is based upon the discovery that small nucleic acids from non-viral pathogens are able to cross the kidney and are present in urine of a subject when the subject is infected with the non-viral pathogen. These transrenal DNAs are especially prevalent at smaller sizes under about 300 bp. Thus the invention provides compositions and methods for the diagnosis of infection of a subject with non-viral pathogens through the detection of transrenal nucleic acids from those pathogens in the urine of the subject.
US07914970B2
An inorganic electron beam sensitive oxide layer is formed on a carbon based material layer or an underlying layer. The inorganic electron beam sensitive oxide layer is exposed with an electron beam and developed to form patterned oxide regions. An ultraviolet sensitive photoresist layer is applied over the patterned oxide regions and exposed surfaces of the carbon based material layer, and subsequently exposed with an ultraviolet radiation and developed. The combined pattern of the patterned ultraviolet sensitive photoresist and the patterned oxide regions is transferred into the carbon based material layer, and subsequently into the underlying layer to form trenches. The carbon based material layer serves as a robust mask for performing additional pattern transfer into the underlying layer, and may be easily stripped afterwards. The patterned ultraviolet sensitive photoresist, the patterned oxide regions, and the patterned carbon based material layer are subsequently removed.
US07914969B2
According to one embodiment, a write-once type information storage medium comprises a recording layer which is formed by mixing a plurality of organic dye based recording materials whose molecular weights are different from each other, and wherein a mixture ratio of organic dye based recording materials whose molecular weight is small is larger than a mixture ratio of organic dye based recording materials whose molecular weight is large.
US07914962B2
A photoconductor comprising a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein said photogenerating layer contains a light stabilizer.
US07914958B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method has forming a first resist pattern on the semiconductor substrate, and then, forming a first pattern on the semiconductor substrate by the use of the first resist pattern, and forming a second resist pattern on the semiconductor substrate by using an imprinter, and then, forming a second pattern on the semiconductor substrate by the use of the second resist pattern. The forming the first pattern, the first pattern smaller than a design pattern corresponding to the design data for forming a plurality of patterns on a semiconductor substrate being formed.
US07914956B2
The invention provides a dye-containing negative working curable composition comprising at least a dye, a photopolymerization initiator, a polymerizable monomer, and a colorless compound having a number average molecular weight of 1,000 to 5,000, wherein the ratio of an alkali-soluble resin to the total solid content of the composition is 10% by mass or less.
US07914952B2
The present invention is directed to provide a pellicle that can control the deformation of the photomask to a minimum without particular consideration of the flatness of a pellicle frame even in the case where a pellicle is affixed to a photomask for lithography. In the pellicle of the present invention, the pellicle comprises a photomask adhesive for affixing the pellicle to a photomask, the photomask adhesive having a flat surface, wherein the flatness of the surface is no more than 15 μm.
US07914947B2
The present invention provides, among other things, membrane cassettes and stacks thereof which are suitable for a use in a variety of electrochemical applications. The invention further provides membrane cassettes which comprise one or more external manifolds which deliver reagents and/or coolant to one or more reactant or coolant flow fields of the membrane cassettes. In particular, the present invention describes the insert molding method, whereby the plenums of the external manifolds are created during the stack encapsulation step. The invention describes several methods for creating the manifold runner geometry via insert-molding, machining, or with separate components.
US07914943B2
A solid polymer fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly that is in adhesive contact with a first flow field plate around the circumferential edge of the membrane electrode assembly and in non-adhesive contact with a second flow field plate, and an elastomeric manifold seal member that circumscribes at least one manifold opening of the first flow field plate and the second flow field plate. In this configuration, the adhesive substantially seals a first reactant gas while the manifold seal member substantially seals a second reactant gas, thereby improving sealing reliability and simplifying the seal design without overly compressing and damaging the circumferential edge of the membrane electrode assembly.
US07914936B2
A fuel cell system including a fuel supply control mechanism, which is disposed between the fuel tank and the fuel cell, capable of interrupting the supply of the fuel; and a temperature sensor provided to a circuit connecting the fuel supply control mechanism to the fuel cell for changing a resistance according to at least one of a temperature of the power generation of the fuel cell and a temperature of an electronic device supplied with electric power from the fuel cell. The fuel supply control mechanism is operated by a change in the resistance of the temperature sensor so that the supply of the fuel is interrupted. The system enables more reliably the interruption of a supply of fuel by a passive structure in a control when a temperature of a power generation portion of the fuel cell exceeds an allowable range.
US07914935B2
A method for managing fuel cell power increases in a fuel cell system using an air flow feedback delay. The method comprises the steps of determining a required air mass flow rate at a predetermined point in the fuel cell system, determining an actual air mass flow at a predetermined point in the fuel cell system, calculating an air flow feedback delay as a function of the required air mass flow rate and the actual air mass flow, and delaying an external circuit from increasing current draw from the fuel cell stack by the magnitude of the air flow feedback delay.
US07914933B2
A process and apparatus for producing hydrogen for a fuel cell by (a) reacting a fuel comprising a hydrocarbon and/or an oxygenate with steam, under steam reforming conditions in a reforming reactor to produce a product stream comprising hydrogen, (b) feeding at least part of the hydrogen produced in step a) to a fuel cell, to produce electric power and a waste stream comprising hydrogen, (c) reacting at least part of the waste stream from step b) with an oxygen-containing gas in a combustion reactor, and (d) using the heat energy produced in step c) to supply energy to the steam reforming reaction in step a) in which the combustion reactor is positioned within the reforming reactor to facilitate heat transfer between the stages.
US07914928B2
An electrolyte for a lithium battery includes a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive comprising a) a compound represented by the following Formula (1), and b) a compound selected from the group consisting of a sulfone-based compound, a poly(ester)(metha)acrylate, a polymer of poly(ester)(metha)acrylate, and a mixture thereof: wherein R1 is a C1 to C10 alkyl, a C1 to C10 alkoxy, or a C6 to C10 aryl, and preferably a methyl, ethyl, or methoxy, X is a halogen, and m and n are integers ranging from 1 to 5, where m+n is less than or equal to 6.
US07914926B2
A flat-shaped battery according to the present invention includes: an outer can having an opening at its upper end; a gasket disposed at an inner edge of the opening; and a sealing plate that seals the opening together with the gasket. In this flat-shaped battery, the outer can houses a power generation element, the sealing plate is fixed to the inner edge of the opening of the outer can via the gasket by caulking, a nickel or nickel-containing plating layer having a thickness in a range from 1 to 10 μm is formed on an outer surface of a base composing the outer can, and a gold or gold-containing plating layer is formed on an outer surface of the nickel or nickel-containing plating layer.
US07914918B2
A battery holder comprises a collapsible frame configured to receive at least one battery, the frame couplable to an electronic device to provide power from the at least one battery to the electronic device.
US07914912B2
Described herein is a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of nano-fibers attached to the substrate. Each nano-fiber moves between the first and second states without an external mechanical load being applied to the nano-fibers. Each nano-fiber is configured to move between a first state and a second state in response to applied electricity, magnetism, chemical solution, heat, or light. Each nano-fiber is straight in the first state and curved in the second state, and when the nano-fibers are in the second state and in contact with a contact surface, the nano-fibers adhere to the contact surface.
US07914908B2
Azatriphenylene derivatives and their use in the electron-transporting layer of an electroluminescent device that comprises an anode, a spaced-apart cathode, and at least one electron-transporting layer disposed between the spaced-apart anode and cathode. Such EL devices provide lower drive voltage, improved power efficiency, and longer operational lifetime.
US07914905B2
A π-conjugated aromatic ring-containing compound represented by the formula (1) below is relatively stable and useful as a light-emitting material for light from blue-violet region to red region. [In the formula, R1-R6 independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like; A and D independently represent a pyridine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyridazine ring, pyrazine ring, furan ring, pyrrole ring, pyrazole ring, imidazole ring, thiophene ring, benzothiadiazole ring, thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine ring, furo[3,4-b]pyrazine ring, 6H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazine ring or the like; a1, a2 and a3 independently represent 0 or 1; and n1 and n2 independently represent an integer of 1-5.]
US07914899B2
Certain embodiments of the present technology provide a capacitor film comprising a polypropylene material. The capacitor film comprises xylene solubles of at least 0.5 percent by weight. In certain embodiments the xylene solubles are in a range of 0.5 to 1.5 percent by weight. The film also comprises a crystalline fraction melting in the temperature range of 200° C. to 105° C. determined by stepwise isothermal segregation technique. The crystalline fraction comprises a part, the part representing at least 10 percent by weight of said crystalline fraction, and wherein the part melts at a melting rate of 10° C./min. Certain embodiments present a capacitor film where the part melts at or below 140° C. In other embodiments, the said part melts at or below the temperature T=Tm−3° C., wherein Tm is the melting temperature of the capacitor film and/or the polypropylene material, and the part represents at least 45 percent by weight of the crystalline fraction.
US07914898B2
The present invention provides a resin-coated metal plate suitable as a cover plate for use in perforating a printed-wiring board with a drill, capable of effectively preventing the heat generation of drill bits and the scattering of chips while sufficiently performing lubrication and discharging the chips, to highly efficiently form a high-quality perforated-hole with excellent smoothness of the inner wall thereof while reducing the risk of breakage of the drill and eliminating any surface tackiness to achieve excellent operating performance and storage stability. The resin-coated metal plate of the present invention comprising a metal base plate, and a film made of a thermoplastic resin and formed on at least one of the opposite surfaces of said metal base plate to cover thereover, said thermoplastic resin being substantially water-insoluble, wherein said thermoplastic resin has: a melting peak temperature measured according to JIS K7121 ranging from 60° C. to 120° C.; a melt viscosity ranging from 1×103 P to 1×104 P under a shear rate of 200 mm/sec, and from 5×102 P to 5×103 P under a shear rate of 3000 mm/sec, in the state when said thermoplastic resin is molten at 150° C.; and a durometer D hardness measured according to JIS K7215 ranging from 20 to 45.
US07914890B2
A polyamide substrate having deposited thereon a copolymer effective to impart resistance to staining by turmeric wherein said copolymer comprises polymer units derived from (a) at least one cyclic olefin having from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and (b) maleic anhydride wherein the molar ratio of total cyclic olefin to maleic anhydride is between about 0.5 and 1.3, and a method for using the copolymer to impart stain resistance to a polyamide substrate.
US07914889B2
A wound management fibre comprising a base fibre having a chitosan material associated therewith, characterised in that the wound management fibre has a significant proportion of chitosan associated therewith.
US07914884B2
The present disclosure relates to cementitious articles that are reinforced with a fabric made at least partially of high modulus polyolefin monofilament fibers. Preferably, the polypropylene monofilament yarns have a 3% secant modulus of elasticity of at least 100 g/denier. The high modulus polypropylene fabric has an intrinsic resistance to the alkaline conditions present in a cementitious composite, as well as a low elongation at break. The high modulus polypropylene may contain a nucleating agent to facilitate the process of obtaining desired draw ratio.
US07914882B2
The invention relates to a stable high-performance flat sealing material for application at a temperature up to 330° C. which is compacted by heat and pressure in such a way that a composite film, i.e. a reinforced (fibrous) film is obtainable by compressing one or several non-woven fabrics or one or several non-woven mat weaves at a predetermined pressure and temperature. The inventive flat sealing material is suitable for highly stressed joints, in particular for cylinder head gaskets. The thus produced composite film or the (fiber and/or binder) reinforced film has the layer thicknesses ranging from 0.01 to 3.0 mm obtainable in one operation from one or several non-woven fabric layers, thereby making it possible for the first time to obtain the layer thicknesses of 0.01 mm using the inventive materials.
US07914881B2
The invention relates to a multi-layer biaxially oriented film comprising a base layer and at least one covering layer. Said covering layer comprises at least one polymer of at least one hydroxycarboxylic acid, and contains between 2 and 10 wt. % of a glycerine fatty acid ester and up to 0.5 wt. % of mica.
US07914878B2
A resilient wall base member manufactured with pre-scored grooves to allow relatively short, straight lengths to be used for both flat walls and wall corner junctures without on site scoring operations or equipment. The lengths can either be pre-cut during manufacturing to convenient lengths or can be cut after manufacturing from coils.
US07914877B2
A thin plate member has a uniform thickness of not less than 5 μm and not more than 100 μm, includes at least a ceramic sheet, formed by sintering. The thin plate member has plural convex portions protruding from one plane P of the thin plate member, and plural concave portions caved in from the plane P. Accordingly, the deflection amount obtained when the thin plate member is supported at a predetermined support section of the thin plate member in a direction orthogonal to the plane P is smaller than the deflection amount of a thin plate member that is flat without having convex and concave portions. Therefore, a thin plate member which is difficult to be deformed is provided.
US07914871B2
The present invention relates to a composition for a friction material that is suitable for the production of friction materials such as disc brake pads or brake linings used for braking automobiles or the like, and also relates to a friction material that uses the composition. The composition for a friction material according to the present invention comprises a fibrous substrate, a binder and a filler, wherein the fibrous substrate comprises at least two types of biosoluble ceramic fibers having different fiber lengths.
US07914863B2
A liquid crystal alignment solution is provided. The liquid crystal alignment solution includes a first polyimide-polyamide acid and a second polyimide-polyamide acid. The first polyimide-polyamide acid is represented by formula (A), and the second polyimide-polyamide acid is represented by formula (B), in which T1, T2, T3 and T4 are each independently a tetravalent residue of a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride; D1, D2, D3 and D4 are each independently a divalent residue of a diamine; and m, n, p and q are each independently an positive integer, wherein m/(m+n)≦0.5 and p/(p+q)≧0.5.
US07914855B2
The present invention provides a flooring material including a base portion, a coating portion being positioned in contact with an upper surface of the base portion and creating an upper surface of the flooring material, wherein the coating portion is substantially free from contaminants from the base portion which decrease the stain resistance of the coating portion and wherein the coating portion includes a first particulate material which at least partially penetrates the base portion and is proud from the upper surface of the flooring material.
US07914850B2
A method for producing nanostructures on a substrate, by dripping a solution of nanostructure-forming material in water onto the substrate heated to a temperature above the temperature at which a drop of the solution is initially suspended on a vapor cushion after being applied by dripping onto the substrate, with nanostructures being formed when the drops evaporate.
US07914839B2
Method for improving the spattering behavior of a cooking fat product containing 0-5 wt. % of a dispersed aqueous phase comprising the steps a. selecting a cooking fat product containing 0-5 wt. % of a dispersed aqueous phase, b. selecting fat insoluble vegetable matter having a consistency which allows milling to a powder, c. milling the vegetable matter to a powder having a volume weighted mean particle diameter (d4,3) selected from the range 1-2000 & micro; m, admixing the resulting powder to the cooking fat product in an amount of 0.1-25 wt. % on product and getting it evenly dispersed throughout the product.
US07914834B2
The invention provides a method of forming an edible item. The method includes the step of forming dough into a substantially planar ribbon having a first height. The dough is at least partially elastic. The method also includes the step of permanently displacing a portion of the at least partially elastic ribbon to a second height greater than the first height with a cutting die. The inventive method can produce a cracker formed from sheetable dough. The inventive cracker includes a first portion of planar configuration and a second portion integrally formed with and raised from said first portion.
US07914832B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a chlorella fermented food in which a flavor and odor that are peculiar to algae are reduced while production of pheophorbide is suppressed. The method for producing a chlorella fermented food according to the present invention can be achieved by using a chlorella negative in coliform bacteria count, and having a content of free pheophorbide equal to or less than 18 mg % and a viable general bacteria count equal to or less than 8000 cfu/mL, or using a chlorella subjected to a heat sterilization treatment to ferment the chlorella with a baker's yeast. The baker's yeast is blended with the chlorella at a ratio of preferably 0.1 to 15% by weight. Further, the fermentation treatment is preferably carried out in the presence of glucose and a lactic acid bacterium.
US07914819B1
Disclosed are a series of kneadable, pliable polymers for use in forming compositions that can be used as bone wax or as a cellular scaffold. Polymers can include a polysaccharide backbone and can be biocompatible and thrombogenic. In addition, the compositions can be osteoconductive as well as biodegradable. The disclosed compositions can be used to help control bleeding from bone surfaces as well as to promote bone regeneration and fusion. The compositions can inhibit the growth of microorganisms in implantation sites and can be loaded with additional bioactive agents to further promote healing and infection prevention.
US07914815B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for delivering pharmaceuticals to the lens of the eye to treat or prevent presbyopia. According to the embodiments, pharmaceuticals may be applied by providing the pharmaceuticals to the eye and promoting delivery of the pharmaceuticals into the lens capsule and/or lens fibers of the lens of the eye. Methods include iontophoresis, nano-medication, and photonic activation to deliver the pharmaceuticals to treat or prevent presbyopia.
US07914812B2
A wound care dressing is disclosed. The wound care dressing comprises one or more nonwoven blankets, where each nonwoven blanket comprises a plurality of fibers, where each of the plurality of fibers are formed from one or more saccharides in optional combination with one or more medicaments. The invention further comprises a method to treat wounds using the wound care dressing as a transcutaneous pulsatile drug delivery system that may be used externally (e.g. skin, bones, cartilage, and organs) or internally (e.g. internal surface of a blood vessel).
US07914809B2
A medical device having at least one composite region thereon formed of composite material comprising a polymer and a fluorinated sol-gel derived ceramic. The composite material is useful as a coating material for imparting a low coefficient of friction to a substrate.
US07914802B2
The present invention relates to mucosal vaccine adjuvants containing flagellins, the structural component of flagella, originated from Vibrio vulnificus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes as an active component.
US07914801B1
Water-in-oil priming emulsion vaccines increase the titers and/or avidity indexes of antibodies following a second dose of a commercial or experimental vaccine resulting in increased protection for disease in animal.
US07914800B2
The present invention relates to a vaccine adjuvant for enhancing immune response of an individual to a vaccine, which comprises an immune-enhancing effective amount of an LTB4 agent in association with a pharmaceutically effective vaccine carrier.
US07914790B2
A human IgM monoclonal antibody responding to HIV-infected cells too, which is characterized by lysing activated human lymphocytes, etc. under the mediation by a homologous human complement, is obtained. Using the thus obtained monoclonal antibody, it is intended to provide an immune reaction controlling remedy, etc. containing the human IgM monoclonal antibody which responds specifically to activated lymphocytes and induces cell lysis under the mediation by a homologous complement. Using the human IgM monoclonal antibody responding to activated human lymphocytes, it is also intended to provide an HIV remedy, etc. characterized by lysing and eliminating activated lymphocytes to thereby treat transplantation rejection and autoimmune diseases caused by an over-response of T lymphocytes as well as HIV infection.
US07914786B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of renal damage. The invention provides protein-based renal therapeutic agents for administration to subjects in order to prevent or treat renal degeneration or damage.
US07914785B2
The present invention relates in a first aspect to a B-cell depleting anti-CD20 antibody or a CD20-binding antibody fragment thereof for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies or fragments thereof which are preferably humanized for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in a subject afflicted with said disease.
US07914782B2
Compositions suitable for oral administration to an animal comprising at least one immune stress-reducing enzyme in an amount effective to decrease the level of positive acute phase protein in an animal, increase the level of negative acute phase protein in an animal, and/or improve animal growth performance is provided, as are methods using such compositions. The compositions include animal feed compositions, liquid compositions other than animal feed, and solid compositions other than animal feed.
US07914779B2
A method of manufacturing a tissue matrix for implantation into a patient is disclosed. The method sets forth collecting embryonic stem cells from a placenta which has been treated to remove residual cord blood and seeding the collected stem cells onto or into a tissue matrix. The seeded tissue matrix is then implanted on or into a patient. The seeded tissue matrix made by the method of the present invention is also disclosed.
US07914777B2
Ant foods mixed together in a matrix suitable to be used as baits for ants are provided. This ant matrix is preferred by ants over naturally-occurring foods such as other known ant matrices. It comprises protein, carbohydrate, fat and sterol as ant-preferred nutrients and uric acid as a bait enhancing agent is carried in a unique gel system that is specifically attractive to insects. Methods of controlling ants using such matrices to deliver ant toxins are also provided.
US07914763B1
An efficient semi-continuous preparation of manganese thiosulfate (MnS2O3, MnTS) from manganese hydrosulfite and sulfur at elevated temperature is described. Manganese hydrosulfite is prepared from commercial manganese carbonate and sulfur dioxide. The resulting product is an emulation of liquid manganese thiosulfate and solid by-products. A manganese thiosulfate solution is produced according to the invention by use of certain mole ratios of MgCO3 to sulfur, and certain parameters such as the temperature of the reaction process and the pH conditions, including rate and duration of SO2 purging, which causes the by-products to be reduced to less than 2% by weight. The resulting manganese thiosulfate is a pinkish liquid with concentration up to 20%.
US07914755B2
Wet-chemical methods involving the use of water-soluble hydrolytically stable metal-ion chelate precursors and the use of a nonmetal-ion-containing strong base can be used in a coprecipitation procedure for the preparation of ceramic powders. Examples of the precipitants used include tetraalkylammonium hydroxides. A composition-modified barium titanate is one of the ceramic powders that can be produced. Certain metal-ion chelates can be prepared from 2-hydroxypropanoic acid and ammonium hydroxide.
US07914750B2
A continuous process and related system for producing high purity silica are disclosed. The process and system utilize a unique high temperature rotary reactor which excludes oxygen. The use of one or more anoxic gases is described, that upon administration into the system promote the exclusion of oxygen.
US07914744B2
Methods and systems for the preparation of chlorohydrins are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of olefins into the chlorinating phase. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce chlorination time.
US07914727B2
For producing a plastic component (2) with an internal hollow space (3), at first plastic is injection molded into an injection mold (4) and its cavity (6) and then for displacing the plastic melt from the internal hollow space (3) to be formed, gas under pressure is injected into the still liquid plastic melt, after which for cooling the plastic, a cooling liquid is also introduced into this internal hollow space (3). So that this cooling can be performed as quickly as possibly, the gas is compressed with the help of the cooling liquid and inserted or injected into the plastic melt, so that the cooling liquid directly follows the gas, wherein it can already extend into the internal hollow space (3) before this space is completely formed by the gas, i.e., gas and cooling liquid can be present simultaneously in the internal hollow space (3) to be formed.
US07914713B2
An electromagnetic-wave shielding film of a display panel and a plasma display device are manufactured by transcribing a conductive ink material onto a substrate by an off-set process, and firing the conductive ink material to form a conductive material.
US07914701B2
There is provided a lateral flow diagnostic device that employs a phosphorescent particle. The particle includes, for example, an organic phosphorescent material encapsulated in a cross-linked halogen-containing polymeric matrix. The cross-linked halogen-containing polymeric matrix has at least one percent by mass weight of halogen atoms, and the cross-linked halogen-containing polymeric matrix shields the encapsulated phosphorescent material from phosphorescence quenchers.
US07914692B2
A direct current pulse voltage is applied on a treatment gas to generate a discharge plasma. The duty ratio of the direct current pulse voltage is controlled within the range of 0.0001% or more and 8.0% or less. The rise time of the direct current pulse voltage is controlled in the range of not lower than 0.1 V/nsec and not higher than 10000 V/nsec. Alternatively, a positive pulse and a negative pulse are applied from a single power source for performing the discharge plasma and the impurity implantation.
US07914669B2
A process to substantially reduce the sulfur content of a liquid hydrocarbon stream by contacting the hydrocarbon stream with an aqueous stream containing a mixture of one or more extraction agents selected from hypochlorites, cyanurates and alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, to remove sulfur compounds.
US07914661B2
Cathodic protection of a structure including a steel member at least partly buried in a covering layer, such as steel rebar in a concrete structure, is provided by embedding sacrificial anodes into the concrete layer at spaced positions over the layer and connecting the anodes to the rebar. The anode body is formed, by pressing together finely divided powder, flakes or fibers of a sacrificial anode material such as zinc to define a porous body having pores therein. The sacrificial anode material of the anode member is directly in contact with the covering material by being buried or inserted as a tight fit into a drilled hole so that any expansion forces therefrom would be applied to the concrete with the potential of causing cracking. The pores are arranged however such that corrosion products from corrosion of the anode body are received into the pores sufficiently to prevent expansion of the anode body to an extent which would cause cracking of the covering material.
US07914656B2
The present invention relates to matrixes, arrays, systems and methods for analyzing biomolecules by their isoelectric point, optionally, in combination with a second dimension analysis. The assortment of matrixes, arrays and systems provided herein are useful for causing a biomolecule under the influence of an electrical field to accumulate into an buffer that comprises a pH value that is the same as the isoelectric point of the biomolecule. The methods of this invention are useful for, e.g., research and diagnostic purposes.
US07914655B2
A circuit arrangement, an electrochemical sensor, a sensor arrangement, and a method for processing a current signal provided by a sensor electrode are disclosed. The circuit arrangement includes a sensor electrode, a first circuit unit, electrically coupled to the sensor electrode and a second circuit unit, including a first capacitor, whereby the first circuit arrangement is embodied to hold the electrical potential of the sensor electrode in a given first reference range about a set electrical potential and, when the sensor electrode potential falls outside the first reference range, the first capacitor and the sensor electrode are coupled such that a matching of the electrical potentials is possible. The second circuit unit is embodied such that, when the electrical potential of the first capacitor falls outside a second reference range, this event is detected and the first capacitor brought to a first electrical reference potential.
US07914650B2
In an air filtering apparatus in which power is supplied from a power supply to electrodes in an electrolytic bath to electrolyze water in the electrolytic bath and thus generate electrolytic water and the generated electrolytic water and air are supplied to a gas-liquid contact member to filter the air, a voltage varying unit varies the voltage applied between the electrodes, and includes a voltage switching unit for switching a power supply voltage, a voltage adjusting unit for adjusting the power supply voltage switched by the voltage switching unit and applying the adjusted voltage between the electrodes and a controller for controlling the voltage switching unit so that the power supply voltage is adjusted to a voltage nearest to the adjusted power supply voltage by the voltage adjusting unit.
US07914634B2
In a method for sealing an insulating material for construction applications, the insulating material is sealed with a material sheet including an ionomer so as to provide a vapor retarder for the insulating material.
US07914633B1
Sulfur-free and carbon-free, white propellant compositions for use as a blackpowder substitute in firearms, munitions, and pyrotechnics to form combustion byproducts that are water soluble and are free of corrosive sulfur compounds and black carbon residues. Formulations include a fuel agent selected from the group consisting of sodium benzoate, lactose, sodium salicylate, sodium m-nitrobenzoate, and mixtures thereof. The fuel agent is combined with dextrin, potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, and tricalcium phosphate. Dicyanodiamide may be incorporated in the formulation as a burn rate modifier.
US07914632B2
A novel compound, used for example, as a gas generating fuel, is methoxy carbonyl-5 amino tetrazole. A method of making the compound is also provided. A gas generating composition, containing the novel compound as a fuel, and an oxidizer is also provided. The novel compound may be contained within a gas generant composition 12, within a gas generator 10. The gas generator 10 may be contained within a gas generating system 200 such as an airbag inflator 10 or seat belt assembly 150, or more broadly within a vehicle occupant protection system 180.
US07914607B2
A domestic appliance including an adsorption unit and further including a process air conduit, wherein an adsorption container operates as a heat exchanger for heating a stream of air flowing in the process air conduit and being applied to the adsorption container, with the adsorption unit configured for alternate and reversible operation in a first operating state in which a stream of air flowing in the process air conduit is applied to the adsorption container and which adsorbs adsorptive evaporating in the phase transition container, and in a second operating state in which the adsorbing agent is heated by the heater and the adsorptive is desorbed, with desorbed adsorptive condensing in the phase transition container, the domestic appliance including an assembly operatively associated with the adsorption unit for applying a stream of air flowing in the process air conduit to the adsorption container in the second operating state.
US07914605B2
A method and apparatus for the separation of particles from a flow of gas, where both large, heavy and small, light particles are separated off from the gas by the combined effect of an electrostatic attraction force and a centrifugal force in a centrifugal separator of the type that comprises a rotor that has a plurality of adjacent surface elements with intermediate gas flow gaps and that is mounted in such a way that it can rotate in a surrounding casing, which casing has an inlet for unclean gas and an outlet for clean gas and an outlet for separated-off particles.
US07914593B2
The present invention provides a fuel composition capable of suppressing reduction of fuel consumption, maintaining the excellent exhaust gas properties of a Fischer-Tropsch synthetic oil. The fuel composition comprises a Fischer-Tropsch synthetic oil and a petroleum-based hydrocarbon mixture A having the following properties (1) to (5) in an amount of 10 to 30 percent by volume on the basis of the total mass of the composition: (1) 15° C. density: 800 Kg/cm3 or greater and 900 Kg/m3 or less; (2) 10 volume % distillation temperature (T10): 150° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower; (3) 97 volume % distillation temperature (T97): 270° C. or lower; (4) aromatic content: 40 percent by volume or more and 70 percent by volume or less; and (5) sulfur content: 30 ppm by mass or less.
US07914591B2
Provided is a process for dyeing keratin materials, comprising applying to the keratin materials: a) at least one anhydrous composition (A) comprising at least one fatty substance, at least one surfactant, at least one alkaline agent, and at least one colored or coloring species; and b) at least one aqueous composition (B) comprising at least one oxidizing agent; wherein: the at least one fatty substance is present in the at least one anhydrous composition (A) in an amount of greater than 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the at least one anhydrous composition (A); and the at least one colored or coloring species comprises at least one oxidation dye and/or at least one direct dye; on the condition that when the at least one anhydrous composition (A) comprises, as the at least one colored or coloring species, only at least one direct dye, the at least one fatty substance is present in an amount ranging from 40 to 80% by weight, relative to the total weight of the at least one anhydrous composition (A). Also provided is a multi-compartment device comprising: the composition (A) and the composition (B) as defined above.
US07914590B2
The present invention relates to a method for carrying out optical readings on textile materials submitted to dyeing.
US07914581B2
Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods. Devices expand linearly to provide secure fixation between or among anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies of the spine.
US07914577B2
A medical device for treating a defective heart valve. The medical device comprises a delivery sheath and an implantable device moveably disposed within the delivery sheath. The implantable device further comprises a distal expandable basket, a proximal expandable basket, and a connecting member coupling at a first end to the distal expandable basket and at a second end to the proximal expandable basket. Each of the distal expandable basket and proximal expandable basket is in a collapsed state during delivery and an expanded state after deployment. An actuator is releasably coupled to the implantable device. When coupled to the implantable device, the actuator can move the implantable device in a way to allow for positioning of the distal and proximal expandable baskets.
US07914576B2
An apparatus for repairing a cardiac valve includes an annuloplasty ring having an expandable support member with oppositely disposed proximal and distal end portions and a main body portion between the end portions. The proximal end portion includes a plurality of wing members extending from the main body portion. Each of the wing members includes at least one hook member for embedding into a cardiac wall and a valve annulus to secure the annuloplasty ring therein. The apparatus also includes an energy delivery mechanism for selectively contracting the annuloplasty ring to restrict the valve annulus and correct valvular insufficiency. The energy delivery mechanism includes a detachable electrical lead having distal and proximal end portions. The distal end portion has a securing member for operably attaching the distal end portion to a portion of the expandable support member. The proximal end portion is operably connected to an energy delivery source.
US07914572B2
A stent graft (10) has a tubular body (12) of a biocompatible material and at least one fenestration (18, 20). The or each fenestration has a tubular side branch stitched into it with a portion of the tubular side branch extending within the tubular body and a portion of the tubular side branch extending exteriorly of the tubular body. The stitching by which the tubular side branch is mounted into the fenestration extends circumferentially and diagonally from one end of the tubular side branch to the other such that the tubular side branch extends from the tubular body at an angle thereto. The tubular side branch has a resilient ring around at least one and preferably both ends thereof and a self expanding stent in between them. The tubular side branch can have a circumferential linear portion (46) at an inner end to engage against the inner wall (58) of the tubular body. The tubular side branch can have a stent made from a single wire forming a first ring (45), a second ring (47), the second ring defining a plane which is substantially parallel to and spaced axially apart from the plane of the first ring and a number of helical wire portions (49) extending between the first and second ring. Preferably the wire is a shape memory wire such as Nitinol™ wire.
US07914569B2
A heart valve prosthesis is provided having a self-expanding multi-level frame that supports a valve body comprising a skirt and plurality of coapting leaflets. The frame transitions between a contracted delivery configuration that enables percutaneous transluminal delivery, and an expanded deployed configuration having an asymmetric hourglass shape. The valve body skirt and leaflets are constructed so that the center of coaptation may be selected to reduce horizontal forces applied to the commissures of the valve, and to efficiently distribute and transmit forces along the leaflets and to the frame. Alternatively, the valve body may be used as a surgically implantable replacement valve prosthesis.
US07914565B2
A handheld appliance suitable for skin treatment and/or personal care operations comprises an applicator structure having a thermally conductive element supported so as to be exposable to controlled release of pressurized fluid within a gas-expansion chamber. The just-expanded gas causes an endothermic reaction in which heat is removed from the applicator. The applicator is usable to then draw heat energy from skin, etc. When applied to skin, a numbing effect is experienced which can ease pain associated with depilation, discomfort associated with exfoliation, be useful in treating wounds, etc.
US07914562B2
A method and device are provided for reducing abnormal vertebral orientation using a fixation plate that is used in conjunction with a positioning tool to reduce spinal deviation and properly position and secure adjacent vertebrae for fusion of the spine. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful in minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laterally performed anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis.
US07914561B2
Bone screws and bone plates are provided that offer the surgeon the ability to either assemble the screws to the plate, or the plate to the screws, depending on the surgeon's preference and the patient's circumstances. The bone screws and bone plates of the present invention include a combination of geometric configurations that allow the screws and plates to fit together from different assembly directions. Additionally, the bone screws and bone plates can include material resilience features to allow expansion/contraction during assembly to allow bi-directional attachment to one another.
US07914553B2
Methods and apparatus for treating defects in the annulus fibrosis are described. The methods include providing first and second elongate fastening members, each having a first end and an anchor on the first end that is substantially transverse when deployed. The first end of the first and second elongate fastening members are positioned distal of the outer layer and at least one inner layer of the annulus fibrosis. The defect is then closed by interlocking the first and second elongate fastening members. Alternatively, second ends of the elongate fastening members may be linked, resulting in reducing the size of the opening of the defect. Devices having first and second elongate fastening members, each having a first end, a second end, and an anchor on the first end that is substantially transverse when deployed; and a connector that links the first and second elongate fastening members are also described.
US07914549B2
A novel catheter and methods for using the same are described herein. Embodiments of the catheter utilize sets of expandable members which collapse into recesses which are part of the catheter body. The recesses provide the catheter body with a low profile for insertion of the catheter into small blood vessels. In addition, the recesses may comprise openings for capturing emboli and clots by suction.
US07914548B2
Method and devices for the prevention or treatment of hair loss, particularly male pattern baldness (MPB), are provided. The pressure on the hair follicles is reduced.
US07914544B2
A clip of a self-closing type is used for valve repair. The clip is generally U-shaped with two end points separated from each other when constrained to be in an open configuration, but tends to coil up to assume its natural closed configuration if the constraint is removed. At least one end point is connected through a suture to a tissue-penetrating needle. A needle holder has an outer tube and an inner member which has a slit at the front and is slidable inside the outer tube. A double-arm clip assembly with each of the end points of the clip attached through a suture to a separate needle may be used for valve repair and may contain two of such clips mutually connected by a flexible connector whereby two leaflets are held together by the connector, with the two clips each anchored to a corresponding one of the leaflets.
US07914540B2
A medical device configured to be inserted into a patient's body to retrieve material from the patient's body includes a basket assembly. The basket assembly is configured to transition between various states including an expanded state and a collapsed state. The basket assembly may be substantially covered in a flexible sheet except for a side-facing opening when the basket assembly is in the expanded state. When the basket assembly is in the collapsed state, the side-facing opening may be substantially closed. The device may be inserted into the patient's body while the basket assembly is in the collapsed state. While in the patient's body, the basket assembly may be transitioned to the expanded state. Then, a physician may maneuver material to be removed from the patient's body into the basket assembly via the side-facing opening. Next, the basket assembly may be transitioned into the collapsed state or a partially collapsed state so that the basket assembly can be removed from the patient's body.
US07914538B2
An inserter for inserting a suture anchor into bone. The inserter has external markings that uniquely identify the orientations and the relative longitudinal positions of at least two suture passages through a suture anchor releasably engaged with the inserter. The markings assist a surgeon in determining a preferred placement and orientation of the anchor at an operative site during a surgical procedure.
US07914531B1
An internal system and method for fixating an appendicular bone fracture in an individual. A plurality of fixating screws, each of which is adapted for placement in the bone at an anatomically favorable position, and at least one of which is adapted to provide interfragmentary reduction of the bone fracture are connectable to a rigid rod to provide bone fixation. A fracture positioning clamp for holding a reduced fracture in place until application of a fixation system.
US07914530B2
Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve. Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted to restore the normal angular relationship of the vertebrae adjacent to that disc space. An extended outer sleeve having extended portions capable of maintaining the vertebrae distracted in their normal angular relationship is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.
US07914517B2
A system and method for adjusting a catheter to create a medicated atmosphere in an organ, or body cavity is disclosed. The system comprises a catheter, such as an aerosolization catheter, that can be manipulated during use and an introduction device for the introduction and manipulation, by rotational and/or axial positioning, of the aerosolization catheter. The method includes inserting the catheter into a body cavity via an introducer apparatus and adjusting an angle or orientation of the exit end of the catheter so that a substance provided to the catheter will be controllably applied to the body cavity at desired locations.
US07914511B2
An exemplary method of reducing the volume of a stomach comprises providing an adhesive applier and a biocompatible adhesive. The exemplary method further comprises introducing at least a portion of the adhesive applier into the stomach and dispensing the adhesive through the adhesive applier into the stomach. The adhesive may be applied between the submucosa and muscle layers of the stomach to reduce the volume of the stomach. The adhesive may alternatively be applied in layers onto the inner surface of the stomach. Alternatively, a non-expandable member may be introduced into the stomach, and an adhesive may be used to secure the non-expandable member to the stomach. Such uses may provide a treatment for morbid obesity. An adhesive may also be used to provide flow restriction, such as by injecting the adhesive between the submucosa and muscle layers of a cardia or rectum.
US07914510B2
A template system for use in conjunction with a multiple reservoir or chambered implantable infusion pump is disclosed. The template system preferably includes at least one template having opening(s) for guiding a needle or syringe to various ports of the multiple reservoir pump. Preferably, each template includes at least two surfaces for cooperating with a like portions of the implantable pump, for properly seating the template on the pump. A kit is also disclosed including three templates for guiding injections into different ports of the pump.
US07914493B2
A wire guide and a method for its percutaneous guidance within a body vessel are provided. The wire guide includes an outer component for insertion into the body vessel and a core wire disposed in the outer component and movable between first and second positions. The core wire includes an engaging portion that extends from the outer component to engage the body vessel when the core wire is in the second position.
US07914491B2
The present disclosure relates to a surgical access member for establishing percutaneous access to a surgical worksite within tissue. The surgical access member includes a constricting mechanism that is adapted to removably receive a surgical instrument and resiliently transition between an open state and a constricted state. In the open state, insertion of the surgical instrument through the constricting mechanism is substantially uninhibited. In the constricted state, the constricting mechanism substantially limits transverse movement of the surgical instrument, and may facilitate the creation of a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith.
US07914489B1
An improved syringe and spring clip therefor used in single use (aspirating and non-aspirating) syringes in which the syringe has an improved, X-shaped nose piece for assisting the attachment of a sheath and an improved spring clip for both ensuring better operation of the single use aspect of the device and for ensuring that only a predetermined amount of medicine is loaded into the syringe when the syringe is loaded with medicine.
US07914488B2
A needle point protective device for hypodermic and intravenous needles, catheter introducers, and similar devices protects users from injury and infection. The needle point protective device includes a needle point guard that is slidably mounted within the needle handle. In use, the needle point guard is integral with a cannula guide that is engaged with the needle cannula with enough force to cause the needle cannula to be subject to spring tension when the needle point is retracted proximal to the needle point guard, the needle point springs downward and behind the needle point guard. In one embodiment, the needle point guard is held in position manually as the needle is retracted. In another embodiment, the needle point guard is held in place automatically as the needle is retracted.
US07914487B2
A non-compliant medical balloon comprises a base balloon including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween. A braided fabric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the base balloon, wherein the sleeve is formed of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another. The sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon so as to prevent excessive expansion of the base balloon when the base balloon is internally pressurized.
US07914484B2
An applicator to be used with first and second liquid-containing syringes comprises an applicator main body for receiving the syringes, a gas flow path adapted to be connected to a gas supply for supplying a gas, a nozzle through which is discharged the gas and the liquids in the syringes, an operation part adapted to be pressed to operate pushers of the syringes, and an opening and closing mechanism in the operation part for shutting off/opening the gas flow path. The opening and closing mechanism is operable to open the gas flow path in synchronization with the pressing operation by the operation part.
US07914460B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for analyzing glucose present in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). In certain embodiments of the invention, electrochemical- or coulometric-based sensing technologies are used to analyze EBC for the presence and/or concentration of glucose.
US07914457B2
An ultrasonic probe of a radial scan type mountable on an ultrasonic observation apparatus, which inputs and outputs M numbers of signals in parallel, comprises the following: N (N>M) numbers of ultrasonic transducers disposed on an outer periphery of a tip, and grouped into plural sensor element groups activated in sequence, each of which has M numbers of ultrasonic transducers; N numbers of first signal lines respectively connected to the N numbers of ultrasonic transducers for transmitting a drive signal for driving the ultrasonic transducers and an echo signal from within a living organism; M numbers of second signal lines connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus; and a multiplexer disposed between the first signal lines and the second signal lines, which selectively switches M numbers of the first signal lines for respectively connecting to the second signal lines according to the sensor element group to be activated.
US07914456B2
An ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound wave transmit/receive surface coming into contact with a contact surface of a subject, an ultrasound wave transmit/receive section which transmits an ultrasound wave to the subject via the ultrasound wave transmit/receive surface and the contact surface and receives an ultrasound wave reflected in the subject, and a pressing mechanism for performing a pressing operation for applying a pressure to the contact surface perpendicularly to the ultrasound wave transmit/receive surface via the ultrasound wave transmit/receive surface.
US07914449B2
A diagnostic support system for diabetes including an input device used for inputting diagnostic data including clinical testing data; a biological model having parameters and which represents a organ function related to diabetes as a numerical model; an predicting means for predicting parameter values suited for a patient based on the diagnostic data and the biological model; a pathological condition analyzing means for analyzing a diabetic pathological condition of a patient based on the parameter values predicted by the predicting means; a diagnostic support information generating means for generating diagnostic support information based on the analyzed pathological condition; and a diagnostic support information outputting means for outputting information obtained by the diagnostic support information generating means. A computer-readable storage medium is also disclosed.
US07914438B2
A ventricular patch to restore the ventricular architecture of the heart includes a sheet of biocompatible material having a generally oval configuration, and a continuous ring fixed to the sheet. The ring has a generally oval configuration similar to the generally oval configuration of the sheet of biocompatible material. The ring defines a central generally oval region of the patch inside the ring and a circumferential region of the patch outside of the ring. The central generally oval region has a major axis and a minor axis. The ratio of the major axis to the minor axis is about 4:1.
US07914432B2
An improved apparatus for making disposable pressware features a pneumatic feeding system which accelerates a paperboard blank into a forming die. In a typical embodiment, a pair of adjustable air knives propel a paperboard blank into the forming cavity.
US07914429B2
Deflection controlled roll that includes a rotating roll jacket, a rotationally fixed yoke arranged to axially pass through said roll jacket, and at least one hydrostatic support element is arranged on said yoke to exert a supporting force on an inner side of said roll jacket. The at least one hydrostatic support element includes a pressure space, a hydrostatic pocket, and at least one device coupled to said at least one hydrostatic pocket. The pressure space is structured and arranged to receive pressure fluid to charge said at least one hydrostatic support element. The at least one device is structured and arranged to convey the pressure fluid at a constant fluid pressure to said at least one hydrostatic pocket such that constant fluid pressure is applied at an end of said at least one device remote from said at least one hydrostatic pocket.
US07914413B2
An automatic transmission that is structured such that the first clutch, the third clutch, and the fourth clutch are disposed in an axial direction more toward the speed-reduction planetary gear than the planetary gear unit; friction plates of the first clutch are disposed so as to be offset in the axial direction with respect to friction plates of the third clutch and friction plates of the fourth clutch; and the friction plates of the fourth clutch are disposed such that at least a portion thereof coincides in the axial direction with the friction plates of the third clutch on an inner peripheral side of the friction plates of the third clutch.
US07914410B2
A bicycle chain connecting link basically has a first link plate, a second link plate, a first link pin and a second link pin. The first link plate has a longitudinal slot. The second link plate has a pair of pin attachment openings. The first and second link pins each have a first pin end retained to the first link plate and a second pin end releasably coupled in the pin attachment openings of the second link plate to be separated from the second link plate and reattached to the second link plate. At least one of the first pin ends of the first and second link pins is slidable within the longitudinal slot of the first link plate in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal slot of the first link plate.
US07914402B2
The Present invention is a portable apparatus for use in practice drills and educational settings which returns soccer balls to a kicker in a controlled manner. The invention utilizes an upwardly inclined net which directs a ball upwards into an energy absorbing pocket rather than immediately rebounding the ball back to the kicker. The pocket then absorbs the energy of the ball and then sends the ball back down to the kicker in a controlled manner. The goal of the invention is to increase the user's accuracy and to allow for increased amounts of kicks as the controlled return allows for less reset time between kicks.
US07914390B2
The present invention provides a muscle training, development, stretching and warming device for sports swings. The device comprises a handle connected with an adjustable mounting device via a tensioning element of variable resistance. The tension element of a higher resistance may be substituted for a lower resistance tension element to increase the force required to swing. Further, the handle allows for adjusting the length of the resistance arm to further manipulate the force required to be provided by the user. The mounting device may be moved vertically to adjust the angle of the resistance relative to the swing plane of the user.
US07914386B1
A bucking horse simulator apparatus includes a frame that has a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a front end. A hitch connector is attached to the front end. An axle is attached to the frame and a pair of support wheels is attached to opposite ends of the axle. A post is attached to and extends upwardly from the frame. A beam is pivotally coupled to an upper end of the post. A cover is positioned on the beam. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted to the frame. A leg is attached to the drive wheel and to the beam to lift and lower the beam when the drive wheel is rotated. The hitch connector is coupled to a vehicle to pull the frame and rotate the drive wheel to simulate bucking horse to a person seated on the cover.
US07914382B2
A dual type constant velocity universal joint solves the problems of greasing work efficiency and lubricating ability of a double Cardan Joint. The dual type constant velocity universal joint includes two constant velocity universal joints. Each constant velocity universal joint includes: a cylindrical outer ring in which a plurality of guiding grooves that extend in an axial direction are formed on a spherical inner circumferential surface; an inner ring in which a plurality of guiding grooves that extend in an axial direction are formed on a spherical outer circumferential surface; balls for torque transmission each of which is disposed in each of a plurality of ball tracks which are through coordination between the guiding grooves of the outer ring and the guiding grooves of the inner ring; and a cage 5 for holding the balls. The outer ring are coaxially integrated with back to back, and a place between the outer circumferential surface on the opening side of the outer ring and shafts connected to the inner ring is covered with a boot having a metal ring.
US07914376B2
A gaming device provides outcomes to the player of the gaming device by positioning symbols within a scrolling matrix. If the symbols position within the scrolling matrix matches a pay event outcome, the player may receive a benefit. In a first embodiment, the symbols are generated from the symbols of a basic game such as the symbols on a slot machine reel. The symbols are moved from the slot machine reel to the matrix.
US07914371B2
A method for playing an extension game to an instant lottery game is disclosed. A player purchases an instant lottery game and wins a prize for the instant lottery game. The player is provided a chance to participate in the extension game of double-or-nothing. If the player chooses to participate in the extension game of double-or-nothing, the player tenders his winning ticket to a lottery retailer. The winning ticket is scanned by a lottery terminal and a result is generated for the extension game of double-or-nothing. If the winning ticket is also a winner of the extension game, the player doubles his winning. If the winning ticket is not a winner, the player forfeits his winning from the instant lottery game.
US07914369B2
A video poker game is disclosed that provides the player in opportunity to create additional winning game outcomes by forming separate secondary game plays from the primary game play. The secondary game plays are created from indicia in the primary game play that are replicated into the secondary game plays. Only primary game play indicia that at least partially satisfy a predetermined winning game outcome determined for each specific secondary game play may be replicated. The predetermined winning game outcome is selected from a plurality of winning game outcomes. Consequently, a winning game outcome for each secondary game play is limited to less then all the possible game outcomes, or as the primary game may potentially win any of the possible game outcomes.
US07914366B2
Provided is a cooling method for realizing efficient cooling of a storage apparatus with an airflow separation structure. This storage apparatus has a plurality of cooling areas formed in the cabinet; an external air introduction/discharge device for directing external air to the respective cooling areas, and thereafter discharging the external air from a discharge area of the cabinet outside the cabinet; and an external air guidance area for guiding the external air that passed through each of the cooling areas to the discharge area; wherein the external air guidance area is configured so that the external air that passed through one cooling area will not get mixed with the external air that passed through another cooling area.
US07914364B2
A system for encasing food products in film is described. The system comprises a mixer, a sealer in fluid communication with the mixer, a swivel mounted to a downstream side of the sealer, a stuffing horn mounted to a downstream side of the swivel, and a clipper. The stuffing horn is movable from a first position adjacent to said clipper, to a second position remote from said clipper.
US07914360B2
A lighted assembly includes an inflated balloon, a light assembly affixed to a patch, and the patch affixed to the inflated balloon such that the light assembly is between the patch and the outer surface of the balloon.
US07914359B2
A bubble generating assembly has a housing shaped as an animal and defining a mouth, with a stationary member secured to a permanent location extending across a portion of the mouth. The assembly includes a reservoir provided inside the housing and retaining bubble solution, a trigger mechanism, a bubble generating ring positioned adjacent the mouth, a tubing that couples the interior of the reservoir with the ring, and a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the ring in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the ring to be moved from a first position to a second position across the stationary member.
US07914357B2
A manufacturing method of an image displaying apparatus, having an airtight container with a vacuum interior, includes the steps of exhausting an inside of a container via a through-hole provided in the container, arranging a plate member on an outer surface of the container, the inside of which was exhausted, so as to close the through-hole, and sealing the container by arranging a cover member to cover the plate member and by bonding the arranged cover member and the outer surface of the container to each other via a sealant positioned between the cover member and the outer surface of the container. The sealing includes hardening the sealant after deforming the sealant by pressing the plate member, and the plate member has a terminal portion including a conductive material. Additional steps include providing an anode electrode in the airtight container, and performing the sealing in a state that the terminal portion is in contact with the anode electrode.
US07914354B2
An OLED and a method of fabricating the same are provided, in which, when a reflective layer pattern is formed, a thin layer for a pixel electrode is opened at an edge of an emission region to form the pixel electrode without additional photolithography and etching processes by forming an undercut under the edge of the reflective layer pattern, i.e., under the edge of the emission region by over-etching, thereby simplifying the process and increasing the yield.
US07914350B1
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for creating an electrical connection with an electrically conductive element. The apparatus includes a first contact element having an engagement surface for engaging a first side of the electrically conductive element and a second contact element positioned opposite the first contact element includes an opposing engagement surface for engaging a second side of the electrically conductive element. The first contact element is slideable past the second contact element to form a scissor-like jaw. A valley formed in at least one of the engagement surface and the opposing engagement surface of the first and second contact elements creates a stage. At least one of the first and the second contact elements are made of an electrically conductive material that conducts an electrical current between the electrically conductive element and at least one of the first and second contact elements.
US07914341B2
An audio signal switcher includes a jack switcher and a plug switcher. The jack switcher includes an audio jack and a first USB port. The audio jack includes a left track segment and a right track segment which are coupled to a first data pin and a second data pin of the first USB port, respectively. The jack includes a ground segment divided into a left ground ring and a right ground ring which are connected together to couple to a ground pin of the USB port. The plug switcher includes an audio plug and a second USB port. The second USB port also includes a data pin, a second data pin, a power pin, and a ground pin. The audio plug also includes a left track segment, a right track segment, and a ground segment, which are isolated coupled to at least three pins of the second USB port.
US07914340B2
An audio signal switcher includes a jack switcher and a plug switcher. The jack switcher includes an audio jack and a first USB port. The first USB port includes a first data pin, a second data pin, a power pin, and a ground pin. The audio jack includes a left track segment, a right track segment, and a ground segment, which are isolated coupled to at least three pins of the first USB port. The plug switcher includes an audio plug and a second USB port. The audio plug includes a left track segment and a right track segment which are coupled to a first data pin and a second data pin of the second USB port, respectively. The plug also includes a ground segment divided into a left ground ring and a right ground ring which are connected together to couple to a ground pin of the USB port.
US07914336B2
A wiring process of a cable connector includes the steps of: providing a cable and a wiring assembly for the cable connector, the wiring assembly having a wiring body and a wiring plate; inserting naked ends of each cable core extending from the distal end of the cable into wiring ports of the wiring plate separately; and assembling the wiring plate with the wiring body to form the wiring assembly, thereby completing the wiring process.
US07914332B2
Electronic circuit card mounting assemblies and methods are disclosed. An electronic circuit card and an electronic equipment system include mating connectors to operatively couple the circuit card to the equipment system. The circuit card and the equipment system also include respective mating elements of a mounting assembly that engage each other to releasably mount the electronic circuit card to the electronic equipment system. The connectors and the elements of the mounting assembly are positioned to releasably hold the connectors in an operative position when the circuit card is mounted to the equipment system. Related methods of manufacturing electronic circuit cards and equipment systems are also provided. In one embodiment, the mounting assembly elements include a key and a socket to receive the key, and the key and the socket control one or more of a circuit card insertion force, a circuit card retention force, and a circuit removal force.
US07914331B2
The invention relates to a plug connector (1) for telecommunications and data technology, for connection of a balanced data cable, with the plug connector (1) having an electrically insulating plug connector housing (2) as well as first contacts (8) and second contacts (7), with the first contacts making contact with a plurality of conductor pairs in a balanced data cable, and with the second contacts being able to make electrical contact with the contacts of a complementary plug connector, with in each case two first contacts being associated with one conductor pair and with each first contact being associated with one second contact, with the first contacts being galvanically connected to their associated second contacts, and with all the conductor pairs each being associated with a common-mode filter arrangement.
US07914330B2
A card connector adapted for receiving a SIM card includes an insulating housing having a front surface and two opposite lateral surfaces. The front surface has at least one receiving recess extending rearward. Each of the lateral surfaces has a propping portion which passes through a top surface of the insulating housing. A plurality of connecting terminals is received in the insulating housing. The metal shell coupled with the insulating housing has a covering plate and two lateral plates extending downwards from two opposite sides of the covering plate. A front edge of the covering plate has at least one first mating portion of L shape of which a bottom is received in the receiving recess. A bottom of the lateral plate curves inwards to form a resistive portion resting against the propping portion for forming a chamber for receiving the SIM card.
US07914328B2
A shielded connector which makes a shell unnecessary while ensuring a shielding function. A housing holds a housing plurality of contacts each including a contact portion brought into contact with an associated one of contact portions of a plurality of mating contacts. The connector is provided with a shield member including a shield plate body which partitions the contact portions of the contacts into two groups, a first spring portion which is brought into contact with an inner wall surface of a shell of a mating connector, and a second spring portion which is brought into contact with the inner wall surface of the shell.
US07914322B2
A cable connector includes an insulative housing defining a mounting chamber, a bottom surface positioned at the bottom of mounting chamber and a number of longitudinal ribs formed on the bottom surface while extending upwardly beyond the bottom surface. Multiple contacts are fixed in the insulative housing and include a number of soldering tails under an arrangement that each adjacent two soldering tails are separated by one of the ribs. A space between adjacent edges of the adjacent two soldering tails is much bigger than a width of the corresponding rib which is located between the adjacent two soldering tails for preventing short circuit of the soldering tails.
US07914315B2
A coupling for the production of a releasable connection between a medical, in particular a dental, handpiece part and a supply hose and for the transmission of current and if applicable further supply media from the supply hose to the handpiece part. The coupling includes two coupling elements wherein one of the two coupling elements may be arranged on the supply hose and the other on the handpiece part. A guide element is arranged on one of the two coupling elements, which guide element can be inserted into an insertion opening formed on the other coupling element. In a certain relative rotational position of the two coupling elements a pushing element having current contacts engages into a corresponding recess of the second coupling element, wherein with inserted or at least partly inserted guide element the two coupling elements can be rotated relative to one another around an axis of rotation before attainment of the predetermined coupling position. Thereby there is formed a reliable bayonet coupling which makes possible a particularly easy handling.
US07914309B2
The electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a rear skirt extending rearward with respect to the rear face of the insulative housing, a mat seal disposed in the rear skirt against the rear face, a rear grid, disposed in the rear skirt, against the mat seal. The electrical connector includes a mobile part, a guide rail that is transverse to the front-rear direction (XX′), for transversally guiding the mobile part, and a ramp system such that, when the mobile part is guided by the guide rail, the ramp system pushes the rear grid against the mat seal so as to compress the mat seal.
US07914307B1
A socket featuring movable lids for shielding plug holes is characterized by accommodating a set of movable lids: a first lid, a second lid and an elastic member in a cavity of its panel, where the first lid and the second lid are used to barricade the first notch and the second notch respectively by the bottoms of their tapered surfaces. A user, on occasion, is inserting a stick-like object into a single plug hole incidentally or intentionally, the first lid and the second lid will hold up each other to barricade the corresponding notch to avoid the stick-like object to touch the specific conducting clip, keeping the user from the hazard of an electrical shock.
US07914305B2
A backplane electrical connector having a pin header that includes a one-piece housing supporting a plurality of columns of edge coupled differential signal pairs of contacts each separated by a ground contact. The pin header housing base is formed with a plurality of air passageways extending through the base, including an air passageway disposed between each signal contact in one column and an immediately adjacent signal contact in an adjacent column for electrically isolating the adjacent signal contacts from each other by an air dielectric medium. Core-outs which extend only partially through the housing base are provided between each signal contact and an adjacent ground contact in an adjacent column for further isolating differential signal pairs.
US07914298B2
A connecting box, gland nut, and electrical connector for the solar connector industry is disclosed. The connecting box, the gland nut, and the electrical connector require a tool to disengage, are being resistant to external environmental stressors, and/or provide the ability to monitor information regarding the connecting box, the gland nut, and/or the electrical connector.
US07914297B2
An electric connection box include a power supply lead frame, a plurality of external connection terminals, a housing member having connector housing portions formed integrally at its outer peripheral portion and also having the lead frame and the external connection terminals insert molded therein, a plurality of transistors surface mounted in a bare chip condition on an upper surface of the lead frame, a circuit board mounted within the housing member, and bonding wires connecting the transistors, the external connection terminals and the circuit board to each other.
US07914294B2
An electrical connector having a pair of spaced apart contact portions and a substantially helical resilient portion extending therebetween. The electrical connector for use in a compact space, the electrical connector being flexible and inexpensive, and well suited for use in a vehicle fuel cell electrical system is disclosed.
US07914287B2
Numero Cubes and the Whole Number System are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may comprise cubes, pegs, magnets, dividers, shafts, and a number placement panel. The shafts may comprise individual marks representing the base ten number system. The system may provide a method of learning mathematics through a cognitively authentic learning experience in constructing and building numbers.
US07914286B2
A game that teaches principles of dynamic business management by advancing tokens (20) along a work flow path (22) on a playing surface (24) to simulate multiple processes of a fictitious business enterprise over time. The work flow path (22) includes at least three distinct and progressive processing areas (30, 32, 34, 36), each representing a different value-added function of the fictitious business. A constraint zone (38) having a specified token (20) capacity is established in each processing area (30, 32, 34, 36), and all tokens (20) must pass through each constraint zone (38) during the play of the game. The token (20) capacity of at least one of the constraint zones (38) may be changed by the players by adding or subtracting work capacity squares (50, 52) during a round to provoke variations in the rate of token (20) advance along the work flow path (22) to thereby simulate a management decision on a dynamic system over time so that its effects can be observed.
US07914284B2
A dental filing tool and method for use includes providing a unitary injection-molded handle with integral finger pads, indicia markings, and an abrasive filing strip embedded into the handle vertical arms; inserting the tool between teeth to cut and file restorations; and, disposing after use. A method for making a dental filing tool is provided, including the steps: selecting a strip; providing the strip with abrasive means; providing the strip with mounting holes; providing an injection mold with a horizontal and first and second vertical arm channels, each of the vertical arm channels having flattened opposing outer edges to form integral finger pads; and, first and second mounting pins spaced distally to hold the strip in tension; mounting the strip onto the pins within the mold; injecting plastic by injection molding means to form the dental filing tool; cooling the dental filing tool until resilient; and, removing the filing tool.
US07914280B2
A method comprises providing a combustion apparatus having an outer vessel and an inner conduit. The outer vessel has a first wall that defines an internal volume. The inner conduit is at least partially positioned within the internal volume and provides a fluid passageway that is in communication therewith. The method further comprises introducing oxygen into the internal volume in a manner such that the oxygen swirls within the internal volume and around the inner conduit. Furthermore, the method comprises introducing fuel into the internal volume, and combusting the fuel and oxygen at least partially therewithin. The combustion of the fuel and oxygen produces reaction products and the method further comprises discharging at least some of the reaction products from the internal volume via the fluid passageway of the inner conduit.
US07914268B2
A compressor includes a shell formed from a piece of material having first, second, third, and fourth ends. The third and fourth ends extend between the first and second ends and are coupled to one another. The first and second ends form longitudinal ends of the shell. The first end includes an edge having first and second protrusions extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom. The edge includes a stepped region at a location where the third end extends longitudinally beyond a portion of the edge proximate the fourth end. A partition abuts the first and second protrusions, is coupled to the shell at the first end, and includes an opening therethrough. A compression mechanism is supported within the shell and includes a discharge passage in communication with the opening in the partition.
US07914264B2
A controllable drive (1) suitable for a motor vehicle coolant pump (2) comprises a rotatably mounted shaft (5), a driven member (7) which is rotationally fixedly mounted on the shaft (5), a driving member (9) which is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the shaft (5), and a coupling region (7/8) which is arranged between the driving and driven members (9, 7) and holds a viscous fluid. At least one first flow path and at least one second flow path connect a fluid reservoir to the coupling region (7/8), and an actuation device (11a, 11b, 12, 13, 14) changes at least one passage opening of at least one flow path. A coupling housing (8, 8a, 8b) is connected to the driving member (9), and the actuator (14) is arranged within the coupling housing (8, 8a, 8b).
US07914262B2
To improve the configuration of electrodes disposed in the fluid channel of EHD pumps, and to reduce of the fluid channel of EHD pumps, as well as to reduce the cost of producing EHD pumps, and to increase the pumping pressure of EHD pumps. A hollow conical metal electrode open at the top end and the bottom end is used facing a rod-shaped metal electrode, and an electrically insulated fluid outflow channel is formed facing the hollow conical metal electrode, with the hollow conical metal electrode and rod-shaped metal electrode sharing a central axis, so that the two electrodes are disposed coaxially, and the rod-shaped metal electrode is disposed from the inner portion of the hollow conical metal electrode to the inner portion of the fluid outflow channel, and a portion of the rod-shaped metal electrode, positioned at the interface of at least the inner portion of the hollow conical metal electrode and the fluid outflow channel, serves as an exposed metal part, with this exposed metal part being caused to face the inner surface of the hollow conical metal electrode, and when an electric field is applied across the hollow conical metal electrode and the rod-shaped metal electrode, there is introduced a fluid wherein are formed dissociated ions, and high voltage direct current is applied across the hollow conical metal electrode and the rod-shaped metal electrode.
US07914261B2
The invention concerns a rotor blade of a wind power installation and a wind power installation. One advantage of the present invention is to provide a rotor blade having a rotor blade profile, and a wind power installation, which has better efficiency than hitherto. A rotor blade of a wind power installation, wherein the rotor blade has a thickness reserve approximately in the range of between 15% and 40%, preferably in the range of between about 23% and 28%, and wherein the greatest profile thickness is between about 20% and 45%, preferably between about 32% and 36%.
US07914256B2
Articles having a body including a composite material having at least one toughened region and at least one untoughened region, the toughened region containing a toughening agent selected from the group consisting of polymers, nano fibers, nano particles, and combinations thereof where the toughened region includes a toughened resin having a fracture toughness of at least about 1.0 MPa-m1/2.
US07914255B2
A method facilitates assembling a diaphragm assembly for a steam turbine. The method includes forming at least one opening within a radially outer band and forming at least one opening within a radially inner band. The method further includes coupling at least one partition to at least one opening within the radially outer band including a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface wherein the at least one opening is at least partially defined by a wall that extends obliquely between the outer band radially inner surface and the outer band radially outer surface. The method additionally includes coupling the at least one partition to the at least one opening within the radially inner band wherein the at least one partition extends between the at least one radially outer band opening and the at least one radially inner band opening.
US07914254B2
A impingement cooling system for heavy duty turbines that includes a manifold affixed to a casing of the heavy-duty turbine, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of impingement holes in the surface of the manifold and a blower that provides air flow across the plurality of impingement holes of the manifold to cool the casing of the heavy-duty turbine to control the clearance between a tip of a turbine blade and a shroud of the heavy-duty turbine.
US07914235B1
Methods and apparatus for foundation systems generally include a vertical support, a horizontal support configured to couple to the vertical support, and a composite material configured to couple to the horizontal support. The vertical support may be configured to resist fluctuation in soil elevation. The composite material may comprise a block material and a fibrous material.
US07914231B2
A leaching chamber having opposing inwardly and upwardly running sidewalls extending toward a top portion is provided, wherein the leaching chamber includes a plurality of peak and valley corrugations formed by the sidewalls and extending over the top portion and a plurality of diagonally opposed ribs, the plurality of ribs extending diagonally across at least a portion of the top portion to form at least one X shaped pattern.
US07914224B2
This invention is generally directed to a new connecting structure for connecting the bodies of hand-operated tools to their handles. It solves the technical difficulty in standardizing the connection of hand-operated tools and handles. The technical strategy involves separating the connecting structure to the connecting segment and handle fix segment. The axial opening of the handle fix segment fits the shape of handle, and handle is installed into the handle fix segment. The present invention has the advantages of simple design, convenience for mass manufacture, ease and reliability in connecting, assembling, and adjusting standardized connection process, and cost-efficiency in production and transportation.
US07914222B2
A tip unit (1) incorporated in a liquid applicator such as a ball-point pen, the tip unit being capable of an increased rate of liquid discharge with no leaking or clogging problem. To achieve it, the tip unit (1) is accommodated in a tip body (11) having a ball housing (15), a ball (10), a capillary hole (16), and a proximal bore, the ball housing (15) being a passage for allowing liquid to flow therethrough, the ball (10) being rotatively held in the ball housing (15). The ball housing (15) is provided with at least one ink channel (47) adapted to communicate the ball housing (15) with the capillary hole (16) or the proximal bore. The ball housing (15) has a ball resting seat (45) and a side wall (41) that are connected by a connecting surface (71) having a shape of a truncated conical surface with its apex toward the distal end of the tip unit (1).
US07914217B2
A printer is provided which has a support frame having a first slot, a plate having a tab configured to slidably engage with the first slot in order to mount the plate to the support frame and a bearing positioned in a hole of the plate, and at least one elongate roller supported at a longitudinal first end by the bearing and at a longitudinal second end by the support frame. The bearing is configured to allow pivotal movement of the roller about the second end during the sliding engagement of the plate and support frame and to allow, in use, rotation of the roller for transport of print media within the printer.
US07914216B2
A method of interrupting a printing operation in a continuous transport process in which a first roller and a second roller transports plural printing mediums including a first medium on a tray in a transport direction to a printing area at which the printing operation is performed to each printing medium, the second roller is arranged at a downstream side of the first roller in the transport direction, and a third roller comes in contact with the first roller at a contact point to transport the printing mediums together with the first roller and is separated from the first roller not to transport the printing mediums, the method includes: separating the third roller from the first roller, when a trailing end edge of the first medium at least apart of which is disposed in the printing area is located at an upstream side of a predetermined point in the transport direction, and driving the second roller to transport the first medium after the third roller is separated from the first roller. The predetermined point is arranged at a downstream side of the contact point in the transport direction.
US07914215B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet, a casing which houses the image forming unit and holds the image forming units, a conveying roller which applies a conveying force to the recording sheet by contacting with the recording sheet, a first roller which is fixed to a position confronting the conveying roller, the first roller pushing the recording sheet toward the conveying roller and being rotatable, a second roller which is arranged at a position confront the conveying roller and downstream side of the first roller in a conveying direction, the second roller being displaceable, and a roller displacing mechanism which displaces the second roller in such a manner as to change a distance between the second roller and the conveying roller.
US07914207B1
A liner for a waste receptacle comprises a first wall, a second wall, at least one draw tape hem, at least one draw tape and at least one adhesive strip. The second wall is an extension of the first wall and is laid adjacent the first wall. The draw tape hem is an extension of at least a portion of the free ends of the walls and has the draw tape laid adjacent the terminal end of those free ends. The terminal end of the free ends are folded over the draw tape and joined to the inside surface of the walls. The first wall and the second wall may be joined together along the terminal side edges or may be seamless. The adhesive strip is applied to an exterior surface of the draw tape hem and is provided with a removable protective cover.
US07914205B2
A temperature sensor circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a temperature sensing element operable to provide a temperature voltage that is linearly related to the absolute temperature of the circuit. The temperature sensing element includes a first bi-polar junction transistor and a second bipolar junction transistor connected between a supply voltage and a common ground, wherein the base of first bipolar junction transistor is connected to the base of the second bipolar junction transistor, a first resistor connected between an emitter of the first bipolar junction transistor and the common ground and a second resistor connected between the common ground and a first node, wherein the temperature voltage is provided to the first node across the second resistor. The temperature sensor circuit also includes a current supply element operable to supply a common current to a collector of the first bipolar junction transistor, the second bipolar junction transistor and to the second resistor, respectively, an early voltage element operable to compensate for variations in voltage, a base current element operable to provide a steady base current to the bases of the first and second bipolar junction transistors, a channel modulation element operable to compensate for channel modulation and a leakage element operable to compensate for epi-substrate leakage between the circuit and a substrate on which it is formed.
US07914203B2
A piezoelectric bimorph cantilever is used for determining physical parameters in a gaseous or liquid environment. The sensor works as a driven and damped oscillator. Contrary to common cantilever sensor systems, the piezoelectric film of the bimorph cantilever acts as both a sensor and an actuator. Using at least two resonance mode of the bimorph cantilever, at least two physical parameters can be measured simultaneously in a gas or a liquid. An optimized piezoelectric cantilever and a method to produce the cantilever are also described.
US07914193B2
An LED light fixture system includes an LED module having a plurality of LEDs attached thereto and directed inwardly toward a secondary optic. The LED module is releasably attached to an interior surface of a peripheral frame. The frame includes an openable portion positioned to allow the LED module to be inserted or removed through an opening created when the openable portion is in an open position. The openable portion is movable from the open position to a closed position and provides an electrical connection between the LEDs attached to the LED module and a source of electrical current when the openable portion is in the closed position.
US07914184B2
An LED illuminating device includes an optical section, an electrical section, and a heat dissipation section therebetween. The optical section includes a light source. The electrical section electrically connects with the light source. The heat dissipation section includes a mounting seat, a heat pipe and a heat sink. The heat pipe includes an evaporation section fixed on the mounting seat and thermally connecting with the light source and a condenser section. The heat sink includes a plurality of umbrella-shaped fins each including a main body perpendicular to the condenser section of the heat pipe and two flanges angling downward from two opposite edges of the main body towards the light source. A plurality of air venting holes are defined in the main body and the flanges of each fin.
US07914181B2
The present invention discloses a display with a lighting device comprising a display body having a housing and a power supply panel. The lighting device mounted at the bottom of the housing comprises a transparent base having a receiving cavity and a light source body disposed within the receiving cavity and powered by a power supply. Mounted at the bottom of the display body, the lighting device has the light downwards to illuminate the whole keyboard area of the medical diagnostic device such that the structure is tight without occupying extra space, thereby no inconvenience occurs during doctors' operation. Moreover, the entire lighting device is designed in a modularized manner, and therefore it is convenient for renewal and maintenance.
US07914178B2
A hanging LED lamp includes a base, a heat sink attached to a bottom of the base, a plurality of heat conducting plates coupled to a periphery of the heat sink and connecting with the base and the heat sink, a plurality of LED modules mounted on the heat conducting plates, a cover engaging the base and covering the heat sink, the heat conducting plates and the LED modules therein, and a fixing member connecting a top of the base to fix the LED lamp in a desired position. A plurality of heat pipes are embedded in the heat conducting plates with first ends connecting with the heat sink and second ends connecting with the base.
US07914171B2
An air-handling luminaire comprises a recessed troffer housing having a first pair of opposed walls and a second pair of opposed walls, the housing having a light output opening and a lens extending across the light output opening, at least one of the walls of the first pair of opposed walls and the second pair of opposed walls being substantially vertical and having at least one flow through opening for fluid communication from a volume beneath the recessed troffer housing to a plenum above the recessed troffer housing and, a rail extending from near a lower edge of the recessed troffer housing upwardly within the recessed troffer housing and adjacent the at least one flow through and concealing the at least one flow through opening.
US07914169B2
A light-emitting product (for example, a flashlight) includes a first housing includes a light source for emitting light and a lens system that is adjustable in position relative to the light source. The second housing can be attached to the first housing and includes a power source for the light source. When the first housing and the second housing are attached, the first housing and the second housing can be moved relative to each other to adjust the position of the lens system relative to the position of the light source to focus the light from the light source.
US07914168B2
A pop-up Christmas tree that is formed by translucent spandex printed fabric member, printed with a graphic of a real Christmas tree, wrapped into a cone shape. An electrically motorized power antenna assembly is located within the hollow trunk of the tree display. A plurality of supporting frames and cords are mounted inside the fabric cone shape. The antenna tip is attached to the internal apex of the fabric cone shape. The base of the cone shape is attached to the perimeter of a molded plastic tree base housing. When the user activates the power antenna via a remote control switch, the tree shape rises from its base housing to instantly form a realistic Christmas tree shape. The walls of the fabric cone shape include apertures that hold standard Christmas lights and hooks for ornaments.
US07914161B2
An outer mirror structure for a vehicle includes a base part which is attached to a vehicle body, a housing which is provided to a vehicle outer side of the base part and is rotatably supported by the base part, a base side mold member which is mounted on the base part and extends in substantially horizontal direction, and a housing side mold member which is mounted on the housing and extends in substantially horizontal direction. The base side mold member and the housing side mold member are formed in substantially continuous shape in a mating part when the housing is in a normal position.
US07914153B2
A projection type image display apparatus includes a lens group, being disposed adjacent to an image display element, which is configured to include a plural number of lenses, and a mirror, which is configured to reflect emission lights from the lens group, so as to project upon the screen obliquely. A ratio (Lo/Lp) between a distance (Lp) from a center of the mirror up to the screen and a diagonal size (Lo) of the screen is at least 2.
US07914140B2
A printer unit includes a casing. The casing defines an internal cavity and includes a lid which can be opened to expose the internal cavity. An upright media supply tray extends from the casing and is configured to support print media. A picker mechanism is mounted to the casing. The picker mechanism is configured to engage the print media in the supply tray and feed individual sheets of the print media into the internal cavity. A print engine is positioned in the internal cavity. The print engine includes a media transport means which can transport the individual sheets and feed them past a printhead assembly for printing. An output tray is retractably mounted relative to the casing and is configured to collect printed sheets of print media from the print engine. A user interface in the form of an LCD touch screen is mounted on the lid and can enable a user to control the operation of the printer unit.
US07914133B2
A carrier for a page width ink jet printhead having a printhead integrated circuit including sets of ink inlet openings, each set having at least one inlet opening for receiving ink of a particular color. The carrier comprises: feed openings, each in fluid communication with a respective set of the inlet openings; an ink supply side defining a number of feed formations, each configured to receive one of the inks and to be in fluid communication with a respective set of inlet openings, via the feed openings; a printhead side engageable with the printhead and defining at least one ink supply formation; at least one passage in fluid communication between the at least one ink supply formation and at least one of the feed formations; and a pair of side wall portions defining a longitudinally extending channel including one of the feed openings.
US07914132B2
An inkjet printer that has a printhead for printing onto a media substrate, a reservoir for supplying ink to the printhead, a pump for drawing ink from the reservoir and pumping ink into the printhead and, a valve arrangement for selectively opening fluid communication between the pump and the printhead, and closing fluid communication between the pump and the printhead while opening fluid communication between the reservoir and the printhead.
US07914131B2
An inkjet printhead assembly includes an elongate ink feed structure defining a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply passages and a plurality of spaced apart sets of ink outlets in fluid communication with respective ink supply passages. A plurality of printhead modules are releasably attached to the ink feed structure. Each printhead module is in fluid communication with a respective set of ink outlets, and each printhead module includes an elongate printhead chip configured to eject ink supplied from the ink feed structure. Each printhead chip is obliquely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ink feed structure. A capping arrangement configured to cap nozzles on each printhead chip.
US07914129B2
A piezoelectric actuator includes a first ceramic sheet having individual inner-electrodes formed thereon, a second ceramic sheet having a common inner-electrode formed thereon, a third ceramic sheet having individual surface-electrodes formed thereon, and a fourth ceramic sheet having a plurality of connection electrodes connecting the individual surface-electrodes and the individual inner-electrodes respectively. The connection electrodes have first portions, second portions and third portions respectively, the first portions facing the individual surface-electrodes and arranged at a pitch in a row in a row-direction, the second portions facing the individual inner-electrodes and being arranged in the row-direction to be shifted with respect to the first portions by half the pitch respectively; and the third portions connecting the first portions and the second portions respectively. Accordingly, the electrodes can be made compact or arranged highly densely without lowering the conductance between the electrodes.
US07914128B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a piezoelectric element in which a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode are laminated in this order, and a flow path forming substrate in which the piezoelectric element is formed above one surface thereof and a pressure generating chamber being communicated with a nozzle opening is provided, in which the upper electrode is formed so as to extend over an upper surface of the piezoelectric layer and an upper portion of side faces of the piezoelectric layer, and a protective film is formed above portions of the piezoelectric layer, which are not covered by the upper electrode.
US07914123B2
An inkjet printhead and a manufacturing method thereof. In the manufacturing method, a chip and a porous material are provided. A heating layer is formed on the chip. A conductive layer is formed on the heating layer, and includes a notch therein to define a heating area. A chamber for storing liquid is formed on the heating area, and includes a first side and a second side. The first side faces the heating area, and the second side is connected to the first side. The chamber is formed with an exit, from which the liquid is dispensed, on the second side. The porous material is disposed on the chamber, and the liquid flows to the chamber through the porous material.
US07914121B2
A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid supply adapted to feed a stream of liquid through the supply channel, a liquid return channel adapted to receive liquid from the supply channel, a liquid dispensing outlet opening, and a diverter member forming at least a portion of a wall of the liquid supply channel, said diverter member being selectively movable to form a convex surface along which liquid remains attached, thereby to divert droplets from the supply channel through the dispensing outlet opening. The motion of the diverter member is substantially orthogonal to the direction of liquid flow, so that energy associated with moving the diverter member imparts no energy to the diverted droplets. The energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 100 nJ per pL droplet volume.
US07914116B2
A droplet discharge head includes a nozzle substrate having a nozzle opening for discharging a liquid as a droplet; a flow path substrate having a flow path for the liquid, the flow path communicating with the nozzle opening; and a diaphragm constituting a wall surface of the flow path. The nozzle substrate, the flow path substrate, and the diaphragm are bonded together in layers using an adhesive, and a liquid-resistant film resistant to the liquid is continuously formed on surfaces of the nozzle substrate, the flow path substrate, and the diaphragm, the surfaces being in contact with the liquid.
US07914110B2
Fluid is purged from a plurality of fluid-ejection nozzles of a fluid-ejection mechanism. A first series of spit-wipe operations is performed. A second series of spit-wipe operations is then performed.
US07914109B2
A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid supply adapted to feed a stream of liquid through the supply channel, a liquid return channel adapted to receive liquid from the supply channel, a liquid dispensing outlet opening, and a diverter member selectively movable into the supply channel to divert droplets to the dispensing outlet opening. The liquid flows from the liquid supply channel to the liquid return channel by Coanda effect when not diverted. The motion of the diverter member is substantially orthogonal to and opposes the direction of liquid flow, so that energy associated with moving the diverter member imparts no energy to the diverted droplets. The energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 100 nJ per pL droplet volume. In some embodiments, the energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 10 nJ per pL droplet volume.
US07914104B2
A method for operating an inkjet printer configured to print an array of rows and columns of dots includes monitoring for incorrectly printed columns. The operation of correctly operating nozzles neighbouring incorrectly operating nozzles associated with the incorrectly printed columns is modified in a compensatory manner. The step of modifying the operation of correctly operating nozzles includes increasing the duration on heating current pulses delivered to the correctly operating nozzles.
US07914102B2
In multipass printing, a mask pattern which increases the degree of dot dispersion in each pass is used for a combination of inks for increasing glossiness when printing an image. Contrary, a mask pattern which decreases the degree of dot dispersion in each pass is used for a combination of inks for decreasing glossiness. Thus, an entire image can be made uniformly glossy by suppressing gloss unevenness within the image.
US07914094B2
A storage compartment comprises a container defining an access aperture closable by a closure that can be sealed to the container around the aperture and that can be opened by relative movement between the container and the closure in a lateral direction with respect to the aperture, the container having a first sealing loop around the aperture and the closure having a second sealing loop co-operable by alignment with the first sealing loop to maintain a seal when the closure closes the aperture. The sealing loops are moved into and out of mutual alignment by said relative movement between the container and the closure and at least one of the sealing loops includes magnetic means for attracting the other of the sealing loops to maintain a seal when the sealing loops are mutually aligned.
US07914089B2
An individual replacement drive or guide lug for missing or worn lugs located on an inner circumference of various endless rubber tracks used on multi-surface vehicles. The lug comprises a body and a fastening including a bolt and washer. To install the drive lug properly, an inner surface of the track where the original vulcanized rubber drive lug was located must be prepared. When the original drive lug fails, it leaves an irregular surface and must be ground flat with the inner track belt substrate. The bolts are then secured through the track and the lug so as to removably secure the lug to the inner surface of the track.
US07914080B2
A head restraint guide for guiding and engaging an armature of a head restraint includes a guide bushing having an axial bore for receiving the armature therein. A lever is pivotally coupled within the guide bushing and includes an aperture for receiving the armature therethrough. A spring includes first and second portions biased against the armature. The first portion is adapted for engaging any of a plurality of adjustment notches on a first side of the armature. The second portion is adapted for engaging a stop notch on a second side of the armature. Pivoting the lever in a first direction disengages the first portion of the spring from the plurality of adjustment notches and allows axial adjustment of the armature. Pivoting the lever in a second direction disengages the second portion of the spring from the stop notch and allows removal of the armature from the guide bushing.
US07914077B2
A seat assembly that is releasably secured to a floor, wherein the seat assembly is released from the floor by simply lifting the handle is provided. The seat assembly includes a latch assembly which releasably engages a platform such as a vehicle floor. The handle is configured to bear the load of the seat, and is also operable to actuate the latch so as to release the seat from the floor by simply lifting the seat by the handle. Thus only one motion is used to remove the seat from the floor. Further the operation of releasing the seat from the floor is inherent as it requires the user to merely lift the seat by the handle.
US07914073B2
According to a slider structure of a sunroof apparatus, the apparatus includes: a roof panel attached to an opening of a fixed roof; a panel support stay, where a cam groove is formed, is fixed to a side edge of the roof panel; and a slider that moves along a guide rail, is engaged with the cam groove through a pin, and tilts and slides the roof panel, wherein the slider structure includes: a pair of lifters that interpose the panel support stay, are divided, and are engaged with the cam groove through the pin; and a pair of slide shoes that are attached to the lifters, respectively, are connected with each other, integrate the lifters, and are slid on the guide rail.
US07914066B2
A rear door structure including: a frame portion which supports an upper edge and both lateral edges of a rear glass; a lateral beam which extends in a vehicle width direction and connects both lateral side portions of the frame portion to each other; a reinforcing member which straddles the lateral side portion of the frame portion and the lateral beam; and a driving unit for a wiper device disposed in a space between the lateral side portion of the frame portion and the lateral beam, wherein: a first end side of the driving unit is fixed to a connection portion between the frame portion and the reinforcing member; and a second end side of the driving unit is fixed to a connection portion of between the reinforcing member and the lateral beam.
US07914062B2
A lock apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a protruding portion formed at the side of a seat cushion so as to protrude therefrom, the seat cushion being movable between a usable position and a retracted position, a guide wall member having a guide groove with which the protruding portion is engaged, a latch formed with an opening portion within which the protruding portion is engagable, a sliding member a sliding surface, a latch biasing member, a pawl, a cam surface formed at the pawl for rotating the latch so as to sandwich the protruding portion, a pawl biasing member, a releasing lever and a releasing member formed so as to protrude from the releasing lever in order to rotate the pawl by pressing a releasing portion in a direction against the biasing force applied to the pawl by the pawl biasing member.
US07914061B2
An apparatus for locking a double-folding seat for vehicles includes a latch plate, a guide unit, a release lever unit and a locking pin. The latch plate has a locking notch therein and is fastened to a seat frame. The guide unit is fitted over a folding shaft of the seat frame at a position spaced apart from the latch plate. The release lever unit is provided on the folding shaft so as to be rotatable. The locking pin is elastically connected to the release lever unit such that the locking pin is locked to the locking notch of the latch plate when the seat frame is folded. Furthermore, when the release lever unit is rotated, the release lever unit pushes the locking pin, so that the locking of the locking pin to the locking notch of the latch plate is released.
US07914056B1
A removing utensil for solid waste deposited by a small animal comprised of a support; a plurality of elongated members that extend from the support that form a removing surface; a pair of elongated members having distal sections that obliquely face away from positioned superior to the removing surface whereby solid waste is funneled unto the removing surface; a handle assembly comprised of a handle member and a projector of a beam of light and a bracket that extends from the support having first leg in the plane of the removing surface and second leg that connects to the handle assembly which is shaped so that a projected beam of light illuminates the removing surface and an area forward.
US07914050B2
An adaptor (45) for converting to a push-to-connect tube fitting/port a standard tube fitting/port body (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610) having a threaded portion (11) for threaded attachment of a nut/plug (12), comprises a coupling nut/plug (12, 112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612) having an axially inner threaded end portion for threaded attachment to the threaded portion (11) of the fitting/port body (10); a tube sealing member (15, 115, 215, 315, 415, 515, 615) contained within the nut/plug (12) for sealing to a tube (19) having a locking surface (22) spaced from the end of the tube (19); and a retention device (23) retained in the nut/plug (12), which nut/plug (12) has at an axially outer end thereof a central opening through which the tube (19) can be inserted into the coupling nut/plug (12), whereby the locking surface (22) can be engaged by the retention device (23) to prevent axial withdrawal of the tube (19) from the coupling nut/plug (12) once inserted; wherein sealing and retention of the tube (19) is effected within the confines of the coupling nut/plug (12) and separate from and without requiring modification of the standard tube fitting/port body (10).
US07914048B2
A coupling device that provides a liquid tight seal at the connection with a conduit with easy installation. The device comprises a tubular connector body, a compression nut, a first sealing ring, a second sealing ring, a ferrule, and a lock nut. The coupling device may be installed fully assembled and does not require disassembly of the packaged product before installation. In the connector body a radial ledge is formed within the tubular spaces between the first and second ends. The radial ledge of the connector body has at least one depression. The ferrule has a tubular body with a radial flange extending from a first end portion. At least one protrusion extends from the radial flange that corresponds to the depression on the tubular body. When the depression of the tubular body engages the protrusion of the ferrule, it restricts the ferrule from relative rotation. This restriction allows that the coupling device be installed fully assembled.
US07914045B2
A support assembly is disclosed generally including a buckle component or components and a positioning member of flexible material that is arranged and configured to support the buckle component in a predetermined elevated position or predetermined positions for multiple components while also allowing for resilient shifting thereof. In the preferred form, the flexible material is belt webbing that has a plurality of fold portions folded and sewn together in a specific manner. Sew patterns are disclosed as well as methods and fixtures for forming the belt webbing positioning member.
US07914032B2
A motorcycle accessory allows a user to rest their leg in a cradle, the leg cradle supported by a body which body is in turn clamped to the frame, crash bars, forks or other parts of the motorcycle. The leg cradle may be hinged so that it can be moved between a position for supporting the leg to a position allowing the rider to put their foot onto the body in a manner similar to a highway peg. The device may be made of aluminum, metal, polymer and so on, and may be customized with indicia. Padding on the leg cradle may increase the user's level of comfort.
US07914021B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a suspension assembly including a bolt made from a bolt material; a suspension component made from a suspension material, the suspension component having a suspension opening therethrough, the suspension opening having a geometry for insertion of at least a first portion of the bolt; and a bushing assembly including an elastomeric element and a bushing opening therethrough, the bushing opening having a geometry for insertion of at least a second portion of the bolt; wherein the suspension material has a yield strength that is substantially higher than a yield strength of the bolt material.
US07914012B2
A polyurethane biasing mechanism, comprising a first surface contact area with a first mass having a durometer that provides a first resistance and a first rate of resistance responsive to application of forces. The biasing mechanism having a second surface contact area with a second mass having the same durometer that provides a second resistance and a second rate of resistance responsive to the forces. The first resistance and the first rate of resistance are different from the second resistance and second rate of resistance, a combination of which provides a rate of resistance that commensurately varies and is correspondingly responsive in relation to varying forces.
US07914004B2
A multifunction target actuator allows a bullet target to be selectively presented to a shooter such that a first side may be presented, a second side opposite the first side may be presented, and the target may be oriented so as not to be presented to the shooter. The actuator allows for quick and accurate movement of the target.
US07914002B2
Disclosed is an automatic document feeder for feeding a document to a document read surface. The document feeder has a first carrying mechanism for feeding a document toward the document read surface, a document leading mechanism for leading the document after passing above the document read surface, a second carrying mechanism for carrying the document led by the document leading mechanism, in a downstream direction, and a housing equipped with the first carrying mechanism, the document leading mechanism and the second carrying mechanism. The housing can be opened and closed relative to the document read surface. The document leading mechanism includes a movable member having an inclined surface that extends obliquely downward to direct a distal edge thereof toward the document read surface. The movable member can maintain the distal edge of the inclined surface at a substantially constant height relative to the document read surface.
US07914001B2
This application relates to systems and methods for determining the lateral component of skew for a sheet of media. First, the skew angle of a sheet of media is determined. Then, the lateral component of the skew is determined. During a lateral registration operation, the lateral component of the skew is accounted and compensated for. In one implementation, the slope of the angle of the skew may be determined by taking the regression of the function characterizing the edge of the sheet as it passes an edge detection sensor.
US07913983B1
In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus, including: a plurality of members disposed inside generally vertical balusters; each of the members having formed therethrough a hole; a plurality of wires, cables, rods, pipes, tubes (round, oval, or multi-sided) or the like, each one disposed through one of the holes; and the members being rotatable to position the wires, cables, rods, pipes, tubes (round, oval, or multi-sided), or the like at a selected angle from horizontal.
US07913982B2
The present invention relates to a temporary safety barrier system, which comprises a plurality of posts, a plurality of mesh panels, and a plurality of mesh panel holders. Each mesh panel holder is mountable on a respective post of said plurality of posts, and comprises a post coupler and first and second mesh panel supports, which are attached in common to the post coupler. The post coupler is movable along the post when mounted thereon, and has a locking member for releasably locking the post coupler in a holding position at the post. The second mesh panel support encircles the post in the mounted state. Each mesh panel support has a support hook for receiving a mesh wire of one or more mesh panels. The temporary safety system is arranged to enable inclination of a mesh panel during said height adjustment, thereby facilitating the height adjustment while the mesh panels remain mounted.
US07913976B2
A tool for pressing together flooring panels to be fixed in place one relative to the other(s), wherein a first part of the tool has a foot portion for abutting against a surface, a second part of the tool has a head portion for abutting against an end one of the flooring panels, and the second part is movable relative to the first part for exerting force on the end flooring panel.
US07913974B2
Male and/or female members of a hydraulic coupling have an internal poppet valve that is held in the closed position by a flat wire, helical compression spring. The spring is configured such that when the poppet valve is moved to its fully open position, the coils of the spring are completely compressed thereby forming a substantially smooth bore tube for the flow of hydraulic fluid. The flat wire, helical compression spring may also act as a valve stop, limiting movement of the poppet valve and providing the necessary resistance to move the valve actuator of a corresponding valve in a mating member.
US07913969B2
A clamp for securing a bearing block to a railcar that includes first and second securing brackets, each securing bracket having a sheer lug coupled to each securing bracket to fit within an opening of a deck of the railcar; a locking lug coupled to each sheer lug to extend substantially parallel to and under the deck of the railcar; and a fastener with which to secure the first and second securing brackets to the bearing block.
US07913968B2
A mounting assembly for an object is provided, including a first mounting element, a second mounting element, and a resilient spring located therebetween. An object can be secured to either one of the first mounting element and the second mounting elements. In addition or alternatively, a method of manufacturing the mounting assembly is also provided. The method includes the steps of molding a resilient spring directly to the first mounting element, attaching the second mounting element to the spring, and attaching an object to either of the first and second mounting elements. In addition or alternatively, another method of manufacturing is provided for manufacturing a plurality of mounting assemblies. In addition or alternatively, the first mounting element can include a base member and a leg member. In one example, the leg member can be movable relative to the base member.
US07913963B2
A device stand includes a suction base and a load-supporting module mounted on the suction base. The suction base includes a suction piece, a fixing structure, a face cam, pins, and a fixing cap. The fixing structure, configured for fitting over the suction piece, includes a shaft housing and a sleeve extending upwardly from the shaft housing. The sleeve defines axial running slots. The face cam fit over the sleeve of the fixing structure. One end of each of the pins engages with the face of the face cam, the other end of each of the pins passes through the axial running slots of the sleeve and connects with the shaft of the suction piece. The fixing cap is mounted on an upper end of the sleeve. The stand can be fixed to/taken off from a flat surface easily.
US07913949B2
A vertical tail for use with an aircraft or other form of mobile platform. The vertical tail includes a main element which is fixedly secured to the mobile platform, and a leading edge element that is movably secured to the main element. The cross section of the leading edge element is symmetric about the cruise chord line of the tail. The leading edge element can be pivoted and/or extended to create a gap with the main (fixed) element. The movable leading edge element is used to increase the maximum yawing moment provided by the vertical tail. The maximum yawing moment is increased when air flow is incident from either side of the vertical tail.
US07913945B2
A two-roll dispenser is disclosed for a plurality of rolls of products, in one embodiment a plurality of toilet paper rolls. The operation of resetting the device to accept replacement rolls of product is achieved by opening the casing. The seer mechanism is also disclosed in one form maintaining a secondary roll of product in a reserve position until a primary roll of product is substantially consumed. The seer mechanism is also disclosed in another form maintaining a casing door in a reserve position until a primary roll of product is substantially consumed. In one form, rolls of product having a partial or split core are utilized to achieve the objects of this disclosure.
US07913942B2
A refiner (1) comprising a stator (2) and a rotor (6) that comprise a planar portion and a conical portion after the planar portion, which in turn comprise refining surfaces (4, 8) provided with blade bars (15, 18, 24) and blade grooves (16, 19, 25) therebetween, and the planar portions (4′, 81) of the refining surfaces (4, 8) of the stator (2) and the rotor (6) comprising at least two refining zones (14, 17, 23) in the direction of the radius (R) of the planar portion. At least the planar portion (8′) of the refining surface (8) of the rotor (6) is provided with blade bars (18) in its outermost refining zone (17) in the direction of the radius (R), the blade bar angle (α) of the blade bars being arranged so as to provide pumping blade bars, and their blade bar angle (α) being greater than the blade bar angle (α) of the blade bars (15, 24) in the previous refining zone (14, 24) in the direction of the radius (R) of the planar portion (8′) and that the blade bar angle (α) is 5-50 degrees so that the blade bars (18) in the outermost refining zone (17) have an overall pumping effect on the material to be refined.
US07913934B2
A shower head with a housing and a jet outlet surface can be achieved with an example embodiment of the invention. An adjuster device is provided on one side, for adjusting the supply of water to individual or all regions, into which the jet outlet surface is divided. The above can be a central small region and the region surrounding the above. Furthermore, an air supply device is provided for aerating the water jets. The air supply device is simultaneously operated with the switching between the regions.
US07913929B2
A module, direct fuel injector (10) includes a fuel side sub-assembly (78) having valve body structure (12, 14) defining a main flow passage (16) there-through, an outlet opening (26) and a seating surface (24). A needle (18) is in the main flow passage and has first and second ends. The second end (22) has a sealing surface (20). The needle is movable between a closed position with the sealing surface engaging the seating surface to prevent fuel from passing through the outlet opening, and an open position. A spring (30) biases the needle to the closed position. Manifold structure (36, 48) is coupled to the valve body structure. The injector also includes a dry side sub-assembly including a piezo stack (42) coupled to the manifold structure and changes length when voltage is applied thereto. The piezo stack is associated with the first end of the needle so that when the length of the piezo stack changes, the needle moves from the closed position to the open position thereof.
US07913924B2
A security document database, the database storing security document data including identity data at least partially indicative of an identity of the security document and attribute data at least partially indicative of one or more attributes of the security document. The security document database allows a computer system to use received indicating data to perform an action associated with the security document.
US07913922B1
A bar code includes a plurality of bar code elements arranged in an information-conveying arrangement. Each bar code element has a color selected from one of a group of colors in a painted pixel filter associated with a camera that will be used to read the bar code.
US07913918B2
Portable electronic devices include a unitary package including first and second opposing faces. A first flat panel display is provided on the first face. A user input device also is provided on the unitary package. A processor is provided in the unitary package that is configured to control the first and second flat panel displays, in response to the user input device.
US07913916B2
A smartcard (200) comprises a processor (202), a read and/or write device interface (213) designed for a communication between the processor (202) and a read and/or write device (208), and a user input and/or output unit (212) designed for initiating a communication between a user and the processor (202) via the read and/or write device interface (213).
US07913915B2
A token and method and apparatus for making the token, wherein the token includes a flat body made of a plastic material. The flat body has at least two parallel faces and a cavity which opens to at least one of the at least two parallel faces. The edges of the body include edge spots of a separate plastic material. The cavity receives an electronic identification device. At least one cover made of a plastic material is included. The method includes making the flat body, in two basic steps. First, by forming a pre-molded slug having a cavity and a lip extending above and around the periphery of the cavity using upper and lower dies. Next the slug is assembled with other components including an electronic identifier disc and a cover. In the final forming stage, the assembly is pressed using plates or dies to deform and flatten the lip to join the components by the flowing plastic of the lip and the cover, and compress the assembled components to the final thickness desired for the token. The process utilizing the pre-mold slug with a lip avoids excess plastic material flowing outwardly to obscure the edge spots, while preventing damage to the electronic identifier.
US07913911B2
An indicia reader system includes an indicia reader for reading symbol indicia and producing a symbol signal representative of the symbol indicia, the indicia reader capable of transferring and receiving data formatted in a plurality of protocols; a controller capable of transferring and receiving data formatted in a plurality of protocols; and, a translation interface for translating data from the controller which is in a first protocol to a second protocol for receipt by the indicia reader.
US07913907B2
A read state retention circuit and method are disclosed. The read state retention circuit comprises a charge storage unit, charging unit, sensing circuit and state indicator. The charging circuit is coupled to the charge storage unit for charging the charge storage unit. The sensing circuit is coupled to the charge storage unit for sensing a voltage level of the charge storage unit. The state indicator is coupled to the sensing circuit for outputting an indication signal in response to the voltage level.
US07913901B2
A method and system are used to optimize utilization of a transaction card by a card member. The system and method including generating a first data set based on data stored in a database representing industries of the card members. Generating a second data set representing an average amount charged to a transaction account by the card members in each respective one of the industries based on the first data set. Comparing the average amount charged from the first generating step to an actual amount charged by each individual one of the card members in a respective one of the industries. Communicating a result of the comparison to the card members. Receiving data from the card members based on their receiving of the comparison result. Storing the data in the database or a lead management device, such that the data is updated.
US07913894B2
A solder machine includes a top flat carrier that holds PWBs just above a solder bath. Opposed edges of the carrier are coupled to a frame and each edge can be independently raised or lowered by a respective piston. Also, the base of the frame can pivot along one of its edges to provide a second degree of freedom of motion to the top flat carrier in dipping the PWBs relative to the solder bath, thereby providing a solder machine with a relatively small footprint that nonetheless can achieve precise soldering of PWBs.
US07913890B2
A device that generally includes a multistage solenoid having at least a first stage, a second stage and an armature member that travels therebetween. The device also includes a control module connected to the multistage solenoid. The control module detects a position of the armature member relative to at least one of the first stage, the second stage and a combination thereof. The control module adjusts a magnetic field of the at least one of the first stage, the second stage and the combination thereof based on the position of the plunger armature relative thereto.
US07913888B2
A positioning device for a hand-held setting tool (10) includes an actuation element (24), a switching link (30) for connecting an actuation element (24) to the actuation switch (13) of the setting tool (10) for actuating the same, and a safety device (50) for preventing actuation of the actuation switch (13) at an orientation other than a predetermined orientation of the setting tool (10) and including at least three blocking members (55a, 55b, 55c) displaceable in at least three separate channels (56), respectively, and receivable in a recess (51) formed in a switching member (34), that forms part of the switching link (30) a longitudinal axis with the at least three channels (56) intersecting, in some regions, an axial projection of the switching member (34) in the form of a secant and opened toward the switching member (34) in respective overlapping regions (59).
US07913865B2
A supporting device is provided to vertically support a coupling rod of a coupling pivotably articulated in the vertical direction to a car body underframe by a bearing block. The supporting device makes contact with the coupling rod by a support, wherein the supporting device includes a mount connected to the support which is fixed to the car body underframe of the vehicle. In order to enable the interference-free retraction of the central buffer coupling toward the car body in the event of a crash, the mount includes a connecting element by which the support is connected to the mount and which defines a rotational axis about which the support can rotate relative the connecting element. Further, at least one shearing element is provided which connects the connecting element to the support and which is designed to shear off upon the exceeding of a predetermined or definable amount of torque being transmitted from the support to the connecting element via the at least one shearing element in order to allow a rotation of the support relative the connecting element.
US07913859B2
An exemplary self-cleaning light source module includes a light source assembly, a housing, and a photocatalyst layer. The light source assembly includes a first light emitting component for emitting visible light and a second light emitting component for emitting UV light. The housing encloses the light source assembly therein and has a light permeable portion. The photocatalyst layer is formed on an outer surface of the light permeable portion of the housing.
US07913857B2
A selective membrane having a high fouling resistance. In one embodiment, the selective membrane is a composite polyamide reverse osmosis membrane in which a hydrophilic coating is applied to the polyamide layer of the membrane, the hydrophilic coating being made by covalently bonding a hydrophilic compound to residual acid chlorides of the polyamide membrane, the hydrophilic compound including (i) at least one reactive group that is adapted to covalently bond directly to the polyamide membrane, the at least one reactive group being at least one of a primary amine and a secondary amine; and (ii) at least one non-terminal hydroxyl group.
US07913854B2
A filter apparatus includes a endless filter belt loop disposed in an interior space within a tank which receives liquid to be filtered. The filter belt has a series of closely spaced parallel guide-flight bars attached which are successively engaged by an extendible element on a pivot plate which is periodically oscillated to under the filter belt. The bars are received in guide spaces to hold the filter belt in position over a filter support having openings allowing filtering flow therethrough. Collapsible sealed hoses partially filled with liquid are used as edge seals extending along the guide spaces over side edges of the filter belt and are expanded by engagement of an upper end of each of the hoses with a squeeze member on the pivot plate. The squeeze members are moved off the hoses when the pivot plate is oscillated to advance the filter belt during indexing to release the sealing pressure and allow filter belt indexing movement. The pivot plate oscillation also operates a beater bar to guide the belt to dislodge solids from the belt. In a vacuum version, the filter belt support is provided by molded plastic support pieces assembled over a solid curving support plate in the tank.
US07913848B2
An air filling bag with an outer film strengthening structure includes two outer films and a main check valve, where the two outer films are adhered to each other to form an air chamber by means of hot sealing, in which each outer film includes the first film sheet and the second film sheet stacked together, and a plurality of first hot sealing lines is formed by adhering the first film sheet to the second film sheet by means of hot sealing in a first direction together with a plurality of second hot sealing lines formed by adhering the first film sheet to the second film sheet by means of hot sealing in a second direction. The main check valve is positioned between the two outer films and one end thereof projects from the air chamber. Air in the air chamber can compress the main check valve to shield a first air passageway of the main check valve so as to prevent air from leaking out of the air chamber after outside air flows in the air chamber via the first air passageway.
US07913845B2
A personal care product has a container component and an absorbent personal care product component. Generally there are four side walls connected in a manner such that the top panel is connected to the bottom panel by the front side wall, the back side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall; and the front side wall is connected to the back side wall by the first side wall and the second side wall. A chamber is able to hold at least one absorbent personal care article component placed within said chamber of the container component. In addition, the container component is devoid of any indicia on the exterior surface of each of the top panel, the front side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall which tends to indicate that the container has at least one personal care product placed within said chamber.
US07913841B2
A temporary needle holder having one or more lateral surface needle holder apertures configured to receive needles therein. The lateral surface needle holder aperture is provided in addition to a top surface needle holder field and is positioned in the side of the temporary needle holder allowing sharp implements to be inserted into the lateral surface needle holder aperture to minimize tipping of the temporary needle holder. A portion of the implement positioned in the lateral needle holder aperture can rest on the support surface on which the temporary needle holder is positioned. A boundary septum is provided between the lateral surface needle holder aperture and the needle holder field on the top surface to prevent passage of the needle apparatus from the need stop field to the lateral surface needle holder aperture to prevent an inadvertent stick or puncture the skin of a practitioner.
US07913838B2
A test sensor packaging container for use in sensor instrument. The test sensor packaging container comprises a housing, a first foil cover, and a second foil cover. The housing has a plurality of test sensor containing regions. Each of the test sensor containing regions has a proximal end and a distal end and is adapted to contain a test sensor. The test sensor containing regions protrude radially outward from the center of the housing. The housing has a top portion and a bottom portion that are generally parallel. Each of the test sensors has a width direction and a thickness direction. The first foil cover is adapted to cover the top portion of the housing. The second foil cover is adapted to cover the distal end of the plurality of test sensor containing regions. A plane generally parallel to the width direction of each of the plurality of test sensors is generally perpendicular to the top and bottom portion of the housing.
US07913836B2
A conveyor, in particular tubular conveyor, includes a conveyor belt (1) guided over head drums (2, 3) so as to form a forward traveling and returning stretch (4, 6). The conveyor belt is guided in such a way that the forward traveling and returning stretches intersect each other as seen in the horizontal projection, i.e., as seen in the direction of the drum axes, and the conveyor belt (1) travels over both head drums (2, 3) from the top toward the bottom.
US07913832B2
A banknote validator takes both reflection and transmission optical measurements at different wavelengths. An emitter and sensor on one side of the banknote path are used to make a calibration measurement using light reflected from a window on the other side of the path, overlying another optical device. Each measurement is normalised on the basis of multiple measurements of different wavelengths, distributed over a substantial area, such as along the relevant scan line, preferably using a value representing the dispersion of the measurements.
US07913827B2
An electromagnetic actuator includes a supporting member supporting an electromagnetic coil around which a wire is wound, a moving member positioned facing the supporting member so as to move forward and backward, and an actuating force transmitting member transmitting moving force of the moving member to a member to be actuated as an actuating force. The moving member is moved towards the supporting member by magnetic force generated by applying an electric current to the electromagnetic coil to apply the actuating force to the member to be actuated via the actuating force transmitting member. The electromagnetic coil includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils provided at the supporting member.
US07913824B2
A vehicular disk brake device having a first air discharge mouth and a first hose connection mouth connected to a center cylinder project from an outer face of the caliper case in close proximity and so that the axes of the first hose connection mouth and the first air discharge mouth are parallel. In addition, a difference of elevation h1 is provided on both tip end faces so that the tip end face of the first air discharge mouth is higher than the tip end face of the first hose connection mouth. Since an elevation difference h1 is provided on both tip end faces so that the tip end face of the first air discharge mouth is higher than the tip end face of the first hose connection mouth, obstructing components about an air valve mounted on the first air discharge mouth are avoided.
US07913823B2
In a front fork in which a partition wall member is provided in an inner periphery of an inner tube, a working fluid chamber is comparted under the partition wall member and an oil reservoir chamber is comparted over the partition wall member, a main suspension spring is interposed between an upper spring bearing in a piston rod side attached to an outer tube side and a lower spring bearing in a bottom portion side of the inner tube, within the working fluid chamber of the inner tube, and a sub suspension spring is interposed between an upper spring bearing in an upper end portion side of the outer tube side and a lower spring bearing in the partition wall member provided in an inner periphery of the inner tube, within the oil reservoir chamber of the inner tube.
US07913818B2
An elevator installation is arranged in a building with at least two elevators, wherein the building is divided into building zones and each elevator has at least one elevator car, each elevator car is independently movable by an associated drive in an associated car zone and each car zone has at least one transfer floor. A first elevator has at least three elevator cars arranged vertically one above the other in a shaft. In addition, at least three car zones are allocated to a building zone.
US07913813B1
An apparatus comprises a core having a first surface configured for attachment to a surface of a structure, a face sheet located over a second surface of the core, a number of cavities within an interior of the core, and a number of ports for the number of cavities. The number of ports provides communication between the number of cavities within the interior of the core and the exterior of the core. The number of cavities and the number of ports are configured to reduce noise traveling through the core.
US07913811B2
A muffler (1) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, with a housing (2), which has a jacket (3) and an end bottom each at two mutually spaced longitudinal ends of the jacket (3). At least one jacket opening (7) is provided, which passes through the jacket (3) and through which an inner tube (8) arranged in the interior of housing (2) can be connected to a tube of the exhaust system. The manufacture of the muffler (1) can be simplified if the jacket (3) is segmented in the circumferential direction (5) and has a jacket segment (11), which is manufactured as a separate component in relation to the remaining jacket (12). The separate component jacket segment (11) is rigidly connected to the remaining jacket (12) and has the at least one jacket opening (7).
US07913810B2
A high-performance muffler assembly for exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The muffler assembly comprises an elongated casing having an inlet port and an exit port, a first pipe disposed within the casing and having an inlet end in fluid communication with the inlet port and an outlet end selectively fluidly connected to the exit port of the casing, and a first valve mounted within the casing. The first valve is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position for regulating an exhaust gas flow through the first pipe. The muffler assembly is operable in a number of different modes of operation including a high-performance mode, an exhaust braking mode, a reverse-flow mode, etc., determined by the positions of the first valve of the muffler assembly.
US07913807B2
A vehicle door structure, comprising: a loudspeaker mounting hole provide in a door inner panel of a vehicle; a first service hole provided in the door inner panel and located in the vicinity of the loudspeaker mounting hole; a second service hole provided in the door inner panel and located at a position more distant than the first service hole from the loudspeaker mounting hole; a loudspeaker mounted in the loudspeaker mounting hole; a plate-shaped member screwed to the door inner panel for closing the first service hole; and a sound absorbing member provided to close the second service hole.
US07913806B2
A measurement package for disposal on an apparatus such as a downhole tool or a tool like device. The measurement package including an enclosure, a first acoustic transducer housed within the enclosure, a second acoustic transducer housed within the enclosure and electronics housed within the enclosure that is in communication with the first and second transducers. Further, an acoustic transmitter and receivers can be disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure. The enclosure can contain attenuative material surrounding the transmitter and receivers, and electronics for controlling the transmitter and receivers and communicating with the downhole tool.
US07913803B2
A vehicular steering apparatus according to the invention includes a steering angle correction mechanism, a steering power assist mechanism, and a controller. The steering angle correction mechanism works to provide a correction steering angle to a steerable road wheel of a vehicle. The steering power assist mechanism is configured to provide the steerable road wheel of the vehicle with a base assist power and a correction assist power in a first operation mode and the base assist power and a limited correction assist power in a second operation mode. The controller works to control the steering angle correction mechanism to provide the correction steering angle to the steerable road wheel. The controller also works to control the steering power assist mechanism to operate in the first operation mode if the absolute value of the correction steering angle is greater than a predetermined value and in the second operation mode otherwise.
US07913801B2
To provide a steering system for a construction vehicle, which is suited not only for traveling on general roadways but also for work at construction sites and can perform high-reliability steering control.A steering system for a construction vehicle is provided with a directional control valve 5 for controlling a flow of pressure oil to body-articulating hydraulic cylinders 2 that perform steering and also with a steering-wheel-operated signal generation means 6 for outputting by operation of a steering wheel 7a a pilot signal to the directional control valve 5 for switching the valve 5. The steering system is also provided with a lever-operated signal generation means for producing by operation of a lever 10a a pilot signal to switch the directional control valve 5, said lever-operated signal generation means including pressure-proportional solenoid valves 12a,12b or the like, selector valves 13a,13b switchable to permit selectively outputting the pilot signal from one of the signal generation means to the directional control valve 5, and an automated switching means for switching the selector valves 13a,13b such that upon operation of the steering wheel 7a, the pilot signal from the steering-wheel-operated signal generation means 6 can be preferentially outputted to the directional control valve 5.
US07913800B2
A steering system has a steering control unit and a ratio adjuster for varying a flow rate amplification ratio of the steering control unit.
US07913799B2
The invention provides a working vehicle which can easily couple the accelerator arm of the governor of the engine and the shift peal in spite that the rotating speed of the engine can be easily changed on the basis of the operation of the shift pedal, and the manufacturing cost can be easily reduced. In a working vehicle provide with an engine mounted to a traveling machine body provided with traveling wheels, a hydraulic continuously variable transmission shifting a power from the engine, and a shift pedal operating so as to increase and decrease a shift output of the hydraulic continuously variable transmission and an accelerator arm of the engine are coupled via an interlocking mechanism.
US07913787B2
A power source pack is arranged on a floor in such a manner that the vehicle front side is positioned higher than the vehicle rear side. Specifically, the front side of the power source pack is placed on a cross member qualified as a structural member that is fixed to traverse the vehicle on the floor. By such a configuration, it is possible to provide a structure for mounting a power source pack that is configured to be less vulnerable to the heat penetrating from a lower surface of the floor to the interior of a cabin even if the power source pack is arranged on the floor.
US07913781B2
An omni-directional vehicle (ODV) with a circular frame revolvably coupled to an appendage ring using a full circumferential coupling assembly. The appendage ring serves as a point of attachment for a push bar, trailer, tool, vehicle chassis, or other device. Two independent drive wheels located on an axis through the center of the frame are mounted at the same distance from a central vertical axis through the frame. Each wheel is powered independently and can rotate at variable speeds in either direction. The ODV is capable of movement in any direction by rotating the axis of the drive wheels to a position which is perpendicular to the desired direction of travel. The ODV can spin about its vertical axis such that the axis of the drive wheels can be oriented at any direction without changing the original footprint of the space that the frame occupies over the ground.
US07913777B2
The invention relates to a rock drill (1) for rotational and percussive action, comprising a drill head (2), a conveying helix (3), a clamping shank and a longitudinal drill axis (L), wherein the drill head (2) has at least one secondary cutting element (5a, 5b) with a front and a rear side face (10a, 10b) and wherein the secondary cutting element (5a, 5b) has a center of mass (M) and a cutting edge (11), the center of mass (M) and the cutting edge (11) defining a first plane (E1), the front side face (10a) of the secondary cutting element (5a, 5b) defining a second plane (E2) and the rear side face (10b) of the secondary cutting element (5a, 5b) defining a third plane (E3). In this arrangement, the longitudinal drill axis (L) intersects the first plane (E1) at a first point of intersection (S1), the longitudinal drill axis (L) intersects the second plane (E2) and/or the third plane (E3) at a second and/or third point of intersection (S2, S3), the longitudinal drill axis (L) and the first plane (E1) form a first acute angle (1) in the direction of advancement (x) of the rock drill (1) and the longitudinal drill axis (L) and the second and/or third plane (E2, E3) form a second and/or third acute angle (2, 3) in the direction of advancement (x) of the rock drill (1).
US07913775B2
A core sample acquisition device includes a core receiving barrel configured to couple to a drill string proximate a core drilling bit. The device includes a sensor for determining a property of a core sample urged into the receiving barrel by drilling the core sample. The sample acquisition device includes a communication device for transmitting signals from the sensor over at least one of an electrical and an optical communication channel associated with the drill string.
US07913769B2
The application discloses a safety valve including a flapper valve and a packer assembly to be installed in a bore to isolate a first zone from a second zone. Preferably, the safety valve includes a hydraulic conduit bypassing the flapper valve to allow communication therethrough when the valve is closed. Furthermore, the safety valve preferably allows unobstructed passage of tools and fluids therethrough when the flapper valve is open. The application discloses a method to install a safety valve in an existing string of tubing by deploying a packer assembly having an integral safety valve.
US07913766B2
A method for reducing the number of control lines needed to control a plurality of downhole devices including supplying a first control line in operable communication with a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including at least one group of devices; supplying a second control line in operable communication with said at least one group of devices; and actuating each device of the plurality of devices in said at least one group of devices simultaneously in response to a pressure event.
US07913758B2
A method for completing an oil and gas well completion is provided. The perforators (10, 11) may be selected from any known or commonly used perforators and are typically deployed in a perforation gun. The perforators are aligned such that the cutting jets (12, 13) and their associated shockwaves converge towards each other such that their interaction causes increased fracturing of the rock strata. The cutting jets may be also be aligned such that the cutting jets are deliberately caused to collide causing further fracturing of the rock strata. In Ian alternative embodiment of the invention there is provided a shaped charge liner with at least two concave regions, whose geometry is selected such that upon the forced collapse of the liner a plurality of cutting jets is formed which jets are convergent or are capable of colliding in the rock strata.
US07913753B2
A system for injecting a substance into the annular space surrounding a well tubular with an assembly to be inserted into a well tubular. The assembly includes a cutting part capable of making a hole through a well tubular; a substance chamber for storage of the substance and a substance injecting part capable of injecting the substance into the annular space. The system includes a cutting part having a chamber with a first end and a second end and having a wall surrounding the chamber and including at least one entrance for substance at the first end and including an exit for delivery through the well tubular and into the annular space at the second end.
US07913752B2
A cooling system for a vacuum processing apparatus is provided with an internal heat conduction path for transfer of heat entering the subject body through the vacuum processing apparatus, a heat radiation path for radiation of the heat to an outside of the vacuum processing apparatus and a heat conduction path for regulation of quantity of heat transfer between the internal heat conduction path and the heat radiation path. Preferably, a heat pipe is applied to the internal heat conduction path.
US07913745B2
A method for continuously casting a billet with a small cross section in which a curved type or vertical type continuous casting machine is used while oscillating the mold upward and downward is characterized in that the casting machine is provided with a mechanism for withdrawing speed oscillation. The mechanism has structural play in the directions of driving and reverse driving in such a manner that the amount of a play-incurred displacement from the neutral position of the structural play in the direction of billet driving or reverse driving is ±2 to ±30 mm in the direction of driving on the pinch roll circumferential length equivalent basis. The mechanism produces a returning force toward the neutral position and operational parameters such as the billet length, the specific amount of secondary cooling water, the casting speed as well as the oscillation amplitude and frequency are optimized.
US07913742B2
An apparatus for the forming of sand cores adapted to convey sand, tamp a sand core, and militate against an undesirable exposure of uncured sand to catalyst gases, while providing a non-tortuous flow path for sand. The apparatus for the forming of sand cores comprises a core box, a gassing manifold, a blow tube, a sand magazine, a connector tube, and a tamping pin.
US07913739B2
A high-speed industrial roller door includes a door leaf that is guided in lateral guides and a drive that acts on the door leaf to displace the latter from an open position into a closed position and vice versa. The door leaf is held in the open position so that adjacent areas of the door leaf are not in contact with one another, in a spiral section of the lateral guides located in the vicinity of the door lintel. The roller door also includes a weight compensation device. The drive has two extension arms that are coupled via joints to the lintel end of the door leaf, said arms being situated at a distance from one another across the door width and being synchronously pivoted about a pivoting axis in a central area of the spiral section. The distance between the coupling points of the extension arms on the door leaf and the pivoting axis of the extension arms can be varied. This permits the provision of a roller door with a drive that is situated near the door lintel, for which the degree of potential damage during a collision with the door leaf is reduced in relation to prior arrangements.
US07913736B2
An apparatus affixes an adhesive tape to a workpiece having a cylindrical portion and an outer peripheral surface. The apparatus comprises a tape-feeding device for feeding an adhesive tape below the outer peripheral surface such that the adhesive surface faces upwardly in a direction approximately perpendicular to an axis of the cylindrical portion, a tape-cutting device for cutting the adhesive tape fed from the tape-feeding device in a predetermined length, and a tape-affixing device for thrusting and affixing the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape which was cut by the tape-cutting device to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion such that the tape-affixing device passes through both sides of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion from below thereof so as to elevate the adhesive tape. The tape-affixing device is arranged for cut adhesive tape longer than the length of the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion such that adhesive surfaces at ends of the cut adhesive tape are pressed and are adhered each other after the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape was thrust and was adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.
US07913734B2
A strip-shaped polarizing film has a protective film strip conformably adhered to one surface thereof and a releasable liner conformably adhered to the other surface thereof and delivered from a film delivering station 1. After an appearance inspection, a lamination of the protective film strip and the polarizing film strip F is half-cut using a laser unit 11 to form an array of laminations each consisting of a protective film and a polarizing film F, with the releasable liner being left intact. Then, the polarizing films F are fed to a peeling mechanism 4. The peeling mechanism 4 feeds a forwardmost one the polarizing films F to a laminating mechanism 5 while peeling off the releasable liner therefrom by a knife-edged member. The forwardmost polarizing film F is laminated to a liquid-crystal panel W conveyed to the laminating mechanism by a panel transport apparatus 18 in synchronization of the feeding of the forwardmost polarizing film F.
US07913729B2
A molding coping fixture is disclosed. The coping fixture includes a plurality of shims, where the shims can be adjusted to conform to a profile of a molding to be coped, the shims are secured into the fixture and maintain the profile during a coping cut by a router. The coping fixture according to the present invention also includes an anti-tear-out device prevent tear-out of material from the molding during the coping cut. In various preferred embodiments, some or all of the anti-tear-out device may be replaceable. The coping fixture according to the present invention also includes a fixture for selectively adjusting the angle of the coping cut. In various preferred embodiments, a guide pin passes along the shims and a router bit secured in a fixed relation to the guide pin performs the coping cut while the guide pin passes along the shims.
US07913720B2
An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time.
US07913711B2
A door assembly for use in a shelter, wherein the shelter comprises an outer frame assembly comprising a plurality of intercoupled members forming a coverable structure and a cover for covering the outer frame assembly, wherein the door assembly comprises a door frame comprising a plurality of intercoupled members; and a retractable door arrangement coupled to the door frame, wherein the retractable door arrangement comprises a door comprised of flexible material that can be extended to enclose the shelter or retracted to provide an opening into the shelter; wherein the door assembly does not rigidly connect to the outer frame assembly of the shelter during normal usage thereof. In addition, a shelter system comprising the outer frame assembly, the cover and a door frame comprising a plurality of intercoupled members and a retractable door arrangement is also provided.
US07913710B2
A system for improved exterior shading devices of highly adaptable configurations. The system comprises several cantilever shade structures usable in the shading of land vehicles.
US07913708B2
A one-handed operating mechanism for opening and closing umbrella comprises a handle (1) connected to the bottom end of the stem of the umbrella, an elbow member (2) at its curve pivotally connected to said handle (1), a connecting member (3) with its upper end connected to a slide sliding along the stem to open or close the umbrella, said handle (1) is provided with a channel (4) extending from the upper end to the lower end of the handle to accommodate said elbow member (2) and said connecting member (3) to be moving therein, said channel (4) possesses a bottom side (13), said elbow member (2) possesses a handgrip section (5) exposed outside said channel (4) for palm squeezing, and an actuating section (6) located inside said channel (4) for mutual driving with said connecting member. The connecting member is driven by way of operating the elbow member, thereby driving the slide to slide along the stem to push the runner upward toward the crown to open the umbrella.
US07913703B1
An apparatus used to supply a force onto a cleaning solution for processing a substrate for cleaning surface contaminants is disclosed. The apparatus includes a force applicator and a gate. The force applicator is configured to be adjusted to a first height off the surface of the substrate. The gate is positioned adjacent to a trailing point of the force applicator and is configured to be adjusted to a second height off of the surface of the substrate to enable planarization of the cleaning solution as the solution moves to the trailing point.
US07913700B2
The present invention provides a nontobacco or herbal moist snuff composition comprising an herbal component comprising, or consisting essentially of, corn silk. The present invention also provides a method of producing a nontobacco moist snuff composition having an herbal component comprising, or consisting essentially of, corn silk. Corn silk has a light texture, smooth mouth feel, uniform appearance, and a smell and taste that is nonexistent or easily disguisable. When corn silk is combined with a suitable casing component, the resulting nontobacco moist snuff composition has a light, elastic, and moist texture, a soft and smooth mouth feel, a uniform color and particle size, and a long lasting and tobacco-like smell and taste with a characteristic tobacco-like “bite.”
US07913698B2
This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.
US07913695B1
An improved mouth guard designed for use with protective equipment such as helmets and other head gear is disclosed. The invention provides a convenient means to temporarily affix the mouth guard to sports equipment, or other object when the mouth guard is removed, rather than using a conventional or traditional tethering strap. The disclosed mouth guard can be quickly removed from a user's mouth and quickly attached to a helmet component, player's finger, or other piece of equipment to allow the mouth guard to remain rigidly affixed to the player without a loose tethering strap such as used in conventional mouth guards. The invention also is applicable to other mouth guard devices which may be used for dental treatment applications to secure a dental appliance temporarily when removed from the user's mouth.
US07913686B2
Self Contained Aerosol Dual Delivery System (SCADDS) is a pocket-sized inhaler for delivering inhaled therapeutic or recreational aerosols simultaneously and separately via oral and nasal routes. A handle assembly has a removable mouthpiece, cartridge penetration needles, puncture needle protective cover, a shuttle, a cam, valves and conduits from the penetration needles to the individual nozzles for oral and nasal inhalation. A cartridge contains separate reservoirs of solutions for oral and nasal inhalation. The reservoirs, impermeable bags with fluid and dissolved gas in solution, are punctured when the cartridge is attached to the handle assembly. Inhalation slides the shuttle toward the mouthpiece and opens the valves to release solution. The oral aerosol is inhaled into the lungs while the nasal aerosol provides a pleasant aroma. To enhance oral inhalation solution properties the oral inhalation reservoir may contain finely divided solids in a semi-permeable membranous bag, attached to a second reservoir, or be divided by a filter such that these solids do not occlude nozzles or penetration needles Degassed water may be used to enhance organic compound solubility in solutions. Alternative reservoir bag systems are twin spring driven or gas driven cylinders to provide proper pressure to aerosolize nasal and oral fluids. Hydraulic intensification, piezoelectric pumping devices, and electromechanically driven pressure pumps are alternative pressurization systems.
US07913685B2
The invention relates to a textile heat accumulator consisting of a textile carrier material to which a plurality of thin capillaries for water transportation are attached and which is coated with an elastomeric compound comprising finely divided phase change materials such as salt hydrates or crystalline alkyl hydrocarbons. The textile heat accumulator arranged in a roofing structure of a building facilitates the control of the heat flux into the building and the utilization of the latent heat stored within phase change material for hot water generation.
US07913682B2
A barbeque grill includes a grill body and two stands foldably mounted on a bottom of the grill body. Each of the stands includes a support bracket, two support legs, two pivot units, two locking members, two fastening units, and two elastic members. Thus, each of the support legs is rotatable relative to the support bracket so that each of the support legs is foldable to fold each of the stands to reduce the whole volume of the barbeque grill, thereby facilitating packaging, storage and transportation of the barbeque grill. In addition, each of the support legs is locked onto or unlocked from the support bracket by releasing or pulling each of the locking members so that each of the support legs is expandable and foldable easily and quickly.
US07913676B2
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1), in particular in a motor vehicle, having a fresh air system (3) for supplying fresh air, which is extracted from the environment (20) of the internal combustion engine (1), to combustion chambers (13) of the internal combustion engine (1), and having a degassing system (5) for discharging blowby gas from a crankcase (6) of the internal combustion engine (1) and for supplying the blowby gas to the fresh air of the fresh air system (3). Furthermore, the degassing system (5) has an oil separator (35) for removing oil from the blowby gas. In order to improve the performance of the oil separator (35), a vacuum opening valve (37) is connected to the crankcase (6). Said vacuum opening valve (37) opens as a function of a vacuum prevailing in the crankcase (6), and then permits an inflow of fresh air into the crankcase (6).
US07913671B2
A device for a venting circuit of a liquid tank provided with a canister and a filling tube including a filling head, this device comprising:a) a control chamber that communicates with: the canister via a main orifice and a smaller-flow-area secondary orifice, both terminating in a ventilation line leading to the canister; the interior of the tank via the venting circuit; and the filling head via a pressure-equalizing line; b) a closure member that is: provided with an opening therethrough which brings the venting circuit into communication with the pressure-equalizing line; able to move in the control chamber between an operating position with the main orifice closed off by gravity and the secondary orifice left open, and a filling position with both orifices left open; and shaped to sealingly conform to at least a control chamber part that includes the main orifice.
US07913661B2
A system for protecting a crank angle sensor is disclosed. The system includes a protective member, a heat insulating member and an airflow deflecting member. The heat insulating member insulates against heat from adjacent heat sources. The airflow deflecting member directs driving wind into an interior portion of the protective member to cool the air adjacent to a portion of the crank angle sensor. The protective member also includes holes to receive the driving wind directed from the airflow deflecting member.
US07913649B2
A litter box safety guard attached or attachable to a litter box cover of the type having a generally vertical wall and an access opening in the wall, the access opening having a lower opening edge. The safety guard includes a generally vertical planar barrier at least as large as the access opening. The barrier is mountable directly in front of the access opening generally parallel to and spaced from the vertical wall a distance so as to allow entry and exit by cats around the barrier and through the access opening, while blocking access by larger dogs and children.
US07913645B2
In a first aspect, a first method is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) preconditioning a process chamber with an aggressive plasma; (2) loading a substrate into the process chamber; and (3) performing plasma nitridation on the substrate within the process chamber. The process chamber is preconditioned using a plasma power that is at least 150% higher than a plasma power used during plasma nitridation of the substrate. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07913641B2
There is described an apparatus (1) for coating a cylinder (C), in particular a wiping cylinder of an intaglio printing press, with a plastic composition comprising, inter alia, heating means (6) for applying radiant heat to the cylinder throughout its length, the heating means being disposed in a movable hood part (7) adapted to be moved on top of the cylinder for applying heat thereto or away from the cylinder to allow mounting or dismounting of the cylinder (C) on or from the apparatus. In the closed state, the hood part forms an interior space enclosing the cylinder. The hood part includes a hood body (71) and a window panel (72, 73) mounted on a front side of said hood body to allow a human operator to monitor deposition of the plastic composition onto the surface of the cylinder. The hood body and window panel are constructed in such a manner that, when the hood part is moved on top of the cylinder, the window panel lies above the position where the coating unit (4) cooperates with the cylinder during coating.
US07913631B2
A portable modular table includes a main base unit of a lower frame section, an upper frame section secured to the lower frame section and a counter top removably attached to the upper frame section. The portable modular table can further include one or more attachment components for mounting to the main base unit in a number of configurations.
US07913628B2
An improved gap filler in the form of a single plate or a plurality of plates attached to the train car exterior or emanating from below train car vestibule floor which permits transit line system operator to utilize one device to obtain any desired gap minimization at every train car door in a trainset relative to its corresponding platform edge at all stations on its transit line regardless of platform and/or track configuration while simultaneously adhering to its gap clearance standards pertaining to safe passage of any train within its fleet through any station.
US07913627B2
An upper and lower path switching device for a traveling body for transportation has an elevating guide rail supported horizontally by an elevating body, upper fixed guide rails which are connected to the elevating guide rail at a lifted position of the elevating body, and lower fixed guide rails which are connected to the elevating guide rail at a lowered position of the elevating body. The elevating guide rail is supported movably vertically in a predetermined range with respect to the elevating body. Receiving members are provided for receiving the elevating guide rail at a level at which the elevating guide rail is connected to the lower fixed guide rails before the elevating body reaches a lower limit of an elevation path of the elevating body.
US07913622B2
A method for drying a printing ink (114) on a printing substrate (14) in a printing press (30), and a printing press (30). The printing substrate (14) is moved along a path (16) through the printing press (30) and printed on by at least one printing ink (114) at a first position (18) of the path (16). At a second position (124) of the path (16), in a conditioning apparatus, a treatment agent (118) is applied to the printing substrate (14) to accelerate the drying of the printing ink (114) on the printing substrate (14) and includes, in particular, an infrared absorber which has an absorption wavelength that is essentially resonant to the wavelength of the light (12) of the radiant energy source (10). The printing substrate (14) may be dried by the action of radiant energy at a chronologically later point in time, at at least one third position (116) of the path (16), by a drying device, in particular by a narrow-band radiant energy source (10).
US07913618B2
A punch press tool for stamping successive multicharacter impressions into a workpiece such as a piece of steel, sheet metal, or other workpiece, includes a guide body in which a stamp driver is slidably mounted for being driven downwardly toward the workpiece by a punch press ram which is a standard part of a high speed commercial punch press. A multicharacter marking stamp is supported at the lower end of the stamp driver for reciprocal movement therewith. The marking stamp includes multicharacter wheels that are rotated automatically during operation for advancing characters in sequence responsive to the movement of a character advancing arm. At least one character stamp operating lever is operatively associated with the punch press tool for articulation responsive to motion imparted to the tool by the ram. The lever has an operating element that is operatively associated with the character advancing arm of the multicharacter stamp for indexing the arm to enable successive characters thereof to be placed in an operating position responsive to a stroke of the punch press ram.
US07913613B2
A piston/cylinder unit comprising a cylinder, a piston which reciprocates in the axial direction of the cylinder between first and second piston positions, and a fluid bearing provided between the piston and the cylinder which supports the piston such as to be axially displaceable in the cylinder and defines the piston-side bearing surface, enclosing the circumference of the piston at least over a part of the axial extension of the piston, whereby the fluid bearing comprises a number of outlet nozzles for the fluid arranged in the inner circumferential wall of the cylinder. The outlet nozzles are arranged such that when the piston is in the second position, first outlet nozzles provide the front or middle region of the piston-side bearing surface relative to the piston longitudinal extension and second outlet nozzles provide the middle region of the piston side bearing surface with pressure fluid.
US07913607B2
A weapon having a barrel or launch tube and a projectile preloaded therein. An element prevents accidental firing of the projectile if the weapon becomes overheated.
US07913604B2
The invention relates to a missile container retaining structure (1a) for a missile launch device of the type comprising a plurality of cells for receiving a missile container (2) and at least one duct (3). The structure is constituted by metal plates (101, 104) which are pre-cut so as to comprise complementary elements which can be fitted one inside the other, the plates being assembled so that the complementary elements of two adjacent plates are fitted one inside the other.
US07913595B2
A clutch device for tool holders or tool chucking or workpiece chucking devices is used for the releasable form-fitting engagement of a drive shaft, comprising a spindle of the tool holder or chucking devices, said spindle being coaxial with the drive shaft. The drive shaft and the spindle have separate dog elements, whereby, between the two dog elements, a clutch element is arranged that compensates for alignment errors between the drive shaft and the spindle and that can be moved in a limited manner between the drive shaft and the spindle. The clutch element is in form-fitting engagement with the dog elements of the drive shaft and of the spindle.
US07913592B2
A tool holding device is suitable to have an application with a power tool. The tool holding device includes a toolholder for receiving a bit. A sleeve is disposed outside the toolholder and is operable to move between a first position which allows for removal of the bit and a second position which allows the bit to be securely retained in the cavity of the toolholder. A returning member is disposed circumferentially between the toolholder and the second section of the sleeve for returning the sleeve to a neutral position between the first and second positions. Moreover, the portion of the sleeve which does not surround the returning member abuts the toolholder.
US07913581B2
A vehicle powertrain comprising dual torque input clutches and a multiple speed transmission with ratio range gearing is disclosed. The range gearing provides increased gear ratio coverage. A transition between a low speed ratio range and a high speed ratio range is achieved with no torque interruption. A shift from one gear ratio to an adjacent gear ratio in a speed ratio range during a shift sequence is preceded by preselecting the adjacent gear ratio.
US07913580B2
A device and method for preloading a transmission shaft assembly is disclosed. The transmission having the device of the present invention generally has a plurality of gears for providing a plurality of speed ratios. The shaft assembly has a first shaft, a first sleeve shaft, a second sleeve shaft and a first fastener. The first shaft has a flange end and an adjustment end. The first sleeve shaft is concentric with the first shaft and has a first end. The first end of the first sleeve shaft is in communication with the flange end of the first shaft. The second sleeve shaft is concentric with the first shaft and is axially aligned with the first sleeve shaft. The second sleeve shaft has a first end. The plurality of synchronizers for selectively connecting at least one of the plurality of gears to at least one of the first and second sleeve shafts. The first fastener is engagable with the adjustment end of the first shaft and is configured to move axially on the adjustment end. The first fastener has a fastener flange that contacts the first end of the second sleeve shaft. The engagement of the first fastener with the adjustment end generates a compressive force through the flange end of the first shaft to the first end of the first sleeve shaft and through the fastener flange to the first end of the second sleeve thereby forcing the first sleeve shaft to move closer to the second sleeve shaft.
US07913574B2
A tension adapter is disclosed for a materials testing machine. The tension adapter includes a shank and a sleeve. The shank includes an enlarged head with a machined convex spherical bearing surface which forms a ring around the periphery adjacent to one end of the shaft. The opening of the sleeve includes a machine concave spherical bearing surface around the periphery thereof to form a seat for the convex spherical bearing surface. The sleeve further includes inner walls which are conical in order to allow the shank to rotate or pivot from the vertical orientation about the pivot point formed by the spherical bearing surfaces. The rotation or pivoting of the shank allows the tension adapter to align so that only tension forces are applied during materials testing.
US07913573B2
An orthopedic simulator including a holder assembly and a slide table is disclosed. The holder assembly is configured to hold a test specimen to supply test loads. In the embodiment shown, the slide table is coupled to the holder assembly and includes a plurality of translation plates movable along a plurality of axis. As shown, the plurality of translation plates include a first translation plate movable along a first axis and a second translation plate movable along a second axis generally transverse to the first axis. In illustrated embodiments, an adjustable screw lock is configured to provide a positive lock to restrict movement or stroke of the first or second translation plates along the first or second axis. As disclosed, movement of the first or second translation plates is biased via a spring assembly for example to simulate the effect of soft tissue.
US07913569B2
A strain gauge including: a system including a transmission coil, a magnetostrictive material layer and a receiver coil wherein an alternating transmission signal is applied across the transmission coil and an induced signal is induced in the receiver coil, the intensity of the detected signal across the receiver coil being a measurement of strain, wherein frequency of transmission signal is near to a resonance frequency of the system.
US07913565B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for predicting long-term exposure to a hazardous environment based on a user-controllable measurement interval of short duration. In an embodiment, the system includes an electronic circuit for receiving one or more signals representative of the level of a hazard in an environment using one or more of a hazard level sensor and a direct input jack. The system further includes a processor within the electronic circuit for determining an accumulated dose over a user-controllable measurement interval. In addition, the processor predicts hazardous exposure for a user-settable extended period greater than the user-controllable measurement interval and based on the accumulated dose. The dosimeter also includes a user-operable switch within the electronic circuit and in communication with the processor for controlling the user-controllable measurement interval to be less than a nominal measurement interval.
US07913562B2
An economical, flexible, magnetostrictive sensor for use on planar and/or curved structural surfaces, for guided-wave volumetric inspection of the structure. The flexible plate MsS probe includes a flexible strip of magnetostrictive material that is adhered to the base of a flat, flexible, conductor coil assembly. The conductor coil assembly has a core that is composed of a thin flexible strip of metal, a layer of an elastomeric material, and a thin permanent magnet circuit. The flexible core is surrounded by a flat flexible cable (FFC) that is folded and looped over the layers of the core. The exposed conductors at the ends of the FFC are shifted from each other by one conductor and joined so that the parallel conductors in the FFC form a flat, flexible, continuous coil. The entire probe assembly may be bent to match the curved contours of the surface of the structure under investigation.
US07913553B2
A strength testing device for testing a connection strength between two articles when a connection interface therebetween located vertically and includes a blade member, a suspending member, and a handle. The suspending member includes a relay portion, a first connection portion and a second portion disposed at two opposite ends of the relay portion. The blade member includes a blade seating on one of the articles. A holder is formed on the second connection portion to hold a critical weight to break the two articles along the connection interface. A gravity line of the weight crosses with the blade.
US07913551B2
A tire pressure gauge with a valve cap wrench is disclosed. A bore at one end of the tire pressure gauge may be used to grip and remove a valve cap mounted on a valve stem of a tire. A port at the other end of the tire pressure gauge may be used to measure air pressure in a tire. The measured air pressure may be displayed on a display on the tire pressure gauge. The cap wrench may have a collet to hold a valve cap and a switch to tighten and loosen grip on a valve cap. The cap wrench may also have a plunger to push a valve cap out of the tire pressure gauge.
US07913548B2
An engine rotational speed determining device is disclosed which includes a signal inputting means and a rotational speed determining means. The signal inputting means inputs a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during a starting operation of the engine by the motor. The rotational speed determining means determines a rotational speed of the engine in the starting operation based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means.
US07913539B2
An apparatus for drop testing is disclosed. The apparatus has a drop angle setting jig that horizontally moves on a support frame and positions a test object at a predetermined angle by clamping with a fixture. The jig provides a second datum plane and is connected to a moveable holding frame, with the holding frame providing a first datum plane. After the fixture clamps the testing object, the jig can be pulled back without touching the testing object, and the testing object stays still. Therefore, the testing object can be precisely positioned. Furthermore, with the sliding track and the stopping block, the jig is able to quickly return back to the reference position.
US07913509B2
The present invention provides a refrigerator, in which cold-storage (1) and freezer rooms (2) are situated at upper and lower parts, respectively, in which ice made at the freezer room (2) of the lower part is dispensed at the cold-storage room (1) of the upper part, and by which a user can pick up the ice without bending over to enhance user's convenience. The present invention includes a body (B) having a cold-storage room (1) provided to an upper part and a freezer room (2) provided to a lower part, an ice maker (400) provided to the freezer room to make ice, an ice bank (600) receiving the ice made by the ice maker, and a transport mechanism sending the ice discharged from the ice bank (600) toward the cold-storage room (1) via an ice transport passage (200a, 300). Therefore, the present invention sufficiently secures the spaces of the cold-storage and freezer rooms to raise spatial efficiency.
US07913503B2
A refrigerant expansion assembly, and method of operation, for use in a vehicle air conditioning system is disclosed. The assembly has a main body including an orifice inlet port, an orifice outlet port, an orifice channel extending between the orifice inlet and outlet ports and including a fixed orifice, an upstream bypass channel extending from the orifice channel between the orifice inlet port and the fixed orifice and including a valve seat, and a downstream bypass channel extending from the orifice channel between the fixed orifice and the orifice outlet port. A bypass valve flange extends from the main body, forming a bypass chamber connected to the upstream bypass channel and the downstream bypass channel, with the ball valve seat adjacent to the bypass chamber. A check ball mounts in the bypass chamber adjacent to the valve seat, and a spring biases the check ball into the valve seat.
US07913500B2
A refrigerator control method is provided that may efficiently perform a defrosting operation. The method includes performing a normal operation of a refrigerating storage room and a normal operation of a freezing storage room selectively or simultaneously, setting a variable defrosting period, which is varied according to set parameters including the relative humidity of external air, and performing a defrosting operation based on the set defrosting period.
US07913493B2
A steam engine of a simple constitution capable of efficiently obtaining mechanical energy not only from a heat source of a high temperature but also from various heat sources in a low-temperature state such as the exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine. The engine comprises a displacement engine 1 having a rotor 13 that rotates, a steam-generating portion 2 arranged thereunder and a condenser 3 arranged thereover. Water heated in the steam-generating portion 2 becomes the steam which is fed into the displacement engine 1, enters into an operation chamber that moves up, rotates the rotor 13 and is, thereafter, fed into the condenser 3 where it is condensed to turn into the condensate. The condensate falls on the rotor 13 on the lower side due to gravity, and is refluxed into the steam-generating portion 2 through the operation chamber that moves downward with rotation of the rotor 13. The steam engine efficiently operates even at low speeds, requires no pump for refluxing the condensate, and is constituted in a compact size.
US07913488B2
A method for operating a diesel internal combustion engine having a compressed air source, a diesel particulate filter situated in the exhaust gas system, and a secondary air line and secondary air compressor for introducing secondary air into the exhaust gas system of the internal combustion engine, in which the compressed air source is used to drive the secondary air compressor.
US07913483B2
On each draft element of a ring spinning frame, two pieces of short-staple roving from the roving bobbin enter into the draft mechanism to be drafted though a guide funnel in parallel, two pieces of filament are fed from the back of the front roller, and combine with two pieces of roving at front jaw respectively. The drafted two pieces of roving and filament are output from the front jaw and enter into the twisting triangle area to be twisted, and then are wound onto a yarn bobbin to produce yarn. Based on the relative position of the two pieces of roving and two pieces of filament, different yarns can be produced. Furthermore, multi-component yarn, such as core structure, wrapped structure, strand-like structure, can be produced on a ring spinning frame. The structure of yarn can be precisely determined. Special fiber yarn can be produced on traditional spinning frame.
US07913476B2
A wrapping device 1 for packaging goods, specifically goods stacked on pallets or the like, with a tube-like film, with a film feeding device 4 with fusion and cutting systems to generate and feed a dome-like film cover within a device frame 6, where film feeding device 4 works in conjunction with a covering device 7 that moves vertically up and down within device frame 6, where covering device 7 is designed to grasp the film cover and place it to cover goods located in the lower segment of device frame 6, is characterized by having film feeding device 4 move vertically within device frame 6. This arrangement simplifies installation, maintenance and repairs, specifically to the film feeding device.
US07913475B2
According to one embodiment, an integrated multi-stage end-to-end cytotoxin handling system includes a first stage for receiving a cytotoxin drug and for preparation of a dose of the cytotoxin drug; a second stage in selective communication with the first stage for further processing the prepared dose; and a third stage in selective communication with the second stage for further processing of the prepared dose. The third stage includes an automated apparatus for sealing the prepared dose in an enclosure. During the entire time from reception into the first stage for drug preparation thereof and to produce a cytotoxin dose to being scaled in the enclosure, the cytotoxin drug remains in a controlled, sealed environment.
US07913469B2
A concrete load-bearing wall with compound heat-insulating layer includes wall body (1) and connecting beam (2). Two layers of prefabricated heat-insulating concrete wall bodies (11a, 11b) are set in the wall body (1) of external wall, said prefabricated heat-insulating concrete wall body (11a, 11b) is a concrete plate (5) whose external surface is covered with a heat-insulating material layer (4), every layer of the prefabricated heat-insulating concrete wall body is composed of several trough-type or L-shaped prefabricated heat-insulating concrete wall body units (13). A concrete wall body vertical rib (12) is cast in situ between two adjacent prefabricated heat-insulating concrete wall body units (13) in same layer and connects them into integrity. The upper and lower ends of the rib (12) connect together with the beam of the floor, and the external side of the connecting beam (2) is covered with the heat-insulating material layer (4).
US07913468B2
An assembly for cooling a penetrant from the non-fire side of a barrier and to extend the time that a firestop prevents the passage of flames and hot gases of a through penetration firestop installation. The present invention includes an encapsulation wrap that is positioned adjacent to and surrounding a penetrant or conduit. The encapsulation wrap comprises a plurality of individual coolant packages, each of which contains purified water or other appropriate coolant. An exterior banding structure is provided which is positioned adjacent to the encapsulation wrap and includes a plurality of vents to improve its heat dissipation properties and may include exterior fins. The encapsulation wrap and exterior banding are positioned and held in place by a hose clamp or other suitable attachment means. The packets of coolant are engineered to release a controlled amount of coolant when the coolant and/or penetrant achieves a predetermined temperature.
US07913464B2
An assembly device for at least two laminated glazing elements each including plural individual glazing elements that are rigid and assembled to one another at the surface by bonding layers, which succeed one another in a direction of extension, partially overlapping in contiguous edge regions in perpendicular projection on faces of the glazing elements, and are assembled to one another in this limited overlap region on the edge side. Only one portion of the rigid glazing elements, at least one individual glazing element of each laminated glazing element, extends into the overlap region. This allows a smooth continuous transition from one laminated glazing element to the next with a visual effect of an extremely transparent glazing.
US07913460B2
An observation shelter includes a plurality of generally upright walls including a first wall having a first window opening positioned therein and a second wall having a second wall positioned therein. First and second shutters are movable between respective raised and closed positions. The first and second shutters have respective shapes configured such that the shutters when in their respective raised positions meet at a joint extending from said corner to provide substantially continuous shelter from the sun for the first window opening and second window opening, and wherein with the first and second shutters in their respective closed positions, an extension portion of the first shutter is received in a pocket portion of the second shutter.
US07913459B2
A work space system including a plurality of work areas. A work area includes a spine wall, a first wall adjacent to the spine wall and extending from the spine wall, and a second wall adjacent to the first wall and including an entrance to the work area. The height of the second wall is greater than the height of the first wall, and the height of the first wall is greater than the height of the spine wall.
US07913449B2
A liquid-lure dispenser that provides long-time uniform emission of an attractant that entices insects or other organisms into a trap, consists of a wick that absorbs the liquid lure from its container and gradually emits the lure to the atmosphere from the exposed portion of the wick. The tubular container holds the desired quantity of lure and has an opening that holds the wick securely in place, with the lower part of the wick immersed in lure and the upper part exposed to air; lure-emission rate can be adjusted by area of wick exposed to air. An opening in the lure container permits lure to be added as needed and avoids an air-pressure drop in the lure container as lure is sucked up by the wick and volatilized. If desirable, insecticide or more than one lure may be released from a dispenser.
US07913447B1
The Smart and Multiple Mouse Trap uses two ascendant walls that lead to the top of the mouse trap. On the top of the trap, there is a cylinder shaped wheel that will contain food. In order for the mouse to get the food, it must maneuver upward from one of the two ascendant walls. Then it will go through a one way door. Then as it tries to grab the food from the wheel, it will face the problem of the wheel spinning as well as no room to stand on, providing no stability due to gravity. Then the mouse will have to drop into the mouse trap. The removal of the contents inside the trap will be simply to open the right side door and dump it wherever. The mouse trap does not need to be reset when it traps a mouse.
US07913445B2
An adjustable buoyancy fishing bobber system for efficiently increasing or decreasing the buoyancy of a bobber to match the particular combined weight of the fishing line, lure and bait being currently utilized. The adjustable buoyancy fishing bobber system generally includes a casing including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends from the second portion, wherein the casing includes a chamber formed within the first portion and the second portion. Adjusting the first portion with respect to the second portion adjusts a volume of air within the casing. A vent including a channel extends from the casing, wherein the channel extends through vent and fluidly connects to the chamber of the casing to allow the air from within the chamber to escape or enter within the chamber during adjusting.
US07913443B2
An audible fishing weight has a striker is constrained for reciprocating linear motion relative to at least one anvil face between upper and lower limits of the motion. The striker and anvil face are adapted and arranged to produce fish-attractive sound when the striker contacts the anvil face at the lower limit of the striker linear motion with respect to the anvil face.
US07913426B2
A footwear article (1), for practicing a sport, in particular, motorcycling, includes a rigid body (2), for housing the foot of a user, running in an extension direction (8), a rigid upper (4), for housing the leg of a user and running essentially in an elevation direction (10), a joint (6), permitting the rotation of the upper with relation to the body in a transverse direction (12), stop elements for limiting the rotation of the upper (4) with relation to the body (2) in the transverse direction (12) within a range of rotation limits over 50 to 70 degrees, damping elements (14), generating a torque which opposes the approach of the first and second stop elements, the damping elements having an inactive state when the upper and the body move relative to each other within a normal rotation range of 30 to 50 degrees.
US07913415B2
The device for drying laundry 1 by means of a current of air comprises a drum 2 to accommodate the laundry 1 and a ducting system 4, 5, 6, to direct said current of air. The ducting system 4, 5, 6 has a section 4 arranged downstream of the drum 2, in which the current of air is directed downwards and in which is arranged a filter 8 to capture lint 9 from the current of air. A scraper 15 is assigned to the filter 8, in order to scrape off the lint 9. The receptacle 19, 20 has a handle 21 and two interlinked shell elements (19, 20) which can be separated from each other, and which define a storage volume to accommodate the scraped-off lint (9). According to the invention, lint 9 thus scraped off can be removed from the device and disposed of, without the user needing to come into direct contact with the lint 9.
US07913413B2
A multi-purpose spacer provides working surfaces for properly spacing studs, joists, rafters, and decking. The spacer (also referred to herein as a “tool” or “jig”) includes an adjustable spacer for balusters used in staircase railings, deck railings, and the like. The spacer may be constructed of a light metal, preferably aluminum, or suitably rugged plastic, and may also include a removable, padded handle to ease transport and use. Embodiments of the invention provide a spacing tool that is (for all practical purposes and in accordance with typical tolerances in the framing carpentry industry) completely temperature- and humidity-immune as well as waterproof.
US07913412B2
A contour measuring probe includes an air guide, a sliding member and a probe tip. The air guide defines a guide hole. The sliding member is slidably received in the guide hole. The probe tip is fixed on an end of the sliding member. A cross-section of the sliding member is non-circular, and the guide hole is a non-circular hole, such that the sliding member slides only along an axis of the air guide.
US07913411B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for measuring inside diameters of holes using a dial bore gage with a packaged digital transducer providing an amplified readable output to both dial indicator and digital display enabling wireless data transmission for recording its measured output.
US07913410B2
A measuring device for measuring the overall length of a firearm is constructed with a rectangular base with a back plate affixed perpendicular to the base. One end of the base is fixed with a plate attached perpendicular to the base. The other side of the device has a movable plate that rides back and forth on a rail. Underneath the rail is a ruler which is used to read the overall length of the firearm. The design of the fixture will allow for repeatable measuring of firearms. Also, the sliding plate ensures the furthest point of the firearm is that being measured regardless of the angle at which the barrel is cut.
US07913395B1
The invention as presently conceived discloses a plumbing pipe cutter with an integral means of directing away residual water after a pipe is cut. The device comprises a conventional, low profile pipe cutter that is commonly used to cut copper water supply lines. Other cutters designed for polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other types of piping can likewise be adapted. The apparatus is further comprised of a transparent shield around the entire perimeter of the cutter and extending onto either pipe. At one end of the shield, approximately 8-10 inches from the cutter, the transparent material is flexibly gathered and routed to a short section of PVC tubing. The distal end of the tubing has a hose connector onto which a standard hose would be attached. When the apparatus is fully installed, residual water in cut pipes is collected and directed away without harming the surrounding areas.
US07913388B2
A nozzle unit having a nozzle, a flow channel unit having a pressure chamber and a through hole to be communicated with the pressure chamber and an actuator for causing the pressure chamber to discharge ink are respectively formed. The nozzle unit and the actuator have substantially the same planar dimensions. In the nozzle unit, a spacer plate having a communicating hole penetrating in the plate thickness direction corresponding to the nozzle is preliminarily bonded with the first plate, which is to be the nozzle plate, and the nozzle is formed at the first plate material through the communicating hole with laser. The nozzle unit and the actuator which have been respectively formed are bonded with the flow channel unit at positions facing each other simultaneously.
US07913384B2
A method of preparing a wire harness production by providing standard wiring pattern information related to a first pattern including parts, electric circuits and wirings of a standard type vehicle, and generating modified wiring pattern information related to at least another pattern in which at least one of the parts, the electric circuits, and the wirings of a first pattern is altered.
US07913382B2
Printing plates, printing system and method for printing electrical circuits. According to embodiments of the invention, patterned layers of conductive, insulating, semi-conductive materials, and other materials can be additively print deposited on a substrate to form electrical circuits. The electrical circuits so formed of single or multiple printed layers can comprise or compose transistor devices, including thin film transistors, multiple transistor circuits or assemblies, or other electrical devices, for example batteries, sensors, displays, memory arrays, and the like. The invention further provides a patterned printing plate imaged by a photolithography and etch process, and a printing system and methods using the patterned plate by which such high resolution, precise registration electrical circuits and circuit devices can be produced.
US07913381B2
A method of forming an electronic device (70) on a metal substrate (10) deposits a first seed layer (40) of a first metal on at least one master surface (30) with a roughness less than 400 nm. A supporting metal layer (60) is bonded to the first seed layer (40) to form the metal substrate (10). The metal substrate (10) is removed from the master surface (30), and at least one electronic device (70) is formed on the seed layer (40) of the metal substrate (10).
US07913371B2
A method for producing an agent depot for mechanical connection to a surface of an endovascular implantable body, comprising a) providing one or more polymers; b) providing one or more agents; and c) producing an agent depot from said polymers and said agents, the agent depot being mechanically connectable to the surface of the body using force action or adhesive.
US07913364B2
A casket comprises a shell, a cap closable on the shell, and a dish assembly mounted to an underside of the cap. The dish assembly comprises a cap panel, and either a) an alcove structure formed in the cap panel and adapted to receive an ornament for display when the cap is open, a shelf mounted to the cap panel which projects forwardly and is adapted to support an ornament for display when the cap is open, and a drawer assembly mounted to the cap panel for display and storage of items of memorialization of a deceased, or b) an alcove structure and a shelf, or c) an alcove structure and a drawer assembly, or d) a shelf and a drawer assembly.
US07913361B2
There is disposed a damper 7, which provides a resistance to a retracting movement of a piston 71. A door opening lever 2 has a pressing part 2c formed with a cam surface, which is configured so as to have a distance from a swingable shaft 2a gradually increasing toward a cam end 2e. The damper 7 is configured so that a piston rod 72 is fixed to a depth end of a housing 9, that a gap 9c is formed between an outer wall of the cylinder 70 and an inner wall of the housing 9, and that the cylinder 70 has a depth end 70a constantly brought into press-contact with the cam surface 2d of the door opening lever 2 under a biasing action. When the door opening lever 2 is not subjected to pulling operation, a portion of the cam surface 2d close to the cam end 2e is brought into press-contact with the depth end 70a of the cylinder 70 to retract the piston 71 into the cylinder 70 at the maximum.
US07913360B2
A hinge includes a bracket with a protruding portion, a shaft extending through the bracket, a positioning member mounted on the shaft, and a resilient member. The shaft includes a post and a blocking portion. A slope surface is formed from one end of the protruding portion. The positioning portion is formed on the positioning member facing to the protruding portion of the bracket. An inclined stopping surface is formed from one end of the positioning portion. The resilient member fits about the shaft between the blocking portion and the positioning member. When the shaft rotates with respect to the bracket beyond the limits of a desired angle, the protruding portion drives the inclined stopping surface of the positioning member to move the positioning member away from the bracket to compress the resilient members for obviating the hinge to be damaged.
US07913356B2
A hinge assembly (10) includes a shaft (12) and a follower (16), wherein one of the shaft and the follower defines a thread (122), the other of the shaft and the follower includes at least one resisting portion (166). The thread is separately formed from one of the shaft and the follower with the thread and the shaft and the follower slide and rotate relative to each other. Since the thread is separately formed therewith, the thread may be formed by injection mold. This manufacture method is easy. In addition, the thread may be made of wear resistant material. The thread is not easy to be abraded, thereby the work being stable.
US07913355B2
A bidirectional opening/closing door unit and a refrigerator having the same. The door unit is provided at a side of a body of the refrigerator to open or close the body. The body includes hinges protruding from left and right sides of the body to be coupled with the door unit. The door unit includes a door and an opening/closing device provided at a side of the door. The opening/closing device includes a pair of opening/closing structures detachable to the respective hinges, and an operative connector to be operatively connected to one of the opening/closing structures to limit operation of the other opening/closing structure. With this configuration, the operative connector can achieve smooth movements and maintain a high durability in spite of frequency opening/closing operations and long time use of the door.
US07913349B2
A hand-held scraper device containing a stowable multi blade pivoting head. The pivoting head is comprised of at least two scraping elements which remain at a fixed angle relative to each other while still allowing a pivoting action of the head assembly independently from the handle. The angle of the scraping elements relative to each other is set such that as the two scraping elements are jointly presented against the work surface they will be maintained at an angular attitude conducive to a scraping action in both a push and pull direction. The pivoting head can be collapsed for more efficient stowage or as an alternate configuration for specific scraping applications.
US07913346B2
A substrate treatment apparatus includes a substrate holding mechanism which holds a substrate, a scrub brush for scrubbing a surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism to remove foreign matter from the substrate surface, a treatment liquid supplying mechanism which supplies an alkaline treatment liquid to the substrate surface when the substrate is scrubbed with the scrub brush, and an alkaline fluid supplying mechanism which supplies an alkaline fluid to a surface of the scrub brush in a standby period during which no substrate is scrubbed with the scrub brush.
US07913336B2
A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, or the like, includes a support deck with a head section pivotable between a generally flat orientation and a raised orientation. As the head section pivots from the flat orientation to an intermediate orientation, the pivot axis of the head section remains generally stationary. As the head section pivots from the intermediate orientation to the raised orientation, the pivot axis of the head section moves. The support deck may include an intermediate section attached to the head section wherein a foot end of the intermediate section moves linearly in a horizontal plane as the head section pivots from the intermediate orientation toward the raised orientation.
US07913334B2
A bed includes at least one barrier element (19, 21) extending along a lateral side of a bed frame. At least one part of this barrier element is laterally tiltable, by being hinged (31, 41) in its lower part, along a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the lateral side of the bed for assisting the patient as he or she is standing up.
US07913318B2
Adjustable padding systems for garments, incorporating a pocket and a pad. The pocket is coupled to the garment and has a wide, proximal portion and a narrow, distal portion. The pad has corresponding wide and narrow portions. The narrow portion of the pad is longer than the length of the narrow portion of the pocket, but is adjustable in length. Accordingly, the location of the wide portion of the pad along the length of the garment can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the narrow portion of the pad.
US07917966B2
Techniques for fabricating carbon nanotubes aligned on a tip are provided. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating carbon nanotubes aligned on a tip includes forming nanostructures on the tip, and aligning the nanostructures on the tip using a fluid flowing on the tip.
US07917964B2
A method and apparatus for processing information, method and apparatus for manufacturing an information recording medium, an information recording medium, and a computer program are provided. An information processing apparatus for playing back a content recorded on an information recording medium and includes a data transform processor performing a substitution process on content member data recorded on the information recording medium. The data transform processor substitutes transform data as substitute data for the content member data in accordance with a fix-up table holding recording position information of the transform data.
US07917959B2
Systems and methods that reformat media are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a server, a first communications device and a second communications device. The server, the first communications device and the second communications device may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and may send the device profile and media content to the server. The server may reformat the media content based on the device profile.
US07917956B2
An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that determine a virus associated with a communications network, and distribute an anti-viral agent onto the communications network using a bypass network, the bypass network configured to provide transmission of the anti-viral agent with at least one of a higher transmission speed, a higher transmission reliability, a higher transmission security, and/or a physically-separate transmission path, relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.
US07917951B1
An anti-virus system provider distributes an e-mail identifying content filtering rule seeking to identify e-mail messages suspected of containing an item of malware from a central source (20) to users (2). This distribution may be by an e-mail message itself which is appropriately signed and encrypted. At the user system (2), the received e-mail identifying content filtering rule is extracted from the e-mail message and added to the content filtering rules (18) being applied within that user system. In this way, malware which is distributed by e-mail may be identified by characteristics of its carrier e-mail rather than characteristics of the malware itself which not yet have been properly analyzed or the mechanisms for detecting such characteristics of the malware itself not yet put in place.
US07917943B1
Effective aspects of stamping outbound e-mail are combined with a registration and entity identification system for e-mail senders. A mail sender participates by registering From: line and entity information with a trusted third-party repository known as a stamp authority. When the sender sends an e-mail message, the From: line is compared against the From: line information for the sender stored in the repository. If the result is a match, entity information is added and the e-mail is allowed to be sent. If there is not a match, then the e-mail is prevented from being stamped.
US07917932B2
PVR functionality is enabled on a media player of a placeshifting system, which allows a user to record media programs from locations that are physically remote from a source of the media programs. The media player may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media player identifies a media program and associated schedule information. When the media program is scheduled to play, the media player requests a media broadcasting device to receive the media program; to digitize, transcode, and/or transrate the media program, if necessary; and to transmit the media program to the media player. The media program may be recorded in a local storage of the media broadcasting device or the media player.
US07917924B2
In accordance with the present invention, a media content management application that allows a user to create and customize a version of media content based on semantic criteria is provided. Based on semantic criteria, the media content management application may use editing/assembly software packages to construct a version of the media content for an intended audience. In addition, the media content management application uses semantic criteria to provide the user with options for optimizing the cost of the version of media content, options for delivering the version of media content, and/or options for delivery mediums to transmit the version of media content.
US07917915B2
A system, apparatus, method and article for a modular electronic mail software architecture are described. The apparatus may include a processing sub-system having a processor and memory. The memory may store software components for execution by the processor. The software components may comprise an application program implemented using a model driven application framework and capable of operating with multiple operating systems. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07917906B2
Method and apparatus for allocating system resources for use by software processes in a computer-based system, such as a wide area network (WAN) comprising a data storage array. A first memory space provides a first bit indicator to indicate whether at least one system resource is available for use. A second memory space provides a second bit indicator to indicate whether a pending software process awaits availability of the system resource. The resource is allocated for use by the process in relation to a combinatorial operation upon the first and second bit indicators, preferably comprising a logical AND operation. The first and second memory spaces are preferably characterized as multi-bit registers. A free resource stack identifies available resources, and a process queue identifies pending processes waiting for released processes. The statuses of the respective stack and queue are reflected in the bits in the multi-bit registers.
US07917903B2
A quality-of-service controller and related method for a data storage system. Requests for each of a plurality of storage system workloads are prioritized. The requests are selectively forwarded to a storage device queue according to their priorities so as to maintain the device queue at a target queue depth. The target queue depth is adjusted response to a latency value for the requests wherein the latency value is computed based on a difference between an arrival time and a completion time of the requests for each workload. Prioritizing the requests may be accomplished by computing a target deadline for a request based on a monitored arrival time of the request and a target latency for its workload. To reduce latencies, the target queue depth may be reduced when the target latency for a workload is less than its computed latency value. To increase throughput, the target queue depth may be increased when the target latency for each workload is greater than each computed latency value.
US07917901B2
A technique for the dynamic instrumentation of a running software system. One or more callable instrumentation functions are accessible in a first memory space associated with the software system. The one or more callable instrumentation functions are adapted to probe an operation of the software system and return data regarding the probed operation. Probed operation environment information needed by the one or more instrumentation functions is provided to a second memory space associated with the software system. First memory space addresses associated with the probed operation environment information are determined from a resource that is accessible in the second memory space. A probe handler is generated that includes calls to the one or more instrumentation functions with references to the first memory space addresses. The probe handler is callable as part of the probed operation.
US07917900B2
A source code clarification system is described. In various embodiments, the source code clarification system receives clarified source code and transforms the clarified source code into standard source code or object code that implements asynchronous components. The standard software source code can contain expressions for enabling asynchronous communications. The clarified code can be software source code that is expressed in an imperative language and is capable of static analysis. The clarified source code can contain a coordination primitive that encapsulates interactions between asynchronous components. By using the coordination primitives and events, the clarified source code can express interactions between asynchronous components so that the clarified source code is easier for developers to understand and for static analysis tools to analyze.
US07917888B2
A system and method are provided for visually building multi-channel and multi-modal applications. The system includes a process design module for designing application workflow, an integration design module for integrating data sources into the application; a presentation design module for designing application views; a media library; and a componentization module, for packaging designed workflow into reusable components. The system further includes an interactive development/design environment (IDE). The IDE provides a graphical user interface for allowing a developer to visually interact with and operate modules. The system allows a developer to design a single application that can operate across multiple network standards, devices, browsers and languages, and that operate in one or more modes, such as real-time, off-line and asynchronous modes.
US07917885B2
A high-level logic description is developed based on a non-primitive-based standard cell library. The logic description is synthesized into a netlist that includes references to the non-primitive-based standard cell library. A logic function for each standard cell in the netlist is determined and mapped into a set of primitive logic cells to create a primitive constructed version of each referenced standard cell. The set of primitive logic cells is defined for integration within a base array. The primitive constructed version of each referenced standard cell is included within a primitive-based cell library. The primitive-based cell library is used to place and route the netlist for the logic design for integration within the base array. The logic design is then integrated within the base array.
US07917875B1
An adjustable buffer including a series of P-channel devices having current paths coupled between a first voltage supply and at least one output node, and a series of N-channel devices having current paths coupled between the output node and a second voltage supply. The control electrodes of the P- and N-channel devices are coupled to a selected one of an input node and a corresponding voltage supply collectively forming first and second sets of selectable connections. The first and second sets of selectable connections are made to adjust delay from the input node to the output node. The selectable connections may be defined in an integrated circuit mask or may be electronic switches. The P- and N-channel devices may be in a balanced configuration or an imbalanced configuration. The P- and N-channel devices may form an inverting buffer or a non-inverting buffer.
US07917870B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for automatically enhancing a power distribution system (PDS) in a ceramic integrated circuit package. The package includes multiple layers. The entire package is divided into a three-dimensional grid that includes multiple different grid cells. Information is associated with each one of the cells. For each one of the cells, the information included in the cell describes characteristics of the physical location of that cell relative to the other cells in the three-dimensional package. The information also describes any via or trace that already passes through said that cell. Potential new via and/or trace locations are automatically located throughout all of the entire package utilizing the information.
US07917854B1
This invention provides an improved graphical user interface (GUI) for telecommunications network administration. The GUI allows a network administrator to maintain an association between a link bundle and the contents of that link bundle by displaying a network topology including the link bundle, as well as the contents of that link bundle in the same window. The GUI further allows easy navigation between groups of NE's wherein there are a number of inter-group links extending from a particular NE, by displaying characteristics of these links in the same window as a network topology of the NE group under investigation, and allowing the user to follow a selected one of these links to a different NE group.
US07917844B1
A method for processing a document including a field containing information in a predefined domain includes defining a directory of data relating to the predefined domain. An image of the field containing the information is received from a client via a computer network. The image is processed to code the information, and the coded information is looked up in the directory so as to check whether the information is coded correctly.
US07917843B2
A method, system and computer readable medium for providing for providing a function item, such as a key, button, icon, or menu, tied to a user operation in a computer, whereby a single click on the function item in a window or program on a computer screen, or one single selection in a menu in a program, initiates retrieval of name and addresses and/or other person or company related information, while the user works simultaneously in another program, e.g., a word processor. The click on the function item initiates a program connected to the button to search a database or file available on or through the computer, containing the person, company or address related data, in order to look up data corresponding to what the user types, or partly typed, e.g., name and/or address in the word processor, the correct data from the database, data related to the typed data, e.g., the name of the person, company, or the traditional or electronic address, or other person, or company, or address related data, and alternatively the persons, companies, or addresses, are displayed and possibly entered into the word processor, if such related data exists.
US07917842B2
In an environment in which some forms are received in paper form and some in electronic form or an environment in which in which workers prefer using paper forms, the invention provides a method of producing a template for the purpose of producing paper forms from electronic forms, the paper forms produced from the electronic forms being similar in appearance to forms that were completed in hard copy. Variable information is extracted from one or more electronic forms that are to be mapped to the paper form. A template is created by placing the variables from the electronic form onto an image of the paper form. The template may include position coordinate information, variable name information, text, and logic. After the template is completed, the system uses the template to print paper forms from instances of electronic forms. In some cases, multiple electronic forms can be mapped to a single paper form, and a preferred system can create a template, even if questions presented in electronic forms vary, depending on answers of previous questions.
US07917841B2
A method of viewing information associated with data in a spreadsheet, includes providing a document including data and information associated with the data, parsing the document to retrieve the associated information, processing the associated information to break the associated information down into at least one sentence, categorizing the at least one sentence to determine whether the at least one sentence corresponds to at least one category in a taxonomy corresponding to the data, assigning an association strength to the categorized at least one sentence, the association strength indicating a likelihood that the categorized at least one sentence actually corresponds to the at least one category in the taxonomy, filtering the at least one categorized sentence based on the association strength to determine whether to match the categorized at least one sentence with the at least one category in the taxonomy and outputting only the categorized at least one sentence matched with the at least one category in the taxonomy.
US07917838B2
A system and method for presenting document records to a user through a display interface, comprising means for processing data of the first type through a first applet and data of the second type through a second applet and separately extracting data of the two different types using the separate applets. The user interface provides means for selecting a data file from a plurality of data files, displaying the merged and formatted processed first and second data, and managing a plurality of data files with the host application. Each record on the list may be individually selected, comprising providing at least two distinct categorization inputs from the user, providing an indicia in the record list to indicate a respective record classification, and providing means for selectively processing the records according to a respective classification thereof. The data file employs a standard image format file with an embedded index pointer to segregate two data types. A first data type, preferably an image, is referenced by the index pointer and is located near the terminus of the file. A second data type, for example text, appears immediately after the file header which includes the index pointer, and preferably terminates with an end of file marker. Thus, the single file may be read by both a standard image file reader, and a standard text reader, without parsing or segregation. The two data types are preferably text and image data, and the data file is preferably a tagged image format file (TIFF) file with Group-4 image compression.
US07917837B2
A blade center is provided with an additional video output system which includes additional video output capabilities to allow a user to point to another blade within the blade center to work locally on a blade that does not include media tray access. The local access is granted via a control (e.g., a button) on the control panel of the blades or a control on the chassis or management module that allows the user to specify which blade to use for the second video output connection to a KVM console or direct host connect. This video output system advantageously allows more than one blade to be interactively utilized in a graphic environment at any time. Other blades executing local applications can be accessed and/or modified while another blade is accessing the media tray for installations and using one of the video output controls.
US07917830B2
A turbo decoder includes first and second interleavers, a de-interleaver, first and second component decoders and a stop judging circuit. The first and second component decoders respectively decode a systematic code and an interleaved systematic code into first and second extrinsic information. The de-interleaver, the first and second data interleavers respectively process the second extrinsic information, the systematic code and the first extrinsic information into a first a-priori information, an interleaved systematic code and the second a-priori information. The stop judging circuit includes a signal selector, a difference detector and a comparator. The signal selector outputs the first extrinsic information and the first a-priori information or the second extrinsic information and the second a-priori information. The difference detector and comparator respectively get a difference between two output data of the signal selector and output a stopping signal to stop the iteration when the difference is smaller than a threshold value.
US07917829B2
Low density parity check code (LDPC) base parity check matrices and the method for use thereof in communication systems. The method of expanding the base check parity matrix is described. Examples of expanded LDPC codes with different code lengths and expansion factors are also shown.
US07917823B2
A test architecture and method of testing are disclosed to allow multiple scan controllers, which control different scan chain designs in multiple logic blocks, to share a test access mechanism. During test mode, the test architecture is configured to decouple clock sources of the test access mechanism, the scan controllers and the scan chains.
US07917822B2
The present disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus of using the JTAG TAP's TMS and TCK terminals as a general purpose serial Input/Output (I/O) bus. According to the present disclosure, the TAP's TMS terminal is used as a clock signal and the TCK terminal is used as a bidirectional data signal to allow serial communication to occur between; (1) an IC and an external controller, (2) between a first and second IC, or (3) between a first and second core circuit within an IC.
US07917817B2
A user interface messaging system and method that allows a user to defer resolution of the substance of a message, such as a user-initiated error, and adds the message to a queue. The messaging system may remind the user to resolve the substance of the messages in the queue. After a message has been added to the queue, the message layer may be closed, allowing the user to continue using the application.
US07917816B1
A system is used to determine whether a display function of a basic input output system (BIOS) of a tested computer is normal. Operators can select an error information option set on an error information interface. A breakpoint address and an amending instruction can be obtained to interrupt the running of the BIOS, and parameters of a corresponding hardware of the tested computer are amended with preset values. Therefore, an error occurs in the BIOS of the tested computer. The tested computer is controlled to display the BIOS error information. Whether the display function of the BIOS of the tested computer is normal can be ascertained via comparing the displayed BIOS error information with standard BIOS error information.
US07917811B2
To improve the maintainability of a virtual machine system, there is provided a mechanism capable of appropriately reporting a failure that occurs in a dedicated PCI device, in a shared PCI device, or in a virtual PCI device. A device for transferring PCI device configuration information between a failure monitoring application and a hypervisor that monitors a PCI device failure is prepared, and the failure monitoring application is operated in a user virtual machine and in a control virtual machine. Based on the above-described PCI device configuration information, the failure monitoring application operating in the user virtual machine monitors a dedicated PCI device failure and a virtual PCI device failure, and the failure monitoring application operating in the control virtual machine monitors a shared PCI device failure, respectively, thereby appropriately reporting a failure of the dedicated PCI device, the shared PCI device, or the virtual PCI device without duplication.
US07917805B2
The present invention maintains mapping information denoting which real areas have been allocated to which virtual areas for a virtual volume, the capacity of which is dynamically expanded. The present invention also maintains real area management information denoting which real areas have been allocated to which virtual areas. The real area management information is referenced to determine whether or not a low-reliability real area, which is a real area for which reliability has been lowered by the occurrence of a failure in a certain physical storage device, and which belongs to a RAID group comprising this certain physical storage device, has been allocated to a virtual area. A data restore process is not carried out for a low-reliability real area that has not been allocated to a virtual area, but a data restore process is carried out for a low-reliability real area that has been allocated to a virtual area.
US07917796B2
Methods and apparatuses for the dynamic configuring of profiles used for the control of the frequency of clock signals. At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a means of dynamically generating, storing, updating and using spread spectrum profiles in a clock circuit to provide spread spectrum modulated clock signals and to slew clock frequency.
US07917795B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program are provided to measure and/or correct duty cycles. Duty cycles of various signals, specifically clocking signals, are important. However, measurement of very high frequency signals, off-chip, and in a laboratory environment can be very difficult and present numerous problems. To combat problems associated with making off-chip measurements and adjustments of signal duty cycles, comparisons are made between input signals and divided input signals that allow for easy measurement and adjustment of on-chip signals, including clocking signals.
US07917794B2
A method optimizes a DSP Input clock using a clock comparing/analyzing circuit. The method of the present invention enables PLD to select a delay function of the PLD and signals from a plurality of patterns, in addition to varying three elements' values of R, L and C, a driver delay, and a characteristic change by peripheral elements of patterns that a clock passes to thereby obtain an optimal characteristic. Particularly, the inventive method provides an optimal clock with the best performance among clocks from the pattern. This method has the following two functions: (1) allowing the paths from a plurality of patterns to be scanned individually and a pattern having the lowest noise level to be searched; (2) searching the maximum SNR(Signal to Noise) value by providing a delay offset to an optimal path having the lowest noise level which is searched from the first function, and wherein an optimal path is searched and connected by checking the operation periodically by a timer to provide optimal characteristics in case peripheral environments change.
US07917782B2
An exemplary computer device (10) includes a host (11) configured for generating a turn on signal when the host is turned on, and a turn off signal when the host is turned off; and a display device (13) including a display unit (131) and an automatic control circuit (12). The automatic control circuit is configured for receiving the turn on signal and the turn off signal and turning on or turning off the display unit according to the received the turn on signal and the turn off signal. Thus when the host of the computer is turned on or turned off, the display unit of computer device can be automatically turned off or turned on according to a switch instruction of the host.
US07917781B2
A universal series bus (USB) power supply has a DC power source, a USB power interface and a voltage modulation module. The USB power interface is for connecting to an electronic device that stores a default D+ voltage and a default D− voltage. The voltage modulation module connects to and outputs signals to the D+ and D− terminals of the USB power interface. If voltage levels of the output signals are not respectively identical to the default D+ and D− voltages, the voltage modulation module changes the voltage levels of the signals output to the D+ and D− terminals of the USB power interface until the voltage levels of the output signals are respectively identical to the default D+ and D− voltages. Therefore, the USB power supply may be applied to any kind of electronic device that is charged over a USB interface.
US07917772B1
Methods and systems for operating a semiconductor device (e.g., a microprocessor) are described. The microprocessor is initially operated at a voltage and frequency that would be within operating limits at any device temperature. Using models that relate device temperature, operating limits and power consumption with voltage and frequency, the amount of supply voltage and a new operating frequency can be selected. The models are periodically consulted thereafter to continue adjusting the supply voltage and operating frequency, so that the microprocessor is caused to operate at very close to its capacity, in particular in those instances when, for example, processor-intensive instructions are being executed.
US07917768B2
A device includes an access control element to compare new acceleration data from an accelerometer with registered gait signature associated with an authorized user of a mobile device to determine the identity of the user of the mobile device.
US07917766B2
The invention comprises an encoder for encoding a stegotext and a decoder for decoding the encoded stegotext, the stegotext being generated by modulating the log power spectrogram of a covertext signal with at least one key, the or each key having been added or subtracted in the log domain to the covertext power spectrogram in accordance with the data of the watermark code with which the stegotext was generated, and the modulated power spectrogram having been returned into the original domain of the covertext. The decoder carries out Fast Fourier Transformation and rectangular polar conversion of the stegotext signal so as to transform the stegotext signal into the log power spectrogram domain; subtracts in the log power domain positive and negative multiples of the key or keys from blocks of the log power spectrogram and evaluates the probability of the results of such subtractions representing an unmodified block of covertext in accordance with a predetermined statistical model.
US07917765B2
It is difficult to provide a mechanism that is able to verify electronic signatures of different types in a simple and cost-effective manner. This is achieved by using a signature verification engine with an interface enabling signature modules to be removably plugged in. Each signature module has information about a particular signature type and functionality for verifying signatures of that type. The signature verification engine receives requests to verify signatures. It identifies a suitable signature module and works with that module to verify the signature. An enterprise who acquires equipment incorporating the signature verification engine is able to plug in its own signature module giving versatility whilst retaining security.
US07917762B2
A device and method for providing a secure execution environment includes retrieving a boot loader, for example, from the memory of an electronic device or from a peripheral component. Next, a determination is made as to whether the boot loader is authorized to be executed on the corresponding electronic device. If the boot loader is authorized, then the boot loader code is executed. By only allowing execution of authorized boot loaders, security related breaches are substantially reduced or eliminated; thereby, enhancing device integrity.
US07917747B2
A cryptographic communication system and method having a first plurality of stations, each of the first plurality of stations having at least one encryption key Kj, were j is a number greater than 2, a data packet D to be viewed by each of the first plurality of stations, means for encrypting the data packet by each of the first plurality of stations to form an encrypted data packet Ej for transmission to a central processor, and means for combining each of the encrypted data packets, wherein the means for encrypting is applied in parallel to allow each of the first plurality of stations to view the contents of the data packet D prior to encrypting the data packet D.
US07917733B2
An instruction code compression method and an instruction fetch circuit which are capable of reducing both the number of fetches and program codes. A reuse flag is provided in an upper bit group including operational codes, and a lower bit group including operands and having the same number of bits as the upper bit group. When 2N+1 (N is an integer of 1 or more) instruction codes having the same upper bit group continues in a series of instruction codes, respective reuse flags of the lower bit group of a 2n-th (n is an integer of 1 or more and N or less) instruction code and a (2n+1)-th instruction code in the series of instruction codes are set to “1”, and the lower bit groups of the 2n-th and (2n+1)-th instruction codes are integreted into one compressed instruction code.
US07917728B2
An integrated circuit having a plurality of processing modules (I, T) is provided. At least one first processing module (I) issues at least one transaction towards at least one second processing module (T). Said integrated circuit further comprises at least one first transaction retraction unit (TRU1) for indicating an allowance to said at least one first of said processing modules (I) to retract said at least one transaction according to the sate of said second processing module (T).
US07917724B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a virtual machine monitor (VMM) to access a protection indicator of a page table entry (PTE) of a page of a set of memory buffers and determine a state of the protection indicator, and if the protection indicator indicates that the page is a user-level page and if certain information of an agent that seeks to use the page matches that in a protected memory address array, a page table base register (PTBR) is updated to a protected page table (PPT) base address. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07917719B2
Methods and systems for working around the timeout limitations of physical interface standards for detachable modules. By use of dummy data blocks to keep the bus active, the bus timeout requirements (in either direction) can be spoofed, to thereby permit more complex processing operations to be performed that may exceed the bus timeout of a particular specification. A controller in the memory system deasserts the ready signal and holds the bus connecting the computer system in a “busy” state until the memory system is about to timeout. During a write operation, the controller receives dummy data blocks from the computer system before the write bus timeout period expires, causing the bus timeout period to be reset. During a read operation, the controller sends dummy data blocks to the computer system before the read bus timeout period expires, causing the bus timeout period to be reset.
US07917717B2
Computer-based methods, techniques, and systems for automatically protecting a storage device from unwanted alterations are provided. Example embodiments provide a Disk Access Redirection System, which includes a Redirection Driver, an Available Space Table (“AST”), a Protected Space Redirection Table (“PSRT”), and optionally an Unprotected Space Table (“UST”). The Redirection Driver is installed and registered with the computer operating system so that it can intercept storage device access requests (such as a disk read/write). When a storage access request for a read or write is sent, the request is intercepted by the Redirection Driver, transparent to the code that invokes the storage access request. The Redirection Driver uses the AST, PSRT, and optionally the UST, to allocate available storage space for redirected write requests, redirect write requests for protected areas of the storage device, and redirect read requests when the read request specifies a storage location that has been previously redirected.
US07917714B2
A data processing system has a plurality of storage systems. In this system, data replication is performed at high speed and efficiency while maintaining data integrity. In addition, when failure has occurred in a configuration element, the time necessary to resume the data replication is reduced. In accordance with an instruction from first host computer, updating of replication-target data and creation of a journal are performed in a storage system A; and updating of replication data and creation of a journal are performed in a storage system B. A storage system C retrieves a journal from the storage system B in asynchronization with the updating, and performs updating of replication data. When failure has occurred in the storage system B, a journal-retrieving end is altered to the storage system, and the replication data is updated in accordance with the retrieved journal.
US07917706B1
A SDRAM controller prioritizes memory access requests to maximize efficient use of the bandwidth of the memory data bus, and also gives different priorities to access requests received on its different inputs. The SDRAM controller has multiple inputs, at least one of which allows connections to multiple bus master devices. The SDRAM controller forms a queue of bus access requests, based amongst other things on a relative priority given to the input on which a request is received. When a request is received on an input which allows connections to multiple bus master devices, the SDRAM controller forms the queue of bus access requests, based amongst other things on a relative priority given to the bus master device which made the request.
US07917705B2
A scalable, performance-based, volume allocation technique that can be applied in large storage controller collections is disclosed. A global resource tree of multiple nodes representing interconnected components of a storage system is analyzed to yield gap values for each node (e.g., a bottom-up estimation). The gap value for each node is an estimate of the amount in GB of the new workload that can be allocated in the subtree of that node without exceeding the performance and space bounds at any of the nodes in that subtree. The gap values of the global resource tree are further analyzed to generate an ordered allocation list of the volumes of the storage system (e.g., a top-down selection). The volumes may be applied to a storage workload in the order of the allocation list and the gap values and list are updated.
US07917704B2
There is provided a storage management system capable of utilizing division management with enhanced flexibility and of enhancing security of the entire system, by providing functions by program products in each division unit of a storage subsystem. The storage management system has a program-product management table stored in a shared memory in the storage subsystem and showing presence or absence of the program products, which provide management functions of respective resources to respective SLPRs. At the time of executing the management functions by the program products in the SLPRs of users in accordance with instructions from the users, the storage management system is referred to and execution of the management function having no program product is restricted.
US07917702B2
A system and method taught herein control data prefetching for a data cache by tracking prefetch hits and overall hits for the data cache. Data prefetching for the data cache is disabled based on the tracking of prefetch hits and data prefetching is enabled for the data cache based on the tracking of overall hits. For example, in one or more embodiments, a cache controller is configured to track a prefetch hit rate reflecting the percentage of hits on the data cache that involve prefetched data lines and disable data prefetching if the prefetch hit rate falls below a defined threshold. The cache controller also tracks an overall hit rate reflecting the overall percentage of data cache hits (versus misses) and enables data prefetching if the overall hit rate falls below a defined threshold.
US07917701B2
Prefetch circuitry is provided which is responsive to a determination that the memory address of a data value specified by a current access request is the same as a predicted memory address, to perform either a first prefetch linefill operation or a second prefetch linefill operation to retrieve from memory at least one further data value in anticipation of that data value being the subject of a subsequent access request. The selection of either the first prefetch linefill operation or the second prefetch linefill operation is performed in dependence on an attribute of the current access request.
US07917694B1
A storage system and method of operating the same can speed the operation of cache management functions. Generally, a storage system can include data stored in stripes, with each stripe including a number of blocks. A cache memory can store data blocks for fast access. A method can include providing a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) with a processor coupled thereto, and tracking a block count for each active stripe with the processor and TCAM. The block count for each active stripe can be the number of data blocks belonging to the same stripe that are stored in the cache memory.
US07917685B2
A non-volatile memory device has a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The array can operate in either a multilevel cell or single level cell mode and each cell has a lower page and an upper page of data. The memory device has a data latch for storing flag data and a cache latch coupled to the data latch. A read method comprises initiating a lower page read of a memory cell and reading, from the data latch, flag data that indicates whether a lower page read operation is necessary.
US07917684B2
Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a device including a bus translator. In some embodiments, the device also includes a core module and a core bus coupled to the core module. The bus translator may be coupled to the core module via the core bus, and the bus translator may be configured to translate between signals from a selected one of a plurality of different types of buses and signals on the core bus.
US07917671B2
A scalable port controller architecture supporting data streams of different speeds. In an embodiment, a port controller contains high speed receptor units and low speed receptor units, and a port routing logic connecting each external device (on corresponding port) to one of the receptors according to various registers. The port routing logic may connect an external device to one of the receptors, which determines the data rate at which data on a corresponding virtual connection from the external device is being received/sent. If the receptor does not have sufficient capacity (based on the data rate) to communicate with the external device, the connection is moved to other receptors, potentially in another control unit.
US07917663B2
A method for confirming connection state of a home appliance in home network system is disclosed, which includes a step in which the home appliance periodically confirms the connection state to the home network system, a step in which the appliance generates a packet for requiring address allocation, a step in which the appliance transfers the packet to network managing appliance, a step in which the appliance generates an alive notifying packet on allocating the address of the appliance from the network managing appliance, and a step in which the appliance transfers the alive notifying packet to the network managing appliance.
US07917657B2
A system including an event monitor for monitoring at least one transmission link. Each event monitor receives transmission link addresses from an address sequencer and transmits related event data to a centralized storage register. The address sequencer also transmits the addresses to the storage register. The event monitor compares new event data for each address with old event data stored by the event monitor. If a difference is detected, the event monitor sends a strobe signal to the storage register, which stores the event data reflecting the difference and the related address data. The strobe signal is also sent to a signaling device, which sends an interrupt signal to cause a microprocessor to read the event and address data from the storage register. Optionally, the signaling device does not send an interrupt signal until a threshold number of strobe signals have been received.
US07917654B2
A system for synchronizing data between a host client and a field device comprises a computer system with a virtual field device resident on the computer system. The virtual field device comprises a virtualized instantiation of a portion of a field device. A synchronization manager is also resident on the computer system. The synchronization manager is configured for managing synchronization operations involving the virtual field device. A field client transceiver is coupled with the synchronization manager. The field client transceiver is configured for facilitating data exchange between the virtual field device and the field device during a field client to virtual field device synchronization operation. A host client is also resident on the computer system. The host client is configured for exchanging data with the virtual field device during a host client to virtual field device synchronization operation.
US07917647B2
A method and apparatus for a network monitor internals mechanism, which serves to translate packet data into multiple concurrent streams of encoded network event data, to contribute to enterprise management, reporting, and global mechanisms for aggregating monitors at a centralized aggregation point, and to facilitate rate limiting techniques because such monitors are not in control (i.e. cannot back pressure flow) is provided.
US07917629B2
A system and method for an interface for external system management is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method includes connecting a first client system with a web service of a server, the server including an application, the client system utilizing one of a plurality of computer platforms; and receiving a management instruction from the first client system using the web service.
US07917626B2
A smart node is integrated with each Web service in a Web service application chain to automatically supply compatible features, missing functionality, and orchestration of the processes in the application, without coordination by an orchestration engine, in an embodiment. A smart node is a software program that systematically specifies the communications dimensions, functionality, and orchestration required for interoperability among Web services. The communications parameters, backup functionality, and process orchestration required for the Web services in a Web service application may be predetermined and programmed into smart nodes. The smart nodes are subsequently integrated with the Web services in a Web service application so that communications among the Web services occur first through the smart nodes. The smart nodes can thus supply communications parameters, any missing functionality, and dynamic process orchestration based on the current event context of the Web service application. A smart node further enables a Web service to supply different functionality in different contexts.
US07917613B2
A device monitoring system for monitoring a device comprising: a database including a health record for the device; a heartbeat server coupled to the database; a heartbeat agent operating on the device and coupled to the heartbeat server; a heartbeat packet sent from the heartbeat agent to the heartbeat server; and an update to the health record of the device responsive to the heartbeat packet.
US07917610B2
Embedded devices in a data communications network are arranged to formulate XML data messages containing data representing the operation of the embedded device. The software in the embedded device acts as a server that can be accessed over the network by a browser program in a computer to monitor device operation. The browser program can formulate XML command messages which are sent over the network to the embedded device to control its operation.
US07917601B1
A networking device, method, and web server software architecture are provided. The device may include a web server application program configured to run on an operating system of the device, and an event-based signaling mechanism configured to signal the web server application program when data has arrived on a socket of the operating system, by triggering an operating system-level signaling event. The web server application program is configured to read data off of the socket in response to detecting the event, without polling the socket first to determine that data is ready to be read from the socket.
US07917600B2
A method performed by a first computer system includes receiving one or more of a plurality of files from a second computer system in response to a selection of the one or more of the plurality of files by a customer of the second computer system and receiving network settings from the second computer system. The method also includes providing a third computer system to the user, providing a medium that includes the network settings to the customer where the medium is configured to provide the network settings to the third computer system, and providing the one or more of the plurality of files to the third computer system in response to a request received from the third computer system.
US07917599B1
Memory demands of large-memory applications continue to remain one step ahead of the improvements in DRAM capacities of commodity systems. Performance of such applications degrades rapidly once the system hits the physical memory limit and starts paging to the local disk. A distributed network-based virtual memory scheme is provided which treats remote memory as another level in the memory hierarchy between very fast local memory and very slow local disks. Performance over gigabit Ethernet shows significant performance gains over local disk. Large memory applications may access potentially unlimited network memory resources without requiring any application or operating system code modifications, relinkling or recompilation. A preferred embodiment employs kernel-level driver software.
US07917596B2
Described herein are techniques for using super masters to coordinate accesses by nodes in a database server cluster to data stored in a database. In many cases, the number of inter-nodal messages is reduced, thereby saving the overheads attendant to coordinating accesses in such a system.
US07917593B1
A method and apparatus for employing automatic reply systems to detect e-mail scammer IP addresses whereby a decoy system to receive illegitimate e-mails, also known as a “honeypot” is established. E-mails sent to the honeypot decoy e-mail addresses are initially scanned and preliminarily identified as scam e-mails and the fact that the scammer must make contact with the intended user/victim is exploited by analyzing the scam e-mail to identify one or more e-mail addresses in either the header or the body of the preliminarily identified scam e-mail. The one or more identified e-mail addresses are then extracted and fabricated reply e-mails are generated that include one or more mechanisms for ascertaining the IP address of the scammer. The fabricated reply e-mails are then sent to the one or more identified e-mail addresses and when the scammer takes the necessary action, the IP address and browser information associated with scammer is obtained.
US07917588B2
A method and apparatus for managing the delivery of electronic messages using bounce profiles is provided. A bounce profile is a set of data that may be used by a mail server in redelivering an electronic message that was not successfully delivered (i.e., bounced) to a recipient of an electronic message. A sender mail server, upon determining that an electronic message sent to a recipient mail server bounced, may select a bounce profile, among a plurality of bounce profiles, that is associated with a trait of the bounced electronic message, such as a domain of the recipient or a message type of the bounced electronic message. The sender mail server determines whether, and how, to redeliver the bounced electronic message to the recipient mail server based on information specified by the selected bounce profile.
US07917586B2
A method and apparatus are provided for handling a multimedia message in order to reduce radio resources and unnecessary forwarding time. This may include setting an index value in a multimedia message and forwarding the multimedia message based on the set index value.
US07917579B2
Provided are a chat system, a chat device, a chat server control method, and an information storage medium for realizing sound communication between users. When a message transfer unit (11a) receives a message, the message is transferred to a game terminal of a transmission destination and a stop limit unit (11c) transmits an instruction such as a limit instruction limiting a chat function stop processing in the game terminal to the game terminal of the transmission source of the message. A stop limit time calculation unit (11d) calculates a period of a stop limit time for limiting the chat function stop processing in accordance with the number of characters in the received message and a timer unit (11b) specifies a stop limit time end time instant. When the stop limit time end time instant has been reached, the stop limit unit (11c) transmits a limit cancel instruction for canceling the limit of the chat function stop processing.
US07917575B1
A distributed report processing system. The system includes a management server and a queue server in communication with the management server. The system also includes a plurality of report generators in communication with the management server and the queue server.
US07917571B2
A web page, including clickthroughs, is cached at a location within a network intermediate a client requesting the page and the host web site for the page. Clickthrough activation (in session cache on the client machine, or in the network cache) causes a javascript program to generate an activation identifier giving the IP address of the machine activating the clickthrough and the time. This ID and an ID for the IP address from which the web page originally hosting the clickthrough was retrieved are sent to the host web site. Generating such identifiers is applicable to text messages, e.g. sent out by a publicity agent, and actuable to connect to a telephone number held by an enterprise within the telephone network. Activating such a text message causes the return of suitable identifiers to the publicity agent to enable them to seek renumeration from the enterprise.
US07917570B2
The sensor device having an address storage unit 107 storing a channel address to be used, a temperature sensor 103, a table storage unit 101 storing an address table in which a measurement value is associated with a channel address, and an address specification unit 102 specifying a channel address associated with a measured value obtained from the temperature sensor 103. The sensor device also including an address update unit 105 updating the channel address in the address storage unit 107, a judgment unit 108 judging whether or not inquiry data is directed to the channel address stored in the address storage unit 107, a response generation unit 106 generating response data which is a response to the inquiry data, and a communication unit 109 transmitting the response data to a retrieval node 120.
US07917564B2
When processing a signal having a sequence of discrete values, wherein there is a first frequency range, in which the signal has a high energy, and wherein there is a second frequency range, in which the signal has a low energy, the sequence of discrete values is first manipulated to obtain a sequence of manipulated values, so that at least one of the manipulated values is non-integer. Then the sequence of manipulated values is rounded to obtain a sequence of manipulated values. The rounding is formed to effect a spectral shaping of a generated rounding error so that a spectrally shaped rounding error has a higher energy in the first frequency range than in the second frequency range. By spectrally shaping the rounding error so that the rounding error does not have any energy either in the storage areas where there is no signal energy, an especially efficient coding is obtained particularly in connection with a lossless coding context.
US07917557B2
A playback system and method allows for dynamic remapping of location identifiers in a playlist. An original playlist is created based on select content material located at a first set of storage locations. When the playlist is transferred to a different environment, having access to a second set of storage locations containing unknown content material, the playback device at this different environment searches the second set of storage locations for content material that corresponds to the items/songs in the playlist. If a correspondence is determined for a song in the playlist, the location identifier of the playlist for this song is updated to reflect its location in the second set of storage locations. If a correspondence is not found, the location identifier of the playlist for this song is updated to reflect a “not found” indication. Thereafter, when directed to effect a playback of the material in the playlist, the playback device will render the songs that were found at the second set of storage locations, and skip those that are marked “not found”. By dynamically updating the location identifiers of a playlist based on the available content at a given system, the playlist becomes a means for communicating a user's preferred set of songs without actually transferring the songs. In a preferred embodiment, additional filtering criteria may be applied, in addition to the availability of the material within the current environment.
US07917555B2
The location of a drawing of an activity, a property of an element in the drawing and the structural relationship of elements in the drawing are stored in a database. The database is accessed to form a user interface that provides a hierarchical representation of activities and the elements within activities.
US07917544B2
A method for retrieving a desired postal address from a plurality of postal addresses. The invention can feature receiving input data having input terms for finding the desired postal address from a first database of postal addresses where each postal address is formed of a plurality of postal address elements, searching a dictionary for entries in the dictionary corresponding to the input terms, determining that each entry in the dictionary that corresponds to the input terms corresponds to postal address elements of one or more postal addresses in the first database, and outputting data representing the desired postal address. The desired postal address is found in the first database if an address in that database has postal address elements that correspond with each of the entries of the dictionary that corresponds to one or more of the input terms.
US07917541B2
A hierarchial tree is provided to harvest data from data sources. The hierarchial tree includes multiple tree node entities arranged in multiple levels. In one case, leaf node entities of the hierarchial tree are used to collect data from the data sources. The hierarchial tree includes storage resources for storing the collected data. The hierarchial tree further includes computing resources for aggregating the collecting data in one or more aggregation operations and performing other processing operations. A receiving entity can selectively and independently receive parts of the collected data and aggregated data.
US07917530B1
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to managing and sharing data between web accessed calculators. The systems include a data store to persist calculator inputs and outputs and share them with other calculators and with customer service representatives.
US07917528B1
Systems and methods for providing refinements to queries based upon the context of a refinement indication. Refinements, for example, can be related to a previous search query and can be provided to the user based upon receipt of a refinement indication.
US07917527B1
A system for personalizing communication between origination devices and destination devices based on intelligent information searches and retrievals of historical interaction data on networks includes a user module adapted to displaying information to the origination device for identifying individuals or groups of individuals and historical interaction data. The system includes a processing module adapted to query a server system in response to commands from a user of the origination device. The query requests historical interaction data relating to the individual or group of individuals and can identify the individual or group using the historical interaction data from the server system. An information receipt and display module displays historical interaction data received from the server system, including the specifically requested historical interaction data. A communication module connects the origination device to the destination device using the information data from the server system.
US07917525B2
Techniques suitable for identifying potential subjects for a clinical trial and other applications are disclosed. One or more exclusion or inclusion criteria are defined for the clinical trial. One or more specialized searching tables are pre-generated using administrative healthcare claims data and the one or more exclusion or inclusion criteria. The specialized searching tables are searched. Through the searching step, subjects are identified within the administrative healthcare claims data who match the one or more exclusion or inclusion criteria. Through the searching step, a geographical area is identified corresponding to the subjects who match the one or more exclusion or inclusion criteria. A customized report is generated using the identified subjects and geographical area.
US07917523B2
Method and system for providing improved uniform resource locator (URL) mangling performance using fast re-write including scanning a web page, detecting an absolute URL in the web page, and modifying the detected absolute URL to a corresponding relative URL in the web page, is disclosed.
US07917517B2
Techniques are disclosed for indexing uncertain data in query processing systems. For example, a method for processing queries in an application that involves an uncertain data set includes the following steps. A representation of records of the uncertain data set is created based on mean values and uncertainty values. The representation is utilized for processing a query received on the uncertain data set.
US07917514B2
A system that can analyze a multi-dimensional input thereafter establishing a search query based upon extracted features from the input. In a particular example, an image can be used as an input to a search mechanism. Pattern recognition and image analysis can be applied to the image thereafter establishing a search query that corresponds to features extracted from the image input. The system can also facilitate indexing multi-dimensional searchable items thereby making them available to be retrieved as results to a search query. More particularly, the system can employ text analysis, pattern and/or speech recognition mechanisms to extract features from searchable items. These extracted features can be employed to index the searchable items.
US07917504B2
Vectors representing objects in n-dimensional space are approximated by local polar coordinates on partitioned cells of the data space in response to a query, e.g., a query data vector entered with a request to find “k” nearest neighbors to the query vector. A set of candidate near neighbors is generated using the approximations, with the local polar coordinates being independent of the dimensionality of the data space. Then, an answer set of near neighbors is returned in response to the query. Thus, the present invention acts as a filter to reduce the number of actual data vectors in the data set that must be considered in responding to the query.
US07917503B2
A mechanism for expressing a user preference to a set of documents based on user knowledge about the document corpora. The user preference input to the system can be positive, negative, or both. A set of documents that can be identified with a query can define a search scope definition. The search scope is mapped into an input ranking feature for a ranking function. The search scope definition is employed as a soft preference ranking feature, and thus, used to bias ranking via relevance feedback. The mechanism facilitates increasing or decreasing the final ranking score of a document based on whether the document falls into the user scope. The ranking weight can be configured by the user ad-hoc, or when relevance judgments are available, using machine learning techniques to find the optimal weights to optimize ranking.
US07917501B2
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for optimizing the processing of abstract rules. In general, the results of executing an abstract query may be used as data inputs for processing an abstract rule. In one embodiment, query results may be sorted according to input field values required for processing a deterministic abstract rule. If a record of the sorted query results includes the same input values as a preceding record, then the rule output of the preceding record may be reused, rather than processing the abstract rule again. Accordingly, the demand load placed on a rule engine may be reduced.
US07917499B2
An index update component updates an index of a database in response to a query to the database referencing the index. An index control record tracks the last time the index was referenced and state of the index compared to the state of the database. An index deletion component deletes indexes in the database that have not been referenced for a period of time.
US07917496B2
A method and apparatus for discovering polysemous words and classifying polysemous words found in web documents. All document corpi in any natural language have words that have multiple usage contexts or words that have multiple meanings. Semantic analysis is not feasible for classifying all word occurrences in all documents on the web, which contain trillions of words in total. In addition, semantic analysis typically cannot distinguish multiple usages of a given meaning of a given word. In one embodiment of this invention, polysemous words in natural languages can be discovered by analyzing the co-occurrence of other words with the polysemous word in web documents. In one embodiment, the multiple meanings and usages of a polysemous word can be determined by analyzing the co-occurrences of other words with the polysemous word. In one embodiment, counting overcorrelations is achieved probabilistically to minimize use of network bandwidth.
US07917494B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a high-performance content management system with a log-based data storage. To speed data operations, updates and deletes are appended to log-based data files. Seek operations are not needed as old data is not overwritten or removed at the time of write operations. Instead, the log-based data files are periodically optimized by processes that compact data entries and remove data files containing old data. In addition, an associated index with entries accessible in constant time is used to facilitate the process of locating data entries within the data files. Embodiments of the log-based data storage are implemented in a standard file format for ease of development and maintenance and can be compressed to further improve performance. In one embodiment, the log-based data storage corresponds to a node-based logical data tree that can be adapted to house a variety of data, including data from relational databases.
US07917487B2
This document describes techniques that enable an application to operate as if the application were running on its native computing system when it is actually running on another computing system. The techniques may do so by building a portable registry having metadata particular to the application, which can be stored in a portable device along with that application. When that portable device is connected to another computing system, the portable registry may be used to supplement or supplant the other computing system's registry to enable the application to operate with its particular functionality.
US07917472B2
A system, computer-readable media and method for backup one or more databases and restoring one or more databases using incremental backups are provided. Persistent collection objects are generated in the process of performing a database backup. A collection objects may order records, e.g., objects, in relation to and within pluralities of records. These pluralities of records may be referred to, or organized as, pages or containers of pages, comprising software objects. The persistent database backup collection object may include a time and date of a generation of an incremental backup database by a distinguishable and specific database archiving process (“backup event”), an event number of an incremental backup generation, one or more database identifiers, one or more container identifiers, and/or identifiers of individual records, e.g., object identifiers.
US07917466B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, a digital camera system and a computer-readable medium for processing digital image assets of a digital camera. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of automatically matching an asset scheme of the digital camera to a best available asset normalizer of a predetermined set of asset normalizers and processing assets of the digital camera into a standard structure in accordance with the best available asset normalizer.
US07917461B2
An apparatus for handling file level and block level remote file accesses. The apparatus includes a block level server. The apparatus includes a file level server. The apparatus includes a storage layer implementing an inode layer performing inode operations, and storing data accessed by the file level and block level servers. The apparatus includes a management layer connected to the storage layer underlying the block and file level servers, which performs data management operations upon the underlying data. A method of handling file level and block level network file accesses. The method includes the steps of performing management operations by a management layer for a block level server and a file level server. Then there is the step of performing the servers' data accessing and updating operations using a vnode layer implemented on top of an inode layer. Then there is the step of storing data from the block level server or the file level server in a storage layer connected to the management layer.
US07917455B1
Methods and systems capable of determining which subset of a set of logical expressions are true with relatively few evaluations of the primitives that together with any standard logical connectives, make up the logical expressions. A plurality of directed acyclic graphs, each graph including at least one root node, at least one leaf node, and at least one non-leaf node associated with a leaf node. Each node is associated with a, possibly empty, subset of presumed to be true logical expressions. Each non-leaf node is associated with one of the primitives mentioned in any of the logical expressions. Edges are defined between two of the nodes, each edge being associated with a possible value, or range of possible values, of the primitive associated with the node at the tail of the edge. Paths are defined through each of the directed acyclic graphs from a root node to a leaf node by recursively following each edge corresponding to the current value of the primitive at a selected non-leaf node. Lastly, subsets of logical expressions associated with the nodes on the defined paths are collated to yield a subset of logical expressions that are true.
US07917452B2
A system and program product for determining a price “P” to bill a customer for a resource. Amounts “U” and “Ci” of the resource provided and committed, respectively, to the customer during the billing period are determined. The price P=F(Ci)+G (U−Ci) is determined and billed to the customer, where “F” and “G” are price functions for the resource. Determined is the number of requests for the resource made by the customer during the billing period in excess of “Ci” which were denied. If the number of denied requests exceeds a predetermined threshold, the amount “Ci” for determining the price “P” is increased during a subsequent billing period. The price “P” is billed to the customer for the subsequent billing period based on the increased amount “Ci” and the value “U” during the subsequent billing period, and the functions “F” and “G”.
US07917447B1
Methods and systems are provided for facilitating communications among persons sharing a common interest. Customers of a telecommunications provider are notified about the service via a notification included in a billing statement. A customer uses the information to access a web site capable of registering the customer and connecting the customer to other persons sharing a common interest. The service assigns aliases to respective participants so that the true identity of each person is not made available to others in the group.
US07917446B2
A method for capturing data packets sent on a network for evaluating response time performance, the network including a financial institution and a partner bank. The method includes associating a captured data packet sent to the partner bank with a captured data packet received from the partner bank, by comparing at least one coded field of a data portion of the captured data packet sent to the partner bank with at least one coded field of a captured data portion of the data packet received from the partner bank. The method also includes measuring a response time of the associated data packet received from the partner bank, relative to a transmission time of the captured data packet sent to the partner bank. The method further includes transmitting an alert message upon determining that the response time is not within an adjustable predetermined threshold, wherein the alert message includes data from a data portion of the associated data packets.
US07917439B2
A system, method, apparatus and computer program product for providing location based functions and mobile e-commerce comprising a central processing unit including a processor, a storage device, and programming stored in the storage device, a display device, an audio input device, an audio output device, a communications module, a commerce module, an image module, and a location module. The programming controls the operation of the present invention to provide functions based on location data, to facilitate commercial exchanges by wirelessly exchanging payment and product information with venders, to identify services such as venders meeting selection criteria, to wirelessly exchange select information with other users and systems, to restrict and/or monitor the use of the device based on authorized user parameters, selecting one of a plurality networks through which to communicate, detecting a trigger for performing an action based on a change in location and sensed data, storing a voice annotation with a computer data file, determining service providers and associated communication parameters, contemporaneously maintaining a wireless voice and data link, providing a system for selecting and delivering mobile advertisements, and many other functions and services that are described herein.
US07917438B2
A method, system and device for secure mobile healthcare selection are presented in which a user can, from a mobile device, authorize the comparison of pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) data with data profiles corresponding to healthcare products, services and service providers to determine which are the most appropriate for a particular consumer. Data masking is used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data.
US07917427B2
A system and method are disclosed for managing collateral allocation and substitution in general collateral repurchase agreements. In a preferred embodiment, an intermediary computer system facilitates the execution of anonymous general collateral repurchase agreements between buyers and sellers. The intermediary system manages initial collateral allocations and substitutions in accordance with systematic and impartial rules.
US07917415B1
An embodiment of the present invention is a retirement administration and distribution system. A user interface (UI) module is coupled to at least one of a client administering module, a communication interface, an account manager, an employment and payroll interface, a self-service Website, and a business rule processing module to interact with an operator through a set of UI functions in a session related to accounts and retirement benefits of a plurality of customers. At least one of the UI functions includes a UI action and a UI display. An employment and payroll database is coupled to the employment and payroll interface to store employment and payroll information of the customers used by the UI module.
US07917411B1
A system and method for error reduction may reduce errors of tax returns filed with a taxing authority. The system and method for error reduction may include an error reduction component that may compare user-supplied tax information to corresponding tax entity information accessed from a taxing authority. The error reduction component may present the corresponding tax information to the user. If a discrepancy is detected by the error reduction component, the error reduction component may notify the user so that the discrepancy may be corrected before a tax return containing the discrepant information is filed with a taxing authority. The error reduction component may enable a user to correct discrepancies in user-supplied tax information and/or corresponding tax entity information possessed by a taxing authority. In various embodiments, the error reduction component may be implemented with a tax preparation application.
US07917405B2
A method of reverse logistics using an auction to sell products directly to consumers from a store instead of using a third party reclamation company. One or more methods of auctioning one or more typically unsalable items directly to purchasers from a retail store including the steps of providing a communications multi-network having at least one logic engine, at least one star communication network through which non-location data is transferred to said logic engine, and at least one mesh communication network through which location data is transferred to said logic engine. The method further includes the steps of locating products for purchase that are eligible to be auctioned, the scanning of product codes of each auctionable product, tracking the scanning device in the store, transmitting auctionable product data through the star communication network, sorting auctionable products into at least one bundled lot for sale, producing a unique identifier for each bundled lot, initiating a direct-to-consumer auction for the sale of each bundled lot, and auctioning each bundled lot to a best bidder in the auction.
US07917404B2
The wishes of purchasers and sellers of particular commodity items are matched using a computer database. Hopeful purchasers submit requests during a predetermined sale time frame. The requests include a desired purchase price and a desired purchase quantity for the particular commodity item. After the predetermined period, purchaser information is used to produce a purchase wish list in a predetermined order. An optimum combination of intending purchasers, selling quantities, selling prices, commodity suppliers, supply quantities, and supply prices is created by comparing the purchase wish list with a supply list.
US07917401B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for obtaining financial information with a handheld device. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for obtaining real time financial information utilizing a bar code or RF ID reader on a handheld device. A bar code or RF ID reader is used to obtain the product identity of a particular product in a retail environment. The product identity is correlated with the particular retailer's product price. This information can then be analyzed versus current financial budgets or recorded as part of a financial plan. In addition, real time financial advice and information can be given on the product including whether a competitor offers a lower price on a similar product, consumer reviews of the product, value rating, etc. The bar code or RF ID reader may be incorporated into any existing handheld device including a PDA, media player, cell phone, calculator, watch, or shopping device.
US07917396B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for processing customer orders associated with providing telephony services via a telecommunications network and with services provided via a cable network. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a service-order-entry (SOE) system associated with a set of legacy components, the SOE system being operable to receive a first type of customer order that is associated with providing services via a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network not including a cable television (CATV) network; supplementing the SOE system with a secondary order-reception system operable to receive a second type of customer order that is associated with providing telephony services over a CATV network and further operable to receive the second type of customer order without substantially modifying the legacy components; receiving the second type of customer order; and fulfilling the second type of customer order without substantially modifying the legacy components.
US07917394B2
A system and method for provisioning services accessible via a broadband network. The system receives a user selection of one or more services that have been deemed to be available to the user via the network as well as user registration information. The user registration information may include billing information and a user identifier such as a login id or email address. The system then authenticates the identity of the user with an ISP and communicates the user identifier to each provider of each selected service. The registration information and information representative of any selected service is also communicated to a billing engine. In this manner, a user may access each product or service and be billed appropriately for its usage.
US07917382B2
A method of graphically displaying the path of a customer traversing a web site and related business data is described. The method includes receiving a user request for a visualization. The user request may include data filters and exclusions. Responsive to the user request, traffic data is selected for analysis. The selected traffic data is analyzed and displayed to the user. The display may be in the form of a visualization including a graph and related business data. The graph may be of an overview, referral, path, page-to-page path, and animation type. A system for visualizing traffic patterns and the path of a customer at a site is described in conjunction with the above method. The system includes a logical data model, a dimensional data model, a report specification, a graphical interface, metadata database and an analysis report. The graphical interface is used for viewing visualization information.
US07917378B2
A claim pre-processing system employs trial adjudication to improve claim accuracy prior to claim submission to a healthcare payer institution or other entity. A system processes claim data related to provision of healthcare to a patient The system includes a claim data collator for collating data related to a claim for a particular patient for submission to a payer and a source of rules for use in processing collated claim data. A pre-processor submits the collated claim data for processing using the rules to validate the collated claim data is in condition for processing to initiate generation of payment. A claim processor submits the collated claim data to a payer, in response to successful validation by the pre-processor. A rules processor processes acquired claim data to identify a condition triggering application of a different set of rules for determining validity of an individual claim element. The pre-processor re-submits amended collated claim data for processing using the rules to validate the collated claim data is in condition for processing to initiate generation of payment, the amended collated claim data being received in response to unsuccessful validation using the rules.
US07917377B2
A technique is provided for automatically generating performance measurement information. At least some of the obtained performance measurement information may be derived from unstructured data sources, such as free text physician notes, medical images, and waveforms. The performance measurement may be sent to a health care accreditation organization. The health care accreditation organization can use the performance measurement to evaluate a health care provider for its quality of patient care. Alternatively, performance measurement information can be provided directly to consumers.
US07917363B2
A system for developing dialog systems estimates the speech recognition accuracy achievable when using a dialog system, and the number of example input phrases required to achieve a desired speech recognition accuracy. The maximum achievable speech recognition accuracy is also predicted. The development system thereby allows a developer of a dialog system to determine how and whether to continue development of the dialog system. The development system includes a grammatical inference engine for generating a grammar for the dialog system on the basis of example input phrases, and an in-grammar speech recognition accuracy estimator for generating the estimate of speech recognition accuracy on the basis of probabilities of confusing phonemes of input phrases with phonemes of the grammar.
US07917362B2
A method for determining a bit boundary of a repetition-coded signal including bits each having a plurality of epochs includes (a) counting the epochs repeatedly from an initial number to a predetermined number in a predetermined time, (b) sensing sign changes in the epochs, (c) recording each sensed sign change with a weighting function to a corresponding counting number of the epoch, and (d) determining the bit boundary according to a result of step (c).
US07917352B2
A language processing system including: a forbidden word memory part that stores a forbidden word; a sequence candidate generator that generates a plurality of word sequence candidates where each words are described separately from plain text; and a word sequence estimator that reads the forbidden word from the forbidden word memory part, excludes the word sequence candidate containing the forbidden word from the plurality of word sequence candidates, and selects an estimated word sequence with the highest concatenation possibility of the words from among the plurality of word sequence candidates.
US07917346B2
A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial model data storage device containing geospatial model data including a plurality of groups of tree crown vegetation points and a display. The system may further include a processor cooperating with the geospatial model data storage device and the display for displaying a simulated tree trunk beneath a group of tree crown vegetation points, and displaying at least one level of simulated tree branches for the simulated tree trunk. Each tree branch may be positioned based upon determining a branch distal reference point beneath a cluster of tree crown vegetation points from among the group of tree crown vegetation points.
US07917344B2
Tools and methods allow an enterprise to define a set of processes and create scenarios which link and integrate combinations of processes. In addition, both processes and scenarios can be categorized, enabling re-use of existing definitions and easing subsequent scenario building. Processes and scenarios both allow variations which are stipulated to have a certain applicability in terms of organizations within the enterprise and time-frame. The variations can be evolved and improved over time via versions. Subsequently designed process scenarios can be tested and released for use in an organization and used to drive work planning, initiation and status reporting.
US07917340B2
The present invention relates to a method for designing a system. This method includes obtaining a visual representation of one or more components of the ventilation system. One or more property values are assigned to each of the components of the system, which may be achieved using first program code. Geometrical information representing the visual representation and the property values of each component are exported to a data file using the first program code. Standards information relating to the property values are stored. The data file is then imported into a second software application and the data file and the standards information is used to generate a final design using the second software application.
US07917331B2
A deterministic component identifying apparatus identifies a distribution shape of a deterministic component included in a probability density function supplied thereto. The apparatus includes a standard deviation calculating section that calculates a standard deviation of the probability density function, a spectrum calculating section that calculates a spectrum of the probability density function, a null frequency detecting section that detects a null frequency of the spectrum, and a ratio calculating section that calculates a ratio between a top portion and a bottom portion of a distribution of the deterministic component, based on the standard deviation of the probability density function and the null frequency of the spectrum.
US07917326B2
A technique for estimating and improving the test coverage for large machines, while accumulating minimum information of past test cases (i.e., minimum feedback) is provided. The technique is scalable in the sense that the number of machine instructions needed to measure the test coverage can range from a few instructions to all the instructions. The technique is easily integrated into existing test generation systems and is applicable to both uni- and multi-processing systems.
US07917319B2
Delay-fault testing and parametric analysis systems and methods utilizing one or more variable delay time-base generators. In embodiments of the delay-fault testing systems, short-delay logic paths are provided with additional scan-chain memory elements and logic that, in conjunction with the one or more variable-delay time-base generators, provides the effect of over-clocking without the need to over-clock. Related methods provide such effective over-clocking. In embodiments of parametric analysis systems, test point sampling elements and analysis circuitry are clocked as a function of the output of the one or more variable-delay time-base generators to provide various parametric analysis functionality. Related methods address this functionality.
US07917314B2
An electric power meter is disclosed. The meter comprises means for digitally sampling voltage and current. The meter further comprises means for storing the digitally sampled voltage and current. The meter further comprises means for performing power calculations upon the digitally sampled voltage and current, and converting the calculations and the digitally sampled voltage and current into at least one network protocol. The meter further comprises means for interfacing with an external network. A system for modifying the functionality of the electric power meter is also disclosed.
US07917311B2
The structural health monitoring method of the present invention utilizes a sensor system to determine information about deformation, stress and/or damage in structural elements. The sensor system and the method employ at least one sensor which comprises a material having fully-reversible nonlinear elasticity. The method comprises associating at least one sensor including a material having fully-reversible nonlinear elasticity with a structural element in a manner whereby stress is transferred from said structural element to said sensor, propagating ultrasound through a portion of the sensor, receiving the ultrasound which has been propagated through at least a portion of the sensor and determining information about the structural element from attenuation and/or time of flight of said received ultrasound.
US07917298B1
The compositions, methods and systems of the invention provide nanocrystal taggants for unobtrusive monitoring of objects. Objects can be tagged with nanocrystal taggant compositions for detection of informative invisible emissions on illumination with appropriate excitation wavelengths.
US07917293B2
The present invention is directed to methods for controlling the operations of a well service rig at a well site by evaluating load sensor data obtained from sensors on or associated with the well service rig. A rig load data chart can be reviewed and an average rig load can be determined for each pull of tubing or rods from a well. The average rig load can be used to calculate and set a rig overload level. If the rig load sensor reads a rig load at or above the rig overload level, the clutch for the hoist can be disengaged and the brake applied to prevent the load from either damaging the rig or breaking off the tubing or rods in the well. In addition, the rig load can be evaluated to determine when the limit the block speed when pulling rods or tubing.
US07917292B1
In various embodiments, points from flood maps (e.g., geospatial flood risk zoning maps) may be used in generating a flood frequency versus flood elevation curve for reducing the uncertainty in the flood risk assessment. In some embodiments, geospatial flood elevation lines for flood elevation lines at different flood frequency levels may be defined based on elevation datasets where there are inconsistencies between the elevation datasets and flood maps that were generated. The flood frequency versus flood loss curve may be derived based on the computed flood frequency versus flood elevation curve, digital elevation datasets, and collected damage curve. In some embodiments, the flood risk rating may also be derived and a flood risk assessment report may be generated.
US07917291B2
The present system and method detects and predicts potential tornadic activity. In one aspect, the invention predicts potential tornadic activity based on radar data. In another aspect, the invention predicts potential tornadic activity based on an integrated and composite product based on model forecast data and radar data by generating a composite tornado potential index using weighted values of the model forecast data and the radar data.
US07917287B2
A navigation device performs a route guidance based on a route from a current location to a destination. A communication controller sends a request for searching the route to a server. A guidance-information receiving unit receives information on the route from the server. A time measuring unit measures an elapsed time from a start of the route guidance. A guidance controller performs the route guidance based on the information received. The communication controller commands the navigation device to cut off a communication with the server and to stand by upon a determination that the elapsed time measured has reached a predetermined time and when the route is being guided or a current location is being checked by the guidance controller, to decrease a bandwidth usage between the navigation device and the server and to reduce a communication charge associated with the bandwidth usage.
US07917277B2
A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential mechanism, and an electric motor which is operatively connected to the differential mechanism and an operating state of which is controlled to control a differential state between input and output shaft speeds, and a transmission portion constituting a part of a power transmitting path between the differential portion and a vehicle drive wheel, the control apparatus including a differential-state switching portion for switching the differential portion between differential-state and non-differential states, a shifting control portion for controlling a shifting action of the transmission portion, and a learning control portion for effecting learning compensation of a control amount of a control element to be controlled during the shifting action, wherein the learning control portion includes a differential-state learning control portion operable to implement the learning compensation of the control amount of the control element when the shifting action takes place in the differential state of the differential portion, and a non-differential-state learning control portion operable to implement the learning compensation when the shifting action takes place in the non-differential state of the differential portion, and the shifting control portion controls the shifting action in a presently selected one of the differential and non-differential states of the differential portion, on the basis of the learning compensation implemented by one of the differential-state and non-differential-state learning control portions which is operable in the other of the differential and non-differential states of the differential portion.
US07917276B2
The vehicle-use power supply apparatus includes an alternator driven by an engine mounted on a vehicle to generate electric power in accordance with a command value, a battery electrically connected to the alternator to be charged by the alternator, and connected to electrical loads mounted on the vehicle to apply a power supply voltage to the electrical loads. The vehicle-use power supply apparatus further includes a first function of determining, as a power generation cost, an increase amount of fuel which the engine consumes for the alternator to generate electric power, and a second function of transmitting the command value to the alternator, the second function being configured to determine the command value on the basis of the power generation cost determined by the first function such that a change rate of the power supply voltage does not exceed a predetermined limit value.
US07917274B2
A method of controlling a vehicle involves determining if the vehicle is swaying (e.g., if a trailer being towed by the vehicle is exerting a sway force on the vehicle), and if the vehicle is swaying, reducing a torque of an engine of the vehicle and applying independent braking forces to each wheel of the vehicle. A vehicle for controlling vehicle sway includes an engine, a plurality of wheels, a braking system configured to apply independent braking forces to each wheel, and a controller configured to control the engine and the braking system. The controller is configured to determine if the vehicle is swaying (e.g., if a trailer being towed by the vehicle is exerting a sway force on the vehicle), and if the vehicle is swaying, reducing a torque of the engine and applying independent braking forces to each wheel.
US07917266B2
A method for estimating the effective volumetric capacity of a truck body is provided. The method includes the step of establishing a side-to-side profile of a generic load model by extending load side lines upward at a predetermined material angle of repose from the upper edge of each of the side walls of the truck body. A front-to-rear profile of the generic load model is also established by extending a front load line upward from the upper edge of the front wall of the truck body at the predetermined material angle of repose and a rear load line upward from at or near a rear edge of the floor of the truck body at the predetermined material angle of repose. Load plateau lines having predetermined dimensions are established in the front-to-rear and side-to-side profiles and the height of the plateau lines are determined. A top profile of the generic load is then created from the side-to-side and front-to-rear profiles and the shape of the load plateau is adjusted into a closed curve shape. The front, rear and side load lines below the final outer boundary of the load plateau are then contoured into a generally conical shaped surface in which the sides of the surface are still inclined at the predetermined material angle of repose. The final three-dimensional generic load model is formed by where this generally conical shaped surface intersects the sides walls, front and floor of the truck body. The volume of the final three-dimensional generic load model can then be calculated.
US07917256B2
An active vibration damping (AVD) control system for spacecraft provides a simple-to-implement and robust formulation that provides a novel damping control method for reducing spacecraft structural vibrations and improving antenna and instrument pointing. The AVD control system comprises an excitation signal generator configured to generate excitation input signals, and a damping model identification unit configured to receive system identification data and configured to produce control model parameters, the system identification data comprising the excitation input signals and information associated with motion of the spacecraft. The AVD control system further comprises an AVD control unit configured to receive the control model parameters, the AVD control unit configured to produce AVD control signals to control one or more actuators of the spacecraft.
US07917252B2
A post-control electric power amount curve generating portion generates plural pieces of running control information indicating a changeable running method for each device and plural post-control electric power amount curves indicating an amount of main electric power. A post-control hot water storage amount curve generating portion generates post-control hot water storage amount curves each indicating an accumulated amount of hot water generated in a case where the fuel cell generates electric power based on the plural post-control electric power amount curves. A hot water storage completion determining portion determines whether the accumulated amounts exceed a specific heat capacity. A reduction amount calculating portion calculates plural energy cost reduction amounts produced before and after the change using the post-control hot water storage amount curves determined as not exceeding the specific heat capacity. A running method determining portion determines the running control information corresponding to the largest energy cost reduction amount.
US07917251B2
A metering system for measuring the electrical power used to charge a vehicle is provided. The metering system includes an electrical meter operably coupled to a conductor connected to the vehicle and an electrical outlet. A controller receives signals from the meter to record the measured electrical consumption. The controller includes a plurality of communications devices for communicating with different communications carriers. In one embodiment, the controller selects one of the communications devices based on availability and a desired criterion. The selected communications device then transmits the measured electrical power consumption to a utility provider. In one embodiment, the metering system is mobile.
US07917237B2
A sending apparatus includes a compressed music data outputting unit that outputs one of compressed music data including compressed basic music data in a first mode and compressed music data including the basic music data as well as high frequency information for extending high frequency of the basic music data in a second mode, and a formatter that transmits a compressed music data outputted by the compressed music data outputting unit first and then music information including a value indicating which mode is used for the compressed music data.
US07917236B1
A first signal processing section is used to constitute an impulse response of a head related transfer function region contributing to position recognition of a virtual sound source. A second signal processing section is used to realize an impulse response of a reflected sound region contributing to a sense of distance of the virtual sound source. A rotational angular speed sensor and a response characteristic control section are used to recognize position changes of the listener's ears. By controlling the first signal processing section, the sound image is localized with sufficient feeling of distance at an arbitrary position while suppressing signal processing operation quantity of the impulse response corresponding to the transfer function from the virtual sound source to both ears, and the position of the virtual sound source can be changed in correspondence with a change of position of the ears of the listener.
US07917225B2
Methods and systems for treating movement disorders are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment can include determining that the movement disorder affects the patient's gait, oral functioning, and/or other functioning, and applying electrical stimulation proximate to the interhemispheric fissure, the Sylvian fissure, or between the two fissures, respectively. In another embodiment, the method can include selecting at least one neural process from among a plurality of processes sequentially carried out by a patient to cause a muscle movement in the patient (e.g., a planning process, an initiation process, and an execution process), and applying electrical stimulation to a location of the patient's brain associated with the at least one neural process.
US07917220B2
A system and method of positioning an interface element for interfacing with laryngeal structures in a subject such as for diagnosis or treatment of a laryngeal impairment is presented. Illustratively, a curved hollow needle system is inserted into a subperichondral space beneath posterior cricoarytenoid muscle from the larynx. The curved hollow needle system is pushed in a curve around cartilage at least until the curved hollow needle is seen from outside of a body of the subject. The curved hollow needle system is retracted back into the larynx along a retraction route. At least one interface element is positioned at a desired position along the retraction route.
US07917215B2
Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems that provide one or more of monitoring, diagnosing, defibrillation, and pacing. Cardiac signal separation is employed to detect, monitor, track and/or trend closed-loop cardiac resynchronization therapy using cardiac activation sequence information. Devices and methods involve sensing a plurality of composite cardiac signals using a plurality of electrodes, the electrodes configured for implantation in a patient. A source separation is performed using the sensed plurality of composite cardiac signals, producing one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with all or a portion of one or more cardiac activation sequences. A cardiac resynchronization therapy is adjusted using one or both of the one or more cardiac signal vectors and the signals associated with the one or more cardiac signal vectors. In further embodiments, the cardiac resynchronization therapy may be initiated, terminated, or one or more parameters of the resynchronization therapy may be altered.
US07917213B2
An implantable biocompatible lead that is also compatible with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner for the purpose of diagnostic quality imaging is described. The implantable electrical lead comprises a plurality of coiled insulated conducting wires wound in a first direction forming a first structure of an outer layer of conductors of a first total length with a first number of turns per unit length and a plurality of coiled insulated conducting wires wound in a second direction forming a second structure of an inner layer of conductors of a second total length with a second number of turns per unit length. The first and the second structures are separated by a distance with a layer of dielectric material. The distance and dielectric material are chosen based on the field strength of the MRI scanner. The lead may further comprise a conducting layer formed by coating a material consisting of medium conducting particles in physical contact with each other and a mechanically flexible, biocompatible layer forming an external layer of lead and in contact with body tissue or body fluids.
US07917212B2
A method and system for the detection of electromagnetic interference is disclosed in which a telemetry coil or other magnetic sensor is used to detect a magnetic signal. If a magnetic signal is determined to be a non-telemetry signal and is time-correlated with the onset of an increase in heart rate, electromagnetic interference is assumed to be present.
US07917209B2
The presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient is determined by evaluating physiological signals in the patient. In one embodiment, a medical device evaluates two or more different physiological signals, such as phonocardiogram (PCG) signals, electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, patient impedance signals, piezoelectric signals, and accelerometer signals for features indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse. Using these features, the medical device determines whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient. The medical device may also be configured to report whether the patient is in a VF, VT, asystole, or PEA condition, in addition to being in a pulseless condition, and prompt different therapies, such as chest compressions, rescue breathing, defibrillation, and PEA-specific electrotherapy, depending on the analysis of the physiological signals. Auto-capture of a cardiac pulse using pacing stimuli is further provided.
US07917191B2
In a method and apparatus for generation of an image in contrast agent-supported magnetic resonance angiography, a first data set is generated during an arterial phase of a distribution of a contrast agent in a vessel system by scanning of a first central k-space region, a second data set is generated during an equilibrium phase of the distribution of the contrast agent in the vessel system by scanning a peripheral k-space region while omitting scanning of a second central region, and the image is generated by merging the first data set and the second data set.
US07917187B2
A mapping catheter comprises a catheter body and a mapping assembly. The catheter body has an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The mapping assembly comprises a generally straight proximal region attached to the catheter body, a generally circular main region distal the proximal region having an outer circumference, and a generally straight distal region distal the main region. The mapping assembly also comprises a support member having shape-memory, a non-conductive covering over the support member, and a plurality of electrodes on the non-conductive covering along the generally circular main region.
US07917185B2
A portable electronic device (20) comprises a housing (22), a battery (26), a battery cover (28) and a trigger mechanism (24). The housing (22) have a battery chamber (222) defined therein. The battery cover (28) have a mating portion (2822) formed thereon. The battery (268) assembled in the battery chamber (222) with the battery cover (28) covering thereon. and The trigger mechanism (24) comprise an expanding portion (242), a securing portion (244), and a resisting portion (246), the securing portion (244) have two ends respectively connecting the expanding portion (242) and the resisting portion (246), the mating portion (2822) is configured for securely engaging with the securing portion (244) so as to restrain the expanding portion from expanding. The expanding portion (242) is secured within the battery chamber (222). The resisting portion (246) is configured for resisting against the battery (26). When the mating portion (2822) disengages from the securing portion (244), the expanding portion (242) expands and the resisting portion (246) ejects the battery (26) from the battery chamber (222).
US07917177B2
An apparatus for gain control in a communication system is disclosed. The apparatus includes means for receiving at least one aggregate communications signal, the at least one aggregate communications signal comprising a summation of distributed communications signals, means for detecting at least a sample of a signal level of the at least one aggregate communications signal, and means for attenuating the signal level of the at least one aggregate communications signal based on the signal level sample.
US07917170B2
A multi-band wireless communication device includes a plurality of transmit paths outputting signals to one or more antennas and one or more power amplifiers coupled to the transmit paths. Each of the transmit paths is configured to transmit signals on a specific radio frequency (RF) band. The RF bands can include the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) band and the Personal Communication Service (PCS) band. Passive filters, such as SAW, BAW or FBAR devices, having out-off-band low return losses are included in the transmit paths. The passive filter and phase shifters on each transmit path can be configured so that RF switching between transmit paths is not necessary and a single power amplifier can be used for the different RF bands. Significant cost, power and space savings can be achieved by reducing the need for RF switches and using a single power amplifier to amplify plural RF bands.
US07917169B1
A method and system for geocasting data packets in a MANET. The MANET is combined with a long-range network such that a wireless terminal can decide whether to rebroadcast a geocast packet over the MANET, the long-range network, or not at all, depending on the wireless terminal's proximity to the geocast region, the location of the originating wireless terminal, or both. A wireless terminal close to or within the geocast region can rebroadcast on the MANET, whereas a wireless terminal far from the geocast region can rebroadcast on the long-range network.
US07917167B1
A communication device which receives the mobile phone specific update controlling signal, which indicates update(s) specific to mobile phones, in a wireless fashion.
US07917165B2
The present invention discloses a power control method for a base station, including: adjusting, by the base station, a transmit power of a code-channel occupied by a terminal according to a power control command from the terminal; determining a permitted minimum code-channel power according to an adjusted transmit power of the code-channel occupied by the terminal; correcting the transmit power of the code-channel occupied by the terminal according to the minimum code-channel power; and transmitting signals to the terminal according to a corrected transmit power of the code-channel occupied by each terminal. By the present invention, the signal power difference between different users is controlled, the stability of the wireless link is improved, and the quality of system communication is guaranteed.
