US07923547B2
The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to synthetic chemically modified small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against target nucleic acid sequences. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of any disease or condition that responds to modulation of gene expression or activity in a cell, tissue, or organism.
US07923544B2
The present invention provides compositions and their use in diagnosing and/or distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
US07923542B2
Methods and compositions for the identification, isolation and characterization of regulatory DNA sequences in a cell of interest are provided. In particular, libraries of regulatory sequences are provided, in which each member of the library comprises a polynucleotide comprising sequences from an accessible region of cellular chromatin.
US07923534B1
The invention relates to an isolated DNA sequence which codes for an antigen expressed by tumor cells which is recognized by cytotoxic T cells, leading to lysis of the tumor which expresses it. Also described are cells transfected by the DNA sequence, and various therapeutic and diagnostic uses arising out of the properties of the DNA and the antigen for which it codes.
US07923533B2
Methods, apparatus, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to biologically assembling and/or synthesizing peptides and/or proteins are disclosed.
US07923530B2
Provided are (1) a terpyridine monomer that has a strong ability to coordinate with metal atoms, and (2) a polymer material that can be readily switched between a colored state and a colorless state by controlling the electrical potential applied to it and that can be processed.A bis-terpyridine monomer of a first invention comprises a first terpyridyl substituent (A), a second terpyridyl substituent (B), and a spacer that contains at least one benzene ring and links the substituents (A) and (B).A polymer material of a second invention comprises a bis-terpyridine derivative derived from the monomer according to the first invention, a metal ion and a counter anion, or comprise first to Nth bis-terpyridine derivatives (N is an integer of 2 or greater), first to Nth metal ions (N is an integer of 2 or greater) and first to Nth counter anions (N is an integer of 2 or greater).
US07923518B2
The present application provides novel nitrile rubbers comprising repeating units of at least one α,β-unsaturated nitrile, at least one conjugated diene and optionally one or more further copolymerizable monomers which nitrile rubbers are distinguished by a specific calcium content as well as a specific chlorine content and dispose of specific thio end groups. Additionally, an improved polymerization and work-up process is provided to produce the aforementioned nitrile rubbers.
US07923512B2
The invention provides a medical implant or medical implant part comprising porous ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of about 400,000 atomic mass units or more and a porosity of about 15% to about 65%. The invention further provides a process for producing a medical implant or medical implant part.
US07923511B2
A polymer composition having (i) 0.01 to 50% wt (e.g. 0.05 to 15% wt) of a propylene polymer with a polymeric nucleating agent is disclosed. Preferably, the agent contains vinyl compound units and (ii) a heterophasic propylene polymer which includes less (or no) polymeric nucleating agent than the propylene polymer in (i).
US07923507B2
A polyorganosiloxane-containing composition which comprises a cationic emulsion of a polyorganosiloxane and a surface-modified colloidal silica component having a zeta potential greater than zero. This composition optionally contains a silicone-curing catalyst.
US07923503B2
There provided a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) composition constituting a PSA layer, which may exhibit a plurality of properties in a well-balanced manner, and a PSA sheet including the PSA layer. The composition is an aqueous PSA composition in which an acrylic polymer serves as a main component and the acrylic polymer is dispersed in water, and contains: A) acrylic polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer raw material including alkyl(meth)acrylate as a main monomer, a first functional monomer having a first functional group to react with a hydrazino group, and a second functional monomer having a second functional group to react with a carbodiimide group; B) a hydrazine-based crosslinking agent; and C) a carbodiimide-based crosslinking agent.
US07923498B2
There is disclosed a composition for producing an elastomeric film comprising: a synthetic polymer, sulphur, and a metal-oxide cross-linking agent. The concentration of the total solids in the composition is between 5-20% by weight of the composition. Also disclosed is a multiple-coating method of manufacturing an elastomeric film comprising the steps of: (i) providing a composition comprising a synthetic polymer, a cross linking agent, wherein the concentration of the total solids in the composition is between 5-20% by weight of the composition, (ii) contacting the composition with a mould to form a layer of composition on the mould, (iii) contacting the layer of composition on the mould with a further amount of the composition to form a further layer, (iv) drying the composition, and (v) curing the composition.
US07923493B2
A rubber composition containing 100 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber, 20 to 120 parts by weight of silica, a sulfur-containing silane coupling agent of 3 to 15% by weight, based upon the weight of the silica and a tertiary amine compound having the formula (I): wherein, R1 indicates a carbon atom or nitrogen atom and, when R1 is a carbon atom, R2 indicates a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl group and having a pKa value of 6.5 to 13.
US07923490B2
The invention provides for structural composites made from biomaterials such as wood products, plant fibers and the like; and/or a non-biomaterial having free —OH groups; a thermoplastic resin such as a polyolefin; coupling agents such as a thermosetting resin or a second thermoplastic resin; a blocked catalyst, a crosslinker and other functional additives may be used.
US07923484B2
A process for polymerization of diethylene glycol bis allyl carbonate which may advantageously be employed for producing plastic lenses having a low refractive index comprising in the step of subjecting diethylene glycol bis allyl carbonate to the step of gamma radiation in the presence of diiso propyl peroxydicarbonate as a catalyst.
US07923465B2
The present invention relates to novel cannabinoid receptor modulators, in particular cannabinoid 1 (CB1) or cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptor modulators, and uses thereof for treating diseases, conditions and/or disorders modulated by a cannabinoid receptor (such as pain, neurodegenerative disorders, eating disorders, weight loss or control, and obesity).
US07923463B2
Pharmaceutical formulations and methods including an immune response modifier (IRM) compound and an oleic acid component are provided where stability is improved by using oleic acid have low polar impurities such as peroxides.
US07923456B2
The invention relates to imidazopyridines of formula I with anti-cancer and/or anti-inflammatory activity and more specifically to imidazopyridines which inhibit MEK kinase activity. The invention provides compositions and methods useful for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating a hyperproliferative disorder, or treating an inflammatory disease in a mammal. The invention also relates to methods of using the compounds for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis or treatment of mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions.
US07923447B2
Disclosed herein are parenteral solutions containing 7-halo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-aryl-6-quinazoline sulfonamide in N,N-dimethylactamide, polyethylene glycol and D5W useful in the treatment of hypertension, heart failure and renal disease leading to edematous states. Also disclosed are methods for preparing such solutions.
US07923444B2
This invention relates to novel alkyl substituted homopiperazine derivatives useful as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors.In other aspects the invention relates to the use of these compounds in a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention.
US07923441B2
Methods and compositions for enhancing the activity and/or duration of action of loteprednol etabonate and other soft anti-inflammatory steroids of the haloalkyl 17α-alkoxycarbonyloxy-11β-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one-17β-carboxylate type and the corresponding Δ1,4-compounds are described. The enhancing agents have the formula: wherein R is H or C1-C4 alkyl; Z1 is carbonyl or β-hydroxymethylene; X1 is —O— or —S—; R5 is —OH, —OR6, —OCOOR6 or —OCOR7 wherein R6 is C1-C4 alkyl and R7 is C1-C4 alkyl, fluoromethyl or chloromethyl; and the dotted line in ring A indicates that the 1,2-linkage is saturated or unsaturated; with the proviso that when R is C1-C4 alkyl, then R5 is —OH.
US07923440B2
A method of treating or preventing an immune mediated disorder in a mammal, said method comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an estrogenic component to said mammal, wherein the estrogenic component is selected from the group consisting of: substances represented by the following formula: in which formula R1, R2, R3, R4 independently are a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group with 1-5 carbon atoms; each of R5, R6, R7 is a hydroxyl group; no more than 3 of R1, R2, R3, R4 are hydrogen atoms; precursors capable of liberating a substance according to the aforementioned formula when used in the present method; and mixtures of one or more of the aforementioned substances and/or precursors. Another aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising the aforementioned estrogenic component, an immunotherapeutic agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
US07923436B2
The invention uses recombinant parvoviruses, and particularly recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) to deliver genes and DNA sequences for gene therapy following manipulation of the therapeutic virus for packaging and transport. The invention delivers therapeutic viral vectors via rAAV affixed to support matrixes (i.e., sutures, surgically implantable materials, grafts, and the like).
US07923431B2
A haemostatic kit to be used as a medical device provides for a containment unit and a haemostatic agent in said containment unit, said haemostatic agent occupying less than 90% of the volume of the containment unit. This allows for facile and consequently sterile preparation of, for instance, a gelatin paste for use in haemostatis when combined with saline, thrombin or another agent to assist in haemostatis.
US07923427B2
Material, composition, and manufacturing method alternatives for a solidification matrix that may be used, for example, in solid cleaning compositions, or other technologies. In at least some embodiments, the solidification matrix includes a binding agent that is formed by the use of MGDA, or a salt or derivative thereof, and water to produce a solid binding agent. In some embodiments, the MGDA and water combines and can solidify to act as a binder material or binding agent dispersed throughout a solid composition that may contain other functional ingredients that provide the desired properties and/or functionality to the solid composition.
US07923421B2
Polyurea compounds are prepared by reacting amines and polyisoyanates in the presence of a liquid diluent in a high-pressure impingement mixing device under conditions sufficient to produce polyurea compounds having the consistency of a powder and in which diluent is dispersed.
US07923413B2
A composition for reducing lost circulation in a well, while drilling the well with a drilling mud, which is composed of a base fluid, a mixture of particles, and a blend of fibers. The composition is used by stopping drilling with the mud, injecting a spacer, injecting the water-based composition, injecting a spacer, and resuming drilling with the oil-based mud.
US07923412B1
A dye ink or a pigmented ink application process using, for example, any one of flexographic printing, flood coating, tinting, or other suitable technique or process to add a colored area adjacent to a thermal ink layer of a thermal material is disclosed. The colored area provides a background color, such that upon application of the heat source, a thermal image appears as being imaged onto the colored area. The process can be used to make heat activated direct thermal labels or thermal paper rolls, including cash register-type rolls, poster printer format rolls, etc. The process permits a thermal material including a thermal ink layer to be produced in various colors in relatively small print runs using conventional equipment.
US07923411B2
An activated carbon material having a BET specific surface area of 10 to 1,000 m2/g as measured by means of a nitrogen adsorption method, and the ratio of the height of the D peak (1,360 cm−1) of a Raman spectrum of the activated carbon material to that of the G peak (1,580 cm−1) of the Raman spectrum is 0.8 to 1.2. When the activated carbon material of the present invention is used as a polarizable electrode material of an electric double layer capacitor, high capacitance per electrode is attained without application of excessive voltage.
US07923401B2
Single-site catalyst activator compositions are provided, said activator compositions comprising anion/cation ion pair wherein; (a) the anion comprises a metal atom bonded via hetero atoms to a chelating organic ligand, and (b) the cation comprises a Bronsted acid.
US07923399B2
A catalyst for converting hydrocarbons includes, based on the weight of the catalyst, 1-60% by weight of a zeolite, 0.1-10% by weight of an assistant catalytic component, 5-98% by weight of a thermotolerant inorganic oxide, and 0-70% by weight of a clay in terms of the oxide. The zeolite is a MFI-structured zeolite-containing phosphor and transition metal(s) or a mixture of the zeolite and a macroporous zeolite, which comprises, based on the weight of the mixture, 75-100% by weight of said MFI-structured zeolite containing phosphor and transition metal(s) and 0-25% by weight of the macroporous zeolite. In terms of the mass of the oxide, the MFI-structured zeolite containing phosphor and transition metal(s) has the following anhydrous chemical formula: (0-0.3)Na2O.(0.3-5.5)Al2O3.(1.0-10)P2O5.(0.7-15)M1xOy.(0.01-5)M2mOn(0-10)RE2O3.(70-97)SiO2 I or (0-0.3)Na2O.(0.3-5)Al2O3.(1.0-10)P2O5.(0.7-15)MpOq.(0-10)RE2O3.(70-98)SiO2 II The assistant catalytic component is one or more selected from the group consisting of the alkali earth metals, Group IVB metals, non-noble metals of Group VIII, and rare earth metals of the Periodic Table of the Elements. This catalyst has a higher ability to convert petroleum hydrocarbons and higher yields for propylene, ethylene, and light aromatics.
US07923390B2
A yarn or multi-fiber formed of a plurality of micron diameter stainless steel monofilaments which have been rendered more conductive by one or more coatings of electrolytically-deposited metal or metal alloy materials. The metallized yarn provided by the invention has a very low electrical resistance, with consequent benefit in electrical performance, and is particularly useful as an RFI/EMI shielding material.
US07923389B2
The invention relates to an intumescent body, made from a non-intumescent polymer material providing the form of the body and a coating material applied to the polymer material. According to the invention, the polymer material together with the coating material provides an intumescent system in which the polymer material forms a carbon-donor material.
US07923385B2
Methods of preparing a carbon doped oxide (CDO) layers having a low dielectric constant are provided. The methods involve, for instance, providing a substrate to a deposition chamber and exposing it to one or multiple carbon-doped oxide precursors having molecules with at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, or carbon-carbon double bond, or a combination of these groups and depositing the carbon doped oxide dielectric layer under conditions in which the resulting dielectric layer has a dielectric constant of not greater than about 2.7. Methods of preparing a low stress porous low-k dielectric material on a substrate are provided. The methods involve the use of a structure former precursor and/or porogen precursor with one or more organic functional groups. In some cases, the structure former precursor has carbon-carbon double or triple bonds. In other cases, one or both of the structure former precursor and porogen precursor has one or more bulky organic groups. In other cases, the structure former precursor has carbon-carbon double or triple bonds and one or both of the structure former precursor and porogen precursor has one or more bulky organic groups. Once the precursor film is formed, the porogen is removed, leaving a porous low-k dielectric matrix with high mechanical strength. Different types of structure former precursors and porogen precursors are described. The resulting low stress low-k porous film may be used as a low-k dielectric film in integrated circuit manufacturing applications.
US07923384B2
In a formation method of a porous insulating film by supplying at least organosiloxane and an inert gas to a reaction chamber and forming an insulating film by a plasma vapor deposition method, a partial pressure of the organosiloxane in the reaction chamber is changed by varying a volume ratio of the organosiloxane and the inert gas to be supplied during deposition. Thus, the dielectric constant of the insulating film in the semiconductor device is reduced while the adhesion of the insulating film with other materials is improved. It is desirable that the organosiloxane be cyclic organosiloxane including at least silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen, and that the total pressure of the reaction chamber be constant during deposition.
US07923378B2
A silicon-containing insulating film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas including di-iso-propylaminosilane gas and a second process gas including an oxidizing gas or nitriding gas. The film is formed by performing a plurality of times a cycle alternately including first and second steps. The first step performs supply of the first process gas, thereby forming an adsorption layer containing silicon on a surface of the target substrate. The second performs supply of the second process gas, thereby oxidizing or nitriding the adsorption layer on the surface of the target substrate. The second step includes an excitation period of supplying the second process gas to the process field while exciting the second process gas by an exciting mechanism.
US07923377B2
An amorphous carbon film forming apparatus includes a supporting electrode that is connected to ground and supports a substrate, a counter electrode that is disposed so as to face the supporting electrode and has a mixed-gas injection orifice, a chamber containing the supporting electrode and the counter electrode, and a DC pulse generator having a pulse source that applies a DC pulse voltage between the supporting electrode and the counter electrode. An amorphous carbon film is formed by supplying a mixed gas between the supporting electrode and the counter electrode such that the percentage of the acetylene gas relative to the carrier gas is 0.05% by volume or more and 10% by volume or less, and by generating plasma while a DC pulse voltage having a pulse width of 0.1 μsec or more and 5.0 μsec or less is applied to the counter electrode.
US07923372B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of etch mask patterns over an etch target layer, each of the etch mask patterns including a first hard mask, a first pad layer, and a second pad layer, forming spacers on both sidewalls of the etch mask patterns, the spacers including a material substantially the same as that of the first pad layer, forming a second hard mask over the resulting substrate structure until gaps between the etch mask patterns are filled, the second hard mask including a material different from that of the first hard mask but substantially the same as that of the second pad layer, planarizing the second hard mask until the first pad layer is exposed, removing the first pad layer and the spacers, and etching the etch target layer using the remaining first and second hard masks as an etch barrier layer.
US07923369B2
In one embodiment, a method of forming a via includes forming an first opening in the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first opening has a bottom and sidewalls, forming a sacrificial fill in the first opening, forming a dielectric layer over the sacrificial fill, forming a second opening in the dielectric layer, wherein the second opening is over the sacrificial fill, removing the sacrificial fill from the first opening after forming the second opening, and forming a conductive material in the first opening and second opening.
US07923364B2
A method used during semiconductor device fabrication comprises forming at least two types of transistors. A first transistor type may comprise a CMOS transistor comprising gate oxide and having a wide active area and/or a long channel, and the second transistor type may comprise a NAND comprising tunnel oxide and having a narrow active area and/or short gate length. The transistors are exposed to a nitridation ambient. Various process embodiments and completed structures are disclosed.
US07923363B2
Method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device on a semiconductor substrate in a memory area, said non-volatile memory device comprising a cell stack of a first semiconductor layer, a charge trapping layer and an electrically conductive layer, the charge trapping layer being the intermediate layer between the first semiconductor layer and the electrically conductive layer, the charge trapping layer comprising at least a first insulating layer; the method comprising: —providing the substrate having the first semiconductor layer; —depositing the charge trapping layer; —depositing the electrically conductive layer; —patterning the cell stack to form at least two non-volatile memory cells, and —creating a shallow trench isolation in between said at least two non-volatile memory cells.
US07923357B2
A poly-silicon film formation method for forming a poly-silicon film doped with phosphorous or boron includes heating a target substrate placed in a vacuum atmosphere inside a reaction container, and supplying into the reaction container a silicon film formation gas, a doping gas for doping a film with phosphorous or boron, and a grain size adjusting gas containing a component to retard columnar crystal formation from a poly-silicon crystal and to promote miniaturization of the poly-silicon crystal, thereby depositing a silicon film doped with phosphorous or boron on the target substrate.
US07923356B2
Concerning an art related to a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device having an integrated circuit using thin film transistors on a substrate, a problem is to provide a condition for forming an amorphous silicon film having distortion. In the deposition of an amorphous silicon film using a sputter method, a condition is provided with a frequency of 15 to 25 kHz and a deposition power of 0.5 to 3 kW. This can sufficiently contain Ar at 10×1020/cm3 or more in an amorphous silicon film, thus making possible to form an amorphous silicon film having distortion.
US07923346B2
A method of making a FET includes forming a gate structure (18), then etching cavities on either side. A SiGe layer (22) is then deposited on the substrate (10) in the cavities, followed by an Si layer (24). A selective etch is then carried out to etch away the SiGe (22) except for a part of the layer under the gate structure (18), and oxide (28) is grown to fill the resulting gap. SiGe source and drains are then deposited in the cavities. The oxide (28) can reduce junction leakage current.
US07923345B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device wherein a laminate structure comprising a sacrificial layer is sandwiched between two etch stop layers (8,11) and which separates a semiconductor membrane (9) from a bulk substrate (1) is used to provide an underetched structure. Access trenches (4) and support trenches (5) are formed in the layered structure through the thickness of the semiconductor layer (9) and through the upper etch stop layer (8). The support trenches extend deeper through the sacrificial layer (12) and the lower etch stop layer and are filled. The sacrificial layer is exposed and etched away selectively to the etch stop layers to form a cavity (30) and realise a semiconductor membrane which is attached to the bulk substrate via a vertical support structure comprising the filled support trenches.
US07923343B2
A method for forming a capacitor of a semiconductor device includes forming a cylindrical storage node over a semiconductor substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer over the cylindrical storage node; and etching the first dielectric layer to reduce a thickness of a portion of the first dielectric layer on a protruded end of the cylindrical storage node. The method further includes depositing a second dielectric layer over the etched first dielectric layer, wherein the second dielectric layer supplements a thickness of a portion of the first dielectric layer on a bottom corner of the cylindrical storage node. Finally, a cell plate is formed over the second dielectric layer.
US07923330B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a first surface and a second surface which is arranged opposite to the first surface. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of trench structures extending from the first surface into the semiconductor substrate. The thickness of the semiconductor substrate is then reduced by removing semiconductor material at the second surface to obtain a processed second surface with exposed bottom portions of the trench structures. At least a first mask is formed on the processed second surface in a self-aligned manner with respect to the bottom portions of the trench structures, and doping regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate between the trench structures.
US07923328B2
A non-volatile memory cell including a substrate in which is formed a source region and a drain region defining a channel region between the source region and the drain region is provided. The non-volatile memory cell further includes a select gate structure overlying a first portion of the channel region. The non-volatile memory cell further includes a control gate structure formed overlying a second portion of the channel region, wherein the control gate structure includes a nanocrystal stack having a height, wherein the control gate structure has a convex shape in a corner region formed at an intersection of a first plane substantially parallel to a top surface of the substrate and a second plane substantially parallel to a side surface of the control gate structure, wherein a ratio of radius of the control gate structure in the corner region to the height of the nanocrystal stack is at least 0.5.
US07923324B2
A method for manufacturing a capacitor of a semiconductor device includes forming a lower metal layer over a substrate, forming a dielectric layer over the lower metal layer, forming an upper metal layer over the dielectric layer, forming an upper electrode and a dielectric layer pattern by performing a reactive ion etching process with respect to the upper metal layer using the dielectric layer as an etch stop layer, and exposing a top surface of the lower metal layer, and performing a chemical down-stream etch (CDE) process to remove a by-product of a sidewall of the upper electrode.
US07923315B2
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a planar independent-double-gate FET or a planar gate-all-around FET on a bulk semiconductor substrate. The method comprises refilling a surface recess in an active semiconductor region with a buried sacrificial layer, and, after preparing a pre-processing a gate stack by respective deposition and patterning, the formation of a recess in the isolation regions so as to cause the recess to extend, in a depth direction that points towards the inner substrate, to a depth level that allows removing the buried sacrificial layer and so as to cause the recess to undercut portions of gate stack in the channel direction.
US07923311B2
A semiconductor device having a pair of impurity doped second semiconductor layers, formed on a first semiconductor layer having a channel formation region therein, an outer edge of the first semiconductor film being at least partly coextensive with an outer edge of the impurity doped second semiconductor layers. The semiconductor device further includes source and drain electrodes formed on the pair of impurity doped second semiconductor layers, wherein the pair of impurity doped second semiconductor layers extend beyond inner sides edges of the source and drain electrodes so that a stepped portion is formed from an upper surface of the source and drain electrodes to a surface of the first semiconductor film.
US07923305B1
A method of making a device includes forming a first sacrificial layer over an underlying layer, forming a first photoresist layer over the first sacrificial layer, patterning the first photoresist layer to form first photoresist features, rendering the first photoresist features insoluble to a solvent, forming a second photoresist layer over the first photoresist features, patterning the second photoresist layer to form second photoresist features, etching the first sacrificial layer using both the first and the second photoresist features as a mask to form first sacrificial features, forming a spacer layer over the first sacrificial features, etching the spacer layer to form spacer features and to expose the sacrificial features, removing the first sacrificial features, and etching at least part of the underlying layer using the spacer features as a mask.
US07923300B2
A power converter can include an output circuit having a high-side device and a low-side device which can be formed on a single die (a “PowerDie”). The power converter can further include a controller integrated circuit (IC) formed on a different die which can be electrically coupled to, and co-packaged with, the PowerDie. The PowerDie can be attached to a die pad of a leadframe, and the controller IC die can be attached to an active surface of the first die such that the first die is interposed between the controller IC die and the die pad.
US07923297B2
Size of a chipping is made small, suppressing blinding of a blade, when performing dicing of a wafer.When cutting a wafer, cutting is performed so that the portion of a V character-shaped shoulder may enter below the front surface of a wafer (depth Z2 from a substrate front surface) using the metal-bond blade which includes the abrasive particle whose fineness number is more than #3000, and whose point is V character form. By processing it in this way, cutting resistance goes up and blinding of a blade can be prevented. Hereby, the size of a chipping can be suppressed small, preventing blinding of a blade.
US07923290B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: mounting an integrated circuit, having a device through via and a device interconnect, over a substrate with the device through via traversing the integrated circuit and the device interconnect attached to the device through via; attaching a conductive support over the substrate with the conductive support adjacent to the integrated circuit; providing a pre-formed interposer, having an interposer through via and a pre-attached interconnect, with the pre-attached interconnect attached to the interposer through via; mounting the pre-formed interposer over the integrated circuit and the conductive support with the pre-attached interconnect over the device through via; and forming an encapsulation over the substrate covering the integrated circuit, the conductive support, and partially covering the pre-formed interposer.
US07923278B2
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, present invention is directed to a thin film encapsulated MEMS, and technique of fabricating or manufacturing a thin film encapsulated MEMS including an integrated getter area and/or an increased chamber volume, which causes little to no increase in overall dimension(s) from the perspective of the mechanical structure and chamber. The integrated getter area is disposed within the chamber and is capable of (i) “capturing” impurities, atoms and/or molecules that are out-gassed from surrounding materials and/or (ii) reducing and/or minimizing the adverse impact of such impurities, atoms and/or molecules (for example, reducing the probability of adding mass to a resonator which would thereby change the resonator's frequency). In this way, the thin film wafer level packaged MEMS of the present invention includes a relatively stable, controlled pressure environment within the chamber to provide, for example, a more stable predetermined, desired and/or selected mechanical damping of the mechanical structure.
US07923271B1
A method of assembling a multi-layer LED array engine is provided. The method includes the steps of: preparing a base plate frame comprising at least one lighting area, and two lead frame grooves; positioning two lead frames inside accommodating spaces defined in the two lead frame grooves, respectively; executing an injection molding process to form a molded platform on the base plate frame; configuring a thin layer of nickel or chromium; arranging a plurality of LED dice in an array form on an upper surface of the base plate frame; electrically coupling the LED dice to the lead frames by bonded wires; forming a protection layer on the LED dice and the bonded wires; forming a phosphorous layer on the protection layer, wherein the phosphorous layer is formed within a range defined by the phosphorous wall; and forming a dome on the upper surface of the molded platform by executing an injection molding process.
US07923264B2
A first passive ferroelectric memory element comprising a first electrode system and a second electrode system, wherein said first electrode system is at least partly insulated from said second electrode system by an element system comprising at least one ferroelectric element, wherein said first electrode system is a conductive surface, or a conductive layer; wherein said second electrode system is an electrode pattern or a plurality of isolated conductive areas in contact with, for read-out or data-input purposes only, a plurality of conducting pins isolated from one another.
US07923262B2
A method of manufacturing patterned ferroelectric media, which includes forming an electrode on a substrate; forming features having a predetermined pattern on the electrode, the features including a precursor for forming a ferroelectric material; and reacting a source material with the precursor features to transform the precursor features into ferroelectric features. Also disclosed is a method which includes forming on a substrate an electrode having wells and precursor features formed in the wells of the electrode, the precursor features including a precursor for forming a ferroelectric material; and reacting a source material with the precursor features to transform the precursor features into ferroelectric features. The above first embodiment relates to non-embedded type media, and the above second embodiment relates to embedded type media.
US07923259B2
The present application relates to apparatus for sampling and analysis of analytes in a liquid sample. A liquid sample is pre-concentrated using a chromatographic column prior to analysis via a two stage analysis apparatus. A high-performance liquid chromatography system with ultra violet detection may be used in conjunction with electrochemical detection for the analysis of environmental contaminants, including explosive residues. The present invention also provides for on-site analysis of such contaminants. The present invention also provides for methods of analyzing the components of a liquid sample, including methods for on-site analysis.
US07923257B2
Methods of evaluating molecular isomers of branched-chain amino acids are featured. The methods can include: derivatizing one or more molecular isomers of branched-chain amino acids in a sample comprising a branched-chain amino acid labeled with one or more heavy atoms as a first standard; adding, to the sample, after derivatization, a nonderivatized or derivatized branched chain amino acid that is labeled with one or more heavy atoms, as a second standard; evaluating the sample using tandem mass spectrometry; and detecting peaks indicative of derivatized and nonderivatized forms of one or more branched-chain amino acids in the sample.
US07923256B2
This invention is a disposable cartridge for use at the patient side to perform traditional coagulation assays on fresh whole blood or blood derivative samples. The cartridge, in use with an electronic analyzer allows a fluid sample to be metered and quantitatively mixed with reagents which activate the coagulation cascade. An artificial substrate for thrombin, the enzyme whose action results in clot formation is also provided. Clot formation is subsequently detected using a microfabricated sensor also housed within the cartridge which detects electrochemically the product of the thrombin reaction upon the synthetic substrate.
US07923252B2
A droplet forming flow cytometer system (1) allows high speed processing without the need for high oscillator drive powers through the inclusion of an oscillator or piezoelectric crystal (10) within the nozzle volume (3) and directly coupled to the sheath fluid. The nozzle container (27) continuously converges so as to amplify unidirectional oscillations (11) which are transmitted as pressure waves through the nozzle volume (3) to the nozzle exit so as to form droplets from the fluid jet. A variation in substance concentration is achieved through a movable substance introduction port (9) which is positioned within a convergence zone (32) to vary the relative concentration of substance to sheath fluid while still maintaining optimal laminar flow conditions. This variation may be automatically controlled through a sensor and controller configuration.
US07923247B2
A method for producing proliferating cultures of dendritic cell precursors is provided. Also provided is a method for producing mature dendritic cells in culture from the proliferating dendritic cell precursors. The cultures of mature dendritic cells provide an effective means of producing novel T cell dependent antigens comprised of dendritic cell modified antigens or dendritic cells pulsed with antigen, including particulates, which antigen is processed and expressed on the antigen-activated dendritic cell. The novel antigens of the invention may be used as immunogens for vaccines or for the treatment of disease. These antigens may also be used to treat autoimmune diseases such as juvenile diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
US07923246B2
The present invention provides a clinically applicable method of inducing differentiation of the embryonic stem cells. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of culturing embryonic stem cells, which comprises culturing embryonic stem cells in the presence of an amnion-derived factor, a cell culture obtained by the culture method, and a culture agent/culture kit of embryonic stem cells comprising an amnion-derived factor. The present invention also provides a method of screening an amnion-derived factor having an activity useful for culturing embryonic stem cells with the activity as an index, and an amniocyte-derived factor obtained by the screening method. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of preparing amniocytes useful for culturing embryonic stem cells, amniocytes obtained by the preparation method, and the like.
US07923239B2
Methods and compositions are provided for detecting biomolecular interactions. The use of labels is not required and the methods can be performed in a high-throughput manner. The invention also provides optical devices useful as narrow band filters.
US07923234B2
Isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and variations thereof are provided. Further provided are methods of at least partially degrading xylotriose and/or xylobiose using isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and variations thereof.
US07923230B2
Methods and compositions are provided for reducing aggregation of neurodegenerative proteins associated with neurotoxicity or other proteins. The compounds comprise a first domain or targeting element for binding to the target proteins linked to a second domain or recruiting element that binds to an aggregation inhibiting protein, e.g. a prolyl isomerase. By associating the aggregating forming proteins or neuronal cells under conditions where aggregating proteins are produced with the compound and the aggregation inhibiting protein, aggregation is reduced. The subject agents can be used in assays, investigating the etiology of the neuronal diseases and for prophylaxis and therapy.
US07923229B2
A method for classifying and counting leukocytes, which comprises steps of: staining cells in a sample obtained from a hematological sample by treatment with a hemolytic agent, with a fluorescent dye; introducing the sample containing the stained cells into a flow cytometer to measure first scattered light, second scattered light different from the first scattered light and fluorescence of the respective cells; obtaining scattered light peak intensities and scattered light widths of the respective cells based on the measured first scattered light, obtaining scattered light intensities of the respective cells based on the measured second scattered light, and obtaining fluorescence intensities of the respective cells based on the measured fluorescence light; classifying the cells into a first group and a second group based on the scattered light peak intensities and the scattered light widths, the first group including leukocytes and second group including platelet clumps; classifying the leukocytes included in the first group into at least lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes based on the scattered light intensities and the fluorescence intensities; and counting the classified lymphocytes, the classified monocytes and the classified granulocytes.
US07923220B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for the production of interferon-beta in improved yields by fermentation.
US07923218B2
Modulation of the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) signaling pathway is used to enhance the remodeling process relevant to a wide range of cardiac diseases. More specifically, a process to instigate beneficial human cardiac hypertrophy or for post myocardial infarction (MI) remodeling comprising illiciting an overexpression of ILK, is described. The ILK signaling pathway is also used as a means for cardiac stem cell proliferation and self-renewal.
US07923217B2
Methods and reagents for determining antithrombin III (AT) in body fluids by adding an AT binding partner to the sample and determining the free AT binding partner.
US07923209B2
The present invention relates generally to in vivo methods and compositions designed for allergen specific immunotherapy. The compositions include contiguous overlapping peptide fragments which together form an entire amino acid sequence of an allergen.
US07923205B2
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method capable of protecting personal information.A method for protecting personal information that can be obtained by analyzing a biological sample is provided, wherein the method comprises adding to the biological sample a component obstructing the analysis of another component that provides personal information to be protected. Thus, the analysis of personal information such as genomic information without the person's consent can be technically prevented.In addition, the present invention provides a technique for not only simply protecting personal information, but also for analyzing the once protected personal information as needed.
US07923195B2
The present invention provides a polymer suitable as a base resin for a positive resist composition, especially for a chemically amplified positive resist composition, having a high sensitivity, a high degree of resolution, a good pattern configuration after exposure, and in addition an excellent etching resistance; a positive resist composition using the polymer; and a patterning process.The positive resist composition of the present invention is characterized in that it contains at least, as a base resin, a polymer whose hydrogen atom of a phenolic hydroxide group is substituted by an acid labile group represented by the following general formula (1).
US07923180B2
A method of fabricating a device is presented. The method includes forming a mask that includes multiple images. A substrate is patterned using the mask. An image of the multiple images corresponds to a respective patterning process. The substrate is processed further to complete the processing of the substrate to form the desired function of the device.
US07923178B2
The present invention aims at providing a glass substrate required to have a surface polished with extremely high accuracy as in glass substrates for reflective masks for use in EUVL; and a polishing method for producing the glass substrate. The present invention provides a glass substrate for mask blank, which is a glass substrate comprising SiO2 as a main component and having a polished main surface, wherein concave defects and convex defects on the main surface have a depth of 2 nm or smaller and a height of 2 nm or smaller, respectively, and have a half-value width of 60 nm or smaller, so that the concave defects and/or the convex defects do not cause phase defects when the glass substrate is used to produce a mask for exposure and the mask is used. Also disclosed are a polishing method for producing the glass substrate, and a mask blank and a mask for exposure using the glass substrate.
US07923176B2
A mask includes a transparent substrate, a light-blocking layer and a halftone layer. The light-blocking layer includes a source electrode pattern portion including a first electrode portion, a second electrode portion and a third electrode portion, and a drain electrode pattern portion disposed between the second electrode portion and the third electrode portion. The halftone layer includes a halftone portion corresponding to a spaced-apart portion between the source electrode pattern portion and the drain electrode pattern portion, and a dummy halftone portion more protrusive than ends of the second electrode portion and the third electrode portion. Thus, a photoresist pattern corresponding to a channel portion of a thin film transistor (TFT) may be formed with a uniform thickness, to thereby prevent an excessive etching of the channel portion.
US07923174B2
The present invention provides a holographic recording composition and a holographic recording medium comprising a recording layer formed with the holographic recording composition. The holographic recording composition comprises a bifunctional or greater isocyanate, a polyfunctional alcohol comprising a bifunctional alcohol and a trifunctional or greater alcohol, a titanocene-based radical polymerization initiator, a bifunctional or greater acrylate monomer, and an amidine salt denoted by General Formula (1). In General Formula (1), R1, R2, and R3 each independently denote an alkyl group, aryl group, amino group, or acyl group, R1 and R2 may be bonded together to form a ring, R2 and R3 may be bonded together to form a ring, and A− denotes an anion.
US07923167B2
A polymer electrolyte membrane including an ionic conducting polymer and a light-irradiated product of a photoacid generator (PAG), a method of manufacturing the same, and a fuel cell using the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent proton conductivity and homogeneity by radiating light such as UV light onto the PAG, thereby producing an acid radical which generates an acid. The polymer electrolyte membrane also suppresses methanol crossover well. The polymer electrolyte membrane can be used as an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell.
US07923162B2
A fuel cell assembly in which at least one heat exchanger for conditioning either the anode or cathode reactant gas is integrated with the fuel cell stack and located at the end of the fuel cell stack, to isolate the fuel cell stack from contact with the end plates of the stack. The heat exchanger may preferably be comprised of a stack of plates which may preferably be the same as the plates as the fuel cell stack, with outer and inner end plates to direct the flow of reactant gases, waste gases and coolant to and from the fuel cell stack. The assembly is preferably configured to include reactant conditioning heat exchangers at both ends of the fuel cell stack.
US07923159B2
A water recovery system of a direct liquid feed fuel cell and a direct liquid feed fuel cell having the water recovery system. The water recovery system in which water produced at a cathode electrode of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is recovered to supply to an anode electrode, the water recovery system includes: a first member located on the cathode electrode and a first supporting plate that supports the first member; and a second member located on the anode electrode and a second supporting plate that supports the second member, wherein the first member and the second member are connected to each other through a slit formed in an electrolyte membrane of the MEA. The direct liquid feed fuel cell having the water recovery system can be used, for example, in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).
US07923154B2
The invention provides a new route for the synthesis of carbon-coated powders having the olivine or NASICON structure, which form promising classes of active products for the manufacture of rechargeable lithium batteries. Carbon-coating of the powder particles is necessary to achieve good performances because of the rather poor electronic conductivity of said structures. For the preparation of coated LiFePO4, sources of Li, Fe and phosphate are dissolved in an aqueous solution together with a polycarboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. Upon water evaporation, polyesterification occurs while a mixed precipitate is formed containing Li, Fe and phosphate. The resin-encapsulated mixture is then heat treated at 700° C. in a reducing atmosphere. This results in the production of a fine powder consisting of an olivine LiFePO4 phase, coated with conductive carbon. When this powder is used as active material in a lithium insertion-type electrode, fast charge and discharge rates are obtained at room temperature and an excellent capacity retention is observed.
US07923152B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a positive electrode containing a lithium-transition metal oxide having a layered crystal structure; a negative electrode containing a lithium-titanium composite oxide having a spinel structure; and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode and the negative electrode satisfy the formula (1) given below: 1.25≦X (1), where X is a ratio of an available electric capacity, represented by “(B/A)”, A is an available electric capacity (mAh) at 25° C. per cm2 of the positive electrode, and B is an available electric capacity (mAh) at 25° C. per cm2 of the negative electrode.
US07923146B2
A battery comprising electrode terminals 12a, 32a of a steel plate having a nickel bright-plating. The surface of the steel plate is dull finished and the concentration of sulfur and sulfur compound in the nickel bright-plating is at 0.02% or less by weight.
US07923141B2
A cooling device including an intake duct achieving fluid communication between a vehicle interior and an inner part of a battery case, a fan unit for supplying the air via the intake duct to the inner part of the battery case, and a control device is used. The fan unit includes a fan and a motor driven by a constant voltage system. The control device includes a current value detecting portion and a judging portion. The current value detecting portion detects a current value of an electric current supplied to the motor. The judging portion compares the detected current value and a preset reference current value and, when the detected current value is lower than the reference current value, judges that there is an anomaly in a volume of the air supplied to the battery case.
US07923130B2
A surface-coated cutting tool according to the present invention including a substrate and a coating film formed on the substrate is characterized in that the coating film includes a composite super multi-layer film obtained by alternately stacking one or more first super multi-layer film and one or more second super multi-layer film, the first super multi-layer film above is formed by alternately stacking one or more A1 layer and one or more B layer, the second super multi-layer film above is formed by alternately stacking one or more A2 layer and one or more C layer, each of the A1 layer above and the A2 layer above is composed of any of TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, and TiAlCN, the B layer above is composed of TiSiN or TiSiCN, and the C layer above is composed of AlCrN or AlCrCN.
US07923121B2
A photo-crosslinkable polyolefin composition comprises a polyolefin, a source of functionality receptive to crosslinking by UV radiation, a cationic photoinitiator and optionally includes a free-radical photoinitiator, a crosslinking accelerator or sensitizer, and other additives such as compatibilizers, inorganic fillers, nanofillers, glass, polymeric and ceramic microspheres, glass fibers, flame retardants, antioxidants, stabilizers, processing aids, foaming agents and pigments. A method for manufacturing a UV-crosslinked polyolefin article comprises forming an article by extruding, molding or otherwise forming the UV-crosslinkable polyolefin composition and subjecting the article to UV radiation on-line with the extrusion, molding or other forming operation.
US07923120B2
Provided herein is a pressure sensitive adhesive for an optical film comprising: 100 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylic-based polymer (A) including an alkyl (meth)acrylate (a1) and a (meth)acrylic-based monomer containing a hydroxyl group (a2), as a copolymerizable component, in content in the range of from 0.01 to 5 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the alkyl (meth)acrylate (a1); 0.02 to 2 parts by weight of a peroxide (B); and 0.001 to 2 parts by weight of an isocyanate-based compound (C), the contents of the peroxide (B) and the isocyanate-based compound (C) being values relative to 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acrylic-based polymer (A).
US07923119B2
The present invention provides: a multilayer film for top-seal to be used for a tray having a surface layer containing a polystyrene-based resin, the multilayer film at least having a first layer and a second layer, the first layer containing 50% by weight or more of at least one selected from the group consisting of (a) a copolymer including a conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic compound; (b) a copolymer resulting from hydrogenation of a copolymer including a conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic compound; (c) a combined resin of: a hydrogenated product of a copolymer including a conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic compound; and an α-olefin copolymer; (d) a mixture of: a combined resin of: a hydrogenated product of a copolymer including a conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic compound; and an α-olefin copolymer, and an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer, and (e) a mixture of: a combined resin of: a hydrogenated product of a copolymer including a conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic compound; and an α-olefin copolymer, and a branched low-density polyethylene, the multilayer film having: a gel fraction of from 0.5 to 50% by weight; a thickness of 70 μM or less; a tensile modulus of from 40 to 300 MPa in any direction; and a thermal shrinkage ratio at 200° F. of from 15 to 75% in any direction; a packaged body using the multilayer film; and a process for producing the multilayer film.
US07923117B2
A polymer for an ink receiving layer of an inkjet recording element includes at least one first monomer chemically bonded to at least one second monomer. The second monomer includes a silane functional group. The at least one second monomer is distributed along a carbon backbone of the polymer at a non-terminal end. The polymer is capable of chemically bonding with an inorganic particulate substance.
US07923102B2
A method for making a pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) is provided. The prepreg can be cured to form composite parts that have high levels of damage tolerance. The matrix resin includes a thermoplastic particle component that is a blend of particles that have a melting point above the curing temperature and particles that have a melting point at or below the curing temperature.
US07923099B2
An acrylic artificial stone composition includes an acrylic resin, metallized polymer film particles, and an inorganic filler.
US07923092B2
A blanket is provided including a first panel of material having a honeycombed portion that is expanded to form a second, projecting panel from the first panel material. The invention also includes a method of reducing the material needed to construct a multipanel structure. The method includes the steps of providing a first panel of material; honeycombing a portion of that first panel and expanding the honeycombed portion of the first panel to form a second panel projecting from the first panel. Advantageously, the second panel is formed from material of the first panel and no additional material is required.
US07923082B2
The present invention relates to an inkjet recording element having outstanding dye keeping properties in time. Said recording element comprises at least one molecular imprinted polymer having sites of selective recognition of dye molecules corresponding to the dye molecules used in inks for inkjet printing.
US07923079B2
The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium comprising 1,2-difluoroethene compounds of the general formula I, in which R1, ring A, Z1, Z2, m, X and L1-6 are as defined in Claim 1. The invention also relates to the use of the medium for electro-optical purposes and to displays containing this medium. Novel 1,2-difluoroethene compounds having 3 or more rings are disclosed.
US07923075B2
A rapid and inexpensive technique for generating nanotextured surfaces is disclosed. The technique involves the (1) creation of regular, nanometer-sized template by microwave assisted hydro- or solvo-thermal treatment of polymer films coated on surfaces followed by (2) coating of a layer of metal, metal oxides, polymers and inorganic materials. The nanometer-sized polymer template could be removed to create regularly shaped, hollow nanostructures (e.g., nano-bottles, nano-bowls, nano-holes etc.).
US07923071B2
The invention comprises methods for the photolithographic patterning of features in a photo-curable polymer composition coated onto a plastic substrate. In one embodiment of this invention, the plastic substrate is coated with a reflective film such as a metallic barrier. In another embodiment, the plastic substrate is coated or co-extruded with a polymer barrier layer containing an additive that absorbs the photo-curing radiation. In yet another embodiment the plastic substrate contains an intrinsic additive that absorbs the photo-curing radiation. Combinations of these embodiments are also within the scope of this invention.The methods of the present invention may be advantageously applied to the fabrication of optical waveguides comprising a photo-curable polymer supported on a plastic substrate, but are applicable to the fabrication of any device or object comprising a photo-curable polymer supported on a plastic substrate.
US07923070B2
This invention includes atomic layer deposition methods of forming conductive metal nitride comprising layers. In one implementation, an atomic layer deposition method of forming a conductive metal nitride comprising layer includes positioning a substrate within a deposition chamber. A first species is chemisorbed to form a first species monolayer onto the substrate from a gaseous first precursor comprising at least one of an amido metal organic compound or an imido metal organic compound. The first species monolayer comprises organic groups. The chemisorbed first species is contacted with a second precursor plasma effective to react with the first species monolayer to remove organic groups from the first species monolayer. The chemisorbing and contacting are successively repeated under conditions effective to form a layer of material on the substrate comprising a conductive metal nitride.
US07923069B2
A multi-station deposition apparatus capable of simultaneous processing multiple substrates using a plurality of stations, where a gas curtain separates the stations. The apparatus further comprises a multi-station platen that supports a plurality of wafers and rotates the wafers into specific deposition positions at which deposition gases are supplied to the wafers. The deposition gases may be supplied to the wafer through single zone or multi-zone gas dispensing nozzles.
US07923068B2
Methods of constructing composite films including particles embedded in a filler matrix involve preparing a collection of stacked particles, then depositing a matrix material throughout the particle collection using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method so as to substantially completely fill the spaces between the particles with the matrix material. During matrix deposition, a vapor phase etch cycle may be periodically employed to avoid clogging of small pores in the particle collection. New composite materials formed by such methods are also disclosed.
US07923064B2
Described herein are transducers and their fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.
US07923062B2
A display device includes a first plastic substrate including a composite layer having a resin-impregnated fiber fabric, an inorganic barrier layer formed on the composite layer, and a planarizing resin layer formed on the inorganic barrier layer; and a display medium layer formed on the planarizing resin layer-side of the first plastic substrate.
US07923054B2
A substrate comprising a microporous microstructure, an interlayer over at least a portion of the microstructure and a functional layer attached to the interlayer, the functional layer having functional sites with a density of at least 50 nanomoles/cm2.
US07923044B2
A dietary supplement composition having an ORAC value in excess of at least about 2,500 and which can be readily consumed in a small quantity is provided for supplementing an individual's daily intake. The dietary supplement composition suitably includes organic and/or vegan ingredients and can be consumed in quantities of as little as about 1 tablespoon to provide an amount of antioxidants equivalent to at least the minimum recommended daily intake of five to nine servings of fruits and/or vegetables.
US07923043B2
Methods for protection of a human from SVFS comprise the administration of a flavonoid compound of the basic structures 2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran or 2-phenyl-4-keto-1-benzopyran or glycosides thereof, alone or, optionally, together with one or more of an olive kernel extract, a non-bovine sulfated proteoglycan, bitter willow extract, a D-hexosamine sulfate, S-adenosylmethionine, folic acid, vitamin B12 and a serotonin inhibitor. Such treatment prevents, reduces or eliminates SVFS in patients receiving as much as 300-3000 mg/day of niacin therapeutically, whether administered prior to, or along with, an anti-SVFS composition.
US07923038B2
A method for treating musculoskeletal problems by applying a topical composition to a skin surface adjacent the musculoskeletal problem, the topical composition consisting essentially of herbal extracts in a water based synthetic gel and periodically repeating the step of applying as necessary for treatment of the musculoskeletal problem. The water based synthetic gel consists of water, Vitamin C, a carbomer, an antifungal, an anti-oxidant, a buffer and a chelate and zero alcohol. The herbal extracts are blends of the following herbs: St. John's Wort, White Willow, Yarrow, Poke, Lavender, Arnica, Comfrey, Devil's Claw, Witch Hazel, Celery Seed, Peppermint and Rosemary.
US07923036B2
Compositions comprising a mixture of (a) a major amount of solid halogen-containing sanitizer material and (b) a minor amount of calcium oxide modified particulate boric acid, the amount of calcium oxide modified particulate boric acid being sufficient to enable the composition to be classified as a class 1 or class 2 NFPA oxidizer are described. Also described is particulate boric acid at least a portion of the particles thereof having on their surface at least a partial coating of calcium oxide, and a method for preparing such coated particulate boric acid.
US07923033B2
A composition of matter comprising particles which contain choline chloride to be administered in a rumen-protected and post-ruminally effective form, each particle comprising a core which contains choline chloride and a protective coating surrounding the core and protecting choline chloride by ruminal activity while allowing its release into the post-rumen portion of the digestive tract of a ruminant. The core mainly consists of choline chloride in the form of a dry, crystalline powder and, in combination, the protective coating surrounding the core comprises an outer, continuous layer mainly consisting of carnauba wax and an inner, continuous layer consisting of an hydrophobic substance. A feed pellet containing the composition of matter and a premix for feed which contains the composition of matter. A premix for feed which contains feed pellets containing the composition of matter. Mash feed in unpelletted form containing the composition of matter.
US07923032B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for treating a subject who has suffered from a central nervous system disorder. More particularly, the invention provides sustained polymeric drug delivery systems having a polymer particle, a therapeutic agent, and a buoyancy agent for direct delivery of therapeutic agents into the central nervous system.
US07923029B2
This invention provides methods and compositions to preserve bioactive materials, such as viruses, bacteria, cells, or liposomes, in freeze dried particles suitable for pulmonary administration. Methods provide spray freeze drying of formulations to form stable freeze dried particles.
US07923025B2
The present invention relates to an agent for inhibiting decomposition of a biologically active peptide by a digestive enzyme, which is aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E as an effective ingredient, and an agent for reducing viscosity of the gastrointestinal mucosa and mucous layers distributed over this mucosa. The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting decomposition of a biologically active peptide by a digestive enzyme, or a method for reducing viscosity of the gastrointestinal mucosa and/or mucous layers distributed over the mucosa, by administration of aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for oral use with improved absorption, which comprises a biologically active peptide and aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E. Excellent oral absorption of a biologically active peptide that were considered difficult to absorb by oral administration in the past, can be realized based on the ability to inhibit decomposition of a biologically active peptide, the ability to reduce viscosity of the gastrointestinal mucosa and/or mucous layers distributed over this mucosa, and the ability to improve permeability of a biologically active peptide in the gastrointestinal mucosa and/or mucous layers of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.
US07923024B2
The present invention relates to a mineral composition, characterized in that the mineral composition comprises 100 parts by weight of a metal salt having a solubility product in water at 25° C. of 1.0×10−7 or less and 0.5 to 50 parts by weight of an emulsifier having an HLB of 6 to 10, wherein the metal salt comprises fine particles having an average particle size of 0.05 to 1 μm.
US07923023B2
According to the present invention, a vaccine or pharmaceutical-containing composition is applied to the muzzle area of the animal, which will then naturally use its tongue to clean itself. This behavior will cause the animal to deposit applied composition to the mucosa of the nasal and oral cavities, thus meeting the need for a simple, effective, and efficient vaccination or treatment method.
US07923007B2
A cultured pluripotent animal cell that is CD13+, CD90+, and CD117−. Also disclosed are methods for making the cell and methods of treating a brain tissue damage and increasing the expression level of a neuraltrophic factor in a subject.
US07922995B2
This invention relates to novel compositions of zeolites or microporous metallosilicates characterized by a continuous spatial distribution of the metal and silicon in the crystals and characterized by a crystal surface enriched in silicon relative to the internal part of the same crystals. This invention also relates to a synthesis method of producing these metallosilicates with spatial distribution of the constituting elements. These novel zeolitic compositions can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion reactions. The crystalline metallosilicates can be selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, gallosilicates, ferrosilicates, titanosilicates and borosilicates.
US07922994B2
A method for preparing metal oxide particles having a primary particle size on the order of nanometers is provided. The method comprises subjecting a metal ion present in an aqueous solution and an amino alcohol to an initial stage of reaction with each other at normal temperatures under normal pressures for a given time, and adding at least once either of a metal ion or an amino alcohol or both thereof to the resulting reaction system for carrying out a subsequent stage of reaction for a given time wherein total amounts of the metal ion and the amino alcohol are such that the amino alcohol is used in the range of not less than a molar equivalent to the metal ion.
US07922989B2
A method for preparation of high purity silicon suitable for photovoltaic cells using reduction of silica, which is pre-purified in an aqueous solution, in presence of a reducing agent, preferably carbonaceous agent, where the pre-purified silica has a low amount of boron suitable for photovoltaic cells is described.
US07922988B2
A layered three-way conversion catalyst having the capability of simultaneously catalyzing the oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide and the reduction of nitrogen oxides is disclosed. Engine exhaust treatment system and methods of using the same are also provided. The catalytic material can be provided in layers such that a larger amount of oxygen storage component is provided in a downstream zone as compared to an upstream zone. For example, the upstream zone can be configured to have one, two, or three layers, and the downstream zone can be independently configured to have one, two, or three layers. In one or more embodiments, the catalyst supported on a carrier has three layers, where at least two of the layers are zoned to have an oxygen storage component being present in an upstream zone in an amount that is less than the oxygen storage component present in the downstream zone.
US07922983B2
A sterilization wrap is provided. The sterilization wrap includes a first sheet that is configured for providing a barrier to prevent at least some bacteria from passing therethrough while allowing sterilization gas to pass therethrough. A second sheet is attached to the first sheet. The second sheet is located on the first sheet so that a perimeter of the second sheet is contained entirely within a perimeter of the first sheet.
US07922972B2
A floating element for separating components of a physiological fluid comprises two parts that are relatively movable. The two parts define a prescribed volume between them when at their maximum separation, and one of the parts may be moved toward the other to express the fluid contained in the volume between the parts. The parts are made of materials having densities so that they assume a desired position in the fluid to allow selected components to be easily obtained and expressed.
US07922968B2
Provided are a steel sheet for an automotive muffler and a method for producing the steel sheet. The steel sheet includes 0.01% by weight or less of C, 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of Si, 0.3 to 0.5% by weight of Mn, 0.015% by weight or less of P, 0.015% or less by weight of S, 0.02 to 0.05% by weight of Al, 0.004% or less of N, 0.2 to 0.6% by weight of Cu, 0.01 to 0.04% by weight of Co, and a remainder of Fe and unavoidable impurities. The method includes 0.01% by weight or less of C, 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of Si, 0.3 to 0.5% by weight of Mn, 0.015% by weight or less of P, 0.015% or less by weight of S, 0.02 to 0.05% by weight of Al, 0.004% or less of N, 0.2 to 0.6% by weight of Cu, 0.01 to 0.04% by weight of Co, and a remainder of Fe and unavoidable impurities, preparing a hot rolled steel sheet by re-heating the steel slab and by, during a finish rolling process, hot-rolling the steel slab at a temperature that is an Ar3 transformation temperature or more, preparing a cold rolled steel sheet by cold-rolling the hot rolled steel sheet with a cold reduction ratio of 50 to 90%, and performing a continuous annealing for the cold rolled steel sheet at a temperature of 500 to 900° C.
US07922963B2
A method for inspecting a honeycomb structured body of the present invention is a method for inspecting a honeycomb structured body comprising a pillar-shaped honeycomb fired body having a multitude of cells placed in parallel with one another in the longitudinal direction with a cell wall therebetween, the method comprising: measuring the shape of the honeycomb structured body in the longitudinal direction through preparing a contact measurement apparatus including a reference surface, a rail disposed perpendicularly to the reference surface, and a measurement probe including a contacting probe configured to move along the rail; contacting one end face of the honeycomb structured body with the reference surface; and moving the measurement probe in a direction nearing the reference surface to contact the contacting probe with the other end face of the honeycomb structured body.
US07922961B2
A plastic container has an open end and an imperforate container wall with a base, an outwardly open pocket in the container wall, and an insert disposed in the pocket. The insert preferably is captured in the pocket by blow molding the container wall around the insert. The pocket and insert preferably are disposed in the base of the container opposite the open end of the container, most preferably centrally of the base, and the insert preferably is visible in the container base through an external opening into the pocket.
US07922956B1
A method for making a cover for a component of a vehicle passenger compartment comprising the steps of molding the cover for the component from a polymeric material, and forming an integrally-formed aesthetic feature in an uninterrupted portion of the cover which simulates a seam between regions of the cover.
US07922953B2
A method of manufacturing a jaw member of an end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is disclosed that includes the steps of providing an electrically conductive tissue engaging plate and a jaw support; covering one side of the electrically conductive tissue engaging plate with an electrically insulative, thermally non-degrading coating; placing and securing the electrically conductive tissue engaging plate and the jaw support into a jaw mold; and introducing a liquid substance into the jaw mold and allowing the liquid substance to cure around the electrically conductive tissue engaging plate and the jaw support. Alternatively, the method includes the steps of: providing an electrically conductive tissue engaging plate and a jaw support; covering one side of the electrically conductive tissue engaging plate with an electrically insulative, thermally non-degrading coating; and securing the side of the electrically conductive tissue engaging plate onto the jaw support with an adhesive.
US07922946B2
A method for improving the dimensional stability of PTFE membranes by the application of elevated temperature and elevated pressure to a PTFE membrane. The process reduces and/or eliminates the relaxation stress normally associated with PTFE membranes made using previously existing methods.
US07922937B2
Novel two-phase yellow phosphors are disclosed having a peak emission intensity at wavelengths ranging from about 555 nm to about 580 nm when excited by a radiation source having a wavelength ranging from 220 nm to 530 nm. The present phosphors may be represented by the formula a[Srx(M1)1-x]zSiO4.(1-a)[Sry(M2)1-y]uSiO5:Eu2+D, wherein M1 and M2 are at least one of a divalent metal such as Ba, Mg, Ca, and Zn, the values of a, x, y, z and u follow the following relationships: 0.6≦a≦0.85; 0.3≦x≦0.6; 0.85≦y≦1; 1.5≦z≦2.5; 2.6≦u≦3.3; and Eu and D each range from 0.001 to about 0.5. D is an anion selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, S, and N, and at least some of the D anion replaces oxygen in the host silicate lattice of the phosphor. The present yellow phosphors have applications in high brightness white LED illumination systems, LCD display panels, plasma display panels, and yellow LEDs and illumination systems.
US07922935B2
A liquid crystal display device being resistant to display unevenness without loss of responsivity and being capable of securing configurational stability is provided. A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules and a polymer compound including a structure represented by Chemical Formula 1; and a pair of substrates facing each other with the liquid crystal layer in between, where m and n each are an integer of 1 to 4 both inclusive.
US07922930B2
The present invention relates to azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions comprising a fluorinated olefin having the formula E- or Z -C3F7CH═CHC3F7, and at least one alcohol, halocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, fluoroether, or alkanes and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the one compound selected from the group consisting of alcohols, halocarbons, fluoroalkyl ethers, hydrofluorocarbons, alkanes is either methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, n-propanol, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, n-propyl bromide, C4F9OCH3, C4F9OC2H5, HFC-43-10mee, HFC-365mfc, heptane, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, these compositions are useful in cleaning applications as a degreasing agent or defluxing agent for removing oils and/or other residues from a surface.
US07922928B2
The purpose of the invention is a composition for fire fighting, characterized in that it includes at least a first compound in the form of a vegetable derived powder, soluble in cold water and thickening; a second compound in the form of a vegetable derived powder, insoluble in cold water but thickening and retaining water in hot water or in the presence of steam; a third compound including at least one agent encouraging the Maillard reaction of at least the first and/or second compounds, and water. The invention also relates to formulations of said composition.
US07922926B2
The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition consisting essentially of flumed alumina, alpha alumina, silica, a nonionic surfactant, an additive compound selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, iminodiacetic acid, and maleic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and water. The invention further provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate comprising contacting a substrate with a polishing pad and the chemical-mechanical polishing composition, moving the polishing pad and the polishing composition relative to the substrate, and abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate.
US07922925B2
Substrates with a coating, in particular a metal-containing coating, are freed of coating in some regions, in particular in the edge region, with the aid of plasma directed onto the coated side of the substrate. The width of the region in which the coating is removed may be set such that plasma from a number of plasma heads arranged next to one another in a row or from one plasma head with variable cross section is directed onto the substrate in the desired width from which the coating is to be removed, wherein the plasma head or heads is/are suitably aligned with respect to the substrate and/or the required number of plasma heads in each case are set in operation. It is also possible to remove coatings only partially in terms of the layer thickness.
US07922923B2
Grids and collimators, for use with electromagnetic energy emitting devices, include at least a metal layer that is formed, for example, by electroplating/electroforming or casting. The metal layer includes top and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of solid integrated walls. Each of the solid integrated walls extends from the top to bottom surface and has a plurality of side surfaces. The side surfaces of the solid integrated walls are arranged to define a plurality of openings extending entirely through the layer. At least some of the walls also can include projections extending into the respective openings formed by the walls. The projections can be of various shapes and sizes, and are arranged so that a total amount of wall material intersected by a line propagating in a direction along an edge of the grid is substantially the same as another total amount of wall material intersected by another line propagating in another direction substantially parallel to the edge of the grid at any distance from the edge. Methods to fabricate these grids using copper, lead, nickel, gold, any other electroplating/electroforming materials, metal composites or low melting temperature metals are described.
US07922913B2
A dry product that permanently removes oil and oil stains from liquid or dry surfaces and is environmentally safe. The dry product is formed by mixing efficacious proportions of untreated amorphous silica with a dry, inert organic, inorganic or synthetic carrier, or combinations of said carriers. Suitable inert carriers include, but are not limited to, (a) inert inorganic carriers including, but not limited to, clays, perlite, vermiculite, crushed glass, volcanic ash and sand; (b) inert organic carriers, including, but not limited to, peat moss, straw, hay, sawdust, ground corncobs, flours, and coconut coir, and (c) inert synthetic carriers, including, but not limited to, polyurethane, polyethylene and polypropylene. The dry product can be applied directly to oil stains either on a hard surface, such as concrete or asphalt, or to oil spills on water.
US07922912B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for separation/collection of a lignin derivative which is useful for the separation of a lignin derivative having a 1,1-diphenylpropane unit and/or a unit derived from the 1,1-diphenylpropane unit from a mixture system containing the lignin derivative. In the Present invention, a lignin derivative having a 1,1-diphenylpropane unit and/or a unit derived from the 1,1-dipheylpropane unit is allowed to contact with a metal oxide in a liquid medium, thereby separating the lignin derivative in the form retained on the metal oxide.
US07922911B2
Systems and methods relating to dialysis therapy, particularly continuous flow dialysis therapy, are provided. The present invention includes a single closed fluid path along which a minimal amount of therapy fluid including dialysate is fed into, continuously circulated and cleaned such that a therapeutic effective amount of solutes, excess water and the like can be removed from the patient connected to the closed fluid loop during treatment.
US07922898B2
A circuit for extracorporeal blood treatment in which a flow-inverting device is interposed between a blood treatment unit and a blood pump placed on an artery branch connected with a vascular access of a patient. The flow-inverting device allows the blood flow within the filtering unit to be kept unchanged even following an inverted circulation in the patient-side artery and vein branches controlled by the blood pump.
US07922888B2
The present invention relates to A microfabricated tip and post structure comprising a post having a rough top surface that diffuses incident light and a cross-section, and a tip, lithographically plated on the rough top surface of the post, having a smooth reflective surface appropriate for automatic vision recognition, and having a cross-section that is less than the cross-section of the post.
US07922887B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a metal structure comprising a substrate and a metal film formed on the substrate; comprising the steps of providing surface having irregularities made of a electrical conductor in the area of the substrate where the metal body or film is to be formed; and preferentially forming the metal body or film by electroplating in the area provided with the conductive surface having irregularities. The plating bath may preferably contain an additive compound such as a cyanine dye which is capable of suppressing the plating reaction, and which loses such plating-suppressing effect with the progress of the plating reaction. The metal film can be produced by electroplating in the area provided with the surface having irregularities.
US07922885B2
In a device for transporting liquid, liquid to be transported is enclosed by an oil droplet, which is fractionated with air, for manipulation. Moreover, as a method for supplying liquids wherein a plurality of liquids are enclosed by an oil droplet sequentially and treated, liquid enclosed by an oil droplet is formed by associating one oil with one liquid in a liquid introducing section. According to the present invention, even in the case where a plurality of liquids are manipulated, it is possible to manipulate stably without affecting other liquids. Moreover, it is possible to treat as a liquid enclosed by an oil droplet successively in the device for transporting liquid, thereby allowing the invention to be applied to a system for analyzing easily.
US07922882B2
In holding a substrate p loaded at a specified position on a holder 30 by clamping a peripheral region of the substrate p against the holder 30 through a plurality of engagement elements 32, it can be avoided that when the substrate p is offset from the specified position and its peripheral region gets on one or some of the engagement elements 32, the substrate p is processed with the peripheral region getting on the engagement element 32. A substrate holding device includes: a plurality of detector sensors 80 for detecting the peripheral region of the substrate p if the substrate p is placed at the specified position on the holder 30; and a determination unit 90 for determining that the substrate p is offset from the specified position when at least one of the detector sensors 80 did not detect the associated part of the substrate p.
US07922879B2
An ion exchange membrane electrolyzer is provided, which is characterized in that a current is passed through at least one electrode in contact with a plate spring member formed at a portion of an electrode retainer member parallel with a flat plate form of electrode chamber partition, wherein said electrode retainer member is joined at a belt junction to the flat plate form of electrode chamber partition with a space between them, said electrode is provided with a floating mount means at a portion thereof other than a portion of contact with the plate spring member, and said floating mount means is provided with an engaging portion that is engaged with a fixed engaging member to enable said electrode to move in a perpendicular direction to an electrode surface and in a range of displacement of said plate spring member.
US07922875B2
A method of enriching a heavy oxygen isotope by distillation of the present invention includes: a first distillation step of feeding oxygen and ozone generated by an ozonizer 12 into a distillation column 13 filled with a diluent gas, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas; a photodecomposition step of introducing a mixed gas of the ozone and the diluent gas from a bottom of the distillation column into a photoreaction cell 14, and irradiating the mixed gas with a laser light to selectively decompose the ozone containing the heavy oxygen isotope; and a second distillation step of returning non-decomposed ozone and oxygen containing the heavy oxygen isotope to the distillation column, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas.
US07922873B2
A method and apparatus for desalinating water combined with power generation, wherein a desalination system is used for desalinating coastal seawater and is operationally related to a power generation system, wherein such dual purpose cogeneration facility captures the heat vapor exhausted or a steam turbine generator's condenser is replaced by the desalination plant's heat exchanger enabling such captured heat energy to reduce the energy requirements of the desalination plant, and wherein brine solution being utilized by the desalination plant is circulated from and to the substrata sea water table via supply and return wells.
US07922872B2
A distillation apparatus of the present invention includes a distillation column group in which a plurality of distillation columns including a condenser and a reboiler is connected in the form of a cascade; a gas-feeding line which feeds gas from the distillation column to a latter distillation column; a gas line which introduces the gas from the distillation column to the condenser attached to the distillation column; a liquid-line which withdraws a condensed liquid from the condenser; a liquid-reflux line which introduces a part of the condensed liquid from the liquid-line to the distillation column; a liquid-return line which returns the remainder of the condensed liquid from the liquid-line to a former distillation column; a valve provided on the liquid-return line; and a bypass line which connects the liquid-return line and the gas line so as to flow an evaporated gas generated in the liquid-return line to the gas line.
US07922866B2
Positional relationships are established in a process chamber. A base is configured with a lower electrode surface to support a wafer, and an upper electrode has a lower surface. A drive mounted on the base has a linkage connected to the upper electrode. A fixture placed on the lower surface moves into a desired orientation of the lower electrode. With the upper electrode loosely connected by the linkage to the drive, the fixture transfers the desired orientation to the upper electrode. The linkage is tightened to maintain the desired orientation, the fixture is removed and a process exclusion insert is mounted to the upper electrode. The drive moves the upper electrode and the insert to define an inactive process zone between the upper electrode and the wafer on the lower electrode to protect a central area of the wafer during etching of a wafer edge environ around the central area.
US07922864B2
A tube-array showerhead for CVD or PECVD on large substrates delivers precursors to a process chamber via an array of tubes drilled with precision holes. The tubes rapidly become contaminated with use and must be changed frequently to maintain process quality. An improved manifold for a tube-array showerhead, intended for processes with a low pressure differential between the tubes and process chamber, includes holding-stubs to hold each tube by its ends outside the manifold block. At least one holding-stub for each tube is spring-loaded along the direction of the tube's operating axis. Contaminated tubes can be removed, and clean tubes installed, without disassembling the manifolds or disturbing any high-pressure-differential seals to the ambient atmosphere or precursor supplies. This invention reduces production costs by decreasing chamber down-time and reducing the risk of creating leaks when tubes are changed.
US07922860B2
Disclosed are an adhesive agent composition which has high chemical resistance and solvent resistance and is curable at around room temperature, an inkjet head which has good durability and jetting performance even in the case of using solvent ink, and a manufacturing method of the inkjet head. For these characteristics, the adhesive agent composition contains, as an activator, an imidazole derivative in which an alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group is substituted at the 1-postion or at the 1- and 2-positions, and as a base, a compound having three or more epoxy groups.
US07922859B2
The present invention relates to laser-weldable polymers which consist of a laser-transparent part and a laser-absorbent part and can be welded to one another by means of laser light and are distinguished by the fact that the laser-absorbent part comprises, as absorber, copper hydroxide phosphate and/or copper phosphate.
US07922848B2
A tube clamp apparatus and a tube connecting apparatus having high durability and improved operability when an operator locks these apparatuses are provided. A tube connecting apparatus comprises a first clamp and a second clamp, each pressing to hold two flexible tubes 8, 9. The tubes are placed at a lower jaw portion of the second clamp and pressed to a flat state by pressing force applied thereto a direction of an arrow F. A hook section 310 having hook portions divided into plural pieces is set up at an upper jaw portion of the second clamp, and the hook portion B 312 is made of a POM elastic member having, on one side thereof, a protruded portion 314 protruded from other adjacent hook portions. When pressing force is applied to the upper jaw portion, the hook portion B 312 protruded from the other adjacent hook portions is elastically deformed and engaged with a POM-made roller B 317 to prevent back-tracking of the hook section 310.
US07922838B2
The present invention provides: a steel for a welded structure to be used for a crude oil tank that exhibits excellent general and local corrosion resistance in crude oil corrosion caused in a steel oil tank and is capable of suppressing the formation of corrosion products (sludge) containing solid sulfur; a method for producing said steel; a crude oil tank; and a method for preventing a crude oil tank against corrosion. The present invention makes it possible to obtain general and local corrosion resistance in a crude oil tank environment and suppress the formation of corrosion products (sludge) containing solid sulfur by using a steel: containing, in mass, 0.001 to 0.2% C, 0.01 to 2.5% Si, 0.1 to 2% Mn, 0.03% or less P, 0.007% or less S, 0.01 to 1.5% Cu, 0.001 to 0.3% Al, 0.001 to 0.01% N as basic components and, further, 0.01 to 0.2% Mo and/or 0.01 to 0.5% W; and preferably satisfying the following expression; Solute Mo+Solute W≧0.005%.
US07922827B2
The present invention relates to cleaning compositions and methods employing a water soluble magnesium compound. Such compositions can be used for reducing scale, rinsing, hard surface cleaning, ware washing, and corrosion inhibition.
US07922823B2
Compositions useful in microelectronic device manufacturing for surface preparation and/or cleaning of wafer substrates such as microelectronic device precursor structures. The compositions can be employed for processing of wafers that have, or are intended to be further processed to include, copper metallization, e.g., in operations such as surface preparation, pre-plating cleaning, post-etching cleaning, and post-chemical mechanical polishing cleaning of microelectronic device wafers. The compositions contain (i) alkanolamine, (ii) quaternary ammonium hydroxide and (iii) a complexing agent, and are storage-stable, as well as non-darkening and degradation-resistant in exposure to oxygen.
US07922808B2
An improved freeze-thaw durability dry cast cementitious composition is provided that uses very small (0.1 μm to 100 μm average diameter) polymeric microspheres that are blended directly into the mixture and optionally gas-generating additives. The polymeric microspheres provide void spaces in the material matrix that act to increase freeze-thaw durability of the material. In this dry cast cementitious composition, polymeric microspheres act as pre-formed voids.
US07922803B2
A transparent cured film including organic fine particles having an ultraviolet absorbing group and an average particle diameter of 1 to 200 nm, the particles being dispersed in a matrix having an Si—O bond, and having a transmittance of visible light of 80% or more and a haze value of 10% or less. The coating composition can be produced, for example, from a coating composition containing (1) an alkoxysilane compound or polyalkoxysilane compound; (2) an aminosilane compound; (3) an epoxysilane compound; (4) a polymer ultraviolet absorber; (5) a curing catalyst; and (6) a solvent.
US07922799B2
Compounds of Formula (1) and salts thereof: wherein: M is 2H, Si, a metal, an oxymetal group, a hydroxymetal group or a halometal group; Pc represents a phthalocyanine nucleus of formula; R1 is optionally substituted alkyl other than methyl: R2 is H, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted aryl; R3 is H, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted aryl; R4 is a group comprising a heterocycle and an ionisable group; L is a direct bond or a divalent linking group; x is 0.1 to 3.8; y is 0.1 to 3.8; and z is 0.1 to 3.8. Also compositions, inks, printed material and in-jet processes and cartridges.
US07922793B2
A system and method for degassing a cavitation fluid is provided. The cavitation system of the invention includes a cavitation chamber with one or more cavitation drivers and a degassing system coupled to the chamber. One or more heaters, such as resistive heaters, are coupled to an external surface of the cavitation chamber such that heat from the heaters is transmitted through the wall of the cavitation chamber and into localized regions of the cavitation fluid contained within the cavitation chamber. The heater or heaters increase the temperature of the localized regions of the cavitation fluid to a temperature above the boiling temperature of the cavitation fluid, thereby creating vapor bubbles which capture gas trapped within the cavitation fluid through a rectified diffusion process. A cavitation fluid cooler can be used to insure that the average temperature of the cavitation fluid is below that of the boiling temperature.
US07922791B2
The present invention provides a filtering system for a semiconductor processing tool. In one embodiment, the filtering system is associated with the semiconductor processing tool. A system of the invention comprises a first and second filter layer in fluid communication with a gas flow path. The flow path is a gas stream comprising volatile silica containing compounds such as hexamethyldisiloxane and trimethylsilanol. The gas flow path passes through the first and second filter layer to fluidly communicate with the semiconductor processing tool. Preferably, the first filter layer of the filtering system is upstream along the gas flow path from the second filter layer. The medias of the first and second filter layers are selected and arranged based on given contaminant concentrations. The invention also provides a method for filtering gas containing hexamethyldisiloxane and trimethylsilanol in communication with a semiconductor processing tool, which employs a system comprising a first and second filter layer.
US07922785B2
The invention concerns a composition which increases water retention and water absorption in a plant media, such as soil. In particular, the invention relates to a biodegradable polymeric water retention concentrate that when diluted and applied to various plant media improve water, fertilizer and nutrient retention in plant media with no root uptake or phyto-toxic effects. The composition includes a polyacrylamide (PAM), a water softener, a surfactant and nutrients. The composition can be delivered to the plant media through existing irrigation systems and nutrient/fertilizer delivery systems, such as venturi, fertigator, separate mixing tank or any induction system.
US07922784B2
The system for inertial particle separation removes particulate matter, such as sand, from an air stream, such as that drawn into a turbine engine. The system includes first and second walls spaced apart and positioned within a housing of the turbine engine. The first wall is in the form of an airfoil with variable geometry. An annular air flow path is defined between the first and second walls. The air flow path leads inwardly from an ambient inlet and turns to an outlet. A splitter member is positioned between the first and second walls. A scavenge flow path is defined between the splitter member and the first wall. An inlet thereof is in communication with the ambient inlet, and a filtered flow path is defined between the splitter member and the second wall. The splitter member is also in the form of an airfoil having a variable geometry.
US07922770B2
The invention presents a total knee arthroplasty endoprosthesis having: a) a femoral component with a lower-radius lateral condyle, a larger-radius medial condyle and between them, a third condyle located posteriorly, superiorly and nearest the medial side, b) a tibial component with a central protruding spigot for the rotating polyethylene insert, and c) a rotating polyethylene insert, with three cavities for articulation of the femoral condyles. For initial and moderate flexion the joint functions with load bearing onto the lateral and medial articular cavities, and in advanced and final flexion with load bearing on the third articular cavity. The advantages of this endoprosthesis are enhanced maximum flexion, improved femoral axis alignment, significant posterior stabilization, favourable accommodation of tibial rotation with consequent relief of materials and fixations, and preservation of more articular fluid for lubrication and reduction of polyethylene wear.
US07922764B2
This disclosure encompasses a bioprosthetic heart valve having a polyphosphazene polymer such as poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene], which exhibits improved antithrombogenic, biocompatibility, and hemocompatibility properties. A method of manufacturing a bioprosthetic heart valve having a polyphosphazene polymer is also described.
US07922763B2
The present invention is an apparatus designed to effectuate restoration of normal aortic valvular function where there is aortic valvular regurgitation, either primary or secondary to diseases of the aorta, such as aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, rheumatic aortic disease, annuloaortic ectasia, etc. are present. The present invention also provides methods of using the apparatus to treat conditions of abnormal aortic valvular function.
US07922760B2
A method of delivering an agent into a bodily lumen, the method comprising: implanting an implantable medical device into a treatment site of a lumen, the device having an abluminal face and a luminal face, wherein the device includes depots that extend from an open end at a luminal face to an open end at an abluminal face; and introducing an agent into the open end of the depots at the luminal face such that the agent is delivered to the treatment site through the open end at the abluminal face.
US07922758B2
A bifurcated stent that uses turning segments to reduce the strain at regions which bend at extreme angles. The turning segments can be placed on side branch petals or on connectors connecting the petals to the stent body. Combining the turning segments with connectors of different length and tethers provides for a stent with high flexibility that can accommodate various shaped body vessels. This design allows the bifurcation branch to extend easily, to a useful distance, and to be deployed along oblique angles. Best of all, this design avoids the problems of angularly strained side branch.
US07922753B2
A catheter assembly comprises a catheter which includes a catheter shaft and a balloon positioned thereon. A rotatable sheath is rotatably disposed about a portion of the catheter. The rotatable sheath has a first portion inner diameter and a second portion inner diameter, which are different.
US07922745B2
An interspinous vertebral implant comprises a resiliently compressible body that is adapted for position between adjacent superior and inferior spinous processes, and an anchoring member that is affixed to the superior and the inferior spinous processes posterior to the resiliently compressible body. The anchoring member provides a compressive force while the resiliently compressible body provides a distraction. Without being bound by any theory, it is believed that the combination of the distraction and compressive forces created by this type of interspinous vertebral implant results in a rotational moment, which alleviates compression on the intervertebral disk.
US07922724B2
An instrument is provided for use in orthopedic surgery, such as for reduction of spinal rods. In one embodiment, a shaft is pivotably connected to a plate with an aperture, and a sleeve is slidable over the shaft and plate. A base member can be provided for ease in handling the instrument, which may include a ratchet mechanism connected to the sleeve. The plate is moved so that its aperture is oriented to allow an orthopedic implant, such as a Schanz-type screw, to be inserted into the aperture. After insertion, the shaft is moved so as to pivot the plate so that the plate grips or holds the implant. The sleeve is then slid over the shaft, plate and implant in contact with an elongated member, such as a spinal rod, or other implanted device or tissue. Further sliding the sleeve forces the elongated member toward or past the implant.
US07922716B2
Methods and apparatus for treatment of anatomic defects in human tissues, such as patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial or ventricular septal defects, left atrial appendage, patent ductus arteriosus, blood vessel wall defects and certain electrophysiological defects, involve positioning a distal end of an elongate catheter device at the site of the anatomic defect, engaging tissues at the site of the anatomic defect to bring the tissues together, and applying energy to the tissues with the catheter device to substantially close the anatomic defect acutely. Apparatus generally includes an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a vacuum application member coupled with the distal end for engaging tissues at the site of the anatomic defect and applying vacuum to the tissues to bring them together, and at least one energy transmission member coupled with the vacuum application member for applying energy to tissues at the site of the anatomic defect to substantially close the defect acutely.
US07922714B2
Methods of selecting operating parameter values for tissue ablation procedures are disclosed. Energy supply parameters may be selected based on inputs such as fluid flow rate, impedance, and the distance from an ablation electrode surface to a target tissue surface. The distance to place an ablation electrode surface from a target tissue surface may be selected based on various operating parameter values and/or operating condition values. Operating curves, lookup tables, or processors may be used to select operating parameter values.
US07922711B2
An improved sterile docking apparatus for a medical-liquid, male connectors includes a holding member having an opening for matably receiving a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector therethrough, and a deformable member disposed across the opening, wherein the deformable member is deformable to envelop and thereby isolate a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector that is inserted into the opening of the holding member. The deformable member may be resilient, wherein it substantially returns to an initial configuration after removal of a nozzle end of a medical-liquid, male connector from the opening of the holding member. An interconnection surface may be provided on the holding member of the docking apparatus to interface with a complimentary interconnection surface of a medical-liquid, male connector so as to maintain the nozzle end of the medical-liquid, male connector in an enveloped position during docking.
US07922710B2
A wire station is disclosed for securing and managing multiple wire members used in a catheter system. The wire management system includes means for securing the proximal portion of two wire members in a spatially separate arrangement. The wire station of the present invention additionally provides a physician with the flexibility of either directly attaching the wire station of the present invention to the catheter system directly, or positioning the wire station at a remote location.
US07922704B2
The present invention provides a disposable nursing pad having a layered structure of a liquid-permeable sheet, an absorbent body, and a liquid-impermeable sheet. The liquid-permeable sheet and the liquid-impermeable sheet are adhered to each other. This prevents the liquid-permeable sheet from becoming detached from the absorbent body, and provides a nursing pad having an improved capacity to maintain its three-dimensional shape. A pair of pad pieces 2 and 3, each of which has a layered structure of a liquid permeable sheet piece, an absorber, and a liquid-impermeable sheet piece, is joined so as to form a nursing pad 1 having an approximately conical shape. With the nursing pad 1, a connection portion 4 where pad pieces are joined forms a ridge which serves as the center line of the nursing pad 1. The nursing pad 1 can be folded along the ridge.
US07922693B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for flushing a lumen of a catheter instrument to reduce or eliminate bubbles within the lumen. An interface valve is adapted for attachment to a proximal end of the catheter instrument and can receive a working instrument for insertion into the catheter instrument lumen. A fluid supply line and purge lines are coupled to the interface valve and in fluid communication with at least a portion of the interface valve lumen. Flow of fluid (e.g. saline and a gas such as bubbles) through purge lines is controllable using clamps such that fluid flowing into the interface valve lumen can be manipulated to flow in different directions through different portions of the interface valve lumen for evacuation through different purge lines, thus allowing for purging of forward and backward flows to remove gas or bubbles from the catheter instrument lumen.
US07922692B2
A medical device adapted to a view one or more body passageways in a body portion.
US07922680B2
A method of making a wrist support includes molding a first section such that it is configured to receive a forearm, molding a second section such that it is configured to receive a hand, and molding a bridging section that is integrally formed with the first section and extends between and connects together the first section and the second section. The bridging section is generally flexible and recoverable and permits flexing of the second section relative to the first section in a radial-ulnar plane when a forearm is received by the first section of the wrist support and a hand is received by the second section of the wrist support, the bridging section biasing the first section and the second section toward a particular disposition relative to each other.
US07922678B2
A limb wound treatment device is described having a first end, a second end and an interior therebetween for accommodating a treatment gas. The device can include a flexible housing that can be inflated or a rigid housing. The first end can include an inflatable cuff seal for hermetically sealing against the limb being treated. The second end can include a closed end or an access port that is releasably sealed with a clamping mechanism. Further, the device can include a controller that can inflate that housing, inflate the cuff seal and provide treatment gas to the interior, in response to pressures within the cuff seal and the housing. Further, the device can accommodate different types of wound treatments, such as hyperbaric therapy, compression therapy or negative pressure therapy.
US07922667B2
Disclosed herein is an electromagnetic flow sensor device for monitoring flow of fluid in a channel. The sensor device includes a first electrode to be disposed along the channel and in communication with the fluid, a second electrode to be disposed along the channel and in communication with the fluid, and a radially expandable frame to structurally support the first electrode and the second electrode while conforming to the channel to position the first electrode and the second electrode along the channel. The device may also include an antenna coupled to the first and second electrodes to wirelessly provide an indication of a voltage induced between the first and second electrodes. In some embodiments, the radially expandable frame includes an insulating link such that the first and second electrodes are not electrically connected via the radially expandable frame. The sensor device may also include a structure having an inductance coupled to the first and second electrodes to wirelessly provide an indication of the induced voltage.
US07922660B2
Methods for prenatal screening for trisomy 21 employ examination of the fronto-maxillary facial (FMF) angle of a fetus. The methods may comprise obtaining a two or three dimensional image of a fetal face, measuring the FMFbone angle and/or FMFskin angle on the image, and comparing the measured FMFbone angle and/or FMFskin angle with an FMFbone angle and/or FMFskin angle characteristic of chromosomally normal fetuses. A measured FMFbone angle and/or FMFskin angle greater than the FMFbone angle and/or FMFskin angle characteristic of chromosomally normal fetuses provides an indication of an increased likelihood of the occurrence of trisomy 21 in the fetus.
US07922655B2
An endoscope attachment enables an endoscope to capture images of areas in front and at the sides of the endoscope. The endoscope attachment has a transparent attaching part which is used to attach the endoscope attachment to a probe of the endoscope and has two through-holes. A cylindrical transparent image capturing part is used to enable a camera of the probe to capture images and has a trumpet-shaped second mirror on the outer wall of the image capturing part and a wide angle lens with a hyperboloid in the image capturing part. A first mirror is formed at a part of the hyperboloid of the wide angle lens.
US07922647B2
A hearing aid system (10) including an implantable device (60), and a surgical instrument (134) for enabling a physician to install the implant (60) in a patient's body in a simple office procedure using only local anesthesia.
US07922644B2
A copolymer and water/ethanol solvent solution capable of binding with airborne contaminants or potential airborne contaminants, such as biological weapon agents or toxic particulates, coagulating as the solvent evaporates, and adhering the contaminants to a surface so as to inhibit the re-suspension of such contaminants. The solution uses a water or ethanol/water mixture for the solvent, and a copolymer having one of several functional group sets so as to have physical and chemical characteristics of high adhesion, low viscosity, low surface tension, negative electrostatic charge, substantially neutral pH, and a low pKa. Use of the copolymer solution prevents re-aerosolization and transport of unwanted, reactive species thus increasing health and safety for personnel charged with decontamination of contaminated buildings and areas.
US07922643B2
A method for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, such as for example carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere above a ground surface, the method comprising injecting a gas stream comprising one or more than one greenhouse gas into a subsurface injection formation, where the subsurface injection formation comprises a water-laden layer comprising formation water, and where some or all of the greenhouse gases present in the gas stream become dissolved in the formation water in the subsurface injection formation, sequestering the one or more than one greenhouse gas in the subsurface injection formation, separating non-greenhouses gas in situ from the greenhouse gas, venting the non-greenhouse gas from the formation and thereby reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
US07922642B2
A device is usable to feed at least one material web and/or at least one strand that is comprised of several material webs into a folding device. A superstructure is part of the device, as is a former that can be displaced in relation to the material web, and a transverse cutter which is usable to separate the material web or webs into individual products. At least one guide rail is provided in the superstructure and carries a retaining device that can be displaceably guided on the path of travel of the material web through the superstructure. A leading edge of at least one of the material webs can be attached to the retaining device. The guide rail passes the former and includes at least one flexible guide rail section whose form can be altered. In particular, the length of the flexible guide rail section can be adjusted in the region adjoining the former.
US07922634B1
A pull exerciser includes a bar and an engaging hole extending from an end through the other end of the bar. The pull exerciser further includes two handles each having a grip portion and a connecting portion spaced from the grip portion along a longitudinal axis and a cord mounting section intermediate the grip portion and the connecting portion. The connecting portion of each handle is releasably mounted to one of the ends of the bar. The cord mounting section of each handle includes three through-holes spaced along the longitudinal axis. An end of the first elastic cord is extended through and retained in the through-holes of the cord mounting section of one of the handles. The other end of the first elastic cord or an end of a second elastic cord can be extended through and retained in the through-holes of the cord mounting section of the other handle.
US07922633B2
A method of manufacturing an exercise device, includes the steps of providing a bar having an end portion; providing a collar for receiving the end portion; forming a weight section about the collar to form a weight assembly including a weight section and a collar; mounting the weight assembly on the end portion; providing a first securing member; and securing the weight assembly to the bar using the first securing member. The weight section is formed about the collar by casting.
US07922632B2
A multipurpose personal training device with a pair of press arms that can be set to numerous different lateral angles. Each press arm can be equipped with a functional trainer handle coupled by cable and pulleys to an adjustable weight engine. The final pulley at the end of each arm is free to rotate to any angle. In addition to exercises involving the arms, the device can supply a full complement of most standard training exercises.
US07922629B1
A multi-station exercise gym comprises a frame, a sectored cable system that reduces the cable portion used during exercise, two high pulleys that are adjustable in width, two arm assemblies that can be selectively adjusted to alter the path of travel, two swiveling outer mid pulleys, two swiveling low pulleys, a centered mid pulley for exercises such as abdominal crunches, a leg extension-curl station, a pivoting seat assembly that provides proper pad support for all exercise movements, an adjustable hold down roller assembly for pull downs, a pair of adjustable arm pad assemblies for seated bicep curls and a low cost equally balanced, low friction incremental weight system.
US07922622B2
A method of increasing strength, flexibility, and coordination that may establish a person's baseline strength, flexibility, and coordination, while identifying any deficiencies to establish an exercise regimen to address those deficiencies. The method may also include a systematic and consistent warm-up step that will ensure the proper building of strength, flexibility, and coordination while minimizing any potential injury. Lastly, the method may be capable of accurately measuring the progress of the person's training regimen.
US07922620B2
An exercising machine for exercising of a user's torso, arm, leg or other body part, including an exercising attachment for exercising of the user's torso, arm, leg or other body part, a computer-controlled resistance actuator operatively connected to the exercising attachment to impart a resistance for concentric exercising of the user's torso, arm, leg or other body part through a forward range of motion, a computer-controlled force actuator operatively connected to the exercising attachment to impart a force for eccentric exercising of the user's torso, arm, leg or other body part through a reverse range of motion, a computer for controlling the actuators and a method for exercising, including imparting a resistance for concentric exercising of a user's torso, arm, leg or other body part through a forward range of motion and imparting a force for eccentric exercising of the user's torso, arm, leg or other body part through a reverse range of motion.
US07922619B2
The present invention provides a power-saving tread mill. A power-saving tread mill includes: a pair of rollers 10, 20; and an endless belt 30 wound around the pair of rollers 10, 20, wherein at least one of the rollers 10, 20 has: an armature 24a having iron cores 24c and coils 24c wound around the iron cores 24c; and permanent magnets 23 rotatable with the one of the rollers 10, 20 integrally, and electromagnetic induction produced between the permanent magnets 23 and the armature 24a produces induced electric current flowing through the coils 24c when the one of the rollers 10, 20 is rotated.
US07922612B2
A power supply structure for a bicycle basically includes a battery configured to be supported on a frame of the bicycle, a junction attachable to the frame of the bicycle and first, second, third and fourth cable portions. The first cable portion extends between the junction and the battery providing an electrical connection therebetween. The second cable portion extends between the junction and a bicycle shifter mechanism connecting end providing an electrical connection therebetween. The third cable portion extends between the junction and a bicycle front derailleur connecting end providing an electrical connection therebetween. The fourth cable portion extends between the junction and a bicycle rear derailleur connecting end providing an electrical connection therebetween.
US07922608B1
A tennis ball retrieval, storage, and dispensing device is disclosed having a hollow tube with a diameter that may be larger than balls that are to be picked up and stored within the tube. With the larger diameter tube the balls are staggered therein so more balls may be held in a given length of tube. Positioned at the top of the hollow tube is a closed end cap that is opened to remove balls stored inside the tube. Attached to the bottom of the hollow tube is an entrance end cap that has an opening that may be of different shapes but a round tennis ball entering the device tube through the entrance end cap opening must be squeezed to a non-round shape to get past the opening and enter the device tube. A retainer is mounted inside the entrance end cap past the opening that also squeezes tennis balls entering therein. The retainer assures that tennis balls that have been retrieved with the device do not hang out below the entrance cap opening. The end caps and the tube may have a triangular cross sectional shape which prevents the device from rolling on the ground. In addition, when the device tube has a circular cross section two tubes may be utilized that can telescope inside each other and their position held by a locking device.
US07922604B2
A golf club head formed of multiple materials is disclosed. Those portions of the club head that are subject to high stresses during normal use of the golf club head are formed of a metallic material. Most of the material beyond what is required to maintain structural integrity, however, is removed and replaced with a lightweight material. This freed-up mass that can be redistributed to other, more beneficial locations of the club head. The lightweight material also damps vibrations generated during use of the golf club. This vibration damper may be retained in a state of compression to enhance the vibration damping. One or more weight members may be included to obtain desired center of gravity position, moments of inertia, and other club head attributes.
US07922603B2
A golf club head includes a body having a first arm and a second arm extending outwardly therefrom. A bar has a first end connected to a free end of the first arm and a second end connected to a free end of the second arm. A weighted member is positioned along the bar.
US07922599B2
Golf club 2 has shaft 6, head 4, inner member 8 and screw member 10. The inner member 8 has shaft channel 46 provided so as to open on the top end side, and engaging hole 52 provided separately from this shaft channel 46. The head 4 has hosel member 22 having hosel hole 26, and head hole 70 that extends from the head external surface toward inside the head. At least a part of the inner member 8 is inserted into the hosel hole 26. The shaft 6 and the shaft channel 46 are stuck by adhesion and/or fitting. Continuous hole 76 is formed with the engaging hole 52 continuous with the head hole 70, and the screw member 10 is inserted into the engaging hole 52 and the head hole 70 through this continuous hole 70. The screw member 10 is thread connected with the engaging hole 52 and/or the head hole 70.
US07922594B2
An amusement ride has guides and at least one carriage movable along the guides. At least three first arms each having a first end and a second end are provided, wherein the first ends are connected pivotably to the at least one carriage. First drives are provided that each are movable along one of the guides, respectively, independently from one another. The at least three first arms are pivotably connected with the second ends to the first drives so that the at least one carriage and the first drives are pivotably connected to one another.
US07922592B2
A longitudinal displacement unit includes a first shaft element including an outer face having a plurality of first grooves and a second shaft element having a through-bore that receives the first shaft element. The second shaft element has a plurality of second grooves opposite the first plurality of grooves. A sleeve-shaped cage is disposed between the first shaft element and the second shaft element for guiding rolling contact members that engage the first plurality of grooves and the second plurality of grooves. The cage is provided with through-apertures that are circumferentially distributed, extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, and include longitudinal ends. Pressure springs are disposed within the through-apertures and are loaded between the longitudinal ends thereof. At least one stop is associated with one of the shaft elements, against which the pressure springs abut after having passed through a free displacement path of the cage between the two shaft elements, which free displacement path is not loaded by the pressure springs.
US07922584B2
An image generation method and computer-readable information storage medium which stores a program in which a processing causes a first object to perform a motion based on control data from a first control lever which is tilted in an arbitrary direction and of which tilt angle is detectable. The processing also causes the first object to move based on control data from a second control lever which is tilted in an arbitrary direction and of which tilt angle is detectable. The processing further generates an image including an image of the first object and in which the first object is caused to perform an attack motion toward an attack direction which corresponds to a tilting direction of the first control lever, when the first control lever is tilted by a given angle. The attack motion of the first object changes according to at least one of a distance between the first and second object and an angle between a direction to which the first object faces and a direction in which the second object exists.
US07922578B2
A method of providing an undisplayed outcome of an electronic device has been developed. First a wager is received from a player and an electronic outcome is generated. The outcome is not displayed to the player. A cashless payout is generated for the electronic outcome. The outcome is displayed according to the cashless payout.
US07922566B2
A cutting head for a water jet cutting machine includes a base with a bore and an orifice member having an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet which increases velocity of fluid flowing through the passage to form a fluid jet. A wear insert has first and second ends, a passage extending between the two ends, the body second end being connected with the base and the body first end supporting the orifice member. A fluid focusing device includes a tubular body with a central passage having inlet and discharge ports, the tubular body being disposable within the base bore such that the body inlet port is fluidly coupleable with the orifice outlet. The tubular body and/or the base are/is configured such that the tubular body is separately positionable at one of a plurality of discrete, predetermined angular positions about the base bore axis.
US07922555B2
A method for manufacturing a PDP equipped with an exhaust tube (21) for evacuating a discharge space formed by arranging a front plate (22) and a back plate (23) oppositely and sealing the circumferential edge portions of the front plate and the back plate by sealant (31) and then filling the discharge space with discharge gas, the method comprising steps for arranging the sealing side of the exhaust tube around a thin exhaust hole (30) provided in the back plate through a tablet (32) formed of frit glass not containing sealing lead but containing bismuth oxide, assembling the front plate and the back plate while arranging them oppositely, mounting the exhaust pipe on an exhauster while directing the side connected with the exhauster downward, and performing the sealing at a predetermined sealing temperature.
US07922551B2
A method and apparatus to maximize spark plug life in pre-chamber spark plugs operating with ultra-lean mixtures and/or elevated engine BMEP is presented. Electrode erosion is reduced by spreading discharge energy over a wider surface area, maintaining fuel concentration in the spark gap, controlling gas static pressure during discharge, and maintaining safe electrode temperature. Energy is spread via a swirling effect created by periphery holes in an end cap, resulting in a lower specific energy discharge at the electrodes. Divergently configured electrodes reduce the spark voltage at high operating pressures and the energy required for ignition. The flow field generated at the electrodes prevents electrical shorts due to water condensation and avoids misfire. The center electrode insulation provides an effective heat transfer path to prevent electrode overheating and pre-ignition. The volume behind the electrodes provides a volume for burnt products from previous combustion cycles and leads to more reliable ignition.
US07922548B2
An electrical connector includes a number of contacts and an insulative housing. Each contact includes a main body, a spring portion extending upwardly from the main body, and a tail portion defining a receiving space in a vertical plane. The insulative housing has a plurality of passageways retaining the contacts. An inner sidewall of each passageway has a protrusion extending into the receiving space to limit a movement of the contact, such that the contact can float upwardly and downwardly in the vertical direction without being drawn out of the passageway.
US07922542B1
An audio jack connector includes a dielectric housing, a signal terminal and a detection terminal. The dielectric housing defines a receiving trough at a top surface thereof. An opening is defined in the receiving trough with a notch communicated with a rear end thereof. A location slot is defined at a side of the dielectric housing to intersect the notch. The detection terminal is received in the location slot and has an inclined portion inclined towards the notch. The inclined portion has a protuberance provided on an outer surface thereof. The signal terminal is received in the receiving trough and has a concaved portion projected into the insertion hole from the opening and a cantilever arm located to the notch. A free end of the cantilever arm is inclined downward to form a pressing portion for pressing against the protuberance of the detection terminal.
US07922530B2
This grommet-type joint includes a plug member, and a plurality of through passages for wires, said passages extending in an axial direction (X), and at least one peripheral flange, which projects outwards from said plug member, said flange being provided to sealingly engage a peripheral inner surface of a connector housing. Said flange axially projects rearwards from the rear side of the plug member, whereby the contact area of the flange with said inner surface is at least partially offset with respect to said rear side in the axial direction (X).
US07922519B1
A connector includes a main body, and a cable electrically connected to a rear end of the main body. An elastic latch is formed on a top of the main body. Two protrusions are formed on a rear portion of the top of the main body. A surface of each protrusion is coated with reflecting material, slanted, and opposite to the cable.
US07922511B1
An electrical connector assembly that includes an adjustment collar and a body having an interior volume. The collar defines a passage that is in communication with the interior volume of the body when the collar is engaged with the body. The collar can be rotated relative to the body and can also be fixed to the body with a locking member. The adjustment collar has a helical thread that engages an electrical connector. Wiring extending through the body can be conductively engaged with the electrical connector. The engagement between the collar and the body allows the rotational position of the electrical connector relative to the body to be easily adjusted and then fixed in place by rotation and the subsequent fixation of the adjustment collar. A cooperating electrical connector can be detachably engaged with the electrical connector. A coupling member can be used to secure the cooperating electrical connector.
US07922510B2
A module, particularly an electronic module of a commercial vehicle, includes at least one plug connection, having a plug element and a mating plug element, by which an electrical connection can be established when plugged together. At least one of the plug elements is mounted floatingly or movably within a clearance. A method for assembling the module plugs together the plug elements, at least one of the plug elements moving within a clearance relative to the mounting thereof.
US07922506B1
A card edge connector for receiving a module and includes an insulative housing having a mounting face, a pair of side walls with a central slot formed therebetween, a tower portion extending upwardly from the side wall; a number of contacts mounted to the housing and each defining a retaining portion to fix with the housing, a deflectable contacting arm extending upwardly from the retaining portion and a soldering portion extending downwardly from the retaining portion and projecting beyond the mounting face; and an ejector rotatably mounted on the tower portion of the housing. The ejector includes a base portion, an ejecting portion extending inwardly from the base portion and protruding into the central slot to eject the memory module from the central slot and a cam lobe extending inwardly from the base portion to drive the module down, the cam lobe is located above the ejecting portion.
US07922498B2
A burn-in socket includes a base, a plurality of terminals received in the base, a self-centering supporting bracket mounted above the base in a floating manner and a plurality of elastic elements mounted between the base and the supporting bracket. The supporting bracket defines a receiving cavity for receiving an IC package, and the receiving cavity has a number of oblique surfaces for leading and supporting the IC package so as to precisely position the IC package in the burn-in socket.
US07922493B1
Disclosed herein are integrated training and sales methods and systems for training sales representatives in making an online sales call to customers and for conducting the online sales call. The system includes a Web co-browsing tool, a voice channel between the customer and the sales representatives and a training and sales Web site that is simultaneously accessible, viewable and controllable by both the customer and the sales representative through the Web co-browsing tool. The training and sales Web site is structured so as to guide the sales representative and the customer through each step of the online sales call. The system may further include scripted talking points visible only to the sales representative, the scripted talking points prompting the sales representative to communicate information to the customer as the sales representative and the customer navigate through the training and sales Web site.
US07922492B2
A method of involving the erection of foldable flat blanks to construct tubes of predetermined configurations for assembly in combination to form respective mannequin devices to, when draped with a selected cover, simulate furniture to stage a property.The device of the present invention includes one or more blanks in the form of flatten tubes, erected into tubular components and assembled together to simulate the shape of furniture pieces and which may be draped with a fitted cover to mock the desired furniture piece.
US07922490B2
A method produces a base for physical tooth models. The method includes providing one or more cast materials in a container, pressing the underside of the physical tooth models into the one or more cast materials to produce impressions in the one or more cast materials, and solidifying the one or more cast materials having the impressions to produce the base that is adapted to receive the physical tooth models.
US07922475B2
The present invention is an expansion tool device for pliers or machine for producing sockets at the ends of pipes made out of plastic or composite material, used in the field of plumbing. The device includes a cylindrically-shaped ferrule formed by the tightening of several sector-shaped chucks. The chucks are movable in the radial direction under the action of the insertion between them of a tapered needle movable in axial translation through the actuation of the pliers or machine. The chucks are allowed to pass from a tightened position to a separated position. In an integrated way or in a unit designed capable of being intercalated between the ferrule and the pliers or machine, there is an automatic driver for the ferrule, when the ferrule passes from the separated position to the tightened position, directly or indirectly, in axial swivelling according to a portion of a turn.
US07922474B2
An imprinting method is disclosed that includes applying an imprinting force to a template to cause the template to contact an imprintable medium on a target region of a first surface of a substrate to form an imprint in the medium, during application of the imprinting force, applying a compensating force to a second surface of the substrate which is opposite to the first surface so as to reduce deformation of the substrate caused by the application of the imprinting force, and separating the template from the imprinted medium.
US07922469B2
A pump, for example, a vane-cell pump or a roll-cell pump, especially a gear pump, includes a two-stroke pump contour which includes at least one rise zone, at least one large circular area, at least one fall zone and at least one small circular area. The pump includes a rotor with radially displaceable vanes or rolls arranged in radial slits inside the pump contour.
US07922467B2
To protect the bearings, lubricant and seals of a refrigerant compressor, the compressor includes one or more inductors for mitigating a high frequency common mode current that produces a high frequency shaft voltage. Each inductor is a ring of magnetic material encircling three insulated cables that convey three-phase power from an adjustable frequency drive to the compressor's motor. Without the inductors, the high frequency shaft voltage can become damagingly high due to the length of a cast iron housing that can be particularly long if the housing contains both a motor and several centrifugal impellers. The high frequency shaft voltage is just one component of a composite adverse shaft voltage. Another component, known as an operationally induced shaft voltage, can be reduced by a grounding contact, so instead of using just an inductor or just a contact, both can be used to provide a total solution to the problem.
US07922455B2
A bucket for a steam turbine includes an airfoil portion having a radially outer tip, the radially outer tip having a thermal barrier coating applied thereto, and wherein the thermal barrier coating is resurfaced to form at least one ridge along the radially outer tip.
US07922443B2
A portable air blower includes a blower fan, a drive unit for driving the blower fan, a casing for covering at least the blower fan and having a side wall with an air intake opening defined therein, and a covering unit for covering the air intake opening. The covering includes an air intake grille fitted to the casing and operable to permit an air to pass therethrough into the air intake opening, but to block foreign matters off therefrom, and a protective shroud held in overlapping relation with the air intake grille for covering the air intake grille on one side of the air intake grille opposite to the air intake opening. The air intake grille has an outermost area having a circumferential edge, which is positioned substantially radially inwardly of an outer peripheral edge of the protective shroud.
US07922438B2
A method of operating a working machine which includes a body, a first working arm carrying in use, at its outermost end, a mounting structure (for releasably carrying a first working implement, and the body carrying towards a second end of the body opposite to the first end, a superstructure which is rotatable relative to the body about a first generally upright axis, the superstructure providing a mounting for a second working arm, and the second working arm in use, carrying at an outermost end, a mounting for a second working implement, the machine further including a third implement carried at the second end of the body, on a further mounting structure to provide a further mounting assembly capable of mounting the first working implement, and the method including manipulating the second working arm to move the mounting for the second working implement to the mounting structure carrying the first working implement, releasing the engagement between the mounting structure of the first working arm and the first working implement, transporting the first working implement whilst manipulating the second working arm to bring the first working implement to the further mounting assembly, and engaging the first working implement with the further mounting assembly so that the first working implement is carried by the further mounting assembly, and using the first working implement when carried by the further mounting assembly to perform working operations.
US07922434B2
A laminated nut includes a conical spring, top disc and a conical spring, bottom disc stacked upon each other defining a laminated stack having a common central bore and an outer wrench engaging surface. A generally cylindrical tension sleeve is located in the central bore. The tension sleeve has an outer wall shaped to substantially conform with the shape of the central bore and an inner wall which is threaded. The tension sleeve has a first end and a second end, the first end of the tension sleeve includes an outwardly extending upper flange and the second end includes an outwardly extending bottom flange, the upper flange and the bottom flange are shaped and dimensioned to retain the top disc and the bottom disc in a stacked relation with the tension sleeve fixedly secured to the laminated stack, such that the conical spring discs and tension sleeve rotate together as a unit.
US07922433B2
In some embodiments fastening apparatus includes a threaded fastening element adapted to be threaded into a hole provided in a first component, the threaded fastening element including a locking collar that is defined by at least one outer peripheral surface, and a locking washer adapted to fit within a recess formed in the component to limit rotation of the threaded fastening element once the element is threaded into the component hole, the washer including an inner opening defined by at least one inner peripheral surface and a non-circular outer shape defined by an outer peripheral surface, the inner opening being adapted to receive the locking collar such that the at least one outer peripheral surface of the collar can contact the at least one inner peripheral surface of the washer.
US07922431B2
A cargo loading system capable of retaining a pallet along a centerline of a cargo aircraft and outside the wingbox area of the aircraft includes a number of devices. Included among these are first and second centerline end restraints mounted on the centerline, at least one caster panel mounted on one side of the cargo hold and across the centerline from a side door of the aircraft, and a plurality of mechanical restraints mounted on a floor of the cargo hold on either side of the centerline and outside the wingbox area. The first and second centerline end restraints each have at least one retractable lockhead configured and dimensioned to engage an end of a pallet. The at least one caster panel includes at least one retractable guide formed at a first end thereof, and at least one retractable guide formed along a first side thereof. Lastly, the plurality of mechanical restraints are mounted with a portion of each mechanical restraint overlying a laterally extending floor joist in the cargo hold, such that a lateral load applied to a given mechanical restraint is transferred to at least one laterally extending floor joist.
US07922423B2
The method of the present invention results in a secondary containment area for above ground storage tanks. The method involves leveling the site, laying a foundation bed, building a retaining barrier around the site, covering the foundation bed and retaining barrier with a liner cloth, and applying a layer of polyurea to the liner cloth and retaining barrier.
US07922421B2
A bulk container and method suitable for forming an interlinked wall. In one embodiment, the bulk container may generally include sidewalls, lifting straps for transporting the container, and a closeable top. Linking loops may be provided on at least one sidewall which are each configured to be engaged by connecting members to link adjacent bulk containers together for forming an interlinked wall. In one embodiment, the connecting member is a belt which may be tensioned. Another possible embodiment includes a linking strap affixed to the sidewall panel and to which the linking loops may be attached or formed as an integral part thereof. A barrier wall system and method of forming the same from interlinked bulk containers is also provided. The barrier wall system is suitable for use in, but not limited to, shoreline erosion protection and flood control applications.
US07922400B2
A multi-electrode system comprises a fiber support configured to hold at least one optical fiber and a set of electrodes disposed about the at least one optical fiber and configured to generate arcs between adjacent electrodes to generate a substantially uniform heated field to a circumferential outer surface of the at least one optical fiber. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum.
US07922399B2
In a semiconductor apparatus, a plurality of light-triggered type semiconductor devices, each having a groove for burying of an optical fiber for supplying an optical gate signal to a housing of the light-triggered type semiconductor device, are connected in series. Device cooling heat sinks, each having a flow path for circulating a coolant medium and a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet communicating with the flow path, are disposed on both sides of the housing of each light-triggered type semiconductor device. The light-triggered type semiconductor devices and the device cooling heat sinks are coupled into a single structure. An optical fiber insertion groove, which corresponds in position to the groove of the housing, is provided on a side surface of the device cooling heat sink, which contacts a groove (4)-side surface of the housing of the light-triggered type semiconductor device.
US07922397B2
A bump stop device comprises a bearing 20 provided with two bottom 22 and top 24 metal washers between which rolling bodies 26 are arranged. A friction ring 34 is fixed to the first of the bottom and top metal washers and rubs against the other metal washer in order to create a static frictional torque that is greater than that of the rolling bodies and, in practice, greater than 1 Nm. The friction ring 34 makes it possible to generate a controlled resisting torque that limits the transmission to the steering column of the torque generated when driving the vehicle on a convex road.
US07922395B2
A wheel bearing device, in which a swaged portion of a wheel hub abuts against a shoulder portion of a joint outer ring, is provided to positively prevent a stick slip noise from being generated at the time of the vehicle being pulled away from a parked position. The wheel bearing device includes an outer ring having double rows of race surfaces formed on its inner circumference; a wheel hub having one of the double rows of race surfaces formed on its outer circumference; an inner ring press-fitted over a reduced diameter step portion of the wheel hub and having the other of the race surfaces formed on its outer circumference; and double rows of rollers interposed on the respective race surfaces between the outer ring and the wheel hub and between the outer ring and the inner ring. The wheel bearing device is configured such that an end portion of the reduced diameter step portion of the wheel hub is swaged to thereby integrate the wheel hub with the inner ring, and a joint outer ring of a constant velocity universal joint is fitted into an inner diameter of the wheel hub via torque transmission means, allowing the swaged portion of the wheel hub to abut the shoulder portion of the joint outer ring. The swaged portion of the wheel hub is left non-quenched, whereas the surface-hardened abutted portion of the shoulder portion of the joint outer ring has a surface roughness of Ra 5.0 or more.
US07922392B2
A hydrostatic profile of a rail guide with a guide carriage. Viewed in cross-section through the rail guide, there is an imaginary first straight line parallel to the mid-surface, an imaginary second straight line parallel to an upper bearing surfaces and a third imaginary straight line parallel to a lower bearing surface. An angle alpha is formed between the first and the second straight lines, and an angle gamma is formed between the first and the third straight lines. The angle alpha has values of 10° to 45 ° inclusive and the angle gamma has values of 20° to 55° inclusive.
US07922391B2
A device and method are provided that enable calibration information to be determined for an x-ray apparatus that performs a three-dimensional x-ray scan. The calibration information is determined using an adapting method, wherein the adapting method is based on a position of an x-ray source relative to an x-ray unit marker device during image acquisition, an x-ray unit data set that describes the position of the x-ray unit marker device during image acquisition, and a two-dimensional calibration data set that describes at least one and preferably two actual two-dimensional x-ray images produced by irradiating a calibration object.
US07922386B2
A thermal analysis apparatus includes: a sample temperature control device for surrounding a sample placed on a measurement position and controlling the temperature of the sample; a balance beam for supporting the sample and capable of tilting about a pivot point; and a sample moving device that allows the balance beam to slide between a first position at which the sample is situated at the measurement position and a second position at which the sample is situated at a distant position which is a position outside the sample temperature control unit. The distant position is a position which is deviated laterally from a line trajectory extending from the measurement position to the outside of the sample temperature control device. When the sample is at the measurement position, the balance beam is allowed to linearly slide and subsequently to rotationally slide about an axial line, to thereby transport the sample from the measurement position to the distant position.
US07922373B2
An image display apparatus includes a laser source for emitting ultraviolet or blue display-use laser light having a wavelength of 420 nm or less; and a display unit including a fluorescent light generating section for generating fluorescent light when irradiated with the display-use laser light, wherein the display unit displays an image using the fluorescent light generated by the fluorescent light generating section, wherein the display unit further includes an extraneous light shielding section for shielding an extraneous light which is emitted from a back side of the display unit and which has a wavelength in a range where the fluorescent light is generated so as to prevent the extraneous light from entering in the fluorescent light generating section.
US07922371B2
A thermal module for LED includes a base in direct contact with an LED module; a first radiating fin assembly consisting of a plurality of parallelly spaced radiating fins and being connected at one side to the base opposite to the LED module; at least one second radiating fin assembly consisting of a plurality of parallelly spaced radiating fins, so that an air passage is provided between any two adjacent radiating fins of the second radiating fin assembly; and at least one heat pipe having a conducting section extended through and closely bearing against an interface between the base and the first radiating fin assembly, and at least one radiating section outward extended from an end of the conducting section to extend through the second radiating fin assembly. The second radiating fin assembly and the air passages thereof largely upgrade the heat dissipating efficiency of the thermal module.
US07922367B2
An optical element, a light-emitting component and a direct-lit backlight module having the optical element are provided. The optical element includes a bottom surface, at least one side refractive surface for refracting one part of a light beam incident from the bottom surface, and an upper refractive surface for refracting the other part of the light beam incident from the bottom surface. A maximum included angle formed between the light beam incident from the bottom surface and to be irradiated onto the side refractive surface and the bottom surface is a first angle (α). An included angle formed between a light beam coming out from at least one side refractive surface and the bottom surface is smaller than or equal to the first angle. A maximum included angle formed between the light beam incident from the bottom surface and to be irradiated onto the upper refractive surface and a central axis of the optical element is a second angle (β). An included angle formed between the light beam coming out from the upper refractive surface and the central axis of the optical element is greater than or equal to the second angle.
US07922366B2
A light source including a refraction body, a metal cup, a metal reflecting lampshade, an LED lamp body. Light emitted from the LED lamp body is reflected by the metal cup to be vertically incident into the refraction body so that the light is refracted by the refraction body; the refraction body is installed at a focus of the cambered tapered surface of the metal reflecting lampshade so that the light is reflected to have a predetermined reflected shape.
US07922365B2
An LED illuminating device includes an optical section, an electrical section, and a heat dissipation section provided with a heat dissipation device. The heat dissipation device includes a hollow metal tube, a bottom cover plate and a top cover plate respectively sealing a bottom and a top of the metal tube, and a tubular member received in the metal tube and axially defining a vapor passage channel therethrough. A condensate passage channel is defined between the metal tube and the tubular member. An evaporating chamber is defined between the bottom of the tubular member and the bottom cover plate. A condensing chamber is defined between a top of the tubular member and the top cover plate. First and second porous wicks are in the metal tube and attached to the bottom cover plate and the condensate passage channel respectively. A working fluid is saturated in the first porous wick.
US07922363B2
An LED lamp includes a base, a heat sink placed on a top surface of the base and a plurality of LED modules mounted on the heat sink. The base has a base plate, an engaging flange extending upwards from an edge of the base plate and a plurality of projecting vanes formed on a bottom of the base plate. The heat sink surrounded by the engaging flange comprises a core, a plurality of branches extending outwards from an outer circumference of the core and a plurality of fins formed on two opposite sides of each branch. Each branch defines an inclined surface on a top thereof and has a height gradually decreased along a direction outwards from the core. Each LED module has a printed circuit board mounted on the inclined surface of a corresponding branch of the heat sink.
US07922360B2
Provided are light emitting apparatus including a solid state light emitting element having a first side and a second side, the solid state light emitting element configured to emit light from the first side. Such apparatus further include an elongated thermally conductive element positioned to conduct thermal energy from the second side of the solid state light emitting element.
US07922359B2
An LED lamp includes a container having a cavity containing a liquid, a light source module with a high power LED source to emit light through the liquid, and an thermal conductor having a first portion proximate the light source module and a second opposite portion extending in an axial direction of the cavity in front of the light source module.
US07922347B2
The inventive surgical light comprises a body provided with main light-emitting diodes and additional light-emitting diodes arranged therebetween, which are spaced on said body and fixed thereto, wherein said additional light-emitting diodes are grouped and are characterised in that the spatial orientation thereof differs from the spatial orientation of the main light-emitting diodes. A light field control device comprises a control unit to which the groups of light-emitting diodes are connected by means of adjusters each of which is connected to a power supply unit. The main light-emitting diodes are fixed to the light body in such a way that the optical axes thereof cross the light axis in the center of a light spot. The additional light-emitting diodes are fixed to the light body in such a way that the optical axes thereof form a concentric light spot in the form of a ring around the main light spot.
US07922343B2
A lens-shifting device including a base, two fixing rods, a sliding plate, a first and a second gear set is provided. The sliding plate is slidably mounted on the fixing rods via the fixing rods. A lens is fixed on the sliding plate and the sliding plate has a rack disposed on one side thereof. The first gear set has a first gear and a worm gear co-axial therewith. One of the fixing rods passes through the first gear such that the first gear and the worm gear may rotate relative to the fixing rod. The second gear set having a worm wheel and a second gear co-axial therewith is disposed between the fixing rod and the rack. The worm gear is for driving the worm wheel and the second gear is used for driving the rack such that the sliding plate moves relative to the fixing rods.
US07922340B2
A projection optical system that receives light from a display element to project an image displayed by the display element onto a screen with enlargement at a varying magnification achieved by varying the projection distance to the screen has: a refractive optical system composed of one or more refractive lenses and having a positive optical power; and a concave-surfaced mirror disposed to the screen side of the refractive optical system and having a plane-symmetric reflective surface. The projection optical system includes at least one optical element designed to be movable for focusing. The projection optical system forms an intermediate image between the refractive optical system and the concave-surfaced mirror. Moreover, a prescribed conditional formula is fulfilled.
US07922328B2
Methods and systems for obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of an eye of a patient are provided. Exemplary techniques involve obtaining a first induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a first accommodation state of the eye, obtaining a second induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a second accommodation state of the eye, and determining a natural metric of the eye based on the first and second induced metrics. An induced metric may include a pupil size or a spherical aberration. Techniques can also include determining a target metric for the eye base on the natural metric, determining whether an actual metric of the eye meets the target metric, obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of the eye if the actual metric meets the target metric, and determining a treatment for the eye based on the ocular aberration measurement.
US07922321B2
Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere.
US07922310B2
A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate substrate member that defines a plurality of holes. An ink conduit is mounted longitudinally on one side of the substrate member and defines a plurality of ink holes to be in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the elongate substrate member. A plurality of printhead module assemblies is mounted along an opposite side of the substrate member. Each module assembly includes an ink feed structure in fluid communication with the ink holes defined by the elongate substrate member and a printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink feed structure. A bus bar assembly is arranged on the substrate member for providing the printhead integrated circuits with power.
US07922308B2
A liquid detection device includes a casing main body in which a passage is formed and exposed in an opening, a sensor base that is disposed to face the passage of the casing main body, a sensor chip provided on the sensor base, a film that seals the opening in which the sensor base is held, and a partition wall that divides the passage into an upstream side and an downstream side. The sensor chip has a sensor cavity, and the sensor base has a first hole that guides a liquid from the upstream side to the sensor cavity, and a second hole that guides the liquid from the sensor cavity to the downstream side. The sensor base can come into contact with the casing main body through only the partition wall in a depth direction of the opening.
US07922307B2
An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.
US07922301B2
A piezoelectric actuator includes a vibration plate, a plurality of individual electrodes, wiring sections each extending from corresponding one of the individual electrodes and passing between the other individual electrodes other than the corresponding individual electrode, a piezoelectric layer arranged on the vibration plate to cover the individual electrodes, and a common electrode arranged on a surface of the piezoelectric layer disposed on a side opposite to the piezoelectric layer. At least portions of the plurality of wiring sections, each of which is allowed to pass between the another individual electrodes, are covered with a second insulating layer. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the strain of the piezoelectric layer in the area between the individual electrodes through which the wiring section is allowed to pass, without providing any complicated shape of the common electrode in which the common electrode is partially cut out.
US07922298B2
A printhead includes a substrate defining a plurality of ink inlet channels; a drive circuitry layer; and a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement comprises a wall portion bounding a respective ink inlet channel, a crown portion defining an ink outlet, and a skirt portion depending from the crown portion. The crown, skirt and wall portions define a nozzle chamber. The printhead further includes an elongate actuator provided within the nozzle chamber and connected to the crown portion at one end and anchored to the substrate at an opposite end; and conductive pads provided at the anchor point of the elongate actuator, the conductive pads being provided between the elongate actuator and the substrate. The elongate actuator receives electrical signals from the drive circuitry via the conductive pads, and upon receipt of electrical signals from the drive circuitry, displaces towards and away from the substrate.
US07922289B2
Provided are a nozzle plate of an inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the same. The nozzle plate includes: a substrate including a plurality of nozzles; and a plurality of first grooves formed on the surface of a substrate around the nozzles. In this structure, ink remaining on the surface of the nozzle plate can be efficiently removed.
US07922286B2
An image recording apparatus includes: a recording medium conveying mechanism; a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium based on the input data; a faulty record detection unit for detecting a faulty record when a recording process is performed; and a control unit for controlling these components. With the configuration, the recording head and the faulty record detection unit are arranged opposite at least one conveying unit, the recording head and the faulty record detection unit are fixed to the same coupling member, and the coupling member is fixed to a fixing member of the recording medium conveying mechanism.
US07922274B2
There is disclosed a solid semiconductor element which very efficiently detects information about a liquid and bidirectionally exchanges the information with the outside. The solid semiconductor element is disposed in a liquid container, and includes at least energy converting unit, information acquiring unit, and information communicating unit. The energy converting unit converts an electromotive force from the outside to a power, and operates the information acquiring unit and information communicating unit. The information acquiring unit acquires the information about the liquid in which the solid semiconductor element is disposed from the liquid, and the information communicating unit transmits the information acquired by the information acquiring unit to the outside.
US07922266B2
A device for tensioning chains on crawler-type or tracked vehicles, in particular the chains of hydraulic excavators, comprises a first cylinder arranged in an area of the chassis for the tracked vehicle, and operatively connected via a piston rod to a guide wheel to tension the chain. A second cylinder forms a spring cylinder and is operatively connected to the first cylinder. The second cylinder concentrically encloses the first cylinder to form a double cylinder and each cylinder is provided with a separate hydraulic connection. At startup of the tracked vehicle, the hydraulic connections of the double cylinder are admitted with a specifiable pre-tensioning pressure. The spring cylinder can be moved with maximum spring travel to its end position because of its larger cross-sectional surface, and the tensioning cylinder pre-tensions the chain with a force that corresponds to the pre-tensioning pressure.
US07922265B1
A method for controlling hydraulic and regenerative braking includes commanding variable regenerative braking upon depression of a brake actuator until the regenerative braking reaches a threshold level, and commanding variable hydraulic braking in a wheel circuit. Commanding variable hydraulic braking includes: preventing transfer of fluid pressure from a master cylinder circuit through the ABS valve to the wheel circuit when the fluid in the master cylinder circuit is between a first pressure and a second pressure; partially limiting transfer of fluid pressure from the master cylinder circuit through the ABS valve to the wheel circuit when the fluid in the master cylinder circuit is between the second pressure and a third pressure; and allowing full transfer of fluid pressure from the master cylinder circuit through the ABS valve to the wheel circuit when the fluid in the master cylinder circuit is greater than the third pressure.
US07922263B2
In a braking apparatus for a vehicle, an input piston and a pressurizing piston are movably supported inside a cylinder, thereby sectioning a first pressure chamber, a second pressure chamber, and a third pressure chamber, the second pressure chamber and the third pressure chamber communicating with each other through a communicating path. An ECU causes a control hydraulic-pressure that is adjusted by first and second liner valves to act on the second pressure chamber from the third pressure chamber, thereby assisting the pressurizing piston to enable to output control hydraulic-pressure from the first pressure chamber. A counterforce chamber whose volume decreases as the input piston moves forward is provided inside a cylinder, and a counterforce giving mechanism that can give an operation counterforce to a brake pedal through the input piston by deforming corresponding to decrease of the volume of the counterforce chamber is provided inside the input piston.
US07922258B2
A system for attaching a wheel to a motor vehicle, having a wheel hub which bears on a drive shaft stub of the motor vehicle and to which the wheel to be attached is attached by way of a central fastening element. On one section the central fastening element has an external thread, by way of which the bolt is screwed to an internal thread of a wheel hub stub of the wheel hub, a slotted cone interacting with the central fastening element in such a way that when attaching the central fastening element to the wheel hub the slotted cone can be pressed against the wheel. The slotted cone here being braced on an outer face of the wheel hub stub and entering into a frictional connection with the wheel hub stub.
US07922254B2
A prisoner seat security device includes a retractable strap which attaches to a prisoner, preferably by a restraint device on the prisoner, such as hand-cuffs. As the prisoner sits in the seat, the strap retracts. The officer can then lock the retraction mechanism so that the strap will not extend and the prisoner is held in place. When it is desired for the prisoner to get out of the chair, the lock is released, allowing the prisoner to stand and the strap to be disconnected.
US07922253B2
This invention concerns a sofa which solves the problems of the prior art by providing a sofa that can easily be assembled or disassembled by the end consumer at home. The disassembled sofa can be stored in 3 flat boxes. Storage in the flat boxes not only helps the warehouse to store the sofa, but when the end user has purchased the sofa it is easier in such flat boxes to transport it to the location where it will be assembled. The way this invention accomplishes these results is as follows: The parts of the sofa can be broken down into three boxes. Chaise sections can be assembled by placing the seat back flat on the ground and placing the seat frame/arm upright on top of the seat back. A metal threaded rod is used to connect the seat frame and the seat back. A metal nut is used to secure the seat frame to the back using a wrench that comes provided in the package of the kit. The legs are then twisted onto the bottom of the seat frame. The Chaise can be assembled in a left handed or right handed configuration. There is also a love seat portion and an ottoman portion. The love seat portion can also be assembled in a left handed or right handed configuration.
US07922245B1
A portable table and seating combination is disclosed. The combination includes at least a first portion of a hinge attached to a tabletop portion. The tabletop portion includes at least a top surface, and a plurality of edge portions extending from the top surface. The top surface in combination with the plurality of edge portions forms a seating confinement compartment. The combination further includes at least a retractable leg support attached to the tabletop portion. The retractable leg support resides adjacent the seating confinement compartment, and in an extended position the retractable leg support, supports the tabletop portion at a predetermined distance above a surface. The combination also includes at least a seating portion configured for confinement within the seating confinement compartment. In a first embodiment, the seating portion is an integrated seating portion. In an alternate embodiment, the seating portion is a freestanding seating portion.
US07922242B2
A panoramic vehicle roof assembly is provided with a first cross member and a second cross member. Each of the first and second cross members is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body at spaced apart locations. A first extruded side rail and a second extruded side rail are respectively mounted to one of the first and second cross members at spaced apart locations. Each first and second side rail has a drive integrated roof track and an idler integrated roof track. At least one roof panel is supported by at least one of the integrated roof tracks of the side rails. A method of manufacturing a panoramic vehicle roof module assembly is provided.
US07922229B1
A vehicle has a body with a body opening and a reconfigurable body exterior panel that is mountable over the opening in first and second panel positions. The panel is pivotable about a panel pivot axis and is mounted on a pair of swing arms that are pivotable relative to the body about a bodyside pivot axis. The swing arms are Z-shaped and interact with stops to orient the panel in the first and second panel positions.
US07922227B2
The trim (17) comprises a soft outer skin (51). It comprises a plurality of protrusions (53) which are integral with the outer skin (51) and are to rest on a frame (13) for supporting the component (11). Each protrusion (53) extends from an inner face (57) of the skin (51). The protrusions (53) delimit between them spaces (55) for deformation of the trim (17). The ratio of the thickness (ep) of the skin (17), taken orthogonally to the inner face (57), to the thickness (es) of each protrusion (53), taken along the inner face (57), is greater than 2. The ratio of the thickness (ep) of the skin (17) to the minimum distance (dn) separating each pair of facing protrusions (53A, 53E), taken along the inner surface (57), is greater than 0.3.
US07922224B2
A connector device is provided for a curtain wall system of the type having structural members secured to the building framing to define frames to support glazing panels. The glazing panels each have a sash by which they are secured to the frames of structural members to form an outer wall portion of a building. The curtain wall system has connector devices securing one of the glazing panels to the frames of structural members. The connector device comprises a keeper secured to a frame, and a latch mechanism secured opposite the keeper on the sash. The latch mechanism has a latch bolt automatically displaceable to a locking position upon contact with the keeper. The keeper and the latch mechanism cooperate in the locking position to lock the glazing panel to the frame in a secured position. A method for installing the connector device is also provided.
US07922221B2
A latch assembly having adjusting backset includes a casing, a latch bolt and a latch rear section. The latch bolt includes a bolt body and a fixed member connected with the bolt body. The top of the fixed member includes two positioning notches adapted to different backsets. A positioning member and the fixed member are disposed in a slide. The positioning member includes a positioning projection corresponding to the positioning notch at the front portion thereof. The latch includes a pin that can lift the positioning member to disengage the positioning projection from the positioning notch. Then, the positioning projection is moved to another positioning notch, thereby changing the backset. The latch assembly includes a positioning spring to keep the positioning projection fixed in the positioning notch. The latch assembly may include an upper connecting member, a lower connecting member and an assembly member to strengthen the latch assembly.
US07922218B2
A coupler device is for connecting first and second casings to form a casing assembly with a central axis, each casing having an inner end disposed against the inner end of the other casing such that the casings are spaced along the axis. The coupler device includes at least one generally arcuate connector having a first portion engageable with the first casing and a second portion engageable with the second casing so as to connect the two casings, the connector extending at least partially circumferentially about the casing axis. A retainer is disposeable either generally within or generally about the at least one connector and is configured to prevent radial displacement of the connector with respect to the axis so as to maintain engagement of the connector with the first and second casings.
US07922213B2
A barb clamp for use with a flexible tube is taught, the flexible tube having an inner bore defined by a predetermined inner diameter for providing a fluid flow path. The barb clamp includes a barb connector having the same predetermined inner diameter as the flexible tube and a tapered end insertable into the tube. A sleeve and collet lock over the tubing and barb connector to prevent liquid material entering between the barb and tube. The tapered end of the barb connector terminates at a point so that there is no transition between the inner diameter of the tube and the inner diameter of the barb connector to provide no pressure differential in the tube between the outside and inside of the barb clamp.
US07922211B2
A method and a device are provided for interconnecting, sealed against contamination, the ends of tubes by two cooperating connecting components, each having an inlet and an outlet for connection to each other. The connecting components each have a connecting plane, into which the outlets open, each covered by a protective component, and which are movable into engagement with each other with the outlets facing each other. A locking element, which is slidably arranged on one connecting component, is, in a controlled manner and without interruption of the sliding movement, movable onto the other connecting component to a distinct end position. The protective components are removable by means of the locking element when this is moved, and the outlets are sealingly pressable against each other. The locking element is prevented from moving until a predetermined force is applied in the moving direction.
US07922204B2
A vibration-isolating device for a steering wheel of a travelling working vehicle equipped with a wheel steering mechanism includes a first steering shaft (32) that transmits rotational displacement, the first steering shaft being operatively connected to the steering wheel (7); a second steering shaft (33) that transmits rotational displacement, the second steering shaft being operatively connected to the wheel steering mechanism (P, 23); and a vibration-isolating connecting mechanism (31) that operatively connects the first steering shaft (32) and the second steering shaft (33) to each other so that rotational displacement can be transmitted. When the angles of rotational displacement of the first steering shaft (32) and the second steering shaft (33) are within ranges of rotation angles for linearly driving the vehicle, rotational displacement cannot be transmitted between the first steering shaft (32) and the second steering shaft (33).
US07922196B2
A system and method for deploying one or more airbags in a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a passive detection device, an active detection device and a controller. The passive detection device is configured to present one or more passive signals indicative of the motion of the vehicle after the vehicle has experienced an impact. The active detection device is configured to present suspension information related to the vehicle that is indicative of the motion of the vehicle prior to the vehicle experiencing an impact. The controller is configured to predict vehicle impact and deploy the airbags in response to the suspension information and the one or more passive signals.
US07922192B2
The present invention provides a side curtain air bag facilitating the control of tension with the air bag. The side curtain air bag includes chambers expanded by gas supplied from a gas generator, and expands and develops into a curtain shape along a side part of a vehicle so as to protect vehicle occupants. The side curtain air bag includes primary chambers which expand to form the side curtain air bag, and a secondary chamber which expands after the primary chambers to apply additional tension across the expanded side curtain air bag. The secondary chamber includes an opening communicating with the primary chamber.
US07922180B2
A screwdriver bit holder structure, whose holder body has a polygon hole, and inside the polygon hole set an inner spring and a sliding tube. The holder body is clipped by a c-clamp, ahead of which are symmetric front balls and holes, and behind which are symmetric middle and back balls and holes. A fixing cap is capped on the holder body. In the back of inner hole of the fixing cap sets a limiting ring, and in the front sets a front recess and a back recess that is designed, by sliding the cap forward and backward along the holder body, to push front balls to fit into the fitting concaves of the bits so as to fix them tightly with the holder body or loose front balls from fitting concaves to release the bits.
US07922176B1
A game system including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. In an exemplary embodiment, the progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined result on a game unit, they receive an award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of a game with a rotating wheel.
US07922175B1
A game including wheel means capable of rotating in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction and wheel control means operative to selectively control the rotational position of the wheel means in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. A method for controlling an indicator wheel including rotating a wheel having a plurality of segments in a first direction until a predetermined segment is aligned with a pointer and then rotating the wheel in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In certain embodiments, the wheel can be rotated again in the first direction after it has been rotated in the second direction.
US07922168B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for transporting a sheet, in particular after a sheet has been picked off a stack and separated therefrom, preferably for the feeder-side use in a printing machine, wherein the sheet is brought to a transport speed, preferably for transfer to another transport path. The object of the invention is to provide a more controlled method of the aforementioned type and a device allowing this method. In accordance with the invention, considering the method, this object is achieved in that the sheet is initially accelerated to a speed that is greater than the desired transport speed and only later, after a phase of this higher speed, said sheet is slowed to the desired transport speed, in which case the phase of the higher speed is dimensioned such that the affected sheet is in a nominal position at the appropriate time.
US07922166B2
An image reader includes: a conveyance path forming member; a conveying unit; a reading unit; and a pressing unit. The conveyance path forming member forms a part of a conveyance path extending from a conveyance start position to a discharge position via an image reading position. The conveying unit is capable of conveying documents having different widths along the conveyance path. The reading unit reads the document at the reading position. The pressing unit extends in the document width direction, is disposed as opposed to the reading unit, and holds the document conveyed by the conveying unit in cooperation with the conveyance path forming member by pressing the document against the conveyance path forming member. The pressing unit is divided into a plurality of pressing members that are arranged in the document width direction and that press the documents against the conveyance path forming member independently from one another.
US07922165B2
A sheet processing apparatus or an image forming apparatus has a discharging member which discharges sheets; a stacking member which stacks the discharged sheets; a sheet positioning member, located on the downstream side of the stacking member in the discharging direction, which receives ends of the discharged sheets in a discharging direction of the sheet discharged by the discharging member; and a pressure member having a pressure surface which presses the sheet received by the sheet positioning member toward a stacking surface of the stacking member; wherein at first a downstream side in the discharging direction of the pressing surface presses the discharged sheets toward the stacking surface of the stacking member, and subsequently an upstream side in the discharging direction of the pressing surface presses the discharged sheets toward the stacking surface sequentially.
US07922161B2
A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle, in which printed sheets are bundled, with a staple, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line, and a control unit configured to control a movement speed of the roller unit, and the control unit causes the roller unit to move at a first speed in an outside of a specified range including the edge of the staple, and causes the roller unit to move at a second speed not higher than the first speed in the specified range including the edge of the staple.
US07922160B2
A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, and the fold reinforcing unit includes a placement table on which the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit is placed, a band-like elastic member that is extended to face the fold line of the placed sheet bundle and is formed to be longer than the length of the fold line, and a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves the reinforce roller along the direction of the fold line while pressing it to the fold line through the intervening elastic member.
US07922159B2
A clamping apparatus for attaching work pieces to be machined to the work table of a machine tool in a precisely defined position comprises at least one clamping rail to be attached to the work table of the machine, as well as at least one work piece holder. The clamping rail is provided with an elongate protruding portion, the front face thereof constituting a stop surface and which defines a recess between itself and the work table of the machine tool. The elongate protruding portion may be provided with threaded bores for receiving clamping screws. Each work piece holder includes a clamping portion which can be inserted into the recess and clamped therein by means of the clamping screws. The clamping rail includes a flat bottom surface resting on the surface of the work table of the machine tool and running perpendicular to the aforementioned front face of the elongate protruding portion. The side of the work piece holder having the aforementioned clamping portion includes a reference surface adapted to rest against the front face of the elongate portion of the clamping rail.
US07922151B2
The present invention relates to a valve actuator comprising a support member for supporting a rotatable positioning element operatively connected to a valve rod. The valve actuator further comprises a track follower adapted to follow at least part of a track provided in the positioning element. The track follower is biased against at least part of the track by a resilient member. The rotatable positioning element comprises a curved outer portion arranged in an associated bearing formed in the support member.
US07922145B2
An adjustable support stand is mounted on a pre-cast concrete wall panel form to facilitate the leveling of the form and the support of the form about the production plant floor. The adjustable support stand includes a frame portion that houses a threaded rod positional fixed for rotation within the frame portion to drive a vertical movement of the leg member in response to rotation of the threaded rod. The adjustable support stand further includes a clamping apparatus that detachably mounts the frame portion to the flanges of a steel beam frame member. The actuator member can be a nut welded to the top of the threaded rod to affect movement of the engaged leg member in response to manipulation with a powered or manually operated hand tool, or a gear set and an orthogonal drive shaft that transfers rotation from a hand tool to the threaded rod.
US07922138B2
Disclosed herein is a dental apparatus having a flexible arm for a dental apparatus. A benefit of the inventive flexible arm is the ability to make fine adjustments in orientation of one end of the arm relative to the other. More specifically, the ability to adjust or optimize the horizontal attitude of a movable end of the arm quickly and easily without resorting to expensive and time consuming remanufacture of the arm components. Adjustment of the end of the arm is accomplished via an adjusting mechanism with a rotatable shaft having an offset pin, where rotation of the shaft caused the pin to translate as defined by the offset of the pin center relative to the shaft center.
US07922129B2
A fitting for a cable trough system, the fitting including a bottom wall and side walls extending from at least a first terminal end to a second terminal end and forming a trough therebetween, the side walls being curved in a longitudinal direction, and an end portion formed at each of the first and second terminal ends, the end portion including first and second guiding surfaces defining a space therebetween, and a spring member positioned in the space. The space is sized to receive a terminal end of a trough member of the cable trough system, and wherein the spring member is positioned to engage the terminal end of the trough member to couple the trough member to the fitting. Other cable routing devices can also be used.
US07922127B2
A system is provided for pacing a powered system traveling along a route separated into a plurality of block regions. Each block region has a respective signal. The system includes a controller configured to receive a status of the signal in an adjacent block region to a current block region of the powered system. The controller is configured to determine a time duration between a change in the status of the signal in an adjacent block region. The controller is further configured to determine an expected status of the signal to be experienced by the powered system in the plurality of block regions, based upon the time duration and a route parameter of the plulality of block regions.
US07922126B2
An aircraft component, such as a wing, has perforations through an outer wall for boundary layer suction. In the space between the outer wall and inner wall partition walls form pressure channels and suction channels that are adjacent to each other and alternate, which channels communicate with the perforations. For example, alternating channels may be formed by a corrugated structure having trapezoidal corrugations providing a larger area for the suction channels than for the pressure channels. The pressure channels may be coupled to a hot-air reservoir by a control device, lines and valves, and the suction channels may be coupled to a vacuum reservoir, unless a short-circuit valve is used to cross connect the lines.
US07922120B2
An ice prevention network comprising a plurality of non-overlapping heater elements arranged in a grid along an airfoil is provided, powered by a multiphase power source, each phase powering selected heater elements that can selectively be powered on and powered off. The grid has a number of zones extending along the airfoil perpendicular to the airflow over the airfoil and a number of sections extending along the surface of the airfoil parallel to the airflow over the airfoil. Each of the heater elements is assigned to a single power phase and arranged such that an arbitrary section may be deactivated without causing a phase imbalance of more than one heating unit and such that a single zone may be activated without causing a phase imbalance of more than one heating unit.
US07922117B2
An electric power generation and distribution system includes a primary distribution panel, which preferably operates at 230 VAC, and a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) panel in direct electrical communication therewith. The HVDC panels power motor controllers which drive electric motors residing in the center or aft sections of the aircraft. As many of the large electrical loads are located in the aft section of the aircraft, an aft electronics bay is located adjacent the aircraft wing roots to house the primary distribution panels and the HVDC panels.
US07922101B2
A train system includes a track and at least one train component. Connectable and detachable segments join to form the track. Each segment includes a main body with an upper running surface upon which train components run. A receiving chamber is formed within the main body. A pair of track members extend outwardly from opposed sides of the main body. A connector component, with a neck portion and a distal portion, extends outwardly from the main body opposite the receiving chamber and engages the receiving chamber of another segment. The segments move in up-down and side-to-side directions. Each train component connects to the track by a pair of rail guides that engage the opposed sides of the main body. A spring element connected between the rail guides operates a switch element to drive a drive member, which engages the upper running surface to move the train component along the track.
US07922095B2
An information storage medium includes storage unit for storing first, second, and third data composed of a data structure including identification information which identifies process target data, length information indicating data length of the process target data, and the process target data, communication unit for communicating with a medium processing device, and data processing unit for accessing the process target data included in the second data on the basis of a first command received via the communication unit, the first command specifying the identification information included in the second data and ordering processing of the process target data included in the second data, and subsequently accessing the process target data included in the first data on the basis of a second command including a preceding data specification and ordering processing of the process target data.
US07922093B2
A TAG chip includes a magnetic coating or an electrostatically chargeable structure. A device for packing semiconductor chips includes an electromagnetic or electrostatic lifter, which picks up singulated semiconductor chips of a semiconductor wafer with a magnetic coating or including an electrostatically chargeable structure from a wafer position and deposits them in a collecting position. A mounting device includes a conveying roller with conveying receptacles for semiconductor chips, which pick up the semiconductor chips in a pick-up position with electromagnetically or electrostatically activatable conveying receptacles and, in a discharge position will discharge, via deactivation of the conveying receptacles, the semiconductor chips onto a corresponding liner or an object.
US07922091B2
The present invention provides a solution for supporting both the MMC and USB protocol modes to provide enhanced services and applications in a UICC. The UICC, methods and the terminal for dynamically selecting a protocol on the UICC card are disclosed. The invention provides that at least MMC and USB can be operated in the UICC without multiplexing or implementing a heavy procedure in the terminal. With the present invention, the UICC can be used in any host implementing either USB or MMC without having to add any new negotiation phase.
US07922088B2
There is described a system and method for automatically discriminating between different types of data with an image reader. In brief overview of one embodiment, the automatic discrimination feature of the present image reader allows a human operator to aim a hand-held image reader at a target that can contain a dataform and actuate the image reader. An autodiscrimination module in the image reader in one embodiment analyzes image data representative of the target and determines a type of data represented in the image data.
US07922083B2
The invention is a computer-implemented method and system to facilitate a purchase utilizing a tax-advantaged account. A request for payment for an item is received from a requester. A determination is made whether the item qualifies for pre-tax treatment. If the item qualifies for pre-tax treatment at least a partial payment amount for the item is determined. The tax-advantaged account is debited for at least a portion of the purchasing amount of the item based on the payment authorization; and the at least partial payment amount for the item is transmitted to an account of the requestor.
US07922078B1
An automated banking machine (10) operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine is operatively controlled from a front consumer user station (12) and a rear maintenance user station (14). The machine is operative to output a consumer user interface (28) through a front display device (16, 80). The consumer user interface includes interactive options for performing transactions with the machine including dispensing cash with a cash dispenser (32). The machine is further operative to output a maintenance user interface (30), through a rear display device (18, 82). The maintenance user interface includes options for configuring, troubleshooting, servicing and maintaining the machine. The operating system of the machine is operative to generate a desktop environment (84) that spans both the front display device and rear display device, such that a first portion (86) of the desktop is output by the first display device and a second portion (88) of the desktop is output by the second display device.
US07922056B2
A stapler 1 is provided with a cutter unit 12 for cutting a leading end portion of a staple leg projected to a back face side of sheets. A staple cartridge 20 containing a number of staples is formed with a chip containing portion 23 for containing a chip of the staple leg. The chip of the staple leg cut by the cutter unit 12 is guided into the chip containing portion 23 of the staple cartridge 20 by a chute 22 formed on the cutter unit 12. The chip of the staple leg is collected in the staple cartridge 20.
US07922053B2
A feeder for a surface mount placement system includes a feeder body comprising a shaft, a front cover, and a rear cover. The front cover has one end pivotally installed on the feeder body via the shaft, a free end, and a pair of sidewalls respectively extending from two sides of the free end towards the feeder body. The rear cover pivotally installed on the feeder body, including a blocking portion, and the free end of the front cover overlap. The blocking portion is wider than the distance between the sidewalls of the front cover.
US07922050B2
A handgun holster comprising a shaped holster body with a cavity for inserting and withdrawing the gun, which is furnished with a belt loop for attaching the holster to the belt, with a trigger guard and with a security system against removal of the gun from the holster consisting of a restraining strap to go around the gun and a release lever for that strap, mutually connected at a control point by a snap connection.
US07922046B2
A container for supporting a brassiere or a similar garment for cleaning and storage includes opposed flat plate members connected by a hinge, and opposed container cup members connected to the respective plate members at hinge connections for folding the container cup members over the plate members and for folding the plate members with respect to each other to form a closed container for supporting a brassiere. The plate members include hinged support members, each having an arcuate cross shape, for supporting brassiere cups between the plate members and the container cup members. Spaced apart clips secure the brassiere straps to the plate members. Spaced apart latches releasably secure the cup members to the plate members and the plate members to each other for placing the container in a compact folded position.
US07922045B2
A condiment packet is configured to be supported on a surface in a free-standing and upright position. The condiment packet is also configured to be easily opened and manipulated with one hand. The body of the condiment packet preferably has a generally pyramidal or conical shape and a generally flat base. The condiment packet may include a resilient band disposed on the condiment packet that flexes when the condiment packet is squeezed and springs back when pressured is released. Also, the condiment packet may be provided with a closure comprising a frangible bubble disposed in the opening of the condiment packet that can be ruptured by squeezing between the thumb and forefingers to open the condiment packet.
US07922041B2
Spray dispensers and body spray systems are provided. The spray dispensers are suitable for use with aerosol personal care compositions, e.g., body sprays, and are configured to allow removal and replacement of an aerosol spray canister. In some implementations, the spray dispensers include an actuator lock.
US07922040B2
A device and method of clearing non-fluid caulk from a caulk dispensing tube includes drilling a bit member through a thread cleaning device and into the solid caulk blocking the dispensing tube; then removing the bit member from the dispensing tube and reversing the rotational direction of the bit member, allowing the thread cleaning device to clear caulk off of the bit member after it has been removed from the dispensing tube.
US07922037B2
A device for manually dispensing medications is realized, which allows the operator to perform preliminary manual medication dispensing in advance of several subsequent dispensing steps, while facilitating the operator's ability to recognize the region to which each medication is to be dispensed, there by allowing the operator to easily and precisely perform manual dispensing of various kinds of medications.The device for manually dispensing medications includes: a frame member (44) which allows the operator to insert/extract a preliminary dispensing cassette (20), which is partitioned into a multitude of cells (21), via the top face thereof; a lid member (47), which is formed in the shape of a plate, that serves a lid for opening/closing the top face of the frame member, and which has a multitude of insertion openings in the form of through holes with the layout that corresponds to the layout of the cells formed in the preliminary dispensing cassette (20); a multitude of light-emitting units provided to the lid member such that they are associated with the respective insertion openings (48); a screen display unit (41) which displays the names of medications to be manually dispensed; and a control unit (42) which receives a selection with respect to the medication name, and which turns on, from among the light-emitting units (49) thus provided, the light-emitting units that belong to a region to which the medication thus selected is to be manually dispensed.
US07922031B1
An insulating sleeve combination for a frusto-conical beverage cup having an outer peripheral surface is disclosed, as well as a method of use thereof. The combination includes an opaque frusto-conical inner sleeve and a frusto-conical outer sleeve. At least a portion of the outer sleeve is transparent or translucent, such that indicia on the inner sleeve is visible or at least partially visible therethrough. The outer surface of the outer sleeve may includes a textured gripping surface, facilitating the manual grasping of the combination by the user. As such, a customized inner sleeve may be marked to indicate a favorite drink of the user, for example, with the markings being visible through the outer sleeve. The combination of the present invention is designed for repeated use, rendering prior art disposable sleeves unnecessary.
US07922017B2
A child-resistant package includes a container having an open mouth, a conical external surface around the open mouth that widens away from the mouth and a wall extending from the conical external surface. A closure has a base wall, and a peripheral skirt having a first portion adjacent to the base wall and a second portion removably connected to the first portion. An annular first wall extends from the base wall at a position radially inward from the skirt for spring/sealing engagement with the conical external surface of the container. A second wall extends from the base wall at a position radially inward from the first wall and, preferably, at an outward conical angle to the base wall. The second portion of the skirt and the wall on the container have interlocking elements that resist removal of the closure from the container in a child-resistant mode of operation absent a force against the first wall to disengage the interlocking elements. The second portion of the skirt is frangibly removable from the first portion to remove the interlocking elements from the skirt so that the closure is securable to the container in a non-child-resistant mode of operation with the second wall received by snap-fit within the container mouth.
US07922015B2
A storage system for wine bottles is provided that includes at least a portion of a wine barrel. A front head plate of the barrel is provided with multiple openings that are sized to receive the wine bottles to be stored. Support members of various designs are associated with each opening to extend lengthwise through the barrel interior to hold one or more wine bottles. The storage system may be provided in a variety of sizes that include full, half, and third-barrel sizes. A climate control system may be associated with embodiments of the storage system. The storage system may be provided with one barrel or a plurality of barrels arranged in various stacked configurations.
US07922011B2
A modular pipe basket for transporting pipe is disclosed. The modular pipe basket will comprise a rectangular base, two or more stanchions and one or more end caps. In another embodiment, the modular pipe basket will incorporate a storage compartment or bin for storing miscellaneous piping accessories. In addition, the modular pipe basket may be equipped with a four point sling pickup system for lifting the basket with a crane along with the means for lifting the basket with a forklift.
US07922006B2
A filter assembly is provided which includes an outer filter sleeve formed at least in part by a plurality of pleats, an inner filter sleeve formed at least in part by a plurality of pleats, wherein the inner and outer filter sleeves define a passage therebetween. An inlet cap is secured to a first end of the inner and outer filter sleeves and it has at least one inlet port communicating with the passage, and an end cap is secured to a second end of the inner and outer filter sleeves and it has an end surface closing the passage. Methods of forming such a filter assembly are also provided.
US07922002B2
A kit for making jewelry encoded with a secret message. The kit includes a plurality of beads, each bead having an indicator corresponding to an alpha-numeric symbol. The beads are grouped together and held in a container having separate compartments for each grouping. Threads for stringing together the beads are provided and may be elasticized. A first user chooses beads and assembles them in a predetermined order onto a thread to make an article of jewelry. The predetermined order is chosen to encode a secret message. A second user utilizes a decoder to decode the secret message. Two different decoders may be utilized to decode the message. The first is a card depicting each color bead with its corresponding symbol. The second is a device having an individual keyboard key for each alphanumeric symbol where a depiction of each of the beads is shown on the keyboard key.
US07921998B2
A file divider is provided for dividing a series of file folders having hanging rods with opposed ends slidably supported for movement on a file support edge of a file organizer. The file divider includes a body having opposed ends slidably supported for movement on the file support edge between a pair of file folders. The opposed ends have fingers projecting therefrom that are engageable with certain of the hanging rods of the file folders to maintain the stability of the divider bar when the file folders and the file divider bar are slidably moved on the file support edge.
US07921996B2
Provided is a case for a portable electronic device. The case includes an outer part; an inner part coupled to an inner surface of the outer part and including a plurality of holes; and fastening members, each including a main body having an outer diameter corresponding to an inner diameter of the hole in the inner part and a flange portion, wherein the flange portion is connected to an end portion of the main body, has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the main body to be depressed into the inner part.
US07921993B1
A fluid component separation system includes a container that has an upper end comprising a threaded neck. The container has a first fluid therein. A housing has a top wall and a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall has a lower section that includes the bottom edge. An inner surface of the lower section is threaded and is threadably coupled to the threaded neck. A membrane is mounted in the housing and divides the lower section from an upper section of the housing. The upper section has a second fluid therein. A shaft has a top end and a bottom end. The shaft extends through the top wall and the top end is positioned above the top wall. The bottom end is pointed. The shaft is extendable downwardly through the membrane to pierce the membrane and empty the second fluid into the first fluid.
US07921980B2
A device for processing containers with a lip on container support units arranged at regular intervals on a support frame and having at least a container support and a container dish, with the distance from the container support unit to a conveyance plane being changed through variation of the overall height of the container support unit. Also, a method for labeling containers with a support ring, with multiple container support units arranged at regular intervals on the rotating support frame, the container support units having at least a container support and a container dish, with the containers being at least partially clamped between a container support unit and a centering bell during their conveyance through a processing track, and with the distance from a transport plane to the container support unit being varied by changing the overall height of the container support unit according to the size of the containers to be processed.
US07921977B2
Blocking apparatus, as well as a gearbox drive unit containing such a blocking apparatus, as well as a method for production of a gearbox drive unit such as this for blocking any rotary movement of a shaft (14) with respect to a housing (16) of a gearbox drive unit (10), having a first blocking element (32) and having a second blocking element (34) which can be moved axially with respect to the first blocking element (32) by means of an electromagnet (44) and at least one return element (42), in order to produce a connection between the first blocking element (32) and the second blocking element (34) such that they cannot rotate with respect to one another, with the electromagnet (44) having an inner pole (47) which is surrounded by an electrical coil (45), and with the inner pole (47) having an axial projection (51) which engages in a corresponding opening (64) in the second blocking element (34), for axial guidance and centering.
US07921965B1
An improved acoustical floor/ceiling, or wall assembly affixed to a support structure, the assembly using laminar panels. A first one of the laminar panels includes a constraining layer of material with a layer viscoelastic glue on the constraining layer and a layer of material of a first composition on the layer of viscoelastic glue. A second one of the laminar panels includes a constraining layer of material with a layer of viscoelastic glue on the constraining layer of material and a layer of material of a composition different than that of the layer of material in the other laminar panel. In one assembly the material in the first laminar panel is cellulose-based material or wood, and the material in the second laminar panel is gypsum board. Constraining layers of material of metal, cellulose-based material, wood and petroleum-based products such as plastic, vinyl or rubber, ceramic, composite are employed.
US07921958B2
An apparatus for driving a steering shaft in a motor-driven power steering system may include a pinion gear having a joining protrusion and a power transmission bearing member provided with a joining groove to be removably inserted with the joining protrusion of the pinion gear, wherein the power transmission bearing member rotates integrally with the pinion gear by being joined each other when the pinion gear is disengaged from a flywheel ring gear of an engine and thereby transmits rotation force of the power transmission bearing member to the wormwheel connected with a steering shaft.
US07921957B2
A hood airbag device that includes an inflator, and an airbag. The inflator is provided inside a hood at a position corresponding to an opening formed in the hood. The inflator is disposed such that a gas-injection port (is positioned closer to the rear edge of the opening than to the front edge of the opening in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction. The airbag, which is provided inside the hood, passes through the opening and is deployed toward the outside of a vehicle body, due to the pressure of gas supplied from the inflator. Accordingly, the reference position for deployment of the airbag can be made closer to the rear of the vehicle in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction. Thus, the airbag can be deployed to a large extent in the area closer to the rear of the vehicle in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.
US07921956B2
A hydraulic driving vehicle comprises front and rear transaxles incorporating respective hydraulic motors, and a pump unit separated from the front and rear transaxles. The pump unit incorporates a hydraulic pump having a pump shaft. A hydraulic circuit is formed by piping between the pump unit and the front and rear transaxles so as to circulate hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motors. A reservoir tank of the hydraulic fluid is connected to the hydraulic circuit by piping. A first cooling fan blowing air away from the pump unit and a second cooling fan blowing air toward the pump unit are disposed oppositely to each other with respect to the pump unit and drivingly connected to the pump shaft. At least a pipe for the piping of the hydraulic circuit and the reservoir tank passes an area blown by each of the first and second cooling fans.
US07921945B2
A vehicle has an internal combustion engine (ICE) and a electric traction motor (ETM) coupled by a standard transmission through a differential to drive traction wheels. A control system receives sensor signals including speed sensors, a load sensor, and an incline sensors. The control system processes the speed signals to generate indicator signals corresponding to speed of the ETM, the vehicle speed, the shifting gears and the speed of the transmission output shaft. One or more displays present indications of when the speed of a shifting gear corresponding to the speed of the ETM matches the speed of the vehicle thus the speed of the transmission output shaft. An operator may shift, without clutching, from neutral and to a next shifting gear when there is an indication that the speed of the next shifting gear matches the speed of a shifting collar coupled to the transmission output shaft.
US07921943B2
In a hybrid vehicle according to the invention, upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition with regard to a gearshift position or a drive mode, a virtual gearshift position according to a driving condition is set to a tentative target gearshift position SPtmp (steps S471 and S472). An object gearshift position SP* is set based on the tentative target gearshift position SPtmp and a boundary value Srt to have a gentle change with a variation of smaller than 1 (step S473). A torque demand Tr* and a target rotation speed Ne* of an engine corresponding to the object gearshift position SP* are then set based on tentative torque demands Tra and Trb and tentative rotation speeds Nea and Neb in correlation to virtual gearshift positions immediately below and immediately above the object gearshift position SP* (steps S474 to S476)
US07921941B2
A pressurized fluid flow system for a reverse circulation down-the-hole hammer having a cylinder coaxially disposed in between an outer casing and the piston. This piston reciprocates due to changes in pressure of the pressurized fluid contained inside of a front chamber and a rear chamber at opposite sides of the piston, where the flow into and out of these chambers is controlled solely by the overlap or relative position of the piston and the cylinder as a supply chamber and a discharge chamber, which are defined by recesses on the inner surface of the outer casing and separated by a dividing wall, respectively, supply to and discharge from the front and rear chambers, the pressurized fluid. An internal chamber may also be provided in between the piston and a sampling tube coaxial with the outer casing for a more efficient filling of the chambers.
US07921937B2
Drilling tools that may detect and dynamically adjust drilling parameters to enhance the drilling performance of a drilling system used to drill a well. The tools may include sensors, such as RPM, axial force for measuring the weight on a drill bit, torque, vibration, and other sensors known in the art. A processor may compare the data measured by the sensors against various drilling models to determine whether a drilling dysfunction is occurring and what remedial actions, if any, ought to be taken. The processor may command various tools within the bottom hole assembly (BHA), including a bypass valve assembly and/or a hydraulic thruster to take actions that may eliminate drilling dysfunctions or improve overall drilling performance. The processor may communicate with a measurement while drilling (MWD) assembly, which may transmit the data measured by the sensors, the present status of the tools, and any remedial actions taken to the surface.
US07921931B2
In one embodiment, a seeding implement includes a frame configured to couple to a tool bar, a parallel linkage coupled to the frame, and a ground engaging tool extending from a shank, wherein the shank is coupled to the parallel linkage. The implement also includes a packer wheel configured to control a position of the ground engaging tool, wherein the packer wheel is positioned directly behind the ground engaging tool when the ground engaging tool is engaging a soil region. Further, the implement includes an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel rearwardly upon the ground engaging tool encountering an obstruction and to shift the packer wheel forwardly after the obstruction has been passed by the ground engaging tool.
US07921917B2
Methods for deploying a subsea blowout preventer stack system comprising a lower marine riser package, a blowout preventer stack with a first ram blowout preventer, and an additional blowout preventer package releasably coupled to the blowout preventer stack and comprising a second ram blowout preventer. The subsea blowout preventer stack assembly can be deployed by coupling a drilling riser to the lower marine riser package that is releasably connected to the blowout preventer stack. The lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack are then toward a subsea wellhead and then landed on the additional blowout preventer package that is coupled to the subsea wellhead.
US07921916B2
To communicate measurement data from a well, data corresponding to measurement data collected by multiple sensors in a well is transformed downhole and passed to an intermediate communications device, which device in turn passes a subset of that data to a destination communications device. The destination communications device applies a second transformation to the data received from the intermediate communications device. The first and second transformations are designed such that meaningful data can be recovered at the destination communications device even though only a subset of the original transformed data has been received.
US07921914B2
A three-in-one fracturing system is provided, which combines on a single trailer that can be pulled by a single tractor, a blending system for blending a fracturing fluid, a fluid pumping system for pumping the fracturing fluid into the well, and a data cabin for monitoring the operation of the blending system and the fluid pumping system.
US07921913B2
An apparatus and method for protecting temperature sensitive components from the extreme temperatures a hydrocarbon producing wellbore. The apparatus comprises an inner housing encompassed by an exterior housing, where a plenum is formed between the two housings. A vacuum is formed within the plenum. The temperature sensitive components are stored within the inner housing. An aerogel composition is placed on the outer surface of the inner housing thereby providing added insulation for protecting the temperature sensitive component. Optionally the aerogel composition can be added to the inner surface of the outer housing. Yet further optionally, a reflective foil may be disposed over the aerogel composition of the inner housing.
US07921910B2
A proppant composition comprises a non-radioactive, detectable tracer at least partially embedded in a ceramic composition. The composition may be prepared by agglomerating granules of the ceramic material and granules of the non-radioactive, detectable material to produce the particle by compression. Backflow of proppants in a fractured subterranean formation into which a plurality of particles of the proppant composition have been introduced may be tracked by analyzing a sample of the backflow by detecting for presence of the tracer in the sample.
US07921904B2
A heat exchanger including a tube having inlet ends and outlet ends and defining a flow path therebetween. The tube can have a first section and a second section arranged at an angle with respect to the first section. Each of the first section and the second section can include a first subsection and a second subsection arranged at an angle with respect to the first subsection.
US07921897B2
A ladder drum for adjusting and regulating the angular orientation and closure of horizontal slats of a venetian blind, of the type incorporating ladder cords or tape ladders, having a polygonal profiled structure comprising a series of planar sidewalls defining a substantially hollow interior. The number of sidewalls defining the polygonal structure is greater than four sidewalls, and less than or equal to twelve sidewalls, with each adjacent plane sidewall having an internal angular orientation in the range of 90° to 150°. To enhance the uniform closure of the slats of a horizontal blind, the polygonal ladder drum is more preferably in the form of an uneven hexagon that is formed from injection molded plastics. The opposing top and bottom sidewalls are greater in dimension than the mediate sidewalls, and have attachment means to insert various widths of ladder tape. The mediate sidewalls have at least two opposing access slots to insert and retain ladder cords in a counter balanced relation.
US07921883B2
A hydrogen dispenser comprises a programmable controller and a user interface operably connected to the programmable controller. The programmable controller has a plurality of user-selectable hydrogen dispensing rate algorithms. The user interface offers the plurality of user-selectable hydrogen dispensing rate algorithms and is used for setting a user-selected dispensing rate algorithm from among the plurality of user-selectable hydrogen dispensing rate algorithms.
US07921881B2
The present invention is directed to a fluid conduit assembly. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the inventive fluid conduit assembly includes a fluid conduit having an inlet, at least one outlet and a fluid flow passageway therebetween configured to allow for fluid to be communicated between said inlet and said at least one outlet. The inventive fluid conduit assembly further includes at least one damper disposed within the passageway of the fluid conduit. The damper includes a sealed vent configured to vent gases captured by the damper during a brazing process performed on the fluid conduit when unsealed.
US07921880B2
An integrated three-way poppet valve is disclosed with an intermediate pilot port and an integral load holding check valve. The valve incorporates a reverse flow check poppet for load hold capability, which enables a lower cost solution compared to a combination of valves of similar functionality. A control method is also disclosed using an integrated three-way poppet valve to control the flow of hydraulic oil to a cylinder, hydraulic motor, or other hydraulic device in proportion to the amount of a current applied to a solenoid coil. Depending on the current applied, the valve blocks all flow or else permits flow from one inlet port to two outlet ports proportional to the current applied.
US07921877B2
A valve (200) for routing a fluid includes a housing (220) having an inlet (222) and at least one outlet port (224). A valve member (218) is located in the housing (220). The valve (218) member has a wall (232) enclosing a cavity (230). A plurality of inlet openings (234) is formed in the wall (232). At least one of the plurality of inlet openings (234) fluidly connects the inlet (222) of the housing (220) with the cavity (230), and the at least one outlet port (224) may be selectively fluidly connected to the cavity (230).
US07921876B2
A rotary control valve and associated actuator control system. An actuator control system comprises a rotary control valve including a generally planar face seal, and an actuator operatively connected to the rotary control valve. Another actuator control system comprises a control valve including multiple faces having multiple ports formed therein. Fluid communication is selectively permitted and prevented between the ports in response to relative displacement between the faces. A differential area is configured to apply a biasing force which maintains sealing engagement between the faces, and which increases in response to an increase in pressure applied to the control valve.
US07921873B2
A combination overfill protection device, fluid level gauge, includes a service valve having a body defining a set of wrench flats, an input port, and a tank port wherein the overfill protection device has a float that rotates a shaft in response to a change in fluid level, the shaft transitioning the overfill protection device between opened and closed configurations and rotating a magnet within the service valve body proximate the wrench flat and wherein a gauge dial has a dial magnet housing sized to fit proximate to the wrench flat such that rotation of the magnet within the service valve actuates a dial magnet housed substantially in the dial magnet housing.
US07921872B2
A gas valve has housing and a barrier. The housing has a passageway with an upstream port and a downstream port. The barrier is disposed across the passageway and is formed from a material which is porous to compressed gas but which substantially prevents a low-pressure liquid from advancing through the passageway downstream of the barrier. The passageway may also contain a gas conditioner and/or a filter that is preferably disposed downstream of the barrier.In another embodiment, a valve comprises an inlet opening, a passageway extending downstream of the inlet opening, an attachment portion near the inlet opening, and a movable cap adapted to cover the inlet opening. The cap has a range of motion between a first position, wherein the cap covers the inlet opening, and a second position outside of the passageway, wherein the cap is displaced from the inlet opening. The cap is biased towards the first position. The gas valve may further comprise a gas regulator in fluid communication with the passageway.
US07921864B2
A telescoping pole assembly for an erectable, collapsible shelter, includes first and second hollow telescoping sections slidably connected together, the first telescoping section being slidably disposed within the second telescoping section, and a spring loaded detent pin mounted to the second telescoping section. A weighted internal stop member is slidably disposed within the first telescoping section for movement between a first position and a second position. The internal stop member blocks the spring loaded detent pin in the first position, and the internal stop member does not block the spring loaded detent pin in the second position.
US07921857B2
An applicator for applying a composition to eyelashes and/or eyebrows may include: a stem; and an applicator member at one end of the stem. The applicator member may include: a support that is made of plastics material, and that is elongate along a longitudinal axis. The support may be connected at a proximal end to the stem, and may include a free distal end. The support may include only two branches that extend along the longitudinal axis of the support. The branches may form a single opening therebetween, and together may define a greatest width of the support. At least one row of applicator elements may be disposed on one of the branches. The at least one row may include applicator elements which, over at least half of their length, extend other than over the opening.
US07921850B2
Systems and methods selectively stabilize tissue in the oral cavity. The systems and methods provide a first material sized and configured to be fitted to less mobile tissue in the oral cavity, e.g., the roof of the mouth or upper/lower teeth. The systems and methods provide a second material sized and configured to be releasably fitted to more mobile tissue in the oral cavity, e.g., a region of the tongue. The second material is magnetically attracted toward the first material to stabilize a preferred tissue orientation. During sleep, the systems and methods restrain movement of the more mobile tissue within the oral cavity toward positions in which snoring and/or sleep apnea events can occur, but are capable of otherwise leaving the tongue unaffected during waking hours.
US07921847B2
The present invention is directed to a novel device and method for providing a disposable endotracheal intubation device for use with an auxiliary passageway serving as a guide for the placement of an orogastic or other enterally directed device in a patient. The present invention pertains to a combination intubation device comprising an endotracheal tube and a catheter proximate the endotracheal tube to guide the path of an enteral tube. In a preferred embodiment, the endotracheal tube is capable of defining an arcuate path in a first geometric plane between its proximal end and its distal end to facilitate introduction of the tube into the trachea of a patient. In a preferred embodiment, the catheter employs a fenestration to facilitate removal of the intubation device from the patient without removal of any enteral device previously directed therethrough into the patient.
US07921843B1
A mounting system that is used to mount a solar panel array to a flat roof. The system utilizes mounting supports that hold solar panels at an inclined angle. Each mounting support includes a first mounting ledge, a second mounting ledge, a flat base section and an inclined section that is disposed between the flat base section and the first mounting ledge. The first mounting ledge, second mounting ledge, flat base section and inclined section are all integrally formed from a common sheet of metal. A solar panel is attached between two of the mounting supports. Once mounted, the solar panel extends from the first mounting ledge of a first mounting support to a second mounting ledge of a second mounting support. Weights are then placed on the flat base section of the mounting supports to passively anchor the assembly to the roof.
US07921841B2
The present invention is directed to improving the conventional high-speed cooking oven based on a combination of hot air impingement and microwave heating by providing a time-dependent spatial variation in the net air impingement and/or net microwave energy applied to the food product in the oven. This is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and microwave efficiencies in a high-speed cooking oven, thereby enabling the oven to deliver an optimal cooking efficiency in comparison to the conventional high-speed cooking oven. In addition, under the present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load. With the optimized cooking efficiency provided by the present invention, the high speed cooking technology may now be extended to ovens operating on a power supply based on a voltage less than 220 volts, preferably between 110 and 125 volts, with more productive results, so that the high-speed cooking technology may find a wider applicability and customer base.
US07921838B2
An apparatus for firing a non-lethal projectile comprises a body with an internal cavity. A light source may be disposed in the cavity to illuminate an area outside the body. A firing mechanism may also be provided to cause a projectile to be propelled through the body.
US07921829B2
A cooling water circulation system (100) is configured so that cooling water is delivered from a water pump (113) toward a cylinder head (111) via a pump delivery pipe (114). Further, the system (100) is configured so that an engine block cooling switching section (170) changes the supply of the cooling water from the cylinder head (111) to a cylinder block (112) in accordance with a cooling water temperature. An EGR cooler branch pipe (151), which branches off from the pump delivery pipe (114), is connected to an EGR cooler (150). The EGR cooler branch pipe (151) is provided with an EGR cooler cooling switching valve (153) that opens or closes in accordance with an operating state.
US07921824B2
The invention relates to an ignition device comprising a manually activatable slide that determines the desired working position of the slide by means of a slide control system. One such slide control system consists of a cam and a rod guided in said cam. The inventive ignition device also comprises an ignition switch which is electrically connected to the motor and can be switched between different switching positions according to the translatory movement of the slide. According to the invention, the ignition switch is embodied as a rotary switch comprising an input member for switching the contacts thereof. A rotor (30) is mounted in the housing in a rotary manner and connected to the input member of the ignition switch in a rotationally fixed manner. The rotor (30) forms part of the slide control system comprising at least two lock-in positions (38.1, 38.2) for at least two stable working positions (25.1, 25.3) of the slide. During the activation of the slide, the slide control system converts the translatory movement of the slide into a rotary movement (36) of the rotary switch.
US07921813B2
A blower system for livestock may include a housing. An air inlet may be located on the housing. One or more motors may be located in the housing. One or more fans may be coupled to at least one of the motors. The fans may be located in the housing. The fans may draw air in through the air inlet and expel air out through an air outlet located on the housing. An insulated region may retain heat in the housing. The blower system may be portable. The blower system may allow a user to apply the air from the air outlet to livestock.
US07921807B2
An inflatable bed is filled with a fluid, whether it is a gas or a liquid, a desirable, in order to form a comfortable bed. The durable pet bed has at least two layers of bullet resistant fabric therein, with a fluid chamber therein protected on all sides by the bullet resistant fabric layers and capable of receiving a gas, fluid, gel, or liquid to provide comfort and safety for the pet using the bed.
US07921806B2
The invention refers to a teatcup part and a teatcup to be attached to a teat of an animal. The teatcup includes the teatcup part (1) and a connection part (2). The teatcup part is disengageably mountable to the connection part. The teatcup part (1) includes a shell (3) and a teatcup liner (4) having an upper opening (5) and a lower opening (6). The liner forms an inner space (11) for receiving the teat through the upper opening and a pulsation chamber (12) between the liner and the shell. The connection part includes a milk-discharging member for the discharge of milk from the teatcup, and a milk channel (35) extending between the lower opening of the inner space of the liner and the milk-discharging member. The connection part also includes a pulse-supplying member for the supply of a pulsating pressure to the pulsation chamber, and a pulse channel extending between the pulsation chamber and the pulse-supplying member.
US07921795B2
A buoyancy control system for a submersible object submerged in an ambient fluid, comprising a piston housing, a piston member, a pump, control fluid, and working fluid. The piston housing is supported by the submersible object. The piston member defines a piston portion and a shaft portion. The piston member is supported within the piston housing such that the piston portion and the piston housing define a control chamber and an ambient chamber and the shaft portion and the piston housing define a working chamber. The pump is operatively connected to the working chamber. The control fluid is arranged within the control chamber. At least a portion of the working fluid is arranged within the working chamber. Operation of the pump displaces working fluid within the working chamber to displace the piston member to alter a volume of the control chamber.
US07921793B2
An airborne tugboat with three hulls (4): an underbody (4), surface body (5) and inflatable body (6). When stationed on shore the inflatable body is not activated, but is folded up against the surface body. Gas turbine (1) drives the propeller (3) via the reduction gear (2). The rotatable ring (8) round the propeller makes the airborne tugboat maneuverable, and when the disabled ship is towed, it will be able to influence towing direction without the risk of the airborne tugboat heeling over. By its design the airborne tugboat should be regarded as a slow-moving towing boat where the speed is low but the power in the towing direction is great. The design is characterised by low weight in all machinery and equipment. The amount of fuel restricts the operating time, but the helicopter and airborne tugboat, for example, use the same fuel, thus providing the advantage that the helicopter can refuel the airborne tugboat before it returns to base.
US07921791B2
A portable water level-responsive mooring device has a mooring strap with a ring capable of engaging the mooring device around a dock piling. The mooring strap has a suitable length of cord having a clip or ring on each end capable of releasably attaching to a fender, spacing tubes, and rollers. The spacing tubes and rollers have an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the spacing tubes and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cord. The cord is positioned within an arrangement of the spacing tubes and rollers, the length of cord being sufficient to wrap around a dock piling.
US07921780B2
A projectile (10) comprises a cylindrical body (12) with a first (leading) end (14) and a second trailing axially opposed end (16). An internal cavity (18) is formed between the ends (14 and 16) and holds a volume of propellant material (22). The first end (14) is closed by a nose (20) that is fixed to the body (12). The end (14) is sealed with a base seal (26) that seats a primer (24) for igniting the propellant (22). The primer (24) is located inboard of the second end (16) and the base seal (26) to reduce the likelihood of accidental activation. Seals (30) are formed about the body (12) for maintaining gas pressure of deflagrating propellant. The seals (30) may be formed integrally with the body (12) or separately from the body (12) and seated in respective grooves (40) formed circumferentially about the body (12). Also disclosed is a breech sleeve (810) shaped to complement the breech of the weapon and a throughway (816) defined by an internal surface, the projectile being able to pass through the throughway (816).
US07921774B1
An initiator with a housing formed of plastic and a chip assembly for initiating at least one of a combustion event, a deflagration event and a detonation event. The chip assembly includes an electrically-actuated chip and a pair of electric leads that extend through the housing and are configured to couple the electrically-actuated chip to a fireset circuit. The electrically-actuated chip is partially encapsulated in the housing. A method for forming an initiator is also provided.
US07921773B2
A doctor blade system utilizes a lightweight doctor blade chamber to apply ink to an inking roller. The doctor blade chamber is removably positioned on a support plate which is, in turn, carried by linear guides on pivotable end plates. A rigid box beam is also attached to the end plates and is spaced from the support plate. A plurality of membrane cylinders are mounted on the rigid box beam and engage a surface of the support plate opposite to the surface that supports the doctor blade chamber. Through the application of suitable force, the support plate and its supported doctor blade chamber can be moved, by sliding motion on the linear slides, into uniform engagement with the surface of the ink roller. The system uses pivotable end plates which are supported by exterior plates that are, in turn, pivotably supported by press side frames. The chamber doctor blade and its support plate and box beam can be moved into several different positions, with respect to the cooperating ink roller, to facilitate doctor blade chamber cleaning or replacement or ink roller replacement.
US07921771B2
A web-fed rotary printing machine has at least one printing unit and at least one turning bar that is usable to redirect a travel direction of a web that is to be conveyed. The turning bar has an effective length, for redirecting the web. A projection of this effective length corresponds with the width of the incoming web which is of at least four adjacently arranged printed pages in newspaper format.
US07921742B2
A mounting and suspension system for mounting non-contact sliding measurement devices to the side of objects that slide on snow or ice like skis, snowboards, sleds, luges, and ice skates. A base component permanently attached to the sliding object allows a quick disconnect of the rest of the device. A linkage component permits the retraction of the measurement device relative to the sliding object in such a way that the measurement device remains aligned with the surface being measured while minimizing lateral displacement and fully retracted vertical height such that accurate measurement is obtained at any angle of sliding object relative to the surface of snow or ice. A bias device keeps the measurement device in firm contact with the surface without interfering with the use of the sliding object. A safety device prevents injury to user and damage to measurement device in case of impact with an external obstacle or fall.
US07921741B2
Model human hands (902) for use in electromagnetic (e.g., microwave and RF) testing comprise a skeleton (1200, 104) of dielectric tubes (142, 148, 166, 170, 174, 178, 206, 208, 210, 1202, 1212, 1214, 1216, 1228, 1230, 1236, 1240, 1242, 194, 195, 196) inside a glove (908) that is filled with a fluid that has electrical properties that match that of a typical human hand at a particular frequency. According to certain embodiments the model hands comprise thumbs (193, 1236) that are located out of a plane of palms of the model hands. According to one embodiment the dielectric tubes are pivotally coupled to each other and biasing means (181,702) are provided to bias the hand into a gripping position so that the model human hand is able to grip different types of wireless communication devices (802) in different ways.
US07921737B2
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device and method for operating the device to determine a property of a fluid. The device has a tube that extends from a base and is spaced apart from a substrate surface for vibrational movement in a plane normal to the surface. The tube defines a continuous internal passage having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet fluidically connected to the base. A cantilevered member attached to a distal portion of the tube opposite the base is configured for vibrational movement relative to the distal portion. A drive electrode operable to induce vibrational movements in the tube and cantilevered member is disposed on the substrate surface. Sensing electrodes are disposed on the substrate surface for sensing Coriolis-induced deflections of the tube when vibrated, generating outputs from which a property of a fluid flowing through the tube can be determined.
US07921724B2
A single pressure sensing capsule has a reference pressure ported to the rear side of a silicon sensing die. The front side of the silicon sensing die receives a main pressure at another port. The silicon sensing die contains a full Wheatstone bridge on one of the surfaces and within the active area designated as the diaphragm area. Thus, the difference of the main and reference pressure results in the sensor providing an output equivalent to the differential pressure, namely the main pressure minus the reference pressure which is the stress induced in a sensing diaphragm. In any event, the reference pressure or main pressure may be derived from a pump pressure which is being monitored. The pump pressure output is subjected to a pump ripple or a sinusoidally varying pressure. In order to compensate for pump ripple, one employs a coiled tube. The tube length is selected to suppress the pump ripple as applied to the sensor die. In this manner, the pump ripple cannot cause resonance which would result in pressure amplification and which pressure amplification would destroy the sensor.
US07921721B2
An oil-filled pressure transducer including a glass pre-form having contact pins and a oil-filled tube, each running top to bottom through holes in the pre-form. The oil-filled tube extends beyond the top of the pre-form. A glass alignment plate has an alignment aperture designed to fit over the extended oil-filled tube and-another aperture placed at a predetermined position from the alignment aperture which is shaped to accommodate a sensor. When the plate is aligned over the oil-filled tube, a sensor module can be positioned accurately in the alignment aperture so that contact is made with the pins. A header having a central diaphragm is placed over the pre-form and the aligned sensor creating a space between the diaphragm and the sensor which is filled with oil. The transducer utilizes less oil and exhibits a lower backpressure with increasing temperature than other oil-filled pressure transducers of similar size.
US07921719B2
A method and apparatus for measuring gas pressure by combining an ionization gauge with at least one other vacuum sensor. Nonvolatile memory coupled to the vacuum gauge contains calibration parameters unique to each individual sensor based on factory calibration. The nonvolatile memory may contain calibration parameters for a heat-sensitive vacuum sensor to compensate for the temperature gradients generated by the ionization gauge. The calibration parameters are a function of calibration data determined when the ionization gauge is both on and off. The nonvolatile memory may store a window of measurement data of the vacuum gauge that is updated at predetermined time intervals and in response to an event, such as an error event, to aid in investigating the cause of vacuum gauge malfunction or failure.
US07921701B2
A lift mechanism diagnostic system comprises a fuel pump disabling module, a pressure module, and a diagnostic module. The fuel pump disabling module selectively disables a fuel pump that is driven by a camshaft. The pressure module determines a first pressure of fluid provided to a variable valve lift mechanism when the variable valve lift mechanism is operated in a first lift mode while the fuel pump is disabled and determines a second pressure of the fluid when the variable valve lift mechanism is operated in a second lift mode while the fuel pump is disabled. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in the variable valve lift mechanism based on the first and second pressures.
US07921697B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring an underdrain in a filter system for filtering water or wastewater. At least one diagnostic condition relating to the performance of the underdrain is monitored to determine if the underdrain is operating in an acceptable manner.
US07921694B2
A leak detector for detecting a leak in a line includes a transmitting device for generating radiation to be coupled into the line. By a receiving device, radiation that has emerged from the line through a leak is received, as a result of which the leak becomes detectable.
US07921693B2
A photo acoustic detection cell (6) is located within the optical cavity (3) of a cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy apparatus (3,4,5). When a sample in the cell (6) absorbs radiation from a pulsed radiation beam coupled into the cavity (3) pressure waves are generated that are detected by a microphone (9). A detected signal (10) output by the microphone (9) may be processed to determine a value for the concentration of an absorber in the sample.
US07921692B2
A sensor of the present invention includes a sensor element; a metallic shell; an outer tube member fixed to a rear end portion of the metallic shell; and a protective outer tube member covering an outer surface of the outer tube member. The outer tube member has a seal portion being circumferentially in contact with the protective outer tube member directly or via another member, and a front-side separation portion located frontward of the seal portion and spaced apart from and facing the protective outer tube member. A metal coating layer (plating layer) is formed on the outer surface of at least the front-side separation portion of the outer tube member.
US07921689B2
An improved method and apparatus are provided for constructing and operating a linear actuator, and equipment incorporating a linear actuator, by operatively connecting a pressure biasing pneumatic arrangement between the driving member and the driven member of a mechanical linear actuator for applying a unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members, along an axis of motion, regardless of the location or movement of the driving and driven elements with respect to one another along the axis of motion. The pneumatic biasing arrangement is also configured, connected and operated to reduce the force which must be exerted by the driving and driven members in extending and retracting the linear actuator. The pneumatic biasing arrangement may further be configured for preferentially aiding extension or retraction of the actuator.
US07921683B2
The locking container is a selectively lockable container for the storage of used cooking oil and the like. The locking container includes a reservoir and both front and side locking mechanisms. The front and side locking mechanisms selectively retain a screen within the reservoir. The container is adapted for the disposal of oils, solvents, acids and various other liquid wastes. The pair of locking mechanisms allow access for storing the liquid waste in the container, but prevent unauthorized removal of the liquid waste. The container includes a lid to cover the screen, with the lid being secured by the front locking mechanism. The side locking mechanism locks the screen to the reservoir.
US07921675B2
A method of making an optical fiber preform includes depositing silica glass soot on the inside of a substrate tube via a chemical vapor deposition operation. The silica glass soot is consolidated into silica glass under controlled conditions such that the consolidated silica glass on the interior of the substrate tube contains a non-periodic array of gaseous voids in a cladding region of the optical fiber preform. The optical fiber preform may be used to produce an optical fiber having a core and a cladding containing voids formed from the gaseous voids of the cladding region of the optical fiber preform. The core of the optical fiber has a first index of refraction and the cladding has a second index of refraction less than that of the core.
US07921673B2
An apparatus for measuring the weight of a preform for optical fibers during a chemical deposition process for the formation of a preform is disclosed. The apparatus has at least one elastic constraint associated with at least one end portion of an elongated element made of a chemical deposition substrate for the formation of the preform, a device for inducing an oscillation, for example axial, on said elongated element, a device for detecting the frequency of oscillation of said elongated element, and a device for calculating the weight of the preform according to the detected frequency of oscillation. Advantageously, the device allows the realisation of a method for measuring the weight of the preform wherein the errors in measurement caused by thermal drift effects, by the axial distribution of the masses on the preform and by loads which are different from the mass of the preform in formation are reduced to below the required precision in measurement.
US07921672B2
A method for manufacturing a GRIN lens includes the steps of forming a wet gel provided with a concentration distribution having a different concentration of a refractive index distribution imparting metal that differs in concentration in a radial direction, drying the wet gel to form a dry gel having a bulk specific gravity ρ (g/cm3), sintering the dry gel to form a GRIN lens base material and stretching the GRIN lens base material while heating. The method is characterized in that, in the step of sintering the dry gel, partial pressures of oxygen during sintering at 800° C. or higher are 10−1 Pa or lower and also the relation between a rate of temperature increase v (° C./hr) and a bulk density ρ of the dry gel during sintering at 1,000 to 1,150° C. is defined by v≦105*EXP (−12ρ). As a result of this, the GRIN lens, which has a large numerical aperture and a small diameter, can stably and easily be manufactured.
US07921662B2
A hydrogen fuel automobile has a heat medium passage through which a heat medium which can exchange heat with a drive portion and can be supplied to a heat medium pipe for a hydrogen tank flows. An air cooling apparatus has a compressor for compressing a refrigerant gas, a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant circuit. The hydrogen fuel automobile is provided with a bypass passage which branches from the refrigerant circuit so that expanded refrigerant liquid detours the evaporator so as to be drawn into the compressor. A switch portion can switch between a state where the refrigerant liquid passes through the evaporator so as to be drawn into the compressor and a state where the refrigerant liquid detours the evaporator so as to flow through the bypass passage. The hydrogen storage material cooling portion cools the hydrogen storage material in the hydrogen tank using the refrigerant liquid that flows through the bypass passage. Accordingly, the time for filling the tank with hydrogen can be made short in comparison with a case where the radiator and the fan mounted in the automobile are used to cool the hydrogen tank when the tank is being filled with hydrogen.
US07921658B2
A door mounted dispenser for a refrigerator includes rear and opposing side walls that collectively define a cavity, a release mechanism for dispensing ice and/or water and a light for illuminating the cavity. The cavity light can be operated in one of three distinct modes, i.e., in a first mode wherein the cavity light is continuously illuminated, in a second mode wherein the cavity light is illuminated only through activation of the release mechanism, and in a third mode wherein the cavity light is illuminated based upon a sensed level of ambient light present at or near the refrigerator. In the third mode, the cavity light is illuminated at a first level based upon ambient light and a second, higher level when the release mechanism is operated. The level of ambient light necessary to activate the cavity light can be set by a consumer through control panel inputs.
US07921639B2
An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust-gas tract and a supply system for combustion air. A compressor of an exhaust-gas turbocharger is disposed in the supply system for combustion air. A turbine of the exhaust-gas turbocharger, a first particulate filter, and an adjustable exhaust-gas throttle are disposed in series in a downstream direction in the exhaust-gas tract. A low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas tract downstream of the first particulate filter and discharges into the supply system for combustion air upstream of the compressor. An exhaust-gas recirculation cooler, an exhaust-gas recirculation valve, and a second particulate filter with a filter mesh size of at least 50 μm are disposed in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line.
US07921629B2
A method for producing a multiaxial contexture, from fiber materials, winds mono-axial contexture from at least one storage device about a winding plane, wherein the winding plane and the at least one storage device rotate about one another, in order to wind the mono-axial contexture about the winding plane. In order to prevent twisting the mono-axial contextures and to facilitate pulling it off from the winding plane, a vibration drive is proposed, which imparts mechanical vibrations onto the winding plane.
US07921628B2
The present invention is a compact fruit-vine harvester and separation system in which the harvested fruit travels along a vertical plane inside the harvester during processing, followed by a single turn for output. The system includes a machine and related methods for harvesting vine-borne crops. The machine provides for vine borne crops to be severed, separated, cleaned and machine-sorted along a straight path before making a single turn prior to exit. The machine incorporates a blower and/or suction system for efficient removal of unwanted dirt, vegetation and debris, and an optional roller to prevent clogging of the suction system.
US07921625B1
An instrument for impermanent sealed perforation of thin-walled, hermetically sealed packaging. The instrument includes a longitudinally tapered needle and a septum with a hole. The underside of the septum is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The hole through the septum is configured and arranged to permit unrestricted passage of the distal longitudinal end portion of the needle through the hole, while sealingly engaging the longitudinal midsection of the needle. The septum is incapable of sealing the hole through the septum after withdrawal of the needle from the hole.
US07921613B2
Terraced structured land joint and assembly system is disclosed, and includes a plurality of ball joints, each providing monolithic anchors for a plurality of compression and tension members. Tension members reside within compression members. Compression/tension members are linked between ball joints by couplers and turnbuckles, defining structured land including planar space frames, horizontal truss members, and vertical truss members. Structural forces are transferred through the ball joints into horizontal and vertical truss members, with resultant loads transferred to the ground.
US07921609B2
Room arrangements include at least two superposed prefabricated load-bearing room units. The room units have a ceiling, a floor and at least two walls that are made at least mainly of cellular board. Ships, buildings and methods for constructing a room arrangement are also provided, especially the construction of multi-storey rooms, for example, cabin compartments in ships or block of flats without middle decks or intermediate floors.
US07921606B2
A hip, ridge or rake shingle comprised of a plurality of panels sandwiched on each panel portion side of a layer of shingle material, such that each panel portion can be folded along a fold line, and wherein tabs are provided for each panel portion, adapted to be bent backwardly upon themselves, sandwiching thickening panels therebetween. The shingles can be laid up on a hip, ridge or rake of a roof, to yield desirable thickened features.
US07921603B2
A fire-resistant door jamb system may incorporate wood components, fire-resistant material, intumescent material and may include a bracket set including an L-shaped fixed bracket for installing a door jamb assembly in a wall.
US07921597B2
A horticultural cut flower container assembly comprising a plastic bag with a folded cross shaped base member of flexible foam material secured to the bag, the cross shaped foam material being adapted to receive the stem ends of a bunch of cut flowers and a drawstring mounted to the bag encircling the bag and stem ends of a bunch of cut flowers to hold the stem ends in said bag in a secured position.
US07921593B2
A trap having a housing, and a snare pivotally joined with the housing. The trap has an opening that provides a passageway for a rodent to enter the housing. The snare may pivot between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a rodent may enter the housing and position itself at least partially in the snare. A trigger is located inside the housing, so that when the trigger is triggered by a rodent, the snare pivots to its second position, snaring at least a portion of the rodent in the snare, and trapping against the housing.
US07921592B2
A strike indicator for a fishing device is provided. The signaling mechanism of the strike indicator is activated by a trigger. Either the trigger or the signaling mechanism is attached to a rotating component of the fishing device. An optional location beacon or fish attractor light may be incorporated into the signaling mechanism.
US07921591B1
An aiming system having a two-tone colored rear sight lens as the primary aiming component. The lens is held in an L-shaped lens frame which also incorporated conventional “iron sights.” The two-tone colored lens has an outside perimeter portion of one color and a central portion of another color. The lens frame can fold or rotate forward from an upright locked position to a locked-down position using a manually activated one-handed operation.
US07921583B2
A medication dosage reminder and confirmation sleeve apparatus and associated method for use in connection with a medicine container, comprising: a sleeve material, comprising a closed surface with a circumference substantially equal to a circumference of the medicine container with which the apparatus is to be used, wherein the sleeve material will conform to a shape of, and fit snugly upon, the medicine container, when placed over at least part of the medicine container; and affixed to the sleeve material, at least one tearable dosage reminder and confirmation sheet comprising a plurality of dosage tabs; wherein: when one of the dosage tabs is removed from the dosage reminder and confirmation sheet, a residue remains attached to the dosage reminder and confirmation sheet to indicate that the dose associated with the removed tab has been consumed; and the sleeve material in combination with the at least one tearable dosage reminder and confirmation sheet can, at will, be attached to, removed from, and adjusted upon the medicine container.
US07921579B1
An insert for a pointe shoe or other shoe provides a simple, efficient way to secure ribbons, elastic, and loops to the shoe.
US07921575B2
A method is provided for assembling a measurement device for use in measuring a machine component. The method includes providing a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). The method also includes combining ultrasonic inspection (UT) capabilities and CMM capabilities to form an inspection probe. The inspection probe is installed on the CMM so that the inspection probe measures external boundaries of the machine component with the CMM capabilities and substantially simultaneously measures internal boundaries of the machine component with the UT capabilities.
US07921573B1
A method of monitoring verticality of a sinking caisson having a tip. A pole is inserted into the earth to a pole depth substantially corresponding to a desired final depth of the caisson tip, one or more levels are coupled to the pole, and an elevation of the levels(s) is established. Scales are carried on an interior surface of the caisson in spaced circumferential locations and in reference to the caisson tip, and the level(s) is applied to the scales to indicate heights from the caisson tip corresponding to the circumferential locations of the scales. Tip elevations corresponding to the circumferential locations of the scales are determined by subtracting the indicated heights from the established elevation of the level(s). Any tilt of the caisson is calculated from any differences among the determined tip elevations.
US07921572B2
Multiple instances of a geomagnetic field are calculated. Multiple instances of an average magnitude of a subset of the instances of the geomagnetic field are also calculated. When the average magnitude changes by more than a first predetermined threshold, the user is informed that compass accuracy has degraded. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US07921555B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine has annular cooling passage arranged in the vicinity of the piston crown and radially on the outside, which, in those regions of the pin bosses which lie close to the boss holes, has boss cooling passages which are connected to the cooling passage and are intended for improved cooling of the pin bosses.
US07921554B2
A method of manufacturing a medical electrical device is presented. An inner diameter and an outer diameter of a connector ring is machined to form a first and a second flange extending from the inner diameter. An electric discharge machining wire burner is used to form a conductor channel in the inner diameter of the connector ring. A conductor is positioned within the conductor channel. A first distal end of the first flange is coupled to a second distal end of the second flange.
US07921550B2
A process for forming a circuit structure includes providing a first composite-layer structure at first. A second composite-layer structure is then provided. The first composite-layer structure, a second dielectric layer and the second composite-layer structure are pressed so that a second circuit pattern and an independent via pad are embedded in the second dielectric layer, and the second dielectric layer is connected to the first dielectric layer. A first carrier substrate and a second carrier substrate are removed to expose a first circuit pattern and the second circuit pattern. At least one first opening that passes through the second dielectric layer and exposes the independent via pad is formed, and the first opening is filled with a conductive material to form a second conductive via that connects the independent via pad and a second via pad.
US07921549B2
A tool for changing first and second parts of a connector from a pre-assembly relationship into an assembled relationship. The tool is portable and has a frame with an operating mechanism thereon. The operating mechanism has a plunger that is movable to thereby change the relationship of the connector parts. The operating mechanism is operable by a pressurized fluid within a container that is connected to the frame.
US07921540B2
A linkage assembly (140) is used for mechanically coupling an armature (124) and a diaphragm (118) of a balanced receiver (100), the linkage assembly (140) formed from a first linkage member (822) displaced from a strip of stock material (800) relative to the plane of the stock material (800) and a second linkage member (826) displaced from the strip (800) relative to the plane. The first and second linkage members (822, 826) are then joined while secured to the strip (800). At least one severable connecting member (870a-c) securing the linkage member to the strip (800) is severed to release the linkage member from the strip for assembly of the linkage member into the receiver. A method of forming a three-dimensional structure from flat stock is used to form the linkage assembly (140).
US07921533B2
The refractory protected, replaceable insert for a gasifier includes a replaceable floor edge insert that is formed with a predetermined mating profile that is complementary to a finished mating profile of the gasifier floor. The geometry of the mating profiles of the replaceable floor edge insert and the gasifier floor permit removable engagement between the floor edge insert and the mating profile of the gasifier floor. The replaceable floor edge insert is protected by a ring-like arrangement of hanging refractory bricks that each include an appendage. Each brick appendage covers a portion of the inner radial edge of the replaceable floor edge insert and also covers an upper surface portion of an underlying quench ring, thus prolonging the life of the floor and the quench ring. A refractory ceramic fiber paper can be provided between the hanging brick and the floor edge and quench ring. Also, a refractory ceramic fiber rope can be provided at the inner peripheral edge of the replaceable floor edge insert upon the upper surface of the quench ring, and overlaid by the appendage.
US07921527B2
A towel clip for securing a towel around the waist of a user, the towel clip typically including a body. The body has a longitudinal axis, and an inner and outer surface. The body has a first leg and a second leg and a bridge section. The bridge section is typically semicircular and the first leg and second extend outward therefrom. An embodiment of Applicant's towel clip includes a convex upper rail located on the inner surface of the first leg and a pair of convex lower rails spaced apart on the lower legs and extending upward from the inner surface of the lower leg. The bridge section is resilient and the legs will spread apart to exert pressure on a folded towel to secure the same.
US07921523B2
A buckle set, two of which pair off for being inset in frame of the swimming goggles on two sides so that a strap can be inserted in the buckle sets for fastening the swimming goggles on user's face. Structure of the present invention features a 2nd bump, which keeps the buckle in effective spacing even when the buckle is loaded with force and thus keeping the buckle well covered by the buckle hood.
US07921522B2
A draw cord adjuster includes a closure member having a first end and a second end. At least one locking member is anchored to one of the first end and the second end of the closure member. At least one anchoring member is positioned proximate the one of the first end and the second end of the closure member to which a corresponding locking member is anchored, with each anchoring member being movably secured to the corresponding locking member.
US07921521B2
A deflection device for an anti skid chain includes a chain wheel rotatably stored in a housing for the accommodation of a chain which can be inserted into the chain wheel, and an actuating element that can be moved between a locking position, in which the movement of the chain wheel is blocked in one direction, and an unlocking position in which said blocking is released, and which engages, via a locking pawl actuated by said actuating element, a toothed ring non-rotatably connected to the chain wheel, which is in the form of an internally-toothed ring of the chain wheel. The locking pawl is pivotally mounted within the interior space surrounded by the toothed ring. The locking pawl engages the toothed ring in the locking position but disengages the same in the unlocking position of the actuating element.
US07921520B2
In an apparatus for the fiber-sorting or fiber-selection of a fiber bundle comprising textile fibers, especially for combing, clamping devices are provided which clamp the fiber bundle at a distance from its free end, and a mechanical arrangement is present which generates a combing action from the clamping site to the free end, in order to loosen and remove non-clamped constituents. To enable productivity to be substantially increased in a simple manner and an improved combed sliver to be obtained, downstream of the supply device there are arranged at least two rotatably mounted rollers, clamping devices being distributed spaced apart in the region of at least one said roller's periphery, and the arrangement for generating a combing action is inside the roller.
US07921517B2
In an apparatus for the fiber-sorting or fiber-selection of a fiber bundle comprising textile fibers, especially for combing, which is supplied to a fiber-sorting device, especially a combing device, having clamping devices which clamp the fiber bundle at a distance from its free end, which is combed to remove non-clamped constituents, the clamping devices each comprise two clamping jaws. To increase productivity and to enable an improved combed sliver to be obtained, downstream of the supply device there are arranged at least two rotatably mounted rollers rotating rapidly without interruption, the clamping devices being spaced apart in the region of the periphery of the rollers, and each clamping device comprising at least one nipper part at least partially of a lightweight material. The clamping jaws may have a high coefficient of friction in the region of their clamping surfaces.
US07921511B2
A door closer comprises a spindle journaled in a housing and connected to turn with a door. Upon rotation of the spindle, a cam carried by the spindle effects linear movement of a slide assembly relative to the housing. A piston is connected with the slide assembly. Passages are provided in the housing to permit flow of fluid in the housing in response to movement of the piston. A spring assembly disposed outside of the housing is connected to the piston. Rotation of the spindle and cam during door opening moves the slide assembly, thereby compressing the spring assembly for storing energy for urging the piston and the slide assembly in the opposite door closing direction.
US07921507B2
A heating apparatus and a cleaner having the same are disclosed. The heating apparatus includes a heating casing to receive water from a water container and convert the water into steam, wherein the heating casing comprises a plurality of ribs and each successive rib comprises a space to collect water and convert the water into steam. The cleaner includes a cleaner body in which a water container is detachably mounted, a nozzle assembly rotatably connected to a lower part of the cleaner body and including a nozzle to inject steam, and a heating apparatus that includes a heating casing to receive water from the water container, convert the water into steam, and supply the steam to the nozzle assembly, wherein the heating casing includes a plurality of ribs and each successive rib includes a space to collect water and convert the water into steam.
US07921502B1
This patent discloses a system to remove accumulated snow and ice from the trailer rooftop of the semi-trailer truck. The system includes tracks, sensors, a control switch, a blade, an axle, a left cogwheel, a right cogwheel, a left motor, and a right motor. The tracks are attached to the trailer rooftop and the blade is connected to the tracks through the left cogwheel and the right cogwheel. The left and right cogwheel may rotate about the axle that passes through the blade. The left motor and the right motor are configured to be in communication with the sensors and control switch. If the sensors detect snow on the trailer rooftop or if the control switch is pressed, the motors cause the blade to move along the trailer rooftop to clear off any accumulated snow.
US07921495B2
An end face (20) of one (10a) of two adjacent thick steel plates (10a, 10b) intended to construct a corner joint of a bridge column is formed into a beveled end face (22). Laser beam welding is applied to a root portion (24) of the beveled end face, and arc welding is applied to bevels (26, 28) thereof so that grooves defined by the bevels (26, 28) are filled with weld metal (40).
US07921486B2
A patient lift has a base, a mast assembly mounted on the base at the lower end, a boom pivotally mounted at one end on the mast assembly. An actuator is mounted on the boom and configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position to pivot the boom relative to the mast assembly between a lowered position and a raised position. A support member includes a sling attachment pivotally mounted on the outer end of the boom. A locking mechanism is configured to fix the support member relative to the boom when the locking mechanism is engaged and further configured to allow pivotal movement of the support member relative to the boom when the locking mechanism is released.
US07921483B2
A kit for a portable assembly bed includes an operable carry bag having a carry grip and inner and outer surfaces bed construction components having cooperative means for assembly of the components, which components when assembled provide a bed for supporting at least one person.
US07921478B1
A splash guard includes a shield that helps deflect and drain misdirected urine into a toilet bowl. When not needed, the shield can pivot 180 degrees from an operative, raised position down to tuck underneath the front end of the toilet bowl at a stored, lowered position. In the lowered position, the shield is generally inverted. To prevent residual urine on the inverted shield from dripping onto the floor, the shield includes a drip lip that temporarily collects the residual urine. When returned to the upright, raised position, urine in the drip lip is free to drain back into the toilet. The shield is pivotally connected to the toilet bowl at a point below the upper rim of the bowl so that when the shield pivots to the lowered position, the shield is completely out of the way.
US07921476B2
Swimming goggles include a frame unit, lenses assembled on the frame unit, and a strap unit. The strap unit comprises at least a head strap with at least a free end, and a buckle for securing and adjusting the head strap. The free end defines a plurality of stop grooves therein. The buckle includes a base and a press portion movable radially relative to the base. The base has a first axis and a second axis respectively formed on opposing ends thereof for supporting the head straps. A first abut portion and a second abut portion are formed on the base. The press portion comprises a first stop portion and a second stop portion, an operating portion between the first stop portion and the second stop portion, and a first branch and a second branch respectively on opposite sides of the operating portion.
US07921474B2
An inner belt fits along the juncture of a person's stomach and thighs. The inner belt has first and second arches with a garment supported by the arch and the arch sized to offset the garment's waistline from the inner belt. Each arch has a front end a rear end fastened to the inner belt. The front end of each arch is located so it fastens to the inner belt adjacent the user's crotch during use. The rear end of each arch is located so it fastens to the inner belt at or before the hips of the user during use. A first loop extends from each arch, over the waistline and a normal, outer belt threads through the first loops and also through the normal belt loops on the garment. The outer belt supports the garment and the first loop and arches support the outer belt in a position offset from the inner belt. One or more second loops can optionally be fastened to the back of the inner belt to extend over the waistline and support the outer belt along the user's back. Localized stiffeners can be added to the first and second loops, inner belt and arches in order to keep the top of the loops above the waistline and reduce distortion of the waistline where the loops connect to the outer belt.
US07921471B2
A coat for use by emergency responders, such as firefighters, is described. Certain aspects of the coat include a barrier resistant liner for protection against chemical and biological agents, a compression zone that can improve safety when working in hazardous areas, and a flame resistant shell including zippered sleeves that can facilitate the donning of protective gloves.
US07926104B1
Methods and systems for detection and/or prevention of network attacks can include the use of multiple and/or time-dependent addresses coupled with filtering by the directory or naming service. The directory service can respond to requests for the address of a resource by returning an address that can be relocated over time by coordinating the directory service entry with the host and network address configuration data and/or by returning an address specific to the requestor. Thus, the directory service can track and build profiles of matches between requestors and accesses. The methods and systems can use the time dependent addresses and profiles to distinguish legitimate accesses from unauthorized or malicious ones. Requests for non-valid addresses can be misdirected to “empty” addresses or to detection devices.
US07926102B2
A confidential content search engine method is provided. With the method, a security compliance search engine is provided for searching one or more client computing devices for items of information that meet a security criteria identifying items of information containing confidential content. Results of the search are provided to an analysis engine for determining if the items of information identified by the search are being maintained in accordance with a security policy for ensuring the confidentiality of the confidential content. Results of the analysis may be used to generate a report or log and to generate a notification to the client computing device identifying any violations of the security policy and possible solutions for bringing the item of information into compliance with the security policy. In addition, an administrator may be notified of any violations so that corrective action may be taken.
US07926101B2
Computer operations whose execution would increase usage costs may require use of authorization and notification to prevent unauthorized execution. The computer operations may be designed to execute only if a authorization and notification routines are properly registered. The computer system customer establishes the authorization and notification requirements based on standard application programming interfaces to suit the customer's business practices and links the requirements to the computer operation. The computer operation determines if the authorization and notification are proper. If authorization is granted, the computer operation checks to see that the notification is proper, executes the computer operation, and then executes a notification module to notify the necessary personnel. Both authorization and notification routines return errors that are passed to the user through the computer operation.
US07926097B2
This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. More particularly, this invention relates to one or more large networks composed of smaller networks and large numbers of computers connected, like the Internet, wherein more than one separate parallel processing operation involving more than one different set of computers occurs simultaneously and wherein ongoing processing linkages can be established between virtually any microprocessors of separate computers connected to the network. Still more particularly, this invention relates to business arrangements enabling the shared used of network microprocessors for parallel and other processing, wherein personal computer owners provide microprocessor processing power to a network, preferably for parallel processing, in exchange for network linkage to other personal and other computers supplied by network providers, including linkage to other microprocessors for parallel or other processing; the basis of the exchange between owners and providers being whatever terms to which the parties agree, subject to governing laws, regulations, or rules, including payment from either party to the other based on periodic measurement of net use or provision of processing power.
US07926065B2
A method and system for dynamically specifying a format for data provided by a web service invocation. A server providing a web service receives a client request for data residing on the server. The server receives an executable template script within the request. The template script includes an instruction for invoking a function residing in the server and a definition specifying a format to structure the requested data. The server executes the template script to perform the instruction, invoke the function to retrieve the data, and generate formatted data based on the definition. The formatted data is the retrieved data structured in the format specified by the definition. The server sends the formatted data to the client.
US07926064B2
A business transformation logic engine for integrating data from a source application to a target application and method thereof are provided. The business transformation logic engine includes a receiving module for receiving data from the source application in a first predetermined format; and at least one transformation handler for transforming the received data into a second predetermined format usable by the target application. The method includes the steps of receiving an XML message including the source data; creating a message context object from the XML message; transforming the message context object using user-configured XSL entries; applying business rules to the transformed message context object; mapping source data elements of the transformed message context object to target data elements; and transforming the XSL-transformed data into a workflow request for integrating the source data to the target application.
US07926063B2
The present invention discloses a new paradigm in Multimedia Services Creation Methodology, and new Service Creation and Service Execution Environments, based on this methodology. A service designer can access the Service Creation Environment via a Web based Graphical User Interface (GUI), to design new service in an automated way. The design process includes creation of the Service Logic Script (SLS), and associated databases that are used for storage of service and subscriber related data. The service developer (user) assembles Language Graphical Objects (LGO) into Service Logic Script. LGOs are part of a new graphical language that has been developed to meet multimedia service creation needs. They represent service control and call control primitive functions that have to be performed, in order to provide a multimedia service to service subscribers.
US07926056B2
The invention concerns a method for effecting a software service in at least one of a plurality of logical systems of a software system landscape, wherein the logical systems are interconnected by logical transport paths, each logical system has associated therewith one of a plurality of system roles and the software service relates to at least one of the code and the data of the at least one system, is described. The method includes providing a transport track that defines a route for software services through logical systems in a particular order and specifies one source system, adjacent interconnected systems, and at least one target system; generating a task list in a central task system from the transport track and the system roles, the task list defining tasks for routing a software service from a starting system to the at least one system and for implementing the preliminary software service in the at least one system; and scheduling in a central control system the execution of the tasks stored in the central task system and monitoring task statuses from the central control system.
US07926050B2
Transmission method of a message containing a program block that avoids the consequences of a possible malicious decryption of this message is proposed. This is achieved through a secure method to update software embedded in a security module, comprising formation of a first updating program block, determination of a target memory zone of said security module, determination, through said security module, of a pre-registered content in said target memory zone, formation of a second program block obtained by the mixing of all or a part of the pre-registered content with the first program block, transmission of the second program block to the security module, reception of the second block by the security module, reading of the target memory zone, obtaining and writing in the target memory zone of the first block by the inverse mixing of all or part of the second block and of the target memory zone content.
US07926043B2
The described technology provides data structure path profiling. An instrumented version of a program is created that calls a profiler runtime when pointer based data structures are allocated or accessed via pointers. A model of the heap is created and nodes in the model data structures are assigned unique identifiers. Paths traversed through the model data structures are assigned unique identifiers. The paths are counted in order to identify paths through the data structure model that are traversed frequently. The model is useful for providing information about high frequency data paths to the program developer and for various optimization purposes, such as prefetching and or increasing data locality during garbage collection.
US07926042B2
A system and method for dynamic instrumentation of an interpreted application. The method includes the operation of loading an interpreted code unit into a virtual machine. Testing instrumentation can then be inserted into the interpreted code unit using the virtual machine while the interpreted application continues executing. Another operation is executing the interpreted code unit with the testing instrumentation.
US07926041B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for presenting coverage data for code. The coverage data containing instruction access indicators associated with the code is obtained. Particular instruction access indicators that have been set by a processor in the data processing system in response to execution of the code by the processor are identified to form set instruction access indicators. Each set instruction access indicator is associated with a portion of the code. A presentation for the coverage data is generated. The set instruction access indicators are identified in the presentation. This presentation may be, for example, a graphical presentation.
US07926036B2
The present examples provide technologies for estimating code failure proneness probabilities for a code set and/or the files that make up the set. The code set being evaluated is typically comprised of binary and/or source files that embody the software for which the estimates are desired. The estimates are typically based on a set of selected code metrics, the code metrics typically selected based on corresponding failures of a previous version of the software. A historically variant metric feedback factor may also be calculated and code metric values classified relative to a baseline code set embodying the previous version of the software.
US07926035B2
Testing multithreaded application programs for errors can be carried out in an efficient and productive manner at least in part by prioritizing thread schedules based on numbers of context switches between threads therein. In particular, each thread schedule in a multithreaded application program can be prioritized based on whether a given thread schedule has the same as or less than some maximum value. A model checker module can then iteratively execute thread schedules that fit within a given context switch maximum value, or a progressively higher value up to some limit. In one implementation, for example, the model checker module executes all thread schedules that have zero preempting context switches, then all thread schedules that have only one preempting context switch, etc. Most errors in an application program can be identified by executing only those thread schedule with relatively few preempting context switches.
US07926027B2
A system and method for method facilitating design-time data binding of business object(s) and/or web service(s) is provided. Developer(s) can specify their own class(es) that do not require specific inheritance, interface implementation or default public constructors.The system includes a binding component that generates control information associated with control(s) based, at least in part, upon binding information associated with an entity (e.g., object, business object and/or web service). The system further includes a control generator that generates control(s) of a form associated with the entity based upon the generated by the binding component.The binding component can utilize public property(ies) of the entity (e.g., object, business object and/or web service). The entity can represent a hierarchy of objects that drill down (e.g., endlessly), including circular relationships.At design-time, a user (e.g., developer) can drag the root of an object (e.g., a business object and/or a web service) onto a form. Control(s) associated with the form are created by the system based on a schema of the object.
US07926021B2
A method of selecting where error detection circuits should be placed within an integrated circuit uses simulation of a reference and test design with errors injected into the test design and then fan out analysis performed upon those injected errors to identify error propagation characteristics. Thus, registers at which propagated errors are highly likely to manifest themselves or which protect key architectural state, or which protect state not otherwise protected can be identified and so an efficient deployment of error detection mechanisms achieved. Within an integrated circuit output signals from inactive circuit elements may be subject to isolation gating in dependence upon a detected current state of the integrated circuit. Thus, inactive circuit elements in which soft errors occur have inappropriate output signals gated from reaching the rest of the integrated circuit and thus reducing erroneous operation.
US07926020B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method that automatically generates assertions of a hardware design. The method includes accessing a trace and a set of predicates of the hardware design. Then, the trace is projected over the set of predicates to generate a second trace. Then, a new set of states of the second trace is computed and the result is represented as a logical formula. The formula is reduced by logic optimization techniques. And finally, a set of logical consequences of the logic formula is produced and each logical consequence is enumerated as an assertion.
US07926019B1
Method, computer program and system to perform timing analysis of designs containing clock networks by eliminating Common Clock Path Pessimism. The method includes transforming a clock network into a clock tree that includes nodes with different clock signal arrival times and leaf nodes representing source and destination registers. The tree is populated with information regarding the source and destination registers and the associated timing for the clock arrival signal. The method then enumerates Common Clock Path Pessimism (CCPP) groups, where any source register and any destination register in a CCPP group have the same nearest common ancestor node in the clock tree. The creation of CCPP groups enables analysis time reduction because only one timing calculation is required for the CCPP group instead of having to perform the analysis for each possible pair of registers. The method eliminates CCPP for each CCPP group and then displays the results.
US07926016B1
A method of configuring a logic block of a programmable logic device (PLD) during physical implementation of a circuit design, wherein ports of the logic block are selectively registered, can include identifying the logic block of the PLD, wherein the logic block is located on a critical path. For each of a plurality of selectively registerable portions of the logic block, the method can include computing input slacks and output slacks based upon potential register usage within the logic block. The method further can include determining register usage for the logic block by maximizing a function which depends upon a measure of worst case slack for pipeline stages.
US07926010B2
A method of determining defects in photomasks according to the present invention is designed to increase the yield of the manufacture of photomasks and to decrease the cost of inspecting the photomasks. In the method, circuit data 1 representing a circuit to be formed on a semiconductor substrate by photolithography is prepared, and layout data 2 is prepared from the circuit data 1. The layout data is converted to compensated layout data by performing RET. Further, mask-manufacturing data is developed from the compensated layout data. To form patterns on a semiconductor substrate by photolithography, attribute information is imparted to the mask-manufacturing data. The attribute information represents whether the patterns are adaptive to electrically active regions or electrically non-active region. In the mask-inspecting process 6, a criterion for determining whether the patterns formed on the photomasks have defects is changed in accordance with the attribute information.
US07926007B2
A writing apparatus includes a unit storing writing data, a unit which acquires pattern information on patterns defined in the data, a unit which generates a table where each pattern information corresponds to a number of times each pattern information is used, for each predetermined region, a unit which generates a Huffman tree, based on the table, a unit which generates another table where each pattern information corresponds to a variable length binary code generated by encoding each pattern information such that the larger the number of times each pattern information is used, the smaller a value of the code, based on the tree, a unit which produces converted data, which is defined by the data, in the region into a predetermined format using the code, based on the other table, and a unit which writes the patterns defined, onto a workpiece, based on the converted data in the region.
US07926005B1
A method and system for pattern-driven routing are disclosed. Embodiments of pattern-driven routing are disclosed for creating a representation for at least a portion of an initial routing solution, comparing the representation for at least the portion of the initial routing solution with a pattern, and determining whether the initial routing solution has lithographic issues based on the comparison.
US07925996B2
A plurality of elements is identified by a user for input to the computing system by at least one of sequential and simultaneous selection of elements presented on a display of a computing system. Based on the elements thus identified, which may include at least one operator and at least one operand, the computing system recognizes a function to be performed by the computing system and causes a visual indication to be presented on the display. The computing system thus may present a visual indication showing a connection between, for example, the operator and an operand, or an operand and a functional area of the display associated with the function to be performed as a result of the elements identified. The visual indication thus confirms to the user the elements that the user has identified, and the resulting function that will be initiated.
US07925994B2
A task navigator or system generates a navigation interface display. In illustrated embodiments, the navigation interface display includes multiple task segments and a find segment. Tasks are segmented in the navigation interface based upon whether they are primary or secondary tasks.
US07925990B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for acknowledging a reminder in a calendaring application. One such method stores a calendar entry corresponding to an event and a rule. The rule comprises a reminder of the event. The reminder is presented according to the rule, and an acknowledgement of the reminder is received. A message is then communicated in real-time to similarly acknowledge a pending reminder that corresponds to the same event in another instance of the calendaring application.
US07925984B2
The present invention generally relates to intelligent software agents. Each agent has an associated user interface panel through which the agent may be configured/customized. A remotely located user desiring to configure a particular agent issues a request for the associated user interface panel. The user interface panel may be provided to the user via, for example, a network connection. The user may then make the desired changes to the agent via the user interface panel. In this way, remote configuration of an agent is possible.
US07925982B2
The present invention embodiments include a geographic overlay system including an information system, a mapping system interface to communicate with a mapping system and a database system including National Census geographic boundaries and data files. The geographic overlay system utilizes a client/server model that streams geographic data from a server system to dynamically render vector-based map layers inside a client browser. The geographic overlay system employs a Nationwide database of Census geographies that may be rendered as interactive point, line or polygon objects over a National base map provided by the mapping system. A database builder interface enables users to build the database and server pages. The present invention embodiments overlay translucent, interactive dynamically generated vector-based polygonal Census boundary map layers over geographical maps from the mapping system. The overlaying vector map layers perform thematic analysis, enable information retrieval, display mouse-over tool-tips and query a dynamic block-level National spatial-relational database.
US07925977B2
Architecture solution maps can be generated which graphically represent an interrelation among a plurality of topics related to the deployment of software in a computing landscape. A user, when generating the architecture solution map, can define that only topics having a predefined level of relatedness are included within a rendered architecture solution map.
US07925973B2
Among other things, publishers of digital content are enabled each to define, for each of one or more digital content items, a style in which the digital content item is to be presented to a user and a condition under which the user may have the digital content item presented. The digital content items are stored in a content library, the styles and conditions associated with the digital content items are stored in a server. Each of the digital content items is enabled to be presented to users within presentation contexts that are accessible to the users and controlled by presentation context providers. The presentation of the digital content items includes obtaining the digital content items from the server and controlling the presentation to occur under the conditions and in the styles defined by the publishers.
US07925972B2
A system for initiating an action in a processing system. The system comprises a printed page having an interactive element enabling user interaction with the page; an optically imaging sensing device for interacting with the interactive element and generating indicating data using sensed coded data; and a processing system configured for: receiving the indicating data, identifying a page description corresponding to the printed page; identifying the interactive element and initiating an action associated with the interactive element. The printed page comprises a plurality of coded data portion, each containing a code pattern encoding a unique location on the page and identifying a page identity.
US07925966B2
A group identifier represents an association between each of a number of different abbreviated namespace identifiers with a corresponding hierarchical namespace (e.g., an XML namespace). A hierarchically-structured document (e.g., an XML document) is accessed by a computing system that determines that the group identifier is associated with the hierarchically-structured document. Hence, when using the abbreviated namespace identifiers in the hierarchically-structured document, the computing system knows that the corresponding namespace is associated with the designated portions of the hierarchically-structured document. Also, a schema description language document (e.g., an XSD document) may specify multiple target namespaces for a single element. Accordingly, groupings of elements may be included in different namespaces to creating overlapping or even nested namespaces.
US07925964B2
Described herein are one or more implementations of a high-throughput and memory-efficient “windowed” bidirectional Soft Output Viterbi Algorithm (BI-SOVA) decoder. The described BI-SOVA decoder uses the “window” technique to concurrently decode several different non-overlapping portions of a subject signal in parallel.
US07925963B2
A method and apparatus for Turbo encoding uses a set of rate-compatible Turbo Codes optimized at high code rates and derived from a universal constituent code. The Turbo Codes have rate-compatible puncturing patterns.The method comprises: encoding a signal at a first and second encoder using a best rate 1/2 constituent code universal with higher code rates, the first encoder and the second encoder each producing a respective plurality of parity bits for each information bit; puncturing the respective plurality of parity bits at each encoder with a higher rate best puncturing patterns; and puncturing the respective plurality of parity bits at each encoder with a lower rate best puncturing pattern. In a variation, the best rate 1/2 constituent code represents a concatenation of polynomials 1+D2+D3 (octal 13) and 1+D+D3 (octal 15), D a data bit. A Turbo Encoder is provided which has hardware to implement the method.
US07925960B2
A method for checking reading errors of a memory includes receiving a first data fragment and accordingly generating a first ECC and a first count index; writing the first data fragment, the first ECC and the first count index into a memory; reading the first data fragment from the memory as a second data fragment, generating a second ECC and second count index according to the second data fragment; determining whether the first count index and second count index are equal; determining whether the first ECC and the second ECC are equal; and outputting the second data fragment when the first count index is equal to the second count index and the first ECC is equal to the second ECC.
US07925953B2
The present invention relates to method, terminal device and network device for providing redundancy parameters for an automatic repeat request processing at a terminal device. At least one sequence of redundancy parameters is selected from a predetermined set of sequences and is signaled to the terminal device by using a strategy information indicating the selected parameter sequence. Thereby, the network operator is able to select the redundancy version strategy to be used by the terminal device, while little signaling is required between the network and the UE. Moreover, a flexible strategy can be provided where individual redundancy version strategies can be allocated to the connections.
US07925947B1
A method and apparatus for compacting test responses containing unknown (X) values in a scan-based integrated circuit using an X-canceling multiple-input signature register (MISR) to produce a known (non-X) signature. The known (non-X) signature is obtained by selectively exclusive-ORing (XORing) together combinations of MISR bits which are linearly dependent in terms of the unknown (X) values using a selective XOR network.
US07925946B2
A device test architecture and a reduced device test interface are provided to enable efficient testing of embedded cores and other circuits within devices. The reduced device test interface is achieved using a double data rate (DDR) signaling technique between the tester and the device. The DDR test interface allows the tester to interface to test circuits within the device, such as IEEE 1500 and/or IEEE 1149.1 test circuits, to provide high test data bandwidth to the test circuits using a minimum of test interface signals. The test architecture includes compare circuits that allow for comparison of test response data to be performed within the device. The test architecture further includes a memory for storing the results of the test response comparisons. The test architecture includes a programmable test controller to allow for various test control operations by simply inputting an instruction to the programmable test controller from the external tester. Additional features and embodiments of the device test architecture and reduced test interface are also disclosed.
US07925945B2
A Scan-BIST architecture is adapted into a low power Scan-BIST architecture. A generator 102, compactor 106, and controller 110 remain the same as in the known art. The changes between the known art Scan-BIST architecture and the low power Scan-BIST architecture involve modification of the known scan path into scan path 502, to insert scan paths A 506, B 508 and C 510, and the insertion of an adaptor circuit 504 in the control path 114 between controller 110 and scan path 502.
US07925943B2
The present disclosure describes novel methods and apparatuses for directly accessing JTAG Tap domains that exist in a scan path of many serially connected JTAG Tap domains. Direct scan access to a selected Tap domain by a JTAG controller is achieved using auxiliary digital or analog terminals associated with the Tap domain and connected to the JTAG controller. During direct scan access, the auxiliary digital or analog terminals serve as serial data input and serial data output paths between the selected Tap domain and the JTAG controller.
US07925941B2
A scan technique using linear matrix to drive scan chains is used, along with an ATPG, to constraint scan test vectors to be generated through the linear matrix. The linear matrix scan technique reduces the test application time and the amount of test vector data by several orders of magnitude over conventional techniques, without reducing fault coverage.
US07925935B2
Included are embodiments for back channel communication. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving data at customer premises equipment and determining at least one error in the received data. Some embodiments include formatting the determined error for communication to a central office and sending the formatted error to the central office via a back channel.
US07925928B2
After power activation, a transferer 14 detects a bootstrap program 111 having a first error check code 114 assigned thereto and being stored in a first storage device 11, subjects the bootstrap program 111 to an error detection/correction process, and transfers the bootstrap program 111 to the second storage device 12. If the transfer is properly completed, by executing the bootstrap program 111 on the second storage device 12, the CPU 10 performs an error detection/correction process for a main program 112 having a second error check code 115 assigned thereto, and transfers the main program 112 to a third storage device 13, after which the CPU's control branches out to the main program 112 on the third storage device 13. As a result, system boot can be performed without employing a NOR type flash memory.
US07925910B2
Embodiments are described including those for controlling peak current consumption of a multi-chip memory package during power-up. In one embodiment, each memory device of the multi-chip package includes a power level detector used to compare an internal voltage signal to a threshold. A current limiter controls the ramping rate of the internal voltage signal in response to the power level detector as the internal voltage signal ramps up towards the threshold.
US07925906B2
A system and method for implementing a multi-voltage multi-battery power management integrated circuit. Various aspects of the present invention provide a power management integrated circuit. The power management IC may comprise a first regulator module that receives a first battery power signal from a first battery characterized by a first battery voltage and outputs a first regulated power signal, based at least in part on the first battery power signal. The power management IC may also comprise a second regulator module that receives a second battery power signal from a second battery characterized by a second battery voltage and outputs a second regulated power signal, based at least in part on the second battery power signal. The second battery voltage may, for example, be substantially different than the first battery voltage. The power first and second regulated power signals may, for example, correspond to substantially different power supply voltages.
US07925905B2
The invention is directed towards minimizing power consumption in computer systems. One embodiment of the invention is a power management system that is used for a computer system that has at least one device and one power domain. This embodiment uses two different power managers to manage the power consumption of the device and the power domain. Specifically, this embodiment has (1) a first power manager that determines when to change power state of the device, and (2) a second power manager that determines when to change power state of the power domain. Each of these power managers decides to change the power state of its corresponding device or domain based on information from several different sources. These sources can include power-management clients and power managers of related domains or devices.
US07925903B2
Power is dynamically conserved in a device by analyzing past processing performance of the device and predicting the amount of power required for future execution. In an example embodiment, a video frame is analyzed to determine what portion of the video frame was needed to render data. If less than the full video frame was needed, at least one power conservation technique is applied to the device for subsequent rendering of data. Power conservation techniques include adjusting the operating frequency of circuitry utilized to render data, adjusting the voltage applied to circuitry utilized to render data, and/or turning off/on circuitry utilized to render data.
US07925897B2
A system, business methodology and apparatus for facilitating controlled dissemination of digital works is disclosed. An audio and video organizer, entertainment, and communication unit that plays back audio and video media content received from a central storage server. The unit relies on a smartcard, which has a personalized key that unlocks encrypted content. Using the unit, a user can purchase music or other types of media using a appropriate ordering method. The central storage server then transmits a double-encrypted, compressed audio file to the unit, where it is decrypted based on the smartcard key, and available for listening.
US07925895B2
A data management apparatus which includes: a removable storage device; a nonvolatile memory which saves a first conversion key; a first encrypting device which converts a datum to be saved in the storage device into an encrypted datum by the first conversion key; a first writing device which writes the encrypted datum into the storage device; a first reading device which reads the encrypted data; a first decrypting device having a second conversion key which decrypts the encrypted datum by the second conversion key; a second encrypting device having a third conversion key which encrypts the second conversion key by the third conversion key, and converts the second conversion key into a fourth conversion key; a second writing device which writes the fourth conversion key into the storage device; a second reading device which reads the fourth conversion key; and a second decrypting device which decrypts the fourth conversion key.
US07925889B2
The present invention provides for a system, and related method, for use in the monitoring of communications traffic, comprising the step of recording the said traffic and storing the recorded traffic in an encrypted data format such that the data can be decrypted only by means of keys that exhibit restricted availability.
US07925860B1
In parallel processing devices, for streaming computations, processing of each data element of the stream may not be computationally intensive and thus processing may take relatively small amounts of time to compute as compared to memory accesses times required to read the stream and write the results. Therefore, memory throughput often limits the performance of the streaming computation. Generally stated, provided are methods for achieving improved, optimized, or ultimately, maximized memory throughput in such memory-throughput-limited streaming computations. Streaming computation performance is maximized by improving the aggregate memory throughput across the plurality of processing elements and threads. High aggregate memory throughput is achieved by balancing processing loads between threads and groups of threads and a hardware memory interface coupled to the parallel processing devices.
US07925854B2
A memory system architecture is provided in which a memory controller controls memory devices in a serial interconnection configuration. The memory controller has an output port for sending memory commands and an input port for receiving memory responses for those memory commands requisitioning such responses. Each memory device includes a memory, such as, for example, NAND-type flash memory, NOR-type flash memory, random access memory and static random access memory. Each memory command is specific to the memory type of a target memory device. A data path for the memory commands and the memory responses is provided by the interconnection. A given memory command traverses memory devices in order to reach its intended memory device of the serial interconnection configuration. Upon its receipt, the intended memory device executes the given memory command and, if appropriate, sends a memory response to a next memory device. The memory response is transferred to the memory controller.
US07925850B1
A system for increasing the efficiency of migrating, at least in part, a virtual machine from a source host to a destination host is described wherein the content of one or more portions of the address space of the virtual machine are each uniquely associated at the source host with a signature that may collide, absent disambiguation, with different content at the destination host. Code in both the source and destination hosts disambiguates the signature(s) so that each disambiguated signature may be uniquely associated with content at the destination host, and so that collisions with different content are avoided at the destination host. Logic is configured to determine whether the content uniquely associated with a disambiguated signature at the destination host is already present in the destination host memory, and, if so, to back one or more portions of the address space of the virtual machine having this content with one or more portions of the destination host memory already holding this content.
US07925826B2
A memory system is provided that increases the overall bandwidth of a memory channel by operating the memory channel at a independent frequency. The memory system comprises a memory hub device integrated in a memory module. The memory hub device comprises a command queue that receives a memory access command from an external memory controller via a memory channel at a first operating frequency. The memory system also comprises a memory hub controller integrated in the memory hub device. The memory hub controller reads the memory access command from the command queue at a second operating frequency. By receiving the memory access command at the first operating frequency and reading the memory access command at the second operating frequency an asynchronous boundary is implemented. Using the asynchronous boundary, the memory channel operates at a maximum designed operating bandwidth, which is independent of the second operating frequency.
US07925818B1
A system, method and computer program product for virtualizing a processor and its memory, including a host operating system (OS); and virtualization software that maintains a virtualization environment for running a Virtual Machine (VM) without system level privileges and having a guest operating system running within the Virtual Machine. A plurality of processes are running within the host OS, each process having its own virtual memory, wherein the virtualization software is one of the processes. An image file is stored in persistent storage and maintained by the host operating system. The image file represents virtualized physical memory of the VM. A plurality of memory pages are aggregated into blocks, the blocks being stored in the image file and addressable in block form. The virtualization software manages the blocks so that blocks can be mapped to the virtualization software process virtual memory and released when the blocks are no longer necessary. The host OS swaps the blocks between the image file and physical memory when a block that is not in physical memory is accessed by the VM. The image file size is not subject to limitation on virtual process memory size. A user of the VM can access a larger virtual process memory than the host OS permits.
US07925793B2
There is disclosed a reconfigurable network test system. The reconfigurable test system may include a plurality of test modules, a plurality of network interface units, a plurality of bypass units, and a multi-port switch. Each of the network interface units may have a first end and a second end adapted to be connected to a network. Each bypass unit may be in communication with an associated test module, the first end of an associated network interface unit, a first associated switch port, and a second associated switch port. Each bypass unit may have a first mode wherein the associated test module is placed in communication with the first end of the associated network interface unit, and a second mode wherein the associated test module is placed in communication with the first associated switch port and the associated network interface unit is placed in communication with the second associated switch.
US07925792B2
System and method for negotiating device information and device thereof are disclosed by the various embodiments of the present disclosure. The method includes the processes as follows: sending, by a network entity initiating a data synchronization process, a data synchronization initialization request carrying the identifier of the network entity initiating a data synchronization process to a destination network entity of the data synchronization process; accessing, by the destination network entity of the data synchronization process, the network entity for storing device information according to the identifier, acquiring the device information corresponding to the identifier according to the stored corresponding relation and the stored device information, and sending out a response to the network entity initiating the data synchronization process. With the system, method and device thereof provided by the various embodiments of the present disclosure, the data transmission flow is decreased and the time for the data synchronization is saved.
US07925784B2
A wireless communication device includes a wireless transceiver, a controller having a re-direction output communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver, and a battery device having a battery level output communicably coupled to the controller, wherein the wireless communication device is operable to attempt re-directing streaming content received at the wireless communication device to another entity in response to a battery level signal on the battery level output coupled to the controller.
US07925780B2
A method for connecting a wireless device to a remote location on a computer network. A beacon signal is transmitted from a beacon unit to a beacon signal receiver circuit disposed with a wireless device. The beacon signal includes components indicative of a first code associated with a remote location and of a second code associated with an attribute of the beacon unit. A first message packet indicative of the first and second codes is transmitted to an intermediate location. A computer database including a plurality of routing information for remote locations on the computer network and a plurality of first codes is accessed. Routing information associated with the first code is retrieved, and a reply packet including the routing information is transmitted to the wireless device. A second message packet is transmitted from the wireless device to a remote location using the routing information.
US07925779B2
A system for sending and receiving personal information using a mobile terminal is disclosed. In the present invention, a personal information is sent using a short message service with an attached identification information. Accordingly, when the short message is received by a receiving mobile terminal, the attached identification information allows the receiving mobile terminal to distinguish and process the short message for personal information differently from other general short messages.
US07925776B2
At a client, when first time data received from a server prior to continuous transmission of audio data of the server is set at a second timer, the second timer initiates time-counting from the set first time data. Accordingly, during the subsequent continuous transfer period of audio data, the timers of the server and client are adjusted to output the same time data in synchronization with each other. During the continuous transfer period, the client stores in a memory audio data that has been continuously transmitted according to the sequence to be output via a speaker from the server. The audio data is stored in the received sequence. Unit of audio data whose assigned first time data matches the second time data output from the second timer is searched for among the audio data in the memory to be output via the speaker.
US07925769B2
A method (200) and a system (100) for coordinated streaming use a single Real Time Protocol (RTP) producer (130) for handling multiple audio services (110). The method can include the steps of assigning (202) a RTP producer to handle multiple audio objects, and maintaining (204) a service for each object in accordance with a delivery schedule. RTP packets can be sent in accordance with the delivery schedule for complying with real-time requirements of a media rendering client thereby providing continuous real-time service delivery. The method can further include determining a wait time and updating the delivery schedule in view of the wait time. In one arrangement, the RTP producer can sleep for a pre-specified interval, and upon wake, prioritizes service delivery based on an audio object's wait time.
US07925761B2
Method and system for implementing a dead man dependency technique in a cluster comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes, one of the nodes comprising a cluster resource manager (CRM), and one of the nodes comprising a policy engine (PE), the PE maintaining at least one dependency associated with a first resource executing on one of the nodes. In an embodiment, the method comprises, responsive to a status change of an attribute associated with the first resource, the PE receiving from the CRM an indication of the status change and information regarding a configuration of the cluster; responsive to receipt of the status change indication and the configuration information, identifying by the PE a manner of terminating and migrating the first resource to another one of the nodes; and providing by the PE to the CRM an instruction sequence for causing the identified manner of terminating and migrating the first resource.
US07925760B2
Resource loads are determined based on normalized factors that are themselves based on resource factors. The following is repeated until each resource's load is less than or equal to the resource's willingness capacity or until all the resources are each fully loaded or unavailable. Each resource's willingness capacity is determined based on the resource's willingness parameter. The willingness parameter indicates at least whether a resource is willing to receive a number of processing requests no greater than a maximum or a minimum request limit. A throughput overflow is determined for each resource having a load greater than its willingness capacity. The load for each resource having a throughput overflow greater than zero is reset. The load for each resource that is available and not fully loaded is updated based on new normalized factors and based on a potential throughput loss that is equal to a sum of the throughput overflows.
US07925757B1
Determining a portion of required capacity attributed to applications in multiple classes of service
A required capacity for applications is determined. The applications are run on a shared pool of resources and each application belongs to at least one class of service of multiple classes of service. A portion of the required capacity attributed to each class of service is determined based on traces for the applications running on the shared pool of resources. A portion of the required capacity attributed to each application in each class of service is determined from the portion of the required capacity attributed to each class of service.
US07925756B1
Partition configuration and creation mechanisms for network traffic management devices. In some implementations, the present invention enhances the predictability of partition hierarchies that use weighting values and fixed rate guarantees. In some implementations, the present invention includes a configuration interface that constrains the manner in which partitions can be configured to achieve predictable and efficient results. In some implementations, the present invention includes a partition creation and deletion layer that operates to dynamically create partitions based on one or more partition patterns.
US07925738B2
According to at least one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a session trace log identifying a plurality of sessions accessing streaming media files from a media server. The method further comprises deriving from the session trace log a segment trace log that identifies for each of a plurality of time intervals the segments of the streaming media files accessed, and using the segment trace log to develop an analytical cache performance model. According to at least one embodiment, a method comprises receiving workload information representing client accesses of streaming media files from a media server, and using an analytical cache performance model to compute a cache hit ratio for the media server under the received workload.
US07925732B2
A Max Sessions Server (MSS) automatically detects hardware and communications failures. Upon detection, counters are adjusted accordingly to maintain an accurate count of users or groups of users on a system. A database of unique identifiers for each connection is maintained, where the unique identifier is a concatenation of a Network Access Server (NAS) and the connection's incoming NAS node number. If a user requests permission to log into the system, the MSS first checks the database to determine if the unique identifier is already logged in. If so, then a hardware or communications failure has occurred and the MSS must make the appropriate adjustments to the database and counter.
US07925727B2
A mediator for efficiently exchanging management data in a hierarchical management network for managing network elements of a data transport network partitions resources of the network elements among a plurality of management representations of the network elements and selectively forwards management data associated with respective management representations to a higher level of the hierarchy. The mediator modifies the management data so that the higher level (i.e. a northbound element management system or a network management system) receives the management data in a view consistent with the management representation of the network element. Client-based management representations may be created to permit clients to manage selected resources of a network element, and testing-based management representations may be created to facilitate concurrent testing of a network element.
US07925722B1
A method and apparatus of discovering and installing managed appliances remotely using a protocol for communication on the network is described. The protocol permits a client workstation to issue a broadcast message on the network. The managed appliances will send a reply message to the workstation which includes their current IP configuration. If a managed appliance has not been properly configured, the workstation can remotely instruct the managed appliance to set its IP configuration as desired. In the event that the managed appliance is a KVM switch, the managed appliance can store information about the servers connected to it. This information can be requested by and reported to the workstation using the protocol.
US07925718B2
Creators of computer software provide the most up-to-date versions of their computer software on an update service. A user who has purchased computer software calls the update service on a periodic basis. The update service automatically inventories the user computer to determine what computer software may be out-of-date, and/or need maintenance updates. If so desired by the user, the update service computer automatically downloads and installs computer software to the user computer. By making periodic calls to the update service, the user always has the most up-to-date computer software immediately available. The update service may also alert the user to new products (i.e. including new help files, etc.), and new and enhanced versions of existing products, which can be purchased electronically by a user from the update service.
US07925699B2
A technique for exchanging messages in a computer network using a public data template and a message transfer protocol with interdependent request and confirmation messages is described. A request message includes a first data structure obtained by packing application data that requires confirmation in the public data template. A network component receiving the request message unpacks the application data and provides the unpacked application data to a confirmation process. At the same time, the unpacked application data provided to the confirmation process is repacked in the public data template to generate a second data structure. The second data structure is sent with a confirmation message via the computer network to the sender of the request message. By comparing the content of the first data structure with the content of the second data structure, inconsistencies degrading the accuracy and trustworthiness of the confirmation process may be detected.
US07925697B2
In a server, an echo-request transmitting unit 204 transmits echo-request data to a target device, and an echo-reply receiving unit 205 receives echo-reply data from the target device. A time measuring unit 206 measures, as the target time, the time required between transmission of the echo-request data and reception of the echo-reply data, and compares the target time with the reference time. In this way, the server judges whether the target device connected to its network belongs to a predetermined group.
US07925695B2
Embodiments are provided for accessing content generated by a securely hosted application program for the exploration and production of geologic resources on a thin client system in a client/server computer network. A determination is made of a least utilized node in the client/server computer network for executing an application program selected via the client system. The selected application program is executed on the least utilized node for accessing the content generated by the selected application program on the client system.
US07925691B2
A system and method for facilitating ease of use of a user interface which monitors usage of a Web page to discern usage patterns associated with the Web page. The discerned usage patterns associated with the Web page are then used to form a plurality of user interface types each functioning to provide to the Web page predetermined content. A user selects one of the plurality of user interface types whereupon, in response to a subsequent request from the user to view the Web page, the Web page is provided to the user with the select one of the plurality of user interface types.
US07925686B2
A first device is described. The first device may include a linear transformation circuit to implement multiplication by a matrix D. The linear transformation circuit may have an input to receive a vector having N digital values and an output to output N first output signals, a sign-adjustment circuit to adjust signs of a subset including at least M of the N first output signals in accordance with a set of coefficients H, and a conversion (DAC) circuit coupled to the sign-adjustment circuit. Outputs from the DAC circuit may be summed to produce an output.
US07925682B2
A system and method utilizing virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. The virtual folders contain collections of items. The system includes a folder processor that obtains queries from a user and a relational database for storing information about the items. The folder processor first obtains a query from a user and passes the query to the relational database. The relational database provides results back to the folder processor, and based on the results from the relational database, the folder processor provides the results to the user as virtual folders. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.).
US07925674B2
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with managing of a distributed database are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes an input logic configured to obtain information associated with a distributed database where the distributed database comprises a plurality of databases. An analysis logic analyzes the information obtained from the distributed database to determine performance information associated with the distributed database and, an output logic can provide information regarding the performance information associated with the distributed database.
US07925668B2
An XML wrapper queries an XML document in an on-the-fly manner so that only parent nodes in the document that satisfy the query are extracted and then unnested. The parent nodes and associated descendent nodes are located using XPath expressions contained as options in data definition language (DDL) statements. The parent nodes satisfying the query and associated descendent nodes are extracted and stored outside of a database according to a relational schema. The wrapper facilitates applications that use convention SQL queries and views to operate on that information stored according to the relational schema. The wrapper also responds to query optimizer requests for costs associated with queries against external data sources associated with the wrapper.
US07925660B2
A system for visual structuring of multivariable data sets includes a plurality of sensors for monitoring data and generating events depending on the monitoring; an intrusion detection system for receiving the events generated by the sensors; a plurality of agents for performing pattern recognition on the events, wherein the agents determine whether there are events showing patterns relevant for security purposes; and a display device operatively coupled with the intrusion detection system for displaying in tabular form the events with relevant patterns.
US07925659B2
Methods and apparatuses enable comparing a current system configuration of a test system with a previous system configuration to determine whether differences exist between the two configurations and information about the technical objects used when performing a business transaction. The comparison can be performed via configuration metadata available for both the current and previous system configurations. A comparison result is generated to indicate any differences between the two system configurations. In one embodiment, the comparison result is used to identify a parameter of a test component that is affected by the differences in system configuration. Based on the differences in system configuration, the affected parameter is adapted by a test manager. A test case is updated based on the adapted test component responsive to the detected difference. Thus, the test system can be dynamic and adaptive.
US07925657B1
Methods and systems for adjusting a scoring measure of a search result based at least in part on the breadth of a previously-executed search query associated with the search result are described. In one described system, a search engine determines a popularity measure for a search result, and then adjusts the popularity measure based at least in part on a query breadth measure of a previously-executed search query associated with the search result. The search engine may use a variety of query breadth measures. For example, the search engine may use the quantity of results returned by the search query, the length of the query, the IR score drop-off, or some other measure of breadth.
US07925648B2
A query access plan for executing a database query is dynamically selected from among multiple alternative query access plans based on the availability of computer resources allocated for running the query. Preferably, a first query access plan is generated based on resources then available, and if it is possible to provide additional resources, one or more alternative plans are generated based on the additional resources. If an alternative plan is significantly better than the original plan based on a comparison of query related parameters, the alternative is chosen for executing the query. Additional resources for running the query may be provided from logically partitioned and/or grid environments.
US07925644B2
A method and system for use in information retrieval includes, for each of a plurality of terms, selecting a predetermined number of top scoring documents for the term to form a corresponding document set for the term. When a plurality of terms are received, optionally as a query, the system ranks, using an inverse document frequency algorithm, the plurality of terms for importance based on the document sets for the plurality of terms. Then a number of ranked terms are selected based on importance and a union set is formed based on the document sets associated with the selected number of ranked terms.
US07925621B2
Tool(s) enabling installation of a solution are described. These tool(s) may follow appropriate security precautions to contain possibly dangerous code in a data file's solution even when the solution is installed from a local source, such as when a user is offline. These tool(s) determine what level of security is appropriate for a data file's solution based on the original source of the solution. The tool(s) may also and/or instead enable a user to edit a data file without the user having to discover or deploy a solution application governing the data file.
