US08017629B2
Novel compounds, compositions, and kits are provided. Methods of modulating Aβ levels, and methods of treating a disease associated with aberrant Aβ levels are also provided.
US08017619B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides processes for preparing the compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders.
US08017617B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, where R1-3, R5, R7, a, b, Q, X, X′, X″, Y, Z, and Ar are as defined in the specification. These compounds are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to, for example, treat pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
US08017614B2
This invention relates to a novel arylindenopyrimidine, A, and its therapeutic and prophylactic uses. Disorders treated and/or prevented include Parkinson's Disease.
US08017608B2
Compounds of formula I in free or salt form, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating diseases mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08017605B2
Compounds described by the chemical formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: are inhibitors of p38 and are useful in the treatment of inflammation such as in the treatment of asthma, COPD, ARDS, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions; inflamed joints, eczema, psoriasis or other inflammatory skin conditions such as sunburn; inflammatory eye conditions including conjunctivitis; pyresis, pain and other conditions associated with inflammation.
US08017597B2
An object of the present invention is to elucidate an analgesic effect as one of new cPA bioactivities and thus to provide a novel analgesic agent. The present invention provides an analgesic agent which comprises a cyclic phosphatidic acid derivative that is one type of phospholipid.
US08017595B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for delivering a therapeutic agent across a membrane that has limited permeability for the therapeutic agent. The method includes delivering the therapeutic agent to the membrane in a composition which includes a sulphated chitinous polymer as a primary carrier.
US08017594B2
To provide a novel anti-psychosocial stress agent which is highly safety and can be continuously taken, more particularly, a novel anti-psychosocial stress agent which prevents or alleviates psychosocial stress.The invention provides an anti-psychosocial stress agent containing, as an active ingredient, uridylic acid, uridine, or uracil. Since uridylic acid, uridine, or uracil, which is an active ingredient of the anti-psychosocial stress agent of the present invention, is inexpensively available and is a biological component, the agent exhibits high safety and can be continuously taken. Therefore, the anti-psychosocial stress agent of the present invention is effective for mitigating, alleviating, or relieving psychosocial stress, which is an issue in modern society. When the anti-psychosocial stress agent is taken before development of symptoms associated with psychosocial stress, the symptoms can be prevented. The anti-stress effect of the agent is superior to that of GABA, which has become of interest and has been incorporated into, for example, foods.
US08017592B2
RNA interference is provided for inhibition of histamine receptor H1 mRNA expression, in particular, for treating patients having an HRH1-related condition or at risk of developing an HRH1-related condition such as allergic conjunctivitis, ocular inflammation, dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma, or allergy.
US08017587B2
The present invention provides a novel ascorbic acid derivative as a provitamin C with improved stability in the body and prolonged life in the body compared to conventionally known 2-O-(α-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid.The composition comprising the novel compound 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid has been extracted from plants such as from Ningxia Lycium barbarum L. and/or Lycium chinense Mill. The compositions comprising 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid may be enzymatically synthesized using β-D-glucosyltransferase. Pure 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid may be produced from such compositions. Alternatively, 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid may be produced by chemical synthesis. The 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid results in higher stability and a prolonged life of vitamin C when ingested in the body compared to the corresponding α-D-glucopyranosyl derivative, and is therefore highly suitable as a provitamin C to be used in cosmetics and foods.
US08017582B2
The invention provides conjugates comprising an immune co-stimulatory polypeptide and an antigen or infectious agent. The conjugates are useful for generating or enhancing an immune response against the antigen or infectious agent. The invention also provides immune cells modified with a conjugate that are useful for generating or enhancing an immune response to an antigen or infectious agent. The invention also provides immunostimulatory moieties comprising an immune co-stimulatory polypeptide that are useful for stimulating an immune response. The invention also provides immunotherapy methods and methods of treating or preventing infections.
US08017579B2
The present invention relates to polypeptides, and derivatives or analogues thereof, comprising a tandem repeat of apolipoprotein B, or a truncation thereof, derived from an HSPG receptor binding region of apolipoprotein B. Such peptides are useful for treating or preventing the development of viral infections.
US08017578B2
This invention provides an ADNF polypeptide comprising an active core site, the active core site comprising at least one D-amino acid. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an ADNF polypeptide comprising an active core site, the active core site comprising at least one D-amino acid. In particular, the pharmaceutical composition of the invention is orally active. The invention further provides methods for reducing neuronal cell death, methods for reducing oxidative stress, and methods for reducing a condition associated with fetal alcohol syndrome using the ADNF polypeptides and the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.
US08017573B2
Methods are disclosed of treating diabetes, abnormal adipocyte activity, and insulin resistance using C-terminal fragments of adiponectin receptor R1. Methods of causing the secretion of insulin in healthy and diabetic patients using C-terminal fragments of adiponectin receptor R1 are also disclosed. In addition, methods are disclosed of increasing the insulin levels in healthy patients using C-terminal fragments of adiponectin receptor R1. In addition, methods of treating abnormal adipocyte activity, treating metabolic syndrome, causing insulin secretion, increasing insulin levels, inhibiting insulin degradation enzyme, treating Alzheimer's disease, treating cardiovascular disease associated with adiponectin levels, inhibiting ADAM-17 enzyme, treating a condition associated with TNF-alpha, and treating a condition associated with HER2-neu are disclosed. Compositions, dosage forms, and kits are also disclosed.
US08017569B2
Hard surface cleaning composition particularly suited for the cleaning of kitchen or cooking stove having a cooktop which includes a glass plate which is effective in the cleaning treatment of stained glass plates, and which is especially effective in the treatment of dried or baked on milk stains.
US08017566B2
A mild, substantially isotropic skin cleansing solution was found to be able to suspend insoluble components and provide copious amounts of lather. The cleanser is formulated with synthetic anionic surfactants and a specific ratio of carboxylic acid(s) to hydrophobically modified cross-linked acrylate copolymer(s). The carboxylic acid and acrylate polymer combination were found to provide a synergistic effect on zero shear viscosity at 25 C in a specific pH and copolymer/acid concentration ratio range.
US08017562B2
Phosphate esters useful for gelling hydrocarbons in combination with a metal source are disclosed along with methods of preparation of the phosphate esters. Fouling in oil refinery towers has been attributed due to distillation of impurities present in phosphate esters used to gel hydrocarbons for oil well fracturing. The improved method of preparation of the phosphate ester results in a product that substantially reduces or eliminates volatile phosphorus, which is phosphorus impurities that distill up to 250° C., and increases the high temperature viscosity of the hydrocarbon gels formed using the phosphate esters.
US08017556B2
The present invention relates to crystalline forms of [3-(4,5-dihydro-3-isoxazolyl)-2- methyl-4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-(5-hydroxy-1-methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)methanone, which is also known under the common name topramezone. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of these crystalline forms and formulations for plant protection which comprise one of these crystalline forms of topramezone.
US08017553B2
Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) products for use in agricultural applications, and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. Certain of the SAPs include a monomer or a mixture of monomers, selected from acrylic acid, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylamide, 2-acryloamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, ethyl acrylate, potassium acrylate, derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof, that is graft polymerized onto a starch in the presence of an initiator to form a starch graft copolymer.
US08017541B2
The present invention discloses catalyst components based on ferrocenyl ligands, their method of preparation and their use in the polymerization of olefins.
US08017537B2
The present invention provides a glass article using a glass composition including a base glass composition and colorants. The base glass composition includes, expressed in mass %: 65 to 80% of SiO2; 0 to 5% of Al2O3; 0 to 10% of MgO; 0 to 15% of CaO; 5 to 15% of MgO+CaO; 10 to 18% of Na2O; 0 to 5% of K2O; 10 to 20% of Na2O+K2O; and 0 to 5% of B2O3, and the colorants consist essentially of, expressed in mass %: 0.6% to 1.0% of T-Fe2O3; 0.026 to 0.8% of TiO2; 0 to 2.0% of CeO2; 0.01 to 0.03% of CoO; 0 to 0.0008% of Se; and 0.06 to 0.20% of NiO. The glass article has a grayish color tone, and has a visible light transmittance in a range of 15% to 40%, which is measured with the illuminant A at a thickness of 3.1 mm.
US08017535B2
Densified non-woven materials having acoustic and thermal properties are provided. The non-woven material is formed of a thermoplastic material or fibers and a thermoplastic material. The fibers may be an organic, inorganic, or thermoplastic fiber and are desirably devoid of conventional sizing compositions. The densified portion of the non-woven material is formed by applying a moisture additive and subsequently applying heat. Heating the non-woven material causes the water in the moisture additive to turn to steam, which causes a molecular change in the polymer based thermoplastic material(s) of the non-woven material that was treated with the moisture additive. The moisture additive is preferably water, but may include a dilute alkali, a dilute acid, or additives to enhance surface, fire, or mold release characteristics. The water additive may be utilized to surface treat, partially treat, or completely treat the air-laid mat to achieve desired acoustic or thermal properties and/or stiffness.
US08017533B2
A steel plate reinforcing sheet includes a restricting layer and a reinforcing layer, the reinforcing layer being formed of foam composition including styrene synthetic rubber, aromatic epoxy resin, and a foaming agent. A total thickness of the restricting layer and reinforcing layer is not more than 3.5 mm, and the steel plate reinforcing sheet is formed to have adhesion at 5° C. to an oiled, cold-rolled steel plate of not less than 2.0N/25 mm and also has bending strength of not less than 18N after being heated at 160° C. for twenty minutes. This ensures both sufficient adhesion to the steel plate and sufficient reinforcement of the same steel plate. Thus, this steel plate reinforcing plate, when adhesively bonded to a steel plate used in a variety of industrial machines properly and then foamed, can provide an effective reinforcement of the steel plate by forming the steel reinforcing plate bonded to the steel plate.
US08017532B2
According to one aspect, a fabric for use in structural applications, having a first layer of structural yarns comprising first structural yarns aligned in a first direction, a second layer of structural yarns comprising second structural yarns aligned in a second direction at an angle relative to the first direction, the second layer of structural yarns disposed on top of the first layer of structural yarns, first encapsulating yarns disposed on the second layer of structural yarns, the first encapsulating yarns being aligned with the first structural yarns, and second encapsulating yarns being aligned with the second structural yarns, the second encapsulating yarns being alternatively woven above one of the first encapsulating yarns and below one of the first structural yarns such that the first encapsulating yarns and second encapsulating yarns cooperate to secure the first layer of structural yarns to the second layer of structural yarn. The first and second encapsulating yarns may have tenacities and tensile moduli substantially less than tenacities and tensile moduli of the first and second structural yarns.
US08017527B1
Apparatuses and methods for diverting a flow of a liquid precursor during flow stabilization and plasma stabilization stages during PECVD processes are effective at eliminating particle defects in PECVD films deposited using a liquid precursor.
US08017526B2
A method of processing a wafer in a plasma, in which target values of two different plasma process parameters are simultaneously realized under predetermined process conditions by setting respective power levels of VHF and HF power simultaneously coupled to the wafer to respective optimum levels.
US08017524B2
The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising wet-process silica, a stabilizer compound, a potassium salt, a secondary amine compound, and water. The invention further provides a method of polishing a substrate with the polishing composition.
US08017519B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device including: a substrate; a wiring layer formed on the substrate and made of copper or a copper alloy; a copper diffusion barrier film formed on the wiring layer and made of an amorphous carbon film formed by CVD using a processing gas containing a hydrocarbon gas; and a low-k insulating film formed on the copper diffusion barrier film.
US08017518B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: (a) forming a low dielectric constant film over a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a recess in the low dielectric constant film; (c) after the step (b), sequentially performing the steps of (c1) applying an organic solution to the low dielectric constant film and (c2) silylating the low dielectric constant film with a silylating solution; and (d) after the step (c), embedding a metal in the recess to form at least one of a via plug and a metal wiring in the low dielectric constant film. Performing the step (c1) before the step (c2) improves a penetration property of the silylating solution into the low dielectric constant film.
US08017516B2
A system and method for forming a planar dielectric layer includes identifying a non-planarity in the dielectric layer, forming one or more additional dielectric layers over the dielectric layer and planarizing at least one of the additional dielectric layers wherein the one or more additional dielectric layers include at least one of a spin-on-glass layer and at least one of a low-k dielectric material layer and wherein each one of the one or more additional dielectric layers having a thickness of less than about 1000 angstroms and wherein the one or more additional dielectric layers has a total thickness of between about 1000 and about 4000 angstroms.
US08017514B2
A structure and a method. The method includes: forming a dielectric layer on a substrate; forming electrically conductive first and second wires in the dielectric layer, top surfaces of the first and second wires coplanar with a top surface of the dielectric layer; and either (i) forming an electrically conductive third wire on the top surface of the dielectric layer, and over the top surfaces of the first and second wires, the third wire electrically contacting each of the first and second wires, the third wire not detectable by optical microscopy or (ii) forming an electrically conductive third wire between the top surface of the dielectric layer and the substrate, the third wire electrically contacting each of the first and second wires, the third wire not detectable by optical microscopy.
US08017510B2
An element isolation region for electrically isolating an element region where an element is to be formed is formed in a semiconductor substrate. A gate insulating film is formed on the semiconductor substrate in the element region. A gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating film. Source/drain regions are formed to be separated from each other in a surface region of the semiconductor substrate. The source/drain regions sandwich a channel region formed below the gate insulating film. Gate sidewall films are formed on the two side surfaces of the gate electrode. Silicide films are formed on the source/drain regions so as to be separated from the element isolation region.
US08017498B2
A multiple die structure includes a first die (110), a second die (120), a carbon nanotube (130) having a first end (131) in physical contact with the first die and having a second end (132) in physical contact with the second die, and an electrically conductive material (240) in physical contact with the first end of the carbon nanotube and in physical contact with the first die. Forming a connection between the first die and the second die can include providing a connection structure (400, 500, 600, 900) in which the electrically conductive material is adjacent to the carbon nanotube, placing the connection structure adjacent to the first die and to the second die, and bonding the first die and the second die to the connection structure.
US08017495B2
An isolation layer structure includes first to fourth oxide layer patterns. The first and third oxide layer patterns are sequentially formed in a first trench defined by a first recessed top surface of a substrate and sidewalls of gate structures on the substrate in a first region. The first trench has a first width, and the first and third oxide layer patterns have no void therein. The second and fourth oxide layer patterns are sequentially formed in a second trench defined by a second recessed top surface of the substrate and sidewalls of gate structures on the substrate in a second region. The second trench has a second width larger than the first width, and the fourth oxide layer pattern has a void therein.
US08017494B2
A process for the fabrication of a MOSgated device that includes a plurality of spaced trenches in the termination region thereof.
US08017488B2
A manufacturing method of a NOR flash memory with phosphorous and arsenic ion implantations mainly implants both phosphorous and arsenic ions on a drain area of a transistor memory unit, and controls specific energy and dosage for the implantation to reduce the defects of a memory device and improve the yield rate of the NOR flash memory.
US08017487B2
A strained channel transistor structure and methods of forming a semiconductor device are presented. The transistor structure includes a strained channel region having a first semiconductor material with a first natural lattice constant. A gate dielectric layer overlying the strained channel region, a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric layer and a source region and drain region oppositely adjacent to the strained channel region are provided. One or both of the source region and drain region include a stressor region having a second semiconductor material with a second natural lattice constant different from the first natural lattice constant. The stressor region has graded concentration of a dopant impurity and/or of a stress inducing molecule.
US08017484B2
Methods of forming transistor devices and structures thereof are disclosed. A first dielectric material is formed over a workpiece, and a second dielectric material is formed over the first dielectric material. The workpiece is annealed, causing a portion of the second dielectric material to combine with the first dielectric material and form a third dielectric material. The second dielectric material is removed, and a gate material is formed over the third dielectric material. The gate material and the third dielectric material are patterned to form at least one transistor.
US08017481B2
A memory cell is provided including a tunnel dielectric layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The memory cell also includes a floating gate having a first portion overlying the tunnel dielectric layer and a second portion in the form of a nanorod extending from the first portion. In addition, a control gate layer is separated from the floating gate by an intergate dielectric layer.
US08017471B2
Structure and method of latchup robustness with placement of through wafer via within CMOS circuitry
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming a trench in a back side of a substrate; depositing a dopant on surfaces of the trench; forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure in a top side of the substrate opposite the trench; forming a deep well in the substrate; out-diffusing the dopant into the deep well and the substrate; forming an N-well and a P-well in the substrate; and filling the trench with a conductive material.
US08017463B2
A fin for a finFET is described. The fin is a portion of a layer of material, where, another portion of the layer of material resides on a sidewall.
US08017461B2
Semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) field effect transistors include a semiconductor substrate and a first semiconductor active region on a first portion of a surface of the substrate. A first electrically insulating layer is provided. This first electrically insulating layer extends on a second portion of the surface of the substrate and also on a first sidewall of the first semiconductor active region. A second electrically insulating layer is provided, which extends on a third portion of the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second electrically insulating layer also extends on a second sidewall of the first semiconductor active region. A second semiconductor active region is provided on the first semiconductor active region. The second semiconductor active region extends on the first semiconductor active region and on ends of the first and second electrically insulating layers. Source and drain regions are also provided, which are electrically coupled to opposite ends of the second semiconductor active region. An insulated gate electrode extends on the second semiconductor active region and opposite the first semiconductor active region.
US08017449B2
A process for fabricating an electronic component includes a liquid injection molding method for overmolding a semiconductor device. The liquid injection molding method includes: i) placing the semiconductor device in an open mold, ii) closing the mold to form a mold cavity, iii) heating the mold cavity, iv) injection molding a curable liquid into the mold cavity to overmold the semiconductor device, v) opening the mold and removing the product of step iv), and optionally vi) post-curing the product of step v). The semiconductor device may have an integrated circuit attached to a substrate through a die attach adhesive.
US08017446B2
Method for manufacturing a rigid power module with a layer that is electrically insulating and conducts well thermally and has been deposited as a coating, the structure having sprayed-on particles that are fused to each other, of at least one material that is electrically insulating and conducts well thermally, having the following steps: manufacturing a one-piece lead frame; populating the lead frame with semiconductor devices, possible passive components, and bonding corresponding connections, inserting the thus populated lead frame into a compression mould so that accessibility of part areas of the lead frame is ensured, pressing a thermosetting compression moulding compound into the mould while enclosing the populated lead frame, coating the underside of the thus populated lead frame by thermal spraying in at least the electrically conducting areas and overlapping also the predominant areas of the spaces, filled with mold compound.
US08017444B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive sheet that can fill irregularities due to wiring of a substrate or a wire attached to a semiconductor chip, etc., does not form resin burrs during dicing, and has satisfactory heat resistance and moisture resistance. The present invention relates to an adhesive sheet comprising 100 parts by weight of a resin comprising 15 to 40 wt % of a high molecular weight component containing a crosslinking functional group and having a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 or greater and a Tg of −50° C. to 50° C., and 60 to 85 wt % of a thermosetting component containing an epoxy resin as a main component, and 40 to 180 parts by weight of a filler, the adhesive sheet having a thickness of 10 to 250 μm.
US08017438B2
A semiconductor module includes a module package including a first substrate having a first semiconductor device and a second substrate having a second semiconductor device. A first outer conductor extends from the module package and is connected to the first substrate and a second outer conductor extends from the module package and is connected to the second substrate. A method for producing the semiconductor module includes attaching first outer conductors of a leadframe to a first substrate, where the first substrate includes a first semiconductor device that is attached to the first substrate either before or after attaching the first outer conductors. A second substrate is provided including a signal processing circuit and the second substrate is fastening to second outer conductors of the leadframe.
US08017433B2
Techniques for forming a phase change memory cell. An example method includes forming a bottom electrode within a substrate. The method includes forming a phase change layer above the bottom electrode. The method includes forming a capping layer and an insulator layer. The method includes crystallizing the phase change material in the phase change layer so that the phase change layer is void free. The method further comprises heating the phase change material in the phase change layer from the bottom electrode and as a result the phase change layer is crystallized from the bottom to the top. In one embodiment, a rapid thermal anneal (RTA) is applied for crystallizing the phase change material.
US08017431B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) coating a solution containing an organic semiconductor material on a water-repellent surface of a water-repellent stamp substrate; (2) drying the thus coated organic semiconductor material-containing solution on the water-repellent surface to crystallize the organic semiconductor material in contact with the water-repellent surface, thereby forming a semiconductor layer; (3) thermally treating the semiconductor layer formed on the stamp substrate; and (4) pressing the stamp substrate at a side, in which the thermally treated organic semiconductor layer is formed, against a surface of a substrate to be transferred so that the organic semiconductor layer is transferred to the surface of the substrate to be transferred.
US08017429B2
The purpose is manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device with excellent photoelectric conversion characteristics typified by a solar cell with effective use of a silicon material. A single crystal silicon layer is irradiated with a laser beam through an optical modulator to form an uneven structure on a surface thereof. The single crystal silicon layer is obtained in the following manner; an embrittlement layer is formed in a single crystal silicon substrate; one surface of a supporting substrate and one surface of an insulating layer formed over the single crystal silicon substrate are disposed to be in contact and bonded; heat treatment is performed; and the single crystal silicon layer is formed over the supporting substrate by separating part of the single crystal silicon substrate fixed to the supporting substrate along the embrittlement layer or a periphery of the embrittlement layer. Then, irradiation with a laser beam is performed on a separation surface of the single crystal silicon layer through an optical modulator which modulates light intensity regularly, and unevenness is formed on the surface. Due to the unevenness, reflection of incident light is reduced and absorptance with respect to light is improved, therefore, photoelectric conversion efficiency of the photoelectric conversion device is improved.
US08017427B2
Embodiments of a process comprising forming a pixel on a front side of a substrate, thinning the substrate, depositing a doped silicon layer on a backside of the thinned substrate, and diffusing a dopant from the doped silicon layer into the substrate. Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a pixel formed on a front side of a thinned substrate, a doped silicon layer formed on a backside of the thinned substrate, and a region in the thinned substrate, and near the backside, where a dopant has diffused from the doped silicon layer into the thinned substrate. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08017420B2
Provided is a method of forming optical waveguide. The method includes forming a trench on a semiconductor substrate to define an active portion, and partially oxidizing the active portion. An non-oxidized portion of the active portion is included in a core through which an optical signal passes, and an oxidized portion of the active portion is included in a cladding.
US08017417B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide an LED having a Wavelength Shift Layer (WSL) and method of manufacture. Specifically, under embodiment of the present invention, a WSL layer is applied over an LED chip. The WSL itself typically comprises two layers: an adhesion layer applied over a set (at least one) of LED chips, and a conformal coating over the adhesion layer. The adhesion layer provides improved adhesive effect of the conformal coating to the LED chip(s). The conformal coating is comprised of a particular phosphor ratio that is determined based on a wavelength measurement of the underlying LED chip(s). Specifically, under the present invention, a wavelength of a light output by an LED chip(s) (e.g., blue or ultra-violet (UV)) is measured (e.g., at the wafer level). Typically, the phosphor ratio of is comprised of at least one of the following colors: yellow, green, or red. Regardless, this conformal coating is applied over a glue layer that itself is applied over the LED chip.
US08017407B2
A device and method measuring at least one parameter related to the blood of a subject, by emitting light with at least one emitter at least one wavelength within the spectral range of 380 980 nm toward a body part containing at least one wavelength. Spatially resolved reflectance measurements are obtained by capturing light reflected by the body part with at least one reflectance detector. At least one of the absorption coefficient and the reduced scattering coefficient of the blood component of the body part at each of the wavelengths is extracted from the measurements. The temporal derivatives of the at least one of the absorption coefficient and the reduced scattering coefficient is extracted, and at least one blood related parameter is calculated using the temporal derivatives.
US08017395B2
The present invention generally relates to a method for seeding cells on to a support. In particular, the method relates to a method for seeding cells onto a porous hydrophobic support. The method utilizes centrifugal forces to uniformly guide cell seeding into the support with no loss in viability.
US08017381B2
Electroporation on a plurality of samples of membranous structures is performed in an electroporation well plate that includes a frame that can hold a plurality of well strips to form a two-dimensional array of wells, and a set of well strips, the set containing strips that differ in the number of wells while having the same outer dimensions and hence being interchangeable, thereby allowing the user to select strips appropriate for a given electroporation procedure, and allowing the manufacturer to replace defective strips without rejecting an entire well plate when a small number of wells is found to be defective.
US08017374B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for decolorization of colored effluents. More particularly it relates to a process for decolorization of colored effluents of textile mills, dye-making industries, paper and pulp industries and molasses spent wash from alcohol distilleries using an unidentified white-rot marine fungus NIOCC #2a isolated from mangrove wood and deposited on Sep. 7, 2004 in the microbial type culture collection (MTCC) of the Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India, under the accession number MTCC 5159. Further, this invention relates to decolorization of these effluents using the fungus directly, its cell-free culture supernatant or immobilized fungus or extracellular polymeric substances produced by the fungus. Furthermore, the decolorization of effluents can be carried out from 30° C. to 60° C. and at pH 3 to 6. The decolorization of various colored effluents occurs in the presence of sea water with 25 parts per thousand salinity. Several synthetic dyes are also decolorized under similar conditions of temperature and pH by using free mycelia or immobilized fungus or extracellular culture fluids or extracellular polymeric substances.
US08017366B1
A system for making biofuels comprising methane, ethanol, and biodiesel comprises a tank (100) with a sealable lid (120). An algae mass (105), water, and either a yeast or bacterial culture (106) is added to the tank. Under high temperature conditions, sour (CO2-containing) methane is produced and stored in a container (130). Under lower temperature conditions, ethanol and CO2 are produced. Heated or cooled water passed through a water jacket (160) that surrounds the tank maintains the proper temperature within the tank. The CO2 is stored in a second container (270). The sour methane and the CO2 are optionally passed through a scrubber. Scrubbed methane is suitable for use as a fuel and drives a generator (275) that supplies power to various parts of the system. Carbon credits will be available for CO2 that is trapped in the scrubber. A still (185) separates ethanol and water for later use. Biodiesel can also be made in the apparatus by first making ethanol, then employing a transesterification process.
US08017365B1
A resource production system using a byproduct from the production of ethanol for efficiently producing biogas and fertilizer from the byproducts of ethanol production. The resource production system using a byproduct of a production of ethanol generally includes a plurality of processes for producing an inorganic renewable fertilizer, such as struvite and a non-fossil fuel source of energy, such as biogas, by using various types of byproducts produced by the ethanol plant, such as but not limited to whole stillage, thin stillage and thin stillage solubles. The process also produces an organic fertilizer, such as biosolids and a liquid stream suitable for further processing to produce recyclable water at the ethanol plant.
US08017364B2
Pediococcus bacteria having enhanced tolerance to butanols have been isolated. The bacteria are useful for the fermentative production of butanol.
US08017363B2
A method for production of L-lysine is provided which includes the steps of cultivating a methanol-utilizing bacterium in a culture medium to produce and accumulate L-lysine in the culture medium and collecting the L-lysine from the culture medium, wherein the methanol-utilizing bacterium contains DNA encoding dihydrodipicolinate synthetase which is desensitized to feedback inhibition by L-lysine and DNA encoding a LysE protein that can enhance the excretion of L-lysine out of the methanol-utilizing bacterium, and the bacterium is modified so as to increase the intracellular activities of diaminopimelic acid dehydrogenase, diaminopimelic acid decarboxylase, dihydrodipicolinic acid reductase and aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase.
US08017358B2
Method for detecting and identifying unknown bioagents, including bacteria, viruses and the like, by a combination of nucleic acid amplification and molecular weight determination using primers which hybridize to conserved sequence regions of nucleic acids derived from a bioagent and which bracket variable sequence regions that uniquely identify the bioagent. The result is a “base composition signature” (BCS) which is then matched against a database of base composition signatures, by which the bioagent is identified.
US08017354B2
The present invention relates to a microorganism which comprises at least one copy of a polynucleic acid sequence which is foreign to the host and which encodes a protein having an enzymic activity, and comprises a chaperone system which assists the expression of the protein in the form of an active enzyme, and to a method for producing a protein having esterase activity using such a microorganism.
US08017352B2
An enzyme based nondestructive sensor for the qualitative detection of spoilage in seafood is provided wherein the sensor does not alter the physical composition of the seafood specimen. The sensor comprises a sampling matrix, at least three or more enzymes in contact with the sampling matrix, and at least one indicator compound in contact with the sampling matrix. The enzymes are capable of interacting with four target chemicals comprising putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine, which are located on the surface of the seafood specimen. The indicator compound is capable of changing the color of the sampling matrix thereby indicating a qualitative visually detectable color change. A method for the nondestructive detection of the quality of a seafood specimen at any given time and for determining the remaining usable shelf life of the seafood specimen is disclosed.
US08017349B2
A human F-spondin-like protein and DNA (RNA) encoding such protein and a procedure for producing such protein by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide for treating spinal cord injuries and damage to peripheral nerves by promoting neural-cell adhesion and neurite extension, inhibiting tumor metastases and tumor angiogenesis, and stimulating wound repair. Antagonists are also disclosed which may be utilized to prevent malaria. Diagnostic assays for identifying mutations in nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention and for detecting altered levels of the polypeptide of the present invention for detecting diseases, for example, cancer, are also disclosed.
US08017347B2
A polypeptide dimer is provided wherein both protomers have a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one phosphocholine derivative is attached to the polypeptide. The polypeptide shows a specific binding for C-reactive protein (CRP). The utilization of the polypeptide in assays for determining the concentration of CRP is described. The purification of CRP, and compositions comprising the CRP also are provided.
US08017336B2
The present invention provides: a method for testing zinc deficiency dysgeusia, which is characterized in that it comprises correlating the expression levels of a gene encoding a gustatory receptor belonging to the THTR family and a gene encoding a gustatory receptor belonging to the T2R family obtained from a sample derived from the oral cavity of a subject, with a serum zinc level obtained from the sample of the subject; and a kit used for the aforementioned test.
US08017335B2
The invention relates to methods for pairwise sequencing of a double-stranded polynucleotide template, which permit the sequential determination of nucleotide sequences in two distinct and separate regions on complementary strands of the double-stranded polynucleotide template. The two regions for sequence determination may or may not be complementary to each other.
US08017332B2
A method for selectively recovering nucleic acid from a first cell type in a sample containing cells of at least a first cell type and a second cell type, and a cell suspension medium comprising extracellular impurities, is provided. The method entails combining the sample with particles responsive to a magnetic field in a vessel, the magnetic particles having the ability to sequester the cells from the cell suspension medium upon application of a magnetic field; exposing the vessel to a magnetic field for a time sufficient to cause sequestration of the cells by the particles; removing the impurities-containing cell suspension medium from the vessel while retaining the cells; lysing selectively cells of the first cell type; and isolating the nucleic acid from the lysed cells. Methods for recovering nucleic acid from the second cell type are also provided.
US08017325B2
The invention describes a method for screening antibody producing cell lines for selection of high expressing clones.
US08017321B2
Disclosed is the identification, provision and use of a panel of biomarkers that predict sensitivity or resistance to gefitinib and other EGFR inhibitors, and products and processes related thereto. Specifically, a method is described for selecting a cancer patient who is predicted to benefit from therapeutic administration of an EGFR inhibitor, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitor. Also described is a method to identify molecules that interact with the EGFR pathway to allow or enhance responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors, as well as a plurality of polynucleotides or antibodies for the detection of the expression of genes that are indicative of sensitivity or resistance to EGFR inhibitors, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitors. A method to identify a compound with the potential to enhance the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors is also described.
US08017317B2
This invention relates to Equine Herpes Viruses (EHV) wherein the protein gM is essentially absent or modified and non-functional with respect to its immunomodulatory capacity. Further aspects of the invention relate to nucleic acids coding said viruses, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these viruses or nucleic acids and uses thereof. The invention also relates to methods for improving the immune response induced by an EHV vaccine against wild type EHV infections, methods for the prophylaxis and treatment of EHV infections and methods for distinguishing wild type EHV infected animals from animals treated with EHV's according to the invention.
US08017314B2
The invention relates to measuring the concentration of analytes with the aid of an oxidase in an immersion sensor situated in a fluid or in a matrix containing fluid. Oxygen diffuses into the enzyme layer from within, from a gas-filled space connected to the atmosphere and/or to an oxygen reservoir. This enables oxygen saturation of the oxidase in a low-oxygen or oxygen-free medium and/or at high analyte concentrations. The analyte diffuses into the enzyme layer in a channel or a number of channels which contain(s) water and limit(s) diffusion, wherein the channel/channels on the surface of the sensor is/are filled with a protein-impermeable, hydrophilic matrix. By increasing the channel cross-section on the surface of the sensor and/or by connecting the channel/channels to a protein-impermeable, porous, hydrophilic layer on the surface of the sensor, the effect of outer deposits on the diffusion resistance of the analyte is reduced.
US08017313B2
The present invention relates to methods of identifying whether a candidate compound is a modulator of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In some embodiments, the GPCR is mammalian, preferably human. In some embodiments, the GPCR is expressed endogenously by cardiomyocytes. In some embodiments, the GPCR is coupled to Gq. In some embodiments, the GPCR increases the intracellular level of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3). In some embodiments, a modulator of the GPCR is a modulator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The present invention further relates to methods of using a modulator of the GPCR. Preferred modulators are inverse agonists and antagonists. Inverse agonists and antagonists of the invention are useful as therapeutic agents for the prevention or treatment of heart disease, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure, in particular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy resulting from post-myocardial infarction remodeling, cardiac valve disease, sustained cardiac afterload, myocarditis, and familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
US08017298B2
A method of forming patterns includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition for negative development to form a resist film having a receding contact angle of 70 degrees or above with respect to water, wherein the resist composition for negative development contains a resin capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid and becomes more soluble in a positive developer and less soluble in a negative developer upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (b) exposing the resist film via an immersion medium, and (c) performing development with a negative developer.
US08017297B1
Imaged articles and methods for producing imaged articles in which an image has been transferred by dye sublimations techniques to a powder coated substrate are described. The powder coated substrates may include various metals or alloys. The powder coated substrate may include a white powder coating layer and an over cured clear coat layer. The imaged article may be subsequently formed into desired three-dimensional shapes without significant loss in image quality or image degradation.
US08017290B2
Objects of the present invention are to provide an image forming method and image forming apparatus which can secure stable toner transferability, prevent reverse transfer of the toner back to a latent image bearing member, have excellent fixing ability and produce high-quality images. The image forming method includes a one-component developing step with a toner and transferring step with an intermediate transfer member, wherein the developing step uses a developing roller having a diameter of 8 mm to 15 mm, and the toner has an adherence Fh (nN) of the toner to a flat surface satisfying the relation represented by the formula (1) and adherence Fr (mN) among the toner particles satisfying the relation represented by the formula (2): 15≦Fh≦50 (1) 100≦Fr≦400 (2).
US08017286B2
In the field of semiconductor device production, a method for manufacturing a surface using two-dimensional dosage maps is disclosed. A set of charged particle beam shots for creating an image on the surface is determined by combining dosage maps for a plurality of shots into the dosage map for the surface. A similar method is disclosed for fracturing or mask data preparation of a reticle image. A method for creating glyphs is also disclosed, in which a two-dimensional dosage map of one or more shots is calculated, and the list of shots and the calculated dosage map are stored for later reference.
US08017283B2
An electrode for an alkali fuel cell comprises an active layer formed by a bilayer or by a stack of a plurality of bilayers. Each bilayer is composed of a catalytic layer comprising catalyst particles of nanometric size and of a porous layer comprising two opposite faces one of which is in contact with the catalytic layer. The porous layer is made from a porous composite material comprising a hydroxide ion conducting polymer matrix in which a metallic lattice is formed constituting a plurality of electronically conducting paths connecting the two opposite faces of the porous layer. Advantageously, fabrication of such an electrode is obtained by successively performing vacuum deposition of the catalyst particles and vacuum co-deposition of the hydroxide ion conducting polymer and of the metal on a free surface of a support.
US08017280B2
In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate comprising a metallic plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, a metal-containing adhesion promoting layer having a thickness less than 100 nm disposed on the plate body, and a composite polymeric conductive layer disposed on the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer.
US08017278B2
This invention provides a moving object having a fuel cell system, which is capable of preventing the entry of fuel gas into a cabin even if the leakage of the fuel gas occurs. The moving object, having the fuel cell system (1), has an air introduction mechanism (5) for introducing air from the outside of the moving object into a cabin space inside the moving object, wherein an air introduction port (50) for the air introduction mechanism (5) is formed a given distance apart from the fuel cell system (1), so that gas leaking from the fuel cell system (1) does not reach the air introduction port (50).
US08017274B2
A fuel cell is provided which can enhance the CO resistance to thereby improve the voltage characteristics thereof. A fuel cell includes an electrolyte layer, a first electrode provided on one surface of the electrolyte layer, and a second electrode provided on the other surface of the electrolyte layer. In this fuel cell, a reaction fluid to be supplied to the first electrode contains carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide is generated from a reaction fluid having been supplied to the first electrode. The first electrode of the fuel cell includes a first catalyst material (Pt) having a function of extracting an electron from the reaction fluid, a second catalyst material (WAu) having a function of reducing the activation energy for conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, and an oxygen-supplying material (Ru) supplying oxygen.
US08017263B2
A battery in which a cathode and an anode are arranged so as to face each other an having a separator in between is provided. The separator is formed from a plurality of laminated microporous membranes and has a film thickness of 10x μm and a piercing strength of 150x gf or more, where 1≦x≦2. The air permeability of one layer among the plurality of microporous membranes is equal to or larger than 10% of the air permeability of the whole separator.
US08017262B2
A lithium secondary battery including: an electrode group, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a battery case housing the electrode group and the non-aqueous electrolyte, the electrode group including a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator layer interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein an end-of-charge voltage and an end-of-discharge voltage are set in such a manner that the electrode group has an energy density of not less than 700 Wh/L, the separator layer includes a porous heat-resistant layer, and a short circuit area A produced when an internal short circuit has occurred between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a reduced area B of the porous heat-resistant layer that is produced by heat generation satisfy 1≦(A+B)/A≦10.
US08017246B2
A silicone resin composition and process for coating a light transmitting surface of an optoelectronic device is disclosed. The process involves applying a silicone resin to the light transmitting surface, and causing the silicone resin to cure to form a light transmitting protective coating on the light transmitting surface, the silicone resin having a sufficiently low proportion of organosiloxanes having molecular weights of up to about 1000, such that the protective coating includes less than about 10% of the organosiloxanes having molecular weights of up to about 1000.
US08017236B2
A platy pigment substrate having a carbon-containing coating thereon is provided wherein the coating comprises a pyrolyzed carbon-containing ionic species. The products of the present invention may be used in any application where pearlescent pigments have been used heretofore including but not limited to automotive and industrial paint applications.
US08017235B2
In the present invention, the fine particle composite process is carried out with the step of reacting fine core particles and a raw material for coating layer by mixing them and continuously supplying a resulting mixture into a micro flow path. The micro flow path is specified to 1-4000 in Reynolds number. With this arrangement, the present invention ensures, in a technology using a reactor having a micro flow path, accurate control of reaction condition, uniformity of coating amount distribution, easy layer formation, and successive production of fine composite particles.
US08017222B2
A water-based drawing surface and a toy employing same are disclosed. The drawing surface includes a plastic substrate layer and a fabric layer adhered to the plastic substrate layer. A substantially water-resistant layer is applied to the fabric layer, and an ink layer is applied to the substantially water-resistant layer. The ink layer includes ink imprinted thereon, the ink being water-soluble when initially applied to the substantially water-resistant layer and insoluble after the ink has dried on the substantially water-resistant layer. When water is applied to the ink layer after the ink has dried thereon, the ink layer darkens in the shape of the water applied thereto. The ink is preferably screen-printing ink and it is preferably hand brushed onto the fabric layer.
US08017221B2
Disclosed is a fluoresceine derivative having the following formula: for the production of an electronic device, in particular a memory switch.
US08017219B2
The present invention provides a process for making a mineral battery using treated powdered polar crystal mineral and a treated liquid as an electrolyte. The polar crystal powder and liquid are either separately or after mixing together subjected to a rotating EMF. The powder-liquid mixture is inserted into a housing and compacted therein to form a mineral battery, along with an anode and a cathode and terminals. The preferred polar crystal mineral is tourmaline. In one embodiment, after the mixture is in the housing it is subjected to a voltage. In one embodiment the mixture is prepared and compacted into the housing and then subjected to a rotating EMF, and may then also be subjected to application of a voltage.
US08017208B2
An information recording medium of the present invention includes a recording layer whose phase changes by irradiation with a laser beam or application of current. The recording layer contains, as its main component, a composite composed of Ge and Sb that are essential components, and Te that is an optional component. The composite has a composition within a region enclosed by: point (a) (35, 65, 0), point (b) (36.9, 60, 3.1), point (c) (3.2, 60, 36.8), and point (d) (5, 95, 0) in terms of a coordinate (Ge, Sb, Te)=(x, y, z) on the triangular coordinate shown in FIG. 1, where point (b) corresponds to a point at Sb=60 on Ge60Te40—Ge35Sb65, point (c) corresponds to a point at Sb=60 on Te—Ge5Sb95, and the region includes lines extending between point (a) and point (b), point (b) and point (c), point (c) and point (d), and point (d) and point (a).
US08017206B2
Pipe systems having at least one layer comprising a semi-crystalline random polymer of propylene and 0.2 to 5 wt % 1-hexen and optionally a recurring unit selected from ethylene and a C4-C10 α-olefin in an amount from more than 0 to 9% by moles. The polymer exhibits broad molecular weight distribution, in terms of the ratio of weight average molecular weight to numeric average molecular weight formula (I), ranging from 5 to 11, molecular weight distribution of monomodal type and hexen-1 content in the fraction with an intrinsic viscosity of equal to or higher than 3.3 dl/g lower than the hexen-1 content in the fraction with an intrinsic viscosity of less than 3.3 dl/g. ( Mw/ Mn) (I)
US08017202B2
The present invention provides compositions derived from a polycarboxylic acid, a polyhydroxy compound, a dye and a basic crosslinking agent. The compositions can be used to prepare cross-linked films that exhibit low solvent-swell characteristics. The cross-linked films can be used to prepare color filter elements via thermal transfer processes.
US08017185B2
An inorganic film formed of an inorganic material on a metal film having a surface including surface-oxidized areas. The surface-oxidized areas are surface oxidized to different degrees. For example, the surface-oxidized areas are one or more lowly-surface-oxidized areas and one or more highly-surface-oxidized areas. The inorganic film includes regions which are respectively formed on the surface-oxidized areas, and the regions have different crystal structures according to the different degrees of surface oxidation. For example, a patterned inorganic film constituted by one or more protruding portions arranged on one or more lowly-surface-oxidized areas of the surface of the metal film can be produced by removing the portions of the inorganic film formed on highly-surface-oxidized areas.
US08017182B2
Films are deposited on a substrate by a process in which atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to deposit one layer of the film and pulsed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to deposit another layer of the film. During the ALD part of the process, a layer is formed by flowing sequential and alternating pulses of mutually reactive reactants that deposit self-limitingly on a substrate. During the pulsed CVD part of the process, another layer is deposited by flowing two CVD reactants into a reaction chamber, with at least a first of the CVD reactants flowed into the reaction chamber in pulses, with those pulses overlapping at least partially with the flow of a second of the CVD reactants. The ALD and CVD parts of the process ca be used to deposit layers with different compositions, thereby forming, e.g., nanolaminate films. Preferably, high quality layers are formed by flowing the second CVD reactant into the reaction chamber for a longer total duration than the first CVD reactant. In some embodiments, the pulses of the third reactant at separated by a duration at least about 1.75 times the length of the pulse. Preferably, less than about 8 monolayers of material are deposited per pulse of the first CVD reactant.
US08017181B2
A nanoparticle having a core/shell structure can be rapidly and reproducibly prepared by the inventive method which comprises: (i) dissolving a shell precursor in a solvent to form a shell precursor solution, and then allowing the shell precursor solution to be stabilized at a temperature suitable for the shell precursor to form an overcoat on the surface of a core nanoparticle; and (ii) adding a powder form of the core nanoparticle to the stabilized shell precursor solution.
US08017179B2
A method includes sandblasting an electrode surface, applying a conductive oxide precursor solution to the electrode surface, and heating the electrode for at least 5 minutes at a temperature between 350 degrees C. and 550 degrees C. to convert the precursor solution into an oxide coating. One method includes applying a composite material including a conductive component and a non-conductive component to an electrode and curing the composite material to form a coating on the electrode. One method includes providing a metallic oxide coating on an electrode surface and applying a galvanostatic treatment to the electrode to increase the effective surface area of the metallic oxide coating.
US08017176B2
A method by which photocathodes(201), single crystal, amorphous, or otherwise ordered, can be surface modified to a robust state of lowered and in best cases negative, electron affinity has been discovered. Conventional methods employ the use of Cs(203) and an oxidizing agent(207), typically carried by diatomic oxygen or by more complex molecules, for example nitrogen trifluoride, to achieve a lowered electron affinity(404). In the improved activation method, a second alkali, other than Cs(205), is introduced onto the surface during the activation process, either by co-deposition, yo-yo, or sporadic or intermittent application. Best effect for GaAs photocathodes has been found through the use of Li(402) as the second alkali, though nearly the same effect can be found by employing Na(406). Suitable photocathodes are those which are grown, cut from boules, implanted, rolled, deposited or otherwise fabricated in a fashion and shape desired for test or manufacture independently supported or atop a support structure or within a framework or otherwise affixed or suspended in the place and position required for use.
US08017171B2
A system and method for processing citrus peel treating by injecting steam into citrus peel.
US08017166B2
Stackable, farinaceous based low-fat snack chips are produced from a thin chain link strip of dough blanks by baking the strip in an oven with the strip blanks supported and carried by a lower mold assembly. Alternatively, the strip may be partially baked and then fried with the strip blanks sandwiched between upper and lower molds to produce reduced fat stackable snack chips.
US08017163B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing heat-resistant chocolate or chocolate-like confectionery products wherein (I) chocolate mass or chocolate-like confectionery mass which has been mixed with a water-in-oil emulsion or (ii) chocolate mass or chocolate-like confectionery mass having an increased water content is moulded and then subjected to a microwave treatment prior to, during, and/or after cooling. The heat resistance is developed essentially instantaneously and the obtained product can be subjected to temperatures of up to about 40 or even 50° C. without losing its form. The invention also relates to the products obtainable by that process.
US08017161B2
Bowman-Birk Inhibitor compositions for treatment of muscular atrophy and degenerative muscle disease
Methods for use of a composition comprising Bowman-Birk Inhibitor (BBI) or a derivative thereof in the treatment and/or prevention of skeletal muscle atrophy, to improve of skeletal muscle function, and to alleviate symptoms and/or slow progression of degenerative skeletal muscle diseases or disorders are provided.
US08017159B2
Phospholipid gel compositions for delivery of aptamers and methods of treating conditions using same
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions in the form of a gel for controlled- or sustained-release of an aptamer and to methods for treating or preventing a condition in an animal by administering to an animal in need thereof the pharmaceutical compositions.
US08017149B2
Controlled-release preparations of oxcarbazepine and derivatives thereof for once-a-day administration are disclosed. The inventive compositions comprise solubility- and/or release enhancing agents to provide tailored drug release profiles, preferably sigmoidal release profiles. Methods of treatment comprising the inventive compositions are also disclosed.
US08017143B2
Disclosed are a coating agent for drug releasing stents, a method for preparing the same and a drug releasing stent coated therewith. The coating agent comprises a biologically active material and a coating material selected from among pullulan acetate, represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and a polyurethane-surfactant mixture.
US08017135B1
Methods are provided for treating pathological conditions of ocular tissue by administering to subjects in need thereof therapeutically active complexes that include amphiphilic analogs of the therapeutically active agents. These complexes exhibit low water solubility and are isolated in either crystalline form, amorphous form, or a combination thereof, within a well-defined particle size range. Administration of such complexes of therapeutically active agents to ocular tissue results in extended release of the therapeutically active agent. Indeed, certain complexes persist for up to about 20-30 weeks or longer after intravitreal injection, thereby providing a sustained release of therapeutically active agent into the structures of the eye.
US08017124B2
Disclosed is the use of DMBT1, or of the nucleic acid encoding it, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a patient suffering from a disease caused by an agent, which possesses at least one accessible sulphate and/or at least one accessible phosphate group, uses of DMBT1 as a diagnostic for diagnosing the susceptibility of an individual to sulphate or phosphate groups, as well as methods for diagnosis, prophylaxis or treatment of diseases caused by an agent which possesses at least one accessible sulphate and/or at least one accessible phosphate group.
US08017110B1
A process for damaging and maintaining damage to the nucleic acids of pathogens such as white blood cells, bacteria and viruses which may be contained in blood or blood components. This process comprises adding to the blood or blood component containing pathogens an effective amount of riboflavin, and exposing the fluid to light of an appropriate wavelength to damage the nucleic acid of the pathogen and to substantially maintain the damage to the pathogenic nucleic acids to allow for subsequent transfusion into a recipient.
US08017108B2
A conditioning composition containing an aminosilicone having a viscosity of from about 1,000 cs to about 1,000,000 cs, and less than about 0.5% nitrogen by weight of the aminosilicone, a cationic surfactant, a high melting point fatty compound, and an aqueous carrier. These compositions may optionally comprise a low viscosity fluid. The present invention is further directed to a method of making the conditioning composition and a method of using the conditioning composition.
US08017107B2
This invention provides water-swellable articles and hydrogels that contain a hydrophilic polymer and perfluorocyclobutane crosslinking segments. The perfluorocyclobutane crosslinking segments are covalently attached to the polymeric chains of the hydrophilic polymer so that the crosslinking segments chemically link the polymeric chains to each other. The present invention also provides a method of making a crosslinked hydrogel by first attaching one or more substituted aromatic trifluorovinyl or aromatic trifluorovinyl ether moieties to a hydrophilic polymer to form a modified polymer and then heating the modified polymer at an elevated temperature to form perfluorocyclobutane segments from the trifluorovinyl or trifluorovinyl ether moieties. These water-swellable articles and hydrogels may be used in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications and may be suitable for implanted joint repair materials such as an articulating or bearing surface in a hip, knee, spine, finger, ankle, elbow, wrist, or shoulder joint.
US08017105B2
The present invention relates to contrast agents for diagnostic imaging with prolonged blood retention. In particular, this invention relates to novel compounds that are characterized by an image enhancing moiety (IEM); a protein plasma binding moiety (PPBM); and a blood half-life extending moiety (BHEM). This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using the compounds and compositions for blood half-life extension and contrast enhancement of diagnostic imaging.
US08017102B2
The invention provides an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor ligand carrying a therapeutic radionuclide for treatment of cancer is provided. A method of treating cancer using the IGF-1 receptor ligand carrying a therapeutic radionuclide is also provided. An anti-cancer therapeutic agent containing an IGF-1 receptor ligand linked to a toxin is also provided, as are methods of using the toxin conjugates for treatment of cancer.
US08017099B2
A method for producing polycrystalline silicon, including: reacting trichlorosilane and hydrogen to produce silicon and a remainder including monosilanes (formula: SiHnCl4-n, wherein n is 0 to 4) containing silicon tetrachloride, and a polymer including at least trisilanes or tetrasilanes; and supplying the remainder and hydrogen to a conversion reactor and heating at a temperature within the range of 600 to 1,400° C. to convert silicon tetrachloride into trichlorosilane and the polymer into monosilanes.
US08017098B2
The present invention relates to precipitated silica containing aluminum, which has an adjustable BET/CTAB ratio, a process for its manufacture and its use.
US08017093B2
Method and system for transporting and storing multiple reagent packs and reagent packs used therein
A new method and system for transporting and sorting multiple reagent packs used in conjunction with an immunodiagnostic instrument is provided. The new system includes a multiplicity of reagent packs; a gantry movably mounted on a rack structure for carrying a gripper mechanism, wherein the gripper mechanism has gripping jaws for engagement with the reagent pack; a power assembly for actuating the respective movement of the gantry, the gripper mechanism and the gripping jaws; a storage nest having a multiplicity of compartments, each adapted for storing a one of the respective reagent packs; and a pipetting nest having a multiplicity of compartment, each adapted for retaining a respective one of the reagent packs for simultaneous pipetting. Methods of using the system and a novel reagent pack used in connection with the new system are also provided.
US08017086B2
A catalyst unit (1; 1′) configured for the reduction of NOx compounds in a gas stream and which includes a catalytically active material of the silver/alumina type. The catalyst unit (1; 1′) has at least one first reaction zone (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e) containing the catalytically active material and at least one second reaction zone (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e; 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e) which is arranged to permit breakdown of a gas species which is formed in the first reaction zone (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e), with N2 being formed, and in that the gas stream is conducted through the first reaction zone (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e) and the second reaction zone (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e; 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e). The invention results in an improved catalyst unit which in particular provides high-grade reduction of NOx compounds in an exhaust gas stream from a combustion engine.
US08017084B1
An ammonia injection grid for a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that provides uniform distribution of ammonia to the SCR catalyst in NOx reduction systems for heat recovery steam generation systems, packaged boilers, simple cycle catalyst systems and fired heaters for superior operational efficiency. The ammonia injection grid includes an injection tube having at least one nozzle for injecting ammonia into a flow of flue gas. The ammonia injection grid also includes a corrugated turbulence enhancer associated with the injection tube to generate turbulent wake to enhance turbulent mixing.
US08017080B2
A liquid state detecting apparatus including a detecting element having a heating resistor which generates heat when energized and being disposed in a liquid container for containing a liquid, the apparatus calculating a first difference between a first corresponding value corresponding to a first resistance of the heating resistor acquired after energization of the heating resistor is started and a second corresponding value corresponding to a second resistance of the heating resistor acquired after the heating resistor is energized for a predetermined detection time and obtaining a first concentration of a particular component included in the liquid, the first concentration being associated with the first difference, the apparatus including: an abnormality determination unit, a determination concentration acquiring unit, a concentration difference calculation unit, and a static state determination unit, all as defined herein.
US08017061B2
The invention relates to supports consisting of nanoscalar polymer fibres, polymer tubes or hollow fibres for the application and targeted and/or delayed release of ingredients, in particular, agricultural active ingredients. The invention also relates to a method and a device for the production of supports of this type in a charged or empty state. The method and device use electrospinning technology.
US08017058B2
A premixed material is obtained by tempering a castable refractory powder composition comprising refractory aggregate, fine refractory powder, alumina cement, a dispersing agent and an alumina cement hydration stopper with water. The hydration stopper is acidic in a state of an aqueous solution. The amount of the hydration stopper is controlled such that the premixed material has a pH of 2 to 7. Immediately after adding and mixing an alumina cement hydration starter to the premixed material, the resultant mixture is cast into a mold. The addition of the hydration starter can be carried out 5 days or more after the production of the premixed material.
US08017054B1
A method of fabricating a composite article comprising the following steps. A plurality of support templates is provided. The support templates are arranged to define a shape of the composite article. A plurality of primary panels are provided, where each primary panel defines at least one edge, a first surface, and a second surface. The first surface of the plurality of primary panels is secured to the plurality of templates such that at least one edge of one of each the primary panels is adjacent to at least one edge of another of the primary panels and the primary panels conform to the shape of the composite article. The adjacent edge portions of adjacent primary panels are joined.
US08017053B2
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a shaped article such as tubes, and hoses comprising processing a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer in an extruder apparatus.
US08017052B2
A process and apparatus for making a shingle, together with the shingle made thereby, is provided, in which one or more thermoplastic materials are extruded or co-extruded to form an extrudate, with the extrudate being cut into a preliminary shingle shape, which is allowed to dissipate heat, and then is delivered to a compression mold, wherein the preliminary shingle shape is compression molded to substantially its final dimensions and is then discharged from the mold and allowed to cool.
US08017050B2
The present invention includes methods and compositions for liquid separation and water purification. The present invention includes a purification membrane having a polymer matrix purification membrane that has been treated with dopamine to form a polydopamine coated membrane with a high water flux and a high hydrophilicity.
US08017049B2
An apparatus produces a resin product which includes a first resin layer partially covered with a second resin layer so that a boundary line between the first and second resin layers is visible from the outside. The apparatus may include a first mold side having a recess, a second mold side configured and dimensioned to enclose the recess of the first mold side ,a slide core movably fitted in the recess of the first mold side, which may be movable toward the second mold side to an extracted position to define a first cavity, and may be movable rearward to a retracted position after a first resin is injected into the first cavity to form the first resin layer, thus defining a second cavity into which a second resin is injected to form the second resin layer, the slide core including a dam dimensioned and configured to form a groove in the first resin layer during the formation of the first resin layer, wherein the dame partially positioned in the groove during the formation of the second resin layer, a first resin supply unit for supplying the first cavity with the first resin, and/or a second resin supply unit for supplying the second cavity with the second resin. The resin product produced by the apparatus is excellent in appearance, and obviates the post-processing formation of a tear line. Methods of forming the resin product are also described.
US08017046B2
A skin cosmetic composition comprising: a hydrogel particle comprising a non-crosslinked hydrogel containing an oil component therein dispersed in an aqueous medium; a hydrogel particle comprising a non-crosslinked hydrogel containing an oil component therein; and a process for preparing a hydrogel particle comprising the steps of discharging an oil component-emulsified or dispersed solution prepared by dissolving a non-crosslinked hydrogel in an aqueous solution, with vibration from an orifice to form droplets; and cooling the droplets to solidify.
US08017045B2
Provided is a composition for an oxide semiconductor thin film and a field effect transistor (FET) using the composition. The composition includes from about 50 to about 99 mol % of a zinc oxide (ZnO); from about 0.5 to 49.5 mol % of a tin oxide (SnOx); and remaining molar percentage of an aluminum oxide (AlOx). The thin film formed of the composition remains in amorphous phase at a temperature of 400° C. or less. The FET includes an active layer formed of the composition and has improved electrical characteristics. The FET can be fabricated using a low-temperature process without expensive raw materials, such as In and Ga.
US08017044B2
A bimodal metal nanoparticle composition includes first metal nanoparticles having an average diameter of from about 50 nm to about 1000 nm, and second stabilized metal nanoparticles having an average diameter of from about 0.5 nm to about 20 nm, the second stabilized metal nanoparticles including metal cores having a stabilizer attached to the surfaces thereof, wherein the stabilizer is a substituted dithiocarbonate.
US08017036B1
Methods for forming rare earth element doped oxide, oxyhalide and oxysulfide activated nanoparticles by the following method steps: (a) providing a precursor solution of a water- or alcohol-soluble host metal salt or host metalloid compound and one or more water- or alcohol-soluble rare earth element salts in a polar solution; (b) forming an aerosol of the precursor solution and oxygen; (c) feeding the aerosol to a heated Laval tube (d) igniting the aerosol with a reactive gas flame at the apex of the Laval tube to pyrolyze the salts; and (e) expanding and cooling the pyrolysis gases emerging from the Laval tube so that rare earth element doped nanoparticles precipitate therefrom; wherein one or more of the aerosol particle size, flow rate through the Laval tube and pyrolysis temperature are selected to provide a predetermined particle size and degree of crystallinity without particle aggregation. Rare earth element doped oxide, oxyhalide and oxysulfide activated mono-disperse nanoparticles are also disclosed.
US08017033B2
A molded oxygen absorbent composition is composed of a molded product of an oxygen absorbent composition which contains an oxygen absorbing substance, water or moisture, and a swelling component capable of being swelled with water or moisture. The molded oxygen absorbent composition is reduced in its size and excellent in oxygen absorbing property.
US08017030B2
Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising heptafluoropropane and trifluoroiodomethane and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agents, fire suppressant compositions, and aerosol propellants.
US08017017B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a target substance by separating it from a mixture using a simulated moving bed chromatography (SMBC) separation system, which can minimize decreases in separation performance due to interference from a liquid accumulation portion. A material, in which the target substance in the material can be separated using a first SMBC separation system that meets a first condition, is processed to separate and produce the target substance from the material using a second SMBC separation system that meets a second condition, wherein the particle size of a separating agent and fill length of a column tube are both greater, the pressure loss by the column is substantially the same, and the volume ratio of liquid accumulation portions in the endless flow passage of the SMBC separation system is lower.
US08017014B2
The invention pertains to a method(s) of improving flux in a membrane bioreactor by adding an effective amount of catonic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic polymers, or a combination thereof. The membrane bioreactor impacted by the addition of these polymers is made up of a combination of anaerobic reactors, anoxic reactors, and aerobic reactors and anaerobic digesters.
US08017012B2
An apparatus, system and method for removing and treating contaminated materials on a bottom of a body of water and introducing growth packets to revitalize the treated bottom of the body of water. The structure may comprise a vessel with an open face. The vessel may be lowered down to the bottom of the body of water with the face facing down. As a result, the vessel and the bottom form an isolated space. The structure may comprise at least one agitating device(s) for stirring up the materials inside the vessel so as to form a mixture containing the sediment materials which in turn contain the contaminants. Multiple at least one pipe(s) may be coupled to the vessel for transporting the mixture out of the vessel for processing (filtering, treating with chemicals, etc.) so as to neutralize or eliminate the contaminants in the mixture. Then, the treated mixture can be returned to the inside of the vessel via the at least one pipe(s).
US08017010B2
A device for filtering a liquid synthetic material. The device has a housing, a feed channel, a discharge channel, and backflow channels. The feed duct is subdivided into split-feed channels (2A, 2B). The cross-section of the orifice of the split-feed channels, where they open into the filter chambers, is smaller than the normal cross-section of the feed channels.
US08017007B2
A filtering unit (1) for an aquarium is described, said filtering unit (1) comprising a closed casing (2), which is to be immersed in a liquid, inlet means (3), a liquid path (4) passing through filters (8), outlet means (5, 15-18), an electric pump assembly (6) for forcing liquid to circulate along said liquid path (4). The outlet means (5, 15-18) comprise a multiple outlet selector (18) which may allow selection of outlets (15-17), in particular in a vertical direction.
US08017006B2
A storm water filtration apparatus, at the curb inlet for a storm drain, which prevents debris and pollutants from entering the storm drain system. Water passes through the filter at an upward angle. The filter does not require replacing for maintenance, and it continues to allow water to flow into the storm drain system even when the filter is full of trash, leaves, debris, and/or other pollutants.
US08017002B2
The invention relates to an arrangement and a device for filtering a fluid, particularly for plastic processing plants, wherein the pressure drop, or the flow rate reduction, created by the withdrawal of material from the process is sensitively balanced in that pressure constancy and flow rate constancy are achieved at the discharge duct (3).
US08017000B2
Process for the conversion of heavy feedstocks selected from heavy crude oils, distillation residues, heavy oils coming from catalytic treatment, thermal tars, oil sand bitumens, various kinds of coals and other high-boiling feedstocks of a hydrocarbon origin known as black oils, by the combined use of the following three process units: hydroconversion with catalysts in slurry phase (HT), distillation or flash (D), and deasphalting (SDA).
US08016983B2
This invention relates to a system and method for producing a metal powder product using conventional electrowinning chemistry (i.e., oxygen evolution at an anode) in a flow-through electrowinning cell. The present invention enables the production of high quality metal powders, including copper powder, from metal-containing solutions using conventional electrowinning processes and/or direct electrowinning.
US08016980B2
A paper product includes a paperboard comprising a substrate layer, a filler layer, and a cap layer, wherein the filler layer is disposed between the substrate layer and the cap layer, wherein the filler layer includes a filler material, wherein the cap layer includes a polylactic acid based resin, and wherein the cap layer is substantially free of filler material.
US08016961B2
A coalescing additive is used in the manufacturing process for gypsum wallboard. Such an additive increases the surface area and density of the slurry at the paper to core interface by coalescing the foam cells away from the paper core interface. This permits a stronger paper to core bond to form and increases the compressive strength of the gypsum wallboard as compared to standard wallboards made from slurries with reduced water levels.
US08016960B2
Provided are methods and systems for introducing a wet gypsum accelerator or other high viscosity production additive to an aqueous dispersion of calcined gypsum in a discharge apparatus downstream of a stucco mixer in which the dispersion was prepared. These methods and systems are useful in the production of various gypsum products such as board including wallboard and ceiling tiles.
US08016959B2
The invention relates to thermal pre-ignition agents and to their use as thermal fuses, in particular for use in gas generators of motor-vehicle safety systems.
US08016954B2
A transformation toughened, high-strength steel alloy useful in plate steel applications achieves extreme fracture toughness (Cv & gt; 80 ft-lbs corresponding to KId & equals; 200 ksi.in½) at strength levels of 150-180 ksi yield strength, is weldable and formable. The alloy is characterized by dispersed austenite stabilization for transformation toughening to a weldable, bainitic plate steel and is strengthened by precipitation of M2C carbides in combination with copper and nickel. The desired microstructure is a matrix containing a bainite-martensite mix, BCC copper and M2C carbide particles for strengthening with a fine dispersion of optimum stability austenite for transformation toughening. The bainite-martensite mix is formed by air-cooling from solution treatment temperature and subsequent aging at secondary hardening temperatures to precipitate the toughening and strengthening dispersions.
US08016946B2
The disclosure is directed to a method for servicing a parts washer having a movable sink and movable lid connected to a support frame to facilitate replacement and maintenance of a cleaning solution reservoir. A pump is also pivotally connected to the sink to lift the pump during replacement and maintenance operations.
US08016932B2
An aqueous ink used together with a black ink containing a self-dispersion pigment, wherein the aqueous ink contains a reactive component for destabilizing the dispersion state of the self-dispersion pigment, the dynamic surface tension of the aqueous ink at a lifetime of 30 milliseconds is 41 mN/m or more, and the dynamic surface tension of the aqueous ink at a lifetime of 500 milliseconds is from 28 mN/m or more to 38 mN/m or less as determined by a maximum bubble pressure method.
US08016931B2
An ink set including at least three colors of inks of yellow ink with a hue angle ∠H°, as defined in CIELAB color space on a recording medium, in the range of about 80° to about 110°, magenta ink with a hue angle ∠H° in the range of about 330° to about 360°, and cyan ink with a hue angle ∠H° in the range of about 230° to about 260°, and the following ink (A) and ink (B): ink (A): ink with a hue angle ∠H° in the range of about 0° to about 80°; and ink (B): ink with a hue angle ∠H° in the range of about 0° to about 80° (where the ink (A) has higher saturation and lower brightness than the magenta ink, and the ink (B) has higher saturation and higher brightness than the magenta ink and higher saturation and lower brightness than the yellow ink, and the hue angle (∠H°) is determined as hue angle ∠H°=tan−1(b*/a*)+180 (when a*<0) or ∠H°=tan−1(b*/a*)+360 (when a*>0), a* and b* representing the perceived chromaticity index as defined in CIELAB color space).
US08016928B2
A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a dye represented by the general formula (1); water; dipropylene glycol propyl ether (DPP); and a surfactant represented by the general formula (2). The dye, DPP, and the surfactant are blended so as to satisfy the conditions (A) and (B). (A) an amount of surfactant represented by general formula (2) relative to a total amount of the ink is in the range of about 0.5 wt % to about 2.5 wt % (B) an amount of DPP relative to a total amount of the ink is in the range of about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %.
US08016923B2
Disclosed herein are combustion systems, power plants, and flue gas treatment systems that incorporate sweep-based membrane separation units to remove carbon dioxide from combustion gases. In its most basic embodiment, the invention is a combustion system that includes three discrete units: a combustion unit, a carbon dioxide capture unit, and a sweep-based membrane separation unit. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a power plant including a combustion unit, a power generation system, a carbon dioxide capture unit, and a sweep-based membrane separation unit. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a flue gas treatment system that incorporates three membrane separation units with a carbon dioxide liquefaction unit.
US08016919B2
A solution contained in a regeneration tower is supplied to a filtering unit. The filter unit filters out solid particles contained in the solution. A washing unit washes out with backwash water solid particles filtered out by the filter unit. An evaporating unit receives the backwash water containing the solid particles, and heats received backwash water thereby obtaining solid-particles concentrated backwash water.
US08016911B2
A method of using a protective gas composition comprising a fluorine-containing organic compound and a carrier gas for preventing a rapid oxidation or combustion of a molten magnesium/magnesium alloy alloy in a magnesium or magnesium alloy production process.
US08016898B1
Polyisobutenylphenol-containing Mannich adducts are prepared by a) alkylation of a phenol with highly reactive polyisobutene having a number average molecular weight of less than 1000 and a polydispersity of less than 3.0, at below about 50° C. in the presence of an alkylation catalyst; b) reaction of the reaction product from a) with b1) an aldehyde chosen from formaldehyde, an oligomer and a polymer of formaldehyde and b2) at least one amine which has at least one primary or one secondary amino function and are used as detergent additives in fuel and lubricant compositions, and additive concentrates, fuel compositions and lubricant compositions contain these Mannich adducts.
US08016893B2
A gear bearing drive provides a compact mechanism that operates as an actuator providing torque and as a joint providing support. The drive includes a gear arrangement integrating an external rotor DC motor within a sun gear. Locking surfaces maintain the components of the drive in alignment and provide support for axial loads and moments. The gear bearing drive has a variety of applications, including as a joint in robotic arms and prosthetic limbs.
US08016889B2
Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants are disclosed. The implants use sintered polycrystalline articulation surfaces which are attached to spinal endplates and which are implanted to replace damaged spinal joints. The implants provide a long wearing and biocompatible articulation surface. Materials which may be used to make the spinal implants and manufacturing and finishing techniques for making the implants are also disclosed.
US08016888B2
An intervertebral disc prosthesis for the total replacement of a intervertebral disc within the lumbar and cervical spine is disclosed. The intervertebral disc prosthesis comprises articulating sliding partners, wherein the upper sliding partner has means for a firm assembly to an upper vertebral body and the lower sliding partner has means for a firm assembly to a lower vertebral body and at least one sliding surface that is between two sliding partners. Functional two- and three part designs are planned and both prostheses have in common, that only a dorsoventral- and rotation movement is possible as a result of laterolaterally aimed, transversally arched, ventrally curved cylindrical convexity(ies) and corresponding concavity(ies), however without an inclination of the sliding partners in a lateral direction. In a further design, the cylindrical articulation surfaces have no curvature, enabling a motion of the sliding partners in only a ventrodorsal direction. According to the invention, the intervertebral disc prostheses are suited for implantation from lateral and ventrolateral, particularly in revision surgeries.
US08016887B1
A spinal implant and an overlay for interlocking with the face of the spinal implant. Grooves and/or channels of the overlay interlock with the face of the implant. The overlay assists in securing the implant within the surgically created cavity.
US08016872B2
An expandable roll sock delivery catheter includes an inner tube, an outer tube having a distal outer tube end, and a medical device, such as a self-expanding stent, collapsibly disposed over the inner tube and concentrically oriented between the inner tube and the outer tube. A hollow tube of expandable balloon material extends from the distal outer tube end, the balloon material being substantially disposed in its entirety within a distal end portion of the outer tube. The balloon material is folded back into the outer tube and over the device as a single layer of balloon material connectively linked to the inner tube proximal to the self-expanding device so as to form an expandable roll sock balloon. The roll sock balloon defines an inflation lumen disposed between the outer tube and inner tube, whereby the inflation lumen is configured for expansion of the roll sock balloon following release of the device.
US08016854B2
A strut assembly to be used in conjunction with an embolic filtering device has varying strut thicknesses, with the thickness selected based at least in part on the flexing characteristics of the particular portion of the strut assembly. The strut assembly is formed with patterns having flexing portions and stable portions, with the flexing portions contributing to the flexibility of the strut assembly during delivery and recovery in the patient's vasculature. The stable portions remain relatively unflexed and stiff when being delivered or recovered from the patient's vasculature. The stable portions provide strength and increased radiopacity to the strut assembly which is needed when the strut assembly is deployed in the body vessel. The flexing portions act much like a mechanical hinges in providing the needed flexibility to resiliently bend when being delivered through tortuous anatomy of the patient.
US08016851B2
A delivery system and method of use thereof for introducing a bundled intragastric bag into a gastric lumen are described. The delivery system includes a pushing mechanism movable between an unexpanded and expanded configuration. The pushing mechanism in its expanded configuration pushes each of the bundles of the bag into the gastric lumen. A suture strand is periodically pulled during the procedure to help create doughnut-shaped bundles. Another suture strand extends between a proximal button and distal button of the deployed assembly to maintain the doughnut-shaped bundle structure.
US08016850B2
The present invention provides balloon dissection apparatus and methods of use in which an elongate balloon is utilized to dissect along a region that follows a naturally existing path alongside a vessel or structure, such as an artery, a vein, a lymphatic vessel, the trachea, the esophagus, or even a nerve bundle.
US08016846B2
Surgical micro-resecting and evoked potential monitoring system and method. The system includes a micro-resecting instrument, handpiece, and evoked potential monitor. The instrument includes an outer tube forming a cutting window at which a cutting tip of an inner member is located. A hub assembly rotatably maintains the inner and outer members. An electrically non-conductive material covers a region of the outer tube, and wiring is connected to an exposed surface of the outer tube. The instrument defines a probe surface proximate the cutting window as part of an electrical pathway with the wiring. The hub assembly is powered by the handpiece, and the wiring is connected to the evoked potential monitor. Evoked potential monitoring is performed at the probe surface via stimulation energy delivered along the electrical pathway, and tissue/bone resection occurs with rotation of the cutting tip.
US08016845B1
An instrument is provided for cutting tissue having a housing, a shaft extending from the housing to a distal end with an opening, and a guide tube extending from the distal end through the opening for receiving a guide wire through the shaft and housing. A movable blade shuttle having a blade is provided at the distal end. The blade shuttle's travel is guided by the guide tube when the blade shuttle and blade is extended from the distal end opening to cut tissue and retracted back through the distal end opening. The housing has a pivotal actuator member mechanically coupled to the blade shuttle to remotely control movement of the blade shuttle at the instrument's distal end. The instrument may be used for longitudinal cutting of tissue at remote sites in the body of a patient to provide incisions of precise depth and length over a controlled path of a guide wire.
US08016829B2
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for distracting adjacent vertebrae during surgical procedures for implanting spinal prostheses. In an exemplary embodiment, a distractor is disclosed that maintains the empty space between adjacent vertebrae following a discectomy, and that can removably mate with other surgical instruments, such as, for example, a filler bar, an implanting tool, or a funnel. In other embodiments of the present invention a distractor is disclosed having various features to assist in implanting a spinal prosthesis, such as, for example, an angled distal end and/or an expandable paddle. In another embodiment of the present invention, an articulating inserter is disclosed. Moreover, various implants and funnels are also disclosed herein.
US08016824B2
An electrosurgical pencil configured and adapted to support an electrocautery blade. A strain gauge is affixed to the proximal end of the electrocautery blade and measures the displacement of the blade as a result of resistance and drag acting on the blade. The electrosurgical pencil also includes a meter electrically connected to the strain gauge for monitoring either a change in voltage, a change in electrical current or a change in optical wavelength. The amount of blade displacement as measured by the strain gauge is available for display to the surgeon and/or as sensory input for a control circuit in the electrosurgical generator that modulates the generator output waveform. The electrosurgical pencil further includes a control circuit electrically coupled between the electrocautery blade and the electrosurgical generator. The control circuit is configured and adapted to control power supplied to electrocautery blade based on the displacement measured by the strain gauge.
US08016823B2
This invention relates to surgical instruments for applying energy to tissue using a a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers large amount of energy to the targeted tissue. In one embodiment, the system is configured for volumetric removal of tissue by means of high velocity ejection of a vapor media from a first vapor port proximate to soft tissue wherein the vapor-to-liquid phase change of the media applies energy to the tissue. The system provides a second port coupled to a suction source that cooperates with the first vapor port to suction tissue debris from the targeted site.
US08016821B2
In a bipolar cutter for a living body tissue, a groove part is formed in a member that is arranged close to an active electrode, thereby providing a constitution to cut while the blood stanching is ensured since when a heat amount generated by the active electrode is conducted in the member, an excessive heat conduction to the member is efficiently interrupted by a layer of air that is produced due to the groove part and the living tissue is thus provided with more heat.
US08016811B2
A method for delivering permeant substances transdermally into a membrane of an animal includes forming at least one delivery opening in the skin tissue, with the at least one delivery opening having a mean opening depth of between about 40 and about 90 microns.
US08016808B2
The device for piercing film bags includes a piercing spike and means for preventing unintentional piercing by the piercing spike, the means for preventing unintentional piercing comprising a bag support plate that is connected to a baseplate by collapsible or tearable spacers. The device is preferably designed as a unit and insertable into a container of a dispensing assembly. This device provides a high safety against unintentional piercing due to shocks and transport vibrations and is inexpensive to manufacture and multifunctional.
US08016803B2
An absorbent article having a backsheet, an absorbent core, a topsheet, and a genital coversheet. The topsheet has an opening positioned to allow exuded fecal material to pass therethrough when the article is worn by a wearer. The genital coversheet is positioned across a portion of the aperture and covers the wearer's genitals. A void space is formed between the genital coversheet and the absorbent core and a void space is formed between the topsheet and the absorbent core.
US08016798B2
A fluid delivery system capable of delivering a precise amount of fluid, such as a fluid required for medical treatment. The delivery system makes use of an inline sensing unit that includes a housing comprising an inlet for receiving a fluid from a fluid source, an outlet for discharging the fluid from the housing, and at least one cavity between the inlet and the outlet. A sensing element and electronic circuitry are disposed within the at least one cavity. The electronic circuitry is adapted to produce an electrical output based on at least one response of the sensing element. The sensing unit is further equipped with a communication element for providing communication between the electronic circuitry and an electronic device remote from the housing.
US08016792B2
A universal securing device for holding catheters of various shapes and sizes and the like in place includes a base and cover. The cover may be connected to the base by a hinge which allows the cover to be lifted open or pushed down into a closed position, over a catheter fitting. The base may have locating elements configured and arranged to fit around catheter fittings of various sizes, and the locating elements prevent substantial movement of a catheter fitting and catheter in various dimensions. The cover may include capture elements which act to grip and compress the catheter fitting when the securing device is in a closed position, thus preventing substantial movement of a catheter fitting and catheter in various dimensions. The base may be attached to a patient with an adhesive pad attached to the bottom surface of the base.
US08016785B2
A feeding tube apparatus is shown, with self propelled features that provide for placement in the postpyloric region of a patient.
US08016780B1
An orthopedic brace is provided that provides for immobilization of an injured or postoperative extremity in an abduction position and also allows the user to control internal and external rotation of the extremity. A brace is provided with two opposing members, one opposing member having a torso resting surface and the other opposing member having a forearm support surface, and an adjustment mechanism that allows a user to expand or contract the orthopedic brace to provide for internal and/or external rotation of a humeral head of the user through the forearm of the user.
US08016776B2
A wearable ambulatory data recorder that senses physiological parameters of a patient, and stores physiological parameter data for later retrieval, as well as techniques for using such a wearable ambulatory data recorder, are described. The data recorder includes one or more sensors located on or within a housing. The data recorder may include an adhesive layer for attachment to a patient. In some embodiments, the housing may be within a patch, e.g., bandage, which includes the adhesive layer. The housing may be waterproof. Features of the data recorder such as size, waterproofness, and inclusion of an adhesive may allow the data recorder to be unobtrusively worn by a patient during a variety of daily activities. The data recorder may be for single use and thereafter disposable.
US08016764B1
Techniques are provided for exploiting left atrial pressure (LAP) measurements to determine various ventricular mechanical and electromechanical contraction intervals and for evaluating ventricular dyssynchrony based on those intervals. In one example, LAP measurements are combined with right ventricular pressure (RVP) measurements to determine the interventricular mechanical delay, which is the primary parameter representative of ventricular dyssynchrony. Other intervals determined based, in part, on LAP measurements include the electromechanical delay for the left ventricle (LV), as well as the LV systolic and diastolic intervals. Techniques are also described herein for detecting various RV intervals including the electromechanical delay for the RV, as well as the RV systolic and diastolic intervals.
US08016758B2
An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object that includes a display system for displaying a scanned image of the organic object in a plurality of display modes wherein the display system further includes a user input device sensor for sensing a motion of a user input device in at least one of display modes to automatically switch from one display mode to a different display mode. Furthermore, the display system further counts a length of time the user input device staying idle in at least one of the display modes for switching the display mode back to a last display mode at a predefined idle time limit.
US08016757B2
Ultrasound data are collected from a thermal source and a mass of tissue before initiating therapy to measure two parameters of the bio-heat transfer equation (BHTE). The parameters are the thermal diffusivity (K) of the tissue and the magnitude of the thermal source (Q). Once the parameters have been obtained, the BHTE can be calibrated to the specific mass of tissue and the specific thermal source. The calibrated BHTE can be used to generate a temperature dependence curve calibrated to the thermal source and tissue, and spatio-temporal temperature maps, to facilitate pre-therapy planning. During therapy, ultrasound data are collected to determine if Q changes during therapy, and if so, the BHTE is recalibrated using the new Q value, increasing an accuracy of the temperature estimations.
US08016756B2
A medical system includes a capsule type medical apparatus introduced into a subject and having an antenna having directionality and a communication unit which executes a communication through the antenna, an external antenna, which is disposed outside of the subject and has an antenna having directionality and an antenna disposed together with the antenna and having directionality in a direction different from the antenna, and an external machine having a selection unit which selects any of the antennas in the external antenna and a second communication unit which executes a communication with the first communication unit through the antenna whose polarized wave surface is selected by the selection unit.
US08016755B2
A surgical access device includes an access seal adapted to be disposed within an incision within an abdominal wall. The access seal has an external flange adapted to be disposed external to the abdominal wall and an internal flange adapted to be disposed internal to the abdominal wall. The access seal with flanges is formed monolithically. There are access channels through the access seal. The access channels span the thickness of the abdominal wall and form working channels between a location external to the abdominal wall and a location internal to the abdominal wall. The access seal is formed of an elastomeric material adapted to conform to a surface of an instrument inserted through the working channel to form an instrument seal along a length spanning the thickness of the abdominal wall. The elastomeric material is adapted to form an abdominal seal within the abdominal wall.
US08016748B2
Apparatus and methods for locating morphological features within a body cavity using a catheter including proximal and distal ends, a transparent balloon carried on the distal end, and an optical imaging assembly carried on the distal end for imaging through the balloon. The balloon includes a channel extending therethrough to a lumen extending through the catheter. A guidewire or other localization member is received in the lumen that is extendable through the channel. During use, the catheter is inserted into a right atrium of a heart, and the balloon is expanded and placed against the wall of the heart to locate the coronary sinus. Sufficient force is applied to clear blood between the surface and the wall and clear the field of view of the imaging assembly. The catheter is manipulated to locate the coronary sinus, whereupon the localization member is advanced into the coronary sinus.
US08016744B2
An external pressure sensing system may include an attachment for a syringe. The attachment may comprise a connector positioned between the barrel and the needle of the syringe. A pressure sensor may be in fluid communication with the connector, such that the pressure sensor may sense the pressure of fluid within the connector as the syringe is used to add fluid to or withdraw fluid from an injection port. Where an injection port is a component of an adjustable fluid-based gastric band system, pressure data obtained with the pressure sensor may be indicative of the pressure of fluid within the gastric band. The pressure sensor may communicate pressure data to a display device. A user may adjust the pressure of fluid within the gastric band using the syringe while viewing the display device for pressure-related readings.
US08016722B2
A method for controlling an automatic transmission, which allows changing a gear change and downshifting with minimal interruption of traction while the phase of reduction of the drive torque of the drive motor, the phase interruption of the frictional connection phase in the automatic transmission and the phase of rotational speed adjustment in the transmission input shaft are designed for a suitable target rotational speed such that they at least partially overlap. Upon interruption of the frictional connection in the automatic transmission, the drive motor transmits a drive torque to the input shaft of the automatic transmission, via the main clutch, which adjusts the rotational speed of the input shaft of a transmission to the synchronous speed of the new gear.
US08016718B2
A vehicle drive unit is provided which includes a hydraulic circuit capable of efficiently supplying a hydraulic pressure from an accumulator to a hydraulic servo while minimizing the capacity of the accumulator. In a hydraulic circuit included in a continuously variable transmission, an accumulator is connected through an electromagnetic switch valve to an oil passage connecting a clutch pressure control valve and a manual valve, a one-way valve for allowing oil to flow only in the direction from the clutch pressure control valve toward the accumulator and the forward clutch is provided in the oil passage. The electromagnetic switch valve switches an oil passage to a communicating state when the oil pump is driven and switches the oil passage to a shut-off state when the oil pump is stopped.
US08016713B2
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least ten forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes four planetary gear sets, six torque-transmitting devices, and three fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of three to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US08016712B2
An automatic transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may be either clutches or brakes.
US08016707B2
A machine tool gear mechanism (1) such as a spindle gear mechanism, transmits torque from an output shaft (3) of the gear mechanism directly to a spindle (6). The mechanism includes a rotary passage (14) as a device for delivering coolants, emulsions, oils or air between the output shaft (3) or the motor and the spindle (6). The rotary passage (14) is integrated in the spindle (6).
US08016701B2
A lacrosse head includes sidewalls having an open frame construction. The sidewalls include an upper rail and a lower rail, along with a cross member joined with the upper rail and the lower rail. The cross member defines multiple holes corresponding to multiple pocket configurations so that a user can attach a lacrosse net to selected ones of the holes and achieve a desired pocket profile. Optionally, at least one of the upper and lower rails can be void of any string holes. Further optionally, the cross member can branch into one or more secondary members that also define string holes to provide additional pocket profiles. Even further optionally, the holes defined by the cross member can be of polygonal shape.
US08016697B2
Multi-layer golf balls having a relatively hard outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core are provided. The inner core generally has a compression of less than 50 and the inner core and outer core generally have a combined dual core compression of 50 or greater. The outer core generally has a Shore C hardness of 80 or greater. A cover, which can be a single-, dual-, or multi-layer cover, is provided to surround the outer core. A moisture barrier layer is optionally provided between the outer core and the cover. The moisture vapor transmission rate of the moisture barrier layer is preferably less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of the cover.
US08016691B2
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. The head may include one or more stiffening elements or other structures contacting an inner surface of the face, to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element includes a chamber adapted to contain a viscous substance. The viscous substance can be selected and inserted into the chamber to create regions of increased stiffness in desired locations, leaving other regions of the face to have increased flexibility as compared to the stiffened regions.
US08016687B2
A method for play of a parlor entertainment unit including a remote activation assembly and an activation-sensing unit. The activation-sensing unit, which may be battery operated and housed in the entertainment unit, may be in an energy-conserving sleep mode until the activation-sensing unit receives a wake-up signal. In one embodiment, the wake-up signal may be generated by the engagement of an activation mechanism, such as a coin slide. After being awoken, the activation-sensing unit may transmit an inquiry to the remote activation assembly as to whether the associated entertainment unit has been selected for play and/or whether there is a sufficient number of credits available for play. If that entertainment unit has not been selected for play, the activation-sensing unit may return to a sleep mode. However, if sufficient play credits are available for the entertainment unit, play may commence.
US08016685B2
In a power transmission apparatus, a driving rotary body is rotated by power from a driving device. A driven rotary body includes a driven rotary member attached to a rotating shaft of a driven device and a holding plate attached to the driven rotary member. A damper mechanism includes a cylindrical elastic member attached to the driving rotary body and a connecting member which is engaged in the elastic member to be movable forward/backward. At least one rotation transmission member is attached to the connecting member, has one end connected to the driving rotary body through the damper mechanism and the other end separably connected to the driven rotary body, and transmits rotation of the driving rotary body to the driven rotary body. A preset load setting member is mounted between the driven rotary body and the connecting member to elastically deform the rotation transmission member, thus applying a preset load.
US08016662B1
A gaming system includes a game server and a client device. The game server accepts the publicly-verifiable outcome of a non-deterministic event as an input. The game server creates a seed from the outcome and inputs the seed into a random number generator to generate a random number. The game server generates a winner using the random number and communicates the winner to the client device.
US08016657B2
A wagering method is provided that allows players or gaming establishments to specify conditions which when satisfied, reconfigure the gaming device to change game play from a first game to a second game. The condition may depend upon the value of a parameter—generally related to game play—to determine if the condition is valid and triggers the reconfiguration. The second game may be selected from a game on the same gaming device, from a game on a different gaming device, or a game played by a specific player.
US08016655B2
In a liquid crystal display 201, when a sub player touches a select button area 1206 arranged under a main game display area 2001 through a transparent touch panel 202 covering the liquid crystal display 201, the sub player can select the play of a main game. In addition, when the sub player touches a select button area 1206 arranged under the sub game display area 2002, the sub player can select a back bet game serving as a sub game. Selection by the sub player is made prior to starting the main game and the sub game.
US08016654B2
An arm-wrestling robot is disclosed, comprising basically an arm-force generation mechanism 10 and a control system 100 that detects the maximum arm-force of a user in the early stage of the match, generates a different game scenario each time, and executes force feedback control to implement the scenario.
US08016653B2
A method is disclosed for three-dimensional rendering of a live event such as an automobile race over a client device such as a personal computer. Moving and stationary objects at the event may be rendered using computer-generated graphics of the moving and stationary objects and real time positional data giving the position of the moving objects over time. The positional data may be streamed to the client device and displayed in real time or substantially real time.
US08016648B2
The invention is a method and apparatus for quicker, easier and more injury-free skinning of small to medium size game utilizing a dual fish skinner in conjunction with game skinning attachment, whose spike provides support and accessibility.
US08016642B2
A blasting device for blasting steel pipe inner surface includes a tubular carrier fluid inflow unit connected to one end of a horizontal steel pipe, and a negative pressure suction unit connected to the other end of the steel pipe. A polishing material or a wiping material is injected horizontally into the carrier fluid inflow unit along with a carrier fluid from a hole formed in the edge face of the tubular carrier inflow unit. The device provides improved blast performance as well as the capability to blast the inner surface from beginning portion to an end portion to provide an excellent inner surface texture.
US08016639B2
An improved start gate for gravity-driven cars which is itself a gravity-driven compound pendulum. The pendulum includes a horizontal drop member rigidly connected at one end to a start post support rod which in turn supports a plurality of start posts. A trigger lever, when moved either directly or remotely, allows the drop member to fall as in a compound pendulum thereby rotating the start posts and allowing the cars to start. The embodiment teaches that the subsequent initial start post acceleration is approximately twice the car acceleration. The equations of motion are solved showing that the start posts are guaranteed not to interfere with car motion. A major advantage over prior art spring-loaded start gates is that the gate “slap” from stopping overly-forceful spring motion and the associated track jarring and car jostling is eliminated, thereby contributing substantially to a more smooth and fair start.
US08016628B2
A method of joining a flexible layer and a support includes forming a first metal layer on one surface of the flexible layer, forming a second metal layer on one surface of the support, cleaning the first metal layer and the second metal layer, and joining the first metal layer to the second metal layer, such that the first metal layer is between the flexible layer and the second metal layer.
US08016627B2
A personal water safety device includes a strap and a housing attached to the strap. The strap includes a cinch and a fastening device. The housing includes an inflatable bladder, an inflation assembly disposed within the inflatable bladder, and an actuator. The actuator includes a lanyard and a ring. The inflation assembly includes a frame and a gas container. The frame includes a retaining clip to prevent the gas container and a portion of the inflatable bladder from prematurely dislodging. The gas container deploys gas to the inflatable bladder for inflation. The inflatable bladder remains attached in a substantially stationary position adjacent to the upper arm of the user by the strap. The inflatable bladder can be disposed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The inflatable bladder can be formed from a highly visible material. A second strap can be attached to the inflatable bladder for stability.
US08016623B2
Disclosed is a socket terminal for grip array connector, including a plurality of conductive terminals. The conductive terminal comprises a base and a pair of arms. Each arm includes a connection part extending forwardly from the base, a first bending part bent and extending upwardly from the connection part, a second bending part bent upwardly from the first bending part, a first elastic arm extending upwardly from the second bending part, and a contact section formed at a rear end of the first elastic arm. The first bending part bends away from the other arm and the second bending part locates away from the other arm while the first elastic arm extends toward the other arm. The minimum distance between the two first elastic arms and that between the two second bending parts are larger than the minimum distance between the two connection parts and that between the two contact sections.
US08016618B2
An integrated circuit (“IC”) connector includes a card detection contact terminal which is provided substantially at a central part of a housing unit and between a first grounding contact terminal and a second grounding contact terminal, and first and second contact terminals located so as to face each other along a direction of mounting and demounting of a first IC card, the first contact terminals provided adjacent to and both sides of the card detection contact terminal, the second contact terminals provided adjacent to both sides of the card detection contact terminal.
US08016613B2
A connector for terminating a coaxial cable that comprises a connector body that has a first end adapted to receive the coaxial cable and a second end adapted to couple with a mating connector. A locking sleeve that has an interface end is engageable with the first end of the connector body. The locking sleeve includes an outer engagement ring spaced from the interface end thereby defining an outer annular receiving area between the outer engagement ring and the interface end. The outer annular receiving area is configured to receive the first end of the connector body in an interference fit. The locking sleeve is axially moveable relative to the connector body between a holding position in which the locking sleeve is detachably coupled to the connector body and a locked position in which the locking sleeve is inseparably coupled to the connector body.
US08016612B2
A torque aid for a coaxial connector is provided. The torque aid has a tubular grip element and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is moveable from a first position to a second position. When the locking mechanism is in the first position, rotation of the torque aid is inhibited in at least one direction. When the locking mechanism is in the second position, the torque aid is rotatable in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
US08016611B2
An electrical power supplying device for supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment, includes a power supply cord for plugging into a standard power receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and also a base housing portion having a bottom surface. A power-ring subassembly is supported on the base housing portion, has a central aperture defining the boundaries of a 3D interior volume, and is adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, which are electrically connected to the power supply cord. A power-ring housing portion covers the power-ring subassembly, has a set of plug apertures, is aligned with the electrical receptacles, and allows appliance power plugs associated with the electrical appliances to plug into the electrical receptacles. A power cord portal allows a group of electrical power cords associated with the group of electrical appliances to enter/exit the 3D interior volume in a bundled manner, and the appliance power plugs associated with said group of electrical appliances to be plugged into the electrical receptacles. A cover housing portion is provided and adapted to cover the central aperture of the power-ring subassembly, and conceal appliance power plugs plugged into the electrical receptacles and appliance power cords associated with the electrical appliances. Also, a thermal management subsystem is integrated within the device, so that heat energy, generated by the power adapter plugs and/modules contained within the 3D interior volume, is transferred by air flowing from the 3D interior volume to the external ambient environment.
US08016606B1
A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) device for ensuring mating of a male header connector with a female housing includes a body portion, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm is attached to the body portion, extended from the body portion, and includes a locking groove proximate a distal end thereof. The second arm, which includes a locking latch, is spaced apart from the first arm, attached to the body portion, and extended from the body portion. When the CPA device is guided along the female housing, the locking groove and the locking latch lock onto complementary protrusions on the female housing in a pre-lock position, only to be dislodged upon contact of a sloped surface at the distal end of the first arm with the male header connector during insertion of the male header connector into the female housing to proceed to a final-lock position.
US08016604B2
To provide a charging connector to prevent the charging connector from removing while a lock system is locked by helping a user recognize that 5 the lock system is locked. A charging connector B including: a lever 44 received in a connector case main body 23, and of which center part is pivotally supported; a locking claw 45b integrally formed with one end of the lever 44; and a release button 46a disposed at the other end of the lever 44, wherein 10 when the charging connector B is completely fitted into a secondary battery-side connector, the locking claw 45b is locked with a locking projection 19 provided at the secondary battery-side connector, and wherein when the release button 46a is pushed down, the locking between the locking claw and the locking projection is unlocked, and the charging connector B further including: a lock 15 system 100 having a lock device 101; and an operation regulator 102 which is moved to a preventing position to prevent the release button 46a from being pushed down when the lock device 101 is in a locking state, and moved to an allowing position to allow the release button 46a to be pressed down when the lock device 101 is in an unlocking state.
US08016603B1
A quick-connection outdoor waterproof electrical connector is provided, having the following features: All of the male terminals and the female terminals are all positioned in a peripheral direction with the same diameter; the female terminal is provided at its connection portion with a “U-shaped” structure; for the internal wall of the cylindrical hole and the external edge of the cylindrical plug, one is provided with an “L-shaped” guide slot and the other with a convex guide pole, with the cylindrical hole being provided at its bottom with an end-plane waterproof washer.
US08016594B2
A threat fire simulation system (40) for simulating a projectile impacting a user (26) includes an electrical impulse element (44) configured for physical contact with the user (26). A controller (42) is in communication with the electrical impulse element (44). The controller (42) enables receipt of a signal (54) for activating electrical impulse element (44) to deliver a non-disabling electrical pulse (46) to the user (26). The electrical pulse (46) simulates an impact of the projectile on the user (26).
US08016585B2
A resin stamper is provided that is intended for use in an optical transfer-based nanostructure transfer apparatus and which is capable of automatic transport and alignment. The resin stamper includes a support member made of a light transmitting material and having mechanical strength, an intermediate layer also made of a light transmitting material, and a patterned resin layer which is also made of a light transmitting material. The support member is larger in size than the intermediate layer and the patterned resin layer. The intermediate layer is more flexible than the patterned resin layer. Also, the patterned resin layer has a pattern of high and low areas formed in a surface thereof that is the obverse of the pattern of high and low areas in a mold.
US08016584B2
A mold for the production of molded concrete bricks has mold recess bodies guided in openings in side walls of a mold insert, which openings are adapted to the contours of the recess bodies, in order to produce recesses in a molded concrete brick produced using this mold. The recesses reach all the way to the underside of a brick, and are supported on one or more sections of the edging of the opening. The wall thickness of the mold insert side wall can have a greater wall thickness in the region of the recess bodies. Preferably, the mold includes multiple mold inserts, and recess bodies that are similar in terms of position and movement direction are coupled mechanically with one another in their movement, and can be displaced together via common drive devices.
US08016583B2
An apparatus comprises a conveying device provided with seat elements arranged for receiving objects, the seat elements being movable along a curved path, and a further conveying device provided with a transferring arrangement arranged for delivering the objects to, and/or removing the objects from, the conveying device, wherein the transferring arrangement comprises coupling elements arranged for engaging the seat elements in such a way that the seat elements and the transferring arrangement are maintained mutually coupled along a portion of the curved path.
US08016581B2
Apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of fluid material from an injection molding machine to a mold cavity, the apparatus comprising: a manifold receiving the injected fluid material and having a delivery channel that delivers the fluid material to the mold cavity; a bushing or insert or plug mounted in an aperture in the manifold having a rate flow control channel communicating with the delivery channel of the manifold; a pin having a flow control member; the pin being adapted for back and forth axial movement within the rate flow control channel wherein a surface of the flow control member is controllably engageable or sealable against an interior surface area portion of the rate flow control channel of the bushing or insert or plug.
US08016579B2
A superabrasive grain setting apparatus for arranging superabrasive grains on a surface of a manufacturing mold used in manufacturing a grinding tool includes a grip and raising mechanism for gripping the mold in a horizontal state and for turning the mold to a vertical state. A six-axis control robot is composed of a base arm mechanism with three controlled axes and a wrist unit with three controlled axes attached to the base arm mechanism. A superabrasive grain supply device has a grain storage for storing the superabrasive grains and a grain separation mechanism for separating the superabrasive grains in the grain storage one by one to a suction position. A suction nozzle is detachably mounted on an endmost arm of the robot and provided with a bent nose portion for drawing a grain of superabrasive to a nozzle end thereof at the suction position.
US08016578B2
An apparatus for molding and vulcanization of tyres for vehicle wheels includes a vulcanization press and a vulcanization mold associated with the press. The apparatus includes a pair of plates and a plurality of mold sectors that are mutually movable between an open condition and a closed condition; at least one plurality of sector carriers designed to support the mold sectors and movable together with the sectors; and a plurality of guide means on which the plurality of sector carriers slide for movement of the mold sectors from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa, at least part of the sector carriers having at least one spring device designed to exert a thrust action adapted to ensure sliding of the sector carrier on the guide element in a substantially parallel direction.
US08016569B2
A nacelle for a wind turbine includes a cover defining an internal volume. The cover has longitudinal sides and opposite end walls. A bedplate is within the cover with the power generation and wind turbine control components mounted on the bedplate. The cover has a widest width dimension along the longitudinal sides intermediate of the end walls that exceeds a pre-defined maximum width for rail transport of the nacelle. Removable caps are configured on the longitudinal sides of the cover at the widest dimension, with the caps having a configuration such that upon removal of the caps, the widest width dimension is less than the predefined maximum width for rail transport.
US08016561B2
A method for operating a turbofan engine includes providing a first fan disk configured to rotate in a first rotational direction, coupling a first fan blade to the first fan disk, the first fan blade including a dovetail, an airfoil coupled to the dovetail, and a plurality of channels extending through the dovetail, and channeling airflow through the at least one fan blade such that the airflow is discharged from the airfoil trailing edge to facilitate reducing the operational noise level of the turbofan engine and improve.
US08016556B2
A centrifugal fan includes a motor having an impeller and a housing for accommodating the motor. The housing has a sidewall surrounding an outer circumference of the impeller. An air inlet is formed in the housing and opposed to a center portion of the impeller. An air outlet is formed in the sidewall of the housing and opposed to an outer surface of the impeller. The housing includes a housing body and a housing cover. The housing body has a bottom with the motor secured thereon. The housing cover, formed by a pressed metal member, has an upper part and a cover sidewall extending from the upper part toward the bottom of the housing body and forming at least a part of the sidewall of the housing.
US08016555B2
A turbomachine is provided. The turbomachine includes a rotor, a stator and a plurality of blade discs mounted on the rotor. The rotor includes a turbulator cylinder where a plurality of turbulators are provided on a curved surface of the turbulator cylinder and the stator includes an annular shroud extending around the turbulator cylinder. The plurality of turbulators increase a heat transfer to a coolant flowing between the adjacent opposed surfaces of the turbulator cylinder and the annular shroud.
US08016554B2
The present invention is directed toward a hybrid bearing which will have the advantages of ball bearings as well as hydrodynamic oil films. The present invention is a hybrid bearing assembly for a turbocharger unit, having an inner race track with a series of grooves, and one or more roller balls located in the grooves of the inner race track. There is also an outer race track having a series of grooves for receiving the one or more roller balls, where the outer race track circumscribes the inner race track. The hybrid bearing also includes a sleeve made from an established tribological material located inside the inner race track, with a shaft located inside the sleeve. A hydrodynamic oil film is located between the sleeve and the shaft, wherein the hydrodynamic oil film allows the shaft to spin at greater speeds than the inner race track.
US08016550B2
A direction-switchable pneumatic cylinder includes: a cylinder body with two intakes, several exhaustion ports and a rotary shaft; and a predetermined number of movable wheels and fixed wheels arranged in the cylinder body and interlaced with each other. Each of the movable wheels and fixed wheels is formed with several vents concentrically arranged into an inner circle and an outer circle. The rotary shaft is fitted through the movable wheels and fixed wheels. The fixed wheels are not rotatable, while the movable wheels are synchronously rotatably with the rotary shaft. The outer circles of vents of the fixed wheels and the movable wheels are aligned with one intake, while the inner circles of vents of the fixed wheels and the movable wheels are aligned with the other intake. When high-pressure gas is guided into the pneumatic cylinder from one intake, the airflow will flow through the outer circles of vents to drive the movable wheels and the rotary shaft in one direction. When high-pressure gas is guided into the pneumatic cylinder from the other intake, the airflow will flow through the inner circles of vents to drive the movable wheels and the rotary shaft in another direction.
US08016548B2
A water supply tunnel secondary purpose turbine electric power generator system includes: a.) a water supply subsystem with a water source at an elevation that is at least 300 feet above the mean altitude of a community, that includes a gravity fed underground water tunnel being located, at least in part, upstream from the community, and, at least in part, being located under the community. There is a plurality of riser conduits in the community connected to the gravity fed underground water tunnel, delivering water from the water source to the community at a pressure that is at least 100 psi in excess of desired water pressure delivered to community water lines; b.) water valving subsystems connected to each of the riser conduits and one of each including at least one safety valve, to lower water pressure of the delivered water; and, c.) a power generating turbine subsystem, including at least one water driven turbine located in at least one of the water supply subsystem and water valving subsystem.
US08016542B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for the use of a dual Selective Compliant Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA) robot. In some embodiments two SCARAs are provided, each including an elbow joint, wherein the two SCARAs are vertically stacked such that one SCARA is a first arm and the other SCARA is a second arm, and wherein the second arm is adapted to support a first substrate, and the first arm is adapted to extend to a full length when the second arm supports the first substrate, and wherein the first substrate supported by the second arm is coplanar with the elbow joint of the first arm, and the second arm is further adapted to move concurrently in parallel (and/or in a coordinated fashion) with the first arm a sufficient amount to avoid interference between the first substrate and the elbow joint of the first arm. Numerous other embodiments are provided.
US08016541B2
A system is provided for sensing, orienting, and transporting wafers in an automated wafer handling process that reduces the generation of particles and contamination so that the wafer yield is increased. The system includes a robotic arm for moving a wafer from one station to a destination station, and an end-effector connected to an end of the robotic arm for receiving the wafer. The end-effector includes a mechanism for gripping the wafer, a direct drive motor for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism, and at least one sensor for sensing the location and orientation of the wafer. A control processor is provided for calculating the location of the center and the notch of the wafer based on measurements by the sensor(s). Then, the control processor generates an alignment signal for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism so that the wafer is oriented at a predetermined position on the end-effector while the robotic arm is moving to another station.
US08016538B2
The station for weighing containers comprises a line for transporting containers to be filled with a predetermined product, a zone for dosing and filling the containers with the product, a first transferring organ for picking up and transferring an individual empty container to a weighing organ, a second transferring organ for picking up and transferring the container to the weighing organ after filling. The transferring organs respectively comprise an oscillating arm which is activated with alternating motion between a pick-up and release position of the container to be weighed in proximity of the transport line and a position of release and pick-up of the container nearby the weighing organ. The oscillating arm bears a rotating head provided with gripping organs which is rotated angularly in opposite directions by a relative motor, in a suitable phase relation with the motion of the oscillating arm, in order to transfer the container to be weighed from the transport line to the weighing organ and vice versa.
US08016537B2
A structure is provided in which a load lock chamber (51) for carrying in an unprocessed wafer from outside and carrying out a processed wafer to outside, a first end conveyance chamber (54a) to be connected to the load lock chamber, at least one intermediate conveyance chamber (54b), a plurality of sets of a pair of process modules (52a, 52b) provided adjacent to each other and capable of independent processing, and a second end conveyance chamber (54c) disposed at the end part on the opposite side of the load lock chamber are connected in series. Each set of process modules (52a, 52b, 52c and 52d) is arranged one by one between the first end conveyance chamber and the intermediate conveyance chamber, between the intermediate conveyance chambers, and between the intermediate conveyance chamber and the second end conveyance chamber, respectively.
US08016528B2
A bed divider apparatus for use in a bed of a pickup truck. The divider apparatus includes a frame that supports first and second parallel disposed divider members each in the shape of a panel. The divider members are secured to one another so that one of the divider members is slidable relative to the other. A pair of user engageable fastening members can be used to secure the second divider member at a desired height relative to the first divider member. The frame is secured by end supports to a pair of tracks that are mounted on inside walls of the pickup truck bed. Thus, the divider apparatus can be positioned at various points along the lengths of the tracks. The apparatus enables larger cargo items to be restrained within the bed, while still enabling elongated items such as lumber planks, tubing, etc. to be supported on the full length of a floor of the bed without interference from the divider apparatus.
US08016527B2
A logistics strip defining at least one opening therethrough may be bonded to an inner surface of a storage container side wall. At least one channel may be formed in the inner surface of the side wall. A bonding medium may be applied to an underside of the logistics strip along opposite sides thereof with the at least one opening positioned therebetween. The at least one opening may then be aligned over the at least one channel. The underside of the logistics strip may then be contacted with the inner surface of the side wall such that the bonding medium contacts and bonds to the inner surface of the side wall on both sides of the at least one channel.
US08016521B1
A method for deploying a deepwater mooring spread from a floating vessel with a bow, stern, hull, deck, and aft crane secured to a port side or a starboard side of the hull having a hold, and a fore crane secured to the port side or starboard side of the hull. To lower heavy suction piles or other structures to almost unlimited water depths, the crane tackle after a depth of approximately 1000 meters is replaced using the polymer lines as a temporary lifting pennant with almost neutral buoyancy and therefore no extra weight is added to the lifting tackle of the crane.
US08016513B2
An apparatus for absorbing the impact of a vehicle collision is disclosed. The apparatus includes a partition moving speed control member (10), which is provided in the frontmost partition, and a guide rod (20), which is inserted into a hole (10a) in the member (10), such that the front end of the guide rod is fastened to rails, and the rear end of the guide rod does not reach the rearmost partition. The apparatus further includes a locking rod (120), which is coupled to the guide rod (20) such that the rear end of the locking rod (120) is placed through the rearmost partition, and a locker, which is provided on the rearmost partition so that, when the vehicle collision occurs, the locking rod freely passes over the locker, but, after the vehicle collision is finished, the locking rod is prevented from being returned to the original position thereof.
US08016512B2
A fastener system with a coaxial annular flange (14) having through holes (16), each serving to pass a screw (17) for screwing into an associated tapped hole (16) in the wall (2) of a stationary structure. Each through hole (16) has a circularly cylindrical distal segment (16a) followed by an enlarged proximal segment (16b) adjacent to the wall (2) of the stationary structure, allowing the shank (19) of the screw to bend and enabling a corresponding lateral offset (D). This prevents the screw (17) rupturing under high shear forces due to accidental destruction of a vacuum pump rotor while rotating at full speed.
US08016499B2
A user operates the operation panel portion 6 and selects an image quality mode in a pre-stage of carrying out CD-R printing. If an operation of commencing CD-R printing on the operation panel portion 6 is enabled, the CPU 16 causes the scanner unit 21 to scan a sample CD-R 25 and takes in the image data. The CPU 16 causes the taken-in image data to be subjected to an image working process and masks pixels not required to be printed. The ASIC 20 transfers the processed image data to the printer unit 22 and executes CD-R printing. At this time, the CPU 16 carries out scanning and printing at a resolution responsive to the image quality mode.
US08016495B2
A lens includes a light incident surface, a light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface, and a side surface connected between the light incident surface and the light emitting surface. The side surface includes arc-shaped convex surfaces. Each arc-shaped convex surface protrudes in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens.
US08016491B2
An optical ferrule butt-connected in an optical adapter, includes: a ferrule main body; a connection end face in a front surface of the main body; a pair of grooves on the connection end face of the main body; guide pin insertion holes in bottom surfaces of the respective grooves; optical fiber insertion holes in the connection end face, the holes being arranged in a line; and foreign material collecting portions at least at a pair of corresponding sides of the connection end face. The groove has a width larger than a diameter of the guide pin insertion hole. The foreign material collecting portions respectively have a wall for connecting the connection end face with a side surface of the ferrule main body to form a space for collecting a foreign material with an opposite connection end face of a corresponding optical ferrule and an inner wall of the optical adapter.
US08016489B2
A sliding bearing 1 includes an upper casing 3 having an annular lower surface 2; a lower casing 5 which is superposed on the upper casing 3 so as to be rotatable about an axis O of the upper casing 3 and has an annular upper surface 4 opposed to the annular lower surface 2; an annular thrust sliding bearing piece 6 disposed in an annular space 36 between the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4; and a seal means 38 disposed on an outer peripheral side of the annular space 36.
US08016486B2
A rolling guiding device makes it possible to easily provide a movement block with an endless circulation path for the balls. In one surface of a movement block opposed to a rolling groove of a raceway rail, there is formed a track groove through which balls makes an endless circulation. The track groove is includes a load straight-line groove which allows, between the track groove and the rolling groove of the raceway rail, the balls to roll while bearing a load. It also includes a pair of ball deflection grooves respectively provided at both ends of the load straight-line groove and adapted to release the balls having rolled through the straight-line groove from the load and to change their rolling direction, and a non-load straight-line groove for transferring the ball in a non-load state from one deflection groove to the other ball deflection groove.
US08016477B2
A rotary throttle assembly is disclosed for operating a power unit such as an engine or a motor in either a first power setting or a second power setting. The rotary throttle assembly may be used in a concrete vibrator to operate the vibrator in either an idle power setting or a desired power setting. The throttle assembly includes a rotatable throttle handle, a linkage mechanism contained in a casing, and means for urging the throttle assembly selectively to adopt a first position or a second position.
US08016473B2
A device (100) for diffusing light comprising a light guide (101), light input means (102), and light output means (103). The light input (102) and light output (103) means are connected to the light guide (101), and the device (100) is arranged to allow light of at least two separate frequencies from a light source (108, 109, 110) to enter the light guide (101) through the light input means (102), propagate through said light guide (101) and exit at the light output means (103). The light guide (101) is circumferential, such that light is allowed to propagate for a distance greater than the external dimensions of said light guide (101) before reaching the output means (103), and hence, producing a mix of the light from said at least two frequencies. A display apparatus in which the invention is implemented is also disclosed.
US08016470B2
An electrically powered light source including a light emitting diode (LED) having variable chromaticity, which is adapted for use in a dental operatory. A dental operatory lamp includes a thermally conductive housing having a front directed toward the operating area and a rear away from the operating area; a generally elliptical reflector located on the rear of the thermally conductive housing; at least one heat pipe; a plurality of color LEDs projecting light toward the elliptical reflector, the plurality of LEDs being in thermal contact with the at least one heat pipe; and an optical light guide for combining light from said LEDs. Another embodiment of the lamp includes at least two user selectable light spectra, one of said spectra providing white light with color temperature in the range 4000° K-6000° K and one spectra having reduced output in the wavelength range 400-500 nm.
US08016457B2
A modular lighting system for lighting a work area is disclosed. The system includes a power supply with power outlets for powering LED fixtures. The power supply preferably operates at or below a fixed power output level, such as to illuminate the work area using less than 0.2 Watts per square foot of energy. The lighting system also includes an occupancy sensor and/or a light level sensor for controlling lighting levels in the work area in response to detection of a person, ambient light levels and/or a combination thereof. The lighting system can also include computer unit with a micro-processor and a memory unit for running software or firmware the executes lighting programs, stores light usage histories and/or provides system reports to a remote computer by a wireless means and/or over a computer network.
US08016454B2
A light emitting diode illuminator includes at least one light source, a receiving seat and a power source arranged on the receiving seat for supplying currents to the at least one light source for causing the at least one light source emitting light. The receiving seat includes a panel and a back plate assembled to the panel. At least one receiving chamber is defined between the panel and the back plate. The receiving chamber defines an opening at a lateral side of the receiving seat. The at least one light source is mounted into the at least one receiving chamber via the opening of the receiving chamber. A block extends outwardly from the back plate to the opening of the receiving chamber to prevent the at least one light source from falling out from the at least one receiving chamber of the receiving seat.
US08016453B2
An LED lamp assembly includes a lamp supporter and an LED lamp supported by the lamp supporter. The LED lamp includes a lamp cover defining a first opening, a reflector received in the lamp cover and defining a second opening, a heat sink secured to a top of the lamp cover and a plurality of LED modules attached on the heat sink. The heat sink has a plurality of heat-conducting faces formed on a periphery thereof and the LED modules are attached on the heat-conducting faces to generate a wide illumination. The heat sink defines a through hole. Heat generated by the LED modules is absorbed by the heat-conducting faces and directly dissipated to an exterior through the first opening of the lamp cover. The first and second openings and the through hole of the heat sink are communicated with each other.
US08016447B2
A backlight unit and a liquid crystal display using the same are provided. The backlight unit includes a plurality of lamps, a first balance printed circuit board (PCB) that commonly supplies a high voltage AC signal to electrodes at one side of each of the lamps, a second balance PCB that commonly supplies the high voltage AC signal to electrodes at the other side of each of the lamps, and a bottom cover that receives the lamps and the first and second balance PCBs. A plurality of vibration absorbing holes are formed in an area where the first and second balance PCBs are formed.
US08016442B2
An illuminated indicating device includes a dial plate, a pointer, a first light source, a light guide and a light filter. The first light source emits a beam of light and the light guide diverts the beam of light into a first light to the pointer and a second light to a front side of the dial plate. The light filter includes a first filtering portion and a second filtering portion. The first filtering portion is located in a path of the first light to allow a first color of light to pass through and the second filtering portion is located in a path of the second light to allow a second color of light to pass through.
US08016433B2
A projector that can be loaded with lamps of a plurality of kinds, each of a plurality of the lamps loadable into the projector being given a lamp serial code formed by arranging lamp information including at least a minimum wattage and a maximum wattage of the lamp and a check sum in predetermined order, the projector including: a lamp power supply for driving the lamp loaded in the projector, the lamp power supply being provided in advance with a plurality of mode ranges each as a range from a minimum wattage to a maximum wattage of output of the lamp power supply, and one predetermined mode range of the plurality of mode ranges being freely set in the lamp power supply; and a control circuit for controlling the lamp power supply.
US08016432B2
A projection apparatus adapted to be disposed on a surface and adapted to project an image frame onto the surface is provided. The projection apparatus includes a housing, an optical engine, a projection lens, a containing sink, an extension rod, and a curved surface reflection device. The optical engine is disposed in the housing, and capable of providing an image beam. The projection lens is disposed in the transmission path of the image beam. The containing sink is disposed on the housing and has a containing space. The extension rod is movably connected to the containing sink. The curved surface reflection device is pivotally connected to the extension rod. The extension rod and the curved surface reflection device are adapted to be contained in the containing space. The curved surface reflection device has a curved reflective surface capable of reflecting the image beam to the surface.
US08016429B2
A smooth picture device includes an optical element, a holder, a flexible member, a base and an actuator. The holder supports the optical element. At least one portion of the holder is coupled to the flexible member. The base supports the flexible member. The actuator is coupled to the holder and actuates the holder to vibrate.
US08016417B2
An eye model including a front positive lens, a rear positive lens, an aperture stop located between the front and rear positive lenses, and a focal plane located rearward of the rear positive lens, wherein the front positive lens has a meniscus shape having an outer surface radius equal to a radius of a human eye, and wherein the rear positive lens has a rear surface having a radius equal to a distance from the aperture stop to the rear surface.
US08016404B2
A pretreatment liquid for ink-jet recording by applying the pretreatment liquid to a predetermined portion of a recording medium to form a pretreatment layer on the pretreatment portion in advance of dispensing at least one ink onto the pretreatment layer by an inkjet method, the pretreatment liquid includes fine particles and a solvent. Specifically, a contact angle between a surface of the pretreatment layer and the at least one ink is between about 12 degrees and about 25 degrees.
US08016400B2
An ink reservoir includes a first portion defining one or more channels each for providing ink to a respective output port; a second portion bearing one or more ink bladders each containing a respective type of ink, each ink bladder adapted to be in fluid communication with a respective channel; and a third portion adapted to couple with the first portion to form a pressurived cavity containing the second portion. The first, second and third portions are adapted to be received within a former of a printer roll such that the first, second, and hird portions remain stationary while the printer roll rotates.
US08016392B2
A liquid transport apparatus includes: a channel unit; a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to a liquid in a pressure chamber and which has a first and a second piezoelectric layers, a first, a second, and a third electrodes, the first piezoelectric layer covering the pressure chamber and polarized in a thickness direction, the second piezoelectric layer being joined to a surface of the first piezoelectric layer and polarized in a thickness direction, the first electrode being formed on a surface of the first piezoelectric layer, the second electrode being formed on a surface of the second piezoelectric layer, the third electrode being formed between the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer; a driving mechanism which drives the piezoelectric actuator and which has a potential applying mechanism applying potentials to the first, second, and third electrode respectively, and a controller controlling the potential applying mechanism.
US08016370B2
A storage device includes a framework (100) comprising upper (102′, 104′, 106′) members and lower (102, 104, 106) members connected together in a spaced-apart relationship by a plurality of struts (108). The storage device further includes a container-supporting arrangement (210) slidably mounted within the framework, the container-supporting arrangement being moveable between a retracted position configured to store a supported container within the framework, and an extended position configured to position at least part of the supported container outside the framework.
US08016369B2
A traction chain assembly for providing improved traction to elastomeric tracks is provided. The traction chain assembly comprises two side brackets adapted to be mounted on each side of the track and generally to the drive lugs thereof. The traction chain assembly further comprises generally two laterally extending chains which are attached to the side brackets and which further extend at least partially over the traction lugs located on the outer surface of the track and over which the assembly is disposed. Some of the chain links of the chains of the traction chain assembly are also generally equipped with outwardly projecting grousers for increasing the traction thereof.
US08016362B2
An occupant restraint apparatus includes an anchor adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body, a lap belt having a tip side fixed to the anchor, and an inflatable portion formed at the tip side, an inflator for introducing gas from the tip side to inflate the inflatable portion, and a cover. The cover includes a first masking portion for covering the anchor, and a second masking portion formed separately from the first masking portion and attached to the first masking portion for covering at least the tip side of the lap belt.
US08016356B2
Tooth shapes of gears are formed such that a meshing line given by meshing of an inner gear and an outer gear provided in a state of meshing with each other for enabling transmission of a power is configured as a spiral mesh line.
US08016351B2
A chair (1), bed, lounge or other similar type structure has electrical functions or features and also has an energy converter (21, 9, 59) which produces electrical power from conditions to which the structure is exposed on a regular basis to power the functions or features.
US08016344B2
Provided is a shock absorber for a vehicle, which, when it is crushed, can break and open a part of the wall thereof earlier than the time of the break of an explosion inducing section, to thereby exclude the effect of the air being present inside a hollow portion and exhibit stable shock-absorbing capability and also maintain a satisfactory shock-absorbing capability over a wide range of temperature from a high temperature to a low temperature independently of the temperature of the open air. A shock absorber (1) is a hollow structure integrally molded through blow molding. The shock absorber (1) has at least one explosion inducing section (12). The explosion inducing section (12) comprises a protruded ridge (13) in a notch form formed on the surface of the wall of the shock absorber (1). The shock absorber (1) comprises a thermoplastic polymer alloy of a polyolefin type resin and an amorphous resin.
US08016338B2
A seat-form storage apparatus for preventing a passenger from sitting on a portion for storage. A protruding part protruding from a vertical wall part toward a concave storage part is provided. The protruding part prevents sitting on the concave storage part.
US08016336B2
A mobile radiation therapy apparatus includes a vehicle cabin including driving controls for the vehicle cabin. A patient treatment compartment is rigidly attached to the vehicle cabin. A high dose rate radiation source configured to emit radiation is disposed within the patient treatment compartment. A patient treatment table is disposed within the patient treatment compartment and in proximity to the radiation source. A radiation shield is disposed around the patient treatment table, the radiation shield including a plurality of radiation shield sections rigidly attached to the patient treatment compartment and configured to substantially impede the radiation emitted from the radiation source.
US08016332B1
A container formed with a plurality of faces. An energy absorbing material is within the container. A plate is located within the container. An elongated member having a proximate end and a distal end is located with the proximate end of the elongated member proximate to the plate. A first bumper is integral with the distal end of the elongated member. A first engagement mechanism is proximate to the plate, wherein the engagement mechanism has a first position that fixes the plate to the elongated member and a second position that uncouples the plate from the elongated member. A first sensor is located to quantify a collision force on said first bumper. The sensor communicates with the first engagement mechanism whereby the position of the engagement mechanism is dependent on a quantity of the collision force sensed.
US08016323B2
The self-adhesive label (3) is provided on a web of siliconised polyester liner (4) and has a base label (30) with an upper printable surface and a lower adhesive coated surface and at least one patch of release material (38) located between the base label (30) and the web of siliconised polyester liner (4). By forming the patches of release material (38) on the adhesive surface of the base label (30) and then applying a siliconised polyester liner (4) over the patches (38) and the exposed adhesive surface of the base label (30), the resultant self-adhesive label is more robust and as the siliconised polyester liner (4) has a substantially continuous upper surface, the risks of snagging as a result of edges and windows in the web of backing material is avoided.
US08016320B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to providing a vibration dampening system for an overhead frame structure used with a vehicle. The system involves the provision of one or more dampening members and/or components between portions of one or more members forming the overhead frame structure. The dampening members or components are compressed when certain portions of the members are set in position. As a result, the vibration and contact normally encountered between the portions and/or interconnecting brackets is limited, and in turn, the stress normally experienced by the one or more fastener assemblies holding the portions and/or the interconnecting brackets due to such vibration is also limited.
US08016319B2
A vehicle occupant classification system categorizes vehicle occupants into various classes such as adult, child, infant, etc. to provide variable control for a vehicle restraint system such as an airbag. The classification system utilizes sensors that are installed in various locations in the vehicle. The sensors are used to generate a three-dimensional profile for the vehicle occupant. Various factors can affect the accuracy of this three-dimensional profile. Fuzzy logic is used to reduce some of the inaccuracies by providing multiple decision levels for various stages of the classification. Inaccuracies are also caused by sensors shifting within the system from their original position. This condition creates offset and the system evaluates this offset and generates a correction factor to provide a more accurate three-dimensional profile. Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory is used to reduce complications and inaccuracies associated with seat occupant weight sensors that have mounting configurations that vary depending upon the vehicle.
US08016317B1
An airbag assembly for use within a vehicle. The airbag assembly includes an airbag, an inflator configured to provide a gas to inflate the airbag and a housing with an inflator receiving portion and an upper mounting portion. The inflator receiving portion includes a cavity in which the inflator and the airbag are stored. The upper mounting portion is configured to mount a first side of the airbag housing to a cover. The inflator receiving portion and the upper mounting portion are integrated together in a single, unitary piece.
US08016316B1
A pneumatic drop frame trailer has lateral wheels connected to the frame by pivotal wheel support arms with airbags between the support arms and frame, a pivotal tongue member with an airbag between the tongue and the frame, a deck having an inclined ramp portion at the rear end, and a control box on the deck containing an air compressor, air storage tank, and associated valves and controls. The wheel airbags and tongue airbag can be inflated or deflated while hitched to a vehicle to raise or lower the frame evenly and horizontally relative to the ground and may also be inflated to provide stiffness or shock absorbing characteristics. When the wheel airbags are deflated, the bottom of the frame is disposed substantially horizontally and very close to the ground surface with the ramp portion substantially flush with the ground surface in a loading and unloading position.
US08016307B2
A fender supporting structure of a two-wheeled motor vehicle capable of securing the rigidity of a mounting portion of a front fender and the rigidity of the entire front fender is provided, without enlarging the outer shape of the front fender more than necessary. In a fender supporting structure of a two-wheeled motor vehicle including a fender formed in an arc shape along the shape of a wheel, and a fender supporting member on which the fender is mounted from under the fender supporting member so as to cover an area above the wheel, at least two mounting surfaces at different levels in height are formed on the fender, at least two mounting surfaces at different levels in height are formed on the fender supporting member, and the fender is joined to the fender supporting member with these mounting surfaces.
US08016299B2
An apparatus for shifting the center of gravity of a vehicle having three wheels or more is provided. The apparatus includes: a movable frame having a certain shape and movably fixed, at one side, to a vehicle body in such a manner that a portion or all of the frame is movable to the left/right side relative to the driving direction of the vehicle body; and a control unit for controlling the left/right movement of the frame to shift the center of gravity of the vehicle body as needed, the control unit including: a cylindrical rotation body in which a portion of the inside thereof including the center of rotation is open; a rotation bar coaxially coupled to the center of rotation of the rotation body to rotate with the rotation body along with the rotation of the rotation body; a first link member rotatably coupled, at its one end, to the rotation bar included inside the rotation body; and second link members crossed each other, each second link member having opposite ends wherein one end is rotatably coupled to the other end of the first link member, and the other end is rotatably coupled to the upper portion of the frame, whereby the center of gravity is shifted and restored more easily, effectively, and precisely, and upon stopping, the movement of the vehicle body is precisely controlled.
US08016297B2
Gas turbine engine seals and engines incorporating such seals are provided. In this regard, a representative seal includes: an annular seal body having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the seal body extending along an axis of symmetry between a first end and a second end; the seal body being formed of a strip of material having first and second opposing edges, the strip of material being deformed to exhibit a first sealing surface at the first end, a second sealing surface at the second end, and a third sealing surface along the inner diameter, the first edge being located adjacent to the third sealing surface, the second edge being located adjacent to the second sealing surface; the first edge being spaced from the second edge to define an annular opening, the annular opening providing access to an annular cavity of the seal body.
US08016290B1
A flying disk challenge game involves two or more players, each positioned within a boundary ring to define a player position. The players in turn throw or toss a group of colored disks to each other. The disks each have a point value according to its color. The boundary ring may be formed of flexible tubing about five feet in diameter, and given a bright color. The boundary rings are spaced about twenty-five feet apart.
US08016286B2
A method and an apparatus for driving a fan wheel of a web-fed printing press is disclosed. The fan wheel is driven, at least in a predetermined time period (tv-tD) in the production cycle, at a fan wheel speed, which in addition to a rotary drive speed component is comprised of an oscillating speed component.
US08016281B1
In the case of a mail-processing machine having a conveying path (1) which contains a circulating conveying chain and conveys onto a handling station (5), easy changeover to a variety of processing tasks and good adaptability to constricted space conditions are achieved in that, by a switchable actuating arrangement, manipulator fingers (19) articulated on a manipulator hand (13), in the handling station (5), can be switched both into the operating position both for the forward stroke of the manipulator hand and for the return stroke of the manipulator hand and into the return position both for the return stroke of the manipulator hand and for the forward stroke of the manipulator hand. Free through-passage-channel areas (32, 33) for sheet like article and sets thereof which are to be processed further or are to be inserted into envelopes are provided in the handling station, not only with regard to the direction (F) from the feeding conveying chain and to a laterally adjacent first processing arrangement but also in the opposite direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the first conveying chain.
US08016278B2
A clamp including an upper body including a proximal end, a distal end, and an upper fulcrum, the upper fulcrum being positioned between the proximal end and the distal end of the upper body, wherein the distal end of the upper body includes an upper jaw, a lower body including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lower fulcrum, the lower fulcrum being positioned between the proximal end and the distal end of the lower body, wherein the distal end of the lower body includes a lower jaw, an edge pusher having an upper projection pivotally engaged with the upper fulcrum and a lower projection pivotally engaged with the lower fulcrum, an actuating lever pivotally connected to the upper body, the actuating lever including a cam lobe moveable relative to the lower body to displace the proximal end of the lower body away from the proximal end of the upper body, and a biasing element positioned to bias the upper jaw away from the lower jaw.
US08016272B2
A diffuser module and system for diffusing gas into liquid such as in aeration/mixing of wastewater. Each module has a header pipe and diffusers which receive gas from the header pipe. Each header pipe is equipped with a truss for enhanced structural strength and resistance to bending. The truss may take the form of a buoyancy/ballast pipe connected with the header pipe by purlins.
US08016264B2
A rotary valve comprising sliding members for supplying treatment gas containing water vapor to a plurality of treatment processes is provided. The rotary valve comprises sliding members (1, 2; 4, 6), through which open flow passages (8, 9, 10), having sliding surfaces slidable to each other and a mechanical seal mechanism for switching the flow passages (8, 9, 10) while sealing fluid by preliminarily pressing the sliding surfaces, wherein the sliding surface of each sliding members (1, 2; 4, 6) is made of hydrophobic material (2, 4) different in hardness from the other.
US08016261B2
A safety air valve of a receiving bag includes an upper valve body, a valve seat and a valve gate. The upper valve body is installed inside the receiving bag. A first thread is formed at the protrusion stayed closely to the interior of the receiving bag. The first thread penetrates out the receiving bag; and a first main air channel is formed in the bottom of the first thread penetrating into the receiving bag so as to form a stepped valve opening on the top of the first main air channel. A second thread is formed at the valve seat corresponding to the first thread of the upper valve body. The second thread is screwed into the first thread and is positioned at the outer side of the receiving bag. The second thread has a press body corresponding to a first main air channel of the upper valve body.
US08016256B2
A bracket includes a first surface being fastened to a mounting surface, and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, to which second surface a body of the electronic device is fastened. A fitting concavity is formed in one of the electronic device body and the bracket. A fitting convexity is formed in other one of the electronic device body and the bracket and fittable into the fitting concavity. A cover, which covers the electronic device body, includes a cover attaching and detaching mechanism, which one of attaches and detaches the cover to and from the electronic device body. For a detached state the cover is rotated to be completely detached from the electronic device body.
US08016241B2
In one embodiment, a device includes first and second frames members, and a foam insulation member having first and seconds ends. At least one of the first and second ends is disposed at an angle greater than 0 degrees relative to a vertical plane. The first and second ends of the foam insulation member extend between the first and second frame members in compression. The foam insulation member is fixedly held in place between the first and second frame members due to a friction fit resulting from the foam insulation member being disposed between the first and second frame members in compression.
US08016240B2
A method for implementing a satellite fleet includes launching a group of satellites within a launch vehicle. In an embodiment, the satellites are structurally connected together through satellite outer load paths. After separation from the launch vehicle, nodal separation between the satellites is established by allowing one or more of the satellites to drift at one or more orbits having apogee altitudes below an operational orbit apogee altitude. A satellite is maintained in an ecliptic normal attitude during its operational life, in an embodiment. The satellite's orbit is efficiently maintained by a combination of axial, radial, and canted thrusters, in an embodiment. Satellite embodiments include a payload subsystem, a bus subsystem, an outer load path support structure, antenna assembly orientation mechanisms, an attitude control subsystem adapted to maintain the satellite in the ecliptic normal attitude, and an orbit maintenance/propulsion subsystem adapted to maintain the satellite's orbit.
US08016232B2
Methods and apparatus are provided controlling aircraft cabin pressure, and more specifically engine bleed air manifold pressure, during aircraft descent. An aircraft engine bleed air manifold control pressure setpoint is to either a descent pressure setpoint or a cruise pressure setpoint by determining a rotational speed of an aircraft engine component, determining a component speed setpoint value, and determining aircraft vertical speed. The engine bleed air manifold control pressure setpoint is set to the descent pressure setpoint if either the determined rotational speed of the aircraft engine component is below the component speed setpoint value or the aircraft vertical speed is less than a predetermined vertical speed value.
US08016227B2
An engine cowl door assembly is provided for fuselage mounted turbine engines to minimize manufacturing costs and part counts. In one embodiment, the engine cowl door assembly includes at least one non-handed engine cowl door, a pylon apron coupled to the fuselage of an aircraft and providing an attachment point for a first portion of the engine cowl door and a fairing coupled to the turbine engine and providing a latching point for a second portion of the engine cowl door to the turbine engine. The pylon apron, positioned on an inboard side of the turbine engine, and the fairing, positioned on an outboard side of the turbine engine, are identically shaped to provide interchangeability of the engine cowl door from a turbine engine mounted on a first side of an aircraft fuselage to a turbine engine mounted on a opposed second side of an aircraft fuselage.
US08016222B2
A container for the dispensing of wire or cable has an external carton which receives a reel of cable as supported by two caddies. Each caddy has an inwardly extending substantially cylindrical bushing which is received in a central hole of a respective cable reel flange. The cylindrical bushings are disposed on an axis which is a first distance from the upper surface of the bottom panel of the carton. The largest radius of each reel flange is preselected to be smaller than this such that the reel may freely rotate inside of the carton on the bushings. Cable is pulled through a slot in the carton's front panel. Preferably, left and right panels of the carton each have an arbor hole formed therein which receives an axial rod, the rod also extending through the reel and caddies. The axial rod may be used to join two or more containers together and may further serve as a support for attachment of a wheel truck on one end of the joined-together containers and a handle at its other end. An alternative, four-wheeled cart has multiple axial rods. An alternative hand truck likewise receives multiple axial rods through respective container passageways. In one embodiment, cable may be pulled through one or more pass-through slots formed in the tops and bottoms of stacked containers, such that cable from multiple containers is drawn through one slot on the top of the stack.
US08016221B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for dynamic tape stick and tape break detection. A first counter increments a first count and resets a second count in response to a sensor pulse from a first sensor of a first tape servo. A second counter increments the second count and resets the first count in response to a sensor pulse from a second sensor of a second tape servo. A detection module detects either the first count or the second count exceeding an error threshold.
US08016215B1
A showerhead has a housing provided with an inlet for flowing of water into the housing and a plurality of openings; and a plurality of adjustable inserts associated with the openings, provided with water channels, and formed so that the inserts are individually movable to change their orientation so as to change a trajectory of a jet issued from each individual insert the inserts being formed so that water flowing out from the channels of each of the inserts forms as a single jet.
US08016214B2
A fuel injection valve comprises a convex portion prominently formed on an outer end surface of a nozzle body, stepped recesses each of which has plural steps formed by press forming on the convex portion, and multi orifices as fuel nozzle holes formed by press forming so that an outlet of each of the orifices is located at a bottom face of each of the stepped recesses. Furthermore, the fuel injection valve has plural sets each of which comprises one of the stepped recesses and the relevant orifice, the orifices incline to each other, and a step on a downstream side in each of the stepped recesses has a larger diameter than a step on an upstream side thereof.
US08016205B2
A thermostat is provided that includes a peripheral edge that, at least in part, defines an opening in the thermostat. The thermostat further includes a carbon monoxide sensor capable of sensing the presence of carbon monoxide gas in the ambient air near the thermostat, and providing a measurable output value that is indicative of the level of carbon monoxide gas. The thermostat also includes a replaceable battery that applies a voltage to the carbon monoxide sensor. The thermostat further includes a microprocessor disposed on a circuit board. The circuit board, sensor and battery are together disposed on or in the thermostat. The circuit board is configured to establish an electrical connection with the carbon monoxide sensor and the battery. The microprocessor is configured to periodically read the carbon monoxide sensor output, and to activate an audible alarm in a continuous manner to indicate an emergency upon detecting a carbon monoxide level that exceeds a predetermined value.
US08016203B2
A smartcard (1) includes: a first and a second microprocessor (110, 210), elements for receiving (14) commands each coming from a first or a second communications channel external to the card (1) and for transmitting the received commands to the first microprocessor, characterized in that the first microprocessor includes elements for determining (706) whether a received command has been received on the second communications channel so as to transmit (708) the received command to the second microprocessor (210) in the case of a positive determination. Notably, the determination can be carried out by detecting an electrical contact of the communications interface of the card, over which the command is received. Application of the invention to a card having a second microprocessor for executing a highly securitized application, of the banking transaction type, and a first less securitized application, of the mobile telephony application type.
US08016196B2
The invention relates to a microprocessor-based decoder board for an optical reader having in one embodiment a plurality of imaging modules that provide frames of image data having a plurality of formats. In one method for operating the decoder board of the invention, and a multiple imaging module reader comprising the decoder board, a frame of image data captured by a selected imaging module is decoded. The decoder board determines the format of the frame of image data from information about which of the plurality of imaging modules provided the frame of image data or from information about the frame of image data, activates as necessary a command to prepare the decoder board to decode the frame of image data according to the format provided by the imaging module, and performs the decoding.
US08016195B2
The present invention concerns a method and an arrangement for the verification of individually presented items of mail provided with individually unique machine-readable identification codes, where the identification code of a presented item of mail is read and the identification code that has been read is checked against machine-readable information about intended items of mail and their status, whereby the current item of mail is a) removed if the identification code is not present in the intended items of mail or if it is illegible, and b) the status of the current item of mail is checked against the machine-readable information about intended items of mail and their status in order to determine whether the current item of mail has previously been delivered. If the current item of mail has previously been delivered, the current item of mail is removed. If the current item of mail has not previously been delivered, the information about the status of the current item of mail is updated with information that the current item of mail has been delivered and the current item of mail is allowed to pass as a verified delivery. Furthermore, an item of mail that has been approved for delivery is retained until a subsequent item of mail has been identified and approved for delivery.
US08016194B2
A mobile reader configured to compile a list of data storage devices for transport includes an interface electrically coupled to circuitry modules including RFID scanning circuitry configured to read a unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, and barcode scanning circuitry configured to read the unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices. The barcode scanning circuitry communicates with the RFID scanning circuitry. The interface includes a user operable function that enables selectively reading the unique storage device identifier with one of the RFID scanning circuitry or the barcode scanning circuitry to compile a scan list of in-transit data storage devices.
US08016191B2
A method for facilitating biometric security in a smartcard-reader transaction system is provided. The method includes determining if a transaction violates an established rule, such as a preset spending limit. The method also includes notifying a user to proffer a biometric sample in order to verify the identity of said user, and detecting a proffered biometric at a sensor to obtain a proffered biometric sample. The method additionally comprises verifying the proffered biometric sample and authorizing a transaction to continue upon verification of the proffered biometric sample.
US08016185B2
A bank (or merchant) hosts and operates an online money transfer service (or “portal”). A sender logs into the portal and enters payment card and money transfer details and then submits the transaction. An authentication window appears displaying the sender's transaction details and the sender is prompted to enter his or her password. Upon successful authentication, the bank seeks authorization from the card issuer. Upon successful authorization, the bank credits the recipient's local bank account or existing payment card. The recipient can also receive a check, a draft, a prepaid card or cash. The money transfer service is used both cross-border and domestic to effect person-to-person money transfer. The money transfer service uses the “Verified by Visa” authentication service and VisaNet for authorization. Messages over VisaNet are used to deliver funds to a recipient.
US08016176B2
An end effector for a surgical fastener applying instrument including a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The second jaw member includes first and second cartridges each containing a plurality of surgical fasteners, wherein each of the first and second cartridges is configured to move independently with respect to the first jaw member between a proximal position and a distal.
US08016174B2
An indirect fire device for fixing fasteners in a substrate material includes a piston for driving a fastener movably mounted in a barrel and a plug guide for guiding a fastener towards the substrate material. The device is adapted to receive a magazine for receiving a strip of fasteners in order to introduce the fasteners one by one into the plug guide. Each fastener is held in a sleeve comprising bridges for connection to another sleeve. The plug guide of the device includes a zone having an enlarged circular section at the opening of the magazine leading into the plug guide, extending axially over the length of a sleeve increased by the stroke of the plug guide for loading the device.
US08016172B1
A storage rack assembly in kit form is particularly adapted for use on a vehicle and includes a small number of different types of components to simplify shipping, assembly and installation by a purchaser. The storage rack includes side, front and back generally flat panels connected together to form a generally rectangular structure. Opposed side panels are connected to opposed ends of plural elongated cross members which are arranged in a spaced manner along the length of the rectangular structure and are aligned in a common plane to form a flat support bed in the storage rack. Plural telescoping support/mounting members are each connected to a respective cross member to allow for varying the storage rack's width depending on vehicle size and are adapted for secure attachment to the vehicle. Incorporating additional interfitting side panels and cross members allows for increasing the storage rack's length.
US08016171B2
A vehicle article carrier system incorporating at least one single sided release cross bar assembly. The cross bar assembly includes first and second end support assemblies. Detachment or adjustable positioning of the cross bar assembly is made by a user engaging a locking element in a first one of the end support assemblies and moving a cross bar of the cross bar assembly linearly, telescopically slidably into a second one of the end support assemblies. This causes a release of tension provided by a biasing element in the second end support assembly, thus enabling the entire cross bar assembly to be removed from the side rails. The single biasing element in the second cross bar assembly provides a constant tension on latching elements mounted in each of the first and second end support assemblies, which maintain each of the assemblies in locking engagement with the side rails.
US08016168B2
A dispense tap for a frozen beverage machine has a transition section defining a tapered bore with an inlet for frozen beverage from a freeze barrel of the machine and an outlet for frozen beverage controlled by a valve operable by a handle. The handle is rotatable to allow frozen beverage to flow from the transition section through a dispense cavity in the valve for exiting the tap. The outlet has a cross-section greater than the cross-section of the inlet which prevents ice conglomerating and forming a plug in the bore of the transition section.
US08016166B2
A doser for dispensing a predetermined dose of material. The doser may include an agitation device, with the material stored in the agitation device, and a dosing block cooperating with the agitation system.
US08016162B2
A bottle formed of a food-grade plastic material, such as clear polyethylene terephthalate includes a frustoconical neck portion, a shoulder region, a base region, and a sidewall portion have opposed grip-enhancing surfaces, and elastically deformable pressure panels. A cap for the container may include a valve to control product leakage, and may be sized to allow inversion of the bottle. A generally trapezoidal tab of the cap moves between a closed position covering a cap orifice and an open position outside the plane of the cap.
US08016155B2
A dispenser is disclosed which is capable of dispensing articles from two locations. The dispenser includes first and second members pivotally connected together by a first hinge to form a first entrance into the dispenser. The first and second members are capable of housing a plurality of wet or dry, sheet-like articles. The first entrance provides reach-in access wherein multiple sheet-like articles can be withdrawn at one time. The second member also has a second entrance formed therein from which the sheet-like articles can be individually withdrawn. The dispenser further includes a third member secured to the first member by a hinge that is coaxially aligned with the first hinge. The third member is capable of pivoting on its hinge to cover the second entrance.
US08016154B2
Disclosed herein are electrochemical sensor dispensing methods and apparatus. The sensors dispensers can include an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal, the elongate body including a proximally positioned dispensing surface with an opening for dispensing a sensor. A storage chamber having a series of connected sensors is positioned distally and can feed a proximally positioned sensor feeder mechanism. The feeder mechanism includes an elongate member having a first end and second end, the second end adapted to pivot between a sensor engaging position and a sensor feeding position.
US08016151B2
A fluid controlled containment berm system for automatically forming a containment berm to contain hazardous liquid spills involving a vehicle. The fluid controlled containment berm system includes a liner including a floor and a sidewall, a buoyant member attached to an upper portion of the liner, and a pair of diffuser members attached between the floor and the sidewall.
US08016148B2
A metal container is described. The metal container has a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion has an enclosed bottom and a cylindrical sidewall extending upwardly from the enclosed bottom portion. The cylindrical sidewall has a diameter and is centered about a longitudinal axis. The upper portion has a circumferential shoulder portion, a circumferential neck and an open end. The shoulder is integral with an uppermost portion of the cylindrical side wall and is smoothly tapered radially inwardly. The circumferential neck extends upwardly and radially inwardly from an uppermost portion of the circumferential shoulder. The open end is connected to the circumferential neck and has threads for threadable attachment to a closure member.
US08016146B2
A spill resistant cap for a container, such as a commercially available water or other beverage bottle, includes a cap body that forms a mating fit with the container and a spout having liquid dispense holes that allow fluid to flow out of the container. A removable valve is sized to fit within the cap body. The valve includes a valve mechanism that opens in response to a pressure differential applied across the valve face, such as the mouth suction applied to the spout when a person attempts to drink from the container, allowing fluid to flow through the valve and through the liquid dispense holes in the spout.
US08016144B2
A wood joint is disclosed which comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a flat section intermediate the sockets, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a flat section intermediate the sockets, and a spline member having a pair of tongue portions with each of the tongue portions having an upper lobe and a lower lobe, the spline member for fitting within the first profile and the second profile.
US08016143B2
The invention relates to a stopper, provided with an obstructor (1), for a can. Said stopper comprises a cap (3) provided with a central opening (5) and an annular skirt (7), and an annular shaft (17) extending around the opening, in addition to a capsule (19) which is detachably fixed, by means of a tear element (23), to a free edge (25) of the shaft opposite the opening. The tear element joining the shaft to the capsule is placed in an entrance area at an angle in the free edge of the shaft. At least one sealing lip (37) is disposed on the inner surface of the shaft, and the cap, skirt and capsule of the stopper are molded in a single piece without any welding or the addition of another component or detachable part. The invention also relates to a method for the production of said stopper by offset injection in a region which is outside the cap.
US08016135B2
A display support system for supporting product for retail display from an appliance defining a magnetically attractable display surface, a door surface, and a magnetically attractable upper surface and comprising a door arranged to allow access to an interior of the appliance through the door surface. The display support system comprises an accessory, a structure comprising a front portion and a rear portion, and a magnetic portion. The accessory is adapted to support the product for retail display. The front portion is adapted to support the accessory such that the accessory extends from the display surface of the appliance. The rear portion rigidly is connected to the front portion and extends along and engages the upper surface of the appliance to bear downward loads on the front portion. The magnetic portion magnetically secures the structure relative to the appliance and inhibits movement of the front portion away from the display surface.
US08016126B1
Cabinet structures resistant to racking deformation for rack mount computing systems are disclosed. The cabinet structure may generally include a first and a second side wall each extending between a front side and a rear side. The first side wall includes a first front corner post, a first rear corner post, and two first rails each extending between the first corner posts, at least one of the first rails being a first angled rail having a first angled face with a first outer edge and a first recessed edge recessed from an exterior surface of the first corner posts relative to the first outer edge, the first angled face further having two first end edges each extending between the first outer and recessed edges, the two first end edges being at an angle less than 90° relative to the exterior surface of the first corner posts and being substantially attached to the first corner posts. The second side wall may include a second front corner post and a second rear corner post.
US08016122B2
A culinary vessel lid in the form of a cover that is adapted for covering the vessel and that includes a transparent covering part, a metal covering part provided with through openings intended for draining foods and a silicone retaining ring.
US08016121B2
Disclosed is a droplet separator system which is disposed in or on a flow duct and is used for separating liquid and/or solid particles from the medium flowing in the flow duct. The system comprises a frame with a base plate, a cover plate, and a trough that is located at the bottom end of the frame and is used for collecting and discharging liquids/solids, a cap area and a lateral area. A plurality of profiled droplet separators (3) is retained by the frame. The frame is provided with at least one device for deflecting and/or increasing the resistance and/or reducing the rate of the flow, the device being arranged in and/or adjacent to the trough area, cap area and/or lateral area of the frame. This allows entrainments or leakage flows to be largely eliminated.
US08016108B1
A tool box includes a housing, a receiving seat pivotally mounted in the housing and having a side provided with a driven gear, a rotation shaft pivotally mounted on the housing and having a side provided with a drive gear meshing with the driven gear, a restoring unit mounted between the rotation shaft and the housing to rotate the rotation shaft outward relative to the housing, and a top cover mounted on the rotation shaft to rotate the rotation shaft. Thus, when the rotation shaft is rotated by the restoring unit, the drive gear is driven by the rotation shaft to rotate the driven gear which rotates the receiving seat so that the receiving seat is rotated outward relative to the housing to expose the tool tips outward from the housing.
US08016101B2
A change-over mechanism causing a main support frame and a sub support frame to rotate is made up of a drive motor, a rotating body, and coupling rods. One end of the coupling rod is coupled to the rotating body, and the other end thereof is coupled to the main support frame. One end of the coupling rod is coupled to the rotating body, and the other end thereof is coupled to the sub support frame. When a belt junction conveyor is changed over between a first and a second transfer states, one of the coupling rods is pushed out and the other one is pulled by the rotating body rotating by an activation of the drive motor, so that the main and the sub support frames are rotated in the opposite direction from each other, and a direction of transport of products by an endless belt is changed over.
US08016093B2
A power transmission device includes a rotatable input member, a rotatable output member, a clutch assembly to selectively transfer torque between the input member and the output member, and a controller for controlling the clutch assembly. The controller controls the clutch assembly based at least partly on a torque request.
US08016088B2
A damping mechanism (1) that generates a damping force in response to a liquid flow between a first liquid chamber (R1) and a second liquid chamber (R2) comprises a partitioning member (2) separating the first liquid chamber (R1) and the second liquid chamber (R2) and a flow passage (P) formed in the partitioning member (2) to connect the first liquid chamber (R1) and the second liquid chamber (R2). The flow passage (P) comprises an odd number of through-holes (10-14) greater than three which penetrate the partitioning member (2) and are connected in series. A large amount of frictional energy loss due to a long path length occurs in the flow passage (P) and causes the damping mechanism (1) to generate a sufficient damping force.
US08016072B2
A composite headliner material allows sound waves originating within a vehicle to penetrate deeply into the headliner where all of a significant portion of their energy is absorbed rather than reflected back into the vehicle. The coverstock sheet is backed by a multilayer material with a foam core coated above and below by a fibrous glass mat impregnated with an adhesive with scrim layers above and below glass mat layers.
US08016071B1
A multi-stage low pressure drop muffler for a compressor including a first plate having a hole, a tube attached to the first plate, a plurality of holes disposed around the circumference of the tube, a plurality of tubes extending through a second plate, and an internal ring disposed on the second plate between the center of the second plate and the plurality of tubes. The muffler is designed to muffle a wide range of frequencies, minimize pressure reduction, improve fluid flow, and improve compressor efficiency.
US08016070B2
According to a present powertrain, a first rotation shaft serving as an input shaft of a front side gear mechanism is located in a portion of a vehicle lower than a second rotation shaft serving as an output shaft, so that a crankshaft of an engine provided coaxially with the first rotation shaft is located in a portion of the vehicle lower than in a conventional example. Solely the engine having a heavy mass is thus disposed in a lower portion, so as to achieve a lower position of the center of gravity of the vehicle. In this manner, a powertrain having a layout structure attaining lower center of gravity as well as high rigidity of a body and improvement in aerodynamic characteristics is provided.
US08016065B2
A tool carrier, such as a compact loader, has a main frame formed as a transmission housing that is all welded construction. The transmission housing has drives from motors and drive shafts on each side of the transmission housing. The drives are in enclosed chain cases forming integral parts of the transmission housing. The drive shafts span the power drive cases and are supported on bearings on both ends. The drives in each of the power drive cases drive front and rear axles of the compact loader. Axle tubes also are welded in place on the transmission housing. The rear portions of the transmission housing have support arm castings supported in and closing the ends of the power drive cases. The support arm castings provide support for mounting lift arms for the compact loader.
US08016062B2
A moving body is equipped with fuel cells structured to have multiple corners. The fuel cells have a fuel gas exhaust port formed to discharge a fuel gas, which is subjected to an electrochemical reaction at anodes of the fuel cells, out of the fuel cells. The fuel cells are arranged to be inclined to a horizontal plane to position a front side of the fuel cells in a forward direction of the moving body higher than an opposite side of the fuel cells in the forward direction of the moving body and are provided to locate a specific corner closest to the fuel gas exhaust port of the fuel cells among the multiple corners as a lowermost point. This arrangement enables water produced at the anodes of the fuel cells to be efficiently discharged from the fuel cells by taking advantage of the gravity, while the moving body moves on a slope.
US08016056B2
A cutting tool that includes at least one tungsten carbide cutting element disposed on a support, wherein at least one tungsten carbide cutting element has at least one localized region having a material property different from the remaining region, wherein the at least one localized region having a different material property is prepared by a method including determining at least one localized region needing a variation in a material property different from the remaining region; coating a portion of a surface of the at least one tungsten carbide cutting element with a refractory material such that a surface corresponding to the localized region is left uncoated; and treating the coated cutting element with a selected agent to diffuse the selected agent into the localized region is disclosed.
US08016053B2
Disclosed drilling systems offer multiple methods providing access to the open borehole without first tripping the drill string. In some embodiments, a drill bit has a tool port that is blocked by a plug during normal drilling operations. When a tool is deployed through the interior of the drill string, the tool port opens, enabling the tool to enter the borehole beneath the drill string and perform logging or sampling operations. The plug may be attached to the drill bit by a hinge or pivot, or alternatively, the plug may be discarded and a replacement seated in place after the tool is retracted into the drill string. In other embodiments, the drill bit itself is detachable, allowing the bit to be parked in the hole or in a side bore. If desired, the bit can be re-attached by lowering the drill string to the bottom of the hole.
US08016048B2
An electrical power tool includes a housing, an electrical motor, an end-bit holding section, a transmitting mechanism, a cap, and a lighting section. The housing has one end. The electrical motor is accommodated in the housing and is configured to generate a rotational driving force. The end-bit holding section is provided at the one end and is rotatable about a rotational axis. The transmitting mechanism transmits the rotational driving force to the end-bit holding section. The cap is attached to the one end. The lighting section allows an entirety of the cap to be luminous.
US08016044B2
In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes at least a first row of ground engaging tools, each of the tools spaced a first distance apart from one another, and a second row of ground engaging tools disposed behind the first row of ground engaging tools, each of the second row of ground engaging tools spaced a second distance apart from one another. The implement also includes a row of soil shaping disks disposed behind the second row of ground engaging tools, wherein a spacing between each of the soil shaping disks is not uniform and corresponds to whether the spacing is behind the first row of ground engaging disks or behind the second row of ground engaging disks.
US08016031B2
An erosion resistant frac head with a convergence chamber, an expansion chamber and a mixing chamber provides improved resistance to erosion caused by abrasive frac fluids pumped through the frac head. A bottom leg of the erosion resistant frac head may be replaced in the field by field hands.
US08016030B1
An apparatus and method for containing oil from a deep water (greater than 1,000 meters) oil well is disclosed herein. The apparatus has an anchor section, a plurality of riser sections, an upper section and a flow tube. A pressure within the apparatus is equal to a pressure outside of the apparatus to prevent collapse of the apparatus, and to prevent crystallization. Oil is suctioned from the interior of the apparatus through the flow tube to a surface of the ocean.
US08016029B2
An apparatus for flexibly restraining service loops in an oil derrick to prevent entangling of the loops, comprising a plurality of identical apparatus wherein each apparatus is positioned at different longitudinal level to restrain the service loops. Each apparatus is comprised of a plurality of interlocking units, wherein each unit is comprised of a central steel ring which is adhesively bonded to a braid of a service loop penetrating therethrough and exteriorly affixed to first and second interconnecting rings. A first flexible cable and second flexible cable connect the respective first and second interconnecting rings of the units of each apparatus. Therefore, the service loops are flexibly restrained to have a uniform path and bend radius when they travel longitudinally during operation of an oil well drilling machine, which results in reduction of damage of the service loops.
US08016017B2
Barrier systems and associated methods, including vapor and/or fire barrier systems, are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a barrier system that includes a barrier coupled to a spool. The barrier is positioned to be wound onto and off of the spool as the barrier moves between a deployed position and a retracted position by a drive assembly. The system further includes a control system coupled to the drive assembly and configured to command operation of the drive assembly. The system still further includes a sensor operably coupled to the control system and positioned to sense barrier position as the barrier moves between the deployed and the retracted positions.
US08016008B2
An apparatus for preparing a cassette spool. The apparatus includes: a supply reel for supplying and unrolling tape material on original backing paper; at least one cutting member for cutting unrolled tape material while on original backing paper; at least one removing member for removing uncut unrolled tape material from original backing paper; an identification member for identifying on unrolled original backing paper a start of unrolled cut tape material; and a cassette spool for rolling up unrolled cut tape material on original backing paper. In further embodiments, methods are provided for preparing a cassette spool with cut tape material on original backing paper.
US08016005B1
A combination mortise and tenon jig has a body including a platform having an open section with first and second clamp legs on opposite sides for holding a workpiece therebetween with the workpiece part in which a mortise or tenon is to be cut facing toward the open section. A plurality of adjustable members extend from the first clamp leg to engage a workpiece face and the second clamp leg is movable relative to the open section with the extending members and the second clamp leg holding the workpiece at a selected position in the open section. A pair of guide arms pivotally mounted below the platform swing across the platform open section to engage the workpiece part and make it parallel to the platform and a template having a cutout pattern of one of a mortise or tenon overlies the platform open section to guide a router bit to cut the mortise or tenon in the workpiece end.
US08015998B2
A method for patching or sealing leaks in fluid systems and, in an exemplary application, to a method of patching or sealing leaks in sub-sea hydraulic control lines, leaks in sub-surface or sub-sea safety valves, O-ring leaks of any type, leaks in hydraulic line fittings, tubing thread connection leaks, casing thread connection leaks, glycol hydraulic system leaks, well-head and sub-sea well-head leaks, hanger leaks, and leaks in other types of related down-hole equipment. A pressure- or shear-fibrillatable substance, such as an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion, a fluoropolymer fine powder, or any other fluoropolymer which is derived from a dispersion polymerization process, is added to a fluid system such as a hydraulic control line, and pressure is then applied to the system. In one embodiment, an aqueous dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”) particles having a particle size between 0.01 and 10 microns is used. Under the applied pressure and, in one embodiment, under cycling of the pressure, the fluororpolymer particles in the dispersion are forced through the leak site with resulting shear force, causing fibrillation of the individual fluororpolymer particles with resulting intertwining and coalescing of the individual fluororpolymer fibrils at the leak site, wherein the fluororpolymer fibrils form a dense, intertwined and coalesced matrix, impacting and embedding the fibrils within the leak site to effectively seal the leak.
US08015997B2
A valve body has a channel extending along an axis and an inlet port open to the channel. A sleeve, received about the valve body, overlies the inlet port and is rotatable about the axis relative the body. A nozzle projects radially outward from the sleeve. The nozzle is rotatable with the sleeve into a range of positions in which the nozzle communicates with the inlet port through the sleeve.
US08015982B2
A toothbrush and flossing system comprising a toothbrush having bristles, a handle, and a removable floss cartridge/container. The handle may comprise a cavity for receiving the floss cartridge; the floss container may comprise all or a portion of the handle; or the floss container may slip externally over the toothbrush handle. The floss cartridge may comprise a housing having a closed end and an open end, with a cap adapted to seal the open end and to protrude from the housing and the cavity with a recessed cutter separated from a floss exit opening in the cap. The cap may have a decorative design, such as in the form of a human, animal, cartoon character, or the like. In another embodiment, an ornamental enclosure is provided that attaches to the handle. Toothbrush embodiments for receiving the floss cartridge and floss cartridge embodiments for use with such toothbrushes are also claimed.
US08015981B2
A novel gauging device and associated stencils facilitate the shaping of eyebrows according to a Golden Ratio standard. The gauging device is adapted to be placed over a woman's face and maintained in a fixed position relative to her eyes and nose. A nosepiece and knobs are adjusted such that a lower end of a guide rod may be rotated about various points relative to the nose and held in predetermined angles relative to the nose and eyes, possibly supported magnetically on a lower track adjacent the nostrils and an upper track above the eyebrows. An eyebrow stencil is held in a desired position relative to the previously positioned guide rod, which facilitates convenient application and symmetrical shaping, preferably with frictional clamps for permitting the stencil to be shifted in place so that a particular portion of the stencil is properly aligned with the guide rod after the guide rod has been aligned with an appropriate Golden Ratio marking on the stencil. Each stencil may be provided with more than one set of such markings to accommodate not only different eyebrows of different sizes, but also to adjust the eyebrow's ideal Golden Ratio “High Point” to complement facial proportions (preferably represented by a single Facial Ratio Value or “FRV” that takes into account several different measured ratios) that deviate substantially from an ideal Golden Ratio. A slim tab between the upper and the lower edges of the stencil cut-out preferably provides a convenient reference mark for the “High Point” of the unadjusted cut-out.
US08015979B2
A novel cigar is provided with an elongated cigar puller device which extends into the interior of the cigar. By removing the cigar puller from the device, the tobacco fill material of the cigar is disrupted so as to improve the draw of the cigar. Some of the cigar puller devices can be used to infuse flavorants into the cigar to alter the taste and/or aroma of the cigar.
US08015978B2
In general, the invention is directed to techniques for locating an implanted object using an external antenna. The implanted object may be, for example, an internal antenna that facilitates recharging of and/or communication with an implantable medical device. An external device coupled to the external antenna drives the antenna with a plurality of waveforms. Asymmetry in the loading profile of the external antenna when it is driven by the plurality of waveforms allows the external device or another device to determine the location of the implanted object relative to the external antenna. The external device or other device may provide information to a user based on the determined location of the implanted object relative to the external antenna, such as information to help a user position the external antenna with respect to an internal antenna in embodiments in which the implanted object is an internal antenna.
US08015973B2
Method and arrangement for adjusting nitrogen and oxygen concentrations within regions of an aircraft. The method includes separating nitrogen from ambient air onboard an aircraft thereby establishing a high-concentration nitrogen supply and then dispensing high-concentration nitrogen from the supply to a fire-susceptible, non-habitable region of the aircraft where the high-concentration nitrogen is reservoired thereby decreasing the capability for the atmosphere therein to support combustion. Oxygen is also separated from the ambient air thereby establishing a high-concentration oxygen supply that is dispensed to an occupant cabin of the aircraft thereby increasing the level of oxygen concentration within the cabin to a level greater than the naturally occurring concentration of oxygen at the experienced internal cabin pressure. When it is determined that reduced oxygen concentration is required in the occupant cabin, the reservoired high-concentration nitrogen is moved into the passenger cabin diluting the oxygen-elevated environment.
US08015967B2
An air-fuel ratio control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine including a variable lift mechanism which changes a lift amount of an intake valve. An oxygen sensor, which outputs a signal indicating an oxygen concentration in exhaust gas, is provided downstream of an exhaust gas purification catalyst in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. Air-fuel ratio control is performed to correct the fuel injection amount command value using the correction amount that is set based on the value output from the oxygen sensor. The relationship among the deviation of the correction amount from its reference value, the learned small lift value, the learned medium lift value, and the lift amount is learned. The learned deviation value is calculated based on the lift amount, using the learned relationship. Then, the fuel injection amount command value is corrected by the correction amount including the calculated learned deviation value.
US08015962B2
A crankshaft detection system includes a pickup element mounted to an end of a crankshaft and disposed within a rear portion of the aircraft engine's crankcase. The crankshaft detection system also includes pickup element sensor secured to a mounting location formed in the rear portion of the aircraft engine's crankcase and disposed in proximity to the pickup element. As the crankshaft rotates the pickup element relative to the pickup element sensor, the pickup element causes the pickup element sensor to generate a signal indicative of the angular velocity and rotational position of the crankshaft. In order to optimize engine performance, in response to the signal, the controller controls a spark event associated with each the cylinder assembly of the engine such that ignition of the fuel and air mixture occurs within each cylinder assembly at a time prior to each piston of each cylinder assembly reaching a top dead center position.
US08015954B2
A radiator fan arrangement for a vehicle which is powered by a combustion engine. The radiator fan arrangement includes at least one cooling element for cooling a medium, and a first radiator fan for continuously generating a forced air flow through at least one first region of the cooling element in order to cool the medium during operation of the combustion engine. The radiator fan arrangement also includes at least one extra radiator fan for being activated to generate an increased air flow through at least one second region of said cooling element in situations where the first radiator fan cannot provide sufficient air flow to cool as necessary the medium in the cooling element.
US08015948B2
A canine protective suit comprising a face mask, a upper body protector and a lower body protector, wherein the face mask is removably secured to the upper body protector, and wherein the lower body protector is removably secured to the upper body protector. The upper body protector comprises elastic bands, wherein the elastic bands secure at least two front leg panels. Similarly, the lower body protector comprises elastic bands, wherein the elastic bands secure at least two back leg panels. To use, a canine's two front legs are placed into the two front leg panels as the upper body protector is placed on the canine. Similarly, the canine's rear legs are inserted into the back leg panels as the lower body protector is installed on the canine. The face mask is then disposed on the canine's face and secured to the upper body protector.
US08015946B2
A cage free nest has nest bottoms that have raised/rounded portions proximate to the entranceways into the cage free nest. A ramp extends from a surface to connect to the nest bottoms proximate to the entranceway. Both the nest bottoms and the ramp are formed of a non-slip, woven galvanized steel wire. The cage free nest also has upper and lower top panels that make up a roof assembly of the cage free nest. The lower top panels can be moved relative to the upper top panels to an opened/raised position by a cable assembly to allow for visual inspection into the cage free nest through the entranceways. The upper top panels can be moved relative to the lower top panels to an opened/raised position to allow for visual inspection into the cage free nest through the roof assembly.
US08015943B1
A travel bowl assembly for traveling in a vehicle including a bowl member divided into a snack section and a cup holder section. A cup holder, cup holder insert extends downward from a bottom of the bowl member. The cup holder insert can be integrated or removably attached to the bowl. A pliant adapter can be integrated or removably attached to the cup holder insert. The pliant adapter utilizes flexible winglets for compensating between dimensional differences between the cup holder insert and a receiving cup holder. The pliant adapter is formed having a tapered sleeve for sliding the adapter onto a tapered sidewall of the cup holder insert. A lid can be provided, sealing the snack section of the bowl.
US08015940B2
Coater/developer, method of coating and developing resist film, and computer readable storing medium
A transfer flow is produced in accordance with a process recipe of a process to be carried out. In the transfer flow, a type of modules listed in accordance with a substrate transfer order is associated with a necessary staying time from when the substrate is transferred into a module by a substrate transfer unit to when the substrate is ready to be transferred back to the substrate transfer unit after the corresponding process is finished. A cycle limiting time is determined to be the longest necessary transfer cycle time among those obtained by dividing the necessary staying time by the number of the modules mounted in the coater/developer. The number of the modules to be used is determined to be a value obtained by dividing the necessary staying time by the cycle limiting time or a nearest integer to which the value is raised.
US08015936B2
A rowing boat footrest assembly is provided with a stationary boat mounting, a shoe support and a lateral adjustment mechanism. The stationary boat mounting structure is arranged to be coupled to a rowing boat, the stationary boat mounting structure. The first shoe support unit stationary boat mounting structure is arranged to be coupled to a rowing boat. The shoe support includes an attachment member adjustably coupled to the stationary boat mounting structure, and a footrest member attached to the attachment member. The lateral adjustment mechanism is disposed between the stationary boat mounting structure and the shoe support to slidably mount the shoe support on the stationary boat mounting structure. The lateral adjustment mechanism is arranged to selectively secure the shoe support in at least two different lateral foot positions with respect to the stationary boat mounting structure.
US08015927B1
A cleaning tray for removably engaging a table outer edge which has a parallelepiped main body having two internal wedges therein, a removable receptacle for receiving trash centered in the main body, and a rectangular compartment for holding cleaning supplies, the compartment attached to a rear side of the main body.
US08015926B2
Tracks are arranged on the floor of the entry region of a station of the chair lift, the tracks running below and in accordance with the path of movement of the seats of the chair and having a substantially equal width with the corresponding seats. The seat part and/or the backrest of a seat differ/differs with regard to the graphical design from the seat part and/or backrest of an adjacent seat. It is therefore made clear to the passengers, in particular children, how the seat division on the chair has been conceived by the manufacturer and where to stand in the entry region in order to be correctly seated on an approaching seat. If the graphical design of the tracks is identical to the graphical design of the corresponding seat, the effect of the chair according to the invention is reinforced by the unambiguous visual association between the track and seat.
US08015923B2
An ammunition comprising a projectile attached to a combustible skirt and enclosed by a base, a linking dome being provided between the skirt and the base, wherein the linking dome includes a first outer wall contacting with the skirt and a second outer wall extending from the first one and contacting with the base, and wherein the dome comprises a unit to ensure its joining with the skirt, the unit being able to be bent back by the base onto an outer wall of the combustible skirt when the base is disposed over the linking dome.
US08015922B2
A technique for controlling the pitch of a supercavitating projectile is disclosed. For example, the illustrative embodiment controls the pitch of a supercavitating projectile by shifting its center of gravity. The center of gravity of the projectile is shifted by moving a ferromagnetic mass inside the projectile forward or backward, depending on the desired pitch. In some embodiments of the present invention, the position of the ferromagnetic mass is directed by a controller that has a predetermined trajectory stored in its memory.
US08015921B2
An electronic blasting capsule which includes a housing which contains a propellant, a fuse, a sensor for detecting the position of the housing in a capsule delivery path, an energy arrangement for obtaining energy from an external energy source, and a controller, responsive to the sensor and the energy arrangement, for firing the fuse to initiate the propellant.
US08015913B2
A pneumatic cylinder designed to convert compressed air into mechanical output is disclosed. The pneumatic cylinder includes a piston and rod assembly with supporting components coaxially disposed and arranged to achieve a linear mechanical force in accordance with a differential pressure across the piston. A cylindrical sleeve, secured to end caps on both openings, encircles the piston and rod assembly and helps guide the piston during travel. A conductive coil is coupled to the cylindrical sleeve to provide sensing of a position of the piston. Additionally, a manifold, which serves as a conduit for airflow between each individual cylinder volume and an external air control device, is disposed such that the cylindrical sleeve and end caps are nested, in a concentric manner, within the manifold. A manifold divider assembly is disposed such that a plurality of end channels are isolated from each other. This arrangement results in a dynamic relationship between airflow and differential pressure that is conducive to precision force and motion control.
US08015911B2
An electronic apparatus for controlling a firing rate of an automatic firing weapon having an actuator operating a trigger mechanism of the weapon, the weapon exhibiting a natural free-running firing rate when triggered. An output driver element provides a drive signal for the actuator, a first single pulse generator element having a single pulse output coupled to an input of the driver element and generating a single pulse of a duration shorter than a time period of the natural free-running firing rate in response to a single pulse generator element input, and a pulse train generator element having a single pulse output coupled to an input of the first single pulse generator element and providing the first single pulse generator element a train of pulses spaced in time a spacing period exceeding the time period of the natural free-running firing rate in response to a pulse train generator element input.
US08015910B1
A convertible ballistic structure has a threat side and a protected side. The ballistic structure includes a body panel assembly, and at least one movable side panel assembly adjacent the body panel assembly. Means are provided for articulating the side panel assembly relative to the body panel assembly, whereby the ballistic structure is convertible between a contracted condition and an expanded condition. In the contracted condition, the side panel assembly extends rearwardly from the body panel assembly and outwardly from the protected side of the ballistic structure. In the expanded condition, the side panel assembly extends outwardly substantially coplanar to the body panel assembly.
US08015907B2
An apparatus for launching a projectile, such as a paintball. The apparatus uses energy generated from the combustion of fuel to propel a projectile out of the apparatus.
US08015890B2
A linear actuator includes a reversible electric motor which drives a spindle via a reduction gear with several stages and an activation element connected with it, and an overload clutch in connection with the first stage or one of the first stages in the reduction gear. This is advantageous in terms of structure and load and greater flexibility is achieved in the construction of the structure.
US08015886B2
Aspects of the present invention are directed to using surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors mounted on a disc coupling component in a powertrain to measure the torque generated by an automobile engine. The sensor may be positioned and oriented on the disc coupling component so that the phase velocities of SAWs propagating through active elements of the SAW sensors are aligned with principal strain components due to torque in the disc coupling component. The torque may be calculated by determining the difference between resonant frequencies of the active elements to suppress common-mode interference factors. In addition, SAW resonant frequencies may be communicated in a non-contacting manner by utilizing rotary and stationary couplers employing radio frequency (RF) signals. Moreover, SAW sensors may be activated and interrogated by employing targeted RF pulses having different carrier frequencies at or near respective resonant frequencies of each resonator in a SAW sensor.
US08015874B2
An inertial force sensor is provided in which each of switches is connected in parallel with each of resistors of low-pass filter and high-pass filter, respectively, and capacitor of high-pass filter can be boost charged by making switches on without mediate resistors.
US08015873B2
A duct detector housing includes a housing cover and a housing body defining a midline between the center of a detector and a printed circuit board within said body. Gas inlet and outlets are off axis of the midline to allow water that collects in conventional housing to drain from the housing. A maintenance mode button associated with a duct detector housing cover that is secured to a housing body of the housing provides a preselected time period during which removal of the cover is independent of a cover removal alarm. A printed circuit board within the housing has dedicated terminal blocks providing grouped connections with each of the groups segregated from another. An improved duct detector terminal has a hole in the terminal adapted to receive a test meter probe therethrough to provide an electrical contact between the wire.
US08015872B2
A SAW-based humidity sensor apparatus with integrated signal conditioning on the same substrate. A micro-electronic circuit can be processed at a silicon substrate to obtain on-chip signal conditioning internally and the silicon substrate can be covered with a protective layer of, for example, silicon nitride. Surface acoustic wave media (e.g., a ZnO film) can be coated on top of the protective layer. A humidity sensitive film and two sets of interdigital transducers can then be deposited on the surface acoustic wave media. The humidity sensitive film absorbs moisture and changes the receiving frequency at the two sets of interdigital transducers. The output from the two sets of interdigital transducers can be processed by the micro-electronic circuit, which eliminates common mode noise and generates an output signal proportional to the humidity value tested.
US08015867B2
A formation testing probe assembly comprising an elongated packer having a surface configured to be urged by the probe assembly towards a wall of a wellbore extending through the formation. The formation testing probe assembly further comprises a plate embedded in the elongated packer and including a central structural portion extending along a centerline of a substantial length of the plate, wherein the central structural portion is substantially thicker than remaining portions of the plate.
US08015865B2
A load measuring system for measuring the loads on a foundation for wind turbines is disclosed. A load measuring device is mounted on a rock anchor pad for a turbine and measures the loads on the anchor. Signals from the load measuring device are transmitted to a remote location. The load measuring device is installed on selected rock anchor pads, distributed evenly about the foundation pad. The signals from the load measuring are transmitted to a control station at a remote location, thereby enabling continuous monitoring of the loading conditions on the rock anchors. The signals from a plurality of load measuring systems may be transmitted to the control station, so as to allow monitoring of a group of wind turbine foundation pads at a single location.
US08015862B2
Method and device for operating a particle sensor arranged in an exhaust tract of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The particle sensor including a sensor carrier having two sensor electrodes arranged at a predetermined distance from one another on one side of the sensor carrier. The two sensor electrodes are exposed to an exhaust gas stream in the exhaust tract. The at least two sensor electrodes are acted upon with a collective potential, the collective potential having a value such that electrically charged particles are attracted out of the exhaust gas stream in the exhaust tract. The attracted particles in this case accumulate on and/or between the two sensor electrodes.
US08015861B2
An article and method for stabilizing a rock chip. The article in one embodiment of the invention includes a laminar rock chip substantially surrounded by and imbedded within a plug having a solid material, the plug forming a top planar surface and a bottom planar surface substantially parallel with the top planar surface, the laminar rock chip forming a contact surface portion exposed at the top planar surface of the plug, a laminar plane of the laminar rock chip being substantially perpendicular with the top planar surface.
US08015860B2
A method of measuring the deposition of a composition onto a substrate. This information can be used to correlate how the composition will deposit on sanitary ware, such as shower cubicles, baths, and wash basins. The composition can be a liquid personal cleansing composition.
US08015845B2
In a glass processing method according to the invention, in the case of performing chemical vapor deposition or diameter shrinkage of a substrate glass tube G by relatively moving a heating furnace 20 comprising a heating element 21 for annularly enclosing the circumference of the substrate glass tube in a longitudinal direction of the substrate glass tube G with respect to the substrate glass tube G in which an outer diameter is 30 mm or more and a wall thickness is 3 mm or more and is less than 15 mm and an ovality of the outer diameter is 1.0% or less using a glass processing apparatus 1, a temperature of at least one of the heating element 21 and the substrate glass tube G is measured and the amount of heat generation of the heating element 21 is adjusted based on the measured temperature.
US08015840B2
A refrigerator which includes an outer case defining the outer appearance of the refrigerator, the inner case received in the outer case and defining a storage compartment, the insulation member filled in a gap between the outer case and the inner case for heat insulation, and a noise attenuation member disposed between an outer surface of the inner case and the insulation member to induce a sliding movement between the inner case and the insulation member. The insulation member is slidable relative to the insulation member when the inner case expands or contracts in accordance with a variation of temperature, whereby the generation of frictional noise due to friction between the inner case and the insulation member can be greatly reduced.
US08015827B2
In an air mixing arrangement wherein a primary fluid is introduced through an opening in a wall to be mixed with a secondary fluid flowing along the wall surface, the opening is airfoil shaped with its leading edge being orientated at an attack angle with respect to the secondary fluid flow stream so as to thereby enhance the penetration and dispersion of the primary fluid stream into the secondary fluid stream. The airfoil shaped opening is selectively positioned such that its angle of attack provides the desired lift to optimize the mixing of the two streams for the particular application. In one embodiment, a collar is provided around the opening to prevent the secondary fluid from contacting the surface of the wall during certain conditions of operation. Multiple openings maybe used such as the combination of a larger airfoil shaped opening with a smaller airfoil shaped opened positioned downstream thereof, or a round shaped opening placed upstream of an airfoil shaped opening. Pairs of openings and associated collars maybe placed in symmetric relationship so as to promote mixing in particular applications, and nozzles maybe placed on the inner side of wall to enhance the flow characteristics of the primary fluid.
US08015825B2
An engine air supply system includes an air source, which is a gas turbine engine in one example. A component, such as an environmental control system component, is interconnected to the air source by a conduit that includes a supply flow direction. A check valve is arranged in the conduit. The check valve includes a valve portion moveable in the supply flow direction from a closed position to an open position. The closed position is arranged at an acute angle relative to the supply flow direction. The check valve includes first and second valve portions that are hemi-elliptical in shape. The first and second valve portions are non-planar and arranged approximately 90 degrees apart when in the closed position. The first and second valve portions move toward one another from the closed position to the open position. Each of the first and second valve portions moves approximately 30-40 degrees from the open position to the closed position in response to a stall condition, which significantly reduces the response time and forces generated by the first and second valve portions when closing.
US08015813B2
A fuel injector for injecting fuel into a turbomachine combustion chamber, the injector presenting an injector nose for connection to an injection system fastened to the end wall of said combustion chamber, the injector nose comprising: a first channel for passing a flow of an air/fuel pre-mixture towards the combustion chamber, the first channel opening out into the center of the injector nose via an outlet opening for the air/fuel pre-mixture; an electrical insulator surrounding said outlet opening for the air/fuel pre-mixture; a plasma generator system disposed inside said electrical insulation and downstream from said outlet opening for the air/fuel pre-mixture in order to control ignition and combustion of the air/fuel pre-mixture; a second channel for passing a flow of fuel towards the combustion chamber, the second channel opening out outside said electrical insulation; and a third channel for passing a flow of fuel towards the combustion chamber, this third channel opening out outside the second channel.
US08015808B2
Power plant systems and processes are described that enable recovery of at least a portion of the fuel storage energy associated with a storage system for supplying fuel to the power plant systems. A first embodiment of an energy-recovery power plant system includes at least one fuel storage container and at least one expander that can receive fuel from the fuel storage container at a first pressure and provide the fuel to the power plant at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure. A second embodiment of an energy-recovery power plant system includes a first conduit fluidly coupling the fuel storage container and the power plant for delivering fuel from the fuel storage container to the power plant and at least one regenerative thermodynamic cycle engine thermally coupled to the first conduit such that heat may be exchanged between the fuel and a working fluid for the regenerative thermodynamic cycle engine.
US08015793B2
A method and system for heating fuel for a gas turbine engine by using excess heat energy in the engine exhaust gas to heat the fuel and returning the cooled exhaust gas back to the engine exhaust gas stream upstream of an emissions sensor is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing a heat exchanger having an exhaust gas passage and a fuel passage, extracting high temperature exhaust gas from the engine exhaust gas stream and passing the high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage. Fuel is passed through the fuel passage where excess heat energy in the high temperature exhaust gas is used to heat the fuel. The temperature of the heated fuel is controlled by controlling the flow of the high temperature exhaust gas through the exhaust gas passage.
US08015789B2
An aero-engine nose cone anti-icing system (10) using a rotating heat pipe (12) is provided to replace the current method of blowing hot compressor bleed air over the nose cone surface. Heat is transferred from a hot source (36) within the engine (22) to the nose cone (18) through a rotating heat pipe (12) along the central shaft (16). A condenser (20) and evaporator (14) are provided which are adapted to the heat transfer requirements and space constraints in the engine (22).
US08015783B2
A form-fill-seal machine for manufacturing pouches of a plurality of types having different shapes includes a tubular part, a conveying part and a sealing part. The tubular part is replaceable according to a shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey tubular packaging material along the tubular part with an internal surface of the packaging material facing an external surface of the tubular part. A position of the conveying part with respect to the tubular part is selectively movable according to the shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The sealing part is configured and arranged to seal a prescribed position on the packaging material conveyed by the conveying part.
US08015779B2
A portioning and packaging apparatus and a portioning and packaging method. The portioning and packaging apparatus has a conveyor device for filling material which has a pump for producing a continuous volume flow, a filling tube which is connected to the conveyor device and which provides a supply of a tubular packaging case such that it can be pulled off the filling tube with the filling material which is expelled through the filling tube, a closure device which is arranged downstream of the filling tube and which locally constricts the filled packaging case to provide a tube end plait portion during the filling operation and closes a closure element around the tube end plait portion. The closure device also has a control device which produces a control signal for the constriction and closure operations on the basis of a selected portion size and the continuous volume flow and outputs it to a drive of the closure device.
US08015763B2
A muntin bar joiner clip having a relatively flat, thin body and first and second muntin bar engagement legs extending from the body. These legs extend along a longitudinal axis of said joiner clip. The body has opposite sides defining substantially parallel major surfaces having substantially parallel opposite edges extending substantially parallel to the axis. A region of weakness such as a line of weakness allows the body to be separated into two portions between the first and second legs. One or more muntin bar abutments project from said body in a direction transverse to the axis and each abutment includes a muntin bar abutment face oriented in a direction transverse to said axis.
US08015761B2
A storage assembly structured to be supported on a base is presented, wherein the base includes a plurality of spaced apart beams. At least one embodiment of the storage assembly includes a platform and at least one mounting device attached or otherwise connected to the platform. The mounting device(s) comprises an attachment mechanism which is structured to be removably engaged with the base and/or one or more beams thereof. Further, in at least one embodiment, the mounting device(s) is disposed and structured to removably support the platform in a predetermined spaced relation to said base.
US08015760B2
An access floor assembly includes a base floor, a substructure mounted to the base floor, a bearing plate, formed with a first cavity, mounted to the substructure and disposed apart from the base floor, an isolator plate, formed with a second cavity, overlying the bearing plate, a ball disposed between the bearing plate and the isolator plate contacting the first and second cavities, and a floor plate coupled to the isolator plate and together forming an access floor disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor.
US08015741B2
A device for assisting in the chambering of a handgun that can also serve as a safety device for preventing unwanted firing of the handgun is disclosed. The device comprises a slide pull that includes an elongate laterally flexible structure having a first end configured for being releasably coupled to a first side of a slide of a handgun and a second end configured for being releasably coupled to a second side of the slide. A trigger restraint is coupled to the slide pull near a mid-portion thereof. In a first position, the slide pull is configured for being grasped by a user in order to chamber a bullet. In a second position, the trigger restraint is positioned relative to the trigger to prevent movement of the trigger that would otherwise cause the weapon to fire.
US08015739B2
An overload protection device using a slide sheet and a number of hooking through holes formed in a receiving groove to lock a holder onto a base. the receiving groove is defined in the base, the slide sheet is slidably received in the receiving groove via a spring. The slide sheet and the hooking through holes can be concealed by the holder when the holder is locked onto the base.
US08015734B1
A machine bucket may include an upper pin hole and a lower pin hole. The machine bucket may also include a bottom section. A distance between the lower pin hole and a tip of the bottom section may have a first length. The machine bucket may also include a top section. A distance between the lower pin hole and a tip of the top section may have a second length. A ratio of the first length to the second length may be equal to a value between approximately 0.95 and 1.05. The machine bucket may further include a middle section located between the bottom section and the top section. At least a portion of the middle section may be curved.
US08015731B2
An interchangeable glove-like covering for the toe end of a woman's high heel shoe that is used to change the visual appearance of the shoe. The covering has an upper portion and a lower portion that are mated to each other so as to form a closed end and an open end in the shape of the front end of the shoe. The upper portion is used to cover the top part of the toe end of the shoe and the lower portion is used to cover the sole of the shoe at the toe end. The lower portion has a slit extending from the open end and ending before the closed end to facilitate pulling the covering over the toe end of the shoe.
US08015716B2
An apparatus for measuring a shape of an eyeglass frame, includes: a tracing stylus moving unit that includes a tracing stylus detecting a position of a rim of the frame in a moving radius direction and in a vertical direction, a tracing stylus shaft for the tracing stylus, a holding unit configured to vertically-movably hold the tracing stylus shaft, a vertical direction moving unit for moving the holding unit in the vertical direction, and a moving radius direction moving unit for moving the holding unit in the moving radius direction so that the tracing stylus traces the rim; a vertical position detection unit for detecting a position of the tracing stylus in the vertical direction; and a controller for obtaining a next measurement position of the holding unit in the vertical direction based on the detecting result of the vertical position detection unit, and controls the vertical direction moving unit.
US08015711B2
A razor that includes an elongated hollow handle having a front end and a back end. The razor also includes a first razor head and a second razor head, which are both mounted on a support the support being mounted in the handle and slideable along the length of the handle between a first use position and a second use position. The first use position allows the first razor head to project outward from the front end of the handle to allow shaving, while the second razor head is retracted within the handle; the second use position allows the second razor head to project outward from the back end of the handle to allow shaving, while the first razor head is retracted within the handle. The use positions are preferably attained by a manually operable actuator for moving the razor head from one position to the other.
US08015709B1
The present invention provides a wood-based composite panel that is not susceptible to top surface edge swell, and methods of making the panel.
US08015706B2
A method of providing a floating collar for a gas turbine engine combustor is provided, and comprises providing an annular sheet metal blank and bending the blank to provide the floating collar with an axial extending annular collar portion, an annular flange portion extending radially from the collar portion and a smooth transition portion between the collar and flange portions. The arrangement offers reduced cost, and simplicity, and therefore facilitates manufacturing.
US08015702B2
A method of forming an electronic device on a metal substrate deposits a first seed layer of a first metal on at least one master surface with a roughness less than 400 nm. A supporting metal layer is bonded to the first seed layer to form the metal substrate 10. The metal substrate is removed from the master surface, and at least one electronic device is formed on the seed layer of the metal substrate.
US08015696B2
A method and apparatus for mounting a light emitting element, enabling positioning on an object with precision with reference to the optic axis of a light emitting element, and mounting the element. A suction head is inserted between a first camera and a second camera having relatively fixed optic axes, a head reference mark of the suction head is captured with the first camera, the end face of a light emitting element suctioned by the suction head is captured with the second camera, the light axis emitted by the light emitting element is captured with a third camera, a stage is inserted between the first camera and the second camera, a board held on the stage is captured with the first camera, a stage reference mark of the stage is captured with the second camera, the relative position between the light emitting element and the suction head and the relative position between the board and the stage are calculated using the image information from both cameras, the suction head and the stage are moved to a mounting position, the head reference mark and the stage reference mark are recognized with the first and second cameras, and the suction head and the stage are subjected to position correction based on the relative position information.
US08015695B2
A process and apparatus for internally reinstating a connection in a lined conduit is provided. The connection may be a branch pipe or corporation stop that may or may not protrude into the conduit. It may be milled prior to lining. The process includes the step of locating the connection visually or with a probe, such as all eddy current probe. forming at an opening in the lining at the connection and then installing a T-nut with a sealing gasket facing the liner to hold the liner in place and form a seal between the T-nut and liner and the connection. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to a turntable with drive to install the T-nut and a supply of T-nuts mounted on a slide for loading the T-nuts onto the drive for installation of the T-nuts without having to remove the assembly between each installation.
US08015690B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide a shield method and shield material enabling to hold a flexibility degree with an enclosure shape and to make electronic component enclosures small and thin types. The shield method for electronic component enclosures in the present invention comprises a process in which a conductive layer is formed at a basic sheet and a shield sheet forming a non-hardening adhesive layer at the counter face to the basic layer is punched out to fit in individual electronic component enclosures for forming the shield materials, a process in which the shield material is attached to said electronic component enclosure, and a process in which a conductive adhesive is formed between a ground electrode set at said electronic component enclosure and the conductive layer to connect electrically.
US08015670B2
A system for removing plastic wrapping from round cotton modules includes a gantry having a stationary base located in front of a disperser. A separate conveyor between the gantry and the disperser receives unwrapped round cotton modules from the gantry. Because the gantry is stationary while the disperser digests an upstream module, a gap is created between the upstream module and the module being unwrapped. This gap is closed up when the most recently unwrapped module is placed on the separate conveyor which is driven at a high rate of speed to abut, nor nearly abut, the modules.
US08015651B2
A device (20) for cleaning surfaces is provided utilizing a web (94) of a tackified sheet material movably secured between rollers (56, 58) on the device (20) that enable the web (94) to be moved over the surface in opposite directions. The device (20) includes a supply roller (56) and a take-up roller (58) secured to opposed ends of the web (94) of adhesive sheet material, with at least one roller (56, 58) including a biasing mechanism (82) disposed within the roller (56, 58). The web (94) can be engaged with the surface by passing over a number of idler rollers (98) positioned between the supply roller (56) and take-up roller (58). The biasing mechanism (82) is designed to bias the movement of the web (94) onto the take-up roller (58), such that the mechanism (82) can be selectively operated to advance the web (94) from the supply roller (56) to the take-up roller (58) to expose a clean section of the adhesive sheet material (94). A synchronization mechanism (41) is also connected between the rollers (56, 58) to enable the rollers (56, 58) to rotate in a synchronous manner, regardless of the amount of the web (94) that is positioned on the rollers (56, 58) to continually tension the web (94) a proper amount.
US08015647B2
An extended safety cage provides access to a plurality of hatches on the top of a mobile container. The cage is rotatably attached to the end of a gangway, which extends from and is rotatably attached to a platform. The platform carries a pair of braces that extend out in opposite directions and support the cage through spring-loaded lifting arms. The apparatus can include actuators, such as hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, that urge the gangway and cage downward when activated. Secondary braces ensure that the lifting arms and safety cage move in unison.
US08015634B1
An insulated cover for toilet water closets intended to prevent condensation and its associated damaging properties is herein disclosed. The water closet section of the toilet is covered on the bottom and all four (4) side surfaces up to a water line with a preformed foam covering. The foam is envisioned to be of a closed cell design similar to that used on insulating sleeves for glasses and canned beverages. The foam is approximately one-quarter (¼) inch thick and available in a wide variety of colors to match all bathroom decors. The foam covering would be made in halves that meet in a shiplap joint on the sides of the water closet. Finally, the cover would be held in place on the water closet with multiple strips of hook and loop fastener material, thus allowing it to be easily removed for replacement or cleaning.
US08015619B2
A body harness having an adjustable waist strap; a shoulder strap having a first distal end affixed to a right side of said waist strap and a second distal end affixed to a left side of said waist strap generally opposite from said first distal end so that said shoulder strap is carried by said waist strap in a looping arrangement; a back strap affixed between said waist strap and shoulder strap, wherein said back strap extends approximately between a midpoint of said waist strap and a midpoint of said shoulder strap for supporting the back of the user when being dragged; an elongated drag strap carried by said back strap and disposed generally at the intersection of said back strap and said shoulder strap for extending to facilitate dragging of the user; and, a hand grip carried by said drag strap for increased grip.
US08020216B2
Probe structures and fabrication techniques are described. The described probe structures can be used as probes for various applications such as conductance measurement probes, field emitter probes, nanofabrication probes, and magnetic bit writing or reading probes.
US08020213B2
A method for protecting information in a distributed stream processing system, including: assigning a principal label to a processing component; assigning a first channel label to a first communication channel that is input to the processing component; comparing the principal label to the first channel label to determine if the processing component can read data attributes of the first channel label; and reading the data attributes of the first channel label when the principal label is equal to or has precedence over the first channel label, wherein the principal label includes a read label and a write label and at least one of a selection label, an addition label or a suppression label.
US08020194B2
A privilege elevation flaw detection analysis is performed on a host system on a network. In addition, accounts on the host system are identified that have access to, or corresponding accounts on, other systems on the network. Privilege elevation analyses are performed on one or more of the network systems corresponding to the identified accounts. A privilege elevation graph is generated of the host system from the privilege elevation analysis. The graph includes account nodes and edges illustrating the detected privilege elevations between the accounts on the host system. In addition, nodes for the network systems are added to the graphs along with edges connecting to the nodes corresponding to the accounts identified as having access to the particular network systems. The user may then select a particular network system node and view its detected privilege elevations in relation to the host system.
US08020179B2
Methods and apparatus to adaptively gather audience information data are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus monitor system factor(s) and select one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors positioned to gather audience measurement data based on the monitored factor(s). Thus, the disclosed methods and apparatus adapt to the conditions they face by selecting an amount and/or type of audience measurement data they gather.
US08020173B2
A system and method for establishing associative relationships between properties of a contained object and corresponding parameters of a container application is disclosed herein. In one embodiment the present system contemplates the establishment of both mutual and unilateral associative relationships, with a particular relationship being specified via a user interface created upon instantiation of the contained object. The associative relationships may be advantageously established without modification of the code comprising the contained object.
US08020159B2
Programs for executing downloading of a program are stored in an area, i.e a non-rewritable boot area, of a rewritable flash EEPROM. Control programs for the apparatus are stored in the remaining area of the EEPROM. The programs for executing the downloading of the program, which are in the boot area, will not be lost, even if a power disconnection occurs during rewriting of the control program(s) and thus redownloading can be carried out. Information, regarding whether the downloading has failed or how far the program has been downloaded before it failed, is stored. Redownloading can be executed automatically when the power is turned on based on the stored information.
US08020155B2
A mechanism is provided for managing the referencing of at least two versions of a function. A first version is a single threaded version that does not ensure multi-thread safety. A second version is a multi threaded version that does ensure multi-thread safety. The mechanism determines whether a set of executable code (e.g. a program) is currently executing in single-threaded mode or multi-threaded mode. If the executable code is executing in single-threaded mode, then the mechanism causes the executable code to reference the first version of the function. If the executable code is executing in multi-threaded mode, then the mechanism causes the executable code to reference the second version of the function. By doing so, the mechanism ensures that the additional overhead of ensuring multi-thread safety is incurred only when it is needed. In this manner, the mechanism makes execution of the function more optimal.
US08020154B2
Precise exception handling relies on a precise subject state including an accurate program counter and register values of a subject processor. Subject code (17) is translated into target code (21) executable by a target processor (13). The generated target code (17) includes counterpart target instructions (214) associated with fault-vulnerable subject code instructions (174). Further, each of the counterpart target code instruction (214) is associated with recovery information (195). When an exception (e.g. a fault) occurs, the recovery information (195) is retrieved and used to recover a precise subject state, in particular by taking account of optimizations to generate the common-case target code (21). The precise subject state is then used to precisely handle the exception.
US08020144B2
Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and an application system are disclosed for creating and deploying metadata-generated applications. Access is provided to one or more type libraries that each include one or more defined object types configurable for use in generating the application. The defined object types include data structure types, rule types, and data types. Input is elicited from a user regarding desired content and function of the application. Based on the user input, metadata is generated to adapt the defined object types to generate the application. Metadata is generated to adapt the defined data structure types to create one or more application databases, to adapt the defined rule types to create one or more application behaviors, and to adapt the defined data types to create one or more application data types.
US08020139B1
Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for implementing a circuit model in an integrated circuit are described. In some examples, the circuit model includes a communication channel between actors. Data portions of at least one data object passed between the actors over the communication channel are identified. An implementation is generated for the circuit model in which data portions are assigned to either local queue storage of the communication channel or centralized shared storage of the communication channel based on levels of access thereof by the actors.
US08020131B1
Method and apparatus for mapping flip-flop logic onto shift register logic is described. In one example, a method of processing flip-flop logic in a circuit design for implementation in an integrated circuit is provided. A chain of flip-flops in the circuit design is identified. The chain of flip-flops includes first and second control signals. A shift register is instantiated in a logical description of the circuit design for the chain of flip-flops. A shift register is instantiated in the logical description for the chain of flip-flops. First and second control chains of flip-flops are instantiated in the logical description for the first and second control signals, respectively. A multiplexer is instantiated in the logical description and is configured to select among an output of the shift register, an asserted logic state, and a de-asserted logic state based on outputs of the first and second control chains.
US08020128B2
Bipolar transistor structures, methods of designing and fabricating bipolar transistors, methods of designing circuits having bipolar transistors. The method of designing the bipolar transistor includes: selecting an initial design of a bipolar transistor; scaling the initial design of the bipolar transistor to generate a scaled design of the bipolar transistor; determining if stress compensation of the scaled design of the bipolar transistor is required based on dimensions of an emitter of the bipolar transistor after the scaling; and if stress compensation of the scaled design of the bipolar transistor is required then adjusting a layout of a trench isolation layout level of the scaled design relative to a layout of an emitter layout level of the scaled design to generate a stress compensated scaled design of the bipolar transistor.
US08020126B2
The links and chains (LNC) of this invention is an applications verification and validation (AVV) methodology. LNC is a hierarchical and systematic approach emphasizing conservation and reuse of effort expended. LNC creates objective metrics for validation. This invention ensures that the device will work in a system environment. LNC is an independent and complementary validation of the design before committing release to tape-out. The chip support library (CSL) and diagnostics used by LNC are natural outputs of the validation and are thus gating items to tape-out release. This ensures a fully tested device.
US08020122B2
Operating splitting methods for splitting a circuit into two sub circuits and analyzing the two sub circuits with improved computation efficiency and processing speed.
US08020120B2
A method for layout design includes steps or acts of: receiving a layout for design of an integrated circuit chip; designing mask shapes for the layout; transmitting the mask shapes to a litho simulator for generating wafer shapes; receiving the wafer shapes; calculating electrically equivalent gate lengths for the wafer shapes; analyzing the gate lengths to check for conformity against a threshold value, wherein the threshold value represents a desired value of electrically equivalent gate lengths; placing markers on the layout at those locations where the gate length violates the threshold value; and generating a histogram of gate lengths for comparing layouts for electrically equivalent gate lengths for layout quality.
US08020108B1
Methods and systems for separating presentation and business models for common management platform tasks in a storage area network (SAN) are disclosed. A graphical user interface (GUI) object may be mapped to a task object, which include action(s) performed on a SAN. A selection of task objects from a collection of task objects is received, which are needed to implement the underlying functionality of a GUI object. The collection of task objects is part of a task framework. An arrangement of the task objects according to a hierarchy of the framework is received. The hierarchy includes simple task objects, corresponding to actions performed on a SAN, and composite task objects, corresponding to at least two simple task objects and may include other composite task objects. The arranged task objects are mapped to the GUI object by extending a presentation object to encapsulate the GUI object and the arranged task objects.
US08020102B2
A system for adjusting audiovisual content having a server including a receiver for receiving a first content from a media source, a first circuitry configured to generate a second content based on the first content, the second content having multiple audio channels, a first transceiver for sending the second content to one or more clients, each client including a second transceiver for receiving the second content, and a second circuitry configured to generate a third content based on the second content and provide the third content to an audio device, wherein the second circuitry is configured to provide a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface having a plurality of icons representing the user and the multiple audio channels, wherein movement of any of the plurality of icons will alter the second content.
US08020095B2
A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and graphical object positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.
US08020091B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for formatting a set of expressions in a document. In embodiments, the systems and methods provide the ability to format a set of expressions by aligning expressions or parts of expressions to each other or to the margins of the document, while also supporting breaking of one or more expressions into multiple parts to be placed on different lines. Breaking can include breaking in places requested by a user or breaking in places that are automatically determined to fit the expressions between the margins of a document.
US08020090B2
A large web page is analyzed and partitioned into smaller sub-pages so that a user can navigate the web page on a small form factor device. The user can browse the sub-pages to find and read information in the content of the large web page. The partitioning can be performed at a web server, an edge server, at the small form factor device, or can be distributed across one or more such devices. The analysis leverages design habits of a web page author to extract a representation structure of an authored web page. The extracted representation structure includes high level structure using several markup language tag selection rules and low level structure using visual boundary detection in which visual units of the low level structure are provided by clustering markup language tags. User viewing habits can be learned to display favorite parts of a web page.
US08020084B2
Methods and systems for determining a total elapsed play time of an interactive multimedia presentation having a play duration, a video content component, and an interactive content component include identifying two time intervals within the play duration. During the first interval, no video is scheduled for presentation, and a first elapsed play time of the presentation is measured based on a first timing signal. During the second interval, a video (which may include video, audio, data, or any combination thereof) is scheduled for presentation, and a second elapsed play time is measured based on a second timing signal. During the first interval, the total elapsed play time is determined using the first elapsed play time, and during the second interval, it is determined using the second elapsed play time. The total elapsed play time is usable to provide frame-accurate synchronization between the interactive content component and the video content component.
US08020074B2
A method for auto-correction of errors in an array of disk storage devices having a plurality of disk storage devices dedicated to storing parity data to provide fault tolerance for a loss of at least two of the plurality of disk storage devices. A read operation from the storage channels transfers data to a plurality of disk channel memories. The data in the disk channel memories is checked to confirm the data is valid. Responsive to detection of invalid data, the data may be tested to identify the disk storage channel in error, including sequentially excluding data read from a different one of the plurality of disk channel memories from a parity check and determining the validity of data from remaining disk channel memories. If valid data is obtained, the disk storage channel from which the data was excluded is identified as the disk storage channel in error.
US08020070B2
Trapping set decoding for transmission frames is disclosed. In one aspect, a trapping set decoder includes a decoder that performs decoding operations on an encoded codeword in received data, and a detector coupled to the decoder for detecting the presence of any one of a group of possible trapping sets in the decoding operations on the encoded codeword. A selection processor is also included, coupled to the decoder, for providing a decoded codeword by selecting one trapping set of the group of possible trapping sets, the selected trapping set being present in the decoding operations of the codeword, and by using the selected trapping set to produce the decoded codeword.
US08020065B1
Embodiments of the invention provide a packet encoding scheme to ensure unequal error protection to different bits in a packet or in multiple packets. In one embodiment, a method to process bits in a bit stream comprises scrambling the bit stream; separating the scrambled bit stream into a high priority bit stream with an order of high priority bits from left to right and a low priority bit stream with an order of low priority bits from left to right; rearranging the bits by embedding the high priority bits in the low priority bit stream while preserving the two orders, the rearranged bit stream including blocks of bits, each block including one or more high priority bits disposed left of corresponding one or more low priority bits to provide protection for the high priority bits against noise which is at least equal to protection for the low priority bits; and modulating the rearranged bit stream using Gray encoding method to produce an encoded bit stream.
US08020057B2
A test controller applies test stimulus signals to the input pads of plural die on a wafer in parallel. The test controller also applies encoded test response signals to the output pads of the plural die in parallel. The encoded test response signals are decoded on the die and compared to core test response signals produced from applying the test stimulus signals to core circuits on the die. The comparison produces pass/fail signals that are loaded in to scan cells of an IEEE 1149.1 scan path. The pass/fail signals then may be scanned out of the die to determine the results of the test.
US08020048B2
A POST management apparatus for managing a POST of an SB in a partition which operates in units of an OS using the CPU of the SB as a resource accesses the storage area storing the POST of the SB so as to perform read/write operation and to acquire/recognize the individual information on the SB and the version number information of the POST, transmits the POST of a predetermined version number according to at least one of the individual information and the version number information, and manages the version number of the POST so that the version numbers of the POSTs used in the SBs in units of a partition coincide with each other.
US08020047B2
In a method and apparatus for storage of data, data is stored. The stored data is checked, for example periodically and/or on data access, for development of a fault in the stored data. If a fault is detected, at least one of: (i) increased protection and (ii) increased error correction is applied to at least some of the remaining fault-free data.
US08020042B2
A method for supporting compensation work comprises the steps of associating a data structure with a compensation function, and associating the data structure with the at least one event that can be encountered during execution of a forward work. The data structure contains a pair of pointers, which includes a first pointer to a code to be executed for the compensation function, and a second pointer to a stack frame of a closest lexically enclosing scope of a declaration of the compensation function in a computer program text.
US08020036B2
A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc., remote data storage, and data progression, etc.
US08020030B1
A method and apparatus for detecting, curing and remedying invasive software installation inadvertently, negligently, or intentionally marketed by a vendor. A party may procure a product that sends back invasive data to a source. A testing regimen may identify and defeat sources of any invasive executables found. Accordingly, a party may identify those software packages deemed invasive, and may optionally provide a solution to either defeat or monitor them, where practicable. An independent developer may obtain intellectual property rights in the testing, solution or both of the counter-invasive software system or product. An independent developer may become a supplier of testing or solution systems, motivating a supplier by one of several mechanisms. The developer or damaged party may obtain a legal status with respect to the vendor or of a host of software as a customer, user, clients, shareholder, etc., in order to exercise rights and remedies or provide motivation to a vendor who does not take responsibility for its actions as executed by its marketed products.
US08020025B2
The disclosed system and methods include a power saving scheduler that maintains timed events in an event table. Each timed event has an associated tolerance period within which the event should begin execution following a trigger, and a timestamp indicating a scheduled execution time for the event. When a device is in a low-power sleep mode, a trigger may wake up the device to a wake state. The power scheduler then accesses the event table of upcoming timed events, and reorders the event table from the event having the shortest tolerance period to the event having the longest tolerance period. Each event for which the timestamp is within the tolerance period as measured from the trigger time is executed. After a plurality of such events are executed, the device may return to the sleep mode.
US08020022B2
A memory control circuit has a write leveling function and controls read/write operations by supplying a clock signal to a plurality of memories through a clock signal line which is wired to the plurality of memories through daisy chain connection. For each of the plurality of memories, a first variable delay unit delays, in a write operation, a data strobe signal output to the memory by a first delay time that is set by utilizing the write leveling function and a second variable delay unit delays, in a read operation, a data signal input from the memory by a second delay time that is set based on the first delay time.
US08020016B2
To reduce the electric power consumption in a computer system having at least one server and at least one data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus includes an electric power consumption state control module by which electric power consumption of the data processing apparatus can be changed, obtains a use relationship between each server and each processing apparatus included in the computer system, monitors a change in a state of the server, searches for a related data processing apparatus in the use relationship with the server, obtains a state of at least one related server in the use relationship with the related data processing apparatus, determines whether an electric power consumption state of the related data processing apparatus is to be changed or not based on the state of the related server, and changes the electric power consumption state of the related data processing apparatus.
US08020003B2
Systems and methods can automatically generate and process signature files for an electronic signature list. Data records can be periodically searched for signature-relevant status changes. A multiplicity of documents in paper form can be provided. Each document can contain a predefined blank region for receiving a personal signature and also control information items assigned to the signature. The multiplicity of documents that have received the personal signatures can be scanned-in in a batch processing operation. At least one signature containing the personal signature in electronically processable form and a representation of the assigned control information items file can be generated for each document. The assigned control information items of each document can be independent of their corresponding personal signature in its electronically processable form. The signature files can be dispatched via a communications network controlled by the control information items.
US08019998B2
A method for establishing secure access to a media peripheral in a home via a node in a communication network may include acquiring by the node, security data associated with the media peripheral. The method may include searching by the node, for a previously acquired security data associated with a location of previous operation of the media peripheral. The method may further include communicating between the node and the media peripheral, information associated with the media peripheral, while the media peripheral is located in the home, when the previously acquired security data is not found. The node may utilize the acquired security data associated with the media peripheral and the previously acquired security data to facilitate secure communication between the media peripheral in the home and the communication network, when the previously acquired security data is found.
US08019997B2
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus by which a communication channel providing a high degree of privacy is established between a PDA and a data communication server. Data encrypted with a temporary key is shared by a PDA and a memory card. The memory card decrypts the data by the shared temporary key, and then stores the data in the memory card. Data encrypted with a temporary key shared by a PC and the memory card. The PC decrypts the data by the shared temporary key, and then stores the data in the PC. The PC and the data communication server are connected to each other, and perform mutual authentication. The data encrypted with a temporary key shared by the PC and the data communication server as a result of the authentication is transmitted from the PC to the data communication server via a broadband network.
US08019992B2
An electronic commerce system supports web sites including on-line stores that are accessible by a set of customers and organizations to which stores may belong. Organizations may be defined in accordance with a tree structure. Users accessing a web site are provided with access roles for organizations. The access roles for a user define the portions of the web site for which the user has access privileges. The tree structure of the web site is used to define security domains for users. Users may have access roles of registered customer or administrator. Users without any roles in a security domain are accorded guest privileges within that domain.
US08019990B2
A method for facilitating electronic certification, and systems for use therewith, are presented in the context of public key encryption infrastructures. Some aspects of the invention provide methods for facilitating electronic certification using authority-neutral service requests sent by an application, which are then formatted by a server comprising a middleware that can convert the authority-neutral request into certification authority specific objects. The server and middleware then return a response from a selected certification authority back to the service requesting application. Thus, the server and/or middleware act as intermediaries that facilitate user transactions in an environment having multiple certification authorities without undue burden on the applications or the expense and reliability problems associated therewith.
US08019982B2
A data processing system and method. The data processing system includes a processor core that executes a program; a loop accelerator that has an array consisting of a plurality of data processing cells and executes a loop in a program by configuring the array according to a set of configuration bits; and a centralized register file which allows data used in the program execution to be shared by the processor core and the loop accelerator. The loop accelerator divides the configuration of the array into at least three phases according to whether data exchange with the central register file is conducted during the loop execution. Thus, unnecessary occupation of the routing resource, which is used for the data exchange between the loop accelerator and the central register file during the loop execution, can be avoided.
US08019976B2
A processor that is configured to perform parallel operations in a computer system where one or more memory hazards may be present is described. An instruction fetch unit within the processor is configured to fetch instructions for detecting one or more critical memory hazards between memory addresses if memory operations are performed in parallel on multiple addresses corresponding to at least a partial vector of addresses. Note that critical memory hazards include memory hazards that lead to different results when the memory addresses are processed in parallel than when the memory addresses are processed sequentially. Furthermore, an execution unit within the processor is configured to execute the instructions for detecting the one or more critical memory hazards.
US08019972B2
A digital signal processor uses a number of independent sub-processors that may be controlled by a master programmable controller. For example, a specialized input processor may process input signals while a specialized output processor may process output signals. Each of these processors may also accomplish math functions when input and output processing is not necessary. The various processors may communicate with one another through general purpose registers which receive data and provide data to any of the processors in the system. Math processors may be added as needed to accomplish desired mathematical functions. In addition, a RAM processor may be utilized to hold the results of intermediate calculations in one embodiment of the present invention. In this way, an adaptable and scaleable design may be implemented that accommodates a variety of different operations without requiring redesign of all the components.
US08019971B2
A 32-bit instruction 50 is composed of a 4-bit format field 51, a 4-bit operation field 52, and two 12-bit operation fields 59 and 60. The 4-bit operation field 52 can only include (1) an operation code “cc” that indicates a branch operation which uses a stored value of the implicitly indicated constant register 36 as the branch address, or (2) a constant “const”. The content of the 4-bit operation field 52 is specified by a format code provided in the format field 51.
US08019969B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a look-aside-look-aside buffer (LLB) configured to retain a portion of the real addresses in a translation look-aside (TLB) buffer to allow prefetching of data from a cache. A subset of real address bits associated with an effective address may be retrieved relatively quickly from the LLB, thereby allowing access to the cache before the complete address translation is available and reducing cache access latency.
US08019967B2
A non-volatile memory data address translation scheme is described that utilizes a hierarchal address translation system that is stored in the non-volatile memory itself. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a hierarchal address data and translation system wherein the address translation data entries are stored in one or more data structures/tables in the hierarchy, one or more of which can be updated in-place multiple times without having to overwrite data. This hierarchal address translation data structure and multiple update of data entries in the individual tables/data structures allow the hierarchal address translation data structure to be efficiently stored in a non-volatile memory array without markedly inducing write fatigue or adversely affecting the lifetime of the part. The hierarchal address translation of embodiments of the present invention also allow for an address translation layer that does not have to be resident in system RAM for operation.
US08019965B2
The present invention provides for a method for managing the storage of data in a computing system that includes a data processor and local physical storage, involving the steps of: defining a virtual storage volume for access by the data processor, the data processor including a local storage pool mapped to the local physical storage and a remote storage pool mapped to physical storage at a remote site, and the virtual storage volume being overallocated with respect to the local storage pool; and migrating data between the local storage pool and the remote storage pool according to a defined migration policy.
US08019957B1
A calibration module for a data storage control system. The calibration system includes a programmable delay module configured to i) receive a data strobe signal, ii) receive a delay value, and iii) output a delayed data strobe signal to a buffer based on the delay value, wherein data is read from the buffer based on the delayed data strobe signal. The calibration module further includes a delay calculation module configured to calculate the delay value based on a comparison between the data strobe signal and the delayed data strobe signal.
US08019956B1
A system and method are described for concurrently storing and accessing data in a tree-like data structure. In one embodiment, a data structure is identified comprising a plurality of nodes, at least one node of the plurality of nodes being associated with at least one other node of the plurality of nodes. Each node of the plurality of nodes is associated with an indicator indicative of an occurrence of a write operation related to the associated node. A determination is made if a write operation, related to any of the plurality of nodes, is occurring, and the associated indicator is set in accordance therewith. Access is prevented to any of the plurality of nodes whose associated indicator indicates the occurrence of the write operation, and access is allowed to others of the plurality of nodes.
US08019953B2
The present invention is a method for providing atomicity for host write Input/Outputs (I/Os) in a Continuous Data Protection (CDP)-enabled volume. When a host overwrite Input/Output (I/O) is initiated by a host against a data block of the CDP-enabled volume, the method may include creating an in-flight write log entry and providing the in-flight write log entry to an in-flight write log of the CDP-enabled volume. The in-flight write log entry may correspond to the host overwrite I/O. The method may further include locating mapping table information in a mapping table of the CDP-enabled volume. The mapping table information may correspond to the data block. The method may further include recording a journal entry in a journal of the CDP-enabled volume. The journal entry may include a journal entry timestamp which corresponds to the host overwrite I/O. The method may further include allocating a storage location for the host overwrite I/O.
US08019952B2
A storage device for storing data, while compressing same value of input data, includes an input processing unit, a data storage, a first-in-first-out memory, and an output processing unit. The input processing unit is configured to, upon receiving an input value, determine whether a data value stored in the data storage at an address location corresponding to the input value is valid. If the data value is invalid, the input processing unit stores an initial value at the address location and stores the input value in the first-in-first-out memory. If the data value is valid, the input processing unit performs an arithmetic operation on the data value and stores the operation result in the address location corresponding to the input value. The output processing unit is configured to read and output the input value stored at a head of the first-in-first-out memory, as well as reading and outputting the data value from the address location of the data storage corresponding to the input value, if one or more input values are stored in the first-in-first-out memory and if the data value stored at the address location of the data storage corresponding to the input value is valid, and to update the data value after the output.
US08019949B2
A high-capacity memory subsystem architecture utilizes multiple memory modules arranged in one or more clusters, each attached to a respective hub which in turn is attached to a memory controller. Within a cluster, data is interleaved so that each data access command accesses all modules of the cluster. The hub communicates with the memory modules at a lower bus frequency, but the distributing of data among multiple modules enables the cluster to maintain the composite data rate of the memory-controller-to-hub bus. Preferably, the memory system employs buffered memory chips having dual-mode operation, one of which supports a cluster configuration in which data is interleaved and the communications buses operate at reduced bus width and/or reduced bus frequency to match the level of interleaving.
US08019941B2
A method and apparatus redundantly store data, in particular video data objects, in a distributed computer system having at least three processor systems, each processor system being connected in point to point two way channel interconnection with each other processor system. The data is stored in a redundant fashion both at the computer system level as well as the processor system level. Accordingly, the failure of a single processor does not adversely affect the integrity of the data. The computer system can also overlay a switching system connected in a ring fashion for providing a fault tolerance to the failure of a single connected processor system at the switch level. Accordingly, there results a fault tolerant data distribution system.
US08019932B2
An embodiment of the present invention includes a nonvolatile memory system comprising nonvolatile memory for storing sector information, the nonvolatile memory being organized into blocks with each block including a plurality of sectors, each sector identified by a logical block address and for storing sector information. A controller is coupled to the nonvolatile memory for writing sector information to the latter and for updating the sector information, wherein upon updating sector information, the controller writes to the next free or available sector(s) of a block such that upon multiple re-writes or updating of sector information, a plurality of blocks are substantially filled with sector information and upon such time, the controller rearranges the updated sector information in sequential order based on their respective logical block addresses thereby increasing system performance and improving manufacturing costs of the controller.
US08019925B1
Methods and structures for mapping of logical to physical block addresses within a disk drive to provide independence of the logical block size and the physical disk block size. The independence of the logical and physical block sizes enables numerous beneficial features to improve disk drive capacity, performance and reliability. In one exemplary aspect, indirect mapping table structures and methods map an LBA to an associated IBA representing a block of the same size as the logical block. The IBA is then converted to a corresponding starting quantum unit of data identified by a QA. The QA is, in turn, converted to a disk block identified by a starting DBA and an offset within that DBA. The disk block may be of variable size and is independent of the size of the identified LBA. Numerous other features are enabled by the logical to physical mapping features hereof.
US08019918B2
In a system in which an information processing apparatus and a peripheral are connected to each other. Initially, the information processing apparatus transmits, to the peripheral, a request to use a service provided by the peripheral. The peripheral determines whether to grant use permission to the received request, and notifies the information processing apparatus which has transmitted the request of the determination result. The peripheral stores information associated with the information processing apparatus to which use permission is granted in response to the request. The information processing apparatus then receives, from the peripheral, a response to the request.
US08019907B2
A memory controller including a dual-mode memory interconnect includes an input/output (I/O) circuit including a plurality of input buffers and a plurality of output drivers. The I/O circuit may be configured to operate in one of a first mode and a second mode dependent upon a state of a mode selection signal. During operation in the first mode, the I/O circuit may be configured to provide a parallel interconnect for connection to one or more memory modules. During operation in the second mode, the I/O circuit may be configured to provide a respective serial interconnect for connection to each of one or more buffer units, each configured to buffer memory data that is being read from or written to the one or more memory modules.
US08019902B2
A network interface adapter includes a network interface and a client interface, for coupling to a client device so as to receive from the client device work requests to send messages over the network using a plurality of transport service instances. Message processing circuitry, coupled between the network interface and the client interface, includes an execution unit, which generates the messages in response to the work requests and passes the messages to the network interface to be sent over the network. A memory stores records of the messages that have been generated by the execution unit in respective lists according to the transport service instances with which the messages are associated. A completion unit receives the records from the memory and, responsive thereto, reports to the client device upon completion of the messages.
US08019901B2
An interface device is connected to a host by an I/O bus and provides hardware and processing mechanisms for accelerating data transfers between a network and a storage unit, while controlling the data transfers by the host. The interface device includes hardware circuitry for processing network packet headers, and can use a dedicated fast-path for data transfer between the network and the storage unit, the fast-path set up by the host. The host CPU and protocol stack avoids protocol processing for data transfer over the fast-path, freeing host bus bandwidth, and the data need not cross the I/O bus, freeing I/O bus bandwidth. The storage unit may include RAID or other multiple drive configurations and may be connected to the INIC by a parallel channel such as SCSI or by a serial channel such as Ethernet or Fibre Channel. The interface device contains a file cache that stores data transferred between the network and storage unit, with organization of data in the interface device file cache controlled by a file system on the host. Additional interface devices may be connected to the host via the I/O bus, with each additional interface device having a file cache controlled by the host file system, and providing additional network connections and/or being connected to additional storage units.
US08019900B1
The present invention provides an opportunistic peer-to-peer synchronization method, where client devices can either synchronize with a peer device or a master server, depending on which is the best available option. Client devices monitor synchronization information provided by peer client devices to determine if data that the client device desires to synchronize can be synchronized with a peer client device. If a peer device is available for synchronization, then a client device will synchronize with such peer device. Otherwise, the client device will synchronize with the master server or other device. Client devices can seamlessly switch between peer-to-peer synchronization and client-server synchronization, even during the middle of synchronization session.
US08019899B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to processing client requests in distributed systems. Particular implementations of the invention are directed to allowing application servers to return partially processed results after having consumed a time slice allocation based on performance estimates, network performance metrics, and/or system performance metrics.
US08019896B2
Video content information associated with a video content is received by a computing device. End destination information associated with a reception instance of the video content is also received by the computing device. At least a portion of the video content information and at least a portion of the end destination information are selectively aggregated to generate aggregated information.
US08019894B2
A system for playing SMIL based multimedia contents, comprising: a plurality of SMIL engines for analyzing and interpreting SMIL documents, as well as communicating with and controlling SMIL sub engines, remote media proxies, or local media playing devices; a plurality of remote media proxies for receiving instructions from the upper level SMIL engines, starting or stopping providing media objects to the remote media playing devices, sending back events, and providing basic user interaction capabilities, wherein said a plurality of SMIL engines, a plurality of remote media proxies, and local and remote media playing devices construct a tree-link structure, of which the root node is a SMIL engine, the branch nodes are SMIL engines and remote media proxies, and the leaf nodes are local and remote media playing devices. The corresponding SMIL engines and methods are also provided. The present invention enables the playing of SMIL based multimedia contents on a set of PvC devices, which can be dynamically configured as a new multimedia terminal on demand.
US08019889B1
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for handling data having an embedded address (and port). In general terms, a host of a private network is operable to obtain from its corresponding edge router a global address (GA) and optionally an additional global port range (GPR). When the host then wishes to transmit data out of the private network, the obtained GA (and GPR) may then be used for an embedded address (and port) within data sent by the host to a public network. The obtained GA (and GPR) may also be used by the host to translate its own source address and port in its IP and/or TCP/UDP header if needed.
US08019878B1
A system and method for connected devices over a network includes: receiving, by an address registration server, a communication from a host device and a communication from an endpoint device; determining whether the host device and the endpoint device are connected to a single local network and whether the host device and the endpoint device are each executing a compatible application; and facilitating a network connection between the endpoint device and the host device over the local network by providing a private network address of the endpoint device to the host device.
US08019870B1
An approach for allocating resources to an apparatus based on alternative resource requirements generally involves a resource allocator determining that a resource that satisfies a resource requirement is not available, and based on the resource not being available, the resource allocator determines that another resource that satisfies another resource requirement is available. The resource allocator allocates the other resource to the apparatus, thereby allowing the apparatus to be implemented based on the other resource. The resource requirements are alternatives so that if the one alternative resource requirement cannot be fulfilled, the other alternative resource requirement can be fulfilled. Some alternatives can be preferred over other alternatives in a set of alternative resource requirements. In general, in a set of “n” alternative resource requirements, “m” resource requirements can be specified to be fulfilled, where “m” is less than “n” and “n” is two or greater.
US08019853B2
The present invention allows a structure of an entire system including various peripheral devices to be visually confirmable, allows a user to easily grasp or see the entire system, and allows the entire system to be effectively used. Thus, a CPU acquires a resource information structure and a status of each peripheral device by communicating with these devices, and a virtual system configuration display unit causes a display unit to display a system configuration based on the acquired resource information structure and each peripheral device status such that specific icons capable of being discriminated for respective functions are displayed to be connected on a virtual network path.
US08019850B2
The invention provides a centralized VPN management of a plurality of VPN sites by means of a VPN Information Provider (VIP). Management of a VPN device is distributed so that at least part of the VPN configuration is centrally managed without giving away control of the firewall rulebase or other critical local configuration used in the VPN device.
US08019829B2
A system and method for managing output such as printing, faxing, and e-mail over various types of computer networks. In one aspect, the method provides for printing via a wireless device. The system provides renderable data to the wireless device by which a user-interface (UI) may be rendered. The UI enables users to select source data and an output device on which the source data are to be printed. The source data are then retrieved from a local or remote store and forwarded to a print service, which renders output image data corresponding to the source data and the output device that was selected. The output image data are then submitted to the output device to be physically rendered. The user-interfaces enable wired and wireless devices to access the system. The system enables documents to be printed by reference, and enables access to resources behind firewalls.
US08019828B2
A system of the invention comprises a design module, execution engine, and performance management module. A first computer hosts the design module which enables a user to define attributes, queries, and decision rules transmitted to the execution engine hosted on a second computer remote to the first computer. The second computer can be located at a credit bureau, credit reporting agency, or other data provider. The second computer runs the execution engine to query a data repository with the user-defined attributes and queries, and applies the user-defined decision rules to produce result data transmitted to a third computer hosting the performance management module for monitoring performance of a benefit or offering made with the result data and the corresponding attributes, queries, and decision rules that generated the result data.
US08019827B2
Non-administrators selectively move content from a source network to a destination network. The source network includes a deployment server that can deploy an item and its dependencies (if any) listed in a quick deploy list without having to get specific administrator authorization for the deployment. The deployment server can be configured to check the quick deploy list relatively frequently so that any items listed in the quick deploy list are quickly deployed. The listing of items in the quick deploy list is organized into “jobs” and identifies a path that indicates the source and destination for each job. A job is associated with one path and specifies one or more items of the source to be deployed and a schedule to deploy the specified item(s). The deployment server is configured by the administrator with permissions for specific authors to list items in the quick deploy list.
US08019818B2
A communications network system, comprising: a first user device, wherein the first user device uses a first communications protocol; a second user device, wherein the second user device uses a second communications protocol, different from the first communications protocol; and, a server, in operative communication with the first user device and the second user device, and wherein the server comprises a processor for translating the first communications protocol into the second communications protocol.
US08019814B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for generating standardized models for a resource via social computing. The disclosed systems and methods generate standardized models for resources via social computing and include receiving a request for the registration of a resource from a first client; collecting data defining at least one property of the resource to be registered and registering the resource with a server having a plurality of clients. The method also includes receiving subsequent request for the registration of a substantially similar resource from a second client; providing the subsequent client with earlier collected data from other clients defining the properties of the existing resource, and receiving data chosen by the subsequent client defining the properties of the new substantially similar resource. The method further includes weighting the collected data defining at least one property of the resource based on the frequency of selection of the data to define at least one of the property of the resource by clients of the server registering a substantially similar resource and designating a consensus, of the plurality of clients, of the defining properties of the substantially similar resources as the defining properties for a synthetic standard format model for the resource and substantially similar resources based on the weighted data.
US08019811B1
Response delay associated with a state-based client-server application can be reduced with utilization of an application state server-side cache. A server caches data for a set of one or more possible states of a client-server application that may follow a current state of the application. The server rapidly responds to a client request with data that corresponds to an appropriate new state of the application in accordance with the application state server-side cache. The server determines that the application will transition to the appropriate new state from the current state of the application with the application state server-side cache based, at least in part, on an operation indicated by the client request.
US08019810B2
A method of displaying items from an RSS feed on a television display involves registering the RSS feed with an RSS aggregator, the RSS feed aggregator being operatively coupled to the television display for display of RSS feed items; at the RSS aggregator, polling the RSS feed for RSS feed items; determining if the RSS feed contains an item that has been newly added since a preceding poll of the RSS feed; and if the RSS feed contains an item that has been newly added since a preceding poll of the RSS feed, downloading and displaying the newly added item on the television display replacing a previously displayed item from the RSS feed. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08019806B2
The invention relates to graphical user interfaces for managing electronic networks, such computer networks, storage area networks (SANs), and the like. Specifically, the invention provides a simplified means of managing large numbers of parameters associated with devices in such networks. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method of displaying devices forming a network. In a first step, a computer system associated with a graphical user interface queries the network to determine what devices are present in the network, and the interconnections of such devices. The results of this determination are stored, as is the time of this determination. Later, a second query is performed and the results are compared to the first query. Symbols representing elements of the network are displayed on the graphical user interface. When changes are detected between the first and second network query, the changes are indicated by altering the manner in which the symbols are displayed that represent the elements of the network that have changed.
US08019798B2
In one particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a network management system. The network monitoring system includes at least one device definition file, a simple network management protocol enabled communications interface, and a data access interface. The definition file includes query instructions associated with portions of MIBs associated with a network device. The simple network management protocol enabled communications interface may access the network device using the query instructions and may receive response data from the network device. The data access interface may be configured to provide external access to the response data and configure thresholds.
US08019792B2
When a hot folder monitoring section detects entry of a data file into a hot folder, a job ticket creating section creates a print job for the entered data file. A print data transmitting section transmits the created print job to a printer. If the hot folder monitoring section determines that the data file is entered from an input source folder to the hot folder, the print system transfers the data file to the input source folder.
US08019788B1
The size of lightweight JT data files containing CAD data is reduced by employing lossy compression where acceptable for portions of the CAD data, such as 3D geometry data. Dictionary-based lossless compression for the remaining portions is augmented by exploiting common repeated structures for some portions, such as precise Brep data, and compressing separate but similar data, such as all metadata for a given part and all scene graph data, together as a single block. The compressed data is then written in separate, uniquely identified data segments indexed in a table of contents, allowing quick access to any data segment for streaming.
US08019785B2
We explore techniques for designing nonblocking algorithms that do not require advance knowledge of the number of processes that participate, whose time complexity and space consumption both adapt to various measures, rather than being based on predefined worst-case scenarios, and that cannot be prevented from future memory reclamation by process failures. These techniques can be implemented using widely available hardware synchronization primitives. We present our techniques in the context of solutions to the well-known Collect problem. We also explain how our techniques can be exploited to achieve other results with similar properties; these include long-lived renaming and dynamic memory management for nonblocking data structures.
US08019774B2
An information processing apparatus for searching for a target text information candidate from among text information candidates stored in order to search for and/or input target information, may include a display information generating unit for generating and displaying display information, the display information including only both a first character line of characters extending in a first direction including a character set to be selected, and a second character line of characters related to the first character line, extending in a second direction and intersecting the first character line, out of a two-dimensional matrix of rows and columns of characters arranged for selection, and a shift instruction receiving unit for receiving a shift instruction to shift from the character set to be selected.
US08019773B2
In an information processing apparatus adapted to determine information, to be presented to a user, as to one or more contents, a calculation unit calculates the similarity between a first search axis, produced on the basis of information associated with the user, for use as a reference on the basis of which to present contents and a second search axis, produced on the basis of information associated with one of other users, for use as a reference on the basis of which to present contents, and a display control unit controls displaying of information associated with contents with reference to first and second search axes detected as being similar to each other.
US08019766B2
Computer-implemented processes are disclosed for clustering items, and for using item clusters to generate and/or present item recommendations. One process involves calculating distances between items based on how the items are categorized within a hierarchical browse structure. These distance calculations may then be used as a basis for forming clusters of items.
US08019756B2
A computer program, method and computer apparatus for calculating the total importance of an electronic document on the basis of (i) a plurality of electronic documents chained to each other in a relation of referencing and being referenced, from a start electronic document which is not referenced by other electronic documents to a terminal electronic document which does not reference other documents, (ii) the information on relation of referencing and being referenced, (iii) an important phrase, and (iv) a response coefficient determining phrase such as an agreeing phrase, a disagreeing phrase, and a topic change phrase, (i) through (iv) being stored in a storage device.
US08019755B2
The present invention relates to a computer method and system for analyzing, critiquing and providing feedback on or for government legislation and legislative documents, statutes, bills, by-laws, proposals and amendments hereto for referred to as legislation or legislative document, and more particularly, to a computer method and system for quantifying key components and sections within the legislation or legislative document. This computer method and system works in conjunction with a document management system. This computer method and system quantifies the feedback of the user based on a single user or multiple users' opinion. The result is a computerized document in the form of a report that can be printed, collaborated, managed and distributed electronically. The key component used to quantify feedback is a scoring tool with a set of criteria and standards used to assess the legislation or legislative document.
US08019749B2
A computer-implemented system, method, and user interface for searching and organizing information, particularly large information sets such as those found on the Internet and World Wide Web. Information is organized and searched according to content, and this organization is reflected directly in the user interface provided to users for searching as well as the search results they are shown.
US08019741B2
The present invention provides for quick and efficient searches. In one embodiment, a search system, comprises an email search interface having at least a first email-specific attribute search field, a file search interface having at least a first file-specific attribute search field, a Web history search interface having at least a first Web-specific attribute search field, and an apparatus configured to perform incremental searching as the user enters characters into one or more attribute search fields.
US08019740B2
System and methods for communicating tracking information about tagged items. A tagged item is a tangible item that carries a self-identifying tag. The tracking information can be stored in the tag or in a document that is accessible through an item tracking system. The tracking information can be accessible by multiple consumers having different levels of access. The methods include methods for masking redundancies in the tracking information, filtering the tracking information, and controlling access to the tracking information.
US08019737B2
A system to synchronize metadata for a plurality of applications. The system includes content administration rules programmed to define policies for updating metadata in the master database and policies for propagating updates in the metadata to the plurality of applications. The metadata describes at least one asset represented as data residing in at least one of the plurality of applications. A rules engine is programmed to apply at least a first set of the content administration rules to a metadata record received from a first application of the plurality of applications to control updating corresponding metadata stored in a master database. Changes in the corresponding metadata made to the master database can be propagated to at least one second application of the plurality of applications according to a second set of the content administration rules predefined for each of the at least one second application.
US08019734B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for estimating a frequency of errors for data processing operators, but without human inspection of documents typed by the operators and without comparing documents typed by the operators against known transcriptions.
US08019731B2
A method and system for updating an archive of a computer file to reflect changes made to the file includes selecting one of a plurality of comparison methods as a preferred comparison method. The comparison methods include a first comparison method wherein the file is compared to an archive of the file and a second comparison method wherein a first set of tokens statistically representative of the file is computed and compared to a second set of tokens statistically representative of the archive of the file. The method further includes carrying out the preferred comparison method to generate indicia of differences between the file and the archive of the file for updating the archive of the file.
US08019728B2
Data is stored in a distributed data storage system comprising a plurality of disks. When a disk fails, system reliability is restored by executing a set of reconstructions according to a schedule. System reliability is characterized by a dynamic Normalcy Deviation Score. The schedule for executing the set of reconstructions is determined by a minimum intersection policy. A set of reconstructions is received and divided into a set of queues rank-ordered by redundancy level ranging from a lowest redundancy level to a highest redundancy level. For reconstructions in each queue, an intersection matrix is calculated. Diskscores for each disk are calculated. The schedule for the set of reconstructions is based at least in part on the intersection matrices, the Normal Deviation Scores, and the diskscores.
US08019715B2
In a parallel system, multiple threads operate in parallel to perform network structure learning. A global score cache is partitioned into multiple split score caches, which may in one embodiment include associating a score cache with a node of the structure to be learned. With a split score cache, the learning may be performed in split neighbor scoring loops, with the first loop operating on separate score cache partitions, and warming the score cache partitions for the second loop.
US08019708B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for identifying and correcting anomalies in web graphs. A web graph is transformed into a set of weighted features. The set of weighted features are then transformed into a signature via a SimHash algorithm. The signature is compared to the signature of one or more other web graphs in order to determine similarity between web graphs. Actions are then carried out to remove anomalous web graphs and modify parameters governing web mapping in order to decrease the likelihood of future anomalous web graphs being built.
US08019688B2
Music is blanket transmitted (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's computer-based user station. Customers preselect from a list of available music in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay only for music that they choose to have recorded for unlimited playback, for example, by a “CD burner”. An “ID tag” is woven into the recorded music so that any illegal copies therefrom may be traced to the purchase transaction.
US08019685B2
A system and method are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a server computer, a transaction clearing request for a transaction, and then determining, using the server computer, if the transaction satisfies a stored blocking parameter. The method further includes allowing, using the server computer, the transaction clearing request if the transaction does not satisfy the stored blocking parameter, and denying, using the server computer, the transaction clearing request if the transaction satisfies the stored blocking parameter.
US08019677B1
A convertible, home-equity based financial product is disclosed. Example embodiments of the invention provide a home loan that can be converted into a reverse mortgage, also known as an “equity release” product. In example embodiments, the product can be set up so that there is a low or no-documentation requirement upon conversion. Conversion can be triggered upon a request from the borrower, or upon some other event. The proceeds from the conversion can be provided in many different ways, for example, as a lump sum, an investment, a line of credit, or a scheduled pay-out. The proceeds from the equity release can also be distributed so as to be used in purchasing a residence, for example, a second or vacation home.
US08019671B2
Data corresponding to a set of securities is identified. For each security in the set, data corresponding to a legacy risk contribution from a corresponding security in the set is identified. Data corresponding to a legacy risk of the entire set is identified based on the legacy risk contributions. The legacy risk is displayed.
US08019670B2
A computerized method for generating risk forecasts is provided. A set of securities is selected. A set of risk factors is selected. The risk factor returns a determined. A risk factor covariance matrix and an idiosyncratic variance matrix are constructed. For each risk factor, a factor loading coefficient is determined for each selected security. The risk factor covariance matrix is projected into a future forecast. The idiosyncratic variance matrix is projected into a future forecast. The factor loading coefficients, the future forecast of the risk factor covariance matrix, and the future forecast of the idiosyncratic variance matrix can be used to determine a forecast of the variance-covariance matrix for the selected securities.
US08019658B2
Methods for purchasing of goods or services over the internet. A customer has a customer account set up at a bank with associated account information. The account information includes verification information for verification parameters, such as authorized computer identification, authorized delivery addresses, authorized user identification, authorized telephone caller identification, and/or other account information. An order is placed by a user via an ordering computer which provides order information. Such order information includes verification variables used by the bank. Verification and/or authentication using one or more variables of the customer account information is used by the bank to validate the order before assuring payment to the merchant.
US08019651B2
A network Web service indirect channel distribution system, method and computer program that ensures purchasers are charged the most favored prices. An implementation enabling a system host to negotiate prices for vendor registered goods and services, means for modifying the host negotiated prices and means enabling a purchaser to negotiate a special price for registered goods and services in a specific purchase transaction. An entitled price repository independent of the above-described indirect channel distribution system is associated with this entitled price repository for tracking a plurality of price affecting factors selected from a group of such factors comprising the host negotiated prices, the above-described modified prices, and the specific purchase transaction prices. The entitled price repository correlates all of these price affecting factors to produce a most favored price for the customer/purchaser.
US08019645B2
A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed. The report may include a geographic map which plots respective locations of recipients, and/or a listing of receipts grouped into a plurality of demographics segments.
US08019642B2
A system and process for incorporating recommendation boosting in an automated recommendation system includes presenting a user with a visual electronic interface adapted to receive recommendation boost instructions regarding a boost subject, receiving recommendation boost instructions via the visual electronic interface, wherein the recommendation boost instructions indicate how strongly the boost subject should be recommended or suppressed from being recommended, receiving a set of recommendations from one or more automated product recommendation systems, wherein each recommendation system utilizes one or more selection models or user models and modifying the set of recommendations according to the recommendation boost instructions.
US08019640B2
An automation assessment tool is provided that defines autonomic technology, processes, organization, and skill sets that apply to autonomic computing. The automation assessment tool provides educational material about autonomic computing and a scale of maturity levels, which is used to assess on-demand preparedness. The automation assessment tool presents a survey and collects answers to the survey questions. The automation assessment tool then determines solutions and recommendations to achieve a target level of on-demand preparedness.
US08019637B2
A system and method is provided that provides an early indication of consensus of opinion among a number of users regarding an event or observation indicated by a user. Such an opinion may be interesting to an information consumer, who may be interested in determining the outcome of the consensus relating to the event or observation, or may otherwise desire to perform surveillance or survey of a particular issue or subject. Such recognition of early events or observations may be useful in different areas, such as healthcare, finance, etc., where initial observations, if provided early, allow resulting decisions to be made much earlier. The opinion may, for instance, be used as an early indicator of problem with a product, company, etc. that would permit an information consumer to perform an action at a much earlier point than if he/she relied on traditional sources of information. Thus, such opinion information may be invaluable as a tool for monitoring events.
US08019635B2
The adaptive product conditioning is a computer-implemented method for identifying product configurations that can be provided to customers in reaction to supply imbalances. The methodology uses data mining techniques to collect and analyze business level meta data to coordinate supply and sales goals in terms of optimizing profits or managing product and technology transitions.
US08019634B2
The invention relates to a method for transporting physical objects, wherein at least one physical object is transported from a sending station to a receiving station, wherein the transport occurs through at least one physical router, wherein the physical router executes a decision about further parameters of transport to another physical router or to the receiving station. The method is carried out in that a central control computer receives information for handling and moving the physical objects and that the central control computer influences supplies for transport means and/or the transport means according to environmental data.
US08019632B2
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to enterprise application integration. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a computer system including a service oriented architecture (SOA), where the system includes a composite application configured to present sales targeted information by combining services from multiple application resources on a network, wherein the multiple application resources include: a sales force automation (SFA) tool configured to automate sales and sales force management functions; a real-time predictive analytics tool configured to evaluate customer purchasing data and recommend products or services based on the customer purchasing data; a knowledge management tool configured to search and retrieve data across multiple integrated applications; and a calendar tool configured to manage appointment scheduling. The multiple application resources can further include a collaboration tool; and a business intelligence tool, including at least one live news feed.
