US08609427B2
A sulfur dioxide sensor comprising a first beam having a functionalized sensing surface capable of sensing sulfur dioxide, the first beam capable of producing a first resonant frequency; and a second beam having a functionalized reference surface not capable of sensing sulfur dioxide, the second beam capable of producing a second resonant frequency, wherein differential sensing of sulfur dioxide may be performed, further wherein the first beam is functionalized with a liquid phase of a first polymeric compound and the second beam is functionalized with a liquid phase of a second polymeric compound is provided. In one embodiment, the sensor is a nano-sensor capable of low drift accurately detecting sulfur dioxide levels at the zeptograms level. Methods of making and using a sulfur dioxide sensor are also provided.
US08609423B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for labeling, separating and analyzing proteins, particularly a specific protein of interest within a cell lysate or in a mixture of proteins. The proteins are labeled with an amine reactive or thiol reactive fluorescent dye, or an amine reactive fluorogenic reagent that becomes fluorescent upon reacting to amine groups located on the protein. Following the labeling step, the proteins within the mixture can be separated and analyzed. In a further embodiment, a tag binding fluorogenic reagent that can bind to a tag on a tagged protein is added to specifically label the protein of interest.
US08609421B2
The present invention is generally directed to compositions, methods, and systems for performing single-molecule, real-time analysis of analytical reactions in which protein synthesis is occurring. The ability to analyze such reactions provides an opportunity to study those reactions as well as to potentially identify factors and/or approaches for impacting such reactions, e.g., to either enhance, inhibit, or otherwise affect such reactions including, but not limited to, affecting the reaction rate, processivity, fidelity, duration, and the like.
US08609420B2
Provided are methods for introducing a molecule of interest into a plant cell having a cell wall by using a QD-peptide conjugate having a quantum dot (QD) with one or more cell penetrating peptides (CPPs). Methods are provided for genetically or otherwise modifying plants and for treating or preventing disease in plant cells comprising a cell wall.
US08609414B2
The present invention describes stem cells and progenitor cells derived from hemangiomas, including testing of angiogenic inhibitors using these cells. The invention as described is useful in providing a process to culture and propagate hemangioma stem cells and generate xenograft models to develop treatments for infantile hemangiomas and other types of vascular lesions.
US08609410B2
Activated antigen-presenting cells that can induce immunocytes including disease antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs and/or γδ T cells efficiently in vivo and/or in vitro, a medical composition comprising the activated antigen-presenting cells, a treatment and prevention method using the activated antigen-presenting cells, and an induction method of immunocytes including disease antigen-specific CTLs and/or γδ T cells induced using the activated antigen-presenting cell, immunocytes induced by the above-noted method, a medical composition comprising the immunocytes, and a treatment and prevention method using the immunocytes are provided. By co-pulsing antigen-presenting cells with bisphosphonate in addition to the pulse with a disease antigen, the ratio of disease antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs and/or γδ T cells and the number of the disease antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs and the γδ T cells can be increased, compared with the case where the co-pulse with bisphosphonate is not carried out.
US08609409B2
The present invention provides a synthetic cell culture platform, comprising: a two dimensional and/or three dimensional surface comprising peptides conjugated to said surface and methods of using the platform for increasing cell adhesion, stable attachment and/or proliferation of cells grown on the platform and for promoting differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons.
US08609408B2
This invention relates to a method for the reconstruction of a tissue-engineered human corneal endothelium. Human corneal endothelial cells are cultured in vitro to logarithmic growth phase using 20% calf bovine serum-containing DMEM/F12 medium. Trypsin is used to digest epithelial layer of the freeze-dried human amniotic membrane in order to produce denuded human amniotic membrane as scaffold carriers. The scaffold carriers are tiled on the bottom of culture plate wells until they are dried and completely adhered to the bottom of wells. Human corneal endothelial cells at logarithmic growth phase are re-suspended in DMEM/F12 medium containing type-IV collagen and 20% calf bovine serum. Human corneal endothelial cell suspension is subsequently inoculated to amniotic membrane scaffold carriers that are tiled on the bottom of wells in culture plate to launch in vitro culture as well as in vitro reconstruction of tissue-engineered human corneal endothelium. This invention is scientific and rational. The reconstructed tissue-engineered human corneal endothelium can be produced on large scale to satisfy the great demand of tissue-engineered human corneal endothelium in clinical cornea transplantation for primary corneal endotheliopathy therapy. Meanwhile, costs for in vitro reconstruction of tissue-engineered human corneal endothelium and clinical therapy are low.
US08609404B2
Canine parvovirus vaccines and diagnostics and methods for their use are provided. The vaccines are effective against emerging canine parvovirus variants.
US08609403B2
A polynucleotide encoding the amino acid shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 5, or encoding an amino acid sequence having not less than 98% identity thereto; preferably a polynucleotide comprising replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1202 of SEQ ID NO:2 (position 177 of SEQ ID NO:5) with glycine, replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1056 (position 31 of SEQ ID NO:5) with valine, and replacement of the amino acid corresponding to alanine at position 2199 (position 1174 of SEQ ID NO:5) with threonine.
US08609402B2
The invention relates to vaccines comprising recombinant vectors, such as recombinant adenoviruses. The vectors comprise heterologous nucleic acids encoding for at least two antigens from one or more tuberculosis-causing bacilli. Also described is the use of specific protease recognition sites linking antigens through which the encoded antigens are separated upon cleavage. After cleavage, the antigens contribute to the immune response in a separate manner. The recombinant vectors may comprise a nucleic acid encoding the protease cleaving the linkers and separating the antigens. Further described is the use of genetic adjuvants encoded by the recombinant vectors, wherein such genetic adjuvants may also be cleaved through the presence of the cleavable linkers and the specific protease.
US08609399B2
The present inventors have surprisingly discovered that phytic acid tenaciously precipitates with soluble metals in food or fuel ethanol-processing fluid, producing insoluble organometallic salt deposit or scale on the processing equipment that must be removed in order to facilitate further ethanol processing. The present invention relates to converting phytic acid salts or phytates to inorganic phosphates to improve metal solubility and reduce deposition within processing equipment.
US08609396B2
Disclosed herein are a microorganism strain capable of producing the L-methionine precursor O-acetyl homoserine in high yield and a method of producing O-acetyl homoserine using the same. The microorganism strain is a strain of Escherichia sp. in which an acetyl-CoA synthase gene (acs) and/or a pantothenate kinase gene (coaA) encoding a pantothenate kinase gene refractory to feedback inhibition by CoA is introduced and expressed.
US08609387B2
Novel fungal endoglucanases with substantial performance at low temperatures are disclosed. The endoglucanases are conveniently produced by recombinant technology, and means for their production are described. The endoglucanases are used for treating cellulosic material, especially in textile industry, e.g. in biofinishing or biostoning. They may also be used in detergents, in animal feed and/or in pulp and paper industry or bioethanol production.
US08609386B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having tyrosinase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing, activating and using the polypeptides.
US08609385B2
The present invention relates to methods for the production of isoprene by the direct conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide using metabolically engineered genetically engineered photosynthetic microorganisms. The present invention also relates to genetically engineered photosynthetic microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria, that are capable of producing isoprene from CO2.
US08609384B2
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08609378B2
Organisms are provided which express enzymes such as glycerol dehydratase, diol dehydratase, acyl-CoA transferase, acyl-CoA synthetase β-ketothiolase, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase, PHA synthase, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphatase, which are useful for the production of PHAs. In some cases one or more of these genes are native to the host organism and the remainder are provided from transgenes. These organisms produce poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) homopolymers or co-polymers incorporating 3-hydroxypropionate or 3-hydroxyvalerate monomers wherein the 3-hydroxypropionate and 3-hydroxyvalreate units are derived from the enzyme catalysed conversion of diols. Suitable diols that can be used include 1,2-propanediol, 1,3 propanediol and glycerol. Biochemical pathways for obtaining the glycerol from normal cellular metabolites are also described. The PHA polymers are readily recovered and industrially useful as polymers or as starting materials for a range of chemical intermediates including 1,3-propanediol, 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, acrylics, malonic acid, esters and amines.
US08609368B2
Provided is a process for purifying a vancomycin wet body, comprising: dissolving a wet body obtained from a microorganism-fermented solution containing vancomycin into a water soluble solvent to a concentration of about 1 to 40 g/L and carrying out reverse osmosis filtration; and carrying out lyophilization of the filtered vancomycin. The process for purifying a vancomycin wet body provides high-purity vancomycin, while avoiding degradation of stability during a drying step.
US08609362B2
Gαq-Gustducin chimeric G-proteins that functionally couple to G-protein coupled receptors. The chimeras can be expressed in heterologous cell systems and can be used as the basis of assays for identifying modulators of taste response, in particular bitter, sweet or umami taste responses.
US08609361B2
This invention corresponds to an in vitro method that employs an electrophysiology technique; in particular, an embodiment of the patch-clamp technique in its perforated type, which will allow us evaluating the neurotoxic capacity of protein structures associated to the generation of neurodegenerative diseases. It addition, it allows evaluating potential pharmacologic capacities of candidate molecules (drugs) in order to prevent, treat, or cure the said diseases. The invention involves the use of peptides that cause neurodegenerative diseases in order to form a spontaneous perforated recording that only occurs with peptides in the patch clamp glass pipette.
US08609358B2
Described herein are methods of detecting a wound infection and for detecting the presence or absence of bacteria, for example, wound bacteria in a sample, by contacting a sample with a peptide substrate derived from the modification of the reactive site loop (RSL) domain of the α 1-proteinase inhibitor. In the current invention, we have demonstrated that these peptide substrates without the alpha 1 protein can be efficiently used as peptide substrates. The modification or the absence of modification of this peptide substrate by the enzyme produced and/or secreted by the bacteria, can serve as an indicator for the presence or absence of the bacteria in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of bacteria in a sample.
US08609355B2
Methods, devices, and kits are provided herein for the accurate and rapid detection of disease causing microbes in a sample by the detection of microbial components of which correlate to the presence of the microbe. Kits include a first binding agent operatively coupled to an immobilized support; and a second binding agent operatively coupled to one or more pH indicating moieties wherein the first and second binding agents bind with sufficient specificity to the microbial component to permit detection of that component which correlates to the presence of the microbe in the sample.
US08609353B2
Described herein are substrates, methods, articles, and kits that are useful for removing interferents from samples for diagnostic purposes. The interferents are removed with phosphocellulose and cation exchange materials. These materials could also be used in vitro to improve the performance of a diagnostic assay or in vivo to remove the interferents.
US08609350B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for the detection and treatment of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys infection.
US08609349B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting the activation states of components of signal transduction pathways in tumor cells. Information on the activation states of components of signal transduction pathways derived from use of the invention can be used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and in the design of cancer treatments.
US08609348B2
Bacteriophage adhesion proteins binding to the O-antigen of gram negative bacteria, but lacking the ability of binding to a bacteriophage and of hydrolysing lipopolysaccharides, are described, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding the proteins. In addition, methods for generating the bacteriophage adhesion proteins and their use in detection, purification and enrichment of bacteria are described.
US08609343B2
Provided are methods for detecting bladder cancer in a subject. In some aspects, methylation of one or more of MYO3A, CA10, NKX6-2, SOX11, DBC1, NPTX2, and/or A2BP1 in DNA sediment from a urine sample may be evaluated to detect the presence or absence of a bladder cancer in a human patient.
US08609340B2
Methods are provided for the amplification of at least a first and a second target nucleic acid that may be present in at least one fluid sample using an internal control nucleic acid for qualitative and/or quantitative purposes.
US08609339B2
An embodiment of a method for extracting biological material from an emulsion is described that comprises the steps of a) breaking an emulsion comprising a plurality of aqueous droplets in a continuous phase of an oil using a solvent to produce a combined aqueous-oil mixture, where the solvent disrupts the aqueous droplets which release a plurality of biological elements each immobilized on a substrate into the combined aqueous-oil mixture; b) introducing an inorganic salt to the combined aqueous-oil mixture causing a phase separation of the mixture into a first phase comprising an aqueous solution and the biological elements and a second phase comprising the solvent and the oil; c) extracting the first phase from the second phase; and d) collecting the substrate immobilized biological elements from the first phase.
US08609338B2
The invention provides tandem single nucleotide polymorphisms and methods for their use, for example, in diagnosing Down Syndrome.
US08609329B2
Automated FRET imaging of membrane-bound receptor/ligand complexes can discriminate between a clustered organization of ligand/receptor complexes that occurs during the early endocytic stages following internalization and a random distribution characteristic of late stage disassociation of ligand from the receptor. In the case of the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) and its ligand, LDL, this feature of FRET imaging forms the basis of an assay to monitor the endosomal release of cholesterol into the cell and identify compounds which alter pH in the endosome thereby inhibiting the disassociation of ligand and cholesterol from the receptor, a mechanism that is involved in regulation of plasma/serum cholesterol.
US08609327B2
Methods are presented of forming sub-lithographic patterns using double exposure. One method may include providing a photoresist layer over a layer to be patterned; exposing the photoresist layer using a first mask having a first opening; developing the photoresist layer to transfer the first opening into the photoresist layer, forming a boundary in the photoresist layer about the transferred first opening that is hardened; exposing the photoresist layer using a second mask having a second opening that overlaps the boundary; and developing the photoresist layer to transfer the second opening into the photoresist layer, leaving the boundary, wherein the boundary has a sub-lithographic dimension.
US08609314B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a color erasable developing agent including preparing a dispersion containing a fine particle containing a leuco dye and a developer, a fine particle containing a color erasing agent, a toner binder resin fine particle and a medium, aggregating the fine particles in the medium, and heat fusing the aggregate to form a toner particle is provided.
US08609303B2
According to a mask pattern generating method of the embodiments, an undesired pattern, which is transferred onto a substrate due to an auxiliary pattern when an on-substrate pattern is formed on the substrate by using a mask pattern in which the auxiliary pattern is placed, is extracted as an undesired transfer pattern. Then, the mask pattern is corrected by changing a size of the auxiliary pattern according to a size and a position of the undesired transfer pattern.
US08609298B2
A method for manufacturing a subgasket for a fuel cell stack having a pair of plates disposed in a stack includes the step of positioning a membrane between the plates. The membrane includes an inboard portion and a tortuous form portion. The inboard portion abuts a proton exchange membrane of the fuel cell, and the tortuous form portion abuts each of the plates. The tortuous form portion defines at least one cavity between one of the plates and the membrane. A viscous sealant is injected into the cavity. The sealant is cured to form a compliant bead seal on the membrane.
US08609295B2
For an enhanced rigidity and suppressed occurrences of stress concentration, a solid-electrolyte fuel cell is configured with simplex cells, a metallic separator of a circular thin-sheet form having a gas introducing port and gas discharging ports in the central portion, and cell mounting parts for the simplex cells to be fixed thereto, another metallic separator of a circular thin-sheet form having a gas introducing port and gas discharging ports in the central portion, the separators defining a space in between, and a pair of flow channel members accommodated in the space and pressed to be brought into abutment, for communication of their channels with the gas introducing ports and the gas discharging ports to effect gas supply and gas discharge to and from the space, either flow channel member being joined, within the space, to one separator.
US08609289B2
Provided is a fuel cell system that can suitably control a voltage converter in response to a judgment that an abnormal condition occurs in a power detection unit that detects a power passing through the voltage converter. The fuel cell system has: a first power detection unit that estimates an effective value of a converter input power by multiplying the converter input power, which is obtained from a battery voltage and a battery current, by a converter efficiency; a second power detection unit that estimates a converter output power from a fuel cell voltage, a fuel cell current and a driving motor load power; and a third power detection unit that estimates a converter flowing power from a current of a reactor measured by a current sensor (shown in a separate drawing). The fuel cell system also has similar detection units for current, and using one of the detection units or a combination of some of them, specifies a malfunctioning sensor and prohibits correction of parameters.
US08609275B2
A battery pack having an improved a coupling force between a battery cell and a connecting bar of a connecting structure. The connecting structure includes at least one battery cell, a connecting bar electrically connected to the battery cell, a welding region formed at a connecting area of the battery cell and the connecting bar, and an anisotropic conductive film formed at the outer periphery of the welding region and connecting the battery cell and the connecting bar to each other.
US08609274B2
A cell housing includes a first half section having a longitudinal side having a first end and a second end. A first lateral side extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal side from the first end. The first lateral side has a first tongue. A second lateral side extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal side from the second end. The second lateral side has a first groove. A second half section is identical to the first half section. The first and second half sections are coupled to each other such that the first tongue of the first half section is inserted into the first groove of the second half section and the first tongue of the second half section is inserted into the first groove of the first half section, forming a closed perimeter.
US08609273B2
An anode for a lithium ion secondary battery includes an anode, and a LiF-based coating layer formed with LiF-based particles on a surface of the anode. The LiF-based coating layer has a thickness of 0.05 to 1 μm. The anode allows the LiF-based coating layer created by side reaction of LiPF6 during a battery charging/discharging process to be relatively uniformly formed on the anode surface, thereby elongating the life cycle of a lithium ion secondary battery.
US08609272B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode assembly are sequentially stacked forming a stack and is wound about one edge of the stack, and a plurality of finishing tapes attached to the outer surface of the electrode assembly and spaced apart from each other along the winding direction of the electrode assembly.
US08609270B2
Iron-sulfide redox flow battery (RFB) systems can be advantageous for energy storage, particularly when the electrolytes have pH values greater than 6. Such systems can exhibit excellent energy conversion efficiency and stability and can utilize low-cost materials that are relatively safer and more environmentally friendly. One example of an iron-sulfide RFB is characterized by a positive electrolyte that comprises Fe(III) and/or Fe(II) in a positive electrolyte supporting solution, a negative electrolyte that comprises S2− and/or S in a negative electrolyte supporting solution, and a membrane, or a separator, that separates the positive electrolyte and electrode from the negative electrolyte and electrode.
US08609267B2
An electrochemical cell comprises an inlet and an outlet for an electrolyte flow, and two unipolar electrodes. Each electrode comprises a structure with a network of through-passages, surrounded by a solid frame. The electrolyte enters via inlets, circulates via the passages of the electrodes, passes through the space between the electrodes and leaves via an outlet. The structure and the frame are based on carbon.
US08609265B2
A battery pack and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series or in parallel to each other, a protective circuit module (PCM) controlling charging and discharging of the plurality of battery cells, and a coverlay electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells to the PCM, wherein the coverlay includes a plurality of wires, each of the plurality of wires includes battery connecting pads provided at its one end, the battery connecting pads connected to the battery cells, and module connecting pads provided at it's the other end, the module connecting pads connected to the PCM, and a solder layer is formed on the battery connecting pads.
US08609263B1
Systems and methods for forming magnetic media with an underlayer are provided. One such method includes providing a non-magnetic substrate, forming a seed layer above the substrate, the seed layer including MgO, forming an underlayer on the seed layer, the underlayer including a material selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, W, Fe, V, Cu, and Ag, and forming a magnetic recording layer on the underlayer, the recording layer including FePt oxide.
US08609262B2
A STT-RAM MTJ is disclosed with a MgO tunnel barrier formed by natural oxidation and containing an oxygen surfactant layer to form a more uniform MgO layer and lower breakdown distribution percent. A CoFeB/NCC/CoFeB composite free layer with a middle nanocurrent channel layer minimizes Jc0 while enabling thermal stability, write voltage, read voltage, and Hc values that satisfy 64 Mb design requirements. The NCC layer has RM grains in an insulator matrix where R is Co, Fe, or Ni, and M is a metal such as Si or Al. NCC thickness is maintained around the minimum RM grain size to avoid RM granules not having sufficient diameter to bridge the distance between upper and lower CoFeB layers. A second NCC layer and third CoFeB layer may be included in the free layer or a second NCC layer may be inserted below the Ru capping layer.
US08609261B2
There are provided titanium oxide particles capable of manifesting an unprecedented property, a manufacturing method thereof and a magnetic memory as well as a charge storage type memory employing the titanium oxide particles. Unlike-conventional bulk bodies phase-transited between nonmagnetic semiconductors and paramagnetic metals around about 460K, provided are titanium oxide particles 3 capable of manifesting an unprecedented property that Ti3O5 particles do not undergo phase transitions at room temperature and allow a paramagnetic metal property thereof to be consistently maintained in any temperature range.
US08609260B2
A coated article is provided which may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances. In certain example embodiments, an interlayer of or including a metal oxide such as tin oxide is provided under an infrared (IR) reflecting layer so as to be located between respective layers comprising silicon nitride and zinc oxide. It has been found that the use of such a tin oxide inclusive interlayer results in significantly improved mechanical durability, thermal stability and/or haze characteristics.
US08609259B2
An organic electroluminescent device, which has a pair of electrodes, and at least one organic layer including a luminescent layer between the electrodes, wherein the organic layer contains at least one compound of formula (1): wherein Q11 are atoms for forming a nitrogen-containing hetero ring; Z11 to Z13 each independently represents CR, wherein R represents a substituent, CH or N; n11 is 0 or 1; M11 is a metal or boron ion that may further have a ligand(s); and a compound of formula (6): wherein R63 to R66 each is a hydrogen atom or a substituent; X61 to X64 and Z61 to Z66 each is CR, wherein R represents a substituent, CH or N.
US08609257B2
The organic electroluminescence device has, on a substrate thereof, a pair of electrodes and at least one organic layer including a light emitting layer between the electrodes, wherein the light emitting layer contains a phosphorescent complex material containing a specific monoanionic bidentate ligand and the device contains, in a layer sandwiched between the light emitting layer and a cathode, a compound represented by the following formula (1): (Cz)p-L-(A)q (1) wherein, Cz represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylcarbazolyl or carbazolylaryl, L represents a single bond or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene, cycloalkylene, or aromatic heterocycle, A represents a substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen-containing 6-membered aromatic heterocycle, and each of p and q independently represents an integer from 1 to 6.
US08609256B2
Described are LTCC devices, with external silver containing electrical contacts, that are sequentially plated with a nickel containing metal and a gold containing metal, with a defined silver paste composition for manufacture.
US08609254B2
Methods of preparing metal and metal alloys with partially microcrystalline anodic coatings are disclosed. Associated article therefrom are correspondingly disclosed. The partially microcrystalline anodic coatings exhibit steam, superheated steam, alkaline and acidic resistance. Partially microcrystalline anodic coating can be prepared by impregnation of micropores of a metal or metal substrate with metal precursor species, conversion of the metal precursor species into metal hydroxides, thermal treatment to dry out moisture and to promote phase transformation of the metal hydroxide product into metal oxides solids and bonding with metastable metal oxide substance in the pore structure of the metal or metal alloy substrate, and hydrothermal sealing to create sealed partially microcrystalline anodic coating.
US08609251B2
The rubber composite was fabricated by use of direct vulcanization adhesion method with a sulfenamide-based vulcanization accelerators, and the sulfenamide-based vulcanization accelerator is used for a rubber composite using a sulfenamide compound as a vulcanization accelerator, the adhesion properties of the steel cord/rubber adhesion boundary surface and the anti-scorch properties can be achieved simultaneously, the sulfenamide-based vulcanization accelerator being such that the bond order between an amine generated form the sulfenamide compound and a surface of a metal material is zero, and the distance of the S—N (amine moiety) bond of the sulfenamide compound is less than 1.67 Å, and the electric charge on N of the amine radical generated as a result of dissociation of the S—N bond is −0.295 or less.
US08609246B2
A conductive fine particle, which is used for conductive connection between fine electrodes and tends not to give rise to a crack in the solder layer or disconnection caused by breakage in the connection interface between an electrode and the conductive fine particle even with a drop impact and the like, and tends not to have fatigue even after repetitive heating and cooling; an anisotropic conductive material obtained by using the conductive fine particle; and a conductive connection structure.
US08609234B2
The multilayer film serves as a laminate. In some embodiments, the film is a multilayered structure that, in its base form, encompasses an intermediate layer with first and second outer layer affixed to opposing sides of the intermediate layer. In some embodiments, the first outer layer is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer. In some embodiments, the intermediate layer includes a polyester and the second outer layer is an olefinic polymer.
US08609224B2
A fastening assembly includes a magnesium alloy member, a metallic sheet defining a through hole, a metallic bolt, and a nut positioned on an end of the bolt and attached to the metallic sheet. The magnesium alloy member includes a magnesium alloy base, and at least one resin coating layer formed in at least one portion of the magnesium alloy base. The magnesium alloy member defines a through hole penetrating through the magnesium alloy base and the at least one resin coating layer. The metallic bolt extends through the through holes of the magnesium alloy base and the metallic sheet. An inner width of the through hole of the magnesium alloy member is greater than a width of the metallic bolt, a material of the metallic bolt is different from a material of the magnesium alloy base or a material of the metallic sheet.
US08609223B2
A rectangular stack of interfolded rectangular napkins including a plurality of napkins, each napkin in the stack comprising a first fold in a first direction, and a second fold in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and bisecting the first fold and the napkin in the second direction, the intersecting first and second folds dividing the napkin into four panels with a pair of adjacent panels located on each side of the second fold, wherein each of the napkins within the stack includes at least one pair of panels arranged in the stack at a level between two pairs of adjacent panels of another of the absorbent napkins within the stack.
US08609222B2
A vehicle interior component in which a back-fastened member such as an upholstery or a noise insulator is fastened to a back side of a resin interior base material with a fastener, includes: a fastener-driven rib having plasticity and plate-like shape being integrally formed on the back side of the resin interior base material so as to protrude from the back side in such a posture that the fastener-driven rib is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the back side; and the fastener being driven into the fastener-driven rib so as to pass through the fastener-driven rib in such a posture that the fastener intersects with the fastener-driven rib, whereby the fastener is engaged with the fastener-driven rib.
US08609219B2
A composite article may include a plurality of fibers embedded within a matrix. The fibers may include a first fiber and a second fiber which may be oriented in substantially parallel relation to one another. The first and second fibers may be connected to one another at one or more connection sites.
US08609211B2
A label that is removable from the article with which it is associated, or includes a removable section thereof, and includes only a single substrate. The substrate has a front side and a back side, and an ink disposed on the back side of the substrate, which remains with the substrate during removal of the substrate, or a section thereof, from an article. The label further includes an abhesive disposed adjacent the ink on the back side of the substrate. The label may have at least one set of perforations to provide a removable section of the label. These perforations may be provided by an apparatus for providing consistent perforations.
US08609200B2
In a hose having a resin layer as an inner layer, a plasma treatment is performed on the inner surface of the inner layer and a connecting portion of an end part of the hose to thereby perform surface modification. Then, a sealing layer made of an elastic material is coated on and bonded to the inner surface of the connecting portion.
US08609193B2
A method for ionic polymerization of ethylene oxide. In the first step of the method, a gaseous monomer composition comprising ethylene oxide at a first flow rate is mixed with a gaseous ionic polymerization initiator at a second flow rate, thereby forming a mixture. The formed mixture is then heated with at least one heated filament to thereby form at least one polymer. The method may also be employed to coat a variety of different substrates in situ during the polymerization reaction.
US08609179B2
Apparatuses, methods and systems for applying a coating to an ear of corn in a high throughput manner are disclosed. The system includes means for moving the ear of corn through the system and means for coating the ear of corn with a coating while passing through the system. The apparatus includes a carrying position for an ear of corn, an automated line having a plurality of the carrying positions, and an automated coating station adapted to apply a coating to the ear of corn on the automated line. The method includes staging a plurality of ears of corn on an automated line, passing the automated line through an ear coating process, and coating the plurality of ears of corn with a coating.
US08609178B2
A substrate (1) for spatially selective micron and nanometer scale deposition and/or reaction, which has a support (3), a conductive layer (5) on the support, a dielectric layer (7) to hold an electrostatic charge pattern such as a photoconductive layer of a material which dissipates an electric charge upon receiving incident radiation thereon, and a chemically functional layer (9), such that electrostatic charge patterns may be formed in a predetermined manner upon the substrate to influence the movement of charged droplets in an emulsion (15) on the substrate. The chemically functional layer either provides a surface for chemical functionalization of the substrate or prevents access or reaction to the dielectric or photoconductive layer.
US08609175B2
The present invention is related to a method for reducing the saturated fatty acid content of milk fat. The milk fat is subjected to fractional crystallization to recover an olein fraction. Then the olein fraction is subjected to short path distillation to obtain a residual milk fat fraction that has not been evaporated and has a reduced saturated fatty acid content.
US08609169B2
Methods of preserving fresh produce with a produce preservative, particularly cut fresh produce, are provided. The method comprises: providing a solution of produce preservative comprising: water; a preservative cation which is selected from the group consisting of a strontium ion, lithium ion, barium ion, aluminum ion, copper ion, ammonium ion, iron ion, manganese ion, potassium ion, or mixtures thereof; and ascorbate ions, or erythorbate ions; wherein the ascorbate ions or erythorbate ions and the preservative cation are present in an ion ratio of preferably from 0.2:1 to 8:1, more preferably 0.75:1 to 8:1, even more preferably from 1:1 to 4:1, yet more preferably 1.5:1 to 3:1; most preferably 1.1:1 to 2.5:1; and, applying said produce preservative to the produce. The invention also relates to fresh produce preserved with the produce preservatives.
US08609168B2
The invention relates to a food cooking control method and device. The method includes the following steps in which: at least one temperature detection device is inserted into a food; a final equilibrium temperature is defined; the detection device is positioned inside the food in a pre-determined detection zone so that a temperature (TC) can be obtained at all times during cooking; the TC temperature data obtained are processed using the detection device; the temperature of the surface through which the food receives heat (TP) is determined and processed and the variation in temperature TC is evaluated at least to the first derivative. The device includes a detection device intended to be inserted into the food, a device for determining the thickness of the food and a device for inserting the detection device into the food to a pre-determined depth.
US08609162B2
The present invention is an ingestable blended formulation which will cause a series of distinct biochemical changes in-vivo; initiate desirable psychological consequences in that person; and induce an observable increase in cognitive functions for that living human subject. In particular, the initiated psychological events will generate a positive change in one's personal perceptions, evoke optimism as the subjective state of mind, and elicit a more sociable attitude and favorable mood as the observable behavior of the affected human person. Moreover, in addition to the initiation of a more positive state of mind, another major result and effect of ingesting the blended formulation is an observable amplification of human brain functions and a substantive increase of human concentration, focus and memory.
US08609160B2
A method of treating a patient infected with a lipid encapsulated virus by administering to the patient about 1000 mg to about 5000 mg per day of a nutritional supplement having from about 40 to about 80 wt. % L-lysine, from about 20 to about 50 wt. % butylated hydroxytoluene and from about 1 to about 10 wt. % Echinacea. Administration of the nutritional supplement inhibits ulcer formation resulting from lipid encapsulated virus infections such as herpes simplex I and II infections.
US08609145B2
A water-dispersible particle is provided that includes struvite in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.9% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle. A binder component is present in an amount from 1% to 95% by weight. The struvite and the binder component on that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces. A process for making a water-dispersible particle includes mechanical aggregation of a struvite into a pellet. A binder component is present in the particle in an amount ranging from 1% to 95% by weight. The struvite and the binder component are present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces. The particle is then dried and ready to be applied.
US08609134B2
Methods of transdermally delivering a therapeutic amount of an indole serotonin receptor agonist to an individual in need thereof, e.g., to provide a therapeutic level of an indole serotonin receptor agonist to an individual in need thereof, are provided. Also provided are transdermal formulations of indole serotonin receptor agonists that find use in practicing the subject methods.
US08609122B2
The present invention is directed to a stabilized bioactive hydrogel matrix coating for substrates, such as medical devices. The invention provides a coated substrate comprising a substrate having a surface, and a bioactive hydrogel matrix layer overlying the surface of the medical device, the hydrogel matrix comprising a first high molecular weight component and a second high molecular weight component, the first and second high molecular weight components each being selected from the group consisting of polyglycans and polypeptides, wherein at least one of the first and second high molecular weight components is immobilized (e.g., by covalent cross-linking) to the surface of the substrate.
US08609117B2
Cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) and the corresponding salts thereof: wherein: R1 is a radical chosen from —COOR′, —CONR′R″, —CH2OR′, —COR′, —CH2R′, —SO2OR′, —PO3R′R″ and —NHR′, wherein R′ and R″, which may be identical or different, are defined herein; —R2 is chosen from saturated and unsaturated, linear, branched and cyclic hydrocarbon radicals comprising from 1 to 18 carbon atoms which are optionally substituted by from 1 to 5 identical or different entities chosen from —OR′″, —OCOR′″, —SR′″, —SCOR′″, NR′″R″″, —NHCOR′″, halogen, —CN, —COOR′″ and —COR′″, wherein R′″ and R″″, which may be identical or different, are defined herein; as well as the use of these compounds, for example, to promote skin desquamation, to stimulate epidermal renewal and/or to combat the signs of skin ageing.
US08609116B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a solid emulsified cosmetic that stably contains a large amount of a high refractive index silicone oil; gives a lustrous finish; and has a skin irregularity-correcting effect. Thus, a solid emulsified cosmetic of the present invention is characterized by comprising: (A) 4 to 18% by mass of a high refractive index silicone oil with a refractive index of 1.45 or higher at 25° C., (B) a (dimethicone/phenyl vinyl dimethicone)crosspolymer, (C) a hydrophobic or hydrophobically-treated powder, and (D) a wax.
US08609111B2
Antibodies that specifically bind to toxins of C. difficile, antigen binding portions thereof, and methods of making and using the antibodies and antigen binding portions thereof are provided herein.
US08609099B2
The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reduceing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-17A and IL-17F. IL-17A and IL-17F are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. The present invention includes antibodies that bind both IL-17A and IL-17F, hybridomas that produce the antibodies, and methods of using the same in inflammation.
US08609096B2
The present invention provides and includes monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs or mAbs) specific or preferentially selective for PCBP-1 antigens, hybridoma lines that secrete these PCBP-1 antibodies or antibody fragments, and the use of such antibodies and antibody fragments to detect PCBP-1 antigens, particularly those expressed by cancer cells. The present invention also includes antibodies that are specific for or show preferential binding to a soluble form of PCBP-1. The present invention further includes chimeric and humanized antibodies, processes for producing monoclonal, chimeric, and humanized antibodies using recombinant DNA technology, and their therapeutic uses, particularly in the treatment of cancer. The present invention further includes methods and kits for the immunodetection and immunotherapy of cells for samples which express PCBP-1 antigens.
US08609095B2
The present invention relates to novel therapeutic antibodies directed against HER2 (ErbB2), as well as recombinant polyclonal anti-HER2 antibody compositions comprising at least two of said recombinant anti-HER2 antibodies, and use of the antibodies and antibody compositions for treatment of cancer.
US08609094B2
The present application relates to compositions of humanized and humanized/deimmunized anti-endoglin antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof. One aspect relates to antibodies having one or more modifications in at least one amino acid residue of at least one of the framework regions of the variable heavy chain, the variable light chain or both. Another aspect relates to antibodies which bind endoglin and inhibit angiogenesis. Another aspect relates to the deimmunization of humanized antibodies to reduce immunogenicity. Another aspect relates to the use of humanized and humanized/deimmunized antibodies which bind endoglin for the detection, diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition associated with endoglin, angiogenesis or a combination thereof.
US08609093B2
This invention provides fully human monoclonal antibodies that recognize IL-17F and/or the heterodimeric IL-17A/IL-17F complex, but do not recognize IL-17A. The invention further provides methods of using such monoclonal antibodies as a therapeutic, diagnostic, and prophylactic.
US08609088B2
The invention provides a method to prevent, inhibit or treat one or more neurological symptoms associated with a lysosomal storage disease in a mammal in need thereof, which includes intranasally administering to the mammal a composition comprising an effective amount of a lysosomal storage enzyme or a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector comprising an open reading frame encoding a lysosomal storage enzyme. Also provided are compositions and devices useful in the methods.
US08609087B2
Compounds and methods for designing and identifying compounds which inhibit TFPP-like aspartyl protease enzymes by targeting the aspartic acid residues of the active site or mimicking peptides corresponding to the region surrounding the substrate's cleavage site are provided. Agents identified as inhibitors of TFPP-like aspartyl proteases such as type 4 prepilin peptidases are expected to be useful as anti-bacterial agents and in inhibiting development of drug resistant strains of bacteria.
US08609083B1
This invention relates to using bacterial metabolites to suppress phytopathogens, more particularly this invention relates to bacterial metabolites applied to Carya illinoensis and Prunus persica as a fungicide to suppress and inhibit Glomerella cingulata, Phomopsis sp., Phytophthora cactorum, Fusicladosporium effusum, and Monilinia fructicola.
US08609082B2
A method is provided including selecting a patient suffering from a condition, administering cells to the patient selected from the group consisting of: progenitor cells and genetically-modified cells, applying an electrical current to a site of the patient in a vicinity of nervous tissue, and configuring the current to stimulate the nervous tissue. Other embodiments are also described.
US08609075B2
A heparanase activity inhibitor comprising, as an active ingredient, a cyclic carboxamide derivative represented by formula (I): wherein n is an integer of 1 to 3, R1 is hydrogen or a C1-6 hydrocarbon group optionally substituted with hydroxyl, X is —CH2— or a group represented by —N(R2)—, and R2 is hydrogen or a C1-6 hydrocarbon group optionally substituted with hydroxyl, or a salt thereof.
US08609073B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for decreasing photosensitivity induced by photodynamic therapy (PDT). The compositions and methods of the present method employ porphyrin complexing molecules as agents for reducing photosensitivity.
US08609069B2
The present invention is directed to the use of rebaudioside C, or a stereoisomer thereof, for enhancing the sweet taste of carbohydrate sweeteners, such as sucrose and fructose. The present invention is also directed to consumables comprising a combination of a carbohydrate sweetener and rebaudioside C, or a stereoisomer thereof.
US08609061B2
A carbon nanotube array is provided. The carbon nanotube array includes at least two isotope-doped carbon nanotube sub-arrays. Each isotope-doped carbon nanotube sub-array includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes in different isotope-doped carbon nanotube sub-array are composed of different kinds of carbon isotopes. The present disclosure also provides a method for making the carbon nanotube arrays.
US08609059B2
To provide a production method for a nitride crystal, where a nitride crystal can be prevented from precipitating in a portion other than on a seed crystal and the production efficiency of a gallium nitride single crystal grown on the seed crystal can be enhanced. In a method for producing a nitride crystal by an ammonothermal method in a vessel containing a mineralizer-containing solution, out of the surfaces of said vessel and a member provided in said vessel, at least a part of the portion coming into contact with said solution is constituted by a metal or alloy containing one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W) and titanium (Ti), and has a surface roughness (Ra) of less than 1.80 μm.
US08609056B2
Iron(III) orthophosphate of the general formula FePO4×nH2O (n≦2.5), prepared by a process in which iron(II)-, iron(III)- or mixed iron(II, III) compounds selected from among hydroxides, oxides, oxidehydroxides, oxide hydrates, carbonates and hydroxidecarbonates are reacted with phosphoric acid having a concentration in the range from 5% to 50%, any iron(II) present after the reaction is converted into iron(III) by addition of an oxidant and solid iron(III) orthophosphate is separated off from the reaction mixture.
US08609051B2
Disclosed is a composition useful in the hydrolysis of sulfur compounds that are contained in a gas stream. The composition comprises alumina, a group VI metal component and a group VIII metal component. The composition has a pore structure such that a large percentage of its total pore volume is contained within the pores having a pore diameter greater than 10,000 angstroms.
US08609040B2
A system for automatically creating a denaturation curve is disclosed. In accordance with certain embodiments, a movement system including a unit having a plurality of cannulas is used. The cannulas are in fluid communication with a fluid system, which allows the cannulas to draw in and dispense fluid. A measurement system is included which draws fluid from a well into a detector to determine a characteristic of the fluid. A controller is used to control these systems and also to create a denaturation graph from the measured characteristics. In another embodiment, a plurality of formulations may be created using the system.
US08609026B2
Various systems, devices, NO2 absorbents, NO2 scavengers and NO2 recuperator for generating nitric oxide are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide can include a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.
US08608991B2
A porous material having controlled void dimensions and method of forming the same includes forming an aerogel precursor, the aerogel precursor including a matrix material and a liquid dispersion medium for dispersing the matrix material. A plurality of particles having preselected dimensions is dispersed in the aerogel precursor. The aerogel precursor with the particles dispersed therein is frozen so that the liquid dispersion is solidified. The aerogel precursor is freeze dried to sublime the dispersion medium and form the porous material.
US08608987B2
The disclosure relates to positive electrode material used for Li-ion batteries, a precursor and process used for preparing such materials, and Li-ion battery using such material in its positive electrode. The disclosure describes a higher density LiCoO2 positive electrode material for lithium secondary batteries, with a specific surface area (BET) below 0.2 m2/g, and a volumetric median particle size (d50) of more than 15 μm. This product has improved specific capacity and rate-capability. Other embodiments of the disclosure are an aggregated Co(OH)2, which is used as a precursor, the electrode mix and the battery manufactured using above-mentioned LiCoO2.
US08608969B2
A nanotube separation method includes depositing a tag on a nanotube in a nanotube mixture. The nanotube has a defect and the tag deposits at the defect where a deposition rate is greater than on another nanotube in the mixture lacking the defect. The method includes removing the tagged nanotube from the mixture by using the tag. As one option, the tag may contain a ferromagnetic material and the removing may include applying a magnetic field. As another option, the tag may contain an ionic material and the removing may include applying an electric field. As a further option, the tag may contain an atom having an atomic mass greater than the atomic mass of carbon and the removing may include applying a centrifugal force to the nanotube mixture. Any two or more of the indicated removal techniques may be combined.
US08608966B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for dewatering mixture of ethanol and water. The method comprises steps for feeding mixture of ethanol and water (1) into an evaporator (2), evaporating said mixture of ethanol and water (1) and feeding a stream of vaporized mixture of ethanol and water (3) to a vapor recompression unit (4), pressurizing vaporized mixture of ethanol and water (3) in the vapor recompression unit (4) and feeding a stream of pressurized vaporized mixture of ethanol and water (5) to a membrane unit (6), and dividing said stream of pressurized mixture of ethanol and water (5) in to a stream of mixture of ethanol and water (8) and into a stream of dewatered mixture of ethanol and water (7).
US08608964B2
A spiral reverse osmosis membrane element that improves impregnation property of a sealing resin at edges of a membrane leaf and can effectively prevent micro-leaks. The spiral reverse osmosis membrane element comprises a cylindrically wound body comprising a perforated core tube and, spirally wound therearound, a separation membrane, a feed-side passage material and a permeation-side passage material in a laminated state, and a sealing portion for preventing a feed-side liquid and a permeation-side liquid from being mixed together, wherein the separation membrane facing the permeation-side passage material has a structure that a porous support and a skin layer are successively laminated on a non-woven fabric layer, and the sealing portion sealed with a sealing resin is provided at the edges of the separation membrane, wherein the separation membrane is impregnated with the sealing resin at least up to the vicinity of the skin layer through the porous support.
US08608963B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a twin tank water treatment system and method. The water treatment system includes first tank with a first set of sensors and a first resin bed, a second tank with a second set of sensors and a second resin bed, and a valve assembly with a flow meter and a controller in communication with the first set of sensors, the second set of sensors, and the flow meter. The method includes determining when the resin beds are exhausted based on input from the flow meter, the sensors, and a water hardness setting.
US08608957B2
An oil container has a container housing receiving an oil filter and fittings for an oil inlet, an oil outlet, for filling the oil container, and for an opening that can be closed by a cover for temporarily removing or replacing the oil filter, as well as, an air outlet opening. The container housing is divided into at least two chambers by a partition, each chamber including an oil filter. Each chamber has an oil inlet fitting, an oil outlet fitting, and an opening that can be closed by a cover for filling with oil and/or for removing the oil filter. The partition includes an oil overflow opening located above a minimum oil filling level height relative to a rest state determined for the individual oil circuits. A leak occurring in one of the oil circuits does then not affect the operational reliability of the other oil circuit(s).
US08608954B2
Liquid tank comprising: a first or storage volume for storing the liquid, bounded at least in part by a wall; a second or venting volume for venting the tank, bounded at least in part by the same wall; means of communication between the storage and venting volumes, situated in the top of these volumes; at least one orifice situated in the top of the venting volume, normally placing the venting volume in communication with a venting circuit; and means capable of closing off the means of communication, when the liquid in the venting volume reaches a predetermined level.
US08608951B2
A process for removing a metal from a crude oil includes contacting the crude oil containing the metal with a crude-immiscible ionic liquid to produce a crude oil and crude-immiscible ionic liquid mixture, and separating the mixture to produce a crude oil effluent having a reduced metal content relative to the crude oil feed. Optionally, a de-emulsifier is added to at least one of the contacting and separating steps.
US08608947B2
A process is provided to produce an ultra low sulfur diesel using a two stage hydrotreating reaction zone. The first stage hydrotreater may operate with a continuous liquid phase.
US08608936B2
A device for producing hydrogen in an electric field includes a shaft rotationally coupled via bearings to a vacuum protection housing, which encloses a disc like structure fastened to the shaft that supplies a split medium provided through inlet channels situated at one longitudinal end of the shaft to split cells arranged at a periphery of the disc like structure. Each split cell includes first and second electrodes. To the vacuum protection housing are fastened diffusor-spirals where a produced gas and a material residue from the split cells are provided through a plurality of nozzles, each of which is arranged inside one of the diffusor-spirals with minimal clearance between an outer wall of the nozzle and an inner wall of the associated diffusor-spiral. A rotation of the disk like structure is supported by a gas pressure generated by the produced gas emitted from the nozzles.
US08608929B2
Particles of interest, such as DNA molecules, are injected into a medium by applying a first field. Once in the medium the particles are concentrated by applying one or more fields that cause mobilities of the particles in the medium to vary in a manner that is correlated with motions of the particles. Particle injection and particle concentration may be performed concurrently or in alternation.
US08608908B2
A method for inhibiting deposition of multivalent saturated fatty acids on paper sizing equipment and/or devices which use a paper surface sizing composition containing higher starch solids levels of surface sizing starches and a source of multivalent cations, such as a multivalent metal drying salt, by including (wholly or partially) one or more low fatty acid surface sizing starches in the paper surface sizing composition. Also, a paper surface sizing system for carrying out this method.
US08608900B2
A plasma reactor having a reactor chamber and an electrostatic chuck with a surface for holding a workpiece inside the chamber includes a backside gas pressure source coupled to the electrostatic chuck for applying a thermally conductive gas under a selected pressure into a workpiece-surface interface formed whenever a workpiece is held on the surface and an evaporator inside the electrostatic chuck and a refrigeration loop having an expansion valve for controlling flow of coolant through the evaporator. The reactor further includes a temperature sensor in the electrostatic chuck and a memory storing a schedule of changes in RF power or wafer temperature. The reactor further includes a thermal model capable of simulating heat transfer between the evaporator and the surface based upon measurements from the temperature sensor, and a control processor coupled to the thermal model and to the memory and governing the backside gas pressure source in response to a prediction from the model of a change in the selected pressure that would compensate for the next scheduled change in RF power or implement the next scheduled change in wafer temperature.
US08608899B2
A heat-curing epoxy resin composition that includes an epoxy resin, a curing agent, an accelerator, and an optional toughener. The epoxy resin compositions are suitable in particular for use as bodyshell adhesives and for preparation of structural foams. An accelerator of formula (I) results in increased impact strength the of heat-curing epoxy resin compositions.
US08608895B2
In manufacturing an easy-open container (1), a flange (25) of a container body (2) and a lid (3) are heat-sealed, where a circular sealing board (7) having a curved surface on an inner circumferential edge and an inclined surface on an outer circumferential edge side is pressed onto an upper side of the flange (25) to form a swelling gathered resin part (6) formed of respective resin components of a surface layer (21) of the container body (2), a subsurface layer (22) adjacent to the surface layer (21) and a seal layer (31) of the lid (3), while heat-sealing the surface layer (21) of the container body (2) and the seal layer (31) of the lid (3). With the arrangement, the easy-open container (1) having both a high sealing performance and an easy-open performance can be provided with low cost.
US08608892B2
A method of making a color display device and color display device are provided for the display of metallic or special effect pigmented paint using commercially available or the manufacturer's paint. In the method provided herein, the metallic or special effect pigmented paint is sprayed onto a web behind a knife or onto a first roller which is a part of a roller roller coater.
US08608890B2
A method and support apparatus for providing structural support to a mold or mandrel, such as a shape memory polymer (SMP) apparatus configured for shaping a composite part. The support apparatus may comprise a rigid structural member and a plurality of SMP cells attached thereto and configured to inflate or deploy in a malleable state toward and against a surface of the SMP apparatus, mold, or mandrel. Then the SMP cells may be returned to a rigid state while still pressed against this surface, thereby providing structural support when composite material is applied to an opposite surface of the SMP apparatus, mold, or mandrel. After the composite material is cured into the finished composite part, the SMP cells may be deflated or otherwise collapse toward the structural member to provide enough clearance to be removed from the cured composite part.
US08608886B2
A method for connecting a first component to a second component, the method including: applying a fastening dome composed of material in a viscous state to the first component, hardening the fastening dome on the first component, and then inserting a connecting element through the first component, second component, and at least partially through the fastening dome.
US08608884B2
A mounting plate utilized to attach an object to a mounting system. The mounting plate includes a base having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the base is bonded to a membrane of the mounting system. A housing is raised from the top surface of the base, the housing creates a contact surface area to support the object. A first member is raised from the top surface; the first member has a surface at a height flush with the contact surface area of the housing. A hole extends through the thickness of the housing.
US08608881B2
A breast prosthesis is formed by providing a core of low density foam, shaping the core in the general form of a breast, and applying an outer layer of resilient skin to an outer side of the core to substantially resemble a breast. The inner side of the core opposite the outer side is shaped for mating engagement with a user. A plurality of interchangeable covers of flexible material are each arranged to releasably span the inner side of the core. Typically, coloring is provided on the outer side to resemble an areola of the breast and a protrusion arranged to resemble a nipple of the breast is releasably adhered to the outer side at various positions relative to the areola.
US08608871B2
There is provided a high-strength steel tube having excellent chemical conversion treatability and excellent formability and a method for manufacturing the high-strength steel tube. More specifically, in processing a mother steel sheet containing, on the basis of mass percent, 0.05% or more C, more than 0.7% Si, and 0.8% or more Mn into a pipe shape, the sum total of absolute circumferential surface strains each applied in individual process steps of the processing is 5% or more as nominal strain. A welded steel tube thus manufactured using a steel sheet even containing more than 0.7% Si can have excellent chemical conversion treatability without mechanical grinding or chemical pickling treatment.
US08608866B2
Embodiments of the present invention are related to a detergent dispenser configured to attach to an interior surface of a dishwasher door. The detergent dispenser may comprise a reservoir configured to hold detergent, wherein a portion of the upper wall of the reservoir has been removed to reduce a cross-sectional length thereof such that water flowing down the dishwasher door is encouraged into the reservoir. The detergent dispenser may also comprise a dispenser door comprising a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the dispenser door is configured to cover the reservoir in the closed configuration. The detergent dispenser may be configured to encourage water flowing down the interior surface of the dishwasher door to enter the reservoir when the dispenser door is in the open or closed configuration.
US08608864B2
A substrate treating method for treating substrates with a treating liquid includes a deionized water cleaning step for supplying deionized water from an injection pipe and cleaning the substrates inside a cleaning tank with deionized water, then a replacing step for injecting a solvent from a solvent injector and replacing the deionized water with the solvent, a separating and removing step for switching a channel to a branch pipe and causing a separator to remove the deionized water from the treating liquid, and an adsorbing and removing step for switching the channel to another branch pipe and causing a deionized water remover to adsorb and remove the deionized water from the treating liquid.
US08608862B2
A method for cleaning a gassing manifold includes providing a gassing module and a complementary clean in place module for coupling to the gassing module. Cleaning solution is pumped from the clean in place module to the gassing module above a minimum flow rate and velocity for effective cleaning.
US08608850B1
Diamond thin films were deposited on copper substrate by the Vapor Solid (VS) deposition method using a mixture of fullerene C60 and graphite as the source material. The deposition took place only when the substrate was kept in a narrow temperature range of approximately 550-650° C. Temperatures below and above this range results in the deposition of fullerenes and other carbon compounds, respectively.
US08608837B2
The use of solutions of ethylenically unsaturated polyesters for production of carbon membranes suitable for gas separation, and a process for producing carbon membranes suitable for gas separation, comprising the steps of a) coating a porous substrate with a solution of ethylenically unsaturated polyester, b) drying the polyester coating on the porous substrate by removing the solvent, and c) pyrolyzing the polyester coating on the porous substrate to form the carbon membrane suitable for gas separation, it being possible to conduct any of steps a) to c) or the sequence of steps a) to c) more than once.
US08608821B2
The invention provides a method for the combined production of (i) a fertilizer selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphates or a combination thereof, (ii) a concentrated stream of CO2 through an indirect neutralization of ammonia with an acid selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, phosphoric acid, a salt thereof and a combination thereof; said method comprising: (I) reacting a carbonate product with a reagent selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, phosphoric acid, a salt thereof, and a mixture thereof to form CO2, and a fertilizer containing an ammonia component; and (II) separating at least a portion of said carbon dioxide from said fertilizer in a condensed and relatively concentrated stream.
US08608820B2
A filter for filtering particulate matter (PM) from exhaust gas emitted from a compression ignition engine, which filter comprising a porous substrate having inlet surfaces and outlet surfaces, wherein the inlet surfaces are separated from the outlet surfaces by a porous structure containing pores of a first mean pore size, wherein the porous substrate is coated with a wash coat comprising a plurality of solid particles comprising a molecular sieve promoted with at least one metal wherein the porous structure of the wash coated porous substrate contains pores of a second mean pore size, and wherein the second mean pore size is less than the first mean pore size.
US08608813B2
Disclosed are eco-friendly and low-price solid fuel, which is naturally dried, and a method of manufacturing the same. Disposable diapers or disposable sanitary pads, which are failed during the manufacturing process, are used to produce industrial alternative fuel having a low price through a predetermined process, so solid fuel having no pollution problem in combustion is provided. The solid fuel is mainly made of synthetic resin-pulp scrap including synthetic resin integrated with pulp like the disposable diapers or the disposable sanitary pads. The method includes introducing a scrap, such as the wasted disposable diaper or the wasted disposable sanitary pad, including synthetic resin integrated with pulp into a crusher to break the scrap into fragments, adding a slight amount of waste cooking oil serving as a binding agent to the fragments, performing an extrusion-molding with respect to the fragments, cutting the extrusion-molded fragments to make pallets, and then drying pallets.
US08608809B2
An oxidative dyeing composition comprises at least one oxidative dye precursor comprising further at least two structurally different reducing agents wherein the first is selected from inorganic reducing agents and present at a concentration of at least 0.1% by weight calculated to the total composition, and the second is an organic reducing agent and/or its salts selected from thioglycolic acid, acetylcysteine and cysteine, and their salts, wherein the composition is substantially free of ascorbic acid and/or its salts.
US08608804B2
A system and method for spinal fusion comprising a spinal fusion implant of non-bone construction releasably coupled to an insertion instrument dimensioned to introduce the spinal fusion implant into any of a variety of spinal target sites.
US08608802B2
Devices and associated methods are disclosed for treating bone, and particularly bone tissue at the joints. Disclosed are implantable devices that can be used either alone or in combination with this augmentation or hardening material for the repair of bone defects and which are particularly suited for use at the joints, and even more particularly, suited for use at the subchondral bone level.
US08608794B2
A stent comprises a generally cylindrical band having a pattern of alternating first and second struts, the first struts being wider than the second struts, the first and second struts being of substantially the same length.
US08608783B2
Aspects of the present disclosure include a bone plate and/or a bone plate system. The bone plate includes an elongate body, which elongate body includes a top and a bottom surface as well as a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an intercalating portion disposed between the distal and proximal portions. The elongate body also includes a flange member, which flange member is configured for contacting a bone portion, e.g., a fractured bone portion, so as to aid in the stabilization and correct anatomical reduction thereof.
US08608779B2
Prostheses and methods for repair of a cervical fact joint. The articulating surfaces of the natural facets of the facet joint are removed only a sufficient amount to allow the insertion of flat or slightly curvilinear portions of protheses therebetween in an overlapping relationship. The portions are so inserted and the prostheses mounted by attachment to adjacent vertebrae. Also, a single natural facet may be similarly repaired with a single prosthesis.
US08608778B2
An intervertebral stabilization system for at least three vertebraecomprising pedicle screws attachable to the vertebrae; at least one rod for the connection of at least two pedicle screws to form a rigid stiffening system; and at least one band which is capable of being pre-stressed in tension and which is surrounded in the implanted state of the stabilization system by at least one compressible pressure member arranged between two adjacent pedicle screws for the connection of the pedicle screws to form an elastic support system, wherein a common pedicle screw is associated both with the stiffening system and with the support system and the band is can be connected or is connected to the rod by means of a band attachment.
US08608763B1
A device and method for minimally invasive tendon sheath release. The device and method that enables a surgeon to cut (“open”) a pulley that is obstructing a nodule and keeping a tendon from sliding smoothly. A ball tipped guide probe goes through a small incision and is used to find the edge of the pulley. Once found, the probe is guided to an end of the pulley. After proper position is assured, a cutting blade is deployed by pushing and holding a blade deployment switch. This deploys the sharp end of a retractable cutting shaft beyond the sheath. The entire device is then pushed or pulled using the device handle along the pulley until the pulley is completely released or where resistance is no longer felt. In an alternate embodiment, the cutting blade is static.
US08608746B2
Instruments and methods are provided for manipulating a bone anchor and a spinal fixation element. The instruments and methods disclosed herein are particularly suited to facilitate rotation of a bone anchor relative to another bone to correct the angular rotation of the vertebrae attached to the bone anchor. The instrument does not require the spinal fixation element to be inserted into the bone anchor prior to manipulation. The instrument further may be used in the insertion of the spinal fixation element into the bone anchor.
US08608745B2
A bone saw tool includes a bone saw and a bone saw blade assembly. The bone saw blade assembly includes a bone saw blade and a bone saw blade guard. The bone saw blade guard is movable to an extended position to reduce the cutting effectiveness of the bone saw blade and/or the maximum cutting depth of the bone saw blade. The bone saw may be configured to activate the bone saw blade guard in response to a signal received from a computer system when the bone saw is moved outside a predetermined cutting region.
US08608737B2
The invention provides a system and method for percutaneous energy delivery in an effective, manner using one or more probes. Additional variations of the system include array of probes configured to minimize the energy required to produce the desired effect.
US08608733B2
An electrosurgical generator is disclosed, which includes a closed loop control system having a sensor system configured to sense tissue and/or energy properties at a tissue site and to generate a sensor signal representative of the tissue and/or energy properties. The control system includes a controller configured to select an electrosurgical operational mode from a plurality of electrosurgical operational modes in response to the sensor signal. A radio frequency arbitrary source is also included which generates a radio frequency input signal corresponding to the selected electrosurgical operational mode and a radio frequency output stage configured to generate a treatment signal corresponding to the electrosurgical operational mode. The system includes a predictive signal processor configured to adjust the radio frequency output stage in response to the radio frequency input signal, such that the radio frequency output stage alters the treatment signal in real time based on the selected electrosurgical operational mode.
US08608728B2
A connector and method of connecting are described for connecting a first and second catheter at an overlap area where the first catheter fits within the second catheter. The connector includes a collar that surrounds a portion of the overlap area and a clamp that applies a radially inward force to the collar and encircles a portion of the overlap area.
US08608725B2
Embodiments are directed to eluting coils having a relaxed coiled state and a straightened state that may be deployed at a fixed location within a patient's body and may accurately dispense and distribute fluids and or dissolvable substances at site specific locations of the body. Some embodiments of eluting elements are configured to be subsequently retrieved from a delivery site.
US08608721B2
Methods and systems including an engageable material with a lane of plastic resin extending across an interface of first and second ends of an article, wherein the plastic resin is bonded to the first and second ends such that the first and second ends are joined by the resin; and an array of fastener elements extending from one side of the plastic resin. The fastener elements include engageable heads on stems integrally formed with the lane of the plastic resin such that the two ends releasably engage the engageable material to secure the article.
US08608720B2
A disposable absorbent article having a front end edge and a back end edge, wherein the front end edge is formed by a non-linear cut with an umbilical notch, and wherein the front end edge and the back end edge are complementary in shape.
US08608715B2
One aspect of the invention is a method to vent gas from a body cavity during an endoscopic procedure. A body cavity is in fluid communication with an exhaust gas inlet of a vacuum break device. The vacuum break device has a chamber in fluid communication with both the inlet and an outlet. The chamber may comprise one or more openings in fluid communication with the atmosphere. A conduit in fluid communication with the exhaust gas outlet may be connected directly or indirectly to a suction source. The suction source may be activated.
US08608714B2
The invention provides a surgical vacuum device including a vacuum cup sized for attachment to and manipulation of a target tissue. The device further includes a vacuum hose for applying a vacuum to the interior of the cup, and structure for applying a tensioning force to the cup once it has been placed and a vacuum applied. The vacuum device may be utilized with minimal or no trauma to the target tissue or surrounding tissues.
US08608713B2
An access port for providing subcutaneous access to a patient, and a method of identifying a subcutaneously implanted access port. The access port includes a body capturing a septum that covers a cavity defined by the body, and a pattern of protrusions extending from an outer surface of the septum away from the cavity, the pattern of protrusions detectable through palpation to identify the access port as a power-injectable port.
US08608708B2
An injector apparatus includes a housing (101, 102) for a cartridge or syringe, a plunger (40) for cooperating in use with the cartridge or syringe to express successive doses, a dose setting arrangement (16, 20) to select a dose volume, and a drive mechanism (22, 24) releasable to advance the plunger in respective predetermined increments of magnitude to express the successive doses. The drive mechanism includes a drive spring (22) for imparting movement directly or indirectly to the plunger (40), and the dose setting arrangement includes a dose setting element (16) moveable in a dose setting routine to define a magnitude of an increment of movement of the plunger for a given dose. The drive mechanism further includes a clutch arrangement (56) operable during the dose setting routine to inhibit forward movement of the plunger and/or to isolate the dose setting element from the force of the drive spring.
US08608697B2
A method and apparatus are provided for a fluid level insertion indicator that provides immediate feedback to a surgeon by draining when a tip of a needle has entered a body lumen, such as peritoneal cavity. An apparatus includes a handle connected to a hollow needle and a hollow stylet that extends through the hollow needle and has a blunt distal end that includes an opening for passing fluid. A spring biases the stylet to extend past the sharp distal end of the needle absent resistance by tissue against the stylet. An at least partially translucent pressure chamber configured to hold a quantity of fluid under pressure is connected to the proximal end of the stylet. The pressure chamber and stylet form a conduit for passing fluid through the opening in the blunt distal end when the stylet extends past the sharp distal end of the hollow needle.
US08608694B2
The present invention relates to a new self-locking self-destroying safety syringe, which comprises a hollow barrel, a push rod sliding within the barrel, a rubber plug in front of the push rod, and a needle seat in front of the barrel. The push rod is provided with a round platform, which is provided with an elastic ratchet that slantingly extends toward the inner wall of the barrel. The barrel is provided at the end with an increasing-diameter portion. At the transient position between the normal-diameter portion and the increasing-diameter portion of the barrel is located a slanting step, below which is a groove where the elastic ratchet can be catched when the push rod is drawn backward. The increasing-diameter portion of the barrel is provided inside with a circlip that can press against the bottom of the round platform. For a syringe with the above-mentioned structure, the push rod can be locked after injection in the following way: The push rod is provided with the elastic ratchet that extends to the inner wall of the barrel; the elastic ratchet gets stuck into the groove when the push rod is drawn backward; the slanting step above the elastic ratchet prevents the push rod from moving forward, while the circlip below the elastic ratchet presses against the bottom of the round platform of the push rod so as to prevent the push rod from moving backward; and under the action of the groove, the elastic ratchet cannot move radially either.
US08608691B2
An angioplasty procedure wherein a balloon dilatation catheter is movably positioned within an anchoring catheter and which in turn is located within a guiding catheter or wherein a balloon dilatation catheter is movably positioned within a guiding catheter and the anchoring catheter in turn is positioned on the external surface of the guiding catheter, or wherein a balloon dilatation catheter is movably positioned within a catheter which serves both as a guiding catheter and anchoring catheter. Additionally, valve elements are attached to the guiding and anchoring catheters to provide points of securement between the catheters and the balloon dilatation catheter and to prevent the backflow of blood through the catheter assembly. Actuation of the valve elements allows a doctor to control the movement of the catheters.
US08608684B2
The invention provides a jet expelling assembly comprising a reservoir and an impulse chamber assembly. The impulse chamber assembly comprises a chamber portion defining a cavity having a general axis, a piston received in the cavity along the general axis and comprising a fluid inlet, thereby defining a variable-volume impulse chamber with an outlet nozzle. The inlet comprises a conduit adapted to slidably engage a reservoir outlet during relative movement therebetween. The chamber portion is arranged stationary relative to the reservoir, whereby expelling an amount of drug from the reservoir to the impulse chamber via the inlet causes the piston to move towards the reservoir, the impulse chamber thereby receiving the expelled amount of drug.
US08608671B2
A gait change determination device includes a main body unit, an accelerometer that detects an acceleration of the main body unit, and a control unit, and determines a change in the gait of a user that wears the main body unit on a predetermined area. The control unit specifies a trajectory of a predetermined area on which the main body unit is worn during walking based on accelerations detected by the accelerometer, calculates the temporal change amount of the specified trajectory, and determines the degree of change, which is the degree of the temporal change, based on the calculated temporal change. The degree of change in the gait can be more accurately determined.
US08608666B2
A surgical instrument includes a movable member having a proximal portion, the movable member defining an opening at the proximal portion. The instrument includes a stationary member defining an aperture. The stationary member is arranged relative to the movable member with a close fit between the stationary member and the movable member such that aspiration occurs through the movable member substantially only during a portion of a repetitive motion of the movable member. The instrument includes a surgical handpiece coupled to the movable member and the stationary member to provide suction and motion to the movable member. A method of regulating aspiration through a surgical instrument includes providing a close fit between a moving member having an opening at a proximal portion and a stationary member having an aperture such that aspiration occurs through the moving member substantially only during a portion of a repetitive motion of the movable member. The moving member and the stationary member are coupled to a surgical handpiece to provide suction and motion to the moving member.
US08608664B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a microelectrode capable of recording action potentials of nerve cellsneurons as large-amplitude waveforms and being appropriate for multi-channeling. The electrode 1 of the present invention comprises a conductive linear core material 2, an insulating coating layer 3a with which the outer circumference of the linear core material is coated, and an extending part 3b formed by extending the end part of the coating layer on one tip side of the linear core material beyond the tip in the longitudinal direction of the linear core material, in which a cavity that opens in the extending direction is formed within the extending part.
US08608661B1
A method including positioning a delivery device at a location in a blood vessel; advancing the delivery device a distance into a wall of the blood vessel to a treatment site beyond an external elastic lamina of the blood vessel; and after advancing the delivery device, introducing a treatment agent including a cellular component through the delivery device. A composition including a treatment agent comprising a cellular component associated with a matrix material, wherein the composition is suitable for percutaneous delivery. Also an apparatus suitable for delivering a treatment agent. Also, a kit including a treatment agent.
US08608660B2
A method of tracing the likely contour of an anatomical element in a sectional image of an anatomical site, the image being composed of pixels having different intensities, the method including the steps of: a) forming columns of pixels passing through the anatomical element; b) assigning each pixel a pixel score representing the probability of the pixel being situated on the contour of the anatomical element; c) constituting a matrix of pixel scores from a plurality of columns of pixels and defining numerous continuous paths of pixels, each passing through a single pixel of each column; d) assigning each continuous path a path score that is a function of the scores of the pixels constituting the continuous path; e) selecting from a set of continuous paths the path that has the best path score, that path representing the likely contour of the anatomical element.
US08608659B2
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe (2) for receiving and transmitting ultrasonic waves from/to an object (1), ultrasound image structuring means (6) for generating an ultrasound image from a reflected echo signal received by the ultrasonic probe, elastic image structuring means (7) for obtaining a physical quantity of the elasticity of a region of the object corresponding to the ultrasound image from the reflected echo signal and generating a color elastic image, display means (9) for overlaying the ultrasound image to the color elastic image, or arranging the ultrasound image and the color elastic input means (17) for variably setting a corresponding relationship between a hue of the color elastic image and the level of the physical quantity displayed on the screen. The level of the elasticity, such as the strain of each region in the tissue or an elastic modulus, is displayed with colors in accordance with the interest of the examiner, thus improving the convenience of use.
US08608655B2
A sleep evaluation device 1 is provided with a respiration detection unit 7 that detects changes in respiration and outputs respiration signals. CPU 6 generates six primary parameters indicating sleep states based on the respiration signals and four secondary parameters based on the primary parameters. The secondary parameters are linearly independent of one another. Evaluation unit 20 computes a sleep score indicating the degree of the quality of sleep by multiplying each of the four secondary parameters by second coefficients and totalizing results of the multiplications. Results of the evaluations are displayed on display unit 4.
US08608654B2
A method performed by a data processing system of registering patient-related data, the method including receiving, from a registration device, a set of identification data items and one or more identification time stamps, wherein each identification time stamp is associated with at least one of the identification data items, and the set of identification data items comprises a device identification data item identifying an electronic device and a patient identification data item identifying a patient; receiving, from the electronic device, patient-related data to be registered and an acquisition time stamp indicative of an acquisition time at which the patient-related data has been acquired; and associating the received patient-related data with an identified patient based on at least the received device identification data item, the received patient identification data item, the received one or more identification time stamps and the received acquisition time stamp.
US08608651B2
A retractor has a proximal portion comprising a first side portion having a first longitudinal edge and a second side portion having a second longitudinal edge. The first and second portions being movable relative to each other such that the first and second longitudinal edges can be positioned in close proximity to each or spaced apart by a selected distance. A distal portion has an outer surface and an inner surface partially defining a passage. The distal portion is capable of having a configuration when inserted within the patient wherein the cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of the passage at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location.
US08608645B2
A stereo-endoscope is provided having a hollow shank with two axially parallel optical channels, which channels run through the hollow shank and respectively form at least a section of an image path to respective oculars of a binocular observation device arranged on the proximal end of the hollow shank. Moreover, the stereo-endoscope includes a camera connection, and one of the optical channels also forms at least one section of an image path to the camera connection.
US08608643B2
An implantable device for anatomical support includes a sling, a first interconnecting member that is coupled to the sling, and a second interconnecting member that is coupled to the sling. An adjustable anchor is slidably coupled to the first interconnecting member to permit bidirectional movement along the first interconnecting member, and configured to exert a compressive force generating frictional interference between the adjustable anchor and the first interconnecting member, to inhibit the bi-directional movement of the adjustable anchor along the first interconnecting member unless sufficient force is applied to overcome the frictional interference. Also, a fixed anchor is fixedly coupled to the second interconnecting member.
US08608639B2
An intravaginal device has a working portion (e.g., intravaginal urinary incontinence device suppository, tampon) and an anchoring portion comprising at least one member extending beyond at least one end of the working portion to maintain the working portion in place during use.
US08608632B1
Methods and devices for minimally-invasive delivery of radiation to the posterior portion of the eye including a cannula comprising a distal portion connected to a proximal portion and a means for advancing a radionuclide brachytherapy source (RBS) toward the tip of the distal portion; a method of introducing radiation to the human eye comprising inserting a cannula between the Tenon's capsule and the sclera of the human eye and emitting the radiation from the cannula on an outer surface of said sclera.
US08608630B2
An elastic rope-type abdominal exerciser includes a main body, a retractable rod, and a lower cover. The main body includes a bottom board having an insertion hole, an inner pipe at a central portion thereof for the retractable rod to slide thereon, an elastic strip which is transversely connected to two sides of the bottom board, and a pair of sliding axles which are located close to two sides of the inner pipe and above the elastic strip. The retractable rod includes a hook pipe at a front end thereof. The hook pipe has a hook board on an outer wall thereof. The hook pipe is positioned by a screw. The lower cover is coupled to the main body. The lower cover has a slot corresponding in position to the center of the elastic strip. The present invention is simple in configuration and convenient for assembly.
US08608628B2
An exercise weight includes a weight member, a handle member spaced apart from and substantially surrounding the weight member, and at least one attachment member joining the weight member to the handle member so that the weight member is located inside the handle member. The exercise weight has a relatively narrow profile, or width, to avoid contact with the body during exercise.
US08608622B2
One embodiment of the present invention includes a system and method for alleviating symptoms of a medical disorder of a patient by forced exercise. The system includes an exercise machine having movable portions that move in response to a first contribution by a patient and in response a second contribution by a motor. The system further includes at least one mechanical sensor and a control system programmed to alter the second contribution by the motor in response to the sensed data.
US08608621B2
There is provided an audio pacing device including a sensing unit, such as heart rate monitoring unit, to obtain a parameter, such as heart-beat rate (pulse), of a user in physical exercise, a memory to store a plurality of audio signals having predetermined tempo indications (e.g. beats per minute values); and a processing unit configured to (1) determine whether the intensity of the parameter of the user should be increased, decreased or maintained by using the parameter of the user from the heart rate monitor and a predetermined reference value, and (2) dynamically select and render an audio signal having (or adjusted to have) an audio-tempo that enables the user to accordingly increase, decrease or maintain exercise intensity, respectively.
US08608620B2
A control method of an assist pump for automatic transmission of a vehicle is provided with an ISG system. The control method includes executing idle stop and go, detecting present transmission gear shift and operating an assist hydraulic pump at a predetermined standard RPM according to detected present transmission gear shift. The control method may reduce electric power consumption and enhance battery durability and fuel efficiency.
US08608599B2
A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder located within the casing. The casing may include a plurality of panel elements joined to each other with welds, and portions of the panel elements that include the welds may project toward an interior of the ball. A method of manufacturing a sport ball may include providing a plurality of casing elements that include a thermoplastic polymer material. Edges of the casing elements are welded to each other to join the casing elements. The casing elements may then be turned inside-out through an aperture formed by at least one of the casing elements, and the aperture may be sealed.
US08608597B2
A blade for a hockey stick which can readily absorb impact from the puck, and can allow the user to feel the puck on the blade in contrast to conventional carbon fiber blades. The blade can include a blade member integrally formed of composite material having discontinuous fibers bonded within thermosetting resin. The blade member can have a blade periphery surrounding a central blade region. The central blade region can have a plurality of openings arranged in a pattern to form series of elongate criss crossing ribs that extend between and connect different sides of the blade periphery to each other. The fibers in the blade periphery can be in a generally jumbled orientation, and the fibers in the central blade region can be positioned within the ribs in a manner wherein each rib contains a plurality of fibers that substantially extend in said each rib's elongate direction.
US08608594B2
A first golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid-layer 6, and a cover 8. The core 4 includes a center 10 and an envelope layer 12. The mid-layer 6 includes a metal ion source (C) that can neutralize an ionomer resin. The mid-layer 6 has a melt flow rate (at 190° C. and 2.16 kg) of 4 g/10 minute or greater. The difference (H3-H1) between the JIS-C hardness H3 of the cover 8 and the JIS-C central hardness H1 of the center 10 is equal to or greater than 45. A second golf ball 22 includes a core 24, a mid-layer 28, and a cover 30. The mid-layer 28 has a melt flow rate (at 190° C. and 2.16 kg) of 4 g/10 minute or greater. Preferably, the mid-layer 28 includes a high melt viscosity resin (A), a low melt viscosity ionomer resin (B), and a metal ion source (C1).
US08608592B2
A golf club component, such as a golf club head and/or a golf club shaft, can comprise a golf club component substrate having an outer layer of titanium carbide, typically comprising at least forty percent (40%) carbon content. Alternatively, a golf club component can comprise a golf club component substrate, at least a portion of which is enveloped by a first coating layer of, for example, electroplated nickel, a second coating layer of, for example, electroplated chromium or palladium, and a third coating layer of titanium carbide applied by physical vapor deposition. The titanium carbide layer is durable and can provide the golf club component with a desired aesthetic appearance, such as a black color. Additionally, the golf club component can be coated with a fourth coating layer, such as a layer comprising a sealant or clear coat material.
US08608589B2
A golf club with a new innovative construction to attach a high density weight to an external surface of the sole of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to utilizing a thickened sole portion having a specific surface area to thickness ratio to provide adequate support for a high density weight having a significant amount of mass. The new innovative method of attachment also incorporates a unique mechanical lock to properly secure the high density weight to the club head, as materials used for high density weighting may not be easily weldable to the titanium material currently used for metalwood type golf club head. The present invention's mechanical lock mechanism utilizes a protruding extension stemming from an internal surface of the weight and an attachment socked located within an internal cavity of the golf club head to engage one another to help secure the weight to the golf club head.
US08608585B2
Golf club head or other ball striking device having a reinforced or localized stiffened face portion
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. A brace extends from an inner surface of the body or from a perimeter weight system to a contact point on the rear surface of the face. This brace may extend from the sole or a sole oriented perimeter weight member to the rear surface of the face. The brace applies force to the face (at least when the face is flexed by a threshold amount) such that the area of the face surrounding the contact point has less flexibility relative to other areas of the face located away from the contact point. The brace and club head may include structures that allow one to control and customize the force applied to the face.
US08608582B2
This Invention is provided with a pair of strut 120 vertically arranged by the base substrate, a pair of swing member 131, a motor 133, and an arm provided to a rotating shaft of the motor. A pair of swing member 131 is swingably connected to an upper part of the strut 120, a guidance shaft couples each one end neighborhood of the pair of struts. Also a motor 133 is attached to the upper part of the struts 120 similarly, the arm 134 provided to the motor 133 is connected to other end neighborhood of one of swing member 131 among the pair of swing members 131, And, if the rotating shaft of the motor rotates, the other end neighborhood connected with the arm 134 is eccentric rotated, causing swing of the pair of swing member 131.
US08608575B2
A container (100) is disclosed comprising a compartment (110); a controller (120) for controlling access to the compartment (110); a near-field communication device (130) for providing the controller (120) with identification information, said controller (120) being responsive to said identification information, wherein the near-field communication device (130) comprises a plurality of antennae (132), each of said antennae being accessible in a different surface area of the container (100). The container (100) may be used in games using near-field communication (NFC) technology, such as a NFC-based version of pass the parcel. An electronic game system (300) comprising such a container and a game controller (200) for use in such an electronic game system (100) are also disclosed.
US08608574B2
A gaming machine includes at least a cabinet, a hopper unit, an insertion slot to which a game medium is inserted, and a coin sensor that detects the game medium that has been inserted. The coin sensor is disposed directly below the insertion slot. Since the guidepath is not needed between the insertion slot and the coin sensor, such a configuration can prevent coins from blocking the guidepath.
US08608565B2
An operating device used in a game machine for playing a television game includes a main body and first and second finger-manipulatable operating units positioned symmetrically on the main body. The operating device may include first and second grips projecting at spaced positions from the main body, with the first and second operating units being positioned adjacent the first and second grips. The operating device may further include vibration-imparting units for imparting vibrations to the user's hands.
US08608561B2
When a game apparatus detects a double-touch in an area other than an area where an enemy character is displayed, the game apparatus causes a player character to perform a forward roll motion. On the other hand, when the game apparatus detects a touch operation onto the enemy character, a prohibition area is provided at a position of the enemy character. When the game apparatus detects a touch onto the prohibition area, even if the touch operation is the double-touch, the game apparatus prohibits the player character from performing the forward roll motion and causes the player character to attack the enemy character.
US08608558B2
According to some embodiments, a method, apparatus and computer readable medium are provided for facilitating play of a game utilizing an encoded player number and a decoding key for decoding the encoded player number.
US08608556B2
A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 in which at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize to a player. When a trigger condition occurs in a base game of the game 16, a bonus game feature is awarded comprising a series of bonus games. If a particular special symbol outcome occurs during any of the bonus games, the particular special symbol outcome is collected towards a jackpot prize awarding event.
US08608555B2
The invention generally relates to gaming machines and methods implemented with use of a gaming machine. A prize awarded on a gaming device is awarded by obtaining a turnover value for at least one gaming device over a period of time, calculating a probability value based on the turnover value and using the probability value to determine whether the prize is to be awarded. In some implementations there may be two prizes that are awarded with different probabilities when the gaming machine system is in different configurations.
US08608553B2
A gaming machine adapted to print validated tickets for a game player includes a microprocessor for controlling game operation (e.g., slot machine operation) and including a cashout signal input, a network interface coupled to the microprocessor for communicating with a central authority, and a memory in the network interface that stores a pre-loaded ticket validation number received from the central authority. In addition, a ticket printer is coupled to the microprocessor for printing a ticket that includes pending credit indicia and pre-loaded ticket validation indicia in response to a cashout signal on the cashout signal input. After the ticket is printed, the gaming machine obtains a new pre-loaded validation number in preparation for the next ticket printing event.
US08608547B2
A game machine includes: an entertainment button that can move up and down from a normal operation position to a protruding position; an assigned object determining part that determines an assigned object that defines a result of a game; an assigned object display part that displays an assigned object symbol corresponding to the assigned object determined by the assigned object determining part; a prize determining part that determines a prize to be given to a player; a prize display part that displays a prize symbol corresponding to the prize determined by the prize determining part; a movement determining part that determines whether or not to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position; a drive control part to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position; and a push operation detecting part that detects the entertainment button being pushed down.
US08608541B2
A gaming device including a game apparatus configured to allow a player to play a game including moveable prize objects is disclosed. The gaming device may also include a prize object holder configured to hold the prize objects where the prize objects are allowed to move within the prize object holder. A controller may be in communication with the game apparatus. The controller may be configured to determine a game outcome and to move the prize object holder to display the game outcome to the player. In another embodiment, a dynamic prize object which is distinguishable from all other prize objects may be included among the moveable prize objects where the dynamic prize object may be used to convey special prizes to the player.
US08608530B2
The present invention is directed to an insertion tool (12) for a machine tool that has a hub (16) with at least one opening (42, 80) for insertion of a fastening means (40, 84), via which the hub (16) is clampable on a driving flange (22) of the machine tool connected to a drive shaft, the opening (42, 80) including a retaining region (54) and a releasing region (56), the releasing region (56) including a stop (66, 88) for limiting a release motion of the fastening means (40, 84).It is provided that the opening (42, 80) adjacent to the stop (66, 88) has a convex section (76, 90).
US08608526B2
An amusement apparatus 100 of the present invention comprises a mirror placed in the bath, a support 125, a lighting member 129, a half mirror 128, a transparent waterproof sheet 130, a waterproofing mechanism 145, and an inlet 146. The support 125 and the lighting member 129 is placed on the mirror 120, the half mirror 128 is supported to the support 125, placed to an inner wall of bath 110 watertightly. Transparent waterproof sheet 130 coats the aperture upper part of bath 110, by a waterproofing mechanism the transparent waterproof sheet is watertightly fixed in the bath. Also an inlet for injecting a liquid between the half mirror and transparent waterproof sheet is provided, by the lighting member lighting up a region between the half mirror and the mirror, a reflection of the light is repeated in the region.
US08608525B1
Certain example embodiments relate to organic light emitting diode (OLED) inclusive devices, and/or methods of making the same. A substrate supports a transparent conductive coating (TCC) based layer, and first and second organic layers disposed thereon. A reflective conductive layer is supported by the organic layers. An out-coupling layer stack (OCLS) interposed between the organic layers and a viewer of the device includes a hybrid organic-inorganic polymer matrix having scatterers dispersed throughout in a manner such that each scatterer is located in the far field of its nearest neighbor. The scatterers are dispersed to have a high Zeta potential, and promote Mie-like scattering of light passing through the OCLS. Mie-like scattering caused by the OCLS may help to frustrate the wave-guiding modes in the glass, e.g., by breaking down the in-phase coherence.
US08608520B2
A cable connector comprises a first connector and a cable. The first connector comprises a first connector body and a first circuit board. The first circuit board has first and second surfaces, a plurality of first connection points installed on the first surface, and soldering portions of the first conductive terminals correspondingly soldered to the first connection points. The first circuit board has a plurality of second connection points on the first and second surfaces, and the cable's conducting wires are correspondingly soldered to each second connection point. The first connector comprises a first coating partially encasing the first circuit board. The first coating comprises first and second portions. The first portion encases one side of the first surface in order to encase the first connection points. The second portion encases the edge of the first and second surfaces in order to encase the second connection points.
US08608511B2
A card connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a number of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing, a metal shell (5) covering the insulative housing for defining a first space, and a pair of spring elements (3, 4) associating with the insulative housing and the metal shell for defining a second space. The insulative housing defines a pair of cavities (13, 14) and having a flange (133, 143) extending into each cavity. The spring elements have fixing portions (31, 41) retained with the insulative housing, front and rear flexible beams (32, 33, 42, 43) oppositely extending from the fixing portions, and first, second, third, and fourth floating portions (34, 35, 44, 45) formed on respective distal ends of the front and rear flexible beams. The floating portions protrude into the first space. Each floating portion has a protrusion (341, 351, 441, 451) suspending below the flange.
US08608506B2
A power terminal connector having a terminal body that has a socket configured to receive, and be electrically connected to, a pin of a power terminal. A spring clip is coupled to the terminal body. The spring clip is movable between a locking position and a clearance position. The spring clip is configured to engage the pin of the power terminal in the locking position to secure the power terminal connector to the power terminal. The spring clip is configured to be disengaged from the pin of the power terminal in the clearance position. A cap is coupled to the terminal body. The cap is coupled to the spring clip to move the spring clip between the locking position and the clearance position as the cap is actuated.
US08608502B2
A connection mechanism between two components may use one or metallic pins that are magnetically extended when the components are engaged, and a sloped groove that retracts and unlocks the pins when the components are rotated. The components are locked in place by the pins during engagement. Disengagement may be performed by rotating the two components with respect to each other. The connection mechanism may include one or more magnets mounted on either or both components. The magnets may be arranged to attract the components when the components are in the locking orientation and to repel the components when the components are rotated to an unlocked position. The connection mechanism may include electrical connections between the components.
US08608498B2
A connector includes a first terminal housing for housing plural first connecting terminals aligned, a second terminal housing for housing plural second connecting terminals aligned, plural insulating members, a connecting member for collectively fixing and electrically connecting the plural first connecting terminals and the plural second connecting terminals at each contact point by pressing the plural first connecting terminals and the plural second connecting terminals. The connecting member includes a ring-shaped support fixed to the first terminal housing and a pressing portion an upper part of which is inserted into a hollow formed inside the ring-shaped support so as to be pivotally supported by the support. The pressing portion is configured to turn relative to the support by turning the upper part of the pressing portion and to move relative to the support with the turning of the pressing portion in a vertical direction.
US08608496B2
A connector for multi-phase conductors. The connector includes conductors for conducting multi-phase currents, and at least one conductive plate corresponding to each phase. Each conductive plate defines apertures for the conductors to pass through, there being at least one aperture in each conductive plate for each respective conductor. Each conductive plate includes at least one connecting member for forming an external electrical connection. Each conductor passes through a respective aperture of each conductive plate. Each conductor is selectively coupled to form electrical connection only to a conductive plate corresponding to the respective phase of the conductor.
US08608493B2
A keying mechanism within a device bay allows a device connector of a device to make electrical connection with the device bay connector when a key slot of the device is located in one of a plurality of predetermined locations on the device. The keying mechanism prevents the device connector from making electrical connection with the device bay connector when the device does not have a key slot in any of the predetermined locations.
US08608489B2
An AC adaptor is disclosed, a plug extends in a first direction so as to penetrate a part of a case. A circuit board is disposed within the case. A contact terminal is disposed on the circuit board, and elastically contacts an end portion of the plug (without being soldered thereon). A first regulator is disposed within the case and regulates a position of the circuit board in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A second regulator is disposed within the case and regulates a position of the circuit board in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.
US08608480B2
A method is generally described which includes providing training by altering a user's motional response includes directing a user to perform specified motions in accordance with a training sequence and detecting the user's motions, by a feedback sensor device, the motions associated with the user. The method also includes generating, by the control program, control data based on the data representative of the detected motions and the training sequence. The control program is configured to receive data representative of the detected motions and to receive the training sequence. The control program has a control algorithm configured to generate control data based on the data representative of the detected motions and the information. Further, the method includes running the control program by a controller configured to output control signals based on the control data. Further still, the method includes delivering current, during a repeating phase in which the user is attempting to repeat the training sequence, from the current source to a vestibular stimulation device configured to deliver a stimulation current to at least one electrical contact, in response to the control signals. The at least one electrical contact is configured to contact flesh of the user.
US08608467B2
The present invention relates to a device for twisting elongated dough strips, comprising at least one pair of grippers, each arranged for gripping and respectively releasing one short side of a dough strip, and means for mutually rotating the grippers around an axis of rotation. In an embodiment, the device comprises a first conveyor for supplying dough strips oriented with their long sides perpendicular to the direction of conveyance wherein the width of the first conveyor is chosen smaller than the long sides of the dough strips so that the short sides of a dough strip protrude from the first conveyor, and a second conveyor for carrying off the twisted dough strips. The invention further provides a method for twisting an elongated dough strip.
US08608459B2
A vacuum pump having a vacuum pumping mechanism mounted for rotation by a shaft and a brushless motor for rotating the shaft where the vacuum pumping mechanism comprises a turbo pumping mechanism comprising pumping stages, and a molecular drag pumping mechanism comprising at least one pumping stage, and a shaft supported for rotation by bearings, and where the motor comprises a permanent magnet rotor fixed relative to the shaft and the rotor has four poles and a stator has non-overlapping stator coils.
US08608458B2
A pump assembly includes a pump housing (2) with a fluid entry (6) and a fluid exit (8) for a fluid to be delivered. A stator housing (4) is connected to the pump housing (2). At least one cooling channel (12) is formed in a wall of the stator housing (4) and is connected to cooling channels (22, 24) in the pump housing (2), which are in connection with the fluid entry (6) and the fluid exit (8), so that the fluid flows through the at least one cooling channel on account of the pressure difference between the fluid entry (6) and the fluid exit (8).
US08608455B2
A fluid rotary machine with a decreased footprint and a reduction in the number of parts. The fluid rotary machine has four heads wherein double-headed pistons are disposed inside cylinders in a crisscross arrangement. The rotational balance between rotational parts including the double-headed pistons is achieved only by first and second balance weights which are inserted and incorporated into both ends of a crank shaft coupled eccentrically to a shaft. The shaft is rotated for the double-headed pistons to linearly reciprocate in the cylinders. The fluid rotary machine has rotary valves for switching between the suction and discharge operations of the fluid for each cylinder chamber. The rotary valves are incorporated into a case to be coaxial and integrally rotatable with the shaft.
US08608452B2
A variable coolant pump for a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine that has a pump housing in which is mounted a hollow shaft that is driveable by a pulley. At one end of the hollow shaft an impeller is fastened which has vanes projecting into an inlet chamber and which is firmly connected via axial bridges to a cover disc. Through rotation of the impeller together with the cover disc, water can be sucked into the inlet chamber via an inlet connection piece of the pump housing and conveyed by the vanes into an annular passage of the pump housing. A guide disc with a contour corresponding to the impeller is further arranged between impeller and cover disc. The guide disc is guided by the axial bridges and can be displaced axially via a positioning unit by a piston located inside the hollow shaft.
US08608449B2
A support for a large vertical axis wind turbine including a tower frame, a platform, a vertical central axis, and a vertical axis windmill including a plurality of blades and supporting arms. The platform is disposed on the tower frame for installing and fixing a generator. The vertical central axis and the vertical axis windmill are supported by the tower frame. The tower frame is a truss structure and includes at least three sub-tower frames which are in parallel with each other and form a regular polygon from top view. The sub-tower frames are hollow tubes. The ratio of a diameter of the vertical axis windmill to a distance between two adjacent sub-tower frames is between 2.5 and 6. The ratio of the diameter of the vertical axis windmill to a height of the tower frame is between 3 and 0.5.
US08608440B2
A system for controlling propeller blade pitch in a turboshaft engine, including: a first track connected to a propeller blade, of which the rotation provides for the setting of the incidence of this blade; a second track; a member actuating the first track, arranged between the first and second tracks, and having a recessed angular portion; and at least one locking member provided between the first and second tracks, housed in the recessed angular portion and in the notch. The locking member can occupy a normal over-center position rendering the first and second tracks integral in rotation, and a release position authorizing the displacement in rotation of a unit including the first track, the locking member, and the actuating member.
US08608437B1
A portable air displacement system for introducing or removing air from a zone has a cylindrical fan housing with an exhaust aperture located on a housing side wall of a housing anterior end. The fan housing has a raised dome with a primary directional intake nozzle located on a raised dome posterior end. The raised dome has a plurality of secondary intake slots located around an arc on a dome anterior side, a dome first side and a dome second side. The system has a centrifugal fan located in the housing cavity connected to a power supply and a power switch. The system has a positioning platform with a first panel and a second panel pivotally attached to housing posterior end for clasping a planar object on either side.
US08608432B2
A fan configured for integration with a structure having at least two support members is disclosed. The fan comprises a fan guard, a fan blade surrounded by the fan guard, and first and second mounting brackets. Each of the first and second mounting brackets is configured for connection to a respective one of the support members. The fan also comprises first and second connectors oppositely disposed on the fan guard and configured for connection to a respective one of first and second mounting brackets. The first and second connectors are adjustable with respect to the first and second mounting brackets, and the fan is configured to rotate between at least two struts. Rotation of the fan between the at least two struts is limited such that an opening defined by one of the struts and said fan guard does not exceed a predetermined size.
US08608428B2
The present invention relates to a submersible centrifugal pump assembly comprising an impeller suspended in the end of a drive shaft, and driven in rotation relative to an impeller seat which is stationary in normal operation and which defines an axial intake for liquid to be transported by the impeller in rotation. The pump assembly is characterized in that the impeller seat is journalled in a pump housing for limited rotational movements in opposite directions of rotation relative to the pump housing, and in rotation controlled in guide means for limited linear displacements in opposite axial directions relative to the impeller.
US08608425B2
A wind compressor system having one or more wind turbines and a plurality of wind compressors located proximate the one or more wind turbines. The wind compressors optimize the energy created by the wind turbines by redirecting and converging the wind from the wind compressor to the wind turbines. Each of the wind compressors comprises an obstruction having a size and shape adapted to converge the wind currents by means of a Venturi effect toward the one or more turbines thereby increasing the velocity and force of the wind hitting the wind turbine. A plurality of transporters coupled to the wind compressors. The transporters configured to move at least one wind compressors to a location that maximizes the force of the wind encountered by the turbine.
US08608422B2
In order to prevent particles within a unit from sticking to a substrate in a substrate processing process, an ion generator charges the particles. At the same time, a direct current voltage of the same polarity as the charged polarity of the particles is applied from a direct current power source to the substrate. In order to prevent generation of particles when producing gas plasma, a high-frequency voltage is applied to the upper and lower electrodes at multiple stages to produce plasma. In other words, at a first step, a minimum high-frequency voltage at which plasma can be ignited is applied to the upper and lower electrodes, thereby producing a minimum plasma. Thereafter, the applied voltage is increased in stages to produce predetermined plasma.
US08608418B2
A bonding washer for making electrical connection between two metal pieces that are to be mechanically fastened together. The washer, to be interposed between the two metal pieces, may be constructed so as to fasten to one of the pieces before the two pieces are joined. Teeth on the washer, positioned at right angles to the plane of the washer, are forced into each of the two metal pieces when the fastener is tightened, making electrical connection between the two metal pieces.
US08608409B2
A pile driver for driving foundation piles, and having: a frame, in turn having a horizontal base, at least one upright extending upwards from the base, and a movable body which slides along the upright; a first lock device fitted to the horizontal base and which, in use, rigidly engages a connecting member of a foundation structure; a second lock device fitted to the movable body and which, in use, rigidly engages a shaft of a pile to be driven; and at least one hydraulic jack connected to the frame and to the movable body to move the movable body along the upright.
US08608406B2
A reeled pipe storage reel with a large diameter hollow cylindrical shaft, reel shaft bearing support structures installed on the vessel, and a reel drive arrangement mounted on the vessel. The shaft across the width of the reel provides structural stiffness and consistent alignment of the bearings on each end of the shaft. Each end of the shaft extends beyond the reel and includes a section for connection to a lifting sling, a section for the machine bearing surface, and a section for absorbing initial contact with the vessel during installation. The reel shaft bearing support structures on the vessel include a fixed portion to match the bearing area of the reel shaft and a movable portion to absorb initial contact during installation of the reel. The reel drive arrangement is located on linkages so they can be manipulated in the plane of the reel flange for movement into engagement with the drive gear on the reel flange.
US08608405B2
In some embodiments, methods of disposing of produced water recovered during hydrocarbon drilling, production, transportation or storage operations include collecting produced water, mixing Type I Portland cement with produced water to form a cementitious slurry, introducing the cementitious slurry into an underground void and allowing the cementitious slurry to set and form cement.
US08608403B2
A machine comprising a vibratory compactor assembly having a cylindrical drum connected to the machine with an axle. The assembly has a shaft extending concentrically through the center of the cylindrical drum that has a first end and a second end. The shaft has an electromagnet between its first end and second end. The electromagnet can receive electric current to create a magnetic field that applies an attractive magnetic force between the shaft and the drum that pulls the shaft and at least a portion of the drum toward one another.
US08608400B2
According to an example embodiment, a position arrangement device includes at least one joint module between a first base and a second base. The at least one joint module is configured to adjust a position of the second base relative to the first base based on elastic flexion in the joint module.
US08608393B2
A method for making an actuator includes forming a substantially planar actuator device of an electrically conductive material, the device incorporating an outer frame, a fixed frame attached to the outer frame, a moveable frame disposed parallel to the fixed frame, a motion control flexure coupling the moveable frame to the outer frame for coplanar, rectilinear movement relative to the outer frame and the fixed frame, an actuator incorporating a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moveable frame, moving the moveable frame to a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to and spaced a selected distance apart from the fixed frame, and fixing the moveable frame at the deployed position for substantially rectilinear, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame.
US08608380B2
An air discharge valve for a vacuum-sealed clothes bag having a flexible container includes a valve body for openably closing the vacuum-sealed clothes bag. A hanger is attached to the valve body to extend upwards from the valve body, the hanger being arranged in a substantially coplanar relationship with the valve body. An anchor member is securely attached to the flexible container. First and second fixing caps are fixed to opposite surfaces of the anchor member. A cloth holder is suspended from the anchor member to hold a cloth contained in the flexible container. The valve body is fitted to the first and second fixing caps in a rotatable manner.
US08608371B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the creation and dispensing of a custom formulation within a package at a retail point of sale. In one aspect, the invention includes an automated dispensing apparatus including at least a two-axis robot arm. In another aspect, the invention includes an automated mixer adapted to mix the dispensed custom formulation within the package.
US08608368B2
An embodiment of a system for controlling loading of food products in a food mixing unit by using a loader unit, the system having: a weighing device, which is mounted on the mixing unit and has a memory for storing at least one recipe of food products to be loaded and, for each food product of the recipe, first geographic coordinates associated with the food product and identifying a stocking area of the food product; a GPS receiver associated to the loader unit to detect second geographic coordinates identifying the place in which the loader unit is located; and a processing unit configured to check the weight of the food products of the recipe as these are gradually loaded in the mixing unit, to acquire the second geographic coordinates for each food product being loaded when the loader unit takes the food product from a stocking area and to compare the second geographic coordinates with the first geographic coordinates for each food product being loaded in order to verify that the correct food product is being taken.
US08608366B2
A screw-shaped LED including a high power LED, a metal circuit board, power supply cords, and a screw-shaped housing. The high power LED and the metal circuit board are both mounted inside the screw-shaped housing. Within the housing, the high power LED is fixed on and electrically connected with the metal circuit board. The power supply cords are electrically connected with the metal circuit board and pass through the screw-shaped housing.
US08608359B2
A mobile terminal includes a first base having a first light transmission part, the first light transmission part is configured to transmit light from an inside to an outside of the first base. A light source is arranged inside the first base and in a location capable of emitting the light to the outside of the first base via the first light transmission part. A light reflector is arranged outside the first base and in a location corresponding to the first light transmission part, and the first light reflector has a greater strength than that of the first base.
US08608347B2
Embodiments of a lighting apparatus with a light source using one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) to generate light. In one embodiment, the lighting apparatus comprises a light diffusing assembly that generates an optical intensity profile consistent with incandescent lamps. The light diffusing assembly comprises an envelope and a reflector element having frusto-conical member and an aperture element disposed therein. The lighting apparatus can also comprise a heat dissipating assembly with a plurality of heat dissipating elements disposed annularly about the envelope. In one example, the heat dissipating elements are spaced apart from the envelope to promote convective heat dissipation.
US08608345B2
A portable device having within it a multicolor illumination arrangement comprising: a surface; a plurality of light sources, (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e),at least one of the plurality of light sources being capable of generating two or more emission colors; and drive means (17) for causing the emission color of the at least one light source to vary; whereby the illumination arrangement can produce a varying illumination through at least part of the surface.
US08608335B2
Lighting apparatus and structures are described to space electrical drivers from a light panel. In this way, a driver box housing the driver can be spaced from the light panel to communicate with pre-existing facilities (e.g. electrical wiring) and can serve the additional advantage of keeping the driver box out of standing water that may accumulate on the structure.
US08608332B1
A multi-function umbrella attachment assembly for cooling, lighting, and providing music to an area adjacent to an umbrella. The assembly includes a panel and an aperture extending through the panel. The aperture is configured for positioning around a pole of an umbrella. At least one light emitter is coupled to the panel. At least on speaker is coupled to the panel. At least one fan is coupled to the panel.
US08608324B1
A portable anti-condensation mirror apparatus for use while shaving in a shower environment includes a housing having a plurality of walls that together define an interior area. A front wall of the housing defines a slot. The apparatus includes a reflection panel having a first end operatively coupled to the housing and an opposed free end, the reflection panel being movable between a retracted configuration substantially inside the interior area and an extended configuration extending through the slot and substantially outside the interior area. At least one housing suction cup is mounted to a rear wall of the housing so as to selectively mount the housing in a shower. A heating member is positioned in the interior area and configured to generate heat inside the interior area when energized by a battery.
US08608322B2
A foreign substance removal apparatus detects how large difference is generated between a time phase of a vibration detected when a bending vibration of an m-order vibration mode is excited at an optical low-pass filter 410, and a time phase of a vibration detected when a bending vibration of an (m+1)-order vibration mode is excited at the optical low-pass filter 410. Then, the foreign substance removal apparatus calculates main driving parameters for use in a main driving operation based on the detected time phase difference.
US08608315B2
A device and method for pre-operative selection and determination of a position of an endoprosthesis using a first rear projection screen with variable opacity and a movable second rear projection screen located in front of the first projection screen in respect of rear projection. The device may include a first projection unit for generating at least one first projection of the region of a subject in which an endoprosthesis is to be fitted, onto the first rear projection screen, and a second projection unit for generating at least one second projection of the endoprosthesis onto the second rear projection screen, the scaling of the first and second projection being identical. In an alternative embodiment, the second rear projection screen can be omitted.
US08608311B2
A computer-implemented method of designing an iris region of a colored contact lens including providing an annular digital image representing at least a portion of an iris region of the eye. Applying a gradient fill algorithm to the digital image. And applying a halftoning algorithm to the digital image.
US08608307B2
A transfix roller is adapted for use with a thin walled image receiving member in an indirect printer. The transfix roller is centrally supported to present a more uniform pressure profile in the nip formed with the image receiving member. An interference fit between the central shaft and the roller sleeve enables the transfix roller to be made without an additional process to secure the shaft to the sleeve.
US08608296B2
An inkjet printer head includes: a semiconductor substrate; a vibration diaphragm provided on the semiconductor substrate and capable of vibrating in an opposing direction in which the vibration diaphragm is opposed to the semiconductor substrate; a piezoelectric element provided on the vibration diaphragm; a pressure chamber provided on a side of the vibration diaphragm adjacent to the semiconductor substrate as facing the vibration diaphragm, the pressure chamber being filled with an ink; and a nozzle extending through the vibration diaphragm and communicating with the pressure chamber for ejecting the ink supplied from the pressure chamber.
US08608293B2
Disclosed is a process for preparing an ink jet printhead which comprises: (a) providing a diaphragm plate having a plurality of piezoelectric transducers bonded thereto; (b) aligning an electrical circuit board having a fill joint with the piezoelectric transducers and temporarily attaching the electrical circuit board to the piezoelectric transducers, thereby creating a layered structure having interstitial spaces between the diaphragm plate, the piezoelectric transducers, and the electrical circuit board; (c) applying a thermoset polymer through the fill joint and allowing it to fill the interstitial spaces via capillary action; and (d) curing the thermoset polymer to form an interstitial polymer layer.
US08608290B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a plate which is composed of a material containing silicon, a titanium oxide layer which is disposed above the plate, a bismuth-containing layer which is disposed above the titanium oxide layer and contains bismuth, a first electrode which is disposed above the bismuth-containing layer and composed of platinum, a piezoelectric layer which is disposed above the first electrode and composed of a piezoelectric material containing at least bismuth, and a second electrode which is disposed above the piezoelectric layer.
US08608289B2
A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer, and an electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is composed of a compound oxide having a perovskite structure and containing bismuth lanthanum ferrate manganate and barium titanate. The molar ratio of the barium titanate to the total amount of the bismuth lanthanum ferrate manganate and the barium titanate is 0.09 or more and 0.29 or less. A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure-generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening, and a piezoelectric element as described above. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes the above-described liquid ejecting head.
US08608285B2
A liquid discharge head includes a recording element board provided with an energy generating element, an electrical wiring board to supply the energy generating element with an electrical signal, a supporting member to support the recording element board and the electrical wiring board, a plurality of wires to connect a plurality of terminals provided on the recording element board and a plurality of terminals provided on the electrical wiring board, and a sealing member. The plurality of wires include a plurality of transmitting wires contributory to transmission of the electrical signal and a plurality of non-transmitting wires non-contributory to the transmission and formed at a higher position than that of the transmitting wires from a surface of the supporting member which supports the recording element board. The sealing member is arranged to cover the plurality of transmitting wires as well only some parts of the plurality of non-transmitting wires.
US08608282B2
A first common tangent of a first pulley and a second pulley is in parallel with the scanning direction. A second external common tangent of the first pulley and a third pulley intersects with the scanning direction. A motor has a shaft extended in a first direction and connected to the third pulley. An endless belt is wound on the first, second, and third pulleys. A belt connecting portion is provided on the carriage and connected to the belt in a portion on the first external common tangent. The distance between the head passing region and the third pulley is greater than a radial difference obtained as the length of the radius of the motor minus the radius of the third pulley. The distance between the head passing region and the belt connecting portion is smaller than the radial difference.
US08608278B2
A printing device can be configured with different numbers of ink colors and ink types to print with a different cross-process direction print resolution for each ink color and ink type. The printing device includes a plurality of printhead arrays with each printhead array being configured to eject ink onto an image receiving surface at a first print resolution in a cross-process direction. Each ink supply in a plurality of ink supplies is configured to provide ink to one printhead array in the plurality of printhead arrays, and a controller is configured to operate the printhead arrays at one of at least two combinations of ink colors and ink types. The controller operates the printhead arrays ejecting a same ink color or a same ink type at a second print resolution in the cross-process direction that is different than the first print resolution.
US08608273B2
Methods and systems herein provide for print data compensation for a print head based on a lateral offset of a media relative to the print head. In one embodiment, a print controller of a printer identifies an edge of a media that is parallel to a direction of travel of the media, and determines a lateral offset between the edge of the media and a print head of the printer. The print controller then modifies data for the print head based on the lateral offset to compensate for a lateral motion of the media relative to the print head.
US08608266B2
A recording apparatus drives a recording element to perform recording on a recording medium. The recording apparatus includes: a drive waveform data acquisition device configured to acquire drive waveform data which contain waveform value information for a plurality of predetermined periods of time of a drive waveform for driving the recording element and contain identification information of the drive waveform data embedded in at least two pieces of the waveform value information; an identification information analysis device configured to extract the identification information from the drive waveform data and to interpret the extracted identification information; a waveform generation device configured to receive the waveform value information for each of the predetermined periods of time of the drive waveform data and to generate the drive waveform according to the received waveform value information, the waveform value information for the predetermined periods of time of the drive waveform data being sequentially inputted to the waveform generation device; and a drive device configured to drive the recording element according to the drive waveform generated by the waveform generation device.
US08608264B2
A repositionable rail system for a refrigerator includes first and second rails, each rail having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures. A crossbar has first and second ends adapted to fit within respective apertures on the first and second rails. After inserting the crossbar into the apertures, the crossbar is rotated to a fixed angled position. A half-width shelf having a hook is adapted to removably supported, in a cantilevered manner, by the crossbar. The half-width shelf can be slid along the crossbar for repositioning within the refrigerator cabinet, or may be placed alongside another half-width shelf on a crossbar, or replaced with a full width shelf mounted on the first and second rails in a corresponding, cantilevered manner.
US08608260B2
The workstation includes a cabinet 100 having a worktop 101 and a compartment 3 for tool storage, a compartment containing a paper towel dispenser, a compartment 7 which contains a waste bin, and compartments 6, 9 housing self-retracting hose reels for air and water. The hose reel compartments are recessed behind the front face of the cabinet to accommodate hose end fittings, and may occupy a lower portion of the cabinet. The space above may be occupied by a panel containing electrical and/or data connectors, the paper towel dispenser, and a dispenser for latex gloves. A further compartment 8 houses a personal computer carried by a drawer mounted on runners. An upstanding pegboard 30 is mounted on vertical sliders and operated by pneumatic cylinders or an electric motor allowing it to be stowed behind the rear of the cabinet when not in use. A flat screen monitor 40 is mounted on the pegboard, and a keyboard holder 42 may be provided for storing a computer keyboard in a vertical plane.
US08608259B2
A housing includes a main body, a cover coverable on the main body, and a latching mechanism for latching the cover to the main body. The main body defines at least one elongated hole. The cover defines at least one latching hole corresponding to the at least one elongated hole. The latching mechanism includes a driving member and a latching member coupled to the driving member. The driving member is rotatable around an axis A and drives the latching member sliding between a first position away from the axis A to a second position adjacent to the axis A. When the latching member is driven to slide to the first position, the latching member is detachable from the at least one latching hole, and the cover is unlatched from the main body; when the latching member is driven to slide to the second position, the latching member is latched to the at least one latching hole, and the cover is latched to the main body.
US08608255B2
When vehicle speed V decreases to or below a preset reference vehicle speed Vref during output of regenerative braking force from a motor in response to the driver's depression of a brake pedal, the vehicle of the invention performs a replacement pre-operation (steps S190 to S220 and S160) and a replacement operation (steps S240 to S280 and S160) and controls the motor and an electronically controlled hydraulic braking system to satisfy a braking force demand BF*. The replacement pre-operation actuates and controls pumps included in a brake actuator of the electronically controlled hydraulic braking system to exert their proper pressurization performance. The replacement operation decreases the regenerative braking force output from the motor and enhances a pressure increase by the pumps to replace the regenerative braking force with a pressure increase-based braking force BFpp.
US08608253B1
A locking hub that is useful for wheels on small vehicles. Such wheels may use a press fit or integrally cast version of the invention. The locking hub fits over a shaft. The hub has a bore for receiving the end of the shaft. An outer member is connected to and spaced from the hub. A finger is adjacent to the bore and has a protrusion that extends into the bore. The finger is resilient and movable between a first and second position. The first position has the protrusion protruding into the bore and the second position has the protrusion outside of the bore with the finger being bent radially outward. The shaft has a notch or hole that receives the finger. A locking device may selectively be placed between the outer member and the hub to prevent the finger from moving into its second position, thereby locking the hub onto the shaft.
US08608250B2
Methods and systems for turning a cutting drum of a mining machine at a maintenance speed. One mining machine includes a cutting drum with a plurality of bits mounted on the drum and a cutting drum turning mechanism. The cutting drum turning mechanism includes a power source, a cutter motor, a switch, and a variable frequency drive. The state has a first and a second state. The first state electrically couples the power source and the cutter motor to operate the cutting drum at a cutting, and the second state electrically couples the variable frequency drive and the cutter motor to operate the cutting drum at a maintenance speed less than the cutting speed.
US08608247B2
Seat belt shoulder strap comfort and safety devices provide increased comfort and safety for the user. Embodiments of adjustable clips allow positioning of the clip on the seat belt shoulder strap away from the neck and onto the torso minimizing neck or head injury in an accident or near accident also allowing for focus to be maintained on the road or matters that require attention. Embodiments of two channeled clips provide one channel for the shoulder strap and another channel for the waist strap and are designed to guide the should strap in a comfortable direction while reducing the force on the adjustable clip and the passenger. Embodiments of adjustable clips with locking mechanism are combined with a two channeled clip for optimum safety, comfort, and durability. Some embodiments allow for easy installation and removal or adjustment, which allows the seat belt to be fully retracted and not left dangling.
US08608238B2
A space between the trailing edge of a front fender and the outer surface of a front pillar lower in the vehicle width direction is covered with a synthetic resin enclosure inserted from the wheel housing side. The upper end of a main body of the enclosure is provided with an upper extending portion extending toward the lower end of the front pillar upper, and a reinforcing rib is formed on the outer surface of the upper extending portion so as to make the reinforcing rib in contact with the inner surface of a projecting portion of the front fender. A pressure applied to the projecting portion of the front fender is transmitted to the front pillar lower via the reinforcing rib, and thus the surface stiffness of the projecting portion of the front fender can be improved without adding a particular reinforcing member.
US08608236B2
The invention relates to a front module for a motor vehicle, wherein the front module is in one piece and is composed exclusively of plastic.
US08608227B2
A slideout room leveling device for supporting and leveling a slideout room floor of a recreation vehicle. The device may have a base mounted to a threshold of the trailer frame and a support arm that has a friction reducing member mounted to the support arm. A spring member may be mounted on the base to assist in supporting and leveling the slideout room floor. The support arm of the slideout room supporting and leveling device may remain in continuous contact with the floor of a slideout room during extension and retraction in order to support and level the slideout room.
US08608222B2
A tank inlet cover module is provided, which is installable in a motor vehicle, and a tank inlet cover mounted so it is pivotable thereon. The tank inlet cover module has a groove body having an end stop for limiting a pivot movement of the tank inlet cover. The tank inlet cover itself has a tank inlet cover body and a counter stop element, which interacts with the stop of the tank groove via a counter stop surface, furthermore, means being provided for damping a structure-borne noise propagation between counter stop element and the tank inlet cover body.
US08608221B1
A counterbalanced hinge system rotatably attaches a closure panel to a body for rotation about a rotation axis. The counterbalanced hinge system applies an assist torque to the closure panel to bias the closure panel about the rotation axis from a closed position into an open position. A pop-up system is moveable from an un-sprung position into a sprung position to apply an opening force to the closure panel. A reset system includes a connecting cable interconnecting the counterbalanced hinge system and the pop-up system. The reset system converts a portion of the assist torque applied by the counterbalanced hinge system into linear motion of the connecting cable to move the pop-up system from the sprung position into the un-sprung position automatically upon the closure panel moving from the closed position into the open position.
US08608220B2
Disclosed is a separating panel assembly for a vehicle with a rear trunk. An opening is defined in a portion of a separating panel and an access chute is located adjacent to the opening and leads into the trunk. A trunk release handle is located relative to the access chute such that the access chute guides a hand inserted from the passenger compartment through the opening to the trunk release handle. The opening is further located behind a foldable armrest when the armrest is folded up. A movable cover may be provided to cover the opening and reduce air flow between the trunk and the passenger compartment.
US08608218B1
A method of handling products on shelves comprises providing a pan member including a base portion connected to a back portion with the back portion including a handle member and being angularly oriented relative to the base portion, with the base portion including a front edge and the back portion being connected to the base portion opposite the front edge. The method includes placing the front edge of the pan member adjacent a plurality of products stored on a shelf, sliding the pan member and at least a portion of the products relative to each other such that at least a portion of the products are contained in the pan member. The front edge may be positioned perpendicularly relative to the elongate length of the shelf and a biasing force may be provided to the products, such as by way of a retention arm member.
US08608216B2
An elevator connector device designed with an opening for passage of a pipe having a socket, wherein a locking jaw complementary fitting in the elevator connector is arranged to come to abutment against the socket when the pipe is lifted, and wherein the elevator connector is provided with several connected, different locking jaws fitting different pipe dimensions.
US08608209B1
A downhole safety joint for use in a wellbore, including an upper tubular member having an upper threaded end and a lower external threaded section; a lower tubular member having a lower threaded end and an upper interior threaded section for engaging with the lower external threaded section to form a break joint, the break joint having one or more of a maximum compressive stress limit and a tensile stress limit; and one or more circumferential stress reliefs disposed into the outer diameter of at least one of the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member for transmitting a side load applied to the break joint to one or more of the circumferential stress reliefs less than one or more of the compressive stress limit and the tensile stress limit.
US08608205B2
A fluid pipe connection device includes a plug sleeve fixedly fastened and mounted on a pipe joint used for mounting an internal tooth snap ring and a push tooth ring in the pipe joint and the plug sleeve. The internal tooth snap ring clamps the pipe wall after the pipe passes through the plug sleeve, the push tooth ring and the internal tooth snap ring. The push tooth ring pushes away internal teeth along the pipe insertion direction so as to lead the internal tooth snap ring to release the pipe wall before disassembling a pipe. A top end of the push tooth ring is basically flush with an exposed element or contracted in the exposed element under the pipe connection state. The exposed element is the more prominent one of the plug sleeve and the pipe joint. Also provided is a pipe disassembly tool.
US08608196B2
A gas generating system (10) including a filter assembly (36) formed from a plurality of nodules (36b) positioned and secured in relation to each other so as to form a porous structure (36a). In one embodiment, the nodules (36b) are metallic and are secured in relation to each other using either a sintering process or a brazing process. The nodules (36b) may be bonded directly together, or the nodules may be secured within a metallic matrix material. The gas generating system may also include a first baffle plate (40) positioned between the plurality of nodules (36b) and a gas source of the gas generating system (10), and a second baffle plate (42) positioned between the plurality of nodules (36b) and a housing wall (12c) of the gas generating system (10). The baffle plates (40, 42) provide added structural integrity to the porous structure (36a) and increase the length of a tortuous flow path of gases through the filter assembly (36). Apertures (40a, 42a) and are provided in the baffle plates (40, 42) to aid in directing the flow of gases through the porous structure (36b), thereby ensuring a tortuous flow path for the gases. A vehicle occupant protection system (480) incorporating the filter assembly (36) is also described.
US08608191B2
A protection device comprising an inflatable member and one or more structures is described. The inflatable member comprises a first wall and a second wall that form an internal chamber. The one or more structures are housed in the internal chamber, and each structure in the one or more structures comprises a first mesh and a second mesh connected by a plurality of tie members. Methods for manufacturing such a protection device are also described.
US08608190B2
A telescoping handle assembly includes a first handle, a second handle, a first coupling member, a second coupling member and a driving member. The second handle is movably disposed in the first handle. The first coupling member is movably disposed in the first handle and the second handle. The second coupling member is movably disposed in the second handle. The driving member is coupled to the second coupling member and used for driving the second coupling member to move from a first position to a second position. When the second coupling member is located at the first position, the second coupling member is capable of moving with respect to the first coupling member. When the second coupling member is located at the second position, the first coupling member and the second coupling member are capable of moving together while the driving member is driven.
US08608177B2
A sealing system is provided which is intended to achieve an improvement in durability. A dust seal is composed of a first dust seal (100) and a second dust seal (200) which is arranged at a location nearer to an atmospheric air side than the first dust seal (100), wherein each of the first dust seal (100) and the second dust seal (200) has a seal lip formed so as to be slidable with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the shaft. The first dust seal (100) has seal lips (121, 122) made of urethane rubber, and the second dust seal (200) has only a single seal lip (221) which is made of a rubber higher in flexibility than urethane rubber, and which extends toward the atmospheric air side.
US08608173B2
According to one aspect, an apparatus to provide sealing contact between first and second fueldraulic components includes a metallic member, wherein the metallic member comprises a layer of metal that is formed into a spring energized seal member. The apparatus also includes a layer disposed on an outer portion of the metallic member to provide sealing contact between the first and second fueldraulic components.
US08608171B1
A game machine includes a cabinet, a shutter, a sensor and a drive mechanism. The cabinet has a chute for guiding items therein to a hatch accessible to a user. The shutter is normally disposed in a closed position in the cabinet to cover the chute in order to prevent the item from entering the hatch. The sensor is provided for detecting whether an item is deposited on the shutter, and if yes, sending out a signal. Upon reception of the signal, the drive mechanism is activated to cause the shutter to move to an opening position uncovering the chute to allow entry of the detected item into the hatch.
US08608168B2
A storage structure can be used as a target and bounce back for projectiles. The storage structure can include a fixed slightly angled wall (relative to the ground) or may include an adjustable angled wall. The face of the target may include markers to indicate desired projectile strike locations for one or more sports. These markers may be painted on, supplied as a tarp to place over a surface, or provided as colored building materials. For example, an 8 foot by 24 foot box may be indicated on the face of the target to mimic a soccer net. The storage structure may provide not only a storage facility, but also an invitation for users to play, practice and perfect their coordination, reaction time, and skill at various sports.
US08608163B1
An approach is provided for inverting a sheeted substrate processed by a printing system while continuously running the sheeted substrate through the printing system without stopping. The approach involves a series of rolls that cause an orientation of the sheeted substrate to be changed such that the sheeted substrate may be returned to a first process path when inverted for duplex printing, or otherwise diverted to a bypass path.
US08608160B2
A recording apparatus includes a slider that has a cam face with which a cam of the stopper comes into sliding contact and moves in the insertion direction from a first position to a second position with a resistance when the cassette is inserted into the mounting unit. The cam face includes a first cam face on which the cam slides when the slider moves from the first position to the second position and a press cam face against which the cam presses when the paper sheet comes into contact with the stopper. The press cam face has an inclination relative to a reference straight line which is perpendicular to a plane parallel to the insertion direction of the cassette which is greater than that relative to a straight line which extends from the contact point between the press cam face and the cam to the shaft.
US08608148B2
A tool holder (2) defines three stop surfaces (18, 20, 22), which lie in three planes (60, 62, 64), which are perpendicular to each other. A pin (24), which can be lowered into the base body (8) of the tool holder (2) and extended from it, is to be introduced into a receptacle (42) of the tool (4) and comprises a slanted active contact surface (26), which defines a fourth plane (66), which intersects each of the three planes (60, 62, 64) of the tool holder (2) at an acute angle, as a result of which the active pressure surface (26), upon the extension of the pin (24), exerts a force component toward each of the three stop surfaces (18, 20, 22). A corresponding tool (4) and a workstation with the tool holder (2) and the tool (4) attached thereto are also described.
US08608147B1
A workpiece carrier including an insert rail having a plurality of teeth, with each of the plurality of teeth having a first beveled upper edge surface.
US08608140B2
A dust removing and cooling apparatus is provided. High temperature dust-containing harmful gases are exhausted in a state where 99.9% of airborne particulates are removed from the high temperature dust-containing harmful gases at a temperature that is similar to the air so that dust collecting efficiency is very high and white plume can be avoided.
US08608138B2
The present invention comprises a method and system for the infusion of a gas into a liquid. The gas is passed through a container with ceramic filtering material of a specific pore size after which the gas enters the flow stream of the liquid.
US08608137B2
A carburetor including a columnar throttle valve, a fuel nozzle, a metering needle inserted into the fuel nozzle and a cam mechanism caused to rotate in accordance with the throttle operation, whereby the throttle valve is moved by the cam mechanism in the direction of the valve stem while rotating to adjust the air flow rate and the fuel flow rate. The cam mechanism has a cam groove provided with a cam surface so as to gradually deepen in the direction of rotation in a designated range on the external peripheral side of the bottom surface of the throttle valve, and a support pin for supporting the throttle valve from the bottom surface, wherein the support pin being disposed between the cam surface and the bottom surface of the columnar throttle valve chamber rotatably provided with the throttle valve.
US08608136B2
A dust seal structure for a valve stem in a rotary throttle valve The dust seal structure has a cylindrical throttle valve with a metering needle and a throttle through-hole, and a fuel nozzle disposed on the central axis of the throttle valve that is openable into the throttle through-hole with the metering needle inserted therein. The valve stem of the throttle valve, which protrudes at one end from the shaft hole formed in the cover body of a valve hole in the carburetor body, is caused to rotate in accordance with the operation of the accelerator pedal, whereby the throttle valve moves in the direction of a central axis thereof while rotating as a whole, and controls airflow and fuel-flow rate. A dust-proof member composed of a sealing ring is fitted between the valve stem and the shaft hole formed in the cover body.
US08608128B2
Non-contact torque, thrust, strain, and other data sensing of a valve actuator or valve is disclosed. A sensor may include a surface acoustic wave device.
US08608121B2
A reactor metering pipe fixing device fixes a reactor metering pipe disposed in a reactor to a cylindrical outer surface of a jet pump diffuser and reduces stress that may be induced in a weld zone in the reactor metering pipe. An outer holding member 41 is held on the cylindrical outer surface 18a of a jet pump diffuser 18 by a C-shaped holding member 30. The reactor metering pipe 19 is clamped from radial directions by the outer holding member 41 and inner holding members 42 and 43. Wedges 44 and 45 are wedged into a gap between the cylindrical outer surface 18a and the inner holding member 42 and a gap between the cylindrical outer surface 18a and the inner holding member 43 to fix the reactor metering pipe 19 firmly to the cylindrical outer surface 18a.
US08608118B2
A clamping device includes a flexible sleeve secured to one segment of a telescopic rod and having a collar for receiving the other segment, and two lugs displaceable between untightened and tightened positions, and an elastic lining member disposed on the collar such that, as a result of displacement of the lugs from the untightened position to the tightened position, the elastic lining member is strained to acquire a biasing force that biases the lugs back toward the untightened position, thereby facilitating telescopic movement of the telescopic rod during length-adjustment.
US08608114B2
A platform and launch initiation control system for secondary spacecraft for a launch vehicle includes an aluminum honeycomb core sandwiched between top and bottom structural aluminum skins and strengthened by a spider-like stiffener. Spool inserts for engaging the secondary spacecraft are arranged on the platform. A computer processor based auxiliary payload support unit (APSU) is provided on the platform and receives power and enable signals through a single cable from the LV to permit the APSU to control the release of the secondary spacecraft transparently to the LV without impacting LV operations.
US08608094B2
A tube mill for wet-grinding of lumpy material. The tube mill can have a mill cylinder, an inlet opening for charging the lumpy material, a means for adding an aggressive medium and a discharge opening. In addition, the mill cylinder can have an internal lining of epoxy material and the means for adding an acid to the lumpy material in the region of the inlet opening.
US08608092B2
The rotating sprinkler head valve includes an upper assembly with a stationary rigid cone received in a conical interior chamber of a rotor, and a cylindrical shaft extending through the stationary rigid cone and rotor. A lower assembly includes a bottom helix member, a strainer adapter having an internal transverse slotted plate and a rotatable slotted flow plate to permit flow when the flow plate slots are aligned with slots in the internal transverse slotted plate. A base top member includes a downwardly extending inner tubular portion and a lower interior edge surface with a helical lower surface forming an adjustable helical aperture in cooperation with the bottom helix member, and a recessed inner helical lip is configured to receive the upper helical surface of the bottom helix member for adjusting a helical aperture.
US08608087B2
A smart card capable of independently displaying information is wirelessly connectable to an external interface. The smart card includes a main body, an antenna module, an electronic paper, a drive member and a radio frequency identification chip isolated from the drive member. The antenna module includes a first antenna for receiving first electromagnetic wave and a second antenna for receiving/transmitting second electromagnetic wave. The first and second antennas are respectively connected to the drive member and the radio frequency identification chip. The information can be independently displayed on the smart card to ensure confidence of the data. Moreover, the smart card can be more conveniently used.
US08608079B2
The present invention relates to a cartridge adapted to contain a medicament, the cartridge further being adapted to be inserted into an associated medication delivery device. The cartridge according to the present invention comprises a plurality of electrode elements arranged on an exterior surface part of the cartridge, wherein an electrode element of said plurality of electrode elements comprises a receiver zone and a transmitter zone, said receiver and transmitter zones being electrically connected. The receiver and transmitter zones are adapted to electrically couple to one or more transmitters and to one or more receivers, respectively, said one or more transmitters and said one or more receivers being arranged on the associated medication delivery device.
US08608077B2
Fold mirrors permit the imagers to be closer to each other and permit an optical code reader, such as a tunnel scanner, to confine them to a smaller housing volume or capacity. A plurality of sets of fold mirrors can also be employed to convey at least a portion of at least two different perspectives or two different depths of field of a composite view volume to different regions of an image field of a common imager. The sets of fold mirrors may also include split mirrors that have mirror components that reflect images from different view volumes to different imagers or different regions of an image field of a single imager.
US08608070B2
Systems and methods for performing test procedures for measuring and defining the sensitivity of payment devices to ESD (electrostatic discharge) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a plurality of test equipment in a controlled environment are used to measure the peak discharge current (Ip) when a payment device is inserted into a charge/discharge device during several simulated conditions. Energy levels of the discharge currents are calculated using an energy calculation program. One or more reference current and energy levels are determined.
US08608059B1
The present disclosure provides a number of systems and associated processes for using machine-readable codes to perform a transaction. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and associated processes for consolidating and replacing various forms of payment (e.g. credit cards, debit cards, and cash) with a single payment system. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and associated processes for reordering a product provided by a product provider. Moreover, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and associated processes for accepting a gift, or gift transaction, associated with a gift card. In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and associated processes for performing an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) transaction using a machine-readable code.
US08608056B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for guiding an item of media travelling along a pre-determined transport pathway. The apparatus includes a guide body comprising an arcuate guide surface, at least one drive roller comprising an outer drive surface, and at least one pulley member having an outer item engaging surface that extends through an opening in the guide surface and is urged against the outer drive surface. The drive roller and pulley member co-operate to lift an item away from the guide surface at an arcuate region of the transport pathway.
US08608053B2
A mobile communication terminal can comprise a housing, a microprocessor disposed within the housing, a display incorporated into the housing, and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the microprocessor. The mobile communication terminal can be configured, responsive to receiving a byte sequence representing a character string containing one or more alphanumeric or non-alphanumeric characters, to encode the byte sequence into one or more bar code symbols having a minimum dimension of a smallest element equaling or exceeding a readability threshold value. The mobile communication terminal can be further configured to display the bar code symbols.
US08608052B2
A medical instrument for carrying out at least one medical function is proposed, more particularly a medical instrument embodied as a hand-held instrument. The medical instrument is designed to interact with at least one medical consumable in order to carry out the medical function. The medical instrument has at least one code reader for reading out at least one item of information from an optical code of the medical consumable. The code reader comprises at least one image sensor. The code reader furthermore comprises at least one areal light source, which is designed to illuminate the optical code in a transmissive fashion.
US08608047B2
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
US08608040B2
A harness for breathing apparatus, comprising a structural support member 10 having a front for accommodating a gas cylinder and a rear for facing the back of a wearer, and left and right sides. Left and right shoulder straps 110, 120 are disposed towards the left and right sides of the structural support member respectively, and each shoulder strap has a first end attached to an upper portion of the structural support member and a second end attached to a lower portion of the structural support member. A plurality of flexible conduits 140, 150 extend from a lower portion of the structural support member along the structural support member, each to a position on either the left or right shoulder strap. Left and right guide channels 30, 32 extend longitudinally along the structural support member along left and right sides respectively, for accommodating the flexible conduits.
US08608037B2
An article support device for attachment to an automobile steering wheel is provided for the purpose of supporting an open book, magazine, tablet computer or the like. The device comprises a supportive body, a shelf member, a shelf lip and a securing means. The shelf member is rectangular, having a height similar to the diameter of a steering wheel. A plurality of slots on the body provide for modular securement of a shelf member. A shelf lip is secured to the outer edge of said shelf member and extends upward to restrain movement of items placed thereupon. The device is secured by a pair of hooks that fit over the top of a steering wheel, or alternatively the hooks may be utilized as a support stand to support the device in an upright position on a flat surface.
US08608032B2
A disinfectant dispenser includes a rotating assembly coupled to a base and rotatable thereabout and a first motor operatively coupled to the rotating assembly for rotation thereof when activated. A carriage is pivotally mounted to an upper portion of the rotating assembly and movable between vertical and horizontal configurations. A second motor is operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage between the vertical and horizontal configurations. A control unit is electrically connected to the power source and motors and includes programming for activation thereof. A delivery unit configured to hold a propellant container is attached to the carriage, the delivery unit defining an outlet to dispense the propellant when activated. A solenoid is positioned proximate the delivery unit so as to activate the propellant when the solenoid is actuated.
US08608029B2
A cosmetic container for mixing and using heterogeneous contents, which makes it possible to discharge proper amounts of heterogeneous cosmetics from a pair of discharge ports and simply mix the same, includes an elliptical mixing part which has an inwardly inclined surface at an upper side of a cosmetic container.
US08608018B2
A container including a base container having a side wall that extends about a longitudinal axis to define an internal volume and an overwrap positioned over the side wall, the overwrap including a first zone circumferentially extending about the base container, the first zone including a first pattern of bosses, and a second zone circumferentially extending about the base container, the second zone including a second pattern of bosses, the second pattern of bosses being different than the first pattern of bosses.
US08608006B2
A crown for a bottle or other container, the crown comprised of a pull tab ring and a pull tab secured to the crown by a rivet and one or more cut lines between the rivet and the rim of the crown. The crown may be formed from tinplate with a hardness of T4 as measured by the Rockwell 30T Hardness Scale so that the crown may be opened and removed from the container the a force of approximately 2.5 Kg.
US08607987B2
A packaging system includes an outer shell having a display frame structure. A transparent or plastic container may be disposed in the outer shell. The transparent container may include mounted therein, a box insert formed from a paperboard body blank. The box insert may include a pair of laterally disposed sidewalls each including a locking slot and an arcuate portion. A front panel is disposed between the pair of sidewalls being connected by a vertical fold line at each sidewall. A display panel has laterally disposed locking tabs that are received in the locking slots of the sidewalls to cause the display panel to form a curved region supported by the arcuate portion.
US08607967B2
The present disclosure is directed to a pitch for a modular conveyor belt. In some embodiments, the pitch may include a link having a first leg, including an opening formed in the first leg. The opening may be defined by a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge opposite the first side edge. In addition, the pitch may include a projection associated with the first edge. In a first position, the projection may extend substantially perpendicularly away from the first edge towards the second edge so that a free end of the projection is positioned proximate the second edge. Also, the projection may be configured to deflect to a second position, in which the free end of the projection is deflected within the opening towards one of the first side edge and the second side edge.
US08607963B2
A conveyor installation comprises carrier bags for material to be transported, wherein the carrier bags are suspended from carrier dogs which are moved in a transport rail in a transport direction. At a loading and unloading station, the carrier bags are rotatable from their transport position, which is transverse to the transport direction, into a position which points in the transport direction, wherein an upper loading opening is opened at the same time. Backwards rotation of the carrier bags is caused by the force of gravity.
US08607960B1
An egg orientation mechanism orients eggs within an egg handling machine including a plurality of randomly arranged eggs on a first egg conveying mechanism. A lifter mechanism located on the first egg conveying mechanism raises each egg away from the egg conveying mechanism to off balance and rotate the egg so that the egg is oriented to with larger end of egg leading as egg is released into a second egg conveying mechanism. A clamshell egg receiver includes a front wall, a rear wall and egg receiving space formed between front wall and the rear wall. Either one of front wall or rear wall pivots about a pivot point located below a centerline of the egg receiving space. A method of releasing an egg includes holding an egg by an egg holder, rotating the egg holder and releasing the egg at an angle greater or less than 90 degrees.
US08607959B2
The present disclosure is directed to a rotation assembly for a transfer member of a transfer assembly. The rotation assembly comprises a torque transmitting assembly comprising input and output members, a link comprising a first end operably coupled to the input member and a second end comprising a follower member, a shaft comprising a first end operably coupled to the output member and a second end engaged with a portion of the transfer member, and a track. The follower is movably engaged with the track and circumnavigates about a path in correspondence with the track. The follower member is moved radially relative to a first rotation axis by the track as it circumnavigates about the path to transmit torque through the torque transmitting assembly and to the shaft. The torque causes a portion of the transfer member to rotate between a first position and a second position.
US08607958B2
An escalator with a step belt or a moving walkway with a plate belt, which step belt or plate belt comprises at least one transport chain that is arranged to circulate between a first and second deflecting region of the escalator or moving walkway. Steps or plates are arranged at the transport chain and connected with the transport chain. In addition, at least one blocking device is arranged in stationary position and has at least one blocking arm. The blocking arm can be brought into a release position or into an engagement position, wherein this blocking arm in the engagement position engages in at least one link intermediate space of the transport chain and the blocking arm is fixable in the respective release position or engagement position.
US08607956B2
A device and method for receiving and detecting a bottle. The device includes a chute, a bottle inlet for receiving the bottle into the chute, and a bottle outlet through which the bottle exits the chute. A stop member is disposed to engage the bottle within the chute, the stop member being biased to allow the bottle to pass in one direction, but to move into and grip the bottle if the bottle is moved in the other direction. Sensors detect the position of the bottle within the chute, and can indicate that the bottle was received within the device. A method for receiving and detecting the bottle is also provided.
US08607950B2
A dual clutch having a first transmission-side output shaft and/or a second transmission-side output shaft having a first clutch comprising a first pressure plate that is axially movable relative to a first counterplate for engaging a first clutch disk connected to a first output shaft, a second clutch comprising a second pressure plate that is axially movable relative to a second counterplate for engaging a second clutch disk connected to a second output shaft, an actuating device for moving the first pressure plate and/or the second pressure plate and a fastening plate connected to the actuation device for axially fastening to a clutch housing, wherein the actuating device is designed to pre-center relative to the clutch housing and/or the transmission housing in a radially adjustable manner, and the fastening plate is designed to be radially fixed to the clutch housing and/or the transmission housing.
US08607947B2
On a piece of luggage having at least one inner volume, which is delimited by at least one luggage wall and by at least one side wall protruding from said luggage wall, wherein the inner volume is divided by at least one intermediate plate, it is provided that at least one luggage strap is attached to the intermediate plate with a first end, the luggage strap is adjustably guided by means of at least one deflection device along the wall of the piece of luggage and at least two side wall sections that are disposed opposite each other such that the distance of the intermediate plate to the luggage wall can be adjusted in a variable way, and that the free second end of the luggage strap can also be fastened to the intermediate plate.
US08607946B2
An exemplary system configured convert from a luggage back to a standing clothing rack and back. First, the lids rotate 180 degrees along the top edge of the base from a closed position to extend the height of the rack. While configured as a rack, the system is supported on each side by a support structure which also extends from the base. The luggage bag may be double sided, such that both sides mirror each other, and fasten to the handle, base, or upright lids. One or more hanger bars may either swing out from, or be fastened to, the upright lids, to support hanging garments. The hanger bars may also be configured to keep hanging garments evenly spaced by equally spaced grooves along the top edge of the hanger bar. The system may later be converted back into a luggage bag.
US08607945B2
A system and a method of a carbon fiber-reinforced intelligent wheeled backpack and human transportation seat with adjustable foot rest is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of simultaneous human being and luggage transportation through an airport may include coupling an upper part of a handle assembly to a hollow lower part through a connector wherein the upper part of the handle assembly may be permitted to be pulled in and out of the hollow lower part of the handle assembly. A backpack body comprising a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) material may be coupled to the hollow lower part of the handle assembly wherein the backpack body may include spinable wheels, an adjustable seat, and adjustable footrests for simultaneous human and luggage transportation.
US08607943B2
A shock absorber having an elongated pressure tube and a piston slidably mounted in the pressure tube which divides the pressure tube into a first and second working chamber. An elongated piston rod is attached to the piston and moves in unison with the piston in both an extended and a compression direction. Movement of the rod in a compression direction decreases the volume of the first working chamber and increases the volume of the second working chamber, and vice versa. A control orifice and adaptive valve are fluidly connected in series between the first working chamber and a reservoir. A check valve is fluidly connected between the control orifice and the adaptive valve which opens only upon movement of the rod in a compression direction.
US08607936B2
A roller arrangement (20) for a stairlift carriage is described, the arrangement including a central roller set (22), and outer roller sets (24) and (26). Rollers (42), (43, 44) and (45) in the outer roller sets are mounted in yokes (48) which are mounted for independent pivotal movement, relative to one another, in two orthogonal axes. The axes of each set preferably lie in common planes.
US08607930B2
The invention relates to an extendable/retractable ladder mounted to a boat trailer to allow access to a boat carried on the trailer. The ladder includes a pair of first vertically oriented bars and a pair of second bars. The vertically oriented bars have an inner cavity and a slot in one of its sides. The second bars have an inner cavity and a slot in one of its sides. The first end of the first bars and the second end of the second bars are connected such that the second end of the second bars can move along the length of the first bars between an extended position in which the first end of the second bars is a distance away from the first bars and a retracted position in which the first end and the second end of the second bars are adjacent to the first bars.
US08607918B2
A motorcycle is provided that includes a connecting pipe, a throttle body, an intake pipe, and an air cleaner, which are intake system parts disposed forward of a cylinder of an engine and are connected to the front side of the cylinder. The motorcycle further includes an exhaust pipe and a muffler, which are exhaust system parts connected to the rear side of the cylinder. The cylinder is inclined rearward, and the exhaust pipe of an exhaust system part extends forward along one side of the motorcycle in a widthwise direction of the engine 50 and detours the front of the engine and then extends rearward along the other side of the motorcycle in a widthwise direction of the engine.
US08607915B2
An axle assembly for a motorcycle having a plurality of drive wheels. The axle assembly is configured to permit a user to replace an endless power-transmitting element without substantially disassembling the axle housing assembly.
US08607913B2
A system that steers the rear wheels of the three wheeled vehicle in coordination with the operator turning the front wheel that improves handling, performance and safety. The rear wheels are steered by a rear end mounted powered steering rack that is controlled by a steering control computer that receives input from a variety of sensors including a sensor for vehicle speed and a sensor in the steering neck that measures the angular rotation of the handlebars as they are turned by the operator. Based on these inputs, using proprietary programming the steering control computer calculates the rate, timing and direction to turn the rear wheels. Rear steering offers advantages over front wheel only steering including being easier for the operator to turn the vehicle, a smaller turning radius, better straight line stability, better high speed handling, improved corning performance, improved steering response and improved safety.
US08607912B2
A suspension system for a snowmobile has a rail and first and second suspension arms having lower ends pivotally connected to the rail. A first shock absorber pivotally connected between the first suspension arm and the rail. A second shock absorber operatively pivotally connected between the first suspension arm and the rail. Left and right brackets are connected to the second suspension arm. Left and right tie rods have lower ends operatively pivotally connected to the first suspension arm and upper ends pivotally connected to their corresponding brackets about a first pivot axis. The second shock absorber is disposed laterally between the left and right tie rods. The suspension is movable between a first position where the first pivot axis intersects the second shock absorber and a second position where the first pivot axis is spaced from the second shock absorber.
US08607908B2
An intake system of combustion air is provided for a vehicle. The intake system has an intake opening, an intake duct, and an air filter. The intake opening is situated on one side of a water separation container, which is fixed on a girder of the vehicle. The intake opening is situated in a front most front face of the vehicle in the travel direction for this purpose.
US08607905B2
Apparatus for moving a wheeled load comprising: a frame having a two end; at least one wheel attached to at least one frame end; drive wheel(s) between the ends; a drive means for providing drive wheel power; a power source; a load-lifting arm means, the lifting arm means having a proximal end rotatably attached to the frame and a distal end; affixed to the distal end is a locking pickup head having a multi-socket center adapted to receive a ball, and a sliding locking gate to releasably affix the head to the ball; extending outwardly from the second end is a handle; disposed on the handle is a control means for operating the apparatus; and drive disengagement means for mechanically disengaging the powered driving mechanism so that a user can manually move the apparatus in case of battery or other mechanical failure.
US08607902B2
A width variable structure using mecanum wheels is provided, which includes a plurality of mecanum wheels, a plurality of links connecting the mecanum wheels, and motors mounted on the mecanum wheels to transfer driving forces to the links, respectively. Since the width of the structure in the horizontal and vertical directions can be adjusted using the driving forces of the mecanum wheels, components such as actuators are omitted in the overall assembly.
US08607901B1
A lawnmower drive system for facilitating steering of a zero turn radius lawn mower and enhancing user comfort while mowing a lawn includes a lawnmower has a seat for supporting a person on the lawnmower. The lawnmower has a left drive wheel and a right drive wheel. A left armrest is coupled to the lawnmower. The left armrest is positioned proximate the seat. A right armrest is coupled to the lawnmower. The right armrest is positioned proximate the seat. A left joystick is coupled to the left armrest. The left joystick is operationally coupled to the left drive wheel. A right joystick coupled to the right armrest, the right joystick is operationally coupled to the right drive wheel.
US08607889B2
A tiller constructed in accordance to the present teachings includes a frame, a drive mechanism, and a tilling implement. The drive mechanism can be supported by the frame and include a motor having an output member. The tilling implement can have a drive shaft that is driven by the output member. The tilling implement can comprise a first tine plate and a second tine plate that are both selectively configurable along the drive shaft at a plurality of positions and orientations.
US08607883B2
A swellable packer for use in a subterranean well can include a seal element with a swellable material which contracts in response to temperature decrease, and a temperature compensator which applies increased force to the seal element in response to temperature decrease. A method of compensating for thermal contraction of a swellable material in a subterranean well can include a temperature of the swellable material increasing in response to installing the swellable material in the well, and a temperature compensator applying an increased force in response to a temperature decrease occurring after the temperature increasing step. A well tool for use in a subterranean well can include a swellable material and a temperature compensator which applies an increased force when the swellable material contracts.
US08607881B2
A rope socket comprises a slip cone subassembly having a straight outer diameter and a tapered inner diameter. A plurality of slips is positioned within the slip cone body. A retainer ring holds the slips together. A guide plug is positioned within the slips to maintain the slips in an opening position during insertion of a cable. A spring stabilizer having a spring thereon is coupled above the slip cone assembly to ensure even compression of the spring. A safety slot is located on the body of the rope socket in order to provide a visual indication of the cable position.
US08607877B2
This invention relates to equipment and a subsea pumping system using a subsea module installed on the sea bed, preferably away from a production well and intended to pump hydrocarbons having a high associated gas fraction produced by one or more subsea production wells to the surface. One object of this invention is achieved by means of the design of a pumping module (PM) which is linked to pumping equipment already present in a production well and which basically comprises: an inlet pipe (2), separator equipment (3), a first pump (4) and a second pump (8). In the subsea pumping system for the production of hydrocarbons with a high gas fraction, the other object of this invention, when oil is pumped from the production well (P) the well pump (13) increases the energy of the fluid in the form of pressure and transmits this increase in energy in the form of an increase in suction pressure in the second pump (8) of the subsea module (PM).
US08607871B2
A downhole jetting tool is provided for cleaning the interior of one or more hydraulic rams (14, 18) and one or more annular blowout preventers (26, 28). A unitary jetting tool body (40) has a central throughbore (42) and a plurality of radially outward jets (42, 46). A tapered landing shoulder (50) on the tool body engages a frustoconical surface of a landing ring (22) to position the tool in the well.
US08607866B2
The present embodiment is a method for decreasing the time required for a start-up phase in a steam assisted gravity drainage production. The present method begins by forming a steam assisted gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well, beginning a preheating stop by introducing heat between the injection well and the production well, beginning a steam squeeze stage by injection steam into the formation and beginning the steam assisted gravity drainage production.
US08607863B2
A method of servicing a wellbore extending from a surface and penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The method comprises placing a workstring in the wellbore, wherein the workstring comprises at least a first downhole tool, a signal receiver subassembly, and a conveyance between the first downhole tool and the surface. The method further comprises the signal receiver subassembly receiving a first signal generated by contact between the wellbore and the workstring and initiating a first function of the first downhole tool based on the first signal.
US08607849B2
A heat radiating fin includes a flat body having a front side and a rear side, a plurality of protruded portions formed on the front side of the flat body, and a plurality of recessed portions correspondingly formed on the rear side of the flat body behind the protruded portions. The protruded portions on the flat body of a first heat radiating fin are partially extendable into corresponding recessed portions on the flat body of a second heat radiating fin located before the first one, allowing the first and the second heat radiating fins to be easily and stably stacked.
US08607848B2
A method of continuously casting thin strip dynamically controlling roll casting surface configuration by controlling the temperature of water flowing through the longitudinal water flow passages in a cylindrical tube thickness of no more than 80 millimeters of counter rotated casting rolls, and varying the speed of the casting rolls with attenuation of the ends of the casting rolls with a casting roll drive system responsive to electrical signals received from sensors during a casting campaign.
US08607838B2
A retractable cover for architectural openings having collapsible vanes includes a support structure in the form of a sheet of material, monofilaments, tapes, ribbons, cords, or the like, supporting an upper edge of a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending vanes with the lower edges of the vanes in most embodiments of the invention being connected to operating elements adapted to raise the lower edges of each vane toward the upper edges to define openings or gaps between the vanes through which vision and light can pass in an open condition of the covering. Variations of the covering do not require movement of a lower edge of a vane relative to an upper edge but simply movement of some vanes relative to other vanes. The vanes can be made of materials having different flexibilities and where more rigid materials are used, creased fold lines can be established for desired operability.
US08607833B2
A routing machine comprises a plunge post, an electric motor, and a motor housing slideably connected to the plunge post. The motor housing defines an upper surface. A lockpiece selectively engages the plunge post between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lockpiece is allowed to slide relative to the plunge post along with the electric motor and motor housing when the lockpiece is in an unlocked position. The lockpiece is configured to lock in place relative to the plunge post and limit the extent to which the electric motor and motor housing may slide relative to the plunge post when the lockpiece is in the locked position. A fine adjustment mechanism is moveably connected to the lockpiece. The fine adjustment mechanism is configured to move the electric motor and motor housing relative to the plunge post when the lockpiece is in the locked position.
US08607827B2
A low profile downspout extension is formed in multiple segments including a flexible conduit, a splash block and an extension. The splash block transitions from a circular inlet into a low profile pentagon configuration with a central bead along the top surface of the low profile body portion to define an apex of the pentagon shape. The body portion is wider than the diameter of the circular inlet but has a height at the central bead that is more than half the diameter of the circular inlet. The body portion has ribbed side walls to strengthen the splash block without requiring internal reinforcement. The bottom surface of the splash block defines a flow path that extends generally linearly from the bottom of the inlet opening to the bottom of the pentagon-shaped outlet. An open configuration for the splash block provides an alternative above-ground splash pad structure for connecting to downspouts.
US08607825B2
A non-return valve includes a valve housing having at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a first valve seat and a second valve seat; and an at least partially flexible sealing member forceable into a scaling engagement with the first valve seat in response to a first differential pressure and forceable into a sealing engagement with the second valve seat in response to a second differential pressure.
US08607822B2
A heating and cooling system for a building utilizes lower vents which open into lower portions of rooms of a building, and upper vents which open into upper portions of rooms of the building. When the system is operating in a heating mode, heated air is delivered into the upper portions of the rooms through the upper vents and air is removed from the rooms through the lower vents. When the system is operating in a cooling mode, cool air is delivered into the rooms through the lower vents, and air is removed from the rooms through the upper vents. Operating the heating and cooling modes in this fashion provides the most efficient operation of the heating and cooling system.
US08607821B2
A stack valve 1 includes a boom direction switching valve 11 (first direction switching valve) connected to an unloading path 21 and a service valve 13 (second direction switching valve) connected to the unloading path 21 at the downstream of the boom direction switching valve 11. At changeover positions 11a and 11c at which the unloading path 21 on the upstream side is connected to one of the supply and discharge paths 29 and 30 and the other one of the supply and discharge paths 29 and 30 is connected to the unloading path 21 on the downstream side, the boom direction switching valve 11 is connected to a boom valve tank return path 27 which connects the other one of the supply and discharge paths 29 and 30 with the tank path 22.
US08607817B2
A control method of a filled water volume in a fluid space requiring a water filling test is disclosed. The method includes disposing a pipe in the fluid space and enclosing the pipe with an enclosure, detecting pressure of a water filled portion in the fluid space or outside of the enclosure, and controlling the volumes of filling fluid and water to a water filling portion in the fluid space inside and outside the enclosure based on the detected pressure such that the pressure in the enclosure becomes higher than the pressure at the water filling part in the fluid space outside the enclosure.
US08607809B2
The invention is a multi-legged walking cane where each leg operates independently of each other by employing compressible legs, enhancing stability thru the complete gait cycle.
US08607802B2
A method for forming a polycomponent fiber comprising a first, fiber-forming component comprising a polymer, and a second, component comprising an active ingredient that will selectively reduce or remove components of tobacco smoke, the method comprising the steps of: i. forming a dispersion, second solution or liquid comprising the second component; and ii. coextruding the first component and the dispersion, second solution or liquid through a jet or aperture to form a fiber comprising a first portion formed from the first component, and a second portion formed from the second component.
US08607799B1
A male chastity comprises a first loop, a cup, a second loop hinged to the first loop and optionally to the cup, and a removable fixing mechanism. The first loop is configured for being traversed by the user's penis and scrotum, and for encircling the penis behind the scrotum. The second loop is configured for being traversed by at least the penis, and for encircling the penis ahead of the scrotum, so that the user's testicles are located between the first loop and second loop. The cup is configured for enclosing at least a head of the penis. The removable fixing mechanism is configured, when joined to the device, for preventing removal of the device form the penis by limiting or blocking relative rotation between the first loop and the second loop, and, if needed, by limiting or blocking relative rotation between the cup and the second loop.
US08607790B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating ventilatory parameters, analyzing ventilatory data associated with those parameters, and providing useful notifications and/or recommendations to clinicians. Modern ventilators monitor, evaluate, and graphically represent a myriad of ventilatory parameters. However, many clinicians may not easily identify or recognize data patterns and correlations indicative of certain patient conditions, changes in patient condition, and/or effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Further, clinicians may not readily determine appropriate ventilatory adjustments that may address certain patient conditions and/or the effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Specifically, clinicians may not readily detect or recognize the presence of Auto-PEEP during various types of pressure ventilation of a patient exhibiting an obstructive component. According to embodiments, a ventilator may be configured to monitor and evaluate diverse ventilatory parameters to detect Auto-PEEP and may issue suitable notifications and recommendations to the clinician when Auto-PEEP is implicated.
US08607789B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating ventilatory parameters, analyzing those parameters and providing useful notifications and recommendations to clinicians. That is, modern ventilators monitor, evaluate, and graphically represent multiple ventilatory parameters. However, many clinicians may not easily recognize data patterns and correlations indicative of certain patient conditions, changes in patient condition, and/or effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Further, clinicians may not readily determine appropriate ventilatory adjustments that may address certain patient conditions and/or the effectiveness of ventilatory treatment. Specifically, clinicians may not readily detect or recognize the presence of Auto-PEEP during volume ventilation of a non-triggering patient exhibiting an obstructive component. According to embodiments, a ventilator may be configured to monitor and evaluate diverse ventilatory parameters to detect Auto-PEEP and may issue notifications and recommendations suitable for a non-triggering patient to the clinician when Auto-PEEP is implicated. The suitable notifications and recommendations may further be provided in a hierarchical format.
US08607781B2
The present invention relates to a sun collector comprising a flat absorber body (1) on or in which one or more absorber channels (17) for the flow of a heat transfer medium are configured. In areas which are not occupied by the one or more absorber channels (17), the absorber body (1) of the present sun collector has penetrable openings (4, 10, 13) for sunlight to pass through. The sun collector therefore provides the double function of a sun collector with a partially transparent sun protection device.
US08607778B1
Systems, apparatus, devices and methods of using and mounting solar collectors and photovoltaic collectors in gutters or directly along fascia and eaves and on architectural ledges on buildings, along building walls at various heights above the ground, as well as in ground engaged collectors for providing heated water, power and/or lighting. The collectors can have a pair of conduits/tubes for passing water therethrough. Each of the collectors can be attached to one another by mateably interlocking male and female connectors on the sides of each collector to one another.
US08607776B2
The invention relates to a barbecue comprising a carrier element, a grilling area being substantial horizontal orientated and being located at the top of the carrier element and a cover, wherein the cover can be positioned in a first position in which the grilling area is covered and in a second position in which the grilling area is accessible. To improve the functionality of such a barbecue, the invention suggests that means are provided to allow the cover to move from the first position into the second position, wherein the cover is pivoted during the movement from the first position into the second position around a horizontal axis and wherein the barycenter of the cover is moved from a first level to a second, lower level.
US08607773B1
The pneumatically driven projectile weapon combines the tensioned line of a conventional crossbow or archery bow with mechanical and pneumatic compression, thus increasing the power and accuracy of the weapon. A spring-biased cylinder is mounted within a hollow weapon stock, similar to a conventional rifle or shotgun stock, and is interconnected via an internal pulley system to the tensioned line. Firing tension in the line to launch a projectile, such as an arrow or the like, is created by compression of the spring-biased pneumatic cylinder.
US08607766B2
When an abnormality determining process is cancelled when a fuel cut is stopped, an EGR valve (33), which is open wider than normal from the process, is returned to its original opening amount (i.e., fully closed), and fuel injection in an engine (1) is resumed. However, during execution of the abnormality determining process, an EGR passage (32) is full of air. Also, when the EGR valve (33) is returned to the fully closed state, there is a response delay in the change in the flowrate of air that flows from the EGR passage (32) into the air passage (4) following that return, such that excess air flows into the air passage (4). As a result, the intake air amount of the engine (1) becomes excessive for the fuel injection quantity after fuel injection resumes. The fuel injection quantity is thus increase corrected to inhibit this from happening.
US08607764B2
A fluid accumulator arrangement suitable for use with a compression ignition internal-combustion engine comprising a first storage volume, a second storage volume, and valve means fluidly connected between the first storage volume and the second storage volume. In one embodiment, the valve means is a three-way control valve wherein, in a first position, the first storage volume communicates with the second storage volume, in a second position the first storage volume is isolated from the second storage volume and, in a third position, one of the first or second storage volumes communicates with a low pressure drain. The arrangement may also include control means to operate the valve means in accordance with predetermined control strategies.
US08607759B2
A process for remanufacturing a cylinder head that includes a worn or damaged rocker arm stand adapted to receive a rocker shaft to which at least one rocker arm is mounted, the steps including machining a channel in a surface of the worn or damaged rocker arm stand, securing an insert into the channel, and machining the insert to form a remanufactured inner facing surface. The remanufactured cylinder head includes at least one rocker arm stand that has a machined channel with a remanufactured insert secured therein, the rocker shaft being disposed adjacent the inner facing surface, not the rocker arm stand.
US08607748B2
In an engine equipped with a variable valvetrain including a second cam phase alteration mechanism 31 for altering the phase of second intake cams 12 actuating second intake valves, relative to a crankshaft, the second cam phase alteration mechanism 31 is arranged at an end opposite to an end at which a cam sprocket is provided to receive power from the crankshaft, to be located outside a cylinder head 2, and an actuator cover 40 is fixed to the cylinder head 2 to cover at least a lower portion of the second cam phase alteration mechanism 31.
US08607743B2
A fuel reforming catalyst is installed in an internal combustion engine, the catalyst generating a combustible gas from a reforming fuel by using heat of the exhaust gas. In the reforming control, the combustible gas generated by action of the fuel reforming catalyst is refluxed into the intake system. An ECU varies a lower limit temperature of the reforming control depending on a mixture ratio of a gasoline and an ethanol in the reforming fuel. If the temperature of the fuel reforming catalyst is lower than the lower limit temperature, the ECU suspends the injection of the reforming fuel. The device can enlarge a temperature range to perform reforming control as much as possible, and perform the reforming control under suitable temperature conditions.
US08607740B2
The present invention relates to a device for carrying a small four-legged animal. The device wraps around the body of the animal and provides handles for carrying the animal.
US08607734B2
The invention relates to a milk tube for a milking unit, comprising two end regions lying opposite one another and an intermediate region, all regions being interconnected to form one piece. The intermediate region is composed of a soft material and at least one end region is composed of at least one hard material.
US08607732B2
In an in-liquid plasma film-forming apparatus having: a vessel 1 being capable of accommodating a substrate “S” and a liquid “L” including raw material therein; an electrode 2 for in-liquid plasma, electrode 2 which is disposed in the vessel 1; an electric power device 3 for supplying electricity to the electrode 2 for in-liquid plasma; the electrode 2 for in-liquid plasma is equipped with: a main electrode 21 having a discharging end 22; an auxiliary electrode 26 not only facing the discharging end 22 but also being disposed between the discharging end 22 and the substrate “S” that face each other; and a plasma generating unit 29 having a space that is demarcated by a surface 22a of the discharging end 22 and a surface 26a of the auxiliary electrode 26 facing the surface 22a, and being for generating plasma by means of electricity being supplied to the main electrode 21.
US08607728B2
Air is continuously supplied into upper spaces via an air supply duct, during coating of an object to be coated in a paint booth, whereby the air is jetted through jetting holes and flows downwards along side walls. The air flowing downwards along the side walls is sucked into lower spaces, via clearances, and is discharged out of the paint booth via air exhaust ducts.
US08607719B1
The effective length of a control arm having manually alterable stops repositionable along is rendered automatically changeable by means of a solenoid movable strip arranged to be either pressed against the control arm or removed from contact with the control arm by operation of the automatically operated solenoid which may usually be operated by a change in the surrounding ambient temperature.
US08607717B2
The present invention relates to a regulated two stage thermal oxidation of waste and applications to use such a process for energy generation. A system and a method are provided comprising a set up of one or more gasification chambers, which are connected via ductwork to a combustion chamber to burn the waste material. The waste is loaded into the gasification chamber(s) and ignited there and the gas, which is generated by the sub-stoichiometric combustion in the gasification chamber is fully combusted in the secondary combustion chamber at a very high temperature. The time used for the burn down period is decreased and controlled by several air and gas flow factors of the system of the present invention.
US08607715B2
A stabilizing arrangement supports an object on four ground engaging devices on uneven ground has an interconnection mechanism, and three or four lever parts connected to the interconnection mechanism by respective pivots each with a pivot axis. The first and third pivot axes are at an angle of up to thirty degrees from parallel to each other and within thirty degrees of perpendicular to the second pivot axis. The first lever part includes a first engaging region engaging with the second engaging region of the second lever part. The third lever part includes a second engaging region engaging with the first engaging region of the second lever part. Rotation of the first lever part drives rotation of the second lever part which drives rotation of the third lever part opposite to the first lever part, allowing warp displacement of the four ground engaging devices.
US08607709B2
An intersection navigation system for a hoist to prevent a hoist unit of the hoist from falling when the hoist unit passes an intersection may include a hoist unit including an auxiliary mover and a railway on which the hoist unit travels. The railway may include an intersection having auxiliary rails on which the auxiliary mover moves. Furthermore, the auxiliary mover may be configured to prevent the hoist unit from falling when the hoist unit passes through the intersection.
US08607706B2
Temporary connection and pyrotechnic separation device with a longitudinal axis (X) comprising a pyrotechnic expansion tube (14) mounted in a space (11) formed in a connection zone between a first (2) and second assembly (4) to be separated, the second assembly (4) being formed of a stack of plies (12.1, 12.2) bonded together, the two assemblies (2, 4) being connected to each other by two metal parts (10.1, 10.2), said metal parts being fixed onto the first assembly and bonded onto the outer plies (12.1) of the second assembly (4), the bonding area between said outer ply (12.1) and the adjacent inner ply (12.2) is less than the bonding area between two inner plies (12.2) forming a fuse ply, such that, when the pyrotechnic expansion tube (14) is used, the outer ply (12.1) separates from the adjacent inner ply.
US08607687B2
A bump stock and interface system for a semi-automatic firearm. The interface system includes first and second bearing elements. A handle is provided with an integral finger rest. The finger rest is concave to form a cradle for the user's trigger finger. In use, the user grasps the handle with one hand and places an index finger of the same hand firmly on the finger rest. When intending to fire a round of ammunition, the user pushes the receiver forward with their other hand so that the trigger collides with the stabilized finger. Recoil force quickly separates the trigger from the user's finger on the finger rest. The user again pushes forward the receiver to repeat the firing cycle. A lock can be selectively engaged to restrict longitudinal movement of the firearm relative to the handle, thereby returning the firearm to normal semi-automatic functionality.
US08607686B2
An apparatus for controlling rotational movement of a turret of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a controller that generates a control signal for controlled operation of the turret in a controlled mode of operation. In response to a determination that a manual mode of operation has been initiated, the controller disables controlled operation of the turret of the vehicle.
US08607674B2
A torque-regulated, manual drive, hydraulic wrench for tightening and loosening which doesn't require any outer element for operating, whether hydraulic pumps with respective supply hoses, control gauges, or hydraulic centers. The torque selection/regulation is performed by a circular slide rule mechanism.
US08607668B1
An opening device for opening sealed containers of various types. The opening device removes bottle caps, twist-off style bottle caps and opens stay-on-tab cans. The opening device increases the speed with which containers may be opened and helps to protect the hands by reducing the force needed to open the containers.
US08607666B2
A power transmission device for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by a power source. A first output shaft is rotatable about a first axis and adapted to transmit torque to a first driveline. A second output shaft is adapted to transmit torque to a second driveline and is rotatable about a second axis. The first and second axes diverge from one another. A transfer unit includes a drive member rotatably supported on the first output shaft and a driven member coupled to the second output shaft. A joint is positioned within a cavity formed in the driven member and drivingly interconnects the driven member and the second output shaft. The driven member includes first and second portions separable from and re-mountable to each other to allow service to the joint.
US08607665B1
A rotary table with a main frame, at least two driving wheels, at least two driven wheels, a round inner seal plate and a round outer seal plate. The main frame is provided with an inner and outer annular track region. Driving-wheel emplacement regions are at proper locations on the outer annular track region and driven-wheels are installed in a drive-wheel annular track region between the inner and outer annular track regions. The driving wheels are installed in the driving-wheel emplacement regions of the main frame. A side of the drive-wheel is connected with a sliding block. The driven wheel is matched and gnawed with the driving wheel which can drive individually the matched and gnawed driven wheel to rotate and displace to perform plural manufacturing processes of a short machine-hour and plural fixed sites, such that all the manufacturing processes can be accomplished simultaneously.
US08607664B2
A porous insert for a gearbox or transmission which retards fluid motion and flow within the device when it is subjected to rapid acceleration. The insert may be fabricated of any porous material such as open cell plastic foam, a porous ceramic or sintered metal and is shaped to conform to and is installed in a bottom rear region of the transmission housing. The insert retards motion of the fluid during rapid acceleration, preventing pump starvation and permitting a smaller charge of fluid to be placed in the gearbox or transmission.
US08607656B2
A drive device for a deployment element of a motor vehicle, in particular for a pivotable hinged window, which can be moved between an open position and a closed position in a motorized manner is provided. A spur gear transmission driven by an electric motor comprises an output gear having a coupling lever for coupling a deployment lever in a rotationally movable manner, a spur gear that meshes with the output gear, and an intermediate gear that is coaxial with the spur gear. The output gear has outer teeth having two teeth sections of different axial tooth width. The deployment lever that is coupled to the coupling lever extends in a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the rotational axes of the spur gear transmission.
US08607649B2
A torque sensor is configured so that a multi-pole permanent magnet is fixed to one of a first shaft and a second shaft linked via a torsion bar, a first rotating yoke and a second rotating yoke each having provided at equal intervals in the peripheral direction a plurality of claw portions facing the permanent magnet are fixed to the other of the first shaft and second shaft, and a magnetism detection element is disposed between a first magnetism-collecting yoke and a second magnetism-collecting yoke individually facing the first and second rotating yokes. The first and second rotating yokes are formed into identical shapes, and the claw portions provided respectively on the rotating yokes are alternatingly disposed in the peripheral direction within the same plane perpendicular to the axes of the first shaft and second shaft. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a cost by having fewer types of parts.
US08607644B2
A Coriolis mass flowmeter having at least four measuring tubes running parallel, the measuring tubes being joined in pairs into a oscillation unit by being inserted in openings in a holding device (1) and wherein at least part of either a sensor or actuator device is attached to the holding device (1). A Coriolis mass flowmeter that has an increased measuring accuracy is implemented in that the measuring tube central axes (3) of a measuring tube pair span a common plane (E), that the holding device (1) has at least two attachment extensions (4), that the attachment extensions (4) extend across the common plane (E) and that the holding devices (1) with the attachment extensions (4) are mirror symmetric relative to the common plane (E) in respect to their projection viewed in the direction of the measuring tube central axes (3).
US08607642B2
A flow body flow meter includes a flow body, a heater, and a sensor. The flow body includes an inlet, an outlet, and an internal passage coupling the inlet and the outlet. The heater evaporates at least some liquid droplets in a stream received by the flow body. The sensor has one or more sensor probes in the flow body to measure a fluid property of the stream.
US08607636B2
A triaxial vibration composite testing apparatus including a working tabletop, wherein the second axial vibration transmission mechanism in the horizontal X axial direction and the third axial vibration transmission mechanism in the horizontal Y axial direction are both cross linear guide pairs; the first axial vibration transmission mechanism in the perpendicular Z axial direction includes an upper and a lower clamps and a central panel, the upper and the lower clamps being horizontally opposite to each other up and down, the central panel being positioned between the upper and the lower clamps, the upper and the lower clamps oppositely clamping the central panel; a gap fit between the lower surface of the upper clamp and the upper surface of the central panel forms an upper fit plane, and a gap fit between the upper surface of the lower clamp and the lower surface of the central panel a lower fit plane; and the high pressure oil is pumped into the upper fit plane gap and the lower fit plane gap to form a hydrostatic oil film, thus constituting a hydrostatic plane bearing mechanism.
US08607629B2
A method for assessment of force properties generated by the fiber tip of one or more fibers, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a fiber sample of one or more fibers, the fiber sample having a free portion and an end; (b) suspending the fiber sample over a tactile sensor at least 0.1 mm away in the vertical direction from the tactile sensor; wherein the fiber sample or the tactile sensor is connected to a means for vertically moving either the fiber sample or the tactile sensor toward each other; (c) surrounding the free portion of the fiber sample with a cover which surrounds the free portion over some length of the free portion and stably positioned; wherein the cover guides the direction of the free portion in a more or less vertical orientation through the steps hereof; (d) vertically moving the fiber sample or the tactile sensor such that the end of the fiber sample contacts the tactile sensor; (e) providing the tactile sensor with means for measuring the distribution of force vectors generated by the contact of the end of the fiber sample; and (f) assessing the force properties based on the distribution of force vectors.
US08607626B2
A test system includes a platform having a movable endless belt. A restraint is configured to restrain a test article in a selected vertical position relative to the moveable belt. The restraint includes at least a pair of axially rigid supports wherein at least one rigid support is provided on each side of the movable belt and has an end configured to be secured to the test article, and wherein each support extends from a stationary portion, relative to the belt, of the platform over at least a portion of the movable belt.
US08607621B2
Systems and methods used to monitor a fluid where it is important to know the size, concentration and nature of particulates in the fluid. For example, the systems and method can be used to diagnose contamination issues in fluids such as fuel, lubrication, power transfer, heat exchange or other fluids in fluid systems, for example diesel engines or hydraulic systems, where contaminant particles in the fluids are of concern.
US08607616B2
A particle sensor is disclosed capable of sensing airborne particles larger than about 10 nm in an airflow passing through a passage inside the sensor. The sensor comprises a high-voltage discharge electrode for generating airborne unipolar ions that charge the airborne particles in the airflow. The generated ions are furthermore used to set-up an ionic wind between the discharge electrode and a counter electrode inside the sensor. The ionic wind is the driving force for maintaining the airflow through the sensor and allows sensor operation to occur free of audible noise. The presence of charged particles in the airflow is measured by an electrical current meter in the particle sensing section which measures the particle-bound charge that precipitates per unit time on the surface of a precipitation electrode after all airborne ions have been removed from air by a separate screening electrode positioned upstream of the particle sensing section.
US08607615B2
A two-dimensional gas chromatography system having first and second separation columns, a thermal modulator disposed between the first and second columns and having a plurality of stage channels, and a micro heater monolithically integrated in the thermal modulator. The thermal modulator is operable to trap and focus gas/vapor species within the plurality of stage channels upon cooling and release the gas/vapor species to the second column upon heating by the micro heater.
US08607614B2
An apparatus and system for characterizing and quantifying certain attributes of antiperspirants and deodorants is provided, such as payout, friction, and flakeoff. The apparatus is capable of reproducibly applying antiperspirants and deodorant to a substrate.
US08607607B1
A system and a method for feeding wire material to a rotary compaction press are provided. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of feeding a wire strand of material to a location adjacent a cutting surface; moving the cutting surface, thereby causing the cutting surface to cut the wire strand of material into a wire pellet of material; and transporting the wire pellet of material to adjacent a die table of a rotary compaction press. In some embodiments the system includes a wire exit aperture. A cutting disc may be provided adjacent the wire exit aperture and may have a plurality of wire cutting surfaces and adjacent wire notches. The cutting disc may be rotatable, thereby causing the wire cutting surfaces to sequentially pass over the wire exit aperture.
US08607602B1
Passenger portable safety brake, a safety devise for passenger to control the speed or stop a car driven by a student driver. The passenger portable safety brake includes a handle, elongated tube and U-shaped tip with a latch. This device is designed to easily and temporarily attached to the car brake and controlled by the passenger, driving instructor, parents or any one that is helping the student driver with on the road instruction.
US08607598B2
A drum type washing machine including a housing, a rotating spin tub to hold laundry to be washed and a ball balancer coupled to the spin tub to compensate for a dynamic imbalance during rotation thereof. The ball balancer includes a first plastic member and a second plastic member joined to each other to form a closed internal space in which a plurality of balls and viscous fluid are accommodated, the first plastic member includes a first side wall, a second side wall and a connecting wall to form a three-sided annular-shaped structure having an open side, and the second plastic member is adapted to cover the open side of the first plastic member. A diameter of each of the balls is smaller than a depth of the three-sided annular-shaped structure measured from the connecting wall to a top of the first side wall.
US08607594B1
A circular knitted head cover, used to cover the user's bead, has a long cylindrical cap, integrally circular knitted, flexible, and in the shape of a hollow cylinder. The relative two ends of the long cylindrical cap are respectively formed with an upper cap opening and a lower cap opening. At least one eye through-hole is provided, being an opening integrally knitted on one side of the long cylindrical cap. The eye through-hole enables exposure of the user's eyes when wearing the head cover. An interlaced mouth and nose vent is provided in the shape of interval holes, integrally knitted on one side of the long cylindrical cap and located on a position spaced from the eye through-hole. The interlaced mouth and nose vent enables ventilation of the user's mouth and nose when wearing the head cover.
US08607584B2
A refrigerator having a sub door which reduces energy loss and a method of manufacturing method the sub door. The refrigerator includes a main body provided with storage chambers formed therein, doors opening and closing the storage chambers, and provided with an opening, a sub door to open and close the opening, and a cooling unit provided on the rear surface of the sub door. When the sub door is opened, cool air of the cooling unit is transmitted to a stored article put on the rear surface of the sub door, and when the sub door is closed, relatively uniform temperature distribution in the storage chamber is achieved and thus storage performance of the refrigerator is improved.
US08607583B2
A portable, combination dehydrator, dry return air and condensed water generator/dispenser configured to alternately provide water from a reservoir of condensed water or from an alternative source of water. In one embodiment, the alternative source comprises a five-gallon bottle of water and the mounting for the bottle includes a removable cover for preventing contamination of the system when the bottle is not in place. In one embodiment, the system provides purified dry make-up air to a home or office air conditioning system and dehydration cabinet, while producing pure atmospheric condensation from humidity found in the air and purifying the air and water for breathing, dispensing and drinking purposes.
US08607581B2
The present invention is directed to a transport package which efficiently maintains payload temperature within a predetermined temperature range during delivery through regions having ambient temperatures outside the desired range. The transport package is used for transporting temperature sensitive materials and thermally protecting the materials from cold and hot ambient temperatures in a manner that does not require a power source or other mechanical devices. Aspects of the invention relate to a temperature maintaining packaging system having an outer container, thermal insulation materials and two or more different phase change materials.
US08607572B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a gas turbine combustor that supports hydrogen-containing gas having a high burning velocity and is capable of performing low NOx combustion without reducing reliability of a burner. A first fuel nozzle is provided upstream of a combustion chamber and supplies fuel for activation and hydrogen-containing gas. The combustor has a primary combustion zone, a reduction zone and a secondary combustion zone. In the primary combustion zone, the fuel supplied from the first fuel nozzle is combusted under a fuel rich condition to form a burned gas containing a low concentration of oxygen. In the reduction zone, a hydrogen-containing gas is injected into the combustion chamber through a second fuel injection hole from a second fuel nozzle so that NOx generated in the primary combustion zone is reduced by an oxygen reaction of the hydrogen. In the secondary combustion zone, air for lean combustion is supplied into the combustion chamber so that unburned part of fuel is combusted under a fuel lean condition.
US08607570B2
A fuel nozzle tip for use with a combustor and a method of assembling the fuel nozzle tip are provided. The fuel nozzle tip includes a fuel tube and an air collar coupled to the fuel tube. The fuel tube includes a first plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel openings and a second plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel openings. The fuel tube is configured to channel fuel into a mixing zone defined within the combustor. The air collar includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced air openings configured to discharge air into the mixing zone.
US08607563B2
Hydraulic fluid is supplied from a hydraulic fluid supply opening to a hydraulic fluid supply portion. The hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid supply portion is supplied to a primary hydraulic fluid storage chamber and to a secondary hydraulic fluid storage chamber via a hydraulic fluid supply passage. An oblong cylinder-shaped portion that has a chamber is formed between the hydraulic fluid supply opening and the hydraulic fluid supply portion. Further, a volume-augmented chamber forming portion that has a volume-augmented chamber that is communicated with the chamber is disposed in this oblong cylinder-shaped portion. In that case, at least part of the volume-augmented chamber is positioned above a MAX line of the hydraulic fluid.
US08607558B2
A work machine includes: hydraulic actuators 21, 22, 23, 31, and 32; a capacitor 61 for storing electric power when a generator motor 44 operates as a generator and for supplying electric power when the generator motor 44 operates as a motor; and a swing electric motor 10, the hydraulic actuators 21, 22, 23, 31, and 32 and the swing electric motor 10 are operated by operation of operating levers 50, 70. The work machine includes an idling stop control unit 110 for stopping the idling of an engine 40 and retains the swing electric motor 10 in an operation prohibited state at least on the condition that stored voltage of the capacitor 61 is predetermined voltage or higher when the neutral states of the operating levers 50, 70 continue for a predetermined stop time during operation of the engine 40.
US08607553B2
An exhaust system for use with an engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a first treatment device configured to receive a flow of exhaust from the engine and convert a first constituent of the exhaust to a second constituent. The exhaust system may also have a second treatment device located downstream of the first treatment device and configured to reduce the first constituent and the second constituent. The exhaust system may further have a flow regulator configured to selectively vary a rate of exhaust passing through the first treatment device, and a controller configured to operate the flow regulator such that a desired amount of the first constituent and the second constituent is received by the second treatment device.
US08607548B2
In one implementation of the disclosed technique, a NOx sensor polynomial algorithm is used to discriminate between NOx and ammonia emission. The polynomial algorithm uses the SCR's time constant property to infer the “loading state” of the SCR and estimate both the NOx conversion and quantity of ammonia slip. The polynomial algorithm assesses this by differentially analyzing the upstream and downstream NOx sensor signals through a comparison of the polynomial coefficients.
US08607546B2
A method for operating a compression-ignition internal combustion engine including an exhaust aftertreatment system having an oxidation catalyst fluidly coupled upstream of a catalyzed particulate filter includes introducing fuel into an exhaust gas feedstream of the engine upstream of the oxidation catalyst, determining operating parameters associated with the exhaust gas feedstream, determining a hydrocarbon slip rate through the oxidation catalyst corresponding to the operating parameters associated with the exhaust gas feedstream and the introduced fuel into the exhaust gas feedstream, and controlling a flowrate of fuel introduced into the exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the oxidation catalyst in response to the estimated hydrocarbon slip rate through the oxidation catalyst.
US08607540B2
A roving machine for producing a roving from a sliver has at least one spinning station that has a vortex chamber with an infeed opening for the sliver and a roving forming element in the form of a spindle extending at least partially into the vortex chamber. The vortex chamber is associated with at least one air nozzle via which air is guided into the vortex chamber, and wherein the spindle has a draw-off channel via which the roving is drawn out of the vortex chamber. In the region of the vortex chamber, the draw-off channel has an inlet port for the roving to be drawn out of the vortex chamber, wherein the inlet port has an inner diameter that lies between 4 mm and 12 mm, preferably between 6 mm and 8 mm.
US08607533B2
A method and apparatus for creating a reinforced vertical multi-sided monopole tower for supporting equipment including a multi-sided monopole, a plurality of holes on three equally spaced sides of the multi-sided monopole tower and tower reinforcement apparatus mounted to the holes. The tower reinforcement apparatus includes bolts supporting a first flat bar and a second flat bar on each side of the tower. The upper end of the first flat bar abuts a lower end of the second bar and a plate is bolted over adjacent ends connecting the first and second flat bar such that the first and second flat bars are sandwiched between the plate and a side of the perimeter of the monopole.
US08607532B2
The invention relates to a building component for forming floor and/or wall coverings, for example tile or parquet floorings. According to said invention, the inventive building component comprises a support layer (1) and a layer (2) which is connected thereto and consists of at least one coating element (3) forming a floor or wall surface. Said building component also comprises a device (7, 8) for connecting similar building components applied to a floor or a wall. Said support layer (1) is preferably connected to the coating element (3) by means of an intermediate layer (4) which is foamed or sprayed on the support layer (1) and on the building component.
US08607523B2
The present invention relates to a building that uses composite light-weight panels for structure and a construction method therefor, more particularly, to a building constructed without pillars using composite light weight panels for structure and a construction method therefor, wherein the building comprises: a steel floor made out of sectional steel for example; walls which are formed by joining composite light-weight panels for structure having steel structure frames installed at corners to the steel floor by welding or joining means, neighboring steel structure frames being joined together by welding or joining means to form walls; roof frames which are constituted by a steel structure and have a truss structure to be positioned on the top of the walls and joined to the wall panels by welding or joining means; wall inner/outer coverings applied to the inner/outer peripherals of the walls; and roof coverings applied to the outer peripheral face of the roof frame.
US08607521B2
A roofing shingle is provided. The roofing shingles includes an overlay sheet including a headlap portion and a tab portion and an underlay sheet secured to the overlay sheet such that a region of the underlay sheet overlaps a region of the headlap portion of the overlay sheet. A reinforcement material is secured to the headlap portion of the overlay sheet. The reinforcement material is configured to improve nail pull-through. The reinforcement material extends beyond the overlapping regions of the headlap portion and the underlay sheet a distance of about 0.12 inches or less.
US08607518B2
A wall module for a modular wall structure integrates a wall panel portion with a post portion having top or upper and bottom or lower extensions and at least one groove for receiving a distal end portion of a wall panel portion of an adjacent module. The bottom/lower extension is set within an exposed portion of a reinforcing cage of a caisson or pier extending below grade and the reinforcing cage and bottom/lower extension are encapsulated with a material such as concrete to integrate the caisson or pier with the bottom/lower post extension. Alternatively, the bottom post extension can be formed to have a length sufficient to support the module in soil and a pier or caisson integrally formed therewith by pouring concrete around the bottom post extension within a post hole.
US08607502B2
A gate apparatus having an automatically returning gate, an upper latch operated by an upper button, and a lower latch operated by an upper finger handle. Each of the latches must be opened to open the gate. The gate returns without the aid of a spring to a position close to the closed position or to the closed position by the structure of a pivot or hinge connection between the gate and the frame of the gate. Gate tubes are rectangular in section for their entire length. Wood panels are included in the gate and excluded from other portions of the gate apparatus to make the gate stand out to the user seeking to open the gate.
US08607501B2
A watering device is provided that includes a receptacle and a sponge wick. The receptacle includes a reservoir and a probe. The probe projects from the reservoir and is adapted to extend into potting mix in a plant pot. The probe is also adapted to hook on to the rim of the plant pot in order to support the device thereon. The wick is adapted to extend from the reservoir within or along the probe and into the potting mix in the plant pot. The wick includes non-woven Polyvinyl Alcohol fibers which are bound by a Polyvinyl Alcohol foam resin.
US08607493B2
A scratch prevention tool used to disassemble a pistol with a generally planar body, a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, a retaining aperture formed within the body, the retaining aperture intersecting the first surface and the second surface and an upper surface interconnecting the first surface and second surface. The tool also includes a side surface interconnecting the first surface and the second surface, a notch interconnecting the first surface and the second surface and interconnecting the upper surface and the side surface, an outer surface interconnecting the first surface and the second surface and interconnecting the upper surface and the side surface, wherein the upper surface abuts a lower surface of a slide of the pistol, the side surface abuts a forward surface of a stock of the pistol and wherein a portion of a magazine release member is interposed within the retaining aperture.
US08607490B1
A quick release, free floating, multi-piece forward hand guard assembly for a rifle includes an inner barrel nut adapted to be affixed to a front of the rifle receiver and an outer barrel nut telescopically received over the inner barrel nut and longitudinally secured thereto. The outer barrel nut is non-rotatable with respect to the inner barrel nut. A first hand guard element is engaged with and extends forwardly from the outer barrel nut in a laterally stable cantilevered fashion, and a second hand guard element is matingly engaged with the first hand guard element for surrounding the rifle's barrel and is free floating therefrom. The second hand guard element is attached to the first hand guard element with at least one quick release fastener.
US08607489B1
A magazine for a firearm holds cartridges in three sections: a top section, a middle section and a bottom section. The top section is detachable. The middle section has a smaller width and depth than the bottom section so that the middle section can be inserted into the bottom section of another similarly formed magazine. A removable bottom cover closes the bottom section. A spring with removable segments rests on the bottom cover. A c-shaped member fixed to each spring segment permits adding segments. Two magazines may be combined by removing the top section of a second magazine, detaching the bottom cover of a first magazine, removing a spring segment of the second magazine, connecting the shorter spring to the spring of the first magazine; and slidably inserting the middle section of the second magazine into the bottom section of the first ammunition magazine over the larger spring.
US08607483B2
The present invention proposes a domestic appliance and specifically an ironing appliance having an external water reservoir connected to the appliance through a feeding tube. Water conveyed to the ironing unit is directly subjected to an independently heated inner plate where steam is directly produced and conveyed to the soleplate whose temperature being independently adjusted. The independently heated inner plate comprises a pair of covers set one above the other. The first cover receives water through its openings and channels and the second cover lying just below the first one to define an inner space allows conveyance of the water to the steam producing plate. The steam then reaches the soleplate to be applied to the cloth item being ironed.
US08607477B2
Various embodiments provide a spike device for a sole of an anti-slid shoe. The device comprises at least a spike and a resilient member comprising an elastic diaphragm hving an inner portion and an outer portion. A spike unit comprising the spike is arranged in an opening in the inner portion of the elastic diaphragm such that the spike protrudes in an axial direction from the elastic diaphragm. The spike unit is movable in an axial direction and fixed in relation to the opening so as to allow the spike unit to move together with the inner portion of the elastic diaphragm. The spike device further comprises a guiding and supporting means for guiding the axial movement of the spike unit when the inner poriton moves in relation to the outer portion. A shoe comprising the spike device is also provided, having respective lower and upper sole members.
US08607474B2
A method of forming an article of footwear includes injecting a first material into a first cavity of a mold assembly to form a sole assembly, injecting a second material into a second cavity of the mold assembly, a first last being suspended within the second cavity, to form an upper of the article of footwear about the first last. The upper and the sole assembly are positioned in contact with one another. The upper and the sole assembly are cured and bonded together to form an article of footwear. The article of footwear is removed from the mold assembly and from the first last and allowed to expand to a first size. The article of footwear is placed on a second last having a second size that is smaller than the first size, and heated and cooled until it shrinks to the second size.
US08607470B2
A hair styling and drying apparatus has a pair of pivotally connected arms, styling surfaces on the arms, air suction and discharge orifices in the styling surfaces, and a blower for blowing air through the air orifices and recycling air between the arms. At least some suction orifices of one styling surface can align with at least some discharge orifices of the other styling surface. The blowers blow air out the discharge orifices and suck air into the suction orifices, thereby recycling much of the blown air. The apparatus can include heaters for heating the blown air and for heating the styling surfaces.
US08607462B2
An attachment for a chainsaw has a lock strip aligned with and near the bottom edge of the chain bar. A plurality of substantially C-shaped stop members engage non-circular indentations formed in the lock strip with one leg and the opposite side of the chain bar with the other leg. The substantially C-shaped stop members are large enough to go around the chain without touching the chain and to block brush and small limbs from being dragged by the chain into the housing. A tightening screw is associated with each of the plurality of substantially C-shaped stop members for holding the C-shaped stop member in a tight relationship with both the lock strip and the chain bar.
US08607461B2
Driving power is transmitted to an output shaft, via driving and driven bevel gears, to a cutter blade. A gearbox supports the output shaft via first and second bearings. The second bearing is engaged by an engaging member to be prevented from axial movement, toward the blade, relative to the gearbox and supports the output shaft near the cutter blade. The output shaft is connected to the driven bevel gear such that it is prevented from rotation relative to the driven bevel gear but allowed to move axially. When the engaged state, by the engaging member, of the second bearing is canceled, the shaft is allowed to axially move toward the cutter blade until the shaft becomes rotatable relative to the driven bevel gear, at the same time of which a retaining stopper prevents the shaft from further axial movement.
US08607458B2
The present invention is directed to an implement holder and a flexible tube handle that has semi-rigid or flexible walls. The tube handle has a frame adapted to be removably secured to the sealed end of the flexible tube. The frame has an attachment portion and a tool portion. The attachment portion has a first surface adapted to generally encircle and/or grip a portion of the sealed end or body of the flexible tube and the tool portion has a tube holder adapted to receive a tool or having a tool affixed thereto.
US08607451B2
A combustor-transition-piece guide jig is constituted by two rails, a fixing member, and a holding member. The fixing member is provided at one ends of the rails and attached to a combustor attachment port. The rails are inserted from the combustor attachment port toward inside of the combustor casing and fixed to the combustor attachment port by the fixing member. The rails come into contact with a combustor-transition-piece guiding part provided on a combustor transition piece to guide a movement of the combustor transition piece in one direction.
US08607444B2
Improved techniques for forming an electronic device housing in which an outer housing member can be assembled with one or more other housing members of the electronic device are disclosed. The one or more other housing members can together with a thin substrate layer (or thin substrate) form a frame to which the outer housing member can be secured. The thin substrate layer facilitates molding of the one or more other housing members adjacent to the outer housing member. In one embodiment, the outer housing member can be made of glass and the one or more other housing members can be made of a polymer, such as plastic. The substrate layer can, for example, be formed of a polymer or a metal. The resulting electronic device housing can be thin yet be sufficiently strong to be suitable for use in electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices.
US08607442B2
A disk drive device includes a hub, a base plate, and a bearing unit. The bearing unit includes a shaft housing member, joined to the hub, having a through-hole in the center, a shaft having a smaller diameter section and a larger diameter section, a radial dynamic pressure grooves, and a lubricant agent. The opening shape of bearing hole of the base plate is so formed as to be larger than the outer shape of the larger diameter section. In the bearing unit, the larger diameter section of the bearing unit is fixed by a hardening resin present between the bearing unit and the bearing hole.
US08607438B1
A read sensor for a transducer is fabricated. The transducer has a field region and a sensor region corresponding to the sensor. A sensor stack is deposited. A hybrid mask including hard and field masks is provided. The hard mask includes a sensor portion covering the sensor region and a field portion covering the field region. The field mask covers the field portion of the hard mask. The field mask exposes the sensor portion of the hard mask and part of the sensor stack between the sensor and field regions. The sensor is defined from the sensor stack in a track width direction. Hard bias layer(s) are deposited. Part of the hard bias layer(s) resides on the field mask. Part of the hard bias layer(s) adjoining the sensor region is sealed. The field mask is lifted off. The transducer is planarized.
US08607428B2
A catheter repair kit and method for repairing a catheter is provided. The catheter repair kit can include a rod and a connection element for coupling the rod to the connection element. The method of repairing the catheter can include providing a catheter with a remnant extension leg, a replacement extension tube, and the steps of attaching a connection element to the remnant extension leg, and coupling the remnant extension leg to the replacement extension tube.
US08607415B2
An apparatus (10) for an electronic device, the apparatus comprising a first housing (12) having a first face (14) and a second housing (11) having a first face (13), the apparatus comprising a hinge (15) arranged towards the edge of the first faces to allow the first faces to be folded towards and away from one another between respective closed and open configurations of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a biasing mechanism (17) arranged to bias the apparatus between the open and closed configurations, the biasing mechanism comprised with the first and/or second housings and not with the hinge.
US08607410B2
An attachment device for a vacuum cleaner includes a rotatable roller having at least one of bristles or flap-type agitating members. The rotatable roller has an axis of rotation extending transversely to a direction of advancement of the attachment device or vacuum cleaner. A motor is configured to rotate a motor shaft for driving the roller. The motor shaft extends transversely to the axis of rotation of the roller. A gear housing receives at least a portion of the roller and has an opening into which the motor shaft or a drive shaft coupled to the motor shaft extends.
US08607409B2
A sealing member for reducing or preventing loss of air from a multi-cyclone dust separating apparatus in a vacuum cleaner is provided. A sealing member comprises an inner sealing portion for maintaining sealing between a first cyclone unit and second cyclone units, an outer sealing portion for reducing or preventing the inflow of air to the cyclone dust separating apparatus from its exterior, and a cyclone receiving portion connected to the inner and outer sealing portions by a connecting member. The cyclone receiving portion includes holes in which at least portions of the second cyclone units are respectively received.
US08607408B2
In a vacuum cleaner (1) particulate matter (32) accumulates on a counter-weighted flap (4). When the weight of the particulate matter (32) exceeds the effect of the counterweight (15) and the effect of any air-pressure differential across the flap (4), the flap opens and voids particulate matter (32) from within the vacuum cleaner (1).
US08607405B2
A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.
US08607404B2
A surface cleaning apparatus, and in particular a steam/vacuum mop, comprises a steam delivery system for generating and distributing steam onto a surface to be cleaned and a vacuum source mounted to at least one of the foot assembly and the handle assembly and in communication with multiple suction inlets, where one of the suction inlets are intermittently blocked.
US08607403B2
An autonomous movable vehicle including: a propelling device; a fluid receiving conduit having at least one fill opening through which a container can be filled; at least one fluid dispensing opening through which a fluid is dispensed; and a controller that causes the vehicle to autonomously approach a fluid delivery station that is separate from the vehicle and that causes the fill opening to couple to the fluid delivery station, wherein when the fill opening and the fluid delivery station are in an interfacing position, fluid is transferred from the fluid delivery station into the container, and the fill opening of the fluid receiving conduit is disposed at a location spaced apart from and to one side of a central mirror axis of the vehicle which axis extends in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
US08607391B2
Pillow or mattress having a comfort layer (5) which is made of natural or synthetic latex, polyurethane foam or another elastic material. The comfort layer 5 is provided with interrupted incisions (6) through the layer 5, along mainly parallel lines 7, and the layer (5) forms at least a part of a jacket around a core (2) of the pillow or mattress that is stretched in a lateral direction (P) which is mainly transverse to the direction of the above-mentioned lines (7) in order to open the incisions (6) so as to form passages (8) through the comfort layer (5).
US08607388B1
A patient-support apparatus includes a deck, a headrail, and an entertainment system. The deck has a head end, a foot end spaced from the head end, a first side extending from the head end to the foot end, and a second side spaced from the first side and extending from the head end to the foot end. The headrail is coupled to the deck and extends along the first side of the deck near the head end of the deck. The entertainment system includes a user input and a projection device coupled to the headrail.
US08607387B2
The present invention is directed to a gelastic cushion. The gelastic cushion is made from a conventional gelastic composition. The gelastic cushion has a structure having a first wall that defines an opening area and buckles when a force is applied to the first wall. When the first wall buckles a predetermined amount, a second wall, interconnected to the first wall, also buckles. The second wall decreases the chance that the first wall bottoms out. Bottoming out increases the pressure on the patient (a.k.a., the force) overlying the gelastic cushion. That increased pressure is undesirable.
US08607377B2
The invention relates to a grey water reclamation system and methods therefor. Grey water is captured from a source, such as a sink, and stored in a main body containing a pump. The grey water is transported to a flush tank for use with a toilet. The system provides for use of a mixture of fresh water and grey water without interrupting the service to the user. Usage of grey water is maximized without completely eliminating the fresh water as a component that ensures service when grey water is unavailable.
US08607376B2
A waste water insert has a wall surrounding a vertical bore. A horizontal flange extends outwardly from the upper end of the wall and has a lip formed on its outer periphery. The horizontal flange of the waste water insert is super-imposed over the horizontal flange of a waste water strainer located in a bathtub, sink or the like. The wall of the insert extends downwardly through the cylindrical wall of the waste water strainer with the two walls being spaced from each other by virtue of the cylindrical wall of the insert having a smaller diameter than that of the strainer.
US08607366B2
A garment includes a vertical opening and a transverse flap on the front panel thereof for securing an external portion of a central line or catheter having at least two distal lumens or branches. The external portion of the catheter extends through a gap between a pair fasteners of the vertical opening. In order to secure the catheter, the flap includes a stopper that is fastened to front panel such that the stopper is located between the distal branches of the catheter. If one or both of the distal branches are pulled or tugged, a junction or transition area of the catheter is pressed against the stopper and limits further motion of the catheter to prevent dislodgement thereof. The flap further includes a series of fasteners for releasably coupling a free edge thereof onto the front panel to house the external portion of the catheter under the closed flap.
US08607365B2
A protective article of clothing adapted to protect snake fangs from biting into the leg of a wearer. The protective article has a leg portion that comprises a plurality of elongated inserts that are placed in overlapping side by side relation within a plurality of elongated pockets. The protective article of clothing wraps around a leg of an individual to protect the individual from being bitten by a snake.
US08613109B2
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for providing mobile social networking privacy are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a third party application for location information of a mobile endpoint device user, determines whether the third party application is a multiple user application and provides the location information of the mobile endpoint device user to the third party application in accordance with a privacy setting pre-defined by an authorized user if the third party application is a multiple user application.
US08613104B2
An outer COM object can be provided with privileged access to protected functionality in an inner COM object. An inner COM object can offer a custom protected interface to an outer COM object by creating a new inner internals COM object that is not available to a calling application or by creating a new extension IUnknown interface that can be used to access the protected content. An outer COM object can override behavior in an inner COM object. An inner COM object can offer access to custom behavior to an outer COM object by creating a new inner internals COM object that is not available to a calling application. The new inner internals COM object can implement a new interface that provides access to the customized (override) content or can create a new extension IUnknown interface that can be used to provide access to the customized (override) content.
US08613098B1
A method and system for providing a dynamic image verification system to confirm human input whereby a dynamic verification image that is pictorial in nature, and/or is animated, is displayed as part of a generated image verification test. The user is then asked to describe the pictorial image and/or the animation shown by the dynamic verification image and/or, in one example, respond to the dynamic verification image in a manner appropriate to the dynamic verification image. Any user entering a correct solution, i.e., describing the pictorial image and/or animated action of the dynamic verification image correctly, or, in one example, interacting with the dynamic verification image in an appropriate manner, is presumed to be a human being, and not a computing system or other automated device.
US08613094B1
An application distribution server may be operable to perform an application distribution process for an application, where the application distribution process may comprise a plurality of phases. The plurality of phases may comprise, in sequence, a developer account creation phase, a risk assessment phase, an application upload phase, an application publication phase, an application promotion phase and an application download phase. The application distribution server may detect, at each of the plurality of phases, whether a particular behavior corresponding to use of the application to distribute undesirable software may occur. In instances when an occurrence of the particular behavior is detected at a certain phase in the application distribution process, the application distribution server may continue, utilizing a trap system, one or more subsequent phases after the certain phase for the application, without communicating information on the detection of the occurrence of the particular behavior.
US08613090B1
Method and apparatus for secure processing. The method includes detecting communication among secure and non-secure data entities, prohibiting execution of non-secure executable instructions on secure data entities unless the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in a permitted instruction record, and prohibiting execution of non-secure executable instructions if the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in a prohibited instruction record. The apparatus includes a processor, at least one non-secure data entity, and secure data entities including: a communication monitor adapted to detect communication among secure and non-secure data entities; a permitted instruction record; a first prohibitor adapted to prohibit execution of non-secure executable instructions on secure data entities unless the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in the permitted instruction record; a prohibited instruction record; and a second prohibitor adapted to prohibit execution of non-secure executable instructions if the non-secure executable instructions are recorded in the prohibited instruction record.
US08613088B2
A method and system to detect an evasion attack are provided. The system may include a repository to store signature fragments that together constitute an attack signature, an interceptor to intercept a data packet associated with a network connection, a string-matching module to determine whether the payload of the data packet includes any of the stored signature fragments thereby identifying a match, a responder to perform a prevention action in response to the match, and a detector to detect that a size of the data packet is less than a size threshold. The system may further include a state machine to commence maintaining a state for the network connection in response to the detector determining that the size of the data packet is less than the size threshold.
US08613072B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for processing a secure data connection request. A particular method receives, at a first gateway, a secure data connection request from a client identifying a server to connect to. The first gateway sends the client device a redirect message instructing the client device to attempt alternate connection via a second gateway. The client sends a secure data connection request to the second gateway and the second gateway facilitates the secure data connection between the client and the server.
US08613066B1
Techniques for user authentication are disclosed. In some situations, the techniques include receiving, from a client device, an authentication request to access a network resource, the request including a user identifier, obtaining a security credential associated with the user identifier contained in the received request, generating an authorization code based on the obtained security credential, providing to the client device instructions to obtain first information corresponding to the generated authorization code, receiving, from the client device, the first information provided in response to the provided instructions, and, when the first information received from the client device corresponds to at least a portion of the generated authorization code, authorizing the client device to access the network resource.
US08613064B1
A method and apparatus for providing a secure authentication process is described. In one embodiment, a method for a method for providing a secure authentication process includes monitoring login activity of at least one authentication process associated with a computer resource and analyzing the login activity to identify suspicious login activity associated with user credentials.
US08613063B2
An image forming apparatus receives authentication information about a user who requests a function and determines whether the user needs to be authenticated before executing the requested function. The image forming apparatus then transmits the authentication information to an authentication device that performs authentication of the user, and receives an authentication result from the authentication device indicative of whether the user is authentic. The image forming apparatus executes the function specified in the request only when the authentication result shows that the user is authentic.
US08613054B2
In a method of granting a user in a first organization access to private information stored within an access profile of a second organization, an access agreement between the two organizations is formed. Authorization is requested for the user, the access profile is retrieved, and authorization to private information is granted if authorized by the access agreement.In a method of authorizing access by users to private information stored by an organization as associated with a program, three types of caseloads are defined. The first authorizes access to information of a first individual of a first program, the second authorizes access to information of a second individual of a second program, and the third authorizes access to information of all individuals of all programs.Authorization is requested for the user to access one or more of the caseloads, and access to one or more caseloads is granted to the user.
US08613052B2
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to apparatus, systems and methods for authentication, in particular, apparatus, systems and methods for authenticating an entity for computer and/or network security, secure authorization of a payment or for funds transfer and for selectively granting privileges and providing other services in response to such authentications. In addition, embodiments of the invention relate generally to apparatus, systems and methods for the communication of information between a mobile user-device and a point-of-sale device to securely provide authorization for a financial transaction.
US08613043B2
A method for identity mediation in an enterprise service bus is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A security information is received at the enterprise service bus from a first application executing in a first data processing system. The security information is a part of a request for service from a second application executing in a second data processing system. A part of the security information is identified to be transformed such that the part upon transformation is usable for handling the request by the second application. A security policy applicable to the identified part is selected and the identified part is transformed according to the security policy. The transforming results in a transformed security information. The transformed security information is sent to the second application.
US08613035B2
Provided are a package identification method and a location resolution method, more particularly, a package identification method for identifying a dependent package linked with a main AV and independent packages not linked with the main AV, and a location resolution method. Both when the package is dependent and linked with the main AV and when the package is independent and not linked with the main AV, a CRID is used as an identifier for the package. The present invention supports TVA-2 service scenarios by suggesting improved package identification and a location resolution mechanism.
US08613034B1
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US08613033B2
A particular method of mitigating potential video traffic interference includes receiving an alert at a network management system, where the alert indicates detection of a signal in an ultra high frequency (UHF) white space frequency at a video head-end of a video distribution network, where the signal has a potential to interfere with video traffic that has been detected. The method also includes sending data to the video head-end, where the data indicates at least one corrective measure to mitigate interference with the video traffic by the signal.
US08613031B2
A method for transferring video and sound data from a first digital video recorder situated in a first local area network to a second digital video recorder situated in a second local area network comprising the steps of recording video and sound data with the first digital video recorder in the first local area network, providing a distinct address of the second digital video recorder in the second local area network, identifying the second digital video recorder in the second local area network by the address, establishing a direct and secure connection between the first digital video recorder in the first local area network and the second digital video recorder in the second local area network and sending the video and sound data from the first digital video recorder through a communications network to the second digital video recorder.
US08613028B2
The invention relates to providing audiovisual content on a network, and methods of transferring the audiovisual content between devices attached to the network. The methods involve accepting user input, at a first output device that is outputting audiovisual content, to select a second output device from the output devices associated with the network and subsequently outputting the audiovisual content on the second output device that is selected.
US08613027B2
A system and method for receiving and distributing an over-the-air signal over a network. At least one antenna receives an over-the-air signal containing a plurality of channels, at least one tuner isolates from the over-the-air signal information associated with a selected channel and produces an intermodulated carrier wave associated with the selected channel, at least one demodulator demodulates the intermodulated carrier wave to produce a data stream in a first format. Optionally a processor (for example a transcoder) converts the data stream in a first format into a second format. A communications interface produces a network transport stream from the data stream in the second format and distributes the network transport stream over the network. A line coupling unit (LCU) sets resistance/capacitance values which optimize the signal for distribution.
US08613018B2
An electronic programming guide (EPG) providing apparatus and method, in which an EPG is configured as a 3D form to facilitate a search for broadcasting program information included in the EPG. The EPG providing apparatus includes an EPG screen configuring unit and a control unit. The EPG screen configuring unit configures an EPG screen such that broadcasting program information is displayed on at least three faces of a 3D polyhedron. The control unit controls the EPG screen configuring unit to configure the EPG screen such that broadcasting program information corresponding to another broadcasting time zone or another broadcasting channel is displayed on the EPG screen based on a user input signal requesting a search for the broadcasting program information corresponding to another broadcasting time zone or another broadcasting channel.
US08613015B2
Methods and systems for presentation of content through an interface to provide personalized video feeds to a user. A video feed is harvested from feed items gathered at various Internet sources. The feed items are filtered to remove those that do not link to video content. A criteria specified by the user is used to filter the feed items.
US08613008B2
A system comprising, at least one processor, at least one eye tracking system electronically connected to the at least one processor, at least one means for electronically connecting a display device to the system, wherein the means for electronically connecting a display device is electronically connected to the at least one processor, and computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to use the at least one eye tracking system to determine the number of persons that are capable of viewing at least one display device electronically connected to the system, and control the content displayed on at least one display device connected to the system based on how many persons are determined to be capable of viewing the at least one display device.A method comprising using at least one processor to perform any or all of the following using at least one sensor to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving sensory perceivable content, and controlling the content based on how many persons are determined to be capable of perceiving the content.A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising using at least one eye tracking system to determine a number of persons that are capable of perceiving sensory perceivable content, and controlling the content based on how many persons are determined to be capable of perceiving the content.
US08613007B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for deploying one or more plug-ins. The method and systems involve receiving a request for generating a graphical user interface at a client computing device, the request includes a configuration for flash content of the graphical user interface, identifying a one or more plug-ins associated with the request and at least one extension of the identified one or more plug-ins, the one or more plug-ins having been deployed at a plurality of content servers across plurality of platform types and stored in a plug-in repository, retrieving the identified one or more plug-ins based on the extension of the identified one or more plug-ins and generating the requested graphical user interface based on the retrieved one or more plug-ins.
US08613006B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for terminating a hidden kernel process. In use, a hidden kernel process structure associated with a hidden kernel process is identified. In addition, the hidden kernel process structure is inserted into an active process list. Further, the hidden kernel process is terminated.
US08613002B2
A services and application controller (“SAC”) is provided for digital electronic devices. The SAC includes four interfaces which respectively interact with four different environments, namely an application interface that interacts with application environments and applications, an extension interface that interacts with engines and enablers, a platform interface that interacts with device platform environments, and a service and network interface that interacts with services and service infrastructures and with networks. The SAC provides a set of core functions and abstracts the environments from each other, which enable interactions between these environments without requiring that the environments be aware of specific aspects of the other environments for the interactions.
US08613001B2
A host device having a merged plug-in function and a method of generating a merged plug-in. A storage unit stores a plurality of plug-ins necessary to process respective jobs. A plug-in generator is used to generate a merged plug-in to process a new job by associating respective jobs of selected existing plug-ins among the plurality of plug-ins. A workform generator is used to generate a workform necessary to request an external device to execute the new job using the merged plug-in generated by the plug-in generator. A central processing unit is used to process the workform generated by the workform generator and to store the workform in the storage unit.
US08612997B2
An event driven component, in a distributed system of software components, utilizes a buffered port. Within the distributed system of software components are the event-driven component; accepting means for accepting input events arriving at an input gateway; a coarse-grained component for providing a coarse-grained function that provides a set of services; decision means, in the input port, for creating a buffered port that provides a queue for each of the services according to a configurable policy; an event registry in which the event driven component registers its interest in accepting a subset of the events and its interest in generating output when executing the set of services, wherein each service in the set of services is associated with one or more events; distributing means for distributing the events to the input port; and an output gateway for dispatching a generated output event to an output port.
US08612996B2
A method for receiving user event at a distributed object system component, passing the received user events to a service oriented architecture (SOA) application for processing and receiving the result of the processed user events at the distributed object system component from the SOA application.
US08612989B1
A computer running a database system receives a query. The database system services a plurality of collections. Each collection includes a plurality of workload groups. Each collection is assigned a percentage of a resource for its use. A donor collection, Cdonor, is not using its assigned percentage of the resource during a time slice tJ. The length in time of time slice tJ is less than a time in which the query is expected to execute. The query is assigned to a workload group. The assignment is determined by the computer applying a workload classification and an exception criteria to parameters of the query. The workload group is part of a donee collection, Cdonee, different from the donor collection. The donor collection donates, through the computer, use of a boost percentage of the resource to the donee collection during the time slice tJ. The boost percentage is proportional to the percentage of the resource assigned to the donee collection, the percentage of the resource assigned to the donor collection, and a Greediness Value related to the amount of the donor collection's allocated percentage of the resource available to be donated. The query is executed by the computer during time slice tJ, with the donee collection using its allocated percentage of the resource plus the boost percentage of the resource to execute the query.
US08612987B2
A method, grid computing environment, and information processing system for managing resource requests includes receiving information associated with at least one of a current and a past grid workload of a grid computing environment. Information associated with available resource capacity of at least one resource for processing grid workload is received. An expected grid workload at a plurality of future time intervals is predicted based on the information associated with the current and the past grid workload associated with the grid computing environment. A resource capacity available to the grid computing environment at a plurality of future time intervals is predicted based on the information associated with the available resource capacity. Resource capacities and at least one resource for processing at least a portion of the current grid workload are allocated based on at least the predicted expected grid workload and the predicted available resource capacity.
US08612982B2
A multi-tasking method performs a plurality of tasks according to priority of each of the plurality of tasks. It is determined whether a resource that is to be used by a current task is being used by another task, a priority of the current task is compared to a priority of the task that is using the resource according to a result of the determination, and according to a result of the comparison, the priority of the task that is using the resource is increased to a highest priority of priorities of all tasks trying to occupy a CPU. Accordingly, conventional problems in the BPI and IIP schemes can be solved.
US08612974B2
A method and apparatus for a dynamic service topology. One service is assigned to a virtual machine. The virtual machine is assigned to a physical machine on a network. The service of the virtual machine is transferable from the physical machine to another physical machine on the network by moving the virtual machine.
US08612973B2
A method and system for handling interrupts within a computer system during hardware resource migration are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the method includes (a) programming an address conversion component so that incoming interrupt signals are directed to a control component rather than to a source processing resource, and (b) accumulating the incoming interrupt signals at the control component. Additionally the method also includes, subsequent to the migration of the partition from the source processing resource to a destination processing resource, (c) sending the accumulated incoming interrupt signals to the destination processing resource, and (d) reprogramming the address conversion component so that further incoming interrupt signals are directed to the destination processing resource.
US08612971B1
Techniques are disclosed for controlling and managing virtual machines and other such virtual systems. VM execution approval is based on compliance with policies controlling various aspects of VM. The techniques can be employed to benefit all virtual environments, such as virtual machines, virtual appliances, and virtual applications. For ease of discussion herein, assume that a virtual machine (VM) represents each of these environments. In one particular embodiment, a systems management partition (SMP) is created inside the VM to provide a persistent and resilient storage for management information (e.g., logical and physical VM metadata). The SMP can also be used as a staging area for installing additional content or agentry on the VM when the VM is executed. Remote storage of management information can also be used. The VM management information can then be made available for pre-execution processing, including policy-based compliance testing.
US08612960B2
Embodiments include a system for loading components with complex intra-dependencies. Components in the system may be assigned at start up to a common loader module. The system detects reference cycles amongst the set of components in the system. All components in a reference cycle may be assigned for loading to the same common loader. This system avoids deadlock scenarios by identifying reference cycles at start up and assigning each cycle to a single common loader. The embodiments of the system also analyze components to be loaded that are identified after start up to determine if they cause a new reference cycle. Components that cause a new reference cycle may not be allowed to be loaded to prevent deadlock loading scenarios.
US08612959B2
A code sequence made up multiple instructions and specifying an offset from a base address is identified in an object file. The offset from the base address corresponds to an offset location in a memory configured for storing an address of a variable or data. The identified code sequence is configured to perform a memory reference function or a memory address computation function. It is determined that the offset location is within a specified distance of the base address and that a replacement of the identified code sequence with a replacement code sequence will not alter program semantics. The identified code sequence in the object file is replaced with the replacement code sequence that includes a no-operation (NOP) instruction or having fewer instructions than the identified code sequence. Linked executable code is generated based on the object file and the linked executable code is emitted.
US08612953B2
A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for registering and deregistering memory pages in a computer system. The method comprises the steps of hoisting register and deregister calls in a given routine where temporal locality is present to overlap computation and communication; using software pipelined registration and deregistration where spatial locality is observed; and using intra-procedural and inter-procedural analysis by a compiler of the computer system to deregister dynamically allocated buffers. The preferred embodiment of the invention is based on an optimizing compiler. The compiler is used to extract information such as addresses of buffers which are being reused repeatedly (temporal locality), preferably in a loop. The compiler may also find information about spatial locality, such as arrays whose indexes are used in a well-defined manner in a series of messages, for example, array pages being accessed in a pre-defined pattern in a loop.
US08612947B2
A computer readable medium comprises executable instructions to: provide an SDK to a client computer comprising executable instructions for communicating with a build server, receive an HTML/Javascript source application and a configuration file referencing one or more source application files over a computer network from a client computer to the build server, transmit the HTML/Javascript source application and configuration file to multiple compile servers corresponding to each of multiple mobile device platforms, combine the HTML/Javascript source application with a mobile device platform specific framework source code for each mobile device platform on each compile server, compile the HTML/Javascript source application and framework source code on the compile server to output an executable native application for each mobile device platform, and transmit each executable native application from the compile server to the client computer over a computer network.
US08612946B2
A mechanism for cross-building support using dependency information is disclosed. A method of the invention includes parsing a source code package received for compilation into a binary source code package for a target machine, the parsing to determine a list of dependency packages needed to compile the source code package, for each dependency package in the list of dependency packages determining a type of the dependency package and associating an architecture of at least one of a build machine compiling the source code package or the target machine with the dependency package based on a determined type of the dependency package, downloading each dependency package in the list of dependency packages in a binary form of the build architecture format, and downloading each dependency package that is associated with the target machine in a binary form of the target architecture format.
US08612941B2
A system and method for analysis of a large code base using partitioning. The present application relates to management of large code bases, by enabling fragmentation of large code bases into smaller code clusters. Further the system and method analyze small code clusters individually and combining the results obtained therefrom, illustrating to programmers the combined result for the entire code base.
US08612936B2
A system and method are discussed that relate to recommending one or more software artifacts to an artifact user. Characteristic information about the artifact user and about a desired artifact is obtained. First metadata about each of one or more candidate artifacts is retrieved. A score is assigned to each of the one or more candidate artifacts, based on a first evaluation of one or more predetermined criteria applied to the retrieved first metadata. The scored artifacts are scaled based on a second evaluation of each of the one or more scored artifacts, the scaling being in view of the characteristic information about the artifact user and the characteristic information about the desired artifact. Finally, one or more scaled artifacts are recommended to the artifact user based on the second evaluation applied to each of the one or more scored artifacts, that is based on the scaled scores.
US08612932B2
A communication system and method include a server hosting an interactive voice response or self-help application in a Java virtual machine. The communication application is programmed with a unified communication API, which is provided by a unified application framework. The API provides a set of unified class objects for call control and media control. The unified class objects are constructed from class object primitives of individual standards-based Java call control API and media control API. The constructs are a structured and restricted set conforming to the object model of the application and its states. The API has a unified event handler for both call and media controls and dispatches events to the application based on the type of event and the application state of the object model.
US08612929B2
A system and method for automatic efficient parallelization of code combined with hardware transactional memory support. A software application may contain a transaction synchronization region (TSR) utilizing lock and unlock transaction synchronization function calls for a shared region of memory within a shared memory. The TSR is replaced with two portions of code. The first portion comprises hardware transactional memory primitives in place of lock and unlock function calls. Also, the first portion ensures no other transaction is accessing the shared region without disabling existing hardware transactional memory support. The second portion performs a fail routine, which utilizes lock and unlock transaction synchronization primitives in response to an indication that a failure occurs within said first portion.
US08612928B2
Exception-based component models can be generated from non-exception-based models. For example, a non-exception-based interface contract (such as a non-exception-based interface contract in a header file) for a consumable software component can be parsed. Additionally, a wrapper for the consumable software component can be generated from the non-exception-based interface contract. The wrapper can have an exception-based interface contract implementation, and the exception-based interface contract implementation can be a mirror equivalent of the non-exception-based interface contract. If the non-exception-based interface contract hints at one or more arguments as being out argument(s) for a function in the consumable software component, then predefined heuristics can be used to select one of those argument(s) to be used by the exception-based interface contract implementation as a return value for the function.
US08612912B1
A method for analyzing an IC design, comprises: using a computer implemented electronic design automation tool to perform a parasitic RC extraction for a layout of the IC design, the parasitic RC extraction outputting for each of a plurality of routing paths, a nominal capacitive coupling, a minimum capacitive coupling and a maximum capacitive coupling, where the minimum and maximum capacitive couplings correspond to circuit patterning in the presence of double patterning mask misalignments; and performing one of a setup time analysis or a hold time analysis of the IC design using a computer implemented static timing analysis tool. For a given flip-flop having a launch path and a capture path, the setup or hold time analysis is performed using the minimum capacitive coupling for one of the launch and capture paths and the maximum capacitive coupling for the other of the launch and capture paths.
US08612911B2
A method comprises estimating power consumption of an electronic circuit. The estimating includes assigning a first gate of the at least one gate into a priority queue based on a levelized result of the electronic circuit for a full circuit calculation and assigning a second gate of the at least one gate into the priority queue which fan-out gate is directly connected to a fan-in gate of a resized gate for an incremental circuit calculation. The estimating includes, for each gate from the priority queue, performing the following operations. Latest and earliest signal arrival times at an output net of the gate are determined by static timing analysis and calculating a glitch window as difference, and a transition metric is calculated for the output net based on the glitch window. The operations include determining an upper bound of signal transitions, and estimating the power consumption based on the upper bound.
US08612901B2
A method and system for optical proximity correction or fracturing or mask data preparation or mask process correction or proximity effect correction for charged particle beam lithography are disclosed in which a set of shaped beam shots is determined which, when used in a shaped beam charged particle beam writer, will form a pattern on the surface, where the set of shots includes shots for a plurality of exposure passes, and where the determination of the shots includes increasing the dose margin of the pattern by adding a shot in a single exposure pass.
US08612899B2
A computer is programmed to use at least one rule to identify from within a layout of an IC design, a set of regions likely to fail if fabricated unchanged. An example of such a rule of detection is to check for presence of two neighbors neither of which fully overlaps a short wire or an end of a long wire. The computer uses at least another rule to change at least one region in the set of regions, to obtain a second layout which is less likely to fail in the identified regions. An example of such a rule of correction is to elongate at least one of the two neighbors. The computer may perform optical rule checking (ORC) in any order relative to application of the rules, e.g. ORC can be performed between detection rules and correction rules i.e. performed individually on each identified region prior to correction.
US08612896B2
A mobile terminal 10 is equipped with an LCD monitor 32 and a touch panel input device 24 mounted on an upper surface of the LCD monitor 32. The LCD monitor 32 displays character input keys and a received mail, so that character strings in a body text of the received mail are arbitrarily selected by operations on the touch panel input device 24. Further, related information of a selected character string is temporarily stored so as to be correlated with an arbitrary character input key. Then, when a touch-and-slide operation is performed from the character input key utilized in the temporary storage to a body text of a transfer mail, the temporarily stored related information can be inserted into the body text of the transfer mail.
US08612894B2
Provided is a method capable of making various modifications to widgets, graphic objects, or images, which are displayed on a display device, according to motions of a plurality of input units such as finger or stylus pen, with the use of a three-dimensional multi-sensor configured to detect the motions of the input units in a space, without touching the display device.
US08612875B2
First user-generated input is received that selects a first element in a graphical user interface identifying a work area. In response, a plurality of second elements characterizing categories of objects associated with the work area are displayed in the graphical user interface. Thereafter, second user-generated input is received that selects a second element in the graphical user interface element. Once the second element is selected, a visual representation of a plurality of primary objects associated with the category corresponding to the second element is displayed. The plurality of displayed primary objects are displayed in a first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths in the first person perspective projection according to values of an attribute associated with the second element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US08612871B2
Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.
US08612869B2
A method for personalizing content for a particular user in a computing system comprising a user interface configured to display content. The method comprises identifying a content item accessed by a user, identifying features associated with the content item; using the features of the content item to identify one or more third party profiles that substantially match a content profile of the content item, and displaying a list of the identified third party profiles.
US08612865B2
Mobile communications devices display contextually relevant information based on the presence, status, and identification of a user. Lens templates control how the information is displayed and can be customized and designed for specific usage profiles. The lenses that are used can be updated at any time to accommodate changes in a user's presence. The granularity of the lenses and corresponding information can also vary to accommodate different needs and preferences. Lenses can also be specialized for different events or venues. The lenses allow a user to access contextually relevant information from a mobile communications device having limited display and/or browse capabilities without requiring a user to navigate through undesired information, wasting valuable resources in the process.
US08612851B2
A system, computer-implemented method and computer-readable medium for displaying edition content of a magazine edition are provided. In an embodiment, a screen selection corresponding to a size of a screen upon which to render a magazine edition is received, the magazine edition including a content page with one or more articles. A grid with grid segments is calculated for the selected screen size. A layout for the content page is determined, the layout including a tile of one or more of the grid segments corresponding to each of the articles. Content associated with each of the articles is determined. The content of each of the articles is arranged for display within its corresponding tile. The content page of the magazine edition is displayed, the displayed page including the articles arranged for display within its corresponding tile.
US08612846B2
A method and a system for presenting Internet information to a user including providing to a user a visual image of a web page containing at least one hyperlink, and at least partially concurrently providing a visual image of another web page of at least one web site which is represented by the at least one hyperlink.
US08612845B2
One embodiment provides a system to facilitate directed reading of a selected portion of an original document by a recipient. During operation, the system creates a transfer document based at least on the original document and the selected portion. The transfer document, when viewed by the recipient, enables the following operations: opening the transfer document to the selected portion without requiring manual navigation to the selected portion, highlighting the selected portion, obscuring a context surrounding the selected portion based at least on a distance metric from the selected portion, and directly navigating from one highlighted portion to another highlighted portion in the transfer document without requiring manual navigation within obscured contexts. After the system creates the transfer document, it sends the transfer document to the recipient.
US08612836B2
Non-volatile memory device with uncorrectable information region and operation method using the same
The non-volatile memory system includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. The non-volatile memory includes a data region including a sector region for storing sector data, and an uncorrectable information region for storing uncorrectable sector information on the sector region. The controller includes an information generation unit for generating the uncorrectable sector information that indicates whether the sector region is assigned to an uncorrectable sector region, according to a command output from a host.
US08612835B2
The present invention relates to using a barrel shifter in a cyclic shift device for an LDPC decoding device, a television receiver, and/or a reception system, whereby reduction in size of the device can be realized.
US08612831B2
A method begins by a processing module forward error correction (FEC) encoding data to produce FEC encoded data and dividing the FEC encoded data into a set of FEC encoded words. The method continues with the processing module generating integrity information based on the data and generating a word name for an FEC encoded word of the set of FEC encoded words. The method continues with the processing module affiliating an address of allocated address space of a dispersed storage memory with the word name and storing the integrity information, the word name, and the address. The method continues with the processing module creating a write command to store the FEC encoded word at the address in the dispersed storage memory.
US08612823B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed that include encoding an information word to generate a codeword using a systematic low density parity check matrix using an encoder, the low density parity check matrix comprising a first sub-matrix associated with information symbols, a second sub-matrix having a block triangular structure associated with a first subset of parity check symbols and a third sub-matrix that is invertible and associated with a second subset of parity check symbols, the encoding performed over the second sub-matrix before the third sub-matrix.
US08612804B1
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for improving wear leveling performance in solid-state memory. The embodiments described herein make more consistent the number of wear leveling operations that need to be performed, so that sudden spikes in the number wear leveling operations may be reduced in solid-state memory. In one embodiment, a rule-based wear leveling approach is used to spread out the execution of wear leveling operations that otherwise would have been triggered in clusters. Under the rule-based approach, wear leveling is periodically triggered by a specified interval of erase counts associated with a unit of solid-state memory such as a group of blocks, rather than by a threshold based on erase counts.
US08612801B2
A server chassis includes an uninterruptible power supply, and a server including a controller. The uninterruptible power supply is configured to provide a reserve power when a primary power is lost, and to send a power loss signal when the primary power is lost. The controller is configured to receive a desired server uptime, to receive an indication that a power limit for the server is fixed or decreasing over the desired server, to receive the power loss signal from the uninterruptible power supply, to send a power capacity query to the uninterruptible power supply, to receive a reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply in response to the power capacity query, to calculate the power limit for the server based on the reserve power capacity of the uninterruptible power supply and on the desired server uptime, and to enforce the power limit on the server.
US08612792B2
A device to measure power consumption includes a processor connected to a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory module, a switch for setting the power measurement device to measure either the power supplied to the CPU or the power supplied to the memory, and a display to show the results of such measurements.
US08612791B2
In a non-volatile memory system, physically separate power rails are provided from a host system to a NVM device for independently power cycling a controller and memory array in the NVM device. The controller of the NVM device can send a power cycle request signal to the host system over a host channel, or updates a status register in the NVM device. The host system receives and decodes the power cycle request signal, or reads the status register, and performs the power cycle request, which can include power cycling the controller or the memory array in the NVM device, or both. The power cycle request can be based on a power state of the non-volatile memory system, which can be managed by the controller or the host system, or both.
US08612790B2
A serial data transfer apparatus includes a transport controller that performs a process of a transport layer, a link controller that performs a process of a link layer, and a physical layer circuit that performs a process of a physical layer. The serial data transfer apparatus transmits and receives data with a destination apparatus via a serial bus. The link controller outputs idle data, which is received from the destination apparatus, to the physical layer circuit, and stops to operate of a unit responsible for generating data to transmit to the destination apparatus while outputting the idle data to the physical layer circuit. This enables to output idle data defined in the standard in an idle period of the serial data transfer apparatus and also reduce the power consumption.
US08612789B2
An integrated circuit can include a processor system configured to execute program code, wherein the processor system is hard-wired. The IC also can include programmable circuitry configurable to implement different physical circuits. The programmable circuitry can be coupled to the processor system and can be configured to implement a power off procedure under the control of the processor system.
US08612787B2
A computer power saving system includes a computer, an UPS, a power detecting device, and an USB device. The computer includes a USB port and a power management module, and can work in a normal mode or in a STR mode. The UPS is connected to the computer and used for supplying power to the computer upon a condition that a commercial power supply stops supplying power to the computer. The power detecting device detects the state of the commercial power supply and sending out an abnormal power signal when the commercial power supply stops supplying power to the computer. The USB device sends the abnormal power signal to the USB port. When the computer works in the normal mode, the power management module detects the USB port, and controls the computer to shift to the STR mode if the USB port receives the abnormal power signal.
US08612786B1
A deep idle mode for electronic devices is described, which provides significant power savings while allowing significantly shorter resumption times than experienced with a suspend mode. During deep idle mode, a root clock such as the microcontroller unit phase-locked loop (MPLL) is scaled or gated entirely and other clocks such as the processor, memory, and general purpose timer clocks may be scaled. To maintain functionality while these clocks are scaled or gated, an external clock source couples to the processor, memory, and a general purpose timer.
US08612779B2
Power management integrated circuits (PMICs) and related methods. In one aspect a PMIC which is operable to provide a plurality of PMIC power states is arranged to provide a predetermined delay before a power state transition. The delay is applied after receipt by the PMIC control circuitry of a power state transition command. Applying a delay allows time for the system powered by the PMIC to perform any necessary shut-down procedures and terminate active processes before power is removed, preventing corruption of the system. The delay is preferably configurable. The PMIC may also be arranged to control power converters which are external to the PMIC. In another aspect the PMIC has translation circuitry for providing the control settings of one power block, e.g. power converter, with any necessary modifications to be used by another power block. This means that only one set of control settings needs to be updated to change the output of both power blocks simultaneously.
US08612777B2
Method and apparatus for writing data to be stored to a predetermined memory area, the method comprising: reading stored data from the predetermined memory area, the stored data comprising a stored data block and an associated stored error detection value, manipulating, after reading the stored data, at least one of the stored data block and the associated stored error detection value in the predetermined memory area, and writing, after manipulating, the data to be stored to the predetermined memory area.
US08612755B2
A trusted computing platform includes one or more first logically protected computer environments (or “compartments”) associated with initialization of the system, and one or more second logically protected computing environments (or “compartments”). The one or each second compartment is associated with at least one service or process supported by the said system. The trusted computing platform is loaded with a predetermined security policy including one or more security rules for controlling the operation of each of the compartments such that the security rules relating to the one or each first compartment is loaded onto the trusted computing platform when the system is initialized. The one or more security rules relating to the one or at least one of the second compartments are only loaded onto the trusted computing platform if one or more services or processes associated therewith are enabled.
US08612739B2
An operation inhibiting system includes an image forming apparatus in which programs are installed and an operation inhibition information providing apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a configuration information storing unit to store configuration information about the installed programs, an operation inhibition information acquiring unit to transmit the configuration information to the operation inhibition information providing apparatus, and to receive operation inhibition information that is transmitted from the operation inhibition information providing apparatus in response to the configuration information, the operation inhibition information indicating on a program-specific basis whether an operation to modify a configuration of an installed program is allowed, and an operation unit to inhibit the operation on the program based on the received operation inhibition information, wherein the operation inhibition information providing apparatus includes a unit that transmits the operation inhibition information responsive to the configuration information upon receiving the configuration information.
US08612730B2
A method and data processing system for managing running of instructions in a program. A processor of the data processing system receives a monitoring instruction of a monitoring unit. The processor determines if at least one secondary thread of a set of secondary threads is available for use as an assist thread. The processor selects the at least one secondary thread from the set of secondary threads to become the assist thread in response to a determination that the at least one secondary thread of the set of secondary threads is available for use as an assist thread. The processor changes profiling of running of instructions in the program from the main thread to the assist thread.
US08612726B2
The multi-cycle programmable processor emulates the features of a conventional microprocessor. Processor hardware functional units include a program counter (instruction pointer), an arithmetic and logic unit, an accumulator, an instruction register, a 2×1 multiplexer, 2×4 decoder, 1×2 decoder, an AND gate and an OR gate. Additionally, a controller modeled by a finite state machine (FSM) is operably connected to the microprocessor functional units and has a plurality of states that defines the operation of the microprocessor functional units. Each control state of the FSM implements the transfer of information between the registers of the datapath. The execution sequences through three states: an instruction fetch; an instruction decode; and instruction execute. The controller issues the required signals to the various hardware components to execute the instruction needed in three clock cycles.
US08612720B2
A system and method for implementation of MMU assisted data breakpoints for any number of data structures within a program application are provided. For each data structure for which a data breakpoint is desired, two distinct MMU entries are created. One MMU entry has access attributes. The other entry has an interrupt triggering sub-entry. According to the preferred embodiment, access to the second MMU entry causes a page fault.
US08612717B2
A storage system includes: a data storing means configured to store storage target data and also store address data so as to be tree-structured, the address data being based on a content and storing position of data to be referred to, and the address data referring to the storage target data or other address data; an operation log generating means configured to generate an operation log that represents a content of an operation of storing the storage target data into the data storing means and a content of an operation of storing the tree-structured address data referring to the storage target data into the data storing means; and a file system committing means configured to store the storage target data and the tree-structured address data into the data storing means based on the operation log.
US08612706B1
A disk drive subsystem is disclosed that implements a process for metadata recovery. Certain embodiments relate to recovery of metadata containing information indicating the physical locations in the disk drive in which host data is stored. In an embodiment, the metadata to be recovered is disposed in sequence with, or in physical association with host data that it describes. Recovery is accomplished by identifying metadata that is valid, but is absent from one or more translation tables containing translation information. Metadata portion can include one or more identifiers that are sequentially related to identifiers included in one or more other metadata portions. Performance improvements can thereby be attained.
US08612702B1
Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer-readable media for performing optimized backups of multiple volumes are disclosed. In one example, an exemplary method for performing such a task may comprise: 1) identifying a plurality of volumes, 2) prior to backing up the plurality of volumes, obtaining information that indicates that at least one volume within the plurality of volumes comprises at least one shared region of memory that is identical to a region of memory on at least one other volume within the plurality of volumes, and 3) when creating backups of the plurality of volumes, backing up each shared region of memory a single time so that the backups of the plurality of volumes share a single copy of each shared region of memory.
US08612700B1
A system, method, and medium for performing data duplication from a first storage device to a second storage device at a block level. A backup application processes metadata prior to replicating the data to determine the best method for performing the duplication operation. Several images may be selected for duplication, and instead of copying the images one at a time, the backup application copies data from the first storage device to the second storage device block-by-block. The catalog metadata may be updated so that the backup application may be made aware of the new copy of data. The replicated data may be accessed for future restore operations such that individual files may be retrieved from the replicated data by the backup application.
