US07745545B2
Polymer bonding compositions having greater than about 1 milliequivalent primary amine/100 grams of the polymer, more preferably greater than about 3 milliequivalent non-tertiary amine/100 grams of the polymer. Preferably the polymer is not significantly crosslinked. These bonding compositions may be especially useful for bonding fluropolymers. Processes for making the novel polymers and the resulting multilayer bonded articles are described. The polymers include polymer-bonded ZNHLSi(OP)a(X)3-a-b(Y)b units. The bonding composition may be used for making multi-layer polymer laminates such as tubes and films and containers.
US07745542B2
An oil-soluble lubricating oil additive composition prepared by the process which comprises reacting a copolymer, with at least one ether compound and with at least one aromatic amine.
US07745538B2
Polymer composite including a compatibilizer and having selective permeability to chemical permeants due to interaction differences between the compatibilizer and the chemical permeants, includes 50-99 wt % of an amorphous thermoplastic resin selected from the group polyethylenepropylendienterpolymer, poly(1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne), amorphous nylon, polystyrene and polycarbonate; 0.9-50 wt % of a semi-crystalline polymer selected from the group polyamide (nylons), polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyetheretherketone, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyphenylene sulfide, and thermotropic or lyotropic liquid crystal polymer, and dispersed in the amorphous thermoplastic resin to provide a dispersed phase having an interface with the amorphous thermoplastic resin; and 0.1-10 wt % of a compatibilizer positioned at the interface of the dispersed phase with the amorphous thermoplastic resin and having different interactions with different chemical permeants so that the selective permeability of the polymer composite is affected.
US07745537B2
The present invention provides a particulate water absorbing agent for absorbent cores which is excellent in powder conveying property, and achieves sufficient absorption performances for use in absorbent cores in particulate water absorbing agents including a water absorbing resin as a principal component, and which further is suitable for practical applications. In the present invention, characteristics that had not been known conventionally at all, i.e., “permeability potential under pressure (PPUP)” and “frictional charge being a positive charge” of the particulate water absorbing agent are regulated at a time, and furthermore, regulation of the “moisture content of 2 to 10% by weight” is perfected. Also, the particulate water absorbing agent including (A) a water-swelling crosslinked polymer having a constitutional unit derived from an unsaturated monomer containing an acid group and/or a salt thereof; and (B) water fulfills certain requirements.
US07745532B2
The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide polymer compositions and methods for controlling a property of a resultant gel. A preferred method includes dissolving a vinyl polymer in a first solvent to form a solution; and contacting the vinyl polymer solution in a suitable volume of at least one immersion solvent comprising a second solvent to cause gelation. In preferred embodiments, the invention provides poly(vinyl alcohol) compositions and methods that produce physically crosslinked hydrogels that have tunable physical properties. Also provided are articles of manufacture such as prosthetic intervertebral disks and contact lenses.
US07745531B2
Crosslinkable compositions based on organosilicon compounds with a very high storage stability contain fine-particle metacarbonate. Storage stability of the composition is increased as compared to conventional forms of carbonates.
US07745526B2
Disclosed herein are various compositions, including a transparent compositions with maximum haze of 50%, comprising (including): a first polymer component (FPC) that includes polypropylene having a melting point (Tm) ≧110° C.; a second polymer component (SPC) that includes a propylene polymer having 60 wt % or more units derived from propylene, including isotactically arranged propylene derived sequences and Tm<105° C. or a Heat of Fusion<45 J/g, or both; and a hydrocarbon resin having a Tg≧20° C.; wherein: the SPC is present in the amount of ≧10 wt % and ≦70 wt % based on the total weight of a), b) and c) and the composition has: Haze value of ≦50 percent; and Shore A Hardness of 90 or below.
US07745524B2
A puncture sealing agent that is excellent in storage stability, and good in puncture sealing properties, and the like, is provided.A puncture sealing agent containing at least a synthetic rubber latex, wherein the gelation ratio as evaluated in a Maron-type mechanical stability test performed in accordance with JIS K 6387 is 0.001 to 10%.
US07745522B2
An acoustic (sound or ultrasound) wave transmitter having a plurality of waveguides is described, and a method of making such a transmitter is described. Each waveguide may have a cladded core. The core may be a liquid such as water, alcohol or mineral oil. Alternatively, the core may be a colloidal gel, such as gelatin dissolved in at least one of water, vinyl plastisol or silicone gel. The cladded core is capable of transmitting acoustic wave energy from a first end surface to a second end surface of the cladded core. The waveguides may be substantially fixed relative to each other by a binder. The binder may be formed by fusing the claddings together, potting a material between the waveguides and/or mechanically holding the waveguides.
US07745517B2
A water-soluble film which comprises a saceharide component and a vinyl alcohol resin component, where the vinyl alcohol resin may include functional comonomer units such as sulfonic acid functional groups or salts thereof. Preferred are polyvinyl alcohol/2-methylacrylamido-2 methyl propane sulfonic acid resins (PVOH/AMPS) which may be purchased commercially with relatively higher or relatively lower characteristic viscosity. The films exhibit superior resistance to aggressive oxidizing chemicals and remain soluble in water after prolonged exposure thereto. The films are particularly useful for unit-dose packaging of chlorine-containing pool chemicals, such as trichloroisocyanuric acid.
US07745506B2
A UV-curable ink-jet ink is provided, which has a high sensitivity and allows soft and highly fine patterns to be formed. The UV-curable ink-jet ink includes a mono-functional polymerizable monomer (A) having a hydroxyl group, a di(meth)acrylate ester (B) and a photo-polymerization initiator (C).
US07745504B2
Porous spherical particles of polyamide 11 or polyamide 12 can be produced by an industrially advantageous process which comprises the steps of mixing a polyamide solution of polyamide 11 or polyamide 12 dissolved in a phenol compound and a low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol which is a poor solvent for the polyamides but is well compatible with the phenol compound in the presence of a high molecular weight alkylene glycol to prepare a mixture solution having an initial viscosity of 10 mPa·s or more, and allowing the mixture solution to stand, to precipitate polyamide particles.
US07745503B2
The invention relates to the use of dialkyl carbonates as solvents for expanded polystyrene and to a new process for the recycling of expanded polystyrene. Said process comprises the volume reduction of expanded polystyrene by dissolution with a dialkyl carbonate, or a blend of dialkyl carbonates, the removal of the insoluble components by filtration, the selective precipitation of polystyrene with a non-solvent or a blend of non-solvents, the separation, drying and extrusion of the precipitated polystyrene. This process allows the recovery of pure polystyrene without altering its properties.
US07745502B2
The invention relates to a process for producing a hydrogen-rich stream from a hydrogen-depleted stream. More particularly, the invention relates to a hydrocarbon synthesis process, by way of example, a Fischer Tropsch process, from which both hydrocarbons and high purity hydrogen are obtained. The process comprises contacting the hydrogen-depleted stream with a reverse-selective membrane to provide a CO2-enriched permeate and a hydrogen-containing retentate. The high purity hydrogen is produced from the hydrogen-containing retentate. The high purity hydrogen thus obtained may be used in a process selected from the group consisting of upgrading hydrocarbons produced from the hydrocarbon synthesis process, hydrotreating a natural gas stream, recycling to the hydrocarbon synthesis reaction unit, high purity hydrogen production, catalyst rejuvenation, and combinations thereof.
US07745500B2
A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent form a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.
US07745494B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for treating and preventing a skin rash secondary to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy, where the method comprises applying a vitamin K analog or a phosphatase inhibitor to the skin.
US07745493B2
The present invention describes a novel treatment for movement disorders, including tardive dyskinesia, tic disorders, Tourette's syndrome, and blepharospasm, and other focal dystonias. The treatment of the present invention utilizes agents that simultaneously act as NMDA-type glutamate receptor antagonists and GABA-A receptor agonists. Preferably these two activities are characteristic of a single agent, for example acamprosate. Alternatively, separate agents having these activities can be combined and administered together. The invention also provides a third agent that acts as a non-competitive NMDA-receptor blocking agent or ion channel blocker that augments the effect of the primary treatment. A particularly preferred ion channel blocking agent is magnesium. Alternatively, magnesium can be administered alone for prevention and treatment of movement disorders.
US07745492B2
This invention is directed to carboxamido opioid compounds pharmaceutically useful as agents for treating or modulating a central nervous system disorder and methods for treating or modulating a central nervous system disorder.
US07745491B2
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1 is a cycloalkylsulphonyl group, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful in the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of hyperglycemia and diabetes.
US07745486B2
This invention relates to a composition containing quercetin, vitamin B3, and vitamin C. Also disclosed is a method of using the composition for enhancing physical or mental performance or treating various diseases or disorders.
US07745485B2
Methods are provided for the identification, biochemical characterization and therapeutic use of agents which impact PTEN, p53, PI-kinase and AKT mediated cellular signaling.
US07745484B2
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the modulation of Beta-secretase enzyme activity and for the treatment of Beta-secretase mediated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related conditions. In one embodiment, the compounds have a general Formula I wherein A, B, W, R3, R4, R5, i and j are defined herein. The invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of Formula I, methods of use for these compounds, including treatment of AD and related diseases, by administering the compound(s) of Formula I, or compositions including them, to a subject. The invention also comprises further embodiments of Formulas II and III, intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of the invention.
US07745483B2
Novel 2-halofuryl/thienyl-3-carboxamides of the formula (I) in which A, Hal, R, M and Z are as defined in the description, a plurality of processes for preparing these compounds and their use for controlling unwanted microorganisms, and also novel intermediates and their preparation.
US07745480B2
The present application describes deuterium-enriched atorvastatin, pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, and methods of treating using the same.
US07745475B2
Compounds of Formula (I) wherein: R1 is hydroxymethyl; R2 is selected from —C(O)NR4R5, SO2NR4R5, S(O)pR4 and HET-2; HET-1 is a 5- or 6-membered, optionally substituted C-linked heteroaryl ring; HET-2 is a 4-, 5- or 6-membered, C- or N-linked optionally substituted heterocyclyl ring; R3 is selected from halo, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, methyl, methoxy and cyano; R4 is selected from for example hydrogen, optionally substituted (1-4C)alkyl and HET-2; R5 is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; or R4 and R5 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a heterocyclyl ring system as defined by HET-3; HET-3 is for example an optionally substituted N-linked, 4, 5 or 6 membered, saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclyl ring; p is (independently at each occurrence) 0, 1 or 2; m is 0 or 1; n is 0, 1 or 2; provided that when m is 0, then n is 1 or 2; or a salt, pro drug or solvate thereof, are described. Their use as GLK activators, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and processes for their preparation are also described.
US07745471B2
Derivatives of 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonic acid, which are non-hygroscopic and non-hydrated and their use as intermediates from the preparation of zonisamide are disclosed. Further disclosed are processes of preparing zonisamide from these 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonic acid derivatives, processes of preparing exemplary 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonic acid derivatives and crystalline forms of exemplary 2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonic acid derivatives. A novel process of preparing zonisamide is also disclosed.
US07745468B2
The present invention concerns compounds and their use to treat cell proliferative diseases such as cancer. Compounds of the present invention display significant potency as kinase inhibitors, cause the downregulation of c-myc, and inhibit the growth and survival of cancerous cell lines.
US07745463B2
This disclosure provides compounds having drug and bio-affecting properties, their pharmaceutical compositions and method of use. In particular, the disclosure is concerned with alkene piperidine derivatives that possess unique antiviral activity. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to compounds useful for the treatment of HIV and AIDS.
US07745448B2
A crystalline N-(4-(4-aminothieno[2,3 -d]pyrimidin-5-yl)phenyl)-N′-(2-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)urea ethanolate characterized in the monoclinic crystal system and P21/n space group, when measured with radiation at 0.7107 Å, by lattice parameters a, b and c of 5.0318 ű0.006 Å, 23.684 ű0.002 Å and 18.877 ű0.002 Å, respectively, and β of 90.703±0.003, ways to make it, compositions comprising it, and methods of treatment using it are disclosed.
US07745445B2
The invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with the activity of the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) families, particularly the activity of PPARδ.
US07745441B1
New urokinase inhibitors having a triisopropylphenylsulfonyl residue as an Nα-substituent for 3-amidinophenylalanine are provided. The introduction of the triisopropylphenylsulfonyl residue greatly increases the affinity of the compounds to urokinase and, thereby, increases their inhibitory activity against urokinase. These urokinase inhibitors are useful in determining the role of urokinase and urokinase receptor in various diseases, particularly in tumor propagation and metastasis. Methods of treating tumors and a pharmaceutical composition are also provided.
US07745438B2
The present invention provides BACE inhibitors of Formula (I); methods for their use and preparation, and intermediates useful for their preparation.
US07745430B2
Disclosed herein is a transnasal anticonvulsive pharmaceutical composition comprising diazepam as an active ingredient, water, a fatty acid ester, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethanol and sodium glycocholate, wherein the weight of the fatty acid ester is at least 2-fold higher than that of water and is at least 2-fold higher than that of ethanol.The anticonvulsive pharmaceutical composition for transmucosal delivery of diazepam according to the present invention includes a minimized content of water and ethanol, a fatty acid ester as a main ingredient and no use of a polar solvent, e.g. glycol, and, exhibits improved diazepam solubility and transmucosal permeability due to using a small amount of water and ethanol. The present invention also includes treatment of convulsions by transnasally administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the disclosed compositions.
US07745424B2
The present invention pertains to certain alkane diol derivatives (including, e.g., mono- and di-esters) of the formula R1—O-A-O—R2, wherein: A is a C2-10 alkylene group; R1 is independently a first hydroxy protecting group (e.g., an ester group); and, R2 is independently —H or a second hydroxy protecting group (e.g., an ester group); and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, amides, esters, ethers, chemically protected forms, and prodrug thereof, which, inter alia, inhibit osteoclast survival, formation, and/or activity; and/or inhibit bone resorption. The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, to inhibit osteoclast survival, formation, and/or activity, and to inhibit conditions mediated by osteoclasts and/or characterised by bone resorption, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer associated bone disease, Paget's disease, and the like; and/or conditions associated with inflammation or activation of the immune system.
US07745416B2
A method for regulating in vivo calcium transport in cardiac muscle of animals suffering from congestive heart failure is disclosed. According to the method, calcium ATPase activity (which decreases as congestive heart failure develops) and cardiac muscle contractility augmented by delivering a gene which operatively encodes the enzyme into the heart. Delivery systems, including but not limited to using adeno-associated viral vectors are provided. Methods for monitoring the expression and effect of the gene product on cardiac performance are also provided.
US07745412B2
A method of changing or otherwise converting the biological activity of a PKC peptide agonist to a peptide antagonist is described. The method involves substituting one or more amino acid residues so as to effect a change in charge in the peptide and/or to otherwise make the sequence similar to a sequence derived from the PKC binding site on the RACK protein for the respective PKC enzyme. Methods of inhibiting the activity of a PKC enzyme, and various peptide antagonists of εPKC are also disclosed.
US07745410B2
The present invention relates to a bladder tumor-targeting peptide and use thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bladder tumor-targeting peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 7 and use thereof. The peptide according to the present invention is capable of specific binding to bladder tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. The peptide according to the present invention or an antibody thereof is useful for a marker for the diagnosis of bladder tumors, and for a drug carrier targeting bladder tumor.
US07745409B2
The present invention features compositions and related methods for treating IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders and conditions (e.g., gastrointestinal motility disorders, functional gastrointestinal disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, Inflammatory bowel disease, functional heartburn, dyspepsia (including functional dyspepsia or nonulcer dyspepsia), gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (or colonic pseudo-obstruction), and disorders and conditions associated with constipation, e.g., constipation associated with use of opiate pain killers, post-surgical constipation (post-operative ileus), and constipation associated with neuropathic disorders as well as other conditions and disorders using peptides and other agents that activate the guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) receptor.
US07745408B2
A method for inducing melanogenesis in a human subject having a melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) variant allele associated with loss of or diminished receptor function comprises administering to said subject an amount of an α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) analogue effective to induce melanogenesis by the melanocytes in the skin or other epidermal tissue of the subject.
US07745407B2
Disclosed herein are hemojuvelin-specific siRNAs that vary hemojuvelin mRNA concentration. Also disclosed herein, GPI-hemojuvelin positively regulated hepcidin mRNA expression, independently of the IL-6 pathway, whereas soluble hemojuvelin (s-hemojuvelin) suppressed hepcidin mRNA expression in primary human hepatocytes in a log-linear dosedependent manner. Disclosed are compositions and methods for modulating diseases of iron metabolism and hepcidin expression or hepcidin levels.
US07745406B2
The present invention relates to a kit for diagnosing a disorder comprising a reagent that detects FGF23 polypeptides and mutant FGF23 polypeptides.
US07745402B2
The present invention provides a method of treating pancreatitis comprising administering to a human in need thereof an effective amount of hemin. The administration of hemin is preferably parenteral. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of pancreatitis prophylaxis comprising administering to a human in need thereof an effective amount of hemin. In a still further aspect, the present invention contemplates a method of inducing an HO gene comprising administering to a human in need thereof an HO-inducing effective amount of hemin. Preferably, the HO gene is the HO-1 gene. In a still further aspect, the present invention contemplates a method of inducing an HO gene in leukocytes for recruitment to the pancreas to treat pancreatitis comprising administering to a human in need thereof an HO-inducing effective amount of hemin. In another embodiment, the present invention contemplates a method of inducing an HO gene in leukocytes for recruitment to the pancreas for prophylaxis of pancreatitis comprising administering to a human in need thereof an HO-inducing effective amount of hemin. In a yet further aspect, the present invention provides a method of ex vivo treatment of pancreatitis comprising providing peripheral blood leukocytes, followed by contact with hemin to form induced peripheral blood leukocytes then infusing the induced peripheral blood leukocytes into a human in need thereof.
US07745397B2
The present invention provides peptides and polynucleotides, and their use for immunomodulation, immunotherapy and vaccine particularly for anti-cancer therapy, and for diagnosis purposes. The immunomodulatory effect includes induction of proliferation and activation of peripheral blood lymphocytes and induction of an anti-tumor effect upon administration of peptides of the invention to subjects suffering from cancer.
US07745392B2
Disclosed herein are guanidinium containing compounds consisting of a core moiety with a plurality of side chains containing guanidinium groups. Such compounds have enhanced translocation across cellular membranes and epithelial tissues. The compounds may also have a therapeutic or other biologically active moiety attached so that these moieties may be effectively transported into a cell by the guanidinium containing compound.
US07745382B2
It is known by the inventor that a universal synthetic lubricant additive that can greatly enhance the performance standards of existing lubricants, petroleum based or synthetic, imparts a new and desirable property not originally present in the existing oil or it reinforces a desirable property already possessed in some degree can greatly benefit the consumer. Although additives of many diverse types have been developed to meet special lubrication needs, their principal functions are relatively few in number. This universal synthetic lubricant additive (invention) with micro lubrication technology, when used as directed will reduce the oxidative or thermal degradation of the host oil, substantially reduce the deposition of harmful deposits in lubricated parts, minimize rust and corrosion, control frictional properties, reduce wear, temperature, sludge, varnishes and prevent destructive metal-to-metal contact, reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions while improving performance through increased horsepower and torque. Further this technology lends itself to further development of a host of energy/emission reduction products from conditioners for kerosene, diesel, bunker-C heavy oils to gasoline, cutting oils, penetrating lubricants, electrical dielectric coatings, oxidation inhibitors and electrical terminal coatings.
US07745380B2
A method of treating a wellbore that includes circulating a wellbore fluid in the wellbore, wherein the wellbore fluid comprises an oleaginous base fluid and a wellbore additive colloidal solid material, and wherein the wellbore additive colloidal solid material is formed by grinding a solid particulate material and a polymeric dispersing agent for a sufficient time so that the polymeric dispersing agent is absorbed to the surface of the resulting colloidal solid particles and less than 10% of the resulting colloidal solid particles have a diameter greater than 10 microns, but not more than five percent of the particles are less than 0.2 micron in diameter, wherein the grinding is carried out in the presence of an oleaginous base fluid and wherein the grinding is carried out so that the wellbore additive colloidal solid material has a weight average particle diameter d50 less than 2.0 microns.
US07745378B1
A drilling fluid additive is provided and the additive consist of: hydrolyzed glucose syrup solids in the amount from about 30 to about 90% by weight of total volume of the additive and a liquid medium in the amount from about 10 to about 70% by weight of total volume of the additive.
US07745376B2
The invention provides a superconductor comprising particles made of a superconductive material, and a conductive material. The conductive material is selected to be driven to a superconductive state when in proximity to the superconductive material, and preferably at least includes bismuth. An unbroken length of the conductive material is located sufficiently close to a plurality of the particles to be driven to a superconductive state by the superconductive material.
US07745375B2
The invention relates to insecticidal mixtures comprising, as active compounds, in each case two compounds from the series of the chloronicotinyl insecticides, and to the use of these mixtures for controlling animal pests.
US07745370B2
A catalyst for selective hydrogenation of acetylenes and diolefins, particularly in a raw gas feed stream for front end selective hydrogenation. The catalyst contains a low surface area carrier with a surface area from about 2-20 m2/g, wherein the pore volume of the pores of the carrier is greater than about 0.4 cc/g, at least 90 percent of the pore volume of the pores is contained within pores having a pore diameter greater than about 500 Å and about 1 to about 2 percent of the total pore volume is contained in pores with a pore diameter from about 500 to about 1,000 Å. The palladium comprises about 0.01 to about 0.1 weight % and a Group IB metal comprises about 0.005 to about 0.06 weight % of the catalyst.
US07745367B2
An emission control catalyst that exhibits improved CO and HC reduction performance includes a supported platinum-based catalyst, and a supported palladium-gold catalyst. The two catalysts are coated onto different layers, zones, or monoliths of the substrate for the emission control catalyst such that the platinum-based catalyst encounters the exhaust stream before the palladium-gold catalyst. Zeolite may be added to the emission control catalyst as a hydrocarbon absorbing component to boost the oxidation activity of the palladium-gold catalyst.
US07745362B2
There are provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention metal-containing inorganic block copolymers, structures formed by self-assembly of such copolymers, and metal-containing ceramics which may be formed from such copolymers and/or structure. Methods for making such copolymers, structures and ceramics are also provided. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07745360B2
Presently described are retroreflective articles, such as pavement markings, that comprise transparent microspheres partially embedded in a (e.g., polymeric) binder. Also described are (e.g., glass-ceramic) microspheres, methods of making microspheres, as well as compositions of glass materials and compositions of glass-ceramic materials. The microspheres generally comprise lanthanide series oxide(s), titanium oxide (TiO2), and optionally zirconium oxide (ZrO2).
US07745352B2
Methods of curing a silicon oxide layer on a substrate are provided. The methods may include the processes of providing a semiconductor processing chamber and a substrate and forming an silicon oxide layer overlying at least a portion of the substrate, the silicon oxide layer including carbon species as a byproduct of formation. The methods may also include introducing an acidic vapor into the semiconductor processing chamber, the acidic vapor reacting with the silicon oxide layer to remove the carbon species from the silicon oxide layer. The methods may also include removing the acidic vapor from the semiconductor processing chamber. Systems to deposit a silicon oxide layer on a substrate are also described.
US07745349B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor transistor which eliminates device defects generated during an etching process for forming gates. The method may include laminating an ONO layer on and/or over a semiconductor substrate, and then coating a polysilicon layer on and/or over the ONO layer, and then forming a photoresist pattern on and/or over the polysilicon layer, and then sequentially performing a first etching of the polysilicon layer using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask so as to maintain a predetermined thickness of the polysilicon layer and then a second etching to remove the polysilicon layer remaining from the first etching.
US07745347B2
An experiment is conducted in advance, for finding a temperature of a cooling plate attained as a result of balancing between a temperature of a substrate after heat treatment and a temperature of the cooling plate at the time of cooling of the substrate. Then, before heat treatment of a first substrate, the cooling plate is moved to a position above a hot plate, the cooling plate is heated to that temperature, and thereafter heat treatment of the substrate is started.
US07745341B2
In a phase-change semiconductor device and methods of manufacturing the same, an example method may include forming a metal layer pattern on a substrate, the metal layer pattern including an opening that exposes a portion of the substrate, forming an etch stop layer on the metal layer pattern, a sidewall of the opening and the exposed portion of the substrate, the etch stop layer formed with a thickness less than an upper thickness threshold, and reducing at least a portion of the etch stop layer, the reduced portion of the etch stop layer forming an electrical connection with the substrate.
US07745337B2
A method that includes forming a gate of a semiconductor device on a substrate, and etching sidewall spacers on sides of the gate to provide a proximity value, where the proximity value is defined as a distance between the gate and an edge of a performance-enhancing region. The sidewall spacers are used to define the edge of the region during formation of the region in the substrate. The method also includes pre-cleaning the gate and the substrate in preparation for formation of the region, where the etching and the pre-cleaning are performed in a continuous vacuum.
US07745330B1
Carbon nanotube apparatus, and methods of carbon nanotube modification, include carbon nanotubes having locally modified properties with the positioning of the modifications being controlled. More specifically, the positioning of nanotubes on a substrate with a deposited substance, and partially vaporizing part of the deposited substance etches the nanotubes. The modifications of the carbon nanotubes determine the electrical properties of the apparatus and applications such as a transistor or Shockley diode. Other applications of the above mentioned apparatus include a nanolaboratory that assists in study of merged quantum states between nanosystems and a macroscopic host system.
US07745327B2
By appropriately designing a plurality of deposition steps and intermediate sputter processes, the formation of a barrier material within a via opening may be accomplished on the basis of a highly efficient process strategy that readily integrates conductive cap layers formed above metal-containing regions into well-approved process sequences.
US07745323B2
Disclosed herein is a metal interconnection structure of a semiconductor device, comprising lower metal interconnection layers disposed on a semiconductor substrate, a buffer layer made of a metal oxide disposed thereon, an intermetallic dielectric layer made of a low-k material disposed on the buffer layer of the metal oxide, and an upper metal interconnection layer disposed on the intermetallic dielectric layer and electrically connected through the intermetallic dielectric layer and buffer layer to the lower metal interconnection layers.
US07745304B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device begins when a first dielectric pattern is formed on and/or over a substrate, and a first etching process is performed to form a trench in the substrate. An edge portion of the first trench is exposed. An oxidation process is performed on and/or over the substrate rounding the edge portion of the trench. A second dielectric is formed on and/or over the substrate including the trench, and a planarization process is performed on the second dielectric. A photoresist pattern is formed on and/or over the second dielectric corresponding to the trench, and a second etching process is performed to form a second dielectric pattern filling the trench. The photoresist pattern is removed. A second cleaning process is performed on the substrate including the trench to form a device isolation layer, which is formed by removing a portion of the second dielectric pattern. A portion of the second dielectric remains on the first dielectric pattern after the performing of the planarization process on the second dielectric.
US07745299B2
In order to diversify a current control method of a semiconductor device, improve performance (including a current drive performance) of the semiconductor device, and reduce a size of the semiconductor device, a second gate may be formed inside a substrate that forms a channel upon applying a bias voltage thereto. In one aspect, the semiconductor device includes: a well region of a first conductivity; source and drain regions of a second conductivity in the well region; a first gate on an oxide layer above the well region, controlling a first channel region of a second conductivity between the source region and the drain region; and a second gate under the first channel region.
US07745297B2
The substrate with electrodes is formed of a transparent material onto which is deposited a film (1) of a transparent conductive material of thickness e1 and of refractive index n1, said film being structured to form a set of electrodes (1a) whose contours (8) delimit insulating spaces (3), wherein the insulating spaces (3) are filled with a transparent dielectric material of thickness e2 and of refractive index n2 so that the respective thicknesses of the conductive material and the dielectric material are inversely proportional to the values of the refractive indices of said materials and said dielectric material forms neither depressions nor beads at the contour (8) of the electrodes. A hardcoating layer (7) may be disposed between the substrate (5) and the electrodes and a protective film (9) added.The substrate with electrodes is obtained by UV irradiation through a single mask.
US07745295B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells. Dopant is implanted into a semiconductor substrate to form a pair of source/drain regions that are spaced from one another by a channel region. The dopant is annealed within the source/drain regions, and then a plurality of charge trapping units are formed over the channel region. Dielectric material is then formed over the charge trapping units, and control gate material is formed over the dielectric material. Some embodiments include memory cells that contain a plurality of nanosized islands of charge trapping material over a channel region, with adjacent islands being spaced from one another by gaps. The memory cells can further include dielectric material over and between the nanosized islands, with the dielectric material forming a container shape having an upwardly opening trough therein. The memory cells can further include control gate material within the trough.
US07745289B2
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a substrate of a first conductivity type silicon is provided. A substrate cap region of the first conductivity type silicon is formed such that a junction is formed between the substrate cap region and the substrate. A body region of a second conductivity type silicon is formed such that a junction is formed between the body region and the substrate cap region. A trench extending through at least the body region is then formed. A source region of the first conductivity type is then formed in an upper portion of the body region. An out-diffusion region of the first conductivity type is formed in a lower portion of the body region as a result of one or more temperature cycles such that a spacing between the source region and the out-diffusion region defines a channel length of the field effect transistor.
US07745288B2
A semiconductor device having a non-volatile memory is disclosed, whose disturb defect can be diminished or prevented. A memory cell of the non-volatile memory has a memory gate electrode formed over a main surface of a semiconductor substrate through an insulating film for charge storage. A first side wall is formed on a side face of the memory gate electrode, and at a side face of the first side wall, a second side wall is formed. On an upper surface of an n+-type semiconductor region for source in the memory cell there is formed a silicide layer whose end portion on the memory gate electrode MG side is defined by the second side wall.
US07745285B2
A string of nonvolatile memory cells are formed with control gates extending between floating gates, control gates and floating gates separated by tunnel dielectric layers. Electron tunneling between control gates and floating gates is used for programming. A process for forming a memory array forms odd numbered floating gates from a first layer and even numbered floating gates from a second layer.
US07745284B2
A method of manufacturing a flash memory device. According to the invention, a floating gate can be formed and a distance between cells can be secured sufficiently by using one conductive layer without using a SA-STI process that cannot be applied to the manufacturing process of highly integrated semiconductor devices. It is therefore possible to minimize interference between neighboring cells.
US07745274B2
The disclosure herein pertains to fashioning a low noise junction field effect transistor (JFET) where transistor gate materials are utilized in forming and electrically isolating active areas of a the JFET. More particularly, active regions are self aligned with patterned gate electrode material and sidewall spacers which facilitate desirably locating the active regions in a semiconductor substrate. This mitigates the need for additional materials in the substrate to isolate the active regions from one another, where such additional materials can introduce noise into the JFET. This also allows a layer of gate dielectric material to remain over the surface of the substrate, where the layer of gate dielectric material provides a substantially uniform interface at the surface of the substrate that facilitates uninhibited current flow between the active regions, and thus promotes desired device operation.
US07745273B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor body of a conductivity type, wherein the semiconductor body comprises a first surface. At least one buried region of a second conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor body and at least a surface region of the second conductivity type is formed at the first surface of the semiconductor body, wherein the buried region and the surface region are formed such that they are spaced apart from each other. The buried region is formed by deep implantation of a first dopant of the second conductivity type.
US07745272B2
A semiconductor device has a heterostructure including a first layer of semiconductor oxide material. A second layer of semiconductor oxide material is formed on the first layer of semiconductor oxide material such that a two dimensional electron gas builds up at an interface between the first and second materials. A passivation layer on the outer surface stabilizes the structure. The device also has a source contact and a drain contact.
US07745271B2
Formation of LDD structures and GOLD structures in a semiconductor device is conventionally performed in a self aligning manner with gate electrodes as masks, but there are many cases in which the gate electrodes have two layer structures, and film formation processes and etching processes become complex. Further, in order to perform formation of LDD structures and GOLD structures only by processes such as dry etching, the transistor structures all have the same structure, and it is difficult to form LDD structures, GOLD structures, and single drain structures separately for different circuits. By applying a photolithography process for forming gate electrodes to photomasks or reticles, in which supplemental patterns having a function of reducing the intensity of light and composed of diffraction grating patterns or translucent films, are established, GOLD structure, LDD structure, and single drain structure transistors can be easily manufactured for different circuits through dry etching and ion injection process steps.
US07745270B2
In general, in one aspect, a method includes forming an n-diffusion fin and a p-diffusion fin in a semiconductor substrate. A high dielectric constant layer is formed over the substrate. A first work function metal layer is created over the n-diffusion fin and a second work function metal layer, thicker than the first, is created over the n-diffusion fin. A silicon germanium layer is formed over the first and second work function metal layers. A polysilicon layer is formed over the silicon germanium layer and is polished. The polysilicon layer over the first work function metal layer is thicker than the polysilicon layer over the second work function metal layer. A hard mask is patterned and used to etch the polysilicon layer and the silicon germanium layer to create gate stacks. The etch rate of the silicon germanium layer is faster over the first work function metal layer.
US07745265B2
A method of making a monolithic, three dimensional NAND string, includes forming a select transistor, forming a first memory cell over a second memory cell, forming a first word line for the first memory cell, forming a second word line for the second memory cell, forming a bit line, forming a source line, and forming a select gate line for the select transistor. The first and the second word lines are not parallel to the bit line, and the first and the second word lines extend parallel to at least one of the source line and the select gate line.
US07745264B2
Various semiconductor chip underfills and methods of making the same are provided. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes coupling a semiconductor chip to a substrate to leave a gap therebetween, and forming an underfill layer in the gap. The underfill layer includes a first plurality of filler particles that have a first average size and a second plurality of filler particles that have a second average size smaller than the first average size such that the first plurality of filler particles is concentrated proximate the substrate and the second plurality of filler particles is concentrated proximate the semiconductor chip so that a bulk modulus of the underfill layer is larger proximate the substrate than proximate the semiconductor chip.
US07745245B2
At least one recess and/or protruding portion is created on the surface portion of a substrate for scattering or diffracting light generated in a light emitting region. The recess and/or protruding portion has a shape that prevents crystal defects from occurring in semiconductor layers.
US07745243B2
A forming method of the present invention includes forming a first patterned conductive layer, which includes a transparent conductive layer and a metal layer stacked together on a substrate, where the first patterned conductive layer functions as gate lines, gate electrodes, common lines and predetermined transparent pixel electrode structures; and forming a second patterned conductive layer on the substrate. The second patterned conductive layer includes data lines and reflective pixel electrodes, and be directly connected to doping regions, such as source regions/drain regions. According to the forming method of the present invention, pixel structures of a transflective liquid crystal display device can be formed through five mask processes. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the transflective liquid crystal display device is effectively simplified, so the product yield is improved and the cost can be reduced.
US07745241B2
A method of making a plurality of light emitting diodes simultaneously includes steps of: a) providing a wafer and a first bonding layer, and adhering the first bonding layer to a bottom side of the wafer; b) cutting the wafer to form a plurality of LED dies on the first bonding layer; c) adhering a second bonding layer on top sides of the plurality of LED dies; d) removing the first bonding layer; e) mounting the second bonding layer with the plurality of LED dies on a base having a plurality of recesses; f) removing the second bonding layer and letting the plurality of LED dies fall into the recesses of the base; g) electrically connecting the LED dies to electric poles in the base; h) encapsulating the LED dies; and i) cutting the base to form the plurality of LEDs.
US07745240B2
A manufacturing method of a light-emitting element includes emitting a laser light to a division region for separating a light-emitting element formed on a substrate, physically dividing the substrate along the division region, and removing a surface layer on at least one of the side faces of the substrate that is exposed by the dividing of the substrate.
US07745233B2
A ferroelectric capacitor comprises a first electrode comprising an alloy of Ir and Ru, a ferroelectric layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the ferroelectric layer. A ferroelectric memory comprises a substrate and a plurality of memory cells arranged on the substrate. Each memory cell comprises a first electrode comprising an alloy of Ir and Ru, a ferroelectric layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the ferroelectric layer.
US07745231B2
A phase change memory cell and methods of fabricating the same are presented. The memory cell includes a variable resistance region and a top and bottom electrode. The shapes of the variable resistance region and the top electrode are configured to evenly distribute a current with a generally hemispherical current density distribution around the first electrode.
US07745225B2
Various methods of assessing the regenerative potential of dermal tissue in a patient may be determined and methods to determine the potential development of stretch marks in a patient are provided. Through the analysis of a series of dermal tissue samples, a method of monitoring the aging process of the dermal tissue of a patient is possible. Damaged or stretched marked skin may also be used in the development of various diagnostic therapies relating to the inducement of the extracellular matrix components of the skin due to the loss of elastic fibers generally found in stretch marked skin.
US07745224B2
The present invention lies in the field of coagulation diagnosis and relates to a procedure for the standardization of coagulation tests, where calibrators are used to which a discrete standard coagulation time is assigned. The procedure is particularly suitable for the standardization of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, ecarin time or batroxobin time.
US07745215B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for expanding Treg cells ex vivo or in vivo using one or more conjugates comprising a costimulatory moiety that stimulates at least one of three signals involved in Treg cell development and/or using dendritic cells pulsed with antigens and modified to display TGF-β, or hematopoetic stem cells or bone marrow cells modified to display TGF-β. The methods and compositions are useful, for example, in the treatment and prevention of autoimmune disease, including Type 1 diabetes and in preventing foreign graft rejection, as well as to establish mixed chimerism, induce tolerance to autoantigens, alloantigens or xenoantigens, beta cell regeneration, prevention of foreign graft rejection, and treatment of a genetically inherited hematopoietic disorder.
US07745212B2
The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding a melanoma antigen recognized by T lymphocytes, designated MART-1. This invention further relates to bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess or prognoses a mammal afflicted with melanoma or metastata melanoma. This invention also provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen and a second melanoma antigen designated gp100. This invention further provides immunogenic peptides derived from the MART-1 melanoma antigen or gp100 antigen which have been modified to enhance their immunogenicity. The proteins and peptides provided can serve as an immunogen or vaccine to prevent or treat melanoma.
US07745205B2
A thermal cycling method and device is disclosed. The device comprises a sample chamber whose temperature can be rapidly and accurately modulated over a range of temperatures needed to carry out a number of biological procedures, such as the DNA polymerase chain reaction. Biological samples are placed in containers each comprising a reservoir and a reaction portion, wherein the reaction portion has a small volume. The small volume reaction portion permits the rapid and accurate temperature modulation. With an optically transmissible reaction portion, DNA amplification may be monitored by fluorescence during PCR.
US07745200B2
The present invention provides formaldehyde dehydrogenase genes (FLD) from methylotrophic yeasts. The FLD structural genes confer resistance to formaldehyde and are therefore useful as a selectable marker in methylotrophic yeasts. The FLD promoter sequences are strongly and independently induced by either methanol as sole carbon source (with ammonium sulfate as nitrogen source) or methylamine as sole nitrogen source (with glucose as carbon source). Induction under either methanol, methylamine or both provides levels of heterologous gene expression comparable to those obtained with the commonly used alcohol oxidase I gene promoter (PAOX1). The FLD promoter of Pichia pastoris (PFLD1) is an attractive alternative to PAOX1 for expression of foreign genes in P. pastoris, allowing regulation by carbon (methanol) or nitrogen (methylamine) source within the same expression strain. Yeast strains, expression cassettes, expression vectors, and host cells-comprising an FLD gene promoter and 3′ termination sequence are also provided.
US07745195B2
The present invention is directed to a method for the preparation of evolved microorganisms permitting the creation or modification of metabolic pathways. Strains of evolved microorganisms and evolved genes obtained by the method are also provided. The invention is also directed to the use of evolved microorganisms, genes or proteins in a biotransformation process.
US07745193B2
The present invention refers to a recombinant nucleotide sequence which codes upon expression for at least a part of a bifunctional hybrid active-site serine β-lactamase protein, wherein the β-lactamase protein is bearing at least one heterologous sequence, wherein in that the hybrid protein is having two functions, the first function is associated with the β-lactamase portion and the second function is associated with the heterologous sequence having a biological function which is different from the first function.
US07745191B2
The purpose of the invention is to provide an activated protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in large quantities with high purity by a genetic engineering and to provide a method for producing a heterodimer derivative of PP2A which comprises infecting insect cultured cells with a baculovirus in which a cDNA encoding the catalytic subunit of PP2A carrying a first tag is integrated together with another baculovirus in which a cDNA encoding the A subunit of PP2A carrying a second tag is integrated, incubating the infected cells, disrupting the incubated cells to obtain a disrupted cell suspension, and then purifying the disrupted cell suspension with a solid phase carrying a substance capable of binding to the first tag and another solid phase carrying a substance capable of binding to the second tag, characterized in that the insect cells infected with the baculovirus are incubated at a temperature of from 18 to 22° C.
US07745180B2
Disclosed are a method, device kit, and automated system for simple, reproducible, and high-throughput quantification of mRNA from whole blood. More particularly, the method, device, kit and automated system involve combinations of leukocyte filters attached to oligo(dT)-immobilized multi-well plates.
US07745169B2
A device and method simultaneously detects and enumerates two groups of microorganisms in a test sample, utilizing a single test container. In the container liquid growth media, a chromogenic substrate and a fluorogenic substrate are mixed with the test sample. The test container is incubated to allow bacterial growth and metabolism. Spectral changes of the substrates are dynamically detected using two external light sources aimed at a transparent section of the test container, and a single external photo detector. One light source operates in the visible band and the second in the long ultraviolet band. The two dynamic time patterns generated by the two substrates are analyzed in real time to determine the presence or absence of each microorganisms group and to enumerate their original concentrations in the test sample.
US07745166B2
The gene associated and causative of classical late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL), CLN2, has been identified and characterized. The translation product of this gene is a novel protease and a deficiency in this activity results in LINCL. Identification of CLN2 will not only aid in the prevention of LINCL through genetic counseling but provides strategies and test systems for therapeutic intervention. In addition, further characterization of this previously unknown lysosomal enzyme may provide useful insights into other more common human neurodegenerative disorders. Finally, the utility of a general approach for determining the molecular bases for lysosomal disorders of unknown etiology has been demonstrated.
US07745162B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for measuring human serum hepcidin levels. The invention provides methods for the oxidative refolding of a hepcidin polypeptide to a form that is mature, bioactive and folded as in the native configuration and molecular mass; a method for measuring the level of native, bioactive hepcidin in a vertebrate animal.
US07745159B2
The invention is directed to compositions and methods for the detection of a malignant condition, and relates to the discovery of soluble forms of mesothelin polypeptides, including mesothelin related antigen (MRA). In particular the invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding MRA and an MRA variant. The invention also provides a method of screening for the presence of a malignant condition in a subject by detecting reactivity of an antibody specific for a mesothelin polypeptide with a molecule naturally occurring in soluble form in a sample from such a subject, and by hybridization screening using an MRA nucleotide sequence, as well as other related advantages.
US07745157B2
The present invention relates to an adjuvant derived from human lymphocytes. The adjuvant can be used in combination with traditional vaccines or cancer immunotherapy, to enhance the response of the patient's immune system to the vaccine or other immunotherapeutic agent. The adjuvant is derived from the supernatant collected from cultured activated lymphocytes.
US07745156B2
The present invention relates to the use of a polypeptide (CD27L) for diagnosis of epithelial-related cancers, in particular kidney cancer e.g. renal cell cancer and colorectal cancer, e.g. colon cancers, as well as in methods of treatment of such cancers.
US07745154B2
The present invention provides a preventive or therapeutic drug for a myeloma tumor and osteoclastic bone loss associating therewith, the drug containing as an active ingredient an osteopontin-production regulator or inhibitor; a screening method for a preventive or therapeutic drug for a myeloma tumor, characterized by determining osteopontin production regulatory or inhibitory effect; as well as a diagnostic kit for a myeloma tumor, characterized by including a reagent for measuring blood osteopontin level, and a diagnostic method.
US07745149B2
The present invention relates to a tumor marker for diagnosis of ovarian cancer, which is selected from the group consisting of galectin-1, cathepsin B, MHC class I antigen, heat shock protein (HSP) 27, ubiquitin carboxy-termal esterase L1, plasma retinol-binding protein (PRBP), transthyretin, SH3 binding glutamate-rich protein, tubulin-specific chaperone A, RNA binding protein regulatory subunit, γ-actin, tropomyosin and calcium/calmodulin-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphatase. The ovarian cancer is diagnosed effectively and efficiently based on detecting the expression levels of the tumor markers in the invention from the ovarian tissue sample of an individual to be diagnosed.
US07745141B2
A number of protein and glycoprotein antigens secreted by, or expressed on the surface of, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have been identified as “early” Mtb antigens on the basis of antibodies present in subjects infected with Mtb prior to the development of detectable clinical disease. PirG protein encoded by the Mtb gene Rv3810, PE-PGRS protein encoded by the Mtb gene Rv3367, PTRP protein encoded by the Mtb gene Rv0538) and MtrA protein encoded by the Mtb gene Rv3246c, or epitopes of these proteins, are useful in immunoassay methods or T cell assays for early, rapid detection of TB in a subject. Preferred immunoassays detect antibodies in the urine. Also provided are antigenic compositions, kits and methods useful for detecting these early Mtb antigens and early Mtb antibodies specific for them. Vaccine compositions comprising the foregoing antigens or epitopes are also disclosed.
US07745134B2
This invention provides a method for predicting the post-treatment survival prospect of a cancer patient based on the expression level(s) of microRNAs hsa-miR137, hsa-miR372, hsa-miR182*, hsa-miR221, and hsa-let-7a in that cancer patient.
US07745106B2
Methods and devices for preparing a solid-fibrin web are provided. One method may include drawing blood from a patient, separating plasma from the blood, contacting the plasma with a calcium-coagulation activator and concurrently coagulating and axially centrifuging the plasma to form the solid-fibrin web. The solid-fibrin web may be suitable for regenerating body tissue in a living organism. Devices used in the methods may also be provided.
US07745104B2
There is disclosed a bottom resist layer composition for a multilayer-resist film used in lithography comprising, at least, a polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (1). Thereby, there can be provided a bottom resist layer composition that exhibits optimum n value and k value on exposure to shorter wavelengths, excellent etching resistance under conditions for etching substrates, and is promising for forming a bottom resist layer used for a multilayer-resist process such as a silicon-containing bilayer resist process or a trilayer resist process using a silicon-containing intermediate resist layer.
US07745102B2
Compositions for use as immersion fluids are described. In general, the immersion fluids can be utilized to perform lithography at short wavelengths (e.g., in a range from about 120 nm to about 260 nm). Some embodiments can be used in a range of actinic radiation between about 140 nm and about 160 nm (e.g., about 157 nm). Immersion fluids can exhibit any number of advantageous features including a relatively high index of refraction (e.g., greater than about 1, or greater than about 1.3, or about greater than about 1.4) and/or a relatively low absorbance (e.g., lower than about 2 μm−1, or lower than about 1 μm−1, or lower than about 0.5 μm−1). Some immersion fluids can include silicon-containing compounds and/or germanium containing compounds. Such compounds can include at least one Ge—O bond or at least one Si—O bond. Such compounds can also include one or more fluorinated moieties.
US07745098B2
A polymer compound having a structural unit (a0) represented by a general formula (a0-1) shown below, and a structural unit (a1) that is derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group but is not classified as said structural unit (a0). [wherein, R represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a halogenated lower alkyl group; A represents a divalent aliphatic cyclic group that may have a substituent; B represents a divalent hydrocarbon group that may have a substituent; r represents an integer of 0 or 1; and R1 represents an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group]
US07745097B2
There are provided a novel compound represented by a general formula (b1-1) shown below, which is useful as an acid generator for a resist composition and a manufacturing method thereof, a compound useful as a precursor of the novel compound and a manufacturing method thereof, an acid generator, a resist composition and a method of forming a resist pattern. (wherein, R1 represents an aryl group or alkyl group which may contain a substituent group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; n1 represents an integer of 0 or 1, and in the case that n1 is 1, R1 and R3 may mutually be bonded to form a ring with a 3- to 7-membered ring structure together with the carbon atom with which R1 is bonded and the carbon atom with which R3 is bonded; A represents a bivalent group which forms a ring with 3- to 7-membered ring structure together with the sulfur atom with which A is bonded, and the ring may contain a substituent group; R2 represents an aromatic group which may contain a substituent group, a linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may contain a substituent group, or a linear or branched alkenyl group of 2 to 10 carbon atoms which may contain a substituent group; n represents an integer of 0 or 1; and Y1 represents an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms in which hydrogen atoms may be substituted with fluorine atoms.).
US07745090B2
A method for producing a lithographic printing plate is provided, wherein, in the non-alkaline development of a lithographic printing plate precursor having a protective layer, even if the protective layer components are mingled into the developer, the reduction in development removability of the image recording layer and the generation of development scum can be inhibited; an on-press development type lithographic printing plate precursor with excellent inking property, high scratch resistance, satisfied on-press developability and good fine line reproducibility is provided; and a lithographic printing method is provided, each of which is a method for producing a lithographic printing plate, comprising: imagewise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support, an image recording layer and a protective layer, and rubbing the plate surface by a rubbing member of an automatic processor in the presence of a developer at a pH of 2 to 10 to remove the protective layer and the image recording layer in the unexposed area; a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support, an image recording layer removable with a printing ink and/or a fountain solution, and a protective layer containing a polyvinyl alcohol having a carboxyl group and/or a sulfonic acid group within the molecule; and a lithographic printing method comprising on-press development.
US07745084B2
A toner including a binder resin and a colorant, wherein a pellet of the toner which is prepared by applying a pressure of 15 kg/cm2 to the toner has a tensile strength of from 900 Pa to 10,000 Pa, and wherein the toner has a methanol wettability of from 25 to 65% by volume, wherein the methanol wettability is measured by a method in which the toner is dispersed in a mixture solvent of water and methanol, and methanol is added to the toner dispersion while checking the transparency of the dispersion to determine a transparency fall starting point, wherein the methanol wettability is defined as {Vm/(Vm+Vw)}×100, wherein Vm represents a total volume (ml) of methanol in the dispersion at the transparency dropping point, and Vw represents the total volume of the pure water added.
US07745077B2
The present invention relates to an aqueous coating composition for coating a photoresist pattern, comprising a polymer comprising at least one unit with an alkylamino group, where the unit has a structure (1), where, R1 to R5 are independently selected from hydrogen and C1 to C6 alkyl, and W is C1 to C6 alkyl. The invention also relates to a process for imaging a photoresist layer using the present composition.
US07745069B2
A photomask, method of designing, of fabricating, of designing, a method of inspecting and a system for designing the photomask. The photomask, includes: a cell region, the cell region comprising one or more chip regions, each chip region comprising a pattern of opaque and clear sub-regions corresponding to features of an integrated circuit chip and one or more kerf regions, each kerf region comprising a pattern of opaque and clear sub-regions corresponding to features of an integrated circuit kerf; a clear region formed adjacent to a side of a copy region, the copy region comprising opaque and clear sub-regions that are copies of at least a part of the cell region; and an opaque region between the clear region and the cell region.
US07745061B2
An electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes: a proton conductive material in which hollow inorganic fine particles having through-holes on the surface of the hollow inorganic fine particles, are filled with an electrolyte resin; and a non-proton conductive polymer.
US07745056B2
Disclosed herein is an electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries comprising: a chelating agent, which forms complexes with transition metal ions in the battery, and at the same time does not react and coordinate with lithium ions; a non-aqueous solvent; and an electrolyte salt, as well as a lithium secondary battery comprising the electrolyte. The chelating agent, which is contained in the electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries, can suppress a side reaction in which transition metal ions are reduced and deposited as transition metals on the anode. Also, the chelating agent can suppress internal short-circuits in the battery and the resulting voltage drop of the battery and a reduction in the safety and performance of the battery, which can occur when transition metals are deposited on the anode.
US07745055B2
Disclosed is an electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery including: a first additive having an oxidation potential of 4.1 to 4.6V; a second additive having an oxidation potential of 4.4 to 5.0V; a non-aqueous organic solvent; and a lithium salt.
US07745047B2
The present invention provides a nano-scaled graphene platelet-based composite material composition for use as an electrode, particularly as an anode of a lithium ion battery. The composition comprises: (a) micron- or nanometer-scaled particles or coating which are capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions; and (b) a plurality of nano-scaled graphene platelets (NGPs), wherein a platelet comprises a graphene sheet or a stack of graphene sheets having a platelet thickness less than 100 nm; wherein at least one of the particles or coating is physically attached or chemically bonded to at least one of the graphene platelets and the amount of platelets is in the range of 2% to 90% by weight and the amount of particles or coating in the range of 98% to 10% by weight. Also provided is a lithium secondary battery comprising such a negative electrode (anode). The battery exhibits an exceptional specific capacity, an excellent reversible capacity, and a long cycle life.
US07745040B2
An object of the present invention is to provide the device for protecting a secondary battery safely from overvoltage and overheating caused by the overcharge by using simple safety device, which provides a contacted safety device which connects between a constant voltage element showing a discharge characteristic in the state of overvoltage and a MIT (metal insulator transition) element showing a discharge characteristic in the state of overheating. Each of the constant voltage element and the MIT element are connected in parallel between a cathode lead and an anode lead of the secondary battery. The contacted safety device has a characteristic combining a discharge/heat dissipation characteristic of the constant voltage element and a discharge characteristic of the MIT element which immediately responds to the heat dissipation of the constant voltage element, resulting in effect of preventing overcharge advantageously since the contacted safety device makes discharge in terms of 2 factors of voltage and temperature in case of overcharge.
US07745036B2
A membrane electrode assembly for a direct oxidation fuel cell includes a proton-conductive electrolyte membrane and an anode and a cathode sandwiching the electrolyte membrane. The equivalent weight of the proton-conductive substance contained in the catalyst layer of the anode is greater than the equivalent weight of the proton-conductive substance contained in the catalyst layer of the cathode. This invention reduces the performance deterioration caused by repetitive swelling and contraction of the electrolyte contained in the catalyst layer upon changes in operating conditions or upon repetitive start and stop of operation, thereby making it possible to provide a fuel cell with a high output and high performance.
US07745022B2
A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material (10) with increased interlaminar strength is obtained without a corresponding debit in other mechanical properties. This is achieved by infusing a diffusion barrier layer (20) into an existing porous matrix CMC to coat the exposed first matrix phase (19) and fibers (12), and then densifying the matrix with repeated infiltration cycles of a second matrix phase (22). The diffusion barrier prevents undesirable sintering between the matrix phases and between the second matrix phase and the fibers during subsequent final firing and use of the resulting component (30) in a high temperature environment.
US07745019B2
A light emitting element of the present invention includes a pair of electrodes, a layer containing a composite material, and a light emitting region; wherein the layer containing a composite material contains an organic compound and an inorganic compound; the light emitting region contains a material having a high light emitting property and a material having a high carrier transporting property, and a region containing high concentration of the material having a high light emitting property and a region containing high concentration of the material having a high carrier transporting property are alternately stacked in the light emitting region.
US07745018B2
An Illuminated display integrated with a fabric substrate, comprising a rear electrode formed on a portion of a front surface of the fabric substrate, the rear electrode being formed on the fabric substrate portion by applying a catalyst to the fabric portion and subsequently immersing the fabric portion in an electroless plating bath followed by immersing the fabric portion in an electrode bath, a dielectric layer formed onto the fabric substrate surface substantially over the rear electrode, a light emitting layer formed onto the dielectric layer, a transparent conductive layer formed onto the light emitting layer; and a front electrode lead electrically connected to the transparent conductive layer to transport energy thereto.
US07745015B2
An organic electroluminescent device comprises a plurality of stacked layers of polymeric materials soluble in an organic solvent. As a polymeric material forming a lower layer, a polymeric material is selected having a molecular weight greater than the molecular weight of a polymeric material of a layer to be formed on the lower layer. As an organic solvent for dissolving the polymeric material forming the lower layer, an organic solvent is selected having a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of an organic solvent for dissolving the polymeric material forming an upper layer. With a light emitting layer being the lower layer and an electron transport layer being the upper layer, it is preferable that the electron transport layer includes a polymeric material having hole blocking property. With a light emitting layer being the lower layer and an electron transport layer being the upper layer, it is preferable that the repeating unit of the polymeric material forming the light emitting layer and the repeating unit of the polymeric material forming the electron transport layer include the same chemical structure.
US07745004B2
A method for producing a magnetic particle forming a magnetic material for absorbing electromagnetic waves comprises the steps of mixing an organometallic complex or a metal salt with a chain polymer and dissolving the mixture in a solvent (step S1); raising the temperature of the mixture to reaction temperature (step S2), carrying out a reaction at the reaction temperature (step S3); and forming the magnetic particle having a structure that the periphery of each fine particle formed from the organometallic complex or the metal salt is surrounded by the chain polymer and recovering the formed magnetic particle after the reaction (step S4). The magnetic particle has a nanogranular structure to become a magnetic material for absorbing electromagnetic waves. Such a magnetic particle is produced by a wet reaction. Thus, a larger amount of magnetic particle can be produced by one reaction.
US07745002B2
The present invention provides a method of coating the surface of an inorganic powder comprising; (a) providing an alcohol solution of an alcohol-soluble metal salt and an alcohol solution of an amine compound; and (b) mixing and stirring the two alcohol solutions with an inorganic powder and water, thereby coating the surface of the inorganic powder with a metal hydroxide produced from the alcohol-soluble metal salt. The inorganic powders coated with metal oxide manufactured according to the present invention exist independently without substantial agglomeration, and the metal oxide coating is deposited substantially only on the surface of the inorganic powder with uniform thickness without substantial clustering among the inorganic powders. Consequently, when a Ni electrode layer is prepared using the titanium oxide coated Ni powders manufactured according to the present invention, not only quality but also yield of MLCC can be improved.
US07744999B2
A yarn, fabric, and garment suitable for use in arc and flame protection and having improved flash fire protection contains a majority, by weight, of meta-aramid fibers having a degree of crystallinity of at least 20%, and a minority of modacrylic fibers, para-aramid fibers, and antistatic fibers. Garments made from the yarns provide thermal protection such that a wearer would experience less than a 65 percent predicted body burn when exposed to a flash fire exposure of 4 seconds per ASTM F1930, while maintaining a Category 2 arc rating per ASTM F1959 and NFPA 70E.
US07744997B2
The present invention discloses an adhesive article. The adhesive article comprises a first layer comprising a transparent film, the first layer having a first major surface and a second major surface. Additionally, the adhesive article comprises a second layer comprising a fluid transport substrate, the second layer having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface of the second layer being in contact with the second major surface of the first layer and a third layer comprising a fluid transportable ink, the third layer being associated with the second major surface of the second layer. The adhesive article then comprises an adhesive layer.
US07744994B2
The invention pertains to a coating composition, a coated material formed therewith, and a method for coating the material with the coating composition.
US07744991B2
In one aspect, the invention provides a foam thermal interface material comprising a foamed film, the film comprising a blend of polymeric hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive having a number average molecular weight of greater than 25,000 and at least 25 percent by weight of thermally conductive filler, said film having a void volume of at least 5 percent of the volume of said foamed film.
US07744989B2
This invention relates to improved plexifilamentary sheet material useful in protective apparel and filtration media, which material is comprised of substantially continuous polyethylene plexifilamentary fiber strands and has a Frazier Permeability, normalized to 1.0 oz/yd2 basis weight, of at least 2 cfm/ft2.
US07744986B2
A coating system is used on an engine component having an outer surface configured to be exposed to a first plurality of particles impinging against the outer surface at an angle within a first angle range and a second plurality of particles impinging at an angle in a second angle range. The system includes a bond layer overlying the engine component outer surface, a first erosion-resistant layer comprising a first material that is more resistant to erosion by particles impinging the component outer surface at an angle within the first angle range than by particles impinging within the second angle range, an interlayer overlying the first erosion-resistant layer, and a second erosion-resistant layer comprising a second material that is more resistant to erosion by particles impinging the component outer surface at an angle within the second angle range than by particles impinging within the first angle range.
US07744984B2
A method of treating a glass substrate for bonding. The method includes providing a glass substrate having a fritted portion of a ceramic frit material and a non-fritted portion. At least a portion of the fritted portion includes a bondable surface. The method further includes cleaning and activating the bondable surface for subsequent bonding. The cleaning and bonding steps are carried out by applying an air plasma to the bondable surface.
US07744983B2
The laminated structure includes a lightweight and shape-retaining foamed resin base member, an outer circumference frame integrally laminated on the reverse side of the foamed resin base member along the outer circumference of an article, and bridging ribs connecting between respective points on the outer circumference frame. Accordingly, the present invention provides a lightweight laminated structure with low cost by reducing the amount of the resin used, since the molded synthetic resin outer circumference frame and bridging ribs have small projection areas.
US07744982B2
The invention provides an edge insulation piece (1) comprising a thin sheet of material (2) which is manipulated by bending, rolling or other forming to effect a long conductive path within a small cross-sectional area. In a preferred embodiment, a thin layer of insulation material (3) is interleaved between two layers of the thin sheet of material (2), which is folded around the insulation layer (3) during forming of the edge piece (1). A further layer of insulation material (4) may be rolled within the edge piece (1) as it is. This interleaving of thin layers of insulation material (3, 4) prevents the surfaces of the thin sheet of material (2) from touching each other and also insulates the material (2) from the top and bottom panels (5, 6) of a vacuum insulation panel (7) when the edge piece (1) is inserted around the edge of the panel (7). The edge piece (1) may be further coated over part or all of its length with a low emissivity material (13) to minimise radiative losses. Alternatively or additionally the coating (13) may comprise a gas impermeable layer to form a gas impermeable barrier.
US07744980B2
Disclosed is a honeycomb ceramic article that exhibits a primary crystalline phase of cordierite having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), wherein CTE<1.5×10−7/° C. over the temperature range of about 25° C. to about 800° C.; a total porosity, P, of at least 28%, a transverse I-ratio, IT, of less than 0.92; and a pore size distribution wherein at least 60% of the total pore volume is comprised of pores having diameters between 0.5 μm and 5.0 μm. Also provided is a ceramic honeycomb article comprising a phase of cordierite and exhibiting a mean CTE <1.0×10−7/° C. (from 25 to 800° C.) in at least one direction, and 28%≦P≦33%. Methods of manufacturing ceramic articles comprising the aforementioned cordierite compositions are also disclosed.
US07744979B2
Compositions for protective films include inorganic microparticles dispersed in an acrylic radical-based binder resin. Binder resins are formed from binder monomers including base components, scratch-resistant components and diluent components. Diluent components include diluent monomers having principal chain structures including a functional group having a cyclic structure or a branched carbon chain structure.
US07744978B2
A resin molding is made by integrally joining a first resin molded part configured with a concave portion and a second resin molded part configured with a convex portion so that the concave portion and the convex portion are mated together. The resin molding includes a cavity that is in communication with the convex portion and the concave portion when the convex and concave portions are mated into each other, and a joining resin filled into the cavity. The first and second molded parts and the joining resin are composed of the same resin or similar resins.
US07744976B2
A curable pressure sensitive adhesive composition is made to contain a polymer-containing energy rays-curable component and fine particles having an average particle diameter of not more than 30 nm, wherein the solid content of the fine particles is made to be from 5 to 60 wt %. A stamper-receiving layer or a curable pressure sensitive adhesive layer for bonding a protective layer is formed using this curable pressure sensitive adhesive composition, thus producing an optical disk producing sheet. This optical disk producing sheet has a low volume shrinkage rate upon curing, and has excellent adhesiveness. If this optical disk producing sheet is used, then an optical disk having little warping and excellent inter-layer adhesion can be obtained.
US07744968B2
The present invention relates to cyclobutane and spiro[3.3]heptane compounds, to a process for the preparation thereof, to the use thereof as components in liquid-crystalline media, and to electro-optical display elements which contain these liquid-crystalline media.
US07744958B2
A method for making a carbon nanotube-based device is provided. A substrate with a shadow mask layer formed thereon is provided, to define an unmasked surface area on the substrate. The substrate is rotated around an axis. A catalyst layer including at least one catalyst block is formed on the unmasked surface area of the substrate. A thickness of the at least one catalyst block is decreased gradually from a first end thereof to an opposite second end thereof, and somewhere the at least one catalyst block having a region with a thickness proximal or equal to an optimum thickness at which carbon nanotubes growing fastest. A carbon source gas is introduced. At least one carbon nanotube array extending from the catalyst layer using a chemical vapor deposition process is formed. The at least one carbon nanotube array is arc-shaped, and bend in a direction of deviating from the region.
US07744956B2
A method for forming a patterned array of carbon nanotubes (11) includes the steps of: forming an array of carbon nanotubes on a substrate (10); imprinting the array of carbon nanotubes using a molding device (12) with a predetermined pattern; and removing the molding device, thereby leaving a patterned array of carbon nanotubes (13). The method can effectively reduce or even eliminate any shielding effect between adjacent carbon nanotubes, and is simple to implement. The field emission performance of the patterned array of carbon nanotubes is improved.
US07744954B2
A core/shell structured powder different in composition between the inside the particle and the surface thereof before sintering, so that it is possible to sinter the powder at lower temperature and give a core/shell structured powder having a shell portion uniform in thickness after sintering; a multilayered ceramic capacitor having a longer lifetime, by preparing the multilayered ceramic capacitor by using a powder having a core/shell structure different in composition between the inside the particle and the surface thereof before sintering; and a method of producing a powder by synthesizing particles in the liquid containing a raw material, wherein particles different in composition at least between the inside the particle and the surface thereof are obtained by adding a composition to be incorporated as a component of the particles to the liquid during the synthetic process so that the composition of the liquid changes continuously or intermittently.
US07744951B2
A composite oxide coating is provided on a substrate over an infrared (IR) blocking multi-layer coating (e.g., low-E coating), where the composite oxide coating efficiently blocks ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The composite oxide coating and the low-E coating may be heat resistant, and the coated glass substrate may be processed in a single high temperature heat treatment step. The coated article may be effective at blocking both IR and UV radiation in applications such as window applications. The UV blocking coating may include ceria as a UV blocker in certain example embodiment of this invention.
US07744948B2
An electroluminescence device includes a tubular first electrode, an electroluminescence layer formed on an inner surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on an inner surface of the electroluminescence layer. A method for manufacturing the electroluminescence device includes: causing the inner surface of the first electrode to be lyophilic with respect to an electroluminescence layer forming liquid; conducting the electroluminescence layer forming liquid into and out of the inside of the first electrode, thereby forming a liquid film of the electroluminescence layer forming liquid on the inner surface of the first electrode, which inner surface is lyophilic with respect to the electroluminescence layer forming liquid; and forming the electroluminescence layer by drying the liquid film of the electroluminescence layer forming liquid formed on the inner surface of the first electrode.
US07744943B2
An edible mix includes granulated lemon juice solids, granulated citric acid or granulated malic acid, and encapsulated natural lemon oil. In one embodiment, the edible mix also includes granulated maltodextrin, granulated ascorbic acid, and granulated lactose. In one embodiment, the components of the edible mix are mechanically mixed together to form a substantially homogeneous composition. In one embodiment, several of the components are blended by an agglomeration method.
US07744942B2
A thickening composition characterized in that the thickening composition comprises a xanthan gum in which a potassium salt is attached to a powder surface of the xanthan gum.
US07744941B2
The invention is directed to an apparatus and process for marinating foodstuffs in a short period of time. The apparatus includes a food holding container, a base and a shaft for transmitting ultrasonic mechanical vibrations from a source of ultrasonic vibrations in communication with a base, thereby tenderizing and imparting flavor to the foodstuffs. In addition to the ultrasonic vibrations, the apparatus can include a marinade injection system that injects marinade into the meat prior to being subjected to the ultrasonic vibrations.
US07744940B2
The present invention is a package for selectively heating or cooling a food product of the package utilizing a temperature-changing pack disposed within an inner container. The temperature-changing pack is formed in a manner which prevents the inadvertent or premature mixing of the chemical reagents to initiate the heating or cooling reaction. Further, the temperature-changing pack is positioned within the inner container at a location where the food product comes into contact with the pack on multiple sides to maximize the heat transfer between pack and the food product. The inner container can be positioned within a reusable outer sleeve that insulates the inner container to further maximize the heat transfer between the pack and the food product.
US07744935B2
Disclosed herein are compositions for controlling androgen activity in target organs and cells through the modulation of a 5-α-reductase activity. In certain aspects, these compositions are employed to modulate androgenic activity by inhibiting the formation and availability of active androgen in target cells. As a result, the present invention is directed toward the treatment of a wide variety of conditions including, but not limited to, the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic cancer, hirsutism, acne, male pattern baldness, seborrhea, and other diseases related to androgen hyperactivity. Several of these compositions have been shown to effectively decrease body weight, and in some cases, to decrease the weight of an androgen-dependent body organ, such as the prostate and other organs.
US07744932B2
Disclosed is a composition comprising at least two of the following ingredients: Magnolia extract, honokiol, humulus lupulus extract, hesperidin methyl chalcone, gotu kola, dipeptide valyl-tryptophane, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3, corylus avellana bud extract, centella asiatica extract, cucumis sativa extract, morus alba extract, hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract, vitis vinifera extract, ascorbyl glucoside, citrus medica limonum extract, avena sativa kernel extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, aniseed myrtle extract, tasmania lanceolata leaf extract, artemisia abrotanum extract, or citrus grandis fruit extract or any combination thereof. Also disclosed are methods of treating skin conditions by topically applying the composition to skin.
US07744926B2
The present invention relates to the use of a pharmacologically active blood serum product producible by a method comprising electrostimulation of a non-human animal, withdrawal of blood from said animal, isolation of serum from said blood, and gamma irradiation of said serum in the treatment of stroke, preferably ischemic stroke.
US07744922B2
The present invention relates to a capsule comprising a core and at least one envelope comprising at least one film-forming polymer, characterized in that it exhibits a total solubilization time for its envelope of less than or equal to 85 s, according to a test A, preferably less than or equal to 80 s, more preferably less than or equal to 70 s.The invention also relates to the method of producing said capsule, and also to the products comprising said capsule, such as the food, pharmaceutical, oral hygiene or cosmetic products.
US07744918B2
The problem of the invention is to provide a drug-containing patch which is very favorable in percutaneous absorbability and is excellent in sustainability of the drug efficacy, that is, the drug-containing patch having a sufficient percutaneous absorbability and effect sustainability in a degree to be actually used for therapy of patients. The problem is solved by a patch comprising a drug, a melting point lowering agent and an adhesive base.
US07744915B2
An anti-adhesion membrane is placed onto an implant introduced into a surgical site of a patient to prevent post-surgical adhesions between the implant and surrounding tissue. The implant may comprise either biological material, such as a transplanted organ, or non-biological material such as a medical device. The membrane may be applied in a variety of ways. In one example, a membrane according to the present invention is shrink-wrapped around a pace-maker. In another example, a breast implant is spray-coated or dipped with the membrane material.
US07744912B1
The invention features polymeric biomaterials formed by nucleophilic addition reactions to conjugated unsaturated groups. These biomaterials may be used for medical treatments.
US07744910B2
Compounds and compositions for the delivery of active agents are provided. Methods of administration and preparation are provided as well.
US07744909B2
The invention provides a dispersion having an oily phase, an aqueous phase, in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion, and at least one active ingredient that is only slightly or with difficulty soluble in the oily phase and the aqueous phase. The dispersion is free from toxicologically dangerous organic solvents. The dispersion contains the active ingredient dissolved in a quantity that is greater than the quantity which results additively from its maximum solubility in the oily and the aqueous phase of the emulsion prior to forming the emulsion.
US07744908B2
The invention relates to novel spill resistant formulations comprising either a weak base or a weak acid as the pharmaceutical ingredient, a liquid base, a clay and a water soluble cellulose ether. The clay and cellulose ether allow for a broader pH range into which the pharmaceutically active agent may be dispersed or dissolved, and therefore allows for easier preparation and formulation of the pharmaceutical composition.
US07744901B2
Polypeptides, polynucleotides, methods, compositions, and vaccines comprising (avian pandemic) influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants are provided.
US07744897B2
HIV gp41 mimetibody polypeptides and encoding polynucleotides are disclosed. Methods of utilizing the polypeptides to reduce or inhibit HIV fusion with a cell membrane and entry into target cells are also disclosed.
US07744894B2
Methods for blocking autoreactive T cell-initiated destruction of tissues in a mammal are provided. In one embodiment, the methods involve administering an HAS/CD24 polypeptide or fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the polypeptide or fragment is glycosylated.
US07744891B2
Compositions and methods comprising “lymphotoxin-β receptor blocking agents” which block lymphotoxin-β receptor signaling and are useful for altering immunological diseases, and particularly antibody mediated immune responses.
US07744890B2
Methods for reducing the opalescent appearance of a protein preparation by modifying the ionic strength of the preparation, as well as compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions, of concentrated protein with decreased opalescence are disclosed. Purification methods which monitor and/or reduce the salt concentrations at selected steps are also disclosed.
US07744888B2
Compounds that bind to P-Selectin Glycoprotein 1 (PSGL-1) on the surface of T cells or natural killer (NK) cells can be used to induce T cell or NK cell depletion and/or to induce T cell or NK cell apoptosis. The compounds and methods of the invention can be used to control unwanted T cell- or NK cell-mediated immune responses in conditions such as autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, and allergic diseases.
US07744887B2
Human scFvs are disclosed which interact with a conformational epitope along the pre-hairpin, N-helix coiled coil structure within the heptad repeat 1 (HR1) region of gp41 of HIV. These antibodies, as well as IgG conversions, are shown to neutralize diverse HIV isolates. Isolated nucleic acid molecules are also disclosed which encode relevant portions of these antibodies, as well as the purified forms of the expressed antibodies or relevant antibody fragments, such as VH and VL chains. The antibody compositions disclosed within this specification may provide for a therapeutic treatment against HIV infection by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection. These antibodies will also be useful in assays to identify HIV antiviral compounds as well as allowing for the identification of candidate HIV vaccines, such as HIV peptide vaccines.
US07744884B2
This invention provides monoclonal antibodies that recognize the Toll-like Receptor 4/MD-2 receptor complex, and monoclonal antibodies that recognize the TLR4/MD2 complex as well as TLR4 when not complexed with MD-2. The invention further provides methods of using the monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics. This invention also provides soluble chimeric proteins, methods of expressing and purifying soluble chimeric proteins, and methods of using soluble chimeric proteins as therapeutics, in screening assays and in the production of antibodies.
US07744880B2
Provided is a cell growth inhibitor that can be used for treating diseases based on abnormal cell proliferation, and in particular cancer. The cell growth inhibitor contains an anti-glypican 3 antibody as an active ingredient.
US07744873B2
The present invention provides methods and kits for diagnosing and treating glaucoma.
US07744864B2
Compositions, kits and methods for the prevention of, for example, spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, preterm labor or implantation failure during assisted reproduction are provided. The compositions, kits and methods provide an effective amount of granulocyte colony stimulating factor to prevent, for example, spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, preterm labor or implantation failure of an embryo.
US07744861B2
Provided herein are water-soluble prodrugs. The prodrugs of the invention comprise a water-soluble polymer having three or more arms, at least three of which are covalently attached to an active agent, e.g., a small molecule. The conjugates of the invention provide an optimal balance of polymer size and structure for achieving improved drug loading, since the conjugates of the invention possess three or more active agents releasably attached to a multi-armed water soluble polymer. The prodrugs of the invention are therapeutically effective, and exhibit improved properties in-vivo when compared to unmodified parent drug.
US07744856B2
A product for topical application comprising a chemical composition comprising in combination a linker agent and a compound comprising at least one UV-absorbing chromophore, wherein the linker agent is characterized by the general formula: wherein: X1 and X2 are the same or different, and at least one of X1 or X2 is a functional group that bonds with the compound comprising at least one UV-absorbing chromophore, and b+f≧2; Y comprises an O, N, or S that is substituted or unsubstituted; each a, b, c, e and f is ≧0 and a+b+c+e+f≧2; d is 0 or 1; n1 and n2 represent the number of hydrogen atoms required to complete the undesignated valencies; and m ranges from 1 to about 100 and each individual m unit may be the same or different, and a topically acceptable agent that is different from the linker agent and the compound comprising at least one UV-absorbing chromophore.
US07744853B2
Radiolabeled annexin and modified annexin conjugates useful for imaging vascular thrombi are described. Methods for making and using such radiolabeled annexin conjugates are also provided.
US07744843B2
Methods for synthesizing single-wall carbon nanotubes by extracting metals from a carbide by halogen treatment at a temperature ranging between 700 to 1700° C. at ambient or low pressure are provided.
US07744842B2
A method of separating a mixture of carbon dioxide and a hydrocarbon gas using a metal-organic framework (MOF) material having a three-dimensional carborane ligand structure.
US07744840B2
A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process with a palladium catalyst for reducing NOx in a gas, using hydrogen as a reducing agent is provided. The process comprises contacting the gas stream with a catalyst system, the catalyst system comprising (ZrO2)SO4, palladium, and a pre-sulfated zirconia binder. The inclusion of a pre-sulfated zirconia binder substantially increases the durability of a Pd-based SCR catalyst system. A system for implementing the disclosed process is further provided.
US07744835B2
The invention relates to a nanostructured material.The material is a nanostructured carbonaceous material composed of agglomerates of small needles of Li1+αV3O8 and of β-LixV2O5 (0.1≦α≦0.25 and 0.03≦x≦0.667) surrounded by a noncontinuous layer of spherical carbon particles.It is obtained by a process consisting in preparing a carbonaceous precursor gel by bringing carbon, α-V2O5 and a Li precursor into contact in amounts such that the ratio of the [V2O5]/[Li] concentrations is between 1.15 and 1.5 and that the (carbon)/(carbon+V2O5+Li precursor) ratio by weight is from 10 to 15 and in subjecting the gel to a heat treatment comprising a 1st stage at 80° C.-150° C. for 3-12 h and a 2nd stage between 300° C. and 350° C. for 10 min to 1 hour, under an nitrogen or argon atmosphere.Applications: positive electrode active material.
US07744832B2
A multi-chamber instrument container for microbially deactivating medical, dental, veterinary and mortuary instruments and articles. A pressure differential between chambers causes fluid flow therebetween, thus flowing fluid through internal passages of instrument extending between the chambers.
US07744808B2
Systems and methods are presented for producing shot from molten material, in which two or more sprays of inert gas, such as an upper or primary spray followed by one or more lower or secondary sprays, are used to break apart large molten droplets into shot as the molten material is dropped from a crucible orifice. The upper or primary gas feed in one application acts to initially break the stream or droplets into initial droplets of a lesser size or to flatten the droplets, with the second spray then breaking up the intermediate droplets into yet smaller shot particles to be cooled and collected.
US07744806B2
As a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for making a heat-shrinkable annular film, comprising: (A) extruding an annular extrudate downward from an annular die; (B) quenching the annular extrudate by applying a quenching liquid to the annular extrudate; (C) reheating the extrudate to an orientation temperature of from 130° F. to 210° F., resulting in a reheated annular extrudate; and (D) orienting the reheated annular extrudate while the reheated annular extrudate is in the solid state, the orientation being carried out with a total orientation factor of at least 2, so that the resulting oriented, heat-shrinkable film has a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 10 percent. The extrudate comprises at least one semi-crystalline polyamide selected from the group consisting of: (i) polyamide 6, (ii) polyamide 66, (iii) polyamide 6/66, and (iv) polyamide 6/12. The semi-crystalline polyamide makes up at least 5 volume percent of the annular extrudate. At least 50% of the quenching liquid cascades down the annular extrudate for a distance of at least 2 inches. The quenching liquid makes initial contact with the annular extrudate within 0.1 to 8 inches of the annular die.
US07744805B2
A mold for forming, molding or welding thermoplastic tubing extends through the aperture of an apertured spool supporting an RF energized coil to inductively heat a center section of the mold. A source of air is channeled through a manifold to flow about the center section of the mold and through the space between the mold and the aperture in the spool to rapidly cool the mold. Thermal chokes on each side of the center section of the mold impede heat transfer and a heat sink connected to each thermal choke serves to dissipate any heat build up. The spool may be translated along the center section of the mold to a predetermined location commensurate with a predetermined heat profile. The mold includes a passageway extending therethrough for receiving the tubing; by appropriate dimensioning, the passageway will accommodate the use of a mandrel to support the tubing to be formed, molded or welded. The mold may be split to permit separation within the confines of the aperture in the spool and subsequent withdrawal of the formed, molded or welded tubing.
US07744802B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to provide a dielectric film material with a controllable coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). A first compound containing a first liquid crystalline component is formed. The first compound is cast into a first film. The first film is oriented in an magnetic or electromagnetic field in a first direction. The first film is cured at a first temperature.
US07744793B2
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for growing fullerene nanotube forests, and forming nanotube films, threads and composite structures therefrom. In some embodiments, an interior-flow substrate includes a porous surface and one or more interior passages that provide reactant gas to an interior portion of a densely packed nanotube forest as it is growing. In some embodiments, a continuous-growth furnace is provided that includes an access port for removing nanotube forests without cooling the furnace substantially. In other embodiments, a nanotube film can be pulled from the nanotube forest without removing the forest from the furnace. A nanotube film loom is described. An apparatus for building layers of nanotube films on a continuous web is described.
US07744791B2
Polymeric structures, methods for making same, fibrous structures comprising same and fibrous product incorporating same are provided.
US07744783B2
The present invention is directed to a method of preparing non-flammable thermal insulation foam, comprising the steps of (a) providing a mixture comprising (1) at least one water soluble alkali metal silicate, (2) optionally, at least one filler, and (3) at least one inorganic material which releases non-flammable gases when exposed to heat; (b) applying the mixture to a support or mold; and (c) heating the mixture to form the non-flammable thermal insulation foam.
US07744780B2
A substrate of an electrostatic chuck, which is a member for use in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, is formed of an yttrium oxide material that contains yttrium oxide (Y2O3), silicon carbide (SiC), and a compound that contains a rare-earth element (RE), Si, O, and N. The yttrium oxide material contains RE8Si4N4O14 as a compound that contains a rare-earth element (RE), Si, O, and N, wherein RE may be La or Y. Y8Si4N4O14 is produced during a sintering step of a raw material that contains the main component Y2O3 and an accessory component Si3N4. Y8Si4N4O14 and SiC in the yttrium oxide material improve mechanical strength and volume resistivity.
US07744775B2
In one embodiment, a corrosion inhibiting composition is formed by combining: (a) an inorganic phosphate; (b) a water soluble polyelectrolyte polymer dispersant; (c) a tri or tetracarboxylic acid; and (d) at least one additional component comprising at least one of a C4-C22 aliphatic or aromatic mono- or dicarboxylic acid, a silicate and at least one of a silicone or a silicate stabilizing siloxane compound, and mixtures thereof. Also disclosed are heat transfer fluids that include about 5% to about 99% by weight of freezing point-depressing agent; about 1% to about 95% by weight of water; and the disclosed corrosion inhibitor composition. A method of reducing corrosion in a heat transfer system containing one or more components that contain magnesium or a magnesium alloy requires that the system and the magnesium containing components be in contact with the disclosed heat transfer fluid.
US07744774B2
The present invention relates to azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions comprising a fluorinated olefin having the formula E- or Z—C3F7CH═CHC3F7, and at least one alcohol, halocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, fluoroether, or alkanes and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the one compound selected from the group consisting of alcohols, halocarbons, fluoroalkyl ethers, hydrofluorocarbons, alkanes is either methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, n-propanol, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, n-propyl bromide, C4F9OCH3, C4F9OC2H5, HFC-43-10mee, HFC-365mfc, heptane, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, these compositions are useful in cleaning applications as a degreasing agent or defluxing agent for removing oils and/or other residues from a surface.
US07744770B2
A device transfer method is provided. The device transfer method is disclosed by which, when a laser ablation technique is used to selectively exfoliate devices arranged on a substrate, the energy is transmitted efficiently to transfer the devices with a high degree of accuracy and at a high speed. A laser irradiation apparatus is used which includes a laser light source for generating a laser beam, a reflection section for reflecting the laser beam toward a required direction, and a control section for controlling whether or not the laser beam is to be irradiated in an interlocking relationship with the reflection section. The laser beam is selectively irradiated on a plurality of devices arranged on a transfer source substrate to cause laser ablation such that the selected devices are transferred to a transfer destination substrate by the selective laser ablation.
US07744766B2
A user friendly system that permits an unskilled person to quickly add dispersant material to a fluid system with the user friendly system utilizing operator evident dispersant carriers such as drawers, hangars or insertable cartridges.
US07744759B1
A downflow sand filter used for treating wastewater which has degraded in function from its original design is at least in part rejuvenated by flowing air downwardly through the bed during time when flow of wastewater is ceased. The low velocity air flow helps dewater the bed and leads to the removal of accumulated organic material which has clogged the pores of the bed. In accord with different embodiments, air flow is alternated with water flow in particular ways, for instance, so the water flow is sufficient to create ponding or is sufficient to maintain moisture content within the bed.
US07744750B2
This invention relates to a process for reducing the Bromine Index of a hydrocarbon feedstock having less than 5 wppm oxygenates-oxygen, comprising the step of contacting the feedstock with a catalyst at conversion conditions to form a first effluent, wherein the catalyst includes a molecular sieve having a zeolite structure type of MWW.
US07744746B2
This invention relates to the catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feed. In particular, this invention relates to an apparatus and process utilizing a catalyst stripper section of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) reactor with chordal trays designed to provide improved stripping of hydrocarbons from spent FCC catalyst in an FCC reactor stripping zone.
US07744740B2
In a procedure to recognize the gas composition of a gas mixture, which consists of at least two gases of preferably different diffusion properties, delivered to a wideband lambda sensor, especially a gas mixture of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, whereby the lambda sensor has a pumping cell with at least one gas measurement chamber, provision is made for the recognition of the gas composition of the gas mixture to result by means of modulation of the gas in the gas measurement chamber. Preferably the air number in the gas measurement chamber of the pumping cell is periodically altered, whereby the sensitivity of the lambda sensor to the gases, of which there are at least two, likewise periodically changes.
US07744737B1
A microfluidic device comprising independently addressable arrays of interdigitated electrodes can be used to assembly and transport large-scale microparticle structures. The device and method uses collective phenomena in a negatively polarized suspension exposed to a high-gradient strong ac electric field to assemble the particles into predetermined locations and then transport them collectively to a work area for final assembly by sequentially energizing the electrode arrays.
US07744734B2
A high current density cathode for electrorefining in a molten electrolyte for the continuous production and collection of loose dendritic or powdery deposits. The high current density cathode eliminates the requirement for mechanical scraping and electrochemical stripping of the deposits from the cathode in an anode/cathode module. The high current density cathode comprises a perforated electrical insulated material coating such that the current density is up to 3 A/cm2.
US07744728B2
An apparatus for producing hydrogen by microwave includes a microwave heater, a reaction tube comprising a catalyst bed, a cap, an output unit and a microwave control box. A method of producing hydrogen using microwaves has steps of feeding gas and liquid, vaporizing the liquid to from a mixed gas and heating the mixed gas. A liquid and a gas are selected at predetermined ratios to form the mixed gas that reacts on the catalyst bed to from hydrogen. Microwaves allow the apparatus to be ready for production quicker and reduce space required by the apparatus. Heating the liquid and gas using microwaves is fast so has a good energy efficiency.
US07744720B2
A chamber component configured to be coupled to a process chamber and a method of fabricating the chamber component is described. The chamber component comprises a chamber element comprising a first surface on a supply side of the chamber element and a second surface on a process side of the chamber element, wherein the chamber element comprises a reentrant cavity formed in the first surface and a conduit having an inlet coupled to the reentrant cavity and an outlet coupled to the second surface. Furthermore, the chamber component comprises an insertable member configured to couple with the reentrant cavity, the insertable member having one or more passages formed there through and each of the one or more passages are aligned off-axis from the conduit, wherein the one or more passages are configured to receive a process fluid on the supply side and the conduit is configured to distribute the process fluid from the one or more passages on the process side.
US07744712B2
A method of making an elastic composite is provided. The method entails conveying a first web of material along a web plane path. The method also entails applying a first section of a first elastic strand onto the first web and generally transversely to the web plane path and applying a second section of a second elastic strand onto the first web and generally transversely to the web plane path. These applying steps are repeated while performing the conveying step, thereby arranging a plurality of first and second elastic elements on the first web, in generally parallel relation to one another. The resultant composite is suitable for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment, textile or fabric structure, and the like.
US07744711B2
A manufacturing method of ceramic slurry being used for producing a green sheet which can have a smooth surface, exhibits a satisfactory sheet strength, and is excellent in workability such as releasing, a green sheet produced by the use of the slurry produced by the method, and a multilayer ceramic device produced by the use of the green sheet is provided. According to the present invention, a manufacturing method of ceramic slurry at least comprising a ceramic powder and a binder resin solution, wherein a high-pressure dispersing treatment of the ceramic powder and a lacquer for preliminary addition, which is a part of the binder resin solution, is carried out so that a shearing rate is set to 1×107 to 1×108 [1/sec] to prepare a preliminary slurry, and at least a lacquer for post-addition, which a high-pressure dispersing treatment is not applied, is added to the preliminary slurry which a high-pressure dispersing treatment is applied.
US07744706B2
The invention provides a solder alloy for bonding an oxide material, including more than 0% but not more than 1.0% of Mg and the balance being substantially Bi and Sn. Preferably, the alloy includes 0.01 to 0.6% of Mg, 35 to 86% of Bi, and the balance being substantially Sn. The invention can be used for bonding an oxide material, such as bonding glasses to each other. According to the invention, a low-cost solder joint of an oxide material is also provided.
US07744705B2
This invention relates to group IB-IIIA. VIA quaternary or higher alloys. More particularly, this invention relations to group IB-IIIA-VIA quaternary or pentenary alloys which are suitable for use as semiconductor films. More specifically, the invention relates to quaternary or pentenary alloys which are substantially homogeneous and are characterized by an x-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) having a main [112] peak at a 2θ angle (2θ(112)) of from 26° to 28° for Cu radiation at 40 kV, wherein a glancing incidence x-ray diffraction pattern (GIXRD) for a glancing angle of from 0.2° to 10° reflects an absolute shift in the 2θ(112) angle of less than 0.06°.
US07744699B2
A substrate treating apparatus includes a treating unit for treating substrates, a piping for supplying a treating liquid to the treating unit, a heater mounted on the piping, an electronic thermal unit mounted on the piping in series with the heater, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the treating liquid, and a controller for controlling the heater and the electronic thermal unit. The controller sets a first temperature control mode for performing a room temperature control using the electronic thermal unit when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is below a predetermined boundary temperature between room temperature and high temperature, and for performing a high temperature control with the heater when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is above the predetermined boundary temperature between room temperature and high temperature. The controller sets a second temperature control mode for performing a heating control using the heater and the electronic thermal unit to heat the treating liquid when a difference between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and a target temperature at least corresponds to a first specified value set beforehand. Further, the controller sets the first temperature control mode when, after the second temperature control mode is set, the difference between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the target temperature becomes less than a second specified value set beforehand.
US07744693B2
Lightweight composite or “mineral foam” composite materials can be made from reactive materials such as metal oxides. The materials can be prepared from a reaction of metal oxide(s), phosphate(s) and residual materials to which may be added a reactive foaming agent and/or latex polymer to provide enhanced physical properties. The composite materials can have a density of between about 0.35 to 2.25 g/cc, and may be used for many applications including pre-cast structures, in-situ structures, insulating blocks, slabs and composite wall sections, light weight spheres, mixes and coatings.
US07744689B2
An alkali resistant glass composition having improved durability to withstand highly alkali environments at elevated temperatures, such as curing of cementitious products in an autoclave, is conveniently formed from economical and abundant materials. The glass composition includes increased levels of calcium and iron, and relatively low levels of alkali metals, as compared to many other alkali resistant glass products, and comprises essentially of, by weight, >35% Si2O3, 1-25% CaO, 1-15% Fe2O3, 1-10% R2O, and an amount of Al2O3 such that the ratio of Si2O3:Al2O3 is greater than or equal to 1. Alkali resistance can be improved by forming a passivity layer on the surface of glass articles by treating the articles hydrothermally in a basic environment. Optionally zirconia and/or titania may be added to the composition to further improve alkali resistance.
US07744685B2
This invention is directed to a process for electrolessly metallizing an article, as well as to a plating bath and the subsequent plated substrate. The process comprises contacting the surface of an article with an electroless metallizing bath which may be essentially free of toxic and/or heavy metals.
US07744675B2
A gas separation membrane and a method of manufacturing such gas separation membrane that comprises a porous substrate treated with a layer of metal-coated inorganic oxide particles and with the layer of such metal-coated inorganic oxide particles being coated with an overlayer of a gas-selective material.
US07744671B1
Improved systems, methods, apparatus and compositions for generating, extracting and distributing the renewable heat energy produced by microbial decomposition of organic biomass within a contained and controlled environment. This heat energy is preferably transferred and distributed, preferably by the use of heat pipes, to the interior of a greenhouse or other structure to be heated, either directly or via heat exchange apparatus such as hot water heating systems. In one embodiment heat transfer and distribution mechanism customized to the application requirements of a greenhouse heating batch-type process is disclosed, along with a recipe for a readily available biomass material composition. Additional continuous and batch process embodiments of biomass heating systems are also disclosed that extract heat energy from decomposing biomass for heating uses. In some embodiments gaseous products generated in a biological decomposition process, primarily CO2, are utilized to enhance plant growth in the greenhouse environment.
US07744669B2
Disclosed are plugging mixtures for a ceramic wall flow filter, comprising an aluminum titanate precursor reactive batch composition including an alumina source, a silica source, and a titania source; a sintering aid; an organic binder; and a liquid vehicle. Also disclosed are ceramic wall flow filters comprised of end plugs formed from the plugging mixtures of the present invention and methods for the manufacture thereof.
US07744666B2
This invention provides a polishing medium for chemical-mechanical polishing, comprising an oxidizing agent for a conductor, a protective-film-forming agent for protecting a metal surface, an acid, and water; (1) the polishing medium having a pH of 3 or less, and the oxidizing agent being in a concentration of from 0.01 to 3% by weight, or (2) the polishing medium containing abrasive grains having an average particle diameter of 50 nm or less, and the abrasive grains having standard deviation of particle size distribution in a value of more than 5 nm.
US07744665B2
A method and device for the gasification of solid fuels such as bituminous coal, lignite coal, and petroleum coke in the flue stream, with an oxidizing medium containing free oxygen by partial oxidation at pressures between atmospheric pressure and 80 bar, and at temperatures between 1200 and 1900° C., consisting of the process steps of pneumatic metering for pulverized fuel, gasification in a flue stream reactor with cooled reaction chamber contour, partial quenching, cooling, crude gas scrubbing, and partial condensation.
US07744663B2
Methods and systems for a gasifier solids removal system are provided. The system includes a down flow combustor including an inlet and an outlet and a combustion zone extending therebetween, the combustor configured to direct a flow of process material including syngas, flowable slag, and particulates in a first downward direction, a plurality of flow passages in serial flow communication including a first flow passage and a second flow passage, wherein the process material flow reverses direction flowing from the first passage to the second passage, and a plurality of entrainment separation stages in serial flow communication with at least one of the plurality of flow passages.
US07744659B2
A method of making a lithium electrochemical cell includes treating the cathode active material with an agent that includes lithium but not sodium. A cathode including the cathode active material, an anode, a separator, and an electrolyte are assembled in a housing to provide a cell containing less than 1500 ppm by weight of sodium.
US07744652B2
A device useful for treating an aneurysm having a neck comprises a first inflatable disc and a second inflatable disc, said second inflatable disc being adjacent to said first inflatable disc and in fluid communication therewith. The inflatable discs are sized and constructed such that when the inflatable discs are inflated, the aneurysm neck is engaged therebetween. The inflatable discs may include at least one wall that is substantially inelastic and may include an internal member limiting expansion of the inflatable disc in a direction parallel to the device axis. The inflatable discs may have an aspect ratio greater than 3.
US07744650B2
A vertebral body replacement implant having an upper and a lower support plate and two load-bearing elements, the mutual spacing of which is adjustable and of which at least one is connected in an articulated manner to a support plate, the load-bearing element in the region of the articulated connection to the support plate having a bearing projection with a spherical lateral support surface having a complimentary design to the contact surface of the support plate or a bearing part connected thereto, the contact surface extending in peripheral direction at least over 180°, the support plate or the bearing part is mounted on the bearing projection pivotably about a pivotal axis that extends parallel to the support plate, and a releasable clamping device that clamps the bearing projection and the support plate or the bearing part in the contact region of the lateral surface and/or of the contact surface against one another.
US07744647B2
Intraocular lens implant (10) for providing accommodation for near vision includes an optic (20) centrally disposed in a flexible membrane (30) and at least one haptic (40) outwardly extending from the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane is adapted in use to facilitate translatable movement of the optic in response to attempted accommodation by the ocular substrate.
US07744629B2
In one embodiment, a spinal stabilization apparatus includes a vertebral anchor having a head portion and a bone attachment portion. An elongate, flexible guide is removably coupled to the head portion of the vertebral anchor and has a channel extending longitudinally thereof and communicating with a slot in the head portion of the anchor. An elongate cord may be received within the channel to facilitate inserting and securing a spacer between pairs of anchors installed into adjacent vertebrae of a person's spine.
US07744628B2
This disclosure relates to surgical stapling apparatus for enhancing one or more properties of body tissue that is or is to be repaired or joined. The apparatus includes a staple anvil, a staple cartridge, a driving member for driving the surgical staples from individual staple slots in the staple cartridge and against the staple anvil, and a wound closure material applicator assembly. The applicator assembly includes at least one conduit extending along at least a length of the driving member, anvil and/or cartridge and at least one reservoir in fluid communication with the at least one conduit, the reservoir containing a wound closure material therein. The staples can be coated with a wound closure material.
US07744625B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for use in treatment of premature rupture of membrane. The compositions of the invention include a therapeutic amount of an avian thick egg white composition. Preferably, the compositions include the purified thick egg white protein, ovomucin. The methods of the invention involve injecting an effective amount of the compositions into the prematurely ruptured amniotic sac of a patient in order to seal the rupture.
US07744624B2
An apparatus for applying sealant to a target tissue of a surgical site is provided. The apparatus includes a handle, conduit and an end effector. The handle has means configured and adapted for operating the end effector and dispensing biological sealant to the surgical site via the end effector. The conduit stores and/or carries sealant towards the end effector. The end effector is configured to clamp around a body organ or tissue and apply and confine biological sealant in a substantially uniform manner thereto.
US07744621B2
Described are devices, methods and systems useful for achieving occlusion of vascular vessels. Percutaneous procedures can be used to occlude and obliterate the greater saphenous vein, for example in the treatment of varicose vein condition caused by venous reflux. Certain embodiments encompass the deployment and filling of an inflatable occlusion device via a percutaneous procedure, so as to occlude or obliterate a portion of a vascular vessel.
US07744620B2
The present invention provides an aortic valvuloplasty catheter which, in one preferred embodiment, has a tapered distal balloon segment that anchors within the left ventricle outflow track of the patient's heart and a rounded proximal segment which conforms to the aortic sinuses forcing the valve leaflets open. In addition, this embodiment of the valvuloplasty catheter includes a fiber-based balloon membrane, a distal pigtail end hole catheter tip, and a catheter sheath.
US07744616B2
A sagittal saw blade wherein the teeth are arranged so that relative to the teeth located closer to the outer sides of the blade, the inner located teeth are located closer to the proximal end of the blade. The blade is further formed to have an opening between at least two of the teeth that extends proximally rearward. The opening increases in width as the opening extends proximally along the length of the blade. The opening opens into a void space that functions as a chip catchment space.
US07744614B2
Disclosed is a corneal excision or scoring device. In one embodiment, the device includes a stabilizing portion having a first opening adapted to encircle an eye, such that at least a portion of the stabilizing portion engages the conjunctival fornix of the eye when inserted. The device may also include a second opening adapted to receive a cutting portion having a cutter capable of cutting or scoring the eye. In another embodiment, the device includes a stabilizing portion having an interior with a stop and an exterior serrated edge formed from a plurality of teeth. The stabilizing portion becomes inserted in an eye, such that the serrated edge rests on a sclera of the eye. Next, a cutting portion becomes inserted into the stabilizing portion to cut or score the eye, and the stop limits the distance the cutting portion may be inserted. Related methods are also disclosed.
US07744609B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the stabilization and fastening of two pieces of tissue. A single device may be used to both stabilize and fasten the two pieces of tissue, or a separate stabilizing device may be used in conjunction with a fastening device. The stabilizing device may comprise a probe with vacuum ports and/or mechanical clamps disposed at the distal end to approximate the two pieces of tissue. After the pieces of tissue are stabilized, they are fastened together using sutures or clips. One exemplary embodiment of a suture-based fastener comprises a toggle and suture arrangement deployed by a needle, wherein the needle enters the front side of the tissue and exits the blind side. In a second exemplary embodiment, the suture-based fastener comprises a needle connected to a suture. The needle enters the blind side of the tissue and exits the front side. The suture is then tied in a knot to secure the pieces of tissue. One example of a clip-based fastener comprises a spring-loaded clip having two arms with tapered distal ends and barbs. The probe includes a deployment mechanism which causes the clip to pierce and lockingly secure the two pieces of tissue.
US07744608B2
A medical instrument assembly and robotic medical system are provided. The assembly comprises a shaft, a tool carried by the distal end of the shaft for performing a medical procedure on a patient, a controllably bendable section associated with shaft and disposed proximal to the tool, an actuation element extending within the shaft and along the bendable section for controlling actuation of the tool, another actuation element configured for actuating the bendable section, and means for decoupling motion at the bendable sections from the tool actuation. The system comprises the assembly, a user interface configured for generating commands, a drive unit coupled to the actuating element and the other actuating element, and an electric controller configured, in response to the commands, for directing the drive unit to move the actuating elements to actuate the tool and drive the other actuating element to bend the bendable section.
US07744606B2
This document discusses, among other things, a method of manufacture including a mold having at least one pin, and surrounding the pin with a hardenable material to form a first guide layer. The mold and pin are removed from the resulting first guide layer, to define a substantially untapered first instrument passage that corresponds to the geometry of the pin. Optionally, the first instrument passage includes at least five substantially untapered channels including a central channel. The first instrument passage is aligned with a substantially untapered second instrument passage of a stacked second guide layer. In a further example, the first and second guide layers are coupled to a guide coupler that cooperatively aligns the first and second instrument passages. The guide layers can be used with a trajectory guide for image guided surgery.
US07744597B2
The present invention is directed to a fiber, preferably bone fiber, having a textured surface, which acts as an effective binding substrate for bone-forming cells and for the induction or promotion of new bone growth by bone-forming cells, which bind to the fiber. Methods of using the bone fibers to induce or promote new bone growth and bone material compositions comprising the bone fibers are also described. The invention further relates to a substrate cutter device and cutter, which are effective in producing substrate fibers, such as bone fibers.
US07744594B2
A catheter for treating arrhythmia comprises a catheter shaft of a double-cylinder structure where an inner shaft is slidably inserted in an outer shaft, a balloon installed so as to straddle between the tip portion of the inner shaft and the tip portion of the outer shaft, a pair of high frequency current-carrying electrodes of which at least one electrode is provided inside the balloon, and a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature in the balloon. The front edge portion of the balloon at least in a deflated state protrude from the tip portion of the inner shaft. Alternatively, a tube that is more flexible than the inner shaft is provided on the tip portion of the inner shaft.
US07744592B2
Apparatus and methods for the treatment of keratinized tissue infected with a pathogen are provided. In certain examples, electromagnetic energy, such as microwave energy, may be used in the treatment process to reduce the amount of or eliminate the pathogen from the keratinized tissue.
US07744590B2
A method of treating visual system disease is disclosed. One embodiment comprises the steps of (a) exposing a component of a patient's visual system to light treatment, wherein the light treatment is characterized by wavelength of between 630-1000 nm and power intensity between 10-90 mW/cm2 for a time of 1-3 minutes, and (b) observing restoration of visual system function.
US07744576B2
An absorbent article, preferably a disposable absorbent article such as a diaper, is disclosed having an absorbent core which imparts increased wearing comfort to the article and makes it thin and dry. The absorbent core useful for an absorbent article comprises a substrate layer, a discontinuous layer of absorbent material, and a layer of thermoplastic material. A second surface of the discontinuous layer of absorbent material is in at least partial contact with a first surface of the substrate layer. Portions of a second surface of the layer of thermoplastic material are in direct contact with the first surface of the substrate layer and portions of said second surface of the layer of thermoplastic material are in direct contact with a first surface of the discontinuous layer of absorbent material. A process for providing a storage layer for an absorbent core useful in an absorbent article is further disclosed.
US07744568B2
An infusion hub assembly, comprising: a hub received in a hole in a wing, the hub having a bore passing therethrough, with an upper portion of the circular hub having an attachment surface thereon; an infusion cannula extending downwardly away from the wing, the infusion cannula being in fluid communication with the bore passing through the hub; a cover having a bore passing therethrough and having an inner attachment surface adapted to mate with the attachment surface on the upper portion of the hub; and a septum positioned in alignment with the bore passing through the cover.An infusion connector set comprising: a first connector; a septum received in the first connector; a second connector; a septum received in the second connector; and a flanged needle which penetrates both the septums in the first and second connectors when the first and second connectors are connected together.
US07744566B2
A system for the infusion of pharmacological solutions includes a container to contain a pharmacological solution, a pumping device for generating a flow of pharmacological solution from the container, an adjusting device to vary the flow and a command and control device operationally associated with the adjusting device. A method for the infusion of a pharmacological solution in a patient includes generating a flow of pharmacological solution from a container containing the pharmacological solution, sending the flow to a catheter insertable in the patient, adjusting the flow by an adjusting device actuated by a command and control device, and programming the flow and infusion times using a programming device operationally connected to the command and control device.
US07744545B2
A guide wire includes a wire body having a tapered portion disposed on a distal end portion thereof and having an outside diameter progressively reduced toward a distal end thereof. The guide wire includes a coil disposed in covering relation to the distal end portion of the wire body and a helically shaped wire. The coil includes an increasing wire-diameter portion where the diameter of the wire increases continuously toward a distal end thereof, the increasing wire-diameter portion being disposed in covering relation to the outer circumference of at least a portion of the tapered portion in a longitudinal direction.
US07744544B2
The present invention is a dermal incisor for use in cutting a section from the skin of an individual for examination. The incisor has a housing in which an endless, flexible blade is disposed. The blade is connected to a handle that is rotatable with regard to the housing. Upon rotation of the handle, the blade also rotates in order to cut into the skin. The handle is also slidable with regard to the housing, such that the handle can be used to urge the blade into the skin while being rotated. The housing includes a pair of apertures engaged with a stop pin on the handle to limit the movement of the handle and the blade with respect to the housing in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The housing also includes a lower surface including a number of teeth thereon that securely engages the housing with the skin to prevent slippage of the skin while being cut to provide a smooth incision with few irregularities.
US07744541B2
A monitoring device may include logic to receive arterial blood pressure data associated with a patient and receive tissue hemoglobin data associated with the patient. The logic may also calculate a linear correlation between the arterial blood pressure data and the tissue hemoglobin data. The correlation may be used to assess vascular reactivity.
US07744535B2
An ultrasound machine processes ultrasonic data according to acoustoelastic properties of the materials to obtain strain information without specific assumptions with respect to the material properties of the measured material or a variety of different material properties normally not obtained by ultrasound machines.
US07744529B2
An improved laryngoscope. In one embodiment a laryngoscope blade includes a main blade portion and blade tip and a blade base. The main blade portion has a posterior surface, a distal end and proximal end. The blade tip extends from the distal end of the main blade portion. The blade tip also has a width that is flared wider in a first direction than a width of the main blade portion. The blade tip is further positioned at a select angle with relation to the posterior surface of the main blade portion. The blade base coupled to the proximal end of the blade.
US07744522B2
This invention relates to a system for influencing of a biological cellular structure, for instance, to generate a therapeutic effect in a human or animal body, making use of a combination of light energy and magnetic energy, said system being provided with at least one light source (2), (8), a magnetic energy source (12), which is preferably capable of generating a pulsing magnetic field, and devices to adjust and/or modulate the frequencies and/or phases and/or amplitudes of the light and/or the magnetic field so that resonances and/or interferences may be obtained in the biological cellular structure. The system preferably comprises a first (2) and a second light source (8), which generate light with a different coherence, in which the light coming from the first light source (2) and the light coming from the second light source (8) is preferably used alternately and/or with a phase shift and is polarized.
US07744521B2
A customized gynecological brachytherapy applicator is formed by placing a molded balloon, which is secured to a handle, into a vaginal cavity and then filling the mold balloon with a settable liquid material. The material may be an expanding foam or any other form of curable material that becomes solid, rigid or pliable, when set by chemical action, temperature change, oxidation, a curing means such as a light, or other curing regime. The mold balloon can be elastic or inelastic, depending on the degree to which the applicator is to conform its external surfaces to the vaginal contours. One or more lumina are provided in the set filler material to receive a radiation source, with additional lumina optionally provided for purposes such as drainage or administration of therapeutic agents. The applicator may be withdrawn and reinserted into the vagina during treatment, and selected tissues adjacent to the applicator are irradiated in accordance with a radiation prescription.
US07744520B2
A method for performing intraocular brachytherapy and an apparatus for performing the same is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a hand-held delivery device that advances a radiation source into an associated cannula or probe that is positioned adjacent the target tissue. The handpiece provides for shielded storage of the radiation source when retracted from the cannula and includes a slider mechanism for advancing and retracting the radiation source. The radiation source is mounted to a wire that has a flexible distal end and a relatively stiffer proximal end. A positioning system for the cannula is also disclosed.
US07744519B2
The present subject matter relates generally to a system and a method for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system and method provide for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The system comprises, generally, a paper crumpling machine having a braking mechanism for preventing uncontrolled rolling of a paper roll, a rake for effectively guiding paper sheeting into the paper crumpling machine, and a disengagement mechanism for easily disengaging the paper sheeting from the apparatus if necessary, and an automatic tensioning device for providing even distribution of tension on the paper sheeting. In addition, the apparatus comprises a cutting mechanism and/or a clamping mechanism for allowing cutting and/or clamping of the crumpled paper substrate.
US07744515B2
A conductive roller which can form images of consistent quality and does not cause image failures such as formation of blank spots and a method for inspecting the roller. The conductive roller having a metallic core and at least one rubber elastic layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core, the rubber elastic layer being formed from a conductive rubber to which conductivity has been imparted by carbon powder, wherein the conductive roller satisfies the relationship represented by formula (1): Zr/Zc≧5 (1), wherein Zr (Ω) represents a resistance component and Zc (Ω) represents a capacitive reactance component, the resistance component Zr (Ω) and the capacitive reactance component Zc (Ω) being calculated respectively from impedance Z (Ω) and phase difference θ, when the impedance Z (Ω) is measured upon application of an AC voltage of 0.2 V at a frequency of 1 Hz to the rubber elastic layer.
US07744513B2
A leg lift device is provided for attachment to a shoe. The leg lift device includes a sole, an optional lift insert and a shoe receiver attached to the sole. The shoe receiver includes a first section to engage a toe of a shoe and a second section to engage a heel of a shoe. The device also includes an attachment strap. A selected method is also provided.
US07744500B2
An axle assembly with an electronic locking differential that employs a locking mechanism having components that are fixed to one another along an axis such that they co-translate with one another when the actuator that effects the locking and unlocking of the differential is operated.
US07744494B2
Compositions for golf balls including multi-modal ionomers that can be used in any layer of a golf ball, e.g., an outer cover layer or inner cover layer. The compositions of the invention can be a blend of a multi-modal ionomer and a conventional ionomer, highly neutralized polymer, acid copolymer, or other suitable thermoplastic polymer.
US07744478B1
A bowling game kit suitable for use on a sand beach comprises a backstop and an elongated flexible rectangular sheet of material connected at one end of the backstop and having one or more target holes adjacent the backstop, which can be in register with buckets situated in depressions formed in the sand. The elongated sheet can be wrapped around the backstop, forming an elongated enclosure in which the buckets and other components can be stored and transported.
US07744476B2
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a fairground attraction, including an arm which is mounted for rotation about a shaft in a bearing arranged in the top of the frame, on an end of which arm at least one people carrier is suspended, a device for rotatingly driving the arm, and a device for displacing the at least one people carrier in height direction in a rest position of the arm, which displacing device is arranged between the top supporting the bearing and the remaining part of the frame. In one embodiment of the present invention, the top can be pivotable relative to the remaining frame part, for instance about a lying axis which lies transversely of the rotation axis of the arm, and the displacing device can include a drive for causing pivoting of the top. The fairground attraction can further be provided with a device for blocking the displacing device during operation of the fairground attraction.
US07744474B2
A propshaft assembly has an inner tube, an outer tube having an end splined to the inner tube thereby defining an engagement area between the inner tube and the outer tube. The propshaft assembly also includes at least one stiffening ring disposed around the outer tube. At least a portion of the stiffening ring is in contact with the outer tube.
US07744463B2
A parameter of a consumption item (fuel, life) consumed as a game progresses is calculated. When a setting of a game termination condition changes, a rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item is changed according to the change of the setting. The game termination condition is a condition relating to the number of laps on a course, a time limit of a game or a game quota. The rate of change of the parameter of the consumption item is increased as the number of laps on a course is reduced, as the time limit of a game is shortened, or as the game quota is reduced. When a value of the parameter of the consumption item becomes equal to zero as a game progresses, the movement or motion of an object is disabled. The parameter of the consumption item is changed from an initial value set by a player with the rate of change which has been specified based on the game termination condition set by the player.
US07744462B2
A gaming system includes at least one progressive server and a plurality of gaming machines configured to present wagering games to players for play. The at least one progressive server is configured to generate a plurality of progressive jackpots funded at least partially from funds transactions at the gaming machines. Each gaming machine is configured to present at least a first game play option permitting a player to play for a first of the progressive jackpots and a second game play option permitting a player to play for a second of the progressive jackpots, the player permitted to select from the game play options to play for the opportunity to win the progressive jackpot associated therewith. In one embodiment, the system has a tiered configuration where progressive servers are “layered” and associated with different groups or sets of gaming machines.
US07744460B2
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a slot machine comprises at least one display device operable to display at least one indicium. The indicium defines an outcome for a game. The display device is further operable to update the indicia displayed on the one or more display devices based on a signal of a processor. The slot machine further comprises a means for moving the at least one display device. For example, the one or more display devices may be moved about an axis in a circular or curvilinear path, relative to a viewing perspective. In other embodiments, a slot machine comprises at least one display device operable to display at lease on indicium defining an outcome for a game, wherein a left edge of the display device defines at least a portion of perimeter of a left base of a cylindrical shape and a right edge of the display device defines at least a portion of a perimeter of a right base of the cylindrical shape.
US07744456B2
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for sweepstakes awards in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments provide a method including accumulating sweepstakes entries for a player based on at least one sweepstakes entry criterion and randomly selecting a winner from the pool of sweepstakes entries. The sweepstakes entries are associated with the player and incorporated in a pool of sweepstakes entries. In certain embodiments, the at least one sweepstakes entry criterion comprises at least one of one entry per player, accumulating points based on play, accumulating points based on machine outcome, and coin in. In certain embodiments, the method further includes determining eligibility of a player for the sweepstakes. In certain embodiments, eligibility is determined based on at least one of a player group, a machine group, a machine denomination, a machine type, a machine manufacturer, a game manufacturer, a game theme and a game title, for example.
US07744452B2
A system for concurrent gaming comprises a gaming server and a client computer connected to the gaming server by means of an open communication network. The gaming server is instructable by the client to randomly select multiple, concurrent hands of playing cards to a player in a turn of a game of Caribbean Stud poker. The compositions of the multiple, randomly selected concurrent hands is transmitted by the gaming server along the communication network to the client computer where they are displayed to the player, under program control as part of a simulation of the game of Caribbean Stud poker. Gaming server also generates the gaming server also randomly selects a hand associated with a dealer in the game, the composition of the dealer's hand being also transmitted by the gaming server to the client computer and displayed as part of the simulation. The player then makes desired game play decisions, in turn, as a function of each one of the, multiple concurrent hands and the dealer's hand.
US07744437B2
Life-saving clothing, in particular for protecting against drowning persons in danger during travelling in water or any other liquid element. The life-saving clothing (1) includes a part encompassing the trunk of a user's body and is characterized in that the part has inflatable floating elements (3) which is made of a non-extensible material and is arranged in such a way that it takes a folded shape in the uninflated state thereof and forms a float around the user's trunk in the inflated state and the clothing (1) is provided with inflating elements (9) for the floating means. In a preferred embodiment, the volume of floating elements (3) is distributed substantially in front of and behind the user. The life-saving clothing (1) ensures the stable position of the user in such a way that the respiratory tract thereof is free.
US07744434B2
An oscillating-foil type underwater propulsor with a joint provided in the invention, the propulsor including a streamline foil having a foil surface being parallel to a water surface and a span length of at least twice as long as an average chord length of the streamline foil, and a heaving mechanism undergoing heaving motion perpendicular to a propulsion direction of the propulsor and having a transmission section, wherein the transmission section is pivotally connected to the streamline foil to form a joint, the joint being provided at the middle of the span length and having a rotation center located within a circular area, which has a radius of one third of the average chord length and is centered at the point one third of the average chord length ahead of the lifting center of the streamline foil.
US07744418B2
An upright electrical connector for mounting on a PCB includes a bas portion, a first and second mating plate retained in the base portion, a number of first and second contacts held in the first and second mating plate, respectively, an inner shield mounted to the base portion to shield the first and second contacts and an outer shield mounted to the base portion to enclose the inner shield therein. The first and second mating plate includes a first and second tongue portion. The first and second contacts are supported in an inner surface of the first and second tongue portion. An arrangement of the first and a second tongue portions, the first and a second contacts, the inner shield and the outer shield are arranged to configured to a standard IEEE 1394B interface. The first and second tongue portion are perpendicular to the PCB.
US07744417B2
An aircraft wiring installation connecting a set of fuel side wires in an aircraft fuel tank to a set of airside wires outside the fuel tank, the installation comprising: a connector box having a fuel side wall (22) and an airside wall (21); one or more connectors (40, 43) carried by the fuel side wall (22) which connect the fuel side wires to the airside wires; a fairing (6) partially covering the airside wall (21); and one or more holes (30) in the airside wall through which the airside wires pass from the connector box into the fairing (6).
US07744412B2
An apparatus for making electrical contact with luminous means in spotlights, which contain a glass vessel, a luminous means base and contact pins for the power supply is provided. The apparatus comprising a luminous means holder with at least two socket pairs for accommodating the contact pins of different luminous means. The socket pairs are arranged in clamping pieces, whose mutually opposite connecting faces can be removed from one another in order to accommodate the contact pins of the luminous means and can be guided towards one another in order to make electrical contact with the contact pins of the luminous means.
US07744408B2
A holding member, for an electronic component inserted into a through hole provided in an electronic circuit board which includes a plate-shaped base that is fixed to the electronic component, a first leg and a second leg. The first leg extends from the base, and is inserted into the through hole. The first leg has a catch that projects laterally and outwardly with respect to an inserting direction in which the first leg is inserted into the through hole and locked with an edge of the through hole after the first leg is inserted. The second leg extends from the base and is inserted into the through hole together with the first leg. The second leg elastically deforms when the second leg comes into contact with an inner surface of the through hole, presses the first leg to an opposite side inner surface of the through hole, and elastically holds the catch in a state in which the catch is locked with the edge of the through hole after the second leg is inserted.
US07744406B2
The present invention discloses systems and method for storing and organizing UFDs (USB flash drives) on a storage pole, and for configuring UFDs to accommodate storage on a storage pole. Various embodiments also include configurations of the UFDs and/or storage poles which prevent rotation of the UFDs on the storage pole, thereby providing aligned stacking of the UFDs. Some embodiments include more than one pole for storage and/or alignment of the UFDs. Some embodiments do not require a pole for storage and/or alignment of the UFDs. In addition, systems which allow extraction of a single UFD from a stack of UFDs while maintaining the order of the UFDs are also disclosed.
US07744395B1
A quick-disconnect waterproof connector for secure connection of electrical wires to one another in series, in applications where water or other fluids may be present. The most preferred connector has two connecting members each with opposing ends, a pin adjacent to a socket in side-to-side array at a first of said opposing ends, over-molding around the pin and socket, a plurality of external ribs laterally extending across the over-molding on opposing sides thereof, the over-molding around the base of the pin having a tapered boss, the over-molding extension around the distal end of the socket configured for snugly receiving the tapered boss of its paired member to create a waterproof connection, two sheathed insulated wires each connected to one of the contacts, and the over-molding also having on its second end a strain-relief extension positioned around the sheathed insulated wires as they enter the over-molding.
US07744393B2
The invention concerns a motor connector for supplying voltage to a polyphase motor, with a connector housing that contains a number of electrically conductive pass-through elements whose number matches the number of electrical supply lines to be connected. By means of said pass-through elements, the supply lines can be connected electrically to contacts of a connecting plug mounted on the outside of a motor hosing of the polyphase motor, said contacts being connected to the winding conductors of the motor. The operating mode of the motor in delta or star connection can be selected by internal bridge configuration of the pass-through elements. For this purpose, the connector housing has a coding section that is separated from the connection section for the supply lines, with the coding section preferably designed as an enclosed coding chamber so that the connection section forms a connection chamber that is separated from the coding chamber. The bridge configuration is designed as an internal plug connection and is performed by means of a coding plug.
US07744391B2
A memory card connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing, a card eject mechanism and metal shell attached to the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a card receiving cavity for insertion of a memory card. The card eject mechanism includes a slider moveable along card-insertion or card-withdraw directions and a locking member fixed to the slider. The locking member includes a protrusion which forms a sideward dimple. The metal shell includes a top wall covering the card receiving cavity. The top wall defines a slit for receiving the protrusion. An arced surface of the dimple is driven to abut against an inner side of the slit in order to reduce friction therebetween.
US07744386B1
An electrical busway system comprising a busway uniquely configured for cutting to length in the field. Special connector devices are also disclosed, with features for engaging and immobilizing busway insulators to assure accurate initial alignment of conductors and contact elements prior to joining of connector devices with busway sections. An accessory device, specially adapted to the new busway design, includes a rotatable contact element, slideably received in its rotatable support, which progressively displaces a spring as the contact element is rotated into contact with a busbar carried by a busway insulator. Good electrical contact at both ends of the slideable contact element is assured. The accessory device also includes a positioning element which is rotatable with, but rotationally advanced with respect to, the contact elements, to accurately position, and substantially immobilize an insulator element prior to the contact elements being rotated into restricted, busbar-receiving recesses in the insulator element.
US07744384B2
A spring contact structure (10) and an electronic device using same are provided. The spring contact structure is configured for releasing electrostatic charges of the electronic device, and includes a fixing portion (12), a clamping portion (14) and a grounding portion (16). The clamping portion is configured for electrically connecting to a substrate (30) of the electronic device, and includes a first clamp arm (142) and a second clamp arm (144) extending from opposite sides of the fixing portion. The second clamp arm is disposed over the fixing portion and the first clamp arm to clamp the substrate between the first and second clamp arms. The grounding portion extends from the fixing portion, and is configured for electrically connecting to a grounding unit (40) of the electronic device.
US07744373B2
A firefighting trainer includes a tank for containing a volume of a non-combustible dispersion medium such as water. The water resides within the tank having an upper surface of the water exposed through an open upper end of the tank. A fuel distribution system distributes a combustible fuel into the tank beneath the water surface. An air distribution system distributes an oxygen containing gas (such as air) into the tank beneath the upper water surface. An ignition system ignites a mixture of a vapor of the fuel and the air at the upper surface of the water. A screen covers the open end of the tank and is spaced from the upper surface of the water. The screen has open spaces permitting passage of flame through the screen.
US07744372B1
Disclosed is a refreshable Braille display device comprised of a rotary character display assembly which can display a refreshable Braille character in the plane of the rotary display assembly. Also disclosed is a method of displaying a refreshable Braille character.
US07744369B2
A method and system are disclosed for quickly arriving at a pre-set-up for the orthodontic treatment of a patient based up on the user specified parameters; and thereafter enabling the user in interactively arriving at a final, desired treatment set-up for the patient. Several sub-operations are disclosed for arriving at the orthodontic pre-set-up. These sub-operations can be arranged in a specific sequence for realizing the orthodontic treatment pre-set-up for a patient. According to another aspect of the invention, a global reference system is disclosed that enables consistent treatment planning. The global reference system prevents unintended tooth displacements caused as side effects to the desired tooth displacements.
US07744366B2
A system and method for providing a heating system with good thermal efficiency by adjusting combustion air flow in response to fuel-input rate changes over a wide range. An AC motor operates in a slip mode whereby as the fuel-input rate changes, the combustion air density is affected. In response, changes in the load and thus the speed of the motor occur. Consequently, the quantity of combustion air flow increases in response to a fuel-input rate increase. The motor switches to a synchronous speed in response to the fuel-input rate reaching a set value, e.g., 70 percent of maximum rate.
US07744365B2
An apparatus and method for blow molding and sealing an aseptic container. A pair of mold halves, including inner surfaces that when closed define a mold cavity, clamp about an extruded parison. The parison is inflated by high pressure blow air into conformity with the shape of the mold cavity. An evacuation device applies a force to an exterior portion of the blow molded container causing the portion to deform or flex inwardly, thereby reducing the internal volume and evacuating air from the blow molded container. A sealing tool thereafter causes the blow molded container to be sealed while the container is in the reduced volume condition. Upon removal from the mold assembly and cooling, the container returns to the desired shape.
US07744357B2
A scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll orbiting the fixed scroll to perform compression on a refrigerant, a discharge cover provided at an upper end of the fixed scroll and guiding discharge of a compressed refrigerant, a first discharge chamber from which the compressed refrigerant is discharged; a second discharge chamber communicating with the first discharge chamber and separating oil from the discharged refrigerant, and a third discharge chamber communicating with the second discharge chamber and guiding discharge of the separated refrigerant.
US07744356B2
In a screw vacuum pump 30, equal lead screws each in the range of 1 to 4 leads are added on the discharge side of male and female screw rotors (4) and (5) having a continuously changing screw gear helix angle, at a final lead angle of the male and female unequal lead screw rotors on the discharge side that continuously change in helix angle following the advance of the screw gear helix.
US07744347B2
A turbine component has an airfoil portion with at least one central core element, a pressure side wall, and a suction side wall. The airfoil portion also has a serpentine cooling passageway in at least one of the walls. In a preferred embodiment, the airfoil portion has a serpentine cooling passageway in both of the pressure and suction side walls. A refractory metal core for forming the serpentine cooling passageway(s) is also described.
US07744344B2
Vanes are generally hollow with a passage through which service pipes extend. These service pipes must be connected such that they can allow for thermal expansion and contraction but also anti rotation features are needed in order to prevent damage when a supply coupling is connected through a pipe end. This anti-rotation feature is generally provided between a top hat and a pipe end through flanges. In order to allow reduced spacing between the top of the vane and a casing the flanges are arranged to allow at least recessing of a first flange into a passage opening profile whereby those flanges inter-engage with second flanges at a surface interface to prevent rotation.
US07744343B2
A steam turbine includes, in one exemplary embodiment, a rotor and a plurality of bucket stages coupled to the rotor with each bucket stage including a plurality of circumferentially spaced buckets coupled to the rotor. The steam turbine also includes a diaphragm assembly surrounding the rotor and the bucket stages, and an outer casing disposed about the rotor and diaphragm assembly. The diaphragm assembly includes a plurality of nozzle stages located between the bucket stages, a circumferentially extending groove, with the groove located upstream of one of the bucket stages and between that bucket stage and an adjacent nozzle stage, a circumferentially extending extraction chamber, and at least one first bore extending from the groove to the extraction chamber. The diaphragm assembly also includes at least one second bore extending from the extraction chamber through an outer surface of the diaphragm assembly.
US07744342B2
A blower fan includes: an impeller having a predetermined number of blades; a fan casing having an air-intake port disposed to face a central portion of base of the impeller and eccentrically housing the blower fan and defining a spiral scroll passageway between an inner wall thereof and an external circumference of the impeller, the spiral scroll passageway having an inlet portion constituting a narrow nose portion and an outlet portion constituting a wide discharge port; and a driving source for rotating the impeller. In order to minimize the noise to be released from the nose portion, the blower fan further includes a sound-reflecting means which is disposed to cover a portion of the air inlet port at a location spaced away from the nose portion by a distance corresponding to ½ of wavelength of noise in an emanating direction of noise.
US07744324B2
A washer for use with a fastener to join two components or plates includes a washer body having an inner portion and an outer portion joined by a connecting wall. The inner portion and the connecting wall form a cavity and the outer portion extends outwardly from the connecting wall to form a flange. The washer joins two plates fabricated from dissimilar material and minimizes stress in the joint. Additionally, the washer minimizes leakage through the joint and can be used with standard fasteners.
US07744319B2
The invention relates to a pyromechanical securing element for the mechanical connection of two components. The securing element comprises a covering and a pyrotechnical propellant charge is arranged in the head part thereof, said propellant charge being adjacent to an adapter, and securing means or a stop for the first component are arranged on the rear part of the covering and a second component can be pushed onto the covering between the first component and the head part. The covering on the head part comprises expected fracture indents extending in the longitudinal direction which tear open the covering in the head area when the propellant charge is ignited and the first component is rigidly connected to the second component in order to allow the adapter to bend. The aim of the invention is to securely anchor the covering to the adapter without using extreme force. Said invention is characterized in that the groove is arranged in the adapter in such a manner that it at least sectionally surrounds the outer periphery thereof, and that a radially protruding collar is arranged on the outer surface of the cover before the cover is anchored to the adapter, and the groove disposed in the adapter is flush with the collar of the cover and at least one part of the collar is pressed into the groove in order to anchor the cover with the adapter.
US07744315B2
The present invention relates to a reinforcement of foundation which comprises at least two base steel plates arranged to be upright with respect to the ground and shaped as a plate with a cutaway formed at a top portion thereof, a reinforced steel plate coupled to upper portions of both ends of the base steel plates, fastening steel rods placed to extend in a longitudinal direction of the base steel plate and coupled to the reinforced steel plate, and a connection steel rod bored sequentially through the base steel plates and coupled to the base steel plates. According to the present invention, huge concentrated load exerted on a foundation can be uniformly distributed, and thus, load transmitted from a pillar or column installed on the foundation can be stably supported. Further, the thickness of foundation can also be reduced as compared with the prior art, and thus, the excavation can be made shallow. Accordingly, the period and expense of construction can be reduced.
US07744314B2
Buoyancy unit for use on a riser for sub sea applications, particularly for great depths, with a clamp 11 to be tensioned around the riser 16, and with a tensioning member 18 to damp the clamp 11. Buoyancy bodies 26, 27 are provided to engage with the clamp 11, said clamp 11 having at least one arched element 12-15 providing an annular structure to enclose the riser and to be pressed thereto with a tensioning strap 18. The buoyancy bodies 26, 27 are attached to the arched segments, The clamp 11 is cast from of a concrete material where at least the outer shell or layer is provided to prevent the intrusion of water, the casting of the clamp preferably containing powdered aplite.
US07744311B2
A vessel has a substantially vertical frame attached to a vessel support structure, an upper clamping element vertically displaceable along the frame via a displacement member, a lower clamping element aligned with the upper clamping element, a loading device for supplying a pipe segment to the upper clamping element, and a control device adapted to control the displacement member and the upper and lower clamping elements for lowering the pipe segment by the displacement member along a pipe trajectory, with the upper clamping element being engaged on the pipe segment, while the lower clamping element is disengaged, with the lower clamping element being situated on the vessel support structure, with a transverse track extending from a side position on the vessel to a position alongside the pipe trajectory, and a support member which is displaceable along the track to be situated in the pipe trajectory.
US07744307B2
In order to repair a bridge in the zone of an expansion joint initially at least the near-surface components of the bridging device that is to be replaced are dismounted and the existing lane structure in the zones bordering the bridging device that is to be replaced is removed in the areas facing the abutment and the superstructure so as to form recesses placed at a lower level than the lane surface, whereupon a temporary bridging element located at the ground level is removably mounted. In order to entirely dismount one section of the bridging device that is to be replaced after another and perform preparatory work for assembling a new permanent bridging device, at least the bridging plate is repeatedly removed and re-assembled as required.
US07744306B2
Disclosed is an alkyd resin-based pre-manufactured thermoplastic airport runway signage that is applied in relatively large sections onto an airport runway. The pre-manufactured preformed thermoplastic formed as a continuous sheet and wound onto a take-up spool. The runway surface is prepared with a CCS epoxy primer and the preformed thermoplastic is unwound from the take-up spool and positioned onto the runway surface. When the pre-manufactured thermoplastic signage is in a desired location it is initially rolled conforming to the runway surface. Heat is applied to the rolled surface to a preferred temperature with an infra-red (IR) heater to melt and adhere the pre-manufactured thermoplastic signage into the runway surface.
US07744299B1
A dispensing system for patching an untextured portion of a destination surface to substantially match an existing structure of an existing sprayed on texture pattern on the destination surface surrounding the untextured portion. The dispensing system comprises a container, a sponge member, and a scraper member. Texture material is arranged within the container. The sponge member defines an applicator surface and a sponge opening. The sponge member is secured to the container to such that the container opening and sponge opening are substantially aligned. The scraper member is detachably attached to the container.
US07744290B2
The optical fiber connector includes a connector housing (21), having a splice assembly (13) therein, and an end cap (5) attached to one end of the connector housing (21), from which leads out a primary coating portion (3). A boundary (4c) between a portion of the primary coating portion (3), obtained by removing an outer coating (4b) of the inner cover (4) while leaving an inner coating (4a), and a portion obtained by leaving the outer coating (4b) of the inner cover (4), is located in the interior of the connector housing (21). The end cap (5) is provided in the interior thereof with a tubular portion and an extension extending from an end of the tubular portion, the tubular portion including an insert hole for an insertion of the primary coating portion (3) approximately coaxially with a guiding hole formed in the splice assembly accommodated in the connector housing (21) for guiding the primary coating portion (3) leading out from the splice assembly. The extension includes a strain-control hole, communicating with the insert hole, for receiving said boundary (4c) of the primary coating portion (3), and for controlling stress at the boundary (4c).
US07744289B2
A seamless display manufacturing method includes fixing a light emitting source in a backlight module; fixing an optical film on the light emitting source; placing a partitioned structure on the optical film; aligning or overlapping the side edges of main bodies of adjacent liquid crystal panels, and putting them over the partitioned structure; and providing a protection layer having a micro-structure over a main body of a liquid crystal panel, thus forming an LCD display. A seamless display, comprises: a backlight module, that includes a plurality of light emitting sources; an optical film; a partitioned structure; a plurality of LCD panel main bodies; a protection layer having a micro-structure; and a locking portion. The main bodies of a plurality of liquid crystal panels are put together through aligning or overlapping their respective side edges, and then are covered over the partitioned structure.
US07744287B2
A connector enclosure for enclosing a cable assembly includes a main body that has a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion is adapted for selective releasable engagement with the second body portion. Each of the first and second body portions defines a cavity having a first connector portion and a second connector portion. The cavity of each of the first and second body portions cooperatively defines a passage through the main body. The passage is configured to retain a cable assembly.
US07744282B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a motor comprising a stator portion including a bearing using lubricant oil; and a rotor portion having a rotation shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, an oil deflector configured to return back to the bearing the lubricant oil that has leaked toward one end portion of the rotation shaft from the bearing, and a hub attached so as to oppose the oil deflector with a clearance therebetween.
US07744281B2
In a method of monitoring the operation of a plain bearing, a lubricant passage (15) of a bearing segment, this lubricating passage (15) being provided for jacking oil for example, is used during hydrodynamic operation of the plain bearing for extracting samples for a temperature measurement. For producing the measuring operation, a switch-over device (19) clears a flow path from the lubricant passage (15) into an outflow passage (23) in such a way that lubricant from the lubricating film (13) flows through the lubricant passage, the temperarature of this lubricant being determined by a temperature sensor (16, 18).
US07744260B2
A straddle type vehicle includes a movable cover on a rear trunk space and a light assembly having a first light unit extending in a generally horizontal direction and a second light unit extending in a generally vertical direction. The assembly can also include two vertical light units, one positioned on the left side of the movable cover and the other positioned on the right side of the movable cover, and one horizontal light positioned below the movable cover. Connectors and fastening mechanisms can be utilized to connect the light units and movable cover of the assembly. In addition, the first light unit and the second light unit can both be a light-emitting diode (LED) light source.
US07744259B2
The inventive directionally-adjustable LED spotlight is comprised of a fixed heat sink and an LED-array-bearing structure. The LED-array-bearing structure is adjustably attached in a heat transfer relationship to the fixed heat sink.
US07744257B2
A heat dissipation device adapted for removing heat from LED modules of an LED lamp includes a plurality of heat sinks, a plurality of fin sets and a plurality of heat pipes extending through the fin sets and thermally connecting the heat sinks and the fin sets together. The heat sinks each have a base plate with a bottom surface which is kept in contact with corresponding LED modules and a plurality of fins arranged on a top surface of the base plate. Each of the fin sets consists of a plurality of flakes and defines a plurality of air passages between the flakes. Air can flow through the heat dissipation device from a place thereunder to a place thereabove via the air passages between the flakes of the fin sets.
US07744248B2
A compact lighting fixture having various functions can be achieved at low cost. The lighting fixture can provide a high degree of freedom for space utilization, can provide a comfortable illumination space with designed light distribution, can be configured to require a smaller space for installation, and can have an appearance that is not so different from its surroundings. As a component constituting the illumination optical system, a polygonal frustum portion can be located at a center and can have tapered side reflecting portions. When assuming that three concentric imaginary circles have respective radii of R1, R2 and R3 (R1
US07744244B2
An exemplary light emitting diode includes a main body, a red light emitting chip, a green light emitting chip, and a blue light emitting chip. The main body includes two inner side surfaces opposite to each other and a inner bottom surface connected with the side surfaces. The side surfaces and the bottom surface cooperatively define an accommodating space. The red light emitting chip, the green light emitting chip and the blue light emitting chip are positioned at the bottom surface and the side surfaces of the accommodating space, respectively.
US07744242B2
A spotlight for shooting films and videos is provided. The spotlight comprising light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on a light-emitting surface, of which color LEDs emit different LED colors (R, G, A, B, Ye) and provide luminous flux portions for a color mixture. At least one LED comprises a luminescent LED. The spotlight further comprising a device for setting the luminous flux portion emitted by the LEDs, which device drives the LEDs at least in groups. At least one color LED emits the LED color “blue” or “cyan”, and the luminescent LED comprises a yellow-green, daylight-white, neutral-white or warm-white luminescent LED, which covers at least a portion of the color LEDs with the exception of the color LED emitting the LED color “blue” or “cyan”.
US07744240B2
Disclosed is a backlight unit that is suitable for reducing humming noise that occurs when power is applied for dimming control. The present invention provides a backlight unit including a plurality of lamps arranged over a bottom cover, first and second lower structures respectively mounted at opposite ends of the lamps, the first and second lower structures having a groove between adjacent lamps, sound absorbing pads disposed within the grooves, common electrodes mounted on the first and second lower structures having the sound absorbing pads thereon respectively, and first and second upper structures respectively coupled to the first and second lower structures. The first and second upper structures have a plurality of ribs that press down on the common electrodes and sound absorbing pads.
US07744237B2
A lens for a wet environment lighting device that has a fixture with an interior that has an opening, and at least one light source located within the fixture interior. Light from the light source proceeds out through the opening. The lens is for location in front of the fixture and the light source located therein and the lens encloses the opening from the wet environment. The lens has a first light-directing area for directing light in a first beam pattern. The lens also has a second light-directing area, distinct from the first light-directing area, for directing light in a second beam pattern, distinct from the first beam pattern. The lens is positioned relative to fixture and light source therein to select from the distinct beam patterns based on the alignment of the light-directing areas relative to the light source resulting from a positioning of the lens.
US07744231B2
An electrical connector including a connector subassembly having a front mating portion and a waveguide disposed around the front mating portion of the connector subassembly. The waveguide may alternatively be disposed near the front mating portion of the connector subassembly and an illumination device is provided at the side portion of the connector subassembly adjacent to the waveguide for coupling light emanating therefrom onto a portion of the waveguide which in turn conducts the light to illuminate at least a front end of the waveguide. The connector subassembly may further cooperate with a bezel having a frame and an opening. The frame retains the connector subassembly in position with the front mating portion of connector subassembly extending to the opening. The waveguide is then configured to have a front portion disposed between a rim portion of the opening and the front mating portion of the connector subassembly.
US07744227B2
A projector includes an image forming device, a projection lens for projecting an image produced by the image forming device, and an external case which accommodates the image forming device and at least a part of the projection lens and has an opening through which a light emission end of the projection lens is exposed. The projection lens has a lens barrel and a plurality of lenses equipped within the lens barrel. The lens barrel has a fixed part and a movable part. A turn table for shifting the movable part of the lens barrel in the direction of the optical axis of the projection lens is provided. The direction of the rotation axis of the turn table is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the projection lens. The top surface of the turn table is exposed through the outer surface of the external case.
US07744226B2
A projection type image display apparatus has: an illumination optical system generating illumination light; a projection optical system projecting an image light onto a screen; a digital micromirror device (DMD) modulating the illumination light so as to form the image light; and a reflection mirror arranged in a position opposite to an optical path of the illumination light entering the DMD. The reflection mirror reflects an off-light reflected by the DMD in an “OFF” state in a direction separated from a projection light reflected by the DMD in an “ON” state.
US07744207B2
An ink jet head (15) of an ink jet printer comprises an ink jet nozzle (24) outputting ultraviolet curing ink, a pair of ultraviolet LEDs 25a and 25b provided on both sides of the ink jet nozzle in the moving direction for emitting ultraviolet in order to cure the ultraviolet curing ink.
US07744203B2
The distance between an end of a contour of the curved area at which a straight line extending longitudinally of the pipe through the axis of the hole intersects with the contour of the curved area, and an end of the hole that is the nearest to the end of the contour of the curved area longitudinally of the pipe, is larger than the distance between an end of the contour of the curved area at which a straight line extending laterally of the pipe through the axis of the hole intersects with the contour of the curved area, and an end of the hole that is the nearest to the end of the contour of the curved area laterally of the pipe, when viewed along the central axis of the through hole.
US07744186B2
A recording apparatus of this invention includes a head; a transport mechanism that transports a medium in a transport direction with respect to the head, according to a target transport amount to be targeted; a memory that stores a plurality of correction values associated with a relative position of the head and the medium; and a controller that controls the transport mechanism based on the target transport amount that has been corrected, after correcting the target transport amount based on correction values, which are in number according to a size of the target transport amount, and which include the correction value according to the relative position when transporting by the target transport amount.
US07744185B2
A process for coloring substrates, using the application of liquid colorants, in which the assignment of color is done on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and corresponding products. Relatively large areas of a substrate may be given the appearance of being uniformly colored by successively replicating or tiling a group of individually colored pixels comprising a repeating unit (i.e., a superpixel) across the substrate surface. The repeating unit is constructed in such a way that if a colorant application error develops, causing one or more pixels within the repeating unit to be colored incorrectly or incompletely, the overall arrangement of the pixels within the repeating unit will render such error less visually apparent when viewed on the substrate.
US07744182B2
A capacitive load driving circuit that supplies driving voltage to a capacitive load includes a driving voltage waveform generating unit. The driving voltage waveform generating unit, at times of charging or discharging of the capacitive load, generates a driving voltage waveform in which potential applied to the capacitive load varies stepwise from a first potential to a second potential during a predetermined time period.
US07744167B2
The adaptive brake application and initial skid detection system allows rapid brake application and prevents deep initial skids. Brake pressure is compared with a predetermined threshold brake pressure. Wheel velocity error signals are also generated to indicated the difference between the wheel velocity and a reference velocity signal. A pressure bias modulator integrator responsive to brake pressure signals adjusts the wheel velocity error signals to provide an anti-skid control signal. The pressure bias modulator integrator can also be initialized to the value of the measured brake pressure when the wheel velocity error signals indicate the beginning of a skid. Brake pressure difference signals are generated to indicate the difference between brake pressure and a commanded brake pressure, and an adjusted brake pressure error signal is generated in response to the brake pressure difference signals.
US07744161B2
A modular furniture assembly for securing together a plurality of furniture members, the modular furniture assembly comprising: a plurality of substantially planar frame members, each frame member comprising a plurality of ends, the plurality of ends comprising: a first end including a first cavity extending latitudinally along the first end; and a second end including a second cavity substantially identical to the first cavity, the second cavity being oriented and extending latitudinally along the second end such that a combined cavity is formed when the first end and second end come together; a base furniture member; and a securing system, configured to secure a first substantially planar frame member to a second substantially planar frame member, the securing system comprising an elongated member sized to extend through the combined cavity. The plurality of furniture members may comprise: a front member; opposing side furniture members; and a back furniture member.
US07744146B2
Disclosed herein is a reinforcement structure for an upper portion of a vehicle door comprising, an inner panel disposed in a vehicle cabin, an outer panel disposed so as to be spaced apart from the inner panel with a receiving space therebetween, and a reinforcement panel bonded to the inner panel so as to form a closed section space, upper and lower portions of the reinforcement panel being bonded to the inner panel so as to form the closed section space therein.
US07744126B2
A tensioning device for a seatbelt system in motor vehicles with a driving arrangement that comprises a tube having at least one tube section bent with a radius of curvature, and a piston guided movably in said tube, whereby the piston is connected via a driving cable to the part of the seatbelt system which carries out the tensioning movement, and whereby the piston can be moved in a longitudinal movement through the tube by means of a pyrotechnic drive, and the driving cable is fixed to the piston by means of a holding part held by the piston. The piston (14) is configured in the form of an olive with a larger radius in the longitudinal direction of the tube (10) than the effective radius in the transverse direction of the tube (10) and is provided with a bore (15) for passing through the driving cable (20) that is held in a compression sleeve (16) fixed on the side of the piston (14) that points in the direction of movement of the piston (14).
US07744120B2
An overhead trim system for a motor vehicle has a mounting bracket coupled to an overhead area of the motor vehicle and an integrally formed trim member. The integrally formed trim member is configured to extend along a selected length of a perimeter of the overhead area and defines a hinge. The integrally formed trim member is coupled to the mounting bracket to define a cavity configured for receipt of an airbag module. The hinge in a first position is capable of retaining the airbag module within the cavity and in a second position is capable of enabling the airbag module to expand.
US07744118B2
In a knee protecting airbag device of the present invention, an airbag is folded and housed on the front side of the knees of a seated passenger. The airbag is protruded rearward of a vehicle from a protruding opening and expanded and inflated upward, when an inflating gas flows in. And, the airbag is arranged on the front side of the knees of the passenger between a member on the body side and the knees of the passenger thereby to protect the knees of the passenger. The protruding opening has a transverse width size set within a range of ⅛ to ⅔ of the transverse width size of the airbag having completed its expansion and inflation.
US07744117B2
A knee airbag device for a vehicle includes a gas generation portion that is operated to generate gas; a knee airbag that is disposed in a folded state at a predetermined position in a vehicle, wherein when the knee airbag receives the gas, the knee airbag is inflated and deployed toward an area below a steering column so that the knee airbag is disposed between knees of an occupant and a lower portion of an instrument panel; and a thickness regulation member that is provided in the knee airbag at a position in a contact portion that contacts each of the knees of the occupant, and that regulates the thickness of the knee airbag such that the thickness of the knee airbag at the position in the contact portion is smaller than the thickness of the knee airbag in a portion other than the contact portion.
US07744116B2
An airbag system includes belt support members for housing support belts used for coupling an airbag to a vehicle body, and belt covers disposed over the belt support members. A central cover panel on the vehicle body is adjacent to an airbag module in which an airbag is accommodated. Left and right cover panels are engaged with, and disposed laterally outside of the central cover panel in the vehicle-width direction. The belt support members are configured by overhanging parts of the central cover panel, which are overhung laterally outside, and extension parts of the cover panels and which extend laterally inside; and both of these components are engaged with each other through engaging portions in the belt support members. Notches are provided in the extension parts, extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body outside in the vehicle-width direction relative to the engaging portions.
US07744099B2
A method of adjusting a leveled height of the sprung mass of a vehicle that is in approximate alignment with a predetermined datum is disclosed. The method includes approximately aligning the sprung mass with the predetermined datum, receiving an input from an operator for changing the height of the sprung mass and adjusting the height of the sprung mass while maintaining approximate alignment with the predetermined datum. A system for performing the method is also discussed.
US07744091B2
An identity guessing game includes a plurality of identities to be guessed. Each identity is provided on a media in a manner permitting selection of one identity by a player for a round of play. The game also includes a plurality of clue sets, each clue set having multiple clues relating to a respective one of the identities. Each clue within each clue set is provided on a media so as to be presentable one at a time to a player during the round of play. A game can be played by selecting or providing a first identity to be guessed and a first set of clues each relating to the first identity. A first player is presented with at least one clue of the first set of clues. The first player can then determine whether to guess the first identity and move to the next step or to be presented with another of the first set of clues. The first player guesses the first identity when all of the first set of clues have been presented or when the first player decides to guess the first identity having been presented fewer than the entire first set of clues.
US07744087B2
A automatic dice shaking apparatus that uses a mechanical arm to substitute for labor in performing dice cup and dice seat joining, dice shaking and dice cup opening actions automatically, improving game fairness and reducing the personnel cost.
US07744083B2
A paper feeding apparatus is provided for use in an image forming apparatus. Such a paper feeding apparatus comprises a knock-up plate rotating upwardly and downwardly with a first end thereof provided as a hinge shaft, a driving motor and a paper feeding roller assembly to withdraw a single sheet of paper stacked on the knock-up plate by a driving a force from the driving motor, and further comprises a lift gear unit to upwardly rotate the knock-up plate by the driving force intermittently transmitted from the driving motor through a connecting means; a position sensor arranged to detect whether the sheets of paper stacked on the knock-up plate reaches a predetermined height proper to be fed to the paper feeding roller assembly; and a controller arranged to control the connecting means to be turned on and off based on a signal detected from the position sensor. As a result, a single driving motor is utilized to feed papers and drive a knock-up plate, thereby reducing production costs and enhancing internal space efficiency.
US07744082B2
A paper-sheet feeding device including a kicker roller configured to contact a forefront paper-sheet of a plurality of stacked paper-sheets and kick out the forefront paper-sheet; a feed roller to feed-out the paper-sheets to be kicked out by the kicker roller; and a press-fitting roller press-fit against the feed roller to provide a gate unit adapted to separate the paper-sheets to be fed by the feed roller, into one sheet. The kicker roller includes a base part and a high friction part formed in part of the outer circumference of the base part along the circumferential direction and configured to kick out the forefront paper-sheet. The feed roller includes a base part and a high friction part formed over the entire outer circumference of the base part and configured to contact the surface of the paper-sheet to be kicked out by the kicker roller to perform feed-out of the paper-sheet.
US07744074B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes a hole punching section arranged orthogonally to a conveying path of a sheet, a moving mechanism which moves the hole punching section along a direction orthogonal to the conveying path, a detection unit which is arranged upstream from the hole punching section and which moves by being interlocked with the hole punching section and detects a lateral edge of the sheet conveyed thereto, and a control unit which controls the moving mechanism in accordance with the result of detection by the detection unit and varies the position of the hole punching section, thus controlling the punching processing position. The control unit causes the hole punching section to be moved in the direction to the retreat position along with the conveying of the sheet, causes the hole punching section to retreat by a prescribed quantity with reference to the result of detection by the detection unit, then causes the hole punching section to be moved in the opposite direction, and controls movement to the punching processing position in accordance with the result of detection by the detection unit.
US07744071B2
A safety relief valve is provided that comprises a body comprising a chamber therein and an inlet and an outlet, the inlet comprising an inlet valve seat; a disk member closable on the inlet valve seat; and a mechanism in the body biasing the disk member to rest on the inlet valve seat with a set force such that when the pressure in the inlet exceeds a set pressure resulting from the set force, the disk member is lifted from the inlet valve seat, the mechanism comprising a combination of a coil spring and one or more disk springs stacked in series with the coil spring.A method of preparing a coil spring for use in a pressure relief valve comprises measuring the spring rate of the coil spring and; modifying the spring so as to modify its spring rate to be within ±2% of a desired spring rate.
US07744066B2
A carburetor includes an air inlet with a mechanically adjustable air valve, a mechanically adjustable atomizer discharging in the air inlet, and a mechanical metering device connected with the air valve and the atomizer, maintaining a stoichiometric ratio between amounts of air and fuel. Additionally, the carburetor includes a fuel pressure regulating unit to regulate the fuel pressure of fuel injected in the air inlet, based on one or more dynamic engine load parameters under which a vacuum signal in the air inlet is obtained via a vacuum intake conduit discharging into the air inlet. By regulating the fuel pressure also in dependence of the measured vacuum signal, the emission of unburned fuel is reduced under certain dynamic conditions of the combustion engine.
US07744065B2
A railing system includes an upper core member having a cap connector. In a first embodiment, a railing system includes a cap member having a cap flange that detachably couples with the cap connector on the upper core member. The cap member forms an enclosed conduit between the cap member and the upper core member. In a second embodiment, a kit for fabricating a railing span is contained in a packaging. The kit includes an upper core member and lower core member having selected lengths and a plurality of balusters for connection between the upper and lower core members. In a third aspect of the invention, a method of routing an opening for a baluster used in an inclined railing structure includes the step of plunging a router bit into a side of a component at an angle based on the installed angle of the inclined railing structure.
US07744063B2
A safety device for a fall arrest system comprises: a body, attachment means for attaching the safety device to a support structure, a drum mounted for rotation relative to the body, a safety line wound on the drum, a speed sensitive clutch connected to the drum, and a linear energy absorber connecting the body to the attachment means, in which the speed sensitive clutch is adapted to respond to rotation of the drum relative to the body in a direction tending to unwind the safety line from the drum and above a predetermined speed by locking the drum against further rotation in said direction relative to the body, and the linear energy absorber is adapted to respond, when the speed sensitive clutch has locked the drum, to an applied load along the safety line greater than a threshold value by deploying and absorbing energy so that the attachment means moves away from the body.
US07744047B2
A support device for supporting a musical instrument includes a base, the base includes a first side portion and a second side portion. The support device also includes a support body rotatably coupled to the base. The support body includes a first support surface and a second support surface. The first support surface defines a channel in the support body, the second support surface is substantially planar. The support body is configured to rotate between at least a first position and a second position around an axis intersecting the first side portion and the second side portion.
US07744030B2
In a webbing retractor, when a V-gear rotates in a take-up direction at an angular velocity of less than a preset upper limit angular velocity VH and a braking pawl moves toward an engaging position, an anchor claw of the braking pawl meshes with an internal tooth of a braking gear, and the braking gear is connected via the braking pawl to the V-gear so as to rotate integrally in the take-up direction. In this way, a coil portion of a torsion coil spring twists in the take-up direction (diameter contracting direction) via anchor pins. Therefore, an inner diameter of the coil portion contracts, and an inner peripheral surface of the coil portion press-contacts an outer peripheral surface of a braking shaft. End locking is prevented from arising when a spool, which rotates in the take-up direction, stops.
US07744028B2
A reliable, inexpensive option for the plates that function as wear parts and are mounted on an inner face of a casting wall of a stator. To achieve this the plates are designed as cast parts and are fixed to the inner face of the casting wall from an exterior of the stator. The plates are fixed by fixing bolts, which are screwed into the plates through the casting wall from the exterior. The plates have transverse threaded bores that correspond to the bolts. Respective spacer rings are pushed onto the fixing bolts secured by wedge-shaped cotters in both a positive and non-positive fit, and the wedge-shaped cotter pressing on the spacer rings that lie against the outer face of the casting wall. This invention is extremely economical and improves the operational safety in comparison to known options.
US07744023B2
Disclosed is black phosphorus or black phosphorus-carbon composite, which is very suitable for an anode material of lithium rechargeable battery. The black phosphorus or black phosphorus-carbon composite is prepared by using high energy ball-milling, which is easy and efficient way in transforming amorphous red phosphorus into orthorhombic black phosphorus at ambient temperature and pressure.
US07744022B1
A fluid dispense tip includes a bevel at an opening to reduce the amount of surface tension, or “land”, at the opening. The bevel is formed by grinding in a longitudinal direction such that any tooling scars resulting from the grinding operation are likewise longitudinally oriented, further reducing the amount of surface tension in the tip, thereby leading to heightened dispensing accuracy. The tip may be machined from stock as a unitary piece, to increase its lifetime, and may be formed with a bore of a relatively large diameter that is tapered down to a smaller diameter near the tip opening, to allow for delivery of fluid through the tip body at a decreased pressure. A cleaning tool may be provided for removing residual material from the inner surfaces of the tip. A removable liner sleeve may be provided within the bore to reduce the effective inner diameter of the dispense tip.
US07744014B2
An injection module comprises a housing (1), inside of which an actuator element (2) and an injection valve are arranged. The actuator element (2) is designed for controlling the injection valve by a setting stroke. A compensating element (6) is provided that is connected to the actuator element (2) in order to compensate for the change in length of the housing (1) caused by thermal expansion.
US07744010B2
The present invention provides an isolator particularly adapted for use with a rail anchor utilized in an application where railroad rail is installed on concrete ties. The isolator protects the concrete tie from contact with the rail anchor caused by longitudinal movement of the rail due to train acceleration of deceleration or expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. In one embodiment, the isolator is comprised of a structural plastic material and includes a front face section and a rear face section. The front face section and rear face section each comprise a generally rectangular structure, having a top edge, bottom edge, and side edges. Top and bottom sections join the front face section and rear face section and form part of the isolator. The rail anchor also comprises a support section that extends from an intersection of the rear face section with the bottom section. The rail isolator is designed to be embedded in a concrete railroad tie.
US07744006B2
A semiconductor device includes a first circuit which operates in accordance with an internal clock, a second circuit which generates information of which an external apparatus is to be notified, an interface section which notifies the external apparatus of the information generated by the second circuit without using the first circuit upon receiving a predetermined command from the external apparatus, and a plurality of terminals each of which is connectable to one of power terminals and ground terminals provided on a substrate. The information is determined depending on whether each of the plurality of terminals is electrically connected to the power terminal or ground terminal on the substrate.
US07743997B2
A handheld barcode/RFID reader includes a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes at least a portion of barcode/RFID electronic circuitry affixed thereto. The second side contains a ground plane for the electronic circuitry. The handheld barcode/RFID reader further includes a patch antenna, electrically coupled to the circuitry, and mounted on the second side of the printed circuit board such that the ground plane of the printed circuit board also provides a ground for the patch antenna.
US07743995B2
Systems and methodologies are disclosed for isolating a portable hand held electronic unit from external mechanical shocks and/or vibrations by dampening them at several levels. The system can absorb an external mechanical shock at three different levels by employing an external bumper system, elastic housing design features, and an internal frame isolation. Moreover, such isolation assembly simplifies production of the portable electronic unit by enabling a “build to order process” according to a customer's specification.
US07743993B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, a barcode scanner platform is provided in which the gain of an analog signal representative of a barcode is controlled using a control loop. In embodiments, an MTF detector generates a value (e.g., DC) representative of a low frequency portion (wide or out of optical focus elements) of the analog signal and a second value (e.g., DC) representative of a high frequency portion (narrow elements or in optical focus elements) of the analog signal. The processor uses the first and the second values and a reference amplitude to determine a gain signal. The processor provides the gain signal to an AGC circuit that provides a linear response to the gain signal using matched JFETs. A noise filter can be enabled or disabled based on the first value, the second value, and/or the barcode scanner platform read rate.
US07743991B2
A method of operating a bar code scanning system adapted for assembling information bearing indicia (IBI) information from partial scans of IBI data which may comprise some undecodable characters, the method comprising the steps of: converting light reflected from a target into output signals representative thereof utilizing an image sensor; illuminating the target utilizing an illumination source; directing light from the target to the image sensor array utilizing receive optics; determining if information contained in IBI within the target derived from the output signals is not decodable; transmitting an image of the IBI to a host processor if the IBI is not decoded; and housing the processor, image sensor, receive optics, illumination source and display in a common housing for hand held operation.
US07743989B2
Laser power control arrangements interrupt power to a laser used in electro-optical readers upon detection of operating conditions not conforming to preestablished standards, and adjust power to the laser to enhance reader performance without violating prevalent safety standards. Dual monitors are used to independently monitor the output power of the laser.
US07743987B2
An electronic-ink labeling system for displaying graphical indicia within the space of a physical environment. The system includes a plurality of remote activator modules installed within the space of the physical environment, and a plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels installed within the space of the physical environment. Each remote activator module sends and transmits electromagnetic signals within the space of the physical environment. Each electronic-ink label employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The device includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in electrical communication with the addressable display assembly and an antenna structure. A signal transmitting structure transmits signals from the antenna structure to the remote activator module. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the remote activator module, using the antenna structure. An on-board battery power structure, operably connected to the integrated circuit structure, supplies electrical power to the integrated circuit structure. Each electronic-ink label is assigned a unique encryption key so that when a common encrypted message broadcast is transmitted as an electromagnetic signal to the electronic-ink labels, only a subset of the electronic-ink labels, assigned unique encryption keys, are allowed to receive the broadcasted messages.
US07743985B2
A method for receiving up-to-date transportation information at a user entity (120) in a wireless communication system (100) includes requesting up-to-date transportation information (502), determining which up-to-date transportation information is desired (506), requesting access to the desired up-to-date transportation information (510), and obtaining the desired up-to-date transportation information and providing the desired up-to-date transportation information (516, 518) to the user entity (120) for presentation to the user.
US07743982B2
A transaction product includes an electro-mechanical circuit and an account identifier. The circuit includes a mechanical drive member, a generator in mechanical communication with the drive member, and an electrically driven device in electrical communication with the generator. The circuit is configured such that when a bearer moves the drive member, motion from the drive member is transferred to the generator, the generator uses the motion from the drive member to create an electrical voltage, and the electrical voltage is transferred to the electrically driven device to selectively power activation of the electrically driven device. The account identifier links the transaction product to an account or record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal such that value can be added to or deducted from the account or record using the account identifier. Other cards, products, assemblies and methods of using such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed.
US07743979B2
According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for reimbursing credit card transactions for health care services and/or products. An exemplary method and system may involve registering a user for reimbursement wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods; identifying a user transaction with the one or more payment mechanisms at a merchant wherein the user transaction comprises one or more purchases; receiving merchant data regarding the user transaction; determining reimbursement eligibility of the one or more purchases of the user transaction based at least in part on the merchant data; and reimbursing the user for eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods.
US07743975B2
An infusion pump including an optical imaging and an RFID reading module connected thereto through a host interface. The optical imaging and RFID module comprises a system microcontroller that interconnects an optical image capture subsystem and an RFID subsystem preferably routed through a single interface to the infusion pump. This infusion pump controls operation of the optical imaging and RFID module through commands provided through the interface and, as a result, capable of obtaining data encoded on barcodes and RFID tags. The infusion pump, through the optical imaging and RFID module, may thus automatically retrieve patient data, pharmacological information, dosage amounts, etc. from barcodes or RFID tags applied to the patient, intravenous medication, and even medical staff.
US07743973B2
A novel candy or mints box has an opening near the top of the box and an underlying slide that is moveable sideways across the opening. Preferably the top portion of the box includes a flap with an opening, and the flap extends over a corresponding opening in the front side such that the openings align, and the slide lies between the front side of the box and the top flap. The slide also preferably further includes a stop member and the box has a corresponding catch member, such that the slide is always contained within the box. Advantageously, the box is formed from a single blank piece of paper or cardboard stock, and folded in a particular sequence such that the slide ends up inside the box without the need for a separate insertion step.
US07743971B2
A carrier for food, beverages and other items and methods for carrying food, beverages and other items. The carrier is especially suitable for use at food and beverage concessions at sporting and entertainment venues and in fast-casual restaurants. The carrier is preferably made of paper and includes a carry tab which permits a customer to carry multiple carriers in one hand. The carry tab may include an aperture sized to accommodate the customer's thumb and fingers, providing for a sure and comfortable grip of the carrier. The carrier fits into a standard cup holder in the seating area at sporting and entertainment venues, or may hang from a hook provided in the seating area.
US07743964B2
A bonding apparatus (10) that bonds an electrode of a semiconductor die (12) and an electrode of a circuit board (19) using a metal nano paste includes a bump formation mechanism (20) that forms bump by injecting microdroplets of a metal nano paste on each electrode, a primary bonding mechanism (50) that carries out primary bonding to the electrodes in a non-conductive state by pressing the bump of the semiconductor die (12) against the bump of the circuit board (19), and a secondary bonding mechanism (80) that carries out secondary bonding so that the electrodes become conductive by pressurizing the primary bonded bump in bonding direction and by heating the bump to pressurize and sinter the metal nanoparticles in the bump. With this, it is possible to efficiently bond the electrodes with a simple and easy way while reducing a bonding load.
US07743961B2
It is an object of the invention to reduce mixing of an impurity from a friction stir welding tool, reduce abrasion of the tool, and prevent the tool from being easily broken even though an object to be worked formed by a metal or an alloy having a high melting point of 1350° C. or more is friction-stir-welded.The friction stir welding tool according to the invention can friction-stir-weld a metal or alloy having a high melting point of 1350° C. or more as an object to be worked. At least a portion brought into contact with the object to be worked has a composition containing iridium, containing rhenium, ruthenium, molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, rhodium, or two or more of them, and containing zirconium, hafnium, lanthanum, cerium, samarium, gadolinium, scandium, yttrium, or two or more of them, and has a Micro Vickers Hardness of 300 Hv or more.
US07743956B2
A table including a clincher mechanism is provided to be supported pivotably by a rear portion of a main body frame, the table is integrally formed with a wing piece 9 projected along the main body frame, a locking device is formed between the wing piece of the table and the main body frame, and by engaging the locking device with the wing piece, a pivoting force in an opening direction of the table is hampered.
US07743955B2
A combustion type power tool having a fan capable of providing a desirable turbulence in a combustion chamber. A fan is rotatably disposed in a combustion chamber and driven by a motor. The fan has fan blades each having a leading edge and a trailing edge. An angle of the leading edge relative to a rotational plane of the fan is approximately equal to an angle of the trailing edge relative to the rotational plane, whereby high degree of turbulence is generated from the position near the leading edge.
US07743951B2
A container having a receptacle and a cover is disclosed. The receptacle includes a generally rectangular base portion, a continuous sidewall portion, and a collar. The sidewall portion includes a lower end and an upper end. The lower end of the sidewall portion is coupled to the base portion and the upper end defines an opening. The collar extends around the sidewall portion proximate the upper end. The cover is coupled to the receptacle and includes a top portion, a skirt, a flap, and a tear strip. The skirt extends downwardly from the periphery of the top portion. The flap is hingably coupled to the top portion proximate a corner of the closure and is moveable between an open position in which access is provided to the opening in the receptacle and a closed position in which the opening in the receptacle is closed. The flap includes a closing apparatus to releasably retain the flap in the closed position. The tear strip is removable and is coupled to the flap and the skirt. The tear strip substantially prevents the flap from being moved into the open position until the tear strip is removed.
US07743950B2
A device for holding and actuating a sprayer includes a holder and a trigger. The sprayer includes a neck, a rim formed on the neck, a push-button valve and a nozzle provided on the push-button valve. The holder includes a handle, a barrel extending from the handle and a clamp extending from the barrel. The clamp includes two jaws formed thereon, a mouth defined between the jaws and a gap defined between the jaws. The neck of the sprayer can be pushed into the mouth through the gap. The trigger is connected to the holder so that the trigger is operable to push the push-button valve of the sprayer.
US07743947B2
The present disclosure provides an integrated spray and wipe system. A method of using such a system is also provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a fluid reservoir that extends through the center of a roll of cleaning material (e.g., paper towel roll). The tool houses cleaning fluid and cleaning wipes and therefore can be used to dispense liquid or cleaning wipes as needed.
US07743942B1
A vending machine has a dispensing wheel rotatably mounted on a head with an outer peripheral rim on the wheel having elements displaced angularly from one another in an endless row and radially relative to a central axis of the wheel so as to define a driven gear on the wheel and an alignment device permitting latching of the wheel at, and releasing it from, a desired orientation on the head in a dispensing cycle such that during removing the head from, and remounting it upon, a housing the wheel will be held in a desired relationship with the head in which only given items can pass through the wheel in response to the next deposit of a coin in an actuation mechanism and rotating of a drive gear of the mechanism and driven gear therewith through an actuation cycle corresponding to the dispensing cycle.
US07743928B2
A passive self energized, liquid device operates entirely on capillary action. A microfilter fractionates nanoliter volumes of suspension such as whole blood into suspended particles or cells and liquid fractions. Blood, for example, is fractionated with minimal cell lysis, and the filtrate (plasma) flux is dependent upon design parameters similar to factors controlling blood filtration in microporous membranes, i.e. active filter area, fluid velocity and microfilter geometry. Weir-style filters communicate with a blood flow channel to separate plasma from blood moving by capillary action. An expanded downstream channel with multiple parallel capillary blood flow path provides continuing movement of blood past the filters. Lysing is controlled by the size of the filter pores and the duration of adherence of the red blood cells to the pores. The controlled lysis or prevention of lysis of red blood cells is accomplished by manipulating the significant capillary forces generated in the filters. Filtration, cell lysis and microchannel blood flow models are integrated into an overall microfilter design useful for fabricating microfilter devices for lab-on-a-chip clinical applications where they can be coupled with on-chip electrical and electro-optical devices.
US07743916B2
A removable golf bag cover having an ornamentally-pleasing shape (e.g., that of a dog or other animal) to surround a conventional golf bag without affecting the normal use of the bag during play. The golf bag cover includes legs extending from an elongated body of the cover which surround corresponding outstretched folding legs of the golf bag. A hollow head of the golf bag cover is pivotally coupled to the elongated body of the cover by a piece of flexible material that is adapted to stretch. The hollow head is rotatable from a closed position seated on top of the golf bag, at which to surround an protect the golf clubs carried within the bag, and an open position off the bag, at which to enable a golfer to gain access to his clubs. At least one golf club carried in the bag is received inwardly of and holds the hollow head in a generally erect condition relative to the elongated body of the cover.
US07743914B2
A dust tight closed type belt conveyor for conveying dust contained materials to be scattered out during operation; which comprises the conveyor belt supported in a form of concave by a plurality of rollers and a plurality of glide plates and also the bulged cover roof closing the upside space over the conveyor belt, so that all make a dust tight and closed conveying space extending in the driving direction. Further, the belt conveyor is preferably provided with a system for avoiding the belt meandering motion causing a harder dust scattering.
US07743912B2
A conveyor feeding system for reliably and continuously supplying particulate matter as feedstock, such as rubber tire chips, to a reactor or distillation unit. The feeding system includes a pair of inclined spiral augers having their lower ends submerged in oil or other liquid to provide a liquid seal, thereby preventing undesirable back flow of distillation gases through the feeding system. The push auger acts to push lightweight feedstock downward, submerging it through the liquid seal. The material thereafter is taken up by the partially submerged feed auger, for withdrawal up out of the liquid seal for delivery to further processing, such as a pyrolytic reactor. Buoyant material, which otherwise might float upon the liquid of the seal reservoir, accordingly may be effectively processed through the system. An inlet valve, through which feedstock is introduced into the push auger, can be opened and closed in coordination with the rotation of the push auger, so that material is fed smoothly into the liquid seal reservoir. The inlet valve also may be of a type which prevents back-flow of gas from the push auger to material inlet valve.
US07743886B2
Systems for stabilizing ladders are provided. A representative system incorporates a ladder stabilizing assembly that includes a mount, a frame and a spike. The mount is configured to attach to a ladder. The frame extends from the mount and is movable between a stowed position, in which the frame is located adjacent the ladder, and an un-stowed position, in which the frame extends outwardly from the ladder. The spike extends from the frame and is operative to be driven into the ground such that, when the frame is in the un-stowed position and the spike is driven into the ground, the ladder stabilizing assembly provides support to the ladder.
US07743884B2
An aircraft cabin panel for sound absorption, with a sandwich construction, comprising a core layer that comprises a plurality of tube-like or honeycomb-like cells that extend in an open manner across the thickness of the core layer and that are separated from each other by cell walls and that are uniform in design. A first cover layer faces away from the sound field, as well as a second cover layer that faces towards the sound field and that comprises a plurality of perforation holes and adjacent cells are interconnected by way of apertures in the cell walls. The perforation of the second cover layer comprises a distance (b) between holes, which distance exceeds the opening width (c) of the cells of the core layer, wherein the first cover layer is closed and wherein the cell walls comprise a perforation so that they are acoustically transparent in the direction parallel to the cover layers.
US07743883B2
A noise eliminator for a fuel cell, where an outer shell has a reception section in which a sound absorption material is placed between the outer shell and an inner pipe and has a water discharge section that is positioned so as to face a lower portion in the vertical direction of the inner pipe and in which the sound absorption material is not placed between the outer shell and the inner pipe. The water discharge section receives water flowing into the outer shell and allows the water to flow to the outside of the outer shell. Although the water discharge section receives water flowing into the outer shell, the sound absorption material inside the noise eliminator does not absorb the water from the water discharge section and does not contain it because there is no sound absorption material in the water discharge section.
US07743876B2
A stethoscope shield system and method of preventing contamination of an instrument, particularly a stethoscope, includes a plurality of substantially planar shields stacked one upon the other, each of the shields having a substantially identical outer periphery and including a first surface and a second surface such that adjacent shields are attracted to one another with the first surface of each of these shields in contact with the second surface of an adjacent shield with a first shield of the plurality of shields being in contact with the diaphragm of the stethoscope for supporting the stacked shields, wherein the attraction force between the stacked shields occurs over less than an entire surface of at least one of the first and second surfaces and the attraction between the stacked shields has at least one of a consecutively increasing attraction area and a consecutively increasing attraction strength, and an exposed shield of the stacked shields is removed after contacting the body of a patient.
US07743870B2
The invention relates to a crane comprising bogie structures (3) in the corners of the crane, a tandem drive wheel and idle wheel (8, 9) arranged in each bogie structure and provided to turn in the bogie structure offset from their vertical axes, and a turning device arrangement (15, 16) provided between each wheel pair for turning the wheel pair in cooperation to a selected position, the turning device arrangement comprising at least two turning rods (15, 16) connecting the wheels, which turning rods are connected to counterparts (17, 18, 19, 20) provided for each turning position or function in load-bearing structures (10, 11) of the wheels (8, 9) and turning along therewith, whereby at one wheel the position of the turning rods or the counterparts in the load-bearing structure is slidable around the load-bearing structure, yet the one of the counterparts or turning rods that corresponds to the selected turning position may be locked with a locking mechanism (21, 22, 23, 24) immobile with respect to the load-bearing structure for enabling wheel turning.
US07743869B2
A mine transport vehicle is disclosed having two main bodies, one a power and control section and the other a payload section, the two sections being connected by an articulating joint. The power and control section has seating for an operator and a passenger. The payload section has seating for four passengers as well as capacity for at least approximately 2000 pounds of equipment. The weight distribution of each section is such that the stress on the frame and articulating joint is minimized thus providing improved life of the joint.
US07743868B2
A motorcycle includes a front wheel defining a forward direction, a rear wheel defining a rotational axis, an engine for driving at least one of the wheels, coolant positioned at least partially in the engine, and a radiator assembly containing at least a portion of the coolant. The radiator assembly includes a radiator and an inlet guide. The radiator is positioned forward of the rotational axis and has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is positioned forward of the lower portion. The inlet guide is positioned adjacent the radiator and includes an inlet opening. At least a portion of the inlet guide extends upwardly from the inlet opening of the radiator, and the inlet opening is positioned closer to the rear wheel than to the front wheel.
US07743862B2
A reserve tank structure for enhancing the degree of freedom in the layout of the filling portion of the reserve tank and the mounting bracket and the degree of freedom in the layout of parts around the reserve tank. A reserve tank structure includes a reserve hose for connecting a reserve tank to a radiator. The reserve tank includes a tank body portion for reserving a cooling water with a filling portion that extends upwardly from the tank body portion and includes a water supply port on an upper end thereof. A hose plug is connected to an end portion of the reserve hose. Mounting brackets support an intermediate portion of the reserve hose wherein the mounting bracket is mounted on the filling portion.
US07743858B2
A vehicle (for example an unmanned robot vehicle) which includes a main body provided with a main locomotion mechanism for traveling over a terrain. The device is provided with at least one arm for enhanced support and maneuverability, the arm pivotally attached to the main body. The arm is controllable and capable of being rotated to a position where the arm or at least a substantial portion of the arm is placed in contact with the terrain or obstacle, so as to provide support or leverage to the main body.
US07743854B2
The device comprises a body provided with bypass ports embodied therein and an insert with a jet pump and sealing elements. The insert comprises a pass channel, a channel for supplying an active medium to the pump nozzle, a channel which is used for supplying a pumped-out medium to the pump and which communicates with the pass channel and an output channel connected to an annular space. A mounting seat for a sealing unit is embodied in the pass channel above the channel for supplying the pumped-out medium. Said mounting seat is provided with an axial channel for passing a cable, which is used for moving instruments along the well bore, therethrough and through the pass channel. An axially movable spring-loaded steady bush provided with bypass holes in the wall thereof is arranged in the body. The insert provided with the pump is placed on the mounting seat embodied in the bush. An annular recess limiting the bush displacement is embodied in the body. The output channel is connected to a body surrounding space when the bush is in the lower position thereof and the bypass ports are closed by the steady bush wall when the bush is in the top position. Said invention makes it possible to reduce a time for a well examination and development.
US07743851B2
The invention relates to a method and a rock drilling rig for drilling a hole in a rock. In the method the hole is drilled with a so-called top-hammer rock drilling rig including a drill rod and a cone roller bit at the end of the drill rod. During drilling with the percussion device, stress pulses of low amplitude are produced at a high frequency of at least 200 Hz. In the rock drilling rig, the cone roller bit (3) at the end of the drill rod and the percussion device are configured to feed stress pulses of low amplitude, at the frequency of at least 200 Hz, via the drill rod and the cone roller bit to the rock.
US07743847B2
A number of cam-operated devices such as power tools (10) are described, the tools having a rotary drive device (24) for rotating a drive shaft (36) having a cylinder cam (42) mounted thereon. A pair of cam followers (54) are located within a cam track (44) provided on the cam member (42), such that rotation of the cam (42) causes axial movement of the cam followers (54), which may be attached to a drive shaft (48) and a tool bit (12). A range of shapes of cam track (44) are described, each of which is non-sinusoidal in shape. Various embodiments of the invention provide non-sinusoidal cam tracks having forward or rearward throw sections which are respectively steeper, shorter, or provide greater acceleration of the cam followers than sinusoidal cam tracks of equivalent wavelength and amplitude. Related piston and cylinder devices and reciprocal drive devices are also described.
US07743844B2
A disc harrow composed of one or more disc gangs has a subframe coupled to the disc gangs to move the disc gangs in response to variations in farmland terrain to limit the impact of obstructions when encountered during the harrowing process. When the obstruction is cleared, the subframe automatically returns the disc gangs to their pre-obstruction position. In addition to reducing the potentially-damaging impact of obstructions, the subframe also maintains a more consistent reel depth during undulations or changes in the farmland terrain, such as during harrowing of slopes or unleveled fields such as valleys, near waterways, and along fence rows.
US07743841B2
A soil aeration device may include a plurality of arcuate blades mounted to an assembly adapted to rotate and translate the blades proximate a ground surface, thereby forming aeration pockets in the soil. In certain embodiments, the arcuate tines penetrate and fracture the soil while minimizing the amount of soil lifted from the pocket deposited on the top of the soil. In various embodiments, a planetary gear assembly imparts to the tine a translational and rotational movement which creates a fractured pocket in the soil while minimizing the amount of soil lifted from the pocket and deposited on the surface of the soil. In still other embodiments, the arcuate tine may have mounted thereon a coring tube that cuts and removes a plug from the pocket formed in the soil.
US07743840B2
In accordance with the present invention an aerating device for attachment to a self-propelled lawnmower is provided. The device comprises a frame having a proximal end, a distal end, and a pair of sides extending between the proximal end and the distal end. An axle is mounted to the frame and extends between the sides of the frame. At least one tine assembly is mounted to the axle for rotation about a tine axis extending longitudinally through the axle. A platform is secured to the frame and extends outwardly from one of the proximal and distal ends of the frame for supporting an operator.
US07743838B2
A sprinkler head shut off device, comprising of a handle with at least one jaw, a lever, a stopper arm, and a means for reciprocating the stopper arm as the lever is rotated, in order to bring a portion of the stopper arm in contact with the orifice of the sprinkler and stop water flow. The device further comprises a locking means to lock the lever in position. The locking means comprises a member attached to the lever which locks its rotary motion in one direction at a particular position by engaging with a portion of the means for reciprocating the stopper arm.
US07743837B2
A method of fire prevention/extinguishing for an aircraft runway is provided where the method includes: providing a supply of fire preventing/extinguishing chemical; disposing a piping system beneath a top surface of the runway and having an inlet in communication with the supply and an outlet in communication with the top surface; and delivering the fire preventing/extinguishing chemicals from the supply through the piping system and outlet to the top surface.
US07743832B2
During the completion of a subsea horizontal tree, a tubing hanger and internal tree cap are run together with the same running tool and running string. The running tool has a linking assembly that connects the tree cap to the tubing hanger during running, retrieval, or workover, so that the tree cap supports the weight of the tubing hanger and string of tubing. The linking assembly can be retrieved with the running tool or retrieved on wireline through the running string.
US07743831B2
A method and apparatus associated with producing hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one heating element that is disposed in a chamber with actuator material. A member is also partially coupled to the chamber. The member is configured to extend to a first configuration when the at least one heating element converts at least a portion of the actuator material from a first phase to a second phase and contract to a second configuration when the actuator material converts from the second phase to the first phase.
US07743830B2
A process is described for replacing at least a portion of the liquid within the annular volume of a casing system within a wellbore with a second liquid. The second liquid is preselected to provide a measure of control of the pressure within the annular volume as the fluid within the volume is being heated.
US07743828B2
The present invention includes methods of cementing in subterranean formations using cement kiln dust in compositions having reduced Portland cement content. An embodiment of a method comprises placing a sealant composition that comprises cement kiln dust and is essentially free of Portland cement in a subterranean formation; and allowing the sealant composition to set.
US07743826B2
A system and process is disclosed for retorting oil shale and extracting shale oil and other hydrocarbons therefrom, in which a cased heat delivery well is drilled generally vertically through an overburden and then through a body of oil shale to be retorted to the bottom thereof, generally horizontally under the body of oil shale to be retorted, and then back to the earth surface. Heat energy is transmitted conductively to the body of oil shale to be retorted from a closed loop heat delivery module in the well, the module comprising a fluid transmission pipe containing a heating fluid heated to at least a retorting temperature. Heat energy is also transmitted to the body of oil shale to be retorted above the fluid transmission pipe by vapor conduits that conduct retort vapors upward through the body of oil shale to be retorted; the ascending retort vapors condense and reflux, delivering their latent heat of vaporization to the body of oil shale to be retorted, and the condensed retort liquids descend. If not recycled, the retort liquids are collected in a sump at the bottom of a production well and are transmitted to the surface for processing. The vapor conduits communicate at upper ends thereof with the production well, so that vapors that do not reflux are collected in the production well and are transmitted to the surface for processing.
US07743825B2
A packer or bridge plug uses a sealing element made from a shape memory polymer (SMP). The packer element receives heat or other stimulus to soften the SMP while the element is compressed and retained. While so retained, the heat or other stimulus is removed to allow the SMP to get stiff so that it effectively seals a surrounding tubular. High expansion rates are possible as the softness of the material under thermal input allows it to be reshaped to the surrounding tubular or to the surrounding open hole from a smaller size during run in and to effectively retain a sealed configuration after getting stiff on reduction in its core temperature while longitudinally compressed. The SMP or equivalent material whose modulus is changeable can be covered on the outside, the inside or both with an elastic material that protects the SMP and enhances the seal in the wellbore and against the mandrel.
US07743823B2
Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
US07743816B2
A switchable waste gas heat exchanger which can be arranged and used in exhaust gas recirculation lines in internal combustion engines, such as in motor vehicles.
US07743814B2
A deformable screen for a window assembly including a sash movably coupled to a frame. The sash is moveable in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the frame. The deformable screen is coupled to the sash and includes at least one engagement portion slidably engaged against the frame. A spring member is coupled to the engagement portion and applies a restoring force to the engagement portion to seal it against the frame. In one option, the spring member includes a foam membrane. A method for making a screen assembly includes providing a frame and a sash disposed within the frame. A spring member is coupled around the sash and at least one engagement portion is coupled to the spring member. The engagement portion extends between the spring member and the window frame, in one option. In another option, the at least one engagement portion is slidably engaged against the frame.
US07743808B2
A pneumatic tire and rim assembly is provided in the cavity with a noise damper in which a sponge material extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and having a volume V2 of 0.4 to 20% of entire volume V1 of the cavity, wherein the noise damper comprises a fixing surface fixed to a surface which surrounds the tire cavity, and a free surface directed to the tire cavity, a maximum value of thickness from the fixing surface to the free surface is in a range of 5 to 50 mm, including a thick mountain portion and a thin valley portion; and at least one of outer ends of the noise damper in the circumferential direction of the tire is formed into an inclined surface portion comprising a first inclined surface rising from the fixing surface and a second inclined surface extending from, the first inclined surface to the free surface.
US07743807B2
A tread rubber composition for tires, including a sublimation dye that is activated by heat generated by frictional contact with a road surface to generate smoke having various colors at a wavelength of about 39-76×10−6 cm (390 nm to 760 nm) in a frequency range of about 39.5˜77×1013 vps (39.5×1013 Hz to 77×1013 Hz. In addition, a tire including the tread rubber composition and a method of manufacturing the tread rubber composition are also provided. According to the current invention, the tread rubber composition included in the tire can generate smoke having a single color or mixed colors selected from among various colors, therefore obtaining smoke that gives optimal enjoyment and satisfies requirements of drivers at motor sports events, such as drifting.
US07743805B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for debarking logs are shown and described. The disclosed embodiments can be used for quickly and conveniently replacing contact surfaces of swing arm assemblies. Some disclosed embodiments include a swing arm assembly having a debarker tip assembly with a plurality of replaceable cutting elements for engaging logs moving along a processing line. Side-by-side cutting elements can be made of a wear resistant material for a prolonged life. A worn cutting element can be replaced with another cutting element to ensure proper functioning of the debarker apparatus.
US07743801B2
A touchless dispensing system includes a dispenser configured to dispense at least one of ice and at least one liquid. A detection device is positioned with respect to the dispenser. The detection device is configured to detect a container positioned with respect to the dispenser without contacting the container. The detection device is further configured to generate a signal confirming a position of the container with respect to the dispenser. The dispenser is activated to dispense an amount of ice and/or an amount of the at least one liquid into the container in response to the signal generated by the detection device.
US07743800B1
Sensitive materials are packaged by being inserted into an uncontaminated reservoir of a container assembly without being contaminated during such packaging. The container assembly also includes an uncontaminated sleeve and an uncontaminated film. A lower portion of the sleeve extends from opening in the top of the reservoir and an upper portion of the sleeve is sealed by the film. When the film is broken, the material is inserted into the reservoir. The upper portion of the sleeve is separable from the lower portion of the sleeve. The container assembly also includes a first set of carrier arms attached to the upper portion of the sleeve for facilitating movement of the carrier assembly and a second set of carrier arms attached to the reservoir for facilitating handling and/or movement of the reservoir after the upper portion of the sleeve is separated from the lower portion of the sleeve.
US07743799B2
A vial adapter is described comprising a housing, the housing comprising an expandable chamber to contain a volume, an internal passage in communication with the expandable chamber, at least one opening in communication with the internal passage, and an access member integral with the housing. A hollow spike comprising a proximal end is integral with the housing and a distal end. The spike comprises a vent lumen open at the distal end and a fluid lumen open at the distal end, the vent lumen is in communication with the internal passage and the fluid lumen is in communication with the access member. A first check valve restricts communication from the expandable chamber to the internal passage, and a second check valve restricts communication from the internal passage to the opening. Methods of reconstituting and/or withdrawing hazardous material using the vial adapter are described.
US07743791B2
The present invention generally relates to an air control module unit for a portable pneumatic tool, more particularly, to an air control module unit that actuates a valve stem inside an air inlet block of the air inlet module by a correspondent air bleed valve in the air actuation module. The air control module unit for a portable pneumatic tool comprising: an air inlet module, which has at least one valve stem inside an air inlet block, the air inlet block having plug screws on both ends towards the valve stem and one plug screw on the intersectional direction of the valve stem with at least one air inlet port opening for hooking up the compressed air; an air actuation module having a bleed valve inside the valve block; a plurality of flexible air hoses with a plurality of dimensions and being prepared for connecting the air inlet module and air actuation module; and a plurality of hose connectors and rubber seats with a plurality of types for connecting the air inlet module and the air operation module.
US07743784B2
A bursting disc assembly has a bursting disc and an outlet side support ring. In order to provide a safety warning, when the bursting disc assembly is incorrectly installed in a reversed orientation, the outlet side ring has a passage through it from its radial interior to its exterior, in the form of a full thickness slot or a groove. In an incorrect installation, this passage provides a leak path from the pressurized side of the disc.
US07743781B2
A portable reconfigurable hunting blind assembly is disclosed comprising six rectangular frames joined together side edge to side edge along five hinge lines for accordion folding, and a camouflage covering mounted to each of the frames to define six panel-shaped wall units, the camouflage covering defining a window in at least some of the wall units.
US07743780B1
The walker glide is a spherical attachment for removable installation over the lower end of a walker leg or other legged article. The glide is formed of a hollow, resilient ball and includes a plurality of leg attachment holes therethrough. No two holes are aligned directly and diametrically opposite one another. Any hole always has an unbroken ball surface directly diametrically across therefrom. This allows any given hole of the ball to be placed over the end of the leg, while assuring that the leg tip will bear against the opposite unbroken surface of the ball. When the bearing surface of the ball becomes worn, the user need only remove the ball and reorient it by installing it on the leg using another hole to provide a fresh bearing surface for the ball. While any suitable type of ball may be used, tennis balls have been found to work well.
US07743768B2
A cushion for use with a patient interface device includes a first end portion, which typically contacts the patient's face when the patient interface device is worn, a second end and/or opposite the first end, which is typically coupled to a portion of the patient interface device, a chamber, which is typically disposed between the first and second end portions, and an orifice. The chamber is structured to receive and store a dampening medium therein; and the orifice, which is in operative communication with the chamber, controls the passage of the dampening medium into and/or out of the chamber. A patient interface device including a mask shell and the cushion is also described.
US07743759B2
An ECU controls an A/F sensor that is provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and produces current outputs corresponding to the concentration of oxygen in exhaust gas by being supplied with voltage and produces voltage outputs corresponding to the concentration of oxygen in exhaust gas according to the difference between the oxygen concentration around one of a pair of electrodes of the A/F sensor and the oxygen concentration around the other electrode. The ECU has: an energization limitation portion that, when moisture content is adhering on an inner face of an exhaust passage near the A/F sensor, energizes a heater of the A/F sensor while limiting the amount of power supplied thereto; and a specific output obtaining portion that obtains voltage outputs from the A/F sensor at least when the energization limitation portion is energizing the heater while limiting the amount of power supplied thereto.
US07743756B2
An air inlet system for an internal combustion engine includes an inlet duct for furnishing air to the engine's cylinders, and a combination port formed within the inlet duct for inducting both recirculated exhaust gas and charge air into the engine. Mixing of the recirculated exhaust gas and the charge air is promoted by a flow director which is mounted at a downstream end of an EGR supply passage, as well as by a flow guide mounted upstream from the flow director, with the flow guide including an aerodynamic projection for causing charge air to move smoothly around the flow director and a swirl generator.
US07743754B2
The present invention provides an injector-ignition fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, comprising an input fuel metering system for dispensing a next fuel charge into a pressurizing chamber, a pressurization ram system including a pressurization ram for compressing the fuel charge within the pressurizing chamber, wherein the fuel charge is heated in the pressurization chamber in the presence of a catalyst, and an injector nozzle for injecting the heated catalyzed fuel charge into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
US07743746B2
Disclosed is a connecting rod for a combustion engine, comprising a small connecting-rod eye that is provided with a plain bearing surface and is used for accommodating a piston pin, and a large connecting-rod eye which is provided with a plain bearing surface and embraces a crankshaft journal. In order to very effectively and inexpensively prevent the piston pin and the crankshaft journal of the connecting rod from jamming and wearing off, a self-lubricating coating made of a thermally cured resin which contains embedded solid lubricant particles is applied directly to at least one of the plain bearing surfaces by means of rotary atomization.
US07743741B2
An air fuel injection engine including an air-intake passage configured to guide air taken in from outside to a combustion chamber formed by a cylinder block and a cylinder head, a fuel injector configured to inject fuel to an interior of the air-intake passage, and a water jacket through which cooling water flows to cool the air-intake passage. As viewed in a plane crossing an air flow direction in the air-intake passage and passing through a predetermined region of an inner wall of the air-intake passage, the predetermined region including a crossing point at which a fuel injection center line of the fuel injected from the fuel injector crosses the inner wall of the air-intake passage, the water jacket is configured to extend away from the crossing point along a circumferential direction of the air-intake passage, from a region near the predetermined region.
US07743737B2
A safe, reliable system for automatically dosing diesel truck fuel tanks with a fuel additive is provided. The additive, such as a concentrated solution containing fuel borne catalyst (FBC), is fed by positive feed means in pulsed doses while the engine is on. The frequency and amount of FBC injection is controlled as a function of the time the engine is operated and predetermined values for rate of fuel consumption and intended additive concentrations in the fuel.
US07743728B2
Embodiments generally provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool). In one embodiment, the cluster tool is adapted to perform a track lithography process in which a photosensitive material is applied to a substrate, patterned in a stepper/scanner, and then removed in a developing process completed in the cluster tool. In one embodiment of the cluster tool, substrates are grouped together in groups of two or more for transfer or processing to improve system throughput, reduce the number of moves a robot has to make to transfer a batch of substrates between the processing chambers, and thus increase system reliability. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to increase the reliability of the substrate transfer process to reduce system down time.
US07743726B2
An indication instrument with improved illumination efficiency. The indication instrument has an indication panel (100), an indication plate (200) on which index parts (201) are disposed along the outer periphery of the indication panel (100), a pointer (11) for indicating the index parts (201), a drive source (7) for driving the pointer (11), and an indication plate light source (light source) (700) for illuminating the indication plate (200). The pointer (11) is routed around the rear of the indication panel (100) to reach the front of the indication plate (200). The indication instrument further comprises a frame (300) for joining to each other the indication panel (100), the indication plate (200), and the light source (700). An illumination chamber (R1) for guiding the light of the light source (700) to the indication plate (200) is formed in the frame (300).
US07743723B2
An onboard davit assembly for launching a boat from a ship is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the assembly includes two spaced apart davits, each davit including a substantially horizontal boom, a hoist cable extending downwards from a suspension frame on the boom and including at least one fixation device at its lower end to which the boat can be attached. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is arranged such that the booms are movable between an inward position wherein the suspension frames extend inboard and an outward position wherein the suspension frames extend outboard, wherein the booms extend from an onboard vertical pivot axis and can rotate in a horizontal plane around the pivot axis, and wherein the suspension frames are movable along the booms such that a distance between the suspension frames remains constant during rotation of the booms between the two positions when the boat is moved from a parking position to a launching position.
US07743712B2
The invention is directed to two coupled vehicles (1) such as railbound vehicles or articulated busses, with a connection with at least one bellows (2) as well as with a coupling device comprising two coupling frames (4, 5), said coupling frames (4, 5) comprising interengaging male and female coupling members (10, 15), a locking member (30) being provided for respectively locking the male coupling members (15) in the female coupling members (10), said locking member (30) being slidably guided by the respective locking member (4, 5), said locking member (30) communicating with a force transmitting member (9) that is slidably guided in the respective one of the coupling frames (4, 5), the force transmitting member (9) transmitting both tensile and shear forces.
US07743711B2
A drive sheave equipped with a deformable tire is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the drive sheave comprises a tire portion wherein the tire portion comprises an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface. The tire portion also comprises a first surface extending between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface. In addition, the tire portion comprises a second surface extending between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface, wherein the second surface is oppositely disposed relative to the first surface. At least one opening in the tire portion extends between the first surface and the second surface.
US07743709B2
A sabot includes a base and a plurality of elongated petals extending therefrom. Each petal includes an elongated sidewall portion having an arched interior surface and an arched exterior surface each extending between a first end and an opposing second end. A floor portion inwardly projects from the interior surface of the sidewall portion at the second end thereof so as to form an inside angle between the interior surface of the sidewall portion and an interior surface of the floor portion, each floor portion being pivotally connected to the base so that the plurality of petals can selectively move between a collapsed position wherein the sidewall portions combine to formal a substantially cylindrical sidewall that bounds a chamber and an expanded position wherein the sidewall portions radially outwardly project from the base.
US07743702B2
An electric circuit is applied to an object having a curved surface. The curved surface of the object is divided into sections, and the circuit is applied one section at a time. The circuit is formed between layers of dielectric material. The dielectric is applied by a computer-controlled device, which controls the position of a spray head and the rotation of the object, such that the spray head is held substantially perpendicular to the surface of the object at all times, and such that a controlled thickness of dielectric material can be deposited. The fine-featured circuits formed by the invention are rugged, and can be used on objects intended to be exposed to harsh environments.
US07743697B2
A steam cooker includes a steam chamber for initially containing water to be converted to steam, and a holding chamber in fluid communication with the steam chamber for receiving the steam. The holding chamber has an opening proximate a first end for receiving an item to be heated by the steam, and is positioned at an angle of inclination so that condensation formed on an interior surface of the holding chamber drains away from the opening and towards a second end positioned lower than the opening. A burner can heat the steam chamber to convert the water into steam. The burner can be connected to a tank of combustible gas. The steam cooker can be constructed of aluminum.
US07743696B2
A pot (40) shown having a well formed by a side wall connecting a base wall aperture (43) and internal aperture (44). A mesh (42) is provided to retain liquid transferring material. The invention provides a liquid transfer means for transferring liquid between growth medium and a local environment external to the pot and adjacent the base wall, the liquid transfer means transferring liquid to in or from an internal zone in the chamber wherein the internal zone is spaced from the bottom wall. Alternative embodiments provide a solid liquid permeable plug (20) which may be inserted in a tight nesting fitting through a bottom wall aperture (21) or through a well (36). Alternatively, a wick arrangement (56) may be provided to insert through a well or a side wall aperture (65) and extending into the internal zones. The conduit may be formed as a slot (52). A cap (54) may be optionally be provided. The invention extends to a method of water control and a system for controlling a plurality of pots according to the disclosure. The pots may be located on a capillary mat (68) and in liquid communication therewith to transfer a liquid to and/or from the internal zone in the base of the pot. The pot base is preferably planar externally to provide an easy working surface.
US07743688B2
A handheld, portable tubing cutter driveable by a handheld power drill is provided. The tubing cutter includes a support cylinder having distal and, proximal ends. The proximal end of the support cylinder is adapted to engage the drill chuck of an ordinary handheld power drill. A cylindrical cutting head, known in the art, is removably connected to the distal end of the support cylinder. The longitudinal axis of the support cylinder is aligned with, and parallel to, the longitudinal axis of the tubing to be cut. Once the cutting head is placed on the tubing to be cut and the support cylinder is connected to the cutting head, the device is actuated and operates with a minimized working profile.
US07743683B2
In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system of a power tool system may comprise mounting a functional module to a mounting plate of a power head, the power head configured to mount various functional modules, attaching the power head to a power base for powering the functional module, powering the functional module by directing power from the power base through a direct rotational drive of the power head, and controlling the multi-functional power tool system using a control disposed in the power base.
US07743680B1
A parking brake system for an automotive vehicle includes an internally articulated pedal arm having an upper pedal arm which is connected with a cable operated parking brake actuator, and a lower pedal arm which is pivotably attached to the upper pedal arm such that the lower pedal arm has both a stowed position and a deployed position.
US07743678B2
A selectable one-way rocker clutch assembly includes an inner race disposed radially within an outer race, first and second plurality of rockers, a selector ring and an apply plate. The inner race defines a plurality of pockets configured to operatively retain the first and second plurality of rockers. The first plurality of rockers is configured to resist rotation of the outer race relative to the inner race in a first direction. The second plurality of rockers is configured to resist rotation of the outer race relative to the inner race in a second direction. The selector ring is disposed radially between the inner race and outer race. The apply plate is configured to engage with the selector ring and, in so doing, rotate the selector ring to thereby selectively retract the first and/or second plurality of rockers and thus control the state of the rocker clutch assembly.
US07743672B2
There is disclosed a multiple axis load cell or controller in which axial and torsion measurements are decoupled while maximizing the outputs of both measurements. The active member of the load cell is a wheel with dual beams as the spokes. The wheel thus has four spokes or four beam members, each spoke is a pair of rectangular cross-section beams, orthogonal to each other. The beams have strain gages on the wide surfaces which measure the bending strain which is proportional to torsion or the axial input. There is an inner beam section and an outer beam section associated with each spoke and orthogonal to each other. The outer beams have the wide surface normal to the axis of the load cell. This beam section is more sensitive to the axial tension/compression input. The inner beam sections have their wide surface parallel to the axis of the load cell and are much less sensitive to bending but are sensitive to torsion. Therefore when a torsion or twisting motion is applied to the load cell, the inner beams with their wide surface parallel to the axis of the wheel are more sensitive and bend more. These beams experience bending as a result of the torsion input and have strain gages formed in a Wheatstone bridge arrangement to provide an output proportional to the torsion. The outer beams also have gages mounted thereon which are also wired in a Wheatstone bridge configuration and which Wheatstone bridge output of these gages are proportional to the axial force.
US07743670B2
A method and apparatus for measuring gas flow are provided. In one embodiment, a calibration circuit for gas control may be utilized to verify and/or calibrate gas flows utilized for backside cooling, process gas delivery, purge gas delivery, cleaning agent delivery, carrier gases delivery and remediation gas delivery, among others.
US07743667B2
A capacitive device and method with an enhanced measurement error correction capability is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor capacitor based on one or more pairs of parallel conductor surfaces, a housing to encompass the sensor capacitor, a digitizer module in the housing to generate a digital measurement based on a change in a capacitance of the sensor capacitor when a contact zone of the housing is deflected by a force applied on the contact zone. The apparatus also includes a compensation module of the digitizer module to apply another digital measurement of one or more distortion factors to the digital measurement to minimize an effect of the one or more distortion factors to the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus includes a communication module to communicate an analog signal and/or a digital signal through a wired channel and/or a wireless channel.
US07743662B2
A pressure transducer has an H-shaped header having a front and a back section. The front and back sections are of equal diameter and are circular. Each front and back section has a depression with a diaphragm covering the depression. Each diaphragm is of equal size and the depressions communicate one with the other via a central channel in the central arm of the H. A pressure sensor communicates with the channel, where the pressure sensor responds to a first pressure applied to the first diaphragm and a second pressure applied to the second diaphragm. The pressure sensor produces an output equal to the difference in pressure. The differential pressure inducer having both diaphragms of the same size and still enabling leads from the sensor to be brought out.
US07743655B2
The invention provides an apparatus and method for testing the tendency of a paper to curl. The paper is cut from a paper making machine and rapidly humidified to standard TAPPI conditions, and is thereafter run through an apparatus having a substantially vertically oriented nip. The paper is measured for curl, all data are tabulated and fed back into a data acquisition or paper machine control system.
US07743639B2
A method and a device are for testing the detectability of at least one flaw in a component, or for evaluating ultrasonic signals of the flaw. The method provides for an electronic specification of the flaw to be generated, which includes a two-dimensional or three-dimensional point pattern. This specification predefines the number, position, shape, orientation, and dimensions of flaws to be deliberately generated. A test specimen is produced, where for each point of the point pattern, a microcrack is generated at the position of this point. An ultrasonic image of the test specimen is recorded and evaluated. The test specimen may be made out of a material transparent to visible light, e.g., crown glass, optical glass, borosilicate glass, or quartz glass. The microcracks may be produced, using internal laser engraving.
US07743636B2
The invention is a rotary draw bending machine and process for bending materials such as tubes or pipes into precise bends. A spindle holds a bending die, and a radial arm holds a counter-die. The spindle and arm are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions by a dual hydraulic drive controlled by an electro-hydraulic control system with foot pedal controls. The bend angle is preset by a protractor-like dial and limit switch mechanism. The radial arm has a slide track to align the counter-die with the bending die. The ratchet mechanism has teeth to allow incremental advancement of the counter-die when aligning it with its bending die to accurately set the gap between the dies. The machine is used with a wide variety of dies to bend a wide variety of workpiece diameters. The ratchet mechanism preferably includes a fine tuning device to provide an infinite range of alignment positions.
US07743628B2
The invention relates to a method and device for non-contact molding of fused glass or glass ceramic gobs by means of gas levitation, comprising the following method steps: a pre-form is generated, the pre-form is brought close to a molding tool, which may be connected to a compressed gas source on the open-pored region thereof facing the pre-form in order to generate a gas cushion between the molding tool and the pre-form and the molding tool is directly heated at least during a part of the molding phase.
US07743618B2
An auger type ice making machine is provided with a freezing cylinder into which water for making ice is supplied, an ice-scraping auger for scraping ice formed on the inner surface of the freezing cylinder, and an auger motor for driving the ice-scraping auger. A freezing apparatus has a compressor driven by a motor, circulating refrigerant discharged from the compressor through a condenser, a dryer, a constant pressure expansion valve, and an evaporator provided on the outer peripheral surface of the freezing cylinder. At the outlet of the evaporator there is provided a temperature sensor for sensing refrigerant temperature. A controller controls the rotational speed of the motor through an inverter circuit such that the sensed refrigerant temperature is equal to a specified refrigerant temperature, allowing the freezing apparatus to keep ice-making performance thereof.
US07743614B2
Disclosed is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for a vehicle that operates in a heating mode, a cooling mode or a demisting mode. The system includes a first circuit having first pump for circulating a first medium therein, a second circuit having a second pump for circulating a second medium therein and a thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal contact with the first medium and a second surface in thermal contact with the second medium.
US07743611B2
The present invention overcomes drawbacks whereby the supply of pressure oil to a hydraulic cylinder for operating a ground working device is temporarily cut, and operation of the ground working device is temporarily stopped when a control valve for the travel device is operated while a control valve for the ground working device is being operated. When control valves (V4, V5) for the travel devices are operated during operation of control valves (V6, V7, V8) for the ground working device, and a first flow channel switching valve (V12) is switched from an operating position (31) to a travel position (34), a second flow channel switching valve (V13) is switched from a non-feeding position (39) to a feeding position (40) before or at the same time as the first flow channel switching valve (V12).
US07743605B2
An exhaust emission purifying apparatus for an engine in which it is determined that a reducing agent supply system is clogged, which is arranged on the downstream of a pump carrying out suction and pumping of a liquid reducing agent out of a reducing agent tank, when a reduction in a pressure of the liquid reducing agent remaining in the downstream of the pump and also in the upstream of a flow control valve by an amount equal to or more than a first predetermined pressure does not occur until a cumulative injection amount obtained by sequentially integrating an injection amount of the liquid reducing agent computed in real time based on engine operating conditions reaches a predetermined amount after the pump has been temporarily stopped.
US07743603B2
An exhaust gas purification apparatus of an engine, capable of preventing erroneous detection of an injection nozzle clogging, and having a reducing catalytic converter disposed in an exhaust system, for reducing and purifying nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas using urea water; a urea water tank storing the urea water; a urea water supply unit sucking up the urea water from the urea water tank and mixes it with high-pressure air for delivery; and an injection nozzle injecting the urea water mixed with the high-pressure air, into an exhaust gas moving upstream side of the reducing catalytic converter in an exhaust gas passage, and further having a clogging detection unit capable of detecting clogging of the injection nozzle based on each detection output of a pressure of the air introduced into the urea water supply unit, and a temperature of the injection nozzle.
US07743596B1
A fire resistant rope and method of making the same. The fire resistant rope comprises a core, a jacket, and a fire retardant coating. The core comprises a plurality of strands. Each core strand comprises a plurality of core yarns, and each core yarn comprises a plurality of high tensile strength fibers. The jacket comprises a plurality of jacket strands. Each jacket strand comprises a plurality of jacket yarns and each jacket yarn comprises a plurality of high temperature resistant fibers. The fire retardant coating formed on at least one of the core and the jacket. The fire retardant coating expands when subjected to temperatures above a state-change level. At least a portion of the expanded coating inhibits transfer of heat to the core. The state-change level is below a failure temperature defined by the materials from which at least some of the fibers forming the core are formed.
US07743593B2
A cotton picking machine comprises a chassis for moving the machine in a traveling direction, a vacuum pump provided to create a predetermined vacuum and a cotton picking unit including a cotton picking head supported by the chassis. The cotton picking head includes upper and lower vacuum compartments both in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and connecting tubes vertically extending between the upper and lower vacuum compartments and movable along a predetermined endless path so as to be in sliding contact with the upper and lower vacuum compartments at the corresponding distal ends thereof. Each of the connecting tubes includes a set of hollow picking fingers radially outwardly extending therefrom. The predetermined endless path includes an extracting zone and an inoperative zone. The connecting tubes fluidly connect the upper and lower vacuum compartments only when the connecting tubes pass the extracting zone of the predetermined endless path.
US07743590B1
An accessory drive attachment is provided. The accessory drive attachment may be attached to a lawnmower that has a hydrostatic transmission. The transmission system of the lawnmower may be used to drive a shaft of the accessory drive attachment. An accessory such as a leaf blower, air compressor, pressure washer, or electric generator may be attached to the accessory drive attachment and driven by the shaft.
US07743586B2
A mortar applying machine incorporating housing, having a rotatable drive wheel mounted therein, the drive wheel adhered upon a pivot shaft located within the housing, and the drive wheel being disposed through the bottom of the housing for mortar and engagement with the surface of a row of blocks previously applied in the forming of a building wall. Fixedly mounted to the same shaft are a pair of paddles, formed of blades, which assure the proper shifting and movement of the fluid mortar into position within the housing, for passage out of its lower openings, and onto the transverse lands of the row of blocks as previously applied into the building wall. A diverter is provided within the housing to assure that the fluid mortar flows towards the front of the housing with respect to the direction of its movement when depositing a layer of mortar onto a previously laid row of blocks. A block is constructed to accommodate their usage in combination with this mortar applying machine, to provide motive power for processing and deposition of the fluid mortar, and at the same time provide transverse lands or surfaces onto which a thin layer of mortar may be applied, in preparation for the application of another row of blocks thereon, during the building of a wall.
US07743585B2
An assembly for reinforcing a structure is provided. The assembly generally includes a rigid sheet and a bracket. The rigid sheet is adapted to be adhered to the structure. The bracket includes a first leg and a second leg. The first leg is adapted to penetratingly engage the structure. The second leg adheres to the rigid sheet. The first and second legs extend substantially perpendicular to each other.
US07743580B2
An improved, lightweight, portable, and self-contained concrete form for fabricating tilt-up concrete walls is provided. The form includes a frame made from metal frame members jointed at their ends with the frame members forming the sides of the frame. Optional structural anchors may be attached inside the frame members. The frame members may be channel shaped with their channels facing inwardly. The reinforcing mat comprising a array of crisscrossed rebars is disposed within the frame and is held in place with a plurality of brackets on the ends of at least some of the rebars and welded to respective frame members. The rebar mat is sized to be positioned in the mid portion of the frame and the brackets on the ends of the rebars are slid outwardly into and attached to the frame members by spot welding. The brackets are then spot welded to the ends of their rebars to form a rigid, lightweight concrete frame. The frame may be shipped to a job site, laid on a casting surface, a pocket form placed inside the optional anchor, and filled with concrete. When the concrete cures, the resulting concrete wall, form and all, is tilted-up into place with a crane and may be attached with the anchor to form a section of a concrete wall.
US07743561B1
An eaves trough for receiving water from a structure includes an elongated sheet that extends along a longitudinal axis and extends integrally from a first longitudinal edge to a second longitudinal edge. An upper portion of the sheet at least partially overlies the structure and extends from the first longitudinal edge to a longitudinal transition. A lower portion of the sheet extends from the longitudinal transition to the second longitudinal edge. The lower portion of the sheet extends generally downward from the upper portion of the sheet at the longitudinal transition and extends under at least part of the upper portion of the sheet, such that the lower portion of the sheet defines a trough below the upper portion of the sheet. Apertures are formed through the upper portion of the sheet such that the apertures overlie the trough. The water travels from the structure onto the upper portion of the sheet and through the apertures to the trough.
US07743560B2
A door sealing system includes a frame and a pneumatic liner positioned along an inner perimeter of the frame. The liner includes a hollow interior for adjusting it between extended and retracted configurations. A pump is included for selectively inflating the liner and a valve which can be deactivated to deflate the liner. When inflated, the liner fills the gap between the door and the frame and when deflated, allows the door to be opened easily. A sensor is positioned with a cavity in the frame for detecting placement of a latch indicative of the door being opened or closed. A processor then appropriately actuates the pump or deactivates the valve. Accordingly, the seal is inflated when the door is closed and is deflated when the door is being opened.
US07743559B2
The present disclosure relates to a modular support for automobile doors, which includes a support panel and at least one attachment unit to attach the panel to a frame. The attachment unit includes an orifice made in the panel; a screw; a nut in which the screw is threaded; and a guide element that allows the nut to move in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the screw which stops the nut from turning about said longitudinal axis of the screw. The present disclosure also relates to a door assembly and an assembly method.
US07743556B2
A gate (106) includes a panel (112) movable relative to a fixed member (110) between an open position and a closed position. A linkage (140) is pivotally mounted to the panel (112) about a latch pivot axis. A catch (130) is pivotally mounted to the linkage (140) about a catch pivot axis spaced from and parallel to the latch pivot axis. The catch (130) is movable between a latched position engaged with the fixed member (110) and an unlatched position disengaged from the fixed member (110). The catch (130) defines a groove for slideable receipt on the fixed member (110). When the catch (130) is in the latched position and the panel (112) is in the closed position, the catch (130) abuts against opposite sides of the fixed member (110) along an extended length such that forces are applied on each side at spaced locations to resist twisting forces.
US07743553B1
This disclosure relates to soil erosion and the establishment of an appropriate seed bed. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a composition applied to exposed soil wherein the composition comprises organic material produced when the methane is burned from green manure and dried. This organic material combines seed and a liquid carrier, such that the substance can be hydraulically applied to the desired area. Fertilizer or other nutrients are often added to the mixture to further enhance the product and to encourage growth.
US07743552B2
One nonlimiting variation of a detection arrangement includes one or more sensors each structured to detect at least one biochemical substance indicative of biochemistry of one or more target insect species and provide a corresponding sensor signal, a controller responsive to the sensor signal of each of the one or more sensors to determine if the one or more insect species are present and generate a corresponding output signal, and an indicator responsive to the output signal to indicate the presence of the one or more insect species.
US07743550B2
A system for fishing using one of a plurality of rates of fall. Each of the rates of fall provides a different depth for delay between a cast and retrieval. The system includes a plurality of swim bait fishing lures. Each of the swim bait fishing lures includes an elongated body having a head and a rear along a longitudinal axis, a reduced tail portion flexible in a lateral direction and tapered laterally toward the rear, and an enlarged tail flaring from the reduced tail portion. The enlarged tail can have a tapered top and a tapered bottom, each formed from two intersecting faces. Each of the faces is characterized by a contour extending from the reduced tail portion on each of the faces to cause a vortex within a vicinity of each of the faces from a flowing fluid. Each of the swim bait fishing lure includes a weighted insert proximate the head. The system provides the plurality of rates of fall characterized by the respective weighted insert.
US07743546B2
A rugged adjustable, optical alignment system is well suited for use in low light environments or at night. A rear sight includes a U-shaped array of, preferably, first second and third substantially cylindrical, transparent, tritium vials arranged such that the elongated cylindrical side surfaces of the vials are exposed to define an array of elongated illuminated segments. The array is preferably in the shape of a “U” having a first horizontally aligned vial positioned below a sight notch with a second vertical vial positioned above and to the left of the notch. A third vertical vial is positioned to the right of the sighting notch, above the first vial. In use, a front blade or front post also containing a tritium insert is aligned within the rear sight's U-shaped array of illuminated segments, thereby providing an intuitive sight picture.
US07743545B1
Devices, and methods of extending legs from vertical fore grip handles on firearms, such as rifles, to different height positions. The vertical fore grip can include expandable bipod legs. The legs can be individually extended to different lengths by moving telescoping rod members in leg housings from retracted positions to extended positions. A lever switch can allow for the legs to be locked into the different extended positions, and depressing the switch can allow for the legs to go back to the retracted positions. Anti-rotation pins and slots can prevent the telescoping members from rotating relative to the legs.
US07743532B2
An orthopedic walking boot promotes rapid healing of diabetic foot ulcerations by lowering the maximum peak pressure imposed upon the foot. The walker has a hard unyielding shell which is designed for walking. The shell closely and rigidly supports a mid-sole in a foot-shaped bed. The mid-sole has a foot-shaped cavity with rounded sides adapted to form resilient support for the heel, arch and sides of a foot in addition to the bottom of a foot. A conformable inner-sole is adapted to fit over the foot-shaped cavity in the mid-sole and be compressed in response to foot pressure between the sides and bottom of the foot and the sides and bottom of the foot-shaped cavity in the mid-sole thereby compensating for small differences between the shape of the foot and the shape of the cavity. Weight applied to the foot is transferred to the walking shell by contact between the sides of the foot, arch, and heel and the arch, heel and sides of the foot-shaped cavity as well as the bottom of the cavity thereby decreasing the peak or maximum unit pressure on the plantar surface of the foot. A breathable bootie which wraps the foot and lower leg in a protective “cocoon” is preferably secured to the upper surface of the insole thereby preventing foreign materials from entering the foot cavity.
US07743526B2
A device for checking countersink dimensions comprises a measuring head (2) associated with a spindle (3) of a multi-axis process machine (4), and a processing unit operatively associated with the spindle (3) to control spindle movements, the measuring head (2) comprising a contact element (5) that can be inserted into a countersink (101) and a comparator element (7) which, by coming into contact with the countersink and withdrawing, detects the stroke of the contact element (5) inside the countersink (101). A floating member (22) automatically corrects any alignment errors between the contact element (5) and the axis of the countersink (101).
US07743508B2
A rotary electric shaver including a cutter unit 16 for holding an outer cutter 14 in an outer cutter frame 18 mounted on the shaver main body 10 and for rotationally driving an inner cutter 40 installed inside the outer cutter 14 by a rotational drive shaft 26 while pressing the inner cutter 40 elastically toward the outer cutter 14; and the shaver further including a swivel case 48 which swivels freely and moves up and down freely with the outer cutter 14, a movable panel 92 for pushing this swivel case 48 upward with a return spring 70 in between, and a push-up mechanism 94 for changing the height level (position) of the movable panel 92, so that the push-up force on the outer cutter 14 from the inner cutter side is controllable by changing the height level (position) of the movable panel 92 by the push-up mechanism 94.
US07743505B2
Endodontic instruments or intermediate products (e.g., blanks) used to form finished endodontic instruments having a desired cutting edge and/or taper are formed, at least in part, by molding a metal powder into a desired shape and then sintering the metal particles together. The metal powder is initially formed into a green molded part that is sintered to yield a solid metal part. The sintered metal part may optionally be further processed by additional steps, as needed, to yield a finished endodontic instrument. One additional process includes cold forming the sintered metal body to provide a cutting edge, remove cracks and microfissures, or otherwise modify the characteristics of an intermediate product or endodontic instrument. Other processes include chemical milling and mechanical milling, grinding or cutting to sharpen the cutting edge, form a taper, or otherwise modify the intermediate product or endodontic instrument in a desired manner.
US07743495B2
A method of manufacturing a cord management device. The method includes: (a) providing a power strip; (b) physically and electrically coupling a power cord to the power strip; (c) providing a stationary portion, providing the stationary portion includes: (1) providing a first wall; (2) providing two or more slots in the first wall configured to contain a first portion of a single electrical cord; and (3) providing a second wall spaced part from the first wall, the first wall and second wall defining a first space there between; (d) providing a cover; (e) hingedly attaching the cover to the stationary portion, thereby defining a second space; (f) integrating the power strip into the second space; and (g) locating a portion of the power cord in the first space.
US07743485B1
Provided is a superconducting cable having a structure such that cable cores, each having a superconducting layer, are housed in a thermal insulation pipe and the superconducting layer of each cable core has portions having different critical current values. When an excessive current flows in the superconducting layer in case of a short-circuit failure, the current exceeds the critical current value of the portion having a smaller critical current value first, which results in damage to the portion, suppressing the occurrence of damage to the other normal portion. A superconducting cable line using this superconducting cable and a splitter for accommodating the cable cores therein is also provided.
US07743484B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a rotor shaft including a rotor and a shaft having a groove formed on a periphery to open radially outwardly, the rotor being fixed to the shaft through a caulking plate disposed on the periphery of the shaft and adjacent the rotor in an axial direction thereof. This method comprises the step of caulking the caulking plate to fix the rotor to the shaft by applying a load to an end portion of the caulking plate from outside in a radial direction, opposite the groove, when the caulking plate is disposed in the predetermined place, causing a part of the caulking plate to be press-fitted into the groove. This caulking and fixing step includes pressing a punch against the caulking plate from outside in a radial direction of the shaft, thereby fixing the rotor to the shaft.
US07743482B2
A semiconductor device and fabricating method thereof are provided. A first substrate with an inductor cell and a through-electrode is connected to a second substrate having an RF device circuit unit. The first substrate can be stacked on the second substrate, and a connecting electrode can electrically connect the inductor cell to the RF device circuit unit.
US07743471B2
An attaching device for removably attaching various types of display objects to a hat. The attaching device has a fastener for engaging with the display object and a spring member for retaining the fastener therein and attaching to a button of the hat. The fastener is in the form of a plastic ring with a plurality of tabs projecting from a bottom rim thereof. The spring member has an upper spring portion, a lower spring portion and a joint spring portion connecting the upper and lower spring portions. The upper spring portion has an inner perimeter substantially the same as the maximum radial extent of the tabs, such that the plastic ring can be inserted therein. A plurality of protrusions is formed to extend inwardly from the inner perimeter of the upper spring portion. The protrusions are outline with a profile mating that of the tabs, such that the plastic ring can be secured interlocked with the spring member. The lower spring portion has an open end split into two parallel leaves, such that, by bending the joint spring to open the space between the upper and lower spring portions, the spring member can slide towards the button to receive the button within the space between the upper and lower spring portions.
US07743465B2
A damping hinge apparatus includes a hinge and a damper. The damper has a damping shell, a damping cover, a damping body, an outer gasket and a rotating body. The damping cover is fixed in the damping shell and has a center hole defined, an inner wall of the center hole defines a plurality of loop-shaped groove perpendicular to the center hole and parallel each other. The damping body has a column portion received in the center hole, the column portion protrudes outward to form a plurality of rotating plates perpendicular to the column portion and parallel each other. The rotating plates engage the corresponding loop-shaped grooves. A bottom of the column portion connects a connecting portion located beneath the damping cover. The outer gasket is arranged around the connecting portion and against an inner side of the damping shell. Damping oil is filled between the outer gasket, the damping shell and the damping body.
US07743462B2
A doubled sided suction nozzle having both a brush function and a duster function is disclosed. The doubled sided suction nozzle includes a nozzle body having an air inlet to draw in air, at least one brush unit rotatably disposed on a first surface of the nozzle body to come in surface contact with a surface to be cleaned thus to brush away dirt from the surface to be cleaned, at least one duster unit rotatably disposed on the second surface of the nozzle body to come in surface contact with the surface to be cleaned thus to wipe off the dust or dirt from the surface to be cleaned, and a rotating unit disposed in the nozzle body to rotate the brush unit and the duster unit.
US07743451B2
Described are preferred sanitary cleaning devices that include a disposable cleaning head portion and a handle portion. The cleaning head is releasably connectable to the handle portion. The handle portion includes a pair of elongate rods laterally spaced relative to one another and capable of deflection toward one another. The rods present prongs that are selectively received within and removed from apertures provided in the cleaning head. To attach the cleaning head to the handle, the rods are deflected, for example by compressing a grip area, and the prongs are positioned adjacent the receiving apertures, and thereafter the rods are released. This causes the prongs to be received within the apertures, to connect the cleaning head to the handle. Preferred devices of the invention are advantageous in that the user need not touch the cleaning head or adjacent areas expected to contact materials from the toilet to achieve connection and removal of the head from the handle. Preferred devices also incorporate handle and attachment features with relatively smooth surfaces, minimizing their capacity to become soiled. In this fashion, more sanitary cleaning operations and storage features are provided.
US07743450B2
A cleaning bullet for use in a pipe or track includes a compressible body. In one embodiment, a sheet draped over the body is engageable with interior walls of the pipe or track to clean small contaminants. In another embodiment, the body is formed from an absorbent material that absorbs a fluid, such as a cleaning solution, that can clean and/or disinfect the interior walls of the pipe or track. In yet another embodiment, an alignment key extends radially from a body axis for guiding the cleaning bullet in an air conveyor track.
US07743444B2
A cable-stayed suspension bridge having characteristics of a cable stayed bridge and those of a suspension bridge at the same and time and using one-box and two-box girders in combination is disclosed. The bridge grinder of the cable-stayed suspension bridge includes one-box girders that each extend to both sides through the respective one tower and a two-box girder set in a central portion of the center span between towers in the length direction of the bridge girder. The cable-stayed suspension bridge includes cable-stayed structures in which a respective one of the one-box girders is supported by the tower with plural cables and a suspension structure in which the two-box girder is supported by the plural towers with two main cables and plural hanger ropes. The two-box girder has a central ventilation opening in the central portion as viewed in a transverse direction thereof. The hanger ropes in the suspension structure extend from the main cables almost perpendicularly, and their lower end portions are connected to the end portions in the transverse direction of the central ventilation opening or in the vicinity thereof.
US07743443B2
A device for applying a functional formulation to a surface is disclosed. The device includes a reservoir with a valve assembly for dispensing an effective stain removal formulation directly to the stain, spot or mark. The device also includes a shell accommodating absorbent pads. In use, the functional formulation is delivered through the applicator tip to the surface. The applicator is then rotated and one of the absorbent pads is engaged with the formulation treated surface to dislodge soils and stains on the surface, distribute the functional formulation on the surface, absorb excess formulation from the surface, and/or to lessen visibility of the resulting moistened area as well as reduce the time needed for the moistened area to dry. Suitable functional formulations for use in association with the applicator are also disclosed.
US07743440B2
The bed with automatic mattress lifting system is a bed with a frame and an internal drive system for raising a mattress above the frame, allowing the user to easily change the sheets or other bed coverings. The mattress rests on a mattress supporting platform, which, in the lowered position, is received within the frame. In operation, driven motion of an internal rod caused by a drive system located within the frame generates rotation in a lever arm. The lever arm is secured to a shaft that extends across the frame, and rotation of the shaft causes a pair of supports to rotate. Upper ends of the supports are joined to a lower surface of the mattress supporting platform, thus driving upward movement of the mattress supporting platform. The sheets cover both the mattress and the platform, allowing the sheets to be changed without having to manually lift the mattress.
US07743439B2
A portable sink having a hot and cold water faucet connected to an electric water pump and fresh water tank and a wastewater outlet from said sink connected to a wastewater tank and cabinet mounted on wheels having one upper door that has a dipwell attached that is connected to the fresh and waste-water systems and one lower door to access the interior thereof. The dipwell is mounted on the upper door that is rotatable about a vertical access. The dipwell is within the cabinet when the door is closed and outside the cabinet when the door is rotated 90 degrees in a locked open position. One tank for fresh water is mounted in the cabinet and a tank for wastewater is mounted outside the cabinet. There is an electrical connection for powering the water pump and water heater.
US07743431B2
An apparatus for supporting the ankle-shin area of pant legs having a “W” shaped bar with a first loop and a second loop on each end and a strap having each end connected to each loop respectively. The strap has an adjustment buckle coupled to it for adjusting the tension on the strap.
US07743428B2
A wetsuit includes an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer is attached to the outer layer and includes a plurality of fibers having wool and being configured in a plurality of clusters. The inner layer also includes a plurality of interconnected channels. At least a portion of each channel is defined by a space between adjacent clusters. The wetsuit also includes an opening that is disposed on a rear side of the wetsuit. The wetsuit additionally includes at least one fastener that is connected to the opening to open and close the opening.
US07748050B2
An optical disc manufacturing apparatus (46) recording a BCA code constituted by plural marks and including a secret code which is modulated in a range capable of recognizing a position in a radial direction of an optical disc and/or a position in a track direction of the plural marks as the BCA code, a BCA history database (44) storing a history including a correspondence between the BCA code of an optical disc (1a) recording the BCA code and the secret code, and a management center (30) reading the BCA code and the secret code recorded on the optical disc so as to compare both on the basis of input of the correspondence between the BCA code and the secret code stored in the BCA history database (44) are employed, whereby an illegally manufactured optical disc (1z) can be easily found by inspecting the recorded BCA code and secret code.
US07748049B2
A secure storage device for securing digital camera data at the acquisition stage. Original digital camera data is saved in the memory of the secure storage device which has the capability of performing one or more security functions, including encryption, creation of an authentication file, adding data to the image data such as fingerprinting, and adding secure annotations such as separate data included in an image-header. The device prepares original authentication data from original digital camera data, and encrypts and stores both the original authentication data and the original image data. The use of the device includes downloading the original image data to a first computer, and encrypted original authentication data to a second computer.
US07748048B2
A transfer file stored in a game cartridge has a transfer file nested structure in which a transfer file in which a game program is converted into a transfer file is further converted into a transfer file. Specifically, the game program is converted into a transfer file at a level “1” (base level) of the nested structure, and a transfer file [n−1] converted at an immediately lower level “n−1” and the game program are converted into a transfer file at a level “n”. Note that n=1, 2, . . . N.
US07748037B2
A system and process are described to enable at least one of a plurality of host agents executing on a system to update memory region types of a system memory, register the at least one host agent in a registry stored in system management memory, receive a system management interrupt (SMI) from one of the plurality of host agents to update a memory region type, determine if the host agent issuing the SMI is listed in the registry stored in system management memory, update the memory region in response to determining the host agent issuing the SMI is listed in the registry, and maintain the memory region type in response to determining the host agent issuing the SMI is not listed in the registry.
US07748034B2
A mechanism for providing strong anti-replay protection at a security gateway in a network for protection against an attacker duplicating encrypted packets. The mechanism assigns a unique sequence number to each encrypted packet and a time stamp. A receiving security gateway rejects packets that have a duplicative sequence number or that is too old to protect itself against replay attacks. Each security gateway checks off the sequence numbers as they are received knowing that the sending security gateway assigns sequence numbers in an increasing order. The receiving security gateway remembers the value of the highest sequence number that it has already seen as well as up to N additional sequence numbers. Any packet with a duplicative sequence number is discarded. In addition to the sequence number, each packet also has an associated time stamp that corresponds to an epoch during which it should be received. If the packet is received after the epoch has expired, the packet is rejected.
US07748027B2
A system, method and media for dynamically redacting data based on the evaluation of one or more policies. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request to access one or more resources, receiving responses from the one or more resources and assembling a result set which includes several portions of data, determining current access policies for the requestor to the one or more resources, and redacting from the result set a portion of the data that the requestor is not permitted to receive, based on the current access policies.
US07748018B2
Screen for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array of irregular cells, which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells, if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen as the cursor moved from a cell of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row.
US07748017B2
A program guide browser (PGB) in accordance with embodiments of the invention may obtain program information items from an electronic program listing database and display the program information items on a user-interface display of a terminal, which may be a mobile terminal. The PGB may display program guide information for programs that are available for viewing on the terminal at that time. The PGB may display program information items for multiple programs one after another and may display each program information item for a predetermined duration. The sequence of program information items may repeat in a loop. An end user may specify and store personal-interest rules for the PGB to alert the user when the PGB is displaying information for a certain program, or for a certain genre of program.
US07748015B2
A method of processing a broadcast signal comprises receiving a broadcast signal, the signal including a video component and an audio component. A data component including an interactive application is also received which may be part of the broadcast signal. The broadcast signal is monitored for an identification signal, and the operation of the interactive application is interrupted if the identification signal is not present.
US07748014B2
Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device
Methods and apparatus to detect an internally generated signal mode of a local media playback device are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises tuning a harmonic frequency of a chrominance signal output by a local media playback device, and determining that the local media playback device is in an internally generated signal mode if the measured harmonic frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US07748009B2
Methods for increasing the efficiency of data transfers by passing a reference to the data rather than to transfer the data itself. When a new communication begins, a memory object, e.g. a buffer, is selected to receive the data. Information if provided that may be used to ascertain the communication path without actual knowledge of the path. If a communication pattern is likely to be repeated, a memory object created on the initial access is saved. The saved memory object (“precursor”) is provided to the memory system on subsequent access as a hint about the process path to be used. The memory system can select a cached buffer that has a similar set of mappings to the precursor.
US07747984B2
A target graphics document containing graphics data may be used as a starting point to automatically generate one or more test cases as a sequence of test events to re-create the appearance of the target graphics document. The target document may be examined to determine the layers, graphics data within each layer, and the attributes of the graphics data. Based on the determined data, a sequence of input device actions may be generated to create a test document having graphics data based at least in part on the target document. In some cases, the generated input device actions may create a test document containing graphics data identical to that of the target document. In some cases, some user randomness may be applied to the generated input device actions to simulate ‘real-world’ user inaccuracy. In some cases, typical user manipulation of an input device may be applied to simulate ‘real-world’ usage.
US07747983B2
A system and method for generating a service interface definition for a data source from an application definition is provided. The system and method includes: a component processor for examining components forming a component based application, which include a screen component having screen definitions, to identify a screen control mapping identifying a transition between a source screen and a target screen. The system and method includes a service interface generation engine for generating a Web service definition for a Web service interface of a backend server of a data source, based on an operation definition describing an action supported by the data source. The operation definition is constructed based on the identified transition.
US07747981B2
In a method for presenting to a user information operated on by a computational software application, a relationship between states of a user interface mechanism located on a workspace associated with the computational software application and an underlying object operated on by the computational software application may be determined. The relationship may be defined at least in part by configuration data capable of being interpreted by the computational software application. A change in a value of the underlying object may be detected, and a current state of the user interface mechanism may be changed based on the detected change in the value of the underlying object and according to the relationship. Additionally, a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user may be detected, and the current value of the underlying object may be changed based on the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism and according to the relationship.
US07747975B2
A storage medium for use in a computer to develop a circuit design. The storage medium recording a software tool that may be readable and executable by the computer. The software tool generally includes the steps of (A) receiving a first user input that identifies a specific cell of a plurality of existing cells in the circuit design, the specific cell having a timing characteristic, (B) generating a replacement display corresponding to the specific cell, the replacement display comprising a plurality of alternate cells suitable to replace the specific cell, each of the alternate cells having a different value associated with the timing characteristic of the specific cell, (C) receiving a second user input that identifies a replacement cell of the alternate cells and (D) automatically generating a first engineering change order to replace the specific cell with the replacement cell.
US07747971B1
Verification model of static state retention behavior of a state saving element design during power shut off of the state saving element in an integrated circuit design including: creating in a computer readable medium a model of a single edge triggered state saving element; and creating in the computer readable medium clock gate logic that suspends saving of new states by the single state saving element upon the occurrence of a first state retention signal in preparation for power shut off.
US07747968B2
Content abstractions are emerged in to an ingress terminus of a multidimensional path and depth transitioned through the multidimensional path to an egress terminus. The content abstractions are eliminated at the egress terminus.
US07747966B2
An electronic “To-Do” bar is provided in which displayed upcoming tasks, meetings, appointments and the like. The electronic To-Do bar is displayed in a lightweight menu of tasks, meetings and appointments and is displayed persistently in addition to other software functionality or user interfaces displayed on a user's computer display screen according to other software applications or other software functionality in use. A user is presented with an always-visible list of upcoming tasks, meetings and appointments without the need to launch a separate tasks application or calendar application to view upcoming tasks, meetings or appointments.
US07747962B2
Tickers are populated with location-based information that is selected according to the geographic location of communication devices. The location of a communication device is identified based on a GPS system, proximity to transmitters in a wireless network, user input, or using other techniques. Location-appropriate content is obtained either in real-time from the network or from a local data store at the communication device. In general location-based, context-aware content can be displayed on tickers associated with a variety of communication devices, including mobile communication devices and “immobile” or stationary personal computers. When a ticker item is selected from the ticker, a location associated with the selected ticker item and/or a location of the communication device is used to generate a map that is displayed on the display of the device to the user.
US07747957B2
When an activity event conducted by user object in the work space is detected by the detection server according to the detection of the activity event ID tag, the activity event is saved for each object by the work space server and the individual activity history server while the activity event can be referred. When the thus saved activity event is traced referring to the other objects, the computer for displaying an overview can display the saved activity event by the display of the object.
US07747948B2
A method of storing all or part of data entered to an application program embedded in a personal data assistant to another application program is disclosed. A data storing method includes composing data in one of a plurality of application programs embedded in the personal data assistant, wherein the application programs have mutually different data formats, converting a format of the composed data to a suitable format for another application program manually or automatically, and storing the format-converted data in the other application program.
US07747944B2
A graphics software program automatically generates a style transformation scheme for graphics. The graphics software program receives a selection of a style transformation and a semantic model describing a graphic. The graphics software program assigns style values for different objects of the graphic according to the style transformation and semantic model. A data structure is provided for a style transformation definition created to assign the style values to the objects of the graphic.
US07747937B2
A web bookmark manager processes a collection of web bookmarks to produce a richly structured presentation of the bookmark collection. The bookmark collection includes representations of resources, topics, and notice events. A notice event includes a reference to a web resource and a natural language description provided by a user. The notice description is processed by a classifier to determine topics to which the referenced web resource shall be associated. The processing of the notice description includes parsing to obtain sequences of content words, to which topics are associated. Generalizations of a topic are determined by subsequences of the associated word sequence. The presentation of a collection of bookmarks includes a chronology of notices, a ranking of topics, a taxonomy of topics, and an index of content words from topics. The presentation further includes per-topic and per-resource presentations.
US07747936B2
A logic circuit comprises a logic module comprising a functional logic block supplying a functional result, and a functional flip-flop receiving the functional result and supplying a synchronous result. A module for checking the functional logic block comprises a checking logic block executing the same logic function as the functional logic block and supplying a checking result, checking synchronous flip-flops for applying data present at the input of the functional logic block to the input of the checking logic block, and means for comparing the functional result and the checking result and for supplying a first error signal.
US07747935B2
A method reads a datum saved in a memory by selecting an address of the memory in which the datum to be read is saved, reading the datum in the memory at the selected address, saving the datum read in a storage space, and when the memory is not being accessed by a CPU, reading the datum in the memory, reading the datum saved in the storage space, and activating an error signal if the datum read in the memory is different from the datum saved. The method can be applied particularly to the protection of smart card integrated circuits.
US07747915B2
A system and method for increasing the yield of integrated circuits containing memory partitions the memory into regions and then independently tests each region to determine which, if any, of the memory regions contain one or more memory failures. The test results are stored for later retrieval. Prior to using the memory, software retrieves the test results and uses only the memory sections that contain no memory failures. A consequence of this approach is that integrated circuits containing memory that would have been discarded for containing memory failures now may be used. This approach also does not significantly impact die area.
US07747909B2
A debug card includes a controlling chipset and a VGA connector. The controlling chipset includes a data storage module, a data transforming module, and a VGA controller. The data storage module stores data received from a computer system, which represents the status of the computer system. The data transforming module transforms the data and transmits the transformed data to the VGA controller. The VGA connector interconnects the VGA controller and a VGA display to display the data.
US07747904B1
A packet switch includes an error management module in addition to various components that facilitate routing of data packets through the packet switch. The components generate error codes indicating errors occurring in the packet switch and provide the error codes to the error management module. The error management module select error codes generated by the components and generates an error log based on the selected error codes. Each component is inhibited from providing the same error code to the error management module more than once until the component receives an acknowledgement for that error code from the error management module. A user can access the error log during operation of the packet switch to monitor performance of the packet switch.
US07747903B2
Methods and devices operate to apply and provide differing levels of error correction within a multi-level, non-volatile memory. In an example, the differing level of error correction is provided within one page of a row of multi-level cells relative to other pages stored within the same row of multi-level cells.
US07747901B2
Control commands are transmitted via an emulation interface holding a test clock signal at a constant value and switching a test mode select signal a number of times corresponding to the control command. A receiving system counts switches of the test mode select signal switches while the test clock is constant and interprets the number of switches as a corresponding control command.
US07747896B1
A dual ported replicated data cache. The cache is configured for storing input data blocks. The cache includes an augmenter for producing an augmented data block with parity information from the input data block, a first memory array for storing the augmented data block, and a second memory array for storing the augmented data block.
US07747888B2
A technique for promoting determinism among bus agents within a point-to-point (PtP) network. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to techniques to compensate for link latency, data skew, and clock shift within a PtP network of common system interface (CSI) bus agents.
US07747887B2
A print engine comprising at least one print controller and at least one associated authentication device is provided. Each authentication device has a processor, non-volatile memory, an input for receiving power from a power supply and a power detection unit. Each authentication device is configured to enable multi-word writes to the non-volatile memory under control of the associated print controller. The processor is configured to control and trim the amount of power supplied to the input to predetermine a threshold at which operation of the authentication device is established. The power detection unit is configured to monitor a voltage level of the power supplied to the input, and in the event the voltage level drops below the predetermined threshold, preventing subsequent words in any multi-word write currently being performed from being written to the memory.
US07747884B2
A power supply circuit for a motherboard includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a Schottky diode, and a direct current (DC) voltage source. The Schottky diode includes a first anode, a second anode, and a cathode. The first anode of the Schottky diode is respectively coupled to terminals of the first and second resistors, another terminal of each of the first and second resistors is respectively coupled to a power supply and ground. The second anode of the Schottky diode is coupled to the DC voltage source, the cathode of the Schottky diode is coupled to a south bridge.
US07747879B2
Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface.
US07747867B2
A user authentication method for a remote control apparatus and a remote control apparatus using this method are provided. If a user inputs information for user authentication after having inputted a command for control of a controlled device, this information is compared with the corresponding user authentication information stored. If the user authentication is successful, it is determined whether a secondary authentication is required. If a secondary authentication is required, authentication data, as well as control data corresponding to the user's command, are transmitted to the controlled device. The controlled device operates in accordance with the received control data, if the authentication with the received authentication data was successful. The method and apparatus allow individual setting of a communication device for each controlled device. Further, data for secondary authentication may be transmitted first to a controlled device, and then, controlled data transmitted after the secondary authentication is completed successfully.
US07747858B2
Systems and methods are provided for protecting and managing electronic data signals that are registered in accordance with a predefined encoding scheme, while allowing access to unregistered data signals. In one embodiment a relatively hard-to-remove, easy-to-detect, strong watermark is inserted in a data signal. The data signal is divided into a sequence of blocks, and a digital signature for each block is embedded in the signal via a watermark. The data signal is then stored and distributed on, e.g., a compact disc, a DVD, or the like. When a user attempts to access or use a portion of the data signal, the signal is checked for the presence of a watermark containing the digital signature for the desired portion of the signal. If the watermark is found, the digital signature is extracted and used to verify the authenticity of the desired portion of the signal. If the signature-containing watermark is not found, the signal is checked for the presence of the strong watermark. If the strong watermark is found, further use of the signal is inhibited, as the presence of the strong watermark, in combination with the absence or corruption of the signature-containing watermark, provides evidence that the signal has been improperly modified. If, on the other hand, the strong mark is not found, further use of the data signal can be allowed, as the absence of the strong mark indicates that the data signal was never registered with the signature-containing watermark.
US07747850B1
A system and method are disclosed for managing bi-directional authentication among two or more users comprising at least one server which distributes security protocol information. The security protocol information may include digital certificates which permit authentication of users. The system and method allow for distribution of security protocol information regarding multiple users to multiple selected users directly from the server. Thus, users do not need to exchange information individually among themselves. The distribution of information may include updates, such as the addition of a new user or the change in the status or protocol information of an existing user. New users with proper privileges may receive protocol information for multiple existing users from a single source.
US07747844B2
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with acquiring instruction addresses associated with performance monitoring events are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes logic for recording instruction and state data associated with events countable by performance monitoring logic associated with a pipelined processor. The exemplary system embodiment may also include logic for traversing the instruction and state data on a cycle count basis. The exemplary system may also include logic for traversing the instruction and state data on a retirement count basis.
US07747836B2
A system integrates an intelligent storage switch with a flexible virtualization system to enable efficient service of file and block protocol data access requests for information stored on the system. A storage operating system executing on a storage system coupled to the switch implements the virtualization system to provide a unified view of storage to clients by logically organizing the information as named files, directories and logical unit numbers. The virtualization system is illustratively embodied as a file system having a write allocator configured to provide a flexible block numbering policy that addresses volume management capabilities, such as storage virtualization, at a finer granularity (e.g., a single block) than that of previous non-flexible storage virtualization schemes. The flexible block numbering policy also yields substantial benefits in terms of increased write efficiency and elimination of storage “hot spots”, as well as a compelling point-in-time read-only data image (snapshot) mechanism.
US07747834B2
A memory manager acts on a memory that has been arranged with a predetermined number of fixed memory blocks, with each memory block set to a predefined size. These fixed blocks have been initialized to accelerate the allocation process. When a memory manger receives an allocation request, the size of the request is compared to the predefined size. If the memory manager determines that the fixed memory block handles the memory request, then the memory manager allocates one of the fixed blocks to the pending memory request. If no fixed block is available to handle the request, then the memory manager may allocate the memory from a free memory pool. The memory manager may search the available free memory blocks to identify and allocate the optimum free block that satisfies the pending allocation request.
US07747833B2
Provided is a memory system that has a plurality of memory banks and a plurality of link controllers. For each memory bank, there is first switching logic for receiving output for each link controller, and for passing on the output of only one of the link controllers to the memory bank. For each link controller, there is second switching logic for receiving an output of each memory bank, and for passing on the output of only one of the memory banks to the link controller. According to an embodiment of the invention, there is switch controller logic for controlling operation of both the first switching logic and the second switching logic to prevent simultaneous or overlapping access by multiple link controllers to the same memory bank, and for preventing simultaneous or overlapping access to multiple banks by the same link controller.
US07747827B2
The storage system includes disk control clusters. Each cluster has channel IF units, disk IF units and local shared memory units. The channel IF units, disk IF units and local shared memory units in the plurality of disk control clusters are connected to each other across the disk control clusters by interconnection, global information control unit for storing management information about the disk control clusters is connected to the interconnection. Host computers and the channel IF units of the disk control clusters are connected via front-end switch for storing copy of the management information. Since the front-end switch reflects the contents of the copy of the management information on routing table, an access request from the host computer can be sent to a suitable disk control cluster.
