US07776935B2
A method for preparing a silicone elastomer porous material includes the steps of (1) providing a water-in-oil emulsion including a liquid silicone rubber material which forms a silicone elastomer upon curing, a silicone oil material that has a surface activation function, and water droplets dispersed in the liquid silicone rubber material, (2) subjecting the emulsion to a primary heating, thereby curing the liquid silicone rubber material to form a silicone elastomer and confining the water droplets within the silicone elastomer substantially as they are present in the emulsion, and (3) subjecting the silicone elastomer to a secondary heating, thereby evaporating and removing the water droplets from the silicone elastomer, thereby forming the silicone elastomer porous material.
US07776933B2
A process for the synthesis of hydrocarbons in a three phase reactor comprising the steps of: (i) introducing synthesis gas into the reactor; (ii) causing the synthesis gas to be contacted with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst; and (iii) removing products from the reactor, wherein step (i) comprises introducing some or all of the synthesis gas into the reactor at or near the bottom of the reactor; and step (ii) comprises contacting the synthesis gas with a catalyst structure immobilised within the reactor, wherein the catalyst structure comprises one or more porous catalyst elements fixable within the reactor, each of said porous catalyst elements being at least 1 cm3, preferably at least 10 cm3, in size and wherein the open volume within each porous catalyst element is at least 60% (with reference to the volume of the porous catalyst elements) and each porous catalyst element includes a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst material.
US07776931B2
Low dosage naphthenate inhibitors, such as a surfactant or hydrotrope, delivered into production fluids for contact with mixtures of oil and water, such as in a hydrocarbon producing formation, production equipment, or processing systems. Inhibitor compounds such as monophosphate esters and diphosphate esters exhibit surface-active properties that cause the inhibitors to self-associate at oil-water interfaces and inhibit interactions between organic acids in the oil with cations or cation complexes in the water. These compounds also inhibit aggregation of organic acid carboxylate salts that form when pH and pressure conditions are amenable to organic acid ionization. Preferred inhibitors do not form emulsions due to the formation of unstable mixed interface structures that result in coalescence of dispersed droplets. Naphthenate inhibitor compound dosages of less than 100 ppm can effectively inhibit naphthenate salts or other organic acid salts that can form precipitates or emulsions during crude oil production or processing.
US07776930B2
Inhibiting naphthenate salts that can form precipitates or emulsions during crude oil production or processing. An effective amount of a naphthenate inhibitor, such as a hydrotrope, is provided into the production fluids for contact with mixtures of oil and water in the formation, the production equipment, or processing systems. It is believed that the naphthenate inhibitors, such as monophosphate ester or diphosphate ester, exhibit surface-active properties that cause the inhibitors to align and concentrate in a layer at the oil-water interface and thereby prevent interactions between organic acids in the oil phase with cations or cation complexes in the water. It is believed that the physical positioning and geometry of the naphthenate inhibitor blocks the growth of naphthenate salt crystals. However, it is preferred that the naphthenate inhibitors also avoid the formation of oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions.
US07776927B2
The present invention generally relates to emulsions such as multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making emulsions, and techniques for using the same. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein which, in some cases, can contain even smaller droplets therein, etc. Emulsions, including multiple emulsions can be formed in certain embodiments with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include any number of inner droplets, in any desired nesting arrangement, within a single outer droplet. In addition, in some aspects of the invention, one or more droplets may be controllably released from a surrounding droplet.
US07776924B2
Nitroaniline-based unsymmetrical mustards of the general formula (I) are provided, together with methods of preparation and methods for their use as prodrugs for gene-dependent enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) and cell ablation therapy in conjunction with nitroreductase enzymes as hypoxia selective cytotoxins and as anticancer agents.
US07776908B2
Novel Wortmannin analogs and their use in inhibiting inhibiting PI-3-kinase activity in mammals as well, as tumor formation in a subject are described herein.
US07776893B2
The invention relates to the use of certain known PIDE4 inhibitors for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and accompanying disorders thereof.
US07776892B2
A composition comprising at least a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I)(a) and a compound capable of inhibiting the spores germination or mycelium growth by acting on different metabolic routes (b) in a (a)/(b) weight ratio of from 0.01 to 20.A composition further comprising an additional fungicidal compound.A method for preventively or curatively combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops by using this composition.
US07776891B2
Compounds of Formula (I) are antagonists of VLA-4, and as such are useful in the inhibition or prevention of cell adhesion and cell-adhesion mediated pathologies. These compounds may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions and are suitable for use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.
US07776888B2
Compounds of formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts and all stereoisomers and tautomeric forms of the compounds of formula I are suitable for use as herbicides.
US07776887B2
The invention relates to compounds and processes useful for the preparation of protease inhibitors, particularly serine protease inhibitors. The protease inhibitors are useful for treatment of HCV infections.
US07776878B2
Objects of the present invention are the compounds of formula (I) their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, enantiomeric forms, diastereoisomers and racemates, the preparation of the above-mentioned compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their manufacture, as well as the use of the above-mentioned compounds in the control or prevention of illnesses such as cancer.
US07776858B2
The invention relates to the use of eszopiclone for the treatment of low-level, chronic pain and fatigue associated with pain.
US07776856B2
Fused pyrimidines of formula (I): where A is a thiophene or furan ring and R1-R3 and n are defined in the specification. These compounds have activity as inhibitors of PI3K and may thus be used to treat diseased and disorders arising from abnormal cell growth, function or behavior associated with PI3 kinase such as cancer, immune disorders, cardiovascular disease, viral infection, inflammation, metabolism/endocrine disorders and neurological disorders. Processes for synthesizing the compounds are also described.
US07776848B2
Spirocyclic cyclohexane compounds, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and the use of such compounds to treat and/or inhibit specific undesirable conditions in a patient.
US07776847B2
The present invention relates to benzisothiazoles and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that inhibit replication and/or proliferation of HCV virus. The present invention also relates to the use of the benzisothiazoles and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds to treat or prevent HCV infections.
US07776829B2
The invention describes the use of deoxyspergualin (DSG) or an analogue thereof for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of and/or prophylaxis against hyperreactive inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases, wherein the treatment is performed in cycles.
US07776825B1
The β-trefoil protein human fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) is made up of a six-stranded anti-parallel β-barrel closed off on one end by three β-hairpins, thus exhibiting a three-fold axis of structural symmetry. The N- and C-termini β-strands hydrogen bond to each other and are postulated from both NMR and X-ray structure data to represent a structurally-weakened region of the β-barrel. Val mutations within the N- and C-termini β-strands are shown to stabilize the structure and to increase van der Waals contacts by filling local cavities present within this region. Mutations that increase van der Waals contacts between both the N- and C-termini β-strands are generally associated with significant reductions in the unfolding kinetics, and also increase the cooperativity of unfolding. Surprisingly, several mutant polypeptides herein disclosed greatly exceed the wild-type polypeptide in ability to stimulate human fibroblasts to proliferate.
US07776823B2
Provided are peptide and peptide consensus sequences, which inhibit bacterial growth and/or viral growth and mimic the activity of LL-37, CRAMP, and/or FALL-39. The peptides are useful as antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories and antiviral agents.
US07776818B2
T4 Immune Stimulating Factor (TISF) selectively induces aberrant T-cells to initiate apoptosis. TISF and peptides that are related to TISF (TISF peptides) are therefore useful for the treatment of disorders characterized by aberrant production, development, or activity of T-cells or other cells of hematopoietic origin. This invention relates to methods of using TISF or a TISF peptide to treat such conditions, compositions containing TISF or a TISF peptide for use in such treatments, and use of TISF or a TISF peptide for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.
US07776802B2
The invention provides a hydrodynamic bearing device including at least one of a shaft structure and a sleeve having a dynamic pressure-generating mechanism, and a lubricant present in a gap between the shaft structure and the sleeve. The lubricant contains a diester with a total carbon number of 20-28 obtainable by a divalent alcohol that has at least one ether bond, and one or more types of C6 to C10 saturated monovalent fatty acid.
US07776799B2
The invention concerns a method for cold rolling metals using an aqueous lubricant comprising: (1) at least a mixture based on at least an acid selected among saturated or unsaturated mono- or poly-carboxylic acids, comprising 5 to 40 carbon atoms; at least an acid phosphate ester of formula (RO)x-P(═O)(OH)x′, wherein: R is a hydrocarbon radical, optionally polyalkoxylated; x and x′ being equal to 3; the carboxylic acid and/or the acid phosphate ester being optionally neutralized by an organic or mineral base; and (2) at least a natural or synthetic wax exhibiting a melting point not less than 50° C. and having an average particle size ranging between 0.5 and 10 μm. The use of said lubricant enables to increase the productivity of the method by at least 15% relative to a method using a conventional lubricant.
US07776796B2
Methods for treating wellbores using fluids containing a sphingan heteropolysaccharide which contributes viscosity stability and a decrease in friction pressure. Some methods are clean-out operations using recyclable-viscosity fluids containing at least a sphingan heteropolysaccharide and an optional salt. Others include methods of pumping fluids incorporating sphingan heteropolysaccharides to reduce pumping frictional pressure.
US07776792B2
The invention relates to liquid formulations (preparations) that contain a) one or more alkyl esters of polycarboxylic acids, and b) one or more agrochemical substances from the group of ALS inhibitors.
US07776791B2
The invention relates to novel N-heterocyclylphenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols of the formula (I) in which CKE, W, X, Y and Z are as defined in the disclosure, to a plurality of processes and intermediates for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides and/or microbicides. The invention further relates to selective herbicidal compositions comprising firstly the N-heterocyclylphenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols and secondly a compound which improves crop plant tolerance.
US07776790B2
Described are suspension concentrates that include glyphosate acid, herbicide compositions prepared therefrom, and methods of making and using each.
US07776784B2
A hydrodesulfurization catalyst used for hydrodesulfurization of catalytically cracked gasoline comprises a support composed mainly of alumina modified with an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium, scandium and lanthanoid-based metals, with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group 6A and Group 8 metals loaded as an active metal on the support. Hydrogenation of olefins generated as by-products during hydrodesulfurization of the catalytically cracked gasoline fraction, as an important constituent base of gasoline, can be adequately inhibited to maintain the octane number, while sufficiently reducing the sulfur content of the hydrodesulfurized catalytically cracked gasoline fraction.
US07776783B2
A catalyst carrier and exhaust gas purification catalyst superior in sintering inhibiting effect of precious metal catalyst particles are provided, that is, a catalyst carrier for carrying a precious metal comprised of a composite oxide of an electron accepting element (La) having an electron accepting property of accepting electrons from a precious metal element by approach or contact with the precious metal element (Pt) and not changing in atomic valence in an oxidation reduction reaction and of another element (Si) and, further, an exhaust gas purification catalyst comprised of this catalyst carrier on which precious metal catalyst particles are carried.
US07776779B2
A method of preparing a mesoporous carbon includes mixing a mesophase pitch, a carbon precursor, an acid, and a solvent to obtain a carbon precursor mixture; impregnating an ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) with the carbon precursor mixture; heat-treating and carbonizing the impregnated OMS to form an OMS-carbon composite; and removing the OMS from the OMS-carbon composite. The mesoporous carbon uses the mesophase pitch and the carbon precursor to reduce sheet resistance, and thus can efficiently transfer electric energy. Such mesoporous carbon can be used as a conductive material of electrodes for fuel cells. When the mesoporous carbon is used as a support for catalysts of electrodes, a supported catalyst containing the support can be used to manufacture a fuel cell having high efficiency.
US07776774B2
There is provided a strengthened composite material that is able to improve yield, handling, and reliability when it is applied to members of semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. Five to 60 mol % ZrO2 is contained relative to Y2O3, and temperature after a sintering process is maintained between 1,200° C. to 1,500° C. for 5 minutes or longer or temperature falling speed to reach 1,200° C. is adjusted to 200° C./h or slower, thereby producing the composite material containing, as major crystalline phases, a Y2O3 solid solution in which ZrO2 is dissolved in Y2O3 and a ZrO2 solid solution in which Y2O3 is dissolved in ZrO2.
US07776769B2
The invention relates to a method of assembling structures and a component for use in such assemblies. The component is an electrically insulant, compressible impermeable cloth. It is formed by impregnating an electrically insulant woven fiber with a sealant, and curing to form the cloth. Structures, such as airframe structures, may be assembled by positioning the cloth between a substructure and an outer skin on at least part of a sub-structure, and then assembling the outer skin to the sub-structure with the cloth located between the substructure and the outer skin. This provides a greater impermeability and insulation across the structural joint. During assemble the cloth may also be compressed, allowing skin panels to be fixed to the substructure within close tolerances, and allowing steps between adjacent panels to be substantially reduced.
US07776763B2
A method is provided for in-situ formation of a thin oxidized AlN film on a substrate. The method includes providing the substrate in a process chamber, depositing an AlN film on the substrate, and post-treating the AlN film with exposure to a nitrogen and oxygen-containing gas. The post-treating increases the dielectric constant of the AlN film with substantially no increase in the AlN film thickness. The method can also include pre-treating the substrate prior to AlN deposition, post-annealing the AlN film before or after the post-treatment, or both.
US07776758B2
Methods for forming or patterning nanostructure arrays are provided. The methods involve formation of arrays on coatings comprising nanostructure association groups, formation of arrays in spin-on-dielectrics, solvent annealing after nanostructure deposition, patterning using resist, and/or use of devices that facilitate array formation. Related devices for forming nanostructure arrays are also provided, as are devices including nanostructure arrays (e.g., memory devices).
US07776757B2
The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, forming a high-k dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, forming a first metal layer and a first silicon layer by an in-situ deposition process, patterning the first silicon layer to remove a portion overlying the second region, patterning the first metal layer using the patterned first silicon layer as a mask, and removing the patterned first silicon layer including applying a solution. The solution includes a first component having an [F-] concentration greater than 0.01M, a second component configured to adjust a pH of the solution from about 4.3 to about 6.7, and a third component configured to adjust a potential of the solution to be greater than −1.4 volts.
US07776741B2
A semiconductor electroplating process deposits copper into the through silicon via hole to completely fill the through silicon via in a substantially void free is disclosed. The through silicon via may be more than about 3 micrometers in diameter and more that about 20 micrometers deep. High copper concentration and low acidity electroplating solution is used for deposition copper into the through silicon vias.
US07776731B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a high dielectric constant material over a semiconductor substrate, forming a conductive material over the high dielectric constant material, and performing an anneal in a non-oxidizing ambient using ultraviolet radiation to remove defects in the high dielectric constant material. Examples of a non-oxidizing ambient include for example nitrogen, deuterium, a deuterated forming gas (N2/D2), helium, argon or a combination of any two or more of these. Additional anneals using ultraviolet radiation may be performed. These additional anneals may occur in non-oxidizing or oxidizing ambients.
US07776723B2
In an example embodiment of the method of manufacturing an epitaxial semiconductor substrate, a gettering layer is grown over a semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial layer may then be formed over the gettering layer, and a semiconductor device may be formed on the epitaxial layer.
US07776709B2
A method (and apparatus) of replicating a pattern on a structure, includes using imprint lithography to replicate a pattern formed on a first structure onto a portion of a second structure.
US07776699B2
A transistor device structure comprising: a substrate portion formed from a first material; and a source region, a drain region and a channel region formed in said substrate, the source and drain regions comprising a plurality of islands of a second material different from the first material, the islands being arranged to induce a strain in said channel region of the substrate.
US07776688B2
Memory devices having improved TPD characteristics and methods of making the memory devices are provided. The memory devices contain two or more memory cells on a semiconductor substrate and bit line dielectrics between the memory cells. The bit line dielectrics can extend into the semiconductor. The memory cell contains one or more charge storage nodes, a first poly gate, a pair of first bit lines, and a pair of second bit lines. The second bit line can be formed at a higher energy level, a higher concentration of dopants, or a combination thereof compared to an energy level and a concentration of dopants of the first bit line.
US07776682B1
Disclosed are methods and systems for improving cell-to-cell repeatability of electrical performance in memory cells. The methods involve forming an electrically non-conducting material having ordered porosity over a passive layer. The ordered porosity can facilitate formation of conductive channels through which charge carriers can migrate across the otherwise non-conductive layer to facilitate changing a state of a memory cell. A barrier layer can optionally be formed over the non-conductive layer, and can have ordered porosity oriented in a manner substantially perpendicular to the conductive channels such that charge carries migrating across the non-conductive layer cannot permeate the barrier layer. The methods provide for the manufacture of microelectronic devices with cost-effective and electrically reliable memory cells.
US07776675B1
According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for forming a reduced resistivity poly gate includes a step of implanting a refractory metal, such as molybdenum, in an N type poly layer in a PFET region of a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes a step of implanting a boron-fluoride compound, such as boron difluoride, in an N type gate in the PFET region, where the N type gate comprises a portion of the N type poly layer. The method further includes a step of forming a titanium silicide segment in the N type gate. The refractory metal reduces a resistivity of the titanium silicide segment, thereby forming the reduced resistivity poly gate.
US07776674B2
A method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure which includes (a) substrate, (b) a first semiconductor region on top of the substrate, wherein the first semiconductor region comprises a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material, which is different from the first semiconductor material, and wherein the first semiconductor region has a first crystallographic orientation, and (c) a third semiconductor region on top of the substrate which comprises the first and second semiconductor materials and has a second crystallographic orientation. The method further includes forming a second semiconductor region and a fourth semiconductor region on top of the first and the third semiconductor regions respectively. Both second and fourth semiconductor regions comprise the first and second semiconductor materials. The second semiconductor region has the first crystallographic orientation, whereas the fourth semiconductor region has the second crystallographic orientation.
US07776671B2
The inductor for a semiconductor device comprises a first interlayer dielectric formed on a top of a silicon substrate, at least one first metal wire formed on a top of the first interlayer dielectric, a second interlayer dielectric formed on a top of the first interlayer dielectric to cover the first metal wire, at least one second metal wire formed on a top of the second interlayer dielectric and connected to the first metal wire, and an upper protective film formed on the top of the second interlayer dielectric to cover the second metal wire, wherein the first and second metal wires are alternately arranged and are formed in a spiral structure.
US07776667B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that has high driving ability (that is, large W/L) according to a method in which the use efficiency of a material is improved and the throughput and yield are enhanced. The present invention provides a method for a semiconductor device, which comprises the steps of forming a first conductive layer in contact with a semiconductor region, forming an insulating layer on the first conductive layer by one of droplet discharge and application, irradiating a portion of the insulating layer with laser light to form a mask pattern, and forming divided first conductive layers by etching with the use of the mask pattern as a mask.
US07776657B2
A chip package includes a thermal interface material disposed between a die backside and a heat sink. The thermal interface material includes a first metal particle that is covered by a dielectric film. The dielectric film is selected from an inorganic compound of the first metal or an inorganic compound coating of a second metal. The dielectric film diminishes overall heat transfer from the first metal particle in the thermal interface material by a small fraction of total possible heat transfer without the dielectric film. A method of operating the chip includes biasing the chip with the dielectric film in place.
US07776655B2
A semiconductor wafer contains a plurality of semiconductor die each having a peripheral area around the die. A first insulating layer is formed over the die. A recessed region with angled sidewall is formed in the peripheral area. A first conductive layer is formed over the first insulating layer outside the recessed region and further into the recessed region. A conductive pillar is formed over the first conductive layer within the recessed region. A second insulating layer is formed over the first insulating layer, conductive pillar, and first conductive layer such that the conductive pillar is exposed from the second insulating layer. A dicing channel partially through the peripheral area. The semiconductor wafer undergoes backgrinding to the dicing channel to singulate the semiconductor wafer and separate the semiconductor die. The semiconductor die can be disposed in a semiconductor package with other components and electrically interconnected through the conductive pillar.
US07776653B2
A device has a first semiconductor chip (101) with contact pads in an interior first set (102) and a peripheral second set (103). A deformed sphere (104) of non-reflow metal such as gold is placed on each contact pad of the first and second sets. At least one additional deformed sphere (105) is placed on the first set pads, forming column-shaped spacers. The first chip is attached to a substrate (110) with a chip attachment location and a third set of contact pads (112) near the location. Low profile bond wires (130) span between the pads of the third set and the second set. A second semiconductor chip (140) of a size has a fourth set of contact pads (141) at locations matching the first set pads. The second chip is placed over the first chip so that the fourth set pads are aligned with the spacers on the matching first set pads, and at least one edge of the second chip overhangs the sphere on at least one pad of the second set. A reflow metal (142) bonds the spacers to the second chip, while the spacers space the first and second chips by a gap (105a) wide enough for placing the wire spans to the second set pads.
US07776651B2
Lead-free solders comprising 85-96% tin (Sn) and 4-15% Indium (In) by weight percentage (wt. %) and exemplary uses of the same are disclosed. The Sn—In solder undergoes a martensitic phase change when it is cooled from a reflow temperature to room temperature. As a result, residual stresses that would normally occur due to solder strain caused by relative movement between joined components are substantially reduced. Typically, the relative movement results from a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between the joined components. The disclosed exemplary uses include flip-chip assembly and IC package to circuit board mounting, such as ball grid array packages.
US07776649B1
A method for fabricating a plurality of wafer level chip scale packages is revealed. A bumped wafer is laminated with a mold plate with a protection film placed thereon to partially embed the bumps of the wafer into the protection film and to form an underfill gap between the wafer and the protection film. By a first sawing step, the wafer fixed by the protection film is singulated into a plurality of chips having sides between the active surface and the back surface and also a filling gap is formed between the sides. Then, an encapsulant is formed on the protection film where the encapsulant fills the underfill gap through the filling gap to completely encapsulate the chips and the non-embedded portions of the bumps. By separating the encapsulant from the protection film and a second sawing step, the mold plate and the protection film are removed, and the encapsulant is singulated into a plurality of individual wafer level chip scale packages.
US07776635B2
A fabricating method of an array substrate for an in-plane switching liquid crystal display device includes: forming a gate line and a common line on a substrate, the common line spaced apart from the gate line; forming a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; forming a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; forming a pixel electrode and a common electrode in the pixel region, each of the pixel electrode and the common electrode including an opaque metal layer; and irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the opaque metal layer to form a metal oxide layer on the opaque metal layer.
US07776629B2
A high efficiency, and possibly highly directional, light emitting diode (LED) with an optimized photonic crystal extractor. The LED is comprised of a substrate, a buffer layer grown on the substrate (if needed), an active layer including emitting species, one or more optical confinement layers that tailor the structure of the guided modes in the LED, and one or more diffraction gratings, wherein the diffraction gratings are two-dimensional photonic crystal extractors. The substrate may be removed and metal layers may be deposited on the buffer layer, photonic crystal and active layer, wherein the metal layers may function as a mirror, an electrical contact, and/or an efficient diffraction grating.
US07776624B2
A semiconductor fabrication method. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate includes a semiconductor material. Next, a top portion of the semiconductor substrate is removed. Next, a first semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown on the semiconductor substrate, wherein a first atomic percent of a first semiconductor material in the first semiconductor layer is equal to a substrate atomic percent of the substrate semiconductor material in the semiconductor substrate.
US07776621B2
An IrOx film of a thickness of 50 nm is formed on a PZT film by a sputtering method. The value of x is less than 2. Namely, an unsaturated iridium oxide film is formed. By performing RTA, the PZT film is completely crystallized. Thereafter, an IrOY film of a thickness of 50 nm to 100 nm is formed on the IrOX film by a sputtering method. The composition of IrOY is made a composition closer to the stoichiometric composition of IrO2 than the composition of IrOX (X
US07776619B2
The present invention relates to a method for long-term stabilizing a pulmonary surfactant protein, to a stabilized aqueous solution containing a pulmonary surfactant protein, and to a kit for assaying a pulmonary surfactant protein which kit contains, as a component reagent, a stabilized aqueous solution containing a pulmonary surfactant protein.The invention provides a method for stabilizing a pulmonary surfactant protein, the method including causing the pulmonary surfactant protein to be present with a calcium ion and an oxidizing/reducing substance.The invention also provides an aqueous solution containing a pulmonary surfactant protein which has been stabilized by use of a calcium ion and an oxidizing/reducing substance in combination.The invention also provides a kit for assaying a pulmonary surfactant protein present in a sample through an immunological technique employing antigen-antibody reaction, the kit containing, as a standard solution of pulmonary surfactant protein, an aqueous solution containing a pulmonary surfactant protein which has been stabilized by use of a calcium ion and an oxidizing/reducing substance in combination.
US07776615B2
The present invention is directed to a system for pre-treatment of a sample to be introduced in a chromatograph, and a method for performing solid-phase extraction of a component present in a sample. The system uses a syringe having a needle being provided with a porous body having a monolithic structure along at least an appropriate length of the needle and across an overall diameter of the needle. The method includes the steps of inserting the needle into the sample, passing the sample through the needle to retain an analyte within the porous body, and desorbtion of the retained analyte from the porous body.
US07776614B2
A method of testing a compound for its capability of quenching singlet excited state energy from a photon-excited photoactive compound, thereby photostabilizing said photoactive compound, comprising mixing: (1) a composition comprising a photoactive compound in a solvent and determining the degree of fluorescence of said composition (1) by exposing the composition (1) to UV radiation in an amount sufficient for the photoactive compound to reach an electronic singlet excited state, and (2) a mixture comprising said photoactive compound with a test compound in a solvent, and determining the degree of fluorescence of said mixture (2) by exposing the mixture to UV radiation to the same degree as composition (1), and comparing the degree of fluorescence of composition (1) with mixture (2).
US07776608B2
A test device adapted to test a concentration of an analyte in a fluid has a pickup area having a first volume for receiving the fluid. In fluid communication with the pickup area is a read area having a second volume, which is less than the first volume. Since the second volume is less than the first volume, fluid from the pickup area will flow into the read area only after the pickup area is full. The read area also contains a reagent that is adapted to indicate the concentration of the analyte in the fluid.
US07776597B2
The present invention provided a simple three-step approach based on the combinational induction with activin A, all-trans retinoic acid and, optionally, other maturation factors which are able to induce embryonic stem cells to differentiate into insulin-producing cells. A kit used to induce embryonic stem cells to differentiate into insulin-producing cells was also provided.
US07776587B2
This invention relates to the field of biotechnology or genetic engineering. Specifically, this invention relates to the field of gene expression. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel inducible gene expression system and methods of modulating gene expression in a host cell for applications such as gene therapy, large scale production of proteins and antibodies, cell-based high throughput screening assays, functional genomics and regulation of traits in transgenic plants and animals.
US07776586B2
The present invention relates to a method for isolating progenitor cells from a human body, inclusive of all cells with stem cell-like characteristics, in particular pluripotent or multipotent progenitor cells, wherein such cells are directly or indirectly derived from human mammary secretion, be it colostrum, mature milk, or dry period secretion from males or females, of said human body during at least one of the following periods: non-pregnant period, pregnant period, lactating period, involuting period. The present invention furthermore relates to preferred uses of such isolated cells.
US07776583B2
Disclosed are methods for conducting assays of samples, such as whole blood, that may contain cells or other particulate matter. Also disclosed are systems, devices, equipment, kits and reagents for use in such methods. One advantage of certain disclosed methods and systems is the ability to rapidly measure the concentration of an analyte of interest in blood plasma from a whole blood sample without blood separation and hematocrit correction.
US07776573B2
The present invention concerns determination of the crystal structure of the macrophage specific receptor, CRIg (earlier referred to as STIgMA), and its complex with the C3b and C3c subunits of complement C3 (C3b:CRIg and C3c:CRIg complexes). The invention further concerns the use of the crystal structure of CRIg or the C3b:CRIg complex to screen for and identify molecules structurally and/or functionally related to CRIg, including CRIg agonists and antagonists.
US07776567B2
Dimeric and trimeric nucleic acid dyes, and associated systems and methods are provided. Such a dye may form a hairpin-like structure that enables it to stain nucleic acids via a release-on-demand mechanism, for example. Such a dye may have low background fluorescence in the absence of nucleic acids and high fluorescence in the presence of nucleic acids, upon binding therewith, for example. A dye provided herein may be useful in a variety of applications, such as in DNA quantitation in real-time PCR, for example.
US07776566B2
A microorganism which has a gene encoding an enzyme in which feedback inhibition is desensitized by substitution of one or two amino acids in PRPP amidotransferase encoded by purF of Escherichia coli, a gene encoding a protein which is an inactivated repressor of purine nucleotide biosynthesis encoded by purR, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated purine nucleoside phosphorylase encoded by deoD, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated succinyl-AMP synthase encoded by purA, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase encoded by edd, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated phosphoglucose isomerase encoded by pgi and like is bred and a purine nucleoside is produced by culturing the microorganism.
US07776562B2
The present invention relates to a new method for reversible staining and functional isolation or characterization of cells, e.g. antigen-specific T cells. With this technique, the original functional status of cells can be substantially maintained after their identification and purification. Thus, this new method is of broad benefit for basic research and clinical applications.
US07776558B2
The present invention relates to methods of identifying whether a candidate compound is a modulator of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In certain embodiments, the GPCR is human. In certain embodiments, the GPCR is expressed endogenously by neuronal cells or muscle cells. In certain embodiments, the GPCR is neuroprotective or myoprotective. In certain embodiments, the GPCR is a Humanin receptor. The present invention also relates to methods of using a modulator of the GPCR. A preferred modulator is agonist. Agonists of the invention are useful as therapeutic agents for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in general, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, prion-associated disease, stroke and motor-neuron disease in particular, peripheral neuropathy, cerebral amyloid beta-protein angiopathy, and ischemic heart disease, including myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.
US07776552B2
Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding mammalian IAP polypeptides; and methods of using such DNA to express the IAP polypeptides in cells and animals to inhibit apoptosis. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the IAP family and primer and probes for the identification and isolation of additional IAP genes. In addition, methods for treating diseases and disorders involving apoptosis are provided.
US07776546B2
A method and device for determining a feline immunodeficiency virus infection or vaccination in an animal. The method includes contacting a biological sample from a felid with various FIV polypeptides and determining the binding of antibodies in the sample to the polypeptides. The determination of whether an animal is infected with FIV or has been vaccinated against FIV can be determined by measuring the animal's immune response to an FIV env polypeptide. A device for detecting FIV antibodies is provided.
US07776545B2
Detection of toxic gluten oligopeptides refractory to digestion and antibodies and T cells responsive thereto can be used to diagnose Celiac Sprue.
US07776520B2
Microphthalmia (Mi) while present in melanocytes, a cells and osteoclast, is not normally present in other cells. We have found that Mi is present in the nucleus of melanoma cells. Melanoma can be diagnosed by contacting a malignant cell with a probe for Mi. If the probe identifies Mi in the nucleus of the cell, the cell is a melanoma.
US07776519B2
Method for the detection of cancerous cells, in particular, mesenchymal tumoral cells, in a biological sample suspected of containing said malignant cells. The methods are based on the aberrant expression of the Slug gene or transcription or expression products thereof. Also disclosed are methods of treatment that based on the alteration of the transcription or expression of the Slug gene and methods for screening the compounds that have cancer treating activities. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the anti-cancer compounds are also disclosed.
US07776511B2
A positive resist composition including a resin component (A) which exhibits increased alkali solubility under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the resin component (A) including a structural unit (a0-1) represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below and a structural unit (a0-2) represented by general formula (a0-2) shown below: wherein: R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a halogenated lower alkyl group; each of Y1 and Y3 independently represents an aliphatic cyclic group; Z represents a tertiary alkyl group-containing group or an alkoxyalkyl group; a represents an integer of 1 to 3, and b represents an integer of 0 to 2, such that a+b=1 to 3; each of c, d and e independently represents an integer of 0 to 3; each of g and h independently represents an integer of 0 to 3; and i represents an integer of 1 to 3.
US07776509B2
A photosensitive compound has two or more structural units, in a molecule, represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 to R10 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkyl group, alkoxy group, phenyl group, naphthyl group, and alkyl group in which a part or all of hydrogen atoms are substituted with fluorine atom; and X is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group.
US07776499B2
A photoconductor comprising a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and in contact with the charge transport layer an overcoat layer comprised of a fluorinated poly(oxetane) polymer.
US07776497B2
A mask including a transparent substrate, a non-transmitting layer, a first transmitting layer and a second transmitting layer is provided. The transparent substrate has a first region, a second region, and a third region. The non-transmitting layer is disposed in the first region of the transparent substrate. The first transmitting layer is disposed in the second region and the third region of the transparent substrate. The second transmitting layer is disposed on the first transmitting layer in the third region.
US07776496B2
A photomask layout pattern including an H-shaped pattern having a first opaque line pattern in parallel with a second opaque line pattern and a central zone connecting the first and second line patterns. A zebra-crossing-like dense line and space pattern is disposed in the central zone. The pitch of the zebra-crossing-like dense line and space pattern is beyond the resolution limit of an exposure tool such that light passing the central zone has an exposure energy that is not adequate to form corresponding line/space image on a photoresist.
US07776494B2
Methods for fabricating a semiconductor device and a lithographic mask of use in that method are provided for. The lithographic mask comprises an optically transparent substrate, an attPSM pattern overlying the optically transparent substrate, and a phase shifted optically transparent portion adjacent to and aligned with an edge of the attPSM pattern.
US07776490B2
A seal member is formed integrally on surfaces of a metal separator of a fuel cell. The seal member includes an outer seal and an inner seal provided on a surface of the metal separator. A plurality of closure seals are formed integrally with an inner edge of the inner seal. The closure seals close a space between the inner seal and a protrusion forming a fuel gas flow field.
US07776489B2
A clamping device includes an oblique device and a unidirectional load control plate disposed on the outside of the fuel cell stack, not on the inside of the fuel cell stack. The device can automatically compensating the surface pressure in the fuel cell stack to be maintained constant, and provide a large clamping load with a small force using the load of the fuel cell stack.
US07776485B1
A fuel cell stack including a housing for holding fuel cells is disclosed. Each fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly with a proton exchange membrane disposed between carbon bases, a connector for engaging metalized collectors to form an electrical circuit for operating the fuel cell stack, and a sealable two-part housing for supporting an oxidant manifold and a fuel manifold that support the membrane electrode assembly and flexible plenums of each fuel cell. The fuel cell stack includes fuel cell connectors for connecting an anode from one fuel cell with a cathode from an adjacent fuel cell, a fuel intake in communication with a fuel source and an oxidant intake in communication with an oxidant source for providing fuel and oxidant into the fuel cell stack, a controller for monitoring and regulating fuel and oxidant, and a fuel manifold engaging fuel intakes and an oxidant manifold engaging oxidant intakes.
US07776476B2
A battery capable of improving cycle characteristics is provided. A spirally wound electrode body in which a cathode and an anode are wound with a separator in between is included. An electrolytic solution in which an electrolyte salt is dissolved in a solvent is impregnated in the separator. The electrolytic solution contains a cyclic ester carbonate derivative having halogen atom such as 4-fluoro-1,3-dioxolan-2-one and a light metal salt such as difluoro[oxolate-O,O′]lithium borate, tetrafluoro[oxolate-O,O′]lithium phosphate, and difluoro bis[oxolate-O,O′]lithium phosphate.
US07776474B2
Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode group in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween. The positive electrode contains a positive electrode active material and a binder. The positive electrode active material contains a mixture of two different particulate substances having different average particle sizes. The two different particulate substances are lithium composite metal oxides containing nickel as an essential element. The binder includes fluorocarbon resin and rubber particles. The fluorocarbon resin contains at least a vinylidene fluoride unit. The amount of the rubber particles per 100 parts by weight of the fluorocarbon resin is 1 to 25 parts by weight.
US07776471B2
Disclosed herein is an electrode of an ultra thin manganese battery which has over load discharge properties and high capacity to accomplish a high energy density, by using a mixture of a water-soluble binder and an organic solvent-soluble binder in preparation of the electrode, and a method for preparing the same.
US07776465B1
Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte battery including a battery element contained in an outer covering member composed of a laminated film and sealed therein by heat seal, and a gas absorbable material interposed between the outermost layer of the outer covering member and the battery element. Such a battery is advantageous in that even if gas occurs in the battery element, the laminated film as the outer covering member is prevented from being swelled.
US07776463B2
Electrochemical cell systems are provided. In some implementations, the electrochemical cell system includes a fuel cell and a fuel cartridge connected to the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes (i) a fuel cell housing having a first external surface and a first internal surface defining a first internal volume of the fuel cell housing, and (ii) a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte disposed within the first internal volume. The fuel cartridge includes (i) a cartridge housing having a second external surface and a second internal surface defining a second internal volume of the cartridge housing, wherein the second internal volume includes a fuel; and (ii) a fuel consuming agent disposed on at least one of the first external surface and the second external surface.
US07776462B2
A gypsum slurry includes water, a hydraulic component including stucco and a polycarboxylate dispersant. The dispersant has two repeating units wherein the first repeating unit is an olefinic unsaturated mono-carboxylic acid repeating unit or an ester or salt, and the second repeating unit is a vinyl or allyl group bound to a polyether by an ether linkage. The slurry can be made into a gypsum panel.
US07776452B2
A heat sink member capable of suppressing development of cracks and chaps in manufacturing, suppressing enlargement of a thermal expansion coefficient and suppressing lowering of thermal conductivity is obtained. This heat sink member comprises a ply member (1) mainly composed of Cu, a substrate (2) mainly composed of Mo and a brazing layer (4) consisting of an Sn—Cu alloy (Sn: 1 mass % to 13 mass %) arranged between the ply member and the substrate for bonding the ply member and the substrate to each other.
US07776443B1
The invention herein provides for an improved dye composition for encapsulation in casing structures adapted for projectile motion and rupture upon contact with a target surface, such as paint balls. The dye composition adapted for use in an impact-rupturable capsule of the invention comprises a water soluble dye and a lipophilic carrier having an oil and a nonionic surfactant, said surfactant comprising greater than 97% Poly[oxy-1,2-ethanediyl], alpha-[4-nonylphenyl]-omega-hydroxy-, branched and less than 3% polyethylene glycol and less than 2% dinonylphenyl polyoxyethylene by weight. The invention further provides for an impact-rupturable capsule containing the dye composition.
US07776424B2
An optical sheet includes a substrate, a light diffusion layer formed on the substrate, and a light gathering layer formed on the light diffusion layer. The light diffusion layer includes a polymeric resin having a plurality of bubbles mixed therein. The light gathering layer has at least one microstructure. The optical sheet of the subject invention can be used in LCD's as a photo-diffusive brightness enhancement film.
US07776422B2
A floor mat having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface; and a V-shaped retention feature. The V-shaped retention feature extends from the second surface and has first and second ramp surfaces disposed at an angle relative to the second surface.
US07776416B2
A case-ready package has a support member, a lid, and an absorbent pad capable of withstanding sudden evacuation without rupture. The absorbent pad has upper and lower webs enveloping an absorbent layer, with the upper and lower webs adhered to one another around the periphery of the pad. The lower web is a permeable web comprising fiber. The fiber is preferably hydrophobic, and preferably has a hydrophilic composition thereon. The invention also pertains to a packaging process and packaged product using the absorbent pad.
US07776415B2
To provide a stretch-formed multilayer container with excellent oxygen-gas barrier properties even in a high humidity atmosphere, which is obtained by stretching a multilayer sheet or a multilayer preform, which contains at least one layer made of a mixture of a polycarboxylic acid-based polymer (B) and a plasticizer (C) and at least one layer made of a mixture of a multivalent metal compound (D) and a resin (E), from 1.1 to 100 times its area draw ratio.
US07776411B2
A liquid crystal display having a brightness enhancement film and a method of manufacturing the brightness enhancement film, the method including providing a solution of high molecular weight resin on a high molecular weight film, uniformly distributing the solution of high molecular weight resin on the high molecular weight film, and drying the solution of high molecular weight resin to form a high molecular weight resin layer, wherein the high molecular weight resin layer has a hexagonal lattice structure.
US07776410B2
A purpose of the present invention is to obtain a hollow extruded article by easy blow molding or extrusion molding to give a draw down resistance and a uniform wall thickness of the article without damaging low gas permeability which is a characteristic property of a liquid-crystalline polymer. A resin composition for extrusion molding which is prepared by melting and kneading 99-70 wt. % of wholly aromatic polyester amide liquid crystal resin (A) having a melting point of 270-370° C. and a melt viscosity at 1000/sec. shear rate of 20-60 Pa·s at Temperature T1 which is higher than 20° C. from said melting point, and containing (I) 1-15 mole % of 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid residue, (II) 40-70 mole % of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid residue, (III) 5-28.5 mole % of aromatic diol residue, (IV) 1-20 mole % of 4-aminophenol residue, and (V) 6-29.5 mole % of aromatic dicarboxylic acid residue; and 1-30 wt. % of epoxy modified polyolefin type resin (B), and has a melt viscosity at 1000/sec. shear rate of 60-4000 Pa·s at said Temperature T1, and a melt tensile strength of 20 mN or more at 14.8 m/min. draw rate is used.
US07776409B2
A method of evaluating an electrode for discharge surface treatment for generating a discharge between the electrode and a workpiece in a treatment liquid or in the air using a green compact obtained by molding a metal, metal compound, or ceramic powder or other green compact obtained by heating the green compact as the electrode, and forming a coat consisting of an electrode material or a substance obtained by a reaction of the electrode material by a discharge energy on a surface of the workpiece, includes evaluating a capability of the electrode to deposit the coat based on an amount of deposition of the electrode material on the surface of the workpiece by a single discharge.
US07776404B2
Methods for forming thermal oxidative barrier coatings for organic matrix composites include applying a bond coat having nano-particles dispersed in a polyimide matrix to a hot side surface of a component and overlying the bond coat with a thermal barrier layer comprising a silsesquioxane or an inorganic polymer. The nano-particles may include clay platelets, graphite flakes or a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. The bond coat may be applied as a liquid. The thermal barrier layer may be applied as a liquid, film, prepreg, molding compound, or a spray.
US07776398B2
A mesostructured material, which has plural tubular pores and is arranged on a polymer surface, characterized in that the pores are uniaxially oriented. The mesostructured material can be developed to functional devices.
US07776393B2
Provided is a method of producing an alumina film mainly in alpha crystal structure superior in heat resistance, wherein the alumina film mainly in alpha crystal structure is formed on a substrate, independently of the kind of the substrate at relatively low temperature, by treating the substrate surface with a ceramic powder mainly having the crystal structure same as that of alumina in the alpha crystal structure, in forming the alumina film mainly in alpha crystal structure on the substrate (including the substrate having a film previously formed thereon).
US07776392B2
In one embodiment of the present invention as used for impregnating a composite tape (56) with HTC particles provides for permeating a fabric layer (51) of the composite tape with HTC particles and impregnating an impregnating resin into the composite tape through the fabric layer (51). At least 5% of the HTC particles permeated into the fabric layer are carried out of the fabric layer and into a mica layer (52) bound to the fabric layer by the impregnating resin. In some embodiments the impregnating resin itself contains HTC particles.
US07776387B2
A method for manufacturing a magneto-resistance effect element includes: forming a first magnetic layer; forming a first metallic layer, on the first magnetic layer, mainly containing an element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag; forming a functional layer, on the first metallic layer, mainly containing an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Hf, Ti, Mo, W, Nb, Mg, Cr and Zr; forming a second metallic layer, on the functional layer, mainly containing Al; treating the second metallic layer by means of oxidizing, nitriding or oxynitiriding so as to form a current confined layer including an insulating layer and a current path with a conductor passing a current through the insulating layer; and forming, on the current confined layer, a second magnetic layer.
US07776386B2
A method is provided for fabricating an integrated micro fuel cell that derives power from a three-dimensional fuel/oxidant interchange having increased surface area and that is positioned on a second substrate that may be either porous or flexible with gas access holes, thereby avoiding precise alignment requirements of the openings providing fuel thereto. The method comprises forming on a first substrate, a plurality of pedestals including an anode and a cathode each comprising a porous metal; positioning an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; and forming first metal contacts on the anode and cathode. The first substrate is removed and a second substrate is positioned against the fuel cell wherein the first metal contacts are selectively positioned to make electrical contact with second metal contacts on the second substrate.
US07776384B2
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the production of nanometric filamentary structures. The method comprises passing a gaseous phase comprising nanometric filamentary structures through a space defined between at least two electrodes generating an electric field for causing an increase of current between the electrodes and analyzing behavior of the current over a predetermined period of time and/or analyzing at least one of the size, density and shape of the nanometric filamentary structures or aggregates thereof present in the gaseous phase.
US07776379B2
Disclosed herein are methods to create medical devices and medical devices including bioactive composite structures. The methods include using template-assisted electro- or electroless deposition or codeposition methods for providing implantable medical devices coated with bioactive composite structures and also include layering deposited or codeposited metal layers with layers of bioactive materials. In one use, the implantable medical devices of the present invention include stents with bioactive composite structure coatings.
US07776378B2
A canola protein isolate having a protein of at least about 90 wt % (N×6.25) is employed as an at least partial replacement for at least one component providing functionality in a food composition. The canola protein isolate is a dried concentrated supernatant from the settling of a solid phase of a dispersion of canola protein micelles.
US07776374B2
The invention relates to a method of thawing one or more frozen blocks of meat, said blocks of meat being composed of units of meat frozen together. This object is achieved in that the frozen blocks of meat are placed in a drum of a massage system, said drum comprising carriers, and a liquid having a temperature higher than that of the frozen blocks of meat is supplied in the interior of the massage wings, and that brine having a temperature higher than that of the frozen blocks of meat is supplied to the drum. The drum rotates/revolves, and the blocks of meat are continuously broken up into smaller units of meat. Preferably, a negative pressure is established in the drum during thawing.
US07776365B2
An article with skin-protecting and moisturizing compound, comprising a tissue substrate, a base and partially hydrolyzed fucoidan. The partially hydrolyzed fucoidan may be sulfonated. The partially hydrolyzed fucoidan may be derived from Tongan limu moui seaweed, Japanese wakame seaweed, Japanese mozuku seaweed, or combinations thereof.
US07776362B2
A decontaminant composition comprising a peroxide; an organic co-solvent; an amine, which in reaction with the peroxide is a source of a perhydrolysis species; a phase transfer catalyst comprising at least one quaternary ammonium compound; a metal oxide catalyst; a chemical base; and at least one pH buffering compound.
US07776360B2
The present invention is directed to novel compounds, methods of manufacture and methods of use. The present invention is also directed to solid drug/active agent particles having one or more of the compounds of the present invention associated with the surface thereof.The compounds of the present invention are comprised of a non-polar polyether covalently linked to an anionic sulfonate group. The compounds have an amphipathic quality and preferably, are surface active. Such compounds are preferably useful as surface-active agents to coat and stabilize dispersions of particles in a continuous liquid medium. These surface-active agents may be applied in the stabilization of suspensions, emulsions, or liposome formulations intended for pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, or agricultural use.The particles that can be prepared by a variety of methods and will preferably comprise a pharmaceutical agent. Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be used to treat a myriad of conditions and can be administered by many routes, including intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrathecal, subdural, intracameral, intracerebral, intralesional, topical, oral, buccal, rectal, transcutaneous, pulmonary, and nasal.
US07776359B1
The invention relates to hydrogel compositions, which can be applied as biodegradable materials and to the processes to prepare such hydrogels. The hydrogel of the present invention comprises a stereocomplex gel structure which is the result of the interaction of oligomerized monomers of one chirality with that of oligomerized monomers of the opposite chirality, both grafted to hydrophilic polymers. The grafts form an interaction which is different from a covalent chemical interaction and thus provide the gel with the required coherence.
US07776357B1
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for inserting one or several chemical or biological species into phospholipid containers that are controlled within a microfluidic network, wherein individual containers are tracked and manipulated by electric fields and wherein the contained species may be chemically processed.
US07776353B1
The present invention relates the manufacture of conjugated linoleic acid, and in particular, to feeds and food products containing conjugated linoleic acid. Accordingly, processes for producing conjugated linoleic acid of high purity are disclosed. These processes utilize alcoholate catalysts and esters of sunflower oil, safflower oil, or corn oil as the source of linoleic acid. The esters of conjugated linoleic acid produced by the process can be used in animal feeds and in food products suitable for human consumption. Furthermore, the esters can be converted into free fatty acids or incorporated into triglycerides.
US07776351B2
The present invention provides curable materials, medical devices incorporating such materials, wherein the curable materials are capable of releasing hydrolyzable leaving agents upon hydrolysis that can form agents (e.g., pharmaceutically active agents), and methods of making and using such materials and devices.
US07776349B2
A composition suitable for the local delivery of cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical agents into the skin containing at least two biocompatible organic solvents, a polar lipid, a surfactant, water, urea and a thickener wherein the organic solvents include an ester and a dihydric and/or polyhydric alcohol is provided. Also disclosed are compositions that further contain a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical agent, along with the preparation and use thereof.
US07776342B2
This invention discloses means for obtaining immunogenic peptides, polypeptides, proteins, and their corresponding nucleic acid sequences, target cells with vaccine interest, or lysates thereof, without making structural changes in said antigens, through their association with Very Small Size Proteoliposomes.The object of the invention is to provide immunogenic compositions containing peptides, polypeptides, proteins, their corresponding DNA sequences, cells or their lysates and Very Small Size Proteoliposomes (VSSP), which are formed by binding the Outer Membrane Protein Complex (OMPC) of Neisseria meningitidis with gangliosides, by means of hydrophobic links. Additionally, it is stated that these compositions can be formulated alone or in the form of emulsions with the Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA), and may also be lyophilized.The essence of the invention consists in describing compositions that triggers immunogenicity in low immunogenic antigens, such as growth factor receptors, without imparting structural changes therein. Particularly, this invention refers to preparation of immuno-stimulating compositions capable of generating antigen-specific immune responses, even in immuno-compromised hosts, such as those suffering form cancer or viral or bacterial chronic infections. In said patients, the administration of the vaccine compositions described in this invention has lead to the reestablishment of the functionality of the immune system. Vaccine compositions of this invention can be used to protect or treat infectious, or auto-immune diseases.
US07776341B2
Mycobacterial proteins from culture filtrate or cytosol are disclosed as being useful B cell antigens for early diagnosis of mycobacterial disease, particularly in humans. These proteins include four that had not previously been recognized as B cell antigens (LppZ protein encoded by Mtb gene Rv3006; SodC protein encoded by Mtb gene Rv0432; BfrB protein encoded by Mtb gene Rv3841 and TrxC protein encoded by Mtb gene Rv3914). Antigenic compositions include these proteins and/or peptide fragments thereof, in various combinations with each other or with one or more of a set of 10 additional Mtb proteins known to be antigens (in particular early antigens. Methods and kits for using these antigenic composition for early diagnosis of mycobacterial infection and disease are also disclosed.
US07776338B2
The present invention describes the adjuvant activity of mutants of LT-IIa and LT-IIb enterotoxin which lack ganglioside binding activity. The adjuvant activity of the LT-IIb(T13I) mutant is comparable to that of the wild type LT-IIb. The adjuvant activity of LT-IIa(T34I) mutant is also described which exhibits a late onset adjuvant activity. These mutants are useful for enhancing immune response to antigens.
US07776332B1
A composition for an infant formula which includes casein protein and whey protein; a method of producing the composition; use of the composition in the manufacture of a medicament or nutritional product for addressing malnutrition; and a method of addressing malnutrition which includes administering an effective amount of the composition are provided. The composition includes protein, free arginine; tryptophan and histidine, a lipid source and a carbohydrate source. In addition, the whey protein is sweet whey protein from which caseino-glyco-macropeptide has been removed.
US07776322B2
This invention relates to viral vector particles, including capsid proteins with an attachment site for the specific chemical modification of the vector particles. Furthermore, the invention relates to procedures for the production of these viral vector particles. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of these viral vector particles as a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic means in humans and primates as well as other vertebrates like cattle, pigs, birds, fish, or rodents.
US07776317B2
The invention relates to a glycerol ether mixture which consists essentially of a) at least one C12-22 glycerol monoalkyl ether, b) at least one C12-22 glycerol dialkylether and optionally c) at least one C12-22 glycerol trialkyl ether and/or d) at least one C12-22 fatty alcohol, components a) and b) together making up at least 50% by weight of the glycerol ether mixture and the ratio by weight of component a) to component b) being in the range from 3:1 to 1:2. The invention also relates to a process for producing the glycerol ether mixture and to cosmetic compositions containing the glycerol ether mixture.
US07776305B2
A nitrogen oxide purifying apparatus includes a gas absorption vessel (1) and a condenser (6), where the vessel receives an absorption solution containing liquefied N2O4 for absorbing NO and also receives a source gas to vary the temperature and/or pressure of the source gas and the absorption solution, while the condenser receives a gas from the gas absorption vessel (1) to vary the temperature and/or pressure of the gas. In the gas absorption vessel (1), the absorption solution containing liquefied N2O4 may be applied to the source gas containing NO, so that NO is absorbed in the absorption solution. Then the absorption-solution is heated and/or depressurized to generate an intermediate gas containing a relatively large amount of NO and a smaller amount of NO2 from the absorption solution. In the condenser (6), the intermediate gas is cooled and/or pressurized to give condensed N2O3 and/or condensed N2O4.
US07776299B2
A process for removal of SO2 in off-gases having a temperature of 30-150° C. and containing 0.001-1 vol % SO2 in which the SO2 is oxidised to H2 SO4 by spraying an aqueous solution of H2O2 into the off-gas upstream of an aerosol filter removing the produced sulphuric acid from the off-gas.
US07776298B2
The invention relates to a process and a device for the removal of dust, HF, HCl, SO2, SO3, heavy metals, heavy-metal compounds, polyhalogenated hydrocarbons and polycyclic hydrocarbons from combustion flue gases by treating the pollutant-containing combustion flue gases with a sorbent in a circulating fluidized bed. The process is characterized in that the sorbent used is a mixture of Ca(OH)2, at least one naturally occurring zeolite and a carbon-containing substance, in that the treatment of the pollutant-containing combustion flue gases with the sorbent is carried out at from 120 to 180° C. in the presence of water/steam, in that the reactor (3) of the circulating fluidized bed is operated at a gas velocity of from 2 to 10 m/s, a mean residence time of the solids particles in the case of a single pass of from 1 to 10 seconds, and a solids circulation rate of from 10 to 100, where the gas/solid suspension present in the reactor (3) has a mean suspension density of from 1 to 10 kg of solid/Nm3 of flue gas, and in that the removal of the loaded sorbent is carried out by filtration.
US07776297B2
Multi-stage heat absorbing reactor and process for SCR or NOx and for oxidation of elemental mercury
A selective catalytic reduction apparatus has at least first and last catalyst layers in series for reducing nitrogen oxides in a flue gas, at least one interstage heat exchanger located after the first layer and before the last layer, that lowers flue gas temperature, and that acts as a mixing body to lower the standard deviation of the NH3/NO ratio entering catalyst layers after the first catalyst layer, thus providing better consumption of both ammonia and NOx in the reactor than would be achieved in the absence of the at least one interstage heat exchanger.
US07776295B2
An apparatus for removing harmful gas components out of the earth's atmosphere is a free-flying autonomous lightweight aircraft with an onboard gas processing system including gas separation or extraction devices, and inlets and outlets connected to the devices. Solar cells and/or thermoelectric generators provided on the craft produce electrical energy to operate the individual devices. The system may include a cryogenic closed-loop circulation system that participates in liquefying the extracted gas components. The apparatus is preferably a lighter-than-air craft like a dirigible. A method of extracting harmful gas components from the atmosphere involves flying the apparatus at a prescribed altitude level and operating the gas processing system to remove the harmful gas component from the atmosphere, then returning the apparatus to earth to offload the liquefied stored harmful gas component.
US07776292B2
The present disclosure relates to the decontamination of articles contaminated (or thought to be contaminated) with bioweapons, such as methods and apparatus for decontaminating articles contaminated with sporualated bioweapons. In some embodiments, the methods are methods of decontaminating an environment, for example a room or building contaminated with a bioweapon.
US07776288B2
A charging device for a tubular reactor has metering chambers which can be filled with filling material, such as, for example, catalytically coated carrier material, it being possible for a respective tube of the tubular reactor to be filled via a feed device which adjoins the metering chamber. The metering chamber has a sloping surface and an opposing surface for supporting the filling material, which run at an angle to one another.
US07776283B2
An apparatus for producing a xylene isomer, which integrates the removal of olefins into a reaction zone of the apparatus is disclosed. Apparatus of this invention enable the use of aromatic feedstocks containing olefins and reduce or eliminate the need for feed pretreatment by olefin removal assemblies or zones such as hydrotreating, hydrogenation, and clay and/or molecular sieve treating, thereby reducing capital and operating costs.
US07776273B2
The present invention generally discloses an extraction system that provides a locale for fluid processing and extraction on a post-microcapture transfer film. The extraction system includes a transfer film carrier and an extraction device forming a reservoir. The extraction system selectively excludes regions of the transfer film from the reservoir to advantageously reduce contamination due to matter adhered to the transfer film by non-specific transfer.
US07776238B2
This invention includes methods and systems for processing hydrogel lenses using aqueous solutions as leaching aids.
US07776232B2
A powdery white vulcanization promoter composition which is excellent in storage stability, the resistance of blends thereof with rubbers or the like to heat build-up, and design; and rubber compositions containing the same. Specifically, a vulcanization promoter composition which comprises a modified calcium carbonate (A) surface-treated with a fatty acid or a resin acid and a silicic acid, an inorganic filler (B) exhibiting an oil absorption of as high as 50 to 300 ml/100 g, and a vulcanization promoter component (C) liquid at ordinary temperatures, characterized in that the (A):(B) mixing ratio is within the range of 30:70 to 95:5 and the content of (C) is 30 to 80 wt % based on the whole of the promoter composition.
US07776212B2
A boot seal for a vertically traveling water screen and a method forming a boot seal. The boot seal comprises a bent plate that extends from an attachment end to a free end. The attachment end is attached to a frame mounted at the bottom of a channel of water flowing through the water screen. The boot seal is positioned just upstream of the upward-moving upstream face of the water screen. The free end of the bent plate in a rest position is positioned close to or lightly touching the upstream face of the water screen. The bent plate has a concave surface facing the water screen. The bent plate acts as a cam follower to a passing lift element's cam. As the lift element slides along the concave cam surface, the lift element pivots the boot plate in an upstream direction against a spring bias. When the lift element clears the boot plate, the boot plate springs back to its rest position.
US07776208B2
This disclosure discusses integrating syngas streams with refinery hydrotreators, synthetic hydrocarbon gas to liquid (GTL) processes, and power generation units (such as combined cycle units) to efficiently use hydrogen contained in the syngas produced from heavy hydrocarbons (pet coke, residues, oil, etc.). Membrane separation and pressure swing adsorption is used to separate components of syngas and feed them to refineries, GTL units, and power/steam generation units. Hydrogen-rich refinery purge is used to raise the H2/CO ratio of syngas. A hydrogen-enriched syngas is produced with an H2/CO ratio favorable for the production on synthetic hydrocarbons (greater than about 1.5 to about 2.0 or higher). Pure hydrogen is also produced in a PSA unit, to further raise the H2/CO ratio of the syngas and provide hydrogen feed for refinery hydrotreators and synthetic hydrocarbon units (such as methanol units).
US07776206B2
A process for producing a lubricant bright stock from a very heavy feed obtained from a petroleum crude is disclosed. The bright stock produced by the present process has a reduced cloud point and better oxidation stability relative to bright stocks prepared by conventional methods. The process comprises the steps of providing a petroleum residuum-derived stream; separating the residuum-derived stream at a distillation cut point in the range of 1150° F. to 1300° F., into a heavy fraction and at least one light fraction; hydrocracking the at least one light fraction under conditions to reduce the concentration of sulfur and nitrogen to suitable levels for hydroisomerization dewaxing; and dewaxing at least a portion of the hydrocracked stream under hydroisomerization conditions to produce a lubricant bright stock.
US07776205B2
The instant invention relates to a process to produce liquid products through the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbonaceous feedstreams in the presence of a bulk metal hydroprocessing catalyst.
US07776196B2
A method for arranging particles according to one aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of: forming a thin film on a surface of a substrate, the thin film being obtained by dispersing first particles made of metal in a material, a surface of the material is to be charged to a first polarity in a predetermined solution; dispersing second particles in the solution, the second particles being charged to a second polarity opposite to the first polarity; immersing the thin film in the solution; and irradiating the thin film with light having a wavelength which causes plasmon resonance with surface plasmons of the metal particles.
US07776188B2
A transport belt for a machine for producing a fiber material web, in particular paper or paperboard, has, on a web material side, a web material contact surface and, on a machine side, a machine contact surface, wherein a multiplicity of depressions are provided in the transport belt on the machine side.
US07776185B2
The invention relates to a machine for producing and/or further processing a fibrous web, said machine comprising a press part and a drying part. The press part comprises only one press nip, and the first or second drying group of the dry part comprises an air-flow drying unit.
US07776184B2
The present invention relates to a washing apparatus (2) for washing of cellulose pulp, comprising a rotatable drum (4), a stationary support (6), a discharge device (8) that has an outlet orifice (9), a casing that surround the drum and that forms a longitudinal discharge opening (10) and a conveyer worm (12) arranged below the outlet orifice for reception and removal of washed pulp. The conveyer worm (12) is movably arranged relatively the support (6) between a first position (P1), in which the conveyer worm receives washed pulp during operation, and a second position (P2), in which the outlet orifice (9) is exposed and access to the drum (4) via the outlet orifice is possible for carrying out service, maintenance and inspection of the washing apparatus (2).
US07776176B2
A process for marking a composite panel prior to curing for subsequent identification. An illustrative embodiment of the process includes applying a label strip made of a resin-permeable material to a composite panel formed of a resin and curing the panel to an elevated temperature such that the resin at least partially permeates the label strip. A marked composite panel is also disclosed.
US07776171B2
An arrangement (1) for the treatment of a material (7, 8; 7′, 8′; 7″, 8″; 18) having at least two layers of material by an ultrasonic device (2) having an ultrasonic horn (3) arranged in conjunction with an abutment (5), in conjunction with which the material (7, 8; 7′, 8′; 7″, 8″; 18) is positioned in a gap (6) that is defined between the ultrasonic horn (3) and the abutment (5), and the ultrasonic horn (3) and/or the abutment (5) is/are so arranged as to be capable of displacement to permit adjustment of the size of the gap (6), for which purpose the arrangement (1) also includes a control unit (13) for the regulation of the size of the gap (6) dependent on the energy supplied to the material in the course of the treatment. The arrangement further includes a detection device (16) for the determination of at least one predetermined dimension (b1; d1; b3) of the material (7, 8; 7′, 8′; 7″, 8″; 18), in conjunction with which the control unit (13) is arranged for the regulation of the size of the gap (6) dependent on at least the dimension (b1; d1; b3).
US07776165B1
A method of manufacturing a workpiece involves performing any one of various post-processing part modification steps on a workpiece that has been previously subjected to laser shock processing. In one step, material is removed from the compressive residual stress region of the processed workpiece. Alternately, the workpiece may be provided with oversized dimensions such that the removal process removes an amount of material sufficient to generate a processed workpiece having dimensions substantially conforming to design specifications. Alternately, the material removal process is adapted to establish a penetration depth for material removal that coincides with the depth at which the workpiece exhibits maximum compressive residual stress. Alternately, a first high-intensity laser shock processing treatment is performed on the workpiece, followed by the removal of material from the compressive residual stress region, and then a second low-intensity laser shock processing treatment is performed on the workpiece. Material may be removed from the compressive residual stress region through a workpiece surface different from the laser shock processed surface. Material may also be deposited onto the laser shock processed surface.
US07776158B2
Aqueous floor cleaning and/or care composition, containing, based on the total composition, at least 3% by weight of a nonionic surfactant of formula I: wherein R1 represents hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 18 C atoms, and R2, independently of R1, represents hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 18 C atoms, and the sum of the C atoms present overall in R1 and R2 is between 6 and 18, and R3 represents an alkyl radical having 4 to 18 C atoms, and R4 hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms and n is a number from 1 to 30 and m a number from 0 to 5.
US07776148B2
Curable compositions with at least one hydrolyzis products from an organosilane of a general formula R1aR2bSiX(4-a-b, or oligomer therefrom, wherein R1 represents a non-hydrolyzable radical, R2 represents a non-hydrolyzable radical that includes a functional group and X represents similar or different radicals that are hydroxyl-groups and hydrolyzable products of substitution reactions of hydroxyl groups and wherein a is 0 or 1, b is 0 to 3 and the sum of a and b can be 1, 2 or 3, and at least one substituent R2 is an epoxy group and at least one blocked polyisocyanate. The invention also includes mixtures which contain pigments and/or fillers, the process for the production of crosslinked masses through reaction of the hydrolyzis products, namely modified polysiloxanes, with blocked polyisocyanates as well as therewith produced coatings and molded bodies.
US07776137B2
A polyimide MMC membrane useful for the production of oxygen-enriched air or nitrogen-enriched-air, for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons or nitrogen, and the separation of helium or hydrogen from various streams. Membranes of polyimide polymers, such as polyimide polymers sold under the tradename P-84, are mixed with molecular sieve materials, such as SSZ-13, to make MMC membranes. The MMC membranes of the invention provide improved membrane performance compared to polymer only membranes, particularly when used to form asymmetric film membranes or hollow fiber membranes. The MMC films exhibit consistent permeation performance as dense film or asymmetric membranes, and do not interact with components of the process streams, such as organic solvents. The membranes of the invention exhibit particularly surprisingly good selectivity for the fluids of interest.
US07776130B2
Silver nanoprisms having a unimodal size distribution are disclosed. The size of the nanoprisms can be controlled by adjusting the pH during irradiation of silver nanocrystals.
US07776127B2
A method of operating a channel induction furnace to process a feed material and obtain therefrom at least one of a molten metal product, a vapor phase metal product and a slag product. The method involves the use a variety of feed materials that contribute to the molten metal product and/or the vapor phase metal product and/or the slag product and/or function as a binder for briquetting or pelletizing the feed material.
US07776126B2
A method of operating a channel induction furnace to process a feed material and obtain therefrom at least one of a molten metal product, a vapor phase metal product and a slag product. The method includes applying a controlled vacuum on the headspace of the channel induction furnace to controlling the amount of ambient air that enters the furnace or adding oxygen into the channel induction furnace. The method also includes controlling the carbon concentration in the molten bath in the channel induction furnace to control the fluidity of the bath.
US07776119B2
A self cleaning filter for a small internal combustion engine (1) is disclosed. The filter (16, 36, 46) is generally rectangular and is located closely adjacent the air exit region of the engine's fan (2). The longitudinal axis of the filter is generally aligned with the direction of air flow. The filter can be flat (16), curved (36) or inclined towards the air flow (46). The arrangement permits a more compact configuration for the engine (1).
US07776096B2
A stent, or device for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall, or annulus fibrosus, after surgical incision or pathologic rupture, which is inserted through an aperture into the subannular space. The stent has radial extensions which are caused or allowed to expand into an expanded configuration to bridge the aperture. The stent thereby occludes the defective region from the inside of the vertebral disc and prevents the migration of nucleus pulposus therethrough, while also providing a scaffold for tissue growth.
US07776094B2
A bone block for insertion into a patient's intervertebral space. A method for inserting a bone block into a patient's intervertebral space, comprising: supporting the bone block in an inserter; advancing the inserter into the intervertebral space; rotating the inserter, thereby separating adjacent vertebrae; separating the bone block and the inserter with a push rod; and removing the inserter from the intervertebral space.
US07776093B2
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for vertebral body replacement and methods associated therewith. In one embodiment, a vertebral body replacement apparatus may be used to correct and stabilize the spine (e.g., the thoracolumbar spine (T1-L5)). In another embodiment, a vertebral body (e.g., a diseased and/or damaged vertebral body) that has been resected or excised (e.g., for the treatment of a tumor or trauma) may be replaced (with the height of the resected or excised vertebral body being substantially replaced and restored by the apparatus of the present invention).
US07776084B2
A prosthetic mitral heart valve including a contoured sewing ring that better matches the mitral valve annulus. The sewing ring includes an inflow end and an outflow end, the outflow and having at least one raised portion. There may be two raised portions located approximately 120° apart from each other and designed to register with two anterior trigones of the mitral valve annulus. The sewing ring may be formed by a suture-permeable annular member surrounded by a fabric covering, the annular member desirably being molded of silicone. The raised portion(s) may gently curve upward to a height of about 2 mm above the adjacent portions of the outflow end of the sewing ring. The sewing ring may also be constructed so as to be more flexible around a posterior aspect than around an anterior aspect to accommodate calcified tissue more commonly found around the posterior annulus. The contoured sewing ring can be combined with various types of heart valve including bioprosthetic and mechanical valves. A bioprosthetic heart valve of the present invention may include a support stent having three outflow commissures alternating with three inflow cusps, with two of the commissures being located at the same place as two raised portions of the sewing ring. A method of implant includes tilting the prosthetic heart valve in the mitral annulus so that a posterior commissure angles away from the ventricular wall and reduces the chance of contact therebetween.
US07776080B2
A catheter system and method for implanting an endoprosthesis such as a stent at a treatment site in a patient's body lumen. The catheter provides a complete system for stent delivery, dilatation, and delivery and/or recovery of an expandable device, such as an embolic protection device, adjacent to the treatment site in the body lumen.
US07776077B2
An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.
US07776067B2
A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper portion, a receiver member or head, a retaining and articulating structure, and a pressure insert disposed between the shank upper portion and a rod. The receiver has a U-shaped cradle defining a channel for receiving a spinal fixation rod and a receiver cavity. The retaining and articulating structure attaches to the shank and rotates with the shank in the cavity during positioning. The pressure insert presses upon the shank upper portion and not the retaining and articulating structure.
US07776057B2
A method includes advancing an apparatus having an elongated member transorally into the stomach. The apparatus includes a distal end effector having first and second members configured to engage tissue. The first and second members are movable relatively toward one another generally in a first plane. The method includes moving the distal end effector relative to the elongated member in the first plane such that the distal end effector is retroflexed out of alignment with the elongated member to position the first and second members for engagement with the tissue. At least one of the first and second members carries a fixation device for fixing engaged portions of tissue together.
US07776055B2
A system and method for tracking progress of insertion of a rod in a bone includes a bone fragment including a central canal, a plurality of sensors including first and second sensors, and a computer. The first sensor is attached to the rod and the second sensor is attached to the bone fragment. The rod is inserted into the central canal of the bone fragment. The computer displays a location of the rod in the central canal. The location is based on at least a pose of the central canal relative to the second sensor, dimensional data of the rod relative to the first sensor, and tracking data provided by the sensors. The tracking data includes a position of the first sensor relative to the second sensor.
US07776050B2
An insertion instrument for a pair of sliding prostheses has, on a support plate, two clamps which are arranged at a predetermined spacing from one another and receive the sliding prostheses. The clamps are connected to the support plate via a releasable coupling and may be provided in any position in the lateromedial (LM) direction, i.e. the clamps can adopt different positions in the LM direction. They are clamped securely in the respectively chosen position by a fixing device.
US07776047B2
A guide device is provided for use with a spinal fixation element that has at least one pair of thru bores formed therein. The guide device generally includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A guide member is coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and it includes at least one pathway extending therethrough, and at least one alignment element that is positioned distal of the guide member. Each alignment element(s) is adapted to interact with a spinal fixation element to position the guide member with respect to the spinal fixation element such that the each pathway in the guide member is aligned with a corresponding thru bore formed in the spinal fixation element. The guide member can then be used to guide tools, devices, and/or implants through each pathway in the spinal fixation element and into bone.
US07776027B2
A medical instrument includes a handpiece, an electromechanical transducer disposed in the handpiece, and an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in the handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to the transducer. A probe is operatively connected to the transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by the transducer to an operative site in a patient. A switching device is mounted to the handpiece and is operatively connected to the circuit and the transducer for enabling the supply of power to the transducer during a motion of the probe in a preselected direction relative to the handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to the transducer upon a termination of motion of the probe in the preselected direction.
US07776025B2
A system for delivering medicaments to tissue including a delivery member and an optical fiber formed together into a unitary structure. The optical fiber has an inlet attached to a laser energy source and an outlet for emitting laser energy. The delivery member has an inlet attached to a medicament source and an outlet for injecting medicament. A handpiece is adapted to receive the ablating and injecting device in a controlled and movable relationship and may include at least one tissue stabilizing member thereon. In use, the distal end of the handpiece is placed against tissue to be ablated. The optical fiber is advanced into the tissue while emitting laser energy thereby ablating the tissue and forming a channel therein. During retraction, medicament may be injected into the channel or into the tissue surrounding the channel.
US07776023B2
An hole-opening implement (5 or 50) for opening a hole in a soft material (2) has a first cutting part and a second cutting part. To pierce the soft material with the hole-opening implement, both cutting parts advances in the soft material while cutting the soft material. Such a state that the second cutting part remains in the soft material just after the first cutting part is passed through the soft material is assured so that a cut piece as bound to the soft material can remain after the opening. The first cutting part is formed at a tip of the hole-opening implement, and the second cutting part is disposed behind the first cutting part in the piercing direction of the hole-opening implement. Otherwise, the hole-opening implement may be constructed so that the first cutting part is sharp in section and the second cutting part is formed so as to have lower cutting force than the first cutting part.
US07776016B1
A safety enclosure which is designed for a hypodermic needle that is located in the shape of an approximate right angle (Huber needle). A safety enclosure has a needle housing within which the Huber needle is mounted. The needle housing is mounted in conjunction with a panel unit. The panel unit is composed of a series of planar panels which are edge connected together defining an enclosed area. The panel unit can be movable from a basically transverse position to an elongated position. When in the transverse position, the panel unit is to be mounted with adhesive tape onto the skin of a patient with the sharp end of the needle being inserted within the body of the patient. When the panel unit is in the elongated position, the needle is withdrawn from the body of the patient and the sharpened end of the needle is covered by the panels thereby preventing undesired needlestick injury to the medical practitioner that is installing and removing the enclosure.
US07776000B2
A fixing system and method for fixing a navigational reference array for image-assisted medical treatment with respect to a patient, wherein the reference array is arranged the patient's body with the assistance of an immobilizing device, and wherein the immobilizing device is a vacuum mattress or a vacuum mattress patient jacket, and at least one anchoring for the reference array is provided on or in the vacuum mattress or a vacuum mattress patient jacket.
US07775993B2
A system includes one or more sensors and a processor. Each of the sensors generates a signal as a function of at least one physiological parameter of a patient that may discernibly change when the patient is asleep. The processor monitors the physiological parameters, and determines whether the patient is asleep based on the parameters. In some embodiments, the processor determines plurality of sleep metric values, each of which indicates a probability of the patient being asleep, based on each of a plurality of physiological parameters. The processor may average or otherwise combine the plurality of sleep metric values to provide an overall sleep metric value that is compared to a threshold value in order to determine whether the patient is asleep.
US07775990B2
A device for expressing blood from a wound site formed in dermal tissue is constructed, in one embodiment, in the shape of a cap which can be removably mounted onto a lancing instrument. The blood expression device includes an annular support member and a plurality of movable fingers integrally formed onto the support member in a spaced apart relationship, the free ends of the plurality of fingers together defining a generally circular opening. Each finger is adapted for pivotal displacement in such a manner that its free end projects into the circular opening. In use, the free ends of the plurality of fingers are disposed in contact against the dermal tissue immediately surrounding the wound site. As the device is urged downward onto the dermal tissue, the free ends of the plurality of fingers collapse inward and pinch into the dermal tissue so as to create a uniform ring of pressure around the wound site which, in turn, results in the expression of blood.
US07775989B2
A sample ejecting safety biopsy needle forceps includes a pair of pivotable cups and a sample-spearing needle disposed between the jaws for holding multiple specimens. A tissue sample-contacting surface at a proximal end of a needle is movable relative to the needle to contact the samples and push them along the needle when the cups are in an open position. A control or actuator at a proximal end of the forceps accomplishes the relative movement.
US07775986B2
A therapy device having a blood pressure device and a regulating device for a time-variable regulation of the blood pressure, which decides, during a therapy procedure, dependent on detected blood pressure value, whether the blood regulation is continued with hypothetical or with real blood pressure values. The regulating device processes various categories of blood pressure values, i.e. blood pressure values obtained by the regulating device according to an implemented time schedule, blood pressure values requested by measurement and evaluation device, and blood pressure values requested by medical staff. Besides the regular triggers (RT) generated at regular intervals, the irregular triggers (IRT) and the quasi-regular triggers (QRT) requested externally at respective times are also evaluated.
US07775983B2
Systems and methods involve use of a medical device comprising sensing circuitry. One or more respiratory parameters are detected using the device. Patient baseline weight is provided, and an output signal indicative of a patient's congestive heart failure status is generated based on a change in the one or more respiratory parameters and a change in the patient's measured weight or predicted weight relative to the patient baseline weight. The respiratory parameters may include one or more of respiration rate, relative tidal volume, an index indicative of rapid shallow breathing by the patient, an index derived by computing a respiration rate and a tidal volume for each patient breath, and an index indicative of dyspnea, for example.
US07775980B2
The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even if there exist another mechanical sources and uncontrollable mechanical sources in the object. The elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus is equipped with means of data storing 2 (storage of deformation data measured in the ROI 7 etc.) and means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants 1 (calculator of shear modulus etc. at arbitrary point in the ROI from measured strain tensor data etc.), the means of calculating elastic and visco elastic constants numerically determines elastic constants etc. from the first order partial differential equations relating elastic constants etc. and strain tensor etc.
US07775972B2
A medical probe and medical system are provided. The medical probe comprises an elongated shaft, a plurality of electromagnetic elements spaced along the elongated shaft, and a plurality of wires extending through the elongated shaft and configured for energizing the electromagnetic elements that actuate a controlled bending of the elongated shaft. The medical system may comprise the medical probe and a controller configured for energizing the electromagnetic elements via the wires to actuate the controlled bending of the elongated shaft. The medical system may optionally comprise a user interface configured for conveying commands to the controller, in which case, the controller will be configured for energizing the electromagnetic elements via the wires to actuate a controlled bending of the elongated shaft in response to the commands.
US07775967B2
In some embodiments, methods to sense parameters associated with restriction procedures and/or devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, the parameters are sensed directly from the region of the procedure and/or device and in other embodiments, associated neural pathways are sensed. Methods for further optimization of the obesity treatment regimens are also disclosed.
US07775961B2
Centrifuge samples may be exposed to microwave energy to heat the samples during centrifugation and to promote separation of the different components or constituents of the samples using a centrifuge device configured for generating microwave energy and directing the microwave energy at a sample located in the centrifuge.
US07775952B1
A balance trainer has a board with a notional nose and tail, a rolling fulcrum for the board to perch on, and at least one hold-down link extending between one end anchored to ground and another end secured to the notional tail of the board. The board as perched on the rolling fulcrum would—in the absence constraint—afford free tipping tilt along at least one axis. However, the hold-down link supplies constraint such that free leash is given to the to the notional tail of the board so long as the hold-down link is slack. But when the nose of the board dives furthest against the hold-down link, the board either deadens in a fixed pitch angle against the tautened hold-down link, or else can be swung laterally a bit, in sort of a monkey-swing fashion in inverse, giving a training experience like riding on a long surf board.
US07775946B2
The invention relates to a multifunctional trainer for strength training. The trainer comprises a body (1), a counterforce unit (2) for generating a counterforce to resist the exercise movements, a set of movement arms (31, 32) supported to the body (1) for performing different exercise movements, and a set of elongated tensile elements (41, 42) arranged to act between the counterforce unit (2) and the movement arms (31, 32) for applying the counterforce resisting each exercise movement from the counterforce unit to the movement arms. The trainer comprises an automatic mechanical coupler (5), to which the tensile elements (41, 42) are connected, and which coupler is adapted to, immediately at start of each exercise movement, automatically couple the tensile element corresponding to each separate movement arm for said exercise movement, to the counterforce unit (2) in a force-applying manner, for applying the counterforce of the counterforce unit to said exercise movement, without the need for manual connection prior to performing said exercise movement, and without affecting, during said exercise movement, the tensile elements connected to the other movement arms, which are not subject to tension during said exercise movement.
US07775942B2
A recumbent exercise device which provides lower body, upper body and cardiovascular conditioning is disclosed. A pair of leg assemblies and a pair of arm assemblies are pivotally supported by the frame for movement about a transverse pivot axis. The arm and leg assemblies each includes an upward and forward extending lever with the leg assemblies terminating in pedals and the arm assemblies terminating in handles. The arm and leg assemblies are connected to each other for contralateral movement. A resistance mechanism is positioned substantially between the legs of a user.
US07775940B2
A folding elliptical exercise machine is disclosed. The folding elliptical machine has a frame that comprises a base support structure and an upright support structure, wherein the base support structure has a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion at a pivot mechanism such that the elliptical exercise machine is selectively moveable between an operating position and a storage position. The upright support structure extends upward from the first end of the front portion of the base support structure. The folding elliptical machine further comprises first and second reciprocating foot supports, each foot support having a first end and a second end, a drive assembly situated on the rear portion of the base support structure, and a ramp assembly situated at the first end of the front portion of the base support structure. The respective first ends of the first and second foot supports are releasably attached to the drive assembly and the ramp assembly has first and second guide rails for guiding the respective second ends of the first and second foot supports such that the foot supports move in an elliptical path.
US07775933B2
An ECU executes a program including the step of controlling the current value of an actuator that moves a sleeve by increasing the current value subsequent to complete synchronization between a rear output shaft and a front output shaft of a transfer when the oil temperature of a front differential connected to the front output shaft of the transfer via a front propeller shaft is low to switch from a two-wheel drive state to a four-wheel drive state. The rear output shaft and front output shaft are brought into synchronization by a synchronizer abutting against the sleeve.
US07775932B2
A manual helical planetary transmission comprises a housing, a sun gear, a planet carrier with helical planetary gears and an axially displaceable ring gear which can be coupled to the housing or to the planet carrier. The transmission provides a compact and easy-to-produce solution for locking the gears. For this purpose, first saw-tooth coupling teeth are provided on both sides of the fronts of the ring gear and have a gently sloping first profile. Second saw-tooth coupling teeth provided on the housing and the planet carrier have a gently sloping profile and fit into the first coupling teeth. In the respective gear, the peripheral forces acting upon the ring gear force the gently sloping first profiles of the first coupling teeth against the gently sloping first profiles of the second coupling teeth on the housing or the planet carrier, thereby frictionally keeping the ring gear in the respective engaged position.
US07775924B2
A hydraulic tensioning device is provided for a traction mechanism drive, in particular for a chain or belt drive of an internal combustion engine. The device includes a tensioning piston which is guided in a displaceable manner in a cylinder, with a pressure chamber being defined between the tensioning piston and the cylinder which is used to receive hydraulic fluid. A pressure relief valve is provided which limits the pressure in the pressure chamber. The pressure relief valve (8) includes, at least partially, a pre-assembled assembly (10) which can be inserted or is inserted into the tensioning piston (4).
US07775922B2
In a tension adjusting device for an engine accessory driving belt by tightening a bolt 7 threaded into an engine block 8, a fulcrum shaft 6 is fixed. A tension pulley 1 is rotatably supported by a pulley arm 2 pivotally supported about the fulcrum shaft 6. A regulating force of a hydraulic auto-tensioner is applied to the pulley arm 2 to press the tension pulley against the belt B. A washer 10 is disposed between a boss 3 formed on the pulley arm 2 and the head 7a of the bolt 7. The washer 10 has an outer cylindrical portion 11 covering one end of the boss 3. A slinger 12 is mounted on the end of the boss 3 to define a labyrinth 13 between the slinger 12 and the cylindrical portion 11, thereby preventing entry of muddy water and dust into the bearing portion pivotally supporting the pulley arm 2.
US07775921B2
A plunger 4 and a spring 6 biasing the plunger 4 outwardly are mounted in a cylinder chamber 2 formed in a housing 1. The housing 1 is provided with an oil supply passage 8 communicating with a pressure chamber 7 formed in the back of the plunger 4. The housing 1 has an outer diameter that is substantially constant over the entire axial length, so that such housings can be mass-produced by pressing. It is thus possible to lower the cost of the chain tensioner.
US07775911B2
A ball-like target, which may be an actual ball used in playing a sport to be taught, for example in teaching batting to trainees, is attached to a rod, so that the trainer can precisely control the target's speed and attitude of the target during the entire course of presentation to a trainee. On the one hand, the target, rod and connecting mechanism are rigidly interconnected so that the trainer has complete control over the speed and trajectory of the presentation of the target. But on the other hand, the construction is such that the apparatus may be repeatedly struck by the trainee's bat at any speed, from slow to “full swing-away” without any substantial damage to the apparatus. In this manner the trainee can be quickly taught the eye-hand coordination and other skills needed to become an accomplished hitter.
US07775909B2
Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The golf ball has excellent light stability. Also disclosed is a method making a golf ball by forming a cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less.
US07775908B2
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and a layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition. The relatively soft HNP composition has a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer. The relatively hard HNP composition has a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer. The cover preferably consists of a single cover layer.
US07775897B2
An automatic tee-up device including a golf ball reservoir, a platform with a groove for a golf ball to travel from the reservoir to a tee, and a ball ejector disposed to eject golf balls one at a time from the reservoir onto the groove. The tee is movable from below a level of the golf ball in the groove to above the level of the golf ball in the groove. After the golf ball is ejected by the ejector, the golf ball travels on the groove to the tee and is raised by the tee into a position suitable for striking with a golf club.
US07775891B2
A boot for a joint, wherein an equal-diameter part and thick-walled parts are formed on the inner peripheral wall of a large diameter tube part. A first tapered part extending from the equal-diameter part is continued with a second tapered part formed at the thick-walled parts in the circumferential direction. The diameter reducing ends of the first tapered part and the second tapered part are located at the same position, and a thin-walled part engaged with an annular groove formed in the outer member of a constant-velocity joint is continued with the diameter reducing end.
US07775882B2
A game apparatus which can realize a totally new expression of a fear on a game image is provided. The game apparatus includes an image generating means that uses a visual point position of a player character as a visual point position of a virtual camera and generates an image within a visual range captured by the virtual camera, an enemy character control means that allows the enemy character to mount an attack such that the visual point position of the player character is changed and moves an enemy character within a specified range viewed from the visual point position changed due to the attack to the visual range of the player character viewed from the visual point position, and a camera work control means that changes a visual point position in a three-dimensional coordinate system of the virtual camera in conjunction with the attack motions.
US07775879B2
A system and method for providing a gambling loss insurance policy automatically computes insurance premiums and processes gambling sessions covered by the gambling loss insurance policies. The players may purchase the insurance policies using various means such as coins, earned winnings, or credit cards. The gambling loss insurance system provides a high level of flexibility for the players to define specific parameters of the insurance policy. Additionally, the players may purchase the insurance policies directly from the gaming machine, a custom terminal on casino floor, or cage personnel having access to a centralized network server.
US07775873B2
The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal whereby multiple players make selections and accumulate bonus awards as the game is passed from one player to another. Play continues until a game-terminating object is selected. At that time, each player that participated in the wagering game receives his or her accumulated awards plus any awards won by subsequent players.
US07775869B2
A gaming machine has display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means An underlying game is played in which one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. On the occurrence of a predefined event, the player is offered a choice of two or more different prize sets. Each set containing a plurality of prize outcomes, from which prize sets a prize is to be drawn and awarded to the player, typically by a random process. The prize is drawn from the prize set or sets selected by the player from the two or more different prize sets. The sets of prizes may be presented on segments of wheels that can spin or simulate spinning before stopping randomly on a segment which defines the prize outcome won by the player. Alternatively the sets of prizes are presented on the faces of dice which are arranged to spin or turn or simulate spinning or turning before stopping with the front face of the die defining the prize won by the player.
US07775868B2
A gaming machine has a mode information storage section in which first bet mode information corresponding to an normal bet mode and second bet mode information corresponding to a score bet mode are stored, and a terminal-side game control section for running a game on the basis of one, selected by a player, of the first bet mode information and the second bet mode information. Each of the first bet mode information and the second bet mode information is information including plural bet subjects, bet factors for the respective bet subjects, a lower limit bet amount, and an upper limit bet amount. The lower limit bet amount of the first bet mode information is larger than that of the second bet mode information. The maximum value of the bet factors of the first bet mode information is smaller than that of the bet factors of the second bet mode information.
US07775865B2
A controller automatically determines drive signals by testing an exhaust system, either immediately after installation or at selected times thereafter, to determine the drive signal values that correspond to each of one or more selected flow rates. The drive signals are stored. Thereafter, the controller uses the stored values of drive signals to control the exhaust system. This avoids problems with real time control such as drift or failure of sensors and such which are very common in commercial exhaust installations.
US07775863B2
A method and device for dispensing coins from a compact coin dispensing device while fully utilizing the storage capacity of a retaining bowl. The coin dispensing device or devices can be installed in a coin recycling machine where coins are retained by specific denominations. Detectors monitor the coins that are dispensed and the coins that are accepted into the retainer bowls and a control unit can appropriately coordinate and automatically drive a motor in a reverse direction for a predetermined movement and/or predetermined time after a coin dispensing operation and/or a coin depositing operation into a retainer bowl to prevent coin stacking and to maximize the storage capacity.
US07775857B2
This invention relates to a device for particle blasting, comprising a mixing device for mixing the particles and the carrier gas. The mixing device comprises, on the one hand, a mixing plate (3) wherein at least one supply channel (6) for the carrier gas, at least one supply channel for the particles (14) and at least one discharge channel (7) for the mixture are provided, and on the other hand, comprises a rotatable distribution disc (1) provided with cavities (2), which during rotation are positioned in such a way that they are first filled with particles and then form a temporary connection between the supply channel (6) and the discharge channel (7), with the result that the carrier gas and the particles are mixed. Since both the supply channel and the discharge channel are provided in one and the same element, the seal between mixing plate and rotor is easy to achieve.
US07775849B2
A toy fencing sword that is adapted to also fire its blade tip as a missile and to squirt water. The sword includes an internal piston activated by pulling and pushing the sword's handle to either fire the sword's tip as a missile or to inhale water and squirt it in a powerful stream. The sword is comprised of soft and buoyant materials which make it safe and painless during play and also make it ideally adapted for use in and around water, such as at a swimming pool.
US07775845B2
A method for producing an organic semiconductor device including a plurality of organic semiconductor layers laminated on a substrate includes forming a film of a liquid composition on a target surface, the liquid composition being composed of a material constituting one of the plurality of the organic semiconductor layers, the material being dissolved or dispersed in a first solvent, and the target surface including a substrate surface and a surface of any of the other of the plurality of organic semiconductor layers; altering a portion of the film adjacent to the target surface, the portion having a predetermined thickness, in such a manner that the portion is not dissolved in a predetermined solvent containing the first solvent; and removing an unaltered portion of the film in the step of altering the portion with the predetermined solvent.
US07775843B1
A wind powered watercraft, and improved individual components utilizable with the watercraft or elsewhere, does not require the user to have sailing skills, and can go directly into the wind. A vertical axis wind turbine (such as a Savonius or modified Savonius) is mounted to a multihull boat (such as a catamaran). The turbine has a shaft operatively connected to a propulsion system, such as by a clutch. The propulsion system may be a large diameter and pitch horizontal propeller, a vertical axis propeller, or a novel fishtail or sculling oar simulating mechanism, including an oscillating element with a flexible material (e.g. durometer between 40-100) free end. A mechanism which prevents useless spinning of the vertical axis wind turbine when the watercraft is docked may also be provided. For when the wind velocity is insufficient, a manual assist may be provided. The manual assist may have primarily human arm powered and human leg powered drive assemblies, each including a substantially inextensible cord, a cord drum operatively connected by a one-way clutch to the wind turbine shaft, and a take-up. The wind turbine boat may be produced from a conventional sailboat by replacing a sailboat mast with the wind turbine and propulsion system, and converted back to the sailboat when desired.
US07775841B2
A hyperboloid contact socket includes a tubular body of metal or other suitable conductive material. The tubular body includes first and second ends. The first end includes a lip defining an aperture entrance for receiving a mating pin terminal. At the second end of the tubular body, a spline is crimped or otherwise affixed to the confronting end of the tubular body. The spline has an integral termination extending therefrom. The tubular body contains a plurality of conductive wires affixed at their respective ends to respective inner surfaces at or near the outer and inner ends of the body and disposed in an angular disposition to form the shape of a single sheet hyperboloid. Permanent and conductive attachment of the wires to the tubular body and the spline is provided through deformation of the body by rolling, crimping, swaging or other suitable means.
US07775831B2
An accommodation recess (17) is formed in the front surface of a housing main body (11). A plate-like lance housing (70) including locking lances (19) for primarily locking terminal fittings (130) by resiliently deformably projecting at inner surfaces of terminal accommodation holes (71) is accommodated into the accommodation recess (17). A plate-like retainer (50) movable to a partly locked position for permitting the insertion of the terminal fittings (130) into the terminal accommodation holes (71) and to a fully locked position for secondarily locking the terminal fittings (130) is also accommodated into the accommodation recess (17). The rear surface of the lance housing (70) and the front surface of the retainer (50) are arranged in contact with each other.
US07775819B2
A method and apparatus for the economical and reliable assembly of buss plates and components thereon, having a bushing positioned on one or more surfaces or therebetween. A resilient retainer is employed to retain bushings in proximity to buss plate through holes to facilitate easy assembly. The use of the resilient retainer eliminates the requirement for costly and potentially adverse pre-assembly soldering of the bushing into position.
US07775817B2
An apparatus comprising a first part, a second part, an electrical contact, and a relay. The second part is movable relative to the first part. The electrical contact is attached to the second part. The electrical contact provides an electrical connection between the first part and the second part when the second part is in a first position and breaks the electrical connection when the second part is in a second position. The relay is electrically connected to the electrical contact.
US07775813B1
A safety electrical outlet includes a socket body containing at least two electrical contacts, a pivotally mounted socket cap with at least two apertures and a safety mechanism that holds the socket cap in a first position where the apertures are not aligned with the electrical contacts. The socket cap is released when plug prongs are inserted, allowing the socket cap to be rotated so that the prongs can engage the contacts in the second position.
US07775812B2
The convenience of operation is improved and the occurrence of connection failure between a connection-target terminal of an electric appliance and a connection terminal is reduced without requiring a complicated arrangement such as a fitting structure. A microphone charging device has a dustproof shutter provided so as to be movable with a microphone device setting/drawing-off operation between a covering position covering a charging terminal portion and an exposure position exposing the charging terminal portion, a torsion spring applies a fundamental urging force to the shutter between the covering position and exposure position, and plate springs apply additional urging force to the shutter in addition to the fundamental urging force in an additional urging section provided between the covering position and exposure position and thereby sets the shutter in an additionally urged state. When the shutter reaches the exposure position, the plate springs release the shutter from the additionally urged state.
US07775806B2
A printed circuit board arrangement and method includes a planar generally-rectangular vertically-arranged printed circuit board having front and rear surfaces terminating in a peripheral edge, at least one of the front and rear surfaces having a conductive printed circuit thereon. The printed circuit board has a vertical side edge portion containing a recess, and arranged adjacent the recess is a fixed contact connected with a conductor portion of the printed circuit. A relatively narrow conductor housing arranged outside the peripheral edge of the printed circuit board is mounted in the recess with a movable contact carried by the housing in electrical engagement with the fixed contact. The connector housing is supported by a rear wall mounted on the rear surface of the printed circuit board, and by a resilient clip on the connector housing that engages the printed circuit board adjacent the recess.
US07775799B2
A glare reducing lens is demonstrated by a holder with a half-mirrored plate and a graphic image mounted on the holder at an angle to the plate. The plate has another graphic image positioned behind it and visible through the plate. The holder is adapted for movement on the base over a range of positions for convenient viewing by tall and short persons. Such positioning of the holder is controlled by mechanical interconnecting surfaces. The viewer sees the graphic image transmitted through the mirrored plate as well as a superimposed image reflected onto the mirrored plate from the separate graphic image. When a viewer does not use a glare reducing lens, the two images visually interfere with each other, while by viewing through a lens the reflected image is eliminated leaving the directly viewed graphic image sharp and clear.
US07775797B2
The present invention discloses an electromechanical tactile cell assembly comprising a plurality of piezoelectric element reeds, each one of the piezoelectric element reeds being bendable at an elongated end portion when a voltage is applied to the reed, a plurality of conductive fulcrum pins secured to a printed circuit board, and a plurality of multiple element conductive supports secured to a printed circuit board, each multiple element conductive support, in combination with the plurality of conductive fulcrum pins, adapted to secure a plurality of piezoelectric reeds, corresponding to the plurality of conductive fulcrum pins, to the printed circuit board. The electromechanical tactile cell is adaptable for use with a Braille display.
US07775796B2
The invention concerns bone-adaptive surface structures for lateral jaw implants. Micromechanical and/or macromechanical surface structures having various body forms are incorporated into selected segments of the surface of the base and of the bar that connects the threaded piece with the base to accelerate the healing process after the implant is inserted into the jaw bone and to make a critical improvement in holding the implant firmly in place without rotation.
US07775792B2
A combustion head comprising: a pipe, having a central axis of symmetry, suitable for conveying a flow of comburent air in a combustion chamber, and a plurality of gas tubes spaced out along a circumference. Each gas tube has a first portion, having an axis of symmetry parallel to the axis, and a second portion, placed in series with respect to the first portion. The second portion in inclined at an angle with respect to the axis.
US07775789B2
An injection molding shutoff assembly that includes a chamber containing a movable body movable between rear and forward positions. In the rear position, the movable body provides a seal and prevents flow of molten plastic out the chamber inlet, called drool. When the movable body is in the forward position, one or more passages permit flow of the molten plastic around the movable body and to an exit in the chamber, leading to one or more molds. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus also includes an elongate stem that maintains the movable body in the forward position allowing the injection molding system to decompress, thereby eliminating drool and decreasing downtime.
US07775785B2
A contact planarization apparatus includes a lower membrane assembly, an upper membrane assembly, a differential pressure assembly, and a curing or reflowing assembly. The lower membrane assembly supports a substrate to be planarized and biases it toward the upper membrane assembly under the influence of the pressure differential assembly. The upper membrane assembly planarizes the coating on the substrate under the influence of the differential pressure assembly and includes a flexible sheet which is supported above the substrate stage and below the curing or reflowing assembly via a vacuum force applied by the differential pressure assembly. The differential pressure assembly moves the lower and upper membrane assemblies relative to one another to planarize the coating on the substrate entirely through the application of vacuum and pressure forces. The differential pressure assembly includes atop pressure chamber positioned above the upper face of the upper sheet, a bottom pressure chamber positioned below the lower face of the lower sheet, and a central pressure chamber positioned generally between the lower face of the upper sheet and the upper face of the lower sheet.
US07775782B2
A variable capacity rotary compressor capable of reducing collision noise of a vane with a roller. The variable capacity rotary compressor includes a vane controller controlling the operation of a vane in order to vary compression capacity. The vane controller includes a control valve that switches a fluid channel so as to selectively apply discharge pressure and intake pressure to the vane guide slot, a connection channel that connects the control valve with the vane guide slot, a high-pressure channel that connects the control valve with a discharge side of the compressor, and a low-pressure channel that connects the control valve with an intake side of the compressor, and a throttle section that reduces the fluid channel of at least one of the high-pressure channel and the connection channel in order to reduce an initial discharge pressure applied to the vane guide slot.
US07775779B2
Pump apparatus, systems and methods of making and using same are disclosed. One inventive system includes a coupling member, a first shaft and a second shaft, the coupling member connecting the first shaft with the second shaft, the coupling member defining a first axial chamber accepting the first shaft, and a second axial chamber accepting the second shaft, the chambers separated by a coupling plate, the chambers including torsional motion transmitting elements and axial motion securing elements in the first and second axial chambers for axially securing the shafts in the coupling member. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US07775778B2
A heat dissipation module including a supporting frame, a driver, a linkage, a first magnet and a plurality of magnetic blades is provided. The supporting frame has a chute. Moreover, one end of the linkage has a protrusion passing through the chute. The other end of the linkage is connected to the driver. The first magnet is disposed on the protrusion. In addition, the repelling magnetic blades are pivoted on the supporting frame. The outermost magnetic blade faces the first magnet and they repel each other.
US07775773B2
The invention relates to a structural member for manufacturing a tower of a wind power system having a delimitation surface forming a portion of the outer surface of the tower and comprising a through opening provided for accommodating a door, whereby at least a region of the structural member (30) comprising the through opening (20) is at least partially formed as a cast part consisting of a preferably weldable casting material.
US07775765B2
A pump pulley is supported on a pump body via a bearing interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the pump body and the pump pulley so that the pump pulley can freely rotate relative to the pump body. A pump shaft extends along the rotation axis of the pump pulley into a pump chamber formed by a pump base and the pump body, and one end of the pump shaft is fitted to the pump pulley and the other end is fitted to an impeller located within the pump chamber. A body side seal member and a shaft side seal member that form a mechanical seal to maintain the leak tightness of the pump chamber are in opposite to and contact each other in the direction of extension of the pump shaft to form a seal surface, and the plane that includes the load support center of the bearing and the plane that includes the seal surface of the mechanical seal are substantially coincidental.
US07775764B2
A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine, the rotor assembly comprises at least two rotors defining a cavity therebetween. A first rotor defines a cooling air inlet in its radially inward portion. A second rotor defines a cooling air outlet in its radially outward portion, such that the cooling air passes radially outwardly through the cavity.
US07775761B2
According to some embodiments, systems and methods for tethered wind turbines may be provided. In some embodiments, a system may comprise an airborne body extending horizontally along an axis between a first point and a second point, wherein the body is at least partially filled with a gas. The system may further comprise, for example, two or more vanes coupled to the body such that the vanes, when acted upon by a wind force perpendicular to the axis are operable to cause the body to rotate about the axis to generate a Magnus effect lifting force. According to some embodiments, the system may comprise one or more tethers coupled to anchor the body to a third point.
US07775748B2
A shield support for underground mining has a slider and a roof bar between which a ram is arranged, with an inclination detector being provided with which the inclination of the roof bar can be measured.
US07775735B2
A device for dispensing and applying a fluid contained in a reservoir may include an applicator member with an outer wall that is configured to be charged with fluid contained in the reservoir and to dispense such fluid. The wall may be turnable about a single axis of rotation. The device may further include a motor arranged to drive the applicator member in rotation around the single axis of rotation.
US07775734B2
A closure assembly for a retractable instrument having an applicator element comprises at least two fingers and a sleeve operatively coupled with the at least two fingers. When the retractable instrument is in a retracted position, the sleeve constrains the fingers such that the fingers are in a fully closed state around the applicator element. Protraction of the sleeve and relative movement between the fingers and the sleeve allows the fingers to open, thereby exposing the applicator element. Thus, the closure assembly opens to expose an applicator element such that the applicator element is in an application position.
US07775710B2
A converter comprising a comparator having a first input operable to receive a first signal, a second input operable to receive a second signal, and an output, a switch for sinking a portion of the first signal, wherein the switch is responsive to the output, and an integrator connected to the first input, wherein the first signal is a voltage developed by the integrator when a current proportional to the absolute temperature is applied thereto. A method for measuring temperature of a device using a comparator and converting the bitstream of the comparator to a digital output is also given. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US07775708B2
The invention relates to a device (10), in particular, for a motor vehicle, for thermally coupling a temperature sensor (12) to an element (20) whose temperature is to be determined. The temperature sensor (12) and the element (20) are connected together in an at least thermal manner by means of a heat-conductive medium. The temperature sensor (12) is arranged in a recess (26) of the element (20) and the medium is embodied as a flexible film (28) which is at least in partial contact with the temperature sensor (12) and a wall (38) of the recess (26). The invention also relates to a corresponding method which is used to thermally couple a temperature sensor (12) to an element (20) whose temperature is to be determined. A heat-conductive medium is arranged between the temperature sensor (12) and the element (20).
US07775703B2
The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a vessel having a conduit extending therefrom, and a stirrer, a section of which is adapted to be located within the conduit and a section of which is adapted to be located within the vessel, said stirrer being adapted such that, in use, material within the conduit is conveyed in a direction towards the vessel and/or in a direction away from the vessel.
US07775698B2
A vehicle lamp including a projector headlight for a low beam can include a light source, an ellipsoidal reflector, a projector and shade. Light emitted from the light source can form a fundamental light distribution pattern from the projector lens via the ellipsoidal reflector by shielding an upwards portion of the light with the shade. The shade can form respective thin blurred parts on and/or underneath a horizontal cut-off line for both a driving lane portion and an oncoming lane portion using a top edge line and a top surface of the shade. Therefore, a contrasting difference between the upper and lower sides of the horizontal cut-off line can be reduced so as to be able to conform to a light distribution standard for a headlight. Adjustment of the light distribution pattern can be facilitated due to tonal difference between the horizontal cut-off line of the driving lane and the oncoming lane.
US07775692B2
The present invention relates to a LED street lamp, and more particularly to LED street lamp which is easy to maintenance. The LED street lamp comprises street lamp pole, lamp body and LED bulbs, said lamp body is mounted on the top of said street lamp pole, said LED bulbs is mounted in said lamp body, wherein the LED street lamp further comprises Power supply adapter and constant current actuating device, said Power supply adapter is mounted at the bottom of said street lamp pole, said constant current actuating device is mounted in said lamp body. The LED street lamp involved in the present invention is easy to maintenance.
US07775690B2
A light weight reflector structure for an axial UV lamp wherein a shell-like channel housing supporting spaced apart ribs that in turn support flexed reflective spars that take the shape of the ribs. A preferred shape for the ribs and spars is parabolic about the axial UV lamp so that a beam is formed and directed out of the channel housing. The spars have a gap partially blocked by a deflector spar for creating a tortuous path for air forced direct into a tunnel between the channel housing and the spars. Forced air swirls through the gap and cools both the lamp and the spars.
US07775686B2
A lighting device which is adapted to be converted between a flashlight mode and an area light mode includes a housing to receive a power supply, a light source associated with the housing and a tubular lens surrounding the light source, a reflector mounted to said device so as to slide relative to the tubular lens, the reflector including an aperture through which the light source can pass, the aperture having a shutter associated therewith whereby the shutter closes the aperture when the reflector is in a position which allows the device to be used in the area light mode.
US07775684B2
A wavelength selective element includes: a base member; light selective regions formed in the base member, in which a predetermined selective wavelength is selected from the laser light emitted from a plurality of light emission elements that emit the laser light; and interference regions, each of which is provided in one of the light selective regions, each of which includes interference fringes having streaks, and including at least a first interference region and a second interference region in which a first distance between streaks of the interference fringes of the first interference region is different from a second distance between streaks of the interference fringes of the second interference region.
US07775683B2
A mounting mechanism for a laser or reflector may consist of a gross adjustment mechanism and a fine adjustment mechanism. The gross adjustment mechanism may enable a laser or reflector to be oriented in an approximate orientation and locked in place. The fine adjustment mechanism may enable a fine and precise adjustment to be applied. The mounting mechanisms may include a mounting plate that may mount to the surface of a wall and protect the rest of the mounting mechanism from disruption, but may also allow the fine adjustment mechanism to be tuned. The mounting mechanisms may be used to create a durable yet easily adjustable laser maze amusement.
US07775679B2
A light source for machine vision applications includes a housing having a thermally conductive base plate which supports an array of high intensity LEDs. The LEDs are fitted with secondary lenses which are aimed such that the light beams from the LEDs illuminate fixed targets having a predetermined spatial relationship so that the light source produces a very uniform light field. After the lenses are aimed, they are secured in the desired position relative to their associated LEDs using a UV-curable adhesive.
US07775677B2
Disclosed herein is an adapter device for enabling the use of a compact fluorescent lamp in a lighting apparatus having a socket for an incandescent lamp. The adapter device includes a fastening structure, a cap, green and red Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), and a Direct Current (DC) power supply. The fastening structure fastens the compact fluorescent lamp. The cap supplies Alternating Current (AC) power to the fastening structure. The green LEDs emit light in a wavelength range of 498-530 nm, and the red LEDs emit light in a wavelength range of 620-700 nm. The LEDs are installed around the compact fluorescent lamp. The Direct Current (DC) power supply supplies DC power to the green LEDs and the red LEDs.
US07775675B2
A container having a compartment for retaining personal objects such as eyeglasses comprises a transducer which activates the container in response to a specified user action in proximity to the container. In some embodiments, the transducer is a motion detector and is activated in response to user motion. In other embodiments, the transducer comprises a speech recognition module and is activated in response to the user's voicing a specified utterance. Some embodiments become illuminated upon activation. Some embodiments produce a sound upon activation, enabling the user to locate the container. Some embodiments have a normally closed lid which opens upon activation. Some lidded embodiments are normally locked and become unlocked upon activation. Some embodiments of the container further normally provide low level lighting, thereby enabling the container to serve as a night light. Some embodiments further provide for an individual clean tissue prior to each time an object is placed in the case, to assure cleanliness of the container for each use when it is used by multiple users in a location accessible to the public, such as places of business serving the public where removing eyeglasses is common.
US07775672B2
The invention concerns an external mirror arrangement comprising a front mirror of the Group of the Directive 2005/27/EG for the visual transmission of a first field of view and for the visual transmission of a second field of view contains a safety mirror. In accord with the invention, the front mirror and the safety mirror are integrated in one mirror head.
US07775671B2
A lens cap set for covering an opening defined by a peripheral edge of a lens assembly includes a mounting seat adapted to be disposed on the peripheral edge of the lens assembly, and a lens cap. At least a portion of one of the mounting seat and the lens cap is made from a magnetically attractable material, and at least a portion of the other one of the mounting seat and the lens cap is made from a magnetic material. The lens cap is coupled magnetically and removably to the mounting seat for covering the opening defined by the peripheral edge of the lens assembly.
US07775667B2
An optical device is provided which includes a plurality of optical modulation devices, a plurality of optical elements, and a prism having a plurality of luminous flux incidence surfaces positioned on a luminous flux irradiation-side of each optical element. The optical device includes a holding member which holds at least one of the plurality of optical modulation devices and a pair of light-transmissive substrates. In one implementation, an irradiation-side substrate disposed on the luminous flux irradiation-side of the optical element has a dimension larger than that of the optical element, and the irradiation-side substrate is secured to the luminous flux incidence surface of the prism, an aperture is formed in the holding member, and the holding member is attached to the irradiation-side substrate so as to cover the optical element.
US07775660B2
The present invention generally relates to an electro-active optic incorporating a blend region between two regions each having different optical properties.
US07775654B2
A print start position is set to an appropriate position, and the time required for printing is shortened. A printing apparatus, which forms a row of dots from a print start position in a scanning direction to print on a medium to be printed, is provided with a sensor that is capable of detecting an edge, in the scanning direction, of the medium to be printed. The printing apparatus stores the result of detecting the edge of another medium to be printed, and, when printing on the medium to be printed, it reads out the stored detection result and determines the print start position based on that detection result.
US07775646B2
A liquid jet recording apparatus including a recording head configured to record with droplets, a carriage supporting the recording head and configured to scan a recording medium with the recording head in a direction crossing a direction of conveyance of the recording medium, the carriage being movable to a maintenance position, a holder provided in one of the recording head and the carriage, a recording liquid cartridge adapted to contain liquid for recording, the recording liquid cartridge being attachable to and detachable from the holder, and a guiding unit adapted to guide at least two different sides of the recording liquid cartridge, with respect to the carriage that moves to the maintenance position, to the inner wall surface in a vertical direction when the carriage moves and stops the recording liquid cartridge at the maintenance position where the recording liquid cartridge can be attached to or detached from the holder.
US07775641B2
There is provided a liquid ejecting head which can introduce a liquid in a liquid storage member to a pressure chamber side via a liquid flow path from a liquid introducing needle and which can eject a liquid in the pressure chamber from a nozzle opening as a liquid drop by operation of a pressure generator. The liquid introducing needle constructed in a hollow needle shape includes an introducing needle portion in which a liquid introducing through hole for introducing a liquid in the liquid storage member is opened, and a cylindrical enlarged diameter straight portion formed at the downstream side of the introducing needle portion and whose inner diameter is enlarged than the inner diameter of the introducing needle portion. The inner space of the enlarged diameter straight portion is to be a bubble chamber which can store a bubble and the enlarged diameter straight portion includes a groove portion extending from the upstream side toward the down stream side on the inner circumference surface.
US07775634B2
An inkjet drop ejection apparatus having a chamber with a nozzle and an ink inlet for fluid communication with an ink supply; and an actuator with associated drive circuitry for ejecting drops of ink through the nozzle; wherein, the central axis of the nozzle is aligned with the central axis of the ink inlet. Aligning the ink inlet with the nozzle such that the ink can be supplied from the ‘back’ surface of the wafer removes the need for ink feed channels beside the chambers. This provides more room for the power and print data to be connected to each nozzle along the front surface of the wafer.
US07775622B2
In an inkjet printing apparatus which performs printing on a printing medium using an inkjet printhead for discharging ink, preliminary discharge, where ink discharge irrespective of printing is performed at the time of print execution, is performed under a predetermined condition. The printing apparatus includes a control section and a setting section. The control section executes a preliminary discharge by the printhead, which has a plurality of discharge orifices, before a predetermined time has elapsed since a latest preliminary discharge, in printing of an image, and the setting section sets the predetermined time. The setting section obtains an elapsed time after executing the preliminary discharge until a discharge failure occurs in any one of the plurality of discharge orifices, and sets the elapsed time as the predetermined time.
US07775621B2
A print head cleaning device, an ink jet image forming apparatus having the same, and methods thereof include a cleaning liquid circulation and/or a structure to clean an image forming apparatus print head.
US07775617B2
In an ink jet printing apparatus using a plurality of printing heads arranged in a convey direction of a printing medium, an inclination angle of the printing medium to a predetermined convey direction is detected to adjust, in accordance with the resultant inclination angle, timings at which ink is jetted from the plurality of printing heads. This allows, even when the printing medium being subjected to a printing operation has a slight meander shape, an image to be formed on a printing medium so that printing positions of the plurality of printing heads have no dislocation.
US07775599B2
The vehicle seat assembly having a seat bottom portion that is adapted to be attached to a vehicle. The seat bottom portion has a longitudinal axis. The seat back is disposed proximate the seat bottom portion. A linkage connects the seat back to the seat bottom portion. The linkage is configured to move substantially the entire seat back along the longitudinal axis of the seat bottom portion between a first position and a second position.
US07775598B2
In the case of a fitting (10) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) in geared connection with the first fitting part (11), and a rotatably mounted eccentric (26, 27) driven by a driver (21, 26) to cause relative rolling between the first fitting part (11) and the second fitting part (12), a third fitting part (54) can be both pivoted freely relative to the first fitting part (11) in an unlocked state and locked with respect to the first fitting part (11) in a locked state, wherein a disengagement mechanism (80) is provided for maintaining the unlocked state of the third fitting (11) part during pivoting freely.
US07775595B2
A hollow axle motor assembly (10) includes an armature (13) and a hollow axle (12) attached to the armature (13). The hollow axle (12) has an outer diameter (14) and an inner diameter (16). The inner diameter (16) of the hollow axle (12) receives a shaft or tube, such as a drive shaft (52). A gear (20) is attached to the outer diameter (14) of the hollow axle (12). The gear (20) is in driving communication with a planetary gear drive assembly (30). In turn, the planetary gear drive assembly (30) is in driving communication with a drive shaft mount (40). The drive shaft mount (40) can be used to drive any number of conventional items, including, for example, the drive shaft (52).
US07775592B2
The invention relates to a seat frame of a motor vehicle seat with a seat carrier having two side parts that are oriented transverse to a front axis and to a rear axis, a pivotal bridge being pivotal about at least one of said axes, said bridge comprising a tie bar and two side arms, and with an adjustment device having a motor-driven drive unit. The drive unit is arranged for pivotal movement about a hinge shaft that is substantially centered on that axis of the two axes about which said pivotal bridge is pivotal. Said hinge shaft is shorter than the distance between the two seat parts and is not in contact with said two seat parts, but if at all with only one side part. There is provided at least one inner arm that connects said tie bar to said hinge shaft and is located in proximity to said drive unit.
US07775591B2
In a fitting connected at one side to a backrest structure of a backrest and at the other side to the supporting structure of a seat part, having a first actuating element, by way of which the fitting can be activated to adjust the inclination of the backrest between use positions in a first angle range, having a second actuating element, by way of which the fitting can be activated so as to pivot the backrest freely from a use position in the first angle range into a pivoted-free position in a second angle range, and having a ring which is rotatably mounted on the fitting, when the fitting is activated, the second actuating element couples the backrest to the ring, so that the backrest, as it is pivoted freely, drives the ring at least when the second angle range is reached, and the ring then unlocks a longitudinal adjuster.
US07775582B2
An active air dam adapted for use with a vehicle, includes a deflector pivotally translatable relative to the vehicle, so as to be caused to achieve stowed and deployed conditions, wherein the deflector, when in the deployed condition, is configured to occlude air flow beneath the vehicle, and further includes an active material actuator comprising an active material drivenly coupled to the deflector, and configured to cause the deflector to pivot to one of the stowed and deployed conditions as a result of activating the material, and the vehicle is preferably configured to cause the actuator to pivot the deflector when a pre-determined vehicle or external condition is detected.
US07775571B2
A bottom block assembly for an overhead crane includes a main bottom block, an outer frame carried by the main bottom block and rotatable relative to the main bottom block about a vertical axis of rotation, and a pair of paddles carried by the outer frame and downwardly extending from the outer frame on opposed sides of the main bottom block. Upper ends of the paddles are pivotably secured to the outer frame about horizontal axes so that lower ends of the paddles pivot toward and away from each other. The paddles are pivotable between a closed position wherein each of the paddles is substantially vertical and an open position wherein the lower end of each of the paddles is outwardly pivoted away from a vertical central axis. Each of the paddles has a keyhole-shaped closed-section opening near its lower end.
US07775570B2
A hook device for coupling with a universal pole such as a utility pole or hot stick performs a plurality of functions including at least physically engaging a component of a utility device. The hook device has a base having an axis with a pole attachment for coupling with the universal pole. An arm extends from the base along the axis of the base at the arm's upper portion and bends at an elbow at a right angle extending in a forearm, which, together with the axis of the base define a first plane. A hook portion is connected to the forearm and has a geometry in a second plane at the first angle from the axis of the forearm. An end portion is connected to the hook portion and has the same axis as the forearm. A finger is angled from the axis of the forearm at the third angle and angled from the axis of the base at the second angle.
US07775569B2
The invention proposes tweezers (12) and a grasping system (10) for grasping and assembling at least one component (14) in a timepiece, comprising first and second branches (16, 18), which are joined at a first end (20) of the tweezers (12) and which form a grasping pincer (22) at the second end of the tweezers (12) in order to allow the component (14) to be grasped by the pincer (22), via a manual manipulation of the tweezers (12), characterized in that the first branch (16) includes at least one electrostatic grasping surface (24) provided for grasping, via electrostatic attraction, a component (14) made of conductive or semiconductor material.
US07775561B2
A connection assembly for pipes is provided. The assembly includes a pipe, a corrugated conduit, a circumferentially contractible seal positioned between portions of the conduit and the pipe, a clamp encircling the conduit, seal and pipe, and a plurality of discrete projections on the inside of the seal to limit the extent of overlap between the pipe and the conduit. The seal is circumferentially contractible to secure the conduit and the pipe together with the seal serving to effect a gas-tight seal while filling the annular gap between the conduit and pipe.
US07775557B2
A personal restraint system for a seat in a motor vehicle including a three-point belt system and a two-point belt system. The three-point belt system including a first belt retractor, and a first belt web having a first belt latch plate, and a first belt buckle. The two-point belt system including a second belt retractor, and a second belt web having a second belt latch plate, and a second belt buckle. The second belt retractor including a blocking device which engages a spool of the second belt retractor when both belt webs are wound up on their respective retractors to prevent engagement of the two-point belt system if the three-point belt system is not engaged.
US07775545B2
This invention is related to a retractable hitch-ball mechanism adapted for coupling to a frame of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck. The mechanism includes a support structure that is secured to the frame by a mounting-frame assembly, a housing having a tubular sleeve, a hitch ball member slidably disposed within the tubular sleeve, a drive plate, and a linkage coupled to the drive plate at one end and having a user-engageable portion at an opposed end. Upon a user exerting force on the opposed end, the hitch ball member is selectively movable between an extended use position, wherein a portion of the hitch ball member extends upwardly from the tubular sleeve, and a retracted storage position, wherein the ball portion is substantially hidden. Selective adjustment is facilitated by an inclined edge on the drive plate that slidably engages at least a portion of the hitch ball member.
US07775535B2
A suspension subassembly for securement to a heavy vehicle trailer includes a hanger bracket for a trailing arm, an air spring mounting bracket, a damper mounting bracket, and a connection member extending longitudinally between the hanger bracket and the damper mounting bracket. The damper mounting bracket is positioned intermediate the hanger bracket and the air spring mounting bracket.
US07775524B2
A card game includes a deck of cards used, for example, to play craps, poker, or any combination thereof.
US07775521B1
Disclosed is a ball blower apparatus for facilitating games of chance. The ball blower apparatus has a motor-driven ball carriage mechanism that captures air-ejected balls from a ball mixing chamber and carries the captured ball to an inlet of a ball return tube that extends downward to a bottom of the ball mixing chamber. Captured balls travel down the tube under air pressure generated by an air blower. The air pressure also prevents the balls from electro-statically clinging to walls of the tube. The balls may be bar-coded and scanned by a barcode reader while being handled by the ball carriage mechanism. A computer interfaced with the barcode reader automatically controls the operation of the ball blower including the operation of the carriage motor, air blower(s) and a solenoid that controls the egress of balls from the ball return tube into the mixing chamber. A TV camera may also be utilized to capture and visually display numbers associated with the balls.
US07775519B2
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking section configured to stack a number of sheets, a sheet feeding mechanism configured to feed the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking section one by one, and an intermediate conveying device configured to convey the sheet fed from the sheet feeding mechanism to an image forming apparatus. The intermediate conveying device includes a plurality of sheet conveying devices arranged in an intermediate sheet conveying path at certain intervals to convey the sheet fed from the sheet feeding mechanism, at least one driving device configured to drive each of the plurality of sheet conveying devices, and a plurality of sheet detecting devices arranged in the intermediate sheet conveying path at certain intervals to detect a sheet length by detecting at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the conveyed sheet. The sheet feeding apparatus further includes a control device configured to judge the length of a first sheet according to signals sent from the plurality of sheet detecting devices at an initialization time at which the conveying operation for the first sheet is completed, in which when the sheet feeding apparatus and the image forming apparatus are mechanically connected and are allowed to communicate with each other, the control device stops a sheet conveying operation of the image forming apparatus if the length of a sheet is judged to be different from the length of the first sheet after the initialization time.
US07775518B2
A technique is provided that can realize highly accurate skew correction without employing any particularly complicated device configuration. The quantity of skew of a sheet is determined in accordance with a detection result from a first pair of sensors. Driving of each of first rollers and second rollers is separately controlled to carry the sheet in such a manner as to reduce the quantity of skew determined in accordance with the detection result from the first pair of sensors. The quantity of skew of the sheet is determined in accordance with a detection result from a second pair of sensors. Driving of each of the first rollers and the second rollers is separately controlled to carry the sheet in such a manner as to reduce the quantity of skew determined in accordance with the detection result from the second pair of sensors.
US07775514B2
A support member 60 that projects to a sheet conveying direction and supports sheets, which are sorted and discharged, from a rear surface side thereof is provided in a discharge port 7a of a processing tray 12 or a standby tray 10. The support member 60 is installed not to interfere with a shutter 52 when the shutter 52 rises. The support member 60 is installed to be inclined upward at an angle equal to or larger than an installation angle of the processing tray 12 or the standby tray 10. The support member 60 may be formed of a conductor that conducts static electricity and installed in a metal section of the discharge port 7a.
US07775512B2
A saddle stitching device including a saddle-back conveyor having a first printed product location and a second printed product location adjacent the first printed product location, a first stitcher adjacent the conveyor and driven by a first motor, and a second stitcher adjacent the conveyor and driven by a second motor.
US07775510B2
A sheet processing device includes a folding unit, a punch unit, and a cross folding unit. The folding unit folds a sheet conveyed to the sheet processing device a plurality of times. The punch unit punches a hole in a predetermined portion of the folded sheet. The cross folding unit cross-folds the punched sheet on a vertically-extending conveying path.
US07775505B2
A butterfly valve includes a seat ring fitted to an inner peripheral surface of a hollow cylindrical valve body, and a discal valve disc in which a shaft is mounted. The shaft is rotatably mounted in through-holes of the seat ring. An annular protrusion having a first tapered surface inclined at 20°-40° with respect to the valve axis is formed at the peripheral edge of each of the through holes of the seat ring. A bowl-shaped annular depression at each end of the valve shaft hole includes a second tapered surface inclined at 25°-45° with respect to the axis and engaged with a respective first tapered surface.
US07775504B2
A fluid flow control device (1) comprising at least one valve, the or each valve being controlled by an electrically-operate e actuator (32), a control means (27) for controlling the actuators and a communication means (28) to provide signals for the control means (27), wherein the device (1) includes an electrical power generation means (5) to generate electricity from the flow of fluid in the control device to operate the actuators (32), the control means (27) and the communication means (28). The device does not require an external electricity supply as it generates its entire electricity requirement locally. The device (1) may also receive instructions wirelessly to control the at least one valve.
US07775498B2
An appliance includes a leg for support upon a support surface, an interlock switch mechanically coupled to the leg and electrically coupled to control circuitry of the appliance, an anti-tip bracket having an aperture configured to receive a portion of the leg, and means for operating the interlock switch when the leg is properly positioned within the aperture. In one example, an actuator is coupled to the leg and is movable relative to the leg when the leg is positioned within the aperture. In another example, the interlock switch includes a first and second electrode, and selective electrical contact occurs between the first and second electrodes when the actuator is moved. In another example, a member projects from the appliance and the anti-tip is configured to receive a portion of the member. A method is also provided for preventing use of an appliance due to improper installation of the appliance.
US07775497B2
An article for covering the edge of mirror whereby said article may be used to conceal a variety of mirror mounting clips, and a method for covering the edge and concealing the clips of a mounted mirror are disclosed herein.
US07775496B2
A metal support column shipping assembly, including a metal tubular support column with a shaft protruding from a top end of the support column. A top plate is provided having an aperture extending therethrough adapted to engage a remote end of the shaft. A bottom plate is provided which has a collar adapted to engage a bottom end of the support column. The bottom plate also has an aperture extending therethrough. The assembly has the shaft extending through the aperture in the top plate and the aperture in the bottom plate. A nut positioned on the shaft prevents the top plate and the bottom plate from being removed from the shaft.
US07775495B2
An adjustable clamp apparatus for use in automated handling equipment includes a ball mount portion that provides rotational adjustment and a clamp portion for securing a support arm in a plurality of different positions. The clamp portion comprises an opening having a rectilinear cross-section.
US07775492B2
A mounting apparatus has a wall panel accessory with at least one connector projecting from a portion of the accessory. The connector has a groove formed in a surface of the connector. A mounting body has a front and a back. At least one connector receptacle extends into a surface of the body and the connector is releasably received in the connector receptacle. A releasable retainer protrudes into the groove of the connector. A wall mounting projection extends from the back of the body and is configured to slidably mount in a channel in a wall panel.
US07775491B1
A guitar hanger for hanging a guitar having a neck and head on a closet rod. The hanger includes a first member in the form of a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured into a first hook sized to receive the closet rod and a distal end configured on a second hook for engaging a second member. The second member is in the form of U-shaped yoke section sized to receive a guitar neck between legs of the U-shaped yoke section but not a guitar head. The second member also includes a transitional section having a body and a keyed slot configured within the body sized and shaped such that the keyed slot will removably receive the second hook in a first orientation and will secure the transitional section to the second hook in a second orientation such that the second member is removable from the first member only in the first orientation.
US07775484B2
A cable tie includes a serrated strap which is fitted to an apertured head. In use, the cable tie can be formed into closed loop around an electrical harness cable by inserting the serrated strap through the apertured head. The cable tie additionally includes a fastener which can be used to secure an unattached electrical connector securely against the electrical harness cable. The fastener comprises a rectangular platform that includes a convex outer wall and a flat inner wall that are partially separated by a transverse slot. The platform is shaped to define a pair of opposing, inwardly extending notches which enable the platform to be slid into engagement with corresponding railings formed on the electrical connector. A ratchet-shaped tooth is formed on the convex outer wall to engage a corresponding pawl formed on the electrical connector to lockably retain the fastener coupled to the electrical connector.
US07775474B2
A wire winding apparatus can reduce the burden of momentum on the side of the nozzle cooperated with the spindle shaft in winding operation, thereby enabling an effective winding operation. The winding apparatus comprises a carrier carrying at least one bobbin to be wound with wire, a nozzle for supplying the wire to be wound around the bobbin, a spindle shaft for rotating the bobbin, a working table disposed opposite to the nozzle and spindle shaft so as to introduce the carrier into between the nozzle and spindle shaft, wherein the spindle shaft is retractable relative to the bobbin carried on the carrier fed onto the working table so as to allow the bobbin to move between the carrier and nozzle.
US07775472B2
An information medium capable of preventing inclination of tape reels driven for rotation. The information medium includes a pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound, a casing body rotatably accommodating the tape reels, and a pair of sheets in which a pair of insertion holes are formed, respectively. A pair of plate-shape spring members for urging at least one end of each reel body via an associated one of the sheets having opposite ends of respective hubs inserted into the insertion holes formed in the sheets are arranged at least one of a gap between one of the sheets, disposed toward one ends of the respective reel bodies, and one of main boards, and a gap between the other of the sheets, disposed toward the other ends of the respective reel bodies, and the other of the main boards.
US07775467B2
A cordless electric condiment grinder includes a hollow housing elongated to extend between a base for supporting the grinder uprightly and an opposing top, the top of the housing having a bulbous form to define a condiment reservoir. A rotary grinding mechanism is disposed in a lateral opening in the top of the housing and a tilt switch controls operation of the grinding mechanism, allowing freshly ground condiment to be dispensed automatically upon rotating the grinder through an acute angle and thus is particularly suited for use by people with limited dexterity.
US07775466B2
A clean dry glass powder useful as a substitute for Portland cement in concrete, in paints, and for other known uses for glass powder produced conventionally can be produced from unsorted post-consumer waste glass, including a substantial fraction of non-glass items, by employing glass pulverizing equipment to reduce waste glass to small fragments, allowing removal of trash, employing a multistep washing process to clean the glass fragments, in the preferred embodiment using aggregate cleaning equipment, drying the fragments, preferably using fluidized bed techniques, and grinding the glass to a desired particle size, preferably using a ball mill, in combination with an air classification step to produce a glass powder of uniform particle size.
US07775460B2
A fluid flow system for use with a gas turbine engine includes an exhaust nozzle, a primary air supply valve, a distribution manifold connected to the primary fluid supply valve and in fluid communication therewith, and a plurality of fluid injector assemblies positioned at the exhaust nozzle and connected in fluid communication with the distribution manifold. Each fluid injector assembly includes a first tube, a secondary air valve positioned at least partially within the first tube and in fluid communication with the distribution manifold, a fuel valve positioned at least partially within the first tube and located downstream of the air valve, an igniter extending into the first tube downstream of the fuel valve, and an outlet in fluid communication with the first tube and connected in fluid communication with the exhaust nozzle. The outlet has a different geometry than the first tube.
US07775457B2
A fountain system for creating unique water displays or water attractions. The fountain system includes a pump providing water at a flow rate and a plurality of fountain assemblies connected to the pump outlet. Each of the fountain assemblies includes a nozzle such as a bell or dome nozzle that receives the water from the pump and discharges the water from its outlet in the form of an enclosed dome about the nozzle outlet. The fountain assembly includes a fog generator or fogger such as an ultrasonic transducer, positioned proximate to the nozzle discharging fog into the dome where it is trapped by the laminar flow water in the dome wall. Each fountain assembly includes a light source transmitting light into the dome to illuminate and color the captured fog. The flow rate may be changed to alter the shape and size of the domes.
US07775452B2
An HVAC system is provided with control communication over a serial data bus. In this manner, the hard wired controls of the prior art are eliminated. A thermostat includes a central control microprocessor that communicates control signals to and from a microprocessor at an indoor unit. The indoor unit may be a furnace or a fan/heater combination. The microprocessor on the indoor unit is operable to receive signals from the central control microprocessor and control the indoor unit accordingly. Moreover, the microprocessor at the indoor unit is operable to pass control signals on to an outdoor unit such as an air conditioner or heat pump. Most preferably, this outdoor unit is provided with its own microprocessor. Further, other peripheral units may be incorporated to be controlled over the same data bus from the thermostat. Installation and updating of HVAC systems is greatly simplified by this control arrangement.
US07775449B2
A control system is provided for automatically setting up and controlling a climate control system for a building having one or more zones and one or more thermostats in communication with the associated heating or cooling components of the climate control system. In some embodiments, the climate control system comprises one or more heating or cooling systems which may be controlled by one or more thermostats. In other embodiments, the climate control system comprises a thermostat, a heating and cooling system, one or more remote temperature sensors corresponding to at least some of the one or more zones within the building, and one or more dampers corresponding to at least some of the one or more zones within the building.
US07775438B2
A housing for a portable computing device. An upper surface of the housing facilitates access to at least one interface component. A lower surface of the housing defines a cavity to receive a battery pack. A battery pack, adapted to fit within the cavity, defines at least a portion of a first ridge for receiving an operator's finger, the first ridge having a generally curved configuration enabling said housing to be comfortably held in an operator's hand when the operator's hand is in its naturally relaxed position.
US07775436B2
A method of driving a plurality of visible and invisible laser diodes so as to produce an illumination beam having a dynamically managed ratio of visible to invisible (IR) spectral energy/power during object illumination and imaging operations. The method involves supplying a plurality of visible laser and invisible laser diodes with a predetermined/default values of diode drive currents so as to illuminate the object with a spectral mixture of illumination during object illumination and imaging operations. One or more digital images of the illuminated object are captured and the image contrast quality thereof is measured, in real-time, so as to generate feedback or control data. This feedback or control data is used to dynamically generate the necessary values for the adjusted diode drive currents that are used to drive the visible and invisible laser diodes and produce an illumination beam having a dynamically managed ratio of visible to invisible (IR) spectral energy/power required to produce images of sufficient image contrast to ensure satisfactory image processing, while minimizing visual brightness to humans, at a POS station during object illumination and imaging operations.
US07775435B2
Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide for a method for preserving and maintaining document integrity. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the contents of a document, or contents of a document layer may be encoded into a machine-readable form. In some embodiments, the encoded information may be represented using a 2-dimensional bar code. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the machine-readable code is printed along with contents of the document based on space available in the document. In some embodiments, a printed document containing the machine-readable code may be scanned and digitized, and content extracted from the scanned data. In some embodiments, the machine-readable code printed on the document is used to recreate layer data from the printed document.
US07775433B2
An optical deflection apparatus including a light source; an optical deflector including first and second oscillators and first and second torsion springs, the first torsion spring connecting the first and second oscillators, the second torsion spring being connected to the second oscillator, and the first and second torsion springs sharing a common torsion axis; and a driver that applies a driving force to the optical deflector; and a driving controller that supplies a driving signal to the driver. The driving controller sets a reference frequency on the basis of a resonant frequency of the optical deflector, calculates a target time at which one of the first and second oscillators makes a predetermined deflection angle on the basis of the reference frequency, and supplies such a driving signal that the one of the first and second oscillators passes through a point corresponding to the predetermined deflection angle at the target time.
US07775432B2
A terminal for interacting with a signaling tag includes a controller capable of receiving information regarding a signaling tag at least partially over an air interface. The controller is also capable of determining whether the controller is actively operating an application. In this regard, if the terminal is actively operating an application, the controller is capable of performing a predefined action based upon the application and a state of the application.
US07775430B2
Portable handheld transceiver-enabled devices (e.g., PDA or cell phone) and an enterprise system that stores and maintains a digital map and database to enable customers using the portable devices within a store to access information about the location of products in the store and their availability. Several fixed transceivers are installed throughout a store and portable transceiver-enabled handheld devices used by customers within the store communicate within the store. Portable handheld transceiver-enabled devices communicate with fixed transceivers and download the locations and available quantities of desired product. Customers can use portable devices to obtain the shortest walking route within a store to obtain a desired product based on fixed transceiver proximity to portable devices. Customer can also search the store database for the exact location of items within a store using the portable devices.
US07775429B2
A method and system for controlling access to an enclosed area is described. One illustrative embodiment is an access card reader and controller that is powered via a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) interface. The access card reader and controller may include a plurality of operating modes, including a network mode in which the access card reader and controller relies on an external access control server to authenticate received card identifiers and a standalone mode in which the access card reader and controller authenticates card identifiers independently of the access control server based on information stored locally in the access card reader and controller.
US07775416B2
A process for heating a braze alloy by microwave radiation so that heating of the alloy is selective and sufficient to cause complete melting of the alloy and permit metallurgical bonding to a substrate on which the alloy is melted, but without excessively heating the substrate so as not to degrade the properties of the substrate. The process entails providing metallic powder particles having essentially the same metallic composition, with at least some of the particles being sufficiently small to be highly susceptible to microwave radiation. A mass of the particles is then applied to a surface of a substrate, after which the mass is subjected to microwave radiation so that the particles within the mass couple with the microwave radiation and sufficiently melt to metallurgically bond to the substrate. The microwave radiation is then interrupted and the mass is allowed to cool, solidify, and form a solid brazement.
US07775410B2
A hanger includes first and second holding members, for reversibly grasping a pair of boots, which members are spaced apart from one another along a first axis and along a second axis, the first being approximately orthogonal to the second, and both the first and second being approximately orthogonal to vertical. This spacing allows the pair of boots to be held side-by-side so that a heel portion of one boot of the pair is approximately aligned with an arch portion of the mating boot. The hanger may include a neck and a pair of arms, which extend from the neck to support the holding members, and the neck and arms of the hanger may be formed from a single piece of wire. A holding device may include both the hanger and a covering to fit around the boots held by the hanger.
US07775408B2
A head cap for an aerosol type atomizer is proposed in which a residual gas that remains in the container after the use of the aerosol type atomizer is ended are discharged easily and safely, and which is so structured that the aerosol type atomizer cannot be falsely operated while it is being used. It comprises a cap body mounted over a top of a container accommodating its contents, and a movable member for spray operation disposed inside of the cap body and having a fluid channel extending from a stem fitting part for fitting with a stem and leading to a spray port, the movable member for spray operation having a push button such that pushing down the push button to take a spray position sprays contents of the container from the spray port via the fluid channel, wherein the cap body has a side face elastically deformable so that when the push button of the movable member for spray operation is pushed down to take the spray position, pressing the side face of the cap body inwards locks the movable member for spray operation with the side face to hold the movable member for spray operation at the spray position.
US07775405B2
A sprayer includes a discharge valve assembly and includes an integrated poppet valve, spring and volume reducer. The spring includes more than omega-shaped form, each with relatively flat sides. The spring can have sides with portions sufficiently wide to substantially extend across the valve chamber to provide stability to the spring and prevent buckling. The flat sided omega-form construct is relatively easy to manufacture via molding and the ends of such construction provide suitable locations for integrated molding with the valve and the volume reducer.
US07775403B2
Embodiments of a power hand tool of the type which has a main body portion, a front nose portion with a tool element extending forwardly from, a handle grip below the main body portion and an operating trigger adjacent the handle grip, further comprising a stand attached to the nose portion configured to pivot between retracted and extended positions, a means for biasing the stand toward its extended position, and a release mechanism adjacent the handle grip configured to hold the stand in its retracted position, and release the stand responsive to manipulation by a user.
US07775393B1
A combination closure-cup assembly including a rotatably removable cup for securing to a bottle. The bottle having an inner cavity, frusto-conical neck and spout including external threading, and an annual peripheral flange extending outwardly from the frusto-conical neck below the external threading. The cup has a first end having a circular flat bottom including a scalloped rim, a second end, and a frusto-conical neck portion connecting the first and second end. The cup includes an outer surface, an internal cavity having threading, an inwardly recessed straw aperture, and a leak proof seal. The outer surface has a plurality of axial ribs.
US07775386B2
A cap comprises an opening indicating element provided with a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with an abutment arrangement associated with a neck of a container, said flap arrangement comprising at least one first portion and at least one second portion arranged alongside one another along a peripheral edge of said opening indicating element, a dimension of said at least one second portion measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge being greater than a corresponding dimension of said at least one first portion measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge; a container comprises a neck from which an abutment arrangement projects and a cap provided with a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with said abutment arrangement, said abutment arrangement comprising a plurality of distinct abutment elements and said flap arrangement comprising at least one portion suitable for being received in a gap defined between two abutment elements of said plurality of abutment elements.
US07775381B2
In a support device for bottles processed on a bottle filling and closing machine, a substantially elongated body has a bayonet coupling at a bottom part for connecting the device to a rotary conveyor of the machine. An upper lateral portion of the body has gripping wings, for receiving resiliently a bottle, introduced between the wings by pushing the bottle at a matching point between an auger conveyor for conveying the bottles and the rotary conveyor.
US07775368B2
Laminar flow of a carrier liquid and polymeric molecules through micro-channels is used to straighten, align, separate, and/or sort the polymeric molecules. The polymeric molecules may be analyzed and/or manipulated in the carrier liquid or attached to a wall of the micro-channel for subsequent treatment and analysis. Micro-channels can be manufactured using an elastic molding material. One micro-channel embodiment provides fluid flow using a standard laboratory centrifuge.
US07775365B1
A prosthetic limb assistance kit that is used as a maintenance kit and carrying case for prosthetic limb users to house and have readily available necessary prosthesis supplies, which include adjustment tools, replaceable prosthesis components, socks, ointments, powders, cleaning devices, and other related items. The kit comes in a carrying case and also includes a cutout area for a umbrella-like stand, which allows for air drying of a prosthesis liner worn by an individual. The stand also allows the liner from sticking to itself when it is placed in the carrying case.
US07775364B1
A container comprises a sheet of polymer formed into a base portion. The base portion has cavities for receiving and supporting frangible items. A cover portion has cavities for covering the frangible items. The cover portion has a flat peripheral wall defining concavities. A first hinge rotates the cover portion onto the base portion to hold the items captive. An elongated tab has male connectors oriented with a ramp portion. A female connector projects from the peripheral wall of the cover portion and is in vertical alignment with the male connectors. A second hinge rotates the tab toward the interior of the base portion. Connectors block the cover portion to the base portion when closed together. A grasping wall spans between and projects from the receiving cavities and from the container, defining a grasping surface. A clearance is positioned between the female connector and the base portion when the container is closed.
US07775359B2
The packaging of the present invention is provided with a printing paper roll to which printing paper is wound; an ink ribbon unit having a sending roll, a winding roll arranged in parallel to the sending roll and an ink ribbon wound around the sending roll; a container for storing the printing paper roll and the ink ribbon unit; a partition member disposed in the container for partitioning the printing paper roll from the ink ribbon unit, wherein the partitioning member comprises a pair of plate-like holding members for holding the printing paper roll at its ends in the axial direction and a plate-like connecting member for connecting the holding members; and the connecting member obliquely extending relative to the axial direction, and partitioning the container in the radial direction of the printing paper roll into first and second storage regions in which the printing paper roll and the ink ribbon unit are accommodated respectively.
US07775356B2
A laptop computer carrying case and stand includes a substantially planar bottom panel, two planar side walls parallel to one another and fixedly attached perpendicular to and adjacent opposing edges of the planar bottom panel, and the side walls have top edges distal the bottom panel. A substantially planar rear wall is fixedly attached perpendicular to the planar bottom panel and the two planar side walls. A top member having at least two substantially planar and rigid sections is hingedly connected adjacent a top edge of the rear wall panel and hingedly attached at an opposing edge to a second of the rigid sections. A top member positioning means is included for removably engaging the sections of said top member in at least one inverted V pattern for the purpose of supporting a laptop computer an angle to a user.
US07775355B1
A system and method by which interchangeable covers are provided for a portable computer comprising two (2) covers which are generally flat in shape is herein disclosed. A first cover would attach onto a top surface of the portable computer thus protecting an outward facing component of a display screen, while a second cover would attach onto a bottom portion of the portable computer. Both covers would extend around side surfaces thus protecting the sides of the computer as well. The covers would provide manually removable sections allowing access thereto computer features such as buttons, cooling vents, connection ports, and the like. It is envisioned that the covers would be made in multiple colors and styles with graphic printing to suit individual tastes. Such graphics are envisioned to be flames, sport heroes, music or movie icons, company logos, or the like. Additionally, plain covers could be adorned with stickers, paints, or other user applied items without fear of damaging the laptop, voiding warranties, or reducing resale value. To change the appearance of a portable computer, the user would simply attach new covers.
US07775351B2
A package containing a plurality of articles of textile products, comprising one or more compacted articles and at least one un-compacted article. The un-compacted article is placed so that it is predominantly visible.
US07775349B2
Shrink-wrap packaging is provided with at least one reinforced integral handle. Each handle is formed by an opening formed in the shrink-wrap material, and a reinforced area that surrounds the opening. Preferably two handles are located at opposite ends or sides of the package. The reinforced areas include an additional layer of the shrink-wrap film, or may include other material such as other types of thermoplastics, paper/fiber composites, or combinations thereof. Shading may be applied to the reinforced areas in order that a consumer can more easily recognize the openings in the shrink-wrap as designated handles. Other embodiments include handles formed by use of a paperbound element in combination with openings in the shrink-wrap material, and webbing secured to a plurality of the containers along with a handle loop integral with the webbing that is orientated to extend through the opening in the shrink wrap material.
US07775348B2
A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a flexible sheet having two rows of container apertures formed therein. The plurality of containers are each placed into a respective container receiving aperture and are thus unitized in a package. The flexible carrier further includes two panels and/or two handles, each panel and/or handle formed at a periphery of the flexible sheet along each longitudinal edge of the flexible sheet and a line of weakness formed between the longitudinal rows. As a result of the described configuration, flexible carrier is divisible into two sub-carriers, each unitizing a set of containers and each including a panel and/or a handle along a respective longitudinal edge of the resulting sub-carrier.
US07775340B2
A transport star having at least one replaceable mounting part with a first locking element and a mounting part holder with a second locking element, and where one of the two locking elements is locked with the other locking element by rotation. In addition, a transport star having at least one replaceable mounting part that can be locked with a mounting part holder, and where a ring-shaped operating element is provided for locking the mounting part with the mounting part holder. Also, a transport star having at least one mounting part and a mounting part holder on which the mounting part can be positioned in a position predetermined by positioning devices, whereby the lifting of the mounting part can be prevented by the positioning devices.
US07775338B2
A vehicle control device includes an actual drag torque calculating unit, which calculates the drag torque of a power transfer mechanism. A lubricating oil flow rate calculating unit determines the flow rate of lubricating oil according to the actual torque, and a reference drag torque calculating unit calculates a reference drag torque. In addition, a reference lubricating oil flow rate calculating unit calculates a reference lubricating oil flow rate according to the reference drag torque. A correction rate calculating unit then calculates a correction value corresponding to the rate of correction of the lubricating oil flow rate according to the lubricating oil flow rate and reference lubricating oil flow rate. A flow rate correction unit outputs a drive signal to an actuator which controls a lubrication oil flow rate according to the correction rate.
US07775333B2
An magnetorheological damper useful in structural vibration control has a damper body and a moveable portion relative to the damper body. The damper includes an magnetorheological material contained within the damper body for resisting movement of the moveable portion. Rheology changes can be generated in the magnetorheological material owing to changes in a magnetic field, to which the magnetorheological material is exposed. The damper further includes at least a sensor embedded in the damper for monitoring an external force exerted on the damper, and for generating a signal to control the magnetic field and hence the resulting yield force and rheological damping of the damper in response to a variance in the external force.
US07775318B2
A steering shaft joint structure capable of absorbing a rotational phase difference between an input shaft of a power steering unit and an output shaft thereof includes an inner splined portion 53 of a steering joint member 51 joined to an input shaft of a power steering unit and an outer splined portion 55 of the steering joint member 51 joined to a steering shaft. A predetermined rotational phase difference is set between the inner splined portion 53 of the steering joint member 51 and the outer splined portion 55 thereof.
US07775314B2
A two-wheel drive motorcycle, or all wheel drive bicycle, has a spring loaded shock absorbing suspension and traction system for the front wheel. A swing arm, rather than the front steering fork, is mounted to the front wheel axle. A modified steering fork is mounted to the swing arm and a shock absorber extends between the front steering fork weldment and the swing arm. The shock absorber allows the front wheel axle to move upward relative to the front steering fork and motorcycle (or bicycle) in general to absorb upward shocks on the front wheel, and also pushes the wheel downward, thereby improving traction. The front chain drive includes two chains in series which are isolated from excessive shock forces.
US07775309B2
There is provided a pump unit including plurality of hydraulic pump bodies respectively fluidly connected to plurality of hydraulic motor bodies, which are disposed away from the pump unit, so as to form closed circuits, the pump unit including: a housing accommodating the plurality of hydraulic pump bodies so that the plurality of hydraulic pump bodies are operatively driven by a common driving source; a charge pump body operatively driven by the driving source; a suction fluid passage fluidly connected to a suction side of the charge pump body; a discharge fluid passage fluidly connected to a discharge side of the charge pump body; a charge passage for replenishing a part of pressurized fluid in the discharge fluid passage into each of the closed circuits; and a working machine operating fluid passage for supplying a part of the pressurized fluid in the discharge fluid passage toward an external hydraulic actuator.
US07775295B1
A control system for use in conjunction with a primary power system and operable to control a pneumatically powered hand-held tool broadly comprises an air delivery assembly operable to communicate with a pressurized air source; a control assembly including an exhaust line from the primary power system and to the control assembly, a spool valve in fluid communication with the supply line and the exhaust line, and a control line in fluid communication with the spool valve and the hand-held tool; a tool assembly comprising the hand-held tool for performing delicate hand working operations; and a housing for at least partial storage of the air delivery assembly and the control assembly. The primary power system and the control system operate in conjunction with each other to both power and precisely control a pneumatically powered hand-held tool.
US07775292B1
A monitor apparatus and method for monitoring, verifying, and prompting an existing CO2 type fire suppression system in a room or building protected by the suppression system. In its most preferred form the monitor apparatus is a unit contained in a cabinet or housing placed in the protected room, with only a signal connection to the suppression system. The monitor apparatus has a suppressant gas concentration sensor enabled by a discharge signal received from the suppression system, and a datalogger to keep a verifiable record of the suppression system's discharge performance. The monitor unit sends a continue-discharge signal back to the suppression system independently of the continuity of the suppression system's discharge signal if a desired gas concentration level in the room is not reached or held per the suppression system's own requirements.
US07775291B2
A safety valve apparatus has a housing with a bore and a projection disposed in the bore. A locking dog disposed on the housing is movable to engage an inner conduit wall surrounding the housing, and a flapper rotatably disposed on the housing is movable between opened and closed positions. A first sleeve disposed within the bore above the projection is mechanically movable between locked positions. In one locked position, the sleeve moves the locking dog to engage the wall. A piston disposed in the housing hydraulically communicates with a port in the projection and couples to a second sleeve disposed within the bore below the projection. The second sleeve conceals the piston and is hydraulically movable to open and close the flapper.
US07775290B2
An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member.
US07775268B2
A vehicle cooling system comprises a vehicle unit, a heat exchanger, a cooling fan, a coolant pump, a three-way valve, and a control unit. The heat exchanger is arranged in the coolant route to selectively receive a coolant from the coolant outlet of the vehicle unit. The cooling fan is arranged to blow cooling air to the heat exchanger. The coolant pump is arranged to circulate the coolant through the coolant route. The three-way valve is arranged to switch the coolant route between a heat exchanger route that passes through the heat exchanger and a bypass route that bypasses the heat exchanger. The control unit is configured to control operation of at least one of the cooling fan, the three-way valve and the coolant pump based on a temperature of the coolant at the heat exchanger and a temperature of the coolant at the coolant outlet of the vehicle unit.
US07775266B2
A heat exchanger, especially an intercooler for a motor vehicle. The heat exchanger comprises a box, a chamber in which a flowing medium is distributed and/or accumulated, a bundle of tubes, tubes, a tube base, openings, a housing lid, two lateral walls, a stabilizing element, a first receiving element, a first transmission element, a second receiving element, a second transmission element, a force transducing element and a flow guide surface.
US07775263B2
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, which can independently controls the volume of heat exchange medium flowing through tubes of a left heat exchange part and a right heat exchange part to independently control the temperature of a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, thereby realizing a compact structure since a temp door for controlling temperature is omitted from an air-conditioning system for the vehicle, which can reduce an operating force and increase durability since heat exchange medium controlling means are in a rotational structure, and which can minimize a temperature difference between the right and left sides thereof since the heat exchange medium is distributed to the tubes uniformly.
US07775252B2
A vertically moving door of a truck loading dock includes a disconnectable horizontal joint that provides the door with a barrier position, wherein an upper section of the door can be separated from a lower section to create a ventilation area between the two. The ventilation area allows fresh outside air to enter the building, while the lower section remains at its lowermost position for safety and security. More specifically, the lower section serves as a barrier that helps prevent someone or something from accidentally falling through the doorway when a truck is not present at the dock. A lightweight, resilient strap can be attached to the lower section of the door to help protect that section from an otherwise damaging impact. A lattice of straps or a mesh can be installed across the ventilation area to help secure the building against theft.
US07775249B2
A method and apparatus for centering a tire on a wheel for concentrically mounting the tire on the wheel. The tire and wheel assembly are placed on an arched member which gravitationally centers assembly on the arched member. Further, the arched member is also a rest for the tire sidewall to seal the bead of the tire on the wheel. A tire stand for handling, positioning and assisting in seating a bead is also provided. The tire stand also has an arched member to center the tire on the wheel. Two forks cradle a vertically positioned tire to initially position the tire and wheel assembly over the arched member. The tire stand is configured to be tilted to a horizontal position with the tire and wheel assembly inserted, thereby centering the assembly on the arched member. A beading device can then be activated to the concentric tire and wheel assembly.
US07775244B2
A liquid crystal dispensing system includes a frame, a stage coupled to the frame; at least one liquid crystal dispenser moveably coupled the frame over the stage, and at least one measurement member operatively coupled to the liquid crystal dispenser, wherein the at least measurement member detecting an amount of liquid crystal material dispensed from the at least one liquid crystal dispenser.
US07775241B2
A valve control device. In some embodiments, the valve control device includes a housing with bore sections and a slide movable relative to the bore sections, first and second flow holes for connection of a feed line from a fluid pressure hose with one actuator, or of the actuator to a return line, wherein in each case one of the connections is made and the other is interrupted, and first and second valve elements assigned to the flow holes, wherein each valve element has a closed position and a connecting position. In the connection position of the first flow hole, the second valve element is in the closed position and pressed onto a valve seat at a bore section. In the connecting position of the second flow hole, the first valve element is in the closed position and pressed onto a valve seat at a bore section.
US07775239B2
There is provided a buffered rotary valve in which a valve is additionally installed in a rotary valve for supplying a fluid of high pressure and a fluid of low pressure being input from a compressor, thereby reducing the amount of fluid being supplied and unnecessarily consumed, and enhancing the efficiency of a freezing system.
US07775237B2
A fluid flow regulator (20) comprising: a fluid inlet port (34) and a fluid outlet port (54); at least one open-faced flow control channel (60) defined by a planar bottom (62) and two sidewalls (64) that communicates with the outlet port (54) at a junction (66) and has a cross-section that decreases with distance from the junction; an elastic diaphragm (40); a support shelf (58) on which the diaphragm (40) seats and which supports the diaphragm (40) along a planar contour parallel to the bottom of each of the at least one channel (60); wherein to regulate fluid flow, with increasing inlet fluid pressure the diaphragm (40) covers portions of the open face that are farther from the junction (66) in a region where the cross-section decreases with distance from the junction (66).
US07775230B2
A collapsible hunting blind includes a blind awning and a collapsible frame to fold the blind awning between a folded position and a setup position. The blind awning comprises two sidewalls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall. The collapsible frame includes a retention frame and two tensional loops. The retention frame is detachably coupling between the sidewalls to retain a distance therebetween, wherein when the retention frame is released from the sidewalls, the sidewalls are adapted to overlap with each other. The two tensional loops are provided at the sidewalls respectively for providing a tensional force thereat at the setup position to stretch out the sidewalls in a tensional manner, wherein when each of the tensional loops is twist-folded to reduce the tensional force at the respective sidewall, the overlapped sidewalls are adapted to twist-fold into a compact structure at the folded position.
US07775227B2
A step-counting ambulatory aid having a ground-contacting surface, which aid comprises a pressure-sensitive switch on the ground-contacting surface and a data recorder located elsewhere on the aid, wherein the pressure-sensitive switch is activated upon contact of the ground-contacting surface of the aid with ground, whereupon the pressure-sensitive switch sends a signal to the data recorder, which records the signal as a step; a method of counting the number of steps taken by a user of an ambulatory aid comprising having the user use an ambulatory aid equipped with a step counter; and a method of establishing a therapeutic regimen for a patient in need of an ambulatory aid comprising determining the number of steps that the patient should take during a set period of time, providing the patient with an ambulatory aid equipped with a step counter, and instructing the patient to take the determined number of steps with the ambulatory aid during the set period of time.
US07775224B2
Apparatus for cleaning a window of a vehicle, including a vessel, having an inlet through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning the window. There is a heating element for heating the fluid in the vessel, which element preheats the vessel before the washing fluid is received therein, whereby at least an initial quantity of the fluid is rapidly heated and discharged from the vessel.
US07775223B2
A drawer-type dishwasher includes a outer housing and an extensible wash chamber that in a first position resides completely within the outer housing and in a second position extends completely out from the outer housing. The wash chamber is connected to the outer housing through a utility link. In order to permit full travel of the wash chamber, the utility link is provided with multiple, flexible loops. The utility link can include a drain hose, an electrical cable or a combination of both. Regardless, the utility link is supported through a carrier that is connected at one end to the outer housing and at another end to the wash chamber.
US07775216B2
A carbonaceous heat source composition for a non-combustion-type smoking article contains calcium carbonate in an amount of 30 to 55% by weight.
US07775212B2
Shown is a disposable, self-opening bodily fluid barrier formed of a sheet of impermeable material. The device may include a main body panel, side panels, and a foot panel to fully wrap and encase an injured or diseased patient and contain any bodily fluids released from the patient. The device may also include fluid expansion chambers such that, when filled with a pressurized gas, will cause the device to fully open into position for use without assistance.
US07775206B2
A suction catheter assembly, particularly adapted for neonatal use includes a distal manifold body including a rotatable connector for connection to an endotracheal tube, a ventilating port member and an ancillary catheter receiving port member. The manifold body is rotatably joined to a catheter tube seal housing. The seal housing includes an irrigation port member. A catheter tube wiper seal and a filter member are disposed in the seal housing which is joined to a suction control valve assembly by an elongated flexible sheath defining an enclosed space through which the catheter tube extends between the valve assembly and the manifold. A resilient closure member actuator and slide lock member are engageable with a closure member of the valve assembly.
US07775202B2
A barbecue stove includes a body with a hole and a grease plate. The hole is formed on the bottom of the body. The body further includes a frame around the hole and secured with the body. A receive space is formed between the frame and the bottom of the body for receiving the grease plate. A plurality of pivots are fixed on the bottom of the body. Two feet are pivotally connected with the pivots individually. The grease plate includes a bent portion. When the barbecue stove is in use, the grease plate can be mounted on the frame by the bent portion. When the barbecue stove is not in use, the grease plate can be locked by the feet.
US07775199B2
A paint ball gun is disclosed including a dispenser having a locking connector designed to lockingly engage a locking connector on a gun feed tube or one end of a hollow connecting member.
US07775198B2
A valve assembly controls the flow of boosted gas and naturally aspirated gas between an air inlet leading into an intercooler and an oil separator disposed in a head cover in a turbocharged motor vehicle engine. The valve assembly includes a housing defining a first channel through which the natural aspirated gas can pass and a second channel through which the boosted gas can pass. The housing encloses both a check valve and a PCV valve in the second channel. The check valve controls the flow of gas between the first and second channels during normal and boosted engine operation, respectively.
US07775194B2
An automatic residual fuel vent device for a carburetor, the device including a fuel supply passage (15) connecting a fuel tank (TF) and a float chamber (10), a negative pressure passage (17) connecting an intake passage (8) and a negative pressure operating chamber (53) of a diaphragm pump (PD), a fuel vent passage (16) connecting the float chamber (10) and the fuel tank (TF), a single changeover cock (CO) provided so as to straddle the fuel supply passage (15) and the negative pressure passage (17), a negative pressure surge tank (TS) provided in the negative pressure passage (17), and the diaphragm pump (PD), which is connected to the fuel vent passage (16) and is operated by negative pressure of the negative pressure surge tank (TS), residual fuel of the float chamber (10) being returned to the fuel tank (TF) by the diaphragm pump (PD) operated by negative pressure from the negative pressure surge tank (TS) in accordance with the changing over of the changeover cock (CO). This enables residual fuel within the float chamber of the carburetor to be reliably returned to the fuel tank by intake negative pressure accumulated in the negative pressure surge tank and, furthermore, residual fuel can be vented by the changing over of a single changeover cock, thus enabling the number of components to be reduced and the device to be provided at a low cost.
US07775193B2
A high-pressure pump having a housing containing at least one pump element that has a pump piston driven by a drive shaft; the piston is guided so that it can slide in a cylinder bore of a housing part and delimits a pumping chamber therein. A support element supports the pump piston against the drive shaft; and a prestressed return spring acts on both the pump piston and the support element in the direction toward the drive shaft. The support element is guided so that it can slide in a receptacle, which is contained in the housing part that also contains the cylinder bore, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pump piston, but cannot rotate around the longitudinal axis.
US07775189B2
A fuel system for a carburetor that supports operation of an engine includes a body with a bore, a fuel source communicated with the bore and from which fuel is supplied to the bore for delivery to the engine, a drain unit and a control. The drain unit is communicated with the fuel source to selectively receive fuel from the fuel source and has a fuel chamber and an actuator operable to vary the volume of the fuel chamber. The control is communicated with the actuator to permit fuel flow from the fuel source to the fuel chamber when the engine is shut down and to cause fuel to flow from the fuel chamber to the fuel source prior to starting the engine.
US07775188B2
A plasma plug for an internal combustion engine includes a main body having an inner portion formed of ceramic and an outer portion formed of aluminum or other metal. A first electrode and a second electrode formed of Ruthenium dioxide are disposed axially within the electrically insulated portion of the main body. The plasma plug further includes a donut shaped toroidal capacitor situated circumferentially about the main body of the plasma plug, having an open center, an outer plate connected to a high voltage, direct current generator, an inner plate selectively connected to the first electrode through a spark switch and a dielectric situated between the outer plate and the inner plate. A resistive element connected in series to the first electrode and the second electrode is situated at the lower portion of the main body. The second electrode is either grounded or can float above ground to complete the circuit.
US07775186B2
A cam lobe is formed as a single part, not formed together with a shaft body. The shaft body penetrates through bearing holes, as well as a mounting hole provided in the cam lobe, which is arranged in between adjacent bearing holes. The bearing holes each in a perfect circular shape can be achieved, since there is no need to divide the bearing holes into two semi-circular arc shaped concave portions. Consequently, a camshaft can be supported so as to rotate smoothly.
US07775174B1
An at least partially self-propelled vehicle is configured for being towed by a towing vehicle, by way of a tow line. Operation of the vehicles may be coordinated so that, for a length of the tow line that connects the vehicles, the length of the tow line is curved in a manner that inhibits the tow line from transferring oscillatory motion between the vehicles while the entirety of the length of the tow line may be under tension.
US07775169B2
An access assembly leading to first and second storage tanks of a planting implement is provided. The access assembly includes a central ramp located between and fixed in relation to the first and second storage tanks, and an extended ramp having a forward end opposite a rearward end aligned in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the direction of travel of the implement. The forward end of the ramp is pivotally connected about a first horizontal axis at a rearward end of the central ramp. The access assembly further includes a ladder pivotally independently coupled about a second horizontal axis at the rearward end of the extended ramp. The ladder and the extended ramp pivot together about the first horizontal axis at the forward end of the extended ramp between a lowered, operative position and a raised, inoperative position above the central ramp.
US07775167B2
A planter for planting multiple rows of seeds in which the spacing between rows and the spacing between seeds in a row can be varied includes at least two planting units, each planting unit adapted for planting a row of seeds, the planting units being mounted so that the spacing between the at least two of the planting units can be changed, and the rate of planting of at least one of the planting units being independently changeable. A method of planting seeds in a field with a multi-row planter having a plurality of planting units each adapted for planting a row of seeds, includes selectively changing at least one of the spacing between at least two adjacent planting units and the rate of operation of at least one of the planting units during the planting so that at least one of the row spacing or the seed spacing in the rows is not uniform across the planted field.
US07775145B2
A system for executing a method for neutralizing an explosive device disposed within a targeted area. In operation, an artificial lightning generator of the system generates one or more electric sparks. Additionally, a spinning breakout apparatus of the system spins a spark emission point in a predetermined pattern within the targeted area, and for neutralizing the explosive device, discharges the electric spark(s) into the targeted area via the spark emission point.
US07775144B2
A disc saw blade includes a saw chain mounted around the circumference of a circular disk, which saw chain is provided with driving links, connecting links and cutting links. Due to the driving links, the chain is guided in at least one chain groove arranged around the periphery of the disk. The bottom of the groove has radial projections distributed around the circumference, and the driving link has a cam surface on a projecting part that projects radially inwards, for interaction with the respective radial projection. The chain can move from a neutral position, in which the respective projecting part is loosely disposed between two adjacent radial projections, to a working position, in which the respective cam surfaces are in contact with the associated radial projections.
US07775140B2
A cork extractor significantly reduces the countervailing forces that must be applied to a bottle during extraction of a cork by providing a handle having a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the vertical, longitudinal axis of a cork as it is removed from a bottle. A handle rotates about an axis and comprises gripping portions on opposite sides of the rotational axis. The corkscrew is prevented from spiraling out of the cork during the application of upwardly directed forces independently of the screw carrier.
US07775139B2
A steering wheel structure, comprising: an internal member provided inside a vehicle steering wheel; a covering member, adhered to a surface of the internal member and covering the internal member; a first concave-convex portion, provided at the surface of the internal member and disposed in a predetermined pattern thereon; and a second concave-convex portion, provided at surfaces of the first concave-convex portion, is provided.
US07775136B2
A twist-grip controller includes a cylindrical housing adapted to be nonrotatably received within a tubular end of a handlebar, and an elongate support member having a cylindrical internal cavity and a longitudinal guide surface, the support member being supported within the housing for relative rotation about a longitudinal axis. The controller is adaptable to actuate a first cam portion axially constrained within the support member cavity, the first cam portion thereby actuating a vehicle control via fluid power through a first range of motion. Rotating the tubular sleeve through a second range actuates a second follower mounted to a second cam portion axially toward the distal end of the handlebar, thereby generating an output throttle signal.
US07775119B1
A pressure sensor is described with sensing elements electrically and physically isolated from a pressurized medium. An absolute pressure sensor has a reference cavity, which can be at a vacuum or zero pressure, enclosing the sensing elements. The reference cavity is formed by bonding a recessed cap wafer with a gauge wafer having a micromachined diaphragm. Sensing elements are disposed on a first side of the diaphragm. The pressurized medium accesses a second side of the diaphragm opposite to the first side where the sensing elements are disposed. A spacer wafer may be used for structural support and stress relief of the gauge wafer. In one embodiment, vertical through-wafer conductive vias are used to bring out electrical connections from the sensing elements to outside the reference cavity. In an alternative embodiment, peripheral bond pads on the gauge wafer are used to bring out electrical connections from the sensing elements to outside the reference cavity. In various embodiments, a regular silicon-on-insulator wafer or a double silicon-on-insulator wafer may be used as the gauge wafer, and appropriate micromachining steps are adopted to define the diaphragm. A layer of corrosion resistant material is deposited on the surface of the diaphragm that is accessed by the pressurized medium.
US07775117B2
A combined wet-wet differential transducer and a gage pressure transducer located in the same housing, comprising a semiconductor chip which comprises a gage sensor chip on one section and a differential sensor chip on a second section. Lach sensor chip has a Wheatstone bridge comprising piezoresistors and is responsive to an applied pressure. The gage chip and the differential chip are placed in a header having a front section and a back section adapted to receive a first and second pressure, respectively. A central section adjoins the front and back sections to form an H shaped header. The sensors are in communication with first and second pressure ports such that the absolute sensor provides an output indicative of a pressure applied to a first port and the differential sensor provides an output indicative of the pressure difference between the first and second pressure ports.
US07775102B2
A method for testing the function of a high-pressure pump having a plurality of pump elements, which each define a respective work chamber which is in communication, via a suction valve with a low-pressure region, from which fuel can be aspirated, and via a pressure valve with a high-pressure region which includes a central high-pressure fuel reservoir, serving to supply fuel to an internal combustion engine, into which high-pressure reservoir the high-pressure pump pumps the fuel aspirated from the low-pressure region, and the pressure of which is detected by a rail pressure sensor. The values detected by the rail pressure sensor are used in the built-in state of the high-pressure pump in operation of the engine for testing the function of the high-pressure pump.
US07775101B2
A universal dynamic gear quality and consistency verification inspection system and method is provided. The system and method provides a dynamic gear verification inspection station including a Double Flank master gear and a probe for inspecting gear features and an electronic plug having pre-reference pads and mechanical rests for supporting and locating the part to be inspected. The probes are provided to verify all angles and functional parameters relayed to appropriate software for evaluation and record maintenance. A probe may also be provided for face checking.
US07775100B2
A real-time line management system and associated methods. A line management system for use in conjunction with an operation in a subterranean well includes a line installed in the well during the operation, and a computing device which indicates a used life of the line during the operation. A method of managing a line used in an operation in a subterranean well includes the steps of: installing the line in the well during the operation; and determining a used life of the line while the line is installed in the well. A method of managing a line used in multiple operations in one or more subterranean wells includes the steps of: estimating conditions which will be experienced by the line during a future operation; and predicting before the future operation what a used life of the line will be after the line is used in the future operation.
US07775093B2
Apparatus for indicating loading in a structure having exceeded a predetermined threshold is disclosed in which deformation of a structural element is identified by the torque required to rotate a gauge assembly integrated in the structure.
US07775087B2
A method of forming a microchannel as well as a thin film structure including same is made by forming a first thin film on a side of a substrate, forming a fugitive second thin film on the first thin film such that the second thin film defines a precursor of the elongated microchannel and a plurality of extensions connected to and extending transversely relative to the precursor along a length thereof A third thin film is formed on the first thin film and the fugitive second thin film such that the second thin film resides between the first thin film and the third thin film. A respective access site is formed in a region of the third thin film residing on a respective extension and penetrating to the fugitive second thin film. The fugitive second thin film forming the precursor is selectively removed from between the first thin film and the third thin film using an etching medium introduced through the access sites, thereby forming the microchannel between the first thin film and the third thin film. The method preferably further includes forming a sealing layer on the third thin film in a manner to close off open access sites remaining after selective removal of the second thin film.
US07775081B2
A rotary fill slide assembly for a sheet metal forming die that has a working element that performs an operation on a portion of a sheet metal blank. The rotary fill slide assembly has a motor that is controlled based upon a press cycle timing mechanism. The rotary fill slide is assembled to the die to fill a space adjacent to a portion of the blank when the blank is in position for the working element to perform the operation on the blank. A linkage connects the motor to the rotary fill slide. The motor drives the linkage in synchronization with the press cycle to fill the space during the period of time that the working element performs the operation on the blank.
US07775079B2
A rolling method and a rolling apparatus for flat rolled metal materials stably produce flat-rolled metal having no or extremely little camber. The rolling mill having work rolls with split backup rolls supporting at least one work roll is provided with at least one pair of pinch rolls. The pinch rolls apply tension to the rolled material. The difference between the rolling direction force acting on the pinch rolls at the right and left sides is calculated. Optionally, the rolling direction force acting on the work rolls at the right and left sides is also calculated. The left-right difference of the roll gap of the work rolls is controlled as a result of the calculated difference.
US07775073B2
An improved locking device, such as a combination padlock, is provided in which the re-coding thereof can be carried out in a convenient and/or efficient manner. The locking device has a body including a plurality of dials disposed to surround a lock member in an axially spaced relationship therealong. Relative axial sliding movement is possible between the dials and the lock member between a locked position and a release position. The lock member has at least one generally radially extending exterior locking configuration received in a corresponding first location at one side of a dial in the locked position, and in a corresponding second location within a dial in the release position. Each dial, in the release position, is angularly movable relative to the locking configuration so as to allow re-coding the dial.
US07775066B2
The invention relates to refrigeration using a thermochemical system based on the coupling of two reversible physico-chemical phenomena between a gas and a solid or liquid sorbent, one at low temperature (the LT phenomenon) and the other at a higher temperature (the HT phenomenon).The LT phenomenon is a liquid/gas phase change of the fluid G or an absorption of the fluid G by a liquid sorbent. The HT phenomenon is a reversible sorption of the fluid G by a liquid or solid sorbent. The endothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place in a reactor thermally isolated from the ambient environment. The exothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place in a condenser in communication with the reactor in which the HT phenomenon takes place, the condensed fluid G then being transferred to the reactor in which the endothermic phase of the LT phenomenon takes place.
US07775055B2
A system for cooling a medium includes a line having coolant flowing therein, and a sub-cooling unit in fluid communication with the line. The sub-cooling unit receives a portion of the coolant diverted from the line to cool coolant flowing in the line. A method of cooling a medium is further disclosed.
US07775041B2
A Stirling engine, wherein the inner yoke of a linear motor is installed on the outer peripheral surface of a cylinder. To keep a proper pressure balance between a compression space on one end side of a displacer and a back pressure space on the outer peripheral side of the cylinder, a first flow passage is formed in the piston starting at the compression space side end face toward the outer peripheral surface and a second flow passage allowing the first flow passage to communicate with the back pressure space is formed in the cylinder. The second flow passage is composed of a through hole that penetrates the wall of the cylinder in a radial direction and a communication passage formed between the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder and the inner peripheral surface of the inner yoke to allow the through hole to communicate with the back pressure space.
US07775039B2
A procedure to operate a particle filter disposed in an exhaust gas area of an internal combustion engine and a device to implement the procedure are proposed. The particle filter is regenerated if required by the particles lodged in the filter, whereby the particle filter is heated for regeneration by manipulation of the exhaust gas temperature upstream in front of the particle filter. During the regeneration of the particle filter, the exhaust gas temperature is established to a specified exhaust gas temperature set point, which is dependent upon at least one parameter of the particle filter during the regeneration. The procedural approach according to the invention allows for a quick regeneration of the particle filter without endangering the particle filter with an inadmissibly high temperature.
US07775037B2
The exhaust gas temperature control method includes executing an exhaust gas temperature control to raise an exhaust gas temperature upon determining that a purificatory performance of an exhaust gas purification device of an engine has declined. The step of executing of the exhaust gas temperature control includes performing a first fuel injection control in which a timing of a main fuel injection is retarded and a post fuel injection is executed after the main fuel injection when the internal combustion engine is operating in the first operating region, and performing a second fuel injection control in which the timing of the main fuel injection is retarded and an execution of the post fuel injection after the main fuel injection is prohibited when the internal combustion engine is operating in the second operating region.
US07775036B2
A method and device for treating exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine with a reducing agent introduced into the exhaust gases. The reducing agent is pumped out of a reactant reservoir and to a dosing valve so that after the dosing valve is opened, the reducing agent can be introduced into the engine's exhaust gas line in a dosed manner. Reducing agent can be conveyed back from the delivery device to the reservoir via a return line. The reducing agent can circulate between the delivery device and the reactant reservoir thereby, particularly when the dosing valve is closed, preventing the reactant from freezing.
US07775032B2
A method of operating an exhaust nozzle assembly includes translating a translatable structure between a plurality of operational positions to open and close a flow diverting port extending in an exhaust duct. The longitudinal position of a throat constriction varies with translation of the translatable structure. Additionally, the cross-sectional area of the exhaust duct at the throat constriction may vary with translation of the translatable structure. An exemplary exhaust nozzle is operable in-flight for providing at least partial reverse thrust to at least partly control the velocity of an aircraft. An exemplary exhaust nozzle is operable on the ground to spoil ground idle thrust.
US07775030B2
Larger pre-tension is applied to each link such that residual compressive stress is larger at the portion of the link facing the inside of a chain than the outside. Assuming that for each of the links in a state that pre-tension is not applied, a predetermined pitch is P, a first inclination angle of a fixing portion of the front inserting portion with respect to a chain proceeding direction is α, and a second inclination angle of a fixing portion of the rear inserting portion with respect to a chain proceeding direction is β, when the pre-tension is applied to each of the links, the pitch changes into P+ΔP, the first inclination angle changes into α−Δα and the second inclination angle changes into β+Δβ where ΔP>0, Δα>0, and Δβ>0.
US07775019B2
An automated operation application module for a packaging machine comprises a frame, a suspension joined to the frame for rolls of packaging material, and a pre-unwinding unit for supplying the packaging material to the film storage unit. The application module has a film storage unit joined to the frame, a sealing station joined to the frame, a film pre-drawing unit joined to the frame for supplying the packaging material to the sealing station, and a film-forwarding unit joined to the frame for forwarding the processed packaging material to a packaging machine.
US07775003B2
The invention generally relates to an apparatus for securing a piece of glass that has been covered substantially on one face with a window film within a frame by utilizing plurality of extruded window bolsters to secure the film to the frame without frame modification or alteration.
US07774999B2
A roof vent is provide. The roof vent comprises a top component coupled to a bottom component. The top component has a top wall, a side wall, a first louvered region disposed between said top wall and said side wall, and a top cylindrical baffle located inwardly of said first louvered region. The bottom component has at least a first cylindrical collar sized and shaped for mounting to a cylindrical exhaust stack of a first diameter, a second louvered region, and a bottom cylindrical baffle located below and inwardly of the top cylindrical baffle. The first louvered and second louvered regions are for helping to prevent insects, and moisture, such as snow and rain, from entering the roof vent. The top component may also be used separately from the bottom component to cover over aging or aesthetically unpleasing passive pot vents.
US07774986B2
A pre-assembly unit for a motor vehicle and for connection of such with a door frame of the motor vehicle, comprising a window frame, a side window guided at least within the window frame, a window lifting mechanism, which is joined to the side window in order to raise or lower it, and an equipment carrier connected to but disconnectable from the window frame with a wet side (N) and a dry side (T) for dividing the door frame into a wet and a dry area is provided. At least one fixing means, which joins the window lifting mechanism to the equipment carrier and can be undone from the dry side of the equipment carrier is also provided. At least one assembly preparation is provided on or in the window lifting mechanism, and is accessible from the dry side of the equipment carrier for connecting the window lifting mechanism to the door frame. A corresponding motor vehicle door as well as an assembly and disassembly method is also provided.
US07774972B2
Modular shooting rests and associated assemblies are disclosed herein. One embodiment of the disclosure, for example, is directed to a shooting rest assembly for supporting a firearm. The shooting rest assembly can include a first base portion and a second base portion. The first base portion has an exterior surface, an inner surface, and a bottom surface defining a bottom surface plane. The first base portion also includes an inner volume defined, at least in part, by the inner surface and the bottom surface plane. The second base portion is engaged with the first base portion in a configuration selected from (a) a first shooting rest arrangement, and (b) a second shooting rest arrangement. In the first shooting rest arrangement, the second base portion is received at least approximately completely within the inner volume of the first base portion in a nested configuration. In the second shooting rest arrangement, the first base portion is positioned to support a first section of the firearm and the second base portion is positioned to support a second section of the firearm.
US07774969B1
An identification badge holder includes a portable digital information device, which may be a USB flash drive secured directly or indirectly to the rear face thereof by any of a number of structures which would facilitate ready access, secure attachment and, in some instances, redundant securement employing two types of securement. A system for attaching a stand-alone identification badge to a card which has a USB flash drive secured or securable thereto.
US07774962B1
A removable and reusable tag for identifying bottles, cans, and the like includes a ring portion having an outer circumferential surface and an intermediate circumferential surface. A tab portion extends radially between the intermediate circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface and is circumferentially bounded by at least one recess provided therein. An identification portion is provided on the outer circumferential surface.
US07774959B2
A dragline bucket includes a bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls and a rear wall that collectively define a cavity. The sidewalls each have a large downward taper of at least about 7 degrees in at least its forward area. In an alternative embodiment, the sidewalls each have an upward taper in its rearward area which alleviates the need for a spreader bar. The dragline bucket collects earthen material with minimal disruption of the material.
US07774952B2
A micromovement measuring device has a first element such as a probe tip or flat plate coupled to a test body (107) the movement of which is to be measured. A second element (104) is located adjacent to the first element, to form a gap (108) therebetween. As the test body and the first element gradually move away from the measuring element, so increasing the size of the gap, the second element is repeatedly moved up, to restore the gap to its original size. These repeated small quantized movements of the measuring element (104) are counted, and are used to provide an indication of how far the test body (107) has moved. In other embodiments, the first element may gradually move toward the second element, with the latter repeatedly moving away.
US07774938B2
Thus, the present disclosure includes a method of producing a weight-optimized pneumatic tire rim having rotationally-symmetrically partially different wall thickness. The steps include: providing a tube section having a first wall thickness and two end sides; leveling the first wall thickness starting from the two end sides over a defined rotationally-symmetrical area thereby forming two flanks by precontouring, each of the flanks having a second wall thickness, and pushing tolerance-caused excess material of the flanks into a well base zone between the two flanks; and contouring the flanks by pressure rolling while drawing each of the flanks toward an end area of each of the flanks and reducing the thickness of each of the flanks partially differently to predetermined measurements. The present disclosure also includes a device to implement the method.
US07774931B2
Intraocular retinal prosthesis devices and methods for fabricating the same. A prosthesis device includes a cable region that connects an electrode array region with a power and data management region. The electrode array region includes one or more arrays of exposed electrodes, and the power and data management region includes various power and control elements. The power and data management elements, in one aspect, include an RF coil or coils and circuit arrangements and/or chips configured to provide drive signals to the electrodes via a cable and receive power and signals from the RF coil or coils. Each region includes elements fabricated on or in a single polymer layer during the same fabrication process.
US07774926B2
A bearing assembling apparatus is capable of assembling a bearing at a high speed and preventing an excessive unbalanced load from being applied to an outer ring and an inserting means at a time of inserting a rolling element. The bearing assembling apparatus has a compact size, with an inserting means arranged within an outer ring, and a feeding means guiding a needle to the inserting means. The feeding means is provided with two guide paths which can hold needles in line. The inserting means includes a receiving portion receiving the needles, guide grooves directed toward an installation space in the outer ring, and a cam member having two cam surfaces. The cam surfaces press the needles in the receiving portion toward the installation space. The guide grooves and the cam surfaces are provided at positions such that the last two needles can be simultaneously inserted into the installation space.
US07774925B2
A method is provided for filling a hollow structure with metal foam. A mixture is made of a metal powder and a foaming agent. An electric resistance heating wire is provided and the mixture is consolidated into a solid preformed charge with the wire embedded in the charge and extending from the ends thereof. The preformed charge is placed into the hollow structure and electric current is applied to the resistance heating wire so that the metal powder is melted and the foaming agent foams the melted metal to fill the hollow structure.
US07774923B2
A method of fabricating a cartridge for an optical data storage disc includes attaching a plastic shell and a sheet metal cover plate. The shell includes lateral walls and a floor that together define a disc cavity and a plurality of assembly posts. The sheet metal cover plate includes a plurality of holes. To attach the cover plate to the shell, the assembly posts are inserted into the holes, and the ends of the assembly posts are heated to form mushroom caps which hold the cover plate against the shell. The optical disc is housed in the disc cavity, with the data side of the disc facing the cover plate. A sheet metal shutter is wrapped around an edge of the cartridge and over the shell and cover plate.
US07774919B2
A collapsible cargo container (10) is configurable into an erected condition and a collapsed condition. The container (10) comprises a base (12), a pair of opposed side walls (14) hinged to the base (12), a top (16) hinged to the side walls (14), a front wall (18) hinged to the base (12), a back wall (20) hinged to the base (12), flaps (22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32) hinged to the side walls (14) and top (16), and a door (34) formed in one of the walls. Fasteners (36) secure the flaps (22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32) to the front and back walls (18, 20) when the container (10) is in the erected condition. The front and back walls (18, 20) are collapsible upon the base (12) and the side walls (14) and top (16) are collapsible upon the front and back walls (18, 20) when the container (10) is in the collapsed condition.
US07774914B2
A stabilizer kit for a compression head of a concrete block machine is provided, the kit including a stabilizer plate, a fiber disc, a stud, a pair of spacer plates and a set of bolts for attaching the stabilizer plate and a pair of spacer plates to and between an upper portion and a lower portion of a frame of the block machine.
US07774909B2
A system is disclosed to use a rotary milling head to break or cut the bond of a heat transfer fin base to a boiler tube, thereby removing the heat transfer fins from the boiler tube to facilitate the more efficient repair of the boiler tube.
US07774908B2
A casket is provided with an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage therein of personal effects and mementos of memorialization of the deceased. In one form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the cap. In another form the casket comprises a shell, a cap pivoted to the shell, and an openable and closable memorabilia compartment forming a part of the shell. In both forms the memorabilia compartment is so positioned and configured as to provide convenient access to mourners paying respects to the deceased for placing personal effects and mementos therein and to provide display of the personal effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the mourners.
US07774900B2
A hinge for use in a motor vehicle, including first and second members pivotably coupled to each other. First and second position retainers are coupled between the first member and the second member to releasably secure the second member in a first holding position relative to the first member. The first position retainer has a first holding portion and the second position retainer has a second holding portion such that one of the first and second position retainers is structured and arranged to move relative to the other of the first and second position retainers such that the first and second holding portions move into and out from a first holding position. The first and second holding portions are structured and arranged to be releasably secured to each other in the first holding position.
US07774899B2
A cover for either a left-handed or right-handed operating automatic door closer including a body, and a pinion shaft extending from the top of the body, the cover comprising: a housing including a wall and an open rear, the wall having a rear edge and having therein first and second slots, each of the slots extending forward from the rear edge; and a clip including a base complementary to each of the first and second slots, and a flexible hook including a first end connected to the base and a floating second end, the base of the clip being insertable into either one of the slots so that the base substantially fills the one of the slots and the clip is secured to the wall of the housing with the hook positioned inside the housing and opening rearwardly; the housing with the clip inserted into one of the slots being positionable over the door closer with the hook of the clip receiving the door closer; wherein, when the housing is positioned over the door closer, the pinion shaft extends through the first slot and the clip is inserted in the second slot when the door closer is configured for left-handed operation, and the pinion shaft extends through the second slot and the clip is inserted in the first slot when the door closer is configured for right-handed operation.
US07774896B2
A backpack suction/blower apparatus has a blower unit (1) which includes a drive motor (2), a blower (3), which is driven by the drive motor (2), and a blower tube (4) extending from the blower (3). A back carrier frame (5) is provided on which the blower unit (1) is attached at a spacing while forming an intake gap (6). The intake gap (6) is filled with a foam attenuating element (8) in the lateral direction (7) referred to the usual working position.
US07774892B2
The present invention relates to a wiper coupler and wiper assembly that includes a wiping element and a tournament-style superstructure to support the wiping element. The wiper assembly further includes a wiper coupler that releasably attaches the superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member. The wiper coupler includes a pair of sidewalls each having a flange to engage a portion of the guides of the attachment member and further includes an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between the sidewalls. The deck and a portion of the sidewalls define a rest to receive the track of the attachment member. The wiper coupler further includes an aperture between the elevated platform and the deck. The aperture receives a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to facilitate attachment between the superstructure and the attachment member conventionally employed for use with a beam blade-style wiper assembly.
US07774891B2
The invention relates to a toothbrush that is produced by AFT and has a head part and at least one carrier element connected thereto. A front surface of the head part is formed by the top surfaces of the at least one carrier element and has a non-planar three-dimensional configuration, or is capable of assuming such a configuration during intended use. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.
US07774884B2
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure. The upper includes a matrix structure that defines a plurality of apertures. The apertures may have an elongate configuration to impart differences in the extensibility of the upper in different directions. For example, the matrix layer may be formed from a plurality of segments that cross each other to define the apertures. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear is also disclosed.
US07774882B2
A multi-function tool has a shank body including a first end, a second end and a plurality of positioning grooves formed between the first and second ends thereof. A pry bar includes a connected section and a working section extending from a side of the connected section for pulling nails. A through-hole pierces the connected section for slidably receiving the shank body, with a second receptacle piercing the connected section and in communication with the through-hole. A clutch is disposed in the second receptacle for alternatively engaging with a selected one of the positioning grooves.
US07774879B2
An accessory for a patient's use during a medical procedure is disclosed. The accessory includes a pillow that has an inner material and an outer material. The pillow includes a head support, at least one shoulder support and at least one hand support. The head support has a right side, a left side and a top side. The shoulder support is disposed adjacent the right side and/or the left side of the head support. The hand support is disposed adjacent the top side of the head support. The inner material of the pillow is made of a substantially rigid material. The outer material of the pillow is made of a substantially soft material.
US07774866B2
An impact-absorbing protective structure comprises one or more compressible cells. Each cell is in the form of a thin-walled plastic enclosure defining an inner, fluid-filled chamber with at least one small orifice through which fluid resistively flows. Each cell includes an initially resistive mechanism that resists collapse during an initial phase of an impact and that then yields to allow the remainder of the impact to be managed by the venting of fluid through the orifice. The initially resistive mechanism may be implemented by providing the cell with semi-vertical side walls of an appropriate thickness or by combining a resiliently collapsible ring with the cell. After the initially resistive mechanism yields to the impact, the remainder of the impact is managed by the fluid venting through the orifice. The cell properties can be readily engineered to optimize the impact-absorbing response of the cell to a wide range of impact energies.
US07774859B2
In order to provide a garment which incorporates a plaything which can be operated within an element of surprise, the garment comprises a concealment space such as a pocket (2), in which a plaything such as glove puppet (8) can be stored. The concealment space comprises a concealment aperture (9). There is an operating aperture (10) through which a wearer may place their hand in order to operate the plaything. The plaything is configured to have a first position in which it is stored in an interior of the concealment space (2) and a second position in which it extends through the concealment space aperture (9).
US07779478B2
Distributed module authentication allows security checks to be initiated by multiple software modules. Module authentication processes can be inserted into two or more modules in an operating system and/or various other applications. These module authentication processes can verify the integrity of binaries associated with one or more modules in computer memory. Security checks can be performed on modules stored on disk, in active system memory, or in any other location. Various security checks can be coordinated with each other to ensure variety and frequency of module authentication, as well as to randomize the module authentication process that performs a particular security check. In addition, security processor code can be interleaved within normal application code, so the security code is difficult for attackers to remove or disable without damaging the useful functionality of an application.
US07779471B2
A method, system and apparatus for preventing Denial of Service (DOS) attacks on a device are provided. The method includes determining that the device is receiving DOS attack vectors. The method further includes identifying the attack vector with the highest idle time and removing the identified attack vector. Further, the method includes repeating identifying and removing the identified attack vector until the number of attack vectors falls below a threshold value.
US07779466B2
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for enhancing electronic communication security. A communication transmitted over a communications network is received and tested by a collection engine to generate data associated with the received communication. An analysis engine analyzes the data generated by the collection engine along with data associated with previously received communications to whether an anomaly exists. If an anomaly exists with respect to the received communication, an action engine initiates a predetermined response.
US07779459B2
Methods and apparatus for transferring packets in a packet switched communication system. A system is provided that includes an L2 device including a controller determining for each packet received whether the received packet is to be inspected, an inspection device operable to inspect and filter packets identified by the controller including using a zone specific policy and an L2 controller for transferring inspected packets in accordance with L2 header information using L2 protocols.
US07779446B2
A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.
US07779440B2
An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type.
US07779435B2
Methods and apparatus to export tuning data collected in a receiving device are disclosed. An example method of collecting audience measurement data comprises collecting tuning data within a receiving device, and modulating an LED associated with the receiving device to export the collected tuning data from the receiving device.
US07779432B2
An automatic disk feeding device for disk duplication system and method thereof which comprises two transport assemblies disposed at both sides of a disc holder. Each transport assembly comprises a linkage disk which drives a connecting rod to rotate, and then the connecting rod moves a sliding block which cooperates with a push member and a slide rail to slide. The sliding block is defined with slant pushing grooves, and the slide rail is defined with L-shaped tracks. The push member is provided with pushing protrusions and guiding protrusions inserted in the pushing grooves and the L-shaped tracks. Thereby, the push members can clamp the disc by a horizontal extending method firstly, and then lift the disc, thus automatically taking out the disc in a small space.
US07779420B1
A method and mechanism for verifying information on a managed device is provided. A request is received at a managed device that contains one or more values that comprise proposals for a correct value of a managed object of the managed device. The managed object may be a SNMP MIB object. The managed object may store information for any attribute for the managed device. Next, a determination is made as to whether any of the one or more values in the request match the correct value of the managed object. Thereafter, a notification message is transmitted from the managed device to a management station that indicates whether any of the one or more values in the request match the correct value of the managed object. The notification message may identify which one of the one or more values in the request matches the correct value of the managed object.
US07779418B2
Techniques for managing messages in computer systems are provided. In one embodiment, in response to a publisher attempting to enqueue a message in a queue, a determination is made whether a condition is satisfied. The condition is based on the current usage of the queue by the publisher. Based on whether the condition is satisfied, a decision is made whether to enqueue the message in the queue. The decision whether to enqueue the message may comprise restricting the publisher from enqueueing any more messages in the queue until the same or a different condition is satisfied.
US07779413B2
Necessary resources are assigned to programs based on a program reservation information management table in which each of the programs is associated with a necessary resource quantity for execution of the program and execution scheduled time period as program reservation information. When the program reservation information is entered through a terminal, a free resource quantity management table in which available resource quantities are associated with respective time periods is referred to, and it is determined whether the available resource quantity for the execution scheduled time period is at or above the necessary resource quantity. When having determined that the available resource quantity is at or above the necessary resource quantity, the necessary resource quantity is subtracted from the available resource quantity, and the subtracting result is written as a new value of the available resource quantity into the free resource quantity management table, and the program reservation information is written into the program reservation information management table.
US07779411B2
A system, method and medium for reducing the number of system calls from an application program to an operating system kernel. In an embodiment, a method includes the steps of creating a list of requests issued by an application program, associating an indicia with the list indicating whether the list contains a request, querying the indicia to determine if the list contains a request, and adding a new application program request to the list when the indicia indicates that the list includes a request.
US07779406B2
Described is managing the changing of software implementations such as applications deployed to enterprise client users or machines. Precedence relationships between deployed applications are specified. To determine which applications to install for a given client, the precedence is applied to the subset of applications assigned or published to the client. At logon or machine reboot, an upgrade process evaluates the deployed applications and any upgrade relationships, setting applications for removal or installation. A user may also install an application that has been designated as optional. Also described is an application lifecycle model for replacing applications. For example, administrators can phase in upgrades as a pilot to a small group of users, roll out upgrades to a larger group, and then provide the application to all users. Upgrades may be mandatory or optional, and replaced programs may be removed and then replaced, or overlaid during installation.
US07779390B1
A thread-safe debugging system and method including a thread-safe debug service library and a thread-safe remote control library residing on at least one client computer system. The client and server libraries provide APIs which allow multi-threaded applications executing on the client computer system to take advantage of debug services in a thread-safe and dynamic manner. The remote control library provides third party applications the capability to initiate and manage the debug services on the client dynamically and remotely. The debug services may include providing debug output, listing the one or more debug objects in the multi-threaded application, listing the state of each debug object, turning on or off any debug object by name or pattern, directing the debug output to a remote location, allowing multiple remote diagnostic applications to view the debug output of the application, and logging statistical or performance information. The debug print function provides debug output for one or more threads of the multi-threaded application such that the debug output of each thread remains distinct from the debug output of the other threads. Thread safety may be ensured through the use of thread-safe mechanisms such as locks.
US07779386B2
According to a second aspect there is provided a method and system to automatically regenerate software for an object to relational mapping system. The system automatically regenerates a first set of classes. For each class, the system reads class information; reads meta-data based on the class information; and automatically regenerates the class based on the meta-data without overwriting associated custom code. The first set of classes includes base code that is associated with the custom code. The first set of classes and the base code are utilized by the object to relational mapping system to enable an application program to access data that is persistently stored in a database.
US07779378B2
An incremental verification method includes eliminating verification constraints from a first netlist and using the resulting netlist to create a constraint-free composite netlist suitable for determining equivalence between the first netlist and a second netlist of a design. Eliminating a constraint from a netlist may include adding a modified constraint net where the modified constraint net is FALSE for all cycles after any cycle in which the original constraint is FALSE. The method may include, instead of eliminating constraints, determining that the verification result is a target-not-asserted result and that the second netlist constraints are a superset of the first netlist constraints or that the verification result is a target-asserted result and that the first netlist constraints are a superset of the second netlist constraints. In either case, the method may include creating the composite netlist by importing all of the original constraints into the composite netlist.
US07779374B1
A method, system and apparatus for constructing a comprehensive test plan using a case analysis graph is provided. Embodiments of the present invention further provide for automatically generating test cases from a case analysis graph and for measuring functional coverage of the test cases. Additional embodiments of the present invention provide for visualizing both the comprehensive test plan and functional coverage data.
US07779365B2
A display control device for displaying a first display area and a second display area on a screen comprises: first control means for controlling at least one of the configuration, display content, character input direction and arrangement position of the first display area; and second control means for controlling at least one of the configuration, display content and arrangement position of the second display area based on the result of the control by the first control means.
US07779363B2
A function management tool detects a user selection to drag and drop a particular selectable button from a first interface of the management tool to a second interface of an instance of a running application of multiple existing applications accessible at a computer system, wherein the management tool runs separately from the plurality of existing applications, wherein a separate pre-designated function is associated with each selectable button. Responsive to the management tool detecting the user select the dragged and dropped selectable button from within the second interface of the instance of the running application of the plurality of existing applications, the management tool controls the instance of the running application of the plurality of existing applications according to a particular pre-designated function of the dragged and dropped selectable button.
US07779362B1
A system selects objects within a graphical user interface by displaying a plurality of objects within the graphical user interface. Each object has an associated set of properties. The system receives a selection condition defining a relationship to be met between properties of an object, and then applies the selection condition to the associated set of properties of each of the plurality of objects to identify a set of selection objects in the plurality of objects that have an object state defined by properties that match the relationship defined by the selection condition. The system then identifies each object in the set of selection objects.
US07779358B1
Gap values for a collection of images are obtained; each gap value is a temporal difference between temporally adjacent images. A first grouping of the collection of images into one or more groups is determined based at least in part on the gap values. The first grouping is performed such that each group is temporally contiguous. The first grouping is presented and input from a user is received in response to the presented first grouping. A second grouping of the collection of images into two or more groups is determined based at least in part on the user input. The second grouping is presented.
US07779346B2
Displaying tabular information in a user interface (UI) on a display screen is enhanced by freezing selected non-adjacent columns (rows). Freezing ensures the display of the selected non-adjacent columns (rows) when scrolling to bring other columns (rows) into the table for display. Border rows (columns) may also be frozen when scrolling. A table in a document navigable by moving a focus to scroll the document may be displayed by a UI control configured to automatically display the frozen border rows (columns). When scrolling a focus in the document at an edge of the display screen to bring the UI control into the display, the UI control aligns a portion of the table with the edge and paints the frozen border row (column). The UI control maintain the display of the border row (column) when scrolling through the table.
US07779332B2
An apparatus, system and method can be arranged for coding and/or decoding with a phase invariant coding scheme that is useful for short burst signaling devices. 10-bit data is mapped into a 12-bit data with a non-coherent burst code mapper. A parity generator creates a 12-bit parity data to form a 24-bit extended binary Golay code from the 12-bit data. The values for selected bit fields in the 12-bit data and 12-bit parity data are swapped to generate I and Q data such that sensitivity to changes in rotational phase is removed. I and Q data can be used by a transmitter to transmit a rotationally-invariant signal. On receipt, I and Q signals can be recovered, reverse swapped to generate the parity and data signals, and remapped to recover the transmitted 10-bit data. The receiver can also be arranged to use a soft decoding method for improved signal integrity.
US07779330B1
A network interface includes a control module and a transmit module. The control module reads a segment of a packet and stores the segment in memory of the network interface when a size of the packet is greater than a size of the memory. The control module generates a partial checksum for the packet based on the segment. The control module reads a remainder of the packet at a first time and updates the partial checksum based on the remainder to generate a final checksum for the packet. The control module reads the remainder at a second time, where the second time is subsequent to the first time. The transmit module transmits the segment from the memory and transmits the remainder read at the second time.
US07779328B2
A method and apparatus for decoding a concatenated burst in a WiBro system are provided. A concatenated decoder fragments a received burst into fragment blocks, decodes at least one of the fragment blocks, and determines whether the decoded fragment block satisfies a circular state. A concatenated decoding controller determines burst quality information of the received burst according to a circular state check result on the decoded fragment block, and determines whether to stop decoding on the received burst according to the burst quality information.
US07779324B2
Disclosed is a method and system for detecting wired network errors in a mobile communication terminal, which performs a selective checksum operation for received data in a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) layer to improve the processing speed of the mobile communication terminal. In the system, it is determined whether to perform the checksum operation in the UDP layer by a UDP checksum setup value that is changed to a first setup value when an IP (Internet Protocol) header checksum error occurs in an IP layer. In this case, the UDP checksum setup value is changed to a second setup value when the UDP checksum operation is performed.
US07779322B1
A method and apparatus for compacting test responses containing unknown values in a scan-based integrated circuit. The proposed X-driven compactor comprises a chain-switching matrix block and a space compaction logic block. The chain-switching matrix block switches the internal scan chain outputs before feeding them to the space compaction logic block for compaction so as to minimize X-induced masking and error masking. The X-driven compactor further selectively includes a finite-memory compaction logic block to further compact the outputs of the space compaction logic block.
US07779320B2
An apparatus and method to design an integrated circuit (IC) to reduce the toggling during shifting in and shifting out of test patterns in a IC having scan chains, while maintaining random-like filling of the “don't cares” of a test set. An average pattern of test patterns of a test set is found for both cases of where the test set is fully specified and not fully specified, inverters are judiciously inserted into the scan path and each test pattern is then modified by XOR-ing it with the average test pattern to produce a modified test pattern, which produces less toggling, translating to less power consumption. Further, the random filling of don't cares, as opposed to 0-fill, 1-fill, or adjacent fill, increases defect detection through collateral coverage.
US07779314B2
System and related method for testing a chip with a high-speed bus interface in a low speed testing environment is provided. The testing method for testing input/output functions of a chip includes: establishing an inner loop path between a transmission mechanism and a receiving mechanism of the chip; transmitting a testing data; and receive the testing data via the inner loop path.
US07779306B1
A method for automatically diagnosing faults a data storage system. The system includes a plurality of enclosures each having: a primary port; an expansion port; a plurality of disk drives; and a link control card coupled to the primary port and to the expansion port and the plurality of disk drives. The link control card includes a cut through switch having: disk drive port error counters for counting at ports of the plurality of disk drives; a primary port error counter for counting cumulative errors at the primary port, and an expansion port error counter for counting cumulative errors at the expansion port. The primary ports and expansion ports are serially interconnected to the storage processor through a fiber channel loop. The method sequentially reads counters in each one of the enclosures to determine whether errors counted in any one of such counters exceeds a predetermined threshold over a predetermined period of time.
US07779303B2
A software testing method. In particular implementations, a method includes accessing a first database of one or more bug entries, wherein each bug entry comprises information characterizing a bug, an associated code component, and a test script; and a mapping between the component and one or more scripts that test the code component; for one or more bug entries in the first database, determining if the bug is a new bug; if the bug is not a new bug, determining if the test script is new relative to the bug; and if the bug is a new bug or if the test script is new relative to the bug, accessing a second database of the script-to-component mappings to add a mapping between the test script and the associated code component of a respective bug entry.
US07779301B2
A method and apparatus are provided for an embedded wireless interface that is embedded in, for example, one of an input and output controller device for controlling input and output communications with off-board devices, within a memory controller device and a processor motherboard. The embedded wireless interface may be utilized as a wireless test access point to provide signal stimulations for test purposes or to monitor communications over a specified wired communication link.
US07779300B2
Server outage data is automatically created and managed. Outage data is automatically retrieved from one or more servers at which an outage is detected by an agent installed on the server. The agent may search for outage event data and transmit the data to a monitoring application. The monitoring application receives the event data and creates an outage record from the data. Server contents, such as the number of users having account data on the server, can be determined either before or after the outage has occurred. Once the outage data and server contents are known, the cost and impact of the outage for each particular server can be determined. The cost of a server outage may be determined based on the outage record and the server data identifying resources of the server, such as user account data.
US07779296B2
Storing data is disclosed. All base data is copied from a first storage device to a master set on a second storage device. A request is received to write data to a specified location on the first storage device. An indication is stored in a list that the data at the specified location has changed. At a specified base time and using the stored indication, a replica of the data stored at the specified location as of that time is sent to a remote host associated with the second storage device. The remote host is configured to make and store a copy of the base data stored in the specified location in the master set prior to merging the replica data into the master set.
US07779294B2
Apparatus, systems, methods, and articles, operate to create a log file in a non-volatile data storage medium. The log file includes a header record, a trailer record, and at least one partial parity value associated with a stripe in a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) sub-system. The stripe includes a first data strip to be updated, the first data strip located on an operational first disk drive, a second data strip located on a failed disk drive, and a stripe parity strip located on an operational disk drive, among others.
US07779291B2
Storing recovery data for a data center includes providing synchronous data from the data center to a local destination, providing chunks of data from the local destination to a first remote destination, different from the first remote destination, and providing chunks of data from the data center to a second remote destination. At least some of the destinations may maintain a plurality of maps, where each of the maps associates synchronous data being provided to the local destination with a specific chunk of data. In response to receiving an indicator in connection with creation of a new chunk of data, the at least some of the destinations that maintain a plurality of maps may point to a new map. There may be two maps or more than two maps.
US07779289B2
A method and a system of sharing of a clock by an electronic circuit between at least one first task clocked by at least one first counter and at least one second task clocked by a second counter, the two counters varying at the rate of said clock, the content of the first counter plus or minus an offset value being, on each execution of the second task, assigned to the second counter.
US07779285B2
A memory system including independent power for each memory module. The memory system includes a plurality of memory modules each including a plurality of memory chips configured to store data. The memory system further includes a power conversion unit coupled to provide power to each of the plurality of memory modules via a respective power conduit. Each of the respective power conduits is electrically isolated from each other power conduit.
US07779281B1
Controlling input power is disclosed. In some embodiments, an in situ measurement of an operating condition in an operating environment is compared to a benchmark, and the comparison is used at least in part to determine whether to change input power.
US07779280B2
A computer system is configured to operate in a normal mode and in a reduced power mode. The normal mode utilizes a primary processor, which operates using a primary operating system. When system power is depleted to a defined level, the primary processor is shut down and certain operations are taken over by a low-power, secondary processor that operates using a secondary operating system.
US07779262B2
A security method using an electronic signature, which improves the performance of an electronic signature authentication by generating and verifying an electronic signature using a mediator, and acquires a forward security in an electronic signature generation and verification by adding a forward secure signature of semi-trusted party (SEM) to a partial signature value generated based on a secret key piece of the SEM. A public key and an optional secret key composed of two kinds of pieces are generated by a certificate authority in response to a request from a user terminal device. The secret key pieces are issued to the user terminal device and a semi-trusted party not to be overlapped with each other. A first signature piece generated from the issued pieces of the private key is transmitted to the user terminal device from the semi-trusted party when a certificate of the user terminal device is still valid.
US07779259B2
A key establishment protocol between a pair of correspondents includes the generation by each correspondent of respective signatures. The signatures are derived from information that is private to the correspondent and information that is public. After exchange of signatures, the integrity of exchange messages can be verified by extracting the public information contained in the signature and comparing it with information used to generate the signature. A common session key may then be generated from the public and private information of respective ones of the correspondents.
US07779251B2
It is intended, in the mobile information terminal, to achieve compactization, cost reduction and reduction in the burden of information processing, while taking the enciphering process for the information into consideration.The cipher signal process unit for enciphering the transmission information and the cipher process selection unit for selecting whether or not to use the cipher signal process unit are provided to select whether or not to execute the enciphering of the transmission information, according to the necessity in executing the communication of information, thereby dispensing the enciphering process as far as possible and alleviating the burden of the process involved in the enciphering. Also by executing the enciphering or not respectively in case the deciphering is possible or not in the information receiving side, the cipher process means may be dispensed with in the information communication apparatus of the receiving side, whereby the apparatus of the receiving side can be made less expensive and smaller.
US07779248B2
An improved network architecture employs a super authority having an identity catalog to direct login authentication tasks to appropriate authorities. Authentication tasks may be performed by authorities across namespace boundaries if so directed by the super authority, such that a principal account may be moved without alteration of the account ID. In an embodiment of the invention, the identity catalog comprises a listing associating account IDs with appropriate authenticating authorities.
US07779245B2
The invention discloses providing access bearer related information in a packet data network comprising network entities including an access processor for processing access requests, a service processor for processing service requests, and at least one service entity for providing services. An access bearer identification is obtained for a data packet to be transmitted between two of the network entities. The access bearer identification indicates the access bearer that the data packet is associated with. The access bearer identification is combined with the data packet. The combined access bearer identification and data packet is transmitted. The received access bearer identification is extracted. The invention allows providing additional identification information about the PDP context of a data packet while the data packet is being redirected between service entities, access processors, and service processors independent from each other.
US07779244B2
In some embodiments, the invention involves a system and method to provide maximal boot-time parallelism for future multi-core, multi-node, and many-core systems. In an embodiment, the security (SEC), pre-EFI initialization (PEI), and then driver execution environment (DXE) phases are executed in parallel on multiple compute nodes (sockets) of a platform. Once the SEC/PEI/DXE phases are executed on all compute nodes having a processor, the boot device select (BDS) phase completes the boot by merging or partitioning the compute nodes based on a platform policy. Partitioned compute nodes each run their own instance of EFI. A common memory map may be generated prior to operating system (OS) launch when compute nodes are to be merged. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07779242B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program usable program code for managing operation of a component in a data processing system. A startup mode is established for the component, wherein the startup mode controls whether the component will enter a minimum startup routine during startup of the data processing system.
US07779240B2
System and method for reducing power consumption in a data processor having a clustered architecture
There is disclosed a data processor having a clustered architecture that comprises at least one branching cluster, at least one non-branching cluster and remote conditional branching control circuitry. Each of the clusters is capable of computing branch conditions, though only the branching cluster is operable to perform branch address computations. The remote conditional branching control circuitry, which is associated with each of the clusters, is operable in response to sensing a conditional branch instruction in a non-branching cluster to (i) cause the branching cluster to compute a branch address and a next program counter address, (ii) cause the non-branching cluster to compute a branch condition, and (iii) communicate the computed branch condition from the non-branching cluster to the branching cluster. The data processor then uses the computed branch condition to select one of the branch address or the next program counter address.
US07779238B2
A system and method for precisely identifying an instruction causing a performance-related event is disclosed. The instruction may be detected while in a pipeline stage of a microprocessor preceding a writeback stage and the microprocessor's architectural state may not be updated until after information identifying the instruction is captured. The instruction may be flushed from the pipeline, along with other instructions from the same thread. A hardware trap may be taken when the instruction is detected and/or when an event counter overflows or is within a given range of overflowing. A software trap handler may capture and/or log information identifying the instruction, such as one or more extended address elements, before returning control and initiating a retry of the instruction. The captured and/or logged information may be stored in an event space database usable by a data space profiler to identify performance bottlenecks in the application containing the instruction.
US07779233B2
System and method for implementing a software-supported thread assist mechanism for a microprocessor
A system and computer-implementable method for implementing software-supported thread assist within a data processing system, wherein the data processing system supports processing instructions within at least a first thread and a second thread. An instruction dispatch unit (IDU) places the first thread into a sleep mode. The IDU separates an instruction stream for the second thread into at least a first independent instruction stream and a second independent instruction stream. The first independent instruction stream is processed utilizing facilities allocated to the first thread and the second independent instruction stream is processed utilizing facilities allocated to the second thread. In response to determining a result of the processing in the first independent instruction stream requires write back to registers allocated to the second thread, the IDU sets at least one selection bit to enable selective copying of content within registers allocated to the first thread to registers allocated to the second thread.
US07779230B2
Distant parallelization of sequential programs is obtained by making parallelization decisions at the boundaries between program methods (e.g., functions and sub-routines). Experimentation suggests that such a partitioning allows for large-scale parallelization without data flow conflicts.
US07779223B2
Methods, systems, and media to enhance memory leakage management by identifying a suspect allocation pattern during execution of a task, which may be indicative of memory leakage and implementing measures to protect against memory leakage based upon the suspect allocation pattern, are disclosed. More specifically, embodiments may detect a suspect allocation pattern by monitoring memory allocations and deallocations for tasks. The pattern of memory allocations and deallocations may then be analyzed to determine whether a suspect allocation pattern exists. For instance, the memory allocations and deallocations may be compared to determine whether there is an increasing net residual allocation left by the task after it has reached a quiescent runtime state. In some embodiments, a suspect allocation pattern exists if the total memory allocation for a task continues to rise after a pre-determined time period.
US07779219B2
Techniques are provided for locating data. Mapping information for blocks associated with a file is provided. It is determined that a copy service has copied source blocks to target blocks. It is determined whether the mapping information should be updated to refer to the target blocks. Then, updated mapping information is provided in response to determining that the mapping information should be updated to refer to the target blocks.
US07779215B2
A method for utilizing the multi-channel transmission bandwidth in an asymmetrically arranged memory is provides. The present invention defines symmetrically arranged parts of the memory ranks of the memory as a virtual ranks. If data is stored in symmetrically arranged memory ranks of the memory, channels corresponding to the symmetrically arranged memory ranks could be simultaneously utilized to transfer data. If data is stored in an asymmetrically arranged memory rank of the memory, the channel corresponding to the asymmetrically arranged memory rank could only be utilized to transfer data.
US07779214B2
A processing system includes initialization software that is executable by a processor to identify one or more memory page sizes supported by the processing system. The supported memory page sizes that are identified by the initialization software are stored in one or more memory page size identification registers. Individual bits of the one or more memory page size identification registers may be respectively associated with a memory page size. Whether a memory page size is supported by the processing system may be determined by checking the logic state of the individual bit corresponding to the memory page size.
US07779198B2
An interleaved addressing technique for addressing a plurality of memory banks (12, 72) uses a plurality of abbreviated interleaves (0, 1, . . . 2B−1) each addressing more than one and less than all of the memory banks. The interleaves are offset (S) from each adjacent other as to address all of the memory banks equally.An intelligent memory bank for use with interleaved memories storing plural vectors comprises setup apparatus (96) receives an initial address (B+C+V+NMSK) and spacing data (D) for each vector. Addressing logic (90) associates a memory cell select (C) to each initial and subsequent address of each of the plurality of vectors. Cell select apparatus (98) accesses a memory cell (in 92) using a memory cell select (C) associated to a respective one of the initial and successive addresses of each vector.
US07779187B2
A statistical-information generating unit monitors packet data output from a transaction layer that constitutes architecture of a PCI Express. The result of the monitored is feedback-controlled to a weight-information updating unit in real time, and is reflected in an arbitration table. A priority is set to the packet data corresponding to a quantity of the packet data actually transferred on a serial communication path.
US07779181B2
A file allocation system for a hard disk drive includes a memory with driver logic and a processor configured with the driver logic to receive a request to allocate hard disk space of a defined size for a buffer file. In some embodiments, the processor is configured with the driver logic to allocate clusters for the buffer file from a plurality of clusters on the hard disk, wherein the clusters for the buffer file store media content instances. In some embodiments, the processor is configured with the driver logic to designate a portion of the clusters of the buffer file for at least one non-buffer file such that the non-buffer file is permitted to share the portion of the clusters of the buffer file with the buffer file.
US07779179B2
An interface controller is connected to a host apparatus and a memory, and receiving multiple responses to one request. The interface controller includes a packet generation unit which adds header data to a request issued by the host apparatus to generate a request packet and outputs the request packet to the memory, a receive buffer which stores a response packet with respect to the request packet, a protocol generation unit which generates a response according to a prescribed protocol based on the response packet stored in the receive buffer, and outputs the response to the host apparatus, a maximum division number calculation unit which calculates a maximum division number of the request issued by the host apparatus, and a request issue control unit which gives a request issue permission to the host apparatus based on the maximum division number calculated by the maximum division number calculation unit, a maximum division number of processed request and a maximum division number of processed response.
US07779171B2
A peripheral device is connectable to a computer having one of a first interface and a second interface. The first interface communicates with the peripheral device over a differential data connection having a first data conductor and a second data conductor. The second interface communicates with the peripheral device over a clock conductor and a single ended data connection which includes a data conductor. The peripheral device has first and second communication conductors configured for connection to the first and second data conductors in the differential data connection when the computer includes the first interface and is configured for connection to the first data conductor in the single ended data connection and the clock conductor when the computer is provided with the second interface. The peripheral device includes an interface detection component coupled to the first and second communication conductors and configured to detect which of the first and second interfaces the peripheral device is connected to. The peripheral device also includes a controller component configured to communicate between the peripheral device according to a protocol corresponding to the detected interface.
US07779164B2
A network system includes a network interface unit operably connected to a plurality of processing entities and a plurality of memory units that define a shared memory space. The network interface unit further comprises a memory access module that includes a plurality of memory access channels, a packet classifier, and a plurality of scheduling control modules that are operable to control processing of data transported by the network. In various embodiments of the invention, predetermined subsets of the plurality of processing entities are operably associated with predetermined subsets of the plurality of memory units thereby defining a plurality of asymmetrical data processing partitions. The packet classifier is operable to provide an association between packets and the plurality of asymmetrical data processing partitions. The asymmetrical data processing partitions are scalable by adding additional processing entities.
US07779163B2
Devices in a process control system communicate by data messages over a communication medium segment. Each device includes a communication controller that maintains an order of occurrence of events received from and transmitted to a communication medium. The communication controller includes an order of occurrence identification (OOO_ID) counter and an event queue memory. The event queue memory sequentially stores an event type identifier for each event that is processed by the communication controller. The OOO_ID counter provides an OOO_ID to associate with each event type identifier.
US07779162B2
Methods and systems provide an asymmetric Ethernet service. An Ethernet network transports Ethernet frames over an asymmetric connection to a point of service for a subscriber located remotely from the Ethernet network, and the Ethernet connection is asymmetric in that the effective data transfer rates for uploading and downloading of data over the Ethernet connection are different. The subscriber may then have Ethernet capable network devices such as routers and computers linked to the point of service so that data transfer between the network devices of the subscriber and the Ethernet network occurs over the asymmetric Ethernet connection. The Ethernet network allows for communication between the network devices of the subscriber and any desired Ethernet network resources, such as network resources located on the Ethernet network or resources of downstream networks such as the global Internet that are available through the Ethernet network.
US07779155B2
A method for resource bundling comprises receiving at a network policer (110) a plurality of data flows having different class of service (CoS) priority levels and processing the data flows while sharing a user allocated bandwidth between the different CoS priority levels in a prioritized manner. The method and a system implementing it allow a single user to aggregate multiple CoS, thereby enabling the user to utilize an entire paid-for bandwidth.
US07779154B2
At integrated hybrid telecommunication system for providing voice, packet data and digital broadcast/multicast services to a mobile terminal (100) is disclosed. In an embodiment of the invention, the system includes a mobile telecommunication network (110) for providing lower bandwidth services and a digital broadband network (140) for delivering higher bandwidth broadcast content. In an embodiment, a broadcast service such as a video broadcast can be viewed by selecting the service on e.g. a portal page displayed on the mobile terminal (100). The request is received by the mobile telecommunication network (110), which is coupled to the broadcast network (140) for retrieving the associated service parameters. The service parameters are transmitted to the mobile terminal (100) via the mobile telecommunication network (110). The received parameters enable a broadcast receiver in the mobile terminal (100) to receive the broadcast service transmitted by the broadcast network (140).
US07779150B1
A method and a system is disclosed for providing access in a centralized manner to a communications medium that is suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames. A plurality of messages are transmitted between a first enhanced station and a second enhanced station. Each transmitted message is transmitted in an enhanced frame that has timing to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG). A blocking signal, such as a sine wave signal and a cosine wave signal, is transmitted during at least one IFG between enhanced frames to mask the presence of the IFG to a non-enhanced STA. Alternatively, the blocking signal can be transmitted during at least one reply message. Contention-free access to the communications medium is also provided by transmitting messages in a highest priority level available in an HPNA v2 frame.
US07779140B2
A method and system for switching media streams of a video in a client system. The media streams are made available to the client system by a content providing system. A first media stream received from the content providing system is played in a SHOW mode in the client system. A command is received from a control system to execute a procedure for deciding whether to switch from playing the first media stream to playing a second media stream which has a different media stream bandwidth than the first media stream. The executed procedure decides to make the switch. The switch is made to playing the second media stream in the SHOW mode as the second media stream is being received from the content providing system in response having been requested from the content providing system. The switching preserves content continuity of the video.
US07779133B2
Apparatuses, methods, and systems directed to estimating response time and other performance metrics in network communications. Some embodiments of the invention allow users to monitor and estimate response time in real time. In other particular embodiments, the systems disclosed below can be used to estimate response time using server logs. In some embodiments, the present invention involves using open control blocks as a proxy to estimate the number of dropped connections.
US07779127B2
A method comprises receiving a representative workload of a computing system, where the representative workload comprises a plurality of composite transactions. In certain embodiments, the representative workload is a historical workload of a computing system. In general, a composite transaction refers to a transaction that comprises a plurality of embedded transactions. The method further comprises determining a subset of the plurality of composite transactions for which a corresponding resource cost is to be determined; and determining, based at least in part on a statistical regression-based analysis, a resource cost for the composite transaction(s) in the determined subset, where the resource cost reflects an amount of utilization of at least one resource of the computing system in serving the composite transaction(s).
US07779119B2
Described are techniques used in monitoring the performance, security and health of a system used in an industrial application. Agents included in the industrial network report data to an appliance or server. The appliance stores the data and determines when an alarm condition has occurred. Notifications are sent upon detecting an alarm condition. The alarm thresholds may be user defined. A threat thermostat controller determines a threat level used to control the connectivity of a network used in the industrial application.
US07779118B1
Method and apparatus for representing, managing, analyzing and problem reporting in storage networks
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing an analysis on a Storage Area Network (SAN) system, containing a plurality of components, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of representing selected ones of the plurality of components and the relationship among the components, wherein the representation comprises the steps of creating at least one non-specific representation of the selected components and creating at least one non-specification representation of relations along which the events propagate amongst the selected components, providing a mapping between a plurality events and a plurality of observable events occurring among the components, wherein the mapping is represented as a value associating each event with each observable event, and performing the system analysis based on the mapping of events and observable events.
US07779105B2
Parameters necessary for browsing of content are stored in storage means while associating the parameters with location information of the content. When location information identical with location information of requested content has been stored in the storage means, parameters that have been stored in the storage means while being associated with the location information identical with the location information of the requested content are acquired from the storage means. When no location information identical with the location information of the requested content has been stored in the storage means, parameters that have been stored in the storage means while being associated with location information satisfying a prescribed rule are acquired from the storage means if such location information satisfying the prescribed rule has been stored in the storage means. The acquired parameters are applied to a process for the browsing of the requested content.
US07779093B1
This invention provides a method and apparatus for issuing or renewing a host address. The apparatus has an input device to receive a data packet having a host identifier, a memory to store a list of host identifiers, and a processor to match the host identifier with the list of host identifiers. If a match is found, an output device transmits the data packet to an address allocation device to issue or renew the host address. The method provides for retrieving the host identifier in the header of the data packet, matching the host identifier with a list of host identifiers, and maintaining a state of authentication for the host if a match is found, otherwise maintaining a state of unauthentication for the host. The method further provides for inserting a proxy address in a relay agent address field, setting a flag, and transmitting the data packet to an address allocation device to issue or renew the host address. The proxy address is also set in a server identifier address field and the flag is unflaged before any data packets are forwarded to the host.
US07779079B2
Processes and techniques for reducing spam over instant messaging (SPIM) are described. In one implementation, the number of open instant messaging threads (“chat threads”) that a specific user can have at a given time is limited to prevent a potential spimmer from flooding instant messaging users with SPIM. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a user feedback technique that enables users to inform an instant messaging service or other entity about users that are sending SPIM or other undesirable content. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a text analysis technique that enables an instant messaging service or other entity to analyze text generated by a user to determine if the user is sending SPIM or other undesirable content to other instant messaging users.
US07779078B2
A system and method for managing multimedia messages, wherein a mobile terminal for sends a multimedia message including multimedia data having a storage directory and a disclosure level set according by a user, a multimedia messaging service center stores the multimedia data included in the multimedia message in a directory of a multimedia message box corresponding to the set storage directory, and a web server detects an access level of a web user requesting access to the multimedia data, and offers the multimedia data stored in the corresponding directory to the web user, when the detected access level is identical to the disclosure level set for the multimedia data.
US07779075B2
Data transfer over a computer network relating to a data object of a multiple user network application, from a network user who owns the data object to an updating user, is achieved by transfer of a subset of data fields that define the data object, such that the subset of data fields is specified by the updating user and is less than or equal to a full update transfer comprising updated values for all the data fields that define the data object. Each data object is defined by multiple data fields, such that the transfer of a subset of the data object data fields ensures that the network bandwidth utilized for data updates will be reduced from the situation in which all the defining data fields for an object being updated are transferred over the network.
US07779064B2
Method and system for efficient and dynamically adaptable digitally-encoded-information distribution
Embodiments of the present invention include efficient and dynamically self-adaptive digitally-encoded-information distribution systems that monitor digitally-encoded information transactions in order to continuously reconfigure themselves by redistributing stored digitally-encoded information among computer systems that together compose the digitally-encoded-information distribution systems and by dynamically balancing tradeoffs between storing particular encodings of particular information objects and generating particular encodings of particular information objects only as needed to satisfy requests. Distribution efficiency is further optimized by ensuring that the types, configurations, capacities, and capabilities of requesting consumer-electronics devices are accurately and precisely determined, so that stored information appropriately encoded for requesting consumer-electronics devices can be efficiently located or generated for rapid delivery to requesting devices.
US07779054B1
A method for heuristic-based resumption of fully-young garbage collection intervals comprises allocating memory to objects within one or more regions of a heap partitioned into a plurality of regions, and classifying each heap region as belonging to a category of a plurality of categories based at least in part on the recency of allocation of objects within the regions. The method may further comprise determining, using a garbage collection efficiency metric, whether regions belonging to a first category of the plurality of categories are to be excluded from a collection set of a particular garbage collection interval on the heap. In response to determining that the first category of regions is to be excluded, the method may comprise selecting a collection set that does not include any regions of the first category, and reclaiming memory from that collection set.
US07779051B2
A method for creating a data warehousing scheme having optimally selected components. A mathematical model of a goal for the data warehousing scheme is input into an optimization engine. At least one constraint on the data warehousing scheme is input into the optimization engine. A mathematical optimization algorithm is performed using the optimization engine, wherein an output of the optimization engine is an optimized data warehousing scheme having optimally selected components. The optimized data warehousing scheme can be stored.
US07779044B2
A load simulator is used to apply access load on a web server device as a test target using a plurality of virtual web clients each of which transmits a request message and receives a response message in order according to a given scenario. The load simulator makes a computer function as search means for searching page data of a response message for predetermined character strings when a virtual web client receives the response message from the web server device through a communication device, source modifying means for overwriting the predetermined character string searched by the search means by replacing characters of a part of the string to disable a function provided by the original character string, and output means for passing the page data that is overwritten by the source modifying means to the viewer.
US07779037B2
Methods, systems and apparatus for implementing behavior of a user defined type (UDT) in a database by providing a data table with multiple rows and generating a UDT table having only a single row. An instance of a UDT is created and stored in the single row of the UDT table. A query having a Cartesian product is implemented to join the UDT table and data table for invoking behavior of the UDT and generating a resultant data table without increasing cardinality thereof. The single instance of the UDT may be shared amongst several users of the database as a result of all required persisted objects of the UDT residing within only a single row of the UDT table.
US07779025B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing researchers with a computer-assisted tool to evaluate, over a communications network, large electronic data sets stored on a remote server. The system allows the centralization of multiple data manipulation and analysis software modules co-located with the large data sets to reduce the amount of data from the data sets and software that has to be downloaded to a particular user's client computer. The system is designed to accommodate multiple researchers located at different geographic locations each of whom may have, with regard to the data, different scientific research objectives.
US07779019B2
Described herein is a system that includes a receiver component that receives first scores for training points and second scores for the training points, wherein the first scores are individually assigned to the training points by a first ranker component and the second scores are individually assigned to the training points by a second ranker component. The apparatus further includes a determiner component in communication with the receiver component that automatically outputs a value for a parameter α based at least in part upon the first scores and the second scores, wherein α is used to linearly combine the first ranker component and the second ranker component.
US07779015B2
A facility for logging context attributes is described. For each of a set of selected context attributes, the facility determines a target frequency with which values of the selected context attribute are to be logged. For each of the set of selected context attributes, the facility obtains values of the selected context attribute at a frequency approximating the target frequency determined for the selected context attribute. Then, for each obtained context attribute value, the facility writes the obtained value to a storage device in a manner that identifies its context attribute.
US07779007B2
Methods of identifying content of interest within a corpus are disclosed. The methods may comprise the step of applying a first marker set to the corpus, where the first marker set comprises at least one marker identifying a first type of text. For a first textual unit included in the corpus, the methods may comprise generating a score for the first marker set and comparing the score to a reference score. The score may indicate a number of instances of the at least one marker in the first textual unit.
US07779003B2
A search system finds an order to provide an item. The search system includes a repository including a plurality of records identifying a corresponding plurality of items for order. A record of an individual item for order includes a plurality of related text terms describing order related parameters. A search processor searches the plurality of records to find candidate items for order corresponding to a user entered search term by: identifying and prioritizing candidate items for order in response to a relative frequency of occurrence of the user entered search term in corresponding records of the candidate items for order; and ranking the identified and prioritized candidate items for order in response to a relative frequency of ordering of the identified and prioritized candidate items for use by users. An output processor provides search result data representing the ranked, identified and prioritized candidate items.
US07778998B2
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, there are provided mechanisms and methods for using query plans for building and performance tuning services accessed on behalf of a requestor. These mechanisms and methods for using query plans for building and performance tuning services makes it possible to examine the query plan and response times for query execution. The ability to examine the query plans and response times for query execution makes it possible to improve query efficiency and apply caching more effectively.
US07778987B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for locally storing Web-based database data. Embodiments of the present invention permit Web-based database data to be locally stored at a computer system to increase the efficiency of rendering the Web-based database data within a Web browser at the computer system. Web-based database data can be sandboxed per domain to mitigate (and possibly eliminate) the exposure of the Web-based database data to malicious computer systems. Space allocated to each domain can be initially set and then subsequently altered by a user.
US07778983B2
An application migration planning manager is provided for scanning and reporting compatibility information of stored application files, followed by conversion of selected files from a first application version format to a target application version format. A scanning module scans selected files to determine whether the scanned files are formatted according to application versions that may be incompatible with target application versions. A reporting module reports the compatibility data for the scanned files. If scanned files include multiple versions of a given document or data, the scanned files may be passed to a version extraction module for stripping the files of all but a single version of the given document or data. Each stripped version may be saved as a separate additional file. The version-stripped files and the saved additional files then may be reported back to the reporting module for further processing. Scanned files may be automatically or manually sent to a file converter module where they may be converted to a target application version.
US07778981B2
Certain tasks are outsourced from a filer to a remote policy engine. The policy engine implements various defined policies to control the filer's servicing of client requests. For example, the policy engine can be used to implement policies to control various storage-related operations relating to data managed by a filer, such as creation, deletion, modification, opening, closing, renaming and/or changing attributes of files or directories managed by the filer.
US07778966B2
A computer-based method and system for managing attributes of objects in a namespace and for allowing multiple views into the namespace. The namespace system allows the objects identified by the names of the namespace to be hierarchically organized. The namespace system allows for attributes of various objects, including directory objects and data objects, to be dynamically defined after creation of an object. The namespace system also allows for the querying of objects based on their dynamically defined attributes. When the namespace system receives a query specification that includes a newly defined attribute, it identifies the objects that match that query specification that includes a newly defined attribute, it identifies the objects that match that query specification.
US07778963B2
The subject invention pertains to data synchronization across replicas. Disclosed are systems and methods of detecting and handling constraint-based conflicts that occur during a synchronization session. In accordance with one particular aspect of the invention, name-constraint violations can be detected. These violations can be resolved by generating a single merged identity that can be utilized to refer to data units, for example on different replicas that had the same name. A property of the merged identity can be merge history, which specifies the identifiers subsumed by the merge.
US07778951B2
A method of creating two-dimensional quantum computational cluster states is demonstrated that is considerably more efficient than previously proposed approaches. The method uses local unitaries and type-I fusion operations. The increased efficiency of the method compared to previously proposed constructions is obtained by identifying and exploiting local equivalence properties inherent in cluster states.
US07778940B2
A system and method for operating a distributed power generation system comprising one or more Local Production Units (LPPUs) is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing data relating to the operating performance of a plurality of LPPUs, receiving and storing data relating to the local power consumption for the plurality of LPPUs, determining the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity for the plurality of LPPUs based upon the operating performance data and the power consumption data, communicating to at least one power purchasing entity an offer to sell at least part of the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity, receiving from at least one power purchasing entity an order to purchase, and communicating with the plurality of LPPUs to provide each LPPU with instructions regarding the quantity of power to be produced. The system includes means for performing each of these steps.
US07778939B2
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a way for low-volume mailers to track individual outbound mail pieces, including tracking of individual U.S. Postal Service FIRST-CLASS MAIL® letters. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention encodes a unique mail piece tracking identifier as a CONFIRM® service identifier in a graphic symbology. The unique mail piece tracking identifier of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention conforms with requirements of a CONFIRM® service identifier, while at the same time, provides, for a defined period of time, mail-piece-level uniqueness for first class and other mail class mail piece tracking.
US07778931B2
The present description refers to a method for securing processing of an order by a mobile agent from a first server (So) within a network system with a plurality of servers (So, S1, . . . ,Sn), at least a number of which the mobile agent has to pass according to an appropriate succession, wherein each of the plurality of servers has a pair of a public key (KSo, . . . ,KSi, . . . , KSn) and a private key (PKSo, . . . ,PKSi, . . . , PKSn) associated therewith, respectively, the method comprising, starting from any one of the number of servers the mobile agent has to pass, called herein the i'th server at least the steps of receiving the mobile agent which has been prepared by the first server by choosing a unique number (r0) and assigning it to the mobile agent, encoding the chosen unique number (r0) with the private key (PKSo) of the first server (So), thus forming an agent specific initialisation number (Co) as basis for a sequence of checksums (Co, . . . ,Ci, . . . ,Cn) to be computed successively by the number of servers (So, S1, . . ., Sn), sending the mobile agent together with its initialisation number (Co) on its route through the network system for processing the order passing thereby the number of servers (So, S1, . . . ,Sn) successively, and initiating each server (S1, . . . ,Sn) from which the mobile agent intends to take data with it when passing that server to encode the initialisation number (Co) together with the data with the respective server's private key (PKS1, . . . ,PKSi, . . . , PKSn) and to compute therewith a new server specific checksum (C1, . . . ,Ci, . . . ,Cn) using the public key (KSo) of the first server (So) and the checksum (Co, . . . ,Ci, . . . ,Cn−1) computed by the server (So, . . . ,Sn−1) right before in the succession.
US07778929B2
Search and licensing systems and method for copyrighted works, such as music tracks, images, and video. The system may comprise a database that stores data regarding copyrighted works. The system may also comprise a search engine for allowing a user to search the database for copyrighted works. The system also comprises a licensing module that implements licensing negotiations between the user and a copyright licensor for a selected copyrighted work selected by the user. The licensing module may send an electronic quote request via email to the licensor in response from a license request from the user. The email may contain an activation link to a web site at which the licensor can enter a quote for a license to use the copyrighted work in accordance with use details input by the user. Also disclosed are systems and methods for automating licensing negotiations for copyrighted works detected and recognized in uploaded files (such as video files) to be distributed via the Internet or other communication networks.
US07778925B2
A method of purchasing a soundtrack associated with A/V content. When A/V content is purchased by download or otherwise, the user is provided with an option to purchase or store the soundtrack. In one embodiment, the purchase of the motion picture secures usage rights to the soundtrack while another embodiment requires separate purchase of the soundtrack. In either case, the user is enabled to store the soundtrack as a separate file after having purchased rights to do so. The soundtrack is then stored, in some embodiments with digital rights management or copy protection to limit the number of copies that can be made of the soundtrack. The motion picture has a Table of Contents (TOC) indexing the soundtrack portions of the audio content of the motion picture to enable extraction of those portions of the motion picture forming the soundtrack.
US07778924B1
The present invention is directed to a system for providing secured access to a software rental or a postage metering system. The virtual postage meter software of this invention enables a user to print postage indicia on documents, envelopes or labels. To generate valid postage indicia the virtual meter software is executed on a first computer while it is in communication with the remotely located second computer. All communication between the first computer and the second computer utilize data encryption algorithms to preserve the security and integrity of the data transferred. In one embodiment, the second computer is a collection of one or more computers with virtual postage meter enabling software capable of communicating simultaneously to a number of user computers that are concurrently executing the virtual postage meter software. The second computer is connected to one or more US FIPS 140-1 security level 3 or better certified cryptographic devices identified as Postal Security Devices (PSD). The printed postage indicia appears as a two-dimensional barcode that includes digital signature, amount of postage, ZIP code and other relevant information.
US07778920B2
A system and method for providing in real-time an immediately accessible customized transaction account via the internet is disclosed. In particular, the system and method recognizes distinct access codes which are correlated to the credit profile of a person accessing an on-line application system via a computer network. During operation of the invention, a party may be driven to the on-line application system via the internet to conduct a transaction in response to an invitation to enroll in a special program. Upon entering the on-line application system, the accessing party may be unilaterally given the opportunity to apply for a special offer, which has been tailored to the accessing party's credit profile.
US07778918B2
A system comprises a memory operable to store a master index that is based at least in part on a separately managed account (SMA) index, a market index, a first weight associated with the SMA index, and a second weight associated with the market index. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to update the first weight based at least in part on the market index. The processor is further operable to update the second weight based at least in part on the SMA index. The processor is further operable to update the master index based at least in part on the SMA index, the market index, the updated first weight, and the updated second weight. The processor is further operable to store the updated master index in a memory.
US07778917B2
Techniques are described for securitizing, administrating and trading various index shares securitized by derivative, cash-settled instruments on the underlying index. In some examples, the tradable index shares are backed by a fractional interest in a plurality of derivative financial instruments and an amount of cash about equal to a strike price for one of the plurality of financial instruments to secure the tradable index receipt.
US07778913B2
In one embodiment, the online trading system having a real-time account opening process comprises one or more computers coupled to a network. The computers maintain a brokerage account database, and service web page requests received over the network. The web pages are preferably configured to implement a real-time account opening (RTAO) process that establishes new brokerage accounts in the account database. The RTAO process may include (a) obtaining contact information; (b) creating a new record in the brokerage account database for the contact information; (c) obtaining brokerage account application information; (d) updating the new record with the application information; (e) displaying a brokerage account contract; and (f) securing online agreement to said brokerage account contract. The process preferably also includes obtaining funding information to automatically initiate a transfer of funds to the brokerage account.
US07778909B2
A system and method for updating and applying a financial outcome of transactions involving pass-through securities to portfolios associated with the transactions by updating valuation data associated with the pass-through securities found during a search of a trade database, computing a financial outcome of the transactions found based on the updated valuation data and applying the computed financial outcome to the portfolios of investments involved in the transactions.
US07778907B1
The present invention provides a method and system for assuring a minimal guaranteed return on long-term investments, such as mutual funds or variable annuities. The invention includes a method and system for pricing, administration, customer presentation, and reserving relating to the guaranteed minimum return assurance. In addition, the present invention includes a method and system for allowing individual investors to control and easily change their typical asset allocation strategies. In order to accomplish the minimum guaranteed return, the present invention also includes sophisticated projection techniques, such as Monte Carlo simulation of investment performance. The present invention also includes features that allow the tracking of payments and removal of overcontributions from selected accounts, use of reserving techniques, optimizing investment diversification, proposal, issue, and administration of variable annuity riders, such as guaranteed minimum variable income benefit riders and guaranteed minimum income benefit riders, linkable to guaranteed minimum death benefits, and establish a charge for the guarantee.
