US07825214B2
An aqueous binding composition is provided comprised of a polyanhydride based polymer, which polyanhydride based polymer has been purified through the use of an azeotrope. The resulting binder is effective, particularly for binding glass fibers, yet substantially odor free. A fibrous material is provided that is coated with a water-resistant cured binder formed in accordance with the process of the present invention wherein adjoining fibers are bound at cross-over points. Such bound fibrous material is free of a phenol-formaldehyde resin and substantially free of odor. It has been found that by removing purities such as cumene and acetophenone from a polyanhydride binder, e.g., a styrene maleic anhydride based polymer based binder, an effective binder for glass fiber is obtained while also avoiding an odor problem.
US07825213B2
A method of making a metal-terephthalate polymer from polyester ethylene terephthalate includes reacting polyester ethylene terephthalate with a metal compound in a non-aqueous melt environment at an elevated temperature. The elevated temperature will be greater than 270° C., and preferably rises to a temperature of about 520° C. The method is preferably carried out at a low pressure. The method may be used in the recycling of passenger vehicle tire shreds to produce a carbon black rrich ppowder that is enriched in the metal-terephthalate polymer.
US07825198B2
A thermosetting resin composition comprising (A) a thermoplastic resin having a structure represented by the following general formula (a) and/or a structure represented by the following general formula (b) in which 5 to 99 mol % of hydroxyl groups of polyhydroxyether are esterified, and (B) a thermosetting resin: wherein R1 represents C1-18 aliphatic or aromatic-ring-containing alkylene group or —SO2—, 5 to 99 mol % of R2 represent a straight chain or cyclic carbonyl group or aromatic carbonyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, the residue 95 to 1 mol % represent a hydrogen atom, and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, with a proviso that a plurality of R3's may be the same or different.
US07825195B2
This invention discloses a process for synthesizing a dendrimer of a rubbery polymer comprising: (a) reacting a lithium terminated rubbery polymer with a halogenated silicon containing compound to produce a polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties, wherein the halogenated silicon contain compound has at least four halogen atoms which are bonded directly to silicon atoms, wherein the ratio of the lithium terminated rubbery polymer to halogen atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound is within the range of 2:n to (n-1):n, wherein n represents the number of halogen atoms that are bonded directly to silicon atoms in the halogenated silicon containing compound, wherein the halogenated silicon containing compound contains at least three halogen atoms which are bonded directly to a silicon atom; (b) reacting the polymer which is terminated with halogenated silicon moieties with a molar excess of a tertiary alcohol to produce a polymer which is terminated with hydroxy silyl moieties; and (c) allowing the polymer which is terminated with the hydroxy silyl moieties to couple under conditions sufficient to produce a dendrimer containing siloxane linkages. It has also be found that similar dendrimers having improved processability can be make utilizing halogenated tin containing compounds in stead of the halogenated silicon containing compound.
US07825190B2
The invention relates to a polyethylene composition with a bimodal molecular weight distribution and articles made therefrom, such as high topload blow moldings and transmission and distribution pipes. The composition comprises a low-molecular-weight (LMW) ethylene homopolymer component and a homogeneous, high-molecular-weight (HMW) ethylene interpolymer component, wherein the LMW component is characterized as having a molecular weight distribution, MWDL, of less than about 8. The composition is characterized as having a bimodal molecular weight distribution, and a ductile-brittle transition temperature, Tdb, of less than −20° C. In some embodiments, the HMW component is characterized by a reverse comonomer distribution.
US07825187B2
The invention provides a water resistant molding material that can be stably manufactured while being excellent in water resistance after dried, and a producing method for the water resistant molding material. The water resistant molding material comprises a binder resin containing a polyvinyl alcohol resin, a viscosity control agent, water and a filler, wherein the concentration of acetate ions is adjusted in the range from 500 to 12,000 ppm by blending, for example, an acetate ion controlling agent (such as NH4NO3, NaOH and KCl).
US07825186B2
The invention relates to hot melt compositions comprising polyolefin waxes prepared using metallocene catalysts, have a dropping point or ring & ball softening point of between 80 and 165° C., have a melt viscosity, measured at a temperature of 170° C., of between 20 and 40 000 mPa·s, and have a glass transition temperature of not more than −10° C. and also to their use as hot melt adhesives and as binders for producing roadmarkings.
US07825183B2
Plasticising system which can be used for the plasticizing of a diene rubber composition, characterized in that it is based on an MES or TDAE oil and on C5 fraction/vinylaromatic copolymer resin, in particular a copolymer of a C5 fraction and of stirene resin. Rubber composition exhibiting an improved abrasion and cut resistance, said composition being based on at least a diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler, a crosslinking system and a plasticising system comprising between 5 and 35 phr of an MES or TDAE oil and between 5 and 35 phr of such a resin (phr=parts by weight per 100 parts of elastomer). Process for preparing such a composition, use of said composition for the manufacture of a finished article or of a semi-finished product intended for a motor vehicle ground-contact system, in particular a tire and a tread of such a tire.
US07825180B2
A process for lowering the stiffness of filled thermoplastic polymer formulations is disclosed wherein the process comprises including in said formulation a low modulus coupling agent wherein said coupling agent comprises a blend of at least two functionalized polyolefins. Also disclosed is a process for producing soft coupling agents comprising blending at least two functionalized polyolefins in pre-determined ratios, whereby chemical and physical properties of the coupling agents can be controlled.
US07825170B2
The invention provides silicone hydrogel contact lenses that exhibit reduced back surface debris and reduced incidence of superior epithelial arcurate lesions.
US07825168B2
The present invention provides an ink composition including a polymerization initiator and a monofunctional (meth)acrylate having a —CONH— bond in the molecule thereof. The present invention also provides an ink jet recording method and a planographic printing plate producing method using the ink composition, and a planographic printing plate prepared by the planographic printing plate producing method.
US07825166B2
To provide a flexible polyurethane foam having good vibration characteristics and suitable particularly for a seat for an automobile.A flexible polyurethane foam obtained by reacting a high molecular weight polyoxyalkylene polyol or a polymer-dispersed polyol containing fine polymer particles in the high molecular weight polyoxyalkylene polyol, with a polyisocyanate compound, in the presence of a catalyst, a blowing agent and a foam stabilizer, characterized in that an amino-modified silicone (F) having a silicon atom and a nitrogen atom in its molecule is used in an amount of from 0.00001 to 1 part by mass per 100 parts by mass of all active hydrogen compounds.
US07825160B2
The present invention relates to compounds having the general formula (I) with the definitions of A, X, R1-R6 given below, and/or a salt or ester thereof. Furthermore the invention relates to the use of said compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and their use for the modulation of γ-secretase activity.
US07825155B2
Disclosed is a compound represented by the formula (1) below, a prodrug thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either, which is useful as a therapeutic, preventive or ameliorating agent for diabetes and the like. (In the formula, R3 represents an optionally substituted carbamoyl group or the like; X represents a hydroxyl group or the like; W1 and W2 independently represent a single bond or methylene; R7 and R8 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group or the like; and Ar represents an optionally substituted aryl group or the like.)
US07825153B2
A low concentration formulation for hydrophobic photosensitizers (PS) and method for photodynamic therapy (“PDT”) using the disclosed low concentration formulations provide for more accurate, more efficient and more convenient dosing. The inventive formulation (1) reduces the time for a therapeutically effective level of photosensitizer to accumulate in diseased tissue and (2) reduces the time for achieving a sufficient ratio of photosensitizer in diseased tissue vs. healthy tissue. The inventive formulation reduces the time interval between PS application/administration and irradiation (the drug-light interval or “DLI”) and can provide for a “same day” PDT treatment option. 0.08 mg/ml to 1.3 mg/ml meta Tetra-Hydroxy-Phenyl Chlorin (m-THPC) as the photosensitizer in a mixture of pure propylene glycol and ethanol (3:2 volume ratio) accumulates in diseased tissue and differentiates between diseased tissue and normal tissue sufficiently quickly for ‘one day’ or overnight administration and activation treatment procedures to be possible.
US07825150B2
Methods and compositions for treating immunological and inflammatory diseases and disorders are disclosed. Particular methods and compositions comprise the administration of an agent that inhibits S1P lyase activity and at least one additional immunosuppressive and/or anti-inflammatory agent.
US07825143B2
A method for controlling yeast-to-filamentous growth transition in fungi comprising contacting a fungal cell with an anti-fungal small molecule in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit the yeast-to-filamentous growth transition, wherein the anti-fungal small molecule is 5-(p-Bromobenzylidine)-α-isopropyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-3-thiozolidineacetic acid or an analog thereof. A method for treating fungal infections comprising contacting one or more fungal cells with an anti-fungal small molecule in an amount effective to control the fungal infection, wherein the anti-fungal small molecule is 5-(p-Bromobenzylidine)-α-isopropyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-3-thiozolidineactic acid or an analog thereof.
US07825139B2
Compounds that selectively inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-IV over closely related dipeptidyl peptidases are those of Formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, cyclic isomers thereof, prodrugs thereof, and solvates thereof, where all the variables are defined herein. These compounds can be used, alone or in combination with other drugs, for the treatment of diabetes and related diseases.
US07825126B2
Disclosed are (N)-methanocarba adenine nucleosides of the formula: as highly potent A3 adenosine receptor agonists, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such nucleosides, and a method of use of these nucleosides, wherein R1-R6 are as defined in the specification. These nucleosides are contemplated for use in the treatment a number of diseases, for example, inflammation, cardiac ischemia, stroke, asthma, diabetes, and cardiac arrhythmias. The invention also provides compounds that are agonists of both A1 and A3 adenosine receptors for use in cardioprotection.
US07825125B2
Morphologically stabilized amorphous aripiprazole and process for preparing the same.
US07825124B2
Indolylmaleimide derivatives comprising either a substituted phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, quinazolinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl or pyrimidinyl residue have interesting pharmaceutical properties, e.g. in the treatment and/or prevention of T-cell mediated acute or chronic inflammatory diseases or disorders, autoimmune diseases, graft rejection or cancer.
US07825122B2
Diaza heterocyclic sulfonamide derivatives according to formula I have therapeutic utility, particularly in the treatment of diabetes, obesity and related conditions and disorders: where R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, X, Y1, Y2, m, and n are set forth in the description.
US07825118B2
Disclosed herein are compounds that form covalent bonds with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also described are irreversible inhibitors of Btk. Methods for the preparation of the compounds are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds. Methods of using the Btk inhibitors are disclosed, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions.
US07825115B2
The disclosure relates to a cyclic urea compound of formula I: as defined herein, to the process for its preparation, pharmaceutical composition comprising it and its pharmaceutical use as an inhibitor on a protein kinase. Thus, the compound of formula I is useful for preventing or treating a physiological disorder capable of being modulated by inhibiting the activity of a protein kinase, such as a solid tumor.
US07825113B2
The use of a compound comprising formula (I): or a salt, ester, amide or prodrug thereof in the inhibition of an enzyme whose preferred mode of action is to catalyse the hydrolysis of an ester functionality, e.g. in the control and inhibition of unwanted enzymes in products and processes. The compounds are also useful in medicine e.g. in the treatment of obesity and related conditions. The invention also relates to novel compounds within formula (I), to processes for preparing them and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. In formula (I) A is a 6-membered aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; and R1 is a branched or unbranched alkyl (optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms), alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, reduced arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl, reduced aryl, reduced heteroaryl, reduced heteroarylalkyl or a substituted derivative of any of the foregoing groups.
US07825106B2
Methods and formulations for treating inflammatory bowel disease are disclosed. The methods and formulations include, but are not limited to, methods and formulations for delivering effective concentrations of 4-aminosalicylic acid and/or 5-aminosalicylic acid, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pro-drugs thereof, to affected areas of the intestine, i.e., distal gut. The methods and formulations comprise modified-release elements, providing for drug delivery to the affected or desired area. Diseases and conditions treatable with the present invention include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
US07825099B2
The invention relates to one or more inhibitors, in particular siRNAs, which down-regulate the expression of human pro-apoptotic genes. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating or preventing the incidence or severity of hearing impairment (or balance impairment), particularly hearing impairment associated with cell death of the inner ear hair cells or outer ear hair cells, comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient.
US07825092B2
Disclosed is a method of inhibiting the growth of a cancer cell using Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP), isolated from the Green Mamba snake venom with similar structure to ANP, with or without four cardiac natriuretic peptides i.e., atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), vessel dilator, long acting natriuretic peptide (LANP), and kaliuretic peptide. Dose-response curves revealed a significant (p<0.0001) decrease in human glioblastoma cells with each ten-fold increase in concentration from 1 μM to 100 μM of four of the cardiac peptide hormones. There was an 75%, 68%, 67%, and 65% elimination within 24 hours of glioblastoma cells secondary to vessel dilator, kaliuretic peptide, ANP, and LANP, respectively (p<0.0001) while DNP had no significant effect at 1 μM (2% decrease), and 10 μM (7%), but 100 μM caused a (17%) decrease (p<0.05). Three days after treatment with these peptide hormones, the cancer cells began to proliferate again. These same hormones decreased DNA synthesis from 65% to 87% (p<0.00001).
US07825090B2
A novel combination of ghrelin and unacylated ghrelin is described herein. Methods of administering and uses of this combination to alter an insulin-associated parameter are also described. Compositions and packages containing ghrelin and/or one of its analogs and nonacylated ghrelin and/or one of its analogs as well as the uses of such compositions in providing therapeutic benefit to human patients diagnosed with for example insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity are described.
US07825085B2
The present invention relates generally to peptides derived from the natural cytotoxicity receptors on natural killer (NK) cells and to antibodies against peptide epitopes on these receptors. In particular, the present invention identifies an essential epitope in the proximal domain of NKp46 and NKp44 receptors present on NK cells, as a crucial element for the binding to viral-infected cells. The present invention provides peptides that are derived from the amino acid sequence of NKp46 receptor, capable of specific targeting of viral-infected cells and tumor cells and monoclonal antibodies which recognize a specific domain of NKp46. The present invention further provides hyperglycosylated peptides that are derived from the NKp44 receptor, capable of specific targeting of viral-infected cells.
US07825077B2
This invention provides a composition of lubricating oil for two stroke gasoline engine and a process for the preparation thereof. In addition to alkyl benzenes, the composition also contains an antioxidant, an antifoaming agent, a pour point dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor and a detergent-dispersant additive, an extreme pressure additive, a lubrication additives, comprising of the following steps (I) removing of insoluble matter from the base stock, (II) tailoring by vacuum distillation, (III) blending of different alkylates, (IV) removing the oxidized matters by adsorption, (V) addition of performance additives and homogenizing the mixture. The product of this invention has utility as lubricating oil for two stroke gasoline engine in both water-cooled and air-cooled two-cycle gasoline engines producing reduced smoke.
US07825076B2
The present invention relates to lubricating oils, and in particular to the use of lubricating oils with low sulphur content in combination with a low sulphur fuel to reduce particulate emissions of a diesel engine equipped with a particulate trap. Thus, there is provided the use of an engine lubricating oil having a low sulphur content in combination with a fuel having a low sulphur content, to reduce the emissions of nucleation mode particles from a diesel engine fitted with a particulate trap. There is also provided a method of reducing the number of nucleation mode particles in the emissions from a diesel engine fitted with a particulate trap, which method comprises using an engine lubricating oil having a low sulphur content in combination with a fuel having a low sulphur content.
US07825073B2
Methods are provided that include a method comprising providing a viscosified treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a gelling agent that comprises a clarified xanthan; and placing the viscosified treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the method comprises placing the viscosified treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the viscosified treatment fluid may also comprise a plurality of particulates. In some embodiments, the viscosified treatment fluids may be placed into at least a portion of a pipeline. Additional methods are also provided.
US07825065B2
Particles for catalyst which have a function of absorbing and desorbing oxygen, the particles comprising an iron compound in which an element, other than Fe, having two valences is solid-soluted in an oxide of Fe having three valences, and a method for producing the particles for catalyst which comprises precipitating a precipitate containing Fe having three valences and an element, other than Fe, having two valences from a solution containing ions of Fe having three valences and ions of the element, other than Fe, having two valences, and drying and firing the precipitate to produce the particles.
US07825061B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst for producing methacrylic acid in high yield and highly selectively by subjecting methacrolein, isobutylaldehyde or isobutyric acid to gas phase catalytic oxidation, and the preparation method thereof. The catalyst contains Mo, V, P, Cu, Cs and NH4 as the essential, active components, and the feature is to use for preparing the catalyst a cesium weak acid salt or cesium hydroxide as the Cs raw material and ammonium acetate as the NH4 raw material. A coated catalyst of the present invention is obtainable by supporting the active component on an inert carrier of alumina or the like.
US07825060B2
A method for producing a catalyst of the present invention is characterized by sequentially performing the steps of: (i) dipping an end face portion of a carrier structure having a catalytic component carried thereon in an aqueous metal salt solution at a concentration of 2.7 to 3.88 mol/L in terms of mole of the metal; (ii) drying the dipped end face portion; (iii) dipping the dried end face portion again in an aqueous metal salt solution whose metal species is the same as that in the aqueous metal salt solution at a concentration of 2.7 to 3.88 mol/L in terms of mole of the metal; and (iv) performing a calcination treatment to harden the catalytic end face.
US07825059B2
Process to prepare a trioxepane compound of the following formula (I) comprising less than 3.5 wt % of dialkyl peroxide based on the total amount of peroxides, said process comprising the steps of reacting a glycol compound of the formula R3CHOH—CH2—C(CH3)2OH with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an acid to form a glycol hydroperoxide, purifying the glycol hydroperoxide, reacting the purified glycol hydroperoxide with a ketone or aldehyde of the formula R1R2CO in the presence of an acid to form the trioxepane compound, and purifying the trioxepane compound, wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen and a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, with the proviso that if R1 and R2 are both methyl groups, R3 is not hydrogen. Initiator compositions comprising the so-prepared trioxepane compound are characterized by a high safe processing temperature in combination with a good crosslink efficiency.
US07825047B2
A spread mat capable of reducing, by suppressing slippage, the risk of getting injured by falling even if a surface layer is wet with oil or water. A crushed particulate material of 15 to 80 meshes is sprayed and adhered onto the front surface of the spread mat formed by stacking a large number of synthetic resin filaments in loop shape through an adhesive agent at a distribution rate of 50 to 150 g/m2.
US07825038B2
Methods of depositing a silicon oxide layer on a substrate are described. The methods may include the steps of providing a substrate to a deposition chamber, generating an atomic oxygen precursor outside the deposition chamber, and introducing the atomic oxygen precursor into the chamber. The methods may also include introducing a silicon precursor to the deposition chamber, where the silicon precursor and the atomic oxygen precursor are first mixed in the chamber. The silicon precursor and the atomic oxygen precursor react to form the silicon oxide layer on the substrate, and the deposited silicon oxide layer may be annealed. Systems to deposit a silicon oxide layer on a substrate are also described.
US07825027B2
A method for manufacturing a memory device including a ferroelectric memory array region and a logic circuit region is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming, above a base substrate, a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors in the ferroelectric memory array region; forming a wiring layer above the base substrate in the logic circuit region; forming an interlayer dielectric layer that covers the ferroelectric capacitors and the wiring layer; etching the interlayer dielectric layer formed at least in the ferroelectric memory array region to form a concave section; polishing the interlayer dielectric layer by a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) method; etching the interlayer dielectric layer above the ferroelectric capacitors and the wiring layer to form contact holes; and forming contact sections in the contact holes.
US07825024B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device having a through-silicon via (TSV) is provided. A semiconductor device is provided having a first dielectric layer formed thereon. One or more dielectric layers are formed over the first dielectric layer, such that each of the dielectric layers have a stacking structure, wherein the stacking structures in the one or more dielectric layers are vertically aligned. The stacking structures may be, for example, metal rings. The stacking structures are then removed to form a first recess. A second recess is formed by extending the first recess into the substrate. The second recess is filled with a conductive material to form the TSV.
US07825012B2
A method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device, includes forming a p-type nitride semiconductor layer on a substrate, from an organic metal compound as a group III element source material, ammonia and a hydrazine derivative as group V element source materials, and a Mg source material gas as a p-type impurity source material. The flow velocity of the source material gases including the group III element source material, the group V element source materials, and the p-type impurity source material is more than 0.2 m/sec.
US07825010B2
Some embodiments include methods in which a front side region of a semiconductor substrate is placed against a surface. While the front side region is against the surface, the semiconductor substrate is thinned, and then cut into a plurality of dice. The surface may be a pliable material, and may be stretched after the cutting to increase separation between at least some of the dice. While the pliable surface is stretched, at least some of the dice may be picked from the surface. In some embodiments, the semiconductor substrate is retained to the surface with a radiation-curable material. The material is in an uncured and tacky form during the thinning of the substrate, and is subsequently cured into a less tacky form prior to the picking of dice from the surface.
US07825009B2
A manufacturing method for devices including a wafer supporting step of mounting an adhesive film to the lower surface of a wafer and attaching the wafer through the adhesive film to the upper surface of a dicing tape mounted on an annular frame, a laser processing step of applying a pulsed laser beam having an absorption wavelength to the wafer along separation lines formed on the upper surface of the wafer after mounting the adhesive film to the dicing tape, thereby separating the wafer into the individual devices and cutting the adhesive film, and a pickup step of expanding the dicing tape after performing the laser processing step to thereby increase the spacing between any adjacent ones of the individual devices, and peeling off to pick up each of the individual devices from the dicing tape in the condition where the adhesive film is mounted on the lower surface of each device.
US07824989B2
A method for forming a field effect transistor (FET) device includes forming a gate conductor over a semiconductor substrate; forming a source region, the source region having a source extension that overlaps and extends under the gate conductor; and forming a drain region, the drain region having a drain extension that overlaps and extends under the gate conductor at selected locations along the width of the gate; and the drain region further comprising a plurality of recessed areas corresponding to areas where the drain extension does not overlap and extend under the gate conductor, wherein the plurality of recessed areas is formed only in the drain region.
US07824988B2
A method includes forming a source, a drain, and a disposable gate (38) of the first transistor; forming a source, a drain, and a disposable gate of the second transistor; removing the disposable gates of the first transistor and the second transistor; forming a photoresist layer over the first transistor and the second transistor; patterning the photoresist layer to expose a gate region of the first transistor and a gate region of the second transistor; and implanting the substrate under the gate region of the first transistor and under the gate region of the second transistor, wherein implanting the substrate under the gate region of the first transistor provides a permanent shorting region between the source and the drain of the first transistor, and wherein implanting the substrate under the gate region of the second transistor adjusts a threshold voltage of the second transistor.
US07824985B2
A method of manufacturing a recessed gate transistor includes forming a hard mask pattern over a substrate; and then forming a trench in the substrate by performing an etching process using the hard mask pattern as an etch mask; and then performing a pullback-etching process on the hard mask pattern to expose a source region in the substrate; and then forming a gate silicon layer in the trench and over the substrate including the hard mask pattern after performing the pullback-etching process; and then performing an etch-back process on the gate silicon layer to expose the hard mask pattern such that the uppermost surface of the gate silicon layer is below the uppermost surface of the hard mask pattern; and then removing the hard mask pattern; and then simultaneously etching the gate silicon layer and the exposed portion of the substrate.
US07824979B2
Provided are a semiconductor device with a channel of a FIN structure and a method for manufacturing the same. In the method, a device isolation layer defining an active region is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A recess trench with a first width is formed in the active region, and a trench with a second width larger than the first width is formed in the device isolation layer. The trench formed in the device isolation layer is filled with a capping layer. A cleaning process is performed on the recess trench to form a bottom protrusion of a FIN structure including a protrusion and a sidewall. Gate stacks filling the recess trench are formed. A landing plug, which is divided by the capping layer filling the trench, is formed between the gate stacks.
US07824977B2
A semiconductor wafer includes at least a partially manufactured high voltage transistor covered by a high-voltage low voltage decoupling layer and at least a partially manufactured low voltage transistor with the high-voltage low-voltage decoupling layer etched off for further performance of a low-voltage manufacturing process thereon. The high-voltage low-voltage decoupling layer comprising a high temperature oxide (HTO) oxide layer of about 30-150 Angstroms and a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) nitride layer.
US07824970B2
A semiconductor structure and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. Compared to conventional structures of thin film transistors, the structure of the present invention uses a patterned first metal layer as a data line, and a patterned second metal layer as a gate line. In a thin film transistor, a gate is also located in the patterned first metal layer, and is electrically connected to the gate line located in the patterned second metal layer through a contact hole. A source and a drain of the thin film transistor are electrically connected to the data line through a contact hole. The structure of the present invention increases a storage capacitance and an aperture ratio.
US07824960B2
A method of manufacturing a plurality of stacked die semiconductor packages, including: placing a phase change material between a top surface of a substrate and a bottom surface of a first die; placing a phase change material between a top surface of the first die and a bottom surface of a second die; wherein the first and second dies have a plurality of conductive protrusions on the bottom surfaces of the dies; wherein the first die has a plurality of conductive vias extending from its conductive protrusions, through the first die, to the top surface of the first die; wherein the conductive vias of said first die are in alignment with the conductive protrusions of the second die; and heating the dies and the substrate to cause the second die to become electrically interconnected to the first die and the first die to become electrically connected to the substrate.
US07824959B2
A method of forming a wafer level stack structure, including forming a first wafer including a first device chip, wherein the first device chip includes a plurality of input/output (I/O) pads, forming a second wafer including a second device chip, wherein each second device chip contains a second plurality of I/O pads, the second device chip is approximately equal in size to the first chip size, stacking the first wafer and the second wafer, and coupling the first wafer and the second wafer to each other. A method of forming a system-in-package for containing a wafer level stack structure, including forming a wafer level stack structure including a first device chip having a first plurality of input/output (I/O) pads and a second device chip having a second plurality of I/O pads, and forming a common circuit board to which the wafer level stack structure is connected.
US07824957B2
During a process of forming an active layer of a semiconductor device using a ZnO film, the ZnO film is laser-annealed with an ultraviolet pulsed laser to reduce the resistance of the film, and then oxidation treatment is applied to increase the specific resistance value at a channel portion of the ZnO film, which once has excessively low resistance after the laser annealing, to 103Ω·cm or more.
US07824954B2
Phase change memory devices can have bottom patterns on a substrate. Line-shaped or L-shaped bottom electrodes can be formed in contact with respective bottom patterns on a substrate and to have top surfaces defined by dimensions in x and y axes directions on the substrate. The dimension along the x-axis of the top surface of the bottom electrodes has less width than a resolution limit of a photolithography process used to fabricate the phase change memory device. Phase change patterns can be formed in contact with the top surface of the bottom electrodes to have a greater width than each of the dimensions in the x and y axes directions of the top surface of the bottom electrodes and top electrodes can be formed on the phase change patterns, wherein the line shape or the L shape represents a sectional line shape or a sectional L shape of the bottom electrodes in the x-axis direction.
US07824944B2
An image sensor with a plurality of photodiodes that each is adjacent to a first region constructed from a first type of material and comprises a second region constructed from a second type of material. Located between second regions of adjacent photodiodes is a barrier region. The photodiodes are reverse biased to create depletion regions within the substrate. The barrier region limits the lateral growth of the depletion regions and inhibits depletion merger between adjacent photodiodes.
US07824942B2
A method of fabricating a photoelectric device of Group III nitride semiconductor comprises the steps of: forming a first Group III nitride semiconductor layer on a surface of an original substrate; forming a patterned epitaxial-blocking layer on the first Group III nitride semiconductor layer; forming a second Group III nitride semiconductor layer on the epitaxial-blocking layer and the first Group III nitride semiconductor layer not covered by the epitaxial-blocking layer and then removing the epitaxial-blocking layer; forming a third Group III nitride semiconductor layer on the second Group III nitride semiconductor layer; depositing or adhering a conductive layer on the third Group III nitride semiconductor layer; and releasing a combination of the third Group III nitride semiconductor layer and the conductive layer apart from the second Group III nitride semiconductor layer.
US07824941B2
The invention describes a method for producing a light-emitting-diode (LED) light source, particularly comprising mixed-color LEDs, wherein at least a portion of primary radiation emitted by a chip is transformed by luminescence conversion. Said chip comprises a front-side (i.e., the side facing in the direction of radiation) electrical contact to whose surface a luminescence conversion material is applied in the form of a thin layer. Prior to coating, the front-side electrical contact is raised by the application of an electrically conductive material to the electrical contact surface. The method enables specific color coordinates to be adjusted selectively by monitoring the color coordinates (IEC chromaticity diagram) and thinning the layer of luminescence conversion material. In addition, the method is suited in particular for simultaneously producing a plurality of LED light sources from a multiplicity of similar chips in a wafer composite.
US07824935B2
In embodiments of the current invention, methods of combinatorial processing and a test chip for use in these methods are described. These methods and test chips enable the efficient development of materials, processes, and process sequence integration schemes for semiconductor manufacturing processes. In general, the methods simplify the processing sequence of forming devices or partially formed devices on a test chip such that the devices can be tested immediately after formation. The immediate testing allows for the high throughput testing of varied materials, processes, or process sequences on the test chip. The test chip has multiple site isolated regions where each of the regions is varied from one another and the test chip is designed to enable high throughput testing of the different regions.
US07824933B2
A process is provided for determining the effects of scattering from the edge of a resist during a doping process. Edges of a resist which has been patterned to create an n-well are simulated and individually stepped across a predetermined region in predetermined step sizes. The step sizes may vary from step to step after each step, the scattering effects due to the resist edge at its particular location is determined. A resist of virtually any shape may be divided into its component edges and each edge may be individually stepped during the process.
US07824930B2
A method of manufacturing a substrate formed with a plurality of wiring patterns on a base, includes: a first inspection step of identifying a faulty wiring pattern having electric short circuit or disconnection by performing an electric inspection respectively for the plurality of wiring patterns; a second inspection step of examining a relative position of a defect on the base and at least one of a type and a size of the defect by an optical inspection; a matching step of matching a result of the first inspection step with a result of the second inspection step, and identifying a critical defect having electric short circuit or disconnection; and a third inspection step of examining a relative position in a pixel and an effective range of the critical defect by an optical inspection.
US07824929B2
An object of the present invention is to remove micro-scratches on a surface of a GaN substrate cut from a GaN ingot. The invention is directed to establish a method for surface treatment of a GaN substrate, including heating the surface in an atmosphere containing trimethylgallium, ammonia, and hydrogen. It is preferable that the trimethylgallium feeding rate is 150 μmol/min or higher, the ratio of trimethylgallium feeding rate to ammonia feeding rate (V/III ratio) is 1,200 to 4,000, and the heating temperature is 1,000° C. to 1,250° C. In addition, the temperature of the surface treatment is set to be higher than that of the following GaN growth, and the feed rate of trimethylgallium is lower than that of the growth procedure. RMS of roughness on the substrate was equal to or less than 1.3 nm, and the substrate whose step condition is excellent can be obtained.
US07824925B2
Materials and methods are provided for producing patterned multi-array, multi-specific surfaces for use in diagnostics. The invention provides for electrochemiluminescence methods for detecting or measuring an analyte of interest. It also provides for novel electrodes for ECL assays. Materials and methods are provided for the chemical and/or physical control of conducting domains and reagent deposition for use multiply specific testing procedures.
US07824919B2
A chemical analysis method for the determination of RO(CH2CH2O)nH, RO(C2H4O)nA, and AO(C2H4O)nA in a mixture thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, A is a functional group for coupling with a surface or a biologically active material or another thing of use and n is an integer greater than 10. The method includes the step of chromatographing a sample of the mixture by liquid chromatography under critical conditions to determine the relative amounts of RO(CH2CH2O)n H, RO(C2H4O)nA, and AO(C2H4O)nA in the mixture. In addition a chemical analysis method for the determination of RO(CH2CH2O)nH, RO(C2H4O)nA, and AO(C2H4O)nA in a mixture thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, A is a functional group for coupling with a biologically active material and n is an integer greater than 10. The method includes two steps. The first step is derivatizing the A groups of the mixture with a derivatizing agent to form a derivatized mixture comprising RO(CH2CH2O)nH, RO(C2H4O)nAD, and DAO(C2H4O)nAD, wherein AD is the derivatized A group. The second step is chromatographing a sample of the derivatized mixture by liquid chromatography under critical conditions to determine the relative amounts of RO(CH2CH2O)nH, RO(C2H4O)nAD, and DAO(C2H4O)nAD in the derivatized mixture.
US07824918B2
Novel fluorescent dyes are disclosed for use in analyte detection. In particular, mono- and bis-substituted HPTS dyes and methods of making them are provided.
US07824909B2
The invention relates to a method for the detection of prior exposure to Coxiella. burnetii infection by antibody-based assays using recombinant, immunodominant C. burnetii polypeptides. The invention also relates to the design of biotin or His-tagged C. burnetii proteins useful in the antibody-based assays as standardized antigen reagents.
US07824899B2
A process for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched amine, is performed by a) cleaving a racemic mixture of a reaction product of i) a chiral amine and ii) an acyl donor, in the presence of a hydrolase, to obtain a mixture of an enantiomerically enriched amide and an enantiomerically enriched amine; or b) reacting an amine with an acyl donor, in the presence of a hydrolase, to obtain a mixture of an enantiomerically enriched amide and an enantiomerically enriched amine; and c) separating the enantiomerically enriched amide from the enantiomerically enriched amine, wherein the acyl donor is a sulphonylacetic acid ester. The process (1) leads to high enantioselectivities, and (2) high reactivities, (3) is based on an acyl donor accessible in a simple manner, (4) is suitable for a large number of very different substrates and/or (5) is suitable for carrying out at high substrate concentrations.
US07824888B2
Level of fatigue that accompanies everyday life or a disease can be simply, easily, and quantitatively assessed by obtaining a body fluid from a test subject and measuring the amount of human herpesvirus in the body fluid. Furthermore, the anti-fatigue potency of anti-fatigue substances and anti-fatigue food products can be measured.
US07824884B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US07824883B2
Method and apparatus for the detection of microbes in liquids, in air and on non-living surfaces in which samples are exposed to frequency-modulated electromagnetic radiation of specific energies capable of exciting various metabolites, cofactors and cellular and spore components, with the microbial cells to be sampled (and more specifically the excited metabolites, cofactors and/or other cellular components) contained therein emit fluorescence that can be measured that is similarly frequency-modulated provided that the excitation frequencies are longer than the fluorescence lifetime of the excited intrinsic microbial fluorophore. The contribution to the measured signal due to each excitation frequency resulting from microbial intrinsic fluorescence is determined with a method capable of calculating the intensity of each frequency-modulated signal, and the relative total fluorescent signals of the intrinsic microbial components associated with each excitation frequency are required to lie within physiological ranges, with the amplitude of the fluorescence signals used to enumerate the microbe content in the sample.
US07824879B2
An assay device and method for determining the concentration of low density lipoprotein (LDL)-associated cholesterol (LDL-C) in a body-fluid sample, such as a blood sample is described.
US07824876B2
A bioaffinity assay for quantitative determination in a sample of free PAPP-A, defined as the pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) that is not complexed to the proform of major basic protein (proMBP), where free PAPP-A is determined either i) as a calculated difference between measured total PAPP-A and measured PAPP-A complexed to proMBP, or ii) by a direct bioaffinity assay measuring only free PAPP-A. Also disclosed is a method for diagnosing an acute coronary syndrome in a person by using as marker either free PAPP-A as such or a ratio free PAPP-A/total PAPP-A, free PAPP-A/PAPP-A complexed to proMBP, or PAPP-A complexed to proMBP/total PAPP-A.
US07824867B2
The present invention provides improved and rapid detection methods for an antigen such as a chemical compound, a peptide, a nucleic acid, or a protein released from cells or virus particles in situ. The detection time for an antigen can be dramatically reduced relative to conventional technologies. The technology can particularly be used, for example, to modify and reduce the detection time significantly in traditional ELISA, and also Western blot or Dot blot assays. The improved ELISA method is rapid, economical, reproducible, simple and automatable. Also provided are compositions and kits for using the improved ELISA methods for the rapid detection of antigens.
US07824866B2
The present invention relates to methods, reagents and kits for detecting of GPR72 polypeptide activity in a sample and identifying agents which modulate polypeptide activity. It further relates to antibodies raised against GPR72. It further relates to substances for preventing, treating and/or alleviating diseases or disorders characterized by dysregulation of GPR72 polypeptide signalling.
US07824859B2
The invention relates to compositions and methods for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, where the compositions and methods include an RNA polymerase, a FEN nuclease, and a probe.
US07824855B2
A method for selectively separating and purifying RNA from a mixture solution of nucleic acid containing DNA and RNA, wherein the method comprising the steps of: (1-a) adsorbing nucleic acid; (1-b) washing; (1-c) subjecting to a DNase treatment; (1-d) washing; and (1-e) desorbing the RNA from a nucleic acid-adsorbing porous membrane by a recovering solution, wherein in the step (1-c), a total amount of a DNase solution is 130 μl or less per 1 cm2 of the membrane. And a method for selectively separating and purifying RNA or DNA, which comprises the steps of: (2-a) adsorbing nucleic acid; (2-b) washing by a washing solution; and (2-c) desorbing the nucleic acid from a nucleic acid-adsorbing porous membrane, wherein the washing solution contains a water-soluble organic solvent having a concentration of 50% by weight or less, and does not contain a chaotropic salt.
US07824853B2
A method for the production of a biomolecular complex having at least two functional elements each attached to a target molecule or area through binding elements, wherein each functional element is attached to a specific binding element, the binding element being a nucleotide sequence and the target molecule or area comprising the corresponding target sequence, and the target molecules or areas being separated from each other by a first linker or spacer and an optional second linker, the linkers being nucleic acid polymers having a pre-determined physical property.
US07824846B2
A method and apparatus for forming a tapered photoresist edge. The method includes: forming a photoresist layer on a substrate; exposing a first annular region of the photoresist layer adjacent to a perimeter of the substrate to actinic radiation, the first annular region having a first outer perimeter proximate to a perimeter of the substrate and a first inner perimeter away from the perimeter of the substrate, the actinic radiation gradually decreasing in intensity from the first outer perimeter to the first inner perimeter; and developing the exposed first annular region of the photoresist layer to form a tapered profile in a second annular region of the photoresist layer, the second annular region having a second perimeter proximate to the perimeter of the substrate and a second inner perimeter away from the substrate perimeter, the profile gradually increasing in thickness from the second outer perimeter to the second inner perimeter.
US07824845B2
Linear or branched functionalized polycarbosilanes having an absorbance less than 3.0 μm−1 at 193 nm and a relatively high refractive index are provided. The functionalized polycarbosilanes contain at least one pendant group that is acid labile or aqueous base soluble. Also disclosed are photoresists formulations containing the functionalized polycarbosilanes that are suitable for use in lithography, e.g., immersion lithography.
US07824833B2
A spherical resin-coated ferrite carrier for an electrophotographic developer which can maintain a stable resistance and chargeability, a favorable charge rising property because of an excellent fluidity, and has a suitable durability, its production method which is excellent in economic efficiency and production stability, and an electrophotographic developer using the resin-coated ferrite carrier, are provided. A resin-coated ferrite carrier for an electrophotographic developer which is a spherical resin-coated ferrite carrier, wherein a carrier core material thereof has an irregular surface to improve the adhesive strength to a resin coat, and wherein the irregularity of the surface takes a finely streaked wrinkle pattern, its production method, and an electrophotographic developer using the resin-coated ferrite carrier, are employed.
US07824830B2
A coating liquid including an N-alkoxymethylated nylon and a solvent, wherein the N-alkoxymethylated nylon includes one or more ions in an amount of from 200 to 500 ppm based on a weight of the N-alkoxymethylated nylon or one or more alkylamines in an amount of from 15 to 100 ppm based on a weight of the N-alkoxymethylated nylon. A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a charge blocking layer located overlying the substrate; a moiré preventing layer located overlying the charge blocking layer; and a photosensitive layer located overlying the moiré preventing layer, wherein the charge blocking layer is formed using the coating liquid.
US07824827B2
A method is described for setting up the lithographic processing of a substrate. The lithographic processing typically is characterized by a set of selectable process parameters, such as the thickness, real refractive index, and absorption coefficient of a bottom anti-reflective layer. The method includes selecting a set of values for the selectable process parameters, determining the substrate reflectivity in the resist layer for these parameters, and evaluating if the determined substrate reflectivity is smaller than a maximum allowable substrate reflectivity in the resist layer. The maximum allowable substrate reflectivity is determined according to a floating criterion, i.e., the maximum allowable substrate reflectivity depends on a Normalized Image Log Slope related parameter.
US07824826B2
A method of generating complementary dark field masks for use in a dark field double dipole imaging process. The method includes the steps of identifying a target pattern having a plurality of features, including horizontal and vertical features; generating a horizontal mask based on the target pattern, where the horizontal mask includes low contrast vertical features. The generation of the horizontal mask includes the steps of optimizing the bias of the low contrast vertical features contained in the horizontal mask; and applying assist features to the horizontal mask. The method further includes generating a vertical mask based on the target pattern, where the vertical mask contains low contrast horizontal features. The generation of the vertical mask includes the steps of optimizing the bias of low contrast horizontal features contained in the vertical mask; and applying assist features to the vertical mask.This method is enabled by a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store program instructions for execution by a processor. The complementary dark field masks are used for patterning a layer of radiation-sensitive material in a device manufacturing method.
US07824822B2
The volume hologram recording photosensitive composition provided by the present invention contains at least a fluorine-contained photoreactive compound represented by the following formula (1): R1—R3—(CF2)n-R4—R2 wherein R1 and R2 are photoreactive groups which can be bonded to each other by photoreaction, and each of R3 and R4 is independently a single bond or a bivalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 1 or more. This volume hologram recording photosensitive composition is used to form a recording section of a recording medium, and then the section is exposed to light, whereby a bright volume hologram can be obtained.
US07824819B2
A membrane-electrode assembly for a mixed reactant fuel cell system is provided. The membrane-electrode assembly does not require a separator that physically separates the membrane-electrode assemblies from each other in a stack. The membrane-electrode assembly of the present invention instead includes an electrode substrate that is disposed on a surface of an anode or a cathode of the membrane-electrode assembly. The electrode substrate has a flow path, through which a fuel and an oxidant are supplied. The fuel and oxidant are absorbed into the electrode substrate and further into the anode and the cathode. The fuel and the oxidant are selectively oxidized and reduced in the anode and the cathode, respectively, to produce electricity.
US07824813B2
A fuel reforming system and a fuel cell system including the same, the fuel reforming system including: a fuel reformer adapted to produce a reformed gas having hydrogen as a main component from a fuel containing hydrogen; a carbon monoxide (CO) remover adapted to remove carbon monoxide from the reformed gas; a heat source adapted to supply heat energy to the reformer and the CO remover; and a moving unit adapted to move the heat source between the fuel reformer and the CO remover. With this configuration, the fuel reformer and the CO remover can be directly heated by a heat source. Then, when the temperature of the CO remover reaches a catalyst activation temperature, the heat source can be moved to directly heat only the fuel reformer, thereby enhancing a reforming effect and a power generation efficiency of the fuel reforming system.
US07824801B2
A negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery including a current collector and an active material layer carried on the current collector, wherein the active material layer includes a first layer and a second layer alternately laminated in a thickness direction of the active material layer, and wherein the first layer includes silicon or silicon and a small amount of oxygen and the second layer includes silicon and a larger amount of oxygen than the first layer. With the use of the negative electrode, it is possible to provide a high capacity lithium ion secondary battery having excellent high rate charge/discharge characteristics and superior cycle characteristics.
US07824789B2
A fuel package includes a vessel wherein the interior space is separated, and has a flow-out opening and a flow-in opening that lead to the interior space, a liquid fuel filled in the region at the side of the flow-out opening in the vessel, and a follower that separates the liquid fuel and the region at the side of the flow-in opening.
US07824785B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic seed layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer provided on the nonmagnetic seed layer, and a perpendicular recording layer provided on the nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The nonmagnetic seed layer includes a first seed layer made of a Ni alloy having a fcc structure, and a second seed layer provided between the first seed layer and the nonmagnetic intermediate layer and made of a Ni alloy having a fcc structure. A content of one or more elements other than Ni within the Ni alloy forming the second seed layer and having a Goldschmidt radius greater than that of Ni is larger than a content of one or more elements other than Ni within the Ni alloy forming the first seed layer and having a Goldschmidt radius greater than that of Ni.
US07824782B2
A molded article located in the beam path of a radar device has only a slight amount of radio transmission loss and has a metallic color. The molded article comprises a substrate and a layer of ceramic material with which the external surface of the substrate is coated. The ceramic material includes nitride ceramics, oxide ceramics, carbide ceramics, and mixtures thereof. The ceramic material includes titanium nitride and/or aluminum nitride.
US07824780B2
Imidazopyrimidine-based compounds and organic light-emitting devices employing organic layers including the imidazopyrimidine-based compounds are provided. Organic light-emitting devices employing organic layers including the imidazopyrimidine-based compounds feature low driving voltages, high efficiency, high brightness, long lifetimes, and low power consumption.
US07824779B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting device. The organic light emitting device comprises a first electrode, organic material layer(s) comprising a light emitting layer, and a second electrode. The first electrode, the organic material layer(s), and the second electrode form layered structure and at least one layer of the organic material layer(s) include the compound of Formula 1 or the compound of Formula 1 into which a thermosetting or photo-crosslinkable functional group is introduced.
US07824776B2
A plated material 5, containing: on a conductive substrate 1, an underlayer 2 composed of nickel and the like; an intermediate layer 3 composed of Cu or a Cu alloy being provided thereon; and an outermost layer 4 composed of a Cu—Sn intermetallic compound being provided thereon; and an electric or electronic part using the same.
US07824769B2
In an electrically conductive sheath-core conjugate fiber including an electrically conductive layer made of a thermoplastic polymer (A) containing electrically conductive carbon black fine particles which constitutes a sheath component and a protective layer made of a fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer (B) which constitutes a core component, the ratio of the (A) to the total weight of the (A) and the (B) is 10 to 35% by weight, the L1/L0 ratio is 1.04 to 10.0 where L1 represents the length of a boundary between the core component and the sheath component in a cross section of the conjugate fiber and L0 represents the length of the circumference of a circle having an area equal to a cross sectional area of the core component, the fineness, the strength at break and the elongation at break are each adjusted within specified ranges, the shrinkage in hot water at 100° C. is within a specified range, and the fiber surface coverage of the sheath component is 85% or more. This results in provision of an electrically conductive sheath-core conjugate fiber that is excellent in antistatic performance, which is hardly degraded even after long-term wearing, that is maintained for a long time, and that is excellent in durability. A method for producing the electrically conductive sheath-core conjugate fiber and a dust-proof clothing using such a fiber are also provided.
US07824766B2
A paper material having water sorption capacity and method for forming the same is provided. The paper material may be formed from a mixture including thermoplastic organic fibers, micro porous particles, and hydroscopic salt or a mixture including organic fibers, titania or a transition alumina micro porous particles, and a hydroscopic salt. The paper may be produced by forming an aqueous slurry, including organic fibers and micro porous particles, mixing the slurry, feeding the mixed slurry into a paper making apparatus thereby forming a sheet, contacting the sheet with a solution containing an amount of hydroscopic salt, and drying the hydroscopic salt containing solution.
US07824762B2
A laminate is disclosed that comprises at least two layers of fibrous nonwoven mats in which the majority of the fibers in at least one of the mats are glass fibers, the layers being bonded together with an adhesive, needling, stitch bonding or a mixture of two or more of these bonding techniques, one of the mats having a basis weight of at least 3 lbs. per 100 sq. ft and at least 1.5 times the basis wt. of the other mat. The laminates are especially useful in making acoustical panels for office partitions.
US07824756B2
Prepare an oriented polymer composition that is cavitated, has cross sectional dimensions all at least three millimeters and at least one de-oriented surface layer having a thickness of at least 80 microns and at least 50 microns less than half the thickness of the oriented polymer composition, the de-oriented surface layer having a lower degree of polymer orientation than a 100 micron thick portion of the oriented polymer composition adjacent to and below the de-oriented surface layer by sufficiently heat treating a surface of a cavitated oriented polymer composition.
US07824748B2
The present invention includes an image transfer sheet. The image transfer sheet comprises a release layer and a polymer layer. One or more of the release layer and the polymer layer comprise titanium oxide or other white pigment.
US07824743B2
Embodiments described herein provide a method for forming two titanium nitride materials by different PVD processes, such that a metallic titanium nitride layer is initially formed by a PVD process in a metallic mode and a titanium nitride retarding layer is formed over a portion of the metallic titanium nitride layer by a PVD process in a poison mode. Subsequently, a first aluminum layer, such as an aluminum seed layer, may be selectively deposited on exposed portions of the metallic titanium nitride layer by a CVD process. Thereafter, a second aluminum layer, such as an aluminum bulk layer, may be deposited on exposed portions of the first aluminum layer and the titanium nitride retarding layer during an aluminum PVD process.
US07824734B2
A method and associated substrate is provided for applying a layer or pattern of metal on a substrate. The method includes providing a target substrate, immobilizing a layer of polymeric material on the target substrate, and applying and immobilizing a layer or pattern of metal on the layer of polymeric material on the target substrate using a stamp onto which the layer or pattern of metal has previously been applied, by bringing the stamp into conformal contact with the target substrate.
US07824733B2
A process for producing a wear-resistant coating and to a wear-resistant coating on predetermined surfaces (2) of machine or engine parts (1) consisting of a sintered material which are exposed to frictional wear, for fuel feed units in particular, comprising at least one metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon layer (5) with sp2- and sp3-hybridized carbon applied to the predetermined surface (2) of the machine or engine part (I) for reducing friction and increasing the wear resistance of the predetermined surface (2) of the machine or engine part (1), and at least one intermediate layer of a metal-containing hydrocarbon layer formed between the predetermined surface of the machine or engine part and the amorphous hydrocarbon layer wherein the metal is a combination of W, Ti, Hf and Ge.
US07824728B2
The present invention relates to liquid and powdered compositions as well as emulsions comprising whey protein and lipid, particularly fish oil, suitable for enrichment of a variety of food articles and beverages with poly unsaturated fatty acids like omega-3 fatty acids. The composition may also be consumed as such. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process of preparing such compositions and emulsions. The main feature of the process of the present invention, is that the microencapsulation of the lipid is made simultaneously with the microparticulation of the protein. A composition having superior properties in terms of taste and stability, is provided by the present invention.
US07824725B2
The present disclosure relates a method for extending a shelf life of at least one packaged composition within a consumer accessible cooling device adapted to cool the at least one packaged composition to a composition temperature which is a first supercooled temperature. The method comprises storing the at least one packaged composition within the consumer accessible cooling device at a first supercooled temperature and increasing the composition temperature to a second temperature during a time period in which the at least one packaged composition will not be removed from the consumer accessible cooling device by a consumer. The at least one packaged composition comprises a pressurized composition in a liquid phase within a sealed container. The pressurized composition comprises a solvent and a solute substantially dissolved in the solvent and is at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The pressurized composition remains liquid while the at least one packaged composition is maintained at the first supercooled temperature in the consumer accessible cooling device and at least partially freezes in response to the sealed container being removed from the consumer accessible cooling device and opened or agitated by the consumer.
US07824724B2
An economical process for producing a milk-added coffee beverage with an enhanced flavor in a process for producing a milk-added coffee beverage produced through a step of heat sterilization of coffee and milk as the main raw materials. The process includes adding a strongly basic substance and/or basic amino acid to the coffee component and conducting the heat sterilization after the milk component is admixed to the coffee component. Coagulation at the step of admixing milk component is prevented and precipitation which tends to arise after the heat sterilization is prevented with the use of a much smaller amount of emulsifier and thickening agent.
US07824721B2
An automated method of packaging cooked French fries in an individual portion-sized French fry container is provided, wherein the cooked French fries are mechanically delivered to a holding bin, an empty French fry container is mechanically scooped into the cooked French fries to fill the container, and the filled French fry container is mechanically deposited at a drop-off location. The cooked French fries may be received on an inlet chute, the inlet chute optionally vibrated to assist gravity in causing the French fries to travel into the holding bin. Seasoning may be applied to the French fries while the French fries are on the inlet chute, optionally restrained by one or more gates. After filling, the filled container may be mechanically shaken. Additionally, the empty French fry containers may be mechanically selected from a plurality of different-sized collapsed containers, mechanically obtained, and mechanically erected prior to scooping.
US07824714B2
The present invention relates to a Polygonum multiflorum extract and the preparation process thereof. The Polygonum multiflorum extract of the present invention mainly comprises 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside and catechin. The present invention also relates to the use of the Polygonum multiflorum extract of the present invention for the treatment or prevention of dementia.
US07824709B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for delivery of a bioactive agent to an individual. Delivery vehicles are provided that include a bioactive agent in disc shaped particles that include one or more lipid binding polypeptides circumscribing the perimeter of a lipid bilayer in which the bioactive agent is localized. Chimeric lipid binding polypeptides are also provided and may be used to add additional functional properties to the delivery particles.
US07824703B2
Described is a medically useful article comprising a three-dimensional body including one or more implantable substances, wherein the body defines one or more reservoirs for receiving amounts of a biocompatible wetting liquid. In certain embodiments the body is disruptable upon wetting with the biocompatible liquid to form a conformable implantable material such as a putty, paste or more flowable wetted implant material. Also described are methods for manufacturing such medical materials, and methods for using such medical materials to treat patients.
US07824698B2
Lyophilized formulations comprising Salinosporamide A or analogs thereof are provided. In some aspects, lyophilized formulations comprising Salinosporamide A or analogs thereof and bulking agents are provided. Also provided are methods of lyophilizing Salinosporamide A or analogs thereof. In some aspects, a solvent or co-solvent system is utilized. Also provided are methods of administering Salinosporamide A or analogs thereof to patients.
US07824696B2
The invention relates to the therapeutic use of oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide analogs as immunostimulatory agents in immunotherapy applications. The invention provides methods for enhancing the immune response caused by immunostimulatory oligonucleotide compounds.
US07824690B1
An effective vaccine for Marek's disease may be prepared using a viral agent which is a Marek's disease virus unable to express a functional meq protein. This viral agent is effective to elicit an immune response in a chicken to very virulent strains of Marek's disease virus without causing a significant degree of pathogenicity in the inoculated bird. Suitable formulations of the vaccine for use in chickens include an effective immunization dosage of this novel viral agent with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
US07824688B2
Anti-glucan antibodies have been found to be protective against systemic fungal infection with C. albicans, but the protective efficacy can be inhibited by blocking antibodies. The invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising a glucan and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, characterised in that, when administered to a mammalian recipient, the composition elicits protective anti-glucan antibodies but does not elicit antibodies which inhibit the protective efficacy of the anti-glucan antibodies. The glucan may be presented on the surface of a protease-treated microbial cell or may be presented as a protein-glucan conjugate. The glucan may be substituted by a glucan mimotope, a peptidomimetic of a glucan mimotope, or nucleic acid encoding a mimotope. Anti-glucan-antibodies show broad spectrum microbicidal activity. β-glucans are preferred, particularly those containing one or more β-1,6 linkages.
US07824683B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of cancer, inflammatory diseases and disorders or deficiencies of the immune system. The methods of the invention comprise administering a CD40 binding protein that potentiates the binding of CD40 to CD40 ligand.
US07824681B2
Disclosed herein are isolated monoclonal human antibodies that specifically binds insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 1 nM or less, wherein the antibody bind IGF-I with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 1 mM or greater. The antibodies inhibit phosphorylation of the insulin-like growth factor receptor. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, expression vectors including these nucleic acids, and isolated host cells that express the nucleic acids are also disclosed. The antibodies can be used to detect human IGF-II in a sample. Methods of diagnosing a tumor are disclosed herein that utilize these antibodies. Methods of treating a subject with a tumor are also disclosed.
US07824674B2
A preventive or therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis said agent comprising as an active ingredient an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist such as an antibody directed against IL-6 receptor.
US07824670B2
The present invention provides for the use of IL6R/IL6 chimera for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders.
US07824664B2
Disclosed herein is a semi-permanent hair shaping method comprising (c) applying onto the hair a first composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one solubilized fixing polymer chosen from anionic and amphoteric polymers, said application being optionally followed by a resting time for said first composition, (d) applying onto the hair a second composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least 0.15% by weight, relative to the total weight of said second composition, of at least one salt chosen from mineral and organic salts, said application being optionally followed by a resting time for said second composition, where step b) is conducted prior to or after step a), then (c) rinsing the hair, (d) shaping the hair either after applying the first composition of step a), or after applying the second composition of step b) and prior to the rinsing step c).
US07824651B2
The present invention provides a method of exfoliating a layered material (e.g., graphite and graphite oxide) to produce nano-scaled platelets having a thickness smaller than 100 nm, typically smaller than 10 nm. The method comprises (a) dispersing particles of graphite, graphite oxide, or a non-graphite laminar compound in a liquid medium containing therein a surfactant or dispersing agent to obtain a stable suspension or slurry; and (b) exposing the suspension or slurry to ultrasonic waves at an energy level for a sufficient length of time to produce separated nano-scaled platelets. The nano-scaled platelets are candidate reinforcement fillers for polymer nanocomposites. Nano-scaled graphene platelets are much lower-cost alternatives to carbon nano-tubes or carbon nano-fibers.
US07824644B2
There is provided particulate silica which can be suitably used as a viscoelasticity modifier such as a thickener which is added to liquid such as water, a liquid resin or paint to adjust its viscoelastic properties such as viscosity and thixotropic nature, a reinforcer or filler for silicone rubber or sealants, a polishing agent for CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) or a surface coating agent for ink-jet printing paper.The particulate silica has a BET specific surface area S of 130 to 380 m2/g, and its fractal shape parameter α1 in an α-value analysis target range of 20 to 30 nm satisfies the following equation (1) and its fractal shape parameter α2 in an α-value analysis target range of 30 to 50 nm satisfies the following equation (2). α1+0.00175S<2.518 (1) α2+0.00174S<2.105 (2)
US07824643B2
Stable, aqueous dispersion containing silicon dioxide powder having a hydroxyl group density of 2.5 to 4.7 OH/nm2, which is obtained from a silicon dioxide powder produced by a flame hydrolysis process under acid conditions. The dispersion is produced by incorporating the silicon dioxide powder into an aqueous solution by means of a dispersing device. The dispersion can be used to produce glass articles.
US07824638B2
This disclosure relates generally to processes for efficient incineration and conversion of the tail gas streams from sulfur recovery units containing sulfur compounds such as H2S, CO2, COS, CS2, and other sulfur species and sulfur vapors from S1 to S8 to SO2. The present disclosure describes the use of a combination of catalysts to achieve efficient oxidation of all reduced sulfur compounds as well as oxidation of CO and H2 to meet the industry emission requirements. The catalytic tail gas incineration process described herein can advantageously operate at lower temperatures, which in turn can represent a savings in reduced fuel gas costs.
US07824631B2
A nanocarbon generation equipment designed such that organic processed materials can be quickly thermally decomposed therein and the decomposed materials are then quenched and liquefied to obtain liquefied materials is disclosed. This equipment comprises thermal reactor for quickly thermally decomposing the organic processed materials, apparatus for recovering the liquefied materials which are liquefied through quenching of thermally decomposed organic processed materials, a rotary furnace to be filled with a reducing atmosphere and loaded with hydrocarbons to be obtained through vaporization of liquefied materials after impurities contained in the liquefied materials are removed, and metal balls made of a metal selected from stainless steel, iron, nickel, chromium and an optional combination thereof, wherein the hydrocarbon introduced into the rotary furnace is decomposed into carbon and hydrogen, thus enabling nanocarbon to be produced through vapor-phase growth.
US07824628B2
A method and apparatus for the decontamination of fluid ammonia are described. Liquid or gaseous ammonia is purified of contaminants by passage through an adsorbent bed, the contaminants accumulating in the bed. A portion of the purified ammonia discharged from the bed is decomposed to hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is used to regenerate an adsorbent bed which has accumulated sufficient contaminants to reduce its ability to further decontaminate incoming ammonia satisfactorily. Preferably there are a plurality of interconnected adsorbent beds, with some being operated for ammonia decontamination while others are being regenerated, with their operations being reversed as needed to maintain a continual production of decontaminated ammonia from the plurality of beds. Computers or other controllers can be used to control such bed operations and interchanges. Internal production of hydrogen makes the system self-contained and no addition of hydrogen is needed.
US07824625B2
A dehydrogenation fuel theft prevention system for preventing the theft of dehydrogenation organic fuel containing hydrogen is provided. The dehydrogenation fuel theft prevention system is for systems including a reformer for dehydrogenating organic fuel containing at least hydrogen and a dehydrogenation fuel recovery tank for storing dehydrogenation fuel produced when organic fuel is dehydrogenated in the reformer. The theft prevention system is provided with a means for mixing an odorant as a component with a pungent odor other than the fuel components or a agent for coagulating the fuel components. The odorant or the coagulating agent is mixed when fuel is manufactured, distributed, utilized, recovered, or stored or fuel is about to be stolen.
US07824622B2
An integral molded part of a plastic material for the analysis and preparation of substances, having at least one surface region and an interior region, wherein said at least one surface region is an open-pore three-dimensional network.
US07824621B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for ejecting droplets using charge concentration and liquid bridge breakup. The droplet ejection apparatus includes a reservoir storing a liquid; a capillary nozzle having a lower end submerged in the liquid stored in the reservoir and an upper end exposed outside the surface of the liquid, the capillary nozzle transferring the liquid to the upper end using capillary force; a potentiostat for applying a voltage to the liquid; a substrate mount on which a substrate is disposed to face the upper end of the capillary nozzle; and a distance adjusting unit for reciprocatingly moving the substrate between first and second positions with respect to the capillary nozzle, wherein the first position denotes a position where a distance between the upper end of the capillary nozzle and the surface of the substrate is less than a effective distance.
US07824612B2
A bodily fluid analyzer, system and method for programming the same includes a sensor for sensing at least one analyte in a patient; a display; a data reader unit for reading information from a data storage unit that contains stored information concerning a particular drug being taken by or course of treatment for the patient; and a processor for setting the at least one threshold value for at least one analyte to be sensed by the sensing unit based on the information read by the data reader from the data storage unit, for processing the information concerning the analyte and for sending the processed information to the display, wherein the threshold value is associated with the particular drug taken by or course of treatment for the patient, the threshold value being one beyond which the display will display an alert.
US07824600B2
The invention relates to a method for raising the surface tension of biaxially-stretched films made of thermoplastic polymers. According to the method, a film is first treated on a surface by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma before being stretched transversally or simultaneously across the width thereof, and the film is additional a subjected to a second treatment by means of a corona or flame after being stretched transversally or simultaneously, the second treatment being done on the same surface which has already been plasma-treated.
US07824590B2
One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a textured surface may include providing a first thermally stable sheet, printing a pattern of material on the first sheet to form a three-dimensional textured surface, and curing the material, then using said first sheet to impart negative texture into Tedlar faced epoxy composite blanket, which is in turn used to impart texture into a decorative laminate.
US07824589B2
Gussetless multi-wall sheets are prepared using a coextrusion process which entails feeding part of the base material directly into and via the male insert of the extrusion die, thereby producing the gussetless sheet.
US07824579B2
The present invention is directed to a thick film conductor composition comprised of (a) aluminum-containing powder; (b) one or more glass frit compositions; dispersed in (c) organic medium wherein at least one of said glass frit compositions has a softening point of less than 400° C.
US07824573B2
The present invention provides an alloy powder that is a material for producing inorganic functional materials such as phosphors, a phosphor with high brightness, and a method for producing the phosphor. An alloy powder for an inorganic functional material precursor contains at least one metal element and at least one activating element M1 and has a weight-average median diameter D50 of 5 μm to 40 μm. A method for producing a phosphor includes a step of heating an alloy, containing two or more metal elements for forming the phosphor, in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere.
US07824572B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystalline polyester composition comprising a terphenyl and a liquid crystalline polyester, wherein the terphenyl substantially consists of p-terphenyl, and the p-terphenyl is contained in the composition in the amount of 0.3 to 15 parts by weight on the basis of 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystalline polyester. The liquid crystalline polyester composition has high flowability and low anisotropy, which can also suppress generation of gases when molded.
US07824571B2
A polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable liquid crystal monomer capable of achieving hybrid alignment on an alignment processed surface and at least one of a photopolymerization initiator represented by the following general formula (1) and a photopolymerization initiator represented by the following general formula (2): wherein R1 to R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
US07824567B2
There is provided a refrigerating machine oil composition comprising a base oil containing a polyvinyl ether and/or a polyoxyalkylene glycol derivative as a main component and having a kinematic viscosity of 1 to 8 mm2/s as measured at 40° C. The refrigerating machine oil composition is preferably applied to refrigerators having a sliding portion which is made of an engineering plastic material, or provided thereon with an organic coating film or an inorganic coating film. The refrigerating machine oil composition has a low viscosity, an improved energy saving performance, a good sealability and an excellent compatibility with a refrigerant and, therefore, can be suitably used in various refrigerating application fields, in particular, in closed-system refrigerators.
US07824561B2
A method for manufacturing a probe structure is disclosed. In accordance with the method, two semiconductor substrates having different crystal directions are bonded and selectively etched utilizing an etch selectivity due to the different crystal directions to form a probe tip region and a probe beam region. A cantilever structure for a probe card is formed by filling the probe tip region and the probe beam region with a conductive material.
US07824560B2
A manufacturing method for a substrate for an ink jet head, including formation of an ink supply port in a silicon substrate, the method includes a step of forming, on one side of the substrate, an etching mask layer having an opening at a position corresponding ink supply port; a step of forming unpenetrated holes through the opening of the etching mask layer in at least two rows in a longitudinal direction of the opening; and a step of forming the ink supply port by crystal anisotropic etching of the substrate in the opening.
US07824559B2
A PRP separator-concentrator comprising a housing, a separation assembly, and a concentration assembly. The concentration assembly has a concentration sump. An axially concentric rigid stationary outlet tube is secured to the housing and extends through the separation assembly to the sump. The separation assembly is attached to and positioned above the concentration assembly to form a combined separator-concentrator assemblage that is rotatable about the outlet tube. The separation assembly includes a separation chamber lined with a depth filter having pores and passageways that are sized to receive and entrap erythrocytes during centrifuging. The concentration chamber has a floor for supporting desiccated beads and a wall with at least one opening closed with a screen. The concentrator can have a distribution of upright screen supports, the upright screen supports having an inner surface and an outer surface, the cylindrical screen being supported on the outer surface of the upright screen supports. A stationary bead rake can be secured to the stationary tube and extend outward therefrom, the rake having distal ends that are spaced at a distance from the upright screen supports. The rake can comprise a longitudinal body, the center of which is secured to the rigid outlet tube. The separator-concentrator includes a valve assembly connecting the separation chamber and the concentration chamber. PRP concentrate is produced by contacting PRP with desiccated beads while the beads are stirred with a stationary rake, and rotating the concentration chamber at centrifugal speeds to separate PRP concentrate from the beads.
US07824558B2
A centrifugal processing bag, system and method for separating the components of a mixed material is presented. The processing bag includes a hub and a first port for receiving the mixed material, where the first port includes an outlet positioned within the processing bag at a perimeter of the bag. The processing bag also including a second port having a second port inlet spaced proximate the hub and away from a central axis of the hub. The second port directs a separated material collected from the second port inlet out of the processing bag.
US07824555B2
System and method for water restoration to a water pool or to water regions associated with freshwater or saltwater marinas. Embodiments include a positive water flow device that works in unison with a negative water flow device, wherein the positive and negative flow devices are separated from each other in the water pool or water regions. The positive flow device, for example, a water jet, directs a stream of water beneath the water surface of the water pool or water regions, and causes a water surface to move towards the negative flow device by a hydraulic pushing action. The negative flow device includes a water pump and receiving port, augments the hydraulic pushing action by providing a complementary pulling action by applying a vacuum or negative pressure to a water receiving port, or scoop. Water laden, oily surface contaminants are then removed in the scoop as a water oil mixture that is subsequently separated to form an oil mixture for subsequent recycling and a clean water source that is restored for delivery back into the water pool or water regions.
US07824554B2
An apparatus and method for cleaning and shutting down a part-time wastewater treatment system is disclosed. The wastewater treatment system has a water input to receive an influent flow of wastewater to be treated, a water output to discharge treated clean water effluent, and a water treatment capacity volume. An effluent external tank receives the clean water effluent and has a size greater than or equal to the capacity volume. Influent flow of wastewater is terminated. Clean water effluent is pumped through a fluid pathway from the effluent external tank to the water input. A sufficient volume of clean water effluent is passed through the wastewater treatment system to complete treatment of the wastewater within the wastewater treatment system, purge wastewater from the wastewater treatment system, and fill the wastewater treatment system with clean water effluent. The wastewater treatment system is thus prepared to be shut down.
US07824548B2
A porous substrate capable of adsorptive filtration of a fluid having a porous self-supporting substrate and one or more porous, adsorptive polymeric coatings comprising from about 1 to about 80% of the void volume of the pores of the substrate. The resultant substrate has good convective and diffusive flow and capacity. The substrate may be cross-linked, have one or more capture chemistries attached to it and is useful as a chromatography media for the selective filtration of desired species including biomolecules such as proteins and DNA fragments.
US07824547B2
A filter apparatus, particularly for filtering coolant/lubricant from a machining, including a filter tank having an inlet for the liquid to be filtered, an outlet for the filtered liquid and a belt of filter medium adapted to circulate within the filter tank and having a top side and a bottom side. The liquid to be filtered is introduced below the bottom side and is discharged between the top side and the bottom side. The filter material of the bottom side separates the unfiltered liquid from the filtered liquid and prevents floating particles in the liquid from reaching the outlet for the filtered liquid.
US07824546B1
A canteen including a reservoir for containing unfiltered water; a filter; a spout; and a pump for pumping water from the reservoir, through the filter, and then out the spout as filtered water.
US07824540B2
Process for upgrading a liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising the steps of (a) preparing a slurry comprising the hydrocarbon feed having a boiling range above 350° C. and solid particles comprising a rehydratable material, (b) thermally treating said slurry at a temperature in the range of 250 to 550° C., (c) optionally separating the thermally treated slurry into (I) a lower boiling fraction and (ii) a higher boiling fraction containing the solid particles and formed coke, if any, and (d) separating the solid particles and formed coke, if any, from the thermally treated slurry resulting from step b) or the higher boiling fraction of step c).
US07824533B2
The present invention is a method of manufacturing plated wire. The method includes drawing a feed stock to form drawn wire, tempering the drawn wire to form tempered wire and plating the tempered wire to form the plated wire. The plated wire exhibits a tensile strength that substantially meets ASTM A229-99.
US07824530B2
An apparatus and method for detecting ionic materials includes a sensing electrode which contacts a liquid sample and detects a sensing voltage corresponding to a surface potential which is changed by a concentration of ionic materials in the liquid sample, a first switching transistor having a first terminal connected to the sensing electrode and a second terminal connected to a first node, a second switching transistor having a first terminal connected to a reset voltage and a second terminal connected to the first node, and a sensing transistor having a gate connected to the first node.
US07824527B2
The present invention is directed to a frame for an electrolyser module as well as to an electrolyser module and an electrolyser incorporating such frames. The frames include a variety body having at least one electrolyser chamber opening and at least one degassing chamber defined therein. The degassing chamber opening preferably has a rounded shape as does the unitary body and the electrolyser chamber opening.
US07824523B2
A catalytically activated vacuum distillation system, several novel component parts of said system, a process for producing carbon based products and novel carbon black that is produced from such a system and process.
US07824519B2
A plasma processing chamber includes a substrate support having a top surface defined to support a substrate in a substantially horizontal orientation within the chamber. The plasma processing chamber also includes a number of telescopic members disposed within the chamber outside a periphery of the substrate support. The number of telescopic members are also disposed in a concentric manner with regard to a center of the top surface of the substrate support. Each of the number of telescopic members is defined to be independently moved in a substantially vertical direction so as to enable adjustment of an open volume above the top surface of the substrate support, and thereby enable adjustment of a plasma condition within the open volume above the top surface of the substrate support.
US07824512B2
A method of fabricating a composite part comprises generating a partial vacuum between a ply material and a form, advancing the partial vacuum and the ply material along the form, sensing an edge of a previously applied course of the ply material and cutting a profile on the ply material in response to the sensed edge.
US07824511B1
A method for making high energy compositions, such as propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics or the like, including a solid metal particulate fuel dispersed in a cured binder matrix. The compositions are formed with ingredients including a particulate metal fuel such as boron, binder polymer (such as GAP polyol), binder plasticizer, and a curing agent containing isocyanate. The improved method includes pre-reacting the particulate metal fuel with an amount of isocyanate, which acts as a curative to neutralize residual acid. The particulate metal fuel/isocyanate from the pre-curing step is mixed together with the binder polymer, binder plasticizer, and remaining curing agent to form the solid propellant. The initial neutralization of the metal fuel avoids gassing and improves the mechanical properties of the propellant yield.
US07824508B2
The present invention provides a fine grain surface layer steel part having a high proof strength ratio equal to or higher than that of conventional quenched and tempered materials, that is, a fine grain surface layer steel part containing, by mass %, C: 0.45% to 0.70%, Nb: 0.01% to 0.60%, Si: 0.10% to 1.50%, Mn: 0.40% to 2.0%, P: 0.10% or less, S: 0.001% to 0.15%, and N: 0.003% to 0.025% and having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, where the surface layer and inside at all or part of the part have structures of different average particle sizes of ferrite crystal grains surrounded by high angle grain boundaries of a misorientation angle of 15 degrees or more and a method of production of that part comprising warm forging locations where strength is required to a predetermined shape at 1000° C. to 800° C. during which working so as to give an equivalent strain of 1.5 or more.
US07824506B2
In known methods, an improvement of the coercive force is realized by allowing the Dy metal or the like to present selectively in crystal grain boundary portions of a sintered magnet. However, since these are based on a physical film formation method, e.g., sputtering, through the use of a vacuum vessel, there is a mass productivity problem when a large number of magnets are treated. Furthermore, there is a magnet cost problem from the viewpoint that, for example, an expensive, high-purity Dy metal or the like must be used as a raw material for film formation. The method for modifying grain boundaries of a Nd—Fe—B base magnet includes the step of allowing an M metal component to diffuse and penetrate from a surface of a Nd—Fe—B base sintered magnet body having a Nd-rich crystal grain boundary phase surrounding principal Nd2Fe14B crystals to the grain boundary phase through a reduction treatment of a fluoride, an oxide, or a chloride of an M metal element (where M is Pr, Dy, Tb, or Ho).
US07824505B2
A method of removing a mask and addressing interfacial carbon chemisorbed in a semiconductor wafer starts with placing the semiconductor wafer into a dry strip chamber. The dry stripping process is performed to remove the mask on the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is then subjected to a cleaning solution to perform a cleaning process to remove particles on the surface of the semiconductor wafer and to address the interfacial carbon. The cleaning solution being either water containing ozone (O3) and ammonia (NH3), or a solution of hot phosphoric acid (H3PO4).
US07824503B2
The invention pertains to an aqueous composition having a pH of 3 or less and comprising the following ingredients, based on the total weight of the composition: a) 0.05-40 wt % of a polymeric thickener having —COOR groups, wherein R is independently chosen from H, OH, and a carbon-containing group, and b) 0.05-60 wt % of hydrogen peroxide, wherein the active oxygen content attributable to ingredient a) is at least 0.02 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition, with the proviso that (co)polymers prepared from (meth)acrylate monomers are absent.
US07824502B2
Tubular labels and contaminants can be removed from containers and/or bottles of plastic material to be recycled, by subjecting the containers and/or bottles to a first weak mechanical washing and slow centrifugating action, followed by a separation step for separating the removed labels and contaminants from the containers. The containers are subsequently subjected to a second strong mechanical washing and fast centrifugating action for the removal from the containers and/or bottles of any residual labels and contaminants.
US07824496B2
A pressure resistant case (22) is constructed in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape by assembling a bottom plate (61) and ceiling plate (62) and first side plate (63) and second side plate (64) and third side plate (65) and a fourth side plate (66) formed of thick aluminum plate and by welding on four sides by the TIG welding method. In the TIG welding of the ceiling plate (62) and the first side plate (63), the end surface on the side where a hollow section (72) of the ceiling plate (62) is formed, abuts against the main surface on the side where the locating section (71) of the first side plate (63) is formed. The edge near the hollow section (72) of the ceiling plate (62) is abutted against the locating section (71), and a fillet weld section (75) is formed by TIG welding on the corner section formed by the ceiling plate (62) and the locating section (71). The heat capacity of the hollow section of the ceiling plate and the locating section for TIG welding is small so that the fillet weld section can be formed even in aluminum plate possessing a high thermal conductivity. The vacuum performance, etc. of the pressure resistant case can be maintained since the slit formed between the contact surfaces is blocked by the fillet weld section.
US07824493B2
A method for manufacturing a silicon wafer includes a step of annealing a silicon wafer which is sliced from a silicon single crystal ingot, thereby forming a DZ layer in a first surface and in a second surface of the silicon wafer and a step of removing either a portion of the DZ layer in the first surface or a portion of the DZ layer in the second surface.
US07824491B2
The present invention discloses nucleic acids that encode an active human Aurora 2 kinase catalytic domain. The present invention also discloses methods of growing X-ray diffractable crystals of polypeptides comprising the active human Aurora 2 kinase catalytic domain. The present invention further discloses a crystalline form of a catalytic domain of human Aurora 2 kinase. In addition, the present invention discloses methods of using the X-ray diffractable crystals of human Aurora 2 kinase in structure assisted drug design to identify compounds that can modulate the enzymatic activity of human Aurora 2 kinase.
US07824478B2
Disclosed are systems and methods that include providing a vessel having an inlet and an outlet for communicating a carrier gas through the vessel; determining a differential pressure between the inlet and the outlet for a known flow rate at the outlet; and, determining a unit flow per unit pressure based on a ratio of the flow rate and the differential pressure. In certain embodiments, the flow rate at the outlet is established by controlling the flow rate of the gas. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can include a viscosity in the ratio, determining a flow rate at ambient pressure using a factor based on a ratio of a gas pressure at the output and ambient pressure, and/or, determining a flow rate at ambient temperature using a factor based on a ratio of a temperature at the output and ambient temperature.
US07824477B2
The present invention relates to an ionizer mounting structure for a vehicle air conditioning system. The air conditioning system includes an air conditioning case having an internal passageway and an ionizer for generating negative ions and positive ions within the internal passageway. The air conditioning case has a discharge electrode insertion hole and the ionizer has a plurality of discharge electrodes extending into the internal passageway through the discharge electrode insertion hole. The ionizer mounting structure includes a mounting and demounting structure for allowing the ionizer to be mounted to the air conditioning case through sliding movement from a demounting position on a passenger room side to a mounting position above the air conditioning case and for allowing the ionizer to be demounted from the air conditioning case through sliding movement from the mounting position to the demounting position.
US07824475B2
According to one aspect of the invention a device for purification of air is provided, including a metal plate electrical connections connected to the metal plate in order to impress a voltage on the metal plate, a heating element for heating the metal plate, and a nozzle connected to a water supply in order to spray the metal plate with water. In further embodiments the device includes a metallic cylinder, a fan disposed at one end of the cylinder and a restriction disposed at the other end of the cylinder, together with live coils for providing an electric field, where the centre of the electric field around the coils coincides with the location of the device's other units.
US07824474B2
A method of activating a molded Cu-ZSM5 zeolite adsorbent of the present invention includes: oxidizing a molded product of Cu-ZSM5 zeolite in the flow of air or a gas having an equivalent oxidizability to the air at a temperature of 250° C. to 550° C.; and then heat-treating the molded product of the Cu-ZSM5 zeolite in vacuum or the flow of an inert gas at a temperature of 550° C. to 800° C. According to the present invention, an adsorbent whose adsorption performance is not deteriorated can be obtained in the case where a molded product is produced using Cu-ZSM5 zeolite.
US07824471B2
The present invention provides a chromatographic method for eliminating interference from interfering agents, coming from the gas sample itself or from the system material used to perform the impurities measurements, on impurities to be quantified in a gas sample. The method advantageously relies on the use of an additional valve and an additional sample loop particularly arranged in a G. C. system, and also on an additional supporting gas inlet operatively connected to the system through the additional sample loop for providing the system with a supporting gas comprising at least a predetermined portion of a predetermined active gas that will react with the unwanted interfering impurities, if any, or with the column material to cancel out unwanted active sites. Thus, the method of the present invention can advantageously be used in gas chromatographic systems to improve sensitivity thereof by acting on column separation material.
US07824464B2
Calcium aluminate clinker as a refractory aggregate with and without barium addition and use thereof
The present invention provides for a refractory aggregate composition comprising an improved calcium aluminate clinker having the formula CnAx wherein C is calcium oxide and A is aluminum oxide, wherein n is an integer from about 1 to about 12, wherein x is an integer from about 1 to about 24, and wherein said clinker has from zero to less than about fifty weight percent C12A7. Analogs, derivatives and hydrates of the improved calcium aluminate clinker are provided. A refractory composition and a sprayable refractory composition are disclosed comprising the improved calcium aluminate clinker. A method for improving the insulating character and/or penetration resistance of a liner in contact with molten aluminum in an aluminum manufacturing process or during aluminum transport is provided.
US07824463B2
Process for the production of valve metal powders, in particular niobium and tantalum powder, by reduction of corresponding valve metal oxide powders by means of vaporous reducing metals and/or hydrides thereof, preferably in the presence of an inert carrier gas, wherein the reduction is performed at a vapor partial pressure of the reducing metal/metal hydride of 5 to 110 hPa and an overall pressure of less than 1000 hPa, and tantalum powder obtainable in this way having a high stability of the powder agglomerate particles.
US07824461B2
A method for fabricating a magnesium-based alloy includes the steps of: (a) mixing a number of carbon nanotubes with a number of magnesium particles; (b) heating the mixture in a protective gas to achieve a semi-solid-state paste; (c) stirring the semi-solid-paste using an electromagnetic stirring force to disperse the carbon nanotubes into the paste; (d) injecting the semi-solid-state paste into a die; and (e) cooling the semi-solid-state paste to achieve a magnesium-based alloy. An apparatus for fabricating the magnesium-based alloy includes a transferring device, a thixomolding machine, and an electromagnetic stirring device. The transferring device includes a feed inlet. The thixomolding machine includes a heating barrel having two ends, a nozzle disposed at a first end thereof, and an material input positioned at a second end thereof. The electromagnetic stirring device includes an electromagnetic induction coil disposed on an outer wall of the heating barrel.
US07824458B2
The invention refers to a centrifugal separator for cleaning of a gas containing liquid impurities. The centrifugal separator comprises a stationary casing, which encloses a separation space and has an inner wall surface. A rotating member is provided in the separation space and arranged to rotate in a direction of rotation around an axis (x) of rotation. The rotating member brings the gas to rotation for separation of the liquid impurities from the gas. A gas outlet is provided for discharge of the cleaned gas. A first liquid outlet is provided downstream the rotating member for discharge of separated liquid impurities. The separation space comprises an annular surface which extends between the rotating member and the inner wall surface. The annular surface is configured to transport liquid impurities radially outwardly to the first liquid outlet.
US07824457B2
A portable dust collector for woodshop or other use with portable tools has a conic body that is supported on a tripod carriage formed of three legs attaching to gussets at the sides of the conic body. A divider plate within the conic body divides it into a cyclonic chamber between the divider plate and the lower nose, and a fan chamber between the divider plate and a motor plate that closes the upper mouth of the conic body. A final filter cartridge is fitted onto the outlet pipe, so that the dust collector exhausts clean, filtered air into the ambient. The final filter may be supported from a 90-degree elbow, with a removable tray for catching process dust that is knocked off the interior of the filter. The process dust in the cyclone settles into a dust collection barrel supported on a barrel cradle.
US07824444B2
A prosthetic implant for forming a support structure between adjoining vertebrae in a spinal column. The prosthetic implant includes a generally spherical or ellipsoidal body that at least partially engages a surface of adjacent vertebrae.
US07824443B2
An apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a replacement heart valve implant comprising a valve and an expandable anchor; and a deployment tool adapted to endovascularly deliver the replacement heart valve implant to an implant site within the patient, the deployment tool comprising an actuator adapted to exert an axially directed force on the anchor. The invention also provides a method for endovascularly replacing a heart valve of a patient. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement heart valve implant having a valve and an anchor to an implant site within the patient; and applying an axially directed force from an actuator outside of the patient to the anchor. In invention also provides deployment tools for performing the method.
US07824440B2
Coatings for stents that include a polymer and a drug are provided. A method of forming the coatings is also provided.
US07824435B2
An ambulatory device for use in a therapeutic and/or cosmetic treatment, the device comprises an organic light-emitting semiconductor which, in use, covers an area to be treated and emits electromagnetic radiation to cause said therapeutic and/or cosmetic treatment of the area. The light source may be extensive to provide uniform irradiation of the area to be treated and may be pulsed. The device may also include a photopharmaceutical.
US07824433B2
A bone-anchored surgical mesh has slot-like anchoring members that allow for the variable placement of screws and other bone fasteners. This permits the surgeon discretion in the placement of bone fasteners used to attach the mesh to the patient's bone. The elongate openings of the anchoring members allow for a sliding motion between the bone fasteners and the anchoring members, and facilitates positioning and articulation of the mesh. The anchoring members may include bushings to aid the sliding motion of the anchoring member on the bone fastener. In one embodiment, the mesh consists of shorter modular strips that overlap each other such that a single bone fastener is passed through two overlapping anchoring members to lock the two modular mesh strips together. Additional modular mesh strips can be added on at either end, as desired, to provide the desired length of dural coverage.
US07824429B2
Disclosed is a fixation device for spinal fixation. The fixation device includes an elongated body comprising a bone anchor at a distal end. An axially moveable proximal anchor is carried by the proximal end of the fixation device. In one embodiment, the device is inserted through a first vertebra and the bone anchor is rotated into positioned within a second vertebra. The proximal anchor is distally advanced with respect to the bone anchor to provide compression across the first and second vertebra. In other embodiments, the device is used to secure stabilization devices across two or more vertebra.
US07824423B2
A system and method is disclosed for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis. The system and method comprises a surgical tool comprising a surgical blade for making incisions in the sclera of an eye. When a surgeon places the surgical blade on the sclera of the eye a pressure sensor in the surgical tool determines whether there is sufficient pressure between the surgical tool and the sclera of the eye for the surgical tool to operate properly. The surgeon activates the surgical tool to cause the surgical blade to advance through the sclera to form an incision having dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis. When the incision is complete the surgical blade is rotated back out of the incision. The incision has the exact dimensions to receive a scleral prosthesis.
US07824415B2
A medical device, and related method, for manipulating material, such as calculi, within a patient's body includes a handle, a sheath, a retrieval basket, and a retainer coupled to the distal end of the retrieval basket. The retrieval basket includes a plurality of legs, each of which includes an intermediate portion located at the distal end of the retrieval basket. The retainer secures at least the intermediate portion of one of the plurality of legs to the intermediate portion of another of the plurality of legs.
US07824407B2
A treatment tool for an endoscope which grasps an object of treatment, includes: a flexible sheath; a forward-and-backward moving section; and elastic grippers, wherein each of the pair of arms includes: a connector; a bent portion; a rectilinear portion; and a distal clasp, wherein in conjunction with the forward and backward movement operation of the forward-and-backward moving section, the distal ends of the pair of arms are deployed when the pair of arms are projected from the distal end of the sheath, the distal ends of the pair of arms are closed by elastic deformation when the pair of arms are moved into the sheath.
US07824393B2
A soft grip medical connector can include a housing and a flexible member. The housing has a lumen extending through it from an upstream end to the downstream end. The flexible member includes a valve portion integrally formed with a sleeve portion. The valve portion is positioned within a section of the housing and can control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen. The sleeve can be inverted to envelop some or all of the outer surface of the housing. The sleeve can include a gripping portion integrally formed with the valve portion. The connector can also create a positive pressure in the lumen upon removal of a syringe or other medical device from the upstream end of the connector.
US07824381B2
A safety disposable syringe includes: a barrel; a plunger extending into the barrel; a piston mounted on the plunger and formed with a first engaging member; and a needle seat extending fittingly into the barrel and having a front end disposed outwardly of the barrel, and a rear end disposed in the barrel and having a rear end face facing toward the piston. The needle seat defines a fluid passage extending through the rear end face of the rear end of the needle seat. The needle seat is formed with a second engaging member. The fluid passage has a terminating end terminated at the rear end face of the rear end of the needle seat. The second engaging member has a terminating end terminated at the rear end face of the rear end of the needle seat and spaced apart from the first terminating end of the fluid passage.
US07824377B2
Catheter systems and methods are disclosed for anchoring the catheter system to tissue, e.g., for delivery of biologic or chemical agents, or other therapeutic fluid during various procedures. An exemplary tissue anchoring catheter comprises an outer catheter shaft connected to a catheter handle. A delivery sheath is provided within the outer catheter shaft, the delivery sheath housing a needle. At least one anchor is operatively associated with the delivery sheath, the at least one anchor operable at the catheter handle to secure the delivery sheath to tissue for conveying biologic or chemical agents, or other therapeutic fluid from the needle to the tissue. The tissue anchoring catheter may further comprise sensing means such as piezoelectric, pressure, thermistor, thermocouple, or ultrasound sensors.
US07824370B2
A system comprising a catheter (12) having an expandable element (18), which when expanded, has an annular shape surrounding a passageway. The expandable element in the expanded state is rollable along at least a portion of the shaft of the catheter without slipping. The system may be used for delivering an object to a site in the body, retrieving an object from a body, removing debris and/or other particulate matter from a blood vessel, and distending and/or expanding a pathologically-involved region of a blood vessel wall.
US07824366B2
A collateral ventilation bypass system with chest tube evacuation device may be utilized in combination to removed trapped air from the lungs. With the chest tube evacuation device, any air trapped in the pleural space may be evacuated through the bypass system to prevent a pneumothorax.
US07824365B2
Medical devices and related methods enable physicians and/or other medical personnel to access percutaneously the interior of a patient. One particular device includes a housing which defines a cavity, a first opening into the cavity, and a second opening into the cavity. The housing is implantable in a patient. The cavity is placed subcutaneously within the patient. The first opening is substantially flush with the surface of the skin of the patient and creates a percutaneous passageway from the exterior of the skin of the patient into the cavity, and the second opening creates a passageway from the cavity into the interior of the patient. A connector is coupled to the second opening and disposed substantially within the cavity to enable a connection between a first device and a second device disposed within the interior of the patient.
US07824362B2
An adapter for use in connecting a vacuum source with a breast shield is disclosed including a housing with at least one female coupling component formed therein, at least one male coupling component that is adapted to attach to a tube at one end for conveying pressure from the vacuum source, while the other end is sized and shaped to be received in the female coupling component. A passageway extends between the first end and the second end of the male coupling component for conveying the pressure. The female coupling component is defined therein by an interior sidewall that has a channel formed therein open to the female coupling component at least somewhere along the interior sidewall. When the male coupling component is inserted in the female coupling component, a sealing portion of the male coupling component engages the interior sidewall surface such that ambient air is prevented from entering the channel and disrupting optimal vacuum pressure.
US07824352B2
An ambidextrous wrist brace is described, having a substantially rectangular main strap (2) designed to be closed in a tubular shape around the wrist and provided with a slot (21) through which the user's thumb passes to be immobilized by an immobilization system (3) connected to the main strap (2). The thumb immobilization system (3) includes a rod (30) substantially bent into a U-shape to give rise to two end arms (31) which engage telescopically in respective pockets (9, 9′) formed on the main strap (2), so as to be able to adjust the thumb immobilizer (3) in position.
US07824349B2
The present invention reveals a massage chair having concealable leg massage unit, including a massage chair and a leg massage unit positioned in a front portion of the massage chair. The two sides of the massage chair are provided with guiding tracks respectively and a moving means which moves along the guiding tracks. The rear portions of the guiding tracks are horizontal, and the front portions arc upward. The moving means is fixed with forward extended push-pull rods with a front end of each push-pull rod pivotally connected to a rear end of a tow board. A front end of the tow board is provided with a rolling wheel, and the leg massage unit is pivotally connected between two tow boards. The present invention not only reduces the volume of a massage chair but also makes itself more convenient and comfortable to users.
US07824345B2
A medical device with improved flexibility characteristics and methods of using the same. The medical device may include a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate region. In at least some embodiments, the column strength or flexibility of the intermediate portion is generally greater than the column strength or flexibility at the distal end.
US07824344B1
A method and apparatus for non-invasive analysis of saliva includes a user friendly lolli-pop like apparatus that is self contained and provides the user with a method to stimulate saliva by sucking on the pop head. The saliva activates a color change reaction on the apparatus that results in a visual response that can be compared to a user gauge for analysis in monitoring health conditions and concerns.
US07824342B2
A tissue cutting device includes an insertion section which is inserted inside a specimen and extends from a distal end to a proximal end, openings which are formed in a distal end side of the insertion section inserted into the specimen, tissue cutting members which pass through the openings, extend such as to protrude in a direction intersecting the axial line of the length direction from the distal end of the insertion section to the proximal end, and are drawn into the insertion section from the same openings after forming a loop which tissue can be inserted into, a control member which is connected to the tissue cutting members, and a controller for controlling the control member; tissue passed through the loops being cut by controlling the control member and drawing the tissue cutting members from the openings into the insertion section.
US07824320B2
A roller, in particular an expander roller, for a web-processing machine, has a support core, which is braced in the region of both its ends via a respective bearing arrangement, and an outer covering, which in its axially central region is braced in a radially fixed manner in relation to the support core and in the region of its two ends is braced in a radially displaceable manner in relation to the support core by a respective additional bearing arrangement, whereby the radially extending center plane of both the support core bearing arrangement and the outer covering bearing arrangement lies axially within the outer covering. Preferably the outer covering is displaceable in this case in the region of its two ends respectively by an actuator arranged within the outer covering.
US07824319B2
The disclosure described by this invention describes a system for performing a variety of push-up exercises is disclosed. The present invention comprises multiple blocks that are arranged into columns. The user can adjust the height and width of the columns to accommodate body size, as well as the type of exercise being performed. This adds a new dimension to the basic push-up, allowing the user to perform a variety of different types of push-up. The system helps to strengthen and stretch the human body, and achieve optimum performance by working different areas of the body, promoting peak development of the musculoskeletal system.
US07824312B1
An exercising handgrip includes a base, a first handle mounted on the base, a second handle movably mounted on the first handle and disposed between the base and the first handle, a threaded tube movably mounted on the base, a tensile spring mounted in the threaded tube and biased between the threaded tube and the second handle, and a threaded adjusting knob rotatably mounted on the base and screwed onto the threaded tube. The base has two limit ribs. The threaded tube has two limit slots each slidable on the respective limit rib of the base. Thus, the adjusting knob is rotated in the base to move the threaded tube relative to the second handle and to compress or extend the tensile spring so as to adjust the tension of the tensile spring.
US07824311B1
An exercising handgrip includes a first handle, a second handle pivotally connected with the first handle, a damping spring biased between the first handle and the second handle, a threaded adjusting module movably mounted on the second handle and pressing the damping spring, and a threaded adjusting knob rotatably mounted on the second handle and screwed onto the threaded adjusting module to move the threaded adjusting module relative to the damping spring by rotation of the adjusting knob. Thus, the adjusting knob is rotated on the second handle to drive the threaded adjusting module to move forward or backward relative to the second handle so as to change the distance between the first handle and the second handle and to compress or extend the damping spring, thereby adjusting the damping force of the damping spring.
US07824308B2
A continuously variable transmission mechanically coupled with an automated mechanical transmission is adjusted during a shifting process. At the completion of the shifting process, an engine mechanically coupled with the automated mechanical transmission is provided a fueling pulse. Additionally, the speed of an output shaft of the automated mechanical transmission is filtered by a second order variable time constant low pass filter.
US07824305B2
A coupling system for connecting a sun gear to a shaft within a planetary gear train, includes a sun gear coupling connecting the sun gear to the shaft. The sun gear coupling has at least one undulant flexible section joined to an inflexible spindle for accommodating misalignment between the sun gear and the shaft. The flexible section comprises a cylindrical ring having a diameter greater than the diameter of the spindle, and joined to the spindle by two longitudinally spaced apart diaphragms. The juncture between the diaphragms, the ring, and the spindle is curved in cross section on an outer side to improve flexibility and minimize stress concentrations, and the inner sides of the diaphragms are straight edges which result in a non-symmetric contour of the diaphragm walls.
US07824304B2
A transmission is disclosed having an input member, an output member, first, second and third planetary gear sets, a first interconnecting member, a second interconnecting member and six torque-transmitting mechanisms. The torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member. The planetary gear sets each have first, second and third members. The six torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable to interconnect one of the first, second, and third members with another of the first, second, and third members.
US07824303B2
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets, five torque-transmitting devices, two fixed interconnections, three external gear sets and a final drive gear set. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with one of the external gear sets. The five torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various planetary and external gear members, and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of three to establish eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US07824299B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes.
US07824297B2
A multi-speed transmission has four planetary gear sets and five torque-transmitting mechanisms packaged in at least one of six possible zones within the transmission casing.
US07824295B2
A power-branched, continuously variable vehicle transmission includes a CVT variable speed drive that is connected to an input shaft through a planetary gear train and to an output shaft through a multistage gearbox. In an alternative embodiment, one variable speed drive shaft of the variable speed drive is connected to an input shaft, and the variable speed drive shafts are connected to an output shaft through a planetary gear train module. The power-branched transmission is compactly constructed, but permits a high start-up torque and enables a wide transmission ratio spread.
US07824290B1
Rotational power distribution and control systems and components thereof along with related methods are disclosed. The rotational power distribution and control system may, for example, be operable to function similarly to a typical automotive manual clutch. Other embodiments of the rotational power distribution and control system may function as continuously or infinitely variable transmissions. Still further embodiments of the rotational power distribution and control system may function as hybrid drive systems for various types of vehicles, including automobiles, trucks and busses. The rotational power distribution and control system includes at least one hydrostatic pump/motor and a rotational power dividing apparatus.
US07824279B2
This invention provides a golf club head including a plurality of score lines on a face. In the golf club head according to this invention, the angle between each side surface of the score lines and the face is 48° or more. Edges of the score lines are formed to be positioned within a second virtual circle with a radius of 0.011 inches, the second virtual circle being concentric with a first virtual circle which internally touches the side surface of the score line and the face with a radius of 0.010 inches.
US07824275B2
A golfing aid 11 having two levelling sensors 32, 33 mounted on a D shaped sensor body 31 and a mounting means having three adjustable connectors 41, 51, 61 for adjusting the orientation of the D shaped sensor body 31 and an indication output in the form of spirit level bubbles 32, 33 for providing an indication of the sensed level orientation. A system of interactive adjustable connectors linked together to provide such variability that allows connection to any one of left and right handed clubs with different shaft diameters, different angle of putter shaft to putter head and different length shafts and different length putter heads to allow for substantially aligned overlying of the D shaped sensor body 31 over the putter head 23 while substantially aligning the golfing aid front face 34 correctly with the putter head front face 24.
US07824273B2
A child motion device has a frame assembly configured to rest on a floor surface. A support arm assembly is coupled to and cantilevered from part of the frame assembly above the floor surface. A child supporting device is supported by the support arm assembly. A bounce mechanism of the device is employed to reciprocally bounce the child supporting device above the floor surface.
US07824267B2
A tournament gaming system is disclosed including one or more gaming machines programmed for play of at least one tournament game. A plurality of gaming machines may be linked for tournament play by a host computer. Qualification for tournament play is based only upon criteria established only by the gaming operator or without consideration of player desire to participate in the tournament. Game play on at least some of the participating games is tracked and displayed during the tournament, which ends after a player of one of the games achieves predetermined results.
US07824265B2
A central position of each character participating in a battle is obtained as a fixation point, and multiple temporary points are set on a hemisphere around the fixation point. Each temporary viewpoint position is set on a straight line connecting the fixation point to each temporary point. Each temporary viewpoint position is a position from which all characters can be projected on a virtual screen when perspective transformation is executed at a predetermined visual angle and a distance to the fixation point is shortest. Points are given to each temporary viewpoint position based on the result of a distance evaluation, an angle evaluation, an overlap evaluation, and a height difference evaluation. The top scoring temporary viewpoint positions are selected as positions where the viewpoint of a virtual camera should be moved.
US07824262B2
A gaming device including a primary game having one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games associated with the symbol generators. The gaming device activates the symbol generators for a number of activations. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more of the secondary games associated with the symbol generators. In one embodiment, the gaming device continues to activate the symbol generators until at least one of the symbol generators generates one or more termination symbols, or until there are no activations remaining in the primary game.
US07824257B2
There is provided a lottery game with a supplemental game. The player plays the lottery game by selecting a plurality of numbers and the player also has the option of playing the supplemental game. The lottery authority selects a set of winning numbers for the lottery game and also selects a set of supplemental numbers. If the player has opted to play the supplemental game, his numbers will not only be compared with the winning numbers but also with the supplemental numbers. The total number of matches between the player's numbers and winning numbers and supplemental numbers determines the player's prize.
US07824256B2
A game apparatus includes a CPU, and a selection screen including a plurality of kinds of items for allowing a player to select is displayed. The selection screen is a roulette type of display, for example, so that a display proportion of each item may be set based on an ability value of a character, a proceeding situation of a game or a support voltage of a virtual audience that reflects a play content, for example, and as the item, kinds of games, a rule, an event, etc. This roulette is rotated and suspended in response to an operation of the player. Furthermore, one item is determined when the roulette is suspended, and a game process is executed according to the item.
US07824248B2
A wheel assembly includes a first hub assembly sealingly engageable with a first axial opening in one side of a tire. A second hub assembly is sealingly engageable with a second axial opening on the other side of the tire. The hub assemblies define between them a fluid tight volume within the tire. The wheel further includes a valve having an inlet port in fluid communication with the tire, a valve seat, and at least one annular valve member resiliently biased into unidirectional sealing engagement with the seat. Application of external pressure through the inlet port causes at least a portion of the valve member to resiliently deflect away from the valve seat to thereby open the valve and permit fluid communication with the fluid tight volume.
US07824244B2
Methods and apparatus provide for: a base on which a substrate may be releasably coupled; a moving belt located with respect to the base such that a contact surface thereof is operable to remove material from a top surface of the substrate; and a plurality of actuators, at least two of which are independently controllable, located with respect to the base and the moving belt such that a corresponding plurality of pressure zones are defined to provide pressure between the moving belt and the top surface of the substrate.
US07824243B2
A semiconductor process includes polishing a substrate with a slurry in an enclosure. Polishing the substrate is stopped. First mist is injected into the enclosure, such that the first mist has at least about 80% of saturation of a liquid or gaseous solvent in a carrier within the enclosure.
US07824242B2
In a bra having a pair of cups each with a central area and a lower perimeter area, the improvement of an asymmetric underwire arrangement including one shorter curved underwire extending in the lower perimeter area of one cup, and one longer curved underwire extending in the lower perimeter area of the other cup, the underwires each having inner ends that are adjacent each other at a central location where the pair of cups meet, and outer ends that are spaced away from each other, the inner end of the longer underwire extending further into the central location than that of the shorter underwire for enhancing cleavage for a woman wearing the bra.
US07824241B2
A novelty spy kit for the enjoyment of children and adults that includes an electronic spy safe, a mobile fingerprint analyzer, and a covert messaging system. The safe is bifurcated with a first section that features a central processing unit and a pivoting door panel that provides the user access to a simulated palm scanner which facilitates access to the storage area of the second section. A mobile fingerprint analyzer embodied as a wristwatch with a face that displays a working digital clock and is pivotally attached to expose a secret compartment used for analyzing fingerprint samples. The covert messaging system teaches a pair of eyeglasses having red LEDs incorporated therein and stationery that bears alphanumeric indicia randomly arranged thereon. Using a special pen, the user can secretly transcribe a message that can only be viewed under the illumination of the red LEDs projected from the eyeglasses.
US07824237B2
A water propulsion unit having an intake housing, a pump housing and an outlet with two spaced apart counter rotating impellers being located in the pump housing. The impeller blades on one impeller have an opposite pitch to the blades of the second impeller. The impellers are configured so that one of the impellers will impart less energy to the water as it passes the blades of the impeller than the second impeller.
US07824235B2
There is disclosed a conducting terminal connector which comprises an insulating tube, a conducting terminal and a soldering sleeve. The conducting terminal has a first end received in the insulating tube and a second end opposite to said first end, and the second end is exposed outwardly for connecting an external conducting contact point so that the first end is bent to form a longitudinal elongation with an opening facing upward. The soldering sleeve is formed by a casting method so as to form a corrugated surface on the outer periphery thereof, and has a melting point in which a heat source is applied to an outer part of the insulating tube so that an inner part of the insulating tube is shrunken to lodge in the outer corrugated surface of the soldering sleeve thereby forming the conducting terminal connect.
US07824230B1
An audio plug includes an insulating housing of substantial column shape, a plurality of cylindrical audio contacts made up of a tip contact, a first contact and second contact, a fixing element with two indention areas symmetrically formed at an outer surface thereof and spaced away from each other, and two isolated grounding contacts of arc shape. Each of the grounding contacts has an arc contact slice received in the indention area of the fixing element, conforming to an outer periphery of the fixing element. The tip contact, the first contact, the second contact, and the fixing element with the grounding contacts attached thereto are arranged in turn and molded to the insulating housing in once, forming as a single piece.
US07824221B2
The invention provides a connector in which, while miniaturization and thinning are attained at a level equivalent to the conventional art, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon that molten solder drips from a wire connecting portion to form a solder bridge between adjacent contacts, from occurring, and a cable can be soldered to the wire connecting portion with excellent workability and high strength. In the connector of the invention, each of terminal portions (25) of plural contacts (20) which are juxtaposed in the pitch direction has a wire connecting portion (26, 27, 28) to which a lead wire (71, 72, 73, 74) drawn out from a cable (70) is to be soldered. The wire connecting portion is expansively opened along the connector thickness direction which is perpendicular to: an insertion/extraction direction of the connector with respect to a counter connector; and the pitch direction perpendicular to the insertion/extraction direction.
US07824211B1
A power adapter cable is adapted to be connected between a charger having mating electrode passages with mating electrode pins therein and a power plug having mating electrode plugs with mating inserting holes. The power adapter cable includes an adapter plug having a base, an adapter socket having an insulating body and a wire connected therebetween. A front surface of the base is protruded forward to form electrode plugs with inserting holes passing therethrough. The electrode plugs of the adapter plug are inserted into the mating electrode passages of the charger with the mating electrode pins being inserted into the inserting holes. A rear surface of the insulating body is recessed inward to form electrode passages with electronic pins therein. The mating electrode plugs of the power plug are inserted into the electrode passages of the adapter socket with the electrode pins being inserted into the mating inserting holes.
US07824208B2
An electrical cable connector has a latch mechanism wherein the moveable portion is part of the mating receptacle, and the mechanism for unlatching resides in the cable connector. A rocker part is located such that one end extends under the resilient latch member and the other end has a surface which is made to rotate about a pivot point by an externally actuated ramp. The rotation of the rocker lifts the resilient member from its seat and releases the connector latch. The actuating ramp is spring loaded to return to its resting position which is the latched position; it is attached to a loop designed to allow a finger pull action to initiate latch disengagement. Forces and friction resistance is managed such that reliable single-hand operation is achieved, with push to engage and pull to disengage.
US07824196B1
An electrical receptacle with a body sized to fit in a NEMA-standard single wall box has a substantially rectangular face with phase blade openings, neutral blade openings and ground prong openings associated with respective first, second and third outlets, each outlet having a centerline passing through its ground prong opening parallel to its phase and neutral blade openings. The centerline of the first outlet is oblique to the edges of the face and oblique to the centerline of at least one other outlet. The centerlines of all of the outlets may be mutually nonparallel, and they may be mutually oblique. The centerline of the second outlet may be parallel to an edge of the face; and if so, the centerline of the third outlet may be either perpendicular to or parallel to the centerline of the second outlet. In a preferred arrangement, the centerlines are mutually nonparallel, and the ground prong openings of two of the outlets are located at corners of the face that share a common longer edge. All of the arrangements simultaneously accommodate plugs, chargers and transformers of many known sizes and types.
US07824190B2
A connector arrangement connects the flat conductors that extend upwardly from a horizontal photovoltaic cell panel with the insulated conductors of a cable via the circuits of a printed circuit board, respectively. A flat conductor support member is adhesively secured to the upper surface of the horizontal photovoltaic cell panel and includes upwardly extending bridge portions having flat upper edges about which are reversely bent the upper free ends of the flat conductors. A hollow sectional connector housing includes a lower body section containing a bottom opening that receives the flat conductor support member when the lower body section is seated on the panel upper surface. Bifurcated resilient contacts mounted on the lower section have first portions that engage the bent flat conductor ends, respectively, and second portions that engage the circuits on a replaceable printed circuit board carried by the removable upper cover section of the housing.
US07824189B1
A junction box is provided for electrically connecting a photovoltaic (PV) module to a power distribution system having a mating connector. The junction box includes a housing having a mounting side configured to be mounted on the PV module. The housing includes a mating interface and an opening extending into the housing through the mounting side. The housing is configured to mate with the mating connector of the power distribution system at the mating interface. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes an integrally formed, one-piece body. The body of the electrical contact includes a base, a mating end extending from the base, and a PV module end extending from the base. The base of the body of the electrical contact is held within the opening of the housing such that the mating end extends along the mating interface for engagement with the mating connector. The PV module end of the body extends outwardly from the opening on the mounting side of the housing for engagement with foil of the PV module.
US07824188B2
A socket for an electric component includes: a socket main body having a receiving portion which receives an electric component such as an IC package; a socket cover supported to be capable of turning by a first turning shaft provided in a vicinity of one side end of the socket main body to turn to thereby open or close the housing portion; and a radiating member mounted to the socket cover and is in contact with the electric component received in the receiving portion to radiate heat from the electric component in a state of the socket cover being closed. The socket cover has an opening portion formed in a position corresponding to the receiving portion of the socket main body in the closed state, and the radiating member is supported to be capable of turning by a second turning shaft parallel to the first turning shaft in the opening of the socket cover.
US07824186B2
A USB connector for connecting with a USB female comprises a rotating shaft assembly which is capable of rotating, metal legs, a connecting line, and a substrate, wherein one end of the metal legs connects with one end of the connecting line, the metal legs are formed on a surface of the substrate, the connecting line is fixed to the surface of the substrate, and said rotating shaft assembly includes a rotating shaft and a rotating shaft sleeve, the rotating shaft sleeve is fixed on the surface of the substrate, and the rotating shaft is disposed in the rotating shaft sleeve and is capable of rotating relative to the rotating shaft sleeve. According to the USB connector and the USB device, the metal legs are formed on the surface of the substrate to ensure the connecting strength of the metal legs and reduce the thickness of the USB device.
US07824180B2
An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes an appliance adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator mounted on the appliance to indicate compliance.
US07824179B2
The present invention provides a fuel feeding apparatus and method for improving the controllability of mixing process and mixing ratio of fuel and combustion air, and a combustion system and method for effecting new combustion properties. The fuel feeding apparatus of the combustion system has fuel feeding means, combustion gas extraction means, steam supply means, mixing means and fuel gas introduction means. The combustion gas extraction means extracts combustion gas of a combustion area therefrom. The mixing means mixes the fuel of fuel feeding means with at least one of combustion gas extracted from the furnace and steam of a steam generator. The fuel gas introduction means introduces a mixed fluid of combustion gas, steam and fuel to the combustion area as a fuel gas, and allows the fuel gas to be mixed with the combustion air. A step of mixing the fuel with the combustion gas after extracted from the furnace and a step of mixing the fuel gas with the combustion air are stepwisely carried out, so that the controllability of mixing process and ratio of the air and fuel is improved. Such a control of fuel gas flow enables control of characteristics of flame and production of flame with new properties in the combustion area.
US07824175B2
A shutoff nozzle body and valve assembly operative to reduce molten plastic resin drool when the nozzle body is separated from the mold or runner system. The apparatus includes a porting system that shuts off the flow of resin through the sprue plunger of the valve nozzle body before the valve body seals on the valve seat so as to permit any resin that is within the sprue passages to drain out through the sprue plunger into the mold cavity or runner system before the sprue tip completely withdraws from the mold or runner system thereby eliminating drool.
US07824174B2
A metal mold for blow molding which may prevent a mold biting while maintaining a blowing performance and may mold a thermoplastic-elastomer article having a stable shape. In a blow molding metal mold provided with an annular loosely surrounding part for loosely surrounding an end part of a parison, a clearance between an outer peripheral surface of the end part and an inner peripheral surface of the loosely surrounding part at a parting line of the metal mold is larger than a clearance at the other parts than the parting line.
US07824159B2
What disclosed is to form an abrasive coating having abrasiveness at a blade pressure side of a deposition layer using a second electrode composed of a second molded body molded from a mixed powder including a powder of a metal and a powder of a ceramic or the second electrode processed with a heat treatment, generating pulsing electric discharges between the blade pressure side of the deposition layer and the second electrode in an electrically insulating liquid or gas, and welding a material of the second electrode or a reacting substance of the material of the second electrode on the blade pressure side of the deposition layer by means of energy of the electric discharges.
US07824158B2
A turbine blade damper includes an outer part for damping vibration of the blade airfoil and a supporting inner part. The two parts are formed of different materials for the different performance required thereof in the blade.
US07824156B2
A cooled component of a fluid-flow machine, through which a hot working medium flows, in particular a turbine blade of a gas turbine, in whose outer wall, to which the working medium can be applied, a cooling passage is provided, through which a cooling fluid can flow along its longitudinal axis.
US07824154B2
An impeller includes an impeller cup and a plurality of blades. The impeller cup is hollow and generally cylindrical and has a lid. A housing is formed to enclose the impeller from the outside thereof. The housing has a wall defining a passage of an airflow generated by rotation of the impeller. At axial ends of the passage are formed an air inlet and an air outlet, respectively. The wall is provided with an air-inlet side portion which has an inner diameter increasing toward the air inlet. An axially upper end of a radially outer edge of each blade axially projects toward the air inlet beyond the lid of the impeller cup, and is located to be covered by the air-inlet side portion when seen from the outside in the radial direction. An axially upper end of a radially inner edge of each blade is located on a base portion side of the lid of the impeller cup. An axially upper edge of each blade is at an angle with respect to the axial direction so as to get close to the base portion in a direction from the radially outer edge of each blade to a radially inner edge.
US07824145B2
An attachment interface adapted for use with a loader is discussed. The attachment interface includes a horizontally extending cross member configured to be pivotally attached to the loader at each of first and second ends. The attachment interface further includes a first attachment mounting bracket having a generally flat portion and a brace that is attached to and perpendicularly extends from the generally flat portion. A second attachment mounting bracket is spaced apart from the first attachment mounting bracket. The horizontally extending cross member is attached to the brace and the second attachment mounting bracket and wherein the second attachment bracket is otherwise unattached to the first attachment bracket.
US07824142B2
A fastening element has a core zone (14) formed of a relatively hard carbon steel, a skin zone (17) located outwardly of the core zone (14) and formed of a first low-carbon austenitic steel alloyed with a first alloy metal, and an intermediate zone (15a, 15b) provided between the core zone (14) and the skin zone (17) and formed of a second low-carbon steel having a smaller hardness than the steel the core zone (14) is formed of.
US07824137B2
The invention is directed at a quick connect mechanism for mounting a hole saw to a tool comprising a hole saw; a mandrel having a first end for mounting to the hole saw and a second end for mounting to the tool; and a drill bit, assembled within the mandrel such that when the mandrel is connected to the hole saw, the drill bit being concentrically centered within the hole saw; a holder, mounted to the tool, for receiving the second end of the mandrel; wherein the second end of the mandrel includes quick connect means for easily mounting the mandrel to and releasing the mandrel from the holder.
US07824135B2
The invention relates to a drill (4) and a device or a method for drilling boreholes in workpieces (3), in which a periodically acting radial force (19) is exerted on the drill head (5) of the drill (4). The drill head (5) of the drill (4) has a cutting edge (52) extending only over a part of the diameter D (51) and is designed to have a lateral, V-shaped chip removing groove or bead (59) and with a channel (12) with an outlet opening (56) in the drill head (5) for supplying a drill fluid (9). On a drill side (61) of the drill head (5) opposite the bead (59) between a first and a second cylinder casing partial surface (64, 65) of the drill head (5) a rear offset (63) is formed which reduces the cross section of the drill head (5) in relation to an enclosing cylinder casing surface (61) of the drill head (5).
US07824132B1
A clamp system for operatively connecting a vibratory device to a plurality of caissons defining at least first and second diameters comprises a structural member, first and second clamps comprising first and second lock systems, respectively, and a clamp displacement system. The first and second clamps are supported by the structural member. The first and second lock systems fix the first and second clamps relative to the structural member. The clamp displacement system comprises at least one clamp displacement motor supported by the structural member and a mechanical link assembly connected between the at least one clamp displacement motor and the first and second clamps. Operation of the at least one clamp displacement motor allows the first and second clamps to be remotely displaced relative to the structural member such that the first and second clamps are spaced along the structural member as appropriate for either of the first and second diameters. Operation of the first and second locks systems fixes the first and second clamps relative to the structural member.
US07824126B2
Apparatus and associated methods for safely capturing a moving vehicle are disclosed. The method includes biasing a portion of a loop of cable against the rear portion of one or more tires of a target vehicle, such that the cable is carried over the tire and engages the rear axle, or another portion, of the target vehicle. The loop of cable can be connected to a stationary or mobile structure that can then provide a force to the cable to safely slow down and stop the target vehicle.
US07824124B2
The present invention is directed toward a cost effective instrument for storing a fluid material, and applying a predetermined amount of the fluid material to a surface. The instrument is comprised of few parts including an outer casing and a fluid insert, making the instrument cheaper to manufacture, and easy to assemble. The embodiments disclosed can be provided in a pre-assembled form to cosmetic companies and the like seeking to fill a dispenser with their fluid cosmetic products. The ability to provide dispensers in a pre-assembled form, combined with the compatibility of the fluid dispensers with industrial high speed filling machines, reduces the overall filling costs to the cosmetic company, as well as the cost to the consumer.
US07824122B2
Applicators and a method for reducing the concentration of unwanted chemicals, such as para-chloroaniline (PCA) from an antiseptic solution. More specifically, the applicator includes antiseptic solution in amount sufficient to be applied to a desired surface and to have an antimicrobial effect on the desired surface and a porous element. The porous element selectively removes undesired by-products from the antiseptic solution when the antiseptic solution contacts the at least one porous element.
US07824121B2
A packaging and applicator device may include a receptacle for containing a composition to be applied and an applicator including an applicator element that is configured to be inserted into the receptacle for taking the composition. The receptacle may include a body and a movable system that is movable inside the body. The movable system may include a wiper member that includes only one opening through which the applicator element passes while the applicator element is being inserted into the receptacle, the movable system being configured so as to move in a generally unidirectional manner toward a bottom of the receptacle under an effect of a force exerted by the applicator while the applicator is being inserted into the receptacle.
US07824116B2
A printer assembly for dispensing a printer media and printing on the printer media as it is dispensed. The printer assembly includes a housing with a container portion and a lid portion, and a latching mechanism configured to coordinate latching, unlatching and biasing of the lid with locking and unlocking of the printer media supply from a media supply assembly. The latching mechanism may be configured to urge the lid portion away from the container portion when the lid portion is unlatched. The latching mechanism can include a locking surface that is configured to engage a locking surface on relatively movable media support members, restraining relative movement of the media support members and locking down the media supply therein when the latching the lid portion closed. The locking surface is positioned external to opposing, relatively movable surfaces of the media support members enabling a compact assembly for hand held printers.
US07824115B2
An exemplary camera module includes a lens mount, a lens unit, a magnet unit, a printed circuit board (PCB)-based Rogowski coil and a blade spring. The PCB-based Rogowski coil is fixed around the lens unit. The PCB-based Rogowski coil establishes an induced magnetic field when an electric current is applied thereto. The induced magnetic field interacts with the magnet unit to generate a magnetic force moving the lens unit telescopically. The blade spring includes a plurality of ribs. Each rib includes a moveable end connected with the lens unit and an opposite fixed end. The moveable end moves together with the lens unit with respect to the fixed end to cause the ribs to distort and generate an elastic force. The lens unit stops at a focal position when the magnetic force and the elastic force come to a balance.
US07824109B2
An optical connector comprising: first and second movable members 7, 8 held on an optical connector body 6 to be axially movable in a longitudinal direction; locking means for locking the first and second movable members when the first movable member is located at a predetermined locking position in a tip part of the optical connector body, and integrally moving the first and second movable members; and unlocking means formed in the optical connector body 6, and including a locking acting portion which acts on the locking means when the first movable member is located rearwardly of a predetermined unlocking position in a rear part of the optical connector body, to unlock the first and second movable members, and which locks the first and second movable members when the first movable member is located forwardly of the unlocking position, and a second movable member hooking portion 10 for inhibiting rearward movement of the second movable member after the first and second movable members are unlocked, and wherein the second movable member has a functional portion having a predetermined function, and when the second movable member is located at a predetermined position in the optical connector body, the function acts on a ferrule 2 or an optical fiber 1 to fulfill the function.
US07824107B2
A hub unit includes a double-row outer ring having a first inner peripheral raceway and a second inner peripheral raceway, a hub having a wheel-mounting flange provided with a reference surface for mounting the wheel formed on a vehicle outer end-side thereof, a first outer peripheral raceway opposed to the first inner peripheral raceway of the outer ring, a shaft body and an inner ring element having a second outer peripheral raceway opposed to the second inner peripheral raceway of the outer ring, rolling members interposed between the double-row inner peripheral raceway of the outer ring and the double-row outer peripheral raceway of the hub and cages. A rust-preventive layer is provided at least on the wheel-mounting reference surface of the flange.
US07824099B2
A method for accurate estimation of a gas temperature at transient conditions includes measuring temperature sensor readings in a gas flow and estimating the gas temperature by equating the specific heat properties of the temperature sensor to the sum of conductive heat, convective heat, and radiative heat acting upon the temperature sensor and solving for the gas temperature.
US07824096B2
A self-purging auxiliary fluid supply system for supplying washout or makeup water or other fluids under pressure to a truck-mounted concrete mixing/dispensing drum is disclosed. The system includes a truck-mounted fluid reservoir for containing a quantity of fluid connected to supply fluid to an air-operated diaphragm pump connected to supply auxiliary fluid from the fluid reservoir under pressure to a discharge assembly. The pump further provides an integral purge system for displacing fluid in the fluid supply system after use.
US07824094B2
An exemplary backlight module (1) includes a light source (11) and a light guide plate (12). The light guide plate includes a light incident surface (121) to which the light source is placed adjacent, and a bottom surface (122) adjacent the light incident surface. The bottom surface defines a plurality of recesses (1222). Each recess defines a first slant (101) facing the light source and an arris (103) at a top of the first slant. The arris of the first slant at each recess is aligned substantially perpendicular to a main path of light beams that propagate from the light source to the recess.
US07824093B2
A backlight assembly includes a light source, a light-guide plate (LGP), a reflective sheet and at least one optical sheet. The light source emits light. The LGP includes a light-incident surface, a light-reflecting surface and a light-emitting surface. The light-incident surface receives the light from the light source. The light-reflecting surface has a plurality of first prism patterns spaced apart from each other and flat portions formed between the first prism patterns, which are substantially perpendicular to the light-incident surface. The light-emitting surface has a plurality of second prism patterns formed thereon. The reflective sheet is disposed below the LGP. At least one optical sheet is disposed on the LGP.
US07824090B2
An optical sheet and a backlight unit using the same are disclosed, in which deviation of a viewing angle is minimized to improve picture quality. The optical sheet includes a diffusion sheet provided with a plurality of diffusion patterns diffusing incident light in at least two directions to allow the incident light to have different strengths.
US07824082B2
In one aspect, the invention features a flexible base receptacle configured to be coupled to a lighting unit. The base receptacle includes a lower portion, which has a lower portion perimeter. The base receptacle includes a neck portion, which is movable relative to the lower portion. The neck portion has a lower neck portion perimeter that is proximate the lower portion. The neck portion has an upper neck portion perimeter. The neck portion has an intermediate neck portion perimeter, which is smaller than the lower neck portion perimeter and the upper neck portion perimeter. Some embodiments enable outdoor lighting assemblies to absorb forces due to bumping, thereby making it more difficult to break the outdoor lighting assemblies.
US07824077B2
A lamp structure has a slim light emitting source including at least one LED packaged on a multilayered printed circuit board type aluminum base. A funnel-shaped reflector is concaved toward a center thereof and defined with at least one hole for partially accommodating the LED. An inner surface of the reflector is coated to form a light reflecting surface. A flat lens includes a surface being treated with sand blast. A lamp housing has a receiving chamber for accommodation of the slim light emitting source, the reflector, the flat lens, and a driver. The lamp housing is formed with a plurality of heat dissipation fins. The driver is inserted in the other end of the receiving chamber of the lamp housing and has positive and negative leads connected to the slim light emitting source for enabling it to produce light.
US07824073B2
A light source module includes light source units and links interconnecting the light source units. Each light source unit includes a substrate defining openings with a connector arranged in each opening. Each connector includes a first terminal and a second terminal. A light source is mounted on the substrate. The light source has a first electrode and a second electrode. The two electrodes are electrically connected to the terminals of the connectors. Each link is received in two openings of two neighboring light source units, and interconnects the two neighboring light source units electrically or mechanically.
US07824072B2
A backlight structure comprises a frame, a circuit board, and a connector. The frame has an opening. The circuit board is located below the frame and has a through hole, wherein the through hole aligns with the opening. The connector passes through the opening and the through hole, protrudes from a surface of the frame, and is electrically connected to the circuit board.
US07824059B1
A line of recessed low-glare lighting fixtures, known as HITC (hole-in-the-ceiling), provide an authentic architectural built-in appearance. A mounting unit is cast in plaster material with a vertical duct extending upwardly from a light-exit opening in a horizontal face flange that becomes plastered in place in the ceiling. The duct supports a light source and associated components above, producing a light beam of designated beam width, typically +/−45 degrees. From any room viewpoint outside the light beam, the only component of the fixture that is visible is the mounting unit, of which all visible regions, both internal and external, are made to have finish, appearance and texture that match and blend in harmoniously with the surface of the surrounding ceiling.
US07824054B2
The present invention is directed to a retrofit device for lighting fishing equipment at night for example, to light fishing poles or tackle boxes. More particularly, the present invention relates to lighting of fishing equipment with solid core sidelight fiberoptic cable lit with a LED light source.
US07824053B2
A baseball cap with a programmable tight emitting diode screen attached to the crown of the headgear. The sign would display the desired message either preprogrammed or input directly by the wearer.
US07824052B1
A hands-free dental or surgical light system (100) is disclosed which allows the dentist or surgeon to dim and turn a light (12) on and off by simply pressing pedals on a foot operated assembly (106). First and second receivers (102, 104) are mounted in a power pack (28) usually worn about the waist. First and second foot operated transmitters (112, 114) are turned on and off or activated with the foot of the operator. The first transmitter (112) and receiver (102) operate to toggle the light (12) between the dim and brightened states while the second transmitter (114) and receiver (104) operate to toggle the light on and off.
US07824045B2
An electrochromic mirror reflective element includes a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate having an electrochromic medium sandwiched therebetween. A curved recess is established at a second surface of the front glass substrate or a fourth surface of the rear glass substrate. A first metallic reflector is coated at the curved recess, with the reflector-coated curved recess establishing an auxiliary wide angle reflector region of the electrochromic mirror reflective element. A second metallic reflector is coated at a surface of the rear glass substrate, with the reflector-coated surface establishing a principal reflector region of the electrochromic mirror reflective element. The reflective element may include a hiding layer that hides at least a portion of a component of the electrochromic mirror reflective element that is behind the hiding layer from view by the driver of a vehicle equipped with the electrochromic mirror reflective element.
US07824044B2
An antiglare film satisfies both (1) high antiglare property in the front direction and (2) absence of white blurring. One embodiment of the invention is an antiglare film provided with an antiglare layer on a transparent substrate, wherein the antiglare layer has a rugged structure on the surface opposite to the transparent substrate; the 5° reflectance of the antiglare film surface on the antiglare layer side is in a range of from 0.30% to 0.70%; the antiglare film surface on the antiglare layer side is provided with a rugged structure having arithmetic average roughness (Ra1) in the range of from 0.020 μm to 0.040 μm when a cutoff wavelength (λC) is 0.008 mm; and the antiglare film surface on the antiglare layer side is provided with a rugged structure having arithmetic average roughness (Ra2) in the range of from 0.35 μm to 0.45 μm when a cutoff wavelength (λC) is 0.8 mm.
US07824038B2
A method for controlling a dual lamp module applied to a projection apparatus is provided. The dual lamp module includes a first lamp and a second lamp. The method for controlling a dual lamp module includes providing a first operating power to the first lamp, and then determining whether the first lamp is turned on or not. If the first lamp fails to be turned on, stopping providing the first operating power to the first lamp, and providing a second operating power to the second lamp. The second operating power is greater than the first operating power.
US07824031B2
A print cartridge for an inkjet printer with a media drive assembly, the cartridge comprising: a drive shaft for feeding a media substrate past a printhead, the drive shaft positioned such that it engages the media drive assembly upon installation of the cartridge; wherein during use, the drive assembly transfer torque to the drive shaft by contact friction.
US07824024B2
A liquid discharge device may be provided with a discharge head comprising a nozzle for discharging liquid, a first member communicating with the discharge head, and a second member capable of being connected to the first member. A liquid path from a liquid supply source to the discharge head via the second member and the first member is formed when the second member is in a connected state with the first member. One of the first member and the second member may comprise an insertion hole. In s case where the other of the first member and the second member is inserted into the insertion hole by moving the first member and/or the second member in a predetermined direction, the second member may be connected with the first member. The liquid discharge device may be provided with a first sealing member that seals between the first member and the second member by being compressed in the predetermined direction when the second member is in the connected state with the first member, and a second sealing member that seals between the first member and the second member by being compressed in a direction which is perpendicular to the predetermined direction when the second member is in the connected state with the first member.
US07824019B2
A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid flow device, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid flow device includes a first section comprising a plurality of sub-channels created by a partition and a second section comprising a plurality of sub-channels created by a partition. Each partition has a height as viewed from a wall of the fluid flow device. The height of the partition of the second section is less than the height of the partition of the first section. The fluid flow source is operable to produce a fluid flow through the fluid flow device. The fluid flow interacts with the liquid drops to cause liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.
US07824018B2
An image forming apparatus for reducing time required for adjusting the image forming conditions and transport conditions and minimizing the number of recording material used for the adjustment. Image forming conditions and transport conditions for the recording material are adjusted according to the characteristic properties of the recording material. Associated data including an adjustment value obtained from the adjustment of the image forming conditions and transport conditions made by the adjustment unit and the characteristic properties of the recording material associated with the adjustment value is generated. The associated data stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the data collection/delivery apparatus. Delivery data regarding the adjustment of the image forming conditions and transport conditions is received from the data collection/delivery apparatus.
US07824011B2
A cradle unit is provided for a printhead cartridge. The cradle unit has a first printed circuit having print control circuitry of the cradle unit, and a second printed circuit board having connections for connecting the printhead cartridge with a power supply which is remote from the second printhead circuit board and the print control circuitry of the first printed circuit board. The first and second printed circuit boards have complementary connectors which cooperate to provide the connection of the printhead cartridge to the print control circuitry. The complementary connectors being arranged so that the first printed circuit board is able to pivot with respect to the second printed circuit board.
US07824006B2
An image forming apparatus and method to operatively control the same. The apparatus includes an ink cartridge having a plurality of print heads arranged in a widthwise direction of a print medium, a wiping unit to wipe the print heads while moving in the print medium feeding direction, a positional information providing unit to provide positional information about a position of the wiping unit, and a controller to operatively control the print heads. The controller controls the print heads that, on the basis of the positional information provided and offset information of the ink cartridge, the controller estimates a wiping timing to wipe the nozzles of the print heads with the wiping unit and determines a spitting timing to eject a predetermined amount of ink in the wiped sequence of the nozzles, whereby that the wiping and spitting operations are performed at the estimated wiping timing and the determined spitting timing.
US07823996B2
In an apparatus for printing images on a moving primary imaging member by jetting ink, containing a fluid and marking particles, in an image-wise fashion onto the primary imaging member, a device for concentrating the ink prior to transferring a marking particle image to a receiver member. The ink concentrating device includes a fractionating unit for separating fluid of the ink from the marking particles. The fractionating unit is located a predetermined spaced distance from the primary image bearing member. An electrostatic field is established between the primary image bearing member and the fractionating unit for concentrating the marking particles in the liquid of the ink.
US07823994B2
A server rack includes a base and a receiving bracket secured to the base. The base includes a pair of parallel guiding rails. A limiting member is formed on each guiding rail and extends along a first direction. A horizontal guiding slot is defined in the limiting member along an extension direction of each guiding rail. The receiving bracket is supported on and slidable long the guiding rails in the first direction, including a pair of opposite sidewalls parallel to the guiding rails. A horizontal sliding portion is formed on each sidewall of the receiving bracket corresponding to the guiding slot of the limiting member, and engaged with the guiding slot in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction when the receiving bracket is entirely retracted into the base, to prevent the receiving bracket shaking relative to the base during shipment.
US07823985B2
A brake system includes a master cylinder which generates brake fluid pressure by a braking operation of a driver, an electric motor driven slave cylinder that generates brake fluid pressure according to an electrical signal based on the braking operation of the driver, a vehicle wheel cylinder for braking a wheel by the brake fluid pressure generated in the master cylinder or the slave cylinder, a brake light that informs a following vehicle of the operation of the wheel cylinder, and a first sensor and a second sensor that detect stroke positions of the brake pedal. During normal operation of the brake system the brake fluid pressure generated in the slave cylinder is transferred to the wheel cylinder. During abnormal operation of the brake system, the brake fluid pressure generated in the master cylinder is transferred to the wheel cylinder. Further, the first sensor activates the brake light when the slave cylinder operates normally, and the second sensor activates the brake light when the slave cylinder does not operate normally.
US07823979B2
An article of furniture includes a frame and a woven panel forming at least one of a seat portion and a backrest portion having an exposed outer surface. The woven panel includes a plurality of synthetic polymer yarns attached to the frame forming interstices within the woven panel. A wash is adhered to at least a portion of the exposed outer surface of the woven panel and within the interstices. A plurality of the yarns within the woven panel is bonded together by the wash within the interstices.
US07823978B2
The object of the invention is to provide a reclining device which improves engagement between a lock gear and a gear plate for reliable locking without requiring high dimensional accuracy. Four lock gears comprising a pair of first lock gears 40, and a pair of second lock gears 50 in which a gap between the second lock gear 50 and guide protrusions 12, 13 is larger than a gap between the first lock gear 40 and guide protrusions 11, 12 are adopted. Due to elastic function of a biasing member body 90a of an biasing member 90, both the second lock gears 50 are biased radially and inwardly and toward the guide protrusion 13 of the base plate 10.
US07823976B2
A chair includes a backrest and a seat surface. The backrest is adjustable relative to the seat surface, and the backrest is adjustable in its inclination independently of the position of the seat surface. The adjustment of the inclination of the backrest occurs in a stepless manner and without an operating mechanism.
US07823972B2
A recliner including a power adjustment system operable at a first rate, and at least one sensor including an active material element, wherein the sensor is configured to determine an obstacle to adjustment and selectively retard the rate when the obstacle is determined.
US07823970B2
A vehicle seat has a seat cushion, a seat bag, a lock mechanism and a belt anchor. The seat cushion has a cushion frame. The seat bag has a back frame that is rotatably connected to the cushion frame. The lock mechanism is provided on each of the frames, and latch-connected to a striker at a vehicle side. The belt anchor is provided on one of the two frames, and is fastened with a seat belt. A force transmission structure is provided between the two frames, in which when the seat belt is pulled forward, so that a member between the belt anchor and the striker is deformed, a member at a side of the one frame pushes a member at a side of the other frame, thereby force is transmitted from the one frame side to the other frame side.
US07823964B2
A second cross member, which extends in the lateral direction of a vehicle, is provided between one of floor side members and one of tunnel under reinforcements below a front floor panel. The bottom wall of the second cross member is arch-shaped, and a space is provided under the bottom wall. Due to the arch-shaped bottom wall, the second cross member deforms upward upon side collision of the vehicle, whereby the components arranged in the space are not damaged.
US07823962B2
A bunk arrangement including a partition device is providing which is especially suitable for use as a sleeping or storing compartment in a vehicle, especially a truck or a bus. In one alternative, the bunk arrangement includes a partition device with a partition wall with a plurality of wall elements, which are provided for folding together and defolding the wall, for retracting and extending it, respectively, and holding and guiding means for holding the partition wall and for guiding the same between a retracted and an extended state.
US07823961B2
A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: a frame; a set of wheels supported on the frame to allow the materials handling vehicle to move across a floor surface; a rider compartment located within the frame for receiving an operator; and an operator support assembly. The operator support assembly comprises a suspended floorboard upon which the operator may stand when located within the rider compartment and an energy absorbing structure coupled to the frame and the suspended floorboard for absorbing and dissipating at least a portion of energy resulting from disturbances encountered by the vehicle as it moves across the floor surface prior to the energy portion reaching the operator standing on the suspended floorboard, the energy absorbing structure including a damping element for effecting a dampening function.
US07823958B2
A vehicle deck structure that can suppress deformation of a deck floor is provided. The vehicle deck structure includes a deck floor that extends in a vehicle body front-rear direction and a vehicle width direction, a cross member disposed at a lower side of the deck floor and whose longitudinal direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction, and a top plate as a reinforcing member interposed between the deck floor and the cross member. The top plate has a plurality of ridges, whose longitudinal directions each correspond to the vehicle body front-rear direction, and which are arranged in parallel in a vehicle width direction, and these ridges overhang at both sides in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the cross member.
US07823957B2
A protective cover assembly for covering a space defined by at least one wall. The protective cover assembly includes a plurality of rails coupled to one another to form a frame for securing a material over the space. At least one support bow spans the space to support the material. Clamp mechanisms are coupled to the ends of the support bow for securing the protective cover assembly over the space. The clamp mechanisms include a latch member for engaging the wall and a handle for biasing the latch member against the wall. The clamp further includes a link for interconnecting the support bow to the frame. A collar is coupled to the link for guiding the handle and the latch member between an operational position and a stowed position along the link.
US07823956B2
The invention is an apparatus and method for attaching a cover to a golf cart by brackets and the brackets themselves. The tension supplied by the brackets may be the only mechanism by which the cover mounts to the golf cart. Brackets are preferably configured for attachment to the roof of the golf cart. The apparatus may include brackets for mounting the cover to the roof, a stationary main frame member, a movable frame member, and a cover. Brackets receive the stationary frame member. The movable frame member is operatively secured to the stationary main frame member, and configured to pivotably rotate over a portion of the rear compartment of the golf cart. The cover is configured for attachment to the movable frame member so that when the movable frame member rotates over a portion of the rear compartment of the golf cart, the cover covers a portion of the rear compartment of the golf cart.
US07823952B2
A modular dashboard assembly for a vehicle, such as a tactical vehicle, is described. In some cases, the dashboard assembly includes a smart back plane and removably attachable front modules. The back plane may facilitate communications between components within the front modules and systems with the vehicle, or between components.
US07823946B2
A lid apparatus including a tubular frame mounted to an interior member of a vehicle at a periphery of an opening which is defined in a wall surface of the interior member; a lid that covers the opening; a hinge that joins the lid to the frame; a securing device which secures the frame to an inner periphery of the opening; and a positioning piece which is continuously formed with respect to the frame wall and which abuts against the interior member at a peripheral edge of the opening.
US07823945B2
A pipe clamping apparatus comprises a housing defining a pipe aperture with an open bottom. A jaw is pivotally attached inside the housing. When the jaw is in the open position, an upper portion of the jaw extends into the pipe aperture. In operation the top of the pipe contacts the upper portion of the jaw moving the upper portion of the jaw upward and moving a lower portion of the jaw laterally toward the housing to the closed position where the housing and the jaw are in close proximity to the pipe, and the bottom end of the left side portion is located under the pipe. When the jaw is in the closed position, a blocking member can be moved to a locked position to prevent the jaw from moving back toward the open position, and a lock indicator visibly indicates that the jaw is locked closed.
US07823944B1
A method of suspending a vehicle rear suspension assembly. The method employs at least one carrier device for facilitating the suspended support of the vehicle rear suspension assembly. The device includes a pair of rotatably coupled members having support legs that are passed at least partially through an existing opening in the vehicle rear suspension assembly. Projections extending from the support legs subsequently engage the vehicle rear suspension assembly structure, thereby providing support for the vehicle rear suspension assembly once suspended. A suspension element such as a cable or chain is coupled to the device and to a lifting mechanism, overhead conveyor, etc., for suspending the vehicle rear suspension assembly.
US07823943B2
Improvements in integral carriers for carrying multiple containers by their necks are disclosed, the improvements comprising annular neck-engaging structures having circumferential ribs oriented on an inward bias forming an angle relative to horizontal from about 45° to about 65° that permits nesting of the carriers, and a centrally disposed longitudinal handle with an attachment configuration that promotes a balanced distribution of weight for ease in carrying and handling.
US07823938B2
The use of a bumper faceplate with ports provides for the easy assembly, increased structural strength, and dramatically improved aesthetic appearance of an assembled bumper containing bumper components.
US07823935B2
A lock system for casement windows is disclosed which includes a tie bar slidably secured to the flame. The tie bat is secured to a lock handle that is also secured to the flame. The tie bat eliminates the need for rollers riveted to the tie bar by having a first bent section disposed between straight sections and a second bent section disposed between straight sections. All of the straight sections are linearly aligned with one another and at least some of the straight sections of the tie bar are slidably mounted to the flame using conventional guides. The lock system also includes first and second strikers mounted to the sash. The first striker comprising a first ramp that receives a first bent section and the second striker comprising a second ramp that receives a second bent section when the tie bat is slidably moved towards the first and second strikers as the tie bar is moved from an unlocked position to a locked position. Movement of the first and second bent sections along the first and second ramps respectively as the tie bar moves towards the locked position results in the sash and frame being pulled together. A third bent section may be included towards the middle of the tie bar and used to couple the tie bar to the lock handle or actuator.
US07823926B2
A dual notebook including a sheet of backing material, a first set of papers bound to the backing material and having a thickness, and a second set of papers bound to the backing material and having a thickness. The backing material is configured to be folded into a folded position wherein the folded backing material is positioned between the first and second set of papers in a thickness direction of the notebook. The backing material is movable to a flat position wherein the backing material is generally flat, and wherein when the backing material is in the flat position the first and second sets of papers are spaced apart by a distance less than the combined thickness of the first and second sets of papers.
US07823918B2
A closure assembly for an inflator comprises a housing and an outlet plate disposed within the housing. The outlet plate has an outlet opening configured to receive a burst disk. The outlet plate is joined to the housing by a deformation resistance weld. The deformation resistance weld is formed by contacting the outlet plate with a first electrode, contacting an exterior portion of the housing with a second electrode, and applying a voltage through the first and second electrodes to adhere a portion of the housing to a portion of the outlet plate.
US07823916B2
A driver-side supplemental inflatable restraint system is provided. The restraint system includes a steering wheel assembly configured to attach inside of a vehicle passenger compartment, proximate to the driver's seat. The steering wheel assembly includes an annular wheel rim attached to a wheel hub. The wheel rim and hub each define a cavity with an opening. A primary inflatable cushion is operable to transition through the hub opening from a non-expanded state, stowed inside the hub cavity, to an expanded state, inflated outside the hub cavity. A secondary inflatable cushion is operable to transition through the rim opening from a non-expanded state, stowed inside the rim cavity, to an expanded state, inflated outside the rim cavity. At least one inflator is in fluid communication with the primary and secondary cushions, and operable to selectively dispense inflation fluid thereto, and thereby transition the cushions from respective non-expanded states to expanded states.
US07823903B2
A portable draft bar assembly including an end bracket configured to be mounted to a plurality of bucket attachment types of various machinery, and a main bar having a first end configured to be selectively coupled to the end bracket and a second end configured to receive and retain one of a plurality of hitch assembly types. An anchor bracket is configured to be selectively coupled to the main bar at one of a plurality of positions, and an end clamp is slideably coupled to the main bar between second end and the anchor bracket and includes an angled channel. A binder assembly is coupled between the anchor bracket and end clamp, wherein the anchor bracket is selectively coupled to a selected one of the plurality of positions so that the angled channel at least partially engages a leading edge of a bucket to which the end bracket is mounted, and wherein the binder assembly is configured to draw the end clamp and anchor bracket together to wedge and secure the angled channel against the leading edge of the bucket.
US07823898B2
The improved chainless drive of the present invention features a four speed planetary transmission housed within the hub of the driving wheel of an utility tricycle, and an vehicle frame which provides two options for delivering power to the transmission. In the first option the drive shaft, which extends out through bearings on the center line of the driving wheel, has a crank arm fixed on each end. A spindle is fixed in the end of each crank arm and a pedal beam is rotatably mounted near its center on each spindle. A cam roller mounted on each pedal beam near its aft end engages a short length of steel track fastened on the sides of a trunk bolted on the at end off the tricycle frame. The cam roller provides a downward force to counter balance the weight of the rider on the cantilevered forward end off the pedal beam increasing the force on the spindle and thus amplifying the torque delivered to the drive shaft. In the second option the pedal beams are replaced with conventional bicycle pedals and bicycle seat and the trunk is bolted on the forward end off the tricycle frame. Storage space in the fiberglass trunk permits use of the utility tricycle for shopping.
US07823890B2
A chuck includes a driving element, a sleeve movably installed on the driving element and a ring fit in the socket. The driving element includes a socket for receiving a bit, a shank extended from and a shoulder formed between the socket and the shank. The sleeve includes a shoulder formed on an internal side for contact with the shoulder of the driving element for avoiding detachment thereof from the driving element in a direction. The restraint is fit in the socket for avoiding detachment of the sleeve from the driving element in an opposite direction.
US07823889B2
A seal part having a base material, a porous coating layer formed by flame spraying a hard material on a seal surface of the base material, and a lubricating film containing one or more types of materials selected from silver, gold, and tin and a gold-cobalt alloy on the porous coating layer. The seal part of the present invention has superior durability and sealability and further a long life and high reliability even when used in a high temperature (for example 400° C. or more, in particular 400 to 600° C.) and high pressure (for example 2 MPa or more) environment.
US07823886B2
The invention relates to a sealing element at least comprising a housing area, at least one dynamically active sealing area and at least one statically active sealing area which at least partially interacts with the housing area. The invention is characterized in that the static sealing area is at least partially laminated with a hardenable material containing a predetermined number of friction-reducing elements.
US07823880B2
A stepper mechanism for transporting a substrate along a linear transport path, which includes a stationary member and first and second transport members, extending widthwise across the transport path, the stationary member and transport members each being adapted to alternatively grip and release the substrate, and independent drive units are arranged on either side of the transport path for moving the respective ends of the transport members in a transport direction (X), wherein the transport members are movable independently of one another, and at least one of the drive units is adapted to move one end of the first transport member independently of the corresponding end of the second transport member.
US07823878B2
A paper conveying apparatus and method for flipping paper includes a paper feeding roller that can rotate in a positive direction or in a reverse direction, a motion transfer member that has one end coupled with the paper feeding roller, and a paper depressing element coupled with another end of the motion transfer member to be driven and rotated. The method of flipping paper includes: first, feeding a sheet of paper into a first paper conveying path; next, depressing the paper into a second paper conveying path while the paper is leaving the first paper conveying path; and reentering the paper from the second paper conveying path into the first paper conveying path upside down.
US07823874B2
A paper feeder comprising an actuator and a sensor mounted on a main body, the actuator being capable of contacting an upper surface of a sheet placed on a bottom plate provided in a sheet tray as the bottom plate is raised, thereby allowing the sensor to detect that the sheet is present. The paper feeder further comprises a through bore formed in the bottom plate for receiving the actuator when a sheet is absent from the sheet tray, so that the sensor may detect that the sheet is absent, and a push-out guide provided on peripheries of the through bore for contacting the actuator in the through bore as the sheet tray is pulled out, thereby pushing the actuator upward out of the through bore.
US07823872B2
A medium delivery device comprising a medium insertion section into which a sheet-shaped medium to be delivered is inserted in a stacked state, first and second medium guide surfaces that are opposed to each other to guide the sheet-shaped medium to the medium delivery port, a feed roller that is disposed at a side of the first medium guide surface and delivers the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section, to the medium delivery port, a first pressing member that presses the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section against the feed roller, a second pressing member that presses the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section against the first medium guide surface at a position deviating from the feed roller, and a driving mechanism that drives the first pressing member in directions in which the first pressing member moves close to and away from the feed roller.
US07823870B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a common conveyance path through which a sheet fed from a sheet feed tray is conveyed from a registration roller to a transfer section; a direct conveyance path through which the sheet is directly fed from the sheet feed tray to the common conveyance path; a delay conveyance path in which the sheet after being branched from the direct conveyance path is joined to the common conveyance path, and is caused to delay in being fed from the sheet feed tray to the common sheet conveyance path; a conveyance section which conveys the sheet fed from the sheet feed tray to the transfer section; and a controller which controls the conveyance section to convey once the sheet fed from the sheet feed tray from the direct conveyance path to the delay conveyance path, and thereafter to convey to the common conveyance path.
US07823864B2
The present invention discloses a plane braking device for electric winches and electric winch which disposes a section of hollow gear shaft, a section of core shaft, a fixing ring, a wedge shape support, a stopping piece, a braking plate, an elastic element, a wedge shape piece B, a wedge shape piece A, a braking clutch base and so on in a gear box of an electric winch. When a motor works, the section of core shaft of the motor drives the braking clutch base and the wedge shape pieces A, B to rotate, until a gap is formed between the adjacent braking plate and stopping piece between the braking clutch base and the wedge shape piece B, so that the braking effect disappears. When the motor stops suddenly, a heavy load lifted by a tight wire drum provides a reverse pulling force so that the wedge shape piece B produces a reverse thrust force to push the friction planes of the braking plate and the stopping piece, so the plane braking effect is achieved quickly. Based on the plane braking plate, the present invention can increase the braking area and the braking force and achieve safe braking. Furthermore, when there is wear of parts in long usage, so it only needs to replace the braking plate made of friction materials, which can simplify maintenance, reduce the parts costs and ensure service life of the gear box.
US07823861B2
A small vehicle jack, having the ability to lift vehicles having a variety of wheel bases, and axle configurations. A support frame provides stability for a vertical bar, which supports a winch means. The winch means raises a lifting frame using a strap means, and the lifting frame which follows the vertical bar using an improved sleeve means, in which rollers are used on either side of the vertical bar. The jack may have adjustable and detachable wheel support means, in which the wheels of the vehicle are used as the contact points to raise the vehicle. The jack may also be used without wheel support means, but instead use hook means to attach to an axle.
US07823858B2
Masonry units (10) are integrally assembled by tightening forces of bolts (60) and nuts (70), in a condition that interlayer metal plates (50) are interposed between the masonry units. A basic form (11) of the masonry unit is contained in a mold for forming the masonry unit. A space (98) for fluidic covering material, which is chargeable with the covering material, is defined between upper and lower faces of the form (11), and the fluidic covering material is charged in the space. The upper and lower faces of the masonry unit are covered with the solidified covering material (12). According to the present invention, high dimensional accuracy of the masonry unit can be ensured, and efficiency of the production process of the masonry units is promoted to improve productivity of the masonry units.
US07823839B2
Systems and methods for modifying fluid flowing over solid bodies are provided. A representative system incorporates a vorticity concentration-producing component and a synthetic jet actuator. The vorticity concentration-producing component is disposed on a pressure side of the solid body. The fluid flowing over the solid body remains attached to a surface of the solid body in a vicinity of the vorticity concentration-producing component. The synthetic jet actuator includes a jet housing that incorporates an internal chamber with a volume of fluid and an opening in the jet housing connecting the internal chamber to an external environment having the fluid. The synthetic jet actuator is operative to periodically change the volume within the internal chamber such that a synthetic jet stream comprising a series of fluid vortices is generated and projected in the external environment out from the opening of the jet housing resulting in a reduction in pressure drag of the solid body compared to the pressure drag exhibited by the solid body without operation of the synthetic jet actuator.
US07823826B1
An aircraft having a gas turbine engine with vectorable cold and hot nozzles. The aircraft is provided with a ducting in the wing which extends from an inlet facing downwards to an outlet in the upper surface of the wing directed rearwardly. The cold vectorable nozzles of the engine are designed so that they can be swung from a vertical downward position to provide vertical lift to a horizontal position directed rearwardly to produce forward thrust, to a position where they are directed upwardly and discharged into the ducting 24. In this way, the air discharged through the outlet of the ducting 24 enhances the aerodynamic lift produced by the wing at slower speeds by inducing the air flow over the wing. In addition, the forward component of the thrust produced in the ducting provides a forward thrust on the aircraft, whilst additional forward thrust is produced by swiveling the hot nozzles.
US07823825B2
A roll medium supporting apparatus includes: a base body portion to be inserted into a hollow shaft portion of a rolled medium; a plurality of contact supporting portions provided circumferentially of the base body portion so as to be capable of being displaced radially of the hollow shaft portion, having a plurality of predetermined positions within the displaceable range, and coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hollow shaft portion and supporting the same; and a stabilizing mechanism configured to stabilize the contact supporting portions at the plurality of predetermined positions.
US07823824B2
Device for winding a safety belt onto a shaft, with a principle mainspring (7), which prestresses the shaft (4) in the winding direction (a) of the safety belt (2); a ratchet wheel (12) that rotates relative to the shaft (4); a blocking device (15) for blocking the rotational movement of the ratchet wheel (12) in the winding direction (a); a balance spring (20) which transmits to the shaft (4) a prestressing force that opposes the prestressing force of the principle mainspring (7) when the ratchet wheel (12) is blocked; and a free-wheel clutch that exhibits a blocking ring (34) with teeth (35, 39) and a blocking element that interacts with said teeth (35, 39). The blocking element has two ends having an angular spacing which differs from a whole-number multiple of the divisional spacing of the teeth (35, 39).
US07823819B1
A pill crushing device and its associated method of operation. The pill container is comprised of a container and a lid assembly that covers the container. A pill to be crushed is placed inside the container and is automatically crushed using the power of a battery operated motor. A pill is introduced into the container through its open top end. A lid assembly is provided that is selectively attached over the open top end of the container. The lid assembly includes a ram that extends into the open top end of the container when the lid assembly is attached to the container. A battery operated motor is also provided in the lid assembly for raising and lowering the ram within said container. By attaching the lid assembly to the container and lowering the ram into the container, a pill can be crushed within the confines of the container.
US07823810B2
A method and a device for producing and/or conditioning powdered material. The aim of the invention is to provide a method and an associated device which are used for producing and/or conditioning powdered material in a spouted bed comprising inert particles and in which a dry, fine powder having a very small particle diameter is produced at a low cost and at adequately large quantities in a continuous operation. This aim is achieved by a method in which the material is treated in several stages in a spouted bed comprising inert particles. In the method, the powdered material that is preprocessed in a first spouted bed and is separated from the larger material particles in an integrated dust collector is fed to a superimposed second spouted bed as a material-gas flow along with the gas flow discharged from the first spouted bed in order to be further reduced in size and be conditioned. After separating the fine particles from the larger material particles in a dust collector that is integrated into the second stage, the fine particles are discharged from the two-stage spouted bed treatment along with the gas flow as a powdered material having very small particle diameters. The separated larger material particles are once again fed to the second spouted bed of the second jet chamber. The device includes a spouted bed apparatus in which a jet chamber encompassing an integrated dust collector as well as a second superimposed jet chamber encompassing another integrated dust collector are disposed.
US07823804B2
The telescoping pop-up sprinkler includes a telescoping piston assembly that allows the piston assembly of the pop-up to extend upwards at a greater height than the length of the pop-up sprinkler body. The telescoping pop-up sprinkler has a main body with a piston assembly that includes two or more pistons that engage internally with one another, with stops provided at one end of each piston to limit the stroke of each piston. Multiple internal seals are provided to prevent the bypassing of water around the outer diameter of each piston.
US07823797B2
A color barcode can record much more amount of information than black white barcode. However, the problem of the color barcode is that it is easy to lose integrity or authenticity in printing and copy generation. This invention provides an apparatus and a method to keep the integrity or authenticity of the color barcode. Such is accomplished by the color information portion of the color barcode representing the color information about what colors are used for color tiles of data portion of the color barcode and an apparatus and a method for producing and reproducing such color barcode.
US07823790B1
An apparatus for holding a SIM (subscriber identification module) card for an electronic device. The electronic device is implemented using integrated circuits on a PCB (printed circuit board) contained within a device housing. A SIM connector mounted on the PCB may electrically connect a SIM card to the PCB. The SIM card is releasably held in position by a SIM card door. The SIM card door may engage the SIM card with the SIM connector when in a closed position. The SIM card door in open position may slidably accept the SIM card. The SIM card door is releasably engageable with the housing and is rotatably attached to the housing in order to swing to the closed position from the open position. Holding the SIM card with the SIM card door provides for a smaller SIM connector and thus a minimum amount of PCB area for mounting the SIM connector.
US07823786B2
There is described a compact laser module (1) for reading optical codes, comprising: a scanning illumination section having at least one source (8) for generating a laser beam, and a scanner (9, 10) for scanning the optical code (C) to be read with a laser spot, and a receiving section (20-24) for collecting at least a portion of the light diffused by the code (C) and detecting the collected light, the receiving section and the scanning illumination section being spatially distinct.
US07823781B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for source tagging an optical storage device includes the optical storage device having a first portion adapted to store information and a second portion adjacent the first portion, and an electronic article surveillance tag associated with the second portion.
US07823774B2
An apparatus and method automatically verifies online transactions, such as credit card charges, made by a customer of a bank or financial institution. A browser “plug-in” is used to monitor a first party use of the internet to detect online transactions and create transaction data. The transaction data is forwarded to the financial institution to correlate with transaction data received independently from the other party in the transaction. The financial institution can provide the customer with alerts, such as online purchase warnings, if there are problems or discrepancies between the data from the first party and the data provided by the second party. The transaction data can also be used in other ways to provide information to the financial institution's customers.
US07823771B2
An information card includes two display panels as a user interface, which constitute a card body, and display visible information constituted by a portrait image and ID information. An internal memory is incorporated in a card body, for storing verification information of that the visible information has been verified externally. Furthermore, a mode selector selectively sets an employee ID card mode or driver license mode. The display panels change over the visible information according to the employee ID card mode or driver license mode. Also, an interface is accessed by a rewriting digital still camera to rewrite the portrait image. The interface receives an encrypted form of the image data from the digital still camera. A microcomputer decrypts the image data.
US07823766B1
A system and method for conducting a financial transaction is disclosed. The system includes a first memory location embedded in a personal portable device. The first memory location stores a plurality of personal financial data files associated with a user. The system also includes a second memory location to store biometric information and a first input interface to receive authentication information after initiation of a purchase transaction session. The system also includes a security module including an input coupled to the first interface to authenticate the authentication information based on the biometric information and an output interface comprising an input coupled to the first memory location and an output to provide personal financial data file information to a host device.
US07823763B2
A method including providing a first portion including one of an annular portion or a hub portion; rotating a second portion including the other of the hub portion or the annular portion; and pressing the second portion against the first portion such that friction between the hub portion and the annular portion causes a weld joint to be created; and wherein the annular portion may or may not include a frictional damping means, which may include an insert.
US07823762B2
A solder ball is loaded on a bump having a small height (FIG. 5(B)) and the height of the bump is intensified by melting the solder ball by heating with laser (FIG. 5(C)). Thus, the heights of the bumps are adjusted within a requested allowable range. Because the bump is not removed by heating when the height of the low bump is intensified, the printed wiring board is not subjected to local heat history thereby intensifying reliability of the bump of a printed wiring board.
US07823758B2
A vee shaped open-armed folding hanger (10) for an improved method of drying and storing watersport garments (20, 22, & 25). Current hangers support all the weight of the garments on the shoulders or shoulder straps causing damage to the garment. This hanger minimizes the stress on a garment (20) by supporting its mid-section from an open horizontal arm (14). By providing two steeply angled arms, bootie posts (12b), to hold booties (22) and glove lanyard (24) for gloves (25), all garments are kept on one hanger. When not in use it is folded to conceal the hook, eliminating the potential to inflict damage to a garment when packed together for travel. In the open position, the rotated vee shape provides more vertical reach than other designs; increasing the hanger's versatility. The addition of an auxiliary swivel hook (27) provides even more versatility in suspending the hanger.
US07823757B1
A spill containment system for dispensing a berm of containment material on a support surface around a liquid spill to inhibit the liquid spill from spreading across the support surface includes a container receiving the containment material. The container includes a bottom wall and a perimeter wall that extends upwardly from the bottom wall to define an interior space of the container. A dispensing assembly is coupled to the container. The dispensing assembly is actuated to dispense the containment material from the container. The dispensing assembly controls flow of the containment material through a dispensing aperture that extends through a rear wall of the perimeter wall.
US07823752B2
A device for dispensing a heated liquid, such as a hot melt adhesive, which includes a dispenser body adapted to dispense the heated liquid, a solenoid valve, and a pneumatic section including a housing coupled between the solenoid valve and dispenser body. The pneumatic housing is formed from a thermally insulating material which may include a thermoplastic polymer such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or a fluoroplastic polymer to reduce heat transfer from the dispenser body through the pneumatic housing thereby thermally insulating the solenoid valve.
US07823751B2
A method and apparatus for extruding the first fluid capable of foaming through a porous member to produce a first foamed extrudate while simultaneously dispensing a second flowable material preferably containing particulate matter adjacent the first extrudate.
US07823749B2
A positioning mechanism for a vending machine is provided to properly align product containers for vending purposes. The vending machine includes a cabinet that establishes a product storage zone, a product delivery zone and a dispensing chamber. Arranged within the product storage zone are a plurality of shelves which include dividers that separate the shelves into a plurality of product queues. Each product queue includes an dispensing mechanism that releases a selected product from the product queue for delivery to the dispensing chamber. In addition, each product queue includes a positioning mechanism to align products in the product queue. The positioning mechanism includes a support member secured to the divider and a spacer bar pivotally secured to the support member. The spacer bar automatically adjusts to a width of a product container placed in the product queue in order to assure proper alignment of the product for dispensing.
US07823748B2
A drug filling apparatus capable of preventing drugs from being bridged to each other and reducing troubles. The drug filling apparatus functions to select specific tablets from various types of tablet groups and fill the selected tablets into a vial, and includes a storage cabinet, a drug supplying section, a drug halting section, a drug conveying section, a drug filling section, a vial storing section, and a vial carrying section. A drug dispenser is installed in the drug halting section. A receptacle of the drug dispenser is constituted by an outer receptacle portion and an inner receptacle portion. When a time for filling of tablets in the drug dispenser into the vial comes, a motor of a drive section rotates according to specified signals to rotate the inner receptacle portion; that is, the rotational orientation of the inner receptacle portion is changed to reverse the inner receptacle portion.
US07823736B1
A plastic closure for receipt on a container includes a plastic ring having an internal recess adapted to be received by snap fit over an external crown or bead on the container neck finish such that the ring is retained against axial movement on the container neck finish. A plastic lid is coupled by a hinge to the ring, with the ring, the lid and the hinge being of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. The lid has a skirt that is adapted releasably to be snapped to the ring in a closed position of the lid over the ring. The lid skirt may have an external bead that is adapted to be received by snap-fit within an internal channel on the ring in the closed position of the lid over the ring, and a conical internal surface on the ring may be provided to guide the bead on the lid into the channel on the ring.
US07823728B2
A storage container includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base. At least one of the walls includes a plurality of projections on its exterior at different heights. The interior of the wall includes a plurality of channels into which the projections of a like container would be slidably received when the empty containers are nested. A plurality of supports are pivotably connected to the container and can be selectably pivoted to block selected ones of the plurality of channels such that the projections are supported on the supports and do not enter the channels, thereby supporting the upper container at a selected height.
US07823723B2
The invention comprises a novel apparatus for delivering a nutritive substance comprising a container body having a base at one end thereof, an upper portion adapted for removable receipt of a closure, the upper portion defining an opening therein, and a chamber defined by the container body, the chamber being in fluid communication with the upper portion opening. A laminate seal having at least two layers is bonded across the upper portion opening and is adapted to provide an airtight seal across the opening. A nutritive substance is bonded to at least one layer of the laminate seal. The container additionally comprises a closure removably coupled to the upper portion. The closure comprises a cutting portion which is adapted to pierce the laminate seal, thereby releasing the nutritive substance into the container contents.
US07823715B2
A belt conveyor comprising a telescopic frame (1), an endless conveyor belt (9) which is supported by idlers (12) connected to the frame (1), a drawing drum (10), and a tilting drum (11), via which the conveyor belt (9) is arranged to run, and an actuator (14) mounted to the frame (1) for changing the length of the frame (1). The frame of the belt conveyor comprises frame blocks (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g) installed to each other in a slidable manner and a lattice mechanism (20) installed to them in a pivotal manner to effect a change in the length of the belt conveyor as a result of the operation of the actuator (14). The frame blocks (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g) comprise at least one frame pipe (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g), wherein at least one frame block (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g) comprises a supporting beam (4a, 4b, 4b′ 4c, 4d, 4d′, 4e, 4f, 4g) connected to at least one frame pipe (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g).
US07823708B2
A damping device for use with a rotatably-mounted steering shaft. The damping device comprises a magnetorheological material that can be embedded in an open-network carrier and is directly or indirectly in contact with the steering shaft, a coil arranged in effective proximity to the magnetorheological material, and a body indirectly in contact with the steering shaft through the magnetorheological material, which does not rotate with the steering shaft. A voltage can be applied the coil to activate the magnetorheological material, increasing a viscosity of the magnetorheological material to inhibit relative rotation of the steering shaft and the body.
US07823706B2
The present invention relates to an elevator condition monitoring system, which comprises at least a control unit (104) and a sensor arrangement (250) connected to the control unit, while the elevator comprises an elevator car (100), an elevator drive machine (109) and a control system (110) including the required safety circuit and actuators. The control unit of the condition monitoring system and the sensor arrangement connected to the control unit have been fitted in conjunction with the elevator car. The sensor arrangement comprises at least a sensor which measures the current of the safety circuit and is galvanically separated from the elevator safety circuit and connected to the safety circuit without interrupting the safety circuit wiring.
US07823699B2
An electromagnetic door lock assembly (30) includes a first portion (32) supported relative to hoistway doors (22) and a second portion (34) supported for movement with an elevator car (24). The first and second portions cooperate so that electromagnetic interaction between them unlocks a set of hoistway doors (22) for access to the car (24), for example. In disclosed embodiments, a first portion (32) of the actuator has at least one stationary electromagnetic portion (36A, 36B) and at least one moveable portion (38). The second portion (34) that moves with the car (24) includes at least one stationary electromagnetic portion (44). Magnetic interaction between the first and second portions (32, 34) causes selected movement of the moveable portion (38) for selectively locking or unlocking the doors (22).
US07823692B2
A muffler for an engine in oilfield applications has a tube with nozzles in its inlet section for spraying a mist of water from the well into the exhaust gases produced by the engine, so that a significant portion of the water is converted to water vapor and exits with the exhaust gases at the outlet of the tube. Vortex generators on the interior surface of the midsection of the tube create turbulence in the exhaust gases and water mist. A sump at the outlet section of the tube collects the remaining water and pollutants trapped by the water for subsequent disposal.
US07823690B2
A disposable stethoscope cover that covers at least the surface of the diaphragm is disclosed. The cover contacts a patient during use and reduces transmittal of microorganisms. The cover is in the form of a flexible sheet having a top and a bottom surface. The sheet has an adhesive material on a portion of the surface thereof that secures the sheet to the surface of the diaphragm. The sheet further includes at least one wing extending from the sheet. The wing has an adhesive on at least one surface thereof for securing the wing to the sheet when the wing is folded over at least a portion of a tube section of the stethoscope.
US07823688B2
The invention relates to an electric power steering for a motor vehicle, that may include a gear rack (11) that is positioned axially displaceable inside a steering housing (1) and can be driven by an electric servomotor (16), arranged inside a motor housing (7), with the aid of a belt (14) and a gear (12) for assisting with the steering. A simple and reliable belt tensioning is possible by providing an insertion wedge (21) between the motor housing (7) and the steering housing (1), which pushes the motor housing (7) away from the steering housing (1) for the purpose of tensioning of the belt (14).
US07823685B2
An operating device is provided for a vehicle, in particular for an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle. The operating device comprises a manually actuatable control lever. The control lever is used to adjust or modify the speed of the vehicle. The control lever is adjustable in a longitudinal direction, in order to adjust the speed of the vehicle. An implement with which at least one working function may be performed may be fitted to the vehicle. In order to enable ergonomic operation, it is proposed that the control lever comprise at least one operating element, with which the implement may be driven, and that the operating element be arranged so as to be movable together with the control lever in the longitudinal direction.
US07823682B2
A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.
US07823678B2
A versatile vehicle speed sensor compactly disposed on the outside in a radial direction of a gear. A motorcycle includes a power unit having a torque take-out shaft for outputting a torque generated by an internal combustion engine as a drive torque for driving a rear wheel, a torque transmission mechanism T which includes a gear pair consisting of bevel gears and a drive shaft and which transmits the drive torque to the rear wheel, and a vehicle speed sensor such that teeth of a driven gear constituting the gear pair constitute a portion to be detected. The vehicle speed sensor includes a main body portion having a detecting portion opposed to the addendum of the teeth in the direction of a normal to the addendum cone surface of the driven gear, and the main body portion extends along the normal direction.
US07823673B2
A variable wheel positioning vehicle has a wheel position changing mechanism and a wheel position control device to change a wheel position of a wheel with respect to a center of gravity of a vehicle body. The wheel position changing mechanism is arranged to move a suspension device along a movement path with respect to the vehicle body and to hold the suspension device at any position along the movement path. The wheel position control device issues a movement command to the wheel position changing mechanism that changes a wheel positioning distance between a center rotation axis of one of the wheels and the center of gravity of the vehicle body as measured in a direction parallel to an acceleration direction of the center of gravity of the vehicle body based on a traveling condition the vehicle.
US07823670B2
The invention concerns a hybrid drive train comprising a heat engine (2), at least one first electrical machine (31) and at least a second electrical machine (32) each including a stator and a rotor, a battery (BAT) connected to the first and second electrical machines (31, 32), and a controlling member (5) for controlling the charge or discharge of the battery (BAT), the heat engine (2) and the first and second electrical machines (31, 32). The invention is characterized in that the first electrical machine (31) is arranged between the transmission member (4) and one (7D) of the driven wheels (7G, 7D), and in that the second electrical machine (32) is arranged inside the heat engine (2), the rotor of the second electrical machine (32) being fixed on a crank web and its stator (34) being fixed in the housing (36) of the heat engine (2).
US07823668B2
A hybrid electric vehicle is arranged such that a driving force of an electric motor can be transmitted to driving wheels and that a rotary shaft of the electric motor can be coupled with an output shaft of an engine. The vehicle comprises a starter motor provided separately from the electric motor, an electric power source provided separately from a battery that supplies power to the electric motor, to supply power to the starter motor, and a braking force maintaining device configured to be activated by power from the power source to maintain a braking force on the vehicle. When a request for starting the engine is made, if a specified abnormal condition which makes the starting of the engine by the electric motor impracticable is detected, an ECU causes the engine to be started by the starter motor when the braking force maintaining device is not active.
US07823663B2
A downhole apparatus comprises a body, extendable members mounted on the body and being movable between retracted and extended configurations, and a remotely operable retaining arrangement for maintaining the extendable members in the retracted configuration. The extendable members may be cutters, such that the apparatus may be a cutting apparatus, such as a reamer. An operator may control the apparatus to retain the cutting members in the retracted configuration, or prevent the extension of the cutting members.
US07823647B2
A composition of a wet hydrocarbon foaming agent including a siloxane can foam wet hydrocarbons. The siloxane wet hydrocarbon foaming agent advantageously foams hydrocarbons that have as little as 5 percent water present and those hydrocarbons having as much as 90 percent water present. The wet hydrocarbon foaming agent can be used in oil and gas production for gas lift and foam blocking applications. The foaming agent can also be used for clearing hydrocarbons from pipelines and other vessels used for transporting oil and gas.
US07823640B2
An ESP variable speed drive controller functions in conjunction with a safety logic solver, dedicated pressure sensors and a surface emergency isolation valve, or safety shut-off valve (SSV), to perform a full functional test of the complete wellhead flowline system. The method includes the step of using a plurality of pressure transmitters to monitor the flowline pressure during normal operations and during a full stroke test of the safety shutoff valve and adjusting the speed of the downhole ESP during the test to maintain the pipeline pressure within predetermined safe pressure limits. This wellhead flowline protection system and method utilizes the downhole ESP speed controller and an SSV to ensure that dangerous pressure levels are not reached and provides for full functional safety testing of the wellhead system. The ESP motor speed controller is used to permit functional testing and remove the pressure source from protected downstream flowline piping.
US07823636B2
A packer includes first and second external seal elements. The first external seal element is adapted to form an annular seal in the well. The second external seal element is adapted to be moved in response to fluid in the well to produce a force to at least partially assist an operation of the packer.
US07823625B2
An apparatus and method of making an upper body heating and cooling garment including heat transfer tubing and quick-release connectors. Operation of the garment is unaffected by the wearer carrying a load on a portion of the wearer's body. The garment includes a heat transfer area and a load bearing area. The heat transfer area includes heat transfer tubing positioned on the surface of the garment. In one embodiment, the tubing is sewn onto the fabric of the garment. The tubing is attached to a thermal unit by connector assemblies that firmly lock together and release upon application of a specified axial tension force. Each connector assembly includes a male and female adapters. The female adapter includes a latching member with an opening that has a bottom. The bottom is configured to allow for easily inserting, retaining, and releasing the male adapter.
US07823623B2
A twin-belt casting machine for casting metal strip. The machine is provided with a casting cavity which includes an upstream fixed casting region, in which the belts are in fixed convergent paths in contact with the cast slab, and an adjacent downstream portion in which the belts are adjustable between alignment with the fixed convergent paths and non-alignment therewith (being less convergent or divergent). When the adjustable portions of the paths are moved outwardly relative to the fixed convergent paths, the belts separate from the cast slab at differing predetermined points within the casting cavity. By adjusting the downstream portion of the casting cavity in this manner, the casting machine can operate at essentially constant throughput for a wide range of alloys while ensuring that the cast slab exiting the caster has a temperature within a predetermined range suitable for further rolling to produce sheet product.
US07823609B2
Method and apparatus for filling a plurality of air breathing tanks used by firemen and scuba divers
A source of compressed air, such as one or more air compressors and/or one or more tanks of compressed air, is used to sequentially fill a plurality of compressed air storage cylinders. A plurality of pressure-sensitive, one way check valves cause the storage cylinders to be automatically filled up, one at a time, in a determined sequence. The outputs of the storage cylinders are connected through a plurality of differential air pressure valves to a fill station, to cause the storage cylinders to fill up individual air breathing tanks, in which the storage cylinders are depleted in a determined sequence, one at a time. By depleting first the first to be filled storage cylinder, first in—first out, the same filling procedure can be used to refill the air storage cylinders.
US07823607B2
System for transport of untreated drill cuttings, comprising a tank (2). The tank (2) is arranged below the deck of a ship (1) and has an output unit (10) at the bottom (6), to feed the drill cuttings towards an output opening (8). A pump (21) is provided below the bottom of the tank (2) to feed the drill cuttings through an unloading line (13). The unloading line (13) has a substantially uniform cross section and is shaped so that the velocity of the flow close to the inner wall is substantially equal in the same cross section. The tank (2) has an upper circular cylindrical part (3) and a lower frustuconical part (4) and a substantially flat bottom (6). In the flat bottom (6) is an output opening (8), which extends from the side wall (5) of the frustuconical part (4) to an inner dome or cone (11).
US07823602B2
A hydraulic system having at least one hydraulic valve for actuating a component, wherein a control pressure acting on the hydraulic valve can be activated through a supply pressure of a pilot circuit having at least one actuator. At least one pressure reduction apparatus is connected in series with the actuator.
US07823601B2
To provide a drain trap which can simplify maintenance operations by allowing effluent to flow to a discharge unit properly. The drain trap has a main body equipped with a communicating path which communicates a receiving unit and a discharge unit; a storage unit which, being installed in the communicating path, stores effluent received by the receiving unit; and a normally-closed check valve which, being installed in the communicating path, floats up to allow the effluent in the storage unit to flow to the discharge unit when the effluent reaches or exceeds a set amount, in which the storage unit is installed in such a way as to communicate with a part right under the normally-closed check valve, and the discharge unit is installed in the lowest part of a discharge-side communicating path so that no effluent will be stored in the discharge-side communicating path, which is that part of the communicating path which runs between the normally-closed check valve and the discharge unit.
US07823600B2
A system for providing an anchor member on a fabric portion of a tent, such as a tent body or a tent fly, includes an anchor member and an anchor patch sewn to at least a portion of the anchor member with threads. The anchor patch is laminated to the fabric portion of the tent without the threads extending through the fabric portion of the tent. A tent including such a system is also disclosed, as well as the method of providing the anchor member on the fabric portion of the tent.
US07823598B2
A single portable apparatus for cleaning and charging hearing aids combines the functions of charging and cleaning hearing aid devices into a single unit.
US07823596B2
A washing device for washing a portion of a user's head includes a discharge section which discharges a cleaning liquid into a washing cap attached to a portion of a user's head, and a recovery section which drains the cleaning liquid out of the washing cap so as to recover it. The device again discharges the cleaning liquid recovered by the recovery section from the discharge section, and recirculates the cleaning liquid so as to wash the portion of the user's head covered by the washing cap. When the cleaning liquid is dispersed into the washing cap, the cleaning liquid passes through a nozzle unit so that a lot of microbubbles are generated in the cleaning liquid. The microbubbles are very fine air bubbles, and can remove fine particles of dirt down to the order of a few microns but do not damage the user's scalp and hair.
US07823584B2
An atomizer for a fluid, in particular, a fluid for medical aerosol therapy. In order to allow simplified operation and improved safety in use, the atomizer has a counter device for counting the number of operations of the atomizer and the number of containers inserted. The atomizer is locked against further operation and/or against removal of the current container or insertion of a new container, if a certain number of operations of the atomizer and/or a certain number of containers inserted has/have been reached or exceeded.
US07823583B2
A solar collector structural support system that affixes to a mounting surface without penetrating the mounting surface is disclosed. The invention in the preferred embodiment includes a base assembly comprising: a plurality of leg members, a center junction elements configured to receive (a) the proximal end of each of the plurality of leg members and (b) a support member configured to securely uphold at least one of the one or more one solar collectors, and at least one footing adapted to frictionally engage the mounting surface. Multiple base assemblies may be interconnected using peripheral junction elements to form arrays of solar collectors of arbitrarily large size. The peripheral junction element is configured to couple the leg members of multiple base assemblies. When connected with the present invention, a plurality of solar concentrators form an array with greater structural integrity and less susceptibility.
US07823576B2
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for lighting charcoal, specifically a single-use, substantially consumable, chimney-style charcoal starter. The apparatus may include an open-ended, substantially tubular body, a charcoal support, and a fuel source. The apparatus may be charged with charcoal disposed upon the charcoal support. The apparatus may be fashioned such that as the fuel source burns, the charcoal may be ignited from the innermost coals to the outermost coals, at which point the apparatus may also be substantially consumed.
US07823575B2
A saw includes a base, a table supported above the base and configured to support a workpiece, an arm coupled to and extending above the base, and a saw unit supported by the arm so that the saw unit is disposed above the table. A first rail is fixedly coupled to the base and extends in a longitudinal direction, and a first bearing member is coupled to the table. The first bearing member moves along the first rail so that the table is moveable relative to the base in the longitudinal direction between a cantilevered position and an uncantilevered position, without any movement of the table relative to the first bearing member. The first bearing member is directly in contact with the first rail in both the cantilevered and uncantilevered positions.
US07823573B2
A paintball marker of the kind used for propelling a paintball towards a target during the game of paintball. The paintball marker includes a handle to be grasped by the hand of a user during play. A comfortable grip is detachably connected to the handle and a replaceable insert is removably received within an insert opening through the grip. The replaceable insert has a particular color, indicia, and/or three-dimensional design to provide an ornamentally and visually distinctive grip to identify the user or represent his team. The insert can be quickly and easily separated from the grip to be replaced by a different insert having a different color, indicia, or design according to the needs of the user. Accordingly, the ornamentality of the grip of the paintball marker may be quickly and easily changed without having to replace the entire grip.
US07823558B2
A tumble system for the intake manifold of an internal-combustion engine is provided with a number of cylinders. The tumble system is provided with at least one throttle valve for varying the section of passage of air through an intake pipe, which connects a cylinder with the intake manifold. The throttle valve has a throttle butterfly mounted so as to rotate under the thrust of an actuator device equipped with at least one actuator element, which is made of a shape-memory material that generates a torque by modifying its own geometry following upon application of an external stress of a physical nature.
US07823551B2
A valve train for an internal combustion engine that uses motors to open/close intake valves of cylinders. The motors drive the intake valves for each of a plurality of groups of cylinders that perform an explosion stroke at substantially equal crank angle intervals. Since the intake valves are driven for each of the plurality of groups of cylinders that perform an explosion stroke at substantially equal crank angle intervals, the explosion stroke is performed regularly even when an operation is conducted with only a particular group of cylinders. This makes it possible to inhibit driveability deterioration.
US07823548B2
A method to adjust timing of an electrically actuated valve, said electrically actuated valve operating in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising during a cycle of said cylinder, opening said electrically actuated valve at a first valve opening position without activating a valve opening coil, and closing the valve at a first closing position; and during a second subsequent cycle of said cylinder, opening said electrically actuated valve at a second opening position that is varied based on the crankshaft angle at which said first closing occurs, where the second opening position is increased as said the crankshaft angle at which the first closing occurs increases.
US07823545B2
A piston squirter system for an internal combustion engine includes an oil reservoir, a variable displacement pump, and, for each cylinder, a piston squirter that sprays oil onto a piston for cooling and lubricating. A gallery connects the variable displacement pump to the piston squirters. The variable displacement pump receives oil from the oil reservoir and distributes the oil through the gallery to the piston squirters at a flow rate according to pressure required. The gallery does not require a relief valve and the piston squirters do not require check valves.
US07823526B2
The foldable warning cone (10) is formed from paper, thin plastic, fabric, or a combination thereof, and includes two tapered side panels (12) and a base panel (14). The base panel (14) extends between the lower edges (34) of the side panels and includes a central folding seam (16), which allows the base panel to be folded upward so that the cone can collapse into a very thin configuration.
US07823525B2
A floating platform is provided. The floating platform includes a top surface (14), a plurality of buoyancy members (12) interconnected to the top surface and extending downwardly into a body of water, a bottom plate (16) and a plurality of interstitial volumes (24) that are sealed at a bottom end by the bottom plate to prevent the flow of water into the interstitial volume.
US07823523B2
A Portable Dry Dock (PDD) system designed for commercial servicing of recreational vessels (RVs) in inland waterways (IW). This PDD is disassembled and transported from one IW to another. This PDD was designed specifically to improve the efficiency in the most typical maintenance jobs in RVs. The convenient layout of the equipment and the closed environment of the PDD reduce the execution time and improve the working conditions. The isolated environment created by the superstructure, deck and roof of the PDD significantly reduces the environmental impact. The isolated environment inside the PDD is controlled in temperature and humidity. The air filtering and waste water collection systems remove dust and other substances coming from the operation, stopping pollutants from getting into the IW.
US07823521B1
A gauge wheel assembly for a farming implement is disclosed which comprises a hub portion positioned substantially centrally with respect to the assembly, a rim portion forming a circumference of the assembly and forming a circumferential ground contacting surface; and an intermediate portion positioned between and connecting the hub portion and the rim portion. The intermediate portion comprises a hub side section positioned about the hub portion, a rim side section positioned inwardly of the rim portion, and a plurality of spoke sections extending from the hub side section to the rim side section and connecting the hub side section to the rim side section. The rim side section encircling the plurality of spoke sections. The hub side section of the intermediate portion defines an aperture with the hub portion being positioned in the hub side section. The intermediate portion is separable from the rim portion and the hub portion.
US07823519B2
A dressing table skirt has a tabletop portion that is sized to fit over a dressing table and a drape portion covering the sides and legs of the dressing table. The drape portion is attached to the perimeter of the tabletop portion. The tabletop portion of the skirt may have one or more anti-skid pieces that come in contact with the dressing table. A continuous slit is provided in the tabletop portion and drape portion of the dressing table skirt. The slit includes a keyhole shape on the tabletop portion that is bulbous and forms into a narrow channel. One or more fasteners may hold the slit or expanded slit together. The drape portion may also have one or more fasteners found at the bottom edge positioned to couple the drape portion to the dressing table.
US07823507B2
It is proposed to provide a printing die clamp which can clamp a printing die by rotating the take-up shaft without rotating the printing cylinder. A printing die clamp is proposed for clamping a printing die 1 wrapped around an outer periphery of a printing cylinder 2 of a printing press against the outer periphery of the printing cylinder 2 by engaging one end of the printing die 1 with the printing cylinder 2 through an engaging means 18 provided on the printing cylinder 2, engaging the other end of the printing die 1 with a take-up shaft 3 rotatably mounted in a receiving groove 19 formed in the outer periphery of the printing cylinder 2, and rotating the take-up shaft 3. The printing cylinder 2 has a tubular printing cylinder shaft 9 in which a control shaft 5 is inserted so as to be rotatable relative to the printing cylinder shaft 9. The printing die clamp further includes gears 21, 22 and 23 for transmitting the rotation of the control shaft 5 to the take-up shaft 3, a die clamp motor 4 for rotating the control shaft 5, and a first clutch 6 provided in a torque transmission path through which the rotation of the die clamp motor 4 is transmitted to the control shaft 5 for selectively transmitting the rotation of the die clamp motor 4 to the control shaft 5.
US07823505B2
This machine for marking hollow parts comprises a marking member designed to be on contact in at least one line of tangency with a hollow part for it to be marked, and a first and a second mandrel capable of supporting respectively a first part to be marked and a second part previously marked. A control camera is placed at a focal length from the marked surface of the second part. The first mandrel is capable of moving the first part relative to the marking member and the movement of the second mandrel is slaved and identical to that of the first mandrel. The camera is capable of moving parallel to, and in synchronism with, the line of tangency between the marking member and the first part.
US07823498B2
A protective structure for a vehicle having an opening on an upper surface is provided. One embodiment of the invention has at least a partial enclosure around an area defined laterally by the vehicle opening with an overhead and side protective capability. An embodiment of the invention has an overhead cover that is formed to substantially enclose a top area of the enclosure and having multiple panels that may be locked into place or opened by an occupant for exit through a top area of the enclosure. The multiple panels in this embodiment extend upwardly and inwardly from a section of the enclosure's side walls. Ballistic windows are provided on the protective structure such that an occupant can view laterally and vertically through the enclosure and overhead cover. A shield or protective plate can be mounted on one side of the enclosure.
US07823492B2
A dual ratio drive for a rotary sheer comprises a parallel pair of first shafts carrying freely rotatable first gears. A pair of second shafts are rotatable about axes parallel to the axes of the first shafts. Each second shaft carries a shear blade, and a second gear in meshed relationship with one of the first gears. A drive shaft is connectable to one of the second shafts by a first gear set having a high speed ratio, and is connectable to one of the first shafts by a second gear set having a low speed ratio. A clutch alternately engages one or the other of the first and second gear sets to drive the second shafts and their respective shear blades at the different speeds.
US07823489B1
A system and/or method for making a pizza pie having an outer cheese portion comprises a cutting tool and/or a cutting guide to enable formation of at least one opening at an outer crust region of a pizza pie to cause an inner cheese portion embedded within the outer crust to flow through the at least one opening, thereby forming the outer cheese portion at the upper surface of the outer crust. A cutting tool of the system comprises a rotatable disc with notches in its cutting surface to enable formation of the at least one opening in the outer crust. A cutting guide of the system comprises a generally disc shaped member with a support surface at its outer edge for supporting and guiding application of a cutting device against an outer crust region of a pizza dough.
US07823484B1
A reversible ratchet wrench includes a drive shank having a support base, a shell pivotally mounted on the support base, a ratchet wheel mounted in the shell and having a plurality of ratchet teeth, a pawl member having a first side provided with a driven face that is driven by the support base to move the pawl member relative to the ratchet wheel and a second side provided with a toothed engaging face meshing with the ratchet teeth. Thus, the user only needs to hold the support base to shake and drive the shell to pivot relative to the support base by the weight of the shell and the ratchet wheel so as to change the operation direction of the ratchet wheel, so that the user can change the operation direction of the ratchet wheel easily and quickly.
US07823482B2
Described herein is a recliner regulating device comprising a locking cam, an unlocking cam with a thickness less than the locking cam, a ratchet gear, a coulisse and a return spring connected with a central shaft. The locking cam is connected with the unlocking cam. Sliders are connected with the unlocking cam and sliding grooves. A jacket is connected with the ratchet gear and the coulisse. The return spring is connected with the coulisse. The thickness of the locking cam and the unlocking cam may be respectively designed in terms of the stress applied thereon. Since the locking cam and the unlocking cam are separately produced, structure of the die is simplified and service life of the die is improved significantly. The locking cam and the unlocking cam may be manufactured by punch, which leads to a greater production efficiency.
US07823480B2
A brake pedal assembly, for use in a vehicle, includes a support bracket, a first and second side walls extending outwardly from the support bracket. The first side wall includes an integral switch portion having a pair of generally parallel arcuate slots. A pedal arm, having a pair of contact posts positioned to extend through the pair of arcuate slots, is pivotally mounted between the first and second side walls. A conductive strip interconnects each of the pair of contact posts. The support bracket further includes a switch cover plate enclosing the integral switch portion of the first side wall. An electronic switch is disposed on an inside surface of the cover plate, and comes into electrical communication with the conductive strip as the contact posts travel within the arcuate slot in response to movement of the pedal arm, to send an electrical signal to an associated vehicle component.
US07823477B2
A joint (17) for connecting to a parallel-kinematic machine (1) a setting device (5) mounted in said machine, wherein the setting device (5) is intended to move a machine-connected positioning head (16) in space, and wherein the setting device (5) is mounted around a wobbler (30, 106) for rotation about a wobbler axis (50), and wherein the wobbler (30, 106) is, in turn, mounted for rotation around a main axis (20) which extends through the bearing means of the setting device (5) around the wobbler (30, 106).
US07823473B2
The electro-hydraulic control system comprises a gear shift control device and a hydraulic control circuit. The gear shift control device includes four shift forks, operatively associated each to a respective engagement sleeve of the transmission to cause this latter to move between first and second engagement positions, and an operating unit comprising four double-acting hydraulic actuators arranged to control each the displacement of a respective shift fork. The hydraulic control circuit comprises a supply unit, a distributor valve adapted to select every time one of the four hydraulic actuators and two solenoid valves adapted to control the hydraulic actuator selected by the distributor valve. The distributor valve has four operating positions, each of which corresponds to the selection of a respective hydraulic actuator. The two solenoid valves are arranged to be connected each to a respective pressure chamber of the hydraulic actuator selected by the distributor valve.
US07823469B2
A sample dispensing apparatus dispenses a sample from a container accommodating a sample such as blood or urea sampled for checking. This sample dispensing apparatus can prevent internal contamination of the apparatus due to dripping of the sample and abnormal sucking operations caused by drainage, condensation and fixing of the sample. The sample dispensing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a dispensing device for dispensing a sucked sample, a dispensing head provided in the dispensing device, and a disposable nozzle chip dismountably set on the dispensing head. In this apparatus, dispensing of a sample to child sample containers is performed exchanging the child sample containers with new ones. When the state, in which dispensing to the child container cannot be carried out, is continued for a prespecified period of time, the nozzle chip is automatically released from the dispensing head.
US07823467B2
An electroactive polymer is used to produce a tactile sensor. The electroactive polymer (EAP) includes a sheet of an ion-exchange membrane having opposite surfaces on which are plated gold electrodes. The EAP is formed to have a dome-shape with a plurality of sensing electrodes circumferentially disposed around an outer surface of the dome. A flexible polymer underlying the EAP supports it and prevents a force applied to the tactile sensor from inverting the dome. The sensor electrodes produce separate output signals indicative of different vector components of an applied force acting on the tactile sensor, so that a direction of the force can be determined. Vias provided in the electrodes are electrically coupled to a flexible circuit that conveys the output signals externally from the sensing electrodes for use and further processing. A plurality of the tactile sensors can be formed as an array on an ion-exchange membrane.
US07823465B2
A bolt is fastened up to a predetermined snug torque Ts and then the bolt is further fastened by a specified angle θt from a bolt angle corresponding to the snug torque Ts. Herein, in order to obtain excess and deficiency of the fastening angle up to the snug torque Ts, an angle-variation difference between the fastening angle θsb of the bolt at the point where the fastening torque of the bolt has reached the snug torque Ts and a standard angle θsa of the snug torque Ts is calculated. And, addition of this angle-variation difference to a base angle is set as the new specified angle θt to correct the excess and deficiency. Accordingly, variation in a fastening shaft force can be restrained even if the snug torque is set at a relatively high torque in the bolt fastening method using the torque+angle method.
US07823463B1
A time-of-flight ultrasonic flow meter uses transducers placed on streamlined heads of probes that are spaced out along a pipe. The placement of the transducers and probes is selected so that an acoustic signal can propagate between the transducers on the two probes along a path that involves at least one reflection from an internal surface of the pipe.
US07823460B2
A virtual soft tissue control system that provides enhanced motion control to a prosthetic simulator machine. The control system advantageously adds a “virtual soft tissue” control scheme to a conventional control system, such as a digital proportional integral derivative (PID) controller, to algorithmically model the soft tissue constraints that would be encountered by the prosthesis within the human body, and account for these forces in driving the simulator. In another aspect, a prosthetic simulator comprises a prosthetic drive mechanism; a feedback control system that drives the prosthetic drive mechanism; and an iterative learning control system that determines an error from a previous iteration of motion of the drive mechanism and uses the error to determine a drive signal for a subsequent iteration of motion. In certain embodiments, the prosthetic simulator uses both a soft tissue model and an iterative learning control system.
US07823452B2
Apparatus for Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM) of a semiconductor device including a substrate with an acoustic probe, The substrate has upper and lower surfaces. A sealed lower space provides an environment surrounding the lower surface. An upper ring structure formed above the upper surface includes an upper sealing ring in contact with the upper surface, with the upper sealing structure and the seal forming a dam for retaining the acoustic transmission fluid above the upper surface. A fixture base retains a lower sealing ring in contact with the lower surface surrounding the lower surface. An acoustic scanning probe positioned confronting the upper surface of the semiconductor device extending into the acoustic transmission fluid retained in contact with the upper surface.
US07823450B2
Angular velocity sensor and method of setting temperature characteristics of angular velocity sensor
In a method of setting temperature characteristics of an angular velocity sensor, temperature characteristics of a detuning frequency are acquired. The detuning frequency is a frequency difference between an oscillation frequency of an oscillation circuit including a piezoelectric vibrator and a frequency of a voltage of the piezoelectric vibrator caused by the Coriolis force. The sensitivity to the detuning frequency is acquired. The temperature characteristics of a detection phase are acquired. The detection phase is a phase difference between a Coriolis signal phase that corresponds to a phase angle of a voltage signal and an oscillation signal phase of the oscillation circuit. The sensitivity to the detection phase is acquired. The amount of phase shift of the detection phase is determined so that the change in sensitivity caused by the change in the detuning frequency with temperature is controlled using the change in sensitivity caused by the change in the detection phase with temperature.
US07823446B2
A method for determining a process variable of a product in a tank based on a time delay of electromagnetic waves. The method further comprises forming a measurement signal comprising a sequence of values, each value representing a time correlation between a pulse of a reference signal and a reflected signal, sampling and digitizing this measurement signal to form a digital signal, identifying a time window of the digital signal including the surface echo peak, determining a relative time period between a reference time corresponding to the predefined reference and a beginning of the time window, time-to-frequency transforming the digital signal in the time window to obtain a phase spectrum, determining a relative phase shift of the spectrum and using the relative phase shift to calculate a corresponding time shift, and determining the time delay by adding the relative time period and the time shift.The invention is based on the realization that major improvement of measurement performance, compared to amplitude detection only, can be achieved by discrimination of the phase difference between the reflected signal and a reference. The detection is further independent of the pulse waveform and modulation, significantly reducing the requirements on pulse modulation.
US07823444B2
A device is provided for measuring the velocity of flow of a fluid in a respiration system and includes a first thermal sensor element (5) provided with a controllable heating element (50) and a second thermal sensor element (6). The thermal sensor elements (5, 6) are arranged at spaced locations from one another at a path of flow, so that a thermal signal generated by the first sensor element (5) with the heating element (50) is transmitted to the second sensor element (6), and the second sensor element (6) is designed to detect the thermal signal from the fluid flow. The second sensor element (6) is connected to the first sensor element (5) via feedback (12) which triggers another thermal signal. A controlling and analyzing device (13, 15) is connected to the sensor elements (5, 6) to start the generation of a first thermal signal and to read and analyze the signal frequency as an indicator of the velocity of flow.
US07823428B1
A device and method for prediction and/or control of the profile and/or shape of rolled metal strip. The device and method are compatible with both cluster-type and non cluster-type mills. The device and method employ a customized deflection model of the rolling mill, thereby combining the advantages of well-known finite element method with other relevant methods to allow real-time operation of the rolling mill without the computational complexities of such methods. In one form, the customized deflection model helps to obtain a compact, linear, and flexible analytical model with non-iterative solution, multiple continuous elastic foundations, third-order displacement fields, simple stress-field determination, and capability to compute dynamic deflection characteristics.
US07823426B2
A built-in step is conducted by building a drive part which generates a rotation drive power, a rotation shaft to be rotated by the rotation drive power of the drive part through a gear mechanism, a lock stopper to be screwed with the rotation shaft to move axially by rotating of the rotation shaft, a lock bar which moves between a lock position for locking a steering shaft by movement of the lock stopper and an unlock position for unlocking the steering shaft, and a first spring interposed between the lock stopper and the lock bar for giving a bias load, into a lock body to be installed in a mounting hole part of a steering column post of a vehicle from the same direction. Thereafter, a screwing step for screwing the rotation shaft and the lock stopper after the built-in step is conducted to assemble an electric steering lock device.
US07823425B2
A latch assembly for preventing access into a door or drawer is provided. The latch assembly includes a housing configured to mount on a door or drawer, and at least one dog is slidably mounted in the housing for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position. The latch assembly include actuators operatively connected to the dog for moving the dog to the unlocked position. A key is insertable into a key slot on a side of the housing to move the actuators. The latch assembly may be used in combination with a catch assembly configured to mount on a door or drawer frame. The catch assembly is constructed to engage at least a portion of the dog in the locked position. The catch assembly may include a spring to move the latch assembly relative to the catch assembly such that the door or drawer may open slightly while in the locked position enabling a key to be inserted into the key slot to move the dog to the unlocked position.
US07823422B2
A front-loading machine for treating laundry includes a loading opening, a hinged door, a locking mechanism and an operating device. The loading opening is disposed on a front wall of the machine. The hinged door is receivable by a receiving area on the front wall so as to close the loading opening. The locking mechanism is configured to hold the door in a closed position. The operating device is configured to activate and deactivate the locking mechanism. The operating device includes a sensor configured to detect a contact or a contact-free incursion into a detection zone thereof. The sensor is disposed on at least one of the door and the receiving area on the front wall.
US07823416B2
The glass composition of the present invention is an inorganic glass composition in which the volume ratio of helium with a mass number of 3 to helium with a mass number of 4, namely 3He/4He in the glass (0° C., 1 atm) is smaller than the volume ratio 3He/4He in the atmosphere. The method of producing a glass article of the present invention includes the steps of: melting a glass raw material by heating; homogenizing molten glass; forming the molten glass into a desired shape; and cooling the shaped glass to room temperature, in which helium with a certain mass ratio is dissolved in the glass material so that the glass article of the present invention is obtained.
US07823415B2
Piece of jewellery of generally toroidal shape having an annular enclosed space (18) closed upon itself of which the outer wall (1) and/or inner wall (2) are at least partly transparent. This enclosed space (18) holds decorative elements (13) freely moving inside of it.
US07823410B2
In a cooling device for cooling an object to be cooled without using a forced cold air circulating system, which circulates cold air forcibly, a cooling device at a practical level is provided, and a cooling device capable of achieving a sufficient cooling effect is provided. A cooler 18 is provided in an interior that is insulated adiabatically from an exterior, a cooling fan 20 is disposed on a front surface of the cooler 18, a cooling chamber 22 in which an object to be cooled is placed is defined by a space in front of the cooling fan 20, a cooled air behind the cooling fan 20 is drawn with the fan and allowed to flow into the cooling chamber 22, and a/D=½ to ¼ is satisfied, where a indicates a dimension of a gap between the cooler 18 and the cooling fan 20 along a front-back direction and D indicates a diameter of the cooling fan 20.
US07823408B2
An icemaker in a refrigerator is disclosed, by which heat generated from a heater to detach ice is prevented from being transferred to an inside of the refrigerator. The present invention includes an icemaker body provided to a prescribed position of the refrigerator to make to ice from a supplied water, a heater provided to the icemaker body to generate heat to facilitate detachment of the made ice, and a heater shielding unit provided to prevent the heat generated from the heater from being supplied to an inside of the refrigerator.
US07823407B2
A water filter capable of preventing breakdown thereof due to freezing and a refrigerator having the same. The water filter includes a filter housing having entrance and exit ports to allow water to flow into and out of the filter housing, respectively, a filter member housed in the filter housing, and an expansion compensation part provided in the filter housing to compensate for expansion due to freezing of water.
US07823401B2
In a refrigerant cycle device having an ejector, a branch portion for branching a flow of refrigerant flowing out of the ejector into at least a first refrigerant stream and a second refrigerant stream is located. A first evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant of the first refrigerant stream is located to allow the refrigerant to flow to a suction side of the compressor, and a second evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant of the second refrigerant stream is located to allow the refrigerant to flow to an upstream side of a refrigerant suction port of the ejector. In addition, the branch portion is located to maintain a dynamic pressure of the refrigerant flowing out of the ejector, and the second evaporator is connected to the branch portion in a range where the dynamic pressure can be applied to an inside of the second evaporator.
US07823396B2
A process for introducing a solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus (14), said process comprising a) positioning a selectively permeable membrane (16) between a first solution (18) and a second solution (20) having a higher solute concentration than the first solution (18), such that the solvent from the first solution (18) flows across the selectively permeable membrane (16) to dilute the second solution (20), b) introducing the second solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus (14) in which solvent is removed from the second solution (20) by evaporation, and c) recycling the second solution (20) from step b) to step a) to draw solvent from the first solution (18).
US07823393B2
New Peltier semiconductor heat transfer systems are presented herein. In particular, Peltier heat transfer systems of Peltier semiconductor elements of highly unique shapes are arranged to bias the cooling side with respect to its size and consequently performance. In effect, a Peltier heat transfer system is created whereby the Peltier called side is greatly reduced in size and the Peltier hot side is greatly expanded in size. Such ‘high aspect ratio’ Peltier systems promote ‘focused’ cooling effect, which is particularly useful in conjunction with high-performance electronic devices having a small footprint. The entire cooling fact of the Peltier device is brought to the small space approximated by a point. Thus a ‘point’ heat source such as a semiconductor laser are high-performance light emitting diode is more effectively cooled by these systems.
US07823384B2
An electrically actuated brake booster capable of obtaining a desired boost ratio for a given input pressure when an electric actuator is activated as a boost source, so as to ensure a desired operability of a brake pedal. The electrically actuated brake booster comprises: an input piston 22 to which an input thrust is applied through an input rod 9 that moves in coordination with operation of a brake pedal 8; and a booster piston 21 to which a booster thrust is applied by an electric actuator 40 that uses an electric motor 41 as a drive source, such that the input piston 22 and the booster piston 21 are disposed to be movable relative to each other but are normally maintained in a neutral position of relative displacement by means of springs 34. While an amount of relative displacement between the pistons 21 and 22 is determined by the potentiometer 45, the electric motor 41 is controlled to adjust the amount of relative displacement to a predetermined value. At the same time, a reaction force acting on the input piston 22 resulting from a hydraulic brake pressure is offset by urging forces of the springs 34 to thereby obtain a desired level of boost ratio.
US07823381B2
A power plant with heat transfer, in which power is generated by an arbitrary number of heat engines, described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 18. is disclosed. The heat engines (A) are arranged in series with a cooling medium (22) and a heating medium (30) passing through them in a counter flow principal. After exiting the last heat engine the heated-up cooling medium is used as a combustion air. The heating medium (30) exiting in the opposite direction the last heat engine (A) can be used further on for heating purposes or other heating consumers.
US07823379B2
A method provides several modes for recovering hydraulic energy produced by an overrunning load acting on cylinders connected in parallel to a machine component. In one mode, fluid from first chambers in both cylinders is routed into the accumulator, while other fluid is directed into second chambers of those cylinders. In a different mode, fluid is routed from the first chamber of only one cylinder into the accumulator, and fluid from the first chamber of the other cylinder goes into the second chambers of both cylinders. Yet another mode comprises routing fluid from the first chambers of both cylinders into the second chambers of both cylinders. In still another mode, fluid from the first chambers of both cylinders goes into the return conduit while the second chambers of both cylinders receive fluid from a supply conduit. Several modes of reusing the recovered energy are described.
US07823367B2
The invention relates to the making of boxes of a variable volume adapted in each case to the height of the packed products, including cutting the box along its vertical edges and forming fold lines at a suitable height around the sides of the box to define top flaps; and then folding these flaps onto the contents of the prefilled box. At least one inflated or inflatable void-filling bag is inserted into the box, around and/or above the packed products, after the fold lines have been formed, and before the flaps are folded onto the contents of the box. The invention also provides a combined machine that cuts, marks, prepares and inserts void-filling bags, and closes boxes.Applicable to order filling.
US07823360B1
A system for utilizing building blocks to build a corrugated structural section that incorporates continuous longitudinal reinforcement with an offset joint pattern. The system includes building blocks whose shapes include open-core units. The use of the system results in a corrugated structural section that is useful for construction of walls, screens, fences, floors, roofs, and other construction elements requiring corrugated structural panels.
US07823354B2
A concrete reinforcing system includes a reinforcing member that is adapted to be adhered to a structure through the use of an adhesive. The reinforcing member includes a first leg and a second leg. The first leg is adapted to penetratingly engage the structure or a surface of the structure. The second leg is adapted to adhere to another surface of the structure. The second leg angularly extends from the first leg.
US07823342B1
A system and method which provides a means to install a hurricane shutter panel in a manner which enables release of the panel from the inside of the structure, thus providing means of egress through the opening on which the panel is installed. There are four preferred embodiments of the invention to correspond with the four primary means for installing hurricane shutter panels; namely angle track, F-Track, direct mount systems using wall anchors and direct mount systems using direct mount studs permanently mounted into a structure. The various embodiments require little or no modifications to the components of the various industry standard installation systems. The invention can be used with new installations or adapted to existing installations.
US07823337B2
A prefabricated structure comprises a shell including a shell frame and an extension deployable from the shell, the extension including an extension frame. The shell frame comprises a floor support including a plurality of slotted beams extending between and transverse to the floor beams, a roof support, and a plurality of columns extending between the floor support and the roof support. The extension frame comprises a floor support, a roof support with an extension roof, and a plurality of columns extending between the floor support and the roof support, wherein the slotted beams of the shell floor support each include a slot through which a column connected between an extension floor beam and an extension roof extends when the extension is nested within the shell in an undeployed position.
US07823335B2
An apparatus disposed along and attached to a wall edge to mitigate wind-generated vortices and suction loads on the wall, suitable and convenient for both new constructions and retrofits of existing buildings. Preferred configurations are described and include such types as wall edge cap, wall edge windscreen and wall edge wind spoiler, each utilizing a distinctive primary aerodynamic mechanism, often with optional secondary mechanisms to enhance vortex-suppressing effects.
US07823334B2
The present invention generally encompasses a ridge cap roofing product that is formed from a composite material. The ridge cap has a cross section that is generally in the shape of an inverted V with a rounded apex and includes a front section and a back section. The front section has a straight lower edge. The back section has a lowered edge that tapers both upward and inward. The tapered shape of the ridge cap's back section insures that installed ridge caps lie flat and that a covered ridge or hip does not have a saw tooth appearance. The ridge cap of the present invention is somewhat flexible so that it can be used with roofs that have a range of pitches. In one embodiment, the top surface of the ridge cap's front section is textured or contoured so that it simulates certain conventional shingles.
US07823329B2
A housing for receiving a cable drum of an adjustment device for a motor vehicle includes a bearing point for rotatably mounting a cable drum, at least one wall encompassing the cable drum along the peripheral surface thereof when the cable drum is mounted in the housing, and a securing element arranged in a region of the wall of the housing and serving to secure a tractive device extending along the peripheral surface of a cable drum. The securing element is elastically configured and may be moved by deformation in the radial direction in relation to the bearing point.
US07823327B2
A method and apparatus for germinating seeds is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of translucent hollow spheres, each sphere having apertures there through for entry and egress of liquid and air, wherein each of the plurality of translucent hollow spheres includes soil and at least one of the seeds; a tray, for confining the spheres to an basin area within a periphery of the tray while permitting the spheres to roll on a rolling surface within the periphery of the tray; a platform; and a plurality of solenoids disposed on the platform for tilting the tray to displace the spheres, each solenoid having a shaft longitudinally extendable in a direction away from the platform upon activation of the solenoid and each shaft having an end distal from the solenoid coupled proximate to the periphery of the tray.
US07823322B2
A semiconductor chip has an active face in which an integrated circuit region is implanted. The chip includes an inclined lateral contact pad extending beneath the plane of the active face and electrically linked to the integrated circuit region. An electronic module includes a substrate having a cavity in which the chip is arranged. The module can be applied to the production of thin contactless micro-modules for smart cards and contactless electronic badges and tags.
US07823318B2
The present invention is directed towards a rifle recoil absorption system comprising a harness attached to a rifle support and shooting surface for absorbing recoil force generated when a high powered rifle is fired.
US07823316B2
Systems and methods for mounting accessories to a firearm are disclosed. The systems include a rail connector and quick release device for mounting on a firearm. The connector includes at least one mounting rail and a fastening member for securely fastening the connector directly to the firearm. The quick release is then mounted to the mounting rail.
US07823314B1
A semi-automatic pistol with a detachable barrel and/or a detachable suppressed barrel assembly consists of a new or replacement interchangeable barrel receiver of a type similar to that of the Ruger™ Mk I/II/III or .22/45™ pistols with user interchangeable barrels. The interchangeable barrel receiver incorporates a feed ramp and has alignment surfaces that provide positive alignment with the user interchangeable barrel or sound suppressed barrel assembly. Means are provided for allowing the user to change barrels.
US07823311B2
A supportive edge retaining graphic display arrangement for supportively holding a display banner in a readily exchangeable manner. The arrangement comprises an elongated, generally “U”-shaped, extruded first or inner housing having an upper elongated flange, and an arrangement of opposed, spaced apart, aligned display panel engaging ribs on side walls thereof extending oppositely from a flange supporting bridge member, an outer elongated extruded outer housing having an inner channel for sliding receipt of the elongated flange of the inner housing, and a display panel having an elongated fastener member attached to an upper end thereof, wherein the elongated fastener member has a plurality of aligned engagable elements extending outwardly therefrom, the aligned engagable elements being in spaced alignment with the ribs on the inner housing for sliding longitudinal engagement therewith.
US07823306B1
A room for use in conducting medical procedures includes an image on a screen disposed in the room. The room preferably includes a track for disposing the screen across the room to create a panoramic view of the scene in the screen. Preferably the track, and hence the image on the screen disposed on the track, are arcuate. The screen provides a virtual reality and a calming effect to the patient undergoing the procedure. The screen can be moved mechanically around the room to display different images on the screen. The screen can be changed to provide a different set of images. Ceiling lights, sounds and smells can be added to the room to further accent the theme of the screen's image and enhance the overall calming effect by portraying the medical procedure room as the scene in the screen. Illumination may be provided behind the screen, as well. The medical procedure may be a magnetic resonance imaging procedure, in which case the room comprises a magnetic resonance imaging assembly. The magnetic resonance imaging assembly may be an open magnetic resonance imaging assembly. The assembly may define, at least in part, the room. Methods of preparing a room for a medical procedure and methods of conducting a magnetic resonance imaging procedure are also disclosed.
US07823304B2
A method and device for forming steam with high pressure and a cleaner or iron comprising the device are provided.
US07823302B2
A novelty footwear item includes a footbed and a heel-shaped storage unit which has a liftable lid. The footbed and the storage unit are mounted within a wedge-shaped cupsole so that a rear portion of the footbed overlays and conceals the storage unit and pivots up and away from the cupsole in unison with the lid when it is lifted to provide a user access to the heel-shaped storage unit.
US07823296B2
A depth gauge for measuring the depth of blind holes in bones and/or nails inserted into bones. The measurement tool comprises: a probe with an abutment at its end to engage against the distal edge of the blind hole; a tubular body; and a grooved insert. After the probe, lying into the tubular body, is positioned through the blind hole to be measured, the grooved insert is slid forward inside the tubular body, surrounding the probe, and pushing the probe sideward, towards the blind hole wall. When probe and groove insert are retracted together, they firmly engage against the distal bone wall. The tubular housing is then pushed forward until it abuts against the proximal bone wall, allowing even in small diameter holes, an accurate reading of hole depth on the scale located at the rear end of the probe.
US07823289B2
In a valve housing 11, which is constituted by an section of an extruded billet material, into which are formed inlet and outlet conduits 27, 28, 29, 30, which are substantially arranged in a common plane, and a receiving bore 20 for at least one valve element 21, 26, arranged transversely in relation thereto, the billet material is formed as a profiled element provided with ribs 15, 16, 17, 18 which project from a substantially parallelepiped base body and in which ribs the inlet and outlet conduits 27, 28, 29, 30 open.
US07823286B2
A wick structure of a heat pipe includes two elongated stripe-like continuous woven meshes and a plurality of fibers. A method for disposing the wick structure includes the steps of: providing a heat pipe body for accommodating the two meshes and the fibers; stacking up the two meshes so as to bundle and dispose the fibers between the two meshes; curling one end of the two meshes along a width direction, thereof; penetrating a pulling rod into an opening of one end of the heat pipe body, connecting the end of the two meshes together by means of the pulling rod, penetrating out of an opposing end of the heat pipe body so as to curl the two meshes within the heat pipe body, and the fibers being located on an axial stripe-like region within the heat pipe body; and cutting both ends of the heat pipe body.
US07823282B2
A method for connecting at least one wire to a contact element to facilitate connection of the wire to a power source comprising the following steps: a) preparation of the contact element which is fitted with a groove for receiving at least one wire; b) insertion of the wire into the groove of the contact element; c) lowering an electrode onto the contact element; and d) heating of the area around the groove by means of the electrode while simultaneously deforming the area around the groove thereby embedding the wire lying in said groove.
US07823272B2
This invention relates to methods and systems for attaching components to strips of material to form assemblies, e.g., a system for fastening pre-sharpened razor blades to individual support strips on a continuous band of material, such as a metal, to form discrete blade assemblies.
US07823269B2
A method is disclosed of forming on a moving surface an auxiliary antenna for an RFID tag. The method includes the steps of providing a webstock of polymeric material including a conductive film, conveying the webstock with the moving surface, and applying the conductive film to the moving surface in a shape corresponding to the auxiliary antenna. The moving surface may include cardboard in a roll manufacturing process. Depending on the thickness of the auxiliary antenna the step of applying the conductive film may include cold or hot stamping. Apparatus for forming an auxiliary antenna for an RFID tag is also disclosed.
US07823268B2
The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a transducer unit for an angular switching device, in which a transducer element is inserted and fixed in an angled bush. The inventive method is characterized in that the transducer element is brought into aligned engagement with a transducer receptacle formed in a tool, that subsequently for the precise positioning with respect to the transducer element the bush is brought into an aligned, at least partial positive engagement with a bush receptacle appropriately constructed in the tool and that for completing the transducer unit the transducer element is fixed in the bush. In further aspects the invention relates to an angular transducer unit, an angular switching device and an object detection device.
US07823266B2
A die holding tray useful for testing a plurality of individual dies placed into the holding tray together with a method of making the same. The holding tray has machined lateral and longitudinal sets of grooves with one set of grooves filled with strips in order to form pockets from the unfilled grooves. Vacuum channels are formed into the bottom of the pockets, and dies are held in place during testing by the flatness of the pocket bottoms and a drawn vacuum. Several embodiments are disclosed, including machining grooves in a compliant layer.
US07823265B2
An assembly for moving a pair of flowline members relative to each other has a pair of flowline collars that are adapted to connect to an end portion of one of the pair of flowline members. The assembly has an arm member with an end portion rotationally mounted to one of the flowline collars and a connecting member pivotally mounted to the other flowline collar. The connecting member is pivotally mounted to the arm member a distance away from the end portion of the arm member that is connected to the flowline collar, so that rotational movement of the arm member moves the flowline members relative to each other. The assembly can also have an incremental distance adjustor assembly which maintains an incremental change in the distance between the pair of flowline collars during a rotational movement of the arm member.
US07823256B2
The invention relates to an additional hand grip (2) for a hand machine tool, comprising a clamp (4) for clamping the additional hand grip (2) to a part of the hand machine tool, a handlebar (6) for gripping and holding of the additional hand grip (2), and a pivot joint (8) that can be blocked, arranged between the clamp (4) and the handlebar (6). The pivot joint (8) can be blocked with an eccentric tension lever (10), which is formed by a pivotable part (24) of the handlebar (6).
US07823249B2
A vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle, an air-filtering dirt receptacle, and a motor. A fan is configured to be driven by the motor to drive a flow of air that carries dirt from a surface through the nozzle and into the receptacle to clean the surface. A controller is configured to provide a notification to a user when the speed of the motor exceeds a threshold value.
US07823248B2
A vacuum collector includes an upright support supported on a base, a housing disposed on top of the upright support, a fan device attached to the housing, a dust collecting receptacle attached to the housing for collecting the dirt, a tubular member has one end coupled to the housing for guiding the dirt into the housing and has a manifold, and the other end coupled to a mouth, two valve devices are coupled to the mouth and the manifold for controlling the dirt to selectively flow into the housing from the mouth or from the manifold, or from the ground, the plants or work places where the machine tools are located, or the other places where are full of dirt or dust or ash.
US07823240B2
A bridge includes a pier, and a hooked collar at least formed on upstream surface of the pier. The anti-scour structure includes at least one hook extending upwardly. The hook configured for guiding water flow or downflow to move upwardly thereby protect river bed from being scoured.
US07823236B2
An actuation device comprises a driving member, a driven member and an actuator device. The driven member has a seat, in which there is operatively inserted, with possibility of relative movement, an engagement part of the driving member. According to the invention also the driving member has a seat, which, in at least one position of the actuation system, at least partially faces the seat of the driven member. The actuation system further comprises a floating body, displaceable in a controlled way between the two seats when said seats at least partially face one another.
US07823234B2
The present invention is directed to a gelastic cushion. The gelastic cushion is made from a conventional gelastic composition. The gelastic cushion has a structure having a first wall that defines an opening area and buckles when a force is applied to the first wall. When the first wall buckles a predetermined amount, a second wall, interconnected to the first wall, also buckles. The second wall decreases the chance that the first wall bottoms out. Bottoming out increases the pressure on the patient (a.k.a., the force) overlying the gelastic cushion. That increased pressure is undesirable.
US07823232B2
Device for preventing decubitus, consisting of a number of adjacent members (1) which are attached to a base and which members (1) are covered with a layer (2) of elastic material which defines a reclining surface for a patient. Each member comprises at least one elastic panel whose two opposite ends are connected to one another via a pulling element (6, 13) in order to pull the two ends towards one another, while bending the said panel, so that the vertical height of the member increases. The device also comprises a control device (3) for activating the pulling element for one or more of the said members as desired. The pulling element preferably consists of a wire, rod or strip of memory metal, which can assume its original contracted position by means of heating.
US07823221B2
A garment worn by a user has an inner wearer-facing surface and an outer surface. An inner pocket is attached to the inner surface below the chest of the user, the inner pocket having a rounded bottom, an open top, and outwardly flared sides. A drain system has a drain bulb snugly received within the inner pocket and a tube with one end attached to the bulb and the opposing end indwelled within the wearer. One or more straps are located on the inner surface, the straps each forming a closed loop such that the tube passes through the loop. An outer pocket is attached to the outer surface of the garment and overlays the inner pocket so that a single stitch line attaches both the inner pocket and the outer pocket to the garment.
US07823220B2
An item of clothing is convertible between different configurations. A vest may be removably fixed onto a jacket by devices different from those which are used to fix together the front portions of the jacket.
US07827614B2
The present invention provides a system and method for automatically hiding sensitive information, obtainable from a process table, from other processes that should not access the sensitive information. The system and method include a sensitive command attribute table that is used by a system administrator to designate the commands and command attributes that will typically be associated with sensitive information. The sensitive command attribute table is used when a command is entered that requests information from the process table to be displayed or output. In response, a search of the process table entries is made to determine if a command and/or its attribute in the process table matches an entry in the sensitive command attribute table. If so, the command, its attributes, and/or its attribute values are blanked from the output of the process table information.
US07827603B1
A system and method whereby an unregistered, anonymous user at an organization's website makes a submission/inquiry and is able to access a secure response containing private information without pre-registering or establishing an account with the organization. A response to the user is made via an unsecured e-mail notification that provides the user with an HTTPS link to an authentication page. The user then enters his/her user identification, for example, the user email address and password which was associated with the original submission/inquiry. Once the email address and password is authenticated, the secure response message is displayed on the user's web browser in SSL. Each response is provided on a per-submission basis.
US07827599B2
A system and method for provisioning digital certificates. An automated provisioning engine receives notification of a need to provision a user with a digital certificate. The engine electronically instructs the user to obtain a digital certificate. When obtained, the user responds by forwarding the certificate. The engine then electronically instructs a trusted or provisioned user to verify that the user obtained the digital certificate. The trusted user verifies this, and may obtain the user's certificate or a fingerprint of the certificate to include in a response to the provisioner's instructions. If verified, and if the certificate or fingerprint matches the certificate provided by the user, the user's digital certificate is then activated, to allow it to represent the user in public key transactions.
US07827598B2
Access Control Lists control permitted actions on protected network computer system resources by providing an access control policy associated with the requested protected system resource containing a permission list of permitted identities and at least one action group tag with associated action indicators; reusing a finite quantity of action indicators among a plurality of action group tags to control a number of unique permissions less than or equal to the product of the quantity of allowable action indicators and a quantity of allowable action group tags; evaluating the permission list according to a specific permission definition associated with the action group tag, the permission definition providing a correlation between members of a set of action indicators; and granting authorization to perform actions on the requested protected system resource to the requesting user if the access control policy permission list includes an appropriate action indicator correlated to an action group tag.
US07827588B2
According to one embodiment, video image and audio signals are transmitted to a plurality of electronic devices each having at least one of a video image display function and an audio reproducing function. Information indicating the fact that at least one of a video image and audio has been set in a mute state is acquired from each of the electronic devices. Based on the information, a processing operation is applied to the video image and audio signals supplied to each of the electronic devices.
US07827586B1
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US07827585B2
An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.
US07827584B2
A method and system that reduces the impact of packet loss on video data quality. Packet selection is performed by the method and system to selectively drop low priority packets so that the overall quality of the received video data may be improved. In one exemplary embodiment, the probability of higher priority layers being delivered on time is computed and a packet is transmitted only if this probability is greater than a given threshold h. In another exemplary embodiment, the system and method have the capability of backing up the process to transmit previously skipped packets, if time allows.
US07827577B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal. In this present invention, information identifying a product item, which is in a scene to be presented from a broadcast signal, is provided together with a broadcast signal, then a signal receiving terminal stores the product information for a new product item and displays the stored information to a viewer to select one product item while or after watching an interesting broadcast program, and transmits data identifying a selected product item to a predetermined web site and receives web site address for the selected item from that site. As a result, derailed information for the selected item is acquired from a server addressed by the received web site address.
US07827576B2
A unique session identifier may be utilized to announce the availability of an electronic programming guide to users of an enhanced television distribution system. In some embodiments, the unique session identifier may be utilized in a variety of systems to provide a uniform way of recognizing the availability of an electronic programming guide in conjunction with enhanced television distribution systems.
US07827575B2
Even when a user leaves from a TV apparatus or enjoys audio-visual contents by another reached TV apparatus, the user can enjoy the left audio-visual contents without being embarrassed in operating the reached TV apparatus. A configuration is set up by having leaving information detection means for detecting the leaving information form the user, storage means for storing the image data after detecting the leaving information, and transmission means for transmitting said image data to the reached TV apparatus of the user so that the user is allowed to enjoy the left audio-visual contents and the like in the left TV apparatus by the reached TV apparatus.
US07827572B2
A disk-clamping device includes a plurality of clamp pawls which project and pull in through a plurality of windows 6c formed on a turntable; a rotating and elevating member which, when it goes up, causes the clamp pawls to project and rotate through the windows, and, when it goes down, causes the clamp pawls to pull in into the windows; an urging member which pushes up and urges the rotating and elevating member; and clamp-releasing levers which move the rotating and elevating member in a direction of pushing down the member and in a direction of releasing the push down against an urging force; and the clamp-releasing levers being arranged to be driven by power of a driving source moving the mounting system of the turntable to a reproducing position and a retracted position.
US07827566B2
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for monitoring classloading references. In an embodiment, the GUI includes a graphical representation of one or more resources of an application server. The one or more resources may be selectable via, for example, a cursor control device. In an embodiment, a graphical representation of a selected class loader and one or more associated classloading references are displayed in the GUI, responsive to receiving a selection input specifying one of the displayed resources.
US07827563B2
A system for enabling client software applications to interface with peripheral devices over a network. An application connection layer interfaces with a programming language of a client software application. A simple object access protocol (SOAP) client processor communicates with the application connection layer and a client software application using the application connection layer. The SOAP client processor includes an eXtensible mark-up language (XML) processor for converting data provided in XML format to a form usable by the client software application. A transport layer for interfaces with the SOAP processor and peripheral devices connected to the network.
US07827556B2
Computing resources shared by local and network filesystems may be used to maximum capacity by a single application, or equitably shared by multiple applications under heavy load. A portion of the resources are set aside for local filesystem use and a small number is reserved for each network filesystem. The remaining resources may be used by either local or network filesystems. An enforcement limit puts a ceiling on the number of resources that can be used by a single network filesystem. When the enforcement limit is applied to a filesystem, the number of executing resource acquisition requests from that filesystem is reduced, by completion of the requests, to the reserved number of resources for that filesystem before any more resources acquisition requests from that filesystem are executed.
US07827555B2
A system and method for scheduling a thread identifies runnable threads based on precycle signals determined before the scheduling cycle. The thread indexes of the runnable threads are grouped according to the thread priorities of the runnable threads, and the thread indexes are ranked within each group. The runnable threads that will be runnable in the next scheduling cycle are identified based on same cycle signals determined during the scheduling cycle. The highest ranked thread index of the runnable threads that will also be runnable in the next scheduling cycle is selected as the scheduled thread. In another configuration, a round robin ranking and a priority ranking are determined for the thread indexes. The thread indexes are then ranked according to the round robin ranking and the priority ranking and the highest ranked thread index of a runnable thread is selected as the scheduled thread.
US07827551B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to provide a real-time threading service to an application in a multi-core environment. An executive is launched, within a most privilege level of an operating system (OS), on a real-time core in the multi-core environment. The real-time core is sequestered from the OS. A real-time thread is created in a least privilege level on the real-time core for an application using a library. The library is loaded by the application. The real-time thread shares a virtual address space with the application.
US07827545B2
A network in which remediation is provided to keep protective software in network clients up-to-date. As network clients connect to an access control server, the clients provide status information concerning their protective software. The access server determines whether the clients comply with a quarantine enforcement policy. Clients that comply with the policy are granted access to the network. Those that do not comply with the quarantine enforcement policy are either denied access or given limited access to the network for purposes of remediation. When the access control server denies access to a client, it determines remediation steps required to bring the client into compliance with the quarantine enforcement policy. This remediation information is communicated to the client to facilitate remediation of the client on either an automated or a manual basis. The remediation information may be communicated in the form of an address from which the client may obtain software updates, executable software, human-usable information or both remediation information.
US07827543B1
Data address profiling allows determination of sources of code execution hindrance with different perspectives of memory references and allows correlation of sampled runtime events and memory reference objects, such as cache lines. Associating sampled runtime events with data addresses provides for efficient and targeted optimization of code with respect to data addresses and physical and/or logical memory reference objects (e.g., memory segments, heap variables, variable instances, stack variables, etc.). An instruction instance is identified in relation to a sampled runtime event. A data address is determined from the instruction instance. From the determined address, a memory reference object is ascertained.
US07827540B2
A method for program debugging includes setting a plurality of breakpoints corresponding to a plurality of events in an implementation under test, executing the implementation under test for outputting a diagnosis code of a breakpoint, resetting a parameter of the event corresponding to the diagnosis code, and executing the event according to the reset parameter for making the event undergo an error handler. The method helps execute functions of error handlers and execute a test completely.
US07827527B1
The present invention discloses a system, method and program code product for efficient component-based application development. Presentation code of a container component is generated by an integrated-components code generator (ICCG), which uses the class objects of component code generators (CCGs) as subcomponents. The CCGs, as standalone components, can generate the presentation code of the subcomponents by their code-generating method (CGM) during execution. The ICCG assemble and integrate the subcomponents' presentation code in run time and fill in the code necessary to establish communication between any two of subcomponents in the resultant web application code.
US07827526B2
A method and computer program product for adding additional functionality to a graphical control for use in a computer program. The method requires providing a graphical control that is displayable on a display device where the graphical control has at least one associated input or one associated output. Initially, the graphical control does not have an associated function. A user can then select a function from a list of functions to associate with the graphical control. The list of functions is associated with computer code for implementing the functions on a particular digital signal processor. The computer system determines whether a new input or output needs to be added to the graphical control based upon a selected function from the list of functions. The computer system also determines if the graphical control should be stacked or repeated. A plurality of functions may be associated with a single graphical control. In certain embodiments, a plurality of different digital signal processors is associated with a single graphical control.
US07827521B2
When a design diagram of the semiconductor device by a conventional CAD tool is used, a pattern which can be formed with the ink-jet apparatus is limited; therefore, there is a possibility that some circuits of the desired semiconductor device cannot be formed as they are designed. A plurality of basic patterns which can be obtained by discharging with the ink-jet apparatus are prepared, and layout of a desired integrated circuit is performed by combining the patterns. A light-exposure mask is formed based on the layout obtained. Light exposure is performed using the light-exposure mask. Then, development is performed, and the resist film remains in the light-exposed region of which width is narrower than the diameter of the droplet landed. Liquid repellent treatment is performed to an exposed portion on the surface, and then the material droplet is dropped over the resist film. Discharging is selectively performed by a droplet discharging method to form a wiring of which width is narrower than the dot diameter.
US07827517B1
A system for designing an integrated circuit is provided. The system includes a plurality of class databases having register information extracted from a register entry tool. A system integration tool is used to integrate the register information from each of the class databases into a system database. The system integration tool essentially consolidates the class databases and maintains a base address for the various components. A system application module includes a number of application tools, which may be referred to as generators. The application tools include, among other tools, a document generator tool, a hardware description language (HDL) generator, a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) generator, and a test framework. A method of designing a circuit is also provided.
US07827516B1
A method and system are described to group logic terms at a higher level of abstraction than that found using standard cells to implement the logic functions using a reduced number of transistors, and to reduce the total number of unique geometry patterns needed to create the integrated circuit implementation. By grouping the logic functions in terms of a larger number of literals (logic variable inputs), the functions can be implemented in terms of a number of transistors that is often less and no more than equal to that which is required for implementing the same function with a number of logic primitives, or simpler standard logic cells. The optimized transistor level designs are further optimized and physically constructed to reduce the total number of unique geometry patterns required to implement the integrated circuit.
US07827513B2
A method for identifying and modifying, in a VLSI hierarchical chip design, parent buffer placements which lead to wiring track inefficiencies with respect to data flow and the parent placement area geometry. Parent placement area is reviewed and a subset is categorized and distinguished as either horizontal slots or vertical slots. Buffer to buffer data flow is reviewed for cases where data flow direction is either strongly horizontal or strongly vertical. Situations where buffer to buffer data flow is oriented in the same direction as the parent placement slots in which the buffers reside are reported. Additionally, an attempt is made to find a valid placement location for the buffers excluding parent placement areas oriented in the same direction as the data flow.
US07827511B2
An integrated circuit (51) comprises a power distribution network having a power pad (53) and a ground pad (55) arranged at diagonally opposite corners of the integrated circuit (51). A power bus (67, 69) and a ground bus (71, 73) supply power to circuit elements on the integrated circuit, for example standard cells (61a, 61b) or standard sub-blocks (63). A plurality of decoupling cells (65) are provided on the power distribution network for maintaining a static current flow between the power pad (53) and the ground pad (55). The power bus and ground bus are configured such that the combined length of the power bus and the ground bus is made the same for all circuit elements on the integrated circuit, thereby reducing on chip voltage variation.
US07827499B2
Receiving a hierarchical dataset including child data items that depend directly or indirectly from one or more parent data items. Processing the hierarchical dataset to generate nodes for each data item within the hierarchical dataset, wherein nodes for child data items are generated within nodes for parent data items and aligning nodes representing like data items in a dashboard view.
US07827495B2
A method for changing visual attributes presented by a graphical user interface of a device such as a mobile electronic device by loading onto the device a file containing information for changing selected visual attributes of the interface. A method or compiler for generating or compiling a file that contains information used by a device to change the user interface presented by the device.
US07827494B1
A data-descriptive meta language file, such as XML, is created that defines the layout operation within the visual interface of a component-based application at runtime. At runtime, the application receives a data-descriptive meta language file that defines the layout operation of the various components within the application visual interface. The application parses the data-descriptive meta language file and uses the parsed information to complete the layout and operation of the rendered interface. The runtime application includes functionality that uses selected data to specify unique applications and/or unique content associated with the application.
US07827487B1
One embodiment includes a system for receiving page-specific user feedback concerning a particular web page of a website. The system includes a first icon viewable with the particular web page independent of input from a user subsequent to the user accessing the particular web page. The first icon includes a bar located proximate an edge of the particular web page and having a length that is at least approximately equal to a length of the edge of the particular web page. Substantially all visual content of the particular web page is unobscured by the first icon. A user pointer being placed on the first icon for at least a predefined amount of time causes a second icon to become viewable with the particular web page. The second icon requests the user to select the first icon to provide page-specific user feedback concerning the particular web page. A selection of the first icon causing a feedback window to become viewable to the user. The feedback window solicits feedback from the user.
US07827472B2
The invention relates to an encoding system and method for generating concatenated codes which utilize interleaving and data puncturing. The method includes selecting first and second puncture location sets defining desired puncture locations in non-interleaved and interleaved data sequences, respectively. A puncture-constrained interleaver is provided, which permutes the first puncture location set into the second puncture location set, so as to provide desired regular puncture patterns for all constituent codes. In a preferred embodiment, the puncture-constrained interleaving alters a symbol location relative to a puncture mask so as to satisfy a pre-defined spread or distance constraint.
US07827468B2
A volatile memory has a volatile additional area for storing an error correction code for a nonvolatile memory. Data stored in the nonvolatile memory are transferred to the volatile memory together with the error correction code without making an error correction. Thus, data transfer time from the nonvolatile memory to the volatile memory can be shortened. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time from beginning of the data transfer from the nonvolatile memory to the volatile memory to a point at which data becomes accessible.
US07827459B1
The present invention relates to an improved communications protocol which increases the efficiency of transmission in return channels on a multi-channel slotted Alohas system by incorporating advanced error correction algorithms, selective retransmission protocols and the use of reserved channels to satisfy the retransmission requests.
US07827456B2
The present invention provides an error correcting method and apparatus for correcting errors in content. In accordance with a method embodiment, a method is provided for correcting errors in content, comprising, determining the types of the errors; sending a download request over a network for downloading error correcting information according to the type of the errors; receiving the error correcting information from the server; and correcting errors with the correcting information. In accordance with an apparatus embodiment, an error correcting apparatus is provided for correcting errors in the content, comprising a controlling means, a sending means and a receiving means, wherein the controlling means is used to determine the type of errors and to correct the errors with the error correcting information received by the receiving means; the sending means is used to send a download request for downloading the respective error correcting information according to the type of errors; and the receiving means is used to receive the error correcting information.
US07827450B1
A memory system includes a first parameter estimation module that receives pilot signals that are generated based on pilot data stored in a memory. The first parameter estimate module generates a first estimate of a signal quality value associated with a block of the memory based on reference pilot information. A second parameter estimation module generates a second estimate of the signal quality value based on the first estimate and user data signals that are generated based on user data stored in the memory. A processing module generates recovered user data based on the second estimate.
US07827449B2
Non-inline transaction error correction is disclosed. Where a transaction being processed in a pipeline is determined to include a correctable error, it is output, or drained, from the pipeline into an error queue. The pipeline is switched from a normal mode of operation to a correction mode of operation. In the correction mode, a correction command is inserted into and processed within the pipeline to correct the error within the transaction. The pipeline is switched from the correction mode of operation to a restart mode of operation. In the restart mode, the transaction is reprocessed within the pipeline. The pipeline is then switched from the restart mode of operation back to the normal mode of operation.
US07827447B2
A computerized method, program product, and an autonomic data processing system for archiving real-time log data immediately upon the occurrence of an event. An application is executing and a logging application is obtaining real-time log data. The real-time log data is temporarily retained in a memory and when the memory fills, the real-time log data is archived to a longer-term memory. Upon archival, selected parameters of the real-time log data is saved. When an event occurs that is considered significant meaning that an aspect of the data processing system is impacted by or is indicative of the event, an information level module immediately adjusts the level of information of the selected parameters archived to the longer-term memory, allowing for selected levels to be retained for future analysis. As part of an autonomic computer system, the information levels can be adjusted for learning about specific events and the behavior of the data processing system.
US07827441B1
A disk-less quorum device in a clustered storage system includes non-volatile memory to store status information regarding the cluster and each storage controller in the cluster. The quorum device maintains a bitmap, shared by the controllers in the cluster, in the non-volatile memory. The bitmap indicates the status of a write operation to any data block or parity block. A “dirty” data unit in the bitmap indicates that a write operation has been submitted but is not yet finished. Upon submitting a write request (to update a data block or a parity block) to the storage facility, a controller sets the corresponding data unit “dirty” in the bitmap. After receiving an acknowledgement from the storage facility indicating that the operation has been completed, the controller clears the corresponding data unit. If a controller fails during a write operation, another controller can use the bitmap to re-establish data consistency.
US07827430B2
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a clock circuit, a processing module, and processing circuitry. The clock circuit is coupled to produce a digital clock signal. The processing module is coupled to determine whether a harmonic component of the digital clock signal having a nominal digital clock rate is within the frequency passband and to provide an indication to the clock circuit to adjust its rate from the nominal digital clock rate to an adjusted digital clock rate when the harmonic component of the digital clock signal is within the frequency passband. The processing circuitry is coupled to process, at the adjusted digital clock rate, the data to produce processed data having a rate corresponding to the nominal digital clock rate and to interpolate, at an interpolation rate, the processed data to produce interpolated processed data having a rate corresponding to the interpolation rate.
US07827414B2
A library of a PC is easily synchronized with recorded contents of a disc loaded into a recording and reproducing apparatus (PD). The PC has a dynamic group and a database. Contents of the dynamic group are, dynamically changed. The dynamic group is correlated with the ID of the disc on which the contents of the dynamic group have been recorded. When the CP and the PD are connected, the ID of the disc loaded into the PD is read. The database is referenced for the ID of the disc. When there is a corresponding dynamic group, the dynamic group is compared with the recorded contents of the disc. Contents that exist in the dynamic group and that do not exist on the disc are checked out to the disc. In contrast, contents that exist on the disc and that do not exist in the dynamic group are checked in to the PC. In addition, the reproduction order of contents of the dynamic group is reflected to contents of the disc. The user can synchronize the recorded contents of the disc with the library of the PC only by connecting the PC and the PD.
US07827401B2
We propose new systems for certificate revocation that are more economical and efficient than traditional ones. We also point out what we believe to be a structural problem in traditional public-key infrastructures, and various ways to solve it.
US07827400B2
A system and method for establishing a mutually authenticated secure link between a mobile platform system and a remote system is provided. An onboard computer system (OCS) generates a dynamic certificate and digitally signs the dynamic certificate with a static certificate. The dynamic certificate is transmitted to a remote central computer system (CCS). The CCS verifies that the dynamic certificate is from a trusted source and sends a return dynamic certificate electronically signed with the static certificate to the OCS. The OCS verifies the return dynamic certificate is from the CCS, thereby establishing a mutually authenticated secure link between the OCS and the CCS.
US07827391B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed for single-stepping coherence events in a multiprocessor system under software control in order to monitor the behavior of a memory coherence mechanism. Single-stepping coherence events in a multiprocessor system is made possible by adding one or more step registers. By accessing these step registers, one or more coherence requests are processed by the multiprocessor system. The step registers determine if the snoop unit will operate by proceeding in a normal execution mode, or operate in a single-step mode.
US07827387B1
A system-on-chip (SOC) includes a processor, a controller module for a hard disk drive, and a communication bus that provides a communication link between the processor and the controller module. The communication bus includes a multiplexer that includes an output and an input that receives data from a selected one of N registers associated with the controller module and propagates the data to the output, M address registers that store addresses of up to M ones of the N registers, M data registers that receive pre-fetch data that corresponds to the data from the output from the M ones of the N registers, and a second multiplexer that includes a second output and that reads the pre-fetch data from the M data registers and propagates the pre-fetch data to the second output. M and N are positive integers greater than two and N is greater than M.
US07827383B2
In one embodiment, a processor comprises execution circuitry and a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) coupled to the execution circuitry. The execution circuitry is configured to execute a store instruction having a data operand; and the execution circuitry is configured to generate a virtual address as part of executing the store instruction. The TLB is coupled to receive the virtual address and configured to translate the virtual address to a first physical address. Additionally, the TLB is coupled to receive the data operand and to translate the data operand to a second physical address. A hardware accelerator is also contemplated in various embodiments, as is a processor coupled to the hardware accelerator, a method, and a computer readable medium storing instruction which, when executed, implement a portion of the method.
US07827379B1
A technique to implement an integrated multidimensional sorter is to store data such that it may be retrieved in a sorted fashion. Entries are stored into a memory according to time stamp value, and the time stamp value is divided into multiple portions. The memory is organized as a pointer memory. An integrated multidimensional sorter may be implemented using integrated circuit technology using one or more integrated circuits. These integrated circuits may be used in management of network traffic, and provides quality of service (QoS) control.
US07827377B2
A method is described for reading out sensor data from an intermediate memory written by at least one sensor to the intermediate memory at a data-transfer rate (Tpas). A sampling rate (Tsg) is selected in such a way as to avoid an overflow of the intermediate memory and all buffered sensor data is read into a control unit memory at the predetermined sampling rate (Tsg), the intermediate memory generating a message (RBE) if no new sensor data is present in the intermediate memory at the time of sampling.
US07827373B2
A method includes executing one or more applications in an execution environment. The one or more applications are capable of requesting allocation of memory during execution. The method also includes allocating a plurality of memory blocks in a heap to the one or more executing applications. The plurality of memory blocks are allocated sequentially in the heap to the one or more executing applications. In addition, the method includes deallocating the plurality of memory blocks during a single deallocation. Memory blocks in multiple heaps could be allocated to the one or more executing applications. A particular memory block in a particular heap could be allocated to a particular executing application by pushing an indicator identifying the particular heap onto a stack. The particular memory block is allocated in the particular heap based on the indicator, and the indicator is popped from the stack after allocation.
US07827368B2
A system according to this invention converts a full-copy snapshot into a differential snapshot. The system is composed of a storage subsystem and a server subsystem. The storage subsystem comprises a disk drive and a disk controller. The server subsystem comprises an interface, a processor, and a memory. The disk controller provides storage areas of the disk drive as logical volumes, and stores a differential block bitmap. The processor obtains the differential block bitmap, and identifies a block from the differential block bitmap. The processor obtains, from a full-copy snapshot volume, differential data that is stored in the identified block. The processor stores the obtained differential data in a differential volume. The processor stores, in differential block arrangement information, the location of the differential data stored in the differential volume.
US07827365B2
A system to locate a storage device. The system receives a request for a data item stored on a first and second storage device. The request includes a data identifier for the data item. Next, the system generates a start value and a step value based on the data identifier. Next, the system locates the first storage device utilizing the start value and identifies the first storage device is unavailable. Next, the system locates a second storage device utilizing a backup value that is generated based on the step value and the start value.
US07827360B2
A method and device for locking a cache line of a cache is disclosed. The method includes automatically changing a state of a cache line from a valid locked state to an invalid locked state in response to receiving an indication that a memory location external to the cache and corresponding to the cache line is associated with an access request by a processor or other data access module. Thus, the locked state of a cache line is maintained even after data in the locked cache line is invalidated. By maintaining the invalid locked state, the cache line is not available for reallocation by the cache. This allows locked cache lines that become invalidated to remain locked without additional software overhead to periodically determine whether the lock has been lost due to invalidation of the cache line.
US07827355B1
A data processor (200) includes an instruction cache (220) and a secondary cache (250). The instruction cache (220) has a plurality of cache lines. Each of the plurality of cache lines stores a first plurality of bits (222) corresponding to at least one instruction and a second plurality of bits (224, 226) associated with the execution of the at least one instruction. The secondary cache (250) is coupled to the instruction cache (220) and stores cache lines from the instruction cache (250) by storing the first plurality of bits (222) and a third plurality of bits (255, 257) corresponding to the second plurality of bits (224, 226). The third plurality of bits (255, 257) is fewer in number than the second plurality of bits (224, 226).
US07827342B2
A method reading bank register values is provided. Register values are stored in a readback bank. The register values are output sequentially from the serial bank. An indicator is received by the serial bank. A determination is then made as to whether the indicator was received by the serial bank prior to completion of the outputting of the register values. If the indicator was received prior to completion of the outputting of the register values, the register values are loaded into the serial bank from the readback bank.
US07827338B2
A method and a system of controlling access of data items to a shared resource, wherein the data items each is assigned to one of a plurality of priorities, and wherein, when a predetermined number of data items of a priority have been transmitted to the shared resource, that priority will be awaiting, i.e. no further data items are transmitted with that priority, until all lower, non-awaiting priorities have had one or more data items transmitted to the shared resource. In this manner, guarantees services may be obtained for all priorities.
US07827336B2
Two integrated circuit die each having a processing core and on-board memory are interconnected and packaged together to form a multi-chip module. The first die is considered primary and the second die is considered secondary are connected through an interposer. The first and second die may be the same design and thus have the same resources such as peripherals and memory and preferably have a common system interconnect protocol. The core of the second die is disabled or at least placed in a reduced power mode. The first die includes minimal circuit for interconnecting to the second die. The second die has some required interface circuitry and an address translator. The result is that the core of the first die can perform transactions with the memory and other resources of the second integrated circuit as if the memory and other resources were on the first die.
US07827330B2
Unique addresses for a plurality of devices may be programmed through a single external connection (pin) on each device by using a one of a plurality of different analog voltage or current values on the single external pin in combination with a serial clock of a serial data bus for each device requiring a unique binary address. The unique binary address is stored in the device after detection of certain number of clocks on the serial data bus. Once the unique binary address has been stored in the device, the single external connection may be used for another purpose such as a multifunction external connection. This unique binary address may be retained by the device until a power-on-reset (POR) or general reset condition occurs. Address detection and address load commands on the serial bus may also perform the same address definition and storage functions.
US07827321B2
A measurement sampling facility takes snapshots of the central processing unit (CPU) on which it is executing at specified sampling intervals to collect data relating to tasks executing on the CPU. The collected data is stored in a buffer, and at selected times, an interrupt is provided to remove data from the buffer to enable reuse thereof. The interrupt is not taken after each sample, but in sufficient time to remove the data and minimize data loss.
US07827312B2
A transcoder is adapted to perform transcoding of metadata to enable sharing and consumption of media content at dissimilar devices that are coupled to a home network. The transcoder, which is also coupled to the home network, is adapted to receive media content and metadata from a first media consumption device, to transcode the media content and metadata from a first format to second format, and to supply the transcoded media content and metadata to the second media consumption device in the second format. In one embodiment, the transcoder executes a method by which the transcoder obtains information about the sensing capabilities of a meter adapted to measure media at a media consumption device and subsequently uses that information to transcode the metadata into a format suitable for sensing by the meter.
US07827300B2
The method is for providing free music on the Internet. A server is provided that is connected to a music library. A user visits a website associated with the server d provides a user profile. The user requests a set of songs in a play list. The server receives the requested and requests the songs of the play list from an on-line music library. The server adds commercial messages in connection with the songs. The server streams the songs with the commercial messages embedded therein to the communication device of the user.
