US07838062B2
Fabrication of a solar cell using a printed contact mask. The contact mask may include dots formed by inkjet printing. The dots may be formed in openings between dielectric layers (e.g., polyimide). Intersections of overlapping dots may form gaps that define contact regions. The spacing of the gaps may be dictated by the alignment of nozzles that dispense the dots. Using the dots as a contact mask, an underlying dielectric layer may be etched to form the contact regions through the underlying dielectric layer. Metal contact fingers may be formed over the wafer to form electrical connections to corresponding diffusion regions through the contact regions.
US07838056B2
A method for replenishing carbon dioxide gas in a carbonated beverage container where a carbon dioxide regulator releases carbon dioxide at a rate approximately equal to the rate of carbon dioxide loss from said container. Also shown is a packaging system for maintaining a consistent pressure of a carbonated beverage having a closure, a plastic container, and a carbon dioxide regulator. Also shown is a method for making a packaging system for maintaining a consistent pressure in a carbonated beverage having overmolding a preform around an assembly for a carbon dioxide regulator, or blending a carbon dioxide regulator into the plastic material used to form the body of a container for said carbonated beverage. Also shown is a carbon dioxide regulator composition for replenishing carbon dioxide gas in a carbonated beverage container having polymeric carbonates, organic carbonates, or materials that absorb and subsequently release carbon dioxide.
US07838054B2
A vacuum tumbler for marinating food products within a liquid. The vacuum tumbler comprises a container having an interior wall, the interior wall defining a chamber for containing the liquid. A rib extends inwardly from the interior wall at least one-quarter of the distance across the chamber. A drive moves the container so that the rib brings the food products into and out of contact with the liquid, and a vacuum source creates a partial vacuum within the chamber.
US07838051B2
To provide a method for the manufacture of polyphenols that enables industrial manufacture of polyphenols containing water-soluble proanthocyanidins from grape seeds. The seeds of grape berries dried after squeezing out the juice are separated into grape seeds and peel with a separation apparatus, and the grape seeds are stirred in a washing machine to remove contamination thoroughly. The grape seeds are charged into a boiling kettle and heated for the prescribed time at the prescribed temperature. Then, germination is induced in a curing kettle maintained at the prescribed temperature preferred for the germination. The grape seeds in which germination or germination and differentiation have advanced are crushed, mixed with water to obtain an emulsified state, and a salt is added, if desired. After a known desalting treatment has been conducted with respect to an aqueous solution portion, water is evaporated with a vacuum apparatus to obtain polyphenols comprising proanthocyanidins converted to a water soluble form.
US07838049B2
The invention provides a Pyracantha koidzumii extract and new compounds isolated from the extract and their derivatives. This extract and these compounds have activity in inhibiting tyrosinase.
US07838048B2
The present invention relates to a medical herb composition for reducing shedding of mammal hair and a method for preparing the same. The medical herb composition comprises: a first herb material selected from the group consisting of Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Batatatis Rhizoma, Zizyphi Fructus, Tremella, Codonopsis Pilosula, or the combination thereof; a second herb material selected from the group consisting of Angelicae Radix, Rehmanniae Preparata Radix, Longanae Arillus, Lycii Fructus, Paeonia lactiflora, or the combination thereof; and a third herb material selected from the group consisting of Rehmanniae Radix, Ligustrum Lucidum, Eclipta prostrata, Dendrobium hancockii, Polygonum multiflorun (i.e. Dioscorea bulbifera or Cynanchum wilfordi), or the combination thereof. The medical herb composition of the present invention can reduce shedding of mammal hair, promote the growth of hair, and also can efficiently improve vitality, skin condition, and complexion.
US07838047B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition and health food comprising Phellinus sp. PL3 extract or phellinsin A isolated from the same as an effective component. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition and health food comprising Phellinus sp. PL3 extract or phellinsin A isolated from the same as an effective component, wherein the Phellinus sp. PL3 extract and its phellinsin A inhibit the oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL), and further, they can be used as a component for medicine and food to effectively prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases such as hyperlipemia and arteriosclerosis.
US07838036B2
Provided is a method of isolating nucleic acid from cells using a single surface, wherein a compound represented by Formula 1 is bound to the surface. Also provided are an apparatus for isolation of nucleic acids, and a bead for isolating nucleic acids.
US07838035B2
Highly durable occlusions that are useful for embolic treatment were obtained using microspheres having new combined properties of high density, low fracture, high swell capacity, rapid swell, and deformability following swell. These microspheres are provided in a microsphere powder which also has high density and high swell properties, that is prepared using a new process.
US07838019B2
Iscom particles can be used as an adjuvant for preparing of an antigenic composition which comprises live micro-organisms and/or killed micro-organisms and/or antigenic molecules. A composition may comprise at least one iscom particle and one or more live micro-organisms and/or killed micro-organisms and/or antigenic molecules. A kit can comprise at least one compartment containing at least one living organism and at least one compartment containing at least one iscom particle.
US07838018B2
An adjuvant combination and a kit useful for immunization is provided. The kit contains an antigenic substance and an adjuvant combination of dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA-Br or DDA-Cl) with a monophosphoryl lipid.
US07838014B2
The present invention relates to the field of neisserial vaccine compositions, their manufacture, and the use of such compositions in medicine. More particularly it relates to processes of making novel engineered meningococcal strains which are more suitable for the production of neisserial, in particular meningococcal, outer-membrane vesicle (or bleb) vaccines. Advantageous processes and vaccine products are also described based on the use of novel LOS subunit or meningococcal outer-membrane vesicle (or bleb) vaccines which have been rendered safer and/or more effective for use in human subjects. In particular combinations of gene downregulations are described such as PorA and OpA, PorA and OpC, OpA and Opc, and PorA and OpA and OpC. Alternatively, or in addition, lgtB− is shown to be an optimal mutation for effectively and safely using L3 and/or L2 LOS in Neisseria vaccine compositions. Bleb vaccines derived from lgtB− and capsular polysaccharide deficient meningococcal mutants are further described; as are advantageous methods of making bleb preparations where LOS is to be retained as an important antigen.
US07838011B2
A stabilizing composition that also enhances permeation is provided for the topical or transdermal administration of an active ingredient. The composition comprises collagen, elastin, sphingosine and cerebroside. Also provided are pharmaceutical or cosmetic formulations comprising an effective amount of an active agent and the stabilizing composition as well as methods of administering active agents topically or transdermally.
US07837997B2
Compositions and methods for prevention and treatment of uncontrolled formation of intravascular fibrin clots are provided wherein fibrinolytic or anticoagulant drugs are biocompatibly coupled to red blood cell carriers.
US07837989B2
The present invention is directed to a novel method for preventing or treating the development of respiratory allergies. The method comprises prenatal and/or postnatal administration of a therapeutically effective amount of LGG.
US07837985B2
The present invention provides a post-application expanding composition for application to keratin fibers, preferably hair, more preferably the hair of the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes, and most preferably the eyelashes. The composition comprises one or more surfactants, a solvent for the surfactant(s), a volatile agent, a film forming agent and, optionally, a colorant, preferably a pigment. The present invention also provides a method for imparting a volumizing effect to hair of the scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes by applying thereto the post-expanding composition of the invention.
US07837981B2
Provided herein are agents that bind to soluble beta-amyloid. Also provided are in vivo and in vitro methods for detecting soluble beta-amyloid in a sample that may include brain tissue.
US07837979B2
A process for synthesizing the porous crystalline material ITQ-12 is disclosed and employs an organic directing agent having the formula: where n is an integer from 1 to 3 and Q− is an anion. The resultant ITQ-12 is useful in as a catalyst in chemical conversion reactions and as an adsorbent for gas separation.
US07837969B2
The method of making a single crystal, especially a CaF2 single crystal, includes tempering, in which the crystal is heated at <18 K/h to a temperature of 1000° C. to 1350° C. and held at this temperature for at least 65 hours with maximum temperature differences within the crystal of <0.2 K. Subsequently the crystal is cooled with a cooling rate of at maximum 0.5 K/h above a limiting temperature between 900° C. to 600° C. and then further below this limiting temperature at maximum 3 K/h. The obtained CaF2 crystals have refractive index uniformity <0.025×10−6 (RMS) in a (111)-, (100)- or (110)-direction and a stress birefringence of less than 2.5 nm/cm (PV) and/or a stress birefringence of less than 1 nm/cm (RMS) in the (100)- or (110)-direction. In the (111)-direction the stress birefringence is <0.5 nm/cm (PV) and/or the stress birefringence is <0.15 nm/cm (RMS).
US07837960B2
A method is disclosed for separating and recovering base metals from a used hydroprocessing catalyst originating from Group VIB and Group VIII metals and containing at least a Group VB metal. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: contacting the used catalyst with an ammonia leaching solution under conditions sufficient to dissolve the group VIB metal and the Group VIII metal into the leaching solution; forming a leached slurry containing at least a group VIB metal complex and at least a group VIII metal complex, ammonium sulfate and a solid residue containing at least a Group VB metal complex and coke; separating and removing from the leached slurry the solid residue and coke; precipitating from the remaining solution at least a portion of the Group VIB metal complex and at least a portion of the Group VIII metal complex by controlling the pH to form a liquid material substantially free of Group VB, Group VIB and Group VIII metals and another solid material comprising substantially Group VIB and Group VIII metal complexes. Said solid material is further processed by dissolution, means of separation, further means of precipitation and oxidative dissolution to produce, separately, a Group VIB metal product solution, a Group VIII metal product solution and a purified ammonium sulfate product solution.
US07837959B2
A process for separating one or more metal ions forming a first group of metal ions such as copper, zinc and ferric ions, from one or more other metal ions forming a second group of metal ions such as cobalt and nickel, comprising: contacting an aqueous solution comprising said first and second groups of metal ions with an organic solution comprising a phosphinic acid and a hydroxyoxime to extract one of said groups of metal ions into the organic phase, and separating the organic and aqueous phases.
US07837957B2
A system and device for preparing polyurea compounds. The system comprising a chamber for reacting amines and isocyanates in the presence of a liquid diluent in a high-pressure impingement mixing device under conditions sufficient to produce a polyurea compound having the consistency of a powder and in which diluent is dispersed.
US07837950B2
The invention provides an apparatus and a process for the high pressure polymerization of ethylene, optionally with one or more comonomers, in which unreacted monomer is separated from the polymer in a separation system having at least first, second and third separation vessels and in which off gas from the second vessel is recombined back into the product mixture upstream of the first separation vessel, preferably using a jet pump.
US07837941B2
A device for measuring blood coagulation time is formed from a first substrate; a second substrate; a spacer layer disposed between the first and second substrates, said spacer layer having an opening formed therein defining a sample receiving chamber, a vented sink chamber, and an elongated reservoir forming a conduit for liquid movement between the sample receiving chamber and the sink chamber; a first electrode disposed on the first substrate, said first electrode being exposed in the reservoir portion through a first opening in the spacer layer; and a second electrode disposed on the second substrate, said second electrode being exposed in the reservoir portion through a second opening in the spacer layer. The device of the invention is used in combination with an apparatus that is connected to the first and second electrodes for measuring current flow between the first and second electrodes. Changes in observed current are indicative of flow through the device, and a cessation of flow indicates coagulation.
US07837935B2
Disclosed is a small-sized joint for joining hydrogen gas running route-forming members, which can surely prevent the leakage of hydrogen gas, and a portable hydrogen flame ionization gas detector that can prevent the leakage of hydrogen gas to achieve high safety.The joint comprises a metallic base having an internal space at least one end of which is opened, and a ring-like sealing member composed of an elastic material and arranged at opening edge of the metallic base, wherein a hydrogen gas running route-forming member is fixed in a state inserted into an internal space of the metallic base through the sealing member, and the sealing member is squeezed to gastightly seal the space, whereby one hydrogen gas running route-forming member is removably joined. In the gas detector, the joint is used to form a hydrogen gas running route.
US07837934B2
Packaging systems for storing ophthalmic devices such as contact lenses and to methods for packaging such ophthalmic devices with solutions to improve the comfort of the lenses during wear are disclosed. A packaging system includes an ophthalmic device stored in an aqueous packaging solution comprising a substantially water-soluble silicone-containing surfactant. Such solutions are retained on the surface of an unused lens for extended periods of time, resulting in surface modification that persists in the eye, which may provide significant improvement in the wetting properties of fresh contact lenses used for the first time and, moreover, even several hours after lens insertion, preventing dryness and improving lubricity.
US07837926B2
A device and method are disclosed for the production of hollow bodies, especially plastic bottles, wherein a section of a plastic flexible hose is placed in a cavity of a blow mould by an extruder head according to a predefined clocked pulse. The plastic flexible hose is inflated inside the blow mould by a blow mandrel by overpressure according to the blow mould cavity. The manufactured inflated hollow body is subsequently removed from the mould. The plastic hose can be continually held on opposite sides of the blow mould arrangement during the entire extrusion and blow cycle.
US07837922B2
A reverse molded, plant-on decorative panel component comprises a panel portion lying on a first plane, a skirt portion, and a contoured portion. The skirt portion has a first surface adapted to be exteriorly disposed and an opposite second surface adapted to be interiorly disposed in order to be adhesively secured to a planar surface. The contoured portion extends outwardly from and surrounds the panel portion and interconnects and is integral with the panel portion and the skirt portion. The skirt portion extends peripherally about the contoured portion.
US07837918B2
An in-mold coating method providing a mold having a specifically formed auxiliary cavity and an in-mold coating formation method which employs said mold, so that it is possible to prevent a coating material from leaking out of the mold, thereby shortening the molding formation cycle, and making it possible to manufacture a molded product having a stabilized quality. In addition, by using a mold having a specifically shaped sub-cavity, there is provided a still further in-mold coating formation method which can keep mold temperature at a relatively low value, cause the coating material to cure at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined time period thereby shortening the molding formation cycle, improving the productivity, improving the physical properties of a coating layer, thus obtaining a good molded product.
US07837917B2
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a molded plastic article (2) having a second surface (56) with molded extensions (59), e.g., structural supports, such as ribs, extending therefrom, and a first surface (69) that is substantially free of sink mark defects. The method involves forming, from a first plastic material, a first molded section (50) having at least one molded extension (59) extending from the second surface (56) thereof. The molded extension (59) is formed in a mold recess (23) having a reversibly positionable slide (14) therein. After formation of the first molded section (50), the slide (14) is retracted to a second slide position (B) thus forming within the molded extension a retainer cavity (74) that is in fluid communication with an aperture (71) in the first surface (53) of the first molded section (50). A second plastic material is introduced into the mold (1) over the first molded section (50), and a portion thereof passes through the aperture (71) and into the retainer cavity (74), thereby forming a second molded section (108) that is continuous with each retainer (96). The first and second molded sections, which together form the molded article (2), are fixedly attached to each other by at least one molded retainer (96), and the first surface (111) of the second molded section, which defines the first surface (69) of the molded article (2), is substantially free of sink mark defects. The present invention also relates to a molded article.
US07837913B2
Millimeter to nano-scale structures manufactured using a multi-component polymer fiber matrix are disclosed. The use of dissimilar polymers allows the selective dissolution of the polymers at various stages of the manufacturing process. In one application, biocompatible matrixes may be formed with long pore length and small pore size. The manufacturing process begins with a first polymer fiber arranged in a matrix formed by a second polymer fiber. End caps may be attached to provide structural support and the polymer fiber matrix selectively dissolved away leaving only the long polymer fibers. These may be exposed to another product, such as a biocompatible gel to form a biocompatible matrix. The polymer fibers may then be selectively dissolved leaving only a biocompatible gel scaffold with the pores formed by the dissolved polymer fibers.
US07837910B2
A method of forming a hardened skin on a surface of a molded article. In an exemplary method, a formable material is mixed with a blowing agent to form a foam material. The foam material is placed in a flow molding apparatus such that the top surface of the foam material is in contact with the top mold of the apparatus and the bottom surface of the foam material is in contact with the bottom mold of the apparatus. In operation, an alternating dielectric field is applied across the foam material to form the molded article. At the end of the molding cycle, the bottom surface of the foam material remains under the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent so as to form a hardened skin on the molded article.
US07837901B2
There are provided electrically conducting polymer compositions comprising an electrically conductive polymer or copolymer and an organic solvent wettable fluorinated acid polymer. Electrically conductive polymer materials are derived from thiophene, pyrrole, aniline and polycyclic heteroaromatic precursor monomers. Non-conductive polymers derived from alkenyl, alkynyl, arylene, and heteroarylene precursor monomers. The organic-solvent wettable fluorinated acid polymer is fluorinated or highly fluorinated and may be colloid-forming. Acidic groups include carboxylic acid groups, sulfonic acid groups, sulfonimide groups, phosphoric acid groups, phosphonic acid groups, and combinations thereof. The compositions can be used in organic electronic devices.
US07837894B2
Refrigerant composition are disclosed which comprises: (a) pentafluoroethane, trifluoromethoxydifluoromethane or hexafluorocyclopropane, or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of at least 75% based on the weight of the composition, (b) 1,1,1,2- or 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, trifluoromethoxypentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane or a mixture of two or more thereof, in an amount of from 10 to 20% by weight based on the weight of the composition and (c) an ethylenically unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon, optionally containing one or more oxygen atoms, with a boiling point from −50° C. to +35° C., or a mixture thereof in an amount from 1% to 4% by weight based on the weight of the composition the weight ratio of component (a):component (b) being at least 4:1.
US07837887B2
A method of forming an ink supply channel for an inkjet printhead comprises the steps of: (i) providing a wafer having a frontside and a backside; (ii) etching a plurality of frontside trenches into the frontside; (iii) filling each of the trenches with a photoresist plug; (iv) forming nozzle structures on the frontside using MEMS fabrication processes; (v) etching a backside trench from the backside, the backside trench meeting with one or more of the plugs; (vi) removing a portion of each photoresist plug via the backside trench by subjecting the backside to a biased oxygen plasma etch, thereby exposing sidewall features in the backside trench; (vii) modifying the exposed sidewall features; and (viii) removing the photoresist plugs to form the ink supply channel. The ink supply channel connects the backside to the frontside.
US07837878B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for using a hemofilter to treat IMRD, hepatic failure, exogenous intoxication and other conditions associated with toxins in a patient's blood. One treatment includes the use of a very large pore hemofilter to remove target complex molecules and/or target molecules from a patient's blood and to infuse a replacement fluid into the patient's blood to maintain a prescribed albumin concentration in the patient's blood.
US07837869B2
A storm sewer insert includes a mounting assembly that is constructed and arranged to be mounted to a storm sewer system and a filter bag that is fabricated from a mesh material. The filter bag is releasably attached to the mounting assembly by a plurality of suspension elements that suspend the filter bag from the mounting assembly. The storm sewer insert may be provided with a covered bypass system for permitting excess storm water to bypass the filter bag in a manner that will facilitate the capture of floatable material that may be contained within the excess storm water.
US07837866B2
A drainless reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system provides relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, while recycling brine to a domestic hot water system. The drainless purification system includes a pre-filter catalyst cartridge for removing chlorine-based contaminants from a tap water supply upstream from an RO membrane. The catalyst is regularly refreshed by a high through-flow of water to a conventional cold water dispense faucet, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of the RO membrane. The RO membrane is incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit adapted for facilitated slide-out removal and replacement as needed. A control valve recycles brine from the RO membrane to the hot water system during pure water production, and recirculates tap water through the RO membrane when a pure water reservoir is substantially filled. The multi-cartridge unit may further include an air filtration system for providing a flow of filtered air.
US07837857B2
A method for obtaining jet fuel from diesel fuel is provided, the method comprising subjecting the diesel fuel to hydrocracking to convert at least a portion of the diesel fuel into a mixture of light hydrocarbons, kerosene, naphtha and a liquefied petroleum gas, isolating the kerosene, recovering jet fuel from the kerosene, subjecting at least a portion of the mixture of kerosene, naphtha and a liquefied petroleum gas to steam forming to obtain a synthesis gas containing hydrogen, and recycling hydrogen contained in the synthesis gas to the hydrocracking step. A modular system for performing the method is also provided.
US07837852B2
The reaction of halo-boron compounds (B—X compounds, compounds having one or more boron-halogen bonds) with silanes provides boranes (B—H compounds, compounds having one or more B—H bonds) and halosilanes. Inorganic hydrides, such as surface-bound silane hydrides (Si—H) react with B—X compounds to form B—H compounds and surface-bound halosilanes. The surface bound halosilanes are converted back to surface-bound silanes electrochemically. Halo-boron compounds react with stannanes (tin compounds having a Sn—H bond) to form boranes and halostannanes (tin compounds having a Sn—X bond). The halostannanes are converted back to stannanes electrochemically or by the thermolysis of Sn-formate compounds. When the halo-boron compound is BCl3, the B—H compound is B2H6, and where the reducing potential is provided electrochemically or by the thermolysis of formate.
US07837848B2
A method for separating the constituents of a mixture M by electrophoresis in a single capillary includes (A) separating compounds of the mixture M in a single capillary according to the capillary electrophoresis technique; (B) isolating a fraction F of the compounds thus separated by evacuating part of the compounds having the highest migration speeds from the capillary and/or evacuating part of the compounds having the lowest migration speeds from the capillary; (C) introducing a separating medium MS having a higher migration speed than the compounds of the isolated fraction F into the capillary containing the isolated fraction F, and (D) the compounds contained in fraction F are separated in the new electrophoretic conditions thus obtained.
US07837843B2
This invention relates to a fixture for use in a physical vapor deposition coating operation which comprises a support structure 14 comprising a circular base member 10, a circular top member 11 opposite the circular base member 10, and a plurality of structural members 12 joining said top member 11 to said base member 10; a plurality of panel members 13 aligned in a vertical direction around the outer periphery of said support structure 14 forming a cylinder-like structure; said panel members 13 including a plurality of apertures for holding workpieces 19 and 35 to which a coating is to be applied; and said apertures positioned on said panel members 13 so that said workpieces 19 and 35 are aligned in a staggered vertical direction. This invention also relates to a method for simultaneously coating a plurality of workpieces 19 and 35, such as gas turbine compressor blades and vanes, with erosion resistant coatings using the fixture of this invention.
US07837833B2
An apparatus (200) for determining fiber orientation parameters of a sheet of material during a production process includes a polarized radiation generating system (201, 202) operable for providing polarized radiation having a frequency of at least 1×108 Hz. The radiation is aligned to be incident on a sheet of material to be characterized (203). A polarimeter (204, 205) is aligned to receive the radiation transmitted by the sheet of material (203). A photodetector (206) is provided for measuring radiation received after polarization processing by the polarimeter. A processor (207) is coupled to the photodetector (206) for calculating Stokes parameters of the moving sheet (203) based upon intensities of the radiation received and determines at least one parameter relating to fiber orientation of the moving sheet based upon the Stokes parameters.
US07837832B2
Wiping products are disclosed comprising a sheet and an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the sheet by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the sheet. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the sheet after the sheet has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the sheet as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the sheet and/or improve the perceived softness of the sheet.
US07837828B2
A substrate supportingstructure (50) for semiconductor processing, comprising a mounting table (51) for placing a processed substrate (W) disposed in a processing chamber (20), wherein temperature control spaces (507) for storing the fluid used as a heat exchange medium are formed in the mounting table (51), a conductive transmission path (502) is disposed to lead a high frequency power to the mounting table (51), and flow channels (505, 506) feeding or discharging the heat exchange medium fluid to or from the temperature control spaces (507) are formed in the transmission path (502).
US07837824B2
The present invention relates to photoradiation and/or moisture curing silicone compositions and methods for producing and using the same. In particular, the methods of the present invention permit controlled growth of a polymer, and allow for incorporation of pendant functional groups along the length of the polymer.
US07837822B2
A donor substrate for a laser induced thermal imaging method and an organic light emitting display manufactured using the same are provided. A laser induced thermal imaging apparatus includes a stage grounded by a grounding means, and a method of fabricating an organic light emitting display is capable of controlling static electricity which may be built up while an organic layer is formed using the apparatus.
US07837820B2
A method for dicing a wafer having a first face in which opening are arranged along dicing streets. The method includes a step of affixing a dicing tape to the first face such that the dicing tape lies over the openings and adhesive regions of the dicing tape are exposed in the openings and a step of treating the dicing tape to reduce the adhesive strength of the adhesive regions.
US07837812B2
Metastable beta titanium alloys and methods of processing metastable β-titanium alloys are disclosed. For example, certain non-limiting embodiments relate to metastable β-titanium alloys, such as binary β-titanium alloys comprising greater than 10 weight percent molybdenum, having tensile strengths of at least 150 ksi and elongations of at least 12 percent. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to methods of processing metastable β-titanium alloys, and more specifically, methods of processing binary β-titanium alloys comprising greater than 10 weight percent molybdenum, wherein the method comprises hot working and direct aging the metastable β-titanium alloy at a temperature below the β-transus temperature of the metastable β-titanium alloy for a time sufficient to form α-phase precipitates in the metastable β-titanium alloy. Articles of manufacture comprising binary β-titanium alloys according to various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein are also disclosed.
US07837810B2
Thermo-mechanical properties of welds in stainless steel is substantially improved by the implementation of a post weld heat treatment that illiminates sigma phase in the heat treated zone and favors niobium carbonitride precipitate formation in a desirable size range. In most cases, post weld heat treated material can be employed in pressurized devices at temperatures exceeding 550° C., which is currently regarded the upper safe temperature limit, and material according to the inventive subject matter was tested at temperature of up to 850° C. without reheat cracking.
US07837807B2
A magnetic core for a current transformer, and a current transformer and a watt hour meter used thereof, which is preferred the detection of a alternate current with a large asymmetrical waveform and a alternate current which a direct current is superimposed are realized. A magnetic core for a current transformer comprising the composition represented by the general formula: Fe100-x-a-y-cMxCuaM′yX′c (atomic %), wherein M is at least one element selected from Co and Ni, M′ is at least one element selected from V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, X′ is at least one element selected from Si and B, and x, a, y, and c meets the composition of 3≦x≦50, 0.1≦a≦3, 1≦y≦10, 2≦c≦30, and also 7≦y+c≦30, and an alloy comprising a crystal grain consisting of at least a part or all of the composition with a mean particle size of less than or equal to 50 nm.
US07837803B2
In a spin-chuck with plural collector levels, a separate exhaust controller is provided for each level. This permits selectively varying gas flow conditions among the collector levels, so that the ambient pressure at one level does not adversely affect device performance in an adjacent level.
US07837802B2
There is provided a dishwasher and a method of controlling the dishwasher. The dishwasher includes a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of washing water supplied, a rinse dispensing unit for dispensing rinse when washing water is heated up to a rinse dispensing temperature, and a control unit for varying the rinse dispensing temperature in accordance with the temperature of the washing water supplied.
US07837800B2
The present invention relates to a CMP polishing slurry, comprising cerium oxide particles, a dispersing agent, a water-soluble polymer and water, wherein the water-soluble polymer is a compound having a skeleton of any one of an N-mono-substituted product and an N,N-di-substituted product of any one selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide and α-substituted products thereof. The amount of the water-soluble polymer is preferably in the range of 0.01 part or more by weight and 10 parts or less by weight for 100 parts by weight of the polishing slurry. Thus it is possible to provide a polishing slurry and a polishing method which make it possible to polish a film made of silicon oxide or the like effectively and rapidly and further control the process therefor easily in CMP technique for flattening an interlayer insulating film, a BPSG film, an insulator film for shallow trench isolation, and other films.
US07837791B2
A silicon single crystal wafer for a particle monitor is presented, which wafer has an extremely small amount in the surface density of light point defects and is capable of still maintaining a small surface density even after repeating the SC-1. The wafer is prepared by slicing a silicon single crystal ingot including an area in which crystal originated particles are generated, and the surface density of particles having a size of not less than 0.12 mum is not more than 15 counts/cm2 after repeating the SC-1. More preferably, a silicon single crystal wafer having a nitrogen concentration of 1×1013 1×1015 atoms/cm3 provides a surface density of not more than 1 counts/cm2 for the particles having a diameter of not less than 0.12 mum even after repeating the SC-1. Hence, a high quality wafer optimally used for a particle monitor can be obtained and a very small number of defects in the wafer make it possible to produce devices.
US07837765B2
Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assemblies and hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies and/or fuel cell systems including the same. The PSA assemblies include, or are utilized with, combustion fuel stream supply systems that are adapted to regulate the flow of a byproduct stream from the PSA assembly for delivery to a heating assembly for use as a combustible fuel stream, such as to maintain at least a hydrogen-producing region of the fuel processing system at a hydrogen-producing temperature or range of temperatures. In some embodiments, the combustion fuel stream supply system is configured to ensure that the supply of combustible fuel from the PSA assembly to the heating assembly contains at least a sufficient fuel value, such as to maintain at least the hydrogen-producing region at or within a predetermined hydrogen-producing temperature or range of temperatures.
US07837764B2
An oxygen exchange manifold converts oxygenate air into an oxygen depleted air stream for use in inerting an otherwise flammable environment. A system including the oxygen exchange manifold may be utilized to inert fuel tanks of an aircraft or another environment. Methods of inerting such environments are also disclosed.
US07837760B2
The invention publishes a process to increase the bioleaching speed of ores or concentrates of sulfide metal species in heaps, tailing dams, dumps, or other on-site operations. The process is characterized by the continuous inoculation of the ores or concentrates with isolated microorganisms of the Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans type, together with isolated microorganisms of the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans type, with or without native microorganisms, in such a way that the total concentration of microorganisms in the continuous inoculation flow is of around 1×107 cells/ml to 5,6×107 cells/ml. In particular, the invention publishes the continuous inoculation of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Licanantay DSM 17318 together with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Wenelen DSM 16786 microorganisms, or with other native microorganisms at a concentration higher than 5×107 cells/ml. In addition to the inoculation of isolated bacteria, the invention includes the addition of oxidizing agents such as the ferric ion produced externally, together with nutrients in the shape of salts of ammonium, magnesium, iron, potassium, as well as air enriched continuously with carbon dioxide to promote bacterial action in the bioleaching process of ores or concentrates.
US07837758B2
Method for the production of solid urea ammonium sulphate (UAS) fertilizers from sulphuric acid, ammonia and urea, wherein free ammonia and/or as carbamate to be decomposed from urea production, is reacted with sulphuric acid without substantially decomposing urea in the process stream, where after urea and ammonium sulphate (AS) is mixed and particulated. The point of integration of the ammonium sulphate production in the urea production process is chosen according to the desired product composition. The reaction is carried out in a pipe reactor where the head of the reactor enhanced the chemical reaction between sulphuric acid and ammonia and the urea solution surrounds the ammonium sulphate formation.
US07837752B2
A rigid or semi-rigid demister pad is positioned between an air turbine and an inertial water removal device such as extractor in an air conditioning system for an aircraft. The demister pad comprises packed fibers or strands whose diameter typically ranges from approximately 10 or fewer microns to approximately 280 microns. The demister is capable of catching very small droplets discharged from the air turbine that coalesce into larger droplets that exit the demister pad and enter an adjacent water removal device downstream from the pad to separate the larger water droplets from the stream of air. This avoids using a water separator containing a coalescer bag that requires frequent maintenance and is sensitive to dirt and freezing. The demister can operate at freezing temperature, is not dirt-sensitive and requires no maintenance.
US07837748B2
Disclosed are fuel compositions for internal combustion engines comprising as a predominant component organic distillates which exhibit suitable physical properties, and a low-sulfur fraction of an alkylated petroleum feedstock which, for example, consisted of material boiling between about 60° C. and about 345° C. More particularly, compositions of the invention comprise low-boiling, low-sulfur, blending components, advantageously obtained by a process for converting sulfur-containing organic compounds which are unwanted impurities, to higher boiling products by alkylation and removing the higher boiling products by fractional distillation. Products can be used directly as transportation fuels and/or blending components to provide fuels which are more friendly to the environment.
US07837745B2
A means and method for rendering high energy density cells safe in compliance with transportation requirements, with the incorporation of a cell fusible terminal which is added on or incorporated within the cell terminals to prevent over current and hazards from developing due to external short circuits. As a result, cells made in accordance with the method of the present invention can be shipped by common carriers even though they are classified as hazardous materials and can be readily used and normally discharged with such fusible link element thereon. The fusible terminal comprises a non conductive base element upon which is mounted a fusible link element and wherein the non-conductive or insulative base element comprises means for connection to a terminal of the cell or battery and to an external component.
US07837744B2
A fluid consuming battery (10) is provided with a fluid regulating system (50) for regulating fluid entry into the battery. The battery (10) includes a fluid consuming cell (20) having a cell housing with fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell housing. A first fluid consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The fluid regulating system (50) includes a valve having a moving plate (66) disposed adjacent to a fixed plate (62). The moving plate and fixed plate both have fluid entry ports (68, 64) that align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The fluid regulating system (50) also includes an actuator that may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) components (82a, 82b) for moving the moving plate (66) relative to the fixed plate (62) to open and close the valve.
US07837740B2
The invention is directed toward a cartilage repair assembly comprising a shaped allograft two piece construct with a demineralized cancellous cap and a mineralized cylindrical base member defining a blind bore with a through going transverse bore intersecting the blind bore. The demineralized cancellous cap has a cylindrical top portion and a smaller diameter cylindrical stem extending away from the top portion which fits into the blind bore of the mineralized base member. The cap stem defines a transverse through going bore which is aligned with the through going bore of the base member to receive a cylindrical cortical pin holding the cap within the base member. The shaped structure is dimensioned to fit in a drilled bore in a cartilage defect area so that the assembly engages the side wall of the drilled bore in an interference fit.
US07837736B2
A method is provided for performing a total knee arthroplasty. The method includes making a primary incision near a knee joint of a patient and resecting medial and lateral condyles of the femur of the leg to create at least one femoral cut surface. The resecting step is performed without dislocating the knee joint. The method also includes balancing various ligament tensions to obtain desired tension and moving a femoral component of a total knee implant through the primary incision. The method further includes positioning the femoral component with respect to the at least one femoral cut surface.
US07837733B2
A method for treating a spinal disc comprises the steps of: determining the integrity of the annulus by subjecting the annulus to a first pressure applied internally of the annulus; providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus without removing any tissue from the annulus or from the nucleus pulposus; and sealably injecting curable biomaterial through the annulus access directly into the nucleus pulposus at a second pressure correlated with the first pressure. The integrity of the annulus may be determined by a pre-operative discogram using a contrast medium that has a viscosity substantially similar to the viscosity of the biomaterial to be injected. The curable biomaterial may be injected under a pressure sufficient to distract opposing vertebral bodies communicating with the disc space.
US07837727B2
A replacement valve for implantation centrally within the orifice of a malfunctioning native heart valve. The valve is designed for minimally invasive entry through an intercostal opening in the chest of a patient and an opening in the apex of the human heart. The replacement valve includes either a separate anchor (11, 87, 111) or a combined anchor (67) that folds around the malfunctioning native valve leaflets, sandwiching them in a manner so as to securely anchor the replacement valve in a precise, desired location.
US07837717B2
A bone fracture fixation system comprises a bone plate configured to bear against a proximal surface of the bone and a plurality of elongated tension elements, each sized to pass through an opening in the bone plate and through the bone from the proximal surface to a distal surface thereof. Each tension element is anchored to the bone and maintained in tension by a distal anchor attached to said tension element and configured to engage the distal surface of the bone and a proximal anchor engageable between the bone plate and the tension element. In one method for fixation of a bone fracture, the bone plate is positioned on a proximal surface of the bone while the tension element is introduced into the bone and through an opening in the bone plate from an opposite distal surface of the bone.
US07837707B2
An internal sinus procedure for patching a perforation in patient's sinus membrane comprising the steps of (i) creating an opening in the sinus floor of a patient to expose the portion of the sinus membrane including the perforation, (ii) inserting a quantity of a sinus membrane patching material through the opening to a location adjacent the sinus perforation and (iii) laterally expanding and forcing the patching material against the sinus membrane to seal the perforation.
US07837701B2
An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter (118) is movable along the guidewire (101) to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire (101) for retrieval. The filter element (105) may conveniently be mounted on a tubular sleeve (104) which is slidable and rotatable on the guidewire (101) between spaced-apart slops (106, 120) on the guidewire (101) which allows some manipulation of the guidewire independently of the filter when the filter is in use.
US07837700B2
The invention relates to shielded reciprocating surgical file system for precisely removing bone and/or other tissue material. The system allows a user to maneuver the system and navigate into hard to access sites under a direct vision mechanism included in the system. A transmission mechanism converts rotary motion from a motor into reciprocating motion and provides it to the surgical file for precision bone and/or tissue removal. A pulsatile pump mechanism is operatively coupled with the transmission mechanism and provides irrigating fluid to the surgical site.
US07837693B2
A medical device includes a sheath defining a lumen, and an elongate member movably disposed within the lumen. The elongate member includes a basket having a plurality of legs, at least one leg of the plurality of legs is disposed between adjacent first and second slots defined by the elongate member. A first distal relief feature at a distal end of the first slot is longitudinally offset from a second distal relief feature at a distal end of the second slot.
US07837676B2
A cardiac ablation device treats atrial fibrillation by directing and focusing ultrasonic waves into a ring-like ablation region (A). The device desirably is steerable and can be moved between a normal disposition, in which the ablation region lies parallel to the wall of the heart for ablating a loop-like lesion, and a canted disposition, in which the ring-like focal region is tilted relative to the wall of the heart, to ablate only a short, substantially linear lesion. The ablation device desirably includes a balloon reflector structure (18, 1310) and an ultrasonic emitter assembly (23, 1326), and can be steered and positioned without reference to engagement between the device and the pulmonary vein or ostium. A contrast medium (C) can be injected through the ablation device to facilitate imaging, so that the device can be positioned based on observation of the images.
US07837672B2
A method for removing an object from a body lumen includes dispensing fluid into the body lumen, and causing the dispensed fluid to propel the object along the body lumen. A device for removing an object from a body lumen includes a fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid into the body lumen, and a pump in fluid communication with the dispenser.
US07837666B2
The invention provides container systems, kits and methods for peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. Such a system, for example, includes a first compartment that contains a PD osmotic agent and a second compartment that contains a PD buffer agent. The compartments maintain their respective contents separately from one another for purposes of transport, storage and/or sterilization. However, the compartments are fluidly couplable, so that their respective contents can be combined with one another, e.g., following sterilization of the agents and prior to their introduction into the patient's abdomen. The invention provides, in other aspects, such systems, kits and methods that provide protective structure which inhibits breaking of a seal prior between the second compartment and an outlet of the system, prior to breaking of a seal between the first and second compartments.
US07837663B2
The present invention relates to a visual indicating device and an article for controlling odors, in particular foot, garbage, basement, cooking, pet, tobacco, feces and urine odors. The article comprises a visual indicating agent that is color sensitive to the odor, and optionally, an odor absorbing agent. The visual indicating agent changes color when the article has been exposed to a sufficient amount of odor to saturate the article. The indicating agent may be applied in differing concentrations to two or more zones so as to indicate to a user of the article how much of the odor absorbing capacity has been used, or conversely, how much of the odor absorbing capacity remains. Suitable visual indicating agents that change color in response to odors are also described. The article for controlling odors may be a disposable odor absorbing sheet, air freshening product, diaper, undergarment pad, face mask, air filtration device, sanitary napkin, tampon, panty shield or incontinence pad.
US07837656B2
An applicator device 6 is provided to mix and apply two or more compositions of adhesive or sealant to tissue or bone. The applicator device generally includes an applicator assembly having a handle containing a double-barreled syringe, removably mounted thereto, and a regulator assembly for providing control and sources of air pressure to the applicator assembly.
US07837655B2
A method of securing a medical article to the body of a patient is disclosed in which an anchoring device comprising an anchor and a retainer is used. The retainer is attached to an upper surface of the anchor and comprises a base, a cover and a post. The base is disposed on the upper surface of the anchor and the cover is connected to the base so as to move between an open and a closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, it lies above at least part of the base. The post is attached movably to either the base or the cover and is arranged so as to lie at least partially between the cover and the base when the cover is in the closed position. When securing a medical article, the cover is placed in the open position and the medical article placed onto the retainer. The cover may then be closed over the medical article and the anchoring device attached to the patient.
US07837654B2
A microneedle insertable in a target cell tissue, including a manipulative end maintained exterior of cell tissue and an insertion end positionable in or adjacent of target cell tissue. A plurality of microtubes are bundled to pass through the needle body and extend to respective distal ends grouped proximally interior of the insertion end. A sensing fiber is extendable from means for sensing for passage through the needle body to a distal end capable of sensing cell tissue parameters. The insertion end and the bundled microtube and sensing fiber distal ends are positionable in or adjacent of cell tissue thereby providing rapid evaluation of cell parameters by optic fiber sensing, fiber sampling of cell parameters, and precise delivery of therapeutic fluids or additional treatment measures. A method is also disclosed of precisely positioning a microneedle having a plurality of microtubes and sensing fibers therein for evaluating and treating cell tissue.
US07837640B2
The present invention provides a novel means of joint and body protection using engineered textiles to provide dynamic kinematic control within the device itself and for the underlying body part. The apparatus may be used in apparel or orthosis wherein a textile is organized about the proximal and distal aspects of a joint or body part and uses the mechanical and material characteristics of the engineered textile to dynamically control the kinetics of the body part and more specifically to prevent the body part from reaching extremes in range of motion. The engineered textiles can be designed to provide non-uniform increases in stiffness in any direction. The engineered textile may incorporate strain or strain rate dependant materials in which case stiffness properties would vary non-uniformly with velocity and/or acceleration within the device allowing for protection from blunt trauma, blast, or ballistic events anywhere on the body. A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a novel means of dynamically fitting and anchoring apparel, orthosis, body protection devices or other objects that need to be securely fixed to the body anatomy during joint flexion or extension, by using motion at a body joint to actuate a closure mechanism and bracing system that actively closes upon the body anatomy surrounding the joint and transfers loads created during dynamic restraint of the joint to anchor zones on the body.
US07837639B2
An adjustable brace is provided for correcting a forward lean to obtain an upright position. The brace includes an anterior frame having a chest pad bearing upon a chest area and thigh pads bearing upon thigh areas. The brace has a lumbar pad applied to the lumbar area. The chest pad covers the sternal area substantially from the position of approximately 2″ distal to the clavicle bones to about the mid sternum point. The lumbar pad covers the lumbar area from the areas of T-12 to L-5 of the spine. In one embodiment, the frame includes a pubic pad bearing upon a pubic pad. The frame is adjustable in height and width.
US07837637B2
Safety cast compositions for the prevention of thermal injury are provided basically comprising a curable casting material, a flexible substrate coated or impregnated with the casting material and a thermochromic material. Methods for using the safety cast to prevent cast burns in patients in need of immobilizing a body member are also provided.
US07837628B2
An electrical-mechanical system may be used in electrophysiology and hemodynamic studies. The system may include a mounting arrangement couplable to a support surface for supporting a patient. At least one catheter input module may be electrically and mechanically coupled to the mounting arrangement, the catheter input module being connectable to catheters for use in the patient. A central processing device may be attached to the support surface and placed in communication with the mounting arrangement.
US07837624B1
A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system aligns substantially co-planar two-dimensional images to form an extended field of view using improved methods that speed the alignment, use Doppler processors to alert the user when transducer motion relative to the imaged region is excessive, and provide a longitudinal sectional view of a blood vessel and surrounding tissue.
US07837621B2
Systems and methods of generating updated surgical plans are described herein. In one embodiment, a method of generating an updated surgical plan can include generating a three dimensional (3D) model of a bone, generating a surgical plan based on the 3D model, in which the surgical plan can include: locations on the bone upon which to dispose a fixator and settings of struts of the fixator, disposing the fixator on the bone based on the surgical plan, and, based on data associated with the placement of the fixator disposed on the bone, generating an updated surgical plan including updated settings for the struts.
US07837618B2
In an endoscope control system, endoscope devices capture an image of each inspection site, write endoscope information in a title and/or a text of an electronic mail, and transmit the captured image in the electronic mail which has a captured image management computer of a management center as its distribution destination. The captured image management computer of the management center receives the captured images from the endoscope devices in the electronic mails, and manages them collectively.
US07837614B2
A capsule medical apparatus including: an illuminating unit; an image pick-up unit; an objective optical system; a sealed capsule container which seals the above components; a fixing frame to which a first objective lens of the objective optical system is fixed, the fixing frame being fixed at a reference position of an image area of the image pick-up unit such that a reference position of the fixing frame matches the reference position of the image area of the image pick-up unit; a guiding frame extended in an optical path direction on a surface of the fixing frame on an opposite side not facing the image pick-up unit; and a movable frame to which a second objective lens of the objective optical system is fixed, the movable frame being positioned and fixed in the optical path direction by being moved in the optical path direction relative to the guiding frame.
US07837612B2
A tissue suspension device has an elongated spanning element with a first and a second end. A suspending element is attachable to the spanning element. A first supporting element is attached to the first end of the spanning element, and a second supporting element is attached to the second end of the spanning element. The tissue suspension device substantially spans the transverse width of the body cavity and suspends tissue within the body cavity. The first and second supporting elements are attachable to the body wall, which supports the weight of the suspended tissue.
US07837611B2
The present invention includes apparatuses for artificially inseminating animals which prevents contaminants from entering the opening at the end of an insemination sheath during insertion through the reproductive tract of an animal. A thin protective cover or membrane is provided at the tip of the sheath to seal it, the membrane being designed to rupture under the pressure from the seminal fluid being applied by the plunger used to eject the semen from the insemination gun. The protective cover can be an integrated portion of the sheath itself, or a material applied to the tip of the sheath. The protective cover is minimal in size as to not increase the diameter of the artificial insemination device so that there is no loss in tactile sensitivity to the breeder who must maneuver the invention through the animal's reproductive tract.
US07837608B2
A method of preventing blockages of flow paths of a separator, the separator processing a fat-containing product such as milk. The method steps include determining a concentration of the fat content of an outflowing product phase from the separator to detect an imminent clogging, and shifting a separation zone in a separator drum of the separator for a defined minimum time period by changing operating parameters.
US07837605B2
An ankle-clamping device for an inversion table includes a clamp holder, a motor mounted on the clamp holder, a worm shaft rotated by the motor, and a clamping roller unit that includes a worm gear connected rotatably to the clamp holder and meshing with the worm shaft, a lever having one end connected to and rotatable along with the worm gear, a pair of fixed clamping rollers fixed to the clamp holder, and a pair of movable clamping rollers fixed to the lever. The movable clamping rollers are movable toward or away from the fixed clamping rollers to cooperatively clamp therebetween or to permit release of the user's ankles from therebetween, respectively.
US07837601B2
A method to prepare for and conduct an exercise using free weights while minimizing the risk of injury to an individual during the acquisition, use, and return of the free weights includes the step of providing a plurality of cylindrically-shaped free weight plates and a staging station. Each of the free weight plates is mounted on edge in an upright orientation in one of a plurality of detent units of the staging station at a height above the ground. A first one of the free weight plates is manually grasped and rolled from the detent unit onto a horizontally oriented support surface of the staging station, manually removed from the support surface, utilized to perform an exercise, manually returned to the support surface, and manually rolled on the peripheral edge of the first one of the free weight plates from the support surface into one of the detent units.
US07837597B2
An exercise machine including a weight measurement system which provides a signal representative of a user's weight. An embodiment of the weight measurement system includes at least one load cell outputting a signal used by a microprocessor to determine an accurate value of the users weight. An embodiment of the weight measurement system includes a plurality of load cells using a Wheatstone bridge configuration to output a signal representative of a user's weight regardless of whether the weight is evenly distributed across each load cell. A calibration process calibrates the load cells for each exercise machine.
US07837591B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing.
US07837589B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a split dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.
US07837586B1
A simultaneous multiple rotation interface where a series of discs rotate about an eccentric camshaft. Each disc is engaged with the other by a series bearings embedded within each disc. As the camshaft rotates, each disc alternatively engages an outer shell so as to rotate the shell in the same direction as the shaft, albeit at a reduced speed.
US07837585B2
An electromagnetic actuator assembly with a frame, a movable plunger, first and second sensor targets that are coupled to a plunger for movement therewith, first and second sensors that are coupled to the frame and a controller. The first sensor is configured to sense a position of the first sensor target and to produce a first sensor signal in response thereto. The second sensor is configured to sense a position of the second sensor target and to produce a second sensor signal in response thereto. The controller that receives the first and second sensor signals and identifies three or more discrete points along a path of travel of the plunger. A differential assembly that incorporates the electromagnetic actuator assembly is also provided.
US07837583B2
In a silent chain, link plates having two different back heights are arranged so that V-shaped oil guiding walls, opening in the direction of chain travel, are formed on the back of the chain that comes into sliding contact with the shoe of a chain guide.
US07837580B2
An archery arrow carries a light transmitting nock plus a light assembly, which comprises a light source positioned so that the light source is visible through the nock, a switch having normally open electrical contacts, and closable upon momentary contact with a magnetic field, and circuitry interconnecting a battery, the switch, and the light source for permitting illumination of the light source when the magnetic field is sensed. By this invention, the light assembly may be free of a housing and occupies a first bore of the nock and a second bore of the arrow shaft rearward end. A unique system for retaining a battery and protecting against high G force, plus a focused beam LED are other optional, advantageous features.
US07837578B2
A multi-lobed golf ball dimple is provided. The dimple comprises a plurality of lobes positioned radially around the center of the dimple, wherein each lobe is defined by a circumferential segment and may be further defined by spoke-like ridges. Each lobe comprises a first curved profile extending from the circumferential segment toward the center of the dimple and the first curved profile of each lobe abuts each other in an uninterrupted manner. The multi-lobed dimple may include uniform and non-uniform dimples. The curvature of the circumferential segments can be defined by a ratio of an inside radius to an outside radius. Each dimple also includes a slightly convex floor that is continuous and smooth. The curvature may match that of the outer surface of the golf ball. Further, a sloped wall interrupted by spoke-like ridges may connect the convex floor with the outer surface of the golf ball.
US07837577B2
A wood-type golf club head (20) with a main body (22) and a metal injection molded sole portion (26) is disclosed herein. The main body (26) has a face portion (30), a crown portion (24) a ribbon portion (28) and a bottom opening (31). The metal injection molded sole portion (26) is preferably brazed to the main body (22). The metal injection molded sole portion (26) preferably has a mass ranging from 45 grams to 110 grams. The metal injection molded sole portion (26) is preferably from 50 weight percent to 35 weight percent of the total mass of the wood-type golf club head (20).
US07837576B1
The two-faced golf putter includes a putter head having a putting face and a chipping face disposed on at least one side of the putter head, an angled toe, an angled heel and a bottom sole. Both the angled toe and heel include a respective setup guide to assist the user in properly positioning over the putter. A sight alignment groove is formed on the top of the putter head to help aim the ball. An elongated shaft extends upwardly from a centered bore in the top surface of the putter head, which improves balance and feel to the putter. The top portion of the shaft includes an elongated handle to accommodate a wide range of user grip sizes and techniques. To further assist accurate setup placement of the putter head, an alignment dot is disposed behind the shaft on top of the putter head. The bottom sole includes at least one upwardly extending sloping side to permit angling of the putter for chipping.
US07837565B2
An arrangement, comprising two shaft ends (1, 2), which are mutually connected by a coupling element (3) so as to transmit torque, the coupling element (3) being associated with a bearing (4), which receives at least one shaft end (1), the bearing (4) comprising a support body (5) for the shaft end (1) and an outside body (6) surrounding the support body, and an elastic deformable layer (7) being disposed between the support body (5) and the outside body (6), with the aim of creating an arrangement that guarantees the lowest possible cardan rigidity while achieving maximum radial rigidity, is characterized in that the elastic layer has at least in part a spherical configuration. A bearing also has at least in part a spherically configured layer.
US07837562B2
A gaming apparatus may include a housing, a display unit capable of generating video images, a value input device, a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device, and a panel at least partially overlaying the display unit. The housing may include a first opening and a second opening. The display unit may be positioned relative to the housing so that a first portion of the display unit is visible through the first opening and the second portion of the display unit is visible through the second opening. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory, and may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a first video image to be generated on the first portion of the display unit and a second video image to be generated on the second portion of the display unit, and to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of the game.
US07837559B2
A game controller includes a control unit and a control housing. The control unit includes a circuit board and a plurality of functional controls, wherein each of the functional controls has a movable control end and a signal end operatively coupling with the circuit board. The control housing includes an outer casing having a receiving cavity receiving the circuit board therein and a plurality of control holes for the control ends of the functional controls extending out of the receiving cavity, and an internal enclosure, which is received in the receiving cavity of the outer casing, having a sealing cavity for the circuit board supporting therein to form a double-wall structure to protect the circuit board and a plurality of guiding slots aligned with the control holes of the outer casing respectively to guide the functional controls extending to the control holes through the guiding slots respectively.
US07837557B2
This embodiment of a method and apparatus for communicating with a player of a networked gaming device incorporates a touch screen display into an electronic slot machine. The display facilitates player interaction with the slot machine network to enable cashless gaming, player tracking, bonus, and secondary game features.
US07837551B2
A gaming machine comprises: a display device for displaying symbols variably and statically on a display screen; a contact input device to be operated; a storage device for storing winning combinations of symbols; and a processor being operable to: conduct another internal lottery to determine a combination of symbols to be displayed statically; determine whether the determined combination matches one of the predetermined winning combinations; provide a payout corresponding thereto when the statically displayed combination is determined to match the one; shift a game to a feature game when the statically displayed combination is determined to include a trigger symbol; urge a game player to operate the contact input device to trigger the internal lottery in the feature game; and provide a point to one of a plurality of feature levels in the feature game such that an accumulated points may reach a predetermined number of points.
US07837550B2
One or more player Bingo cards are generated using a universe of Bingo indicia, optionally with player input. In an optional embodiment, the player may select all or a portion of the Bingo indicia on a player Bingo card, or regenerate a player Bingo card. A selection set of pairs are generated, each pair consisting of a Bingo indicium and a playing card. The pairs of the selection set are compared to the player Bingo cards and, on each player Bingo card, locations matching the Bingo indicium of a pair are replaced with the corresponding playing card of the pair. The player is rewarded if a pattern on the player Bingo card matches a winning Bingo pattern. The player is also rewarded for having a poker hand formed from the playing cards along predetermined poker patters on the player Bingo card match a winning poker hand.
US07837548B2
A gaming machine includes: a plurality of game terminals each including an operation section for accepting operation of a player; a game medium payout unit for paying out game medium to the game terminal in response to the operation result and the game results of a base game and a bonus game having a different game mode from the base game; a bonus game generation determination unit for determining whether or not the bonus game is generated; a first game control unit for controlling the game based on the base game; a second game control unit for controlling the game based on the bonus game; an base game result determination unit for determining whether or not the game result of the base game satisfies a predetermined condition; and a bonus game result change unit for changing the game result of the bonus game.
US07837543B2
Adaptive agents are driven by rewards they receive based on the outcome of their behavior during actual game play. Accordingly, the adaptive agents are able to learn from experience within the gaming environment. Reward-driven adaptive agents can be trained at either or both of game-time or development time. Computer-controlled agents receive rewards (either positive or negative) at individual action intervals based on the effectiveness of the agents' actions (e.g., compliance with defined goals). The adaptive computer-controlled agent is motivated to perform actions that maximize its positive rewards and minimize is negative rewards.
US07837537B2
A belt sander is disclosed that may include a sanding assembly having a first roller and a second roller, the sanding assembly being configured to receive a sanding belt around the first roller and the second roller to define a sanding surface therebetween. The belt sander may include a motor operationally coupled to the sanding assembly and opposite the sanding surface, the motor being configured to rotate at least the first roller and thereby rotate the sanding belt around the first roller and the second roller, as well as a handgrip formed around at least a portion of the motor and substantially encasing the motor.
US07837532B2
A chassis is provided for a track-guided toy vehicle which is supported on a front axle and a rear axle and has a guide wedge that is movable about a first vertical pivot axle and cooperates with a groove in the raceway. The rear axle is driven by an electric motor, with the rear axle and the electric motor together forming an assembly. Steering capability of the vehicle, is optimized by arranging the assembly to be movable about a second vertical pivot axle. The assembly is operatively connected via a control unit to the chassis-mounted guide wedge.
US07837531B2
An interactive toy doll is described for performing and displaying realistic facial expressions and ordered sequences of visual and aural effects upon activation. The doll includes at least one sensor disposed thereon, a position orientation switch, at least one motor and at least one pair of contact switches functionally connected with a controller. Upon initial activation of a sensor, the doll is responsive to subsequent re-orientation thereafter for a pre-determined amount of time.
US07837530B2
An organic light-emitting display device includes a bottom substrate having a pixel region and a non-pixel region. In the pixel region, organic light-emitting pixels are formed. A top substrate is bonded to the top substrate. A sealing member is provided between the non-pixel region of the substrate and the encapsulation substrate. The sealing member includes a first frit and a second frit which melts substantially easier than the first frit upon irradiation of a laser or infrared beam thereto.
US07837525B2
An easily deployable data relay buoy, in some embodiments, has a diesel powered alternator and storage battery, providing long service life. The data relay buoy has mechanical characteristics that allow it to maintain antenna stability in the presence of seas states from at least zero through four and to survive in sea states up to sea state six.
US07837524B2
A device that when fitted to a motor vessel's existing propulsion gear improves the performance and reduces potential damage and wear of underwater propeller shaft bearings, commonly referred to as “cutlass bearings” that are used on boats, ships, etc. Designed with radially mounted impeller blades around the periphery of the propeller shaft, the device creates a forced flow of water by centrifugal pumping action, which creates suction along the shaft abaft the cutlass bearing, thereby increasing the flow of water through the cutlass bearing. The device also greatly diminishes the probability that fouling around a propeller shaft will severely restrict water flow through the cutlass bearing.
US07837523B2
A water-jet pump includes a cylindrical housing and an impeller. The impeller is disposed in the cylindrical housing and is configured to be rotated in a rotating direction. The impeller includes a shaft body and plural blades. The plural blades are provided on an outer circumference of the shaft body. A front portion of one of the plural blades overlaps a rear portion of another of the plural blades adjacent to one of the plural blades when viewed in an axial direction of the shaft body. When viewed in the axial direction, at least a part of a rear edge of the rear portion is formed obliquely with respect to a radial direction of the impeller towards the rotating direction. A cutaway portion is formed in each of the plural blades between at least a part of the rear edge and the outer circumference.
US07837507B1
A connector connected with a complementary component inserted therein from a front direction includes an insulating housing and a shield coupled with the insulating housing comprising an upper shell and a lower shell. The upper shell has an upper cover covering a top surface of the insulating housing and a pair of wings extending laterally from two opposite sides of the upper cover. The wing has a slot extending along a front-to-rear direction, and a plurality of positioning pegs extended downwards from a lateral edge thereof. The lower shell has a lower cover and two lateral plates bent upwards from two opposite sides of the lower cover and flanked to the insulating housing. Each of the lateral plates has a clasper which passes through the slot of the wing and extends laterally to hook a side of the slot, for buckling the upper shell with the lower shell together.
US07837500B2
The present invention relates to a fixture capable of fixing a USB connector on a housing. The fixture comprises a housing connection surface, a top surface, a first lateral surface, and a second lateral surface, wherein the housing connection surface is capable of being fixed on the housing; the top surface is connected to the housing connection surface where both surfaces are substantially perpendicular to each other, and the top surface comprises a first constraining unit capable of contacting a protection part of the USB connector to constrain movement of the USB connector along a first direction; the first lateral surface is connected to the top surface to constrain movement of the USB connector; and the second lateral surface is connected to the top surface to constrain movement of the USB connector.
US07837493B2
A lamp socket includes connection terminal bodies including connection terminals provided in sides of the lamp socket to contact with connection pins of the lamp, and connection terminal recesses into which the connection terminals are inserted, and connection caps to slide to press and fix the connection pins when the connection pins contact with the connection terminals.
US07837491B2
An electrical power connector is disclosed, configured as either a plug connector or a receptacle connector, which includes at least one retractable lever that provides a mechanical advantage to the user to facilitate the coupling and uncoupling of a plug connector to a receptacle connector. The retractable lever is suitable for applications in which space is relatively limited. The plug connector and the receptacle connector are each connected to an electrical cable on one end. The opposing ends of the plug connector and the receptacle connector are configured to mate with each other so that there is a continuous electrical current path from the cable connected to the plug connector to the cable connected to the receptacle connector. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the retractable lever is rotatably connected to one or the other of the plug connector or the receptacle connector.
US07837490B2
To provide a seal member for a waterproof connector which will not be deteriorated in waterproof performance even when wires swing, and is suited for use even in the type of connector in which an inner housing is swingable as in a floating connector, a seal member for a waterproof connector is mounted at rear ends of terminal receiving chambers of the waterproof connector, and has wire-sealing passage holes in which wires connected to respective terminals can be fitted, respectively. Lip portions are formed on an outer peripheral portion of the seal member over an entire periphery thereof, and also lip portions are formed on front and rear sides of the seal member spaced from each other in an inserting direction, and these lip portions can be compressed and deformed between the seal member and the terminal receiving chambers.
US07837486B2
An ejection device is manufactured independently from but implemented with a subscriber identification module (SIM) connector comprising an insulative housing and a tray having a SIM card mounted therein and has a bracket, a push button, a link and an ejection lever. The push button is mounted slidably on the bracket. The link is mounted slidably on the bracket and is connected with the push button. The ejection lever is mounted pivotally to the bracket, is connected with the link and selectively pushes the SIM card out of the tray. The ejection device may be pre-fabricated or formed with the connector so can be easily retrofitted to current designs or added simply to any SIM card connector and greatly facilitates SIM card removal while benefiting from reduced production costs from simplification and greater economies of scale.
US07837485B2
An electrical plug connector includes a first connector housing, a slider, and a cap. The slider has slider surfaces insertable into the first housing in a direction transverse to a direction of insertion of a second housing to the first housing at a connecting side of the first housing. The slider is connected to the first housing upon the slider surfaces being inserted into the first housing. The cap is on a cap side of the first housing lying opposite to the connecting side of the first housing. The slider surfaces connect with the cap to latch the cap to the cap side of the first housing upon the slider surfaces being inserted into the first housing.
US07837482B2
A connecting-side connector is connected to a receiving-side connector. A main frame supports the receiving-side connector in such a manner that the receiving-side connector is movable in a connection direction. A control unit performs a control of a movement of the receiving-side connector in the connection direction and a release of the control each time a pressing force is applied to the connecting-side connector in the connection direction.
US07837479B1
A mezzanine connector assembly is configured to electrically interconnect first and second circuit boards. The connector assembly includes a mounting body, a mating body, contacts and dielectric layers. The mounting body is configured to be mounted to the first circuit board. The mating body is disposed opposite of the mounting body and is configured to mate with the second circuit board. The mating body is separated from the mounting body by a separation gap along a vertical direction. The contacts extend between the mounting body and the mating body along the vertical direction. The contacts are configured to be coupled with the first and second circuit boards to electrically join the first and second circuit boards. The dielectric layers discretely surround corresponding ones of the contacts in the separation gap between the mounting body and the mating body. The dielectric layers are separated from one another by an air gap in the separation gap.
US07837477B2
An electrical interconnection device for establishing redundant contacts between the ends of two conductive elements to be mated, creating a electrical interconnection without capacitive stubs.
US07837475B2
A connector includes a wiring board; a lead configured to connect the wiring board electrically to an external board; a conductive layer configured to connect the lead to the wiring board so as to allow the lead to move in predetermined directions relative to the wiring board when the conductive layer is melted; and a reinforcement member configured to reinforce a mechanical connection of the wiring board and the external board.
US07837466B2
An orthodontic device includes a bracket having a body and the body includes external surfaces. An archwire passageway is formed in the body. An aperture extends from one of the external surfaces of the body to the passageway. A pawl is attached to the body and includes stop and cam surfaces which extend into the aperture. An extendable archwire includes an adjustment portion having a locking surface and a loop-spring therein and the adjustment portion is inserted into and through the passageway. The pawl and the locking surface form a ratchet. The cam surface of the pawl interengages the extendable archwire as the extendable archwire is extended through the bracket under the application of force to the extendable archwire. The stop surface of the pawl interengages the locking surface of the adjustment portion of the extendable archwire preventing retraction of the extendable archwire upon discontinuation of the application of force.
US07837459B2
The process of producing a dual damascene structure used for the interconnect architecture of semiconductor chips. More specifically the use of imprint lithography to fabricate dual damascene structures in a dielectric and the fabrication of dual damascene structured molds.
US07837454B2
In a plant for producing thin articles in the form of a slab, manufactured with a mix (M) based on agglomerate stone or ceramic material, the mix is distributed in a thin layer on a support (90) using a distributor (100) comprising a hopper (120) and an underlying extractor belt (150). Means (132, 151) are provided for preventing interruption of the article production cycle, required to eliminate the incrustations resulting from contact of at least part of the hopper (120) and/or the extractor belt (150) with the mix.
US07837448B2
An oil seal structure of a supercharger (10) has an oil shield member (21), a seal housing (25), and an annular seal member (23) arranged between the oil shield member (21) and the seal housing (25). The oil shield member (21) has a portion in which an approximately circular outer edge is formed in a vertical cross section to an axial direction, in a leading end portion in a compressor side, and the oil shield member (21) has an outer edge reduced-diameter portion (21a) which is formed in the leading end in the compressor side and in which a radius of the outer edge is smaller than the other portions of the outer edge. The seal member (23) is fitted to the outer edge reduced-diameter portion (21a). An opening through which the oil shield member (21) passes is formed in the seal housing (25), and the seal housing (25) is brought into contact with the seal member (23) in an inner edge in a radial direction forming the opening.
US07837446B2
A composite blade (28) comprises a root portion (38) and an aerofoil portion (40). The aerofoil portion (40) has a tip (50) remote from the root portion (38). The aerofoil portion (40) has a leading edge (42), a trailing edge (44), a suction surface (46) extending from the leading edge (42) to the trailing edge (44) and a pressure surface (48) extending from the leading edge (42) to the trailing edge (44). The composite blade (28) comprises reinforcing fibers (62) arranged in a matrix material (63). The tip (50) of the aerofoil portion (40) is arranged to define a recess (66), an insert (68) is arranged in the recess (66) and the insert (68) comprises an abradable material.
US07837439B2
A wind turbine blade comprising one or more oscillation dampers for damping oscillations or vibrations of the wind turbine blade. The first damper parts being rigidly connected to the blade or being a part of the blade. The dampers further comprise second damper parts, wherein the first damper part surfaces and the second damper part surfaces are arranged to move relatively to each other during the oscillations. Even further the dampers comprise a load transferring coupling, coupling the first damper part surfaces and the second damper part surfaces, so that the relative movement results in a oscillation-damping dissipation of kinetic energy.
US07837437B2
A method of repairing a turbine nozzle segment having at least one vane disposed between outer and inner bands. The method includes using an salvageable part, such as honeycomb backing strip remnant, from a nozzle segment that is unrepairable, and joining the honeycomb backing strip to a replacement casting. The replacement casting includes a tenon formed on the inner band that mates with a mortise formed on the back side of the honeycomb backing strip. A nozzle segment and nozzle segment casting used in connection with the method is also disclosed.
US07837419B2
An exemplary method for marking molds, the method comprising, configuring a milling machine to operate with a diamond coated bit having an angle of approximately 60 degrees, and engraving a unique identifier on a bottom surface of a borosilicate glass injection molded soldering mold with the milling machine.
US07837418B2
Twist drill with a drill shaft and a cutting part that extends to a drill tip, with spiral chip flutes along the cutting part that form a drill core, wherein the drill diameter and/or core thickness diminish or taper from the drill tip toward the shaft. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US07837393B2
A self-aligning roller bearing is provided which includes an inner ring having a double-row raceway, an outer ring having a double-row integral and spherical raceway, a plurality of rollers incorporated between the inner ring raceway and the outer ring raceway on a double-row basis, and a retainer for rotatably retaining the rollers. Processing marks crossing each other are formed on a raceway surface of the spherical raceway of the outer ring. The processing marks are cut substantially straightly at a predetermined crossing angle to the circumferential direction of the raceway surface. The surface roughness of the raceway surface is substantially constant in the axial direction and the circumferential direction thereof at least in a part in contact with the roller.
US07837386B2
The present invention relates to an aseptic pouch (1) for packaging food products, comprising two walls which are bonded together so as to define an internal space (2) which is sterilized and hermetically closed. The pouch (1) further comprises at least one sealing (7; 12) which joins together said walls, extending between opposite sides (5, 6) of the pouch, (1) and defines a neck portion (8) of said internal space (2) and two border portions (9) external to said internal space. Said neck portion (8) is suitable for providing, after opening of the pouch (1), an access to said internal space (2) and said border portions (9) are suitable for providing grips for handling said pouch. The invention also relates to a method for packaging a food product in said aseptic pouch (1).
US07837383B2
The invention is an optical method and apparatus for measuring the temperature of semiconductor substrates in real-time, during thin film growth and wafer processing. Utilizing the nearly linear dependence of the interband optical absorption edge on temperature, the present method and apparatus result in highly accurate measurement of the absorption edge in diffuse reflectance and transmission geometry, in real time, with sufficient accuracy and sensitivity to enable closed loop temperature control of wafers during film growth and processing. The apparatus operates across a wide range of temperatures covering all of the required range for common semiconductor substrates.
US07837378B2
A mixer-extruder assembly may include a hollow cylindrical chamber and a hopper connected to the chamber. A piston drive shaft having a piston attached at one end may be rotatable about a drive shaft axis that is coaxial with the cylindrical chamber. The piston may have one or more mixer blades coupled thereto and rotatable therewith. The piston may be controllably rotated about the drive shaft axis, after input material received by the hopper is delivered into the chamber, causing the mixer blades to rotate and mix the input material with mixing fluid introduced into the chamber. The piston may also be slidably movable from an upper end of the chamber toward the outlet port of the chamber, so that the mixed input material is extruded through the output port of the chamber.
US07837376B2
An image display apparatus comprising a light guide plate, a light-emitting diode (LED), a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate is provided. Light generated from the LED is guided into the light guide plate through the edge thereof, and outwardly projected through the two opposite surfaces of the light guide plate. Thus, a pattern being disposed in front of the first transparent substrate or the second transparent substrate would be lighted up.
US07837373B2
An exemplary optical plate includes at least one transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a first surface, a second surface, a plurality of encircling protrusions, a plurality of elongated V-shaped protrusions and a lamp-receiving portion. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. The encircling protrusions are formed at the first surface. The elongated V-shaped protrusions are formed at the second surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in one of the first surface and the second surface. A backlight module using the optical plate is also provided.
US07837361B2
Light control devices (76, 80, 82) implemented with diffusers exhibiting controllable diffusion characteristics provide anisotropic luminous intensity distributions and glare control at high viewing angles while maintaining high luminaire efficiency or daylight utilization.
US07837360B2
An optical module includes: point light sources; and an optical lens being spaced apart from the point light sources with an air layer therebetween and asymmetrically refracting and emitting a light incident from the point light sources.
US07837358B2
A light-emitting diode module with a heat dissipating structure includes a metal substrate and a plurality of light-emitting diode dies mounted on a face of the metal substrate. A jacket has a coupling surface engaged with the other face of the metal substrate. A heat conduction pipe includes a portion received in a longitudinal hole of the jacket. The coupling surface of the jacket has an opening in communication with the longitudinal hole. A portion of an outer periphery of the portion of the heat conduction pipe is in direct, thermal contact with the other face of the metal substrate through the opening of the jacket to absorb heat generated by the light-emitting diode dies. A finned heat sink is mounted on another portion of the heat conduction pipe outside the jacket to dissipate heat transferred to the heat conduction pipe into the environment.
US07837348B2
A light emitting apparatus has a radiation source for emitting multi-colored radiation. A diffuser material receives at least a portion of the multi-colored radiation emitted by the radiation source and converts the multi-colored radiation into forward transferred radiation and back transferred radiation. An optic device is coupled to the diffuser material and is adapted to receive the back transferred radiation and extract at least a portion of the back transferred radiation from the optic device.
US07837341B2
A deformable mirror device includes a flexible member formed so as to be deformable and having a mirror surface formed on its front surface, and a pressure generating section configured so that a direction of generation of a pressure to be applied to the flexible member is variable.
US07837332B2
Laser projection systems are provided comprising a laser source, scanning optics, beam splitting optics, and a scanning controller. According to one embodiment, the laser source is configured to produce at least two optical beams having different emission wavelength spectrums. The beam splitting optics are positioned downstream of the scanning optics and are configured to generate wavelength-dependent spatial misalignment of the two optical beams in the image plane by splitting the two optical beams into spatially misaligned propagating axes. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the beam splitting optics are positioned downstream of the scanning optics and are configured to generate polarization-dependent spatial misalignment of the two optical beams.
US07837325B2
Designing a progressive addition lens includes using scaled surface powers and/or cylinder powers of base curves to determine a set of power targets, and using these targets to determine a lens design.
US07837322B2
A printing apparatus is provided with a circulation route through which a print sheet can be circulated a minimum number of times to avoid the overall print process time from being elongated. The circulation route includes an ordinary transportation route CR which transports a print sheet for printing and discharging through a discharge route, and a switchback route SR which is connected to the ordinary transportation route CR as a branch, such that the print sheet can be circulated a plural number of times. The printing apparatus is provided further with a print coverage detecting unit 332c for calculating the print coverage of each print sheet, a circulation repeat number determination unit 332b for determining the number of circulations for each print sheet in accordance with the print coverage, a paper discharge control unit 334a for selectively discharging each print sheet in accordance with the number of circulations.
US07837315B2
A cavity unit for use in an ink jet recording head, including plate members which stacked on each other and having an ink-introducing passage, a filter portion which removes foreign matters from introduced ink, two communication chambers which communicate with each other through the filter portion, and nozzles each of which ejects a droplet of the ink. The plate members include a filter plate including the filter portion, and a guide-passage plate which is provided adjacent the filter plate and which has, on an upstream side of an upstream-side one of the two communication chambers with respect to an ink-flow path, a guide passage which causes the introduced ink to flow, before the ink flows into the upstream-side communication chamber, in a direction along one surface of the filter plate.
US07837311B2
An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, a communication path configured to dispense ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber, and a valve member disposed within the communication path. The valve member is configured to selectively open and close the communication path. The ink cartridge also includes an elastic, and the elastic member has a first opening formed therethrough. Moreover, the ink cartridge includes a cap member connected to the elastic member, such that the elastic member is positioned between the cap member and the valve member, and the cap member has a second opening formed therethrough and a chamber formed therein. In addition, a portion of the chamber is aligned with the first opening.
US07837308B2
A protector for an ink cartridge container including a containing case body, an ink inlet for a recording head, a cartridge containing part into which an ink cartridge is removably insertable, and a door body capable of opening and closing an opening opposed to the ink inlet with the cartridge containing part sandwiched therebetween, the protector includes a protective cap unit including: a main body; a supporting rod protruded toward the ink inlet from the main body; a guiding funnel formed at a front edge of the supporting rod; and an elastic cap provided at an inner diametrical portion of the guiding funnel and capable of coming into close contact with the ink inlet, wherein the main body, the guiding funnel and the elastic cap has a symmetrical shape with respect to an axis of the ink inlet.
US07837307B2
In an ink-jet printing a succession of ink droplets are projected along a longitudinal trajectory at a target substrate. A group of droplets is selected from the succession in the trajectory, and this the group of droplets is combined by electrostatically accelerating upstream droplets of the group and/or decelerating downstream droplets of the group into a single drop.
US07837306B2
A valve unit includes a valve portion arranged in a laminate body operable to open and close a flow passage; a drive portion that generates drive force for driving the valve portion; and a transmission portion arranged between the valve portion and the drive portion for transmitting the drive force of the drive portion to the valve portion. The laminate body includes: a first plate member including the drive portion; and a second plate member including a hole functioning as part of the flow passage; and a third plate member arranged above the second plate member and including a plate spring so as to urge the valve portion to a closing position. The valve portion pivots and inclines about a position in contact with the plate spring based on the drive force from the drive portion.
US07837303B2
An inkjet printhead includes a substrate having an ink feed hole formed therethrough and a plurality of ink drop generators formed on the substrate. The drop generators define a stagger pattern, and the ink feed hole defines a sidewall that is shaped so as to match the stagger pattern. In one embodiment, a support membrane is embedded in the substrate along an edge of the ink feed hole.
US07837302B2
An inkjet nozzle array includes a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle includes a chamber having an input aperture adapted to receive ink into the chamber and an output aperture through which ink is ejected from the chamber. Each chamber further includes a window adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation and operable to heat ink in the chamber responsive to the electromagnetic radiation and eject an ink droplet through the output aperture.
US07837301B2
When the driving printed wires from the drive IC are passed between the terminal lands and connected to respective terminal lands, and the printed wires of a number greater than the number of printed wires that can be passed between the terminal lands are required, the driving printed wires from the drive IC are led on the outer side of the columns of the plurality of terminal lands and connected to respective terminal lands.
US07837289B2
A method of printing with overlapped segments of a segmented printhead is provided in which at least one temperature sensor on the printhead measures temperatures of adjacent segments to determine an overlapped region of the adjacent segments, an overlap signal indicative of the determined overlapped region is output from the temperature sensor to a half toning circuit, and the half toning circuit adjusts, using the received overlap signal, a half toning firing pattern of a continuous tone image for coextensive nozzles of the adjacent segments within the determined overlapped region such that VA+VB is greater than V, where VA and VB are respective independent dither matrix values of the adjacent segments and V is a continuous tone value to be represented.
US07837282B2
A cabinet includes side panels, a back panel, and a top panel that frictionally-attach together with non-intrusive integrally-formed connectors. The illustrated base is screw-attached, and includes openings for routing wiring within the cabinet. Brackets are adapted to support shelves in the cabinet in either a flush or inset condition, and at different heights based on which cabinet slots they engage and based on their orientation in those slots. A light-transmitting top panel and top shelf can be used to provide improved light within the cabinet. Hinge brackets on the cabinet support either a thick door with internal storage space, a proud door or an inset door. Drawers supported in the cabinet include a lock within the drawer's header for operating a vertical cabinet lock rod.
US07837272B2
An upholstered structure including an upholstery material for a chair or a backrest of a chair is proposed, which may achieve: reduced proportion of the appearance of the rear frame of the backrest over the appearance of the whole chair; more sophisticated design; reduced weight; reduced number of parts; and improved assemble-ability. In the chair having the backrest upholstered with the upholstery material over the front surface of the rear frame, the rear frame comprises a front frame to which the peripheral edge part of the upholstery material is fixed and an upper reinforcement frame rod. The laterally facing upper reinforcement frame rod is connected at its both ends to both ends of the laterally facing upper frame rod at the top of the front frame with the center part of the upper reinforcement frame rod separated backward from the upper frame rod.
US07837267B2
A juvenile vehicle seat includes a seat base adapted to set on a vehicle seat and a foldable backrest associated with the seat base. The juvenile vehicle seat also includes a backrest lock coupled to the foldable backrest.
US07837250B2
To reliably prevent lifting of a roof panel when the roof panel is fully closed. To provide a roof panel (12) to a vehicle body (1) capable of opening/closing a vehicle cabin space (11), a link mechanism (3) for supporting the roof panel (12) at the vehicle body (1) having a front connecting link (33) rotatably connected to both of the vehicle body (1) and the roof panel (12), and a rear connecting link (34) rotatably connected to both of the vehicle body (1) and the roof panel (12) at rear side of a vehicle relative to front connecting link (33), and link restricting mechanism (500) for restricting the rear connecting link (34) to the vehicle body (1) when the roof panel (12) is in fully closed state over the vehicle cabin space (11).
US07837246B2
The present invention relates to a device in intermediate- or extension pieces, which are often designated for example middle yoke, frame, etc., for interconnection with a goods handling or hoisting device which is often designated, for example, yoke, 5 spreader etc. so as to permit handling or hoisting of goods platforms which are often designated flats, flat racks, etc., with corner boxes for cooperation with twist locking pins (V) of the goods handling or hoisting device, the intermediate- or extension pieces being in the form of a beam arrangement in the form of two mutually interconnected ends (5, 6) with one leg (1, 2, 3, 4) at each end, a twist locking 10 pin (13) being disposed in each leg (1, 2, 3, 4) and there being disposed, at one end of each leg, a part (60, 61, 62, 63) switchable in a direction up out of the leg (1, 2, 3, 4) for actuating a mechanism for twisting the twist locking pin (13) in the leg (1, 2, 3, 4) on switching of said part (60, 61, 62, 63) in a direction up out of the leg (1, 2, 3, 4).
US07837245B2
A hollow crane spreader beam incorporates at least one radio-controlled load-release assemblies. Each assembly includes a slidable bolt that is coupled to the plunger of an electric-motor-driven, radio-controlled door lock unit that is installed within the beam. When in a first position, taken in response to application of first polarity voltage to the door lock motor, the bolt traps a free end of a load-supporting chain or cable between a pair of eye blocks, each having an aperture through which the bolt slides. When in a second position, taken in response to application of a second polarity voltage, the bolt releases the free end. The spreader beam also incorporates a radio receiver/controller unit and a battery that is coupled to both the radio receiver/controller unit and the multiple door lock units.
US07837241B2
A two point lock includes two pivotally mounted security hooks having sliding faces that engage sliding faces of a spring-loaded mishandling pin when the mishandling pin is vertically extended and the security hooks are rotatably retracted. The mishandling pin is vertically retracted when it abuts a jamb. When the mishandling pin is vertically retracted, the sliding faces disengage so that the security hooks can rotate to lock onto a striker on the jamb. Thus, the mishandling pin prevents the security hooks from being slammed into the striker before a door or a window is fully closed.
US07837239B2
A pipe coupling including an annular clamp having an opening at least one end of its axial length for inserting therein a pipe, the annular clamp including two clamp members, an annular inclined surface extending axially from each of the clamp members, a wedge-shaped gripper arranged for sliding and abutting against the annular inclined surface, and a fastener that fastens the clamp members towards each other in a direction transverse to the axial length so as to apply a radially-inward clamping force on the pipe inserted in the opening and a radially-inward clamping force on the annular inclined surface that moves and wedges the wedge-shaped gripper in an axial direction between the annular inclined surface and the pipe.
US07837237B2
A combination of two bodies having tube-shaped or sleeve-shaped connecting sections which can be plugged into one another as part of an air-conditioning line system in an aircraft, the combination including at least one radial locking projection on a first body, at least one locking clearance on a second body which is completely surrounded by a rim, at least one lead-in clearance which is angularly offset in the peripheral direction in relation to the appertaining locking clearance, and at least one releasing groove associated with each locking clearance and disposed angularly offset in the peripheral direction on the opposite side of the appertaining lead-in clearance.
US07837234B2
A pipe joint unit includes a first pipe member with a male joint, a second pipe member with a female joint, and a pipe joint member coupling the first pipe member and the second pipe member. The male joint is received in the female joint such that an outer peripheral surface of the male joint is opposed to an inner peripheral surface of the female joint. The pipe joint member includes an engagement part that is elastically displaceable in the radial direction, and engages with the first and second pipe members. The male joint and the female joint have rotation restricting parts on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface, respectively, for restricting relative rotation of the first and second pipe members.
US07837216B1
A tow bar apparatus has a hitch member, a pair of linkages, and a pair of tow bars. The hitch member has a receiver tube adapted to removably engage a towing vehicle, and a vertical pivot post having a vertical axis that is generally orthogonal to the surface when the hitch member is mounted on the towing vehicle. Each of the pair of linkages connects the hitch member to a proximal end of one of the pair of tow bars. Each linkage includes a vertical aperture that pivotally mounts the linkage on the vertical pivot post, and a horizontal pivot pin attached to one of the pair of tow bars. A towed vehicle attachment element of a distal end of each of the tow bars is adapted to be removably attached to the towed vehicle.
US07837214B2
A rear fork for a bicycle, including a brake caliper support, mounted in rotation about the axle of the rear wheel and a hub carrier, fixed to the wheel axle, including a lower arm connected at a first end to the hub carrier and at a second end to the frame of the bicycle, and an upper arm, extending from the hub carrier to the frame. A connector link is arranged between the brake caliper and the lower arm, and the distance between the point of connection of the connector link on the lower arm and the connection of the lower arm to the hub carrier is at least equal to a third of the distance between the connection of the lower arm to the hub carrier and the connection of the lower arm to the frame.
US07837209B2
A person rides the Tri-Axial Control Device standing on pedal assemblies. The pedal assemblies are attached to a control axial member thus forming the Tri-Axial Control Device. The control axial member on the vertical stick, can rotate fore and aft, and turns the front skis and/or wheels. Changing the angle of the vertical stick side-to-side changes the pedal angle. If the rider falls forward the front stick can rotate away. Various torsion controls rod assemblies and pedal assemblies can be utilized to create a unique tri axial device. The device can be folded, is lightweight and can be manufactured without welding. No special equipment or training is required to operate the device. In addition to its entertainment uses, the mounting device for portable electronics can also be used for added safety by adding a global positioning system or other electronic signal device, allowing safety personnel to locate the rider.
US07837206B1
A wheeled article carrier is operational in either one of two conditions. A frame with a horizontal base is supported by three or four wheels with a vertical member upstanding from the base. A receptacle may be attached to the frame. A telescoping handle extends above the frame. The frame may be pulled by the handle to roll on two of the wheels. A foot board is retracted to lie securely along the vertical member. In the second condition, the carrier becomes a scooter, with the foot board extending horizontally from the base, with two of the wheels supporting the distal end of the board and the proximal end of the board fixed to the base and supported by the one or two other wheels attached to the base. A steering mechanism connects the one or two wheels on the base to the handle so that the rider may steer the scooter.
US07837198B2
A symbol display device for a game machine includes a reel unit having a plurality of reels, each having a peripheral surface with a plurality of peripheral symbols. A reel supporting member that supports the reels rotatably and independently includes a lateral wall having a plurality of lateral symbols arranged around the rotational axis of the end reel, whereby any one of the lateral symbols is indicated by a pointer that rotates about the rotational axis of the end reel. A pivoting unit pivots the reel unit to a first angular position where the peripheral surfaces of the reels are observable and to a second angular position where the pointer and the lateral symbols on the lateral wall of the reel supporting member are observable. The pivoting unit is located above the reel unit.
US07837197B2
An apparatus for playing a game comprising a playing surface 4.2) having a first area (14) and a second area (17), a projectile (24), at least two propulsion devices (8). First and second sets of playing pieces {12,16) are provided, each playing piece having a lower peg portion, and a substrate (18) overlaying and spaced above the playing surface and extending across both the first and second areas of the playing surface. In a game, the playing pieces are located on the substrate above the first area of the playing surface, with their peg portions extending below the substrate, and each propulsion device is capable of propelling the projectile such that the projectile can impact with a peg portion of a playing piece and thereby dislodge the playing piece.
US07837196B2
There is provided a connection apparatus for connecting an image forming apparatus and a plurality of sheet post-processing apparatuses. This connection apparatus has a flapper portion for switching a plurality of conveying paths going toward the plurality of sheet post-processing apparatuses. Sensors are provided near inlet rollers and near output rollers, respectively. Outputs of the sensors are inputted to a wired OR circuit, so that an output of the wired OR circuit is supplied to a CPU of one of the connected sheet post-processing apparatuses.
US07837193B2
Systems and methods for positioning a sheet in a feed path including at least one sheet drive roller driven in a rotational direction by a drive shaft in which the drive shaft translates in a lengthwise direction along the axis of the drive shaft. A power shaft rotates about the same axis as the drive shaft and is driven by a power source that is fixedly mounted in the system. The power shaft is fixed to the drive shaft by a flexible coupling that allows the drive shaft and the power shaft to move relative to one another in the lengthwise direction along the axis while maintaining corresponding rotational motion between the power shaft and the drive shaft.
US07837182B2
A dust boot retention system includes a jounce bumper having an end portion with an outer diameter and an annular recessed groove adjacent to the end portion. A dust boot is attached to the jounce bumper and has an upper flange including a radially inwardly extending portion and an axially extending portion extending from an innermost portion of the radially inwardly extending portion. The axially extending portion has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the end portion of the jounce bumper. A rate ring secures the dust boot to the jounce bumper. The rate ring includes an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the end portion of the jounce bumper. The rate ring includes an annular recessed channel in a first end thereof for receiving the axially extending portion of the dust boot. The rate ring and the upper flange are press fit over the end portion of the jounce bumper whereby the rate ring is received in the annular recessed groove and secures the end portion of the dust boot to the jounce bumper.
US07837176B2
Methods and apparatus for positioning an orifice plate within a body having a straight flowbore. One embodiment includes a carrier supporting the orifice plate and a drive member operable to engage the carrier and move the carrier along a first axis perpendicular to the flowbore. The drive member is also operable to limit the movement of the carrier along a second axis perpendicular to the flowbore and perpendicular to the first axis. A pin is operable to engage the carrier so as to limit movement along the first axis.
US07837175B2
The invention provides an actuator for moving a threaded valve stem along a longitudinal axis to selectively open or close a valve. The actuator comprises a carrier rotatably mounted within a housing. A portion of the carrier has a bore threaded to receive the threaded valve stem. The actuator further comprises a gear arrangement configured for transmitting a rotational force to the carrier. A cylindrical operator rotatably mounted to the housing has a plurality of splines on its circumference and is configured for receiving a rotational input force from a drive mechanism. An annular collar slidably disposed around the operator rotates with the operator but can slide longitudinally along the operator between a first position in which it engages the gear arrangement and a second position in which it engages the carrier.
US07837174B2
A formwork assembly for casting a concrete structure includes a support member for supporting a conventional armature grid if any, further including at least one liquid-tight and load-bearing formwork wall connected to the support member. The formwork wall includes at least two panels, each defining a peripheral edging having at least one first dovetail joint element about its peripheral edging. Each formwork wall also has a panel connector having at least two second dovetail joint elements, each second dovetail joint element being complementary to the first dovetail joint element of a corresponding panel and is interlocked with the first dovetail joint element of a corresponding panel to form a dovetail joint, the connector holding the panels in an edgewisely juxtaposed fashion to form a continuous formwork wall. The formwork assembly includes a securing member for securing the connector and panels together, and a supporting structure for supporting the formwork wall.
US07837173B2
According to various exemplary embodiments, an apparatus is provided for mounting a rearview display and one or more electronic components in a vehicle. An example of the apparatus comprises an inside rearview assembly for mounting an electronic component near a windshield of a vehicle including a mirror and an adjustable support connected to the mirror. The rearview assembly also includes a bracket configured to mount on the windshield, including an attaching structure configured to attach the bracket to the windshield and a support frame coupled to the attaching structure. The support frame has a portion set off from the windshield to accommodate the electronic component between the windshield and the set off portion. The support frame is connected to the adjustable support.
US07837171B1
The invention is a purse hanger with an extendible shelf, balance arms, and a key ring. The purse hanger engages tables and other relatively flat surfaces, including tables with flat sides.
US07837168B2
The application includes various embodiments of devices and methods for mounting a motor within an image forming apparatus. The motor is mounted on a frame and positioned to engage and drive a component within the image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, the component is an imaging unit. The frame includes an opening to receive the motor. A locating member is attached to the frame and extends into the opening to contact the motor and provide accurate positioning for engagement with the component. The locating ring provides for a press fit with lower forces. Additional fasteners may fixedly connect the motor to the frame and maintain the accurate positioning provided by the locating member.
US07837165B2
Article mounting apparatus is provided for mounting an article such as a plant container to a support such as a lamp post. The apparatus includes a first bracket for mounting to a support, and a second bracket associated with the article. The first and second brackets are arranged to be mountable together to an engaged position by mutual relative movement in a first direction, and movable from the engaged position to a locked position by mutual relative movement in a second direction, the second direction being different to the first direction. The first and second brackets are arranged so that in the locked position, mutually relative movement of the brackets in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction is substantially prevented.
US07837132B2
An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pumping system and rotatable spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with an adjustable hanger. There is a portion of the housing for supporting a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. The bottle is vented through a piercing post. A single motor both drives the pump and rotates the spray head.
US07837129B2
A metering device for dispensing a medium to an environment is provided. The metering device includes a housing, a shallow metering chamber within the housing which is of planar design and is essentially closed off from the environment by wall sections, a first media inlet which is connected to the metering chamber and can be connected to a media reservoir, and a vibration mechanism which is arranged in such a manner that vibrations generated by the vibration mechanism cause pulsing changes in volume of an internal volume of the metering chamber. A wall section which is designed as an outlet wall section has metering openings so that the metering chamber is connected to the environment. The vibration mechanism forms a vibration wall section so that the metering chamber is delimited.
US07837127B2
The invention relates to a ventilation system for exchanging the air in a room with outside air, which system comprises: A fine wire heat exchanger having a first channel and a second channel, which channels are in heat-exchanging contact with each other, and wherein the first channel has an inlet connected to outside air and an outlet connected to the air in the room, and wherein the second channel has an inlet connected to the air in the room and an outlet connected to the outside air; balancing means for balancing the flow in both channels, such that the heat transfer is maximized. The invention also relates to a combination of a façade, a room on the inside of and adjacent to the façade and a ventilation system, wherein the inlet of the first channel of the system is connected to outside air on the outside of the façade and the outlet is connected to the air in the room, and wherein the inlet of the second channel is connected to the air in the room and the outlet is connected to the outside air.
US07837119B2
The invention relates to an apparatus as well as a method for reliably determining the deliberate use of a contactless data carrier. Beside an antenna-based data transmission channel in dependence on the data to be transmitted additionally an optical data transmission channel between reading device and data carrier can be employed.
US07837118B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing an opaque, transparent or translucent transaction card having multiple features, such as a holographic foil, integrated circuit chip, silver magnetic stripe with text on the magnetic stripe, opacity gradient, an invisible optically recognizable compound, a translucent signature field such that the signature on back of the card is visible from the front of the card and an active thru date on the front of the card. The invisible optically recognizable compound is an infrared ink and/or film, which can be detected by a sensor found in an ATM or card assembly line.
US07837085B1
A seal design provides positive compression to produce a hermetic seal around a feedthrough pin in a hermetically sealed device, including an implantable medical device. One embodiment of the seal design uses a plurality of “micro-flanges” placed along the length of a feedthrough pin, which micro-flanges grabs and compresses the insulator material to form a hermetic seal. Because the seal design produces positive compression of the insulator, the seal is relatively insensitive to changes in temperature and to differences in thermal expansion coefficients (“TCEs”) between the metal feedthrough and the insulator. It is therefore possible to use a wider variety of materials for the insulator and the feedthrough with the described sealing design, while achieving a superior hermetic seal.
US07837082B2
A friction stir tool has an axis of rotation and a welding tip that is made of powdered metal material.
US07837052B2
Apparatus and related methods for a container lid include a pull structure affixed to at least one end of a tamper evident tearstrip and positioned in an outer flange of the lid, the pull structure having a portion shaped to receive and engage a manipulator such as at least one finger of a user's hand, to assist the user to initiate tearing of the tearstrip from the lid. The shaped portion of the pull structure is configured to eliminate the need to grip the tearstrip between opposing digits of the user's hand. The lid may further include an extendible connection member positioned on at least one end of the tearstrip in an area or space generally defined as a “well.” Among other things, the extendible connection member can provide additional flex to a hinge portion of the lid, without destroying the subsequent tamper-evidencing value of the lid. A satellite ring may be attached to or provided on the lid or container to provide further tamper evidencing and protection to the lid assembly.
US07837048B2
A multi-colored transparent or semi-transparent container having at least two discrete sidewall regions, each discrete region having a different transparent color such that when the container is viewed it exhibits multiple transparent colors or gradations of color. The container may have a generally polygonal or round cross section. The container may further include a transparent, semi-transparent or transparent colored inscription or image, as well as a light source for illuminating the inscription or image.
US07837047B2
A joint arrangement for connecting a drawbar to a carriage includes a push/pull device for the transmission of pushing and pulling forces arranged at the carriage end of the drawbar. The push/pull device comprises a mid-piece connected to the carriage side end of the drawbar, extending the drawbar in the longitudinal direction thereof which extends through an opening provided in the baseplate. A front spring plate and a rear spring plate are provided on the mid-piece with a front spring element between the front spring plate and the baseplate in the drawbar longitudinal direction and a corresponding rear spring element is provided between the baseplate and the rear spring plate. The front spring element and the rear spring element enclose the mid-piece of the push/pull device with a positive fit in order to guide and support the mid-piece of the push/pull device in the most effective manner possible within the baseplate and are themselves supported in the vertical direction on the baseplate and in particular on a recess region provided in the baseplate.
US07837044B2
The apparatus includes first and second side walls, and a bottom wall having a first, a second, a third and a fourth side edge. A lower edge of the first side wall is secured to the first side edge, and a lower edge of the second side wall is secured to the third side edge. A door is rotatably coupled to a front edge of the first side wall and latchable proximate to a front edge of the second side wall. When latched, a bottom edge of the door is located at a pre-determined distance from the second side edge of the bottom wall. The first and second side walls, the bottom wall and the door form a substantially rectangular enclosure when first and second cross-members, fixedly attached to respective top and bottom back edges of the first and second side walls, are affixed to a vertical structure.
US07837038B2
A gift package includes: a box body having a partitioning plate dividing an inner space in the box body into first and second chambers and adapted to abut against an article, the box body being provided with a lid for covering and uncovering an access opening of the box body; a signal output unit mounted in the second chamber; a circuit board mounted securely in the second chamber and provided with a controller that is electrically coupled to the signal output unit for controlling activation and deactivation of the signal output unit; and a switch operable through a selected one of the lid and the article to activate the signal output unit.
US07837025B2
A centring drum for filter assembly machines, the centring drum having external axial seats movable with the centring drum about a longitudinal axis of rotation, and for receiving respective double filters, at least some of which are offset laterally, along the relative seats, with respect to a central transverse reference plane; each seat housing a respective stop member movable with the relative seat about the longitudinal axis of rotation, and located on a respective side of the reference plane to define a centred position of the relative double filter, and a push device for moving the relative double filter axially onto the relative stop member; the stop members defining a first and a second succession of stop members, which are located on opposite sides of the reference plane and are both connected to a position adjusting device movable about the longitudinal axis of rotation and for moving the two successions equally and oppositely along the longitudinal axis of rotation.
US07837017B2
A high-friction fluid seal used for high-friction sealing, comprising a fluid seal lip provided on the working fluid filling side to intercept a working fluid; and a dust lip provided on the working fluid non-filling side (the outer side) of the fluid seal lip to intercept dust coming from the outside, wherein the thickness of a working fluid film formed on the extension stroke by the dust lip is smaller than the thickness of a working fluid film formed on the extension stroke by the fluid seal lip.
US07837014B2
A disk brake kit including a pair of brake pads disposed on opposite sides of a brake disc and carried from calipers suspended from a kit frame indexed to predetermined land marks on the wheel housing.
US07837004B2
A steering assisting system has a variable transfer ratio steering apparatus and an electric power steering apparatus. The variable transfer ratio steering apparatus has an electric motor for a rotation transfer ratio varying operation. When a predetermined failure occurs in the electric power steering apparatus, the motor is driven to assist the steering operation of the steering wheel. Therefore, without providing the electric power steering apparatus in two sets, the power-assisting torque generation can be continued even when the electric power steering apparatus fails to generate the power-assisting torque.
US07836996B2
A pedestrian protection system is mounted in the front portion of a vehicle, and includes a controller, a forward movement holding mechanism controlled in actuation by the controller, and a contact body that a pedestrian can contact. The controller, when having predicted a collision of a pedestrian with the vehicle based on a signal from a collision predicting sensor, actuates the forward movement holding mechanism to cause a forward movement of the contact body, and based on a signal from a turn sensor when the forward movement holding mechanism carries out an upward rotation or a downward rotation at the time of contact of the forwardly moved contact body with a pedestrian, controls actuation of the restraint body so as to correspond to a pedestrian moving to a front upper side of the vehicle and a pedestrian moving to a front lower side of the vehicle, respectively.
US07836993B2
A hydraulic circuit including a first motor set, and a second motor set for driving vehicle-moving means situated one behind the other. The circuit has first, second, third, and fourth main ducts for feeding the motor sets in parallel. The device includes a selector suitable for taking up a first stable position making the feeding in parallel possible by interconnecting in pairs the feed and discharge main ducts, and for taking up a second stable position in which one of the motor sets is inactive because one of the main ducts is connected to one of main ducts of the other set. Between the stable positions, the selector can take up a temporary position, in which all four main ducts are interconnected. At least while the selector is moving in one direction between its two stable positions, the temporary position is sustained in an intermediate stage during which at least one of the interconnections between the main ducts of the first and second motor sets is constricted.
US07836981B2
Cutting elements are provided having substrates including end surfaces. TSP material layers extend over only a portion of the end surfaces or extend into the substrates below the end surfaces. Bits incorporating such cutting elements are also provided.
US07836978B2
A drill bit or milling tool includes a bit body on which a plurality of cutting elements are disposed. At least some of the plurality of cutting elements include a diamond table and a superabrasive material non-reactive with iron-based materials disposed over at least a portion of an exterior surface of the diamond table. The diamond table is suitable for drilling through a subterranean formation and the non-reactive superabrasive material is suitable for drilling through a casing or casing-associated component comprising an iron-based material and disposed within the subterranean formation. The diamond table may comprise a PDC and the non-reactive superabrasive material may comprise cubic boron nitride.
US07836975B2
A bottom hole assembly for drilling a cavity including a chassis configured to rotate is provided. The chassis may include a conduit, a circuit, a pressure transfer device, a plurality of pistons, a plurality of valves, and a plurality of cutters. The conduit may accept a first flow of a primary fluid. The circuit may have a second flow of a secondary fluid. The pressure transfer device may be configured to transfer pressure between the flows. The pistons may be operably coupled with the circuit, and each piston may be configured to move based at least in part on a pressure of the circuit at that piston, with the valves possibly configured to control a pressure of the circuit at each piston. Each cutter may be coupled with one of the pistons.
US07836974B2
A method of logging a wellbore comprises drilling a first wellbore to a depth using a drilling rig and drilling a second wellbore to a depth using the drilling rig. While the second wellbore is being drilled a logging operation is conducted in the first wellbore using the drilling rig. The logging operation can be conducted in the first wellbore via a wireline logging tool.
US07836963B2
A system which is sufficiently compact and portable to be moved via skid support platform to a multi-wheel diesel-powered host containing active pump and roll capability with front and rear active hydraulics, such as a Bobcat Toolcat Turbo 5600. The system contains a water tank, generally 150 gallons, as well as built in foam tank. The system is wholly powered by the hydraulic system of the host vehicle powering a hydraulic motor on the system. The system hydraulic motor turns a serpentine belt at sufficient RPM's to power a water pump, air compressor and the compressed air foam system (CAFS) module. Using solely the power provided by the hydraulic motor, water is drawn from the tank, either used alone or mixed with foam at the percentage inputted by the user. Compressed air is added and the air alone, water alone or water/foam mixture is routed via adjustable valve to either the 1 inch firefighters hose or the rigid waterway ending in an adjustable, movable nozzle attached to the cab roof of the host.
US07836962B2
An apparatus and method for operating a packer and a fracture valve is shown. The packer may include a tubular mandrel having a longitudinal bore with an annular packing element and a first piston disposed around the mandrel, wherein the first piston is operable to set the packing element, and a second piston operable to isolate fluid communication between the first piston and the mandrel bore. The fracture valve may include a tubular mandrel having a longitudinal bore and a port, a piston operable to close fluid communication between the bore and the port, and a latch disposed between the piston and the mandrel operable to resist movement of the piston.
US07836956B2
A method for positional control of an actuator includes applying pressure to both an input line and an output line connected to the actuator and then releasing a predetermined volume of fluid from the output line, thereby displacing a piston of the actuator a corresponding predetermined distance. A system for positional control of an actuator includes the actuator included in a well tool positioned in a well; the input line connected to the actuator and extending to a remote location; the output line connected to the actuator and extending to the remote location; and a fluid volume measurement device connected to the output line at the remote location. The fluid volume measurement device is operative to meter the predetermined volume of fluid from the output line.
US07836955B2
An electrical wireline conveyed baling system for removing large volumes of liquids from a well borehole with a single trip of a bailer tool string. The system also utilizes one or more blow out preventers thereby allowing wireline bailing operations to be carried out while controlling well pressure. A bailer tool string that is conveyed by the wireline comprises a tool head containing a pump, at least one carrier section, and a no-return valve. Once deployed in the borehole, a first signal transmitted via the wireline from the surface activates the pump thereby reducing pressure within the carrier section. A second signal transmitted via the wireline from the surface opens the no-return valve thereby allowing liquid to flow from the borehole into the carrier section. The bailer tool string containing liquid is subsequently retrieved via the wireline thereby removing liquid from the borehole. A plurality of carrier sections can be axially stacked and deployed thereby increasing liquid bailing capacity while still maintaining well pressure control.
US07836954B2
Methods and compositions that include a method of cementing comprising providing a cement composition comprising water, a hydraulic cement, and an additive comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a stevia retarder and inulin; placing the cement composition in a subterranean formation; and permitting the cement composition to set in the formation.
US07836950B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for conveying an electrically energized hydraulic pump into a wellbore surrounded by steel casing and thereafter using that hydraulic pump to pump oil, water and gas to the surface of the earth. The apparatus may be used as a well tractor conveyance system to service a perforated steel cased wellbore located in a geological formation that incorporates means to prevent any reverse fluid flow into the geological formation through any perforations in the steel cased wellbore during movement within the wellbore of the tractor conveyance means.
US07836946B2
A system and method for reducing wear to radial seals in a rotating control device. The seals may be cooled by a thermal transfer fluid circulating through a passageway making more than one pass. Also, the differential pressure between multiple seals may be regulated and lowered, thereby increasing seal life.
US07836945B2
An exhaust gas heat exchanger system of a combustion engine has a bypass duct and a heat exchanger duct with a heat exchanger. A valve is controlled by determining when heat is to be transferred from exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust system to the heat exchanger. When heat is to be transferred, the valve is switched into a first position in which all of the exhaust gas flows through the heat exchanger duct. A pressure drop across the heat exchanger system is monitored either directly or indirectly. If the pressure drop reaches a predefined limit, the valve is switched into an intermediate position, resulting in a smaller portion of the exhaust gas flowing through the heat exchanger duct than when the valve is in the first position and a remaining portion flowing through the bypass duct, thereby reducing the pressure drop across the heat exchanger system. If the pressure drop again reaches a predefined limit, the valve is switched into a second position, resulting in an even smaller portion of the exhaust gas flowing through the heat exchanger duct, thereby further reducing the pressure drop across the heat exchanger system.
US07836937B2
A shade for architectural opening incorporating a single cord drive featuring automatic braking of the shade when the user releases the drive cord. In a preferred embodiment, an automatic tilt-open mechanism is provided to tilt the shade open when the shade is in the fully extended down position.
US07836935B2
An apparatus for providing uniform axial load distribution for laminate layers of multilayer ceramic chip carriers includes a base plate configured to support a plurality of green sheet layers thereon, the base plate having at least one resiliently mounted load support bar disposed adjacent outer edges of the base plate. The load support bar is mounted on one or more biasing members such that the top surface of the support bar extends above the top surface of the base plate by a selected distance.
US07836933B2
The invention relates to a fiber strip splicer for taping machines, formed by two mobile assemblies comprising respective modules (6,6′) between which the capture for joining the fiber strip (3) that is being fed to the application process and a strip (3′) intended to continue with the supply when the first strip ends is possible, the modules (6, 6′) incorporating heating means (10) to activate the fiber strips in the joining, a blade for cutting the excess of the finished fiber strip (3) after the joint, and a catch (16) for securing the end of the new fiber strip (3′) on standby for the joining.
US07836931B2
An automated tape head assembly for a multiple axis tape laying machine includes a tape supply reel and a tape compaction roller. Tape from the supply reel passes through the space between the two independent structures of the supply reel and compaction roller defining a tape path that substantially maintains a zero Gaussian curvature of the tape. The tape path is a curved path referred to as a compliance loop that results from a substantially or partially unrestrained curved path between the supply reel and the compaction roller. This structure allows the compaction roller to shift laterally and vertically with respect to the supply reel while the supply reel is in a fixed position with respect to the tape head assembly generally. This structure also allows the compaction roller to roll, steer, and follow the fiber tape's natural path, all with significant independence from the supply reel.
US07836926B2
A circumferential sipe extends continuously in the circumferential direction of the tire in the center region of the tread surface section of a rib defined between circumferential grooves. Widthwise sipes are disposed at prescribed intervals in the circumferential direction of the tire in the tread surface section, the widthwise sipes extending in the widthwise direction of the tire in crossing relationship to the circumferential sipe, the widthwise sipes each having opposing terminal ends open to the circumferential grooves. The circumferential sipe changes in depth periodically in such a manner that the circumferential sipe is shallow between adjacent widthwise sipes. The widthwise sipes changes in depth in such a manner that they are greater in depth in the center region and end regions of the tread surface section.
US07836921B2
A powder filling apparatus and a powder filling method which enable powder to be densely filled in a short period of time is to be provided. This is a powder filling apparatus having a pressure hopper wherein the pressure hopper has a discharger for discharging powder and a gas inlet positioned above at least the surface of a powder layer formed by the powder in the pressure hopper; the powder layer is so formed as to blockade the discharger in the pressure hopper; in the powder filling apparatus, the inside of the pressure hopper is pressurized by leading in gas through the gas inlet in a state in which the discharger is closed, and the powder layer so formed as to blockade the discharger is discharged by opening the discharger after the pressurization thereby to utilize that pressure to load the powder into the filling container.
US07836918B1
A process for imparting a variety of ranges in modulus, stretch and recovery characteristics into an elastomeric fill yarn and a rigid warp yarn stretch woven fabric. The high stretch/recovery properties, in the fill direction, is achieved by using a plurality of successive fabric forming operations, resulting in incremental stretch capacity from each successive operation. The fabric exhibits high stretch/recovery properties in the fill direction and rigid or extremely low stretch properties in the warp direction.
US07836913B1
Valve battery cartridge—used primarily for mixing cold water and warm water—which has two discs arranged one above the other to form a plane sealing together, being the lower disc a stationary inlet disc (6) and the upper disc a control disc (5) suitable to be displaced and rotated on the inlet disc (6); where said control disc (5) is in mechanical connection with a driving arm (1) pivoted in a lever holder (2)—through a ceramic moving element (4) as the case may be—and the lever holder (2) is arranged in the cartridge casing that allows it to be rotated, while on the base (9) of the cartridge a connection place (14) is formed or arranged for the reception of at least one insertion piece (10), further the opening for the admission of the insertion piece (10) of the connection place (14) is formed principally in a direction which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, whereas the connection place (14) is an outwardly directed sleeve, arranged or formed on the base (9), wherein the cold and warm water inlet formed in the base are ending.
US07836903B2
A beach umbrella with improved sturdiness, durability and ability to keep the shading size maximized, but weight of the structure to the minimum is disclosed. The umbrella may include a poll member, an upper ring member at substantially the top of the poll member, a slider member which is movable along the poll member, a interior rod frame stretching member to pivot with respect to the upper ring member, a support rod frame member to pivot with respect to the slider member and a transfer rod frame member to pivot with respect to the support rod frame member.
US07836889B2
Provided is an airway maintenance apparatus that draws the lower jaw forward to forcibly maintain an airway during sleep, designed to allow quick and easy setting of a drawing extent for the lower-jaw side attachment suitable for each patient. The airway maintenance apparatus contains an upper-jaw side attachment 1 to be attached to the upper jaw side in the oral cavity, and a lower-jaw side attachment 2 provided separately from the upper-jaw side attachment 1, and to be attached to the lower jaw side in the oral cavity, the lower-jaw side attachment 2 being connected to the upper-jaw side attachment 1 via a stepless adjusting device 3 capable of moving the lower-jaw side attachment 2 in a stepless manner in the direction of drawing the lower jaw forward relative to the upper-jaw side attachment 1.
US07836884B2
A double-body therapeutics face and tracheostomy mask which functions as both a mask for the nose and mouth of a patient and a mask for the tracheostomy tube area of a patient is disclosed. The mask of the present invention serves as a means for delivering a gaseous medicament or a liquid, such as liquid medication, in the form of a fine spray or mist to the nose, mouth, and trachea of the patient simultaneously. The upper body (1) of the mask fits over the nose and mouth area of the patient and the lower body (5) of the mask fits a patient's tracheostomy tube area. The upper and lower mask bodies may be connected to one another and to a nebulizing apparatus (4) and adjustable-length delivery conduit (17). Therefore, the double-body therapeutics face and tracheostomy mask of the present invention may be adjusted to comfortably fit the face and trachea area of any sized patient.
US07836881B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a device for decreasing intracranial or intraocular pressures. The device comprises a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening that is adapted to be interfaced with a person's airway. The device further includes a valve system that is operable to regulate respiratory gas flows through the housing and into the person's lungs during spontaneous or artificial inspiration. The valve system assists in lowering intrathoracic pressures during each inspiration to repetitively lower pressures in the venous blood vessels that transport blood out of the head to thereby reduce intracranial or intraocular pressures.
US07836873B2
An improved bolt construction for use in a paintball marker assembly is provided. The improved bolt assembly is generally formed to include a cut-out in the top surface thereof along its leading edge. The cut-out has a size and shape that functions in an manner that prevents the bolt from clipping or otherwise damaging a second incoming paintball projectile as the bolt reciprocates forward to ready a first paintball that is already loaded into the breech in preparation for launch. As the bolt is moved forward to push the first paintball into a position that is ready for launch, the leading edge of the cutout passes beneath the second paintball such that the top surface of the cutout impacts the bottom of the second paintball to push the second paintball upwardly as it advances, thereby clearing it from the breech and preventing the bolt from clipping the second paintball.
US07836858B2
A V-type vehicle engine includes a main engine body with a front bank with a rear bank defining a V-type structure. A plurality of valve actuation units are respectively located in valve chambers in the front bank and the rear bank, to minimize the size of a cylinder head and a cylinder head cover in at least one of the front bank and the rear bank. A first valve actuation unit, with a double overhead camshaft structure having intake-side and exhaust-side camshafts individually corresponding to the intake valve and the exhaust valve, is located in a valve chamber in one of the front bank and the rear bank. A second valve actuation unit, having a common single camshaft for the intake valve and the exhaust valve, is located in a valve chamber in the other one of the front bank and the rear bank.
US07836856B2
A water heater has a burner positioned below a vertical centrally located flue with heat exchange capacity enhanced by a multiplicity of rectangular metal fins which are welded on the inside of the vertical central flue. The central flue extends upwardly within a water tank. The central flue transitions to a smaller diameter downwardly draining helically coiled condensing flue. Approximately 80% of the heat from the combustion gases is transferred to the water within the water tank through the wall of the central flue without condensation. An additional 10% or more of the combustion heat is transferred to the water accompanied by condensation of water in the coiled flue. A fan draws the combustion gases through the central flue and the coiled condensing flue and supplies the combustion gases to an exterior vent.
US07836855B2
An apparatus and method for sorting animals includes a housing having a basket area and a measuring device. An entry gate is mounted to the housing and is moveable between open and closed positions. A sort gate is mounted to the housing and moveable between a first and a second position based on a measurement taken by the measuring device. A trainer gate is mounted to the housing and moveable through an operating position whereby the trainer gate contacts an animal in the basket area and urges the animal toward the sort gate. A programmable controller communicates with the measuring device, the entry gate, the sort gate and the trainer gate and controls actuation of the entry gate, the sort gate and the trainer gate.
US07836851B2
A formula and method for treating water used to hold captive fish in tanks includes isoeugenol, sodium chloride, potassium chloride and soluble dextrose. Also included are an ammonia remover, a chlorine remover, a bacterial and fungal spore remover, an anti-columnaris and saprolegnia agent, a disinfectant, a slime-coating protecting agent, a chelating agent and a surface foam remover.
US07836842B2
Provided is a coating apparatus, which has satisfactory operability at a time of installing or exchanging a spray nozzle, is not complicated in structure, and is advantageous in terms of layout. A rotary drum (2) is rotated around an axis (A) inclined with respect to a horizontal line, and has an opening (5) at one end on an inclination upper side. A spray nozzle unit (10) is removably attached to a swing arm (34), and the swing arm (34) can swing with respect to a swing axis (34c). Owing to the swing operation of the swing arm (34), the swing nozzle unit (10) can be moved between the inside and the outside of the rotary drum (2).
US07836824B2
When a printed circuit board is inspected and determined to have an insufficient amount of printing of a print pattern, the printed board is returned to a screen-printing apparatus so that a new print pattern is formed so as to overlap a previous print pattern. In the re-printing, a raising speed of the printed board at a final stage of the board raising operation is rendered lower than in the previous screen printing so that the printed board is brought into contact with the underside of the screen mask more slowly.
US07836815B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine, the engine having a connecting rod coupled to a wristpin, the wristpin being connected to the piston for pivotal movement about an axis, the piston comprising: a top portion and a generally cylindrically-shaped wall portion extending from the top portion, the top and wall portions defining a skirt cavity, the top portion having thereon a downwardly extending projection with a downwardly facing bearing surface for the wristpin, the bearing surface extending in the direction of the axis and defining a portion of a cylinder centered on the axis, and the projection having opposite sides facing the skirt cavity; at least one lubricant passage extending through the projection from one of the opposite sides and over the bearing surface to the other of the opposite sides; and a lubricant opening communicating between the lubricant passage and the bearing surface to supply lubricant to the bearing surface and to the wristpin.
US07836813B2
A self-locking braking device, for rotary shafts connectable to external loads, comprises braking means which can be operated to lock, respectively to release the rotation of a drive shaft; the braking means consist of a rigid braking disk, rotating with the drive shaft, and slidingly supported in an axial direction between two clutch members, one of which is secured to a support body for the drive shaft, while the other clutch member is supported by a plate which is elastically biased against the braking disk and operatively connected to a pneumatic cylinder for releasing the brake.
US07836811B1
Systems are described herein for remotely aligning and placing disruptive devices at or near suspicious targets such as suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In particular, tools connected to remotely controllable robots include disruptor guns for firing disruptive materials at the targets and disruptive devices filled with explosive materials, e.g., water, for controllably detonating or disrupting the detonation of the targets when placed in close proximity thereto.
US07836805B2
A cam follower plate used in a product processing line such as a pizza making assembly line. The cam follower plate includes a panel of synthetic resin having side grooves to engage rails of the assembly line, a forward located slot surrounded by a wall, the slot having a predefined geometry such that the slot wall is engaged by a cam roller to impart motion to the panel, and a rearward located row of holes for receiving a pin carrying connector to facilitate the connection of the driven panel to other elements of the assembly line.
US07836799B2
A tool assembly comprising a tool having a distal end and a proximal end having a protrusion thereon; and a device coupled with the proximal end of the tool, wherein the device is capable of accommodating a tool and has a compartment for storing various items.
US07836790B2
A tilt steering column assembly having a first housing defining at least one orifice disposed along a central axis and a second housing defining at least one hole disposed along the central axis is disclosed. A pin includes a body having a first end and a second end facing the first end to define a seam. A first tab extends outwardly from a segment of the first end and a second tab extends outwardly from a segment of the second end. The first tab abuts the second tab to define a portion of the seam with a remainder of the first and second ends being spaced from each other to define a gap and a remaining portion of the seam for providing a proper fit of the pin within the orifice and the hole by compensating for varying dimensions of at least one of the orifice and the hole.
US07836781B1
A torque-setting device includes a handle with grooves defined in an internal side, a driving unit attached to the handle, a strain gauge connected to the driving unit, a strain spring abutted against the strain gauge, a nut abutted against the strain spring, an axle and a knob. The axle includes a thread. The thread is engaged with the nut. The knob includes a tooth on an external side. The knob is operable to rotate the axle relative to the nut, thus moving the nut relative to the strain spring to set a value of torque. The knob is movable between a first position where the tooth is inserted in one of the grooves to retain the value of torque and a second position where the tooth is removed from the grooves to allow the rotation of the knob and therefore the rotation of the axle.
US07836778B2
The inventions relates to an apparatus, in particular for a screen-printing machine, for measuring tension in a printing screen in a frame, characterized in that a holder for the frame (1) has holder bars (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) each formed of a plurality of sections (3a1, 3a2, . . . , or 3b1, 3b.2, . . . , or 3c1, 3c2, . . . , 3d1, 3d2, . . . , ) each provided with a respective sensor (6) for measuring tension. The invention furthermore relates to a method, in particular for a screen-printing machine, for measuring tension in a screen in a screen frame, characterized in that a screen (2a) mounted in a frame (1) is mounted in a holder (3) having holder bars (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) each formed by a plurality of sections (3a1, 3a2, . . . , or 3b1, 3b.2, . . . , or 3c1, 3c2, . . . , 3d1, 3d2, . . . ) each provided with a respective sensor (6) that measure forces between the respective section (3a1, 3a2, . . . , or 3b1, 3b.2, . . . , or 3c1, 3c2, . . . , 3d1, 3d2, . . . ) and the frame (1).
US07836774B2
It is aimed to provide a strain detector having a fewer number of mounting parts and high operation efficiency and usability. The strain detector is provided with a cylindrical strain generator to be strained upon receiving a load, a resistor element which is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the strain generator and whose resistance varies depending on the amount of strain, a signal processing circuit connected with the resistor element and screw portions arranged above and below the strain generator to sandwich the strain generator. The strain generator and the screw portions are integrated.
US07836773B2
Optical fiber thermometer includes one optical fiber that relays light from the light source to a measuring unit, two parallel optical fibers that relay light from a mirror at the measuring unit to two light-receiving units, and an arithmetic processing circuit that calculates the temperature of the measuring unit from the ratio of electrical signals from the two light-receiving units; end surfaces of three optical fibers facing the reflecting face being fixed at an angle θ between the longitudinal direction of the optical fibers and the normal to the reflecting face that is not zero, the angle between the optical fibers for reception and projection being symmetrical based on the normal to the reflecting face. Each of the optical fibers is a single-mode fiber at the wavelength being used.
US07836764B2
The invention relates to a device comprising a sensor chip and a structure housing the sensor chip. The structure is covered by a mold compound and is fabricated from a ceramic or a glass material.
US07836762B2
An apparatus for weighing liquid in a bottle, in particular a pharmaceutical bottle. The apparatus has at least one measuring cell, and a conveying device for feeding a number of bottles through the measuring cell along a path. The apparatus is characterized in that the measuring cell has an actual measuring section preceded and followed, respectively, by a first guard section and a second guard section, which reduce the effect of adjacent bottles on the measurement.
US07836760B2
The improved monitoring device includes a data acquisition device with an accelerometer inside a bendable tube. One end of the tube is connected to a pole that may be secured to the top of a sewer manhole, while the other end is submerged in a fluid flow. The tilt, oscillations, and pressure exerted upon the tube due to fluid flow are measured and recorded. An improved method includes installing several monitoring devices into sewer system manholes, recording fluid level and flow, reading the recorded data, and displaying the data in chart or map form. Data may be displayed in two or three dimensional maps that may be overlaid with information of topography, street maps, and single or multiple sewer systems. Data displayed on the maps may include fluid flow rates, fluid levels, derivatives and integrals of flow rates, and differences in fluid levels or flow between monitoring devices.
US07836755B2
In a solidification sensor for measuring a solidification state of a liquid with a high degree of accuracy in real time, and for making the sensor small-sized with a reduced power consumption, the solidification sensor comprises a liquid absorbing portion formed of a liquid absorbable material, a substrate coupled to the liquid absorbing portion and a strain sensor for measuring strain exerted to the substrate due to a volumetric change upon solidification of a liquid absorbed in the liquid absorbing portion.
US07836749B2
A sled carriage is configured to move in a direction of an axis. A platform is attached with the sled carriage and a sled buck is attached with the platform. Upon acceleration of the sled carriage, the sled buck and platform move relative to the sled carriage.
US07836735B2
A drawer lock set includes a body with a tubular member and a block extends radially from an inner periphery of the tubular member. A cylinder and a core are received in the tubular member. The core includes a driving piece extending from a distal end thereof and is capable of driving a transmission member which is able to rotate a driving member. The driving member includes a protrusion which is slidably engaged with a groove defined in the dead bolt. The cylinder includes a first notch and a second notch in an outer periphery thereof and a 90-degree angular distance is defined between the first and second notches. The block is engaged with one of the first and second notches so as to set the position of the operational direction of the dead bolt with only one part replaced.
US07836730B1
A jacquard needle equipped with a return structure is installed in a circular knitting machine which has a computer needle selected device including plural jacquard needles and plural needle selected sheets on an upper needle dial. Each jacquard needle is driven by a cam to move a knitting needle. The needle selected sheet depresses the jacquard needle to escape from the cam. The jacquard needle includes a fulcrum, a neck, a force received section, a needle foot and a return structure. The fulcrum is connected with the knitting needle. The needle foot is located in a slide track of the cam. The return structure has a bend end at a distal end beneath the needle foot. The bend end butts an inner wall of the upper needle dial. The force received section transmits the depressing force to bend the return structure to generate a returning elasticity.
US07836729B2
In a transfer needle (1) having at least one transfer spring (8), this transfer spring (8) is held, on its one end, in a preferably lateral pocket or recess of the needle body, while the tip of the transfer spring is positioned in a longitudinal slit of the needle body. This longitudinal slit (24) has an inlet (25) that is open in longitudinal direction (L) of the needle body (5). The inlet (25) of the longitudinal slit (24) is located at an end of the longitudinal slit (24) away from the hook (6).
US07836701B2
An InfraRed Suppression System (IRSS) vectors engine exhaust flow away from the exhaust manifold plane, the high aspect ratio exhaust duct defined as a ratio of a maximum nozzle length to a maximum nozzle width, the ratio greater than 2:1.
US07836688B2
The present invention relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, having an SCR module containing at least one SCR catalyst element in an SCR housing connected to an exhaust line and having a PF module containing at least one particulate filter element in a PF housing connected to the exhaust line upstream from the SCR housing.
US07836683B2
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that includes right and left banks, first and second catalysts provided in the right and left exhaust pipes, respectively, and a downstream catalyst provided in a common exhaust pipe downstream of the upstream catalysts is adapted to alternately switch execution of catalyst degradation minimization and execution of fuel cut between the two banks if at least one of the temperature of the first catalyst and temperature of the second catalyst is higher than a predetermined value during deceleration of the internal combustion engine.
US07836681B2
A nozzle device defines a passageway including an outlet to discharge working fluid to produce thrust. This device includes a vectoring mechanism having three or more vanes pivotally mounted across the passageway and a linkage pivotally coupling the vanes together. This linkage includes a first arm fixed to a first one of the vanes to pivot therewith about a first pivot axis, a second arm and a third arm fixed to a second one of the vanes to pivot therewith about a second pivot axis, and a fourth arm fixed to a third one of the vanes to pivot therewith about a third pivot axis. A first connecting link pivotally couples the first arm and the second arm together, and a second connecting link pivotally couples the third arm and the fourth arm together. The relative angular positioning of the arms with respect to the corresponding pivot axes and/or the arm links can be varied to define different vectoring schedules with the mechanism linkage. In one particular form, the nozzle is utilized with a lift fan of an aircraft to perform V/STOL operations.
US07836665B2
The present invention is directed to a method of transporting and packaging a plurality of preformed flower pot covers. Each preformed flower pot cover is formed from a flexible sheet of material which is of a shape and size to receive a flower pot. Each preformed flower pot cover has a base with a closed lower end and an open upper end with an object opening extending therethrough for receiving the flower pot and further having a decorative skirt extending angularly upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the base. The method of the present invention includes the step of providing a portable platform configured to stabilize, receive, support and protect a plurality of stacked preformed flower pot covers. The platform with the preformed flower pot covers can then be wrapped to further stabilize the stacks of preformed flower pot covers so that the platform can be transported to a predetermined destination.
US07836658B2
A flashing assembly for reinforcing an interface defined between a roof and a portion of a building wall, either a flat roof or a flat roof with parapet wall. The flashing assembly has a first member configured for securing along the interface between the roof and the building wall and a second member for covering an upper part of the first member. The first member has an inner vertical part adapted for extending along the building wall, a locking flange extending at a right angle to the inner vertical part, and an outer vertical part extending in a substantially parallel orientation to the inner vertical part. In one aspect, the first member has an inclined bottom flange for diverting water away from the building while the top locking flange is secured to the roof. In another aspect, the flashing assembly has a top locking flange that is sealed in a groove formed in a parapet wall above the roof and a securing bottom flange, which is attached to the roof.
US07836653B1
The present invention discloses an air conditioner cover having at least two posts, a plurality of slats, and a plurality of obstructions used to properly distance the slats from the ground. The air conditioner cover also has connectors disposed between said posts and said slats in some embodiments. The air conditioner cover is designed to surround an air conditioner unit in order to hide it from sight and to protect the air conditioner unit from various types of damage. The present invention is specifically designed to ensure appropriate ventilation, as the uniquely shaped slats have in order to provide a spacing gap for ventilation purposes, while still providing a barrier to the air conditioner unit.
US07836651B2
The present invention provides a tile panel unit having a tile cap composed of at least one layer of crushed stone mixed with a resin and a catalyst and at least one layer of fiberglass strands mixed with a resin, and a base plate at least partially embedded in at least one layer of the tile cap material. The base plate provides a structure for supporting the tile cap, the structure having a matrix of supporting shapes and other reinforcing elements arranged within a peripheral support structure. The base plate further provides mounting features for securing the tile panel unit to an underlying support structure, and interlocking features for aligning and securing adjacent tile panel units in a wall and floor covering tile assembly system.
US07836647B2
The invention concerns a filtering wall designed for an expendable formwork comprising a lattice formed by assembling flexible warp and weft yarns, the lattice being stretched on an undeformable structure. The filtering wall is characterized in that some of the warp yarns are more resistant than other warp yarns, the lattice being stretched by traction solely exerted on the more resistant warp yarns and in that it comprises tension maintaining means for maintaining the tension associating the more resistant yarns with the undeformable structure, the tension maintaining means delimiting a larger mesh than the one resulting from the initial interlacing of the warp and weft yarns.
US07836646B2
A wall structure of an architecture is provided, which comprises an outer wall having resistance against earthquakes and wind and an inner wall relatively inferior in the earthquake-resistance and so forth, so that the outer and inner walls are properly combined to share design loads. The wall structure includes the outer wall (2) of bricklaying structure in which bricks (A˜D) and metal plates (51) are stacked. Fasteners (60,62,63,70) extending through the bolt holes (7) of the bricks are tightened, and the vertically adjacent bricks are integrally connected with each other under prestress of the fasteners. The inner wall (3) is constructed inside of the outer wall, and the shear reinforcement member (10,20) connects the inner and outer walls with each other. The inner wall is constructed by a dry type of construction method, which can support a permanent vertical load such as a roof load. A temporary horizontal load acting on the inner wall, such as a seismic force, is transmitted to the outer wall by the shear reinforcement member.
US07836636B2
The pneumatic structural element according to the invention comprises from one to a number of interconnected elements of the following construction: two hollow bodies (1) with casings (9) made of textile material preferably coated in a gas-tight manner and having end caps (5) are assembled such that they produce a common sectional area (2). The edging of this sectional area (2) is formed by two curved tension/compression elements (3) into which is clamped a web (4) made of a flexible material of high tensile strength. By filling the two hollow bodies (1) with compressed gas, a tensile stress σ is built up in their casings (9) and is transmitted directly or via the tension/compression elements (3) to the web (4) and pretensions said web. This pretensioning greatly increases the bending rigidity of the tension/compression elements (3). If a plurality of such elements is combined to form a roof, every two adjacent hollow bodies (1) thus form a sectional area (2) with a tension/compression element (3) and web (4).
US07836635B2
When a door is open, at a hinge side of the space between the door and door frame a gap appears and this presents an opening into which a young child's hand or fingers can very easily be inserted. The invention provides a cover for this space which can help to reduce risk of injury if the door should be closed accidentally when a child's hand is present. A door safety device comprises a cover for the gap at the hinge side of a door (2) and door frame (4) combination, the cover comprising a strip of a rigid material which is flexible about its major axis, the strip having attachment means at its long edges so that one edge may be secured to the door (2) and the other edge to the door frame (4) of the combination, and the cover including fastener means (13) adjacent to one of its long sides such that the cover may be secured to a second similar cover in order to increase the effective width of the safety device. This can enable a single model of safety device to be adapted to fit ordinary domestic doors and also doors which open through wider angles such as up to 180°.
US07836633B2
A robotic ocean farm includes a plant support means such as a grid, with a submersible towing system incorporating means for navigation of the support grid in the open ocean, and means for positioning of the support grid in a first surfaced position for sunlight exposure of the plants and a second submerged position for nutrient gathering by the plants. The submersible towing system incorporates one or more tow boats connected to a forward periphery of the grid, each of the tow boats incorporating a propulsion system for navigation of the grid and maintaining lateral tension in the forward periphery of the grid. Additionally, one or more reaction boats are connected to an aft periphery of the grid. Each of the reaction boats incorporates a propulsion system for maintaining lateral tension in the aft periphery of the grid and reacting in concert with the tow boats to maintain longitudinal tension in the grid. A system for harvesting multiple independently operating farms incorporates a harvesting station which is placed or positions itself to meet the farms at predetermined locations during their voyage to harvest and replenish the plants carried on the farm grid. Base stations, separately or as a part of the harvesting station, communicate with the farms provide mutual support and informational exchange for optimized operation of the farms.
US07836622B1
A foldable tag including multiple fold segments and an expandable loop conjoined to one of the multiple fold segments is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments the foldable tag includes multiple fold segments to form a bi-fold tag or alternatively a tri-fold tag. As disclosed the expandable loop is formed along a portion of an elastomeric sheet that is conjoined with a portion of the foldable tag.
US07836618B1
A license plate security frame comprises a solid inner back plate that is secured to a vehicle and a outer front rim hinged to it that traps the license plate and covers the mounting screws. Hinges at the bottom allow the inner back plate and outer front rim to open like a clamshell, and a cylinder lock mounted at the top to the outer front rim engages a lock pin mounted to the inner back plate. Clear corner covers are included to protect any stickers on the caged-in license plate, and are attached inside the outer front rim in the appropriate corners. The main surface of the license plate including the license numbers and their background are exposed through the middle of the outer front rim.
US07836610B2
An attachment for an item of footwear having an outsole, the attachment comprising a body having first and second body surfaces, the body being releasably co-operable with the outsole in a first position in which the first body surface is disposable away from the outsole and in a second position in which the second body surface is disposable away from the outsole; an attaching portion which is associated with the body and which includes an inter-engageable formation for releasably attaching the attachment in the first and second positions; and a detaching portion which is associated with the body, the detaching portion having an edge portion moveable with respect to the body to allow the body to be released from the item of footwear. The invention also includes an outsole and an item of footwear to which the attachment can be releasably attached.
US07836609B2
The invention relates to a shoe having a sole with a first part, a second part, and a top surface extending from the first part to the second part. The shoe also includes a welt attached to a localized area of a perimeter of the second part and an upper having an inside and an outside, where the outside is attached to the welt in the second part of the sole and where the inside is attached to the top surface in the first part of the sole.
US07836605B2
A headstack locator assembly for locating and fixing a headstack on a spinstand and which mitigates the aforementioned prior art limitations. The headstack locator assembly includes a headstack locator received on a fixed locator. The headstack locator connects to a headstack, while the fixed locator is permanently secured to a spinstand. A vacuum is used to clamp the headstack locator to the fixed locator for testing of the headstack. Upon test completion, the headstack locator is released from the fixed locator by applying positive air pressure to the assembly. More generally, an apparatus and methods for generally locating and reversibly, pneumatically coupling various elements to each other.
US07836603B2
A headstack locator assembly for locating and fixing a headstack on a spinstand and which mitigates the aforementioned prior art limitations. The headstack locator assembly includes a headstack locator received on a fixed locator. The headstack locator connects to a headstack, while the fixed locator is permanently secured to a spinstand. A vacuum is used to clamp the headstack locator to the fixed locator for testing of the headstack. Upon test completion, the headstack locator is released from the fixed locator by applying positive air pressure to the assembly.
US07836595B1
A system and associated method for disengaging a shrink coupling that secures a shaft to a drive train component, such as a gearbox, includes a reaction plate erected around the shaft at a location displaced from the shrink coupling, with the reaction plate being anchored in place relative to the shaft. A plurality of jacking devices, such as hydraulic jacks, are operationally disposed between the reaction plate and shrink coupling and spaced circumferentially around the shaft. The jacking devices have a first end engaged against the reaction plate and a second opposite end mechanically fastened to the shrink coupling. To remove the shrink coupling from the drive train component, the shrink coupling is released from its clamped state and the jacking devices are activated to exert a pulling force on the shrink coupling, which causes the shrink coupling to be pulled off of the drive train component and moved axially along the shaft to a resting position on the shaft.
US07836590B2
A manufacturing method for a printed circuit board is disclosed. The method includes: forming a first circuit pattern on a metal layer of a conductive carrier, which has the metal layer stacked on one side, pressing the conductive carrier and a first insulation layer together with the first circuit pattern facing the first insulation layer, forming a via by selectively removing the conductive carrier, and removing the metal layer. Using this method, a high-density thin package can be manufactured with increased reliability, and the productivity of the manufacturing process can also be improved.
US07836585B2
A method of operatively combining a plurality of components to form a land grid array (LGA) interposer structure, including an electrically insulating carrier plane, and at least one interposer mounted on a first surface of said carrier plane. The interposer possesses a hemi-toroidal configuration in transverse cross-section and is constituted of a dielectric elastomeric material. A plurality of electrically-conductive elements are arranged about the surface of the at least one hemi-toroidal interposer and extend radically inwardly and downwardly from an uppermost end thereof into electrical contact with at least one component located on an opposite side of the electrically insulating carrier plane.
US07836581B2
The invention relates to a device for installing and removing a bearing assembly (3) which consists of a chock in which a trunnion hearing is arranged on a supporting roller stud (1) of a rolling stand. The aim of said invention is to replace said assembly by means of an operationally reliable device without carrying out modifications or large-scale modifications of the supporting roller stud (1), in particular to obtain reproducible mounting forces in order to ensure best long-term wear-less service possible, best possible rotation and easily controlled stripping forces for reliable operation of the rolling stand. The invention also relates to a nut (8) fixed to the roller stud (1) prestressed against the bearing assembly (3). According to said invention, a stripping device (11) can be temporarily coupled to the bearing assembly (3), the hydraulic cylinder (15) thereof resting against the roller stud (1).
US07836576B2
A method is disclosed for converting a commutator exciter, also called to as a DC machine, into a brushless exciter while keeping one part of the rotor as well as the stator frame of the DC machine. In an embodiment, the method also keeps the field currents and the time constants of the DC machine so that the exciter's voltage regulator may be kept. Alternatively, the magnetic cores of the DC machine stator poles may also be kept.
US07836571B2
An apparatus and method for installing a piston and connecting rod assembly in a cylinder of an engine block includes a frame, an installation rod and a guide defining a channel complementary to the rod. The frame is disposed about an opening at the bottom of the engine block and the guide is positioned on the frame in alignment with a cylinder. The installation rod is coupled to the connecting rod and the rod and the piston and connecting rod assembly are slid into the cylinder. The installation rod is received within the guide channel and maintains the connecting rod perpendicular to the crankshaft and away from the cylinder wall. As the connecting rod moves toward the crankshaft, the guide and rod move the connecting rod into proper alignment and contact with the crankshaft.
US07836563B2
A fastener stringer capable of following up stretching/contracting action of a stretchable fabric smoothly by improving a stretching property of an element attaching portion, and capable of preventing breaking of chain if the element attaching portion is stretched, wherein the fastener stringer includes: a woven fastener tape having a tape main portion and an element attaching portion; a continuous fastener element row sewed to the element attaching portion with a non-elastic sewing thread; and an elastic core thread inserted through an interior of the fastener element row, an elastic yarn and a non-elastic yarn are woven into the tape main portion and the element attaching portion as warp yarns while a non-elastic yarn is woven as a weft yarn, and a weaving ratio of the elastic yarn to the non-elastic yarn is larger in the element attaching portion than in the tape main portion.
US07836562B2
A clip for use in a cable tensioning system, comprising (i) a base plate comprising a generally flat base member having a top surface having a plurality of surface irregularities, a bottom surface, a front edge and a rear edge, and a pair of opposing tensioning arms extending from the top surface; and, (ii) a top plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge and a rear edge, a lip protruding from a top surface thereof having a channel defined therein, wherein the top plate is adapted to secure an edge of a substantially flat medium between the base plate and the top plate when the top plate and the bottom plate are in an engaged relationship, and wherein the channel can receive a portion of a cable.
US07836561B2
Buckle for adjusting the strap in equipment for practicing water sports, such as diving goggles, swimming goggles or the like, said strap being provided at at-least one end with a plurality of transverse reliefs, said buckle comprising a body provided with means for driving said end of the strap and with an engaging tooth which is normally kept in a position engaged with said reliefs of said strap, against said drive means, there being envisaged operating means able to disengage said engaging tooth from said reliefs, comprising means with an inclined surface co-operating with said engaging tooth and movable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the end of said belt.
US07836553B2
A hinge construction for a wing mirror unit for a motor vehicle including a first hinge part for mounting on a motor vehicle and a second hinge part, pivotably connected therewith, for supporting a wing minor unit. In an embodiment, the first and second hinge parts cooperate via a rack-and-pinion guide and a drive mechanism having a disengageable coupling. The drive mechanism and the rack-and-pinion guide cause the hinge parts upon pivoting to rotate and translate relative to each other. The disengageable coupling is operatively configured to disengage the motor and the gear drive from the first hinge part. The invention also relates to a wing mirror unit provided with embodiments of a hinge construction.
US07836551B2
A hinge structure with locking feature is connected to a first body of an electronic device through a support frame. A pivot portion of the hinge structure is connected to a second body of the electronic device and includes a rotating shaft connected to the support frame, such that the first body is capable of rotating relative to the second body. Moreover, a lock receptacle is disposed on the support frame, and is engaged with a matching lock unit. Therefore, the electronic device is secured to a fixed position, which thus achieves an anti-theft function.
US07836550B2
A damping hinge device includes a hinge and a damper. The damper is arranged coaxially with the hinge and has a damping shell, a damping body, a plurality of rotating slices, a plurality of limiting slices, an outer gasket and a pushing body. The damping shell has a cylinder-shaped shell body, a top cover is formed in the top of the shell body. The damping body is accepted in the damping shell and has a basic portion and a column portion extending from one end of the basic portion. The rotating slices are accepted in the damping shell and fixed around the column portion. The limiting slices are fixed in the damping shell and rotatably around the column portion of the damping body, the limiting pieces and the rotating pieces are staggeredly arranged. Damping oil is filled between the adjacent limiting slices and the rotating slices. The outer gasket is disposed on the basic portion of the damping body and pressed against the shell body.
US07836541B2
A lever of a wiper blade holds a blade rubber. A cover accommodates at least a part of the lever from an opening. A nozzle mechanism has a connecting portion connected to a supply passage. A nozzle portion receives washer liquid that has been sent from the supply passage under pressure and passed the connecting portion, and supplies the washer liquid to a surface to be wiped. An attachment member is integrated with the nozzle mechanism. In a state where the cover accommodates the nozzle mechanism, the attachment member is attached to the lever or the cover. Therefore, the wiper blade is capable of stably supplies washer liquid to the surface to be wiped for an extended period of time.
US07836537B1
A toothbrush with independently mobile bristles comprises a toothbrush body with a handle section, a head section and a neck section, with a long axis there through. A plurality of individual, linear slots extends from a top surface of the head section and terminates there within. The individual slots are angled to the long axis of the toothbrush body. A bristle assembly is movably positioned in each slot of the head section with a bristle group extending exterior to the top surface thereof. When brushing teeth, movement of the toothbrush body in a first direction, parallel with the long axis thereof, causes movement of the bristle assemblies in a direction essentially perpendicular to the long axis of the toothbrush body. Movement of the toothbrush body in the opposite direction causes movement of the bristle assemblies in an opposite direction, also essentially perpendicular to the long axis of the toothbrush body.
US07836535B2
The present invention relates to dishwashers, and more particularly, to a dishwasher and a method for controlling the same, which can measure turbidity of the washing water, and control operation of the dishwasher with reference to the turbidity detected thus, to prevent wasting of water, and optimize a washing time period.The dishwasher includes a sump for holding washing water, a washing pump for pumping the washing water to provide a portion of the washing water to dishes to be washed through a main flow passage, and a turbidity sensing means for sensing turbidity of the washing water, wherein the turbidity sensing means is positioned at a sampling flow passage through which the other portion of the washing water passes.The method for controlling a dishwasher includes the steps of putting a washing pump into operation, detecting turbidity of the washing water, adjusting a washing time period preset at a control unit according to the turbidity detected thus, and operating the washing pump according to the washing time period adjusted thus.
US07836530B2
A child enclosure apparatus that includes a hub assembly, a base assembly having four base legs in an X-shaped configuration, a side structure having four side posts, an upper assembly having four pairs of upper arms with each pair connected with medial latch connectors, lower corner assemblies, each having a pair of plates that are pivotally mounted to a side post and a pair of base legs, upper corner assemblies, each having two pair of plates that are configured at a right angle to each other, and cables extending from the base assemblies, through the side posts and being connected to the upper arms and to the latch connectors. The enclosure apparatus is operated by linear movement of the hub assembly, either by a motor assembly or manually, to cause simultaneous movement of the base legs, the upper arms and the latch connectors between opened and folded positions by tensioning the cables. The lower corner assemblies are pivotally connected to the side posts and the base legs so as to prevent unintended opening of the enclosure from a folded position.
US07836521B2
A protective sports glove having a protective finger knuckle system introduced to the back portion of the finger portions to cover a space formed between adjacent pads corresponding to the knuckles of the fingers. The protective finger knuckle system includes a cap portion and a pair of side flanges that have a pair of slots. A strap is passed through the pair of slots on each of the pair of side flanges and beneath the cap portion and is secured to the glove. The cap portion spans the gaps between the protective portions of the fingers and the thumb and thus provide protection to the knuckles of the wearer where the fingers or thumb are flexed. Because the protective knuckle portion is not coupled to the pads defining the gap, they are maintained in position over the widening gap as the finger is flexed.
US07836520B2
A garment assembly for a human body comprising a first garment element and a second garment element. The first garment element comprising a top end having a first neck opening, left and right lateral sides having left and right first arm openings respectively, a front side, a back side having an opening, and a bottom end. The second garment element comprising a top end having a second neck opening, left and right lateral sides having respective left and right second arm openings respectively, a front side having an opening, a back side, and a bottom end. When assembling the first and second garment elements on a human body, the first and second neck openings provide for the neck of the human body to be placed therethrough, the first garment element front side covers the front of the human body, the second garment element back side covers the back of the human body. The left first and second arm openings provide for the left arm of the human body to be placed therethrough and the right first and second arm openings provide for the right arm of the human body to be placed therethrough.
US07841014B2
In order to maintain the confidentiality of information at a high level even in cases where a confidential information processor in which multiple types of decryption sequences are applicable is used, decryption is performed according to the value of content decryption information 304. If the value of the content decryption information 304 is “0”, an encrypted content key 309 is decrypted with a selected authentication intermediate key 312 and encrypted contents 310 are decrypted with a content key 305. On the other hand, if the value of the content decryption information 304 is other than “0”, the selected authentication intermediate key 312 is converted by performing an arithmetic operation using that value, thereby generating a conversion intermediate key 315. An encrypted domain key 316 is decrypted with the conversion intermediate key 315, the encrypted content key 309 is decrypted with a domain key 306, and then the encrypted contents 310 are decrypted with a content key 305.
US07841012B2
A method and a system for processing multicast services, binding each user to a default profile for separately configuring the authority over programs for the user and a right suite profile which prefabricates combination of programs and authority, directly forwarding a program to the superuser; for a non-superuser, acquiring authority over the program by traversing all profiles to which the user is bound, not forwarding the program if the user does not have the authority over the program; if the user has the authority over the program, forwarding a program stream to the user in the case that the program stream has been forwarded to the multicast service processing system. By the invention, the flexibility of multicast service processing is improved, individualized services of a user are implemented. The invention also provides a mode for processing a superuser, which provides real highly efficient and convenient privilege processing to the superuser.
US07841003B1
A method for preventing phishing attacks is provided. The method in one aspect includes identifying a source image file that was used fraudulently, replacing the content of the source image file with a warning, and allowing the source image file having the warning to be accessed.
US07841001B2
Without modifying application programs in a smart card, data and functions of the application programs can be used by one authentication operation if an apparatus has an invented authentication information management function utilization part. Even if the apparatus not implemented with the invention can use the smart card in a similar manner to the conventional manner. An authentication information management program for managing information necessary for authentication of each application is introduced into the smart card. When each application is utilized, the authentication information management program acquires the application authentication information after an authentication request message from the application program is captured, and transmits the application authentication information to the application program. It is possible to realize a method of utilizing data and functions possessed by the application programs through one authentication operation.
US07840996B1
In general, techniques are described of enabling a client-based web browser application to browse a directory structure provided by a server on a private network via a secure gateway. In particular, an intermediate gateway device is positioned on a network path between the client device and a server device. The gateway device communicates with the client device via a secure network connection (e.g., a Secure Sockets Layer connection). When the gateway device receives a resource identifier that identifies a directory structure from either the client device or the server device, the gateway device alters the resource identifier. In particular, the gateway device alters the resource identifier in such a way that when the client device transmits a request to view the directory structure identified by the resource identifier, the client device transmits a request to view the directory structure in a networking protocol that the gateway device permits to pass through the gateway device.
US07840994B2
Revocation of digital certificates in a public-key infrastructure is disclosed, particularly in the case when a certificate might need to be revoked prior to its expirations. For example, if an employee was terminated or switched roles, his current certificate should no longer be valid. Accordingly, novel methods, components and systems are presented for addressing this problem. A solution set forth herein is based on the construction of grounded dense hash trees. In addition, the grounded dense hash tree approach also provides a time-communication tradeoff compared to the basic chain-based version of NOVOMODO, and this tradeoff yields a direct improvement in computation time in practical situations.
US07840979B2
A discovery interface facilitates the selection of available media content. Content-relevant graphical tiles are displayed in strips within the discovery interface. In this manner, a user can survey graphics associated with available content. When the discovery interface section (e.g., a row) is in focus, the graphical tiles are expanded as compared to the tiles in sections that are not in focus to provide easier viewing by the user. Furthermore, when an individual tile is in focus, then the tile expands further to be wider and taller than any of the other tiles in the associated tile strip. In one implementation, the focused tile is also highlighted, such as with a distinguishing border. In another implementation, metadata associated with the content of the focused tile is displayed in the proximity of the focused tile.
US07840977B2
When selecting a television program for recording, a user may configure the delivery of the selected television program and associated data and interactive applications to different user equipment devices in a home network, which may have different capabilities. Because the user equipment devices in the home network may have different capabilities, the user may wish to deliver different types and amount of content, different amounts of data, and different versions of interactive applications to the user equipment devices in the home network.
US07840973B2
An optical disc device capable of sensing exactly whether or not a disc is present is provided. In an optical disc device includes a main body having a disc slot, and a carrying roller for carrying a disc between the disc slot and a disc loading position of the main body, a swinging lever whose base end is supported turnably in an inside of the main body by a supporting shaft and to which a disc arriving switch is fixed, and a sensing lever whose base end is supported turnably by the supporting shaft and whose top end contacts the outer periphery of the disc, which is loaded in the disc loading position, to operate the disc arriving switch are provided.
US07840968B1
Client software is modified by a translator to use unique variant of linguistic interface of a service. An interceptor pre-processes subsequent client service requests from translated unique linguistic interface to standard linguistic interface implemented by service. Usage of linguistic interfaces of service is contained, rendering service incapable of executing arbitrary input, even if such input is crafted specifically for the service interface.
US07840967B1
A technique for allowing isolated JAVA applications (“isolates”) to share data between themselves is disclosed. According to one aspect, a shared object region, to which multiple isolates may attach, is defined in memory. A shared class loader associated with the region is stored in the region in conjunction with the region's creation. Isolates that can access the region can invoke that loader. The region only comprises objects whose type is defined by a bootstrap class loader or the region's associated shared class loader. Runtime representations of classes defined by the shared class loader are stored in the region. Thus, the types of objects stored in the region are known to all isolates that attach to the region. Isolates attached to the region may enter the context of the region to access objects stored therein. Within the context of a shared object region, all allocation instructions automatically allocate to that region.
US07840956B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for updating a candidate computer program file. An exemplary method includes loading a first and second revisions of a first computer program file, loading a first revision of a second computer program file, and generating a candidate computer program file. References are made to the first and second revisions of the first computer program file and the first revision of the second computer program file in generating the candidate computer program file.
US07840946B2
The invention finds matches in ordered sequences, e.g. program function call stacks from anomalous software program executions for discovering related or identical software flaws and possible known solutions. Call stacks are matched after removing recursive and uninformative subpatterns, e.g. names of common error handling routines, to see if they were generated due to the same possibly known problem. Sequences statistically unlikely to be matches are pruned from the search. Matches found earlier in the sequences may be weighted differently, e.g. to be more important in call stacks, than other matches. Sequences are indexed so that those relevant to a query are identified automatically without detailed exhaustive search. Maximum matches are found by optimizing a cost function based on weighted sequence similarity.
US07840944B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for testing software involve generating a software build of source files and initiating tests on the software build. Each test is performed using a portion of the software build that corresponds to one or more of the source files. Results data relating to the tests, such as an indication of errors identified in the tests, is stored. The results data further identifies source files associated with each of the tests. A notification message relating to the results data is sent to a user.
US07840942B2
A method, system and computer-readable medium for configuration file sharing are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: creating, in a controller, a superset registry file that includes old registry data, new registry data, and kindred registry data, wherein the old registry data and the new registry data are incompatible, and wherein the kindred registry data is compatible with both the old registry data and the new registry data; and contemporaneously downloading the kindred registry data and software version-specific registry data, selected from the old registry data and the new registry data, to a requesting client.
US07840938B1
A method for retaining state information of a digital filter object in a dynamically typed text-based programming environment is disclosed. The digital filter object retains state information which includes the minimal amount of information that is necessary to determine the output of the digital filter object. The digital filter object generates the output of the object in response to the input of the object depending on the state information of the object. The state of the filter is stored in a memory and provided to the object as an initial value of the state of the object.
US07840934B2
A method and system for integrating workflow management systems with business-to-business interaction standards. An automatic business-to-business (B2B) template generator is provided for supporting workflow design. The B2B template generator automatically generates process templates and service templates based either on a description of a business-to-business interaction standard is received or a structured representation of the business-to-business interaction standard. When the (B2B) template generator receives the description of business-to-business interaction standard as the input, the (B2B) template generator first converts the description of the business-to-business interaction standard into a structured representation of the business-to-business interaction standard. At least process template is automatically generated based on the structured representation of the business-to-business interaction standard. The template (e.g., B2B service template or B2B process template) can be utilized by a user to design both quickly and efficiently a complete process (e.g., a workflow with B2B interaction points).
US07840933B2
A method for managing a plurality of software applications. An application assessment score is computed for each application. A delivery model is selected for each of said applications. The delivery model is a Local model, a Remote model, or a Local-Remote model. The Local model, the Remote model, and the Local-Remote model are each relative to a local geographical area. The delivery model is selected as function of the application assessment score. The method may be implemented using a computer program product that includes a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable program code is adapted to execute the steps of the method.
US07840925B1
A computer-implemented method of performing timing analysis upon a circuit design having synchronous circuit elements can include selecting a destination pin having a plurality of source pins, wherein each source pin of the plurality of source pins defines a data path to the destination pin. A slack of a selected path of the data paths to the destination pin can be determined. A timing adjustment of each of the plurality of source pins can be compared to the slack of the selected path, wherein each timing adjustment is determined using static timing analysis. A simulation node can be selectively included within the circuit design according to the comparison. The circuit design can be output.
US07840921B1
A method and apparatus for providing a protection circuit for protecting an integrated circuit design is described. In one example, a sequence generator is defined to produce a pseudorandom sequence of output vectors. A plurality of output vectors is selected from the sequence of output vectors. Bits from the plurality of output vectors are randomly selected to define a terminal vector. Detection logic is generated for detecting the terminal vector. In another example, a protection circuit is defined for asserting a signal after a plurality of clock cycles. At least one lookup table (LUT) is identified in the implemented circuit design having at least one unused input terminal. The signal is coupled to the at least one unused input terminal of the at least one LUT. The protection circuit and the circuit design are then implemented.
US07840920B2
According to the present invention, even a user lacking the knowledge of semiconductor testing apparatus can easily generate a test program, and easily perform alternation and correction of the test program. In the present invention, a microprogram of a spreadsheet software being one of the commonly used application software is used to create the test program. Therefore, even a user lacking the knowledge of semiconductor testing apparatus can easily generate a test program, and easily perform alternation and correction of the test program. When the alternation and the correction of the test program are performed, only setting conditions of each sheet are altered and corrected, and the alternation and the correction of the test program are easily performed.
US07840918B1
In a method of optimizing power consumption in an integrated circuit, a physically implemented circuit design meeting at least one timing constraint is provided. A design block of the physically implemented circuit design having a high toggle rate pattern is identified. A power optimized transformation type of numerous power optimized transformation types is selected. The power optimized transformation type is applied to the design block of the physically implemented circuit design. A modified physically implemented circuit design is generated, where the modified physically implemented circuit design is power optimized.
US07840911B2
A method and apparatus for enhanced browsing of electronic data (e.g., web pages, documents, electronic mail). When a first page is displayed in a browser, content identified by links to other pages is prefetched. If the page contains a list of links (e.g., search results), an enhanced browsing stripe is superimposed on the links. The stripe is transparent or semi-transparent, so that a user can identify individual links in the list. As long as a user interface cursor remains within the stripe, whenever the cursor is placed over or adjacent to a link, an enhanced browsing window containing the prefetched content for that link is displayed. The stripe extends at least the length of the list of links. If the cursor reaches the end of the browser window, the browser page is automatically scrolled as necessary to view additional links or page content, and the stripe is extended accordingly.
US07840909B2
A portable computing apparatus and a processing method using the same, the portable computing apparatus including a management module and a processing module, wherein the management module provides a predetermined function list to a sub-display module when a specific event occurs, and the processing module processes a function selected from the function list by a user.
US07840906B2
A display control unit that is used to display a current portion of a document on a screen when an interactive or scrollable page of said document requires a larger display area than that of the screen. The display control unit includes a unit which is connected to a remote server configured to deliver interactive documents including principal and secondary documents. The display control unit also includes a display unit used to control the display of a current portion of the scrollable interactive page on the screen, and a memory control unit including a priority level allocation unit configured to assign a priority level to each secondary document of the scrollable interactive page and a memory control unit used to control the storage of secondary documents with the highest priority levels in the memory.
US07840902B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for automatic creation of secure connections between segmented resource farms in a utility computing environment. According to one embodiment, farms are automatically created using visual representations of the farms as a specification. A shared subnet is created as the basis of a secure connection, visual representations of one or more farms are associated with the shared subnet to form the secure connection between the one or more farms.
US07840901B2
A media engine for creating a graphical interface for an application on a device is disclosed. The media engine comprises an interaction interface for notifying the media engine of changes to the application, a renderer for rendering the graphical interface, a parser for parsing, from a template file, template information for controlling how the renderer renders the graphical interface, and a layout manager for optionally controlling the display of template information.
US07840899B2
A list navigation module (LNM) is described that allows a user to navigate among a filtered list of items, yet, in addition, also discover items within an original list items. In operation, a user inputs a search selection, which prompts the LNM to cull a filtered list of items from the original set of items. When the user enters navigation selections of a first kind, the LNM advances to only items in the filtered list. When the user enters navigation selections of a second kind, the LNM advances to items in the unfiltered original list. Further, when the user attempts to navigate past an end of the presented filtered list, the LNM advances to items in the unfiltered original list. The LNM can provide a visual indicator which conveys that one or more items in the original list of items do not appear in the filtered list of items.
US07840893B2
A system for displaying and re-ordering web page search results. Results obtained from a search engine site are displayed with same-type fields in same columns. A button at the top of each column allows result entries to be organized alphanumerically depending upon values for the fields in the column. A subsearch feature allows additional searching of a base search. The subsearch can be performed on any one or more of the fields.
US07840890B2
A computer system and method for generating a plurality of unique, randomly structured forms, such as invoices, that may be populated with data to produce test forms for testing automatic document processing systems. The forms may have major blocks such as a header, a body and a footer, and the major blocks may have randomly selected sizes. For each block, the locations of data fields and the ordering of the data fields within the block are defined randomly, the data locations within the fields and the data formats are randomly defined, and a blank image and an XML file of the randomly structured form are produced. The forms generated may be populated with data for the testing document processing system.
US07840878B1
A system includes a host first-in first-out (FIFO) module, a first encoder module, a control module, a disk FIFO module, and a second encoder module. The host FIFO module receives a block having data and selectively receives a host logical block address (HLBA). The first encoder module generates a first checksum based on the data and the HLBA and generates a first encoded block. The control module appends the HLBA to the first encoded block and generates an appended block. The disk FIFO module receives the block from the host FIFO module. The second encoder module selectively generates a second checksum based on the HLBA and the data in the block received by the disk FIFO module. The second encoder module compares the block received by the disk FIFO module to the block received by the host FIFO module based on the first and second checksums.
US07840862B2
Chain or logic diagnosis resolution can be enhanced in the presence of limited failure cycles using embodiments of the various methods, systems, and apparatus described herein. For example, pattern sets can be ordered according to a diagnosis coverage figure, which can be used to measure chain or logic diagnosability of the pattern set. Per-pin based diagnosis techniques can also be used to analyze limited failure data.
US07840860B2
A method and system is presented for correcting a data error in a primary Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) in a Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM). Each DRAM has a left half (for storing bits 0:3) and a right half (for storing bits 4:7). A determination is made as to whether the data error was in the left or right half of the primary DRAM. The half of the primary DRAM in which the error occurred is removed from service. All subsequent reads and writes for data originally stored in the primary DRAM's defective half are made to a half of a spare DRAM in the DIMM, while the DRAM's non-defective half continues to be used for subsequently storing data.
US07840851B2
A method and system for annotating an object on the graphical user interface (GUI) (“a GUI object”) during automated testing of an application. In one embodiment, the GUI of an application is tested with a test automation tool. During runtime of the automated test, the test automation tool automatically overlays a visual cue on the GUI. The visual cue points to a GUI object of the application and contains a comment regarding an event relating to the GUI object that is expected to occur in runtime.
US07840847B1
A method and system are disclosed to quickly and inexpensively (in terms of computational overhead) detect when a data shift corruption event or a short read has occurred and to transparently retry the failed read operation. The method seeds the memory read buffer, into which read data will be written, by placing known values (a “seed pattern”) at the end of the buffer prior to initiating the read operation. If the seed pattern is still in the read buffer when the read operation completes, the read operation has encountered a data shift corruption event and should be retried. If the read operation completes correctly, the seed pattern will be overwritten by the data read from the disk. The particular seed pattern used and the size of the seed pattern are chosen to be discriminating (i.e., no false positives) and cheap to write and verify (i.e., no performance impact).
US07840836B2
A storage device capable of meeting the reliability has a storage capacity and the reliability of the storage device is defined. The storage device includes at least one first storage unit, at least one second storage unit, and a control unit. The first storage unit forms the storage capacity of the storage device. The second storage unit is allocated to form a spare capacity according to the storage capacity and the reliability. The second storage unit replaces the bad blocks in the first storage unit. The control unit controls the first storage unit and the second storage unit to transmit and convert the data with an application system. Thereby, by allocating the spare capacity of the second storage unit, the different reliability requirement is met, and the storage capacity of the first storage unit is unaffected.
US07840835B2
In a network computer system, recovery may be impossible from a fault when the fault occurs in a network switch in a network or a device such as an external disk device. Provided is a computer system that includes a plurality of servers, a plurality of network, a plurality of external disk devices, and a management computer, in which the management computer detects a fault which is occurred, retrieves an application stop server inaccessible to the used disk due to the fault, retrieves the disk for storing the same contents as contents stored in the disk used by the retrieved application stop server and the external disk device including the disk, retrieves an application resuming server capable of accessing the retrieved external disk device, and transmits an instruction to boot by using the retrieved disk to the retrieved application resuming server.
US07840828B2
This demodulator for signals transmitted by bursts of data packets and the corresponding method comprise receiving from a separate processor identifiers of bursts to be processed, filtering the signals to retrieve the bursts whose identifiers were received, processing said retrieved bursts, receiving from said separate processor timing information associated with the identifiers of bursts to be processed; and power management to drive at least some components of said demodulator between an idle state and an active state depending upon said timing information.
US07840816B2
A method of identifying material which includes the step of inserting an identifying code into a signal as a watermark, and deriving a signature from the material. The code and signature are stored in a database. The watermarked signal may be distributed and/or transmitted through a network. The signal may be processed in the network. A monitor derives from the received signal, the signature and the code. The derived signature and the derived code are compared with the stored signature and code to check the provenance of the material. The watermark contains an authorization code allowing duplication of the material.
US07840806B2
Zero-knowledge authentication proves identity without revealing information about a secret that is used to prove that identity. An authentication agent performs authentication of a prover agent without knowledge or transfer of the secret. A non-centralized zero-knowledge authentication system contains multiple authentication agents, for access by multiple computers seeking access on a computer network through local prover agents. Once authenticated, those multiple computers may also implement authentication agents. The secret may periodically expire by publishing a new encrypted secret by a trusted source, thwarting attempts to factor or guess information about the secret.
US07840805B2
A method of secure communication of digital data between devices, including validating, by a security module, the devices using device identifiers, generating a random key in the security module, and transmitting the random key to the devices.
US07840802B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for controlling access to an electronic document. A document management system receives a request from a first user at a first user location for an electronic document. The first user is authenticated using a set of access policies for the electronic document, to verify that the first user is authorized to obtain the electronic document. If so, an encrypted rendition is passed to the first user. A request for access to the encrypted rendition from a second user is then received. The second user is authenticated, using the set of access policies, to establish which operations the second user may perform on the encrypted rendition. A voucher including an electronic key for decrypting the encrypted rendition and the set of access policies is created at the document management system. The voucher is passed to the second user location.
US07840801B2
The presented method allows a virtual TRUSTED PLATFORM MODULE (TPM) instance to map the Platform Configuration Registers (PCR) register state of a parent virtual TPM instance into its own register space and export the state of those registers to applications inside the virtual machine associated with the virtual TPM instance. Through the mapping of PCR registers, the procedure of attesting to the overall state of a virtual machine can be accelerated, since the state of all measurements relevant to the trustworthiness of a virtual machine are all visible in the combined view of mapped and non-mapped PCR registers. Registers that are mapped into the register space of a virtual TPM instance reflect the state of trustworthiness of those virtual machines that were involved in the creation of the virtual machine that is being challenged.
US07840796B2
A system, computer program product and method for booting to a partition in a non-volatile storage unit without a local operator. In one embodiment, one or more bits in a BOOT register may be set by an operating system indicating if the BIOS should boot to the partition. The BIOS may then read the BOOT register to determine if the BIOS is to boot to the partition as well as any activities to perform if the BIOS is to boot to the partition. In another embodiment, a network interface card may insert directive information received from a packet in a register within the network interface card. The BIOS may then read the register within the network interface card to determine if the BIOS is to boot to the partition as well as any activities to perform if the BIOS is to boot to the partition.
US07840788B1
A process which automatically inserts commands that test for and raise exceptions indicating floating point status exceptions into a sequence of instructions to be executed, re-ordering a pipelined instructions by moving a floating point instruction from after a branch instruction to before the branch instruction, and responds to exceptions in execution of the sequence of instructions by returning execution to a point in the sequence of instructions at which correct state is known and then executing each instruction in the sequence singly to completion so that exceptions in pipelined floating point instructions can be automatically-detected and handled precisely.
US07840782B2
A processor (e.g., a co-processor) executes a stack-based instruction set and another instruction in a way that accelerates the execution of the stack-based instruction set, although code acceleration is not required under the scope of this disclosure. In accordance with at least some embodiments of the invention, the processor may comprise a multi-entry stack usable in at least a stack-based instruction set, logic coupled to and managing the stack, and a plurality of registers coupled to the logic and addressable through a second instruction set that provides register-based and memory-based operations.
US07840777B2
A general purpose computing system comprises a novel apparatus and method for data processing. The computing system design of one application of the present invention includes an instruction pipe having a decompression circuit, a reprogrammable logic unit and a data bus. Instructions and data may be accessed via a shared bus or via a separate instruction bus and data bus. The decompression circuit accepts compressed instructions and memory management directives from the instruction bus, decompresses each instruction, and transmits the decompressed instruction to the reprogrammable logic unit. A software compiler is provided that accepts high level programming language source code and creates instructions that are coded for acceptance and execution by the reprogrammable logic unit.
US07840764B2
A logically-partitioned computer system provides support for multiple logical partitions to access a single file system, thereby allowing the logical partitions to share a file without the overhead of communicating over a VLAN. An area of shared memory is defined that multiple logical partitions may access. One or more file control blocks that control access to the files in the file system are then created in the shared memory. Existing mechanisms for locking a file system between processes may then be used across logical partitions to serialize access to the file system by all processes in all logical partitions that share the file system. In this manner the sharing of files in a file system is enabled by leveraging existing technology that is used within a single logical partition to extend across multiple logical partitions.
US07840762B2
A multipath accessible semiconductor memory device having a mailbox area and a mailbox access control method thereof are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes N number of ports, at least one shared memory area allocated in a memory cell array, and N number of mailbox areas for message communication. The at least one shared memory area is operationally connected to the N number of ports, and is accessible through a plurality of data input/output lines to form a data access path between the at least one shared memory area and one port, having an access right to the at least one memory area, among the N number of ports. The N number of mailbox areas are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the N number of ports and are accessible through the plurality of data input/output lines when an address of a predetermined area of the at least one shared memory area is applied to the semiconductor memory device. An efficient layout of mailboxes and an efficient message access path can be obtained.
US07840760B2
Methods for a treatment of cached objects are described. In one embodiment, management of a region of a cache is configured with an eviction policy plug-in. The eviction policy plug-in includes an eviction timing component and a sorting component, with the eviction timing component including code to implement an eviction timing method, and the eviction timing method to trigger eviction of an object from the region of cache. The sorting component includes code to implement a sorting method to identify an object that is eligible for eviction in the region of cache. The sorting method involves identifying an object that has been cached in the region of cache for a longer time period than other objects that are cached in the cache region.
US07840758B2
A processor includes at least one instruction execution unit that executes store instructions to obtain store operations and a store queue coupled to the instruction execution unit. The store queue includes a queue entry in which the store queue gathers multiple store operations during a store gathering window to obtain a data portion of a write transaction directed to lower level memory. In addition, the store queue includes dispatch logic that varies a size of the store gathering window to optimize store performance for different store behaviors and workloads.
US07840757B2
Computer systems with direct updating of cache (e.g., primary L1 cache) memories of a processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or graphics processing unit (GPU). Special addresses are reserved for high speed memory. Memory access requests involving these reserved addresses are routed directly to the high speed memory. Memory access requests not involving these reserved addresses are routed to memory external to the processor.
US07840747B2
A nonvolatile memory system comprises a nonvolatile memory having a plurality of data areas; and a memory controller operative to control read and write operations to the nonvolatile memory. The memory controller successively executes read/write operations to plural sectors within a selected data area in the nonvolatile memory in accordance with a command and a sector count and sector address fed from a host device.
US07840746B2
A encoding method for a flash memory is provided, which can be used for reducing the memory wear and extend the endurance of the memory. The encoding method includes the steps as follows (A) receiving a set of information bits; (B) counting an amount of the information bits needed to be programmed in the set; (C) reversing the set of information bits if the amount of information bits needed to be programmed is less than half of the amount of whole information bits in the set, so that there are more than half of the information bits needed to be programmed in the reversed set; and (D) programming the information bits needed to be programmed in the reversing set, including the reverse flag bit for read out check.
US07840744B2
In an aspect, a first method of interfacing a processor and memory is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) generating a first command and associated address of a first type that does not indicate a rank of memory targeted by the first command; (2) determining whether the memory includes a plurality of ranks; (3) if the memory includes a plurality of ranks, employing the processor to update the address associated with the first command to indicate a memory rank targeted by the first command; (4) if the memory does not include a plurality of ranks, employing the processor to update the address associated with the first command to indicate the memory does not include a plurality of ranks; and (5) converting the first command and associated updated address to a second command and associated address that are employed to access the memory. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07840739B2
Provided is a technique for preventing a loss by storing a universal plug and play (UPnP) control request and delaying handling of the UPnP control request. A method of handling a UPnP control request in a UPnP control point includes storing a UPnP control request that is not handled in the UPnP control point, receiving a message informing that a UPnP control device has participated in a network from the UPnP control device, receiving information about capability of the UPnP control device from the UPnP control device, determining whether the UPnP control device can perform the UPnP control request that is not handled based on the information about capability of the UPnP control device, and transmitting the UPnP control request to the UPnP control device that is determined to be able to perform the UPnP control request.
US07840730B2
Described is a technology by which a storage volume is shared by cluster nodes of a server cluster. In one implementation, each node includes a redirector that provides shared access to the volume from that node. The redirector routes file system metadata requests from applications and the like through a first (e.g., SMB) communications path to the owning node, and routes file system read and write data to the storage device through a second, high-speed communications path such as direct direct block level I/O. An owning node maintains ownership of the storage device through a persistent reservation mechanism that writes a key to a registration table associated with the storage device. Non-owning nodes write a shared key. The owning node validates the shared keys against cluster membership data, and preempts (e.g., removes) any key deemed not valid. Security mechanisms for controlling access are also described.
US07840727B2
Disclosed is a serial-to-parallel converter/parallel-to-serial converter/FIFO unified circuit which includes a register, a selector and a counter. The register receives serial input data and converts the serial data into parallel data based on frequency-divided multi-phase clock signals from a counter. The selector receives the parallel data from the register to select one of the data in accordance with a control signal. The counter generates the control signal for the selector so that plural items of data will be output serially from the selector in the sequence in which the plural items data have been serially supplied to the register.
US07840726B2
A system and method is disclosed for programming a field programmable gate array. The system involves the recognition of the next following bit sequence to be transmitted to the FPGA through a general purpose input output device. Once the bit sequence is identified, the data line is only changed at the GPIO in those instances in which the next succeeding data bit in the bit sequences is different from the preceding data bit. In those situations in which the next following bit sequence is not different, the clock line is triggered without the necessity of testing, and changing the logic level of the data line.
US07840725B2
The invention relates to packet tracing in computer networks. Data packets are captured when entering or exiting the network or at any point within the network protocol stack. Buffers in computer kernel space memory store the packets until the contents of the buffers are written to persistent memory. Each buffer holds one or more data packets and the contents of a buffer are written to persistent memory when a status flag associated with the buffer indicates that it may hold no further packets. Data packets may be continuously captured, or capture may be initiated and/or terminated in response to a special event.
US07840708B2
A method and system for the assignment of security group information using a proxy is disclosed. The method includes receiving an address of a network device at a first network device, receiving a security group of the network device at the first network device and associating the address information and the security group information with one another at the first network device. The first network device is coupled to a second network device. The address is represented by address information, which is received from the second network device. The security group is identified using the security group information, which indicates the network device is a member of the security group. The address information and the security group information are associated with one another by storing the address information and the security group information at the first network device.
US07840706B1
A method and system for supporting Wake-on-LAN (WOL) in a team of network interface cards (NICs) in a computing device is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of programming each of the NICs on the team with a team Media Access Control (MAC) address after having backed up the NIC MAC addresses of the NICs but before the computing device enters a low power state, and causing modification of address resolution protocol (ARP) caches associated with a plurality of client devices coupled to the team of NICs to use the team MAC address.
US07840695B2
Capacity management is described. In an implementation, a method includes executing a module on a computing device to monitor use of a product during a measurement interval to determine a maximum capacity of the product used during the measurement interval and whether a capacity failure point is reached during the measurement interval. A learned capacity limit is set based on the monitoring for determining whether one or more of a plurality of clients, if any, are to receive a list which references at least the monitored product, wherein the learned capacity limit is set such that when the capacity failure point is not reached, the learned capacity limit is set according to the maximum capacity.
US07840694B2
This is a converter which converts communication methods and/or protocols in order to enable communications between at least one medical equipment (ME) and a medical support control device (MSCD), comprising: a first communication interface corresponding to a communication interface of the MSCD; a plurality of second communication interfaces corresponding to a communication interface of each piece of ME in order to connect the MSCD and a plurality of pieces of ME whose communication methods and/or protocols are different; a determination unit for determining whether a communication connection can be established between each of the plurality of pieces of ME connected through the second communication interface and the converter; and a communication control unit for obtaining a difference between the communication program corresponding to the ME and the connection program and converting the communication protocols of the ME and the MSCD with each other.
US07840692B1
A system, device, and method for bandwidth management in an optical communication system uses an optical service agent to provide bandwidth management services on behalf of a user. The optical service agent may monitor bandwidth utilization on a connection, control bandwidth utilization on a connection, obtain additional bandwidth for a connection, relinquish excess bandwidth for a connection, and allocate bandwidth among multiple connections, to name but a few. The optical service agent may interact with an optical communication network and/or various peer users in order to obtain and reserve communication services.
US07840690B2
Systems of the present invention allow for managing multiple social websites. An exemplary system may comprise a Personal Portal Website hosted on a server that may be communicatively coupled to a Network. The Personal Portal Website may resolve from a domain name registered to a Registrant. The Personal Portal Website also may have means for authenticating the Registrant and a Management Webpage, which is accessible only to the Registrant after successful authentication. The Management Webpage may also have means for selecting a plurality of social websites. A Portal Webpage also may be accessible via the Personal Portal Website, and may have links to the social websites selected by the Registrant on the Management Webpage.
US07840682B2
An improved distributed operating system over a network of computer systems is described. Existing distributed operating systems have transmission performance limitations dictated by their inability to (1) reliably handle transient communication failures and rapid node reboots, (2) provide a transmission protocol that adapts to link reliability, and (3) allow transmissions to occur over an arbitrary combinations of communication links. The systems and methods described herein solve these problems by providing a reliable node-to-node session protocol that offers high performance message delivery and multi-interface management and support. This is done by transmitting all data between two nodes of the operating system over a single connection that may dynamically exploit multiple interfaces between the nodes.
US07840672B2
In a computer network environment, a server protocol is provided to process read requests from clients. Rather than all read requests being processed synchronously or all read requests being processed asynchronously, an attempt is first made to perform a synchronous read. If the synchronous read is unsuccessful, the connection through which the request was received by the server is registered with a monitoring service. When the data is ready to be read, an appropriate callback is called and the data transmitted. An optional delay may be imposed before the synchronous read is attempted to increase the likelihood that the attempt will be successful. A series of delays/read attempts may also be employed in order to increase the likelihood still further that an attempt will be successful.
US07840668B1
A method and apparatus for managing communication between participants in a virtual environment enables the participants to elect to automatically connect with each other via a preferred communication mechanism, manually connect with each other, or choose not to connect with each other. The connection may be point-to-point between two participants or may include multiple participants. Establishment of a connection, or the ability to establish a connection, may be based on the proximity of the participants, or the Avatars representing the participants, in the virtual environment. Once the connection is established, the connection may be managed so that the connection is maintained while the Avatars remain proximate each other and is automatically severed once the Avatars move away from each other. Environmental noise and other audio aspects may be included in the connection to simulate a real-world conversation.
US07840665B1
A system and method for providing automated network management is provided. At least one network is monitored for one or more assets. At least one unmanaged asset is identified from the one or more assets. One or more access protocols associated with the at least one unmanaged asset are determined. The at least one unmanaged asset is accessed based on the one or more access protocols. At least one compliance policy is automatically applied to the at least one unmanaged asset.
US07840655B2
Data processing systems, computer implemented methods, and computer program products are provided for updating an address resolution protocol table. Updates received for the address resolution protocol table are comprised of an internet protocol address, a media access control address, and a unique identifier.
US07840651B2
A system and method for broadcasting multicast transmissions of data content over a unidirectional network between a single server that executes a server process application and a plurality of clients, each of which executes a client process application. On the server side, the server includes a client emulator that executes a client emulator process application to convert unicast form data to multicast form data and on the client side each client operates in response to an emulator that executes a server emulator process application. Transmission of the data content takes place between the client emulator process on the server side and the server emulator process on the client side. Each client also includes and operates a client process application that receives data content from the server emulator process on the client side. On the client side, each client can have its own server emulator process or there can be a common server emulator process used by the client process application of all of the clients or groups of clients using a dedicated server emulator process for each group. The invention achieves multicast broadcast over a unicast network replacing the need for bi-directional networks and eliminates the need for a back channel and the need to send multiple copies of the data, thereby reducing the need for bandwidth and solving the problem of scalability of existing systems to broadcast multicast.
US07840650B2
A method (and a system) for a computer user to share files by publishing references to them at websites, e.g., by filling HTML forms. This method allows the user to transparently upload said files to a third party hosting service. Files which originally reside on the user's computer are automatically uploaded to the third party hosting service and references to them are inserted into the HTML form at the publishing website.
US07840647B2
Described herein are systems, methods, computer program products, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for executing scripts that can be loaded on mobile devices (as well as other types of devices), and for users of mobile devices to interact with such scripts on their devices in an interactive manner. According to embodiments, the present invention performs script operations for mobile devices including steps for sending a request for an object and a list of support languages, and receiving the object and any related scripts in the supported languages.
US07840641B2
A method, an electronic device (110), a computer program product, and a computer readable medium for obtaining an evaluation of an electronic document that is referred to in an acquired electronic document. The electronic device (110) comprises an acquiring unit (111) adapted to acquire an electronic document including one or more references to one or more other electronic documents. The electronic device (110) also comprises a processing unit (112). The processing unit (112) is adapted to retrieve the reference(s) from the acquired electronic document. Furthermore, the processing unit is adapted to send to a second server (130) a request for an evaluation of the electronic document(s) associated with the retrieved reference(s), and receive from the second server (130) a response including the result of the evaluation.
US07840639B1
The present invention includes a method and article of manufacture for communicating via an application program included as a payload of an electronic message received over a network. First, the application program is initialized after a first electronic message is selected by a first user on an electronic mail browser. After initialization, the application program of the first electronic message is executed. Such execution includes displaying text included with the first electronic message, changing a non-textual aspect of the first electronic message based on the input from the first user, allowing entry of text, and sending the entered text and the application program over the network in a second electronic message to a second user.
US07840638B2
A multimedia conference technique is disclosed that allows physically remote users to participate in an immersive telecollaborative environment by synchronizing multiple data, images and sounds. The multimedia conference implementation provides users with the perception of being in the same room visually as well as acoustically according to an orientation plan which reflects each remote user's position within the multimedia conference environment.
US07840632B2
A kind of portable multimedia network learning machine, includes a microprocessor and a memory connected to the microprocessor, input unit and display, communication and download module, multimedia driving device and multimedia player. The said communication and download module are used for communicating with the calculator connected to the hand-held multimedia network learning machine, uploading effectiveness of instruction message file, and may download multimedia cartoon menu file and multimedia packages in step with teaching in the far end database server, transmit learning situation result to the learning situation receiving terminal. While multimedia driving device and multimedia player are used for driving and playing the said downloaded cartoon menu file and courseware. The present invention also provides a kind of system and method realizing remote information transition between hand-held multimedia network learning machines. The present invention also provides a kind of method for producing multimedia document which can be played in the hand-held multimedia network learning machine. The present invention could expediently produce multimedia document or swap data with remote server.
US07840626B1
Several full-spectrum imaging techniques have been introduced in recent years that promise to provide rapid and comprehensive chemical characterization of complex samples. One of the remaining obstacles to adopting these techniques for routine use is the difficulty of reducing the vast quantities of raw spectral data to meaningful chemical information. Multivariate factor analysis techniques, such as Principal Component Analysis and Alternating Least Squares-based Multivariate Curve Resolution, have proven effective for extracting the essential chemical information from high dimensional spectral image data sets into a limited number of components that describe the spectral characteristics and spatial distributions of the chemical species comprising the sample. There are many cases, however, in which those constraints are not effective and where alternative approaches may provide new analytical insights.For many cases of practical importance, imaged samples are “simple” in the sense that they consist of relatively discrete chemical phases. That is, at any given location, only one or a few of the chemical species comprising the entire sample have non-zero concentrations. The methods of spectral image analysis of the present invention exploit this simplicity in the spatial domain to make the resulting factor models more realistic. Therefore, more physically accurate and interpretable spectral and abundance components can be extracted from spectral images that have spatially simple structure.
US07840622B2
Method to convert a hexadecimal floating point number (H) into a binary floating point number by using a Floating Point Unit (FPU) with fused multiply add with an A-register a B-register for two multiplicand operands and a C-register for an addend operand, wherein a leading zero counting unit (LZC) is associated to the addend C-register, wherein the difference of the leading zero result provided by the LZC and the input exponent (E) is calculated by a control unit and determines based on the Raw-Result-Exponent a force signal (F) with special conditions like ‘Exponent Overflow’, ‘Exponent Underflow’, and ‘Zero Result’.
US07840621B2
In an electronic apparatus having multiple functions such as a scientific electronic calculator, some of the multiple functions are set to be disabled according to need. Function disabling information (protection data) including disabled applications, protect display screen and protection period is stored on a memory card. When the memory card installed in a card slot of the electronic apparatus is detected, the function disabling information is read out and transferred onto corresponding memory areas of a system area in a flash ROM of the apparatus, and a protection display screen is displayed on a display unit, indicating that some of the multiple functions are disabled. Then, only “EXE” key operation is accepted and the function corresponding to the disabled application is disabled, and a function selecting menu screen is displayed, in which a start-up disabled mark M is added to an icon of the disabled application and a protection remaining time T is added.
US07840619B2
A computer data processing system including a central processing unit configured with a novel integrated computer control software system for the management of data objects including dynamic and automatic organization, linking, finding, cross-referencing, viewing and retrieval of multiple objects regardless of nature or source. The inventive system provides underlying component architecture having an object-oriented database structure and a metadata database structure which is unique in storing only one instance of each object while linking the object to multiple collections and domains by unique metadata links for the grouping into and retrieval from any of the collections. The system employs configurable, extensible attribute/properties of data objects in metadata format, and a truly user-friendly configurable interface that facilitates faster, more unified, comprehensive, useful and meaningful information management. Additional features include a sticky path object hierarchy viewing system, key phrase linking, viewing by reference, and drag-and-drop relationship link creation.
US07840614B2
An application program interface (API) embodied on one or more computer readable media, comprising a first group of services related to integrating content repositories into virtual content repositories (VCRs), a second group of services related to manipulating information in VCRs, a third group of services related to searching VCRs, a forth group of services related to configuring VCRs, and wherein the application program interface is compatible with a content repository service provider interface (SPI).
US07840612B2
According to the present disclosure, one or more processors of a computer device (e.g. a mobile communication device) are operative to execute a garbage collection program and an application program concurrently with execution of the garbage collection program. The garbage collection program is operative to identify a root set of referenced objects of an application program, where a reference indicator in a reference indicator array is set as referenced for each one of such referenced objects, and to perform a mark and sweep process based on the root set of referenced objects. The application program has computer instructions which includes a predefined computer instruction (e.g. a GETREF instruction) adapted to retrieve a reference from a target object and to set a reference indicator in the reference indicator array as referenced for the target object when executed. Advantageously, execution of the application program need not be unreasonably suspended during garbage collection processes. In one illustrative example, the application program is adapted to receive and/or provide information via a user interface of the computer device, and the concurrent processing allows for the receiving and/or providing of the information via the user interface without interference (e.g. suspension or delay) during the mark and sweep process.
US07840609B2
A method and apparatus are provided for using sibling-counts in XML indices to optimize single-path queries. Using a b-tree XML index with a SQL query logarithmically reduces the number of disk accesses by passing over index entries where it is determined that a match will not be found. However, because certain index entries are passed over, it is impossible to ascertain if a path expression occurs more than once in the XML index, as certain queries sometimes require. This hurdle can be overcome by maintaining a sibling count with each node entry in the XML index. Because the sibling count is stored with the index entry, the index will reveal whether the matching node is single or has other siblings. In additional to re-writing the original query for optimization by use of an XML index, it will be re-written to check for a single-path condition in the index.
US07840608B2
A method of generating a poet personality including reading poems, each of the poems containing text, generating analysis models, each of the analysis models representing one of poems and storing the analysis models in a personality data structure. The personality data structure further includes weights, each of the weights associated with each of the analysis models. The weights include integer values.
US07840606B2
A computer-implemented method performs a product availability check. The method comprises receiving a plurality of first data sets. The method further comprises deriving, based on the first data sets, one or more second data sets. Based on the second data sets, result information on the availability of one or more products in dependence of time is then derived.
US07840604B2
Data is processed at a central data processor using multiple processing steps. The data is processed for the extraction of entities. Relationships between the extracted entities are also extracted. A system map is built using one or more factors derived from the extracted entities and relationships and organized by influence relationships. Each factor is associated with one or more options.
US07840597B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates managing metadata associated with entities and entity types in a computing system. During operation, the system initializes a global static metadata cache containing global static metadata at the computing system. Next, the system initializes a global dynamic metadata cache containing global dynamic metadata at the computing system. The system then receives a command to initialize a session at the computing system. In response to the command, the system determines a realm for the session, wherein the realm is a virtual private partition of the computing system. The system then initializes a realm-scoped dynamic metadata cache containing realm-scoped dynamic metadata associated with the realm at the computing system. Finally, the system executes operations on the computing system in compliance with the global static metadata, the global dynamic metadata, and the realm-scoped dynamic metadata.
US07840594B2
Techniques for communicating between an embedded device and remote database(s) for a wide variety of applications, including human machine interface, supervisory control, data acquisition, and B2B applications. An application program interface (API), interfacing an application program seeking access to a predetermined database, operates on an operating system (OS) not operating a database driver program. A parser translates communications with the API into and from commands and formatted data of an OS independent form. A protocol stack formats the commands and formatted data into header formatted communications signals to accord with a predetermined protocol. Another protocol stack receives the header formatted communications signals, removes header data, and generates database communications signals. Another parser receives the database communications signals and generates and communicates a plurality of database formatted SQL commands. A database interface interfaces the predetermined database and communicates the database formatted SQL commands with the predetermined database.
US07840590B2
Techniques for efficiently processing a query are provided. A query may specify a location path and a content path. The location path identifies the hierarchical location of a set of documents within a resource repository. The content path identifies hierarchical location of one or more nodes within the content of the set of documents. Computing the query includes using a repository index, based on the location path and the content path, to generate first results corresponding to the set of documents and second results corresponding to the one or more nodes. Final results of the query are based on the first results and second results. Another technique is provided for formatting a locator value in the repository index to support data that is stored object-relationally. Another technique is provided for storing index information about virtual content.
US07840582B2
A system and associated method for retrieving information from the Internet by an end user through use of an Intelligent Search Agent. Creating an index comprising a least one data structure corresponding to a respective forum. Next, submitting a query to at least one search engine located on a respective Internet server. After submitting the query, posting a question to at least one forum located on a respective Internet server. After posting the question, subscribing to at least one web syndication corresponding to at least one respective forum. After subscribing to at least one web syndication, receiving information from at least one web syndication. Finally, sending the information to said end user.
US07840580B2
A peripheral device that includes: a search condition transmitting unit that transmits a search condition by using a protocol, in which support for a method of designating to an external device the number of an information piece from which information pieces are returned when the plural information pieces exist as search results is not defined to be indispensable to all compatible devices; a receiving unit that receives information transmitted from the external device; a storage unit that stores a predetermined number of search result information pieces transmitted from the external device; a storage starting number determining unit that determines the number of a search result information piece from which storage of the search result information pieces is started; and a storage control unit that stores the search result information pieces received by the receiving unit into the storage unit from the number determined by the storage start number determining unit.
US07840578B2
There are provided a method and system for determining the validity of a command, which includes: a first step of receiving a command including a predetermined query from a terminal of a user; a second step of generating log information associated with the command, in which the log information includes at least one of the query included in the command, input time point information on a time point of inputting the command, and a network address of the terminal; a third step of recording the log information in a log database; a fourth step of calculating a first determination result with respect to the validity of the command according to a predetermined first determination standard; a fifth step of including identification information determined according to the first determination result in the log information and recording in the log database; a sixth step of periodically searching for log information recorded for a first period with reference to the log database; and a seventh step of determining again the validity of the command by using the searched log information according to a predetermined second determination standard and calculating a second determination result.
US07840574B2
Provided are techniques for drawing mapping lines between source and target objects. A main view is displayed that shows one or more source objects, one or more target objects, and zero or more mappings between the one or more source objects and the one or more target objects, wherein a mapping line represents each mapping. Input that modifies the main view is received. In response to receiving the input, the mapping lines are sorted with a mapping strategy, and the mapping lines are drawn based on the mapping strategy.
US07840554B2
Methods are described to simultaneously apply conjugates of equality, range, and in-list predicates. A first set of methods are described for the simultaneous application of equality predicates. A second set of methods are described for the simultaneous application of a mixture of range and equality predicates. A third method is described for the simultaneous applying a mixture of in-list predicates. The described methods allow for quick evaluation of complex predicates as they efficiently implement the computation done per record, while maintaining the same execution time irrespective of the number of fields.
US07840550B2
A queries management system to be accessed by a user submitting queries against databases. The system comprises a system for defining a set of parameters associated to the user and including user profile parameters and queries structure parameters, a notifications storing system for storing results availability notifications, and a results storing system for storing database queries results. The queries management system further comprises a control system coupled to the defining system and to the storing system for controlling the queries submissions against the databases using the user profile parameters and the queries structure parameters defined for the user, for controlling the results availability notifications using the user profile parameters defined for the user, and for controlling the database queries results histories based on the user profile parameters defined for the user.
US07840547B1
Methods and systems for efficient query rewriting and the like are described here. One such described method comprises: offline mapping frequently-seen search queries to rewritten queries that may be better for searching; offline caching the mapping in a cache memory; and upon receiving a search query from a user similar to one of the mapped search queries, obtaining a corresponding rewritten query from the mapping in the cache memory based on predetermined conditions, and issuing a search of the rewritten query to the backend data system in order to avoid having to issue a search query to the backend data system twice while the user is online.
US07840531B2
For a data processing system having memory for storing a database, a method, a system and a computer program product for directing the data processing system to process a record to be inserted into the database is disclosed. The database includes a plurality of base tables. The method includes the steps of making a record copy matching the record, for each base table to be selected from the plurality of base tables: providing a base table candidate indication for a selected base table, the base table candidate indication indicating whether the selected base table is a candidate base table that may receive the record, the base table candidate indication being determined on an outcome of executing before triggers and an outcome of testing constraints in association with the record copy, the before triggers and the constraints being associated with the selected base table; and restoring the record copy so that the record copy matches the record before providing a next subsequent base table candidate indication for another base table to be selected.
US07840528B2
A handheld device includes a host database having first and second API associated therewith, a client database and a notification handler. The notification handler sends a request for notification of a change in the host database to the first API and receives the notification of the change in the host database after the change has occurred in the host database. The notification handler then requests contents of the host database from the second API and requests contents from the client database. These contents are then compared by the notification handler to identify the change in the host database. The notification handler then sends a command to update the client database based upon the change in the host database such that changes made in the host database of the handheld device may be continuously synchronized with the user's desktop computer via a wireless communication network.
US07840522B2
A method and system for rank aggregation of entities based on supervised learning is provided. A rank aggregation system provides an order-based aggregation of rankings of entities by learning weights within an optimization framework for combining the rankings of the entities using labeled training data and the ordering of the individual rankings. The rank aggregation system is provided with multiple rankings of entities. The rank aggregation system is also provided with training data that indicates the relative ranking of pairs of entities. The rank aggregation system then learns weights for each of the ranking sources by attempting to optimize the difference between the relative rankings of pairs of entities using the weights and the relative rankings of pairs of entities of the training data.
US07840520B2
Online fraud prevention including receiving a rules set to detect fraud, mapping the rules set to a data set, mapping success data to members of the rules set, filtering the members of the rules set, and ordering members of the data set by giving priority to those members of the data set with a greater probability for being fraudulent based upon the success data of each member of the rule set in detecting fraud. Further, a receiver coupled to an application server to receive a rules set to detect fraud, and a server coupled to the application server, to map the rules set to a data set, and to map the success data to each members of the rules set. The server is used to order the various members of the data set by giving priority to those members of the data set with a greatest probability for being fraudulent.
US07840519B2
Methods of analyzing data are provided. An expert system receives input from at least a first source. Data is imported and analyzed by an expert system, wherein the expert system makes at least one first decision, which characterizes the data based on a rule base. The at least one first decision is displayable and modifiable by a first input from a first source. In response to the first input from the first source, the rule base may be re-applied to make at least one second decision, wherein the at least one second decision is different from the at least one first decision, or the at least one first decision may be accepted. The at least one first decision or the at least one second decision is then displayable and modifiable in response to a first input from a second source. In response to the first input from the second source, the rule base is either re-applied to make at least one third decision, wherein the third decision is different from the second decision, or either the first or second decisions are accepted.
US07840518B1
A method for object recognition includes generating a set of rules, using multiple systems to recognize a target object, applying the set of rules to a set of responses to determine an output, and displaying the output to a user. Each rule contains predicates and a consequent, each predicate comprising a rule token identifier and a rule probability of recognition. The rule token identifiers are generated from multiple systems. Each rule token identifier represents a system recognized object. Each rule is derived by associating a range of rule probabilities of recognition for one or more rule token identifiers to a known object. The range of rule probabilities of recognition is determined by at least one system and by combining multiple rule probabilities of recognition. Each system produces a response having a response token identifier and a response probability of recognition. Responses are combined to form the sets of responses.
US07840512B2
Medical ontology information is used for mining and/or probabilistic modeling. A domain knowledge base may be automatically or semi-automatically created by a processor from a medical ontology. The domain knowledge base, such as a list of disease associated terms, is used to mine for corresponding information from a medical record. The relationship of different terms with respect to a disease may be used to train a probabilistic model. Probabilities of a disease or chance of indicating the disease are determined based on the terms from a medical ontology. This probabilistic reasoning is learned with a machine from ontology information and a training data set.
US07840505B2
A classification system that includes a first input module, a marker module, unclassified Lagrange multiplier calculation module, and a classification module. The unclassified vector describes a physical condition. The marker module assigns a marker to the unclassified vector. The marker should place the unclassified vector into one of two classes. The unclassified Lagrange multiplier calculation module calculates a classifying Lagrange multiplier for the unclassified vector using the marker and a classification rule. The classification rule may be generated using a training system for classifying the physical condition. The classification module is configured to determine that the marker places the unclassified vector in the proper class if the classifying Lagrange multiplier is small.
US07840500B2
The present invention relates to a control system, method and computer program product to control a process having a large dead time. An exemplary process controllable by embodiments according to the invention is the glass manufacturing process, where fuzzy logic is used to control a level of molten and melting raw materials in a furnace during a glass-manufacturing process by controlling the rate at which raw materials enter the furnace.
US07840496B2
An electronic system for payment via a telecommunications network between firstly a vendor having a server suitable for implementing a secure protocol for payment by smart card, and secondly a client having navigation and electronic payment means suitable for making a payment to said vendor using client software for handling payment that includes the secure payment protocol. The client software for handling payment is installed on a payment server on the telecommunications network. The system comprises, at the client end, navigation means, electronic payment means constituted by a mobile terminal connected to the network and including a reader for reading payment smart cards, and means for redirecting messages suitable for transmitting at least the call number of the mobile terminal to the payment server.
US07840493B2
The present invention refers to the use of a meter completely integrated on a single piece, totally covered and without contact with the exterior that incorporates a prepayment system and a more efficient method to control the electric energy supply and obtains excellent information from the meter by means of contactless intelligent cards.
US07840488B2
A method, system, device, and computer program product for processing plural rights expressions associated with an item for use in a system for controlling use of the item in accordance with the rights expressions, including receiving a request to use an item, the item having associated rights expressions governing use of the item; returning one or more rights expressions including conditions that must be satisfied in order to use the item; and processing the returned rights expressions in a manner to facilitate selection of the returned rights expressions in order to use the item in accordance with the selected rights expressions.
US07840484B2
Share of Wallet (“SOW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumers spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. The outputs can be used as attributes to consider in developing a credit bureau scorecard.
US07840481B2
A method and system for aging orders, increasing securities market liquidity.
US07840478B1
The present invention generally relates to brokerage systems and methods, and more particularly, to a multi-tiered trading system and corresponding methods which allow multiple customers and multiple dealers to transact on a single platform while maintaining the distinction of an inter-dealer system and a dealer-customer relationship.
US07840476B1
A system and method of transformation bidding in an electronic auction system. The system acquires lot data including tooling information for a lot, receives a bid from a bidder, and transforms the lot data and the bid into a true cost of procuring the lot from the bidder. The system also presents the true cost to a sponsor.
US07840472B1
A method and apparatus are provided for conducting a live auction that combines various features of traditional and online auctions. According to one aspect of the present invention, the live auction includes a live, in-person auction component and a real-time online bidding environment component. Bidding information associated with an item in the online bidding environment is updated to reflect a current bid associated with the item in the live, in-person auction. During the live, in-person auction, a bid is be accepted from an online bidder in the online environment that reflects the online bidder's bid price for the item. Subsequently, the system bids on behalf of the online bidder against other online bidders as well as one or more live bidders that are participating in the live, in-person. As such, the live auction enables real-time online bidding in a live, in-person auction.
US07840470B2
A computer-implemented retirement planning system comprises data collection logic, modeling logic, and report generation logic. The data collection logic is configured to receive data pertaining to an individual planning for retirement. The retirement modeling logic is configured to process the data to generate parameters of a retirement plan. The retirement plan comprises a retirement income arrangement in which the amount of inflation-adjusted retirement income (from sources other than long term care insurance and health insurance) is larger during early years of the retirement plan and decreases as the maximum life expectancy of the individual is reached. The report generation logic being configured to generate a retirement plan report describing the retirement income arrangement.
US07840463B1
Systems, devices, apparatus and methods of allowing one to use a handheld type calculator and/or computer based program having factory pre-set and preprogrammed color indicia buttons/keys to allow the user to easily and quickly do a variety of specialized calculations for financial planning results that include retirement planning, wealth accumulation, pension analysis, mortgage comparison shopping and funding future education.
US07840451B2
Operations to manage statements relating to a computer system state include obtaining, in a computer system and from any of several sources, statements that relate to a current state of the computer system. Each statement comprises several elements. The operations comprise assigning focus values to the elements of each statement, each focus value indicating a relevance of the element to the current state of the computer system. The operations comprise identifying a subset of the statements based on the focus values. The operations comprise making a first output to a user, the first output being selected from several predefined outputs using the subset of the statements. The output may represent the current state to the user or it may present at least one of several predefined goals to the user for selection, the at least one goal being identified as being possible to accomplish based on the current state.
US07840448B2
A system and method for automatically generating a naturally reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product. The method includes the steps of determining an attribute associated with the selected product, retrieving an assertion model defining forms in which an assertion can be manifested to describe the product in a natural manner, and generating a naturally reading narrative by combining the attribute with the retrieved assertion model. A product summary generator comprises a product attribute module adapted to determine an attribute, an assertion model module adapted to retrieve an assertion model, and a summary generation module adapted to generate a naturally reading narrative by combining the attribute with the retrieved assertion model. A computer readable medium for automatically generating a naturally reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product is also provided.
US07840446B2
An integrated database and information server are provided that efficiently share information and tasks between various stored value programs. A server is configured to provide reusable objects and data structures that are suitably shared between various stored value products. A database at the server allows data to be shared between various programs so that each consumer associates with only one database record even though that consumer may use multiple shared value products. By integrating modules and avoiding duplicate records, the record communicates with all stored value programs, so the information does not need to be repeatedly entered into the database. Moreover, new stored value products are quickly and easily created through selection and arrangement of various shared objects preferably maintained within the database.
US07840444B2
A method for ordering a corrective clip having corrective lenses. The clip corrects a wearer's view of a head mounted video display. When customers purchase an HMD, they are provided with clip ordering information. This includes information allowing the users to determine if a clip is required for their personal use. By providing at least SV and PD data customers can place their own orders which are transmitted to the lab. The completed corrective clip is delivered directly to the customer. Since the clip mounts on the viewer, a fitting session is not required. In use, the corrective clip reside between the user's eyes and an HMD display, without contacting the user.
US07840439B2
A method for using electronic product identification devices to track product sales and enable sales transactions to be registered in an electronic registration (ER) system without causing privacy or security concerns for the purchasers. RF-ID devices are placed on products being sold and include detailed information about the products. When the products are purchased, the detailed information is loaded into an ER database and all but a limited amount of information is removed from the RF-ID device. The limited information is sufficient to enable the detailed information to be located in the ER database by authorized individuals in connection with a return transaction or the like.
US07840436B1
A modeling tool for determining the impact that a data warehouse solution will have upon a business organization considering implementing a data warehouse solution. The modeling tool is implemented on a server computer with restricted access through a client computer. A server computer includes: a business impact model comprising a mathematical representation of a data warehouse solution, and an assessment questionnaire; and a modeling application for calculating a value of a data warehouse solution to a business organization from the business impact model and assessment questionnaire answers. A client computer is connectable to the server computer for receiving a copy of the business impact model, and providing offline collection of answers to the assessment questions, and offline calculation of a value of the data warehouse solution to the business organization. An application residing on the server computer keeps a record of the business impact model received by the client computer.
US07840432B2
A computer implemented method and computer program product for managing commodity data. In one or more embodiments, a commodity type and parts corresponding to the commodity are identified. A part cost analysis is generated for each part based on part history data. The part history data is obtained from a set of data sources using data mining techniques to filter relevant part data from a plurality of part data. Cost-related failure data is created using the part cost data and the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence. The cost-related failure data is displayed in a commodity database based on the keyed hierarchical breakdown coding sequence. A user can obtain information regarding future cost trends for the commodity and corresponding parts based on a demand for the commodity and a demand for the parts.
US07840425B2
A travel product reservation system having a central computer system for processing the user requests, includes elements for calculating and returning to the user selling price information relating to travel products, the central computer system being accessible from at least one user station. The reservation system includes: database containing rules for determining the association with a fare family for each travel fare, a search engine for products that meet the input criteria of a user request and associated fares, the search engine being in communication with the database for accessing the determination rules and applying them to the travel products that meet the input criteria, for returning to the user station, for display, a reply containing information relating to the products that meet the input criteria, sorting them into fare families.
US07840422B1
Methods and systems for managing insurance claims include facilitating prepayment decisions, provider bill auditing, and recovery of paid claims. Prepayment decisions include, for example, determining whether to pay, deny, or defer an insurance claim submitted by an insured. Provider bill auditing may include, for example, examining bills related to an insurance claim for accuracy. Recovery of paid claims may include managing litigations and calculating fees due for recovery services.
US07840418B2
Amongst other things, the availability of service providers is tracked across one or more service provider networks. A status change of the service provider is identified on one or more of the service provider networks and the other service provider networks associated with the service provider is sent data indicating the changed status of the service provider.
US07840398B2
Techniques for unified management communications for virtual systems are described. An apparatus may comprise a first server emulated using a first virtual machine, a second server emulated using a second virtual machine, and a virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor may communicate information with one or more emulated servers using a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) message. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07840387B1
A method for determining a design of an inflatable module including a rigid member disposed in a restraint layer, wherein the restraint layer includes orthogonal straps, includes modeling a strap adjacent to the rigid member and a strap connected to the rigid member. The adjacent strap and the member strap extend in a first direction. The method further includes selecting a first length of the member strap such that the adjacent strap carries load before the member strap during pressurization of the inflatable module, modeling tensions in the member strap with the first length and the adjacent strap during pressurization of the inflatable model, and outputting the modeled tensions in the member strap with the first length and the adjacent strap. An inflatable module includes a member strap having a length such that an adjacent strap carries load before the member strap during pressurization of the inflatable module.
US07840385B2
A system for the identification of sinusoidal interference signals from a noise signal is provided. The system includes a unit for the estimation (51, 52, . . . , 5NFFT) of an autocorrelation matrix ({circumflex over (R)}v) of a measured signal (x(t), x(μ·Δt)), composed from the sinusoidal interference signals (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(ωkμ·Δt+φk)) and the noise signal (w(t), w(μ·Δt)), a unit (81, 82, . . . , 8NFFT) for frequency estimation, and a unit (91, 92, . . . , 9NFFT) for power-level determination of the spectral lines associated with the sinusoidal interference signals (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(ωkμ·Δt+φk)) A Fast Fourier Transform filter bank (1) is additionally provided for the generation of several frequency bands (v) for the measured signal (x(t), x(μ·Δt)), composed of the sinusoidal interference signals (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(ωkμ·Δt+φk)) and the noise signal (w(t), w(μ·Δt)).
US07840364B2
Potentials at both ends of an exciter coil to which an exciting signal is sent by a push-pull method are compared, and at least one of a short circuit to ground and a short circuit to a power supply of a signal line for the exciting signal is detected based on the duty cycle of a rectangular-wave signal indicating the result of comparison. Alternatively, a predetermined reference potential is compared with a potential of at least one of two phase detection signals before detection, and at least one of a short circuit to the ground and a short circuit to the power supply of a signal line for the at least one of the detection signals is detected based on the duty cycle of a rectangular-wave signal indicating the result of comparison.
US07840356B2
Method for completely specifying orientation of electromagnetic receivers dropped to the ocean bottom in an electromagnetic survey. Survey data are selected, rejecting noisy data with long offsets and data where the receiver has saturated with short offsets (61). A model is developed comprising three independent receiver orientation angles completely specifying the receiver orientation in three dimensions, and an earth resistivity model including a water layer and possibly an air layer (62). Maxwell's equations, applied to the model and the selected data, are then inverted to determine the receiver orientations (63).
US07840353B2
A system and method are disclosed for managing a network of sensors (100). A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a sensor (102) belonging to the network of sensors operating in a geographic space having a controller (210) that manages a sensing device (204). The controller can be programmed to locate (302) itself in the geographic space, and assign (304) itself according to its location a zone within a portion of the geographic space and a corresponding data range for storing sensed information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US07840351B2
Provided is a method of correcting an ionosphere error, a system of a precise orbit determination using the same and a method thereof. The method includes the steps of: a) determining a time of a highest elevation angle of a GPS satellite per one pass of each GPS satellite received at a LEO satellite or a receiver on a ground; b) determining a minimum total electron content found from an ionosphere model of the determined time per one pass of each GPS satellite; c) determining a total electron content directly calculated from the LEO satellite or a single frequency GPS data; d) determining an ionosphere error value of a single frequency GPS data by combining the minimum total electron content and the directly calculated total electron content; and e) correcting pseudorange data or carrier phase data based on the determined ionosphere error value.
US07840344B2
Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, allows multimedia content associated with a particular geographic area to be viewed and accessed through an appropriate geographic map. In one approach to this technology, multimedia content is received. This content has an associated geographic tag. A geographic map is displayed, and can be used to gain access to the multimedia content.
US07840340B2
Systems and methods are provided for generating a reference location data set, such as a reference longitude and latitude point, for each of a plurality of point addresses. A reference location data set can be determined for a point address based on a history of prior geocode samples, such as GPS readings, that have been obtained using a portable computing device during a prior delivery to or pickup from the point address. A location data service collects such geocode samples and processes the samples to generate a reference location data set, such as a reference longitude and latitude and a zone of confidence around the reference longitude and latitude, for each unique point address. To determine whether an item is being delivered to a wrong address, current location data obtained during a delivery can be compared against the reference location data generated by the location data service for the delivery address.
US07840333B2
An event-driven starter controller regulates the speed of a gas turbine engine based on detected events. The event-driven starter controller is used to supply motive force to the gas turbine engine prior such that the gas turbine engine is able to ignite (i.e., achieve light-off). In particular, in response to engine speed reaching a defined threshold, the event-driven starter controller causes the speed of the starter motor to ramp or increase through a defined range of speeds suitable for engine light-off (i.e, light-off window). Upon reaching an upper threshold of the light-off window, the event-driven starter controller causes the speed of the starter motor to decrease through the range of speeds suitable for engine light-off. If at any time during the light-off window the event-driven starter controller detects a successful light-off condition, the event-driven starter controller causes the speed of the gas turbine engine to increase toward a second threshold.
US07840331B2
The invention is a travel support system using notified non-equipped vehicle information, and including an equipped-vehicle detecting unit detecting a presence and a position of an vehicle equipped with a communication module for communicating with another vehicle, a non-equipped-vehicle detecting unit detecting a presence and a position of a non-equipped vehicle without any communication module, and an information-holding vehicle identifying unit identifying an information-holding vehicle that is the equipped vehicle and holding non-equipped-vehicle information including the position of the non-equipped vehicle, based on the position of the equipped vehicle and the position of the non-equipped vehicle. The system also includes a non-equipped-vehicle information providing unit providing the non-equipped-vehicle information for the identified information-holding vehicle, and a communicating unit holding the provided non-equipped-vehicle information and providing the held non-equipped-vehicle information for another equipped vehicle via the communication module of the identified vehicle.
US07840330B2
System for evaluating the traffic environment of a motor vehicle and for influencing the speed of the motor vehicle in its own traffic lane, comprising an electronic control unit (ECU), which is connected to a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the desired speed of the motor vehicle, a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the yaw of the motor vehicle about its vertical axis, a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the articles situated, in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle, in front of the motor vehicle in terms of their spacing and orientation relative to the motor vehicle and which reproduces the speed relative to the speed of the system motor vehicle and/or the spacing relative to the system motor vehicle and/or the angular offset or the cross track distance relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis of the system motor vehicle, and a signal transmitter that produces a signal characteristic of the speed of at least one wheel of the motor vehicle, and which is connected to at least one control device, which influences the performance of the motor vehicle, in order to supply said device with output signals derived from the performance of the motor vehicle situated in front of the system motor vehicle, in which in the electronic control unit (ECU) the width of the system motor vehicle traffic lane is modified in dependence upon the distance of articles detected in the space in front of the system motor vehicle from the system motor vehicle, wherein the width in the close range and in the remote range is smaller than in the medium range.
US07840307B2
A dispenser for dispensing prescription pharmaceuticals contained therein includes: a bin, the bin including an access opening; a door adjacent to the opening and movable between open and closed positions to allow access for filling the bin through the opening, wherein one of the bin and the door includes a first identifier corresponding to the identity of units of a single prescription pharmaceutical contained in the bin; a locking assembly configured and positioned to engage the door in the closed position and prevent the door from moving to the open position; an identifier reading device operably associated with the locking assembly to scan the first identifier and a second identifier on a bulk container, the second identifier corresponding to the identity of the contents of the bulk container; and a controller having a data storage unit and configured to receive and compare signals from the identifier reading device corresponding to the first and second identifiers. The controller is operably associated with the locking assembly such that the locking assembly disengages from the door responsive to a positive comparison by the controller, thereby enabling the door to be moved to the open position.
US07840295B2
A computer system and implemented method for defining an input product to be manufactured into an output product, comprises steps of: (a) receiving an output product having attributes and comprising at least one sub-product, said sub-product having attributes; (b) associating to said output product a manufacturing operation identified among a plurality of manufacturing operations; (c) defining attributes of said input product, said input product attributes deriving from modification of attributes of the at least one sub-product according to the associated manufacturing operation. The computer implemented method of the invention thus derives input products from the output product to be manufactured with a process oriented approach. Design modifications on output product can be directly and automatically taken into account in input products.
US07840291B2
A recorder includes a processing device that runs numerous processes which include a process of inputting music sound stored in a storage device, a process of inputting music sound stored from the recording process in the storage device, a replay process which replays the musical sound stored in the storage device from that recording process. The recorder includes one or more switches and a scanning device that routinely detects the operating conditions of the one or more switches. A process is run from the processing device in response to the operating conditions of the switch detected by the scanning device. A control device can change the switch scan interval of the scanning device in response to that process.
US07840289B2
Creating a playlist of media items for a desired perceiving experience requires many actions for searching and selecting media items that fit the desired perceiving experience. The invention provides an alternative for creating a perceiving experience without the use of a playlist. To this end, the invention provides a method (1) for selecting a media item from a plurality of media items, each of the plurality of media items being linked to at least one out of a plurality of content related attribute-value pairs, the method (1) comprising the steps of defining (10) for at least one attribute of said plurality of attribute-value pairs at least two desired probabilities of selecting a media item having a predetermined value for said at least one attribute, resulting in a desired probability distribution (22) of at least two predetermined values for which a desired probability has been defined, selecting (14) an actual value from said at least two predetermined values in accordance with said desired probability distribution (22), and selecting (16) one of said plurality of media items having an attribute-value pair corresponding to said actual value and the attribute linked to said actual value. The invention further provides a system (1) and a media player (5) for selecting a media item.
US07840283B1
An implantable active fixation lead includes an outer sheath, a protector member having a peripheral surface extending between its distal and proximal end surfaces with a helical groove formed in the peripheral surface, and a fixation helix integral with the outer sheath. The fixation helix includes a tip end engageable with body tissue and slidably engaged with the helical groove for relative translation and rotation. A longitudinal force on the lead firmly engages the protector member's distal end surface with the body tissue. With the fixation helix initially retracted proximally of the protector member's distal end surface and disengaged from the body tissue, upon application of torque to the outer sheath, the distal end surface of the protector member is moved proximally with respect to the fixation helix which, simultaneously, is extended distally beyond the distal end surface of the protector member to an extended position into engagement with the body tissue.
US07840280B2
Disclosed is a method of treating a patient having a vocal cord disorder, comprising coupling at least one electrode to at least one cranial nerve of the patient, wherein the cranial nerve is selected from the group consisting of a vagus nerve, a trigeminal nerve, and a glossopharyngeal nerve, and applying an electrical signal to the cranial nerve using the electrode to treat the vocal cord disorder. The electrode may be coupled to a branch of the vagus nerve selected from the group consisting of a recurrent laryngeal nerve, the external branch of a superior laryngeal nerve, the internal branch of a superior laryngeal nerve, and a pharyngeal plexus. Also disclosed is a computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the method, and a medical device and a vocal cord disorder treatment system that may be used in performance of the method.
US07840279B2
An implantable microstimulator arrangement includes at least one implantable microstimulator unit; an implantable battery unit separate from the implantable microstimulator unit(s); and at least one lead coupling the microstimulator unit(s) to the battery unit. The microstimulator unit(s) are operated to treat body tissue.
US07840276B2
A generic device programmer network interface is disclosed. Some embodiments include multiple connectors that are configured to connect to output hardware of multiple programmers and a transmitter that is configured to automatically transmit data received from the programmers to a server. Many embodiments serve to reduce or eliminate barriers to storing IMD and patient data on a server.
US07840269B2
Diet evaluation gastric apparatus (18) is provided, which detects when a patient (10) swallows, and detects the type and amount of matter ingested. The apparatus includes electrodes (74, 100) adapted to be coupled to the fundus and antrum of the patient and to measure electrical and mechanical activity therein, and a control unit (90) to analyze such electrical and mechanical activity and optionally apply electrical energy to modify the activity of tissue of the patient.
US07840265B2
A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and an external system. The ICD detects a tachyarrhythmia episode and classifies the detected tachyarrhythmia episode using none, one, or more of detection enhancements selected according to a selection command including a classification mode. The detection enhancements are each an algorithm for detecting and analyzing one or more indications of a type of the detected tachyarrhythmia episode. The external system allows a user to select the classification mode from a plurality of available classification modes each using none, one, or more of the detection enhancements.
US07840255B2
An X-ray CT apparatus 1 for radiating X-ray to a subject P so as to scan the subject P and reconstructing a image within the subject P based on an obtained projection data comprises an image generating unit and a blood-flow image generating unit 24e. The image generating unit generates the image based on the projection data in a state in which a concentration of a contrast medium in a myocardial portion of a subject P continuously injected the contrast medium can be considered to be constant. The blood-flow image generating unit 24e generates a blood flow image by removing components of a myocardial tissue from a portion of a myocardial region of the image generated by the image generating unit.
US07840243B2
There is provided a mobile terminal apparatus in which downsizing of the mobile terminal apparatus can be achieved and an antenna characteristic can be suitably supplied.In a mobile terminal apparatus 10, upper and lower housing 13 and 15 are coupled with each other by a coupling part 18 so as to be openable and closable, upper and lower circuit boards 21 and 24 are provided in the upper and lower housing 13 and 15, upper and lower protective cover parts 31 and 32 cover the upper and lower housing; and a flexible part 33 couples the upper and lower protective cover parts so as to be openable and closable and covers the coupling part. In the mobile terminal apparatus 10, an antenna power feeding land 51 is provided in one of the upper and lower circuit boards, a power feeding terminal of the antenna part 40 is electrically connected to this one circuit board via the antenna power feeding land, and the antenna part is housed in the flexible part.
US07840229B2
A method for managing communication resource assignment includes: determining a resource assignment policy based on information for requesting resource assignment policy in a session setup request for a multiparty communication service from a User Equipment, and assigning, according to the resource assignment policy, communication resources; A method for managing communication resource assignment includes: modifying a resource assignment policy based on information for requesting resource assignment policy in a session modification request for modifying a resource assignment policy and assigning, according to the modified resource assignment policy, the communication resources. A communication resource policy system is also provided. With the method and system above, the communication resources of multiparty communication services can be managed flexibly according to the resource assignment policies.
US07840224B2
Techniques are described for providing location-based information and functionality to people and computing devices in various ways. In at least some situations, the techniques include enabling multiple people in a common geographic area to interact in various ways, such as via devices capable of communications (e.g., cellular telephones, computing devices with wired and/or wireless communications capabilities, etc.). In addition, the techniques include enabling the creation and maintenance of location-based virtual groups of users (also referred to as “clouds”), such as for users of mobile and/or fixed-location devices. Such clouds may enable various types of interactions between group members, and may be temporary and/or mobile.
US07840216B2
The invention concerns a method for determining the appropriate moment for carrying out a handover of a connection of a mobile terminal in a mobile network whereby if no user related data or no probe data have been sent for a certain time interval from an access point to the mobile terminal, probe data are sent from the access point to said mobile terminal and/or if no user related data or no probe data have been sent for a certain time interval from said mobile terminal to said access point, probe data are sent from the mobile terminal to said access point, a mobile terminal, an access point and program modules therefor.
US07840214B2
The present invention provides methods involving at least one access terminal and at least one access network. The methods may include providing or receiving information indicative of future accessibility of at least one access network.
US07840213B2
A system, an apparatus and a method for coping with mobile switching node failure are disclosed. The method includes: an HLR (Home Location Register) detects that a first MSC (Mobile Switching Center) is not able to operate; the requesting party of a terminating service submits a request to the HLR for obtaining required location information for a called party registered on the first MSC, and the HLR selects a second MSC for the requesting party and requests for location information from the second MSC; the second MSC returns the location information to the HLR; the HLR returns the location information to the requesting party of the terminating service; and the requesting party of a terminating service performs subsequent service according to the location information.
US07840206B2
A wireless communication apparatus which wirelessly communicates with other communication apparatus or apparatuses, comprises a setting unit that sets a maximum number of other communication apparatus or apparatuses up to which the wireless communication apparatus authenticates to perform wireless communication, a storage unit that stores said maximum number set by said setting unit, and an authentication unit that authenticates other communication apparatus or apparatuses within said maximum number stored in said storage unit.
US07840204B2
An exemplary method for unlocking a wireless communications device comprises entering a backdoor screen, prompting input of a backdoor code, receiving the backdoor code, comparing the received backdoor code to a service validation code, and resetting an unlock code of the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code. The service validation code may be, for example, a one time subsidy lock code, an operator master subsidy lock code, another service programming code or any other stored code not generally known to the user. The method may further comprise unlocking the wireless communications device if the received backdoor code matches the service validation code.
US07840200B2
The present invention relates to an antenna matching device that varies a frequency bandwidth according to mobile communication services, and to a transceiver having the same. To this end, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a transceiver that varies a frequency band and a bandwidth according to required services in a mobile communication system, the transceiver including an antenna matching controller that generates a prescribed switch control signal according to a service requested by a user, an antenna variable matching unit that variably forms a matching circuit according to the switch control signal to be transmitted from the antenna matching controller and varies the frequency band and the bandwidth, an analog processing unit that processes a signal to be transmitted/received through the antenna variable matching unit, and a wideband antenna that transmits/receives a radio frequency according to the frequency band and the bandwidth set by the antenna variable matching unit. Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an antenna matching device including a resistor that reduces a frequency bandwidth, an inductor that reduces a frequency passing band, a capacitor and a resistor that increase the frequency passing band, and switches that control the operations of the inductor and the capacitor. According to the present invention, unnecessary radiation power of a variable matching unit can be minimized, and maximum transmission power required according to services can be reduced. In addition, system construction costs can be reduced, and a user capacity can be increased.
US07840187B2
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for dynamic frequency selection based on spectrum etiquette. In one example, the method includes identifying multiple frequencies usable by a central subdivision in a wireless communication system that are not in use by neighboring subdivisions. The method may determine whether the frequencies include a frequency that cannot be used by the neighboring subdivisions and, if the frequency exists, may select the frequency for use by the central subdivision. If such a frequency does not exist, the method may identify a frequency that can be used by fewer of the neighboring subdivisions than other frequencies and select the identified frequency for use by the central subdivision.
US07840182B2
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus including, a wireless communication block configured to execute wireless communication with a mate terminal device, an information exchange generation condition storage block configured to record a condition of information exchange with the mate terminal device, an information exchange log storage block configured to record a log of information exchange with the mate terminal device, and an information exchange generation determination block configured to determine whether to execute information exchange with the mate terminal device by referencing the information exchange condition recorded in the information exchange generation condition storage block and the log of information exchange recorded in the information exchange log storage block.
US07840179B2
There are a step in which, when the video data distribution request is received from the mobile station, the base station determines whether the requested video data can be distributed or not, on the basis of the wireless transmission capacity required for distributing the requested video data and the wireless transmission capacity that is available at that point of time, a step in which the base station notifies the mobile station of a result of possibility determination about distribution, a step in which, when it is determined that distribution cannot be performed, the base station sends an inquiry about a base station capable of performing distribution, to the transmitted-data capacity management device, a step in which the transmitted-data capacity management device selects base stations capable of performing the distribution, on the basis of the wireless transmission capacity required for distributing the video data and the wireless transmission capacity being used for distribution performed by a plurality of base stations, and replies with the selected base stations, and a step in which the base station notifies the mobile station of the base stations capable of performing the distribution.
US07840178B2
A media broadcast and distribution system is disclosed which substitutes storage for communications, allowing more efficient use of scarce bandwidth resources. One embodiment allows a terrestrial FM broadcaster to offer a larger number of higher quality audio channels than current satellite radio services such as Sirius and XM Satellite Radio. This embodiment also has features that offer a better user experience than with personal audio devices such as Apple's iPod™. Another embodiment allows satellite radio services to expand their video offerings.
US07840173B2
A sheet moisturizing device, including: paired moisturizing rollers which form a nipping section to apply water onto a sheet when the sheet is conveyed through the nipping section; two water supplying rollers, each being in pressure contact to each of paired moisturizing rollers respectively; and two water supplying tanks, each arranged to face one of the water supplying rollers, wherein each of the two water supplying tanks is structured of a first tank which supplies water to the water supplying roller, and a second tank which is formed around the first tank and accommodates the water overflowed from the first tank.
US07840171B2
A developing unit includes a waste toner housing having an upper housing and a lower housing which face each other, at least one support unit to allow connection between the upper and lower housings, and to support facing surfaces of the upper and lower housings, and a toner housing which is disposed on a lower part of the waste toner housing and is spaced apart from the waste toner housing at a predetermined distance. Accordingly, the waste toner housing is prevented from being deformed by heat and pressure, and thus white lines on images, flowback of waste toner and insufficient cleaning, which are caused by interference with the light path due to deformation of the waste toner housing, can be reduced. Additionally, tolerance can be greatly reduced as a result of resolving the problem of deformation of the waste toner housing, so a developing unit having a smaller size can be provided.
US07840162B2
An image forming apparatus includes a main body and a rotating member unit having a rotating member. The rotating member unit is detachably held in the main body. The main body of the image forming apparatus has a retainer which retains a shaft penetrating and supporting the rotating member, and the retainer has a first shaft retaining member which supports the shaft at a front side as seen from the insertion direction of the rotating member unit.
US07840157B2
To improve the user maintainability and cost performance with respect to replacing replaceable components in an image forming apparatus using a tandem type intermediate transfer member. In an image forming apparatus provided with: primary transfer rollers that successively transfer toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive members to an intermediate transfer belt on a surface of which the images are moved; and a secondary transfer roller that transfers in one operation the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium, and the plurality of photosensitive members are formed as a plurality of image carrier units that are removable with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus, a belt cleaning member that cleans secondary transfer residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt is disposed upstream, relative to the direction of movement of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, of the image carrier unit that is disposed uppermost in the upstream direction, and the belt cleaning member is capable of being integrally removed.
US07840150B2
An image forming apparatus has: a first heating device which heats recording sheet formed with a developer image; a cooling device which cools the recording sheet passing through the first heating device; a second heating device which heats the recording sheet cooled by the cooling device and gives a gloss to the image on the recording sheet; a conveying device which conveys the recording sheet passing through the first heating device to the second heating device through the cooling device; and a controller which controls a cooling ability of the cooling device in accordance with a conveying time required until the recording sheet is conveyed from the first heating device to the second heating device.
US07840144B2
An optical transceiver is provided for optical communications with additive noise compensation. The system and method are disclosed for the additive noise cancellation, which is typically a vibration noise, caused by moving platform, where the transceiver is located. The transceiver comprises an additive noise sensor and a digital signal processing (DSP) unit which implements variable step size technique to adjust the filter weight in the least square estimate of the noise signal. In the preferred embodiment the digital signal processing is applied both at the transmission and the receiving side. The optical device is packed for ground-satellite and inter-satellite communications applications with resistance to high-energy X-rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays. The optical device sustains its operation characteristics under launch load.
US07840143B2
Demodulating an optical Differential Phase-Shift Keying (DPSK) signal is accomplished using a self-homodyne receiver for receiving the optical signal. A converter converts the optical signal received by the self-homodyne receiver into a representative electrical signal. A processor that processes the representative electrical signal using decision feedback multi-symbol detection in order to obtain a decision variable that indicates a differential phase-shift in the optical signal.
US07840141B2
The present invention is a miniaturized differential M phase-shift modulator (M=2n: n is 2 or more) in which a plurality of Mach-Zehnder type light modulators each adapted to output a DPSK-modulated signal light by applying a driving voltage signal are arranged in parallel and that comprises a multiplexing waveguide adapted to output a DMPSK-modulated light by multiplexing outputs of the plurality of the Mach-Zehnder type light modulators, wherein a phase-shift voltage to produce a phase shift difference of substantially 2π/M for a plurality of the signal lights multiplexed by the multiplexing waveguide is applied to the plurality of the Mach-Zehnder type light modulators together with the driving voltage signal.
US07840138B2
Gigabit Ethernet connectivity is realized using off-the-shelf GIGABIT INTERFACE CONVERTER transceivers, wave division multiplexer/demultiplexers, and a single optical fiber. Simultaneous and bi-directional optical communication over a single optical fiber connecting two or more nodes is achieved by using at least one GIGABIT INTERFACE CONVERTER transceiver having at least one optical signal output and an optical signal input that are of different wavelengths from each other.
US07840137B2
A station-side apparatus adapted for use in a passive optical network (PON) system is disclosed, which remotely collects inside information of optical network terminals (ONTs) even before completion of start-up of an optical network unit (ONU), permits an obstruction-detected ONU to send out an emergency notification message to the station-side apparatus, e.g., optical line terminal (OLP), and permits the OLT that received this message to interrupt the transmission of an upload signal toward another ONU after the elapse of a fixed length of time while at the same time receiving information from the obstruction-suffering ONU to thereby facilitate cut-and-divide or “segmentation” of obstruction. A subscriber-side device for use in the PON system is also disclosed.
US07840135B2
A method for detecting a failure network terminal in a Passive Optical Network includes: changing timeslots assigned to potential failure network terminals one by one; and determining the failure network terminal according to uplink data frames sent by the potential failure network terminals whose timeslots are changed. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose an apparatus and system for detecting a failure network terminal. The solution of the present invention may detect which Optical Network Unit/Terminal (ONU/ONT) fails and perform the corresponding processing in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, which recovers the system health and improves the network security, stability and self-healing ability.
US07840129B2
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: (a) an imaging device subunit having an imaging device for creating an image signal associated with a subject and a light-transmitting member mounted ahead of a photosensitive surface of the imaging device; (b) a first driver circuit for driving a first actuator that moves the imaging device subunit in a first direction; (c) a second driver circuit for driving a second actuator that moves the imaging device subunit in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and (d) first dust-removing means for shaking off dust adhering to the light-transmitting member by driving a given actuator so as to vibrate the light-transmitting member; wherein the given actuator is driven using the first driver circuit or the second driver circuit.
US07840128B2
An image-blur compensating device includes an optical component configured to compensate blur in an image, an actuator driving the optical component, a displacement detector detecting a position of the optical component changed by the actuator, an angular velocity detector detecting an angular velocity applied from outside, and a target displacement calculator calculating a driving amount when the actuator has driven the optical axis changing unit based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detector and the position detected by the displacement detector. The target displacement calculator then obtains, as a result of compensating an amount of influence on the position of the optical component, a driving amount when driving the actuator based on the calculated driving amount. The image-blur compensating device further includes a driver driving the actuator based on the driving amount calculated by the target displacement calculator.
US07840123B2
A diffusion device includes a housing and an opening in the housing adapted for insertion of a container having an active material therein and a wick extending therefrom. The device further includes a heater disposed in a rear portion of the housing and spaced from the wick when a container is inserted into the housing. A vent is disposed in a front portion of the housing. An active material diffusion-interference member is disposed directly above and axially aligned with the wick when the container is inserted into the device, wherein the diffusion-interference member inhibits diffusion of the active material from the housing such that heat generated by the heater is trapped around the wick, thus increasing volatilization and dispersion of the active material from the diffusion device as compared to a diffusion device that does not have a diffusion-interference member.
US07840118B2
Data is recorded in a data area of a disk in a hierarchical structure of program chains, programs, cells and packs, each pack is constructed by a pack header for identifying the pack and a packet having a data stream recorded therein, the packet has a packet header having a stream ID indicating at least a private stream and a sub-stream ID indicating the classification of the private stream described therein, and the classification indicates packet data of Dolby AC3 audio data, packet data of linear audio data, packet data of sub-picture data, or packet data of computer data.
US07840115B2
An optical disc recording apparatus for recording a video object onto an optical disc. A recording area of the optical disc is divided into a plurality of zones which each include a plurality of adjacent tracks. The optical disc recording apparatus includes: a reading unit for reading from the optical disc the sector information showing data assignment for sectors on the optical disc; a recording unit for recording the video object onto the optical disc; and a control unit for controlling the reading unit and the recording unit. The control unit detects at least one series of consecutive unassigned sectors on the optical disc by referring to the read sector information. Each series has a total size greater than a minimum size and is located within a single zone. The minimum size corresponds to a data amount that ensures uninterrupted reproduction of the video object. The control unit also controls the recording unit to record the video object into the detected series.
US07840113B2
An optical disk reproducing apparatus that plays back information recorded on an optical disk, includes: a system controller; and a controller that is operated in accordance with an instruction of the system controller, wherein: when a user operation of skip up/skip down is performed during reproducing of information recorded on the optical disk, the system controller determines whether the skip up/skip down is restricted/permitted; and if it is determined that the skip up/skip down is restricted, the system controller pauses the reproducing and then performs a process with respect to the user operation so as to reproduce designated information.
US07840105B2
A fiber optic towed array is provided. The array includes a flexible core upon which is disposed a semi-rigid mandrel. The semi-rigid mandrel has a helical groove formed therein, in which is disposed an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a plurality of fiber gratings. The mandrel is in turn covered with a nylon or fiber screen and encased in a layer of open cell foam, which is encased in a protective covering that includes at least one strength member disposed along a longitudinal axis of the array.
US07840102B2
Disclosed herein is a carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon. Such carrier can be a thick-walled capillary tube or other shapes. The carrier has a sealed hollow body with a side wall. The side wall is profiled at least one predetermined location to form a thin-walled section and at least one optical sensor is attached to said thin-walled section. As the thin-walled section flexes in response to a pressure difference across it, the pressure difference is sensed by the optical sensor. The carrier may also have a slot defined on its side wall to receive the optical fiber. A temperature optical sensor may also be provided adjacent to the pressure optical sensor.
US07840099B2
An optical modulator structure includes at least two waveguide structures for inputting and outputting an optical signal. At least one ring resonator structure provides coupling between the at least two waveguide structures. The at least one ring resonator structure includes Ge or SiGe.
US07840096B2
A directional interpolation method and a video encoding/decoding apparatus and method using the directional interpolation method. The directional interpolation method includes selecting one of a plurality of directional interpolation modes for a predetermined-size block based on the characteristics of input image data, performing directional interpolation on the predetermined-size block based on the selected directional interpolation mode, and generating mode information indicating the selected directional interpolation mode.
US07840095B2
An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus converts moving image data including plural first image data of a first resolution into moving image data including plural second image data of a second resolution. The apparatus generates position alignment data between the target first image data and another first image data other than the target first image data; aligns candidate image data having the second resolution corresponding to the target first image data with the other first image data according to the position alignment data generated; updates the candidate image data to minimize a first difference between the other first image data and the candidate image data position-aligned; and executes the aligning and the updating at least one time, and using the candidate image data having the difference equal to or smaller than a reference value, as the second image data corresponding to the target first image data.
US07840090B2
A background image wherein areas in which still images are to be rendered have been defined is prepared. Product images are obtained by multiplying mask images and positioned still images together. The background image and the product images are added to obtain a sum image that constitutes one frame of a slideshow. A plurality of still-image portions obtained from a plurality of still images in one frame are contained in the sum image. An advanced slideshow is thus obtained.
US07840087B2
To provide adaptive image processing for a portrait, face information about the face of a person contained in an image is acquired, and it is determined on the basis of the face information whether a significant personal face is contained in the image. If there is face information representing the presence of a significant personal face, adaptive processing adjustment information which adjusts the contents of high quality processing for a portrait, which should be executed for the process target image, is generated from the face information about the face of the person contained in the image. The high quality processing adjusted on the basis of the adaptive processing adjustment information is executed for the image.
US07840079B2
A “seamless multiplexer,” as described herein, provides a flexible and efficient system and method for multiplexing embedded coded bitstreams. Further, unlike the conventional JPEG 2000 standard, the seamless multiplexer is capable of decoding multiplexed encoded bitstreams without the need to use a demultiplexing aide as overhead in the encoded signal. In general, the seamless multiplexer provides a novel approach for multiplexing code block bitstreams by using a “decoder pointer,” for multiplexing multiple embedded bitstreams without the use of a demultiplexing aide. Consequently, the seamless multiplexer not only reduces any multiplexing overhead, but also allows much smaller granularity of access in reshaping the compressed input signal. In addition, in one embodiment, the seamless multiplexer also uses dependencies between coefficient blocks to further improve overall compression efficiency.
US07840077B2
An E8-VSB reception system, apparatus for generating data attribute and method thereof, and apparatus for channel encoding and method thereof are disclosed. In the present invention, E8-VSB data resulting from multiplexing a plurality of enhanced data encoded at different coding rates with main data is received. And, the main data and a plurality of the enhanced data are identified to be modulated from the received E8-VSB data. In particular, by generating M/E packet attribute information, enhanced packet attribute information, enhanced byte attribute information and E8-VSB symbol attribute information from the E8-VSB data attribute generating apparatus, the channel decoding apparatus can correctly identify to decode the main data, ½ enhanced data and ¼ enhanced data from one another.
US07840076B2
An image retrieval program (IRP) may be used to query a collection of digital images. The IRP may include a mining module to use local and global feature descriptors to automatically rank the digital images in the collection with respect to similarity to a user-selected positive example. Each local feature descriptor may represent a portion of an image based on a division of that image into multiple portions. Each global feature descriptor may represent an image as a whole. A user interface module of the IRP may receive input that identifies an image as the positive example. The user interface module may also present images from the collection in a user interface in a ranked order with respect to similarity to the positive example, based on results of the mining module. Query concepts may be saved and reused. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07840043B2
A method is for determining a parameter in an image area as a measure of a homogeneity of a substance in an object, and to a method for segmenting a substance in an image that uses the parameter as an additional segmentation criterion. In the method, at least two X-ray images are acquired in relation to different energies E1, E2 of an X-radiation, and the parameter is determined from the statistical distribution of attenuation values Di(E1),Di(E2) where i=1, . . . , N in the image area such that faulty classifications can be avoided in a simple way during the segmentation.
US07840039B2
The present invention involves the creation of an appropriate model and the use of that model to generate a best fit dipole represented by a vector (x, y, z). Once the best fit dipole is generated, a best fit field distribution and a field distribution of a modified dipole is created. Using a difference between the field distributions, a Singular Value Decomposition is used to compute the main axes of the confidence ellipsoids.
US07840037B2
A method and system for efficiently detecting faces within a digital image. One example method includes identifying a digital image comprised of a plurality of sub-windows and performing a first scan of the digital image using a coarse detection level to eliminate the sub-windows that have a low likelihood of representing a face. The subset of the sub-windows that were not eliminated during the first scan are then scanned a second time using a fine detection level having a higher accuracy level than the coarse detection level used during the first scan to identify sub-windows having a high likelihood of representing a face.
US07840029B2
In an information embedding apparatus, an image compositing portion selectively reads an embedding pattern from a plurality of types of the embedding patterns in accordance with an embedding information for a background of a document image. The image compositing portion further composites the read embedding pattern into the background of the document image in a document image data generated based on a document data and outputs the composite document image data. The embedding pattern includes a data dot placed at a position in accordance with the embedding information, a position dot placed at a position for instructing a reference position used for identifying the position of the data dot, and an assisting dot placed at a position for assisting the instruction of the reference position by the position dot.
US07840024B2
A wide dispersion speaker system 1 comprises a cone type speaker unit 2, and a restricting element 10A. The restricting element 10A is provided with a center hole 11 at a center section thereof, and a peripheral hole 12 located outward relative to the center hole 11. The restricting element 10A has an annular sound travel inhibiting portion 19 positioned radially outward relative to the center hole 11 and radially inward relative to the peripheral hole 12. An outer end in a radial direction of the sound travel inhibiting portion 19 is positioned at a substantially middle point between an outer end in the radial direction of the center hole 11 and an outer end in the radial direction of the peripheral hole 12 or positioned radially outward relative to the substantially middle point.
US07840023B2
Micro-speaker assemblies and mobile terminals including micro-speaker assemblies are provided. The micro-speaker assemblies include a micro-speaker positioned in a housing. A first forward tuning volume is positioned adjacent a front face of the micro-speaker. A passageway extends from the first forward tuning volume to an opening in the housing. A second forward tuning volume in fluid communication with the passageway is positioned at a location between the first forward tuning volume and the opening in the housing. The second forward tuning volume, the first forward tuning volume and the passageway define a double-resonator that tunes a frequency response of the micro-speaker. Methods for tuning micro-speakers are also provided.
US07840018B2
An in-wall speaker system having at least one pair of active transducers mounted in a wall section. The active transducers may be mounted in at least one enclosure. Each active transducer has a sound radiating surface. Each active transducer is also mounted substantially perpendicular to a surface of the wall section with the sound radiating surfaces substantially parallel to each other. The sound radiating surfaces may be facing each other or away from each other. The in-wall speaker system may also include one or more pairs of passive radiators to generate sound from sound pressure generated by the active transducers. The pairs of speakers in the wall section may be mounted vertically or horizontally within the wall, with a slot or a vent at the opening at the space between the speaker pairs.
US07840017B2
Sheet-like audio information recording/reproducing means capable of recording/reproducing audio information is sandwiched between two support sheets from front and back only in part of the area thereof and these two support sheets are further sandwiched between two surface sheets and the support sheets and surface sheets are bonded together.
US07840014B2
An acoustic system that eliminates the howling that occurs when the sound outputted by the speaker feeds back to the input device. The acoustic system comprises a digital signal processor (DSP) that divides the input audio signal into different frequency bands, and reduces the audio levels for the frequency bands where howling is most likely to occur. In one embodiment, the acoustic system comprises a sound source section that generates a test tone that substantially covers the entire human audible range such that the DSP can set the filter levels according to the feedback of the test tone. In another embodiment, the sound source section stores one waveform at a given pitch and generates waveforms of other pitches based on the stored waveform. In yet another embodiment, the pitches of the generated waveforms are dispersed into four frequency bands to create a test tone that resembles a chord or a musical tone.
US07840011B2
Apparatus and methods for computer file management including components and steps for distributing to servers a plurality of mixed images that are generated for each of N, where N≧3, sets of distributed information generated by distributing secret information using a threshold secret sharing scheme, the plurality of mixed images being generated by mixing at different mixing ratios an image based on the distributed information with (Ka−1) images, where Ka satisfies 1
US07840010B2
An interactive system for managing access via a communications network by one or more users to multiple secured Locations. The system comprises a plurality of entry control Devices assigned for use in gaining access to the Locations by multiple users with multiple keys assigned in a hierarchy to the Locations, a searchable database configured to store information on said keys and said entry control Devices, and Software stored on a readable medium and configured to produce a graphical hierarchy report on the keys depicting the hierarchy of the keys and their respectively assigned Locations and/or entry control Devices.
US07840005B2
A method for synchronization of a media signal computes features of the media signal and determines redundancy of the features to establish synchronization. The synchronization method is adapted for both temporal and spatial synchronization. For spatial synchronization, spatial redundancy is used to detect geometric distortion of a signal using an autocorrelation method to detect peaks caused by the redundancy of features of the signal. These peaks are then analyzed with a histogram method to detect rotation and scaling of the host media signal. The spatial synchronization process is applied for both intra-coded frames of video (I-frames) as well as still images.
US07840002B2
Apparati, methods, and computer-readable media for strengthening a one-time pad encryption system. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of encrypting plaintext (1) with an OTP key (2) in an XOR operation to produce ciphertext (3); and obfuscating the ciphertext (3) with an AutoKey (4) in an XOR operation to produce AutoKeyed ciphertext (5), wherein the AutoKey (4) is a reusable key.
US07840001B2
Data processing apparatus and methods are provided. One data processing apparatus comprises: a plurality of pipelined stages, each of the plurality pipelined stages being operable in each processing cycle to receive a group of data elements from an earlier pipelined stage; permute logic operable to buffer ‘n’ of the groups of data elements over a corresponding ‘n’ processing cycles thereby creating a bubble within pipelined stages, and forwarding logic operable, once the ‘n’ of the groups of data elements have been buffered by the permute logic, to forward permuted groups of data elements comprising the data elements reordered by the permute logic to fill the bubble within the pipelined stages. By forwarding the data elements to fill the bubble an improved throughput can be achieved and since a constant stream of data can be transformed without the need to increase the number of input or output registers required to support the permute logic, the need to duplicate the permute logic or the need to introduce any additional storage elements.
US07839999B2
An encryption device includes a first unit that acquires value information denoting a value of information to be encrypted, and a second unit that calculates a strength parameter denoting an encryption strength, based on the value information. It is thus possible to determine the strength parameter reasonably according to the information to be encrypted.
US07839995B2
A playback characteristic of a ringback tone, played to a calling communication device employed by a user for a call to a called communication device, is changed based on input from the user of the calling communication device.
US07839986B2
A process that can be used to process the calling line presentation supplied to a called user following a call made by a calling user in a fixed and/or mobile communications network (for example, GSM, GPRS or UMTS in the latter case). A corresponding code for identifying an operator, such as a long-distance operator, which can be used by the called user for calling back the calling user, is identified, for example, during the registration of the user who is intended to act as the called user with a corresponding operator. This corresponding identification code is inserted automatically into the calling line presentation supplied to the called customer following the call made by the calling user. The call can be a voice call, a data call or a message, such as an SMS or MMS message. The called user is thus able to call back the calling user without having to insert the user's identification code to be used for calling back.
US07839970B2
A dental or orthopedic densitometry modeling system includes a computer with a digital memory adapted for storing patient densitometry information, an input and an output. A dental or orthopedic input device includes energy source and an energy sensor, both of which can be either external or intraoral to the patient. The sensor transfers densitometry signals to the computer, which creates, stores and compares digital densitometry models. A densitometry modeling method includes the steps of creating a densitometry database consisting of dental or orthopedic information and obtaining current dental or orthopedic densitometry information from a patient. The current information is compared to the database, which can include the patient's previous densitometry models, and an updated patient densitometry model is created.
US07839953B2
A transmission signal generating unit has a window function calculator that generates a window function that makes all frequencies without a center frequency of an input signal and its adjacent frequencies zero and makes the signal to noise ratio of the center frequency maximum; and a transmission signal generator that generates a transmission signal whose amplitude is modulated in a shape of an envelope curve based on the window function generated by the window function calculator.
US07839952B2
A method for communication includes sending first data over a first communication link to a destination communication system at a first data rate, which can be varied. Second data, including at least a portion of the first data, is sent over a second communication link from the source communication system to the destination communication system at a second data rate, which can be varied. First and second data rates of the respective first and second communication links are dynamically set. At least the portion of the first data is selectively extracted from one of the first and second data at the destination communication system. In some embodiments, the first data equals the second data, and the data is extracted without data loss.
