US07842610B2
A through-electrode that penetrates a semiconductor substrate and that is insulatively separated from the semiconductor substrate includes an inner through-electrode, a quadrangular ring-shaped semiconductor, and an outer peripheral through-electrode. The quadrangular ring-shaped semiconductor is formed around the inner through-electrode, and the outer peripheral through-electrode is formed around the quadrangular ring-shaped semiconductor.
US07842595B2
A method for manufacturing an electronic-photonic device. Epitaxially depositing an n-doped III-V composite semiconductor alloy buffer layer on a crystalline surface of a substrate at a first temperature. Forming an active layer on the n-doped III-V epitaxial composite semiconductor alloy buffer layer at a second temperature, the active layer including a plurality of spheroid-shaped quantum dots. Depositing a p-doped III-V composite semiconductor alloy capping layer on the active layer at a third temperature. The second temperature is less than the first temperature and the third temperature. The active layer has a photoluminescence intensity emission peak in the telecommunication C-band.
US07842581B2
When a metal layer formed by reaction of a metal source and an oxygen (O2) source is deposited, oxidization of a conductive layer disposed under or on the metal layer can be reduced and/or prevented by a method of forming the metal layer and a method of fabricating a capacitor using the same. Between forming the conductive layer and the metal layer, and between forming the metal layer and the conductive layer, a cycle of supplying a metal source, purging, supplying an oxygen source, purging, plasma processing of reduction gas and purging is repeated at least once. In this case, the metal layer is formed by repeating a cycle of supplying a metal source, purging, supplying an oxygen source and purging.
US07842573B2
A virtual ground memory array (VGA) is formed by a storage layer over a substrate with a conductive layer over the storage layer. The conductive layer is opened according to a patterned photoresist layer. The openings are implanted to form source/drain lines in the substrate, then filled with a layer of dielectric material. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is then performed until the top of the conductive layer is exposed. This leaves dielectric spacers over the source/drain lines and conductive material between the dielectric spacers. Word lines are then formed over the conductive material and the dielectric spacers. As an alternative, instead of using a conductive layer, a sacrificial layer is used that is removed after the CMP step. After removing the sacrificial portions, the word lines are formed. In both cases, dielectric spacers reduce gate/drain capacitance and the distance from substrate to gate is held constant across the channel.
US07842569B2
One embodiment of a method of fabricating a flash memory device includes forming a trench mask pattern, which includes a gate insulation pattern and a charge storage pattern stacked in sequence, on a semiconductor substrate; etching the semiconductor substrate using the trench mask pattern as an etch mask to form trenches defining active regions; and sequentially forming lower and upper device isolation patterns in the trench. After sequentially forming an intergate insulation film and a control gate film on the upper device isolation pattern, the control gate film, the intergate insulation pattern and the gloating gate pattern are formed, thereby providing gate lines crossing over the active regions.
US07842564B2
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device, an opening is made in a part of an insulating film formed on a silicon substrate. An amorphous silicon thin film is formed on the insulating film in which the opening has been made and inside the opening. Then, a monocrystal is solid-phase-grown in the amorphous silicon thin film, with the opening as a seed, thereby forming a monocrystalline silicon layer. Then, the monocrystalline silicon layer is heat-treated in an oxidizing atmosphere, thereby thinning the monocrystalline silicon layer and reducing the defect density. Then, a memory cell array is formed on the monocrystalline silicon layer which has been thinned and whose defect density has been reduced.
US07842563B2
A thin film transistor may include an active layer formed on an insulating substrate and formed with source/drain regions and a channel region; a gate insulating film formed on the active layer; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film. The gate electrode may be formed of a conductive metal film pattern and a conductive oxide film covering the conductive metal film pattern. The source/drain regions may include an LDD region, and the LDD region may at least partially overlap with the gate electrode.
US07842562B2
A semiconductor device (and method for making the same) includes a strained-silicon channel formed adjacent a source and a drain, a first gate formed over a first side of the channel, a second gate formed over a second side of the channel, a first gate dielectric formed between the first gate and the strained-silicon channel, and a second gate dielectric formed between the second gate and the strained-silicon channel. The strained-silicon channel is non-planar.
US07842557B2
A nonvolatile storage device includes a plurality of bit lines 21 arranged in a column direction on a substrate; a plurality of word lines 35 arranged in a row direction on the substrate; a memory cell array 20 having a plurality of memory cells 31, where a store state of each of the memory cells 31 changes according to an electric signal relatively applied to the word line 35 and the bit line 21; a word line selection unit having a needle 51 relatively movable with respect to the substrate which comes into contact with one word line 35, setting the word line 35 in contact with the needle 51 to a selection state; and a sense amplifier 48 detecting through the bit line an electrical signal exhibiting the store state of the memory cell 31 to be connected to the word line.
US07842553B2
The present disclosure relates generally to microelectronic technology, and more specifically, to an apparatus used for the cooling of active electronic devices utilizing micro-channels or micro-trenches, and a technique for fabricating the same.
US07842552B2
A structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (i) a carrier substrate which includes substrate pads, (ii) a chip physically attached to the carrier substrate, and (iii) a first frame physically attached to the carrier substrate. A CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) of the first frame is substantially lower than a CTE of the carrier substrate.
US07842544B2
Various apparatuses and methods for forming integrated circuit packages are described. One aspect of the invention pertains to a wafer level method for packaging micro-systems. A substrate prefabricated with metal vias can be provided. The substrate can also be made by forming holes in a substrate and electroplating an electrically conductive material into the holes to form the vias. Multiple microsystems are formed on a top surface of the substrate. Each microsystem is formed to include multiple layers of planarizing, photo-imageable epoxy, one or more interconnect layers and an integrated circuit. Each interconnect layer is embedded in an associated epoxy layer. The integrated circuit is positioned within at least an associated epoxy layer. The interconnect layers of the microsystems are formed such that at least some of the interconnect layers are electrically coupled with one or more of the metal vias in the substrate. Molding material is applied over the top surface of the substrate and the microsystems to form a molded structure. Portions of the substrate can be removed. The molded structure can be singulated to form individual integrated circuit packages. Each of the integrated circuit packages contains at least one microsystem. Various embodiments involve forming conductive pads on the top surface of the substrate instead of the metal vias.
US07842528B2
A manufacturing method of the present invention includes a process using a first multi-tone mask, in which a first conductive layer in which a transparent conductive layer and a metal layer are stacked over a substrate, a gate electrode formed of a first conductive layer, and a pixel electrode formed of a single layer of the transparent conductive layer are formed, a process using a second multi-tone mask, in which a contact hole to the pixel electrode, and an island of an i-type semiconductor layer and an n+ type semiconductor layer are formed after a gate insulating film, the i-type semiconductor layer, and the n+ type semiconductor layer are formed, a process using a third photomask, in which a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed after a second conductive layer is formed, and a process using a fourth photomask, in which an opening region is formed after a protective film is deposited.
US07842527B2
A method of device growth and p-contact processing that produces improved performance for non-polar III-nitride light emitting diodes and laser diodes. Key components using a low defect density substrate or template, thick quantum wells, a low temperature p-type III-nitride growth technique, and a transparent conducting oxide for the electrodes.
US07842505B2
A fluorescent labeling reagent of the present invention includes an inorganic fluorescent particle and a material (A) having a material (B) of biological origin adsorbed or bound thereto. The inorganic fluorescent particle is integrated with the material (A) so as to form the reagent of the present invention. The inorganic fluorescent particle used in the present invention is capable of emitting light with a wavelength of 650 nm to 1600 nm in the infrared region or the near-infrared region which can be detected by means of Si—CCD or InGaAs—PD and can penetrate an H2O rich sample when excited by light with a wavelength of 650 nm or longer which has the shortest transparent wavelength of AlInGaP-LD including oxygen adsorption type hemoglobin used for DVDs etc.
US07842497B2
The invention provides a biological method of producing isoprenoids.
US07842488B2
The present invention provides for isolated polynucleotides encoding a human 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase, and vectors and host cells comprising the isolated polynucleotides.
US07842487B2
Use of a biological material containing: e) a three-dimensional matrix based on a hyaluronic acid derivative and optionally f) chondrocytes and/or mesenchymal cells partially or completely differentiated towards chondrocytes for the preparation of a graft to be surgically implanted into a joint cartilage damaged by or to be protected against a degenerative and/or inflammatory pathology.
US07842486B2
A method of converting a composite material derived from municipal solid waste into alcohol is provided.
US07842470B2
This application relates to methods of identifying pharmacoperone agents that can restore function to a misfolded protein, such as a misfolded protein that causes disease. Also disclosed are methods of using such pharmacoperone agents to treat a disease or disorder that results from the misfolded protein.
US07842459B2
Novel splice variant nucleic acid sequences. The novel splice variants and their nucleic acid sequences according to the present invention may optionally be used for diagnosis of a variant-detectable disease as described herein.
US07842455B2
The invention relates to genetic screens for susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. In particular, the invention provides genetic screens based on genotyping of the p21E2c31 polymorphism and/or the p21E3+20 C/T polymorphism in the p21cip 1 gene.
US07842450B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first mask pattern on a target layer, the first mask pattern exposing a first portion of the target layer, forming an intermediate material layer, including depositing an intermediate material layer film on a side of the first mask pattern and the first portion of the target layer, and thinning the intermediate material layer film to form the intermediate material layer, forming a second mask pattern that exposes a second portion of the intermediate material layer, removing the exposed second portion of the intermediate material layer to expose the target layer, and patterning the target layer using the first and second mask patterns as patterning masks.
US07842447B2
To provide a toner which allows low temperature fixation irrespective of the configuration of a fuser, which is excellent in offset resistance, and which provides high image quality at high and low humidities in a stable manner without causing any image defect over time. A toner containing: a binder resin and a colorant; in which the toner contains a THF-soluble component to be dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF); the binder resin component contained in the THF-soluble component contains: a vinyl resin unit (I) formed by at least a carboxyl group-containing vinyl resin and an epoxy group-containing vinyl resin and having an epoxy value of 0.001 to 1.000 eq/kg and a polyester unit (II) formed by condensation polymerization of monomers each containing fatty acid having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, aromatic tricarboxylic acid, and ethylene glycol; and the toner has a main peak present in a molecular weight region ranging from 3,000 to 30,000 on the measurement of a molecular weight distribution of the THF-soluble component by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).
US07842444B2
The invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive substrate having a photosensitive layer and a protective layer thereon, the protective layer comprising a crosslinked film having a phenolic structure, in which the relationship between a pH of the exfoliated protective layer extracted with distilled water (pHOCL) and a pH of said distilled water (pHw) satisfies the following formula (A):pHOCL−pHW≦0.5.
US07842426B2
A fuel cell stack is disclosed that utilizes a porous material internally disposed in the fuel cell outlet manifolds, wherein the porous material facilitates the transport of liquid water from the plate outlets thereby minimizing the accumulation of liquid water in the fuel cell stack.
US07842404B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting device. The organic light emitting device comprises a first electrode, organic material layer(s) comprising a light emitting layer, and a second electrode. The first electrode, the organic material layer(s), and the second electrode form layered structure and at least one layer of the organic material layer(s) include the compound of Formula 1 or the compound of Formula 1 into which a thermosetting or photo-crosslinkable functional group is introduced.
US07842403B2
A coated substrate and a process for forming the coated substrate, including a first lubricious coating layer overlying the substrate, the first lubricious coating layer including a first lubricant providing to the first lubricious coating layer a first coefficient of friction; and a second lubricious coating layer overlying the first lubricious coating layer, the second lubricious coating layer including a second lubricant providing to the second lubricious coating layer a second coefficient of friction, in which the second coefficient of friction is greater than the first coefficient of friction.
US07842399B2
A sliding bearing element is characterized in that a bearing material that is bonded to the backing is disposed at least at the edges of the backing in form of wires in the circumferential direction and that a soft material is located at least in a space between said wires. At least one intermediate wire can be disposed between the two edge wires generally running in the circumferential direction. The method comprises the following processing steps: providing a strip of steel or any other material having the required degree of strength which forms the backing of the bearing to be produced, bonding at least one wire at each of the two edges of the backing strip, whereat disposing the wires in such a manner that said wires run in circumferential direction generally, and filling out the spaces between the wires with soft material.
US07842397B2
A nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no nickel chloride; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4. Another nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no boric acid; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4.
US07842394B2
The present invention relates to curable alkenyl based silicone release coating compositions having improved adhesion to paper and polymeric substrates. Furthermore the present invention relates to the process for making a silicone release coating with improved adhesion to paper and polymeric substrates.
US07842384B2
According to the present invention, there is provided a capsule comprising a capsule covering film and a capsule filler solution encapsulated therein, wherein curdlan is used as a capsule covering film matrix of this capsule covering film. This capsule is a capsule excellent in heat resistance, containing a non-protein-based capsule covering film matrix. The present invention also provides a process for producing this capsule.
US07842382B2
Disclosed are formaldehyde-free, thermally-curable, alkaline, aqueous binder compositions, curable to formaldehyde-free, water-insoluble thermoset polyester resins, and uses thereof as binders for non-woven fibers and fiber materials.
US07842377B2
A composition includes a plurality of particles. At least some of the plurality of particles include cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol and have a diameter of about 500 microns or less. The particles have a first average pore size in an interior region, and a second average pore size at a surface region. The first average pore size being greater than the second average pore size. The composition also includes a carrier fluid. The plurality of particles being in the carrier fluid.
US07842375B2
A metal matrix composite preform including an angled curved groove in the surface of the matrix material. A reinforcing fiber is placed within the angled curved groove and the stiffness of the fiber causes it to be pressed against an outer wall member defining the groove. The fiber is retained within the metal matrix composite preform prior to hot isostatic pressing.
US07842373B2
Geotechnical article, and process for making it, the article having coefficient of thermal expansion less than about 150 ppm/° C. at ambient; resistance to acidic media greater than polyamide 6 resin and/or resistance to basic media greater than PET resin; resistance to hydrocarbons greater than that of HDPE; creep modulus of at least 400 MPa at 25° C., at 20% of yield stress load for 60 minutes (ISO 899-1); and 1 percent secant flexural modulus at least 700 MPa at 25° C. (ASTM D790); the article including a composition including (a) from about 1 to about 95% by weight of the composition of at least one functional group containing polymer or oligomer; and (b) from about 5 to about 99% by weight of the composition of at least one engineering thermoplastic, and optionally containing a filler and optionally containing an unmodified polyolefin, ethylene copolymer or ethylene terpolymer.
US07842365B2
A sealing system positionable to cover an opening in a package body covering removable articles includes a base material and a resealable label flap. The base material is permanently attached to the package body and formed with a die cut line surrounding the opening in the package body and defines a movable blank. The base material has a back surface provided with a permanent adhesive provided with a deadened area covering the blank and extending beyond the die cut lie. The resealable label flap is positioned on the base material to cover the opening in the packaged body and the die cut line. The resealable flap has a back surface provided with a resealable adhesive that permits repeated application and removal of the label flap relative to the base material.
US07842357B2
A compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, for example alkyl; T1, T2 and T3 are independently tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl or tetrahydropyran-3,6-diyl; A1 and A2 are, for example 1,4-cyclohexylene; Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are, for example, a single bond; i, j, k, m and n are, for example 0 or 1; and i+j+k+m+n is, for example 2 or 3.
US07842347B2
A layer of material that binds to the next material to be printed is applied. In an embodiment this material is a resin containing a porous silica. The number of printing passes and amount of liquid accumulation is reduced by selecting ingredients of the ink to act both as a humectant and as a layer former, which permits the ink to have high amounts of active ingredient. In an implementation, two materials, the first an ink depositing amine and the second an ink depositing epoxy, are printed separately. They react in situ to form a single, dielectric layer. When the lower layer is a conductive metal trace or a wiring crossover on, for example, a paper substrate, a second metal trace perpendicular to the lower trace may be formed on the dielectric layer to form a capacitive circuit configuration.
US07842342B2
A method for manufacturing a protective layer such that when the protective layer is formed in a film-forming chamber, the partial pressure of water in the film-forming chamber is controlled by the exhaust velocity of the water in the film-forming chamber. During formation of the protective layer the total pressure in the film-forming chamber is kept constant. In addition, the partial pressure of the water in the film-forming chamber is controlled while introducing a gas into the film-forming chamber, thereby controlling the ratio of the partial pressure of hydrogen to the partial pressure of oxygen in the film-forming chamber.
US07842341B2
A method for evaporating a plurality of purified organic materials in a thermal physical vapor deposition system, comprising the steps of: mixing predetermined amounts of first and second organic materials to form a mixture of materials at a predetermined ratio; processing at least one of the organic materials at less than the sublimation temperature of the at least one of the organic materials before or after mixing to remove a first contaminant, wherein if processing is after mixing, the processing temperature is lower than the sublimation temperature of each of the organic materials; providing a thermal physical vapor deposition source; transferring the purified mixture of organic materials into the thermal physical vapor deposition source while maintaining the purified mixture of organic materials in a controlled, contaminant-free environment; and using the source to evaporate the purified mixture of organic materials.
US07842338B2
A method of making a photoactive coating includes depositing a first coating material containing zirconium oxide over at least a portion of a substrate and depositing a second coating material containing titanium oxide over at least a portion of the first coating material to provide a coated substrate. At least one of the first and second coating materials is deposited by pyrolytic deposition.
US07842331B2
A manufacturing method of a magnetic recording medium having a surface where a lubricating layer is provided, the manufacturing method includes the steps of: applying a lubricant so that the lubricating layer is formed; and inspecting the magnetic recording medium where the lubricating layer is formed; wherein the step of inspecting includes a first step of floating a magnetic head over the magnetic recording medium or sliding the magnetic head on a surface of the magnetic recording medium; a second step of adhering a medium facing surface of the magnetic head to a surface of a substrate for measuring, standing the medium facing surface of the magnetic head on the surface of the substrate for measuring, and transferring the lubricant from the medium facing surface of the magnetic head to the substrate for measuring; a third step of measuring an amount of the lubricant on the surface of the substrate for measuring; and a fourth step of determining whether the amount of the lubricant is proper.
US07842326B2
An improved carbonated protein beverage/drink composition which provides a relatively bill protein content, ranging from about 2% by weight to about 15% by weight, while simultaneously employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink solution or liquid drink suspension) to about 4 volumes of carbonation. Preferably the protein is whey protein. The carbonated protein beverage has been heat treated to inactivate microbes in the presence of the carbonation which is used to provide taste and mouth feel for the drink. Typically, the treatment for microbe inactivation is carried out in the individual package used for storage and handling of the carbonated protein drink.
US07842324B2
The inventions disclosed herein relate to man-made bi-aromatic amide compounds that, when contacted with comestible food or drinks or pharmaceutical compositions at concentrations preferably on the order of about 100 ppm or lower, serve as sweet taste modifiers, sweet flavoring agents, or sweet flavor enhancers, for use in foods, beverages, and other comestible products, or orally administered medicinal products or compositions, optionally in the presence of or in mixtures with conventional flavoring agents such as known natural saccharide sweeteners and previously known artificial sweeteners.
US07842322B2
The reduction of agglomeration amongst granular food particles by combining one or more granular foods with one or more novel flow agents that do not adversely impact the granular food or, alternatively, a food product produced therefrom. The invention facilitates the transport, storage, and processing of granular foods.
US07842317B2
An antiviral composition and a method of treating viral conditions comprising colloidal silver and an antiviral natural herb or a natural herb from the Rutaceae family, such as Ruta graveolens, Myrtaceae family, such as Melaleuca alternifolia, Cupressaceae family, such as Thuja occidentalis, and the Moraceae family, such as unripe fig, or any combination thereof.
US07842315B2
Disclosed is a composition for hepatoprotection, or for prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, which comprises as an active ingredient a water extract of a mixture of Trionycis Carapax, Raphani Semen, Artemisia capillaris Herba, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Poria cocos, Alismatis Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Salvia Miltiorrhizae Radix, Polyporus, Amomi Fructus, Ponciri Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix and Helenii Radix.
US07842314B2
The present invention comprises the periodic administration of a solution of neuraminidase to a patient with a neoplasm until the neoplasm has receded. The administration of the solution of neuraminidase can be administered by subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, intravenous injection, nasal administration, sublingual administration or transdermal administration. The present invention is effective in treating a wide variety of neoplasms.
US07842311B2
Disclosed is an oral dosage form comprising (i) an opioid agonist in releasable form and (ii) a sequestered opioid antagonist which is substantially not released when the dosage form is administered intact.
US07842302B2
The invention relates to a mixture comprising a surfactant and a cosurfactant, the cosurfactant being an amphiphilic polymer having one or more hydrophobic subunits (A) and one or more hydrophilic subunits (B), wherein one or more hydrophobic subunits (A) have been formed on the basis of a polyisobutene block whose polyisobutene macromolecules have terminal double bonds to an extent of at least 50 mol %.
US07842300B2
A bone repair material is described that is of putty-like consistency, particularly useful for repairing dental bony defects such as those caused by bone loss resulting from moderate or severe periodontitis, augmenting of bony defects of the alveolar ridge, filling tooth extraction sites, or sinus elevation grafting. The repair material includes a porous, resorbable particulate that is bone-derived or derived from bone-like hydroxyapatite or synthetic hydroxyapatite; and, a resorbable carrier, such as high molecular weight polysaccharides, such as hyaluronic acid. A high concentration of particulate in the putty enhances bone repair and requires a high concentration of carrier to retain the putty at the defect site. For a particulate density of about 1.2 g/cc such as PEPGEN P-15® Bone Graft, a preferred formulation comprises about 55% percent by weight of the putty suspended in a hyaluronic acid gel of about 1.4×106 daltons molecular weight and a final concentration of about 56 mg/cc which material adheres to a bony periodontal defect and does not excessively expand or migrate from the defect when held in place by a conventional flap closure.
US07842299B2
Methods for producing an immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are disclosed herein. In several examples, the immune response is a protective immune response. In additional embodiments, methods are disclosed for preventing an infection with Mtb, or treating an infection with Mtb. Pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of tuberculosis are also disclosed.
US07842297B2
The present invention provides antigenic proteins of Chlamydia trachomatis. The proteins of the present invention are useful for eliciting an immune response to Chlamydia in a patient. For example, an effective amount of protein of the present invention or fraction thereof may be administered to a patient for eliciting a Chlamydia specific immune response. In another example, a method of raising an antibody specific for Chlamydia trachomatis elementary bodies (EB) is provided in which a protein of the present invention is administered to a patient.
US07842288B2
A marine anti-bio-fouling coating 10, for application onto the surface of a marine article 12. The coating 10 comprises a self-levelling, self-curing epoxy resin primer adhesive 14, an adhesive modified epoxy resin binder adhesive 16 and granulated Copper Nickel alloy 18. When a coated marine article 12 is immersed in water a chemical reaction occurs between the water and the Copper Nickel alloy 18 which causes a film of a complex metal oxide 20 to form on the exterior surface of the layer of Copper Nickel alloy granules 18. The oxide film 20 forms an inhospitable environment to aquatic organisms and aquatic borers, thereby preventing bio-fouling occurring on the coated marine article. A method of applying the coating 10 to a marine article 12 is also provided.
US07842287B2
An acid-gas absorbing tablet including in relatively sufficient proportions an adsorbent which may be activated carbon or silica gel or a mixture thereof, potassium carbonate, polyvinylpyrrolidinone, and potassium bicarbonate. A method of absorbing acid gases from a confined environment utilizing the above tablet by inserting it into the confined environment.
US07842282B2
A method for producing a microfoam suitable for use in scleropathy of blood vessels comprises introducing a physiologically acceptable blood-dispersible gas into a container (1) holding an aqueous sclerosant liquid and releasing the mixture of blood-dispersible gas and sclerosant liquid, whereby upon release of the mixture the components of the mixture interact to form a microfoam.
US07842279B2
F-18 radiolabeled peptides are prepared by reacting a peptide comprising a hydroxylamine, a thiosemicarbazide, a hydrazine or a free amine group with 4-[18F]Fluorobenzaldehyde. Specific, non-limiting examples of F-18 radiolabeled peptides are described herein. The labeled peptides are useful, for example, in clinical positron emission tomography.
US07842270B2
A string for use in a string ribbon crystal has a base portion with a refractory material, and an externally exposed layer radially outward of the refractory material. The base portion has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is generally matched with the coefficient of thermal expansion for silicon. The externally exposed layer has a contact angle with silicon of between about 15 and 120 degrees.
US07842265B1
Disclosed is a method for the reduction of mercury emissions from an industrial plant utilizing a cement or minerals kiln that has a high level of mercury. The invention allows for the repeated treatment of a gas stream to reduce the level of mercury and other pollutants through reduction steps, allowing targeted treatment of specific compounds. The invention utilizes multiple sorbent injections for the step-wise reduction in pollutants. Utilizing the multiple stages of reaction, very high levels of mercury emissions may be controlled to greater reduction percentages than existing methods.
US07842264B2
A multiple stage apparatus and process using aerodynamic reactors and aero-coalescers in sequence for the selective capture and removal of purified carbon dioxide gas, the sequential capture and removal of mercury, metal and particulate aerosols by a recycling chemical generation-regeneration system using alkali metal chloride solution following multiple oxidations of mercury vapor, and nitric oxide in sequence, selective capture and removal of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide by two stage absorption by a recycling chemical generation-regeneration system using alkali metal hydroxide-carbonate-bicarbonate solution together with sequential oxidation to alkali metal sulfate and alkali metal nitrate compounds through evaporation and crystallization. Carbon dioxide capture and recovery is achieved in sequence by selective thermal decarbonation from an alkaline liquid followed by recovery as a purified gas stream.
US07842256B2
A compact catalytic reactor for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis defines a multiplicity of first and second flow channels arranged alternately in the reactor, for carrying a gas mixture which undergoes Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and a coolant fluid, respectively. Each first flow channel contains a removable gas-permeable catalyst structure incorporating a metal substrate. A multiplicity of flow paths are defined through the catalyst structure, and the voidage, that is to say the proportion of the cross-sectional area of the first flow channel constituted by the said multiplicity of flow paths, is between 25% and 70%. This provides an optimum balance between productivity and selectivity, so that operation of the reactor can be economic and controllable.
US07842255B2
Method for carbamate condensation of a carbon dioxide/ammonia gaseous phase in a liquid phase in a condensation unit of the so-called submerged type comprising a heat exchange tube bundle having a predetermined number of tubes intended for carbamate condensation, wherein the gaseous phase and the liquid phase are fed contemporaneously and independently to each of the tubes intended for condensation.
US07842254B2
An ammonia converter is disclosed. The converter can alter the conversion of ammonia by controlling the reaction temperature of the exothermic reaction along the length of the reactor to parallel the equilibrium curve for the desired product. The converter can comprise a shell 101 and internal catalyst tubes 109. The feed gas stream enters the reactor, flows through the shell 101, and is heated by indirect heat exchange with the catalyst tubes 109. The catalyst tubes 109 comprise reactive zones 122 having catalyst and reaction limited zones 124 that can comprise inert devices that function to both separate the reactive zones, increase heat transfer area, and reduce the temperature of the reaction mixture as the effluent passes through the catalyst tube 109.
US07842249B2
Method and device for the creation of vaccines using ultrasonic waves, comprised of an ultrasound generator and a transducer to produce ultrasonic waves, is disclosed. The transducer has a specific ultrasound tip depending upon the type of delivery method utilized and depending on the shape of the vial containing the solution of the virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent. The apparatus delivers ultrasonic waves to solution either directly through the insertion of the ultrasound tip into the solution, through a coupling medium adjacent to the vial or near the vial, or through an air or gas medium. The ultrasound waves have the effect of destroying the viable virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent and of releasing the appropriate antigens, thus resulting in a vaccine for that virus, bacterium, or other infectious agent.
US07842245B2
A fluid handling unit 16 has an inside cylindrical portion 16c which is arranged in an outside small-diameter cylindrical portion 16b so as to be eccentric with respect to the outside small-diameter cylindrical portion 16b, and a plurality of slits 16d for establishing a communication between an inside fluid housing chamber 30 and an outside fluid housing chamber 28. The most part of liquid in the inside fluid housing chamber 30 enters the outside fluid housing chamber 28, in which the height of the liquid level varies in circumferential directions, when the quantity of the fed liquid is not larger than a predetermined quantity. The liquid in the outside fluid housing chamber 28 enters the inside fluid housing chamber 30 when the quantity of the fed liquid exceeds the predetermined quantity.
US07842238B2
An automated microarray processing system includes a microarray housing assembly module, an incubation module, a washing module and at least one automated transport module. With the automated transport module being mechanically moved among the microarray housing assembly module, the incubation module and the washing module, biochemical reaction of a reaction region of a microarray and a biological sample solution disposed therebetween is automatically performed, and the reacted microarray is automatically cleaned when the biochemical reaction of the microarray is completed.
US07842237B1
An automatic analyzer which is applied to a device for analyzing specimen by the transfer of a specimen holding rack to an analysis unit and designed not to complicate the transfer system of the rack even if the number of the analysis units is one or increased to two or more, wherein a rack standby disk capable of rotating and stopping under the condition that a plurality of racks are waiting is installed, an exclusive rack reciprocatingly transfer line is provided between each analysis unit and the rack standby disk, only a single rack is led to each rack reciprocatingly transfer line, and the rack is returned to the rack standby disk after the sampling and treatment of the specimen have been completed.
US07842231B2
An article made of constituent elements is prepared by furnishing at least one nonmetallic precursor compound, wherein all of the nonmetallic precursor compounds collectively contain the constituent elements. The constituent elements include a titanium-base metallic composition, boron present at a level greater than its room-temperature solid solubility limit, and, optionally, a stable-oxide-forming additive element present at a level greater than its room-temperature solid solubility limit. The precursor compounds are chemically reduced to produce a material comprising a titanium-base metallic composition having titanium boride particles therein, without melting the titanium-base metallic composition. The titanium-base metallic composition having the titanium boride particles therein is consolidated without melting.
US07842230B2
A continuous carburizing furnace includes a furnace having a carburizing zone for performing a carburizing process on a workpiece while the workpiece is conveyed; and a plurality of regions disposed successively in a direction of conveyance upstream from the carburizing zone, the carburizing zone being provided with an intermediate door being opened and closed between the carburizing zone and the upstream side therefrom. Also included is at least a single lift mechanism for lowering the workpiece in a region other than a region of the most upstream side among the plurality of regions; and a plurality of pushers for pushing the workpiece at each of the plurality of regions to regions downstream therefrom or to the carburizing zone, the plurality of pushers being disposed so as to push the workpiece at successively lowered levels of height one after another in the direction of conveyance.
US07842229B2
Disclosed is a substrate rotating device improved such that an amount of particle generation is remarkably reduced, and a substrate processing apparatus provided with the substrate rotating device. The substrate rotating device includes a driven rotary member, e.g., a driven ring, connected directly or indirectly to a substrate support member for supporting a substrate; and a driving rotary member, e.g., a drive rotor, that rotates in abutment against the driven rotary member to drive the driven rotary member for rotation. The driven rotary member and the driving rotary member are formed of ceramic materials, whose values of fracture toughness defined by JIS R1607 are different from each other, and/or whose values of three-point bending strength defined by JIS R1601 are different from each other.
US07842227B2
A drying jig of the present invention is a drying jig for a pillar-shaped honeycomb molded body having a large number of cells longitudinally placed in parallel with one another with a cell wall therebetween, comprising: a fixing member for preventing separation or opening of the drying jig; and a piling member which enables the drying jig to be piled up in multi stage at the time of drying.
US07842226B2
The method includes providing a mold apparatus (1) that includes a first mold portion (11) having a contoured and perforated interior mold surface (14), and a perimeter edge (17). The mold apparatus also includes a frame (35) that surrounds at least a portion of the perimeter edge (17) of the first mold portion (11). At least one sheet retainer (148) resides on the upper surface (38) of the frame (35). Each sheet retainer (148) includes a clamp portion (151) that faces towards (or in the direction of) the perimeter edge (17) of the first mold portion (11), and which includes a reversibly closeable clamp member (154) which defines in part a clamp interior (157). Each sheet retainer (148) is independently, reversibly and laterally attached to the upper surface (38) of the frame (35), such that each clamp portion (151) is reversibly and laterally positionable relative to the perimeter edge (17) of the first mold portion (11). In the method of the present invention, each sheet retainer, with a first portion (304) of a heated thermoplastic sheet (292) retained within the clamp portion thereof, is independently, reversibly and laterally moved towards and/or away from the perimeter edge of the first mold portion. Independent reversible and lateral positioning of each sheet retainer provides control (e.g., localized control) over the thickness of the heated thermoplastic sheet that is contacted with the interior mold surface of the first mold portion during the molding process.
US07842216B2
A core having a center, and a mantle layer comprising a thermoplastic resin composition is provided. Next, a reinforcing layer including a thermosetting resin composition is formed on the surface of this core to obtain a spherical body 40. Next, this spherical body 40 is covered by two pieces of half shell 46. Next, the spherical body 40 and the half shells 46 are placed into a mold 32. Next, the mold 32 is clamped at a velocity of 0.01 mm/sec or greater and 1.0 mm/sec or less. The thermoplastic resin composition of the half shell 46 is heated while being compressed in the spherical cavity to result in flow. This thermoplastic resin composition is hardened to give a cover having a thickness of 0.1 mm or greater and less than 0.7 mm. The difference (T−Fc) between the molding temperature T and the incipient fluidization temperature Fc of the thermoplastic resin composition of the cover is 0° C. or greater and 30° C. or less.
US07842214B2
A method for forming a microporous membrane having a microstructure is described. Dope and coagulant formulations are simultaneously cast, where the coagulant formulation diffuses into the dope formulation through an interface effecting a phase inversion forming a microstructure.
US07842211B2
A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a thermoplastic polyurethane cover in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed from the solution and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product is then placed in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.
US07842210B2
A grommet for sealing the wires extending through the wall of a fuel tank is formed by first removing a portion of the covering exposing the strands of wires within. A liquid sealing agent is applied to the strands and the strands are compressed to displace the strands. A hardener is then applied and then the strands are encapsulated in the body of the grommet.
US07842205B2
The present invention provides a manufacturing method by which a substrate (typically, a TFT substrate) can be installed directly in a treatment apparatus by using a transfer container without shifting the substrate from the transfer container to another container. It is possible to use the container efficiently and transfer different substrates in size with one container. A manufacturing method in which a substrate is directly installed in an electrostatic-protected transfer container by a substrate supplier, and then the container is directly installed in a treatment apparatus by a substrate demander after transferring can be realized, thereby making it possible to transfer substrates such as a TFT substrate. A contamination of a substrate due to particles and electrostatic discharge damage of a TFT substrate can be avoided because a transferring operation is not needed. A manufacturing method in which a substrate holding portion of the container is replaced depending on the size of a substrate and different substrates in size can be transferred with one container may be employed.
US07842201B2
A system for manufacturing a micro-retarder and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The system for manufacturing a micro-retarder includes a carrying device, a heating device and a movement control device. The carrying device is used for carrying a polymolecule film. The polymolecule film is selected from a polymolecule film having an arrangement direction. The heating device is used for providing a heating source. The energy formed in the central area of the heating source is smaller than that in the peripheral area of the heating source. The movement control device is used for controlling the heating source and the polymolecule film to relatively move along a first direction, so that the adjusted heating source heats at least one partial area of the polymolecule film along the first direction and resumes the partial area of the polymolecule film to be non-directional.
US07842197B2
There are provided a conductive material obtained by bringing a π conjugated polymer into contact with an ionic liquid and a conductive film obtained by bringing a π conjugated polymer film into contact with the ionic liquid. Method of producing them is provided.
US07842195B2
Methods and compositions to a clathrate that includes chlorine dioxide (ClO2) are provided. Clathrates trap gaseous chlorine dioxide to provide a dry solid material that is stable and easy to use and handle. Stable formulations of gaseous chlorine dioxide are useful as disinfectants.
US07842189B2
A processing apparatus includes counters each used to measure the length of RF discharge time over which power is applied to a consumable component in correspondence to a specific type of processing executed in a processing chamber, a storage to store wear coefficient information indicating wear coefficients each corresponding to one of the plurality of types of processing, and a control unit that obtains information indicating RF discharge time lengths measured by the counters in correspondence to the individual types of processing, obtains the wear coefficients corresponding to the individual types of processing indicated in the wear coefficient information stored in the storage, calculates a wear index value for the consumable component based upon the RF discharge time lengths and the wear coefficients corresponding to the individual types of processing, and executes consumable component management processing based upon the calculated wear index value.
US07842187B2
The present invention relates to the purification of polypeptides and the removal of endotoxin via immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). More specifically, the invention relates to methods for removing bacterial endotoxin in a protein solution. In specific embodiments, the invention relates to the elimination of endotoxin from Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane proteins.
US07842179B2
A sealing ring assembly and an improved method for mounting a sealing ring into an electrochemical cell used for Electrochemical Capacitance Voltage (ECV) profiling measurements. The ring is located in a holder having at least one secondary bore providing fluid communication between a forward face of the holder and the central bore of the ring, directed parallel to but tangentially offset relative to the inner wall of the central bore so as to impart a degree of rotational flow to electrolyte entering the sealing ring through the or each secondary bore which effectively removes gas bubbles and refreshes the electrolyte. The holder facilitates ring removal with a much reduced risk of damage to the delicate sealing surface.
US07842178B2
An electrically conducting electrode having a composite and a current collector in electrical contact with the composite, the composite can comprise at least about 10 weight percent electrically conductive particles, at least about 0.5 weight percent magnetic particles, and an optional polymeric binder, wherein composite is at least about 80 weight percent with respect to the combined weight of the electrically conductive particles, the magnetic particles and the binder. Electrochemical systems can effectively use these electrodes to improve system performance.
US07842166B2
A permeable belt, a belt press including a roll having an exterior surface and the permeable belt, and a method of drying or pressing a web with the permeable belt. The permeable belt can be tensioned to at least 30 KN/m. A side of the permeable belt has an open area of at least approximately 25% and a contact area of at least approximately 25%. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07842165B2
A method for monitoring the deposition of one or more organic materials dispersed in an aqueous medium in a papermaking process comprising: measuring the rate of deposition of the organic materials from the aqueous medium on-to a quartz crystal microbalance having a top side contacting with the aqueous medium coated with a layer containing a non-swelling epoxy resin or a silicone containing polymer, and a second, bottom side isolated from the aqueous medium is disclosed. Additionally, a method for measuring the effectiveness of an inhibitor that decreases the deposition of the organic materials in a papermaking process is also disclosed.
US07842155B1
A method of producing a laminated label structure that includes a region that is markable after assembly of the label structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing a strip of base material having a front face, applying a release material to a markable region of the front face for being marked after assembly of the label structure, and cutting the base material to form a first portion of a perimeter of the label structure. The method further comprises positioning a laminate material over a portion of the front face including the markable region, cutting the base material and the laminate material to form a second portion of the perimeter, cutting the laminate material substantially along a margin of the markable region without severing the base material; and peeling away from the base material a portion of the laminate material overlying the markable region of the front face.
US07842148B2
A method for determining the operating parameters of a device for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread (1) laid directly in its final position by projecting lengths of thread (10) onto a receiving surface (S). The device includes an assembly comprising a rotary conduit (2) of given length B and of longitudinal axis bb′ fixed to a shaft (20) of axis R constituting the axis of rotation of the conduit, so that the outer radial end of the conduit is directed substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation, the conduit receiving the thread (1) via its central end, which is the opposite end to the outer radial end, from the feed means, the thread leaving via the outer radial end, feed means for feeding thread (1) from a source of thread, the feed means controlling the linear rate of advance of the thread inside the rotary conduit, means for rotating the conduit at a speed Ω about the axis R, the conduit running in a plane of rotation P forming an angle θ with the longitudinal direction of the receiving surface, and thread cutting means (24, 31), wherein the angle βc formed by the conduit and a direction of the plane P at the time that the length of thread is cut is determined in such a way that the initial contact between the length of thread and the receiving surface S is one third of the way from the rear of the length.
US07842142B1
High-strength parts and a method for producing them can be provided, where such parts exhibit hydrogen embrittlement resistance and strength after high-temperature forming. For example, the atmosphere in a heating furnace can contain less than about 10% hydrogen and/or have a dew point of about 30° C. or less. The amount of hydrogen penetrating a steel sheet during heating can thereby be reduced. After forming, quench hardening in a die assembly and post-working can be performed. Post-working can include shearing followed by re-shearing or compression forming; punching with a cutting blade having a continuously reduced base width; punching with a tool having a curved blade and a protrusion at the tip of the cutting blade, where the curved blade may include a shoulder portion of given radius and/or angle; fusion cutting; etc. Tensile residual stresses after punching can be reduced and resistance to hydrogen embrittlement can be improved.
US07842140B2
The iron-based rare-earth nanocomposite magnet of the present invention has a composition T100−x−y−z−nQxRyTizMn, where T is Fe or a transition metal element in which Fe is partially replaced by Co and/or Ni; Q is B and/or C; R is at least one rare-earth element including substantially no La or Ce; and M is at least one metal element selected from Al, Si, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ga, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Au and Pb. x, y, z and n satisfy 5≦x≦10 at %, 7≦y≦10 at %, 0.1≦z≦5 at % and 0≦n≦10 at %, respectively. The magnet includes R2Fe14B-type compound phases and α —Fe phases forming a magnetically coupled nanocomposite magnet structure. The R2Fe14B-type compound phases have an average crystal grain size of 30 nm to 300 nm and the α —Fe phases have an average crystal grain size of 1 nm to 20 nm. The magnet has magnetic properties including a coercivity of at least 400 kA/m and a remanence of at least 0.9 T.
US07842125B2
Disclosed herein are a process for the refinement of nitrogen trifluoride gas and an adsorbent used therein. A nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) gas including carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) as an impurity is permeated into a bed of the zeolite 3 A, 4A or 5 A which is ion exchanged with alkali earth metal and is thermally treated at 150 to 600° C. for 0.5 to 100 hours so as to selectively adsorb nitrogen trifluoride onto the bed, followed by the desorption of the nitrogen trifluoride therefrom.
US07842124B2
This invention relates to a polymeric membrane composition comprising an associating polymer. The polymer coating is characterized as having hard and soft segments where the hard segment comprises TMPA, combined with HDPA. The membrane may utilize a porous substrate.
US07842123B2
Apparatus (20) for removing gas bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient wherein a gas trap (42) is located at the upper end of a vertical column (38, 40, 40a) having a lower inlet (44) and an upper outlet (56). A bracket (39) supports the column above the patient, and a bubble-separator (46, 39a, 47, 66, 63), positioned between the inlet and the outlet, causes gas bubbles to move toward the column axis as they rise so that they are captured in the gas trap (42). Liquid to be de-gasified is supplied from a vertical level above the column outlet and is delivered through the side outlet (56) to the patient below.
US07842111B1
Embodiments of the present invention relate to PDCs including a PCD table having an exterior cutting region that exhibits enhanced thermal stability. In one embodiment, a method comprises forming an assembly including a first region having non-diamond carbon material and a second region having a plurality of diamond particles. The method comprises subjecting the assembly to heat and pressure sufficient to form the PDC. In another embodiment, a PDC comprises a substrate and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table comprises an exterior cutting region including a plurality of elongated diamond grains that are generally randomly oriented. The PCD table comprises a main region positioned between the substrate and exterior cutting region, and including a plurality of bonded diamond grains. In another embodiment, the first region may include coarse-sized diamond particles instead of non-diamond carbon material.
US07842110B2
Various processes and systems are disclosed for converting carbonaceous materials into a product gas stream. For instance, the product gas stream may be endothermically converted to a gas through a steam reforming process. The present invention is directed to various methods and systems for increasing throughput and efficiency of the system. Further, the present invention is also directed to sulfur removal methods and systems from a gas stream.
US07842088B2
The invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis comprising at least two plates, namely first and second plates, articulated about each other by means of a curved surface, namely articulation, of at least one of the plates, each of the plates comprising a surface known as a contact surface, intended to be in contact with a vertebral plate of one of the vertebrae between which the prosthesis is intended to be inserted, this contact surface for each of the plates comprising a geometrical centre at equal distance from at least two diametrically opposite points located on the periphery of the plate, in which the geometric centres of the plates are not vertically aligned, this off-setting of the geometrical centres of the plates engendering an off-setting of the edges of the plates in at least one direction perpendicular to the vertical axis of the spinal column.
US07842083B2
An expandable medical device having a plurality of elongated struts, the plurality of elongated struts being joined together by ductile hinges to form a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. The plurality of struts and ductile hinges are arranged to improve the spatial distribution of the struts which is particularly important when delivering beneficial agents with the struts. The improved strut arrangement expands to a substantially parallelogram shape for improved beneficial agent distribution to the surrounding tissue. A beneficial agent may be loaded into openings within the struts or coated onto the struts for delivery to the tissue.
US07842074B2
Devices and methods are adapted to permit fixation and stabilization of the bony elements of the skeleton. The devices permit adjustment and maintenance of the spatial relationship between neighboring bones. The motion between adjacent skeletal segments may be maintained, limited or completely eliminated.
US07842069B2
An implant for occluding a septal defect, such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO), and methods of delivering the implant are described. The implant includes a scaffold, at least one channel, and an injection port in fluid communication with the channels for inflating the scaffold.
US07842065B2
A rapid exchange sheath comprising an elongate tubular member, a guidewire, and support wire having an expandable filter at a distal end. The guidewire passes through a first opening at a distal end of the tubular member and a second opening a short distance proximal from the distal end. The support wire is received in a lumen of the tubular member, or, in certain embodiments, extends proximally through a third opening a short distance proximal from the distal end. Methods of using the sheaths for deploying and/or exchanging medical device(s) in a patient's vessel are also disclosed.
US07842064B2
A filtering device for capturing and removing embolic debris from a body vessel and a system for insertion and removal of the filtering device to facilitate an interventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a body vessel. The filtering device is adapted to be expandable in the body vessel, allowing blood to pass therethrough while maintaining apposition with the body vessel wall and capturing embolic material released into the bloodstream during the interventional procedure, and to be collapsible to remove the captured embolic material from the body vessel. The filtering device includes a guidewire, an expandable cage assembly secured to the guide wire, filter material secured to the expandable cage assembly, and at least one hinge, the hinge allowing the expandable cage assembly to bend independent from the guide wire. The system, which includes a delivery sheath and filtering device, is adapted to retain the expandable cage assembly in a collapsed condition and deliver and deploy the filtering device at a location in the body vessel distal the treatment site.
US07842063B2
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 stops (106, 120) on the guidewire (101) which allows some manipulation of the guidewire independently of the filter when the filter is in use.
US07842062B2
A method of remodeling the uncinate process associated with a paranasal sinus includes positioning at least one shim member in the infundibulum, the shim member deforming the uncinate process and widening at least a portion of the infundibulum. The infundibulum space may be dilated with a dilating member. Dilation may occur prior to delivery of the at least one shim. The dilation member may be delivered into the sinus cavity via an access passageway formed in the canine fossa.
US07842061B2
An intra-bronchial device placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes a support structure, an obstructing member carried by the support structure that reduces ventilation to the lung portion by preventing air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and at least one anchor carried by the support structure that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may engage the air passageway wall by piercing or friction, include a stop dimensioned for limiting the piercing of the air passageway wall, and may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device. The anchors may be carried by a peripheral portion of the support structure, or by a central portion of the support structure. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.
US07842059B2
The device is built of a housing (1), wherein a push button (3) is positioned, and the puncturing needle (5), wherein the push button (3) has arms (7, 8) to guide the push button (3) inside the housing (1), and a driving spring (11), one end of which is linked to the push button (3), and the other end drives the puncturing needle (5), and the puncturing needle (5) has breakable wings (17, 18), which rest against the breaking edge (19) of the housing (1). The device has moreover two return springs (13, 14), each of which is connected to one of the arms (7, 8) of the push button (3), and two side juts (15, 16), each of which is positioned between one of the return springs (13, 14) and the other end of the driving spring (11).
US07842051B2
A suture trimmer, the suture trimmer including a shaft having a first end, a second end and a bore extending axially therebetween, the shaft having an opening formed in the side adjacent the distal end. A fitting is on the distal end of the shaft, the fitting having an aperture formed therethrough, the aperture axially aligned with the bore of the lumen and in communication with the opening formed in the shaft. The suture trimmer further including a actuating device, the actuating device coupled to a cutting member slidably disposed within the bore of the shaft, the cutting member configured to be moved between a first position and a second position, when disposed in the second position the cutting member closes the opening formed in the side of the shaft.
US07842050B2
An embodiment of the invention includes a surgical device for passing suture through soft tissue. The surgical device can include at least one elongate superelastic member having a thickness and having a first resting configuration that defines at least one curve having a first radius of curvature greater than or equal to 3 times the thickness of the superelastic member. The surgical device also can include a thermally formed opening in the superelastic member, the opening adapted to receive at least one strand of suture. Moreover, the surgical device can include a superelastic member adapted to be straightened into a second configuration having a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature.
US07842049B2
A system for securing a device in tissue, having a sheath having a plurality of side openings; a rotatable element disposed within the sheath; and a plurality of curved projections extending from the rotatable element, wherein rotation of the rotatable element within the sheath pushes distal ends of each of the curved projections outwardly through one of the plurality of openings and into the tissue.
US07842048B2
Devices, systems, and methods for suturing of body lumens allow the suturing of vascular puncture sites located at the distal end of a percutaneous tissue tract. An elongated articulated foot of the device can be inserted through the penetration and actuated so that the foot extends along the lumenal axis. The foot can carry suturing attachment cuffs with one end of the cuff adapted to receive a needle, while the other end receives suture. A portion of the foot and/or lumen of the shaft can receive a portion of the suture and can include friction reducing structure that aid with movement of the sutured during removal of the cuffs from within the penetration.
US07842044B2
An instrument for engaging a bone anchor may include a first implant engaging member having a proximal end and a distal end and a second implant engaging member having a proximal end and a distal end. The second implant engaging member may be integrally connected to the first implant engaging member by a pair of opposed integral spring members located proximal to the distal ends of the first and second implant engaging members. Manipulation of the proximal ends of the first and second implant engaging member can cause each of the distal ends to rotate about the pair of opposed spring members to engage at least a portion of a bone anchor. A rod adjusting tool may be connectable to the bone anchor engaging tool and may be axially adjustable relative to the bone anchor tool to adjust a spinal rod relative to the bone anchor.
US07842039B2
A method and apparatus for linking the distal femoral cut and the proximal tibial cut in unicondylar knee arthroplasty is disclosed. A spacing apparatus is positioned in the relevant knee compartment and utilized to hold the knee in position to correct limb alignment. The spacing apparatus includes a femoral cut slot through which the distal femoral cut is made and further includes tibial affixment apertures through which a headless securing device can be positioned to secure the spacing apparatus to the tibia. After the distal femoral resection is complete, the spacing apparatus is removed, with the headless securing devices remaining positioned in the tibia. The headless securing devices are used as a reference for securing a tibial cut block to the tibia for making the proximal tibial resection. With the mechanism of the present invention, the knee can be placed in flexion when making the proximal tibial cut.
US07842038B2
In one preferred aspect, a method is provided for forming an opening in bone for the sequential dilation of tissue.
US07842033B2
Systems, methods, and instruments associated with controlling the operating modes of an electrosurgical instrument using control signals delivered in a wireless manner from the electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical instrument transmits wireless control signals to the electrosurgical generator to initiate delivery of electrosurgical energy. The control signals are delivered to the electrosurgical generator without the need for a conductive cord extending between the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument. The energy is delivered to the electrosurgical instrument, in response to the wireless control signals, along a path through an electrode and the physician utilizing the electrosurgical instrument and/or a conductive path external to the physician. The electrode upon which the physician rests provides a path for the electrosurgical energy and optionally prevents burning of the physician during an electrosurgical procedure.
US07842029B2
Devices and methods having a cooling material and reduced pressures to treat biological external tissue using at least one energy source are disclosed. The cooling material may be water, ethyl alcohol, and/or any other material having a vapor pressure below atmospheric pressure. The energy source may be incoherent light, coherent light, a radio frequency, ultrasound, a laser, and/or any other type of energy that can be applied through the device. The features of various embodiments of the device include the generation of positive pressure and/or negative pressure through one or more pressure conduits, the application of an object within a recess of the device, and measurements through various sensors on the device. These sensors may be monitored and/or controlled through a display element having rows and columns of pixels on the device. The device may be a handheld device or an add-on to existing devices in some embodiments, and may include skin color sensors, temperature sensors, motion sensors, vapor pressure sensors, material sensors, and/or capacitance sensors.
US07842022B2
The present invention relates to an absorbent article for personal hygiene, especially a sanitary napkin, panty liner and the like, comprising an adhesive for securing said article to the garments of a wearer. Said adhesive is capable to establish a bonding of the garment-facing surface of said absorbent article to the garment of the wearer, which is able to resist a peel force of at least 0.6 N per 5 cm, according to the test method herein, on a reference microfiber substrate.
US07842018B2
A colostomy bag having a cleansing system wherein the bag is cleaned while in its operable position associated with the person. More specifically, the system mounts a manifold within the colostomy bag with an access to water under pressure from outside, the manifold providing a spray dispersion of fluid, or cleansing water, at the top of the bag and gravity then drips it down through the bag and out the open bottom end, with the residue of the bag being washed out by the water and passing into a toilet. The user can thus easily flush the bag to complete cleaning with all residue from the bag passing into the toilet. A water source from the toilet itself, or other suitable water supply, provides the water under pressure to the manifold inside the top of the colostomy bag.
US07842009B2
An interventional catheter assembly comprising a catheter for insertion and guidance to a target site in a body lumen or a cavity and an operating head mounted in proximity to a distal end of the catheter and comprising a system for removing obstructive material from the target site is provided. In certain embodiments, the catheter assembly includes at least one aspiration port located proximal to the operating head that communicates with a first sealed lumen for withdrawing fluids and obstructive material from the target site, together with at least one liquid infusion port penetrating the catheter and located proximal to the at least one aspiration port that communicates with a second sealed lumen for supplying fluid to a location in proximity to the target site.
US07842004B2
Devices and methods useful for non-invasively indicating the position or setting of a mechanical device, such as a sensor or control in an implanted medical device, are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a valve housing adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough is provided. The flow of fluid through the valve housing can be controlled, for example, by a valve assembly that has a plurality of predetermined pressure settings. A radio frequency tag can be disposed in the valve assembly, and the masking element and the radio frequency tag can be configured to move relative to one another. The relative positions of the masking element and the radio frequency tag can alter the response of the radio frequency tag to a wireless signal (which can be emitted from an external reading device, for example) and thereby indicate the pressure setting of the valve assembly. For example, in some embodiments, the masking element can selectively cover at least part of the radio frequency tag according to the pressure setting of the valve assembly, which can change a characteristic of the radio frequency tag's response to the wireless signal.
US07842001B2
An automatic priming method in which an arterial-side chamber is maintained in a normal position during priming, as in a case of dialysis treatment, and in which forward and backward rotations of a blood pump are employed, and a speed of rotation, in particular, backward rotation, is adjusted to be low, so that air or the like is reliably prevented from entering a dialyzer. The priming method for use in a blood purification circuit in which priming is conducted by supplying physiological saline into a circulation circuit formed by connecting an arterial blood circuit with a venous blood circuit includes filling the venous blood circuit with a priming solution (physiological saline), discharging the priming solution for cleaning the arterial blood circuit, conducting a treatment in a direction opposite to the overflow step, which may be followed by a forward direction re-circulation step, and re-circulating in a forward direction.
US07842000B2
A posture vest for improving body posture has an elastic waist strap; an elastic back strap having a first portion connected to the waist strap; and a pair of length-adjustable elastic shoulder straps connected from a second portion of the back strap to the first portion of the back strap.
US07841993B2
A sensor and a lancet are integrated with each other. A thin strip-shaped sensor and a lancet are integrated so that the lancet moves in parallel, along a longitudinal direction of the sensor. A measuring device to which an integrated lancet and sensor is attached is provided with a function of driving the attached lancet.
US07841992B2
In one embodiment of the present invention a lancet is provided that has a sharpened distal tip, a shaft portion and a proximal drive head. The proximal drive head has a transverse dimension that is substantially larger than a transverse dimension of the shaft portion adjacent to the proximal drive head.
US07841991B2
A sample of a body fluid such as blood or interstitial fluid is obtained from a body by lancing a portion of a user's skin, preferably in an area other than a finger tip, to form an incision. After the needle has been removed from the incision, a force is applied to depress the skin in a manner forming a ring of depressed body tissue in surrounding relationship to the incision, causing the incision to bulge and the sides of the incision to open, whereby body fluid is forced out through the opening of the incision. A stimulator member is mounted to an end of a lancet-carrying housing for applying the force. The stimulator member can be movable relative to the housing, and can be either heated or vibrated to promote movement of the body fluid.
US07841979B2
An observation system includes an observation device, an image pickup device, a display device, and at least one holding device. The observation device includes an optical objective system for observing an object. The image pickup device is capable of picking up an optical image incident upon the optical objective system of the observation device. The display device is capable of displaying the image picked up by the image pickup device. The holding device includes a moving mechanism which holds the observation device and the display device and which moves one of the observation device and the display device in conjunction with movement of the other device, and a switching mechanism capable of switching the observation device and the display device to a state in which the devices are movable by the moving mechanism and a state in which the devices are fixable in positions moved by the moving mechanism.
US07841978B2
Methods and devices to externally create a restriction on the stomach are described. The devices are contoured to fit the stomach and can be further anchored to the stomach. The degree of deployment of the extragastric restriction device is controllable after implantation. Specialized wires, catheters, ports, and trocars specific for placement of extragastric restriction devices are presented. Systems are described in which adjustability of the devices is provided along with sensing and actuating ability.
US07841977B2
A device for altering cardiac performance includes an energy absorbing element which absorbs cardiac pumping energy from at least a portion of the heart. The energy may be delivered to another part of the body, such as another portion of the heart, to perform useful work such as providing blood pumping assistance.
US07841976B2
An impeller includes a hub and at least one blade supported by the hub. The impeller has a stored configuration in which the blade is compressed so that its distal end moves towards the hub, and a deployed configuration in which the blade extends away from the hub. The impeller may be part of a pump for pumping fluids, such as pumping blood within a patient. A blood pump may include a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller may reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula may have a compressed diameter which allows it to be inserted percutaneously into a patient. Once at a desired location, the expandable portion of the cannula may be expanded and the impeller expanded to the deployed configuration. A flexible drive shaft may extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient's body.
US07841974B2
The present invention provides a container (10) suitable for providing insulation wherein the container has an inner shrink film (14) liner. The sidewalls of the container, which can be made from paperboard or other suitable material, are vented to allow ambient air to freely flow through the sidewall of the container during activation of the shrink film (14) with hot liquid or other suitable material. When the container is filled with material having a temperature of from about 130° F. to up to about 212° F., the shrink film (14) is activated and the container (10) provides excellent insulation, thereby allowing the container to be held in a consumer's hand for an extended period without causing burns or excessive discomfort. Method of making this container (10) are also provided.
US07841973B2
The invention comprises a versatile compact kit of cooperatively fitting components to be assembled into several geometries of devices capable of being used for the holistic flexion exercise of several muscle groups of the lower torso such as the Achilles tendon, Calf muscles, Hamstrings, Adductor and Lower Back muscles for individual users of different requirements and physical stature.
US07841970B2
A variable weight device for an exercise device including a housing. A flexible length of cable can be stored within the housing. The length of the cable extending from the housing can be adjustable. A length of flexible weight can be secured to one of the housing and the cable.
US07841967B1
A method and apparatus providing fitness coaching including a mobile device to enable a user to receive a tailored fitness session.
US07841965B2
An audio-signal generation device includes a generation circuit which generates track data and an input unit which receives information input by a user. The generation circuit generates the track data on the basis of information about the user's body, information about an exercise to be done, and information about a characteristic of a track to which the user listens during the exercise that are input via the input unit.
US07841963B2
A shift speed control that, in the case in which it is determined that reverse jump shifting, which returns to a previous shift speed, has occurred during jump shift control, a load amount determining means determines whether a load amount that is applied to friction engagement elements is within a permitted range. Based on the result of this determination, a multiple control permitting means permits execution of multiple shift control for the reverse jump shifting, and when permitted by the multiple control permitting means, the shift control means executes multiple shift control for reverse jump shifting. In addition, in the case in which the shift control means is not permitted by the multiple control permitting means, the shift control means executes reverse jump shift bypass control, and shifts to a shift speed to be shifted to after temporarily shifting to an intermediate shift speed.
US07841957B1
The present disclosure provides for a foldable, portable, apparatus for use as an operant conditioning basketball shooting practice aid by retrieving and returning shots at the hoop. The apparatus is comprised of a dismountable trough assembly depending from crossbar slots of a support assembly frame. The trough assembly includes ball collection panels each mounted on separated ball runway tubes or rails with the legs of a track extender-deflector inserted into the tubes. The deflectors are adapted to be configured for quick interchangeability from one configuration to another to deliver the ball to various locations to center or side court.
US07841948B2
A cross groove type constant velocity joint 10 comprises a cuplike outer race 11, an inner race 12, plural balls 13 and a cage 14. The outer race 11 has plural outer grooves 11a twisting about a rotational axis of the outer race 11 on its inner surface. The outer race 11 itself has plural restrictions 11b at the back of the outer grooves 11a to prevent the balls 13 from dropping out of the outer grooves 11a where the respective ball 13 is at the innermost end of the outer groove 11a.
US07841947B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a top light is provided for a slot machine wherein the white light source and colored film is replaced by a red/green/blue light emitting diode (LED) source. The red, green, and blue components of the LED source are selectively controlled to produce any color and any effect (e.g., flashing) so as to generate any color code required in any jurisdiction without changing the top light for each jurisdiction.
US07841946B2
A system for allowing a user to remotely access a game includes: a game console; a remote console client configured to receive a game control signal; and a remote console server. The remote console server includes an audio and video encoder configured to receive an audio output and a video output from the game console and to convert the audio output and the video output to a network packet. The remote console server also includes: a game controller emulation unit and a network interface configured to send and receive the network packet. The game controller emulation unit is configured to receive a game controller signal from the game console and to send the game controller signal to the remote console client and to receive a game controller input from the remote console client and send the game controller input to the game console.
US07841943B2
Video game processing apparatus, a method and a computer program product for processing a video game
An added value is set to a battle tool for customizing the battle tool stored as battle tool information in a battle tool information managing table in response to customization request by operations of a player. A plurality of battle tools are stored in the battle tool information managing table. A player character can be equipped with any of the battle tools among the plurality of battle tools. When the battle tool information Is read out from the battle tool information managing table in response to display request of a battle tool, a display apparatus is caused to display one or more battle tool in a battle screen. The battle tool information thus read out indicates the one or more battle tool. The player character is equipped with a battle tool with which the player character can be equipped among the one or more battle tool thus displayed.
US07841940B2
A human test that is based on a human conceptual capability. A human test according to the present techniques includes posing a question that is selected to exercise a human conceptual capability, obtaining an answer to the question, and comparing the answer to a correct answer that would be rendered by a human being.
US07841938B2
A system and method for enabling a new generation of captivating multiplayer casino slot machine games with naught or little changes to the applicable regulatory game standards. In one embodiment thereof, the present invention is a 2-player/1-game casino slot machine wherein (a) a two-seater slot machine allows two players to share in primary game play by providing two seats, two sets of betting controls, and two sets of onscreen meters to track each player's performance, wins and losses, and wherein (b) back end control logic within each two-seater slot machine consolidates all game performance meters in such a way that the slot machine mimics a traditional single seat slot machine (i.e. 1-player/1-game) from accounting and regulatory points of view, thus requiring no changes to the accounting procedures and to the central casino management system. This 2-player/1-game paradigm may be extended to N-player/1-game wherein (a) N single seat slot machines each having individual player performance meters are joined together via secure peer-to-peer network and wherein (b) appropriate peer-to-peer software balances back-end account meters such as each slot machine appears as independent 1-player/1-game from an accounting, central game management and regulatory point of view.
US07841923B2
A vehicle axle joint for a toy vehicle is described and which includes a socket portion; and a ball portion which matingly cooperates with the socket portion, and which defines a gear cavity, and wherein the ball portion may be selectively oriented relative to the socket portions so as to allow hobbyists to construct a multitude of toy vehicles.
US07841921B2
A toy has a figure of a human or animal. The figure has a body made of a fabrics material and at least one appendage made of a soft flexible material. The appendage has a fabric piece fused to it during making and is joined to the body by stitched the fabric piece to the body.
US07841918B2
Microwave irradiation treatment is used to enhance the luminescent efficiency by improving surface morphology of the illuminating phosphors. The invention modifies the phosphor particles from the sheet-like shape into the spherical shape and so as to exhibit better crystalline property, thus it may provide for the fabrication of the phosphors with high luminescent efficiency for the optoelectronic devices.
US07841917B2
A floatation device is disclosed that comprises a container 10 containing a liquefied gas, a gas chamber (60, FIG. 2) and a remotely operable device 29. The remotely operable device is switchable between a closed state in which fluid communication between the container and the gas chamber is prevented, and an open state in which fluid communication between the container and the gas chamber is enabled and vaporization of the liquefied gas charges the gas chamber with gas. The liquefied gas may be liquid nitrogen and the container may be heat insulated with an insulating vacuum cavity. A buoyancy unit (40, FIG. 2) which comprises a rigid enclosure (42, FIG. 2) defining an interior volume and a flexible diaphragm (55, FIG. 2) that partitions the interior volume into first and second chambers is also disclosed.
US07841915B2
A watercraft has a jet pump and a venturi. A variable trim system (VTS) support and a reverse gate are rotationally mounted relative to the venturi. A steering nozzle is rotationally mounted to the VTS support. A rotary actuator has an output portion operatively connected to at least one of the VTS support and the reverse gate. Rotation of the output portion between a first angle and a second angle causes a rotation of the VTS support while the reverse gate remains in a stowed position relative to the steering nozzle. Rotation of the output portion between the second angle and a third angle causes a rotation of the reverse gate between the stowed position and a second position while the VTS support remains in a fixed position. A jet propulsion system and a method of operating a jet propulsion system are also disclosed.
US07841911B2
A joint part which allows connection work to be easily performed and a wiring harness using the same. A joint part A has a housing (60) including a first joint portion (10) arranged to make a concurrent connection of ends of electric wires drawn from positive terminals of a plurality of igniters (3) and positive terminals of a plurality of injectors (4) and an end of an electric wire drawn from a positive terminal of a power supply (5) for the igniters (3) and the injectors (4), a second joint portion (20) arranged to make a concurrent connection of ends of electric wires drawn from negative terminals of the igniters (3), and a ground terminal (40) to which the first joint portion (10) is connected via a noise filter (50), and the second joint portion (20) is directly connected.
US07841907B2
An adapter for removably mounting an electronic device performing a data function to an appliance host. The adapter has a main body, a first mechanical coupling capable of removably coupling the electronic device to the adapter, and a second mechanical coupling capable of removably coupling the adapter to the host. The adapter further has a rechargeable power source capable of being recharged by power from the host and then providing power to the electronic device when the adapter is not connected to the host.
US07841905B2
An electrical connector for being mounted on a PCB, has a receiving space (10) and includes an insulative housing (1) having a tongue portion (12) being parallel to the PCB, the tongue portion having a mating face (14), a set of depressions (141) formed in a front region of the mating face, and a set of passageways (142) formed in a rear region of the mating face; and a set of contacts including a set of first and second contacts (21,22). The first contacts have elastic first contact portions (15) being movably received in the passageways, first tail portions (16), and first connecting portions (17) extending along the tongue portion. The second contacts have stiff second contact portions (25) received in the depressions, second tail portions (28), and second connecting portions (27) being parallel to the first connecting portions in a height direction of the tongue portion. The second contact portions (27) are located at an inner side of the mating face (14).
US07841899B2
An apparatus including a conductive sleeve including an outer-conductive surface and an inner passageway that extends from a first end at least partially to a second end. The passageway is adapted to receive and shield a device that provides at least one of a radio frequency path and an electrical current path. In one embodiment, movable flanges at an end of the sleeve are used for coupling the outer-conductive surface of the sleeve to a ground connection. In one embodiment, the sleeve may further be used to interconnect a pair of RF structures with ground connections at each end of the sleeve and with signal connections to the device at each end.
US07841896B2
Axially compressible, self-sealing, high bandwidth F-connectors for conventional hand tools for interconnection with coaxial cable. An internal, dual segment sealing grommet activated by compression provides a seal. Each connector has a rigid nut that is rotatably secured to a, tubular body. A rigid, conductive post coaxially extends through the connector. A post barbed end penetrates the cable within the connector. A tubular, metallic end cap is slidably fitted to a body shank, and thereafter forcibly compressed lengthwise during installation. The end cap has a ring groove for seating the enhanced grommet. The end cap can irreversibly assume any position, being held by end cap teeth. A tactile system comprising external convex projections on the body complemented by a resilient, external O-ring on the end cap aids installers who can properly position connectors with the sense of touch.
US07841894B2
A stacked electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2) and a number of contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing (2). The insulative housing (2) includes a first housing (21) and a second housing (22) arranged in an up-to-down direction. The first housing (21) defining a number of inserting ports (213) recessed from a front end thereof. The second housing (22) defines a receiving space (224) to receive a standard USB 2.0 B type plug. The contacts (3) include a number of first contacts (31) retained in the first housing (21) and a number of second contacts (32) retained in the second housing (22). Each first contact (31) has a first contact portion (311) extending into the inserting port (213). Each second contact (32) has a second contact portion (321) and a second soldering portion (324) being arranged in a row in a level direction.
US07841892B2
A cable assembly comprises a mating member, a print circuit board having two conductive traces, an LED attached to the print circuit board, a cable having a positive wire and a negative wire connected with the mating member, and a pair of contacts respectively corresponding with the positive wire and negative wire. Said positive wire and negative wire respectively has an inner conductor. Each of said contacts defines a catch part connecting the inner conductor and a retaining part locks the print circuit board for electrically connecting said conductive trace.
US07841882B2
A connector assembly includes: at least one signal contact adapted to terminate at least one conductor of a cable; at least one terminal adapted to receive the at least one signal contact; a housing including a channel configured to receive the at least one terminal and adapted to receive at least a portion of a printed circuit board; and a biasing member adapted to bias the at least one terminal against the circuit board, thereby pressing the at least one signal contact against the circuit board to inhibit horizontal movement of the at least one signal contact relative to the at least a portion of a printed circuit board.
US07841881B2
A waterproof cable connector has a body, two plugs and at least one sealing ring. The body has a chamber and two through holes communicating with the chamber. The plugs are respectively connected to the body via the through holes and each plug has a clamping ring and a securing fastener. The clamping ring is mounted in the body and has multiple grooves and multiple tabs. The securing fastener is mounted around the clamping ring to press the tabs of the clamping ring. The at least one sealing ring is elastic and waterproof and is mounted between separate parts on the body to prevent water from permeating the chamber of the body.
US07841872B2
An electrical connector (100) comprises an insulative housing (10) defining a receiving room (110) and a front mating opening (101) communicating with the receiving room for receiving a mating connector, and a number of rear mounting holes (12) opposite to the mating opening. A number of first contacts (20) each has a first contact portion (21), a first retention portion (23), a first soldering portion (26) and a first connecting portion (24). A number of second contacts (30) each has a second contact portion (31), a second retention portion (33), a second soldering portion (35) and a second connecting portion (34). The first and the second contacts are inserted into the receiving room along a back-to-front direction.
US07841864B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (2) defining a plurality of passageways (21) and a plurality of contacts (1) received in corresponding passageways. Each contact includes a moveable part (10) forming a pair of guiding beams (105), an immoveable part (20) coupled with the moveable part and a biasing device (30) constantly urging the moveable part away from immoveable part. The immoveable part includes a pair of posts (205) and defines a pair of guiding slots (207). The guiding beams are received in the guiding slots and are capable of moving with regard to the immovable part along opposite surfaces of the immoveable part. The guiding beams and the posts are decussated to surround the biasing device for preventing the biasing device from disengaging therefrom.
US07841859B2
A socket, for electrically connecting an IC package and a printed circuit board, comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing. The insulative housing has an opening in a center thereof, a solder pad is received in the opening and has a soldering board which is soldered to the printed circuit board to enhance a mechanical connection between the socket and the printed circuit board.
US07841854B2
A temperature adjustment mechanism for use in an injection molding machine that shortens a molding cycle time while preventing the occurrence of a stranding phenomenon in an optimum manner. A passage includes an opening arranged near an outer surface of an outlet of an injection nozzle for an injection molding machine. A supply control unit supplies the passage with at least one of cooling air and heating air to selectively eject the cooling medium, the heating medium, and a mixture of the cooling medium and the heating medium near the outer surface of the outlet.
US07841848B2
An apparatus for preparing a rolled food product, such as sushi. The apparatus has a container having a first end and a second end, wherein at least the first end has one aperture. The container is positionable between a closed position, defining a hollow interior space, and an open position, presenting a plurality of cavities. Each of the cavities can receive food material such as rice. There is also a plunger assembly that passes the aperture when the container is in the closed position. The plunger assembly is then used to compress the food material in the hollow interior space to form a roll having a desired consistency.
US07841841B2
A flow prioritizing system includes a regulating valve and a flow prioritizing valve. The regulating valve receives a first portion of the fluid supplied from a fuel supply pump, and is responsive to a control pressure to selectively allow or prohibit flow to secondary loads. The flow prioritizing control valve is responsive to fluid pressure representative of delivery pump discharge pressure to control the control pressure to which the regulating valve is responsive.
US07841837B2
The present invention discloses a cooling-fan rotation-speed control circuit, wherein a plurality of sets of input power sources respectively having different voltages is electrically and parallel coupled to a cooling fan; a switch is installed between at least one input power source and the cooling fan; the switch is turned on/off according to a rotation-speed parameter to determine whether the cooling fan is driven by a low-voltage driving power or a high-voltage driving power.
US07841836B2
The present invention concerns a rotor blade for a wind power plant having an aerodynamic profile. A rotor blade for the wind power plant has an aerodynamic profile having a pressure side and a suction side. A wind power plant rotor blade tip is curved in a direction of the pressure side of the rotor blade so as to form an edge arc. The wind power plant rotor blade tip narrows towards an edge arc upper edge and has an edge arc leading edge and an edge arc trailing edge. The edge arc leading edge and the edge arc trailing edge extend equally in a predetermined, curved gradient to the edge arc upper edge.
US07841833B2
A turbine rotor improved in machinability, appropriately balanced in stress, and having rotor hooks and rotor necks constructed to form an attachment structure with respect to an inverted fir tree blade root that has blade hooks and blade necks. The turbine rotor has rotor hooks and rotor necks constructed to form an attachment structure with respect to an inverted fir tree blade root that has blade hooks and blade necks with an “n” number of hooks, where n≧3. In this structure, a convex portion of the innermost circumferential rotor hook is formed to be concave in a circumferential direction, with respect to a tangential line that connects a convex portion of the (n−1)th hook from the outermost circumferential rotor hook, and a convex portion of the (n−2)th hook.
US07841826B1
A grinder pump assembly includes at least one grinder pump stage that has a diffuser and an impeller. The grinder pump assembly also includes a diffuser cap that includes cap contact surfaces. The impeller includes a plurality of upper vanes and lower vanes. The diffuser includes a plurality of lower contact surfaces, a plurality of diffuser vanes and plurality of upper contact surfaces. The upper vanes of the impeller are configured to rotate in proximity with the lower contact surfaces on the diffuser. The lower vanes of the impeller are configured to rotate in proximity with the cap contact surfaces. Multiple grinder pump stages may be used within a single grinder pump assembly.
US07841817B2
A fastener comprising a bush and a pin is used to mount an airbag on a vehicle body panel. The pin has a head with legs depending therefrom, and the bush has a flange with a shank depending therefrom. The shank supports resilient pawls moveable in slots. The legs of the pin are inserted into the slots to a temporary connection position at which the resilient pawls are free to move inward of the slots, and to a permanent connection position at which such movement is blocked. The bush shank has a rigid axial column between the slots. The flange has a pair of spaced upright walls defining a space for receiving the pin and for preventing the head of the pin from being pressed inadvertently.
US07841816B2
Hybrid component for the fastening of functional elements, in particular in an automobile, which has the following characteristics: a component foot consisting of a blind rivet construction made of metal with which the hybrid component can be rigidly fastened to a structural component; a fastening appendage, which is connected with the component foot and comprises a fastening contour for a functional component, wherein the functional component is made of plastic and is connected with the fastening appendage so that a component can be coupled with the structural component via the functional component and the component foot.
US07841812B2
Milling cutter and method of operating same, and other machine tools, and an adjustment mechanism therefor. 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.
US07841811B2
A cutting tool is in the form of a holder and a cutting insert that is quickly and easily indexable in one of a plurality of precision cutting positions within the holder. The holder has a bore therein and a stop in the bore. The cutting insert has a shank portion that is insertable into the bore. The cutting insert, when inserted into bore, mates with the stop to locate the cutting insert in one of a plurality of positions. Alternatively, the stop can be supported by the cutting insert and mate with the holder.
US07841808B2
Method and apparatus are provided for transferring particles from an upper zone through an intermediate zone to a lower zone. A valveless conduit provides particle communication from the upper zone to the middle zone and a valved conduit provides particle communication from the middle zone to the lower zone. The transfer of particles between the zones through the conduits is regulated by varying the pressure of the middle zone, the flow rate of gas passing through the valveless conduit, and the valve in the valved conduit.
US07841804B2
Method for stabilizing sand and earth by precipitation of struvite, comprising applying an aqueous solution of salts comprising: a) Mg2+ ions of a concentration 10-200 mM, b) NH4+ ions either added in the form of ammonium salt or from decomposition of added urea, of concentration 10-200 mM, c) anions added as part of corresponding cations, d) polyphosphate (Na5P3O10/Na3P3O9) of concentration 10-100 mM, e) a catalyst chosen among acidic and alkaline phosphatase.
US07841791B2
According to one embodiment, a keyboard includes keytops supported on a substrate and a membrane switch placed between the keytops and the substrate. The membrane switch has an electrically insulating membrane sheet on which a plurality of contacts operated by the keytops are formed. A light source is mounted on the membrane sheet. A conductor pattern configured to supply an electric current to the light source is formed on the membrane sheet. Further, a lightguide plate configured to lead light emitted by the light source to the keytops is stacked on the membrane sheet.
US07841789B2
A printer includes a housing in which a pair of guide rails is mounted. A print media tray is arranged to move along the guide rails within the housing. A motor assembly is configured to move the print media tray along the guide rails so that the print media tray can be ejected and retracted relative to the housing. A print engine is mounted within the print media tray and includes an ink ejection printhead in fluid communication with a replaceable ink cartridge. The ink cartridge can be accessed when the print media tray is ejected.
US07841788B2
In a substrate processing apparatus of the present invention, a buffer bath is provided at any point in a supplying passage of a processing solution supplying part, and a micro bubble generator is provided in the buffer bath. When a substrate is processed, large quantities of micro bubbles can be generated and stored in the buffer bath, and the micro bubbles can be supplied from the buffer bath to a processing bath. This enables the large quantities of micro bubbles to be supplied to the surrounding of the substrate, while the use of the small micro bubble generator avoids an increase in the size of the substrate processing apparatus.
US07841782B2
A dome type camera (1) comprises a camera (2), a lower case (3) having a first serration (9), an upper case (4), a dome cover (6), and an inner cover (7) having a second serration (20), where the upper case (4) can be attached to the lower case (3) at two steps of attachment positions which are an adjustment position and a locking position. When the attachment position of the upper case (4) is set at the adjustment position, the first serration (9) and the second serration (20) are incompletely engaged with each other, allowing the inner cover (7) to be rotatable with respect to the lower case (3), and when the attachment position of the upper case (4) is set at the locking position, the first serration (9) and the second serration (20) are completely engaged with each other, allowing the inner cover (7) to be fixed to the lower case (3). The orientation of the cover can be easily adjusted after the cover has been attached, and the work efficiency is improved in installation and adjustment works.
US07841780B2
Optical modules for use with a host system. In one example embodiment, a method for tapping an optical network includes connecting one or more optical modules to a host device, providing one or more post amplifiers, and controlling each of the one or more optical modules and the one or more post amplifiers with a microprocessor that is integrated with the host device. In this example method, the one or more optical modules include at least one optical module with a plurality of ROSAs and the post amplifiers amplify electrical signals generated by the ROSAs.
US07841775B2
The present invention relates to a fiber optic connector holder sized to fit within an opening for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to permit a fiber optic connector with a dust cap positioned about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule to be inserted within and releasably held by the connector holder. The present invention further relates to a system for holding fiber optic connectors including a fiber optic connector holder mounted within an opening in a bulkhead for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule. The present invention also relates to a method of holding an optical fiber connector to a bulkhead, when the fiber optic connector includes a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule.
US07841760B2
A backlight unit includes a light guide panel to guide entering light, a light source disposed on at least one side of the light guide panel to emit light, and a reflecting sheet disposed on a surface of the light guide panel to reflect the entering light toward a light emitting plane of the light guide panel, and includes a plurality of reflecting areas which have different reflectance, where a reflecting area of the plurality of reflecting areas which encounters a relatively large amount of the entering light has a higher reflectance than that of a reflecting area of the plurality of reflecting areas which encounters a relatively small amount of the entering light.
US07841759B2
An LED backlight method and apparatus for display systems provides a plurality of light emitting diodes having different white point colors. At least two of the light emitting diodes having different white point colors are selected to produce a light of a predetermined white point color when the light outputs of the selected light emitting diodes are mixed. The selected light emitting diodes are mounted on a display panel in a predetermined order at spatially distributed positions for mixing their light outputs to produce the light of the predetermined white point color to illuminate the display panel with the light of the predetermined white point color.
US07841752B2
LED lighting device having heat convection and heat conduction effects dissipating assembly therefor
An LED lighting device having heat convection and heat conduction effects has a heat dissipating assembly, a substrate, multiple LEDs and a base. The heat dissipating assembly has a housing and an outer cover. The housing has multiple air holes. The outer cover is mounted on an open top of the housing and has multiple through holes and an exterior flue protruding from the outer cover and extending into the housing. The substrate is mounted inside the housing against the outer cover and has a hole allowing the exterior flue to extend therethrough. The LEDs are mounted on the substrate and respectively correspond to the through holes. The base is attached to a bottom of the housing. The exterior flue encourages heated air to move through the exterior flue and flow out of the housing via the air holes. With such continuous and directional air movement, the LED lighting device obtains good heat-dissipating efficiency.
US07841744B2
The illumination apparatus comprises a light source unit which has a LED for emitting illumination light, and a condenser lens for collecting the illumination light, and a main body of the illuminator of the apparatus which holds the light source unit and guides the illumination light. The light source unit comprises a heat dissipation plate which holds LED, and emits the heat emitted from LED 11; and a lens frame which holds the collector lens and the heat dissipation plate so that the relative position of LED to the collector lens may be changed. The main body of the illuminator has a connection hole for connecting communicatively the inside of the main body of the apparatus to the outside, and holds the light source unit by inserting the lens frame into the connected hole.
US07841742B2
An integral HID reflector lamp may be formed with an HID held in a reflector. An inner element is mechanically coupled to the reflector. The inner element is formed with a first mechanical coupling to mate with the reflector, a second mechanical coupling to mate with a circuit board, and an electrical coupling to at least electrically couple one of the leads to the circuit board. A circuit board has an edge mechanically coupled to the inner element and electrically connected to the leads by an electrical coupling on the inner element. A heat sink spans at least one side of the circuit board and forming an EMI shielding. An outer cover encloses the heat sink, circuit board, and inner element and coupled to the assembly of the reflector, HID lamp, inner element, and heat sink with each elements of the assembly clipped together.
US07841741B2
An LED lighting assembly including a plurality of individual LEDs mounted on a common, bendable heat sinking member designed to remove heat from the LEDs during operation and also to be formed (bent) to provide the desired light direction and intensity. Several such assemblies may be used within an LED lamp, as also provided herein. The lamp is ideal for use within medical and dental environments to assure optimal light onto a patient located at a specified distance from the lamp.
US07841736B2
A squeeze-activated flashlight including a holder configured to receive a lamp and one or more batteries, and a housing configured to receive the holder. The housing includes a resiliently flexible actuator member for activating the lamp.
US07841734B2
An LED lighting fixture includes a support structure having a horizontal cross-dimension and a top structure attached to the support structure and extending outwardly beyond the support structure. The top structure has a bottom surface with peripheral portion surrounding a non-peripheral portion. A plurality of LED emitters are positioned on the peripheral portion for emitting light in downward direction substantially outside of the horizontal cross-dimension of the support structure.
US07841727B2
A projection optical system includes a digital micro-mirror device and a light blocker disposed along the light path of the digital micro-mirror device. The digital micro-mirror device includes a base having a plurality of outer pads, a micro-mirror array disposed on the base, and a plurality of bonding wires. The bonding wires are electrically connecting the outer pads with the corresponding micro-mirror array. The light blocker is configured for blocking the light incident to the bonding wires and the light reflected by the bonding wires.
US07841724B2
A lamp memory module is provided for recording lamp serial numbers, providing a ‘lamp-inserted’ interlock for preventing operation of the lamp when the lamp is not properly installed, and for collecting and storing lamp operational data such as lamp use (time), lamp strikes and various system temperatures.
US07841720B2
The present invention discloses methods of obtaining ophthalmic lens capable of reducing the aberrations of the eye comprising the steps of characterizing at least one corneal surface as a mathematical model, calculating the resulting aberrations of said corneal surface(s) by employing said mathematical model, selecting the optical power of the intraocular lens. From this information, an ophthalmic lens is modeled so a wavefront arriving from an optical system comprising said lens and corneal model obtains reduced aberrations in the eye. Also disclosed are ophthalmic lenses as obtained by the methods which are capable reducing aberrations of the eye.
US07841719B2
A method of determining the external three dimensional external contour of a curved object in one step, which produces and processes a single composite en-face OCT image (a C-scan), which involves generating and processing a set of two dimensional image contours of the object in different image planes using a plurality of optical path lengths in an OCT system with all such contours present in the composite en-face OCT image. The multiple path lengths are generated using a multiple delay element in bulk or in fiber inserted in the path from the source to the OCT system or in one of the OCT arms. The image planes have a known spatial relationship with each other. The three dimensional external contour of the curved object is computed from the two dimensional contours in the composite en-face OCT image and the known spatial relationship between the image planes. Axial position and tilt of a sample are evaluated using an optimum shape object attached to the sample in one step, by processing a s composite en-face OCT image generated by using a plurality of optical path delays.
US07841717B2
An opthalmologic apparatus having a setting part configured to acquire position information of a first examining part at the time of execution of a first examination and set a movable range of a second examining part in a direction of a second working distance based on the position information and distance information. This opthalmologic apparatus controls so that an examining unit moves within the movable range set based on the position information of the first examining part and the distance information when an examination by the examining unit is switched from the first examination to a second examination. Accordingly, it is possible to set an accurate movable range with respect to the position of the eye of a subject, and it is also possible to increase safety by preventing the examining part from coming in contact with the subject.
US07841715B1
A variable focus lens system that can be used in eyeglasses is disclosed. The system consists of superimposed first and second transparent thin lenses with surfaces divided into Fresnel zones and zone boundaries. The lenses are relatively slidable for focus adjustment. The Fresnel zone boundary surfaces are made parallel to the user's optical line of sight to reduce visual obstructions, and the zone boundaries may be restricted to areas near the lens periphery to further reduce visual obstructions. An opaque light absorbing coating may be applied to the zone boundaries to reduce light scattering. A fixed prescription lens, having the user's distance and astigmatism corrections, may be superimposed on the other two lenses.
US07841710B2
A printhead assembly for an inkjet printer includes an ink distribution molding having a laminated stack of ink distribution sheets, and a nozzle guard. The assembly also includes at least one printhead integrated circuit arranged in fluid contact with the molding such that a cavity is defined between the integrated circuit and the nozzle guard. The assembly has an air duct having a base defining a series of air passages. An air valve molding is formed as a channel with a series of apertures defined in a base thereof. A spacing of the apertures corresponds to the air passages. The air valve molding is movable longitudinally within the air duct to facilitate alignment of the apertures with the passages to allow pressurized air through the laminated stack to the cavity, or moved out of alignment to close off a supply of pressurized air to the cavity.
US07841709B2
An ink cartridge holder includes: a peripheral wall portion which allows ink cartridges to be inserted thereinto and withdrawn therefrom through an opening formed at one of opposite ends thereof; a partition wall portion which is formed integrally with the peripheral wall portion and is positioned in a position distant from the opening, the partition wall portion interconnecting two portions of the peripheral wall portion that are opposed to each other, and partitioning an inner space of the peripheral wall portion into sections whose number corresponds to the number of the ink cartridges; and an extension wall portion which extends continuously from the partition wall portion along one of the two opposed portions of the peripheral wall portion toward the opening, and which is formed integrally with the partition wall portion and the peripheral wall portion.
US07841707B2
A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer is provided which has a body portion having ink storage compartments, a pagewidth printhead configured to receive ink from the compartments and distribute the ink to nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media, and a capping assembly for capping the printhead. The capping assembly has a body which extends the printhead length, a capping element housed within the body and having a rim portion which caps at least a portion of the printhead and a displacement assembly housed within the body for moving the capping element between a first position where the rim portion extends from the body and a second position where the rim portion is contained within the body. The displacement assembly is controlled by an electromagnet which determines the position. The ink storage compartments comprise absorption material which stores the ink under capillary action.
US07841702B2
A heater stack includes first strata configured to support and form a fluid heater element responsive to repetitive electrical activation and deactivation to produce cycles of fluid ejection and second strata overlying the first strata to protect the heater element. A decomposed sacrificial layer of a preselected polymer between the substrate and a heater substrata containing the heater element provides a decoupled relationship between them which, during a heat-up period of each cycle, results in the heater element buckling out of physical contact with substrate enabling the heater element to transfer heat energy for producing fluid ejection into the fluid without transferring any into the substrate whereas the decoupled relationship, during the next following cool-down period of each cycle, results in the heater element de-buckling back into physical contact with the substrate enabling the heater element transfer residual heat energy to the substrate.
US07841700B2
Micro-fluid ejection devices, such as inkjet printheads, such as those that use a laser to eject fluid. One such micro-fluid ejection device includes a passageway plate defining a fluid chamber filled with fluid and a fluid channel to supply the fluid chamber with fluid, a top plate provided on the passageway plate, a fluid ejection hole formed through the top plate at a position corresponding to the fluid chamber, a condenser lens provided on a bottom surface of the passageway plate at a position corresponding to the fluid chamber, and laser beam irradiator capable of irradiating a laser beam through the condenser lens and into fluid contained in the fluid chamber, wherein the fluid is nucleated by the laser beam such that a vapor bubble forms and displaces a portion of the fluid, thereby ejecting a fluid droplet through the fluid ejection hole. Method of using such devices are also disclosed.
US07841696B2
A printhead assembly comprising: a plurality of printhead modules releasably connected together via connecting members, each printhead module comprising: at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media; a support member for supporting: the at least two printhead integrated circuits; and a supply of printing fluid provided to the at least two printhead integrated circuits; and an electrical connector for receiving electrical signals for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; a drive electronics part incorporating at least one controller which is connected to at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector for controlling the printing operation of at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits; and a casing part for supporting the drive electronics part and the at least one printhead module.
US07841693B2
A tube pump comprising a flexible tube, a pressing member capable of generating a negative pressure in the tube by sequentially pressing the tube from as the pressing member moves from an upstream portion of the tube to a downstream portion of the tube during a pump operating process, a rotating member which includes a cam surface which the pressing member comes in sliding contact with when the pressing member moves between a pump operating position where a negative pressure is generated in the upstream portion of the tube and a pump non-operating position where the negative pressure is not generated, and a rack member corresponding to the cam surface which includes a plurality of teeth, wherein the pressing member is provided with a pinion member capable of engaging with the rack member when the pressing member rotatably moves between the pump non-operating position and the pump operating position.
US07841680B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method which can prevent print quality from being degraded by a non-ejection nozzle while maintaining high-speed printing performance based on a raster division method. The present invention sequentially performs, array by array, an operation of ejecting ink through a plurality of nozzle arrays to sequentially print an image in a plurality of raster forming areas of a print medium. At this time, if an expected printing result fails to be achieved owing to a nozzle included in any of the nozzle arrays which exhibits degraded ejecting performance, degrading image quality, then the ejection order of the plurality of nozzle arrays is changed. This enables a reduction in the degradation of print quality caused by the ejecting performance of the nozzles.
US07841678B2
This invention relates to an element substrate capable of confirming an electrical connection status before a printhead malfunctions. The element substrate is a substrate for a printhead, which is detachable from a printing apparatus and includes a plurality of printing elements, a logical circuit for controlling the printing elements, and a voltage application terminal for applying a driving voltage to drive the printing elements. The logical circuit is driven at a voltage lower than the driving voltage. The element substrate includes a connection status output circuit which outputs a signal reflecting the electrical connection status between the printhead and the printing apparatus on the basis of the driving voltage.
US07841675B2
Disclosed is an elastic crawler formed with an elastic material in the shape of an endless track, and used as the wheel for the work vehicle with enhanced reliability and durability. The elastic crawler includes a crawler body formed with an elastic material and having lugs protruded at the ground contact side thereof, and cores having wings extended left and right to the center of the crawler body in the width direction thereof, and arranged parallel to each other in the longitudinal track direction of the crawler body such that the wings face the lugs formed at the crawler body. The crawler body has first and second lug units alternately arranged parallel to each other in the longitudinal track direction thereof. The first lug unit has left lugs facing each other over two wings, and right lugs arranged right to the center of the crawler body while proceeding symmetrical to the left lugs around the center. The second lug unit has left lugs facing each other over one wing, and right lugs arranged right to the center of the crawler body while proceeding symmetrical to the left lugs around the center.
US07841673B2
A vehicle braking system is responsive to vehicle conditions to alter the response of the braking system for a given driver input. In one mode, the vehicle conditions are conditions that are indicated by sensor in real time. In another mode, the vehicle conditions are historical conditions, such as trends, patterns, etc. The braking system provides braking responses that are appropriate for vehicle conditions and enables personalization of the braking system to accommodate individual driver characteristics.
US07841658B1
An airline chair cover system includes an airline chair that includes a seat portion and a backrest attached to and extending upwardly from the seat portion. A flexible panel is removably positioned on top of the chair to cover the seat portion and the backrest. The panel includes an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of lateral edges. A peripheral wall is attached to and is coextensive with each of the upper edge, the lower edge and the pair of lateral edges. The peripheral wall has a perimeter edge positioned distal to the panel. The peripheral wall is removably positioned on a top edge of the backrest, a front edge of the portion and lateral sides of the backrest and the seat portion. The panel covers an upper surface of the backrest and the seat portion.
US07841653B2
A belt mounted infant carrier support device comprising a belt clip, an attached upward projecting hook-like protrusion upon which the lip of an infant carrier rests and a support cross member below the hook.
US07841649B2
A vehicle body structure includes a cross member extending across a lateral direction of a vehicle, wherein the cross member is coupled to a vehicle body component and a reinforcing member installed to the cross member wherein the reinforcing member is spaced apart from a coupling portion of the cross member and the vehicle body component. A method to reinforce a cross member of a vehicle body includes installing at least one reinforcing member along the cross member and locating at least one edge of the at least one reinforcing member a selected distance from at least one coupling portion between the cross member and a vehicle body component.
US07841646B2
A motor vehicle, especially a passenger car, is provided with an air-conducting device arranged in its rear area. The air conducting device can be moved by way of an adjusting mechanism from a rest position flush with the adjacent body of the rear area into a driven-out operating position. The adjusting mechanism includes two openers arranged in side areas of the air-conducting device for moving the air-conducting device. In order to be able to adjust an air-conducting element continuously from a lowered rest position and a raised operating position, each opener is connected via a swivel-joint on a bearing part that is fastened to the vehicle and aligned vertically.
US07841645B2
An extendible secondary living space for a vehicle. The extendible living space may move from a retracted position in which it is substantially integrated within or in close proximity to a primary living space of the vehicle, to an extended position in which it provides an open-air porch or balcony accessible from the primary living space. The extendible living space may be extended from any wall of the vehicle, such as a side wall or rear wall, and may be particularly well suited for use in motorized recreational vehicles.
US07841643B2
A folding roof linkage assembly includes front and rear frames and first and second arms. The front frame has a rear portion extending at an acute angle therefrom and having front and rear ends. The rear frame has a front portion extending perpendicularly therefrom and having bottom and top ends. The first arm has a front end pivotally connected to the front end of the front frame and a rear end pivotally connected to the bottom end of the rear frame. The second arm has a front end pivotally connected to the rear end of the front frame and a rear end pivotally connected to the top end of the rear frame. The front frame is movable between a closed position in which the frames extend from one another and an opened position in which the front frame folds over the rear frame.
US07841641B2
A straddle-type vehicle has a decorative member that a user can repeatedly use and that is utilized for a purpose other than design. The decorative member covers a fastening part of an exterior cover of the vehicle and has a lid with a decorated exterior surface. A base is attached to the exterior cover to support the lid. The lid is attached to the exterior cover via the base, and removal of the lid from the exterior cover is restricted by assembly of the base in the exterior cover.
US07841635B2
An apparatus for securing and carrying a package is disclosed, thereby facilitating inspection of the secured package at travel centers and security checkpoints given the quick-release nature of the apparatus and its ease and speed of reattachment to the package. The apparatus generally comprises a handle portion and two straps, wherein the straps are disposed perpendicular to one another and the ends of each strap, respectively, are releasably connected after being passed around a package. The releasable connections may comprise a variety of quick-release fasteners.
US07841620B2
An airbag device provided in a side of a vehicle seat, which device comprises a case for accommodating a folded airbag. The case has a lid and a wall. The lid has tear lines formed so as to rupture when the airbag deploys and separate the lid into a plurality of parts. A hinge is formed on a boundary between the lid and the wall.
US07841618B2
To provide an airbag device for a front passenger seat which has a simple construction and can sufficiently absorb an external force applied to an instrument panel.The airbag device for a front passenger seat according to the invention includes: an airbag kept in an inflatable and expandable state; an airbag container which is fixed to a vehicle and accommodates the airbag; and an airbag cover which covers the airbag container. The airbag cover has a cover surface portion on the instrument panel side and a cover extending portion which extends from the cover surface portion in a first direction toward the airbag container. The cover extending portion is characterized by having a deformable region which deforms more easily than the other parts to absorb impact force by deformation. When a pressure (impact force) is applied to the instrument panel from the outside, the deformable region can be deformed elastically or plastically to absorb the impact force.
US07841616B2
A vehicle steering wheel being rotatable around a steering wheel axis (A), includes a steering wheel hub (38), a receiving part (12) configured as a separate, prefabricated component and an airbag module (13) with a generator carrier (10), the generator carrier (10) being inserted into the receiving part (12), the receiving part (12) and the generator carrier (10) being made of plastic.The invention also includes a vehicle steering wheel being rotatable around a steering wheel axis (A), having a steering wheel hub (38), a receiving part (12), and an airbag module (13) with a generator carrier (10), the generator carrier (10) being inserted into the receiving part (12). The generator carrier (10) is accommodated in and guided by the receiving part (12) so as to be axially movable, at least one of the generator carrier (10) and the receiving part (12) having axially offset bearing projections (26), the bearing projections (26) adjoining at least one of the receiving part (12) and the generator carrier (10), and the bearing projections (26) providing an axial guidance.
US07841610B2
A vehicle includes a chassis body, a footrest member pivoted to a front end of the chassis body, a rear wheel assembly joined on the chassis body, a seat, a front wheel assembly in front of the footrest member, and a steering device; the seat is pivoted on an upper end of a supporting mechanism, which is pivoted on the chassis body, and can be moved between a raised in-use position and a lowered not-in-use one; the steering device includes a telescopic part, and is pivoted on a pivotal component protruding from an axle of the front wheel assembly to be movable between a raised in-use position and a lowered not-in-use one; an auxiliary wheel assembly is arranged in front of the footrest member and above the front wheel assembly so that the vehicle can be moved on the auxiliary wheel assembly when it is in a folded configuration.
US07841600B2
A seal member seals a gap between upper and lower cover members of an engine cover of an outboard motor. The seal member includes a supporting portion and a sealing portion integral with the supporting portion. The supporting portion has such a high spring modulus that the supporting portion is not plastically deformed with a load is applied to the supporting portion when the upper cover member is locked to the lower cover member. The sealing portion is hollow and has such a small spring modulus that the sealing portion can readily flex into close contact with the upper and lower cover members so as to provide an improved seal between the upper and lower cover members.
US07841598B1
This is a game including a basket supporting an untethered support element which, in turn, supports a free standing scoring body element.
US07841597B2
An automatic roulette wheel 40 in which, at the end of a turn, the ball (a) is ejected from the pocket 13 by a jet of air and moves to the top of the ball track 14. The ball is held against the edge of the ball track and propelled around the ball track by air jets and, after a predetermined time, the air jets are turned off and the ball spirals down the slope into a pocket on the contra-rotating wheel. The process can then be repeated with the directions reversed, kept the same or randomly varied.
US07841596B2
A sheet feeder has a feed passage and includes feed roller pairs, sensors, and a controller. The feed roller pairs are arranged along the feed passage and feed sheets of paper in a feed direction along the passage by nipping the sheets. Each of the sensors is fitted at or near one of the feed roller pairs and senses a specified point on each of the sheets when the sheet is nipped by at least the associated roller pair. The controller includes a memory for storing reference feed timings as proper feed timings at each of which the specified points on the sheets should pass one of the sensors. The controller finds the real feed timing when each of the sensors senses the specified point on the sheet nipped by at least the associated roller pair. When each of the sensors senses the specified point on the sheet nipped by at least the associated roller pair, the controller finds the time difference between the associated reference feed timing and the associated real feed timing and controls, according to the found time difference, the feed speed at which the feed roller pair or pairs nipping the sheet feed it.
US07841590B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a first feeding unit and a second feeding unit. In the first feeding unit, a hand-feeding unit having a hand-feeding accommodating portion is mounted. The first feeding unit includes a first mounting portion into which a medium is conveyed from the hand-feeding accommodating portion. And a connection unit for consecutive installation is mounted to the first mounting portion in a state where the hand-feeding unit is removed from the first mounting portion. The connection unit includes an added conveyance path for consecutive installation. The second feeding unit includes a second mounting portion in which the hand-feeding unit is mounted and into which a medium is conveyed from the hand-feeding accommodating portion. And the second feeding unit is connected to the added conveyance path.
US07841583B1
Two incremental shaft encoders are mounted on the two extreme ends of a mechanical drive train. The encoders generate data which is representative of the rotational speed of the drive train component proximate to where the encoder is mounted. The data from the encoders is communicated to a logic unit associated with operation of the drive train, such as a variable frequency motor drive (VFD). Software in the logic unit monitors and compares the speed of both encoders. An encoder resolution setting and a gear ratio are entered into the software parameters. If a difference in speeds (as monitored and indicated by the encoders) is greater than a preset value for a period longer than a preset time period, the logic unit displays an error message and a programmed action (such as motor shutdown and load braking) is executed.
US07841582B2
Techniques for a door system for sealing an opening between two chambers in a semiconductor processing system are described. A sealing member seals the opening when a door is in a closed position. To selectively open and close the opening, an actuator moves the door. A valve actuator switch provides a first or second pressure to the actuator depending on the pressure inside a first chamber. In one embodiment, a sensor monitors the pressure inside the first chamber.
US07841570B2
A keyboard support mechanism containing a novel articulating arm mechanism for permitting vertical movement of the keyboard shelf. The articulating arm mechanism has six major components: (1) a mounting bracket, (2) a mounting bracket support in combination with a swivel bracket, (3) a shelf bracket, (4) an upper arm, (5) at least one side arm, and (6) at least one stopping surface. The upper arm links the shelf bracket and the mounting bracket; the side arm and the stopping surface cooperate to keep the shelf bracket (and hence the keyboard shelf) at a constant angle relative to the ground.
US07841568B2
Herein disclosed a suction cup including: a suction cup body having at least one surface having a gel, the surface being a suction surface; and an elastically deformable spring element provided in or on the suction cup body, having a concave shape so as to make the suction surface have a concave shape, and energizing a central part of the suction surface away from a surface to be sucked in the condition where the suction surface is in suction contact with the surface to be sucked, wherein the spring element is formed from a material having a modulus of elasticity higher than those of natural rubber and synthetic rubbers.
US07841565B2
A mounting apparatus for a data storage device defining a locking hole in a sidewall includes a bracket, a lever member, and an operating member. The bracket includes a first side wall. The side wall defines a through-hole, and an opening. The lever member mounted to the first side wall includes an extension portion at an end thereof that extends through the opening, and a cantilever at an opposite end thereof. The cantilever includes a first guiding portion, and a locking portion at a distal end thereof for inserting through the through-hole of the bracket to engage in the locking hole of the data storage device. The operating member is mounted to the first side wall of the bracket and movable along the cantilever of the lever member. The operating member includes a second guiding portion for slidably engaging with the first guiding portion of the lever member.
US07841562B2
A load patch for attaching concentrated loads to a flexible inflated structure such as a high-altitude airship is stiff in the direction of the applied load so as to carry the load, and is attached to the inflated structure for a very short distance through T-tape so as to minimize strain concentration in the inflated structure due to the stretching of the inflated structure. Since the load patch must be attached for a long length transverse to the load to distribute the applied load, it is transversely compliant to minimize strain concentration in the inflated structure due to stretching of the inflated structure.
US07841561B2
A system and method for internally supporting a flexible envelope such as an airship is described, comprising a truss structure and supporting struts attached to a central support member. The internal structure may be foldable so as to allow the envelope to be collapsed when not in use.
US07841556B2
A paper towel dispenser is sized to fit within an existing recessed cabinet. The dispenser includes a frame, a pair of roll supports, and a dispensing mechanism. The pair of roll supports are supported by the frame to provide support to a roll of paper towel. The dispenser is also supported by the frame, and operates to dispense the paper towel.
US07841545B2
The present invention provides an impingement sprinkler with adjustable outflow angle. The invention includes a main body, at a lower side of which there is an inflow tube coupling end, and at upper side of which there is an upper frame. An outlet coupling portion is arranged at the lower flange close to the upper frame. A rotating member is arranged onto the upper frame of the main body; and an adjustable outflow head is assembled onto the outlet coupling portion of the main body, allowing the outflow angle to be freely adjusted. It is possible to adjust freely the sprinkling angle with the adjustable outflow head.
US07841544B2
A fuel injector and a method for manufacturing a fuel injector are described. The fuel injector includes a glass substrate and a nozzle enclosed within the glass substrate. The nozzle includes at least one injection hole. The method of manufacturing a fuel injector includes defining a shape of at least one injection hole in a glass substrate to obtain an at least one outlined injection hole and etching the at least one outlined injection hole to obtain the at least one injection hole.
US07841541B2
A fan has a sensor (86; 186) for sensing at least one value of the air that flows through the fan (20; 120). The fan has a fan housing (22, 24; 122, 124); an electronically commutated external-rotor motor, arranged in that housing, having an internal stator (30; 130) and an external rotor (46; 146); a fan wheel (56; 156) coupled to the external rotor (46; 146); an air inlet opening (58; 90; 158) for the inflow of air that is to be moved by the fan wheel (56; 156); a circuit board (68; 185) having a portion (66; 188) that extends adjacent the air passage opening (58; 158); and conductors (82, 84; 182′, 182″) arranged on that portion (66; 188), to which conductors the sensor (86; 186) is connected, preferably by a Surface Mounted Device (SMD) method. Premounting the sensor on the circuit board facilitates automated manufacture and reduces cost.
US07841533B2
A method of capturing processing digital images of an object, using a hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system having a trigger switch, an imaging window and a field of view (FOV) projected therethrough and onto an area-type image detection array. The method involves automatically detecting an object within the FOV, and generating a first trigger event indicative of automatic object detection within the FOV. In response to the generation of the first trigger event signal, the object targeting illumination subsystem automatically generates and projects a visible targeting illumination beam within the FOV. The human operator aligns the visible targeting illumination beam with the object in the FOV, and then manually actuates the trigger switch to generate a second trigger event signal. In response to the generation of the second trigger event signal, a field of illumination is automatically generated and projected through the imaging window and within the FOV, while the targeting illumination beam is momentarily ceased, and 2D digital images of the object are formed and detected on the area-type image detection array, and one or more of the detected 2-D digital images are captured, buffered and processed, so as to read one or more 1D and/or 2D code symbols graphically represented in the one or more detected 2D digital images.
US07841523B2
Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.
US07841519B2
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
US07841518B2
A system including at least two parts or stations wherein a transaction or connection between any two or more of the parts or stations is conducted or established by an access code, the access code being available to an accessed part or station and requiring an identical access code to be provided to an accessing part or station at the time of conducting the transaction or establishing the connection. The system is characterized in that the access code is one of a plurality of codes provided to the accessed part or station and available to the accessing part or station. The system is further characterized in that the access code is selected from the plurality of codes at the time of conducting the transaction or establishing the connection, such that no two transactions are conducted or no two connections are established with the same access codes.
US07841516B2
A method for managing a supply chain for a business enterprise in a manner that is applicable to many different business enterprises and a computer program product for performing the method are provided. The method includes creating a planning-delivery data object for use in documenting planned delivery of goods or services related to a business transaction. The method also includes creating a shipping-delivery data object for use in documenting shipment of at least some of the goods or services related to the business transaction. The method further includes confirmed-delivery data object for use in documenting receipt of at least some of the goods or services by a product recipient. The planning-delivery data object, the shipping-delivery data object, and the confirmed-delivery data object correspond to one another.
US07841515B2
A financial services and transaction network including multiple networked validation stations and remote terminals allows users to access a number of financial services and transactions. A user visiting a remote terminal indicates a desired service or transaction. The user provides any currency or funding information needed for the selected service, after which the remote terminal issues the user a transaction voucher. The user can take this transaction voucher to any of the validation stations in order to authenticate the user's identity and activate the voucher. Once the voucher is activated, the user or a recipient of the voucher can present the voucher at any remote terminal to receive funding or otherwise complete the transaction or service, subject to recipient authentication. The user provides necessary information using the remote terminal or validation station, or supplies the information using the voucher, which is collected upon performance of the requested service or transaction.
US07841509B2
A copper tube with copper end pieces for a water-cooled secondary winding of a welding transformer is an example of a brazed assembly having a potentially corrodible side, the water-cooled side, and a low-exposure side, the air side or dry side, of the joined pieces. By shaping contacting surfaces of the parts at the brazed joint it is useful to form a barrier, for example, between a special braze material required for the corrosive side and a conventional, easy to apply, braze material for use on the air side of the joint.
US07841498B1
An apparatus comprising a flexible plastic rectangular frame with a tape cutting edge; the sides of the frame flex to accommodate mounting on to a spool of pressure sensitive adhesive backed tape and are so formed as to retain the tape spool during dispensing and cutting variable lengths of the tape. The apparatus allows the tape to be dispensed upon application, cut to desired length, and upon cutting, provides capture of the supply end of the tape to ease the dispensing of additional lengths of tape. The tape spool is held within the frame by the spring tension exerted by the frame side as it is distorted during mounting of the dispenser to the tape spool.
US07841497B1
A holster for a handgun, the holster having an axis that separates a frame/slide portion of the holster from a trigger guard portion of the holster and a lever having a finger button end and an engagement end, wherein the engagement end of the lever includes a locking portion protruding from a second side of the engagement end, wherein the lever is pivotally attached to a side wall of the holster, along the axis, approximately between the finger button end and the engagement end, such that the finger button end extends into the frame/slide portion of the holster and the engagement end extends into the trigger guard portion of the holster, wherein the lever is pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and wherein, when the lever is in the engaged position, the locking portion protrudes into a holster cavity, via an opening in the side wall.
US07841489B2
A container having a knit line. The container comprises a body defining a partially enclosed volume having an access opening defined by a neck, the neck defining a pocket. An insert is coupled to the neck. The insert comprises an outer wall configured to fit within the opening of the container and defining the periphery of the insert. The outer wall has an upper edge and a lower edge, with the upper edge including an annular lip extending radially outward to prevent the insert from being pushed too far into or through the neck. The tooth extends from the lip and is configured to insert into a notch defined by the neck of the container. An upstanding spout is located within the outer wall. A bottom wall connects the lower edge of the outer wall and the spout to form a channel between the outer wall and the spout. The lip includes a first portion having a first radius and a second portion having a second radius, wherein the first radius is larger than the second radius with the first portion forming a seal at the knit line of the container when the cover is threaded onto the neck.
US07841481B2
The multicomponent cartridge assembly has at least two cartridge containers arranged next to one another and which can be connected to one another via upper and lower connection elements so that they can be plugged together. An additional latch device in the form of interengaging teeth is provided in the region of the upper and/or lower connection elements for the secure holding of the two cartridge containers in the plugged-together state.
US07841465B2
An optical disk storage box includes a storage body, a cover and a connecting arrangement that movably connects the storage body with the cover. The storage body includes a bottom board, a storage wall unit perpendicularly provided on the bottom board and defining a storage cavity. The storage wall unit includes a first storage wall, a second storage wall, a third storage wall and a fourth storage wall. The storage body further includes two blocking flakes inwardly and transversely extended from two ends of an upper edge of the third storage wall respectively, and at least a fastening member upwardly extended from the bottom board and having a predetermined distance from the first storage wall inside the storage cavity. The fastening member includes a longitudinal arm upwardly extended from the bottom board, and a transverse arm inwardly and transversely extended from an upper end of the longitudinal arm.
US07841460B2
An escalator with an endless formation of successive steps, each having a step surface, a front surface or step-riser and each side, a sideways directed cheek. Provided in the area of each cheek is at least one roller that projects transversely sideways, and is guided along laterally mounted, diagonally running roller-rails of the escalator. On each step in the area of the front surface or step-riser at least one emergency guide hook is fastened in such manner that the emergency guide hook of a higher lying upper first step supports itself against an area of the cheek of the next lower lying second step, should the step be eccentrically loaded in the area of the step-tread.
US07841458B2
A clutch assembly for use in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes a drum movable about a rotational axis and having a generally annular recess for supporting components of the clutch assembly therein. A clutch pack is supported in the recess in the drum. A clutch piston is movably coupled to the drum and movable in a generally axial direction between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the clutch pack. At least one biasing spring continuously biases the clutch piston toward the disengaged position. A resin balancer plate has a side wall in contact with one end of the at least one biasing spring. The side wall is reinforced by a box section formed by: an outer wall that extends at an angle from one end of the side wall, an inner wall that extends from an opposite end of the side wall and is stepped in an axial direction toward the clutch piston, and a reinforcing rib interconnecting the side wall, outer wall and inner wall. An integral lip extends from an outer end of the balance plate to form a seal with the clutch piston.
US07841455B2
In clutch-to-clutch upshifting, the occurrence of inertia shock is suppressed while racing of the engine is prevented. Corresponding to a first sweep control in which an engaging-side pressure sweeps up toward a target hydraulic pressure PTA, a releasing-side hydraulic pressure PB sweeps down as an initial control. When the releasing-side hydraulic pressure PB becomes a minute torque capacity [fPB(0)+PKEEP+PLS2T], a hold control, which has a very low gradient δPB, is started so that the pressure is substantially held, and, after a rotation change is started, the pressure sweeps down with a low gradient δPE2 until release.
US07841448B2
An access panel is shown in the present invention to provide easy and safe access to an attic space or elevated structure. The access panel is fully automatic. During opening, the access panel only uses gravitational forces for opening a cover. Only during closing is the access panel motorized. The gravitational forces are used to both open the cover and extend the ladder sections, while the motor is only used to retract the latter sections and close the cover. A stow latch keeps the cover closed during non-use. A safety switch keeps the access panel from accidentally opening and the ladder sections from lowering if the stow latch is released. A mechanical lock keeps the cover open when the ladder sections have been lowered.
US07841442B2
A hydrostatic transmission that is operated in an open loop by way of an adjustable hydraulic motor (5), which is adjusted for the purpose of acceleration or deceleration with the aid of an electronic control unit (8) such that a desired vehicle speed corresponds to a measured vehicle speed.
US07841435B2
A transmission (1), preferably for a front axle of a floor transport vehicle (100), comprises at least one transmission stage, a drive sprocket (6), a hollow gear (4, 203), and a housing, wherein the drive sprocket (6) and the hollow gear (4, 203) each have a rotation axis, which axes are parallel and disposed offset from each other. A drive wheel (111) is connected in torque-proof fashion with the hollow gear and housing (4, 203) and the drive sprocket (6) is coupled to a drive motor (25). The motor is mounted to the transmission (1) through a flange. Assembly and disassembly of the transmission is simplified by the relatively few component parts of the transmission. Further, vehicle loads are efficiently transferred to the drive wheel by supporting the hollow gear (4, 203) rotatably upon a fixed support element (13) forming a section of the housing, wherein the support element (13) is disposed coaxial with the rotation axis of the hollow gear (4, 203).
US07841434B2
In an electric drive system for a vehicle, an alternator is driven by an engine to generate electric power which is used to drive a motor to generate a driving force. During a retardation of the vehicle, the motor is operated as an alternator to convert kinetic energy to electric energy which is used to retard the vehicle. A retard resistor is provided for absorbing electric energy generated during the retardation state. The retard resistor is cooled down by an AC blower.
US07841432B2
A hybrid electro-hydraulic drive system is provided for a vehicle and comprises a hydraulic transmission including a first hydraulic machine and at least one second hydraulic machine drivingly connected to drive wheels of the motor vehicle for driving thereof, an electric motor/generator operatively connected to the first hydraulic machine, and at least one energy storage device operable to store and release a hydraulic fluid energy or an electrical energy. The second hydraulic machine is a reversible hydraulic pump/motor unit capable to function both as a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor. The energy storage device is operatively connected to either the hydraulic transmission or the electric motor/generator. In a retarding mode the hydraulic transmission and/or the electric motor/generator retard the vehicle, while in a driving mode they supply a supplementary power to the drive wheels to assist propulsion of the vehicle.
US07841426B2
A hybrid drill bit having both roller cones and fixed blades is disclosed. The cutting elements on the fixed blades form a continuous cutting profile from the perimeter of the bit body to the axial center. The roller cone cutting elements overlap with the fixed cutting elements in the nose and shoulder sections of the cutting profile between the axial center and the perimeter. The roller cone cutting elements crush and pre-fracture formation in the weak and highly stressed nose and shoulder sections.
US07841424B2
A power output mechanism for power tools includes a main part for driving an output shaft, a switch unit, an impact unit, a pressing unit, and an operation member. The switch unit has a rotation collar for controlling positions of positioning springs. The impact unit includes an orientation wheel movably connected to the output shaft and an operation wheel secured to the output shaft. The orientation wheel includes a first toothed contact surface which is removably engaged with a second toothed contact surface of the operation wheel. A corrugated ring portion is defined on an outer periphery of the orientation wheel and limited from rotation relative to the output shaft when the positioning springs are moved to certain positions. When the positioning springs are engaged with the orientation wheel, the orientation wheel cannot freely rotate relative to the output shaft so that an impact is output.
US07841420B2
A self-activating fire extinguisher includes a pressure vessel having an outlet and containing a fire suppressant therein. A fusible material caps the outlet such that melting the fusible material allows escape of the fire suppressant from the pressure vessel. A deflector is associated with the pressure vessel for deflecting the fire suppressant escaping the pressure vessel onto a corresponding hazard.
US07841419B2
A fire extinguishing or explosion suppression device comprises a chamber and a nozzle. The nozzle defines a discharge pathway from the chamber. The chamber has an inlet for pressure-driven introduction of a liquid into the chamber. The chamber is shaped so that a gas contained in the chamber before the introduction of the liquid is entrained into the liquid during the pressure driven introduction of the liquid such that a mixture of the liquid and the gas is discharged through the nozzle to create a mist for extinguishing a fire or suppression of an explosion. After the gas has been discharged from the chamber, the nozzle produces a spray having a core of larger liquid droplets with the core being surrounded by smaller liquid droplets.
US07841417B2
A method of sealing an annulus formed between a casing string and a surface in a well includes: positioning a seal element in the annulus, a swellable material of the seal element being positioned between the casing string and the surface; and flowing cement through a channel formed between the swellable material and the casing string. A method of sealing in a well includes the steps of: positioning an annular seal element comprising a swellable material in the well; and flowing cement into at least one channel formed longitudinally through the seal element. A method of sealing an annulus between two casing strings includes: providing multiple arcuate segments, each of the segments comprising a swellable material; and installing the segments in the annulus, each of the segments thereby occupying a respective circumferential portion of the annulus.
US07841401B2
Methods of treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Methods for treating a subsurface treatment area in a formation may include introducing a fluid into the formation from a plurality of wells offset from a treatment area of an in situ heat treatment process to inhibit outward migration of formation fluid from the in situ heat treatment process.
US07841396B2
The present invention relates to an improved method and system for perforating, slotting, and cutting steel and subterranean rock; and also for fracturing a subterranean formation to stimulate the production of desired fluids therefrom. The invention involves a fluid jetting device with a sleeve composed of a hard material. The sleeve includes at least one hole and a fluid flowing through the jetting device is emitted through the hole in the sleeve.
US07841395B2
A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes a first pump, a second pump, a recirculation coupling between the first and second pumps, and a recirculation line for directing cooling flow across the pump motor. The pumps and coupling are independent modular items connected together. Optionally, a multi-stage pump may be retrofitted with the coupling for creating a cooling flow.
US07841387B2
A pump-free water-cooling system includes a heat-exchange circulating solution container containing heat-exchange circulating solution and vapor of the circulating solution, at least one solution outlet to discharge the circulating solution from the container, and a gas-liquid two-phase fluid inlet to charge into the container gas-liquid two-phase fluid composed of the circulating solution. The system also includes a circulating-solution transporting route in which a first transportation route is linked to a second transportation route which is linked to a third transportation route. A sensible-heat-emitting heat exchanger is provided along the first transportation route. The first transportation route is linked with the solution outlet. Heat exchange is carried out along the second transportation route at least between circulating solution therein and the circulating solution in the container. A heating heat exchanger is provided along the third transportation route. The third transportation route is linked with the gas-liquid two-phase fluid inlet.
US07841385B2
A dual-chamber fluid pump is provided for a multi-fluid electronics cooling system and method. The pump has a first fluid path for pumping a first fluid coolant and a second fluid path for pumping a second fluid coolant, with the first fluid path including a first pumping chamber and the second fluid path including a second pumping chamber. The first and second pumping chambers are separated by at least one diaphragm, and an actuator is coupled to the diaphragm for transitioning the diaphragm between a first position and a second position. Transitioning of the diaphragm to the first position pumps first fluid coolant from the first pumping chamber while concurrently drawing second fluid coolant into the second pumping chamber, and transitioning of the diaphragm to the second position pumps second fluid coolant from the second pumping chamber while concurrently drawing first fluid coolant into the first pumping chamber.
US07841383B2
An encasement assembly for installing sub-surface refrigerant tubing in a direct exchange heating/cooling system includes a weighted and protective encasement tube for lowering the bottom distal U-bend portion of the refrigerant tubing into a well/borehole. The encasement tube has a main body portion and a rounded or cone-shaped nose. The U-bend portion of the distal end of the refrigerant transport lines is encased within a cementitious grout inside the tube. The grout inside the encasement tube has a flat top portion to prevent upward flotation and at least one eyebolt for securing a trimmie tube with an expendable wire during installation. An optional nose ring is attached to the lower distal end of the tube for marker float attachment in water.
US07841381B2
An energy recovery ventilator and method for monitoring and maintaining an environmental condition inside a structure such as a house, building, or dwelling is provided. The ventilator may include a housing having mating halves of a molded polymeric material, first and second chambers disposed within the housing to convey separate first and second streams of air, a heat exchanger configured to intersect the first and second chambers, a first fan to circulate the first air stream through the first chamber, a second fan to circulate the second air stream through the second chamber, and a fan motor driving the first and second fans. The ventilator may also be configured to prevent frost build-up in or on the energy ventilator, to provide efficient cooling, and maintain one or more desired environmental conditions.
US07841376B2
A window covering is disclosed that has a safety device that includes a first cord segment having stops spaced along the first cord segment, and a second cord segment having stops spaced along the second cord segment. The first cord segment and the second cord segment extend from respective end caps. The end caps are configured to connect to the ends of a bottom rail. A first anchor is connected to the first cord segment, and a second anchor is connected to the second cord segment. At least one of the first end cap and the first anchor is configured to releasably connect to the first cord segment at a selected stop on the first cord segment and at least one of the second anchor and the second end cap is configured to releasably connect to the second cord segment at a selected stop on the second cord segment.
US07841373B2
An apparatus for surfacing a flitch by cutting material from its radially outer surface to prepare the flitch for veneer slicing or other uses. The apparatus comprises a cutterhead rotatable about a cutterhead axis. The apparatus further comprises a carriage comprising a ring that rotates about a carriage axis and a pivot arm that carries the cutterhead and is coupled to the rotatable ring for pivoting movement about a pivot arm axis. The apparatus further comprises a flitch contour accommodation device coupled to the pivot arm and to the cutterhead to permit rotation of the cutterhead about a device axis that is generally transverse to the cutterhead axis.
US07841361B2
An electromagnetic hydraulic valve (1), in particular proportional valve, for controlling a device for the rotational angle adjustment of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, composed of an electromagnet (2) with a hollow-cylindrical magnet housing (4), at least one coil winding (5), an axially moveable magnet armature (6), a first and a second pole shoe (7, 8), a valve part (3) with a hollow-cylindrical valve housing (9) having a control piston (12) which can be moved axially by the magnet armature (6) of the electromagnet (2) via a plunger rod (11). The invention consists of a sleeve (17), composed of a base (18) and a hollow-cylindrical side wall (19), which is arranged on that end of the control piston (12) and situated in the direction of the plunger rod (11), where the sleeve (17) has a greater hardness than the control piston (12).
US07841355B2
An easy to use, reliable, easy to repair, universal, simple, lightweight, compact, portable, multi-use modular system of poles and interconnections. An operator configures a number of structures using brackets, supports, segmented shafts, and interconnection components. The segmented shafts have both the ability to make an attachment to retain a particular configuration while being able to break down the shafts for transportation or storage. Some embodiments include a sleeve that protects the tip of a pole and provide a cushion and separation between a pole and a ferrule thereby reducing breakage and increase reliability. Broken components are easily replaced in the field. The configuration of the structure is changed by the user to quickly adapt to changing needs. Multiple components can be carried by separate members of a group and combined together to form a more complex structure to meet the needs of the group.
US07841354B1
A canopy is provided for a tricycle which can be easily assembled and mounted on a tricycle and removed from the tricycle. The canopy comprise a lower transverse member which is mounted on the shoulder or back tube members of the tricycle; a pair of side members which are mounted on the lower transverse member; an upper transverse member which is mounted on the side members, and a roof member which is mounted on the side members and held in place by the upper transverse member. As will be described below, the components of the canopy engage each other to form a sturdy canopy in which the components will not move relative to each other and in which the canopy will not move relative to the tricycle. Further, the canopy can be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools.
US07841352B2
A cleaning tool to clean a surface of a liquid confinement system of an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed, the liquid confinement system having an aperture to allow passage of a beam of radiation therethrough of an immersion lithographic apparatus. The cleaning tool includes a sonic transducer, a reservoir configured to hold liquid between the sonic transducer and the surface to be cleaned, and a barrier positioned in the reservoir under the aperture to form, in use, a shield to sonic waves.
US07841350B2
A credit card type dental floss dispenser for carrying in a wallet or the like. The dispenser comprises a substantially closed housing (57) having oppositely disposed substantially planar wall portions, narrowly spaced apart and a supply of dental floss within. The floss dispenser includes a dispensing area (56) for dispensing the floss including a cutter (64) for severing the floss into desired lengths. The dispensing area is enclosed by a moveable cover (58) in order to improve hygiene and prevent dirt from contamination the floss supply. A floss storage reel may be visible through the housing and may include advertising or other indicia. The dispenser may also include means to prevent rotation of the reel in one direction.
US07841335B2
Various embodiments of a breath-activated nebulizer with flow-based fluidic control and related methods of using such a nebulizer are disclosed. The nebulizer may include a body comprising a reservoir for holding medication, a nozzle for emitting a jet of pressurized gas, and a fluid conduit in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication. The nebulizer may also include a nebulizer outlet in communication with the body for delivery of the aerosol to a patient, an entrainment passage for providing entrainment flow from atmosphere during inhalation by the patient, and a control conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit for delivery of a control gas to the fluid conduit to prevent the delivery of the medication proximate the jet. In some exemplary embodiments, the control conduit may comprise a gas passage proximate the entrainment passage to allow the control gas to flow across the entrainment passage. During the inhalation by the patient, the entrainment flow through the entrainment passage may substantially prevent the control gas from flowing across the entrainment passage so as to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the fluid conduit.
US07841332B2
The present invention concerns a burner assembly that includes a burner body having a combustible gas chamber from which a combustible gas is distributed to a plurality of burner ports at which the combustible gas can be combusted and a stability chamber in gas-flow communication with the combustible gas chamber for maintaining the combustion of the combustible gas in the stability chamber whenever the combustion of the combustible gas at the plurality of burner ports is disturbed, whereby the combustion of the combustible gas at the plurality of the burner ports may be resumed upon the cessation of the disturbance. The burner assembly can also include a burner cap for closing off the top of the burner body so as to substantially preclude the escape of the combustible gas from the combustible gas chamber, the stability gas chamber and the burner ports at the top of the burner body.
US07841319B2
A method for controlling an injection of fuel to an engine is described. In one example, the different fuels are injected to an engine during different engine operating conditions. The method may improve engine starting and reduce engine emissions.
US07841316B2
When an engine is at starting or at cold state, a closing time of an exhaust valve is set before an intake top dead center to close the exhaust valve early. An exhaust residual gas is compressed by a cylinder to raise an inner cylinder temperature. A pre-fuel injection is performed from a time of closing the exhaust valve to a time of the intake top dead center in such a manner that the pre-injected fuel is combusted to raise the inner cylinder temperature. This increase in temperature expedites an atomization of fuel injected at a main fuel injection. A wet amount of fuel is reduced and HC emission is also reduced.
US07841313B2
An engine balancer system is provided in which a balancer housing (17) disposed so as to face an oil pan beneath a crankshaft is formed by joining an upper housing (29) and a lower housing (30) via mating faces (P), and the height of the mating faces (P) is lower on a vehicle front side than on a vehicle rear side. Oil discharge holes (45a, 46) for discharging oil that is within the balancer housing (17) are formed in the mating faces (P) on the higher side of the balancer housing (17) and in the upper housing (29) above the mating faces (P) on the lower side of the balancer housing (17). This enables the position of the oil discharge hole (45a) on the lower side to be as high as possible, thereby suppressing penetration of oil into the interior of the balancer housing (17) through the oil discharge hole (45a).
US07841310B2
A spool valve 10 for a variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser for an internal combustion engine comprises a spool 11 slidable in a bore 12 in a valve sleeve 13, the spool 11 having spaced apart lands 14-17 dividing the bore 12 into chambers 41, 42, 43 between adjacent lands. The valve sleeve 13 has fluid passages 22-27 including a lock passage 26 communicating with a lock pin 31, a vent passage 27 communicating with a fluid sump 35, and a lock pin oil feed passage 22, with the spool 11 being slidable in the bore 12 to interconnect select passages via particular chambers, wherein the vent passage 27 and the lock pin passage 26 are connectable with different chambers 43 and 42 respectively. The arrangement avoids unnecessary operation of the lock pin 31.
US07841304B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and process for recovering heat from multiple hot process streams without multiplying instrumentation. Each hot process stream is indirectly heat exchanged with a water circuit which leaves and feeds a steam drum. Heat is added to the steam drum through the addition of water heated outside of the steam drum. The heated liquid and vapor water is heated in heat exchangers decoupled from the steam drum. The water circuits are arranged in parallel with each other and feed a single steam drum to provide a steam product of a desired pressure for which only one set of instrumentation is needed.
US07841291B1
A horn powered by a compressed air canister and/or battery pack, that emits sounds that are too high for humans to hear (ultrasonic) and/or too low for humans to hear (infrasonic), to act as a means for repelling animals that can hear these sounds (e.g., mammals, birds, reptiles, or insects), combined with a strobe light powered by the battery pack, that can temporarily blind animals. The canister may contain air or other gases. Ultrasonic and infrasonic sounds may alternate. There can be different sound patterns adapted to different species of animals. It may be hand-held and operated by push button or other means. It can also enable lost persons to send signals to rescuers. It may have a strap for carrying, that can be placed around a user's neck. Alternatively, it may have a clip that can be used to attach the device to a belt, back pack, bicycle, etc.
US07841286B1
A container has a base and a cover. A housing is provided within the container. The housing has an upper extend and a water passageway for the upward flow of water. A hose extends laterally from the upper extent of the housing. A pump in the housing moves water through the housing and the hose. A control assembly controls the operation of the pump.
US07841280B2
Disclosed is a series of stacked intermodal containers, being pulled by a locomotive of a train, with aerodynamic drag reducing devices. The series includes at least a first, leading set of containers and a second, trailing set of containers. The first, leading set of containers has an aerodynamic drag reducing device with a drag reducing fairing and an attachment frame attached thereto facing a forward direction. The attachment frame includes at least one mounting device configured to be removably mounted in the tunnel of the top container of the first, leading set of containers. Additionally, the second, trailing set of containers may include a second, aerodynamic drag reducing device, also attached via a gooseneck tunnel. Curtains may also be attached between a plurality of intermediate or adjacent sets of stacked containers to assist in reducing drag on the train when moving.
US07841269B1
An hydraulically deployable vehicle defense shield having a plurality of coplanar ballistic resistant elements in a single defense barrier that provides protection from the side to the vehicles engine and tires when non-deployed and when deployed provides cover for personnel exiting the vehicle and during a firefight. The defense barrier may also be deployed for the purpose of ramming another vehicle.
US07841265B2
The method includes continuously detecting glass faults in the glass sheet. Based on the results of the detecting of the glass faults an optimized cutting pattern for cutting crosscut pieces from a predetermined sheet section and for cutting glass panes from the crosscut pieces is determined. In order to reduce waste, the cutting lines for the glass panes are placed sufficiently close to fault-containing glass sheet regions, so that the glass sheet regions to be discarded are minimized, while producing a largest possible number of usable glass panes. The crosscut pieces are then cut out according to the optimized cutting pattern and then the glass panes are cut from the crosscut pieces. An appropriate apparatus for performing the method is described.
US07841263B1
An apparatus for cutting tubes includes a counter holder arranged to receive a tube, having at least one cutting tool that is movable to a cutting position on the counter holder during a cutting process, having an ejector that ejects cut-off portions of the tube, wherein the ejector is movable relative to the counter-holder, having a slide that is movable along the counter-holder on which the at least one cutting tool and the ejector are provided, and having a programmable control for freely setting cut-off lengths of tubular sleeves by moving the cutting tool on the slide.
US07841259B2
Methods for forming bodies of earth-boring drill bits and other tools include milling a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of particles comprising a matrix material to form a mill product comprising powder particles, separating the particles into a plurality of particle size fractions. Some of the particles from the fractions may be combined to form a powder mixture, which may be pressed to form a green body. Additional methods include mixing a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of particles comprising a matrix material to form a powder mixture, and pressing the powder mixture with pressure having an oscillating magnitude to form a green body. In yet additional methods a powder mixture may be pressed within a deformable container to form a green body and drainage of liquid from the container is enabled as the powder mixture is pressed.
US07841258B2
A bicycle shift controller is provided with two independently operable levers that are operatively coupled to a cable take up member disposed in a base member configured to be mounted to a handlebar. The cable take up member rotates about a rotational axis for winding and releasing a control cable in response to pivotal movement of the levers. A first one of the levers has a first operating portion with a first operating surface and a second operating portion with a second operating surface. The second operating surface is angularly offset from the first operating surface about a first lever pivot axis of the first lever. The first and second levers pivot from a rest position to a shift position for rotating the cable take up member in opposite directions.
US07841257B2
A compensator for cables includes a housing and a spring wrapped around inside the housing to form a loop. An inner strand of a Bowden cable or the like extends through the coil spring, and thereby forms a loop. The looped configuration of the coil spring provides a higher effective spring constant, and thereby permits a smaller coil spring to be used. The dimensions of the compensator can also be reduced, thereby reducing the space required for the compensator.
US07841254B2
A gear-shifting safety device is provided for an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), including a gear lever, a gear-shifting hub shaft, a gear-shifting gear set, and a reversing bar. An end of the gear-shifting hub forms a step on which a block is provided. The block and the step form a stop face therebetween. The reversing bar has an end forming a stop section that is positionable on the step and is selectively in abutting engagement with the stop face so that to change to the reversing position, the reversing bar must be first actuated to disengage the stop section thereof from the stop face, allowing the switching fork to move to the reversing position on a position chute of the gear-shifting hub, thereby eliminating the damage of accidentally switching to reversing during the forward movement of the vehicle.
US07841246B2
A device for measuring the length of a cable under tension moved through the device generally comprises a frame, a measuring pulley rotatably mounted on the frame; an anti-slip device for rollingly holding the midsection of the cable in a non-slipping manner against the measuring pulley such that movement of the cable rotates the measuring pulley, and a rotation sensor for sensing the rotation of the measuring pulley and producing a signal indicative of the rotation thereof. The anti-slip device generally comprises one or more loading rollers and a loading assembly including a flexible tension member for applying loading to the loading rollers such that movement of the cable rotates the measuring pulley. A location measuring device incorporating the cable length measuring device determines the direction and distance from the location measuring device to a free end of the cable.
US07841243B1
An ultrasonic transit time approach is used for measuring both a speed of sound of a fluid and a diameter of a pipe through which the fluid flows. A reflecting structure is provided to split an acoustic beam generated by a transducer into two portions. One of these portions traverses an acoustic path of known length in order to determine the speed of sound in the fluid. The second portion of the beam may be directed along a path that includes reflections from an inner surface of the pipe. In this case the second portion of the beam can be used to measure the diameter of the pipe. Alternately, the second portion of the beam may extend to a second transducer that is spaced apart along the pipe from the transducer generating the split beam.
US07841242B2
The invention relates to deflectable micromechanical systems as well as their use in which the deflection of at least one deflectable element can be determined. In accordance with the invention, a deflectable element is held with at least one spring element and at least one unit detecting the deflection is present. It is formed as a piezoresistive sensor with contacts arranged at least at a spacing from one another and in a region deforming on deflection. The contacts are connected to an electrical voltage source. An inhomogeneous electrical field is formed perpendicular to the contact surfaces in the depth direction so that the electrical resistance between contacts varying in dependence on the deflection can be detected as a measure for the position. The deforming region is formed from electrically conductive or semiconductive material.
US07841236B2
The present invention relates to an electric device, which comprises: a micro inertial sensing module, for detecting a motion of the electric device with respect to the degree of freedom of six axes and thus issuing a sensing signal basing on the detection; a sensing signal processor, for receiving and processing the sensing signal to form a system processing signal; and a display; wherein the displacements and rotations of the motion detection-enabled electric device is sensed and measured by the micro inertial sensing module for enabling the micro inertial sensing module to generate sensing signals corresponding thereto and thus sending the same to the sensing signal processor for processing, and then the result of the processing is adopted as the input of the motion detection-enabled electric device for causing the motion detection-enabled electric device to response in the display accordingly. Thereby, the functions of the buttons used as inputting interface of conventional portable game devices can be replaced and thus the fatigue and pain of players' fingers caused by the pressing of buttons can be eliminated, moreover, the displaying area of the display can be enlarged since the area reserved for accommodating conventional buttons is voided.
US07841234B2
Exemplary systems and method are directed to a sensing device, and to a pressure sensing system and method. An exemplary method includes supplying electromagnetic energy to a transducer which is configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy at a ring frequency determined by an inductance of the transducer, wherein the inductance changes in response to compression of the inductive element. The ring frequency of electromagnetic energy reflected by the transducer is correlated to a pressure value.
US07841232B2
A test machine and method for dynamically testing a tire/wheel assembly. A first laser measurement gage is directed to an inboard rim flange of the wheel to measure radial deflection of the tire/wheel assembly. A second laser measurement gage is directed to the inboard rim flange to measure axial deflection of the tire/wheel assembly. Displacement data and loading data are correlated to provide values for lateral stiffness, radial stiffness and ride stiffness.
US07841225B2
The invention concerns a separation column in microsystem technology for a gas chromatograph comprising a first substrate, a second substrate which is arranged on the first substrate, wherein a trench structure is provided in at least one substrate and the trench structure is sealed off relative to the environment, a stationary phase applied at least to parts of the trench structure, a gas inlet connected to the trench structure, and a gas outlet connected to the trench structure.
US07841219B2
A fabric treating appliance utilizing steam for treating the fabric and having a steam generator with a conduit for directing the steam.
US07841212B2
A method for producing a shaped body (10) made of glass or glass ceramics comprises the steps of: (a) placing at least two glass blanks (12a, 12b) side by side on a shaped surface (14) of a temperature-resistant sagging mold (13); (b) sagging the glass blanks (12a, 12b) onto the shaped surface (14) by heating the sagging mold (13) and the glass blanks (12a, 12b); (c) attaching the sagged glass blanks (10a, 10b) to each other in order to form the shaped body (10); and (d) lifting the shaped body (10) from the sagging mold (13). A shaped body (10) comprises at least two glass blanks (10a, 10b) attached side by side and formed by sagging.
US07841208B2
A compression refrigeration system and evaporator having multiple circuits. Spray nozzles are provided for atomization and expansion of the refrigerant. The atomizing spray nozzles are interposed in each evaporator circuit and the nozzles are sized to distribute atomized refrigerant to the various evaporator circuits based on airflow rates across the associated circuit.
US07841204B2
Provided is an ice dispensing apparatus. The ice dispenser discharges a predetermined number of ice pieces at a time, and thus malfunctioning or errors caused by bottleneck condition can be prevented. Furthermore, inside a case of the ice dispenser, pieces of ice can be effectively prevented from sticking to each other in a simple way, and thus the reliability of products can be increased. The ice dispensing apparatus includes a case, a driving unit, and a regulator. The case includes an inlet receiving ice and an outlet discharging ice. The driving unit is disposed inside or outside the case. The regulator is disposed in the case at a predetermined side and rotatable by the driving unit. The regulator includes a spiral blade having a predetermined blade interval. A predetermined number of pieces of ice are guided by rotation of the spiral blade to the outlet of the case.
US07841198B2
An ice maker includes a refrigeration system for cooling an ice forming surface, a water supply inlet and an inlet valve arranged to selectively admit and prevent admission of water from the inlet. A flow sensor at the inlet valve determines a volume of water admitted through the water supply inlet. An operating position of the water supply inlet valve is based upon input from the flow sensor. A water collecting device receives a supply of water from the water supply inlet through the water supply inlet valve and receives a flow of water from the ice forming surface. A recirculating pump is connected to the water collecting device and to a recirculating passage arranged to direct water toward the ice forming surface. A level sensor at the water collecting device determines a level of water in the water collecting device. A discharge pump is connected to the water collecting device, and the control selectively operates the discharge pump based upon input from the level sensor.
US07841197B2
A variable capacitance compressor is provided in a refrigeration cycle of a vehicular air conditioning system. The variable capacitance compressor controls discharge capacity of refrigerant by an external control pulse signal, and can substantially estimate compressor suction side pressure by the external control pulse signal and compressor discharge side pressure. A compressor torque calculator is provided to calculate torque based on evaporator upstream and downstream temperature difference data Δt, which is a temperature difference between inlet side air temperature of an evaporator and outlet side air temperature of the evaporator, compressor discharge side pressure data Pd, duty ratio data of a control pulse signal, and compressor's number of revolution data.
US07841191B2
A refrigerator freezer having an ice maker positioned on a refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment door. The ice maker is arranged to prevent or manage spills from the ice maker in the event the door on which the ice maker is mounted is opened or closed when unfrozen water is present in the ice maker. Spill management embodiments for a number of fixed and movable tray ice makers are disclosed.
US07841181B2
One embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine combustion chamber including primary and secondary burning zones. Other embodiments include unique gas turbine engine apparatuses, systems, methods, and combinations.
US07841180B2
A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes providing at least one combustor assembly defining a combustion chamber. At least one fuel nozzle is positioned at a forward end of the combustion chamber. The at least one fuel nozzle is configured to inject a premixed fuel/air mixture into the combustion chamber. A catalytic material is applied to at least a portion of the at least one fuel nozzle.
US07841174B2
A torque converter cover including a protrusion extending from an outer surface of the torque converter cover and symmetrical about an axis of rotation for the cover and a pilot boss including a body having a recessed portion matingly engaged with the protrusion. In some embodiments, the protrusion is generally cylindrical, while in other embodiments, the recessed portion is generally cylindrical. A method of fixedly securing a pilot boss to a torque converter cover, the torque converter cover including a protrusion from an outer surface of the cover and symmetrical about an axis of rotation for the cover and a pilot boss including a body having a recessed portion, the method including the step of matingly engaging said recessed portion to the protrusion.
US07841164B2
A direct metering fuel supply system includes a plurality of axial gap motors, a fixed displacement, variable speed positive displacement piston pump, and a gas turbine engine control. Each axial gap motor is configured to be selectively energized and is operable, upon being energized, to supply a drive torque at a drive speed. The fixed displacement, variable speed positive displacement piston pump is coupled to each of the axial gap motors to receive the drive torque selectively supplied therefrom and is operable, upon receipt of the drive torque, to supply fuel at a flow rate dependent on the drive speed. The gas turbine engine control is adapted to receive fuel flow commands and is operable, in response to the fuel flow commands, to energize one of the plurality of axial gap motors.
US07841158B2
A universal attachment assembly is operable to couple turf maintenance implements of varying widths to a turf maintenance vehicle. The attachment assembly can include a yoke member that can be attached to a coupling member in various locations. The different locations can accommodate varying widths of the turf maintenance implements that are coupled to the turf maintenance vehicle with the yoke member. The yoke member can also be positioned in different orientations relative to the coupling member in both the first and second positions. The different orientations can correspond to an operating position and a servicing position for the turf maintenance implement.
US07841157B2
A mower apparatus includes a mower deck having a first deck section, a second deck section pivotable relative to the first deck section, and a latch. The latch is actuable between a first position in which the latch maintains the second deck section in a lowered position and a second position in which the latch maintains the second deck in a raised position.
US07841150B2
Floorboards (1, 1′) are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system consisting of a separately machined locking strip (6) which is mechanically joined with the floorboard (1), the locking strip (6) being designed for mechanical fixing to the floorboard (1) by means of a joint, which is operable by snapping-in and/or inward angling, and the locking strip (6) being designed to connect the floorboard (1) with the essentially identical floorboard (1′) by at least inward angling.Moreover, a locking strip, a strip blank, a set of parts for making a floorboard and methods for manufacturing a floorboard and a locking strip, respectively, are shown.
US07841129B2
A snag-proof multi-purpose fishing weight apparatus combined with fish hook and a fish attractant/fish feeding stimulant delivery system generally comprises a slender tubular hollow shaft with small holes along its length which can be filled with fish attractant/feeding stimulant and then seep or ooze out of the small holes along the shaft into the surrounding water. The shaft has attached to it on one end (top) a flotation device and a flexible wire to which is attached a fish hook and main fishing line. The other end of the shaft (bottom), has a weight of the same diameter as the shaft and attached to it and extending from it on the same plane creating a smooth extension of the shaft. This configuration, underwater will naturally orient the apparatus in the upright vertical position with the float end and fish hook on top and the weighted end resting on bottom, while positioning the baited hook outward and away from shaft in view of foraging fish.
US07841102B2
A measurement apparatus for measuring a distance between a base surface and an upper surface of a stepped structure of a workpiece. The measurement apparatus includes a supporting member having an upper surface for supporting the workpiece, a holding member fixed on the top surface, and a micrometer. The holding member includes a reference platform and a depression formed on the reference platform and facing the upper surface. The micrometer is fixed to the holding member and includes an extendable measuring shaft with a contacting portion extending out of the reference platform. The distance is measured by pushing the workpiece into the depression until the base surface make contact with the reference platform.
US07841101B1
A roofing installation device for enabling quick and accurate installation of shingle type roofing. The device includes a generally c-shaped inner portion and correspondingly c-shaped outer portion slidable relative to one another. The inner and outer portions include at least one spring there between in an expansion state such that manual compression allows a user to clamp the device onto a first shingle layer. An adjustable portion is affixed to the inner portion and includes a stop edge to allow placement of a second shingle layer in such a manner to form a predetermined surface exposure of the first shingle layer. The predetermined surface exposure is variable by moving the adjustable portion relative to the inner portion. Such adjustment is accomplished in a quick, manual manner.
US07841094B2
The present invention relates to an optical instrument with an angle indicator and a method for operating the same enabling simple monitoring of instrument inclination and operation in a large angle range. The optical instrument comprises a base portion, a head portion tiltable relative to the base portion within a device angle range, a base angle indicator attached to the base portion for determining a base angle of the base portion and a determination unit for determining an indication angle range of the head portion based on the base angle and the device angle range.
US07841087B1
A method of attaching flexible tubing used in implementations such as drying buildings after flooding or irrigation. The method comprises forming a hole in a first line of flexible tubing, positioning a second piece of flexible tubing about a connector, and positioning the connector into the interior of the first opening with the second tubing positioned there about so that the pressure in the first tubing presses the connector against the inner wall thereby capturing the second tubing between the connector and the inner wall of the first tubing.
US07841086B2
A method of fabricating an inkjet printhead. The method includes the steps of: (a) forming a plurality of MEMS ink ejection assemblies on an ink-ejection surface of a silicon substrate, each ink ejection assembly being sealed with roof material spanning across the ink ejection assemblies to define a nozzle plate; (b) etching partially into the roof material to form simultaneously a respective nozzle rim for each ink ejection assembly and a plurality of projections patterned across the nozzle plate between nozzle rims; and (c) etching through the roof material to form a respective nozzle aperture for each ink ejection assembly. The projections patterned across the nozzle plate between nozzle rims are useful for reducing stiction between particulates and the nozzle plate.
US07841085B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid jet head is provided which includes a flow channel board having at least pressure-generating chambers communicating with nozzle holes and a pressure generator above one surface that applies pressure for jetting liquid to the pressure-generating chambers, and a silicon single-crystal reservoir board having at least a reservoir section that communicates with the pressure-generating chambers and that is defined by a through hole passing through the reservoir board and a step with a riser formed so as to open up the through hole at one surface. In the method, a mask pattern having an opening is formed on a reservoir-forming board intended for the reservoir board. The opening has a correction pattern on its wall and a dummy mask pattern is formed in the opening. The correction pattern serves to expose a predetermined crystal plane of the reservoir-firming board to define the riser of the step. The dummy mask pattern has a plurality of separate mask portions and serves to substantially match the etching rate of the reservoir-forming board in the region opposing the correction pattern with the etching rate of the reservoir-forming board in the region opposing the opening of the mask pattern. The reservoir-forming board is anisotropically etched through the mask pattern having the correction pattern and the dummy mask pattern, so that the reservoir section having the step is formed.
US07841084B2
The present technology relates to the problem that during diverse machining steps of application to the production or reconditioning of internally cooled gas turbine blades, an undesired effect may be had on sections of the gas turbine blades and proposes, as an improvement, to inject the cavity of the gas turbine blades before the machining steps with a plastic material which can be removed without trace, such as polystyrene, which can be subsequently removed again, in particular by heat.
US07841081B2
The manufacturing method for an electronic parts module includes forming an adhesive layer including solder particles on the circuit forming surface in range covering at least the first and the second land parts, positioning a terminal of the active element on the second land part, sticking the active element to the base wiring layer through the adhesive layer by heating and pressing the active element onto the base wiring layer with a thermally pressing tool, and releasing the heating and pressing with the thermally pressing tool while the adhesive layer is semi-solidified, thereafter positioning a terminal of the passive element on the first land part and sticking the passive element to the base wiring layer through the adhesive layer, and solidifying the adhesive layer and melting the solder particles by laminating and thermally pressing a thermosetting sheet onto the circuit forming surface to form the resin sealing layer.
US07841077B2
A wiring substrate comprises: a flexible substrate having a first region and a second region; a wiring line formed on the flexible substrate; and an electronic element that is disposed on the flexible substrate in the first region and electrically coupled to the wiring line. Flexibility of the first region is lower than flexibility of the second region.
US07841072B2
Disclosed herein is a development apparatus having a plurality of coating units and a development process unit stacked on each other in a layered direction in a process block which is connected at the rear side of the carrier block. A first transportation unit, which ascends and descends in the layered direction, is provided in the carrier block. Also, in the carrier block, the bottom of a substrate inspection unit is located above a highest position to which the first transportation unit is able to ascend in the layered direction.
US07841067B2
A method for forming a head having a trailing shield that includes forming a gap layer above a pole, forming a mask above the gap layer, and forming a trailing shield above the gap layer and adjacent the mask, a throat height of the trailing shield being defined between the mask.
US07841066B2
A correcting method for reducing variations in floating height and gram load of a floating-type magnetic head device is disclosed. The correcting method includes a first correcting step of detecting a roll-angle corresponding amount in the free state of the front end of the front end and bending the load beam in the direction where the roll-angle corresponding amount approaches zero, and a second correcting step of putting the floating-type magnetic head device into a temporarily mounted state with respect to the load beam, detecting a roll-angle corresponding amount at the tongue piece of the flexure in the temporarily mounted state, and bending at least one of the left and right outriggers in the direction where the roll-angle corresponding amount approaches zero.
US07841061B1
A method of forming a dead-end anchorage of a post-tension anchor system includes the steps of positioning a tendon within a cavity of an anchor body such that an unsheathed end of the tendon extends outwardly of the cavity such that a sheathed portion of the tendon is positioned within the cavity, mechanically inserting a fixing element into the cavity, mechanically inserting wedges into the cavity between the unsheathed end of the tendon and a wall of the cavity, and applying pressure onto an end of the tendon such that the fixing element engages the sheathed portion and such that the tendon and the wedges are in interference-fit relationship within the cavity. The fixing element includes a pair of fixing members positioned adjacent an end of the wedges.
US07841060B2
A method for joining components comprises locating a region, such as an end region 24, of a shape memory alloy (SMA) material component 10 adjacent to a further component 12, and generating localized plastic deformation of the aforesaid region to create a joint between the components 10, 12. The localized plastic deformation of the shape memory alloy material component 10 is preferably generated by applying a shock load to the shape memory alloy material component 10.
US07841048B2
A sliding assembly having a body for a transversal sliding door includes a positioning unit and a sliding device. One end of the positioning unit serves to assemble with a doorplate; and another end thereof serves to assemble with the sliding device. The sliding device includes a retaining portion and a rolling portion. The rolling portion includes a first combining portion, a second combining portion, a wheel shaft and a contact unit. The contact unit is clampingly and sandwichedly disposed between the first and second combining portion. Of the wheel shaft; and the wheel shaft is rotatably engaged with the retaining seat and is received in the first combining portion. Thereby when the doorplate is pushed, the contact unit will suffer from a force so that the rolling portion will pivotally rotate with respect to the retaining portion so that the doorplate can move transversally.
US07841047B2
The invention relates to door closers, particularly a door closer control device that regulates the flow of a pressure medium controlling the function of a door closer. A control device according to the invention includes a support part with a collar that serves as a second support for the control device on the door closer body in addition to the support in the guiding part. This second support holds the control device in place within the pressure medium flow without any rocking or swaying movement, which would hamper the door closing speed.
US07841045B2
The hand-held air blower has a hollow, substantially cylindrical housing with an open front end, a plurality of air intake openings, an impeller situated within the housing proximate the intake openings, a motor for driving the impeller, and battery means for powering the motor. A concentrator attachment is designed for use with the blower. The concentrator has means for removably attaching the concentrator to the open front end of the blower housing and a hollow shell. The shell includes an intake section with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the front end of the housing and an outlet section with an outlet opening substantially smaller than the diameter of the front end of the housing. A truncated football-like shaped balancing member is provided. The balancing member has a central air flow channel. Radially directed elements mount the balancing member within the intake shell section with the balancing member spaced from the interior surface of the intake shell section so as to permit air flow therebetween.
US07841042B2
A device for heating a fluid for use in carpet cleaning is provided. Specifically, the device routes a source of exhaust toward and/or around a heat exchange chamber to heat a fluid in a controlled manner. The fluid may be heated to a maximum amount when the full amount of exhaust is flowed through the heat exchange chamber. The fluid may not be substantially heated when the exhaust is flowed around the heat exchange chamber through an exhaust bypass. The fluid can also be heated to an intermediate amount by flowing some, but not all of the exhaust through the heat exchange chamber and the rest of the exhaust through the bypass.
US07841032B2
Disclosed herein is a bed mattress and a method of manufacturing the same, in which a permeable reinforcing member is provided at an upper portion and a lower portion of a spring assembly which is one of frame constituents of the bed mattress, and a foaming material is disposed on the permeable reinforcing member so as to be foamed, so that the spring assembly and the foaming material are integrally formed while the foaming material is expanded through fine holes and/or foam expansion holes of the permeable reinforcing member.
US07841024B2
This invention relates to a glove pattern design having back finger portions including two folds or tucks on each finger excluding the thumb. This pattern enables the glove to have a more natural finger curvature which is more comfortable to the wearer than the single fold or tuck pattern of the prior art. Furthermore, the tucks are formed differently from the prior art, by making V-shaped cuts into both opposing sides of the back finger parts where the tucks will be located. The tucks are secured by stitching where the V-shaped cuts are made, preferably along the length of the tuck from end to end. This additional step which is also novel in the prior art enables the tuck to be created in the glove at an angle that corresponds to the more natural curvature of the fingers in a relaxed position. This curving of the fingers provides the articulation necessary to have the glove conform to the natural position of the hand.
US07841023B2
A protective sports glove having a protective finger knuckle system introduced to the back portion of the finger portions to cover the die cut regions of the pads corresponding to the knuckles of the fingers. The protective finger knuckle system includes a pair of cap portions each having a pair of side flanges that have a pair of slots, with the cap portions coupled together via a middle portion. A strap is feathered 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 middle portion span 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.
US07841017B2
A glove comprising a palm-side outer skin, a back-side outer skin, and a back-side inner skin, wherein a finger inserting space part into which a finger can be inserted between an inner surface of the back-side inner skin and an inner surface of the palm-side outer skin is constituted by sewing the back-side inner skin on an inner surface of the palm-side outer skin.
US07845016B2
A technique verifies a that a module is from an approved vendor. The technique involves obtaining vendor data and a first magic code from a module (e.g., a small form factor pluggable component), and generating a second magic code based on the vendor data. The technique further involves outputting (i) a magic code valid signal when the second magic code matches the first magic code, and (ii) a magic code invalid signal when the second magic code does not match the first magic code. Operation of a computerized device having the module can be based on the valid and invalid signals (e.g., a voltage level, a bit that is set or cleared, a value in a register, etc.). For example, a supplier of the electronic device can configure software running on the computerized device to disable the module if the first and second magic codes do not match.
US07845013B2
A file security protection method and system. The method is performed by an operating system of a computer system. A metadata token is received from a software application executing on the computer system. The metadata token denotes that the application has opened a file. The metadata token includes the name of the file. An initial time is set to about a time at which the metadata token was received. A loop is executed. Each iteration of the loop includes determining whether a first or second condition has been satisfied. The loop is exited if it is determined that the first or second condition has been satisfied. The first condition is that an elapsed time relative the initial time exceeds a specified threshold. The second condition is that a closeout token denoting that the file has been closed has been received from the application.
US07845007B1
An intrusion detection system detects intrusion events in a computer network and assesses the vulnerability of the network components to the detected events. The intrusion detection system includes a scanner, one or more sensors and a security console for operation within a networked computing environment. A sensor of the intrusion detection system monitors the networked computing environment for possible intrusion events representing an unauthorized access or use of the network resources. In response to detecting an intrusion event, the sensor generates a scan request for handling by a scanner. This request initiates a scan of the target computer by the scanner to determine the vulnerability of the target to the attack. Based on this vulnerability analysis, the intrusion detection system evaluates the severity of the detected intrusion event and issues an alert having a priority corresponding to the severity of the intrusion.
US07845003B2
Techniques for variable security access information are presented. The complexity levels associated with access secrets drive the assigned access rights to target resources. A single target resource may have varying sets of access rights, where each set is associated with a particular complexity level for a given access secret. A requesting principal can custom establish the principal's desired access secret complexity level for a target resource; this in turn drives the set of access rights for the target resource, which the principal may use when accessing the target resource.
US07844970B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, system, and computer usable program product for controlling preemption rates. A scheduler identifies a preemption interval in response to a plurality of processes being executed by a processor. Only a single preemption of a process occurs during the preemption interval. The scheduler preempts a currently running process only once during the preemption interval. The preemption interval is adjusted to increase performance in executing processes.
US07844966B1
A system and method for automatically generating flowcharts based on jobs within a mainframe job scheduling system is disclosed. The system may be interfaced through a web browser over a network (e.g., Internet) in order to configure a job flowchart request. The system includes a job flow utility employing rules and logic to execute a Job Control Language (JCL) script thereby invoking the creation of a job schedule based from a scheduling library and generates a delimited set of data that is stored within a database or saved as a delimited text file. The system also enables a user to view a job flowchart online or download the text-delimited file to open within existing charting applications.
US07844960B2
A mechanism is provided for optimizing computer program execution during class loading phase. As a code method of the program is received for compiling prior to execution, a check is performed whether program execution is in class loading phase. Program execution is in class loading phase where the class loading rate exceeds a pre-determined level during a pre-determined interval. If the program is in class loading phase, then compiling is reduced by lowering frequency of just-in-time (JIT) compilation, lowering optimization level of just-in-time compilation, or a combination of the two. The code method may also be passed to an interpreter to be interpreted.
US07844954B2
A method and computer program product for logging non-deterministic events of a virtual machine executing a sequence guest instructions, the method including tracking an execution point in the sequence of executing guest instructions, the tracking of the execution point including determining a branch count of executed branch instructions; and detecting an occurrence of a non-deterministic event directed to the virtual machine during execution of the sequence of guest instructions, and recording information which includes an identifier of a current execution point, wherein the identifier includes the branch count.
US07844952B2
A debugger display groups threads according to user-specified criteria. The threads may be grouped by type, by current or historic breakpoints, according to historical debug patterns, based on what thread spawned the thread, based on execution pattern, based on object class in a Java environment, based on Java thread group in a Java environment, or base on other suitable criteria. The grouping of threads is displayed graphically to a user of the debugger, thereby allowing more efficient debugging of multi-threaded computer programs.
US07844950B2
A system for diagnosing and testing computers includes a graphical user interface tier, an invoking logic tier, and a test logic tier. The graphical user interface tier offers users a graphical user interface to show the progress and results of testing hardware components and generating diagnosis configuration files in accordance with a selected computer hardware component as needed; the invoking logic tier invokes the test logic tier in accordance with the diagnosis configuration files; and the test logic tier includes a test items module, the test items module includes a plurality of sub-modules which run to test different computer hardware components after invoked by the invoking logic tier.
US07844947B2
Runtime services for network software platforms are described. In one implementation, runtime services are configured for a web application. A configuration file is created containing tags that provide references to configuration information specific to operational behavior of the web application. The configuration file is read upon receiving a request to start the web application. The runtime services for the web application are initialized based on the configuration information read from the configuration file.
US07844945B2
A method for producing a fixed-size firmware image for a hardware device, parameterized for a plurality of component environments, includes providing a logical description of aspects of said plurality of component environments; providing a physical description of physical aspects of said plurality of component environments; associating said logical description with said physical description; and providing said firmware image to include a plurality of parameterized functions to support said hardware device in each of said plurality of component environments. The hardware device may be a power supply, bus; fan, disk drives, sensor, or flash part. Actual arguments to said parameterized functions are bound at run time and may be provided as untyped blocks of bits. The firmware image may include an operational block including abstract device driver interfaces for said hardware device; and a description block that includes said logical and physical descriptions.
US07844944B2
A design tool hierarchically presents information about a design with nested blocks. For example, the design tool presents scheduling information for the design in a hierarchical Gantt chart. The scheduling information includes hierarchical design schedule blocks which accurately depict the timing and scheduling of the nested blocks of the design. Each of the hierarchical design schedule blocks includes control steps numbered relative to the block. The scheduling information also includes a hierarchical list of scheduled operations for the design. The hierarchical list emphasizes which operations are associated with which nested blocks. The scheduling information further includes pseudo-operation icons that are easily differentiated from real operation icons in the hierarchical Gantt chart.
US07844937B2
A processor-implemented method for making a semiconductor device having a test logic block and a functional logic block is provided. The method includes retrieving hardware description for at least one test logic block and mapping the hardware description for the at least one test logic block to logic gates to generate at least one synthesized test logic block. The method further comprises retrieving hardware description for at least one functional logic block and mapping the hardware description for the at least one functional logic block to logic gates to generate at least one synthesized functional logic block. The method further includes merging the at least one synthesized test logic block with the at least one synthesized functional logic block when the at least one functional logic block meets at least one criterion for selection as a candidate for merger with the at least one test logic block.
US07844932B2
A method of evaluating an integrated circuit design selects manufacturing parameters of interest which are outside of manufacturing specification limits. Then, the method runs timing tests on the integrated circuit design and successively evaluates the timing test results in an iterative process that considers the timing performance sensitivity to the selected manufacturing parameters of interest. The design is made more robust to each parameter out of manufacturing range.
US07844926B1
A method for identifying specification window violations for a system is described. The method includes generating a sample set of input parameters. The system is simulated using the sample set to generate an output set. A mathematical model is best-fit to the output set. A set of desirability functions is defined to an out-of-spec condition. The model is then searched using the desirability functions to identify a worst-case data point. The worst-case data point can then be determined as either being within specification or out of specification.
US07844922B2
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device in which dynamic type logic circuit cells, in which transistors constituting a logic section are in an unconnected condition, are arranged in two-dimensional array form and wiring for distributing a clock signal to each row of these dynamic type logic circuit cells is provided, a logic function is allotted to the cells, the number of series connection stages of the cells within an evaluation period determined by a clock cycle of the clock signal is found, and a judgment is made as to whether restrictions can be met by arranging the cells on the semiconductor integrated circuit device and performing delay calculations in a case where the number of series connection stages does not exceed a prescribed number of stages. When the restrictions are met, the whole processing comes to an end. When the restrictions are not met, modifications are made.
US07844919B1
The invention provides the ability to interactively select and configure a product among a set of related products based on availability and compatibility of features and options. It does not impose an order in the selection of products, features or options; only valid selections can be made at any time. To create an electronic representation of the product information to achieve the above goal, the invention provides a framework for defining a systems by defining the components of the system using elements contained in a parts catalog and defining relationships between the components of a system. A configuration system validates a configuration using the system definition, the current state of the configuration and user input.
US07844911B2
A system and method for configuring a graphical user interface (GUI) element to publish data to a data target and/or subscribe to data from a data source. The developer specifies a data source or target The program is executed. If the GUI element is configured to subscribe to data from a data source, then the program receives data from the data source. This data is then be provided to the GUI element, which displays the data to the user. If the GUI element is configured to publish data to a data target, then the program sends or writes data associated with the GUI element to the data target.
US07844904B2
A user interface system employed in retrieving information from an information repository used in exchanging data between different electronic data systems includes the following method. A first menu is displayed which supports user selection of a bi-directional communication interface from a plurality of interfaces. The bi-directional communication interface is used for communicating data between a particular source and destination. In response to user selection of a bi-directional communication interface, a second menu is displayed which supports user entry of data determining communication characteristic information to be retrieved from said information repository for said selected communication interface.
US07844898B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for exporting a document in multiple formats. The disclosed systems and methods may include creating a metafile including content associated with the document and injecting comments into the metafile. The comments may comprise semantic information corresponding to the document. Also, the metafile may be parsed to create at least one call. The at least one call may be configured to enable an export engine to render the document. Furthermore, the at least one call may be sent to the export engine configured to render the document in an output format associated with the export engine. In addition, the export engine maybe selected from a plurality of export engines based upon user input indicating the output format associated with the selected export engine.
US07844885B2
A DTV transmitter includes a pre-processor pre-processing enhanced data, a data formatter generating enhanced data packets including the pre-processed data and inserting known data place holders to the data packets, and a multiplexer multiplexing the enhanced data packets with main data packets. It further includes an RS encoder which RS-codes the multiplexed data packets, and a data interleaves which interleaves the RS-coded data packets. The RS encoder adds systematic RS parity data to each main data packet and adds non-systematic RS parity place holders to each enhanced data packet. The RS encoder adds the RS parity place holders such that the RS parity place holders are placed after the enhanced data within each interleaved enhanced data packet.
US07844882B2
A transceiver is designed to share memory and processing power amongst a plurality of transmitter and/or receiver latency paths, in a communications transceiver that carries or supports multiple applications. For example, the transmitter and/or receiver latency paths of the transceiver can share an interleaver/deinterleaver memory. This allocation can be done based on the data rate, latency, BER, impulse noise protection requirements of the application, data or information being transported over each latency path, or in general any parameter associated with the communications system.
US07844880B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to detect and correct errors in a flash memory using an error correction cache that provides error correction information by accessing data from a physical block number (PBN) of the flash memory; and if a data error occurred, applying error correction information stored in the cache corresponding to the accessed PBN to correct the data error.
US07844868B2
Systems and methods for implementing a stride value for memory are provided. One embodiment relates to a system that includes a plurality of memory modules configured to store interleaved data in a plurality of memory storage units according to a predetermined interleave. A memory test device is configured to perform a memory test that accesses a portion of the plurality of memory storage units in a sequence according to a programmable stride value. The memory test device performs the memory test by writing test data to each of the memory storage units in the portion of the plurality of memory storage units and reading the test data from each of the memory storage units in the portion of the plurality of memory storage units.
US07844866B2
The exemplary embodiments provide a computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer-usable program code for reporting operating system faults on an Intelligent Platform Management Interface compliant server. In response to receiving an alert for an operating system fault, the alert for the operating system fault is converted into an IPMI event. The IPMI event is stored in an internal event log. An IPMI system event record is created for the IPMI event. The IPMI event is sent to a host management controller in order to enable monitoring of the operating system fault.
US07844864B2
A location based notification system for a shop having multiple components that are susceptible to a fault event includes an electronic data storage device and a fault event sensor apparatus associated with each susceptible component. The electronic data storage device has identification data for the associated component stored therein. Operators carry a portable device having an electronic data storage device reader and a memory. The fault event sensor apparatus generates fault event data when a fault event occurs in the associated component and transmits the fault event data to the electronic data storage device or the portable device. The data stored in the electronic data storage devices is read with an electronic data storage device reader of the portable device as the operator moves through the shop. The portable device determines whether the electronic data storage device has fault data stored therein, or if fault event data has been stored in the portable device for the component associated with the identification data read from the electronic data storage device.
US07844859B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for utilizing instruction trace registers. In one embodiment, a value in a target processor register in a plurality of processor registers is updated in response to executing an instruction associated with program code. In response to updating the value in the target processor register, an address for the instruction is copied from an instruction address register into an instruction trace register associated with the target processor register. The instruction trace register holds the address of the instruction that updated the value stored in the target processor register.
US07844858B2
The present invention discloses a method for analyzing program errors, which is implemented on a USB program in a set of BIOS codes, the USB program has some subprograms. Each subprogram represents a processing procedure and consists of some USB source codes. The method comprises steps of embedding output instructions in the subprograms; outputting identified values by the output instructions when executing the subprograms; and providing a set of reference information by the outputted identified values. The reference information allows people checking both the actual sequence that the processing procedures were executed and whether the USB source codes in each subprogram are incorrect.
US07844857B2
A writing data processing control apparatus includes an assignment part configured to assign processing of a plurality of pieces of writing data of predetermined divided writing regions, stored in a storage device, one by one to one of a plurality of processing apparatuses in which processing is performed in parallel, and a separation part configured, when a processing error occurred as a result of processing of writing data read from the storage device by a first processing apparatus assigned, to separate the first processing apparatus in which the processing error occurred from assigning targets of subsequent writing data processing, wherein the assignment part reassigns the processing of the writing data in which the processing error occurred to a second processing apparatus being different from the first processing apparatus.
US07844855B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods for preserving saved memory states to which a computer system can be restored are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods intercept write operations to protected memory locations and redirect them to alternate memory locations. Embodiments of the systems and methods include creation of a table for each memory state. Certain embodiments additionally include a recovery capability, by which the protected memory in the computer system is capable of being restored or recovered to a recovery point that represents a saved memory state. Further embodiments relate to systems and methods for preventing protected memory locations from being overwritten that utilize a plurality of memory state values.
US07844854B2
A method is described that involves within a link based computing system, opportunistically transmitting, into a network utilized by components of the link based computing system, one or more packets that contain computing system state information. The computing system state information includes software state information created through execution of software by said link based computing system. The method also involves collecting the computing system state information at a monitoring and/or debugging system attached to the link based computing system in order to analyze the link based computing system's operation.
US07844846B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring a voltage supplied by a voltage regulation module to a processor in response to a dynamic VID generated by the processor. In one embodiment, a voltage monitoring system monitors the voltage generated by the voltage regulation module to ensure the supplied voltage is within regulation thresholds. The voltage monitoring system acquires an analog reading of the supplied voltage and converts it to a digital value. If the VID changes during the conversion, the result of the A/D conversion is discarded. If the VID does not change, the voltage monitoring system accepts the result of the A/D conversion and compares the supplied voltage to the voltage expected in response to the VID. The voltage monitoring system may compute the error between the actual and expected voltage for each accepted A/D conversion. These errors may be accumulated and averaged. The accumulated error may be compared with regulation thresholds, such as a predefined allowable margin of error. If the accumulated error exceeds regulation thresholds, an alert may be generated and action may be taken depending on the degree and severity of the accumulated error.
US07844841B2
An electronic device is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the electronic device comprises an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is operated by a DC voltage. The electronic component comprises an AC to DC converter that converts an AC voltage to the DC voltage, wherein the RMS value of the AC voltage is greater than the DC voltage. The electronic device further comprises a power supply comprising an input and an output. The input is connectable to a line voltage and the output is connected to the AC to DC converter of electronic component. The AC voltage is output by the output of the power supply.
US07844839B2
A network device is described that load-balances network traffic among a set of network servers based on electrical power consumption of the network servers. The network device may measure electrical power consumption in a variety of ways, and may generate and maintain a power consumption profile for each of the network server. The power consumption profile may describe the respective server power consumption in increasing granularity. For instance, each power consumption profile may specify electrical power consumption according to watts consumed by a server per average transaction, watts consumed per transaction for a specific type of software application, watts consumed per transaction for a software application for individual network resources, and so on. Furthermore, the profiles may be maintained for individual servers or aggregated for groups or sequences of servers.
US07844828B2
A method for verifying execution of a program, wherein the program comprises a first code portion and a second code portion. The method includes entering the first code portion, where the first code portion includes a first plurality of instructions, executing the first code portion, calculating a first checksum during the execution of the first code portion, wherein the first checksum is calculated using information associated with at least one of the first plurality of instructions, comparing the first checksum to a first pre-calculated checksum prior to exiting the first code portion, and exiting the first code portion and entering the second code portion if the first checksum equals the first pre-calculated checksum.
US07844824B2
A method of registering a sensing device with a relay device is provided. The relay device allowing the sensing device to communicate with a computer system of the system. The method performs registration using a registration form having information relating to an interactive element coincident with tags mapped over the form. Each tag has coded data indicative of the interactive element and an identity associated with the form. In the method, indicating data indicative of the identity and the interactive element is received at the computer system from a sensing device via the relay device which is generated by the sensing device sensing the coded data, the interactive element from the indicating data is determined by the computer system which then causes registration of the sensing device with the relay device using the interactive element.
US07844818B2
An authentication method in a home network having at least one communicatable device and a home server which controls the devices, in which the home server authenticates the devices forming the home network. The home server generates the authentication key using the stored unique information of the home network device, and sends the generated authentication key together with the unique information to the device. The home server compares the operation value with respect to the generated authentication key and the unique information with the value received from the device, and completes the authentication when the two values are the same.
US07844817B2
A network access device checks communication data flows coming into a network for specific authorization information. The quality of service class (QOS) with which a flow is retransmitted from the network access device through the network is determined by the result of the check. Each end device that transmits a flow to the network access device can first request authorization for the flow from a gate keeper and resource manager mechanism of the network. The mechanism returns specific authorization information which the end device includes in the flow before the flow is transmitted to the network access device. In one embodiment, only if an incoming flow is determined to have the specific authorization information will the network access device allow the flow to be retransmitted through the network with a particular quality of service (QOS) class.
US07844803B2
A data processing device has a configurable functional unit for executing an instruction according to a configurable function. The configurable functional unit has a plurality of independent configurable logic blocks for performing programmable logic operations to implement the configurable function. Configurable connection circuits are provided between the configurable logic blocks and both the inputs and the outputs of the configurable functional unit. This allows an optimalization of the distribution of logic functions over the configurable logic blocks.
US07844802B2
Ordering instructions for specifying the execution order of other instructions improve throughput in a pipelined multiprocessor. Memory write operations local to a CPU are allowed to occur in an arbitrary order, and constraints are placed on shared memory operations. Multiple sets of instructions are provided in which order of execution of the instructions is maintained through the use of CPU registers, write buffers in conjunction with assignment of sequence numbers to the instruction, or a hierarchical ordering system. The system ensures that an earlier designated instruction has reach a specified state of execution prior to a latter instruction reaching a specified state of execution. The ordering of operations allows memory operations local to a CPU to occur in conjunction with other memory operations that are not affected by such execution.
US07844801B2
Apparatus, system and methods are provided for performing speculative data prefetching in a chip multiprocessor (CMP). Data is prefetched by a helper thread that runs on one core of the CMP while a main program runs concurrently on another core of the CMP. Data prefetched by the helper thread is provided to the helper core. For one embodiment, the data prefetched by the helper thread is pushed to the main core. It may or may not be provided to the helper core as well. A push of prefetched data to the main core may occur during a broadcast of the data to all cores of an affinity group. For at least one other embodiment, the data prefetched by a helper thread is provided, upon request from the main core, to the main core from the helper core's local cache.
US07844799B2
A method and system for operating a high frequency out-of-order processor with increased pipeline length. A new scheme is disclosed to reduce the pipeline by the detection and exploitation of so called “no dependency” for an instruction. A “no dependency” signal tells that all required source data is available for the instruction at least one cycle before the source data valid bit(s) are inserted into the issue queue. Therefore, one or more stages of the pipeline are bypassed.
US07844794B2
A storage control system in which a first storage controller is connected to a storage device in a second storage controller and the first storage controller is configured to be able to read and write data from/to the storage device in the second storage controller in response to a request from a host device connected to the first storage apparatus, the first storage controller including: a controller for controlling data transmission and reception between the host device and the storage device in the second storage controller; and a cache memory for temporarily storing the data, wherein the controller sets a threshold value for storage capacity in the cache memory assigned to the storage device according to the properties of the storage device.
US07844775B2
Segments or blocks of a file can be distributed among an number n of storage units by using a function of sequentially assigned segment identifiers for each segment, where the function is reduced modulo n, so long as the function is not congruent to segment identifier, modulo n, for any given segment identifier. An example of such a function, where n is the number of storage units and k is a segment identifier, is f(k)=ak+b, where a is relatively prime to n. Such a function can be computed quickly for any given segment. As the list of storage units changes, data may be redistributed using a new mapping of segments to storage units. Any new mapping can be restricted so that segments only move to a new storage unit or from an old storage unit, and not from one existing storage unit to another. In this way, the amount of data to be moved is limited. A chain of the lists of available storage units, as that list changes over time, is maintained to permit the history of file mappings to be recreated.
US07844763B2
A flash memory card includes a differential datapath that enables communications between the flash memory card and a host device to be performed using differential signals. The differential datapath can translate between the differential signals and card-specific signals that control read/write operations to the memory array of the flash memory card. The card-specific signals can be standard MultimediaCard, Secure-Digital card, Memory Stick, or CompactFlash card signals, among others. A host device that provides differential data transfer capability can include a similar differential datapath. By using differential data transfer rather than conventional clocked data transfer, overall data bandwidth between a flash memory card and a host device can be significantly increased, while simultaneously decreasing power consumption and pin requirements.
US07844753B2
Techniques are described that can be used to support integrity validation of protocol data units. An iSCSI compatible logic may establish a memory region to store a header portion of the protocol data unit. In some implementations, the iSCSI compatible logic may read the header and determine a size of a second memory region to store a payload portion of the protocol data unit. In some implementations, the iSCSI compatible logic may set the second memory region as a maximum possible size of the payload portion. TCP compatible logic may include the capability to validate an integrity of the header or data portions of the protocol data unit. TCP compatible logic may request data mover logic to determine an integrity validation value for a header and/or data portion of the protocol data unit in the process of copying the protocol data unit to among the memory region or the second memory region. TCP compatible logic may compare the determined integrity validation value with an integrity validation value included with the protocol data unit.
US07844749B2
Disclosed are methods of providing an electronic device and a corresponding localization key to a customer for localization of the electronic device, as well as a corresponding localization key and computer-readable medium. The methods select a localization key corresponding to the location of the customer, and provide the electronic device and the selected localization key for delivery to the customer. The selected localization key includes a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for execution by a processor of the electronic device. When the localization key is interfaced to the electronic device, the instructions cause the processor of the electronic device to select one of a plurality of localization profiles indicated by the instructions to correspond to the location of the customer and to implement the selected localization profile on the electronic device.
US07844744B2
When a hypervisor in a computer server receives input/output (I/O) data traffic, the hypervisor sends the I/O data traffic to a security sensor application shared by multiple operating system (OS) partitions. If the security sensor application indicates that the I/O data traffic meets pre-defined security standards in the security sensor application, and the I/O data traffic is addressed to one of the OS partitions in the computer server, the hypervisor sends the I/O data traffic to the applicable OS partition. If the I/O data traffic meets the pre-defined security standards, and the I/O data traffic is not addressed to one of the OS partitions, the hypervisor sends the I/O data traffic to an external destination in a network coupled to the computer server.
US07844740B2
A method of transferring a compressed web page over a computer network without affecting the existing web server applications and processes. The compressor intercepts a request from a workstation for the web page. A second request is transmitted to the server from the compressor for the original, uncompressed web page. The web page is selectively compressed in the compressor. Then the compressed web page is transmitted to the workstation. Optionally, some of the files associated web page, such as image files, are also compressed and the references to the compressed associated files is changed to reflect any change in the name of the compressed associated files.
US07844739B2
A web service request is received by an intermediary that performs a conversion of the requestor's service interface to the service interface supported by a service provider matching the requested service, then invokes that service. A reverse conversion is performed when passing a reply to the requester. The web serving intermediary maintains a library of each target service in terms of the target service's tModel and on its binding protocol support. The intermediary receives web service requests from requesters including their source tModel and target web service information. The intermediary identifies a mapping aspect to invoke the target web service from the aspect library. The target service tModel is embodied in the mapping aspect which is weaved into the code invoking the target service at runtime. In this way, the interface logic is decided at run time.
US07844735B2
A method and system is presented for bypassing a local Domain Name Server (DNS) when using edge caching servers. Domain names of frequently used business applications that are known to rely upon edge servers, together with the corresponding authoritative DNSs, are listed in both local hosts file and user defined FSFD local configuration file fsfd.conf. When the client computer's browser attempts to resolve a domain name, a File System Filtering Driver (FSFD) in the client computer intercepts the browser's request. If the domain name which is being resolved is found in a local FSFD configuration file fsfd.conf, then the FSFD initiates a DNS request directly to the appropriate authoritative DNS whose IP address gets extracted from the fsfd.conf record, thus bypassing the local DNS. The authoritative DNS returns the IP address for an edge caching server that is topographically proximate to the client computer's browser.
US07844732B2
In one embodiment, a router is deployed on a local area network (LAN) in addition to any routers deployed on a wide area network (WAN) coupled with the LAN having the router. A service management device is coupled between the two routers. The service management device provides management processing, for example, quality of service (QoS) processing, traffic shaping, type of service (ToS) processing, or class of service (CoS) processing. For messages between devices both coupled to the WAN router, the WAN router diverts the messages to the LAN router. The LAN router then returns the messages back to the WAN router through the service management device, which provides management processing. The WAN router then forwards the processed message to the destination device.
US07844726B2
System and method for dynamically managing message flow. According to the example embodiments, an intermediary network device or a client device dynamically manages the flow of messages received from an electronic exchange by analyzing the client device's capabilities, such as CPU utilization. Based on a percentage of total CPU utilization, the level of throttling is dynamically adjusted, such that if the percentage of CPU utilization, or load, increases, then throttling is increased from a lower level to a higher level. Similarly, if the percentage of CPU utilization decreases significantly enough, then throttling is decreased to a lower level.
US07844712B2
Retrieving erasure-coded fragments associated with approximately sequential segments, including the steps of requesting a first set of the fragments, using a fragment pull protocol, by an assembling device from a plurality of fractional-storage servers, and requesting a second set of erasure-coded fragments, using the fragment pull protocol, to compensate for the fragments of the first set that failed to arrive at the assembling device. And wherein while requesting the first-set fragments associated with a certain segment, at least one compensation request is made for a second-set fragment associated with a prior segment.
US07844704B2
An event notification device notifies event information via a network. A storage unit stores therein event-transmission determination information. An event monitoring monitors whether an event occurs. A determining unit determines based on the event-transmission determination information whether event information of occurred event is to be transmitted to only a target communication device from among communication devices that have requested to be notified of the event information. An event notifying unit notifies the target communication device or all the communication devices of the event information by using the WS-Eventing protocol according to a result of the determination.
US07844696B2
A system and method is provided for detecting, tracking and/or blocking control signal attacks, which can occur between local computer systems and/or between remote computer systems, network links, and/or routing systems over a computer network. The system includes a router monitor adapted to receive a plurality of control signals and related information from the computer network and to process the plurality of control signals and related information to detect one or more control signal anomalies. The router monitor is further adapted to generate a plurality of alert signals representing the one or more control signal anomalies. The system further includes a controller that is coupled to the router monitor and is adapted to receive the plurality of alert signals from the router monitor. The controller is constructed and arranged to respond to the plurality of alert signals by tracking attributes related to the one or more control signal anomalies to at least one source, and to block the one or more control signal anomalies using a filtering mechanism executed in close proximity to the at least one source.
US07844674B2
A method for effecting the execution of an application function on an application server from a client device includes receiving from the client device at a proxy server a first message that pertains to a request to execute an application function, and that conforms to a text-based user-to-user messaging protocol, and that includes a human-readable input parameter. The method also includes authenticating a user associated with the first message origination address by sending an authentication message to the user at a message confirmation address, and receiving confirmation from the user responsive to the authentication message. If the user is authenticated, the method further includes generating a second message using the human-readable input parameter and transmitting the second message to the application server.
US07844665B2
The present invention discloses a modified computer architecture (50, 71, 72) which enables an applications program (50) to be run simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, . . . Mn). Shared memory at each computer is updated with amendments and/or overwrites so that all memory read requests are satisfied locally. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in memory being re-written or manipulated are identified (92). Additional instructions are inserted (103) to cause the equivalent memory locations at all computers to be updated. In addition, the initialization of JAVA language classes and objects is disclosed (162, 163) so all memory locations for all computers are initialized in the same manner. The finalization of JAVA language classes and objects is also disclosed (162, 163) so finalization only occurs when the last class or object present on all machines is no longer required. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in the application program (50) acquiring (or releasing) a lock on a particular asset (50A, 50X-50Y) (synchronization) are identified. Additional instructions are inserted (162, 163) to result in a modified synchronization routine with which all computers are updated.
US07844662B2
The present disclosure provides for merging of instant messaging (IM) chat sessions. At least one embodiment includes a communication method configured for establishing an instant messaging (IM) chat session between a first sender and a recipient. Some embodiments include receiving an IM message from a second sender to the recipient and establishing an IM chat room between the recipient, the first sender, and the second sender.
US07844660B2
The invention relates to audio and video interoperability over networks based on network technologies other than the 1394 bus. The invention relates more particularly to a method of discovery, by a device connectable to a communication network, of the other devices connected to this network, which comprises a step of connection of the device to the said network, a step of despatching of an announcement message containing autodescription information describing the device destined for all the other devices connected to this network, a step of despatching of an autodescription information request message to all the other devices connected to this network and a step of reception of a response message from each of the other devices of the network containing the autodescription information of this other device. The invention also relates to the corresponding connectable device.
US07844659B2
The addition of a datastore to an application system using process agents for communication allows for maintaining a persistent state by storing records of messages sent between process agents. These records may be retrievable by process agents in order to determine the state of the system. This allows process agents to update previous transactions without storing a copy of messages within each process agent or communicating with every potentially involved process agent to determine its current state.
US07844649B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed optical-based quantum random number generators. In one embodiment, a quantum random number generator includes an input state generator that generates a first optical quantum system and a second optical quantum system in an entangled state, a detector that measures the state of the first optical quantum system and the state of the second optical quantum system, and a system control that evaluates a result obtained from measuring the state of the first optical quantum system and state of the second optical quantum system to determine whether or not to append a number associated with the result to the sequence of random numbers. The quantum random number generator also include state controllers, located between the input state generator and the detector, that are operationally controlled by the system control to maintain the entangled state, based on results obtained from previous measurements performed on the first and second optical quantum systems.
US07844642B2
A method for importing data from an XML document containing a plurality of elements and a plurality of attributes into a relational database includes: creating an element table for storing data of the plurality of elements and creating an attribute table for storing data of the plurality of attributes. In the element table, element records, each containing a unique element ID, are stored, one record for every one of the plurality of elements is stored. In the attribute table, an attribute record for every one of the plurality of attributes is stored. Each attribute record includes an attribute name, an attribute value and the element ID of the element to which the attribute is assigned. The method provides a fixed database model for different XML documents; allows a simple creation of a database; and allows simple data import and export into/from the database.
US07844639B2
A method of accommodating at least one difference between a first database schema and a second database schema is provided. The method includes receiving a request from a first application program that is operationally dependent upon the first database schema, the request being received at a second application program that is operationally dependent upon the second database schema. Thereafter, the method identifies if there is a difference between the first database schema and the second database schema. When there is a difference, the method identifies the difference between the first database schema and the second database schema to identify at least one different schema definition element and associates the different schema definition element with a reserved element. The reserved element may have a corresponding reserved element provided in the first database schema. A response is then communicated to the first application program including the reserved element.
US07844617B2
In general, the invention relates to supporting multiple different character encodings in the same file system. In one embodiment, a method is provided for filename lookup that supports multiple character encodings. The method comprises storing filename data in a first character encoding into an indexed data structure. The method further comprises receiving filename data in a second encoding. The method also comprises looking up filename data in the indexed data structure using the second encoding.
US07844609B2
A method and system are presented in which a query attribute is used as the basis for accessing stored attribute combinations and their frequencies of occurrence for query-attribute-positive individuals and query-attribute-negative individuals and tabulating, based on frequencies of occurrence, those attribute combinations that are most likely to co-occur with the query attribute.
US07844606B2
Systems and methods are described that facilitate management of file system filters, comprising a filter manager that maps altitudes of minifilters to legacy filter order groups. An aspect of the present invention provides for minifilters that can dynamically load and unload, thus facilitating increased flexibility in filter system management.
US07844603B2
A universal distributed search system allows users to find and distribute search results (possibly including advertisements) to those with whom they communicate. The search results can be easily distributed by the user via a simple interface that allows the search results to be easily added to the user's content. Search queries entered by the user or search results received from search components may be automatically refined by the system.
US07844600B2
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with supporting materialized views with user-defined aggregates are described. One example system includes logic for exposing a set of interface actions to support a user-defined aggregate in a materialized view associated with a base table. The materialized view may store both the user-defined aggregate and a user-defined aggregate context that facilitates logically connecting the user-defined aggregate to the base table. The example system may also include logic for supporting the user-defined aggregate. The support may be based on the set of interface actions. Example systems and methods may, therefore, facilitate incremental updating of the materialized view and/or rewriting a query to access the materialized view.
US07844594B1
The invention provides for various methods and apparatuses for searching bodies of knowledge, such as previously indexed source documents reachable over a network, search results from previous searches, and results from performing meta-searches. Search criteria is received from a client, and the bodies of knowledge are searched based on the search criteria, and search results provided responsive to said searching. Search results may be configured to have associated distillation triggers, where selecting a trigger causes its associated search result to be distilled in real-time. Distilled search results can be indexed into portions of the source document for focused entry, and can also be grouped and analytically presented on mid-menus to allow the user to review distilled data in summary form. Results may also have associated status symbols indicating by symbol a particular topic area to which a result is related, and by opacity or other indicator the apparent relevance of a result to the particular topic area. Search and viewing preferences may be determined according to psychometrics, user selection of a default user category, through a question/answer session, or based on monitoring user activity which incrementally defines a profile.
US07844588B2
Methods and systems of providing a user profile for multiple verticals are disclosed herein. The methods and systems disclosed herein aggregate user profile information from multiple verticals and redistributes aggregated data to the multiple verticals to create more robust personalized profiles. A first input that populates a first vertical attribute in a first vertical profile is received from a user computing device. The first vertical attribute can hold a first value for a user characteristic. A second user input that populates a second vertical attribute in the second vertical profile is received from the user computing device. The second vertical attribute can hold a second value for the user characteristic. The first value of the first vertical attribute is assigned to an attribute in the generic profile if the first vertical attribute is determined to have a greater reliability weight than a reliability weight of the second vertical attribute. The second value of the second vertical attribute is assigned to an attribute in the generic profile if the second vertical attribute is determined to have a greater reliability weight than the reliability weight of the first vertical attribute.
US07844578B2
A system and method of archiving messages is disclosed. A number p random numbers are stored in a control table, the random numbers being selected from a range (M, N) where N>M. Each random number is initially state-free in the control table. A number p archive processes are generated, each archive process configured to store one or more messages being processed by the messaging system to an archive. State-free random numbers are assigned to messages being processed by the messaging system. The messages being processed are divided by the messaging system among the p archive processes according to the assigned.
US07844576B2
Systems and methods for synchronizing bookmarks between communications devices are provided. Bookmarks refer to user-defined and nicknamed URLs as local parameters in Browser software, also sometimes known as “Favorites”. Real-time synchronization of bookmarks is accomplished through an application of “push technology”. Upon identifying a change in the set of bookmarks of a communications device, the communications device transmits an indication of the change to the network. The network uses push technology to push the indication to the other communications device. Once the indication is received by the other communications device, the other communications device updates its set of bookmarks according to the indication thereby achieving synchronization. Synchronization may be performed between two or more devices.
US07844570B2
The subject invention pertains to systems and methods that facilitate generation of a database to support a multidimensional model. A database schema is generated in a top-down fashion. In particular, multidimensional structures and attributes such as cubes and dimensions can be defined. From such definition, a proposed database schema can be produced. This schema can subsequently be modified prior to or after populating the database. For example, a table or column could be added. Thereafter, the cubes and dimensions could be altered and a modified schema generated that preserves changes made to the schema. Accordingly, the subject systems and methods disclose an iterative approach that supports both top-down and bottom-up multidimensional database design.
US07844556B2
A brain-based device (BBD) having a physical mobile device NOMAD controlling and under control by a simulated nervous system. The simulated nervous system is based on an intricate anatomy and physiology of the hippocampus and its surrounding neuronal regions including the cortex. The BBD integrates spatial signals from numerous objects in time and provides flexible navigation solutions to aid in the exploration of unknown environments. As NOMAD navigates in its real world environment, the hippocampus of the simulated nervous system organizes multi-modal input information received from sensors on NOMAD over timescales and uses this organization for the development of spatial and episodic memories necessary for navigation.
US07844554B2
A system and method to remotely enable and disable features in a mailing system is provided. When a customer desires to change the operating features of a mailing system, the customer places an order with a data center. The data center generates a file that identifies each of the features that should be enabled within the mailing system, and the file is sent to the mailing system, along with any files required to implement and support the enabled features, via a network. The mailing system will store the required files, and purge any files no longer required to implement and support features that are no longer enabled. The enabling and disabling of operating features is thus performed remotely from the data center, and does not require a customer service representative to physically visit the location at which the mailing system is installed.
US07844550B2
A device for facilitating financial account transactions is described which includes a processing unit including a cryptographic processor. The device also includes an input unit, a display unit and a memory device connected to the processing unit. The memory device contains a private cryptographic key, a first data element and a second data element. The processing unit encrypts the first data element using the private cryptographic key and the second data element, modifies the second data element, combines the encrypted first data element and the second data element to generate a single-use financial account identifier, and displays the single-use financial account identifier. This identifier is then transmitted to a central processor for authorization of the transaction. The central processor extracts and decrypts data elements from the transmitted identifier using the private cryptographic key, compares those data elements with data elements stored in a memory, and verifies the single-use financial account identifier in accordance with the comparison.
US07844530B2
The present disclosure describes an approach to constructing and implementing risk rating products that provides a number of advantages. Instead of hard-coding attributes of a risk rating scheme, which requires the assistance of a trained programming specialist for any modifications, adjustments, or new products, the present invention provides a set of modular tools that assist non-specialists in on-the-fly generation and implementation of risk rating products. The modularity of this approach facilitates the modification and/or updating of a system component without affecting the operation of other components. Described herein are embodiments of system tools configured to read a risk rating scheme data-structure and generate a user interface whereby a user may enter information characteristic of an insurable risk and receive risk assessments, evaluations, and/or financial metrics associated with a candidate insurable risk.
US07844525B2
A system and method for dynamic quantity orders in an electronic trading environment are described. According to one method, a dynamic quantity order includes a price, a desired order quantity and a percentage associated with an estimated order quantity that will be filled in an order queue. When the order is received at an electronic exchange, the order is sorted into a pro-rata order queue, and the exchange may estimate a potential order quantity that will be filled in the order queue at the price based on the defined percentage. Subsequently, the exchange may then increase the order quantity of the dynamic quantity order so that if the estimated number of fills occurs, the order quantity of the dynamic quantity order will be filled.
US07844520B1
A method and apparatus for monitoring credit reports using a computing system implemented financial management system includes a process for monitoring credit reports whereby data representing various credit accounts is obtained and categorized by a computing system implemented financial management system. This computing system implemented financial management system data is then stored. A credit report is then obtained and credit report data representing the various credit account information contained in the credit report is obtained and stored. Then, the computing system implemented financial management system data and credit report data are compared and any discrepancies between the two credit data sources is brought to the attention of the user and/or included in a credit discrepancy report which is then provided to the user.
US07844516B1
A Life-Time Value (LTV) system is a data-driven computer-facilitated financial model that provides accurate and consistent profitability projections using current period account level profitability data stored in a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). The Life-Time Value system performs Net Present Value (NPV) and Future Value (FV) processing using business-rule and data-driven applications that embrace the current period profit components, defines forecast periods, parameters and methodologies, and applies appropriate growth values, attrition values and propensity values to an object of future value interest.
US07844507B2
In an embodiment, articles are left in storage areas, such as lockers or other receptacles, which may be associated with a household services company. In an embodiment, after depositing the articles in the storage area the articles are associated with the user by the household services company based on a claim by a user of using the storage are and/or tags associated with the articles.
US07844505B1
A method and system for conducting an inventory of items by a network tag reader, wherein a tag is attached to each item and each tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID). A method according to the present invention includes selecting one of a plurality of remote access sensor modules, where the selected remote access sensor module has a coverage pattern that defines a physical area. The method also includes interrogating tags through the selected remote access sensor module. These tags are within the physical area defined by the coverage pattern. As a result of the interrogating step, the network tag reader receives information regarding these tags. This information is stored in a plurality of inventory records.
US07844504B1
The present invention is directed to a method and system for routing contacts in a contact center based on a number of factors including the value or nature of items in an order of the customer associated with the contact. The invention is particularly useful in E-commerce web-sites in which electronic orders are generated by the customer.
US07844493B1
A cost maintenance scheme useful with an advertising system which orders ads in a manner that maximizes both their relevance and their economic value, and which provides a fair bidding process in which a winning bidder is assured of not having paid too much. Ordering may be done based on accepted maximum ad bid information and/or ad performance information. For example, this information may be used to determine a position value. Cost may be determined based on accepted maximum ad bid information and/or performance information. Billing the determined cost may be subject to a condition precedent.
US07844488B2
Methods and apparatuses for targeting the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet are disclosed. Statistics are compiled on individual users and networks and the use of the advertisements is tracked to permit targeting of the advertisements of individual users. In response to requests from affiliated sites, an advertising server transmits to people accessing the page of a site an appropriate one of the advertisement based upon profiling of users and networks.
US07844485B2
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for playing audible advertisements on a communication device. In response to receiving a request from a caller to initiate a call, an audible advertisement from a set of audible advertisements is selected using criteria matching a user profile associated with the caller. The audible advertisement is played on the communication device to the caller prior to initiating a connection to a callee.
US07844477B2
A process for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies is described. Various rules are created, along with a degree of satisfaction for each rule. Rules may be directed toward various insurance underwriting components (e.g., cholesterol levels, blood pressure, etc.). Based on the degree of satisfaction for each rule, a component may be assigned to a category. Based on the category for each component, the insurance application may be assigned an underwriting category.
US07844474B2
In a system for the producing and displaying a virtual access channel in medical images, having a computer with a monitor, and a position and orientation-capturing operating unit and a method for producing and displaying such a virtual access channel in medical 3D images, the computer contains a preoperatively obtained 3D data record of a patient to be examined and can display this as a 3D image and is connected with the operating unit such that a virtual optical channel of the 3D data record is excised from the data record based on a registration between the operating unit and the data record as well as based on different channel parameters, and is displayed on the monitor of the computer.
US07844466B2
A new approach to speech recognition that reacts to concepts conveyed through speech, which shifts the balance of power in speech recognition from straight sound recognition and statistical models to a more powerful and complete approach determining and addressing conveyed concepts. A probabilistically unbiased multi-phoneme recognition process is employed, followed by a phoneme stream analysis process that builds the list of candidate words derived from recognized phonemes, followed by a permutation analysis process that produces sequences of candidate words with high potential of being syntactically valid, and finally, by processing targeted syntactic sequences in a conceptual analysis process to generate the utterance's conceptual representation that can be used to produce an adequate response. Applications include improving accuracy or automatically generating punctuation for transcription and dictation, word or concept spotting in audio streams, concept spotting in electronic text, customer support, call routing and other command/response scenarios.
US07844459B2
The words of the target vocabulary are composed of segments, which have one or more phonemes, whereby the segments are derived from a training text that is independent from the target vocabulary. The training text can be an arbitrary generic text.
US07844454B2
Utilizing individual voice recognition units for each speaker in a conference to perform automatic transcription of that speaker's contribution to the conference. The output of each of the voice recognition units is then merged on a time basis to produce a textual transcription of the entire telecommunication conference call.
US07844449B2
A scalable two-pass scalable probabilistic latent semantic analysis (PLSA) methodology is disclosed that may perform more efficiently, and in some cases more accurately, than traditional PLSA, especially where large and/or sparse data sets are provided for analysis. The improved methodology can greatly reduce the storage and/or computational costs of training a PLSA model. In the first pass of the two-pass methodology, objects are clustered into groups, and PLSA is performed on the groups instead of the original individual objects. In the second pass, the conditional probability of a latent class, given an object, is obtained. This may be done by extending the training results of the first pass. During the second pass, the most likely latent classes for each object are identified.
US07844442B2
A system that includes a computing device configured to execute a software application and at least one remote user interface (UI) communicatively coupled to the computing device via a data communication network. The remote UI includes at least one hardware device such as a video, audio or user input/output (I/O) device. The computing device is further configured to emulate the hardware device locally and to redirect function calls generated by the software application for the emulated local hardware device to the remote UI for processing by the hardware device.
US07844440B2
A system for real-time modeling of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) control elements protecting an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a power analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component acquires real-time data output from the electrical system. The power analytics server is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine and a UPS transient stability simulation engine. The virtual system modeling engine generates predicted data output for the electrical system. The analytics engine monitors real-time data output and predicted data output of the electrical system. The UPS transient stability simulation engine stores and processes patterns observed from the real-time data output and utilizes a user-defined UPS control logic model to forecast an aspect of the interaction between UPS control elements and the electrical system subjected to a simulated contingency event.
US07844425B2
A system and method for simulating a corneal reconfiguration in response to LIOB uses a computer-programmed, finite element model. The model has a plurality of elements; with each element pre-programmed with coefficients based on diagnostic corneal data. Collectively the coefficients replicate biomechanical properties of the cornea. In use, designated biomechanical characteristics on a plurality of selected elements (i.e. selected coefficients) are minimized to simulate LIOB in an actual cornea. A computer then measures the resultant reconfiguration of the cornea model to assess an actual cornea's response to LIOB.
US07844419B1
The present invention is a method for detecting potential topology problems in a network representation consisting of links and nodes. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there are three potential topology problem cases that are identified by the program. Those include nodes in close proximity, pipe-split candidates in which nodes are close to pipes, and pipe-split candidates in which pipes overlap. The program searches the data for any cases that fall within user-defined criterion or tolerances and returns a list of potential problems that the user can visually inspect and, if necessary or desired, make corrections thereto. Graphic user interfaces with dialog boxes and action buttons are also provided in accordance with the invention.
US07844413B2
Self-generated automated tests can use a pseudo-random number generator to select one or more arguments that are passed to programs and scripts. The random arguments are driven by a configuration file where the limits for the parameters are defined. Multidimensional functions with multidimensional parameters can be tested. Test duration can be limited by time, number of iterations, or by any of the multidimensional functions or parameters. A pseudo-random seed for each test is recorded so that a test case can be reproduced if a failure is detected or otherwise.
US07844412B2
Test systems and methodologies are provided and may include platforms for developing test programs for automated testing. In one example, tester and instruments are isolated from the tester OS, permitting any OS to be used. In another, a user layer is isolated from the physical layer, permitting hardware-independent development and usability among different tester platforms. In another, test program execution is isolated from tester platform OS, permitting test program function independent from tester platform. In another embodiment, functions are only added, existing links to functions are not broken, ensuring continued operation with new software, hardware and/or features. Systems may be non-deterministic. In one example, the non-deterministic computer is required to execute computer instructions within a constant execution time. A deterministic engine may be used to wait a variable amount of time to ensure constant execution time. Execution over constant time is deterministic permitting applications requiring deterministic behavior.
US07844407B1
Methods and apparatus for analysis and design of radiation and scattering objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, unknown sources are spatially grouped to produce a system interaction matrix with block factors of low rank within a given error tolerance and the unknown sources are determined from compressed forms of the factors.
US07844405B2
A method of measuring the compressibility, and/or the density, of small particles, and especially nano-particles, in suspension is described. The static method uses steady pressures and measures the d-c (static) compressibility of particles. The ultrasonic method utilizes an ultrasonic pulsed doppler system to measure the compressibility of particles at ultrasonic frequencies, which may differ from static values. These methods can also be used together to provide overlapping and complementary information about the particles. In addition, the ultrasonic pulsed doppler system also provides a way to measure particle density.
US07844402B2
A system, which may be and/or may include a computer system (1, 100), and method (3) for identifying a fault patch position from a seismic data volume (103). The system and method may include defining an initial active surface (310) in the seismic data volume (103); identifying (914) one or more active surfaces by minimizing the value of a function for energy; tracking back (916) the active surfaces to find a set of control points; and producing (918) the fault patch position formed by the set of control points.
US07844397B2
A relative navigation system including a first unit responsive to the motion of a first position, a second unit responsive to the motion of a second position and a processing unit that generates a relative navigation solution as a function of first unit information and second unit information. The generated relative navigation solution is indicative of at least one of: a relative position vector of the second position relative to the first position, a relative velocity of the second position relative to the first position, and a relative attitude of the first unit at the first position relative to the second unit at the second position.
US07844396B2
The present invention is for a modular, extensible software system for use with multi-modal, autonomous, or semi-autonomous vehicles. The design of the present invention involves the coherent integration of modules with responsibilities for human-interaction, training, path planning, mission execution, navigation, and safety to develop and complete missions. The present invention provides a modular software system that expresses vehicle behaviors through numerous small-grain elements to complete a mission. The system can be easily adapted or modified by adding new software modules or modifying existing modules as missions change or expand, with the smaller-grain modules being easier to adapt and reuse.
US07844395B2
A map display apparatus that displays a map includes: a display device; a touch panel disposed over a screen at the display device; and a control device that controls display at the display device with a signal input from the touch panel, and: the control device displays at the display device a map and a plurality of buttons used to adjust a scaling factor of the map, makes a decision as to whether or not the touch panel has been pressed at a position corresponding to one of the plurality of buttons, makes a decision as to whether or not a finger having pressed the touch panel has been moved to a specific position and displays, together with the map, a wide-area map at a scaling factor smaller than the scaling factor of the map if the finger having pressed the touch panel is judged to have been moved to the specific position.
US07844394B2
A turn-by-turn navigation system includes a positioning module receiving position information and updating real time road information on a road where a car is currently located, a map database storing map information required for driving the car, a route planning/route guidance module receiving the real time road information and the map information and generating current guidance information and next guidance information, a turn-by-turn graphic user interface module receiving the current and next guidance information and generating current and next guidance images, and an image display unit displaying the current and next guidance images.
US07844384B2
In vehicular traveling control apparatus and method, comprising: a vehicular forward substance detecting section of a laser radar type is provided to detect a forward substance located in a forward direction of the vehicle, a vehicular travel control is performed on the basis of a relative positional relationship between the forward substance detected by the vehicular forward substance detecting section and the vehicle, such an impulse that a detection range of the vehicular forward substance detecting section is varied has been applied to the vehicular forward detecting section is detected, and the vehicular traveling control is inhibited when detecting that the impulse has been applied to the vehicular forward substance detecting section.
US07844381B2
A device for controlling an automated transmission of a motor vehicle engine-transmission unit capable of delivering a torque setpoint signal to be applied to the motor vehicle wheels, including two static and dynamic components, produced based on input data delivered by an input unit including a recorded list of parameters representing the driver's wishes, the motor vehicle state, and the motor vehicle surroundings. The device includes a first unit capable of calculating a dynamic torque component not adapted to a cornering situation; a second unit capable of calculating a static torque component, connected to the input of the first unit; and a unit for adaptation to the come in situation delivering a static torque component adapted to the cornering situation in accordance with a list of predetermined input parameters.
US07844376B2
A method for determining a position of a range indication device for an automatic transmission is provided. The method includes: receiving N bits corresponding to a state of N circuits, respectively, wherein the N bits are related to a position of a range indication device and wherein the position includes transmission range states and transitional states between the transmission range states; associating the bit patterns with at least one of the transitional states and the transmission range states; defining the bit pattern having N bits equal to a first state as the transitional state, and defining the bit pattern having N/2 bits equal to one of the first state and a second state as the transmission range state.
US07844370B2
Systems and methods are described for a power aggregation system. In one implementation, a service establishes individual Internet connections to numerous electric resources intermittently connected to the power grid, such as electric vehicles. The Internet connection may be made over the same wire that connects the resource to the power grid. The service optimizes power flows to suit the needs of each resource and each resource owner, while aggregating flows across numerous resources to suit the needs of the power grid. The service can bring vast numbers of electric vehicle batteries online as a new, dynamically aggregated power resource for the power grid. Electric vehicle owners can participate in an electricity trading economy regardless of where they plug into the power grid.
US07844369B2
Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, the irrigation controllers are modular in that various functional components of the irrigation controller are implemented in removable modules that when inserted into position within the controller, expand the capabilities of the controller. Also described are various different types of expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of these modules in the controller. In some embodiments, authentication procedures are provided for one or both of a modular irrigation controller and an expansion module to determine if they are authorized to operate together.
US07844368B2
The present invention provides numerous methods, systems and apparatus that use a novel form of water budgeting technology for water conservation without the use of complex ET (Evapotranspiration) data or methods. Embodiments include incorporating the technology directly into irrigation controllers, into modules added on to existing controllers, or into central units that broadcast a water budget that can alter the schedules of one, many, or selected groups of remotely located controllers or modules. The various methods of the present invention offer the choice of adjusting the station run times, accumulating the water budgets, altering the watering intervals, and/or combining the present water budgeting technology with local watering communities' restricted watering schedules. The result offers residential, commercial, and municipal users a wide range of practical choices for effective water conservation in landscape irrigation with temperature based water budgeting.
US07844366B2
A set-point monitoring system includes a controller for at least one piece of equipment operating at a set point and a monitor that communicates with the controller. At least one of the monitor and the controller receives a present value of the set point and compares the present value to a previous value or to a benchmark value. The monitor records the present value when the present value is different than the previous value. The monitor also determines a monetary cost based on the difference between the present value and the previous value or the difference between the present value and the benchmark value.
US07844349B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates data transportation between two ore more systems. A manufacturing execution system (MES) can include a portion of recipe data associated with discrete manufacturing. An MES interface component can seamlessly communicate with the manufacturing execution system (MES) to delivery and execute the portion of recipe data within a controller-based discrete automation environment.
US07844348B2
Devices and methods for placing medical leads using minimally invasive techniques. One lead includes a lead body connected to a lead head having an aperture for providing fiber optic access to the interior of a helical electrode. The fiber optic shaft may be disposed within or along-side a drive shaft releasably coupled to the head to rotate the head. The drive shaft and lead body may be delivered using a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter can be advanced though a small incision to the target tissue site, and the site remotely visualized through the fiber optic scope extending through the lead head aperture. Some catheters include a distal mapping electrode readable from the catheter proximal portion or handle. The lead head can be rotated, rotating the helical electrode into the tissue, and the catheter, drive shaft, and fiber optic probe removed. In one use, epicardial pacing leads are placed on the posterior surface of the heart, aided by visualization and mapping to obtain optimal electrode placement and patient outcome.
US07844344B2
A stimulation lead to be implanted into a patient's body includes at least one distal stimulation electrode and at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal stimulation electrode. A jacket houses the conductive filer and provides a path distributed along at least a portion of the length of the lead for conducting induced RF energy from the filer to the patient's body.
US07844336B2
This document discusses, among other things, a system including an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device includes a control circuit and a motion sensing device. The motion sensing device is coupled to the control circuit, and the motion sensing device is configured to transmit signals to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to identify one or more steps of a patient using the motion sensing device signal.
US07844331B2
A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies including anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing (ATP) and at least one hemodynamic sensor that senses a hemodynamic signal. When a tachyarrhythmia episode is detected, the CRM system analyzes the hemodynamic signal to determine whether and/or when to deliver an ATP. In one embodiment, a hemodynamic parameter extracted from the hemodynamic signal is used to predict the potential effectiveness of ATP in terminating the detected tachyarrhythmia episode. In another embodiment, a characteristic feature detected from the hemodynamic signal is used to determine an ATP window during which a delivery of ATP is initiated.
US07844328B2
A liquid injector displays a plotting chart image whose vertical axis represents liquid injection rates and horizontal axis represents liquid injection times. When an injection graph which represents a liquid injection rate at each quantity of the liquid to be injected is entered into the displayed plotting chart image, the liquid injector controls operation of an injection performing means according to the injection graph and a time which has elapsed from the start of injection of the liquid. The rate at which the liquid is injected can thus be changed as desired with time according to the injection graph.
US07844326B2
This invention relates to an electrotransport device, which incorporates a conductive element within the reservoir housing of the device, which permits electrical communication from within the housing to outside of the housing without the use of opening, which require various methods of sealing the openings against leaks and moisture.
US07844322B2
A system and method for correlating health related data for display. The system includes a medical device recording data and a display producing device which correlates the data and simultaneously displays different types of data or displays two sets of the same type of data along with the circumstances at which the two sets of data were recorded. Such displays aid a physician in prescribing and ascertaining the efficacy of cardiac therapies.
US07844314B2
A sensor interface is configured to receive a sensor signal. A transmitter modulates a first baseband signal responsive to the sensor signal so as to generate a transmit signal. A receiver demodulates a receive signal corresponding to the transmit signal so as to generate a second baseband signal corresponding to the first baseband signal. Further, a monitor interface is configured to communicate a waveform responsive to the second baseband signal to a sensor port of a monitor. The waveform is adapted to the monitor so that measurements derived by the monitor from the waveform are generally equivalent to measurements derivable from the sensor signal. The communications adapter may further comprise a signal processor having an input in communications with the sensor interface, where the signal processor is operable to derive a parameter responsive to the sensor signal and where the first baseband signal is responsive to the parameter. The parameter may correspond to at least one of a measured oxygen saturation and a pulse rate.
US07844312B2
A system and method for accessing information and for communication in a high-speed vehicle having a plurality of coupled units, including at least one server unit that is provided in one unit of the vehicle and is set up for making information available and for communication, a plurality of radio access points which are provided in different units and are designed for data communication with data-processing devices via radio, a data network which connects the server unit to the radio access points in terms of communication, and which has wireless communications links between adjacent coupled units.
US07844308B2
A first device communicates with a wireless network that includes nodes that are active for predefined activation times and that are at least partially dormant when not active. The communication method includes identifying a start of communication via a message that exceeds a maximum activation time of nodes on the wireless network by a factor N, where N is equal to at least a maximum number of frequencies on the wireless network, and exchanging information with a second device comprising a node on the wireless network that is within a transmission range of the first device, where the information is exchanged following the message and includes frequency hopping data for the second device.
US07844307B2
A wireless handset includes a long range wireless transceiver for selectively providing an inbound communication and an outbound communication through a wireless telephone network. A battery monitor module monitors a remaining power of a battery and produces a control signal when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold. A processing module allows an outbound communication to an allowed recipient when the control signal is asserted, and prohibits an outbound communication to a disallowed recipient when the control signal is asserted.
US07844304B1
A power supply for a communications device, including a controllable regulator that varies power drawn from a power input according to communications requirements of the communications device. The controllable regulator increases power drawn from the power input immediately before an increase of power is required by the communications device when a magnitude of a rate of change of required power exceeds a predetermined level. An active filter is connected to an output of the controllable regulator. The active filter is controlled to variably divert power that is output from the controllable regulator in excess of what is required by the communications device, wherein electromagnetic emissions resulting from the rate of change of power are reduced.
US07844301B2
The invention is directed to a method of displaying multimedia data and providing multitasking features and a mobile communications terminal capable of implementing the same; and cradle for the mobile communications terminal. A mobile communications terminal includes a transceiver, a memory, a first display unit, a second display unit, a processor, a sensor to detect a rotational movement of a body, and a cradle for displaying multimedia contents is provided. The display unit can display the multimedia data in a fixed viewing angle regardless of which direction a user rotates the terminal. A method comprises the steps of displaying multimedia data playback on at least one of a first and a second display screens, displaying information related to the multimedia data, on at least a portion of the at least one of the display screens, providing multimedia control functions and/or indications to the user in a minimally intrusive manner, and displaying a multimedia playback control menu on the at least one of the two display screens.
US07844297B2
A method is provided to enable the person to switch use of computing devices when working with records and/or documents. A method such as described may be implemented for an individual operating two (or more) computing devices that share and synchronize sets of records. One or more operations may be performed to update and maintain correspondence between the two sets of records. A switchover event may be detected, where the event corresponds to the individual using a second computing device while already using a first computing device. Once the switchover event is detected, state of use information may be received on the second computing device. This information indicates the state of use of one or more records on the first computing device. This information may be used to affect the state of use of corresponding records on the second computing device. In particular, the corresponding records on the second computing device may be placed in a state of use, or in a selected state for subsequent use.
US07844295B1
A method and system are disclosed for bypassing a cellular wireless communications system by using a peer-to-peer wireless link for voice communications between BLUETOOTH enabled handsets. In an exemplary embodiment, when a ten-digit telephone number is dialed to place a call from a cellular wireless telephone, the cellular wireless telephone determines whether a termination-point, such as a second cellular wireless telephone, associated with the ten-digit telephone number is within range of the peer-to-peer wireless link. If the termination-point is within range, then a direct intercom session may be established over the peer-to-peer wireless link. Otherwise, a call initiation is requested over the cellular wireless communications system.
US07844289B2
Synchronization between base stations in a broadband wireless access system is achieved using interfering base stations. Interfering base stations are first identified for a base station of interest (BSOI). One of the interfering base stations is then selected to be a master base station for the BSOI. The BSOI may then establish and maintain synchronization with the master base station.
US07844280B2
One illustrative embodiment takes the form of a system for locating wireless transmitters employing an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation scheme. The OFDM scheme comprises transmitting signal components over narrowband frequency channels spanning a wideband channel. The system includes a first receiving system configured to receive a fraction of the signal components transmitted by a first wireless transmitter to be located in a fraction of the narrowband frequency channels, and to process the fraction of the signal components to derive location related measurements. The system further includes at least a second receiving system configured to receive the fraction of the signal components transmitted by the first wireless transmitter, and to process this fraction of the signal components to derive location related measurements. The system also includes a processing system configured to use location related measurements from the first and second receiving systems to compute the location of the wireless transmitter.
US07844277B2
A method is provided for coordinating distributed radio resource management. The method comprises communicating information between a plurality of units having radio resource management responsibilities, wherein the communicated information is related to radio resources associated with each unit.
US07844275B2
A system and a method for connecting a call through a telecommunications network. A base station, connected to a public switched telephone network, includes a call processor, a memory and a transceiver. The memory includes a database containing dialing instructions for a wireless station for a telephone connection through the public switched telephone network to a destination station. The transceiver receives a call request from the wireless station, and the call processor in response to the call request, assesses the database and dials a call for connection through the public switched telephone network to the destination station based on the dialing instructions for the wireless station.
US07844274B2
In one embodiment, an enterprise network is provided that includes a mobility agent 150 associated with a switch/server 100 or 104. The mobility agent creates a visitor application record 172 associated with a second communication device 140b. The visitor application record is associated with a first subscriber. A second subscriber is normally associated with the second communication device, and the first subscriber with a first communication device 136a. In response to creating the visitor application record, the native communication device record is associated with a virtual communication device having the same public and/or private numbers as the second communication device 140b.
US07844270B2
The present invention relates to a communication environment where calls are established with a single mobile terminal through either a wireless network or the public switched telephone network (PSTN) via a terminal adaptor, which is capable of wirelessly communicating with the mobile terminal. As such, the mobile terminal may facilitate traditional cellular calls via the wireless network, or traditional PSTN calls via the terminal adaptor. A temporary directory number for the mobile terminal is provided by the wireless network and used for facilitating calls via the wireless network. The terminal adaptor, supporting telephony switch, and wireless network will cooperate to transfer calls to the wireless network as necessary or desired.
US07844269B2
A wireless device capable of wireless local area network (WLAN) communications and cellular network communications stores profiles of wireless local area networks. The device identifies in which cell of a cellular network the device is currently located, and then scans more frequently for wireless local area networks matching profiles to which, previously, the device has connected while located in the cell, than for wireless local area networks matching other profiles.
US07844264B2
Reception points arranged inside an observation region are divided into groups for a plurality of reception points, and a hierarchical structure in which a reception point group having a large scale involves a smaller scale of plural reception point groups is structured in advance. In accordance with determination criteria defined in advance, the reception point groups involving the reception points which need reception determination processing with a ray are successively screened from the reception point groups having a large scale to a smaller scale of reception point groups, and the final reception determination of a ray and the reception points is applied only to the reception points involved in the screened reception point groups. Thereby, since a reception point group which is clearly excluded in the reception determination by means of a conventional technique can be collectively excluded by a reception point group unit involving them, the total number of the reception points to which the reception determination is applied can be reduced. As a result, required time for propagation estimation can be suppressed more than a conventional method.
US07844262B2
A system and method are disclosed for announcing a calling party from a communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing system (102) can have a controller (108) for processing calls in a communication system (100). The controller can be programmed to detect (504) an incoming call initiated by a third party communication device over a first voice channel, transmit (508) to a communication device (115, 116) over a control channel a notification signal associated with the incoming call, detect (512) a connection made by the communication device to a second voice channel, transmit (518, 521) to the communication device over the second voice channel audio signals that identify a calling party, and link (524) the first and second voice channels upon detecting over the control channel a call acceptance action by the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US07844256B1
A dispatch call request is received from a calling party to make an inter-urban dispatch call to a called party over a telecommunications network. A determination is first made as to whether the calling party is restricted from making inter-urban calls and, if so, a determination is then made as to whether the called party is an unrestricted access subscriber. In one embodiment, the dispatch call will be connected to the called party when the calling party is restricted from making inter-urban calls and the called party is an unrestricted access subscriber.
US07844248B2
A method for determining whether a user having a communications device has encountered a perilous situation includes detecting a sound with the communications device and determining whether the sound is indicative of the perilous situation. The method generates a query with the communications device for the user when the sound is determined to be indicative of the perilous situation and waits for a response from the user via the communications device. The response or lack thereof is capable of confirming the perilous situation or a false alarm.
US07844242B2
A wireless communication device includes an integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna system. The IC includes a processing module and a transceiver section. The processing module establishes a wireless communication protocol, converts outbound data into an outbound symbol stream, converts an inbound symbol stream into inbound data, and establishes operational parameters. The transceiver section converts an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream and converts the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal. The antenna system provides a plurality of antenna structures corresponding to the plurality of operational modes of the wireless communication device, wherein the antenna system provides one of the plurality of antenna structures in accordance with the operational parameters to transceive the inbound and outbound RF signals.
US07844238B2
A reader and a corresponding method are provided for processing transponder data signals received from a transponder in an RFID system. The reader includes an exciter which generates excitation signals, a receiver which conditions the transponder data signals, an antenna coupled to the exciter and receiver which transmits the excitation signals and receives the transponder data signals, and a controller coupled to the receiver. The controller receives the conditioned transponder data signals and demodulates the conditioned signals to extract the transponder data. The controller is configured to detect the amplitude of the conditioned signals and to control operation of the receiver as a function of the amplitude of the conditioned signals.
US07844237B2
Systems and methods of position sensing for a receiver, via employing an ability thereof to receive signals in a broader range than what such receiver is initially tuned for. A frequency skip component can skip channel frequencies such that the spectrum range is scanned without a typical requirement of tuning to all the channels during such scan. Accordingly, the subject innovation enables the entire spectrum of interest to be scanned at a substantially reduced amount of time. Location interpolation for the receiver and time stamping of received signals can be implemented as part of the position sensing.
US07844222B2
Methods and systems for changing priority of slave frames in multiwire coexistence are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include communicating a high priority to the collocated WLAN device after a Bluetooth frame has started, the Bluetooth device may deassert a signal to a collocated WLAN device that indicates Bluetooth communication activity. For example, the deassertion may take place prior to a portion of a frame when said Bluetooth device transmits data. The Bluetooth device may also assert the signal that indicates Bluetooth communication activity. The Bluetooth device may then assert a signal that indicates Bluetooth priority status and the signal that indicates Bluetooth communication activity. After the Bluetooth device transmits a packet, the Bluetooth device may deassert the signal that indicates Bluetooth priority status and/or the signal that indicates Bluetooth communication activity.
US07844219B2
Provided are an on-channel repeater and a method thereof. The on-channel repeater can extract reception channel information from signals transmitted from a main transmitter or another repeater, compensate for channel distortion caused on a transmission channel by inversely reflecting the extracted reception channel information to the received signals, and transmit the channel-distortion compensated signals through the same channel as a reception channel, and a method thereof. The on-channel repeater includes: a receiver for receiving RF signals transmitted from outside; a down-converter for down-converting the received RF signals into signals of a desired band; a channel-estimator for estimating an inverse value of a reception channel based on the down-converted signals; an adaptation filter for compensating for channel distortion by using a filter having the inverse value of the estimated reception channel; an up-converter for up-converting the channel distortion-compensated signals into RF signals; and a transmitter for transmitting the up-converted RF signals.
US07844216B2
A repeater for re-transmitting an incoming RF signal comprising: a first antenna array for receiving the incoming RF signal; a second antenna array for transmitting an outgoing RF signal; and a transceiver for down-converting the incoming RF signal to a down-converted signal, processing the down-converted signal, and up-converting the processed signal to produce the outgoing RF signal. The first antenna array is cross-polarized with respect to the second antenna array. The repeater also comprises an echo processor for attenuating in the down-converted signal an echo signal associated with the outgoing RF signal. The echo processor delays transmission of the outgoing RF signal in order to minimize the echo signal.
US07844214B2
A system and method are disclosed for providing streaming data information to a receiver. The system accesses one or more information service providers for providing respective information signals, input buffers for storing portions of the streaming inforamtion, a digital broadcast transmitter for broadcasting the contents of the input buffers as transmission bursts, a digital broadcast receiver for receiving the transmission bursts for storage in a receiver input buffer, and an application processor for converting the transmission bursts to an information transmission stream. The digital broadcast receiver is synchronized with the transmitter broadcasts to allow for powering down between selected transmission bursts.
US07844211B2
An apparatus includes a voltage generator and a superstructure. The voltage generator includes a conductive base, an insulating spacer and a conductive top. The superstructure includes a platform and an antenna system. The voltage generator provides a voltage difference between the conductive base and the conductive top that is greater than 10,000 volts.
US07844210B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing apparatus including: a heat roller that includes: a heat source that generates heat to be supplied on a toner image formed on a recording medium; a cylindrical core; a rubber layer that is formed on the cylindrical core and includes a thermal-conductivity-enhanced rubber, the rubber layer having a thickness of Tg that satisfies 200 μm≦Tg≦600 μm and having a rubber hardness defined by JIS-A hardness of Hg that satisfies 40 degrees≦Hg≦80 degrees; and a fluororesin layer that is formed on the rubber layer, the fluororesin layer having a thickness of Tj that satisfies 80 μm≦Tj≦300 μm and 2 Tj≦Tg≦10 Tj; and a pressure roller that presses the recording medium against the heat roller.
US07844206B2
An image forming apparatus includes plural image forming sections for forming toner images of different colors. A patch toner image forming section forms patch toner images side-by-side onto a moving transfer body by using the image forming sections. A spread clock signal output section spreads a clock signal having a predetermined standard frequency at a predetermined spreading ratio and outputs the clock signal. A patch toner image intervals calculating section calculates intervals between the patch toner images on the transfer body based on the number of clock signals outputted from the spread clock signal output section and the standard frequency. A calculation result correcting section counts spread clock signals outputted during a time interval from the spread clock signal output section, and corrects a calculation result given by the patch toner image intervals calculating section based on the result of the counting.
US07844195B2
The present invention provides a cleaning member which can be produced at low cost and which maintains excellent cleaning performance for a long period of time. The cleaning member has a lower layer formed through winding a double-faced tape formed of a sponge member having an adhesive layer on each side thereof around the surface of a core member, and an upper layer provided on the outer surface of the lower layer. The upper layer is formed of at least one fiber layer made of woven fabric or knitted fabric.
US07844189B2
An optical DPSK signal demodulator includes a signal separator that separates an optical signal into an input optical signal and an output optical signal in a signal optical path. First and second reflectors are provided at a predetermined interval and reflect the optical signals with a predetermined time delay to have substantially the same intensity. A phase shifter is provided between the first and second reflectors and configured to allow the optical signals reflected from the first and second reflectors to have a phase difference.
US07844188B2
A light collecting device is disclosed that is able to couple light from a light emission structure to an optical fiber at low loss. The light collecting device includes an excitation light source for emitting excitation light to an optical fiber; a light condensing optical system which condenses the excitation light from the optical fiber to a light emission structure, and directs light reflected in the light emission structure and light generated in the light emission structure back to the optical fiber; a reflecting light detector for detecting intensity of the reflected light; a first optical divider for dividing the emission light and the reflected light based on their wavelengths, directing the emission light to the optical fiber, and propagating the reflected light to the excitation light source; a second optical divider arranged close to the excitation light source for propagating the excitation light to the first optical divider, and propagating the reflected light to the reflecting light detector; a position controller for controlling a light condensing position of the excitation light to be irradiated to the light emission structure; a unit for scanning the light condensing position of the excitation light, and acquiring a relationship of intensity of the reflected light and the light condensing position of the excitation light; and a unit for optimizing the light condensing position based on the intensity of the reflected light and the light condensing position of the excitation light.
US07844186B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting alternate-polarization phase-shift-keyed data. The output of a laser is modulated to optically encode electronic data using phase shift keying (PSK) to generate an optical signal. An alternate polarization PSK (APol-PSK) signal is generated by alternating the polarization of the optical signal using a modulator such that successive optical bits have substantially orthogonal polarizations.
US07844185B2
Apparatuses and methods are provided which suppress a surge component occurring at an optical amplifier on an optical path through which an optical burst signal is transmitted. An optical amplifier may experience a surge due to the power variation of the optical burst signal that is fed to the optical amplifier. To suppress such a surge component, a power corresponding to a number of wavelengths of an optical burst signal to be input is calculated. The optical amplifier is instructed to generate an optical signal with a power corresponding to a difference between a set value and the calculated power. The generated optical signal and the optical burst signal to be input are coupled and output according to the instruction. Thus, the optical amplifier can receive the optical signal with the constant power and the surge component at the optical amplifier can be suppressed.
US07844182B2
Methods and apparatus are described for simultaneous transport of analog video signals and Ethernet data on an optical fiber. A method includes propagating a downstream signal on an optical signal conductor from an upstream combiner to a downstream combiner; and propagating an upstream signal on the optical signal conductor from the downstream combiner to the upstream combiner.
US07844177B2
Disclosed herein are a device and a method for an optical signal changeover that will not necessitate any addition to the capacity of the optical signal selection unit even when the N×M optical switches are expanded in scale, but can keep the optical signal selection unit compact in size and enhance the reliability of the unit. The optical signals received from plural optical transmission lines are converted into predetermined wavelengths by the wavelength conversion unit based on the settings given from the system monitoring control unit. The converted optical signals are bifurcated by the optical bifurcating unit and inputted to the optical switches of the active system and the optical switches of the stand-by system. The optical signals outputted from the optical switches of the active system and from the optical switches of the stand-by system are wavelength-multiplexed by the wavelength multiplexer of the active system and the wavelength multiplexer of the stand-by system and inputted to the 2×1 optical switches of the optical signal selection unit. The optical signal selection unit selects either of the inputted optical signals of the active system or of the stand-by system in accordance with the settings given by the monitoring control unit. The selected wavelength-multiplexed optical signals are demultiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer into multi-channel optical signals for outputting.
US07844170B2
A method for controlling a fan speed is disclosed. The fan cools a CPU in a computer. The method includes defining a CPU-max-temp value of a CPU, such that the first fan speed is linearly enhanced with the increase of a real temperature value of the CPU, when the real temperature value of the CPU is lower than the CPU-max-temp value, and changing the CPU-max-temp value to a higher CPU-max-temp value in a basic input output system. A second fan speed is linearly enhanced with an increase of the real temperature value, when the real temperature value is lower than the higher CPU-max-temp value. The second fan speed is less than the first fan speed at the real temperature value.
US07844163B2
An information editing device includes an index generating unit that generates, in a plurality of different formats, a plurality of pieces of index information indicative of a list of the pieces of screen image information each for one scene; and a display controlling unit that switches the pieces of index information generated by the index generating unit based on an input instruction of a user.
US07844161B2
A fiber distribution hub includes a panel mounted within and pivotally movable relative to an enclosure. One or more connector holders are carried by the panel. The connector holders are provided at a connector storage location. The connector holders have a construction different than a functional fiber optic adapter.
US07844148B2
A linear member (10) comprises a first layer (30) and a second layer (40), the second layer being arranged around the first layer. The second layer comprises a series of annular grooves (60). The material for the second layer is substantially stronger than the material for the first layer.
US07844143B2
An electrical and optical hybrid film having high resistance to bending. The electrical and optical hybrid film has an optical waveguide film and an electrical wiring film on the optical waveguide film. The electrical and optical hybrid film has, between its opposite ends, a separated section where the electrical wiring film and the optical waveguide film are not secured to each other. The optical waveguide film has, at the separated section, a slit extending in the longitudinal direction, and the slit penetrates the optical waveguide film.
US07844142B2
Some embodiments include communication methods, methods of forming an interconnect, signal interconnects, integrated circuit structures, circuits, and data apparatuses. In one embodiment, a communication method includes accessing an optical signal comprising photons to communicate information, accessing an electrical signal comprising electrical data carriers to communicate information, and using a single interconnect, communicating the optical and electrical signals between a first spatial location and a second spatial location spaced from the first spatial location.
US07844134B2
A motion detecting part detects moving regions in a plurality of frame images captured by rolling shutter type exposure, and obtains a motion vector of the moving regions. A moving region correcting part corrects the moving region in a to-be-corrected frame image of the plurality of frame images on the basis of the motion vector, information on an image-capturing time interval between the plurality of frame images, information on an exposure starting time difference resulting from the difference in position in one frame image caused by the rolling shutter type exposure and information on an exposure start sequence depending on the position in one frame image captured by the rolling shutter type exposure.
US07844131B2
A method of forming images on a lithographic substrate is disclosed, the method including grouping a plurality of image regions together to form a combined image, determining or receiving a location at which the combined image is to be positioned on the substrate, calculating locations at which the image regions forming the combined image are to be positioned on the substrate, and using a lithographic apparatus to project the image regions at the calculated locations onto the substrate.
US07844109B2
In order to allow a user to arbitrarily set color processing parameters which determine the color reproduction characteristics of a digital camera according to user's preference, an image processing unit obtains color data by performing the same processing as that performed by the digital camera with respect to the sensed data of each color patch included in a color chart by using color processing parameters. A changing unit displays, on a display unit, a target data changing window which presents color data and the target data (the target color of color reproduction) of each color patch and allows the user to change the target data. A parameter editing unit edits color processing parameters so as to reduce the color difference between the changed target data and color data. A data input/output unit transmits the edited color processing parameters to the digital camera.
US07844099B2
A method for inspecting a semiconductor wafer fabricated for image sensing operation that has had a transparent protective tape layer applied to a front or active wafer surface. The method includes quantifying chip defects in the image sensor wafer that lie under the protective layer using automatic disposition equipment.
US07844097B2
A compression method and subsystem for a CT scanner compresses projection data from the data acquisition system. The projection data are classified into subsets of more significant samples and subsets of less significant samples. The subsets are compressed in accordance with compression control parameters so that the less significant samples are compressed to a greater degree than the more significant samples. The bit rate of the compressed projection data can be monitored and the compression control parameters can be adjusted to provide a desired bit rate. The compressed data are decompressed in accordance with the compression control parameters for reconstruction of an image from the decompressed projection data. This abstract does not limit the scope of the invention as described in the claims.
US07844089B2
An image interpretation report creating apparatus for displaying a case in combination of an image interpretation report and a blood test result even if they are stored in different computers. The apparatus includes: a display unit for displaying an image interpretation report creation screen along with a blood test result; an input unit for specifying finding and a blood test result; a search key generating unit for generating search keys for searching an image interpretation report DB and a blood test result DB; a search processing unit for causing an image interpretation report server and an examination result server to obtain cases that match the search keys; a similarity degree determining unit for displaying the cases in an order of the degree of similarity; and an image interpretation report preservation unit for causing the image interpretation report server to store image interpretation report data.
