US07843131B2
By using a light emitting device including an insulating substrate and a light emitting unit formed on the insulating substrate, the light emitting unit including: a plurality of linear wiring patterns disposed on the insulating substrate in parallel with one another, a plurality of light emitting elements that are mounted between the wiring patterns while being electrically connected to the wiring patterns, and a sealing member for sealing the light emitting elements, as well as a method for manufacturing thereof, it becomes possible to provide a light emitting device that achieves sufficient electrical insulation and has simple manufacturing processes so that it can be manufactured at a low cost, and a method for manufacturing the same.
US07843130B2
Provided is an organic light-emitting apparatus which can allow each of a plurality of organic light-emitting elements of different emission colors to emit light under optimum conditions. The organic light-emitting apparatus includes: a substrate; a plurality of organic light-emitting elements of different emission colors disposed on the substrate and each having formed sequentially on the substrate, a first electrode formed independently for each of the plurality of organic light-emitting elements, an organic functional layer, and a light-transmissive second electrode continuously formed extending over the plurality of organic light-emitting elements; a conductive layer formed between the substrate and the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode; and an insulating layer formed between the conductive layer and the first electrode, in which the insulating layer is different in at least one of thickness and material for each of the different emission colors.
US07843124B2
The light emitting apparatus according to the present invention includes a light source; and an optical component including a fixed member having a through hole, and a wavelength conversion member having at least one part thereof arranged in the through hole, a cut-in part or a hole part being formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the through hole of the fixed member; where the light from the light source is guided to the wavelength conversion member.
US07843123B2
The organic light-emitting device of the present invention includes a plurality of organic light-emitting elements including an organic light-emitting element showing a first emission color and at least one organic light-emitting element showing a different emission color from the first emission color, each of the organic light-emitting elements including: a first electrode having a reflective surface; a second electrode placed on a light extraction side and including a semi-transparent layer; an organic compound layer including a light-emitting layer and formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a micro cavity structure for resonating light emitted from the light-emitting layer between the reflective surface and the semi-transparent layer, wherein the semi-transparent layer in the organic light-emitting element showing the first emission color is different in thickness and/or material from the semi-transparent layer in the at least one organic light-emitting element showing the different emission colors.
US07843120B2
A screen structure has a transparent substrate and a color filter on the transparent substrate, and light from a source of luminescence transmits the color filter and the transparent substrate. The transparent substrate has a height difference specified by a refractive index of the transparent substrate, a refractive index of the color filter, and a wavelength of the light which transmits the color filter in an interface with the color filter.
US07843109B2
A driving apparatus (100q) is provided with: a first base portion (110-1); a first stage portion (130-1); a first elastic portion (120-1) which has elasticity to displace the first stage portion in one direction (Y axis); a second stage portion (130-2) which is disposed on the first stage portion and on which a driven object (12) is mounted; a second elastic portion (120-2) which has elasticity to displace the second stage in other direction (X axis); a first applying device (151-1, 152-1, 22) for applying an excitation force for displacing the first stage portion such that the first stage portion is resonated in the one direction at a resonance frequency determined by the first stage portion and the first elastic portion; and a second applying device (151-2, 152-2, 22) for applying a driving force for displacing, in a stepwise manner or in a continuous manner, the second stage portion in the other direction.
US07843108B2
A driving apparatus (100t) is provided with: a stage portion (130) which can be displaced; two first elastic portions (120-1) which have elasticity to displace the stage portion in one direction and which are arranged along the one direction; two driving source portions (180) each of which comprises: a first applying device (181) for applying an excitation force for displacing the stage portion such that the stage portion is resonated in the one direction at a resonance frequency determined by the stage portion and the first elastic portion; and a second applying device (182) for applying a driving force for displacing the stage portion in other direction, the two driving source portions being arranged along the one direction; two second elastic portions (120-2) which have elasticity to displace the stage portion in the one direction and which are arranged along the one direction; a third elastic portion (120-3) which has elasticity to displace the stage portion in the other direction; and a base portion (110) to which other end of the third elastic portion is connected, the driving apparatus shifting a direction of the excitation force applied by each of the two driving source portions.
US07843106B2
A motor includes a housing formed of a first shell and a second shell, a stator, which is formed of a first yoke, a second yoke, a connecting device and two coils. The first yoke and the second yoke each comprise a terminal holder mounting portion, a race and a plurality of pole pawls respectively extended from the race. The race of the first yoke has the race of the first yoke kept apart from the race of the second yoke at a distance to reduce magnetic interference, the connecting device having a terminal holder fastened to terminal holder mounting portions of the first yoke and second yoke of the stator and a plurality of metal terminals installed in the terminal holder, the coils respectively set between the first yoke and the first shell and between the second yoke and the second shell and respectively electrically connected to the metal terminals, and a rotor formed of a transmission shaft and magnets and inserted through the first yoke and the second yoke and rotatable relative to the stator.
US07843104B2
A stator component whose composition and processing enable the component to axially compress magnetic sheets of a stator and also inhibit joule heating of the component to the extent that the need for a separate flux shield can be eliminated. The component is formed of a ductile iron alloy containing, by weight, about 3.25 to about 3.40% carbon, about 3.70 to about 3.80% silicon, about 4.50 to about 4.70% nickel, up to about 0.20% manganese, up to about 0.06% magnesium, less than 0.02% phosphorus, less than 0.02% sulfur, with the balance being iron and incidental impurities. Following heat treatment, the component exhibits properties that inhibit joule heating of the component by eddy currents induced by alternating magnetic fields of the stator.
US07843102B1
The invention relates to an electrical machine, in particular to a motor or a generator, comprising at least a stator (30a, 30b), a plurality of winding teeth (32a, b) arranged on the circumference of the at least one stator (30a, b) with windings and the winding teeth comprising clearances (34a, b) therebetween, wherein all windings of each stator are connected in series. The electrical machine further comprises a rotor (1) and a plurality of permanent magnets (5) and/or rotor windings arranged at the circumference of the rotor (1), wherein the poles of the permanent magnets and/or rotor winding directions are radially aligned and alternating. Preferably, two stators (30a, b) are provided, which have an angular offset (a) to each other. Further, a control circuit for an electrical machine comprising at least one phase winding is provided, the control circuit comprising four power switches per corresponding phase winding for the control of the electrical machine.
US07843100B2
An internal permanent magnet machine (“IPM machine”) of the type used, for example, with traction motors and hybrid electric vehicles, includes a rotor having a plurality of ferrite magnets arranged in one or more layers, wherein at least one of the layers includes rare earth magnets (e.g., NdFeB magnets) adjacent to the ferrite magnets to prevent or reduce demagnetization.
US07843097B2
Disclosed herein is a power transmission apparatus, which includes a top, a bearing holder, a driving member, a transmitting plate having at least one groove, and a rotating wheel having at least one roller. The top has a body and a spindle that penetrates the center of the body and is substantially vertical to the ground. The bearing holder locates on the ground and supports one end of the spindle. The driving member is used for rotating the top. The at least one roller is embedded in the at least one groove on the transmitting plate.
US07843096B2
The invention relates to a device (10) for accommodating an electric motor (30), particularly a blower motor for a heating or air-conditioning system, comprising an essentially pot-shaped accommodating housing (12) serving as a motor housing and having an accommodating opening (32) in which the pole casing (46) of an electric motor (30) can be inserted while at least partially projecting inside. The inventive device also comprises a retaining flange (14) mounted on the accommodating housing (12) and serving to fasten the motor housing (12) to a supporting element, and comprises a control and regulating unit (20) mounted on the retaining flange (14) and serving to operate the electric motor (30). The invention provides that the accommodating housing (12) has, in the peripheral direction, at least one flattened area (36,40), which differs from a circular shape while corresponds with at least one flattening (54) of an outer contour of the control and regulating unit (20). The invention also relates to an electric motor (30), particularly a direct-current motor having at least two permanent magnetic poles (44) and a pole casing (46) serving as a magnetic return ring and having at least one flattening (55) on the periphery of the pole casing, for use in a device (10) of the aforementioned type.
US07843092B2
Disclosed is a highly heat-resistant core which has a dust core as a base body. A dust core obtained by press-molding magnetic powder particles each of which are covered with an insulating film is used as the base body. An inorganic heat-resistant insulating film is formed on at least a part of a surface of the dust core which faces a winding wire.
US07843089B2
A semiconductor device comprises a board; a semiconductor chip; a memory controller operative to control the semiconductor chip; and a power supply chip having a capacitor. The semiconductor chip is stacked on the board. The memory controller and the power supply chip are stacked on the semiconductor chip. The capacitor is used to stabilize the voltage applied to the semiconductor chip.
US07843085B2
Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source (1) or strings of panels (11) for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid (10) three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control (27), and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements (24) and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements (25).
US07843082B2
An islanding detection apparatus for a distributed generation power system and a detection method therefor operates a power converter to act as a virtual capacitor or inductor at a frequency close to but unequal to that of a utility power system under abnormal condition of the utility power system. When power failure occurs in the utility power system, only the distributed generation power system supplies power to a load so that a load voltage has been changed in at least one of amplitude and frequency which can be immediately detected islanding phenomenon.
US07843080B2
A cooling system for a wind turbine is provided. The cooling system includes at least one generator having a plurality of external fins disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of the generator. A shroud is disposed around at least a portion of the generator, and is configured to guide air across the external fins so that said air cools the generator.
US07843077B2
A system capable of converting fluid energy into electrical energy in conditions of low fluid flow is provided. In an embodiment, the system may engage and disengage an energy converter via an automatic clutch. In an embodiment, the transmission of energy to an energy converter is controlled by switching the energy converter on and off. In another embodiment, the flow of electrical energy to an electrical load is controlled by a switching device. In another embodiment, a funnel is used for condensing the flow of fluid moving through the system.
US07843076B2
Example energy storage systems (20, 20′, 20″) comprises a fluid circuit (22, 22′, 22″) and an electrical unit (24, 24′, 24″) configured to operate as a motor in a first phase of operation and to operate as a generator in a second phase of operation. The fluid circuit (22, 22′, 22″) comprises a first fluid container (30, 30′, 30″) situated so content of the first fluid container experiences a first pressure level; a tank (32, 32′, 32″) having its content at a second pressure level (the second pressure level being less than the first pressure level): and, a first hydraulic motor/pump unit (34, 134, 34″connected to communicate a first working fluid between the tank and the first fluid container. In the first phase of operation electricity is supplied to the first hydraulic/motor unit (34, 134, 34″) whereby the first hydraulic/motor unit transmits the first working fluid from the tank into the first fluid container (30, 30′, 30″). In the second phase of operation pressurized first working fluid in the first fluid container (30, 30′, 30″) is transmitted from the first fluid container through the first hydraulic/motor unit 34, 134, 34″) to the tank (32, 32′, 32″), thereby causing the electrical unit (24, 24′, 24″) to generate electricity.
US07843075B2
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods of forming interconnect between a workpiece and substrate and its application to packaging of microelectronic devices are described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07843074B2
A light emitting chip is disposed on a support surface. A plurality of bonding bumps are disposed in a gap between the light emitting chip and the support surface. The plurality of bonding bumps provide at least one electrical power input path to the light emitting chip. An underfill comprising underfill material is disposed in the gap between the light emitting chip and the support surface such that the underfill substantially fills the gap but does not form a fillet extending outside the gap over sidewalls of the light emitting chip. The underfill is configured to provide at least one of (i) mechanical support for the light emitting chip and (ii) a thermal conduction path from the light emitting chip to the support surface.
US07843073B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first insulation film formed over a semiconductor substrate; and a plurality of first interconnects selectively formed in the first insulation film. A plurality of gaps are formed in part of the first insulation film located between adjacent ones of the first interconnects so that each of the gaps has a cylindrical shape extending vertically to a principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. A cap film is formed of metal or a material containing metal in upper part of each of the first interconnects.
US07843071B2
A semiconductor construct is provided which has a semiconductor substrate, an external connection electrode, and an electrode enveloping layer for enveloping the external connection electrode. Also, a base plate is provided which includes a wiring having a first opening corresponding to the external connection electrode. Subsequently, the base plate is removed after the semiconductor construct is fixed to the base plate, and a second opening which reaches the external connection electrode is formed on the electrode enveloping layer corresponding to the first opening of the wiring. Then, a connection conductor for electrically connecting the wiring and the external connection electrode is formed.
US07843061B2
The electrodes (7) and the contact zones (15) are structured in a film of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), deposited on a transparent support (1) possibly coated with an intermediate film (3), while being separated by dielectric spaces (9) formed by nano fissures (11) obtained by UV radiation and passing through the TCO film. A protective film (13) can coat the electrodes (7) and the dielectric spaces (9).
US07843060B2
Light emitting devices include a semiconductor light emitting diode that is configured to operate at a substantially droop-free quantum efficiency while producing warm white light output of at least about 100 lumens/cool white light output of at least about 130 lumens. The semiconductor light emitting diode may include a single semiconductor die of at least about 4 mm2 in area that operates at a current density of less than about 9 A/cm2, so as to operate at the substantially droop-free quantum efficiency. Related fabricating and operating methods are also disclosed.
US07843057B2
A method of making a printed circuit board panel, a printed circuit board panel made according to the method, and a system incorporating a printed circuit board provided onto the panel. The printed circuit board panel has a panel top edge, a panel bottom edge parallel to the panel top edge, and two parallel panel side edges, and further includes a first set of fiber bundles extending at the predetermined angle with respect to the panel side edges, and a second set of fiber bundles extending at the predetermined angle with respect to the panel top edge.
US07843052B1
Semiconductor devices are disclosed. In an embodiment, a plurality of second semiconductor dies formed with through-silicon vias are stacked on a first semiconductor die. The stack of the second semiconductor dies is encapsulated by an encapsulant. Redistribution layers are formed on one surface of the stack and are connected to the through-silicon vias. Solder balls are attached to the respective redistribution layers. In another embodiment, a plurality of second semiconductor dies formed with through-silicon vias are stacked on a first semiconductor die formed with through-silicon vias. Redistribution layers are formed on the back surface of the first semiconductor die. Solder balls are attached to the respective redistribution layers. Further disclosed are methods for fabricating the semiconductor devices.
US07843036B2
An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.
US07843035B2
An embodiment of a MIM capacitor includes a first insulating layer formed over a wafer and a first capacitor plate formed over the wafer within the first insulating layer. The MIM capacitor further includes a second insulating layer formed over the first insulating layer, a capacitor dielectric formed over the first capacitor plate within the second insulating layer and a second capacitor plate formed over the capacitor dielectric within the second insulating layer. A recess is formed in the second capacitor plate below an upper surface of the second insulating layer and a catalytic activation layer is formed in the recess.
US07843034B2
The semiconductor device comprises a device isolation region 14 formed in a semiconductor substrate 10, a lower electrode 16 formed in a device region 12 defined by the device isolation region and formed of an impurity diffused layer, a dielectric film 18 of a thermal oxide film formed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode 20 formed on the dielectric film, an insulation layer 26 formed on the semiconductor substrate, covering the upper electrode, a first conductor plug 30a buried in a first contact hole 28a formed down to the lower electrode, and a second conductor plug 30b buried in a second contact hole 28b formed down to the upper electrode, the upper electrode being not formed in the device isolation region. The upper electrode 20 is not formed in the device isolation region 14, whereby the short-circuit between the upper electrode 20 and the lower electrode 16 in the cavity can be prevented. Thus, a capacitor of high reliability can be provided.
US07843033B2
An integrated circuit pad structure includes a ground strip (206) positioned below a pad (101). In one example a conductive element (102) is coupled to the pad (101), and at least two tiled layers, positioned below the first conductive element (102) and positioned above the ground strip (206) are included. A conductor (203), may run beneath the ground strip (206). In a second example, a pad (101) is seated on a ground shield cage having a bottom conductive ground element (302) including several ground strips where at least one ground strip (116) is along a signal routing path. The ground shield cage further includes a set of stacked conductive ground elements, stacked to form sidewalls (209, 210) of the cage. The top conductive ground element (301) of the stacked elements has an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, such that the inner perimeter surrounds the pad (101) and the top conductive ground element (301) is in the plane of the conductive element (102) coupled to the pad (101).
US07843020B2
A high withstand voltage transistor is capable of preventing its gate oxidized film from being damaged by a surge voltage/current, and includes: a gate electrode provided in a trench formed on a semiconductor substrate; a source and a drain which are respectively formed on a side of the gate electrode and another side of the gate electrode, and which are a predetermined distance away from the gate electrode; first electric field relaxation layers one of which is formed on a wall of the trench on the side of the source and another one of which is formed on a wall of the trench on the side of the drain; and second electric field relaxation layers one of which is formed between the source and the gate electrode, and another one of which is formed between the drain and the gate electrode.
US07843013B2
A semiconductor device includes: an isolation region formed in a semiconductor substrate; active regions surrounded by the isolation region and including p-type and n-type regions, respectively; an NMOS transistor formed in the active region including the p-type region and including an n-type gate electrode; a PMOS transistor formed in the active region including the n-type region and including a p-type gate electrode; and a p-type resistor formed on the isolation region. The p-type resistor has an internal stress greater than that of the p-type gate electrode.
US07843009B2
An integrated circuit is made of a semiconductor material and comprises an input and/or terminal connected to an output transistor forming a parasitic element capable of triggering itself under the effect of an electrostatic discharge applied to the terminal. The integrated circuit comprises a protection device formed so as to be biased at the same time as the parasitic element under the effect of an electrostatic discharge, and more than the parasitic element to evacuate a discharge current as a priority.
US07843008B2
A semiconductor device capable of dissipating heat, which has been produced in an ESD protection element, to the exterior of the device rapidly and efficiently includes an ESD protection element having a drain region, a source region and a gate electrode, and a thermal diffusion portion. The thermal diffusion portion, which has been formed on the drain region, has a metal layer electrically connected to a pad, and contacts connecting the drain region and metal layer. The metal layer has a first wiring trace extending along the gate electrode, and second wiring traces intersecting the first wiring trace perpendicularly. The contacts are connected to intersections between the first wiring trace and the second wiring traces. Heat that has been produced at a pn-junction of the ESD protection element and transferred through a contact is diffused simultaneously in three directions through the first wiring trace and second wiring trace in the metal layer and is released into the pad.
US07843002B2
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; an n-type tub extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the n-type tub comprises a bottom buried in the semiconductor substrate; a p-type buried layer (PBL) on a bottom of the tub, wherein the p-type buried layer is buried in the semiconductor substrate; and a high-voltage n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (HVNMOS) device over the PBL and within a region encircled by sides of the n-type tub.
US07843001B2
In an insulated-gate type semiconductor device in which a gate-purpose conductive layer is embedded into a trench which is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a source-purpose conductive layer is provided on a major surface of the semiconductor substrate, a portion of a gate pillar which is constituted by both the gate-purpose conductive layer and a cap insulating film for capping an upper surface of the gate-purpose conductive layer is projected from the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; a side wall spacer is provided on a side wall of the projected portion of the gate pillar; and the source-purpose conductive layer is connected to a contact region of the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, which is defined by the side wall spacer.
US07842993B2
First and second memory cell transistors are isolated by an element isolation insulating film. A barrier insulating film covers the element isolation insulating film. The first memory cell transistor includes a first tunnel insulating film, a first charge storage layer made of an insulating film, a first block insulating film, and a first gate electrode. The second memory cell transistor includes a second tunnel insulating film, a second charge storage layer made of an insulating film, a second block insulating film, and a second gate electrode. The barrier insulating film is in contact with the first and second charge storage layers, and has a film thickness smaller than that of the first and second charge storage layers.
US07842989B2
A memory element including a first FET, and a selection switch including a second FET are connected in series, and a semiconductor film and a dielectric film stacked over a substrate form a common channel and a common gate insulating film in the first and second FETs. A first gate electrode of the first FET and a second gate electrode of the second FET are formed on the dielectric film, and a drain electrode and a source electrode are formed on the semiconductor film. Under the semiconductor film, a back-gate electrode is formed with a ferroelectric film interposed therebetween, and the ends of the semiconductor film that forms the channel are located inwardly of the ends of the back-gate electrode.
US07842988B2
A noise generated by a constitution of widening an incident aperture of light of a photoelectric conversion element is reduced. In a manufacturing method of a photoelectric conversion device, first electroconductor arranged in a first hole arranged in the first interlayer insulation layer electrically connects a first semiconductor region to a gate electrode of an amplifying MOS transistor not through wirings included in a wiring layer. Moreover, a second electroconductor electrically connects a second semiconductor region different from the first semiconductor region to a wiring. In a constitution of that second electroconductor, a third electroconductor arranged in a second hole arranged in the first interlayer insulation layer and a fourth electroconductor arranged in a third hole arranged in the second interlayer insulation layer are stacked and electrically connected to each other. And the step of forming the first electroconductor, and the step of forming the third electroconductor are performed simultaneously.
US07842984B2
A CMOS image sensor is described, based on a substrate and including a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, a source follower transistor, a select transistor, a photodiode and a floating node structure. The substrate includes a floating node area between the transfer transistor and the reset transistor. The floating node structure includes a P-well in the substrate within the floating node area, an N-well in the substrate outside of the floating node region, a lightly N-doped region having a portion in the P-well and another portion connected with the N-well, a heavily N-doped region in the N-well, and a contact plug for coupling the heavily N-doped region to the source follower transistor.
US07842977B2
A gate electrode structure comprises at least one bi-layer, wherein each bi-layer comprises a plating film and a stress amplifier film. The plating film includes a poly-crystalline material. The stress amplifier film determines the crystallization result of the poly-crystalline material, wherein a mechanical stress induced through the plating layer is amplified. Tensile or compressive strain may be induced in a crystalline substrate. Electron or hole mobility may be increased and on-resistance characteristics of a MOS field effect transistor may be improved.
US07842970B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protective device structure is disclosed. The ESD protection device includes: at least a first conductive type metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS), in which the drain and source of the first conductive type MOS are electrically connected to a first power terminal and a second power terminal separately; at least a second conductive type diffusion region; and at least a dummy gate disposed between the first conductive type MOS and the second conductive type diffusion region, wherein the gate length of the dummy gate is less than the gate length of the first conductive type MOS gate, such that the junction between the second conductive type diffusion region and the drain of the first conductive type MOS have a low breakdown voltage.
US07842966B2
A compound semiconductor light-emitting diode includes a light-emitting layer (133) formed of aluminum-gallium-indium phosphide, a light-emitting part (13) having component layers individually formed of a Group III-V compound semiconductor, a transparent supporting layer (14) bonded to one of the outermost surface layers (135) of the light-emitting part (13) and transparent to the light emitted from the light-emitting layer (133), and a bonding layer (141) formed between the supporting layer (14) and the one of the outermost surface layers (135)of the light-emitting part (13) containing oxygen atoms at a concentration of 1×1020 cm−3 or less.
US07842963B2
A process for forming electrical contacts for a semiconductor light emitting apparatus is disclosed. The light emitting apparatus has a first layer of first conductivity type, an active layer for generating light overlying the first layer, and a second layer of second conductivity type overlying the active layer. The process involves forming at least a first and a second elongate electrical contact through the second layer and the active layer to provide electrical connection to the first layer, the first and second contacts oriented at an angle to each other, the first contact having a first end in proximity with the second contact, the first end being sufficiently spaced apart from the second contact such that when current is supplied to the first layer through the contacts, current contributions from the first end of the first contact and the second contact in an area generally between the first end and the second contact cause a current density in the area that is approximately equal to a current density elsewhere along the first and second contacts.
US07842961B2
The present invention relates to a phosphor and a luminous element using the same. The present invention provides a phosphor for absorbing a portion of light emitted from a light source and emitting light with a wavelength different from that of the absorbed light. The phosphor comprises a fluorescent material having an alkaline earth metal-germanium metal-sulfur structure that contains Ge and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr and Ca and is activated by Eu. The phosphor of the present invention increases a color rendering index (CRI) of a white luminous element for a general lighting apparatus, and a luminous element using the phosphor has an advantage in that it is suitable for a white luminous element backlight which can substitute for a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) in medium and large-sized TVs and has higher color reproducibility and higher white uniformity.
US07842956B2
On a nitride semiconductor layered portion formed on a substrate, there are formed an insulating film and a p-side electrode in this order. Furthermore, an end portion electrode protection layer is formed above the p-side electrode, around a position where cleavage will take place.
US07842950B2
A display device including a first substrate, a first subpixel electrode, a second subpixel electrode corresponding to the first substrate, a second substrate and a common electrode formed on the second substrate is provided. The first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode are formed on the first substrate. The second subpixel electrode is spaced apart from the first subpixel electrode. The common electrode has a first cutout and a second cutout. The first cutout is disposed over the first subpixel electrode and the second cutout is disposed over the second subpixel electrode. At least a portion of the first cutout has a first width and at least a portion of the second cutout has a second width different from the first width. The first width is larger than the second width in one embodiment. This structure enhances the aperture ratio and the brightness of the display device. Failures such as a residual image, stain or fingerprint may be reduced and the picture quality is improved.
US07842944B2
An organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) display includes a substrate, a gate line, a data line, a driving voltage line, a light blocking member, a switching thin film transistor (“TFT”), a driving TFT, and an OLED, wherein the driving voltage line includes a portion parallel to at least one of the gate line and the data line, the light blocking member is formed under at least one of the gate line, the data line, and the driving voltage line, the switching TFT is connected to the gate line and the data line and includes an amorphous semiconductor, the driving TFT is connected to the switching TFT and includes a polycrystalline semiconductor, and the OLED is connected to the driving TFT.
US07842943B2
An organic thin film transistor and a flat panel display device using the same are disclosed. The organic thin film transistor includes an inorganic layer doped with an impurity in a region of the outer surfaces of source and drain electrodes, or the source and drain electrodes is formed by an inorganic material doped with an impurity. According to the organic thin film transistor, an energy barrier is generated when contact between the organic semiconductor and the source and drain electrodes is removed to form an ohmic contact.
US07842938B2
A programmable metallization cell (PMC) that includes an active electrode; a nanoporous layer disposed on the active electrode, the nanoporous layer comprising a plurality of nanopores and a dielectric material; and an inert electrode disposed on the nanoporous layer. Other embodiments include forming the active electrode from silver iodide, copper iodide, silver sulfide, copper sulfide, silver selenide, or copper selenide and applying a positive bias to the active electrode that causes silver or copper to migrate into the nanopores. Methods of formation are also disclosed.
US07842930B2
A charged particle detector assembly comprises a particle detector, which has at least one particle sensitive region for detecting at least a portion of the spatial distribution of charged particles and for generating a two-dimensional optical signal which correlates to the detected spatial distribution. Further, an image conduit has an input coupled to the particle sensitive region of the particle detector for transmitting the two-dimensional optical signal to at least one optical detector. Further, a selecting means is adapted for selecting at least a portion of the two-dimensional optical signal.
US07842925B2
A radiation source for an optical sensor arrangement has an incandescent lamp being switched by a semiconductor switch. The incandescent lamp emits a broadband light spectrum. The semiconductor switch has a control terminal driven by a control signal to switch a connection of the incandescent lamp to a supply voltage. The semiconductor switch has a first terminal which is connected to the incandescent lamp, and a second terminal which is connected to a reference potential. When the semiconductor switch is in an on state, a current path is formed between the first and second terminals. A capacitor is connected between the control terminal and the first terminal. A first resistor connects the control terminal to the control signal and a second resistor or capacitor connects the control terminal to the reference potential.
US07842915B2
Microelectronic imagers with integrated optical devices and methods for manufacturing imagers. The imagers, for example, typically have an imaging unit including a first substrate and an image sensor on and/or in the first substrate. An embodiment of an optical device includes a stand-off having a compartment configured to contain the image sensor. The stand-off has a coefficient of thermal expansion at least substantially the same as that of the first substrate. The optical device can further include an optics element in alignment with the compartment of the stand-off. The stand-off can be formed by etching a compartment into a silicon wafer or a wafer of another material having a coefficient of thermal expansion at least substantially the same as that of the substrate upon which the image sensor is formed. The optics elements can be formed integrally with the stand-offs or separately attached to a cover supported by the stand-offs.
US07842913B2
A method for determining the position of one of two components in relative motion with respect to each other, using optical means, comprises: directing at least one light beam emitted by a light source attached to one component towards a diffractive support attached to the second component, calculated and manufactured for generating an optical signal indicative of the positioning of said support, the optical signal being produced by the diffractive support in transmission and/or in reflection, and the optical signal including information indicative of its quality; detecting and reading at least one optical code formed by said signal, which corresponds to a unique position of the diffractive support relatively to the beam; and assigning a position to each detected optical code.
US07842912B2
A vision alignment system and method is provided. The vision alignment system includes one or more grouped alignment plates with guiding inserts configured to receive multiple devices, and groups of three actuators, configured to actuate the alignment plates to correct the position offsets of multiple devices as a group. The position offsets between the device and contactor are determined by a device-view camera during runtime and a contactor-view camera during calibration time. The vision alignment system also includes a pick-and-place handler, configured to transport devices.
US07842907B2
A microwave generator (10) having a hollow central electrode (12) with a front face including hollow emmission element (18), and having an outer electrode (14), which coaxially surrounds the central electrode (12) along an axially extending resonator section (16). The two electrodes (12, 14) define a spark gap (36) and are connected to a high-voltage source (38). An ultracompact microwave generator (10) is implemented by the high-voltage source (38) being arranged in the hollow central electrode (12) of the microwave generator (10) rather than on the outside thereof.
US07842895B2
A key switch structure used in an input device is disclosed to include a circuit module, a key cap supported on a vertically compressible and elastically deformable hollow actuation member of a rubber membrane of the circuit board, a positioning board fastened to the circuit module, and two links arranged in a crossed manner and coupled between coupling portions of the positioning and the key cap to guide vertical movement of the key cap by means of a scissor action when the key cap is pressed by a user to compress the vertically compressible and elastically deformable hollow actuation member in triggering a circuit module to produce a control signal.
US07842893B2
The present invention aims to provide an electronic pen that is able to prevent the reflection of an ultrasonic wave. An electronic pen according to the present invention has: a housing having a longitudinal axis and a write side tip along the longitudinal axis; at least an ultrasonic wave transmitter, the ultrasonic wave transmitter being arranged near the write side tip of the housing; and a controller for detecting a sensor orientation and for controlling transmission of the ultrasonic wave. The sensor orientation is an index that shows a rotational orientation of the housing about the longitudinal axis, the rotational orientation being directed at an ultrasonic wave sensor for receiving the ultrasonic wave that is transmitted from the ultrasonic wave transmitter. The controller selectively activates a part of the ultrasonic wave transmitter such that the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the orientation which is directed to the sensor orientation.
US07842889B2
The present invention is characterized by a structure having a substrate 1, and metallization layers 2 formed on the substrate 1, on which a Sn solder film 3 and an Ag film 4 are formed. The Ag film 4 is a metal free from oxidization at room temperature in the atmosphere. In a wet process, since only an exposed side of the Sn solder film 3 is oxidized by the cell reaction of Ag and Sn, an upper surface of the Ag film 4 on the solder film, which would otherwise affect the connection, is not oxidized. Since the Ag film 4 melts into the Sn solder simultaneously with melting of the Sn solder film 3, the Ag film 4 does not hinder the connection.
US07842884B2
A device and method for mounting electrical boxes (1) in preexisting drywall (4) using a mounting bracket (3). To use, a holding wire (14) having a stop (15) on one end is placed through a screw hole (9) of a cover (2) which is attached the electrical box. Then the electrical box and cover are placed sideways through a wall hole (7) in the drywall. Next the electrical box is lowered behind the wall so that conduit (8) may be connected to the electrical box. Then a mounting bracket (3) is secured to the cover and electrical box with holding clips (11) and screws (12) using the holding wire to keep the mounting bracket and cover centered with the wall hole. A standard switch or outlet cover may then be installed to cover the mounting bracket. An additional novel feature of the present invention is a stop strap (17) which may be attached to conduit above a top plate (10) of a wall to bold the conduit in place.
US07842881B2
A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate and a sequence of semiconductor layers disposed over the substrate. The sequence of semiconductor layers includes a semiconductor window layer. The solar cell also includes a semiconductor silicon-containing cap layer over the window layer. The cap layer is spatially separated from the window layer by a semiconductor barrier layer that either includes no silicon or has a silicon concentration that is significantly lower than the silicon concentration of the cap layer.
US07842878B2
A system and method thereof for determining the musical key of a musical composition. The system includes a database of reference musical works, defined by both a root musical key and a note strength profile, and a musical key estimation system that detects the musical key of the musical compositing based on relationships between the note strength profiles of the reference works and the note strength profile of the musical composition.
US07842877B2
A system for digitizing a series of notes to be played on a steel pan/drum includes a processor, and a display device and an input device in signal communication with the processor. Software encoded on a computer-readable medium and installable on the processor has a code segment adapted to display a virtual keyboard on the display device. The keyboard has a plurality of pianistically arranged keys, each key having a note name corresponding to a pitch represented by the key imposed thereon. A code segment can receive a user selection via the input device of a pan instrument for which music is desired to be entered, retrieve a note range for the selected pan instrument, and electronically mask the virtual keyboard to exclude keys outside the retrieved note range. User input can be received for a series of notes to be encoded for playing on the selected pan instrument.
US07842876B2
A multimedia organization and playback system intelligently organizes media objects, such as music files, and plays back their contents. The system considers and analyzes multiple media object attributes to determine groups of similar songs. As a result, the system delivers a consistent selection of media to the listener despite wide variations in media characteristics and without overburdening the listener with complicated configuration input. The listener may play back grouped songs based on the similarities between songs. Successive selections may be more or less similar to a current selection based on the organization of the music objects.
US07842875B2
A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.
US07842867B2
Disclosed is a device for improving the tonal characteristics of a stringed instrument. This has been accomplished using a device that interfaces acoustically with the soundhole. The device inhabits space where sound energy waves tend to interfere and redirects the sound energy out of the soundhole. This prevents distortion and delivers more fullness in sound.
US07842865B1
A novel maize variety designated PHPCH and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHPCH with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHPCH through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHPCH or a locus conversion of PHPCH with another maize variety.
US07842860B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS35001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS35001, to the plants of soybean RJS35001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS35001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS35001 with another soybean plant, using RJS35001 as either the male or the female parent.
US07842851B2
The invention provides isolated floral transition nucleic acids and their encoded proteins. The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering floral transition in plants. The invention further provides regulatory elements, recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic plants.
US07842847B2
Improved processes for the separation of olefins from paraffins, such as propylene from propane are provided. Two product splitters are used in parallel to separate propylene from propane. One of the product splitters operates at a lower pressure, while the second product splitter operates at a higher pressure. The use of the two splitters in parallel provides a process for recovery of a high purity propylene product with lower energy consumption compared to prior art processes.
US07842840B2
The invention concerns a new process for the preparation of naphthoquinones, in particular an improved process for the preparation of 2,3-disubstituted 1,4-naphthoquinones, in the trans configuration.
US07842826B2
A process performs solid phase synthesis of halogenated derivatives of fluorescein, and includes reacting fluorescein with a halide MX, wherein M is an alkali metal and X is a halogen, and Oxone® (2 KHSO5.KHSO4.K2SO4), at a temperature higher than or equal to 150° C. A structure uses a halogenated derivative of fluorescein selected from the group consisting of 2′,4′,5′-trichlorofluorescein, 2′,4′,5′,7′-tetrachlorofluorescein, 4′,5′-diiodofluorescein diacetate and 2′,4′,5′-triiodofluorescein as electro-bistable material in a non-volatile memory device.
US07842822B2
The present invention relates to substituted benzopyran derivatives, stereoisomers, and pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof useful as Estrogen Receptor beta agonists for treating Estrogen Receptor beta mediated diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia.
US07842817B2
This invention relates to novel 2-amino benzimidazole derivatives useful as modulators of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK channels).In other aspects the invention relates to the use of these compounds in a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention.
US07842816B2
Disclosed are amino acid prodrugs of compounds of the formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein W, R1, R2, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are as defined in the specification. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and inflammation, in mammals. Also disclosed is a method of using such compounds in the treatment of hyperproliferative disease in mammals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.
US07842813B2
The present invention relates generally to novel methods for the synthesis of O-[5-(4-amino-thiazol-2-yl)-pyridin-2-ylmethyl]-hydroxylamine which is an essential reagent in the synthesis of one of the bridged erythromycin derivatives and their respective pharmaceutically acceptable salts in PCT Application WO 03/097659 A1. In particular, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for the preparation of a compound of formula (Ia):
US07842810B2
Antibacterial compounds, compositions containing them, and methods of use for the inhibition of bacterial activity and the treatment, prevention or inhibition of bacterial infection.
US07842796B2
The invention generally relates to polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) polyketide synthase (PKS) systems isolated from or derived from non-bacterial organisms, to homologues thereof, to isolated nucleic acid molecules and recombinant nucleic acid molecules encoding biologically active domains of such a PUFA PKS system, to genetically modified organisms comprising PUFA PKS systems, to methods of making and using such systems for the production of bioactive molecules of interest, and to novel methods for identifying new bacterial and non-bacterial microorganisms having such a PUFA PKS system.
US07842793B2
The disclosure relates to methods and composition for generating nanoscale devices, systems, and enzyme factories based upon a nucleic acid nanostructure the can be designed to have a predetermined structure.
US07842790B2
Disclosed are an antibody against human para-thyroid-hormone-related protein, a DNA coding for the antibody, a recombinant vector containing the DNA, a transformant transformed with the recombinant vector, a method for preparation of the antibody, and uses of the antibody.
US07842789B2
Described are conjugates formed by an antibody fragment covalently attached to a non-proteinaceous polymer, wherein the apparent size of the conjugate is at least about 500 kD. The conjugates exhibit substantially improved half-life, mean residence time, and/or clearance rate in circulation as compared to the underivatized parental antibody fragment. Also described are conjugates directed against human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), human p185 receptor-like tyrosine kinase (HER2), human CD20, human CD18, human CD11a, human IgE, human apoptosis receptor-2 (Apo-2), human tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), human tissue factor (TF), human α4β7 integrin, human GPIIb-IIIa integrin, human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human CD3, and human interleukin-2 receptor α-chain (TAC) for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
US07842781B2
The present invention is directed to a method for isolating a polynucleotide of interest that is present or is expressed in a genome of a first mycobacterium strain and that is absent or altered in a genome of a second mycobacterium strain which is different from the first mycobacterium strain using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vector. The invention further relates to a polynucleotide isolated by this method and recombinant BAC vector used in this method. In addition the present invention comprises method and kit for detecting the presence of a mycobacteria in a biological sample.
US07842779B2
An object of the invention is to provide a method for easily producing granular carboxyl group-containing polymer particles, which have a high bulk density and readily swell in water. The invention provides a method for producing a granular carboxyl group-containing polymer particle by producing a carboxyl group-containing polymer particle, preparing an aggregate of the carboxyl group-containing polymer particles by providing the carboxyl group-containing particles with moisture so that the carboxyl group-containing polymer particles absorb the moisture in an amount of 5 to 25% by weight and form the aggregate, drying the aggregate of the carboxyl group-containing polymer particles, and then grinding the dried aggregate.
US07842778B2
The invention is directed to polyester processes where the esterification process at utilizes a vapor removing device, wherein the vapor removing device is substantially horizontally oriented, wherein the esterification effluent forms a two-phase laminar, stratified, non-circular vapor/liquid flow in at least a portion of said vapor removing device.
US07842776B2
Described are appliance parts comprising polyester compositions comprising polyesters which comprise (a) a dicarboxylic acid component having terephthalic acid residues; optionally, aromatic dicarboxylic acid residues or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues or ester residues thereof; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues.
US07842769B1
An extrudable polyvinyl chloride composition comprising from 80 to 99.9 percent by weight polyvinyl chloride for use in extruding a first part and a second part, wherein a fusion joint between the first extruded part and the second extruded part is formed by: A) composition at least a portion of a first terminal edge of the first extruded part and a first terminal edge of the second extruded part; B) engaging the melted terminal edges; and C) maintaining pressure between the engaged terminal edges to create a fused joint having a strength that is at least 50% of the tensile strength of the extruded part as measured by ASTM D638-2a. The extruded parts can be pipe sections.
US07842768B2
A macroporous core-shell resin bead having carboxylic acid groups; the bead has from 3% to 100% of monomer residues derived from crosslinker, an average pore diameter of at least 1.5 nm, and an average particle size from 10 μm to 900 μm; wherein at least 90% of the carboxylic acid groups in the bead are in the shell region, and the shell region comprises from 5% to 75% of the bead by volume.
US07842755B2
A curable organopolysiloxane composition comprising an organopolysiloxane containing alkenyl groups and phenyl groups, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, a copolymer of a vinyl monomer and a vinyl monomer with hydrosilyl groups, and a platinum catalyst; a curing process that consists of two or more stages of thermal curing; an optical semiconductor device that has a light-transmitting portion made from a cured body of the aforementioned composition; and an adhesion promoter that consists of a copolymer of a vinyl monomer and a vinyl monomer with hydrosilyl groups.
US07842740B2
Provided are an optical resin and an optical member using the same, both orientation birefringence and photoelasticity birefringence of the optical material being deadened and generally eliminated. The optical material consists of a composite constituent system of three or more constituents including a copolymerization system of monomer-element number not smaller than two, combination and constituent ratio of the composite constituent system being set so that both orientation birefringence and photoelasticity birefringence of the optical material are deadened at the same time and 5.0×10−5 or less is given under a condition that principal chains of the copolymerization system have degree of orientation equal to 0.03, and further a photoelasticity constant not greater than 1.0×10−12 (Pa−1) is obtained. The composite constituent system may contain an additive containing a low molecular weight compound which has an anisotropic polarizability and can be orientated in a polymer. The composite constituent system may consist of a copolymerization system of monomer-element number not smaller than three. Optical members produced by applying molding to the optical hardly show birefringence if external force is applied.
US07842735B2
Described is a process for making closed cell fluoropolymer foam, and the foam so made. The process includes subjecting a fluoropolymer resin an inert gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric to drive gas into the resin, raising the temperature of the resin to or above its softening point, and reducing the pressure while maintaining the temperature at or above the softening point of the resin, in order to expand the resin to result in closed cell fluoropolymer foam. The resin is cross-linked prior to expansion. The resulting foams can be used in various applications, such as in flotation devices and for making thermal and/or acoustic insulation.
US07842731B2
Wax emulsions useful for manufacture of a composite board are described which include water; a lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof; and at least one wax selected from the group consisting of slack wax, paraffin wax and montan wax. Such emulsions are useful in composite board formulations and methods for making composite boards such as oriented strand boards.
US07842719B2
The use of sesquiterpenes and, in particular sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxides, such as artemisinin and analogs thereof, for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infections. Artemisinin, analogs of artemsisnin and some crude Artemisia extracts were tested in vitro against DNA-viruses, retro-viruses and Flavivirida, (an important family of human and animal RNA pathogens). These compounds were also screened for anti-tumor activity. Strong activity of artemisinin was noticed against the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). As pestiviruses, such as BVDV, share many similarities with hepatitis C virus (HCV), we can conclude that endoperoxides in general and artemisinin more specifically have efficacy as treatments for hepatitis C viral infections.
US07842716B2
The present invention relates to new methods for treating and/or preventing vascular events by inhibiting G-coupled Protease Activating Receptor (PAR)-1 and/or PAR-4 with the administration of statins. In one embodiment, individuals who are at risk for vascular events, but have cholesterol levels (e.g., total cholesterol or Low Density Lipoprotein) in normal ranges, are treated with statins.
US07842698B2
The present invention relates to pyridine methylene azolidinone compounds of Formula (I) for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders and/or inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, bacterial or viral infections, allergy, asthma, pancreatitis, multi-organ failure, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, sperm motility, graft rejection or lung injuries. Specifically, the present invention is related to pyridine methylene azolidinone derivatives for the modulation, notably the inhibition of the activity or function of the phosphoinositide-3-kinases, PI3Ks.
US07842694B2
Compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, HET-1 and HET-2 are as described in the specification, and their salts and pro-drugs, are activators of glucokinase (GLK) and are thereby useful in the treatment of, for example, type 2 diabetes. Processes for preparing compounds of formula (I) are also described.
US07842691B2
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing a myelodysplastic syndrome are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of a selective cytokine inhibitory drug, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, stereoisomer, clathrate, or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a second active ingredient, and/or blood or cells for transplantation therapy. Specific second active ingredients are capable of affecting or improving blood cell production. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed.
US07842689B2
A compound of formula (II): in which— R3 and R4 each independently represent hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; p represent 0 or 1; and R represents a five- or six-membered saturated or unsaturated ring selected from: R represents a five- or six-membered substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated ring selected from: wherein R1 and R2 together represent an oxo group, or R1 and R2 each represent hydrogen, methoxy or ethoxy, or R1 and R2 together with the interjacent carbon atom represent a 1,3-dioxolane or 1,3-dioxane ring, attached via the 2 position and optionally bearing one or more methyl or ethyl groups; or a salt thereof, which is suitable for the treatment of anxiety and depression.
US07842687B2
The present invention concerns a new general process for asymmetric hemisynthesis of harringtonines and their analogs, that are alkaloids used in chemotherapy. This process comprises direct esterification of a natural cephalotaxine with an acylating compound constituted of a side chain precursor which backbone and functionalization are entirely preformed. The invention also concerns a natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic harringtonines including their tautomeric forms and their salts of the following formula: wherein n=2 (i.e. harringtonine) or n=3 (i.e. homoharringtonine), in which the total content of impurities, possibly including enantiomeric forms, is lower than 1%, and/or the content of the major impurity is lower than 0.9%, and/or the chromatographic assay exhibits a harringtonines content higher than 97.5%.
US07842683B2
Administration of β-Lactam compounds, including β-lactam antibiotics and β-lactamase inhibitors provides significant neurotropic effects in warm-blooded vertebrates evidence inter alia by anxiolytic and anti-aggressive behavior modification and enhanced cognition. Therapeutic methods for using such compounds and their pharmaceutical formulations are described.
US07842680B2
The instant invention provides potent antiandrogen compounds, such as 3β-acetoxyandrost-1,5-diene-17-ethylene ketal and 3β-hydroxyandrost-1,5-diene-17-ethylene ketal, and methods for their use in the prevention and treatment of biological conditions mediated by androgen receptors. Thus, for example, compounds of the invention are useful in the prevention and treatment of prostrate cancer. Furthermore, it has been discovered that compounds of the invention are useful in the prevention and treatment of androgen-independent cancers such as androgen-independent prostrate cancer. Finally, inventive compounds may be used to treat antiandrogen induced withdrawal syndrome.
US07842676B2
Provided herein are methods for treating cancer by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a fixed, non-antagonistic molar ratio of irinotecan and floxuridine. Such methods are particularly useful in the treatment of cancer patients with advanced solid tumors.
US07842670B2
A cosmetic dermo-pharmaceutical, or dermatological composition having as an active agent in an acceptable cosmetic or pharmaceutical medium, at least one compound able to activate the synthesis or SIRT proteins in skin cells.
US07842665B2
The present invention relates antagonists of IL-17A and IL-17F. The antagonists of the invention are based on IL-17RC alone or on both IL-17RC and IL-17RA (“IL-17RC/IL-17RA”). Such antagonists serve to block, inhibit, reduce, antagonize or neutralize the activity of IL-17F, IL-17A, or both IL-17A and IL-17F. IL-17A and IL-17F are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. IL-17RA is a receptor for IL-17A and IL-17RC is a common receptor for both IL-17A and IL-17F. The present invention includes soluble IL-17A and IL-17F anatagonists, as well as methods for using the same.
US07842663B2
In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating (promoting or inhibiting) growth of a tissue, such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and/or neuronal tissue. The present invention also provides methods of screening compounds that modulate activity of an ActRIIB protein and/or an ActRIIB ligand. The compositions and methods provided herein are useful in treating diseases associated with abnormal activity of an ActRIIB protein and/or an ActRIIB ligand.
US07842660B2
The present invention is related to 4-hepten-2-yl salicylate and its use as fragrance ingredient.
US07842652B2
Exemplary embodiments of the cement compositions comprise water, a cement, and a fluid loss control additive, the fluid loss control additive comprising a graft copolymer. The graft copolymer comprises a backbone and at least four grafted monomers selected from the group consisting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, acrylamide, acrylic acid, vinylphosphonic acid, diallyldimethylammonium chloride, and salts thereof. The backbone of the graft copolymer comprises a humic acid salt. Methods of cementing using exemplary embodiments of the cement compositions are also provided.
US07842646B2
A synergistic herbicidal mixture comprising A) at least one compound of the formula I wherein R1, R3 are hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl or alkylsulfinyl; R2 is optionally substituted thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, 4,5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl; R4 is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl; R5 is alkyl; R6 is hydrogen or alkyl; or one of its environmentally compatible salts; and B) a synergistically effective amount of at least one herbicidal compound from the group of ACC inhibitors, ALS inhibitors, amides, aixin herbicides, auxin transport inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, ESPS inhibitors, glutamine synthetase inhibitors, lipid biosynthesis inhibitors, mitosis inhibitors, protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitors, photosynthesis inhibitors, synergists, growth substances, cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors and a variety of other herbicides. Compositions comprising these mixtures, processes for the preparation of these compositions, and their use for controlling undesired plants.
US07842643B2
An exhaust gas purifying catalyst exhibiting high catalytic performance and restraining an amount of noble metals used is provided. An exhaust gas purifying catalyst has a catalyst substrate and a catalyst coating layer formed on the catalyst substrate. The catalyst coating layer has a layered structure including an inside layer containing (a-1) Pd, (a-2) Pt, and (a-3) an inorganic oxide, and an outside layer containing (b-1) a noble metal and (b-2) an inorganic oxide. A part of (a-3) the inorganic oxide carries Pd and Pt so that a weight ratio Pd/Pt is within a range of 8 to 12, whereas the other part of (a-3) the inorganic oxide carries Pd and Pt so that a weight ratio Pd/Pt is within a range of 4 to 6 or within a range of 18 to 22.
US07842631B2
Provided are glass compositions with higher softening point temperatures than conventional glasses, which improve flame penetration test performance of flexible duct insulation. In particular, the glass compositions have a softening point in the range of about 1230-1276° F., a log-3 viscosity temperature in the range of about 1802-1879° F., and a temperature difference between log-3 viscosity and liquidus temperatures of at least 150° F. These glasses are specially formulated to increase softening point while only minimally increasing log-3 viscosity temperature, so as to allow fiber insulation manufacturing without requiring increased energy use.
US07842625B1
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating fabrics to facilitate moisture transfer from one side of the fabric to the other, and fabrics made according to such methods. The fabrics generally have one side or surface of the fabric treated with a net hydrophobic composition, whereas the opposing surface of the fabric is not treated with the net hydrophobic composition.
US07842624B2
The present invention relates to a vapor-pervious water-impervious substrate, preferably a fibrous nonwoven web, which can be used in particular as a textile continuous sheet material, for example as an awning or as an inlet in apparel. The substrate according to the present invention may have self-cleaning properties. The substrate according to the present invention is simple to produce in an at least two-step process wherein a coating on the fibers of the substrate is produced in the first step and then hydrophobic particles are applied to the coated fibers by means of an adhesion promoter.
US07842621B2
The total film thickness T1N of silicon oxynitride film and silicon oxide film remaining as its underlying layer is measured. A measurement target substrate is re-oxidized, and, after the re-oxidization, the total film thickness (T2N) of the silicon oxynitride film, silicon oxide film and silicon oxide film resulting from the re-oxidization on the target substrate is measured. Separately, a reference substrate provided with silicon oxide film is re-oxidized, and, after the re-oxidization, the total film thickness T2 of the silicon oxide film and silicon oxide film resulting from the re-oxidization on the reference substrate is measured. Re-oxidization rate reduction ratio RORR of the measurement target substrate is calculated by the following formula (1) from the values of total film thicknesses T1N, T2N and T2. The nitrogen concentration of the silicon oxynitride film of the target substrate is determined from the calculated re-oxidization rate reduction ratio RORR. RORR (%)={(T2−T2N)/(T2−T1N)}×100 (1).
US07842620B2
There is provided a laminate used as an underlayer layer for a photoresist in a lithography process of a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by using the laminate. The method comprising: laminating each layer of an organic underlayer film (layer A), a silicon-containing hard mask (layer B), an organic antireflective film (layer C) and a photoresist film (layer D) in this order on a semiconductor substrate. The method also comprises: forming a resist pattern in the photoresist film (layer D); etching the organic antireflective film (layer C) with the resist pattern; etching the silicon-containing hard mask (layer B) with the patterned organic antireflective film (layer C); etching the organic underlayer film (layer A) with the patterned silicon-containing hard mask (layer B); and processing the semiconductor substrate with the patterned organic underlayer film (layer A).
US07842619B2
A plasma processing method includes etching an insulating film of a sample to be processed using plasma generated from etching gas, supplying a large flow of inert gas from above the sample while having the sample mounted on a sample mounting stage, supplying deposit removal gas to only an area near a side wall of a processing chamber, and controlling a plasma density distribution to thereby vary a plasma density at a center area of the processing chamber and a plasma density at an area near the side wall of the processing chamber so as to perform a deposited film removing process for removing the film deposited on the side wall of the processing chamber.
US07842611B2
According to the present invention, on a double-sided substrate 1, a plurality of through-holes 2 connected to one wire 6 for plating as well as wiring are collectively arranged within a narrow range close to the connection portion. After a plating process, a penetrating hole 12 is formed and the connection potion is cut off. Thus, the wire 6 for plating and the collectively arranged through-holes 2 are made independent of one another so that no electric conduction occurs among the wire 6 for plating and the through-holes 2.
US07842609B2
A hole is formed in an insulating layer. A semiconductor substrate is heated at a temperature of equal to or more than 330° C. and equal to or less than 400° C. Tungsten-containing gas and at least one of B2H6 gas and SiH4 gas are introduced into a reaction chamber to thereby form a first tungsten layer. Subsequently, at least one of H2 gas and inert gas is introduced into the reaction chamber, the temperature of the semiconductor substrate is raised to equal to or more than 370° C. and equal to or less than 410° C. with 30 or more seconds, and tungsten-containing gas is introduced into the reaction chamber to thereby form a second tungsten layer on the first tungsten layer.
US07842606B2
Disclosed herein are a method of depositing a thin film and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor using the same, having high selectivity by increasing etching resistance while an extinction coefficient associated with anti-reflectivity is maintained low. The method of depositing a thin film according to the invention includes (a) depositing an carbon anti-reflective film on the bottom film of a substrate; and (b) adding a compound containing nitrogen (N), fluorine (F) or silicon (Si) to the surface or the inner portion of the carbon anti-reflective film, to deposit a thin film of a-C:N, a-C:F or a-C:Si, having high selectivity, to a thickness from 1 to 100 nm using an atomic layer deposition process. Therefore, an ultrathin film having etching resistance is formed on or in the carbon anti-reflective film and the density and compressive stress of the carbon anti-reflective film are increased, thus increasing etching selectivity.
US07842605B1
Material is removed from a substrate surface (e.g., from a bottom portion of a recessed feature on a partially fabricated semiconductor substrate) by subjecting the surface to a plurality of profiling cycles, wherein each profiling cycle includes a net etching operation and a net depositing operation. An etching operation removes a greater amount of material than is being deposited by a depositing operation, thereby resulting in a net material etch-back per profiling cycle. About 2-10 profiling cycles are performed. The profiling cycles are used for removing metal-containing materials, such as diffusion barrier materials, copper line materials, and metal seed materials by PVD deposition and resputter. Profiling with a plurality of cycles removes metal-containing materials without causing microtrenching in an exposed dielectric. Further, overhang is reduced at the openings of the recessed features and sidewall material coverage is improved. Integrated circuit devices having higher reliability are fabricated.
US07842604B1
The present invention provides a low dielectric constant copper diffusion barrier film composed, at least in part, of boron-doped silicon carbide suitable for use in a semiconductor device and methods for fabricating such a film. The copper diffusion barrier maintains a stable dielectric constant of less than 4.5 in the presence of atmospheric moisture.
US07842599B2
A method for forming solder bumps on an electronic component. Providing a transfer substrate having a plurality of solder balls, disposing the transfer substrate on the surface of the electronic component, heating to reflow the solder balls onto the electronic component; and removing the sacrificial substrate. The transfer substrate may comprise a sacrificial film and a metal layer patterned with a mask which is used to form solder balls on the transfer substrate. Or, the transfer substrate may comprise a sheet of material having solder balls embedded at least partially in the sheet. A method of aligning a part being bumped with a transfer substrate, using a shuttle mechanism and an alignment film is disclosed.
US07842598B2
A semiconductor device with its package size close to its chip size has a stress absorbing layer, allows a patterned flexible substrate to be omitted, and allows a plurality of components to be fabricated simultaneously. There is: a step of forming electrodes (12) on a wafer (10); a step of providing a resin later (14) as a stress relieving layer on the wafer (10), avoiding the electrodes (12); a step of forming a chromium layer (16) as wiring from electrodes (12) over the resin layer (14); and step of forming solder balls as external electrodes on the chromium layer (16) over the resin layer (14); and a step of cutting the wafer (10) into individual semiconductor chips; in the steps of forming the chromium layer (16) and solder balls, metal thin film fabrication technology is used during the wafer process.
US07842588B2
A method for forming a group-III metal nitride material film attached to a substrate including subjecting the substrate to an ambient pressure of no greater than 0.01 Pa, and heating the substrate to a temperature of between approximately 500° C.-800° C. The method further includes introducing a group III metal vapor to the surface of the substrate at a base pressure of at least 0.01 Pa, until a plurality of group III metal drops form on the surface, and introducing active nitrogen to the surface at a working pressure of between 0.05 Pa and 2.5 Pa, until group III metal nitride molecules form on the group III metal drops. The method also includes maintaining the working pressure and the active nitrogen until the group III metal nitride molecules diffuse into the group III metal drops, forming nitride/metal solution drops, and until the nitride/metal solution drops turn into a wetting layer on the substrate, and continuing to increase the concentration of group III metal nitride molecules in the wetting layer until all the group III metal atoms contained in the wetting layer are exhausted, and the wetting layer transforms into a group III metal nitride film.
US07842583B2
A semiconductor substrate is manufactured in which a plurality of single crystal semiconductor layers is fixed to a base substrate having low heat resistance such as a glass substrate with a buffer layer interposed therebetween. A plurality of single crystal semiconductor substrates is prepared, each of which includes a buffer layer and a damaged region which is formed by adding hydrogen ions to each semiconductor substrate and contains a large amount of hydrogen. One or more of these single crystal semiconductor substrates is fixed to a base substrate and irradiated with an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 300 MHz to 300 GHz, thereby being divided along the damaged region. Fixture of single crystal semiconductor substrates and electromagnetic wave irradiation are repeated to manufacture a semiconductor substrate where a required number of single crystal semiconductor substrates are fixed onto the base substrate.
US07842578B2
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device, e.g., CMOS image sensor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, which has a first device region and a second device region. The method forms a gate polysilicon layer overlying the first and second device regions. The method forms a silicide layer overlying the gate polysilicon layer. The method patterns the silicide layer and gate polysilicon layer to form a first silicided gate structure in the first device region and a second silicided gate structure in the second device region. The method also includes forming a blocking layer overlying the second device region. The method forms a silicide material overlying a first source region and a first drain region associated with the first silicided gate structure, and maintaining a second source region and a second drain region associated with the second silicided gate structure free from any silicide using the blocking layer.
US07842574B2
A trench is formed in a semiconductor body, the side walls and the bottom of the trench covered with a first dielectric material layer, the trench filled with a second dielectric material layer, the first and the second dielectric material layers are etched via a partial, simultaneous, and controlled etching such that the dielectric materials have similar etching rates, a gate-oxide layer having a thickness smaller than the first dielectric material layer deposited on the walls of the trench, a gate region of conductive material formed within the trench, and body regions and source regions formed within the semiconductor body at the sides of and insulated from the gate region. Thereby, the gate region extends only on top of the remaining portions of the first and second dielectric material layers.
US07842570B2
In methods of manufacturing a memory device, a tunnel insulation layer is formed on a substrate. A floating gate having a substantially uniform thickness is formed on the tunnel insulation layer. A dielectric layer is formed on the floating gate. A control gate is formed on the dielectric layer. A flash memory device including the floating gate may have more uniform operating characteristics.
US07842565B2
The present invention provides a beam homogenizer for homogenizing energy distribution by making the distance between lenses small to shorten the optical path length with the use of an array lens of an optical path shortened type, and a laser irradiation apparatus using the beam homogenizer. The beam homogenizer is equipped with a front side array lens of an optical path shortened type whose second principal point is positioned ahead on a beam incidence side, a back side array lens of an optical path shortened type whose first principal point is positioned behind on a beam emission side, and a condensing lens, wherein the distance between the second principal point of the front side array lens and the first principal point of the back side array lens is equal to the focal length of the back side array lens.
US07842560B2
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor includes: forming a gate insulating layer on a substrate having a gate electrode; forming a semiconductor layer of nanomaterial on the gate insulating layer; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on the gate insulating layer; and applying a voltage to the source electrode and the drain electrode to arrange a direction of the nanomaterial.
US07842548B2
A silicon-based wafer such as a TSV interposer wafer having a first and second surfaces wherein a glass carrier is mounted on the second surface by a UV tape is held by a vacuum holder applied on the first surface and the glass carrier is removed from the silicon-based wafer by irradiating the UV tape with a UV light through the glass carrier. The silicon-based wafer is then flipped and placed onto a vacuum plate and secured to the vacuum plate by applying vacuum to the vacuum plate. The vacuum holder is then released from the silicon-based wafer leaving the silicon-based wafer secured to the vacuum plate for subsequent processing steps.
US07842545B2
Provided is a semiconductor package in which an adhesion force between an insulation metal substrate and a molding member is increased by removing a solder mask layer from the insulation metal substrate and a method of fabricating the semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes an insulation metal substrate that includes a base member, an insulating layer disposed on the base member, and conductive patterns formed on the insulating layer. Semiconductor chips are arranged on the conductive patterns. Solder mask patterns are arranged on the conductive patterns to surround the semiconductor chips. Leads are electrically connected to the conductive patterns through wires. A sealing member is arranged on an upper surface and side surfaces of the substrate to cover portions of the leads, the wires, the semiconductor chips, and the solder mask patterns.
US07842539B2
There are provided a method of manufacturing a zinc oxide semiconductor, and a zinc oxide semiconductor manufactured using the method. A metal catalyst layer is formed on a zinc oxide thin film that has an electrical characteristic of a n-type semiconductor, and a heat treatment is performed thereon so that the zinc oxide thin film is modified into a zinc oxide thin film having an electrical characteristic of a p-type semiconductor. Hydrogen atoms existing in the zinc oxide thin film are removed by a metal catalyst during the heat treatment. Accordingly, the hydrogen atoms existing in the zinc oxide thin film are removed by the metal catalyst and the heat treatment, and the concentration of holes serving as carriers is increased. That is, an n-type zinc oxide thin film is modified into a highly-concentrated p-type zinc oxide semiconductor.
US07842538B2
An organic thin film transistor array panel is provided, which includes: a substrate; a data line formed on the substrate and including a source electrode; a drain electrode formed on the substrate and separated from the data line; an organic semiconductor disposed on the source electrode and the drain electrode; a gate insulator formed on the organic semiconductor; a gate line including a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulator; a passivation layer formed on the gate line and having a first contact hole on the drain electrode; a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode through the first contact hole; and an opaque light blocking member disposed under the organic semiconductor.
US07842537B2
A stressed semiconductor using carbon is provided. At least one carbon layer containing diamond is formed either below a semiconductor layer or above a semiconductor device. The carbon layer induces stress in the semiconductor layer, thereby increasing carrier mobility in the device channel region. The carbon layer may be selectively formed or patterned to localize the induced stress.
US07842533B2
A method of forming a semiconductor sensor in one embodiment includes providing a substrate, forming a reflective layer on the substrate, forming a sacrificial layer on the reflective layer, forming an absorber layer with a thickness of less than about 50 nm on the sacrificial layer, forming an absorber in the absorber layer integrally with at least one suspension leg, and removing the sacrificial layer.
US07842529B2
In a method for manufacturing a III-V nitride compound semiconductor light emitting element, light emitting element regions (21) are formed in a low dislocation region on the III-V nitride compound semiconductor substrate wherein high density dislocation sections (22) and low dislocation regions are alternately arranged repeatedly, so that stripe-shaped light emitting regions are in parallel to the direction wherein the high density dislocation sections (22) extend, and then the substrate is broken, after making two scribe lines (23) to have the high density dislocation section (22) in between, on a plane (25) on the opposite side to a plane (24) whereupon the element regions (21) are formed. Thus, chips are separated and the high density dislocation sections (22) can be removed. The pitch of the two scribe lines is preferably 100 μm or more. Thus, the method for manufacturing the III-V nitride compound semiconductor light emitting element by which the high density dislocation section can be surely removed without generating chipping or the like in the outer shape and junction down mounting/flip chip mounting can be performed is provided.
US07842525B2
A system for making small modifications to the pattern in standard processed semiconductor devices. The modifications are made to create a small variable part of the pattern against a large constant part of the same pattern. In a preferred embodiment the exposure of the variable and constant parts are done with the same wavelength in the same combined stepper and code-writer. The invention devices a way of writing variable parts of the chip that is automatic, inexpensive and risk-free. A system for automatic design and production of die-unique patterns is also shown.
US07842517B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for the rapid and sensitive detection of post-translationally modified proteins, and particularly of those with post-translational glycosylations. The methods can be used to detect O-GlcNAc posttranslational modifications on proteins on which such modifications were undetectable using other techniques. In one embodiment, the method exploits the ability of an engineered mutant of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase to selectively transfer an unnatural ketone functionality onto O-GlcNAc glycosylated proteins. Once transferred, the ketone moiety serves as a versatile handle for the attachment of biotin, thereby enabling detection of the modified protein. The approach permits the rapid visualization of proteins that are at the limits of detection using traditional methods. Further, the preferred embodiments can be used for detection of certain disease states, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
US07842513B2
This invention provides methods and compositions for testing for pregnancy and non-pregnancy in ungulates and non-hoofed ruminates. The tests provided by this invention are useful during a time that coincides with the estrus cycle during which breeding occurs or the first estrus cycle after breeding of a non-pregnant animal. The tests provided by this invention are useful in estrus and ovulation synchronization programs, with pregnancy testing useful at a time allowing for resynchronization of non-pregnant animals within the first estrus cycle. The tests provided by this invention assay for the presence, absence, or level of a selected IFN-τ-induced protein in a sample from a female animal. The tests of this invention are useful for testing cells, blood, plasma, serum, cells, milk, nasal secretions, ocular secretions, vaginal secretions, urine, and saliva samples. The tests provided by this invention are immunoassays. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies useful in such tests, as well as methods of making such antibodies and hybridoma cell lines, are provided. Devices for performing such tests, methods of using such devices, and methods of making such devices are provided. Kits containing such devices are also provided. This invention provides a method for determining readiness for breeding. This invention provides a method for resynchronizing breeding with breeding cycle times of one estrus cycle or shorter. This invention also provides a method for breeding by forcing estrus and artificial insemination by appointment.
US07842512B2
A method for photochemical reactor characterization includes an application of using dyed microspheres exposed to UV irradiation under a collimated-beam system. Particle specific fluorescence intensity measurements are conducted using samples form the collimated beam and flow-through reactor results using flow cytometry. A numerical model may be used to simulate the behavior of the reactor system to provide a particle-tracking algorithm to interrogate the flow and intensity field simulations for purposes of developing a particle specific estimate of the dose delivery. A method for measuring UV dose distribution delivery in photochemical reactors is provided that includes introducing microspheres labeled with a photochemically-active compound in a UV reactor. The labeled microspheres are harvested downstream of the irradiated zone of a UV reactor and exposed to UV irradiation under a collimated beam of UV irradiation. The method further includes quantifying a UV dose-response behavior, conducting fluorescence intensity measurement on the labeled microspheres from the UV reactor, and developing an estimate of a dose distribution delivered by a UV reactor based on the numerical deconvolution of the sum of the UV dose response behavior and fluorescent intensity of exposed microspheres.
US07842508B2
In order to determine the gas hydrate anti-agglomeration power of a system composed of an aqueous phase dispersed in a liquid hydrocarbon phase in the presence of a gas, at least two successive cycles of hydrate formation and dissociation is carried out by cooling and reheating a sample of said system placed in the cell of a calorimeter to record thermograms; the anti-agglomeration power of said system is determined by comparing the thermograms obtained during the various cycles.
US07842500B2
An antibody which reacts with N-acetylheparosan and heparan sulfate that is derived from bovine kidney but does not substantially react with heparan sulfate derived from a murine Engelbreath-Holm-Swarn tumor tissue, the antibody being produced with a hybridoma which is prepared using a substance composed of a protein and N-acetylheparosan bound to the protein.
US07842499B2
The present invention relates to the field of molecular diagnostics. In particular, the present invention provided improved substrates and methods of using liquid crystals and other biophotonically based assays for quantitating the amount of an analyte in a sample. The present invention also provides materials and methods for detecting non-specific binding of an analyte to a substrate by using a liquid crystal or other biophotonically based assay formats.
US07842498B2
The invention provides a water-swellable hydrophobic hydrogel and analytical devices incorporating the hydrogel of the invention. Also provided are methods of using the hydrogel to prepare the analytical devices and methods of using the analytical devices to detect, quantitate and discriminate between analytes in a sample. Moreover, the invention provides kits that include components of a hydrogel and instructions for making a chip with a hydrophobic surface.
US07842492B2
This invention is related, in part, to sulfatase enzymes and methods of their use.
US07842476B2
The invention provides a method for making in vitro peptide expression libraries, and for the isolation of nucleotide sequences encoding peptides of interest, wherein the peptides or proteins are specifically associated with the DNA encoding them through non-covalent protein:DNA binding. The method describes ways of making the library itself, DNA molecules encoding the library and uses of the expression library.
US07842473B2
Ehrlichia canis antigens that can be used to differentiate E. canis infected animals from animals that have been challenged with E. canis, e.g., vaccinated against E. canis, are disclosed. The invention also provides compositions and methods for determining the presence of E. canis antigens and antibodies.
US07842472B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects. In particular, the invention relates to methods and compositions selected to monitor cardiorenal syndrome using assays that detect NGAL, preferably together with assays that detect natriuretic peptides such as BNP. Such methods and compositions can provide early indications of a deterioration in cardiorenal syndrome status, including prognosis regarding mortality and worsening renal function.
US07842471B2
The present invention relates to a novel use of a transfected cell as a biosensor, wherein the transfected cell expresses a receptor specific to a bio-signal transmitter, and a highly sensitive detector and a highly sensitive detecting method of a bio-signal transmitter using the biosensor. The bio-signal transmitter detecting technique according to the present invention has an advantage of being applied to a sniffer-patch method, and is capable of providing millisecond time resolution for detecting nanomolar levels of the bio-signal transmitter to be detected.
US07842460B2
Methods and kits for assessing proteolytic enzyme activity and a modulator's effect thereof employ a Ubiquitin or Ubiquitin-like Protein and a signal producing structure. The corresponding fusion polynucleotide is employed for production of transgenic cells, plants and animals that may be produced by stably transfection, optionally transforming the cell, plant or animal with a Ubiquitin-, UBL- or their C-terminal binding functional fragment-Reporter fusion polynucleotide. A method of diagnosing a disease or condition, comprises contacting or administering a sample obtained from a subject suspected of being afflicted with the disease or condition with the cell, plant or animal, detecting any signal produced by the reporter in the presence of the sample and comparing the signal to controls for 0% and 100% signals.
US07842452B2
A pattern forming method which uses a positive resist composition comprises: (A) a silicon-free resin capable of increasing its solubility in an alkaline developer under action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; (C) a silicon-containing resin having at least one group selected from the group of consisting (X) an alkali-soluble group, (XI) a group capable of decomposing under action of an alkaline developer and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer, and (XII) a group capable of decomposing under action of an acid and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer, and (D) a solvent, the method comprising: (i) a step of applying the positive resist composition to a substrate to form a resist coating, (ii) a step of exposing the resist coating to light via an immersion liquid, (iii) a step of removing the immersion liquid remaining on the resist coating, (iv) a step of heating the resist coating, and (v) a step of developing the resist coating.
US07842451B2
Disclosed is a method of forming a pattern. A first organic polymer layer is formed on a substrate on which an underlying layer, and then a second organic polymer layer, which has an opening partially exposing the first organic polymer layer, is formed on the first organic polymer layer. Next, a silicon-containing polymer layer is formed on the second organic polymer layer to cover the opening. The silicon-containing polymer layer is oxidized and simultaneously the second organic polymer layer and the first organic polymer layer are ashed by oxygen plasma to form a pattern having an anisotropy-shape. The underlying layer is etched using the silicon-containing polymer layer and the first organic polymer layer as an etching mask to form a pattern.
US07842449B2
A method of preparing a toner includes: preparing a toner composition including a macromonomer having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and at least one reactive functional group, at least one polymerizable monomer, and a colorant; emulsion-polymerizing the toner composition in a medium; and separating and drying the polymerized toner. A toner is prepared using the method. An image forming method using the toner, and an image forming apparatus using the toner are also provided. According to the method, the size, distribution and configuration of toner particles are easily controlled. In addition, the method does not involve the use of or minimizes the use of a surfactant, and decreases polluted water and waste water, which is very advantageous environmentally.
US07842425B2
A fuel cell arrangement including a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell including an electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode, first and second flow field plates adjacent the anode and cathode, respectively; a fuel cell health management (FCHM) device; a plurality of plate members interposed between each of the fuel cells and being made of an electrically conductive metallic material and disposed between the first and second flow field plates of adjacent fuel cells to connect the fuel cells in series, and having an electrically conductive tab. The tab of each of the plate members being electrically connected to the FCHM to conduct current provided by the FCHM to provide a substantially uniform voltage over each electrically of the plate members to rejuvenate each fuel cell, to monitor each fuel cell, and to control each fuel cell, and having a heat sink for dissipating heat.
US07842423B2
Lithium metal anode construction for seawater or air semi-fuel cells having flexible pouch packaging
Lithium metal anode protection, and various semi-fuel cell constructions for use in deep, high pressure seawater or air media are provided. The described lithium semi-fuel cells achieve record high energy densities, due to the high energy density of lithium anode and the use of the cathode reactant from the surrounding media, which is not part of the cell weight, and the use of ultralight and flexible packaging materials. These features make the described semi-fuel cells the ideal choice for powering underwater and air vehicles.
US07842417B2
Electrolyte for lithium ion rechargeable battery and lithium rechargeable battery including the same
An electrolyte for a lithium ion rechargeable battery, including a lithium salt, a non-aqueous organic solvent, a dihalogenated ethylene carbonate, and a halogenated ethylene carbonate. The electrolyte may include about 0.01 to about 2 weight % of the dihalogenated ethylene carbonate, and the electrolyte may include about 0.1 to about 10 weight % of the halogenated ethylene carbonate.
US07842415B2
A electrical connector for connection to an electrochemical cell is described. The connector comprises a conductive lid; a ferrule disposed within an opening through the conductive lid; a conductive center pin disposed within the ferrule; and a hermetic seal formed between the pin and an interior surface of the ferrule. A mating terminal connector adapted to be connected to the ferrule and the conductive center pin is further provided. The terminal connector is a device for easily and quickly connecting the cell to a circuit board of the kind found in an implantable medical device, such as a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, neuro-stimulator, drug pump, and the like.
US07842414B2
A lithium secondary battery, and more particularly, a lithium secondary battery which can improve the impregnation of an electrolyte solution either by modifying the material of a protection layer, such as a laminating tape and others, to be formed to protect the elimination of active materials, into a material with an affinity for the electrolyte solution, or by coating the material of an existing protection layer with an ingredient with an affinity for the electrolyte solution.
US07842405B2
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.
US07842391B2
Gas barrier layers and composites contain a low gel sheet produced from a composition containing a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a hydroxyl functional copolymer, and a gel reducing additive. The gel reducing additive has functional groups that can react with isocyanate groups to reduce gel formation during the processing of blends of urethane containing polymers and hydroxyl functional polymers. Multilayer composites containing the low gel sheets can be made into inflatable membranes for containing an inflationary gas. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the membranes are used as bladders of cushioning devices in the soles of shoes, particularly athletic shoes.
US07842390B2
Chain end functionalized fluoropolymers are disclosed exhibiting good chemical reactivity high breakdown electric field (E>100 MV/m) and high dielectric constants (i.e., ∈>10). The polymers can be prepared by functional initiators and from a variety of fluoromonomers including vinylidene difluoride together with one or more additional monomers. The polymers can be combined with other dielectric materials to form composites having uniform composition and morphology.
US07842385B2
A coated nano particle and an electronic device using the composite nano particle as an illuminator are provided. The composite nano particle includes a nano particle receiving light and emitting light; and a coating material formed on a surface of the nano particle and having an index of refraction different from that of the nano particle. The coated nano particle is made by coating a surface of the nano particle with a material having an index of refraction, which has an intermediate value between an index of refraction of a matrix and an index of refraction of the nano particle as an illuminator, with a predetermined thickness. The light emitted from the nano particle is efficiently transferred to the outside as the light reflected from the matrix and absorbed by the nano particle is suppressed. Therefore, a luminous efficiency of the illuminator is improved, and an electronic device using the illuminator is provided.
US07842381B2
Electromagnetic-energy absorbing materials are combined with thermally conductive materials, such as those used for thermal management in association with electronic equipment, thereby suppressing the transmission of electromagnetic interference (EMI) therethrough. Disclosed are materials and processes for combining EMI-absorbing materials with thermally conductive materials thereby improving EMI shielding effectiveness in an economically efficient manner. In one embodiment, a thermally conductive EMI absorber is prepared by combining an EMI-absorbing material (for example, ferrite particles) with a thermally conducting material (for example, ceramic particles), each suspended within an elastomeric matrix (for example, silicone). In application, a layer of thermally conductive EMI-absorbing material is applied between an electronic device or component, and a heat sink.
US07842380B2
A brightness enhancement film comprising a substrate which comprises, on one side, a scratch-resistant layer comprising inorganic microparticles is provided. The brightness enhancement film is useful as a scratch-resistant brightness enhancement film in liquid crystal displays.
US07842378B2
An energy absorber is crushed upon receiving compressive load, thereby absorbing energy. The energy absorber has a first end and a second end with respect to a direction of the compressive load. The energy absorber is formed of fiber-reinforced resin. The fiber-reinforced resin includes a stack of fiber layers having a compression direction fiber layer. The compression direction fiber layer includes fiber bundles of filament fibers. The fiber bundles are arranged such that the extending direction of the fiber bundles has a component of the direction of the compressive load. The density of the fiber bundles is gradually increased from the first end to the second end. Therefore, compressive load required for crushing is prevented from increasing at an early stage of crushing.
US07842367B2
Opthalmic devices, particularity intraocular lenses (IOL), with improved contrast sensitivity and methods of making same. In one aspect, blue light blocking chromophores (BLBC) are diffused into, e.g. an IOL lens body to create a BLBC gradient in the lens. Orange dyes are preferred BLBCs.
US07842366B2
A multiple-layer optical information recording medium is provided. An information recording layer that is the farthest from the reading side is denoted by L0, L1, L2, . . . and L5 information recording layers are successively formed in the direction of the optical axis. Five spacers having thicknesses t0 to t4 are interposed between the information recording layers. The spacers satisfy the relationships [Δtm>ACCT×Rm+1×Rm+2×Tm+12×nλ/(2NA2)] and [Δtm−sum>ACCT×Rm+a×Rm+b×Tab2×nλ/(2NA2)]. The thicknesses of the spacers of the six-layer disc satisfy the relationship t1>t3>t0>t2>t4. In addition, the thicknesses of the spacers are properly designated so that the influence of multiple reflections is removed.
US07842360B2
A method for using a single injection molding apparatus to manufacture at least two and up to four different levels of automobile trim pieces as well as automobile trim level pieces manufactured by the methods of this invention.
US07842359B2
A device simulating a blooming flower includes a piston slidably disposed within an elongated tube simulating a flower stem. A chamber within the stem is configured to hold a dissolvable solid material. The piston is biased upwardly, but held in place by the dissolvable solid material placed in the chamber above the piston. A simulated flower is attached to the end of the stem or piston and has a plurality of simulated petals configured to open as the stem is placed in a liquid, the solid material dissolves, and the piston moves upwardly within the stem.
US07842354B2
The subject invention reveals a method for preparing a coated fabric which comprises (I) applying a vulcanizable elastomer composition to a layer of fabric, wherein the vulcanizable elastomer composition is made by: (1) mixing a cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene with at least one cross-linkable liquid elastomer to form a non-reactive extrudant, wherein the mixing occurs at a temperature in the range of 10° F. above or below the melt point of the cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene, and wherein the non-reactive extrudant contains from 20 to 80 pph of the cross-linkable liquid elastomer, (2) extruding the non-reactive extrudant, and (3) mixing the extrudent with at least one curing agent, wherein the mixing is sufficient to form the vulcanizable elastomer which has a complex dynamic viscosity of less than 5 McP (5,000 N*s/m2) for at least 2 minutes at a maximum flow temperature; and (II) heating the layer of fabric having the vulcanizable elastomer applied thereto to a temperature which is within the range of 200° F. to 310° F. for at least 2 minutes to produce the coated fabric.
US07842351B2
There is provided an ink composition that includes a compound represented by the following formula (I) and that includes a single oxirane fragment, as a partial structure in at least one bicyclic or tricyclic ring, wherein, in the formula (I), A represents a group of atoms forming a bicyclic or tricyclic ring.
US07842345B2
An inkjet method of printing an alignment layer is presented. The method entails depositing drops of an alignment liquid on a substrate while moving a plurality of inkjet heads and/or the substrate relative to each other to form a first dropping line on the substrate. The method also entails rotating a printing stage on which the substrate is mounted, and depositing drops of the alignment liquid on the substrate after forming the fist dropping line to form a second dropping line. Since the printing stage is elevated and rotated, the drops of the alignment liquid are easily deposited in a grid pattern to decrease the space between adjacent drops. If desired, drops may be skipped to avoid depositing the alignment liquid multiple times on the same location on the substrate. With this method, the planarization time of the alignment layers is shortened.
US07842340B2
A fiber unit coating apparatus includes a chamber into which an uncured resin coated fiber unit is passed. Microspheres mixed with air are fed into the chamber via ducts and apertures. As a result rapid and even application of the microspheres can be achieved, and the system allows controllable application of the microspheres by varying the rate of flow of the air/microsphere mixture. Positive pressure chambers are provided to prevent the microspheres from blocking the inlet and outlet points where the fiber unit enters and leaves the chamber.
US07842333B2
The invention relates to a method of forming a phosphor film and a method of manufacturing an LED package incorporating the same. The method of forming a phosphor film includes mixing phosphor and light-transmitting beads in an aqueous solvent such that the nano-sized light-transmitting beads having a first charge are adsorbed onto surfaces of phosphor particles having a second charge. The method also includes coating a phosphor mixture obtained from the mixing step on an area where the phosphor film is to be formed, and drying the coated phosphor mixture to form the phosphor film. The invention further provides a method of manufacturing an LED package incorporating the method of forming the phosphor film.
US07842328B2
The present invention relates to a vegetable oil comprising a mixture of cereal oils and fruit oils. These are selected from: corn oil, rice oil, wheat germ oil, barley oil, oat oil, rye oil, sorgum oil and millet oil and walnut oil, blackcurrant oil, almond oil, hazelnut oil, apricot oil, peach oil, avocado oil, cherry oil, watermelon oil, melon oil, blueberry oil and orange oil.
US07842325B2
The present invention provides a process for producing a high solids/high protein dairy product wherein an MPC is first mixed with molten fat to produce a mixture of protein particles coated in fat and the mixture hydrated, acidified and heated under low shear to produce a dairy product, preferably a cheese or cheese-like product having a protein to water ratio of between 0.6 and 3.0.
US07842320B2
Food grade colored fluids which include food grade dyes and food grade glycols are provided. Also provided are methods for applying the food grade colored fluids directed to the surface of an edible substrate, and edible substrates having the food grade colored fluids applied to a surface thereof. In some embodiments the food grade colored fluids include a surface tension modifier to reduce their surface tensions. The food grade colored fluids may optionally include glycerine and water. In one embodiment, the food grade glycol makes up at least about 25 wt. % of the colored fluid and water makes up no more than about 35 wt. % of the colored fluid.
US07842308B2
The present invention is directed to pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric compositions suitable for injection molding of single or multi-component pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising a plurality of drug substance containing sub-units, being capsule compartments and/or solid sub-units comprising a solid matrix of a polymer which contains a drug substance, the sub-units being connected together in the assembled dosage form by a weld between parts of the assembled dosage form.
US07842306B2
This disclosure relates to wound care devices which are capable of one-way, directional flow of fluids and contaminants away from the wound site to the opposite side of the wound care device, which functions as a fluid reservoir. This fluid transport mechanism generally aids in reducing wound maceration by removing excess fluid, and potentially even bacteria, and is carried out without loss of physical integrity of the wound care device itself. In addition to providing a unidirectional fluid transport mechanism, the wound care device may contain a topically applied silver-based antimicrobial finish which provides certain levels of antimicrobial agent to the wound in order to clear infection from the wound site and control bacterial growth in the wound care dressing. Exemplary topical antimicrobial finishes include silver ion-releasing compounds.
US07842304B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for treating an injured or severed nerve pathway, wherein one or more microporous tubes are implanted into the nerve pathway to bridge the injured or severed region. A bioactive matrix including stem cells and nutrients is disposed within the microporous tube to facilitate growth of the stem cells and reestablishment of the sensory and motor conductive pathways through the injured or severed region. The microporous tube protects the bioactive matrix during development of the stem cells, and also retains the end regions in proper alignment during the nerve pathway regeneration.
US07842295B2
The present invention provides an isolated canine influenza virus of subtype H3N8 comprising an HA having SEQ ID NO: 4 or an amino acid sequence that is greater than 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 4, with the proviso that the amino acids at positions 94 and 233 are identical to SEQ ID NO: 4; a composition comprising attenuated or inactivated virus; isolated or purified HA, NM, NP, M1, NS1, PA, PB1, and PB2 proteins and fragments thereof and compositions comprising same or nucleic acids, optionally as part of a vector, encoding same; and a method of inducing an immune response to canine influenza virus in an animal comprising administering to the animal an aforementioned composition.
US07842294B2
The present invention relates to proteins belonging to the Bcl-2 family and peptides fragments thereof for use in pharmaceutical compositions. The disclosed proteins and peptide fragments are in particularly useful in vaccine compositions for treatment of cancer. The invention furthermore relates to methods of treatment using said compositions. It is also an aspect of the invention to provide T-cells and T-cell receptors specifically recognising the disclosed proteins and peptide fragments.
US07842289B2
The present invention provides recombinant nucleic acid molecules, expression cassettes, and vectors useful for expression of polypeptides, including heterologous polypeptides, such as antigens, in bacteria. Some of the recombinant nucleic acid molecules, expression cassettes and vectors comprise codon-optimized sequences encoding the polypeptides and/or signal peptides. Some of the recombinant nucleic acid molecules, expression cassettes, and expression vectors comprise sequences encoding non-Listerial and/or non-secA1 signal peptides for secretion of the polypeptides. The invention also provides bacteria comprising the nucleic acid molecules, expression cassettes, and expression vectors, as well as compositions such as vaccines comprising the bacteria. Methods of making and using the bacteria, recombinant nucleic acid molecules, and expression cassettes are also provided.
US07842286B2
The present invention relates to hair styling creams comprising a crosslinked silicone polymer; an alkoxylated compound selected from polyethylenoxides and polyalkoxylated silicone compounds; emulsifier; a fatty phase; and an aqueous phase. The cream can be transferred into rope-, thread-, or fiber-like structures when distributed in the hands. It gives a powdery feel after drying and improves stability and gloss of hair.
US07842283B2
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.
US07842280B2
A solid phase peptide synthesis method for synthesizing a peptidyl contrast agent is disclosed. In one example, the method includes synthesizing an amino-chelator loaded resin, coupling of the amino-chelator loaded resin to the C-terminus and/or backbone of a peptide, cleaving the amino-chelator-peptide from a resin, and chelating a lanthanide metal to the amino-chelator-peptide.
US07842277B2
This disclosure relates to a crystalline MCM-22 family molecular sieve composition having, in its as-synthesized form, an X-ray diffraction pattern including a peak at d-spacing maximum of 12.33±0.23 Angstroms, a distinguishable peak at a d-spacing maximum between 12.57 to about 14.17 Angstroms and a non-discrete peak at a d-spacing maximum between 8.8 to 11. Angstroms, wherein the peak intensity of the d-spacing maximum between 12.57 to about 14.17 Angstroms is less than 90% of the peak intensity of the d-spacing maximum at 12.33±0.23 Angstroms. This disclosure also relates to methods of making the crystalline MCM-22 family molecular sieve composition.
US07842271B2
Carbon nanostructures are mass produced from graphite. In particularly preferred aspects, graphene is thermo-chemically derived from graphite and used in numerous compositions. In further preferred aspects, the graphene is re-shaped to form other nanostructures, including nanofractals, optionally branched open-ended SWNT, nanoloops, and nanoonions.
US07842266B2
A method of exhaust gas denitration in which nitrogen oxides contained in a low-temperature exhaust gas are removed at a high NOx removal efficiency. A injection pipe (11) is disposed in a flue (10) for an exhaust gas (x) so that the pipe protrudes from the inner wall of the flue. A hydrocarbon compound (b) and a nitrogen compound (a) are supplied through the injection pipe (11) into the flue (10). The hydrocarbon compound (b) is burned to form a combustion region (s). In this combustion region (s), amine radicals are produced from the nitrogen compound (a). These amine radicals are mixed with nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas (x) to reductively remove the nitrogen oxides.
US07842262B2
A reactor in which a multi-phase mixture, including gas and a catalyst slurry or liquid, is to be conducted. The reactor includes a reaction chamber having a substantially unencumbered center portion through which the multi-phase mixture is conducted upwardly. A downcomer arrangement is disposed laterally outwardly of the center portion and adjacent to an inner surface of the reaction chamber. An external pump communicates with a lower portion of the reaction chamber for circulating components of the mixture downward from an upper end of the downcomer arrangement to a lower end thereof. A collection chamber is disposed below the reaction chamber into which the components exiting the downcomer arrangement are introduced and where the gas is separated from the remainder of the components. The separated gas can be reintroduced into the reaction chamber.
US07842259B2
An apparatus for contacting a bed of particulate material with a cross flowing fluid, which maintains the bed of particulate material within a retention volume. The apparatus includes partitions for retaining particles, with apertures disposed within the partitions. The apertures are covered by shrouds that extend above the edges of the apertures to prevent solid particles from spilling through inlet apertures.
US07842250B2
An apparatus and method for loading catalyst to a fluid catalyst cracking unit are provided. In one embodiment, apparatus for loading catalyst to a fluid catalyst cracking unit includes a vessel disposed in a transportable housing. A plurality of catalyst storage regions are associated with the vessel. A metering device is interfaced with the vessel and configured to provide a metric indicative of an amount of catalyst provided from a selected one of the catalyst storage regions.
US07842246B2
Luminescence test measurements are conducted using an assay module having integrated electrodes with a reader apparatus adapted to receive assay modules, induce luminescence, preferably electrode induced luminescence, in the wells or assay regions of the assay modules and measure the induced luminescence.
US07842242B2
A device for optically coupling a first optical element to a second optical element comprises a first optical element with a first radiation penetration surface; a second optical element with a second radiation penetration surface located across from the first radiation penetration surface; and a chamber delimited by the first and second radiation penetration surfaces and a circumferentially closed side wall which connects the first and second radiation penetration surfaces. The circumferentially closed side wall defines a first sector in the first radiation penetration surface and a second sector in the second radiation penetration surface, the area of the first sector being smaller than the area of the first radiation penetration surface, and the area of the second sector being smaller than the area of the second radiation penetration surface. The device further comprises a feeding conduit to the chamber for delivering index-adjusting liquid; and a discharge conduit from the chamber for evacuating index-adjusting liquid or gas from the chamber.
US07842239B2
The present invention relates to a test tool feeder (X1) including a storage portion for storing a plurality of test tools (4A, 4B), and a transporting member (2) provided with at least one loading portion (21, 22) for loading the test tools (4A, 4B) stored in the storage portion, where the transporting member transports the test tools (4A, 4B) one by one. The storage portion includes a plurality of storage spaces (11, 12) each storing a plurality of test tools (4A, 4B). Preferably, in the test tool feeder (X1), with respect to each of the storage spaces (11, 12), selection can be made between a state in which the test tools (4A, 4B) are taken out from the storage space (11, 12) and a state in which the test tools (4A, 4B) are not taken out from the storage space.
US07842236B2
A selecting apparatus for selecting cell/tissue mass includes a base, a feeding mechanism and a dividing mechanism. The base has a platform for placing the cell/tissue mass. The feeding mechanism, disposed on the base, moves relative to the platform. The dividing mechanism, disposed on the feeding mechanism, includes a first cutting set and a second cutting set connected therewith. The second cutting set reciprocally moves between a first position and a second position, toward the first cutting set. The feeding mechanism moves the dividing mechanism above the platform, aligning the dividing mechanism with a portion of the cell/tissue mass, and moves the first cutting set toward the cell/tissue mass, cutting into the portion of the cell/tissue mass. The second cutting set moves from the first position to the second position, limiting the portion of the cell/tissue mass between the first cutting set and the second cutting set.
US07842233B2
A device for disinfecting components of an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle is provided. The device includes an ionizer arranged in the air conditioning system and an electronic control unit configured to activate the ionizer to produce an amount of ions. The amount of ions is determined as a function of an amount of condensate on the components of the air conditioning system to be disinfected.
US07842228B1
Disclosed is a continuous refractory ore bioprocessing apparatus for the digestion of metal ore with bacteria. It includes a long trough tank fitted with a screw conveyer that extends along the length of the tank. A shell, having a number of feed ports, covers the screw conveyer. Granules of ore to be bioprocessed pass through the feed ports toward the screw conveyer portion of the reactor wherein the ore is ground by the screw conveyer and is bioprocessed as the screw conveyer rotates to push the ore along the reactor. Gas distribution manifolds are attached to the tank and are configured so that gas may be injected into the tank and onto the surface of the shell so as to encourage agitation of the materials in the tank and in the screw conveyer portion of the bioreactor while discouraging fouling of the shell and clogging of the feed ports.
US07842224B2
A vacuum forming apparatus has a forming die, a plurality of holding devices, a pressing device and a pair of supplemental holding devices. The forming die has at least one suction hole for creating a vacuum. The holding devices hold a resin sheet that has been softened by heating. The pressing device moves relative to the forming die to close a space therebetween and form an airtight state therebetween. Each of the supplemental holding devices includes a clamp member and a support member. The supplemental holding devices are movably arranged to move toward each other. The clamp members clamp the resin sheet on two sides of a selected sag area where the resin sheet will be made to sag. The support members extend along two side portions of the selected sag area for supporting a bottom surface of the resin sheet where the resin sheet will be made to sag.
US07842219B2
There are provided a mold for forming a molding member and a method for forming a molding member using the same. The mold includes an upper surface, and a lower surface having an outer peripheral surface and a concave surface surrounded by the outer circumference. Injection and discharge holes extend from the upper surface to the lower surface. Accordingly, after the mold and the package are coupled so that the discharge hole is directed upward, a molding member can be formed on the package by injecting the molding material through the injection hole, whereby it is possible to prevent air bubbles from being captured in the molding member.
US07842217B2
A method of manufacturing a syringe for use in enteral feeding includes providing a premolded syringe body having a plunger end and an outlet end, loading the premolded syringe body into a mold having a core pin extending into the outlet end of the premolded syringe body, closing the mold to thereby retain the premolded syringe therein and to close a mold cavity around the outlet end of the syringe body, injection molding by injecting plastic molding material into the mold cavity and cooling to thereby form a tip at the outlet end of the premolded syringe body, and opening the mold and extracting the syringe body and the tip.
US07842212B2
Floor covering, consisting of hard panels, with a laminated structure, whereby at least at the upper surface a printed decorative layer with a wood pattern is present, with thereupon a transparent layer of synthetic material in which impressions are formed, wherein the impressions substantially follow the wood pattern.
US07842209B2
To fabricate a composite item from a layup of composite material, the layup is degassed, debulked, and cured. To degas the layup, an envelope pressure within an envelope that includes the layup is reduced, a chamber pressure within a chamber that includes the envelope is reduced, and the layup is heated. To debulk the layup, the chamber pressure is increased relative to the envelope pressure so that the envelope exerts a compressive force upon the layup in response to the relatively higher chamber pressure as compared to the envelope pressure. To cure the layup, the layup is exposed to radiation.
US07842207B2
The panel-like laminate comprises a flexible skin (1), a rigid substrate (2) and an intermediate layer (3). The flexible skin (1) comprises a main part (8) which forms the front side of the laminate and at least one flange (9) which extends from the main part (8) of the skin towards the substrate (2) to form at least a portion of the lateral side of the laminate. In order to avoid foam leakage when molding the intermediate layer (3) between the skin (1) and the substrate (2), the flange (9) is extended by a border part (10) which comprises a flexible lip (11). The flexible lip is pressed against the rigid substrate (2) so that the flexible lip (11) forms a seal between the skin and the substrate. To prevent deformation of the skin, the border part (10) of the skin further comprises at least one continuous or discontinuous ridge (12) which extends along the flange (9) of the skin (1) and which prevents a sliding of this border part when closing the mold.
US07842202B2
In order to control a warp of a disc substrate so as to be a desired level, an optical disc production method includes: a step of supplying resin on the disc substrate; a step of mounting the disc substrate on an inside diameter portion of a turntable after supplying the resin; a step of providing an air-gap between an outside diameter portion of the turntable and a portion of the disc substrate that is not mounted; a step of extending the resin by spinning; and a curing step of curing the resin while spinning the disc substrate mounted on the inside diameter portion of the turntable, wherein in the step of extending the resin, a negative pressure is affected on a portion of the disc substrate that is not mounted, and in the curing step, the warp is controlled by curing the resin on the spinning disc substrate while maintaining effect of the negative pressure.
US07842194B2
A dispensing system is provided for alkali metals, that allows increasing the quantity of alkali metal that can be dispensed, as well as the time during which the system can be used with properties of metal vapors release which are constant over time. The system includes an alkali metal dispenser, the dispenser being a metallic container having one or more first openings and containing a mixture of one or more alkali metal compounds and one or more reducing compounds, preferably in the form of loose powders or pellets of the powders. The system further includes a metallic shield which substantially encloses the container and has one or more second openings facing the first openings.
US07842193B2
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a polishing liquid for polishing a barrier metal material on an interlayer insulation material, the polishing liquid having a pH of from 2.0 to 6.0 and including an aqueous solution containing a compound represented by the following formula (1), and polishing particles containing silicon oxide and dispersed in the aqueous solution: R1—(CH2)m—(CHR2)n—COOH (1) wherein m+n≦4; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group or a hydroxyl group; R2 represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, a benzene ring or a hydroxyl group; and when a plurality of R2s are present in the formula (1), they are the same or different from one another.
US07842188B2
Disclosed is a method for removing a neutral or an ionic guanidine compound from aqueous media optionally comprising an alkali metal halide, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of (a) adsorption onto a carbonaceous adsorbent, (b) adsorption onto a clay adsorbent, (c) filtration through a nanofiltration membrane, and (d) removal of water and calcination.
US07842185B2
Entrapping immobilization pellets in which microorganisms are entrapped and immobilized, the entrapping immobilization pellets comprising entrapped and immobilized purified water sludge containing nitrifying bacteria.
US07842184B2
A method for removing contaminant from feedwater by forming a dispersion comprising bubbles of a treatment gas in a continuous phase comprising feedwater, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of less than about 5 μm and wherein the treatment gas is selected from air, oxygen, and chlorine. A method for removing contaminants from a feedwater by subjecting a fluid mixture comprising feedwater and a treatment gas to a shear rate greater than 20,000 s−1 in a high shear device to produce a dispersion of treatment gas in a continuous phase of the feedwater. A system for treating feedwater to remove contaminants therefrom is also presented, the system comprising at least one high shear mixing device comprising at least one generator comprising a rotor and a stator separated by a shear gap; and a pump configured for delivering feedwater and treatment gas to the high shear mixing device.
US07842183B2
An oil filter assembly (10) comprises a housing (12) that has a holding space for a filter element (20), which can be placed inside the housing and through which oil can radially flow, an oil inlet, an oil outlet, and a supporting tube (22), which supports the filter element. A guide (62) for a compensating body of the outlet valve is provided on a part that is separate from the housing (12). The compensating body (58) serves to compensate for axial tolerances of the housing and/or of the filter element.
US07842182B2
The invention relates to a method for treating water, especially waste water and drinking water, containing both pathogenic germs and a substance which is difficult to decompose and is from the group comprising persistent substances, endocrine substances, odorous substances, and dyestuffs, by means of ozone supply and UV radiation. The inventive method comprises the following steps: a) ozone is supplied in a concentration of between 0.1 g/m3 and 15 g/m3; and b) UV rays are radiated in a wavelength range of between 200 nm and 300 nm and in a dose of between 50 J/m2 and 2,000 J/m2.
US07842176B2
A method for horizontally electroplating or electro deposition a thin film on a substrate comprises the steps of transferring and positioning a substrate on a substrate supporter; the substrate being positioned approximately horizontally; moving a plurality of stop plates to enclose horizontal edges of the substrate so as to form with an enclosure around an edge of the substrate; moving a first electrode to be in contact with a portion of the substrate; the portion being a non-wired area; moving a second electrode to be above and not in contact with the substrate; wherein the second electrode has a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode; and filling electroplating liquid into the enclosure formed by the stop plates so as to be in contact with the second electrode above the substrate for electroplating or electro deposition.
US07842162B1
A method is provided for manufacturing paper by means of layer-by-layer nanocoating techniques. The method comprises the sequential processing of an aqueous pulp of lignocellulose fibers which is first subjected to nanocoating by alternatively adsorbing onto the fibers multiple consecutively-applied layers of oppositely-charged nanoparticles, polymers and/or proteins thereby making a modified aqueous pulp of multi-layer nanocoated lignocellulose fibers, then draining the water out of the modified pulp to form sheets of multi-layer nanocoated fibers, and drying the formed sheets of multi-layer nanocoated fibers. The resulting dried sheets are then processed to make a finished paper that has superior physical strength and improved surface properties. In a preferred embodiment the starting aqueous pulp of lignocellulose fibers is divided into is separate portions which are separately nanocoated with opposite charges, and then blended to form a complex aggregate pulp of nanocoated fibers before draining and drying it. The method is particularly applicable to the treatment of broken (mill broke) recycled fibers in order to facilitate their usage in paper production.
US07842161B2
A process of treating a lignocellulosic material includes a pre-extraction step in which hemicellulose is extracted from the lignocellulosic material. Then, in a solvent pulping step, the lignocellulosic material is separated into pulp by contacting the lignocellulosic material with a cooking liquor comprising a solvent. In one embodiment, the solvent has a boiling point of at least about 150° C. In another embodiment, the cooking liquor comprises a mixture of solvent and water.
US07842156B2
There are disclosed methods of making RFID transponder webs and intermediate webs such as RFID strap webs and antenna webs, as well as such webs per se.
US07842153B2
Platinum- and platinum alloy-based catalysts with nanonetwork structures are formed on a substrate at first. Then, a support of a proton exchange membrane is taken. In the end, the catalysts are transferred to the support.
US07842139B2
The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0. Advantages provided by the method include, inter alia, outstanding high temperature erosion and corrosion resistance in combination with outstanding fracture toughness, as well as outstanding thermal expansion compatibility to the base metal of process units. The method finds particular application for protecting process vessels, transfer lines and process piping, heat exchangers, cyclones, slide valve gates and guides, feed nozzles, aeration nozzles, thermo wells, valve bodies, internal risers, deflection shields, sand screen, and oil sand mining equipment.
US07842137B2
A method for determining at least one of the type and the quantity of items to be washed in a dishwasher machine is provided for use with a dishwashing machine having a washing chamber in which the items are placed in receptacles for subsequent washing of the items during a dishwashing program with the respective disposition of the items in the receptacles constituting the load of the receptacles in the washing chamber of the dishwasher machine. The method includes detecting the load of the receptacles by an image detection system that measures distances in a non-contact manner by means of the speed of light such that the measured distances can be evaluated to obtain a three-dimensional image of the washing chamber.
US07842133B2
In a method of growing a single crystal by melting a raw material within a vessel under a nitrogenous and non-oxidizing atmosphere, the vessel is oscillated and the melted raw material is contacted with an agitation medium made of a solid unreactive with the melted raw material.
US07842120B2
A method of obtaining copper from feedstock includes: providing feedstock into acid solution including chloride and bromide of one of alkali metal and alkali earth metal, and one of chloride of copper and iron and bromide of copper and iron; leaching monovalent copper and divalent copper with use of oxidizing power of at least one of iron ion and copper ion, with air being blown into the acid solution under an atmospheric pressure at a temperature less than a boiling point of the acid solution; solid-liquid separating the acid solution; blowing air into the solution; oxidizing copper in the solution; coprecipitating iron and impurity; extracting copper from the solution from which deposition including the coprecipitate is separated; obtaining the extracted copper into sulfuric acid solution as copper sulfate; obtaining copper from the copper sulfate; and recycling hydrochloric acid generated in the extracting in another copper leaching.
US07842118B2
Scrap silicon from which a profit can be obtained taking into consideration the purchase price and refining cost of scrap silicon and the expected sale price of silicon products is selectively recovered, the recovered scrap silicon is refined, and silicon which can be sold as a silicon product is manufactured.
US07842117B2
The holding sealer comprises inorganic fibers, and the holding sealer has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface has ditch-shaped structures.
US07842113B2
An extended water level range steam/water conical cyclone separator for separating steam from water in a steam/water mixture supplied to a steam drum of a boiler, has a housing comprising a conical portion with upper and lower cylindrical portions, and a conical vane plate. An open bottom extension sleeve portion for discharging water from the steam/water conical cyclone separator housing and connected to the lower cylindrical water outlet portion is provided such that the conical vane plate is located at an intermediate location between the upper conical portion and the open bottom extension sleeve portion of the lower cylindrical portion. Extended water level range capability is thus provided while maintaining adequate steam/water cyclone separator performance characteristics.
US07842108B2
A method and device for the gasification of solid fuels such as bituminous coal, lignite coal, and petroleum coke in the flue stream with an oxidizing medium containing free oxygen, by partial oxidation at pressures between atmospheric pressure and 80 bar and at temperatures between 1,200 and 1,900 degrees. The fuel is gasified by pneumatic metering of pulverized fuel, gasification reaction in a reactor with cooled reactor chamber contour, quencher cooling, crude gas scrubbing, and partial condensation.
US07842103B2
The present invention relates to a production method of a solid electrolytic capacitor element wherein a semiconductor layer is formed by electrolytic polymerization on an oxide dielectric film formed on the surface of an electric conductor and an electrode layer is laminated thereon, comprising passing current providing a period for temporarily applying a reverse voltage during the electrolytic polymerization passing current using an electric conductor having a dielectric layer formed thereon as an anode and a negative electrode plate placed in the electrolyte as a cathode; a solid electrolytic capacitor element produced by the method; a solid electrolytic capacitor obtained from the solid electrolytic capacitor element and use thereof. According to the present invention, a solid electrolytic capacitor element in which a high quality semiconductor layer is formed in a short time can be produced, which enables to produce a solid electrolytic capacitor having a good ESR property.
US07842102B2
A dye formulation is disclosed that includes a vegetable oil ester based solvents that have carbon chain lengths of C-1 to C-18, a solvent dye that is a true liquid dye dissolved in the vegetable oil ester for imparting color to the dye formulation, and reduced sulfur levels in commercially available dye formulations as compared to those in hydrocarbon based solvent systems. Sulfur content is typically reduced to 2-3 percent of dye formulations in hydrocarbon based solvents. The formulations are particularly useful for tagging petroleum substrates as well as writing instrument and ink jet formulations.
US07842097B2
A porous three-dimensional tissue repair matrix is provided which is biodegradable. The matrix is preferably formed from mineralized collagen where the mineral comprises particulate calcium phosphate immobilized in the matrix.
US07842092B2
A prosthetic device includes one or more components configured to be disposed in a joint. The component includes at least one feature configured to provide information about the component. The information can be used to determine or create the relationship between the component and the joint and/or other components. This relationship may be used to evaluate and/or modify the expected performance of the prosthetic device and assist in determining the optimal relationship between one or more components and a patient's anatomy.
US07842089B2
The invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis comprising two half-shells (7, 10) clasping a compression pad. According to the invention, the central part of one (10) of the two half-shells comprises a shaft (14) which faces the other half-shell (7), while the central part of said second half-shell (7) comprises a stud (13) which faces the first half-shell, said stud having a smaller cross-section than that of the shaft and being inserted therein. The sum of the lengths of the shaft (14) and the stud (13) is greater than the distance between the two half-shells (7, 10), the aforementioned compression pad being disposed between the two half-shells in the space between the shaft and the stud.
US07842085B2
An annuloplasty ring and ring holder combination includes a generally triangular-shaped ring and a generally T-shaped holder. The ring holder has a base portion forming the top of the T shape and engaging against a first segment of the ring, with a radial arm extending from the base portion and forming the post of the T. The radial arm engages against a junction between two segments of the ring. The invention includes placements of suture holes and cutting wells which, in combination with the improved ring holder shape, afford the user improved access and visibility to the surgical site, the ring, and to the suture that is used to retain the annuloplasty ring to the holder.
US07842075B2
A laser light therapy treatment probe, having an internal control circuit, and a manual control, a connection to a power supply, and a laser light treatment source, whereby the laser light treatment probe, and may be plugged into a supply of electrical power, and having an on/off switch connected between the control circuit and the laser light treatment source, and wherein the laser light source is switched on, for example by pressing the probe against the skin.
US07842072B2
A device for spinal stabilization includes bone anchors, a metal cord, and a spacer. The materials of the cord and spacer are chosen to allow the physician to customize the stiffness of the stabilization device based on a particular patient's needs. Each bone anchor has a clamping mechanism for securing the cord to the bone anchor. In an assembled and implanted state of the device, the spacer is positioned between two neighboring bone anchors, thereby impeding the motion of the bone anchors toward each other; the cord is clamped to the bone anchors, thereby impeding the motion of the bone anchors away from each other. By increasing or decreasing the tension in the cord during implantation, the physician can create a stabilization device that is either relatively stiff or relatively flexible to accommodate the specific needs of the patient.
US07842071B2
A crosslink or connecting assembly is provided to secure multiple spinal rods in relation to each other. The connecting assembly is disposed transversely between two spinal rods and has moveable components for rotating, pivoting, and extending portions of the connecting device in order to accommodate the positioning of the spinal rods.
US07842067B2
A tourniquet for restricting a flow of blood in a body part is presented. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the tourniquet comprises a first elongated member, and a second elongated member in slidable engagement with the first elongated member. In addition, the tourniquet includes a tensioning mechanism connected to the second elongated member, wherein a compressive force is applied to the body part upon applying a tensile force to the second elongated member using the tensioning mechanism. The tourniquet is suited for emergency use, and may be applied by using only one hand. Thus, the tourniquet may be applied, manipulated and tightened by the wearer, even if the wearer is limited to the use of a single hand.
US07842057B2
Apparatuses for transcleral cautery and subretinal drainage are provided. One such embodiment includes a barrel section, a needle section extending from the barrel section, and a scleral depressor section at least partially surrounding an intermediate portion of the needle section. A cautery section may also be defined between the scleral depressor section and the distal end of the needle section. Methods are also provided.
US07842055B2
An elongate tubular body extends between a rotatable cutter and a control. The cutter is connected to the control with a rotatable element. A vacuum is applied through an annular passage defined between the tubular body and the rotatable element. The tubular body has a sufficiently small outside diameter and sufficient kink resistance and pushability to navigate through arteries such as the internal carotid artery.
US07842052B2
A method for threading a suture in a patient's body. The method includes the steps of providing a suture, providing a threading device comprising an elongated rod having a suture tie-off location and first and second ends, tying the suture to the suture tie-off location, inserting the first end of the elongated rod through a first opening in the patient's skin, passing the first end of the elongated rod subcutaneously to a second opening in the patient's skin, pulling the first end of the elongated rod and a portion of the suture through the second opening, without turning the elongated rod around, and passing the second end of the elongated rod subcutaneously to an opening in the patient's skin. At least one point during the performance of the method the first end of the elongated rod extends out of the first opening and the second end of the elongated rod extends through the second opening. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second ends of the threading device are each lighted at predetermined points during the method.
US07842045B2
A single-fire clip applier with disposable jaws and re-usable handles is provided. The first jaw member is coupled to a second jaw member by a connector spring. The connector spring biases the jaws to an open at rest position. The jaws are releasably mountable to a post on the handles. Actuation of the handles produces a corresponding actuation of the jaws. After use, the jaws may be disposed and the handles re-sterilized. Different sized jaws for different sized clips may be used with one common re-usable handle.
US07842042B2
A tunnel guide apparatus and method for forming two convergent tunnels in a bone. The apparatus includes a first bullet member for aiming a guide pin to form a first tunnel in the bone. A second bullet member adjustably connects to the first bullet member, for aiming a guide pin to form a second tunnel in the bone such that the first and second tunnels are convergent. The two bullet members are joined by a guide arm member disposed on a guide arc member such that the first and second bullet members and the guide arm member are adjustable on the guide arc member to form the two tunnels.
US07842041B2
Methods and devices for augmenting bone, such as in performing vertebroplasty are disclosed. A bone cement injection needle is provided, having a laterally deflectable distal end. Systems are also disclosed, including the steerable injection needle, introducer and stylet. The system may additionally include a cement delivery gun, one-time use disposable cement cartridges and a cement mixing chamber. Methods are also disclosed.
US07842037B2
A bone fixation device comprises a beam including plurality of stacked flexible members. At least one locking member is provided in engagement with the plurality of stacked flexible members. The at least one locking member is configured to retain the plurality of stacked flexible members together in either a locked relationship or an unlocked relationship. In the locked relationship, the at least one locking member compress the plurality of stacked flexible members together. The plurality of stacked flexible members are configured to bend when a threshold force is applied to the beam, provided the plurality of stacked flexible members are in an unlocked relationship. When the plurality of stacked flexible members are in an unlocked relationship, the threshold force is insufficient to bend the plurality of stacked flexible members.
US07842035B2
Methods and devices for occlusion of the fallopian tubes of a woman. The method involves thermally damaging the lining of the utero-tubal junction with relatively low power, followed by placement of a reticulated foam plug. In one embodiment, vascularized tissue grows into the plug and prevents or discourages formation of scar tissue around the plug. Another embodiment with a relatively small foam pore size encourages formation of a vascularized capsule around the plug. The presence of this vascularized capsule limits the patient's foreign body response, so that the capsule does not constrict around the plug. Also presented is a catheter designed for wounding the epithelial layer of the utero-tubal junction, and a method of using the catheter to form a long yet shallow lesion in the utero-tubal junction.
US07842031B2
Methods and systems for detecting fluid egress, assessing lesion quality, determining tissue composition or structure, determining ice coverage of catheter tip and providing tissue contact assessment, by providing a catheter having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion define at least one fluid pathway therebetween with the shaft having a plurality of electrodes, positioning the catheter at a tissue treatment site, applying an electrical current between at least two of the plurality of electrodes, measuring impedance voltage between the at least two of the plurality of electrodes and, processing the measured impedance voltage caused by the applied electrical current to determine if fluid egress is present, to assess lesion quality, to determine tissue composition, ice cover of catheter tip, and to provide contact assessment. The system may have a control unit, a microprocessor, an impedance measuring device or the like to perform processing of impedance data.
US07842027B2
A combination aspiration/irrigation and illumination device using optical fibers circumferentially disposed around the aspiration conduit for transmitting illuminating light to a cavity to be aspirated. The ends of the optical fibers being formed at an angle relative to the aspiration conduit so as to direct the illuminating light inward to provide intensified illumination ahead of the aspiration conduit.
US07842026B2
This invention relates to a syringe-activated valve for flushing a catheter for delivering an implant to an anatomical site, such as a patent foramen ovale in a patient and method thereof. In one embodiment, a catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, a “Y” connector at the proximal end, the “Y” connector having a guide wire port and a connector port, a syringe activated valve having a first end and a second end, the second end of syringe-activated valve connecting to the connector port of the “Y” connector, and a syringe connecting to the first end of the syringe-activated valve. Saline is injected by the syringe through the syringe-activated valve into the proximal end of the catheter, thereby flushing air from the catheter lumen out of the distal end of the catheter.
US07842021B2
Absorbent articles with waist seals are disclosed. The seals are formed from folded stacks, discrete segments, or pleated material arranged to provide a resiliently compressible seal that can be located at one or more locations within the absorbent article, e.g., along a central portion of the rear waist region of a diaper. The seals may be constructed from relatively thin materials that (through folding, stacking, pleating, etc.) can provide a resiliently compressible seal that is thick enough and appropriately shaped to conform to the wearer's anatomy well enough to provide the desired sealing. At the same, time, the continuous web material used to form the seal is preferably thin enough to be economically delivered to the manufacturing line in roll form. The seals may be provided in the form of compressed seals that expand when one or more openings are formed in a sealed cavity containing compressed resilient material.
US07842020B2
A double diaper package includes adhesively attached, similarly sized inner and outer diapers. Each of the diapers has a liquid permeable skin contacting net and a liquid impermeable polymeric back sheet edge bonded to each other so as to surround and encase a super-absorber in a fibrous matrix. The inner diaper has an adhesive coated edge flap of the liquid impermeable sheet extending from the edge bond. This edge flap secures the outer diaper to the inner diaper, forming a double diaper package that is attached to the baby using waist-securing tabs connected to the inner diaper. When soiled, the inner diaper is pulled away by releasing the waist-securing tabs and the adhesive edge flap attachment. The fresh, clean, outer diaper is attached using the waist-securing tabs of the outer diaper. The inner soiled diaper is then discarded.
US07842003B2
A system for delivering blood, cardioplegia solution, and other medications or fluids in a pulsatile flow pattern to a patient during cardiopulmonary bypass is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a pumping apparatus having at least one chamber is utilized in which a pumping action is achieved by compressing one of the chambers with a piston mechanism, while allowing the other chamber to fill with fluid via retracting its respective piston. The instantaneous flow rate of either of the chambers is determined by the speed of the piston. In a preferred embodiment, a pulsatile flow of fluid is achieved by cyclically alternating the velocity of the piston between two different speeds. A desired average flow rate and/or delivery pressure and/or constant pulse pressure is maintained by adjusting the alternating velocities at the desired frequency and duty cycle. The calculations necessary to obtain a desired average flow rate are performed by a microprocessor, which also controls the movement of the pistons.
US07841984B2
A system for imaging tissue during ultrasound therapy treatments is described. The system has a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer, video display and controller. The controller has two receive paths for detecting cavitation and boiling in present during an ultrasound therapy treatment, and representing the two visually on a display.
US07841981B2
An object of the present invention is that the examiner easily picks up a series of images over a desired region in a desired digestive tract without such troublesome examination work that the examiner successively knows the imaging field to the inside of the digestive tract. A body-insertable device system of the invention includes a capsule endoscope 1, a permanent magnet 3, and a position display sheet 2. In the capsule endoscope 1, a imaging unit for picking up the images of the insides of an subject 100, and a magnet are contained in a casing. The capsule endoscope sends a radio signal containing information of the images of the insides of the subject 100 to outside the capsule endoscope. The permanent magnet 3 generates a magnetic field for application to the capsule endoscope 1 in liquid Lq1 having been introduced into the subject 100 and changes at least one of a position and a posture of the capsule endoscope 1 by the magnetic field. The position display sheet 2 visually presents an approaching position of the subject 100 that the permanent magnet 3 approaches to generate a magnetic field.
US07841980B2
A treatment system includes a guide component that is used to insert a treatment tool into a body cavity, a tilt sensor that is provided in the guide component and detects an angle of inclination of the treatment tool that has been inserted inside the guide component, an insertion amount sensor that is provided in the guide component and detects an amount that the treatment tool has been inserted inside the guide component, a switching device that switches an observation range of images of an interior of the body cavity that are acquired by an observation device that has been introduced into the body cavity and are then displayed on a display unit, and a system control unit that drives the switching device based on information about the angle of inclination and insertion amount of the treatment tool.
US07841975B2
By forming a resin sheet or a metal sheet, an angular-box-shaped bag main body having gore portions on surrounding side faces to ensure its height is formed. A valley line is formed in an intermediate portion of each of the gore portions in a height direction. A triangular overlaid and folded portion is formed in an end of each of the gore portions on each of the surrounding side faces with each corner portion of the angular-box-shaped bag main body being sandwiched between one surrounding side face and another surrounding side face adjacent to the one surrounding side face in which the gore portion is folded in an overlaid manner in the overlaid and folded portion at a same time when another gore portion on another surrounding side face is folded. The angular box-shaped bag main body is folded so as to be in a flat state by allowing each of the gore portions to be folded in a manner to form a valley line along the folded line.
US07841972B1
A dumbbell includes a handle, a weight unit and two caps for retaining the weight unit within the handle. The weight unit includes weights and springs alternately arranged within the handle. Each of the caps is located against a related one of the springs so that the weights do not hit the handle axially.
US07841971B2
A golf exercising apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a horizontal base member with platform, a vertical lower frame member attached to the base member and a vertical upper frame member pivotally attached to the lower frame member whereby the upper frame member can tilt side-to-side relative to the lower frame member to accommodate right-handed and left-handed golf swings. A pivoting pulley assembly can be supported at an elevated position by the upper frame member. A cable can be anchored at one end to the upper frame member or to the pulley assembly. The other end of the cable can pass through the pulley assembly and can have a handle attached thereon. The cable can be tensioned to provide resistance by suspending weights from the cable between its anchored end and the pulley assembly. The golf swing is exercised by pulling the handle in a golf swing-like motion. Increasing the weights suspended on the cable increases the resistance in the golf swing motion.
US07841958B2
A modular table tennis game includes a plurality of paddles, a table tennis ball, and an adjustable table, or multiple adjustable tables. The tables may be mounted on a support system such as a tripod or other support structure that allows the tables to be adjusted in height and tilt. The top of the tables may have an opening or openings larger than the table tennis ball penetrating therethrough.
US07841955B2
Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core consists of a rubber center and a rubber outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard, thermoplastic intermediate core layer.
US07841953B2
A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a wall extending from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member defines a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the wall extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member.
US07841951B1
A golf club support device for use without requiring bending or stooping is provided. The support is molded as a seamless one-piece device having no removable or rotatable parts, is impervious to the elements, moisture, and ordinary cleaning products, and is sized to fit into a golf-tee container. The device includes golf shaft engagement member(s) and a foot-press platform for inserting its ground penetration portion into the ground. The foot-press platform and engagement members are positioned relative to each other for simultaneous use. The support may be hung from a golf-bag's towel holder or carried in the tee container. The device's geometric design provides desirable support stability and while the device is easily inserted into the ground, a wider mid-portion keeps the support from sinking below the ground surface and/or from toppling to one side. The support's low-cost and simple design provides for the device's use as a marketing tool.
US07841941B2
Disclosed are methods, apparatus and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for authenticating data for playing a game of chance on a gaming machine. A motherboard is provided in the gaming machine. A peripheral component is in communication with the motherboard over a bus. The peripheral component has access to authentication code in a memory. An authentication instruction message is received over the bus. Responsive to receiving the authentication instruction message, the authentication code is executed on a processor to perform an authentication process on the data. A signal is output, indicating whether the authentication process is successful in authenticating the data. In one implementation, the signal enables play of the game of chance on the gaming machine when the authentication process is successful, and disables play of the game of chance when the authentication process is unsuccessful.
US07841939B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.
US07841933B2
A multi-level single elimination sports tournament with wagering for a field of players divided into groups of generally equal size. Each group competes within itself in a series of play sequences, such as a series of golf holes. Each play sequence comprises at least one competitive play action toward a goal, such as one or more golf strokes toward a hole. The players wager after each play action on their expected results in the current play sequence. Players are eliminated when they can no longer meet a minimum ante on the next play sequence. A round of the tournament is completed when only a single player remains in each group. The survivors are divided into new groups for another round. This continues until a last round that has only one group. A single winner survives, and is awarded most of the pot.
US07841932B2
A method for playing a game of chance and system for facilitating the play of the game are disclosed. The method of playing the game of chance includes making a purchase transaction having an associated transaction price. The method of playing the game of chance further includes receiving a lottery number. The method of playing a lottery game further includes receiving a prize if a predetermined function of the lottery number and the transaction price satisfies a predetermined matching condition.
US07841925B2
A polishing article includes a polishing layer having a polishing surface and a solid light-transmissive window in the polishing layer, the window having a first non-linear edge that extends along a first axis parallel to the polishing surface, the first non-linear edge including a plurality of projections and a plurality of recesses extending parallel to the polishing surface and disposed in an alternating pattern along the first axis.
US07841924B2
A brassiere cup underwire includes a flexible plastics strip of varied crosswise dimension along its length so that the degree of support offered by the underwire varies throughout its length.
US07841920B2
Toy dolls including a body and a fluid-transport mechanism supported by the body and configured to receive a liquid from a liquid delivery device and dispense the liquid from the toy doll. In some embodiments, the fluid-transport mechanism includes a reservoir for collecting the liquid, a plunger disposed within the reservoir, and an activation mechanism configured to move the plunger from a fluid-delivery position to a fluid-receipt position when the liquid delivery device is inserted into the input region.
US07841913B2
A stacked electrical connector formed by mating an upper and a lower housing having rows of cavities containing terminals is disclosed. The upper and lower housings have primary terminal assurance provided by lances integrally formed into the housings. A secondary terminal assurance system is provided to further secure the terminals within the housings. In one embodiment, secondary terminal assurance is to terminals in the upper housing by lower housing protrusions and to terminals in the lower housing by a hinge. In another embodiment, secondary terminal assurance is provided to terminals in the upper and lower housing by upper and lower protrusions of a lock plate.
US07841912B2
A socket for an electrical plug and socket connection is described, comprising a socket housing with a plug-in opening for mounting a plug. The plug-in opening includes a contact support component for mating with a plug which provides contacts extending into the plug-in opening. The contacts are preferably flat contacts with an elastically bent contact surface. Also preferably, the contacts are cast in an injection molding process into the contact support insert. The contact support insert is then incorporated into the plug-in opening of the socket housing, and a seal is provided between the two components.
US07841902B2
An electrical connector system includes a substrate (1) connected to PHY side and an electrical connector (3) mounted on the substrate (1), a transformer (5) and a common mode filter (7). The electrical connector (3) is used to mate with a cable assembly and so forms a Cable side. The transformer (5) further includes a first wire (51) having two opposite ends electrically connected to the PHY side and a second wire (53) having two opposite ends. The common mode filter (7) has a third wire (73) and a fourth wire (75) physically separated from the second wire (53). The third wire (73) has an end electrically connected to one end of the second wire (53) and an opposite end electrically connected to the Cable side. The fourth wire (75) has an end electrically connected to the opposite end of the second wire (53) and an opposite end electrically connected to the Cable side.
US07841897B2
A four-port coaxial cable ground block is provided with four angularly spaced connection ports disposed for providing sufficient access for convenient connection and tightening of four coaxial cables thereby eliminating the need for use of a plurality of ground blocks in four cable applications. Opposing left and right side ground connections are provided for connection of ground wires thereby providing a common ground point for electrical grounding of a satellite dish all four connected coaxial cables thereby eliminating problems associated with multiple ground wire connections. The four-port ground block provides an improved multi-port ground block for use in connecting and grounding coaxial cable systems, particularly coaxial cables used in connection with DBS satellite dish systems.
US07841887B2
A pluggable module (3) retained in a mating receptacle cage (1) which has a retaining tab (10) includes a housing (30) and an ejector device (34). The housing has a latch portion (310) retained in the retaining tab, a recessing portion (312) defined on a surface thereof, at least one inclined portion (314) located on the surface of the recessing portion. The ejector device includes a spring member (340) slidably received in the recessing portion and a driving portion (341) for pulling the spring member forwardly. The spring member is guided by the inclined portion and upwardly resists against the retaining tab for releasing the latch portion of the housing from the retaining tab of the receptacle cage.
US07841883B2
A socket connector (1), used for receiving a CPU (central processing unit), includes an insulative housing (11) defining a plurality of passageways (113), a plurality of electrical contacts (14) received in the passageways, a metallic reinforcing plate (10) receiving the insulative housing, a cover member (12) pivotally mounted to the reinforcing plate, and a lever (13) attached to the reinforcing plate, pivotally driving the cover member to move toward the insulative housing. The lever rotates along a same direction as the cover member.
US07841880B2
A connector for an endoscope mounting a waterproof cap on a connection port for a connector having electrical connection member disposed therein in which an O ring providing waterproof characteristics by making close contact with an inner periphery of the connection port and a second seal member providing waterproof characteristics by making close contact with a front face of a rotating ring used for fixing a connector receiving part disposed on an outer periphery of the connection port are provided. The second seal member has a size which does not exceed the outer periphery of the rotating ring due to being formed in a bell shape having a flared section. A third seal member (O ring, V ring or oil seal) maintaining a watertight condition is provided between the rear end of the rotating ring and the rear member of the main body of the connector.
US07841879B2
A connector adapted to be connected to and disconnected from a mating object in a connecting/disconnecting direction, includes an alignment member, a rear housing coupled to the alignment member, and a front housing that is adapted to receive the mating object and is movable with respect to the alignment member and the rear housing. A contact is held by the front housing and the rear housing. The alignment member and the rear housing include a stopper mechanism which three-dimensionally defines a movable range of the front housing.
US07841871B2
In accordance with a disclosed example method, a first coaxial port is connected to a connector casing. The first coaxial port is connectable to a first section of coaxial cable and the first port to receive digital packet-based data from a first device. A second coaxial port is connected to the connector casing. The second coaxial port is connectable to a second section of coaxial cable. A first impedance is electrically connected to the first coaxial port. The first impedance located in the connector casing. A second impedance is electrically connected to the second coaxial port. The second impedance is located in the connector casing and is different from the first impedance to create an impedance imbalance between the second port and the second section of the coaxial cable.
US07841869B2
A connector for a board and an electrical junction box that utilizes the connector are provided. The connector prevents adjacent terminal metals from causing a short circuit. Each connector housing includes a hood section having an inner wall. Protrusions are provided on an outer surface of each inner wall to project outward in a thickness direction of the inner wall. Openings around adjacent through-holes are shifted in the thickness direction of the inner wall. Thus, it is possible to increase a distance on surface between adjacent terminal metals inserted into the adjacent through-holes. The distance on the surface between adjacent terminal metals prevents water adhering to the terminals metals from short-circuiting the adjacent terminal metals.
US07841867B2
A hard disk drive (HDD) apparatus includes a connector combined with a side of a printed circuit board (PCB) and with a connection terminal of a flexible printed cable (FPC), a flip pivotably combined with the connector to lock the connection terminal into and unlock the connection terminal from the connector, and an area increasing and strength reinforcing portion formed at the flip to increase a handling area of the flip and reinforce strength of the flip.
US07841866B2
An electrical contact comprises an enclosure member having a tubular portion defining grooves on thereof, an upper contact pin movable assembled on one end of the enclosure member, a lower contact pin movable assembled on another end of the enclosure member, and a spring inserted within the enclosure member and between the upper and lower contact pins. The upper contact pin has a base portion, an upper contacting portion extending upwardly from the base portion, and a pair of supporting slides extending outwardly from two sides of the base portion. The lower contact pin comprises a main body, a lower contacting portion extending downwardly from the main body, and a pair of supporting slides extending outwardly from two sides of the main body. The supporting slides of the upper contact pin and the lower contact pin being received in the grooves of the enclosure member and movable up and down along the grooves in a vertical direction.
US07841862B2
To provide a dielectric sheet that can be used as an elastomer connector in order to connect highly integrated circuit board and fine pitch electronic parts. The dielectric sheet (10f) comprises a first penetrating region (222c) having high permittivity, and a second penetrating region (33a) having conductivity, the regions are arranged and formed in such a way that they are alternatively interspersed in longitudinal and crosswise directions in a non-conductive sheet-shaped elastomer. The transverse thickness W2 and longitudinal thickness W5 in the first penetrating region (222c) may be arbitrarily determined. Similarly, the transverse thickness W3 and longitudinal thickness W5 in the second penetrating region (33a) may be arbitrarily determined. The dielectric sheet (10f) serves to compliment the circuit of electronic parts (for example, the printing board) to be connected thereto.
US07841858B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for producing a digital model by providing a digital model of a tooth; providing a digital model of at least one attachment device having two or more portions, the digital model of the attachment device having the two or more portions extending through two or more surfaces of the tooth; and positioning the digital model of the attachment device on the digital model of the tooth to produce a combined computerized model.
US07841856B2
Injection system with closing rod (2) provided with a cleaning device (6, 7, 8) suitable for removing the powder of molten plastic that builds up in the movement areas of the closing rod (2), in particular in the thrust bearing (3), during the normal operation of a molding machine. Advantageously the system according to the invention avoids the limitation of the piston stroke and the subsequent blockage with time and thus also the blockage of the closing rod, considerably reducing the number of maintenance operations and thus increasing the productivity of the molding machine.
US07841850B2
An apparatus and method for producing elongate variably shaped bodies at least partially comprising thermoplastic material a profile is extruded from an extrusion system head and engaged in a flexible conduit created by cavities formed inside a series of calibration plates attached flexibly together. The calibration plates slide freely over a rotating mold to adopt the shape of the mold's outer contour. The profile is driven through the flexible conduit and winded around the rotating mould like coils. In an embodiment of the apparatus and method, the profile is winded around a size-variable mould creating three-dimensional objects in real time.
US07841849B2
A process for making construction material may include mixing predetermined portions of two or more components of cementitious materials without ingredients that would allow the mixture to cure, and separating the un-curable mixture of the two or more components into a plurality of pellets, each having substantially the predetermined portions of the two or more components. An extrusion system may include a transport line configured to transport the dry pellets in a gaseous transport stream.
US07841844B2
A refrigerant suction guide structure of a reciprocating compressor is provided. The refrigerant suction guide structure includes a cylinder having an accommodating space inside, a piston having suction channels through which refrigerant is inhaled inside and inserted into the cylinder to be in a linear reciprocating motion, a suction valve included in the end of the piston to open and close the suction channels, and a valve fixing member for combining the suction valve with the piston. The suction channels of the piston include inclined surfaces for guiding refrigerant to the outside in which the suction valve is first opened. The suction channels are formed so as to be inclined to reduce flow resistance of inhaled refrigerant such that the amount of the inhaled refrigerant is increased. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of a compressor.
US07841842B2
A chemical liquid supplying apparatus capable of discharging chemical liquid with high accuracy and monitoring a leakage of an incompressible medium from a region between a piston and a cylinder is provided. A pump has a flexible tube for partitioning a pump chamber and a drive chamber, and the incompressible medium is supplied to the drive chamber by the piston reciprocating within a cylinder hole of the cylinder. A first bellows cover for forming a first seal chamber is provided between a large-diameter piston portion and the cylinder, and a second bellows cover for forming a second seal chamber is provided between a small-diameter piston portion and the cylinder. To detect pressure of the incompressible medium enclosed in the seal chambers, a seal-chamber pressure sensor is attached to the cylinder, and a deterioration degree of seal members is determined by detecting the pressure.
US07841840B2
A mechanism for drawing in refrigerant to front compression chambers (28a) of a double-headed piston type compressor differs from a mechanism for drawing in refrigerant to rear compression chambers (29a). More specifically, the mechanism for drawing in refrigerant to the front compression chambers (28a) include suction valves (18a) configured by flap valves. The mechanism for drawing in refrigerant to the rear compression chambers (29a) is configured by a rotary valve (35). Thus, pulsation of the compressor is reduced, so that the generation of noise is suppressed. As a result, a quiet compressor is achieved.
US07841839B2
A variable displacement compressor includes a housing assembly. A displacement control structure for the variable displacement compressor includes a passage forming member, a flat partition and a displacement control valve. The passage forming member is connected to an exterior surface of the housing assembly for forming a refrigerant passage for allowing the refrigerant to be discharged out from the compressor to an external refrigerant circuit. The flat partition is interposed between the passage forming member and the housing assembly. A throttle penetrates through the partition, which divides the refrigerant passage into an upstream passage and a downstream passage. The displacement control valve is provided in the passage forming member. The displacement control valve senses pressure of refrigerant in the upstream passage and pressure of the refrigerant in the downstream passage to control flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a supply passage.
US07841838B2
A rotary closed type compressor is configured such that an inside of a case becomes high pressure, and the rotary closed type compressor comprises a first cylinder and a second cylinder having cylinder chambers in which eccentric rollers are housed, respectively, vanes which divide the cylinder chamber into two sections, respectively, and vane chambers in which back-face side end portions of the vanes are housed, respectively. The vane on the first cylinder side is pressed and biased by a spring member provided in the vane chamber, and the vane on the second cylinder side is pressed and biased according to pressure difference between case internal pressure introduced to the vane chamber and suction pressure or discharge pressure introduced to the cylinder chamber.
US07841827B2
A blade set for masserating effluent solids in a sewage pump is composed of a cutter ring and a wheel blade adapted to attach to an effluent water inlet at the lower base. Particularly, the cutter ring has an inner wall and multiple recesses defined on the inner wall to accept enhancing blocks made of tungsten carbide. Correspondingly, the wheel blade has multiple blade strips and each blade strip has a cutout defined at edge to combine with an enhancing corner also made of tungsten carbide. By having the structure made of tungsten carbide, the cutter ring and the wheel blade has excellent wearing resistance and less abrasion loss to keep the operational efficiency to masserate the effluent solids and to extend the lifespan of the sewage pump.
US07841825B2
A method for predicting surge in a compressor is provided, which is applicable to a cooling apparatus equipped with a centrifugal compressor. A set of highest outlet pressure values is obtained by a performance test performed on the centrifugal compressor. A coolant flow rate value and an opening percentage value of inlet guide vanes of the centrifugal compressor are measured. An outlet pressure value of the centrifugal compressor is calculated with an equation using the measured coolant flow rate value and the measured opening percentage value. The outlet pressure value is compared with one of the highest outlet pressure values corresponding to the measured opening percentage value, and if the outlet pressure value is larger than or equal to the highest corresponding outlet pressure value, it confirms imminent surge in the centrifugal compressor, so as to provide a basis of preparation for surge elimination.
US07841820B2
The present invention is a wafer transfer system that transports individual wafers between chambers within an isolated environment. In one embodiment, a wafer is transported by a wafer shuttle that travel within a transport enclosure. The interior of the transport enclosure is isolated from the atmospheric conditions of the surrounding wafer fabrication facility. Thus, an individual wafer may be transported throughout the wafer fabrication facility without having to maintain a clean room environment for the entire facility. The wafer shuttle may be propelled by various technologies, such as, but not limited to, magnetic levitation or air bearings. The wafer shuttle may also transport more than one wafer simultaneously. The interior of the transport enclosure may also be under vacuum, gas-filled, or subject to filtered air.
US07841814B2
In a particular embodiment, a trailer is disclosed that includes a base, a frame extending from the base, and mounting structures coupled to the frame. The mounting structures are adapted to releasably secure an engine, such as an aircraft engine, to the frame such that the engine is secured to the frame and suspended above the base without contacting the base.
US07841810B2
A milling cutter head has a base body rotatable about a longitudinal axis and formed with axially extending seats, respective blade holders axially shiftable in the seats, respective blades welded to the blade holders and each having a cutting edge, and respective wedges shiftable in the base body and engaging the blade holders, whereby the wedges can adjust axial positions of the respective blades. A clamp can fix the blade holders in the body. The cutting edge of at least one of the blades is angled and has relative to the axis a long radially outer part and a short radially inner part angled relative to the respective outer part by 3° to 7° so that the two parts form an angle of 177° to 173°.
US07841803B2
A device for rock bolting with an adapter device (10) for connection of a drilling machine (3) to a self drilling rock bolt (7), in which the adapter device has an adapter element (14) which is sealingly surrounded by a swivel sleeve (13) for connection to one or more external source for flushing medium (8) and bolt grouting medium (9), and in which the adapter element has a thread for connecting to a corresponding thread on the rock bolt (7), and an integral connection portion for connection to the drilling machine (3).
US07841801B2
A splash plate for use with an end cap or end portion of a chamber is provided, wherein the end cap or end portion defines an end cavity having an open end cavity bottom and includes an opening for containing a waste water pipe that introduces waste water into the end cavity. The splash plate includes a base panel for covering the end cavity bottom such that waste water introduced into the end cavity contacts at least a portion of said base panel and a means for positionably securing the splash plate relative to the end cap or end portion.
US07841799B2
A ball pivot (3) of a ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, with a pivot (2) and with a joint ball (1) connected thereto. A recess (12) with a magnet (13) arranged therein is provided in the ball pivot (13). An intermediate space (17), which is filled with a nonmagnetic material (16) for fixing the magnet (13), is formed between the jacket surface (14) of the magnet (13) and the inner wall (15) of the recess (12).
US07841798B2
A device for a ball-and-socket-type connection of two members includes a first member having a head and a second member having a cavity that receives the head. The cross-sectional surface of the cavity is tapered at the lower end of the second member as a result of a constriction. The head and/or cavity is configured spherically with a center of articulation (Z). The ball-and-socket-type connection between the two members can be detachably fixed by means of a clamping element that can be connected to the second member. The head has a recess in which the front end of the clamping element can rest. The recess and/or the front end has an at least partially spherical surface with a center (C). In the clamped position of the device, the center of articulation (Z) and the center (C) are identical.
US07841795B2
A cleaning device comprises a main body having a first side provided with a first opening defining a first accommodating space, and a second side provided with a second opening defining a second accommodating space; a squeezable wiper whose first end penetrates the first opening and is retained in the first accommodating space and whose second end is outside the main body; a shield connected with the first opening so that the second end of the wiper is received in the shield; a cleaning liquid bottle received in the second accommodating space and comprising a nozzle portion having a spraying hole; and a cap having a first side connected with the second opening and provided with a third opening, through which the nozzle portion extends to be received in the cap, and a second side having an aperture communicating with the third accommodating space and corresponding to the spraying hole.
US07841793B2
A device for packaging and applying a cosmetic product includes a container holding the product. The container opens out via a product delivery passage into at least one opening surrounded by an outwardly concave surface designed to bear against a surface to be treated. The bearing surface is delineated by a continuous outer edge of elongated shape, of which the tangent at the level of the deepest portion forms an angle greater than 45° with the lengthwise axis of the product delivery passage. The opening facilitates the application of product on a surface to be treated, in the form of at least one predetermined motif.
US07841783B2
A light weight camera mounting assembly allowing for tilt and pan of a camera through a significant portion of a spherical rang of view with minimal parts count, minimal weight and minimal weight in the rotated portion of the assembly. A retraction/extension assembly for a light weight camera with minimal weight and complexity. Doors which open to allow a camera to extend beyond the surface of a vehicle and close to protect the camera and allow for landing of the vehicle without external skids.
US07841779B1
A fiber optic connector release mechanism that is used to release a transceiver module from a cage assembly includes a pivoting bail that operates a slide plate on the transceiver module. The locking mechanism comprises a locking projection on an underside of the module housing which mates with an aperture in a flexible locking tab on an underside of the cage. When the release mechanism is actuated, a flexible lifting tab on the slide plate is urged upward by a trailing edge of the locking projection on an underside of the module housing, which in turn moves the locking tab on the cage upward, thereby disengaging the locking tab from the locking projection.
US07841765B2
The static mixer comprises mixing elements for separating material to be mixed into a plurality of streams and a mechanism for the layered junction of the same, a transversal edge and guide walls that extend at an angle to said transversal edge, as well as deflecting elements arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis and provided with openings. The mixer includes mixing elements comprising a transversal edge and a following transversal guide wall and at least two guide walls with lateral end sections and at least one bottom section disposed between said guide walls, thereby defining at least one opening on one side of said transversal edge and at least two openings on the other side of said transversal edge. In addition to a high mixing efficiency and a low pressure drop, a mixer of this kind provides reduced dead volumes and is thus more effective than mixers of the prior art.
US07841762B2
An apparatus includes a vessel 10 for storing a liquid mixture 11 containing a liquid fuel 2 and an incompatible liquid 4 such as water or for allowing the liquid mixture 11 to flow therethrough, a vibrator 13 having at least one portion making contact with the liquid mixture in the vessel, a vibration generator 20 for vibrating the vibrator at high frequency, and a reflector 14 spaced from the vibrator 13 at a small distance. The incompatible liquid 4 is dispersed in and mixed with the fuel 2 by vibrating the vibrator at high frequency, whereby an emulsion fuel 12 having an ultra fine particle size and high mixture density is produced. According to the above configuration, cavitation can be extremely efficiently generated. The following technique is disclosed: a technique for producing various types of liquid mixture having an ultra fine particle size using the cavitation efficiently. In particular, the following mixture can be produced in a short time with high efficiency: a liquid mixture, such as an emulsion fuel, a liquid industrial material, a food product, a cosmetic product, or a drug product, having an ultra fine particle size, high mixture density, and high quality. If the liquid mixture is stored over a long period of time, liquid components thereof are hardly separated from each other.
US07841753B2
An LED illumination device includes an optical section at a front end thereof, an electrical section at a rear end thereof, and a heat dissipation section between the optical section and the electrical section. The optical section includes a plurality of LEDs electrically connecting with the electrical section, and a light output housing around the LEDs. The heat dissipation section includes a plurality of L-shaped heat pipes, a heat sink and a mounting seat. Each of the heat pipes includes an evaporation section and a condensation section substantially perpendicular thereto. The condensation sections of the heat pipes are received in the heat sink. The mounting seat attaches to the evaporation sections of the heat pipes. The LEDs thermally connect with evaporation sections via the mounting seat.
US07841740B2
An LED assembly for an LED lamp includes a replaceable bracket and a plurality of LED units mounted on the bracket. The bracket includes a frame and a plurality of mutually crossed beams interconnected in the frame to define a plurality of square openings. Each LED unit includes a printed circuit board, a heat sink secured below the printed circuit board and fixed on the bracket, and a plurality of LEDs mounted on the printed circuit board to be exposed in the openings in the bracket. The bracket can have different configuration so that light beams generated by the LEDs are parallel to each other, in a convergent manner or in a divergent manner.
US07841735B2
A battery operated fluorescent lamp is disclosed, which is operable from the battery while the battery is being recharged, comprising a tubular housing configured as a handle grip at one end and a cylindrical lens portion at the other end. The tubular housing lockably connects to a battery pack. The cylindrical 3030 lens portion encloses a miniature fluorescent bulb. The electrical circuitry, enclosed within the handle grip and alternately operable from either 120 VAC or 12 VDC, includes a converter circuit, a battery charging circuit, and a fluorescent lamp ballast circuit. The battery pack is electrically coupled to simultaneously receive charging current from an output of the charging circuit and to deliver DC supply voltage to the fluorescent lamp ballast circuit without the occurrence of a net discharge of the battery pack.
US07841731B2
An operating lamp system is provided that includes several operating lamps, each including a controller. The controllers are interconnected via data lines, wherein data exchange is provided between the controllers. This permits synchronization of the operating lamps.
US07841716B2
A method of providing a polymerized ophthalmic lens in which a polymerized ophthalmic lens is heated with a packaging solution comprising about 100 ppm to about 3,000 ppm of a wetting agent after its polymerization, and the ophthalmic lens formulation not having the wetting agent prior to its polymerization.
US07841713B2
A mobile telecommunications device including: a transceiver for sending and receiving signals via a wireless telecommunications network; a processor for processing schedule data to generate dot data representing a visual layout of the schedule data; and a printer configured to receive the dot data and print it onto a print medium.
US07841706B2
Variations in the negative pressure in the print head is minimized by positively controlling the ink supply pressure. For this purpose, the pump (36) and the valve (35) are installed in the ink communication path between the ink tank (40) and the print head (811), and are controlled to adjust the negative pressure applied to the print head (811).
US07841699B2
A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate chassis. A plurality of elongate printhead modules is serially arranged along and engaged with the chassis. Each end of each printhead module is shaped so that each adjacent pair of printhead modules forms a complementary fit. Each printhead module includes an elongate printhead configured to eject ink. Each printhead is oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chassis. Each adjacent pair of printheads overlaps to enable continuous printing along the axis.
US07841698B2
A nozzle plate, inkjet head a manufacturing method of the same are disclosed. By using a method of manufacturing a nozzle plate which includes: forming a nozzle by selectively etching one side of a plate substrate, forming a straight portion connecting with the nozzle by selectively etching the other side of the plate substrate, and forming a hydrophobic layer on the one side of the plate substrate, where a window is formed in the hydrophobic layer that opens the nozzle by a circumference greater than a circumference of an end of the nozzle, the meniscus of ink can be formed to a greater size around the nozzle exit, thereby preventing degradations in ink ejection performance due to the vaporization of the solvent, and preventing blockage in the nozzles due to the clogging of particles.
US07841697B2
A printhead comprising a plurality of inkjet nozzle assemblies is provided. Each nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle chamber formed on a substrate. The nozzle chamber comprises a roof spaced apart from the substrate and sidewalls extending between the roof and the substrate. The nozzle chamber has an ink ejection opening defined in the roof, a first ink inlet defined in one of the sidewalls, and a second ink inlet defined in a floor of the nozzle chamber. Each ink inlet is in fluid communication with a common ink reservoir. The nozzle assembly further comprises an actuator for ejection of ink through the ink ejection opening.
US07841691B2
The image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus equipped with a maintenance mechanism that is divided into a plurality of ink pans, which are connected to each other at an edge of each of which by means of pins, on a bottom surface of each of which a plurality of caps are arranged, which at the time of storage, are stored from guide rails so as to be stored at a position beneath a conveyance path in a V-shaped state, the caps in the ink pans being opposed to each other in a V-shaped state, which are drawn out horizontally along the guide rails to a position beneath the recording head group, and in each of which the caps are allocated to the nozzle surfaces of the recording heads by a hoisting and lowering operation of a belt conveying unit.
US07841681B2
An ink tank receives data signals from a printer and an LED provided on the ink tank is driven on the basis of the received data signals. The LED is driven in an inactive time period that is different from the time period in which the date signals are input to the ink tank.
US07841677B2
A tool box includes a body with drawers and the body is rotatably connected to a base. A brake unit is received in the base and includes a first board fixed to the base and a second board movably located on the first board by connection plates pivotably connected between the first and second boards. A brake disk is rotatably located on the first board and the shaft is securely connected to the brake disk so that the brake disk is co-rotated with the body. The second board is controlled to move and contact the brake disk on the first board by a clutch pedal. When the second board contacts the brake disk, the body together with the base is moved as one piece, and when the second board is disengaged from the brake disk, the body can be rotated independently relative to the base.
US07841672B2
An electronic brake controller for an electropneumatic brake system includes a housing; at least one brake operator mounted to said housing and whose position defines desired brake action; a display on said housing; a signal output on the housing; and a multiple position switch on the housing. A controller in said housing determines the position of the operator and the multiple position switch, provides one of operator position signal and desired brake action to the output and drives the display to display desired braking action as a function of the determined position of the operator for acceptable operator positions, and drives the display with a brake system variable and adjusts the variable as a function of the position of the multiple position switch for don't care operator positions.
US07841670B2
The degree of freedom in design is increased while maintaining strength by enabling a decorative member to be disposed without thinning a wheel main body.A wheel is made up of a wheel main body 1 which is made up of a rim portion 10 and a disc portion 11 and which has a vent hole 141 in the disc portion 11 and a decorative member 2 made from a resin which is held in at least the disc portion 11 and is observed from the vent hole 141. Since the decorative member 2 is observed in the vent hole 141, the wheel main body 1 including spoke portions 14 does not have to be thinned. In addition, since the design of the decorative member is observed in cooperation with the design of the disc portion 11, the degree of freedom in design is increased.
US07841668B2
A wall extension apparatus is movably positioned on the upper end of a side dump body to increase the carrying capacity thereof. The extension apparatus may be pivotally moved from a transport position to either a first side dumping position to a second side dumping position. When in its transport position, the extension apparatus extends upwardly from the upper ends of the side dump body. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
US07841667B2
A seating product, such as a chair, has a frame. The frame defines the seating area and back area of the seating product. A series flexible straps extend across the seating area and back area. In a similar fashion, a series of spring supports extend over the flexible straps and the seating and back areas. The straps and the spring supports hold an inflatable bladder in the lumbar region of the back area. The straps and the spring supports in the seating area hold another inflatable bladder in the seating area. The bladders are coupled to a pump controllable to inflate and deflate the bladders. When deflated, the seating product has a suspension and feel like that of traditional seating products. The bladders can be selectively and individually inflated to provide a customized support in the seating product. The flexible straps provide a suspension surface for the air bladders.
US07841665B2
A vertically adjustable armrest includes a tubular support constructed for attachment to a chair, an armrest assembly telescopingly positioned in the tubular support, the armrest assembly including a sleeve and a post, the sleeve including an opening adapted to receive an operative member on one side, and the post including positional detents extending down the length of a first vertical surface. The height adjustment mechanism is slidably received in the armrest assembly and includes an actuator rod having an angled ramp, an inclined surface, and a pair of angled surfaces, a locking member having teeth which are biased to selectively mate with the post detents, an inclined surface, and at least one pair of lateral followers. The actuator rod operatively engages the locking member with the inclined wedge mateably engaged with the inclined surface and the angled surfaces slideably engaged with the lateral followers.
US07841663B2
A seat assembly includes a seat defining an outer seating surface. An adjustment mechanism is mounted on the seat and includes a member movable relative to the seating surface for altering the contoured shape of the seating surface. A sensor is mounted on the seat. The sensor detects the location of an applied force acting on the seating surface by an occupant seated on the seat back and detects an applied pressure distribution of the force exerted on the seating surface. The sensor supplies a signal indicative of the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force. A controller receives the signal and is operable by a seat occupant for storing information corresponding to the location of the applied force and the applied pressure distribution of the force. The controller is operable to move the member by the adjustment mechanism from an initial position to a subsequent position dependent on a subsequent detection of a location of a second applied force and an applied pressure distribution of the force detected by the sensor.
US07841657B2
A cushion adapted to be placed on a child safety seat is provided. The cushion has a head pad having a neck supporting portion protruding outwardly along the lower rim of the head pad; and a pair of head side supporting surfaces inclined upwardly toward the left/right end of the head pad; a back pad having a pair of body side supporting surfaces inclined upwardly toward the left/right end of the back pad; and a hip pad having a hip supporting surface inclined upwardly from the rear end of the hip pad toward the front end of the hip pad; and a pair of knee supporting surfaces inclined upwardly toward the left/right end of the hip pad.
US07841644B1
A vehicle has a roof with a top and a floor with a connecting peripheral wall. The roof has a rearward section with small openings and a forward section with one large opening. A deck has an upper and a lower surface. The deck is located above the rearward section of the roof. Support members are vertically oriented and extend through the small openings in the roof. Each support member has a top and a bottom with each bottom coupled to the floor. Each top is coupled to the deck. The support members have a length to hold the entire deck a fixed distance above the top of the roof. The cross sectional area of each support member is a percentage of the cross sectional area of each small opening.
US07841637B1
A mounting kit for a truck rack for a 2005 and later Toyota Tacoma® and other trucks having composite truck beds, which mounting kit has a pair of mirror image front brackets attachable to the truck frame, a pair of mirror image rear brackets attachable to a rear vertical beam of the truck, and two side rails of a truck rack having mirror image attachment points for connection the each of the four in toto front and rear brackets.
US07841634B2
A loader basket for gripping, transporting, and releasing tires, including a fixed ring, a rotating ring operatively interrelated with the fixed ring, a plurality of shoe arms pivotally attached to the fixed ring, shoe assemblies pivotally mounted on each of the shoe arms, alignment links pivotally mounted on the fixed ring and pivotally attached to each of the shoe assemblies, shoe arm actuating rods pivotally attached to each of the shoe arms and the rotating ring for pivoting the shoe arms about the fixed rings while maintaining the shoe assemblies in concentric relation during movement between collapsed and expanded positions, and an actuator for selectively moving the rotating ring relative to the fixed ring.
US07841633B2
A article-handling device includes a means of rotation, a vacuum conduit, and a first vacuum manifold, each rotatably mounted onto a stationary support shaft. The device further includes a second vacuum manifold affixed to the first vacuum manifold and a non-rotatable control valve which is operational synchronized with the rotation means to provide both vacuum pressure and atmospheric pressure independently to each of the first and second vacuum manifolds. Each of the vacuum manifolds comprises one or more tubular suction shafts each having a suction cup affixed thereto. The suction shafts of each vacuum manifold are spatially arranged such that at least a first suction shaft of the first vacuum manifold is substantially parallel to a first suction shaft of the second vacuum manifold thereby enabling the suction shafts to function as a paired unit. In this way, at least the first suction shaft of said first vacuum manifold and the first suction shaft of said second vacuum manifold are each independently adapted to attract and hold said article when the first and second vacuum manifolds are operationally connected with said vacuum pressure and release said article when the first and second vacuum manifolds are operationally connected with said atmosphere pressure.
US07841630B1
An electrical fitting in the form of a connector or coupler for connecting an electric metal tube to an electrical box or panel or to one another. The fitting includes a body having an inlet end portion, an outlet end portion and a bore extending therethrough. An unidirectional locking device is disposed in an outermost chamber and a sealing washer disposed in an intermediate chamber. A split ring having an angularly bent leading end is provided with a series of offset circumferentially spaced unidirectional gripping tangs. The locking device may also be provided with a series of tube support tangs at the trailing end. Also, the locking device includes a tang forming an electrical bonding or ground between tubes, locking device and connector body.
US07841629B2
A plug-in coupling for fluidic systems, in particular for CO2- and fuel-conducting systems, including a housing (1) and a plug (2) which can be inserted into the housing (1). The plug (2) can be inserted by a plug stem (3) into a receiving opening (4) of the housing (1) in a manner sealed by at least one circumferential seal (5, 5a, 5b) and, when inserted, for it to be locked therein against release by a locking device having at least one latching element (7) arranged on the plug (2) and a latching shoulder (8) interacting with the latching element (7). The housing (1) has two-part design with an inner housing part (1a) and an outer housing part (1b), which can be connected releasably to the inner housing part (1a) so that it essentially surrounds the inner housing part (1a). In order to install it without destroying it, the latching shoulder (8) is formed at one end in an entry region (4a) of the receiving opening (4) on the outer housing part (1b).
US07841627B2
A device for connection of a coolant feed to a roller, especially for continuous casting plants, is arranged in that the roller is mounted by journals in bearing blocks in rolling bearings and is supplied with coolant by way of axial bores through the journals. The device includes a flange with an elastic sleeve that is fixable thereon. A first sealing element has a first sealing surface that is fixable on the elastic sleeve and is rotatable therewith. A second sealing element has a second sealing surface engagable with the first sealing surface and is fixed to, supported by or integrated into a bearing block cover fixed on the bearing block for covering the roller bore and the roller bearings. An axial bore penetrates the elastic sleeve and the bearing block cover and permits feeding of coolant into the interior of the roller. The sealing surfaces of the sealing elements are perpendicular to the rotation axis.
US07841624B2
A vehicle body structure with a fuel tank and canister is disclosed. A communication path connecting a fuel tank with a canister is provided to pass between a rear cross-member and an expanded portion of an underbody.
US07841621B2
An airbag assembly can include a side curtain airbag having an inflatable curtain portion and an inflatable sail portion, and a first fold of the sail portion with respect to the curtain portion prior to folding the side curtain airbag into a stowed condition for installation in the vehicle. The curtain portion is disposed rearward of the first fold and the sail portion is disposed at least partially forward of the first fold. A tether has a first end attached to the side curtain airbag rearward of the first fold and a second end attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for guiding a direction of expansion of the sail portion during inflation.
US07841619B2
An interior component for a vehicle formed by superimposing a bottom edge portion of a second interior component on a top edge portion of a first interior component or by placing these portions so as to face against each other, and by joining these interior components together by a joining component, wherein the joining component includes: a top supporting portion joined to a back surface of the second interior component, which supports a top edge side of the second interior component; and a bottom engaging portion provided underneath of and separated from the top supporting portion, which engages the bottom edge of the second interior component with the first interior component.
US07841611B2
The transportation apparatus includes a frame a seat portion which slides on the frame. A leg support pivots about the seat portion. At least one middle leg and at least one rear leg depends downwardly from the seat portion. At least one middle wheel is connected to the middle leg and at least one rear wheel is connected to the rear leg. The middle wheel and rear wheel define a middle and rear rotation axes, respectively. At least one front wheel is connected to the leg support. The middle leg is movable to adjust the vertical position of the middle wheel, and the rear leg is movable to adjust the vertical position of the rear wheel.
US07841609B2
The present invention provides a vehicle step device, capable of enhancing operability of a step having an elevating function to enhance ingress/egress ease into and from the vehicle. The step device includes an opening/closing mechanism that operates in synchronization with opening and closing operations of a slide door, and a step moving mechanism that transmits power of the opening and closing operations of the slide door through the opening/closing mechanism to a movable step, thereby moving the movable step. The step moving mechanism includes a slide lever for moving the movable rails forward and backward, X arms each having first and second arms and provided between each movable rail and the movable step, and a vertically moving lever that moves the first end of the first arm with respect to the movable rails to vertically move the movable step.
US07841601B2
A drill chuck has a chuck body centered on and rotatable about an axis, a jaw holder rotatable on the body and formed with a plurality of angularly spaced guides, a sleeve surrounding the holder and body, and jaws in the guides between the sleeve and the body. Interengaging first and second stops on the body engage the sleeve and limit relative angular movement of the sleeve on the body between respective angularly offset first and second end positions. An annular array of teeth rotationally fixed to the chuck body engages first and second pawl angularly fixed on the holder. The pawls and the array of teeth are oriented such that each pawl locks in one direction and ratchets in the other, with the pawls working oppositely. Respective first and second springs urge the first and second pawls into the locking positions.
US07841593B2
The sheet transport apparatus comprise a sheet supply tray, a separation roll, a support body and a separation roll accommodation portion. The sheet supply tray has a plurality of sheets. The separation roll separates out the sheets one by one by applying a transport resistance to the sheets transported from the sheet supply tray. The support body rotatably supports the separation roll. The separation roll accommodation portion is formed in a transport path along which the sheets are transported, and it accommodates the separation roll and the support body such that they may be detached from a transport surface side of the transport path.
US07841592B2
A paper feeding device includes a pick roller, a spring element and a separator pad. The pick roller has a roller surface. The spring element is disposed above the pick roller. The spring element has two spring arms extending toward two ends of the pick roller. Free ends of the two spring arms extend to positions outside the two ends of the pick roller and below the roller surface so as to be contactless with the roller surface and are pushed forward and upward by papers and then transfer a press force to the pick roller. A separator pad is arranged in front of the spring element and contacts with the roller surface of the pick roller for cooperating with the pick roller to separate a lowermost one of the papers. Because the spring arms are contactless with the pick roller directly, so the spring arms do not rub the pick roller, which avoids the pick roller being abraded.
US07841581B2
A needleless connector for controllably permitting fluid communication between a cannula and a port usually associated with a patient catheter or line. The connector is made from three parts, two of which form an elongated housing for a valve part. The valve part comprises a domed slit valve which is in a closed state before a cannula is inserted into the housing. Insertion of the cannula inverts the dome valve to open a slit permitting fluid communication there through. Insertion of the cannula also displaces the valve part about and along a post internally disposed in the housing. Assembled, the valve part is initially disposed about the post in a compressive sealed relationship to form a secure pathway therebetween. The post is shaped to store greater energy by stretching portions of the valve part as the valve part is displaced therealong. Upon removal of the cannula, stored energy is released from the stretched portion of the valve part to return the valve part to an original state, presenting a closed and cleanable surface to a user.
US07841579B2
A gimballed valve for a flow control valve operates as a sealing member for an adjustable nozzle and is coupled to a piezoelectric actuator having stacked piezoelectric members that are toroidally shaped. The gimballed valve includes at least two support rings and a center closure member. In one embodiment only an outermost support is in contact with at least one member of the piezoelectric actuator. The support rings may be concentrically arranged and coupled together with flexure members. The center closure member operates to seal against an orifice in the adjustable nozzle and may deflect upon contact with the adjustable nozzle to account for misalignment issues that may arise during machining and/or assembly of the flow control valve.
US07841577B2
A process for producing a composite of aluminum material and synthetic resin molding with high efficiency; and a stable fast composite exhibiting high peeling resistance and large mechanical strength. The process is characterized in that aluminum material (1) is anodized in electrolytic bath of phosphoric acid or sodium hydroxide to thereby form anodic oxidation coating (2) provided with innumerable pores (3) having a diameter of 25 nm or more made open in the surface thereof is formed thereon, and a synthetic resin mold (6) is coupled with the anodic oxidation coating (2) in such a condition that the portion (6a) of the synthetic resin molding (6) is intruded or anchored in the innumerable pores (3) of the anodic oxidation coating (2). By this process, composite (P) with the above properties can be easily obtained.
US07841575B1
The present invention is aimed at systems and methods by which a flat panel display may be supported by a stand, which can also be used as a hook, or other connecting mechanism, to hang the monitor from. In one embodiment, the “kickstand” can be rotated upward without disconnecting it from the body of the flat panel display. In another embodiment, the “kickstand” is attached to a VESA mounting bracket.
US07841571B1
A tension-based fastening system for holding an article comprising a forward-facing S-shaped plate and a reverse-facing S-shaped plate. The reverse-facing plate is disposed over and integrally connected to the forward-facing plate, forming a top tensioned holder portion and a bottom tensioned holder portion for removably holding objects. The reverse top arc of the reverse-facing plate and the forward top arc of the forward-facing plate overlap to form a top opening, while the reverse bottom arc of the forward-facing plate and the forward bottom arc of the reverse-facing plate overlap to form a bottom opening. The overlapping arcs provide tension for maintaining each tensioned holder portion in a closed position.
US07841567B2
The support stand for a flat-panel display monitor includes a rotatable bracket, a hinge assembly, a base member, a first and a second link brackets. The hinge assembly includes a connecting piece, and a pivotal shaft inserted through the connecting piece and the rotatable bracket. The pivotal shaft forms a restricting flange. The base member includes a supporting block forming a restricting pole. The first link bracket forms two limiting protrusions on the first and second end portions. The first end portions of the first and second link brackets are rotatably connected to the connecting piece, the second end portions of the first and second link brackets are rotatably connected to the supporting block. The two limiting protrusions of the first link bracket abut the restricting flange and the restricting pole respectively, thus adjusting the support stand to move between a first utmost position and a second utmost position.
US07841560B2
The present invention relates to a seat device for an aircraft. The seat device comprises a seat installation and a shell structure. In this arrangement the inside of the shell structure comprises an enclosed stowage space, wherein the shell structure is designed to attach the seat installation to a floor structure. In this arrangement the enclosed stowage space is designed to accommodate an item of baggage.
US07841554B2
A recording tape cartridge can prevent release of rotation locking of a reel with respect to a case accompanying dropping of the recording tape cartridge. The tape recording cartridge is configured to rotatably accommodate within a case a reel that has magnetic tape wound on a reel hub. Within the reel hub, external teeth of a brake gear, of a brake member that is supported so as to be non-rotatable with respect to the case, mesh with an engaged gear having internal teeth, preventing rotation of the reel with respect to the case. Lock portions of lock members are inserted between the reel positioned biased to a bottom panel side by a compression coil spring, and a top panel, thereby preventing movement of the reel with respect to the case in the reel axial direction.
US07841549B2
An electrostatic spraying device has a removable cartridge with a reservoir containing a volume of liquid compositions to be electrically sprayed. The device includes a nozzle for dispensing the liquid and an emitter electrode disposed adjacent to the nozzle for charging the liquid composition just being dispensed from the nozzle. A field electrode surrounds the reservoir in order to charge the liquid composition within the reservoir, thereby avoiding an occurrence of electric current which would deteriorate the composition remaining in the reservoir. The reservoir is at least partially made of deformable material such that the reservoir is capable of receiving pressure to deform and thus supply the liquid composition out of the reservoir. Thus, the reservoir can be designed into a simple and compact structure, thereby providing an increased liquid containing volume in relation to the bulk of the removable cartridge.
US07841547B2
A flow shut off or throttling valve is provided in a sprinkler nozzle housing to enable a nozzle to be changed without having to turn off a flow pressure source. The valve intersects a flow path through the nozzle housing and has an opening such that when the opening is aligned with the flow path, a flow stream can flow unobstructed through the flow path. The valve is movable between a fully open position in which the opening is aligned with the flow path and a closed position which blocks the flow stream from flowing to a nozzle disposed at an outlet passage of the flow path. The valve may be constructed to be either slidable or rotatable between the two positions, and is actuated by a gearing arrangement which is operable at the exterior of the nozzle housing. The external valve actuator may function as a physical barrier to retain the removable nozzle in the nozzle housing when the valve is open and to disengage the nozzle when the valve is closed.
US07841539B2
The smart card with random temporary account number generation provides an authenticating system coupled with an access or transaction card, such as a credit card. The card includes first and second memory storage media, with the first memory medium containing a plurality of temporary account or authentication numbers. The card also has a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint scanner, and the second memory stores the biometric parameters of the authorized user. A processor compares the biometric parameters with the measured biometric readings to enable the card. The processor has a random number generator, allowing for the randomized selection of one of the account numbers stored in the first memory, thus providing a temporary account number for the transaction. A remote site includes an identical random number generator and set of account numbers, allowing the temporary account number to be verified and then discarded, following the transaction.
US07841538B2
A transaction product includes a memory, a housing, an electrical connector and an account identifier. The housing encloses the memory. The electrical connector is securely electrically coupled with the memory and is configured to be selectively received by a socket of a computing device such that the computing device can access the memory via the electrical connector. The account identifier links the transaction product to an account or record, the account identifier being machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal such that value can be added to or deducted from the account or record using the account identifier. Other product, cards, assemblies and associated methods are also disclosed.
US07841535B2
A keychain includes a key ring and a housing member coupled to the key ring. The housing member includes a body member and a cover member shaped and dimensioned to slide over the body member to substantially cover the body member. The body member includes at least one pocket shaped and dimensioned for receiving a digital memory card. The body member includes a plurality of sidewalls, a front wall and an end wall. The at least one pocket is formed in one of the plurality of sidewalls and extends into a central portion of the body member. A body stop member is formed along at least one of the plurality of sidewalls, the body stop member is shaped and dimensioned for engaging a cover stop member formed along the cover member so as to provide a frictional engagement preventing inadvertent removal of the cover member when the cover member is positioned over the body member.
US07841531B2
An image signal output device includes a code generating means for generating a two-dimensional geometrical code based on a source data, a obtaining means for retrieving a sequential image signal, a code inserting means for inserting the two-dimensional geometrical code in the sequential image signal and a output means for outputting the sequential image signal. The code inserting means imperceptibly inserts the two-dimensional geometrical code in the sequential image signal, and the output means outputs the sequential image signal having the two-dimensional geometrical code inserted therein. The imperceptible two-dimensional geometrical code is captured by a camera in a cell phone to be decoded and stored in a memory medium.
US07841527B2
A method is provided for associating a sticker and an object in a computer system. The object is stored in an object repository in the computer system and the object is of a type selected from a range of object types. The sticker has coded data indicative of a sticker identity and the object type. The method provides a sensing device for sensing the coded data when placed in an operative position relative to the sticker and generating indicating data that is indicative of the identity of the sticker and the object type. The indicating data is received in the computer system from the sensing device. The sticker, the object type and the object are identified so that an association between the sticker identity and the object is generated. When the object repository is empty, the computer system indicates that the association cannot be generated. The computer system is configured to initiate an action regarding the object in response to the sensing device being placed in an operative position relative to the sticker.
US07841513B1
A system is provided for radio frequency identification authentication of memorabilia. The system includes a database, a radio frequency identification tag having a unique identifier, a reader, and a user interface. The radio frequency identification tag is provided to a memorabilia item. The reader is configured to read the radio frequency tag and to determine a geographic location where the reader reads the radio frequency identification tag. The user interface is configured to enter information associated with the memorabilia item into the database, wherein the information comprises the unique identifier, a name of an authenticator, a description of the memorabilia item, and a time of authentication.
US07841508B2
A method providing elliptical C4 connects which possesses optimal orientation for enhanced reliability, as implemented in connection with their installation in electronic packages. Employed are essentially elliptical solder pads or elliptical C4 pad configurations at various preferably corner locations on a semiconductor chip.
US07841506B2
There is provided a method for fabricating a dual alloy structure that may in turn be machined to fabricate a rotary component such as an impeller for use in a gas turbine engine. The method provides a first titanium alloy and a second titanium alloy. The first titanium alloy displays characteristics, such as high strength, suitable for application in the bore area of an impeller. The second titanium alloy displays characteristics, such as high temperature creep resistance, suitable for use in the outer radial area of an impeller. A bore subelement is fabricated from the first titanium alloy. A body subelement is fabricated from the second titanium alloy. The bore subelement and body subelement are joined by inertia welding at a common welding surface. Each subelement and/or the resulting welded structure is heat treated to achieve a desired microstructure.
US07841501B2
A cover or boot for use in conjunction with the nail advancement mechanism of a fastener-driving tool is disclosed. The cover or boot covers external surface portions of the nail advancement mechanism of the fastener-driving tool so as to prevent a significant accumulation of dust particles from effectively collecting upon and entering the piston-cylinder assembly of the nail advancement mechanism and thereby operatively interfering with the reciprocal movements of the piston of the piston-cylinder assembly of the nail advancement mechanism whereby the operative functioning of the nail advancement mechanism of the fastener-driving tool would otherwise be adversely affected.
US07841492B2
A dosing and/or dispensing system for use with an inverted liquid container such as a bottle or the like for dosing and/or dispensing liquid contents from the bottle. The system includes an improved venting device to ensure that the liquid is dosed or dispensed properly and accurately drains; and an anti-drip valve is provided to prevent liquid from dripping from the discharge end of the dosing bowl of the system.
US07841487B2
A container having a bottom and two pairs of opposed walls connected together to form a container body having an open top covered by a pair of hinged lids. The upper edges of one pair of opposed walls have a plurality of pin segments formed thereon along a hinge line and an edge of each of the lids has a plurality of generally U-shaped knuckles formed thereon along the hinge line with each knuckle having opposed sidewalls forming a slot having an opening at one end and a bearing portion at an opposite end which opens upwardly with respect to a top surface of the lid. The opposed sidewalls of the slot of each knuckle have ribs protruding inwardly to retain a corresponding pin segment of the container body. When the lids are connected to the container body and rotated to a closed position, the slots of each knuckle face upwardly in a direction away from the top surface of the lid.
US07841486B2
There is provided a device for fastening a connecting member to a handle of a cooking vessel; the connecting member has a collar portion having an inner cavity into which a connecting portion of the handle is inserted; the collar portion is bounded by a lateral wall closed into a loop by means of two opposite end tabs joined to each other and defining at least one preassembly tooth cooperating with a seat formed in the connecting portion; and the connecting member has a fastening member, which is pressed and permanently deformed inside a recess on the connecting portion to secure the connecting portion inside the cavity.
US07841484B2
There is provided a capped container in which the angle of rotation of a screw cap required for unsealing the same can be rendered small and in which a cut piece can be prevented from being completely cut away from a container body. The capped container includes a container body (11) including a wall portion and a rupture portion (36) formed at a predetermined position of the wall portion; a tubular base portion attached to the wall portion and surrounding the rupture portion (36); a movable tube (16) disposed in the base portion and thread-engaged with the base portion; and a screw cap (17) disposed outside the base portion, thread-engaged with the base portion, engaged with the movable tube (16), and adapted to rotate the movable tube (16) while being rotated. A cutting member (38) including a plurality of blades (t1 to t6) and adapted to cut the rupture portion (36) as the screw cap (17) is rotated is formed at a lower end of the movable tube (16). A bottom portion (br) is formed between pointed tips (p1 and p6) of two predetermined blades (t1 and t6).
US07841482B2
Fitting for attachment to a membrane of an inflatable device comprises a mounting adapter (1) to be secured to said membrane. A resiliently deformable part (5c) associated with said mounting adapter is arranged to embrace and hold an initially separate insert (2). The resiliently deformable part (5c) is arranged such that when the mounting adapter is secured to the membrane and exposed to a force exerted by fluid at one of two sides of the membrane, the resiliently deformable part is urged into applying engagement with the insert (2). A variety of different inserts (2) having different valve arrangements can be held by the mounting adapter.
US07841480B2
A socket holding device includes a peg component, a holding component, a positioning component, and a spring component. The peg component has a pin portion formed with a recess. The holding component has an insert portion that is movable between first and second positions relative to the pin portion. The insert portion has an outer peripheral wall that permits sleeving of a socket on the holding component. The insert portion is formed with a retainer hole that is registered with the recess. The positioning component is movably disposed in the retainer hole. The positioning component and the recess are configured such that the positioning component projects from the outer peripheral wall for interference engagement with the socket when the holding component is at the first position, and such that the positioning component permits removal of the socket when the holding component is at the second position. The spring component biases the holding component to the first position.
US07841474B2
A material separator system and method for magnetically separating components of feedstock by directing the feedstock onto a thin rotating shell enclosing one or more rotating magnetic rolls capable of riding upon the interior of the shell. In one embodiment, a cam-and-bearing arrangement is used to permit the magnetic roll and shell each to rotate on its own independent axis. This provides the ability to adjust clearance, the line of contact, and the degree of contact between the magnetic roll and the shell. In another embodiment, a different arrangement provides the same capabilities. The system can be configured to drive a magnetic roll, which then drives the shell, or it can be configured to drive the shell, which then drives the magnetic roll. The system can also be configured as a retreater for retreating feedstock.
US07841468B2
An accessory holder includes a first clamshell portion, a second clamshell portion, a living hinge joining the first and second clamshell for moving the first clamshell portion between a first position adjacent to the second clamshell portion wherein the first clamshell portion and the second clamshell portion define a first compartment for holding an accessory and a second position wherein the first clamshell portion is spaced apart from the second clamshell, a latch assembly having a first latch portion located on the first clamshell portion and a second latch portion located on the second clamshell portion for latching the first clamshell portion with the second clamshell portion when the first clamshell portion is in the first position and a cover for holding the first clamshell portion in the first position.
US07841467B2
A portable storage device having a storage device body including a generally resilient shelf and flexible material partially surrounding the shelf and a connector attached to the flexible material, the connector having a hook and being configured to connect the storage device body to a support member in a manner that supports the shelf in a generally horizontal orientation. The portable storage device may also include a collapsible compartment suspended from the shelf to provide additional storage accommodations.
US07841466B2
A surfboard separator for allowing a user to stack two surfboards on top of each other during the transport of the surfboards to a prescribed destination. The separator is operative to separate a first surfboard from a second surfboard stacked thereon, and to further create a padded interface therebetween. The separator is connectable to the first surfboard and comprises an elongate strap having opposed first and second ends. The separator further comprises at least one pad connected to the strap. The pad is disposed against a lower surface of the first surfboard when the separator is connected to the first surfboard. The separator also includes an attachment assembly connected to the strap. The attachment assembly comprises first and second connectors which are releasably attachable to each other to facilitate the engagement of the separator to the first surfboard.
US07841463B2
A conveyor includes an endless belt having teeth with drive faces raked away from the direction of travel. The conveyor also includes a drive pulley having sheaves with drive faces raked toward the direction of travel. The drive faces on the sheaves engage the drive faces on the teeth to move the belt and the raked angle tends to pull the belt inwardly. A stationary foot assists removing a driven tooth from its corresponding sheave.
US07841462B2
In one aspect, a modular link conveyor chain including slats is capable of assuming a compressed and an expanded condition so as to permit side-flexing while moving along a forward run and a return run in an endless path. The chain is formed of links arranged in rows spaced apart in the conveying direction, the links of a first row including aligned apertures and the links of a second row including oversized apertures, such as slots, for aligning with the aligned apertures of the links in the first row. A first connector is associated with the corresponding apertures to interconnect the first and second rows of links. At least one elongated slat is mounted to the connector. The slat maybe mounted for pivoting movement between a first position forming at least part of a conveying surface along the forward run, and a second position along the return run.
US07841456B2
The invention concerns an adjustable hysteresis driver, with a rotor component (5) on the input side that can be driven and/or a stator component (7′, 7″), with an armature component (8) on the output side in fixed connection with a shaft (4), with a hysteresis component (9) connected to the armature component (8), the stator component (7′, 7″) comprising an electromagnet (7a) or permanent magnet (18) by means of which a magnetic flux can be induced in the rotor component (5) and/or the stator component (7′, 7″), and in which the torque that can be transmitted can be adjusted by electromagnetic or electro-mechanical means. The purpose of the invention is to propose a hysteresis driver with improved adjustability. To achieve this it is provided that the hysteresis driver consists of a hysteresis clutch or a hysteresis brake and has active operating means for implementing a “fail-safe” function, which, if the current supply to the electromagnet (7a) fails, ensures that a torque is transferred either by a mechanical coupling or by the action of permanent magnet force between the rotor component (5) of a hysteresis clutch or the stator component (7″) of a hysteresis brake and the said armature component (8).
US07841449B2
A lubrication structure of a transmission includes a gear chamber having an internal space storing lubricating oil, in which chamber a pressure is raised to a prescribed pressure, a gear chamber having an internal space communicating to the internal space through a communicating hole and attaining a pressure lower than the prescribed pressure, and an oil catch tank provided in the internal space at a position directly under the communicating hole and receiving the lubricating oil that flows into the internal space from the internal space through the communicating hole. With such a structure, a lubrication structure for a transmission capable of holding an oil level at a proper level with a simplified structure can be provided.
US07841447B2
A modular ladder comprises a base having a back end and a front end. A vertical support is attachable to the back end of the base. The ladder also includes a stair section assembly comprising a plurality of steps. The stair section assembly has a front end and a back end. The front end of the stair section assembly is attachable to the front end of the base. The back end of the stair section assembly is attachable to the vertical support. The stair section assembly comprises a separate top step, whereby the top step is capable of being attached to the stair section and whereby the attachable nature of separate top step facilitates storing the ladder in a compact container which is smaller than the stair section and top step when placed in an assembled condition. A method of storing the ladder in a compact container is also disclosed.
US07841445B2
A dual-sensor stethoscope, or retrofit device for a stethoscope, promotes anti-sepsis and stereoscopy through use of a substantially rigid, generally T-shaped tube for support of dual stethoscope sensors, wherein at least one sensor is electronic. Each sensor may be rotated away from a body independently for use of a single head or rotated into the same general plane for dual-head stereoscopy. A clinician can create a spatial, three-dimensional (3D) antiseptic barrier and avoid the need to carry multiple stethoscopes. During stereoscopy, the use of a common tube or earphones allows the transmission of sound with constructive interference of sound waves. The substantially rigid, generally T-shaped support tube allows a clinician to auscultate with one hand and monitor two locations without transference of pathogens.
US07841440B2
A fuel safety control device includes a fuel pump disposed in a fuel tank and coupled to a vehicle engine with a fuel piping system, a fuel system safety controller coupled to the fuel pump for controlling the driving direction of the fuel pump, and an impact detector coupled to the fuel system safety controller for supplying an impact signal to the fuel system safety controller and to reverse the driving direction of the fuel pump, and to draw the fuel from the fuel piping system back to the fuel tank when receiving an impact signal, in order to prevent the impact firing from being occurred. A transformer circuit may be coupled to the fuel pump for increasing the driving speed of the fuel pump when required.
US07841439B2
A occupant weight detecting device detects the weight of an occupant setting on a vehicle seat assembly and includes a pivot support mechanism for supporting the vehicle seat assembly for pivotal movement about a horizontally extending shaft relative to a seat fixing portion in a vehicle; an elastic force applying mechanism for applying a biasing force to the vehicle seat assembly to enable the latter to pivot an angle, proportional to a load imposed on the vehicle seat assembly, relative to the seat fixing portion; a pivot angle detecting mechanism for detecting an angle of pivot of the vehicle seat assembly relative to the seat fixing portion; and a pivot restricting mechanism for defining a pivotal range over which the vehicle seat assembly can pivot relative to the seat fixing portion.
US07841429B2
A hydraulic transaxle comprises: a housing having a fluid sump therein, the housing including mutually joined housing parts; a pair of first wheels disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle; an axle disposed in the housing; a center section disposed in the housing, the center section being formed therein with a pair of fluid ducts; a hydraulic pump disposed in the housing, fitted to the center section, and communicating with the fluid ducts; and a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing, fitted to the center section, and communicating with the fluid ducts so as to be fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic motor includes a cylindrical motor shaft relatively rotatably and coaxially penetrated by the axle and drivingly connected to the axle.
US07841423B2
A road grader having the components or assemblies of a rear counterweight, lights and a bumper. This rear frame should consist of few individual parts, render possible a simple assembly for the rear counterpoise weight and offer sufficient options for building on different pieces of rear-mounted equipment. That is achieved if the bumper and the rear counterweight consist of a rear end plate vertically aligned and extending across the entire width of the grader, which represents the rearmost part of the rear frame and onto which the lighting is attached in the region of its outer ends.
US07841415B2
Extension systems for iron roughnecks are provided. These systems are equipment apparatuses and extendable/retractable supports for devices used for connecting and disconnecting tubular members (e.g. casing, tubing, pipe, or drill pipe) on drill rigs. The systems in particular relate to iron roughnecks, and methods of moving them on a drilling rig.
US07841412B2
A downhole valve features a flow port that can be selectively obstructed by a pressure actuated sleeve that is movable in a pin and slot mechanism to rotate while being cycled up and down by application and removal of pressure in a cyclical manner. When the sleeve is cycled to the port closed position, a flapper mounted near its upper end can fall on a seat on the sleeve to allow pressure to be applied to the flapper and sleeve, causing the sleeve to move to a position that will prevent fluid loss from the tubular string into the formation. The Closed flapper allows pressure cycles of the sleeve. A double closure against fluid loss can be affected.
US07841408B2
A method for treating a tar sands formation is disclosed. The method includes providing a drive fluid to a first hydrocarbon containing layer of the formation to mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the first layer. At least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons are allowed to flow into a second hydrocarbon containing layer of the formation. Heat is provided to the second layer from one or more heaters located in the second layer. At least some hydrocarbons are produced from the second layer of the formation.
US07841407B2
Methods of generating subsurface heat for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. The methods include providing a stream that includes water to a plurality of wellbores. Fuel and oxidant is provided to one or more flameless distributed combustors positioned in at least one of the wellbores. The fuel and oxidant is mixed to form a fuel/oxidant mixture. At least a portion of the mixture is flamelessly combusted in at least one of the flameless distributed combustors to generate heat. The fuel includes at least 0.1% hydrogen sulfide by volume.
US07841405B2
A flexible bore hole liner, such as may be used to line or seal a hole drilled into the earth's surface, and featuring a diffusion barrier to prevent undesirable cross-contamination during, for example, sampling of subsurface fluids. The sampling liner includes a flexible diffusion barrier so as to reduce diffusion transport of contaminant(s) into and/or out of the interior volume of a bore hole liner. This flexible diffusion barrier may be incorporated into the construction of a portion of known borehole liner systems. The diffusion barrier is attached by a suitable means to the liner and/or the “spacer” accompanying the liner. The diffusion barrier prevents diffusion into and/or out of the liner in the sampling interval subtended by the spacer length, preventing cross-contamination of fluid samples obtained by the liner systems currently in use.
US07841400B2
Drill bits are enable the use of tools in a wellbore when it is undesirable or impossible to remove the drill bit. Drill bits include a drill bit insert, a latch assembly, a housing, a running tool, and a shaft trigger to operate the latch assembly.
US07841389B1
An apparatus for efficiently distributing warm air generated by a steam radiator which comprises a booster fan assembly positioned adjacent to the steam radiator. A mechanism is coupled to the booster fan assembly for circulating the warm air away from the steam radiator and out into a room.
US07841388B2
A radiating fin assembly for a thermal module includes a plurality of radiating fins being mounted on a top of a heat radiating base of the thermal module with a heat pipe located between the radiating fins and the base. Each of the radiating fins is provided at a predetermined position with a downward opened curved notch for engaging with the heat pipe. A first extension is outward extended from a top of the curved notch and perpendicular to the radiating fin, and a second extension is perpendicularly extended from an outer edge of the first extension. When the radiating fin assembly is mounted on the top of the heat radiating base, the second extensions apply a downward pressure to the heat pipe, bringing the heat pipe to more tightly contact with the heat radiating base.
US07841386B2
An anti-breaking structure of an end closure of a heat pipe is formed at a tapered end of the heat pipe, and a soldering joint is formed at an upper end of the anti-breaking structure. The anti-breaking structure includes an uneven rib coupled longitudinally between the tapered end and the soldering joint, and two wing portions extended outward from the left and right outer sides of the uneven rib, and one surface of the uneven rib is convex and another backside surface of the uneven rib is concave, and both uneven rib and wing portions are formed by pressing the heat pipe to constitute the anti-breaking structure.
US07841382B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for cooling components in spacecraft, comprising a heat radiator (5) and a heat conductor (3; 3a, 3b). A versatile applicability is achieved in such a way that the heat conductor (3, 3a, 3b) penetrates an outside wall (1) of the spacecraft and is provided in the interior of the spacecraft with several coupling places (8) for components to be cooled (20) and/or for other heat conductors (10).
US07841380B2
A magnesium alloy material such as a magnesium alloy cast material or a magnesium alloy rolled material, excellent in mechanical characteristics and surface precision, a producing method capable of stably producing such material, a magnesium alloy formed article utilizing the rolled material, and a producing method therefor. The magnesium material producing method includes a melting step of melting a magnesium alloy in a melting furnace to obtain a molten metal, a transfer step of transferring the molten metal from the melting furnace to a molten metal reservoir, and a casting step of supplying a movable mold with the molten metal from the molten metal reservoir, through a pouring gate, and solidifying the molten metal to continuously produce a cast material. Parts are formed by a low-oxygen material having an oxygen content of 20 mass % or less. The cast material is given a thickness of from 0.1 to 10 mm.
US07841375B2
An apparatus and method are provided, for selectively clamping a fiber tow against a support in a fiber placement head, in a manner allowing one-way motion of the tow in a forward direction from an input side to an output side of the support, and precluding motion of the tow in a reverse direction from the output side to the input side of the support, through use of a tow catch apparatus mounted on the fiber placement head, at a position along the forward path of the tow before the shears and clamps of a cut/add mechanism.
US07841369B1
A weaving process for constructing weft stretch full fashioned utility garments using a jacquard machine, an electronic loom and highly stretchable elastomeric fill yarns.
US07841368B2
A unitary conduit for transporting a fluid is described, the conduit comprising a body and a flow passage located within the body, the flow passage having an inlet end and an exit end, wherein the flow passage and the body have a unitary construction. In another embodiment, a unitary conduit has a flow passage wherein the cross sectional shape of the flow passage changes from a first cross sectional shape to a second cross sectional shape. In another embodiment, the exterior contour of the body generally conforms to the interior contour of the flow passage. In another embodiment, the flow passage branches to a plurality of sub-passages.
US07841353B2
The present invention provides a foldable walking stick with adjustable length and shock-proofing mechanism. The foldable walking stick includes a rod holder containing at least two interconnected rods and a handle, arranged at an upper part of the foldable stick. Each rod connected to the handle is divided into first and second rod sections, the second rod section having a flexible pulling rope and a flexible locating pin. A plurality of locating holes, are arranged on the wall of the first rod section with different heights, allowing for locking by the flexible locating pin when inserting the second rod section. A tapered locating section is arranged onto the flexible locating pin. An inner space, is arranged onto the preset location of a rod. There is a shock-proofing mechanism, assembled within the inner space; and a grounding portion, arranged at bottom of either rod.
US07841349B2
A cosmetic compact configured to hold a loose powder is provided. The cosmetic compact includes a base, a cover, a sifter and an applicator. The cover is coupled to the base and pivotable between an open position and a closed open position. The sifter is supported at the base to provide a chamber configured to receive the loose powder. The sifter has a platform defining at least one dispensing aperture. The applicator is compressed between the cover and the sifter when the cover is in the closed position. The compressed applicator is configured to restrict the loose powder from substantially exiting the chamber.
US07841347B2
The invention is a method of lowering the gastroesophageal junction below the diaphragm of a patient with a hiatal hernia during the performance of surgical procedures performed via natural orifices. The method comprises applying positive pressure ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the patient.
US07841345B2
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame and at least one locking clip. The frame has a main body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body, at least one of the side frame members including a locking clip receiver assembly. The at least one locking clip has a main body providing a front portion adapted to be removably coupled with the at least one locking clip receiver assembly and a rear portion adapted to be removably coupled to a headgear assembly. The rear portion includes a cross bar that forms an opening through which a strap of the headgear assembly can pass and be removably coupled with the cross bar, and the front portion includes at least one resiliently flexible spring arm that is flexible within the plane of the main body.
US07841344B2
A jacket and method for surviving an avalanche. The method includes inflating an expandable member to generally encapsulate a head of a person. The jacket may comprise a pair of expandable members disposed in pockets of the jacket, and a canister communicating with one of the expandable members. Apparel comprising an inflated expandable member having a depending inflated portion that at least partly covers another inflated expandable member.
US07841342B2
An aerosol inhalation system includes a single source of gas and a Y-connector having a first port in fluid communication with the gas source via a conduit. The system also has an accessory having a main conduit body that fluidly connected to the Y-connector via a conduit to permit gas from the single source to flow through the main conduit body. The accessory includes a patient interface conduit that delivers aerosolized medication to a mouth of the patient. A nebulizer is sealingly and removably disposed within the main conduit body and includes a gas inlet port that is fluidly connected to the Y-connector to permit gas from the single source to flow into the nebulizer to create the aerosolized medication that is delivered into the main conduit body and to the patient through the patient interface conduit.
US07841339B2
The invention relates to a device for recovering anaesthetics in anaesthetic treatment of a patient. The device comprises a housing having a first opening and a second opening for the formation of a flow path in the housing for a breathing medium. In the housing, an absorption body having the capacity of absorbing and desorbing anaesthetics is arranged. According to the invention, there is valve means for the switch-over between an active position, in which the flow path passes through the absorption body, and a passive position, in which the flow path does not pass through the absorption body. The absorption body retains unchanged location in the housing in both valve positions. The invention also relates to a method for, in a corresponding way, controlling a device for recovering anaesthetics.
US07841338B2
A dispensing device for dispensing powder as a spray is disclosed. The dispensing device comprises a duct through which the powder is dispensable by gas pressure for de-agglomerating the powder. The duct is angled by at least about 90 degrees at a diversion portion and/or diverted into two opposite directions at a fork portion so that the powder is impacted on to or sheared by a solid surface for powder de-agglomeration.
US07841331B2
A paintball gun includes an air valve and a body portion, in which the body portion includes a paintball hole, an axle sleeve and a bolt. By the position change of the air valve, the movement of the bolt is, therefore, controlled between the third and fourth positions, so as to selectively turn the effusion passage open or closed to control the pneumatic air to flow out of the projection passage and projection hole to project the paintball.
US07841328B2
Methods, apparatus, systems, and kits for loading paintballs into a feed tube of a paintball gun are disclosed. A loader includes a chamber for holding paintballs, a feed mechanism having a rotational feeder within the chamber that feeds paintballs from the chamber along a feed channel when rotating to fill the feed tube, and a drive mechanism that drives the rotational feeder of the feed mechanism, ceases to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempts to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. Paintballs are loaded from a loader into a feed tube of a paintball gun by driving a rotational feeder within the loader, the rotational feeder configured within the loader to feed paintballs into the feed tube when rotating, ceasing to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempting to rotate the stopped rotational feeder.
US07841325B2
Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
US07841311B2
The present invention provides a variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine having a double camshaft. A gas exchange valve control shaft is provided which has first and second concentrically arranged cam shafts that are adjustable in a rotatable manner with respect to each other, by which a cam of the first cam shaft is adjusted in terms of its angle towards a cam of the second cam shaft. A cam phasing device is provided which operates by rotatable vanes provoking a swivelling relative movement between a driven member and an output member. The cam phasing device comprises at least two pivotable vane adjusters. Each pivotable vane adjuster is assigned to one of the two cam shafts. The pivotable vane adjusters are arranged axially one after the other in a direction of a valve control shaft. Each pivotable vane adjuster may be designed as a rotor-type vane adjuster.
US07841308B1
A rotary valve engine using a single rotary valve serving multiple cylinders significantly increases both volumetric and thermodynamic efficiencies. A novel stratified three stage low temperature combustion system reduces both heat transfer loss and combustion process irreversibility. Using large intake and exhaust valves and passages to reduce throttling losses, the rotary valve also contains a combustion valve and passage connected to a central combustion chamber. Combustion is initiated for all cylinders by a fuel injector in this central chamber which then sequentially ignites a second combustion chamber charge located in each cylinder head. A passage in the rotary valve shaft transfers gas from the combustion cycle to the compression cycle varying the compression ratio of the engine, producing EGR, and transferring radical species for combustion to the next cycle. A compounding element on the rotary valve extracts additional thermal energy derived from reduced heat transfer loss and increased energy.
US07841307B2
In a cooling fan drive system for a travel type working machine, the rotational speed of a cooling fan is controlled to the optimum rotational speed in accordance with temperature increase of the temperature of an engine cooling water, and the engine rotational speed is smoothly increased when the engine rotational speed is increased under travel acceleration. A fourth fan target rotational speed calculator 35e and a minimum value selector 35f are provided, and under non-operation, the fan target rotational speed is set to a low rotational speed irrespective of the temperature. When an acceleration pedal 12 is depressed to increase the rotational speed of the engine under travel acceleration, the increase of the drive pressure of a hydraulic motor 23 due to increase of the rotation of the cooling fan 9 is suppressed, and the load on the engine 1 is reduced.
US07841300B2
The system for uniquely identifying subjects from a target population operates to acquire, process and analyze images to create data which contains indicia sufficient to uniquely identify an individual in a population of interest. This system implements an automated, image-based process that captures data indicative of a selected set of external characteristics for subjects that are members of a target population of a predetermined species. The captured data is then processed to create a database record which is associated with the selected subject and which can be used to uniquely identify the selected subject. The subject identification process is repeatable, so any subject can be accurately mapped to their associated database record, which database record can be updated to reflect changes in the subject.
US07841298B2
A wall mountable tank system for holding live flora or fauna includes an integrally formed tank including a rear panel, a bottom panel, and at least one of a front panel, first side panel, and second side panel. The panels define a tank interior for containing the flora or fauna. The rear panel includes a mounting portion having a receiving groove. A mounting member capable of being fixedly coupled to a vertical mounting surface is provided. The mounting member includes a tongue portion receivable in the receiving groove for engaging the mounting member to the tank.
US07841292B2
A tactile fire escape method and system for guiding individuals to a fire escape during low visibility emergencies includes a plurality of first tactile members attached to any fixed and moveable surface along a fire escape path, wherein the plurality of first tactile members are comprised of a transparent tapered structure pointing approximately along the fire escape path to an exit door. A second tactile member is attached to the exit door. The second tactile member is also comprised of a transparent tapered structure pointing approximately upwardly and a plurality of third transparent tactile members, also of a tapered structure, are attached to any fixed and moveable surface along the fire escape path indicating an immediate left or right turn across a hallway or common area. An initial tactile member may also be located within a room to guide the individual toward an initial direction along the fire escape path.
US07841288B2
Disclosed is a liquefied natural gas composition. The composition contains methane, ethane and propane and butane. The composition contains a substantial amount of butane while being substantially free of hydrocarbon molecules larger than butane.
US07841285B2
A vessel (10) for traveling on water comprises a hull (20) and a keel (30) comprising a member (34) depending from the hull, the member (34) comprising two limbs (44) each depending from a respective lateral side of the hull (20), the two limbs (44) defining at least in part an enclosed flow path extending in a bow to stern direction, the enclosed flow path being configured to allow water incident on the vessel to flow over inner and outer surfaces of the limbs (44a, 44b). The limbs (44) each have a zero-lift surface which is angled to generate in use a component of hydrodynamic force directed away from the enclosed flow path when there is a net flow of water along the enclosed flow path.
US07841283B2
In the disclosed sewing machine, when a needle threading switch is operated when sewing operation is stopped, a needle bar drive mechanism is activated, a needle threading hook is moved forward to a threading position, and a thread take-up is lowered by predetermined distance by driving a sewing machine motor in reverse rotation after threading a hook portion with a needle thread. Thus, a thread engaging portion of a check spring absorbs loss of required thread amount at the thread take-up and moves from a spring force operable position to a spring force inoperable position. Thus, the needle threading hook retracts to a loop cancel position and the needle thread reliably threads the sewing needle with secure engagement with the needle threading hook when a needle thread end is pulled off from a first thread retaining portion since needle thread is stabilized by absence of needle thread tension.
US07841272B2
Bale strap assemblies for strapping a pressed bale are discussed herein. The bale strap assemblies may include a strap positioning assembly having a plurality of strap assemblies and a return chute assembly having a plurality of return chutes for returning straps to the strap assemblies for strapping the pressed bale. The strap position assembly and return chute assembly incorporate cylinders to move between different positions during a strapping cycle. Exemplary embodiments include provisions for accommodating a press turntable of a down packer and registration means for providing a greater number of straps to strap a bale than a corresponding number of strap assemblies.
US07841271B2
A cheese vat for at least preparing curd for soft fresh cheese, comprising at least one cutting frame provided with a cutting wire system, which has a frame which has at least two opposite frame parts between which cutting wire sections extend, which frame parts are provided with openings form receiving a cutting wire, wherein the ends of a cutting wire are each fastened via pull relief means.
US07841267B1
An arrangement for recoilless launch including a non-gaseous reaction mass having a weight in a range of about 25% to about 75% of a weight of a projectile. For the same projectile energy, less propellant is required than a rocket, which minimizes backblast and reduces before-launch weight. The recoilless launching is adapted to shoulder-launched projectiles in a confined space. The reaction mass may be particles associated with a propellant so as to be released concurrently as the propellant turns into gas and accelerated by and with the propellant gas in a nozzle.
US07841264B2
A method for portioning foodstuffs in three dimensions includes scanning the foodstuff to be portion, generating a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff, then comparing the generated three-dimensional map of the foodstuff with the desired shape which is stored in the memory of a computer. A computer then determines a particular cutting path in three dimensions in order to arrive at the predetermined shape, followed by a cutting in one direction to fix at least one dimension of the foodstuff, then determining whether the foodstuff is within the tolerance limits. The foodstuff is thereafter cut along its other dimensions to arrive at a portion trimmed along three dimensions.
US07841262B1
A positioning device for a hand tool includes a handle having a first connecting portion formed a chamber defined therein, a positioning member movably received in the chamber, and a tool head pivotally connected to the first connecting portion. The first connecting portion has a threaded hole. A rotatable plate has a threaded shank extended therefrom. The threaded shank passes through the threaded hole and abuts against the positioning member. The positioning member rigidly engages with the tool head. When the threaded shank is moved away from the positioning member, the tool head is available to be pivotally adjusted at a desired angle.
US07841255B2
An electrical bicycle shift control device is provided that includes a handlebar mounting portion and an electrical shift control switch portion. The handlebar mounting portion is configured to be fixedly mounted in a free end of a handlebar. The electrical shift control switch portion is fixedly mounted to the handlebar mounting portion. The electrical shift control switch portion includes an operating member arranged and configured to be selectively moved relative to the handlebar mounting portion between a neutral position and a first actuating position.
US07841250B2
The invention relates to a drive device (9) comprising a housing (10), a drive shaft (14) which is mounted in the housing (10) and which comprises a shaft axis (15) and a first and a second electric drive (12,13). The drive shaft (14) can be rotated about the shaft axis (15) by means of a drive (12,13) and can be displaced in an axial manner along the shaft axis (15). The drives (12, 13) are aligned on the shaft axis (15) and comprise, respectively, a stator (16,19) and a rotor (17,20). The stators (16,19) are secured to the housing (10). The rotors (17,20) are embodied as hollow shafts and are mounted on the housing (10). The rotor (20) of the second drive (13) is rotationally secured to the drive shaft (14) by means of a linear bearing device (28), and in a manner which enables it to be axially displaced. The rotor (17) of the first drive (12) is rotationally secured to a threaded spindle (27) and is connected in such a manner that it cannot be axially displaced. Said drive shaft (14) is rotationally connected to a threaded nut (29) which co-operates with the threaded spindle (27) and in such a manner that it cannot be axially displaced. The drive shaft (14) comprises a recess (31) which is used to receive the threaded spindle (27).
US07841248B2
An improved maintenance, inspection, and/or measurement solution is provided. An embodiment of the invention includes a handheld measurement device for measuring an object, such as a railway wheel on a train. The handheld measurement device can comprise a single unit to provide one handed operation and can include various features, such as onboard evaluation, a graphical user interface, and/or a self-health monitor. Additionally, aspects of the invention provide an inspection environment that incorporates preliminary measurement data, wireless communications, and/or historical data into the measurement and evaluation process.
US07841247B2
A system for controlling the temperature of fluidic samples includes a device having a first outer surface and a second outer surface which are parallel to one another. The interior of the device contains two or more channels suitable for accommodating samples. The channels lay on a common plane that is also parallel to the first and second outer surfaces. A temperature sensor is positioned between the channels along the common plane. A heater is thermally coupled to one of the two outer surfaces while a heat sink is coupled to the other of the two outer surfaces, thereby establishing a temperature gradient between the first and second outer surfaces. A temperature controller receives sensed temperature input from the temperature sensor and adjusts the heater in response thereto.
US07841245B1
An electronic torque wrench includes a wrench member mounted to a wrench handle for receiving one or more strain gages, and a digital display pivotally attached to the wrench handle for allowing the digital display to be pivoted relative to the wrench handle to different angular position and for allowing the digital display to be easily seen by the user and for allowing the bending strain or the torque or the information detected or measured by the strain gages to be easily seen from the displayer. The displayer is pivotable relative to the wrench handle to various or different angular position to allow the displayer to be easily seen by the user.
US07841237B2
An ultrasonic testing apparatus for a turbine fork of a turbine blade joined to a turbine disc, comprising: an ultrasonic testing sensor; a sensor mounting apparatus for mounting the ultrasonic testing sensor on a flat portion on a side surface of the turbine fork with the turbine blade joined to the turbine disc; and an ultrasonic testing apparatus for inspecting internal and external surfaces of the turbine fork by using reflected waves, which is received by the ultrasonic testing sensor, from the internal surface of the turbine fork.
US07841230B2
A stabilizing device for a handheld measurement device. An illustrative embodiment of the stabilizing device includes a device harness adapted to receive the handheld measurement device and having a handle opening and a nose opening and at least one harness attachment device carried by the device harness. A method for taking surface measurements with a handheld measurement device is also disclosed.
US07841224B2
The present invention describes a replaceable breath alcohol sensor module that can be replaced with a new pre-calibrated breath alcohol sensor module or re-calibrated. The breath alcohol sensor module requiring calibration can be removed from the body of a Breath Alcohol Testing Device (commonly called “breathalyser” or “breathalyzer”). The breath alcohol sensor module can be separately calibrated for accurate calculation of “percent blood alcohol concentration” (% BAC) based on breath air samples and then re-installed into the breath alcohol tester or the old breath alcohol sensor module can be replaced with a new pre-calibrated breath alcohol sensor module. The present invention improves upon and/or replacing the current method of re-calibration at a breathalyzer service center.
US07841207B2
A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and an internal, substantially rigid molded plastic receptacle mounted therein. It has a cover structure that includes a reinforcement member for engaging a land region of the molded receptacle, thereby tending to yield an interface tending to have a sealing relationship. The container may also include a thermal storage element, and the container may have an accommodation for receiving the thermal storage element.
US07841203B2
An ice tray assembly and refrigerator having the same are disclosed, by which pieces of ice stored in a plurality of ice trays can be simultaneously discharged by a single motion without interfering with each other. The present invention includes a plurality of ice trays vertically provided within a case, a plurality of the ice trays connected to one another by an interoperating means to be simultaneously rotated and a driving means for rotating a plurality of the ice trays by being connected thereto.
US07841192B2
In an embodiment of the invention, a refrigerator comprising an ice storage bucket and a cooling system in thermal communication with the ice storage bucket is shown. A first transmitter is configured in the ice storage bucket. A first pulse signal is transmitted from the first transmitter. A first receiver is configured in the ice storage bucket and is further configured to receive the first pulse signal. A first pre-signal response from the first receiver is generated before the first pulse signal. A first pulse signal response from the first receiver generated during the first pulse signal.
US07841190B2
Methods and devices for the management of cryogenic agents within analytical systems using freeze thaw valving having an expansion chamber that limits the flow of the cryogenic agent. The expansion chamber is fitted with an expansion nozzle through which a cryogen flows and a porous frit that allows the cryogen to be exhausted. The porous frit initially allows a rapid flow of cryogen into the expansion chamber. This rapid flow lowers the temperature of the expansion chamber causing fluid contents within a freeze thaw segment to freeze. As the cryogen expands into the expansion chamber and turns into a solid, the porous frit is occluded causing the rapid flow to be restricted. The restriction of the cryogen flow by the occlusion of the porous frit allows the freeze thaw valve to use significantly less cryogen. Sublimation of the cryogen trapped within the porous frit provides sufficient cooling to maintain the valve in its closed position.
US07841175B2
A hydraulic circuit for construction equipment is disclosed, which can prevent an abrupt rotation of a swing device when a switching valve for the swing device is shifted in a state that switching valves for a traveling device and a working device have been shifted.
US07841162B2
Enhanced performance yarns which are functional alternatives to 100% petroleum oil based virgin continuous filament yarns, and yarns of natural fibers and methods of making them. The yarns may comprise an inner portion of spun staple fibers of recycled plastic and an outer portion comprising a different material and incorporate highly significant amounts of recycled plastics, particularly post consumer recycled, thermoplastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate which contains medium to high levels of contamination. One embodiment of yarn comprises a core, an inner portion of spun staple fibers surrounding the core, and an outer portion comprising an inner helix and an outer helix.
US07841156B2
Method for sealing a tear-off foil (16) onto a packaging element (12) including a sealing step in which the packaging element (12) is conveyed in a direction of transport (A) and, by a sealing stroke crosswise to the direction of transport (A), is moved towards a stamp tool (28) carrying punched-out foil (16), and is pressed against punched-out foil (16), with punched-out foil (16) and packaging element (12) being sealed together under the influence of heat, and in which the sealing step is preceded by a heating step in which packaging element (12) is heated by non-contact arrangement to at least the temperature required for subsequent sealing, and in that during the sealing step, stamp tool (28) carrying punched-out foil (16) is moved towards packaging element (12) by a feed stroke executed counter to the sealing stroke.
US07841154B2
Systems and methods for assembling multi-piece structural components, such as architectural columns, capitals, and bases, are disclosed. In one embodiment a column assembly is disclosed, comprising a first column portion and a second column portion. The first column portion includes a flange having a first keyed surface on which predetermined surface features are defined. The second column portion includes a second keyed surface that is configured to engage the first keyed surface. The second keyed surface includes a keying material having surface features that intermesh with the predetermined surface feature such that the first and second column portions are desirably aligned when mated. The surfaces features of the second keyed surface are defined in the keying material as a result of compressive engagement between the keying material and the predetermined surface features of the first keyed surface when the column portions are mated.
US07841152B2
Machined structural members and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a structural member includes a web portion that extends in a first direction that includes a non-planar portion, and a first flange portion coupled to the web portion that extends in the first direction. A second flange portion is coupled to the web portion that also extends in the first direction. The first flange portion and the second flange portion are spaced apart in a second direction that is approximately perpendicular to the first direction. The web portion and the first and second flange portions are integrally formed as a unitary, monoblock component.
US07841151B2
An edge molding providing an edging for a floor covering such as a carpet, rug, tile and the like floor coverings comprising a stepped-molding which attaches to a subfloor edge through a hook and loop means to provide an edge molding for a floor covering which floor covering is attached to the subfloor through a means of a hook and loop arrangement.
US07841147B2
A method of constructing a building façade comprising, casting at least one plate member; coupling at least one load member to the plate member; aligning a first façade assembly levelly prior to attachment to the substrate; aligning a second and third façade assembly horizontally adjacent and vertically adjacent the first façade assembly, respectively, by interface with the first façade assembly, and repeating the steps of aligning additional façade assemblies to form a facade.
US07841141B2
Cogging piece (1) for use when notching log constructional elements (2) to other log constructional elements (2) or to corresponding separate log constructional elements (9). The cogging piece is adapted to be attached to both ends of each log constructional element (2) and to the end of each end constructional element (9) that is adapted to face a cogged joint. The cogging piece (1) is provided with lateral (4at, 4bt, 7at, 7bt) and axial (5at, 5bt, 6at, 6bt) inclined surfaces that are adapted to rest against corresponding axial and lateral surfaces respectively of cogging pieces attached to below and/or above intersecting log constructional elements and end constructional elements. Thus an increasing vertical force on a wall leads to an increased axial contraction of the cogged joints in the same wall.
US07841140B1
An apparatus for fixing the sheathing of an end of a tendon within an anchor body of a post-tension anchor system has an anchor body with a cavity formed therein, a tendon extending into the cavity, a fixing element engaged with the sheathing of the tendon for fixing a position of the sheathing on the tendon, and a pair of wedges in engagement with the unsheathed portion of tendon within the anchor body. The fixing element is positioned within the cavity. The fixing element can either be a wedge member interposed between the sheathing and the tendon so as to frictionally engage the tendon or a clip member engaged with the sheathing.
US07841126B2
An improved slip sinker having a hollow non-buoyant tubular body mounted intermediate a flanged head piece having a fish line receiving aperture and a weighted ballast piece. Surface projections at the head and ballast pieces mount and fasten to the bore of the tubular body. Alternative sinker configurations provide body pieces that support a ballast connector that receives mating interchangeable ballast weights. The hollow bodies of other sinkers support reflective devices, luminous materials, luminous devices, rattle pieces, granular ballast materials, scents, and/or a plug end. Profile expanding filaments can be adapted into the ballast, head or body pieces.
US07841119B1
A gunstock system is disclosed for use with a gun action and a gun floorplate of a gun. The gunstock system comprises a gunstock having a buttstock portion, a midstock portion, and a forestock portion, with the gunstock defining a cavity. The system further includes an insert assembly removably positionable in the cavity of the gunstock. The insert assembly has a top surface contoured to engage a gun action, and a bottom surface contoured to engage the gun floorplate.
US07841113B2
A bar-top refrigerated liquid dispenser in which one or more housing walls include integrated back-lighted billboard display panels having side edges with embedded light emitting diodes and other edges with associated reflectors.
US07841111B2
A shooter for a snow remover has a shooter main body configured to be rotatably mounted on an auger housing of a snow remover for ejecting snow collected by an auger of the snow remover. A shooter guide is swingably mounted on a top end of the shooter main body to undergo swinging movement from an initial state thereof so as to allow adjustment of an angle of projection of the snow ejected from the shooter main body. A torsion spring has a single coil and is connected between the shooter main body and the shooter guide for urging the shooter guide to return to the initial state thereof. Vibration-reducing members are inserted into the single coil of the torsion spring so as to be in physical contact with one another and to surround and support an entire inner periphery of the single coil for reducing vibration and deformation in a radial direction of the torsion spring.
US07841109B2
A snow plow is provided with an articulated wing blade. The snow plow includes a hitch frame nose assembly configured to couple to a vehicle by securing each of a chassis coupler to the vehicle chassis. A plow frame having a front portion and a rear portion is configured to coupled to a central plow blade and a lift bar assembly. The central plow blade includes a wing blade pivotally attached at each end of the central plow blade. Each wing blade is configured to selectively move independently of the central plow blade from a first position to a second position about a vertical axis parallel with each of the first and second ends of the central plow blade. The lift bar assembly is coupled to the rear portion of the plow frame and couples to the hitch frame nose assembly wherein the snow plow is pivotally coupled to the vehicle.
US07841106B2
An article of footwear including a sole and an upper, a lateral quarter and a medial quarter. A device for tightening the upper includes a first lateral lace strand and at least two points for connecting the first lateral strand to the lateral quarter, as well as a first medial lace strand and at least two points for connecting the first medial strand to the medial quarter. Each lateral or medial strand includes a lateral intermediate portion or a medial intermediate portion, respectively, which extends between two connecting points of the same lateral or medial quarter, without being guided by a connecting point of the other lateral or medial quarter, a connector connecting the lateral and medial intermediate portions of the lateral and medial strands, respectively, the connector enabling the sliding of at least one of the lateral and medial strands.
US07841100B2
The invention relates to a angle measuring device measuring the tightening angle of an operation tool for tightening screwed connections. The angle measuring device is releasabley mounted to the operating tool.
US07841096B1
The present invention relates to a depth or height-marking device for golf tees, which will allow golfers to mark golf tees at a desired location on the golf tee, relative to the height at which the golfer wants the ball to sit on the golf tee above the ground. The device is comprised of a device body and measurement scale. The unique design of the device body allows for the marking of golf tees of various lengths without having to change the size of the device body.
US07841083B2
A method of producing cooling fluid discharge orifices in the wall of a part manufactured by the technique of lost wax casting in which a pattern of the part is produced in a wax mold, the orifices each having a first portion emerging at the external surface of the wall is disclosed. The method includes making cavities in the wax pattern that correspond to the first portions of said orifices of the part. Thus, it is possible to produce cooling air discharge orifices without sharp edges.
US07841079B2
In electronic component mounting for a plurality of individual substrates held on a carrier, solder position deviation data is calculated for each individual substrate based on a mark position recognition result on a carrier after solder printing, a solder position recognition result, and electrode position information indicating the position of an electrode on each individual substrate, an operation of calculating position correction data, which is used to correct the positional deviation to mount electronic components at proper positions, is performed for each individual substrate based on the calculated solder position deviation data and the calculated position correction data is feed-forwarded to an electronic component mounting apparatus, and an electronic component mounting operation of a component mounting mechanism is controlled based on the mark position recognition result and the position correction data.
US07841076B2
A multilayer wiring structural body 13 is formed on a surface 57A of a metal plate 57 used as a support plate in the case of forming the multilayer wiring structural body 13, and the metal plate 57 is patterned and a slot antenna 60 is formed.
US07841073B2
The invention is directed to an electronic component mounting apparatus which is applicable to a case in which component feeding devices need not be provided on both sides of a carrying device respectively for reasons of types of electronic components or a setting space and increases an operating rate of a beam to enhance production efficiency. An electronic component mounting apparatus has a carrying device carrying a printed board, a component feeding device supplying electronic components, a pair of beams movable in one direction by drive sources, and mounting heads each having suction nozzles and movable along the beams by drive sources. The component feeding device is provided on only one side of the carrying device, and the suction nozzles provided on each of the mounting heads pick up electronic components from the component feeding device and mount the electronic components on a printed board by moving the mounting heads provided on both the beams between the printed board on the carrying device and the component feeding device by driving the drive sources respectively.
US07841068B2
A method of fabricating a single-pole perpendicular magnetic recording head to contain a bevel angle promotion layer that facilitates the fabrication of the bevel angle in a trapezoidal main pole. The bevel angle promotion layer is made of a non-magnetic material that is softer than the material (e.g., Al2O3) that normally underlies the main pole. In one embodiment, the bevel angle promotion layer is formed between an end of the yoke and the air bearing surface (ABS), with the top surface of the bevel angle promotion layer being substantially coplanar with the top surface of the yoke. In other embodiment the bevel angle promotion layer is integrated with a leading edge taper material, which is formed of a magnetic material, to broaden the magnetic flux path between the yoke and the main pole.
US07841052B2
Object, particularly molded, having at least one surface from which at least one field of hooks projects, particularly through molding, each hook being constituted by a stem section and a head section projecting laterally from the stem section, the hooks being arranged in rows, characterized in that in at least one row the hooks are arranged according to a cycle constituted by m successive right/left hooks, of which the heads project from the stems in a first direction, and n successive hooks in a second left/right direction, following the m hooks, of which the heads project in a second left/right direction opposing the first direction, whereby m and n are integers such that 1 £ m
US07841038B2
A manual hand tool has an elongated handle pivotably connected to a cleaning head. The cleaning head pivots substantially ninety degrees in relation to the handle. A first cleaning member component, e.g. a pushbroom, extends from the front section of the cleaning head and a second cleaning component, e.g. a straightbroom, extends from the rear section of the cleaning head, at about a ninety degree angle to the first cleaning component. The cleaning head is pivotable ninety degrees from a first position allowing for the use of the first cleaning member component on soiled surfaces, to a second position, allowing for the use of the second cleaning member component on soiled surfaces. Locking systems are provided to secure the handle and cleaning head in position.
US07841030B2
A positioning system configured to move a patient or support into position or in a guided manner. The system includes a table that is configured to hold the patient or object and a column that is coupled to the table. The column is configured to support and move the table and includes a plurality of links pivotably coupled to each other in series. Adjacent links are configured to pivot in only one direction from a linear stacked arrangement. The system also includes a guide that is configured to receive and direct the links of the column into the linear stacked arrangement when the links are moved by a lifting force along the guide.
US07841028B1
A toilet moving device for facilitating lifting and transporting of a toilet includes a dolly being insertable under a front of a pedestal of the toilet to facilitate lifting of the toilet. A base is coupled to the dolly. A lifting assembly is coupled to the base. The lifting assembly engages a tank of the toilet. The lifting assembly supports the toilet when the dolly is used to lift the toilet.
US07841025B1
A jaw pad cover for expandably conforming to a shape of a jaw pad for protectively covering the jaw pad of a headgear is provided. The jaw pad cover comprises a stretchable material blank having a first section and a second section joined together with a stitch. The means for receiving the jaw pad therein the jaw pad cover is therethrough a first aperture and a second aperture therein the first section. The first aperture is larger than the second aperture to allow the jaw pad to freely pass therethrough so that when the jaw pad is positioned therein the jaw pad cover, a fastening means on the jaw pad for receiving the jaw pad and the jaw pad cover on the headgear is accessible therethrough the second aperture.
US07845009B2
Detecting a rootkit in a computing system may be achieved by detecting, by a virtual machine monitor, a virtualization trap occurring as a result of an action by a rootkit executing in a computing system; and analyzing the virtualization trap to detect the presence of the rootkit in the computing system. Action may then be taken to block the rootkit activity to safeguard the computing system.
US07845006B2
A method of reducing the window of malicious exploitation between vulnerability publication and the installation of a software patch. One or more probe points are inserted into a code path in an application (or operating system if applicable) that contains one or more vulnerabilities (or coding errors). The probe points mark locations of the security vulnerabilities utilizing software interrupts to enable the original code base of the code path to remain unmodified. A probe handler utility subsequently monitors the execution of the code path and generates an alert if the execution reaches a probe point in the code path, thus indicating whether the application exhibits a particular vulnerability. The probe handler selectively performs one of multiple customizable corrective actions, thereby securing the application until an applicable software patch can be installed.
US07845004B2
A method for determining the entry point of an attack by a vandal such as a hacker upon a device such as a computer or a server such as a web server that operates under the protection of an intrusion detection system. Intrusion detection information regarding the attack and network information regarding the attack are correlated, and the entry point of the attack thereby deduced. In one embodiment, a source address of a message representative of the attack is found in a router table of a router that provides a connection supporting the attack. Logical ports of the connection are determined, and the corresponding physical ports found, thereby identifying the attack's entry point into the protected device.
US07844994B2
For interactive television subscribers, a system (10) and method for persistent storage of common information relating to a user (25) required by multiple disparate iTV applications to be shared among said applications to ease the burden of data entry off the user. Subscribers do not have to repeatedly enter the same common user information required by multiple applications. The registration information inputted by a user (25) is logged, temporarily stored in the STB (35), and its contents transmitted to a remote central repository (100) at predetermined intervals.
US07844991B1
Elements necessary for a digital television receiver are structured as a plurality of digital signal processing blocks and a host operation processing block. The blocks are connected through a general-purpose bus. Command for controlling the operations of the blocks and data of streams are transferred through the bus. Thus, by replacing only blocks, various types of digital television broadcasts that differ in carrier waves, modulating systems, and compressing systems can be handled. Consequently, the developing efficiency of a television receiver is improved. In addition, when a new service is started, by adding hardware for the service, the service can be easily handled.
US07844984B2
A method of manufacturing a multilayered recording medium. A transmissive stamper with a depression protrusion contour contacts a protection layer on a supporting base. The transmissive stamper is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the protection layer and the transmissive stamper is subsequently removed. A recording layer is deposited on the cured protection layer. Further, another recording layer is deposited on the transmissive stamper. Next, an intermediate layer is formed on the recording layer deposited on the transmissive stamper and thereafter, the intermediate layer is attached to the recording layer on the cured protection layer. Then, the transmissive stamper is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the intermediate layer. Thereafter, the supporting base is removed from the protection layer. These steps produce a multilayered optical recording medium.
US07844979B2
A disc player 10 is equipped with a positioning unit 14 that has step plate 54 and positions a disc 1, a clamper unit 15 that has a clamp plate 66 and carries out a clamp operation on the disc positioned by the positioning unit, a drive unit 16 that has a pickup and a turntable 19 on a drive plate 18, and rotates the disc clamped on the turntable by the clamper unit to take information from the disc by the pickup, wherein the positioning unit and the clamper unit are provided separately from each other, and movable vertically to the drive unit.
US07844975B2
Mock exceptions, including mock exception types, are defined by a host to be raised in a plug-in. The mock exceptions might be sanitized. They might be transported from the plug-in to the host. Mock exceptions might also be mapped to real exceptions, which are raised in the host and handled by the host.
US07844972B2
Resource management architectures implemented in computer systems to manage resources are described. In one embodiment, a general architecture includes a resource manager and multiple resource providers that support one or more resource consumers such as a system component or application. Each provider is associated with a resource and acts as the manager for the resource when interfacing with the resource manager. The resource manager arbitrates access to the resources provided by the resource providers on behalf of the consumers. A policy manager sets various policies that are used by the resource manager to allocate resources. One policy is a priority-based policy that distinguishes among which applications and/or users have priority over others to use the resources. A resource consumer creates an “activity” at the resource manager and builds one or more “configurations” that describe various sets of preferred resources required to perform the activity. Each resource consumer can specify one or more configurations for each activity. If multiple configurations are specified, the resource consumer can rank them according to preference. This allows the resource consumers to be dynamically changed from one configuration to another as operating conditions change.
US07844971B2
A threaded-programming analysis and diagnostic tool including two data structures to store a termination status of each of the threads in a multi-threaded program, logic to propagate information between the two data structures, and detection logic to determine whether a first thread could access the stack of a second thread before the second thread terminates.
US07844967B2
An embodiment of a method of allocating computing resources begins with a first step of identifying applications which comprise candidates for execution on a shared computing system. In a second step, the method identifies at least one subset of the computing resources for each application. Each subset for a particular application comprises sufficient resources to support the particular application. The method continues with a third step of assigning a value to each subset. The method concludes with a fourth step of determining an assignment of the computing resources to the applications which provides a near maximal overall value.
US07844964B2
A network for mass broadcast of update packages to electronic devices makes it possible to efficiently broadcast update packages for configuration, firmware and software updates. A broadcast server in the network employs broadcast means to broadcast update packages. An electronic device capable of receiving these broadcast update packages comprises a listening client that is capable of listening to a broadcast channel and downloading an update package broadcast by the broadcast server. The listening client makes use of a listening parameters that are set by the DM server in order to facilitate the download from the broadcast server.
US07844963B2
The present invention includes a system and a method for updating components in a client computer. The invention includes a method for upgrading software for various users, each of the users having diverse hardware and software configurations. The invention includes a method for automatically determining the hardware and software configuration of the client computer without user intervention. To begin the upgrade, the client computer reads a configuration file that identifies the components for downloading. Upon receipt of the configuration file, the client computer determines the hardware and software configuration of the client computer. The client computer automatically communicates with a component server via a network and requests one or more components for downloading to the client computer based upon the configuration file and the hardware and software conditions of the client computer.
US07844957B2
A development system with methodology providing optimized message parsing and handling is described. In one embodiment, for example, a computer-implemented method is described for improved processing of certain types of messages, the method comprises steps of: loading metadata at design time, the metadata characterizing a particular message type; based on the metadata, automatically generating source code for creating runtime components highly optimized for the particular message type; compiling the source code into the runtime components, for deployment in a runtime environment; and at runtime, processing messages of the particular message type with the runtime components, so that messages are processed in a manner that is highly optimized for the particular message type.
US07844951B2
A computerized method receives an implementation comprising a modifier method and an observer method of a class implementing an abstract data type. The method symbolically executes the modifier method to obtain constrained states, and applies the observer method in constrained states to obtain specialized axioms. The method then creates a specification from the obtained specialized axioms based on generalizing, merging and simplifying the specialized axioms.
US07844949B2
A computer method and apparatus for software configuration management is disclosed. Given a subject software system under development, the subject software system including one or more components and being represented by one or more configurations in a first stream, the invention method and apparatus stores the first stream on a first repository. Software development of one component of the subject software system is enabled in a working stream stored on a second repository. The working stream has one or more configurations of the one component. For the one component, the invention method and apparatus create a second stream on the first repository, create in the second repository a copy of the second stream and create in the first repository a copy of the working stream. When a configuration of the working stream stored on the second repository is of interest to the subject software system, (i) a replication of that configuration is made to the first repository copy of the working stream and (ii) the resulting copy of the working stream is merged with the second stream on the first repository. The replication and merge enable merge conflicts to be resolved.
US07844942B2
A method and system for model-driven transformation are provided. The method and system in one aspect allows selecting of one or more model elements in a model. Transformation definitions are evaluated to identify one or more transformations that may be applicable to the selected one or more model elements. In one aspect, transformations may be identified that are applicable in an entire model, those that take the selected one or more model elements as input parameters, those that affect one or more model element, or any combination thereof. In one aspect, a list of applicable transformations is presented. In another aspect, the method and system automatically apply the one or more applicable transformations to the model.
US07844940B2
A mask set with a light-transmitting region of a controlled size includes a plurality of masks for performing in-situ synthesis on probes of a microarray, wherein each mask includes a light-transmitting region and a light-blocking region, and the size of the light-transmitting region is equal to or greater than about 5% of the total size of the light-transmitting and light-blocking regions.
US07844936B2
A method for configuring an integrated circuit including configuring a plurality cells to form a cell library, wherein configuring each cell includes routing a intracell wiring in at least one layer positioned above a substrate, with the conductors being spaced apart from one another so as to have gaps there between, and configuring and positioning a plurality of fill structures in the gaps. The method further includes arranging selected logic cells from the cell library to form a desired layout of the integrated circuit, routing interconnect wiring between the selected logic cells in the at least one layer, and removing fill structures at positions that conflict with the routing of the interconnect wiring.
US07844933B2
A method of optimizing timing of signals within an integrated circuit design using proxy slack values propagates signals through the integrated circuit design to output timing signals. For early mode timing analysis, the method sets an early proxy slack value to zero if the late slack value is less than zero. Otherwise, if the late slack value is not less than zero, the method restricts the early proxy slack value to a maximum of the early slack value and the negative of the late slack value. To the contrary, for late mode timing analysis, the method sets a late proxy slack value to zero if the early slack value is less than zero. Otherwise, if the early proxy slack value is not less than zero, the method restricts the late proxy slack value to a maximum of the late slack value and the negative of the early slack value.
US07844917B2
An apparatus and method for optimally displaying multiple windows on a display is provided. The multiple windows can be sequentially or simultaneously resized and/or repositioned. The method performs at least one of resizing or repositioning operation on at least one of the multiple windows to fit within the available display area. The method provides the user the ability to see a maximum of information from multiple windows and allows access to the scroll bars, title bars, status bars and command window of the multiple windows.
US07844914B2
A method of operating a touch screen to activate one of a plurality of virtual keys is provided. A touch location is determined based on location data pertaining to touch input on the touch screen, wherein the touch input is intended to activate one of the plurality of virtual keys. Each of the plurality of virtual keys has a set of at least one key location corresponding to it. For each of the virtual keys, a parameter (such as physical distance) is determined for that virtual key that relates the touch location and the set of at least one key location corresponding to that virtual key. The determined parameters are processed to determine one of the virtual keys. For example, the determined one virtual key may be the virtual key with a key location (or more than one key location, on average) being closest to the touch location. A signal is generated indicating activation of the determined one of the virtual keys.
US07844906B2
A method implemented on a data processing device is described comprising: receiving an incoming electronic message having an identifiable sender address; querying data storage to determine if the sender address is a known sender address; if the sender address is a known sender address, then automatically retrieving alternate contact information associated with the sender address; and automatically generating an interface containing the alternate contact information, the interface accessible by the user of the data processing device.
US07844889B2
Apparatus, methods and software for creating resolution-independent display of Internet (Web) content to allow Web pages to be scaled (zoomed) and panned for better viewing and/or to fit any resolution or screen size. According to one aspect, novel client-side processing of markup language-based Web content is provided that employs a rendering engine to interpret original page layout information. The page layout information is scaled and employed to enable the Web content to be rapidly rendered, zoomed, and panned. According to another aspect, display lists are generated to provide further enhancements in rendering speed. According to other aspects, bounding boxes are generated and scaled to lay out text and/or images on scaled Web content that is used to facilitate browsing of Web pages with zooming and panning.
US07844887B2
A bit error probability (BEP) estimation method includes de-shaping a coded block to obtain a channel hard output block comprising a header hard output and at least one data hard output, de-puncturing and decoding the header hard output to obtain a decoded header part, determining whether the decoded header part has errors, selecting the decoded header part or a decoded whole block as a selected part based on the determination result, wherein the decoded whole block comprises the decoded header part and a decoded data part obtained by de-puncturing and decoding the data hard output, re-encoding the selected part to obtain a re-encoded decision, and comparing the re-encoded decision to the header hard output or the channel hard output corresponding to the selected part to obtain the BEP of the coded block. A receiver employing the BEP estimation method is also provided in the invention.
US07844879B2
A solid state non-volatile memory unit. The memory unit includes a multi-level solid state non-volatile memory array adapted to store data characterized by a first number of digital levels. The memory unit also includes an analog-to-digital converter having an input and an output. The input of the analog-to-digital converter is adapted to receive data from the multi-level solid state non-volatile memory array. The output of the analog-to-digital converter is adapted to output a digital signal characterized by a second number of digital levels greater than the first number of digital levels.
US07844861B2
Some embodiments of a method and apparatus for automatically generating test cases from error data have been presented. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow a user to submit a report of an error in a program. The report may be partially written in a natural language. Further, the method may include receiving the report from the user via the GUI and processing the report to generate a test case to reproduce the error.
US07844844B2
A power diagnostics module running on an information handling system initiates a power down state of the information handling system upon detection of a predetermined battery charge that is sufficient to allow the information handling system to recover from the power down state and run the power diagnostics module. The power diagnostics module runs on the predetermined charge to diagnose faults associated with the power system, such as failure of an external AC adapter, and to present the faults to an end user, such as at a display, with LEDs or through a network message.
US07844840B2
A configurable power control system is disclosed. The power control system can include a control module, an enable/disable module coupled to a power rail (i.e. an internal power line) to enable and disable power to the power rail. The system can also include a sequencer module coupled to the first and a second power rail to sequence power to the power rail(s). The system can also include a fault detect module to detect system parameters. Additionally, the system can include a memory module to store user input and can store detected faults to be utilized by the control module and other modules to control interrelationships between the enable module, the sequencer module, the fault detect module, power in, and power provided via the power rails.
US07844832B2
A system and method for authenticating the source of, protecting the contents of, and ensuring the integrity of information. The information may be any digital information which can be stored in a computer file. The information is encapsulated in a computer file which also includes the biometrically verified identity of the person who packaged the information. The contents of the computer file are encrypted, and a unique message digest value is generated and stored in a secure central database. The message digest value functions as the digital signature of the encrypted information, and is used to ensure the integrity of the information.
US07844831B2
A secure memory device which can be used for multi-application smart cards for secure identification in data transfer, or for component verification in a computer system, without the requirement of an internal microprocessor. The secure memory device features a dual authentication protocol in which the memory and host authenticate each other. The secure memory device also includes an encrypted password feature, as well as using stream encryption to encrypt the data.
US07844830B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes encrypting unit which encrypts first digital audio data by using an encryption key, decrypting unit which decrypts the encrypted first digital audio data, a first converter which converts the decrypted first digital audio data into a first analog audio signal, a second converter which converts second digital audio data into a second analog audio signal, an analog mixer which mixes the first analog audio signal and the second analog audio signal with each other, and outputting unit which outputs the mixed audio signal.
US07844826B1
A permission level associated with an entity's access to a Web server is identified. A relationship ticket is obtained from an authentication server and a request is generated to set the identified permission level. The request and the relationship ticket are sent to the Web server and a success code is received from the Web server if the requested permission level is established.
US07844825B1
A method of generating a non-linear spatial and chromatic password includes the steps of establishing a spatial password entry pattern (SPEP) within boundary conditions of a matrix of a password entry screen (PES), the SPEP including coordinates of the matrix of the PPS. The method also includes selecting a first color from a color selection keypad (CSK) having many selectable colors. The first color is then mapped to a first coordinate of the SPEP of the matrix. Then, a second color from said CSK is mapped to a second coordinate of said SPEP. The above steps of selection and mapping are then repeated for N coordinates, each corresponding to a selected color of the CSK, until all coordinates falling within the boundary conditions defining said non-linear SPEP are fully mapped. A high security, high anti-decryption, spatial and chromic password results.
US07844820B2
A set of metadata for association with the composite media item and a tool for creating a composite media item with an associated set metadata. In one embodiment, the tool comprises a component for extracting a portion of a first media item having first metadata and for extracting a portion of a second media item having second metadata, a component for combining the first portion and the second portion to form a composite media item, and a component for analyzing the first metadata and the second metadata to extract portions of the first and second metadata to form a new set of metadata for association with the composite media item. In one embodiment, the new metadata is a data container.
US07844816B2
A public key (PK) framework for allowing a relying party to act as a trust anchor to authenticate a subscriber. The framework provides a directory system under the control of the relying party, wherein the directory system includes: a storage system for storing certificates received from subscribers in a database, wherein the certificates are issued by a plurality of different certificate authorities; a management system for managing records in the database associated with subscribers; and a validation system that allows the relying party to retrieve certificates from the database in order to authenticate subscribers.
US07844815B2
An apparatus and method for selecting a security association timer between user equipment and a control entity in a communication system are disclosed. The apparatus includes a transmitter configured to transmit a registration request message to a control entity in a communication system, whereby the registration request message is configured to request registration with the control entity. The apparatus further includes a receiver configured to receive an authentication challenge including a temporary timer, whereby the temporary timer is configured to set a time duration for the apparatus to respond to the authentication challenge. The receiver is further configured to receive an acknowledgement message including a security association timeout value in response to the transmitted registration message, whereby the security association timeout value includes a set time length of a security association equal to a registration time length set for registration of the apparatus. The transmitter is further configured to transmit a registration authentication message to the control entity before expiration of the temporary timer.
US07844812B2
A computer system which includes a CPU for performing various processes by program control and storage elements which store at least one operating system and a BIOS, wherein upon starting a system, the CPU recognizes the system's own hardware configuration, and starts a selected one operating system stored in the storage elements in accordance with the recognized hardware configuration under the control of the BIOS.
US07844804B2
One or more Shadow Register Files (SRF) are interposed between a Physical Register File (PRF) and a Backing Store (BS) in a shadow register file system. The SRFs comprise dual-port registers connected serially in a chain of arbitrary depth from the PRF. A Register Save Engine has random access to one port of the registers in the final SRF in the chain, and saves/restores data between the final SRF and the BS, e.g., RAM. As PRF registers are deallocated from calling procedures for use by called procedures, data are serially shifted from multi-port registers in the PRF through successive corresponding dual-port registers in SRFs, and are serially shifted back toward the multi-port registers as the PRF registers are reallocated to calling procedures. Since no procedure can access more than the number of registers in the PRF, the effective size of the PRF is increased, using less costly dual-port registers.
US07844795B2
A storage apparatus includes a storage unit and a controller, wherein control of inputting/outputting data from/to a device provided in said storage unit is executed in accordance with a request received by said storage apparatus. An actual device of the storage apparatus corresponds to a virtual device which is external to said storage apparatus. The controller operates to perform a process for mapping an actual device address corresponding to a virtual device address, in accordance with a specification of the actual device to be mounted or unmounted to correspond to the virtual device, and storing and retaining mapping information obtained from the mapping in a first table. The controller also performs data input/output process for receiving, an access request for data input/output in which said virtual device address is specified, obtaining the actual device address mapped to said specified virtual device address in said first table, and accessing the actual device by said obtained actual device address.
US07844792B2
A software tool automatically places files and folders of a software program within segments of a DVD. The segments are defined by security placeholders, and the disposition of the placeholders is initially randomly determined, consistent with predefined rules. The placeholders are included on the disc to hinder unauthorized copying. A developer generally defines the order in which the files and folders are to be laid out, and the software tool automatically places the files and folders, filling successive segments and shifting the placeholders to accommodate files that will not fit in a current segment. However, any movement of the placeholders must be done by the tool and is only permitted if the new disposition of the placeholder is in accord with the predefined rules. A user can manually modify the automated layout, and in response, the files and folders are automatically shifted to accommodate the changes introduced by the user.
US07844789B2
Device for controlling access to a secured memory, comprising a synchronous attribute search circuit
A device controls access to a data memory includes secured memory areas and receiving read or read/write-access commands. The device also includes a storing unit for storing a plurality of attributes, and a reading unit for, reading an attribute corresponding to a secured memory area at which an access command is aimed. The attributes are saved in a dedicated area of the data memory, and the device comprises a synchronous attribute search circuit arranged for intercepting the access command, when an access command is sent to the data memory, reading in the data memory the attribute corresponding to the secured memory area at which the intercepted access command is aimed, then applying the access command to the data memory.
US07844788B2
A computer comprising a processor, a volatile main store, a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) mirror store, and optionally a cache for the non-volatile mirror store. While programs of the computer are operational, the contents of the volatile main store are mirrored in the non-volatile mirror store such that when a startup signal is received, the contents of the volatile main store are quickly restored from the contents of the non-volatile mirror store.
US07844787B2
Techniques for data replication are presented. A snap shot request is processed within an environment associated with a local volume by flushing pending Input/Output (I/O) operations into an event packet. The event packet is sent to a replicated volume and processed against the replicated volume to create a snap shot version of the local volume.
