US07910724B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating c-Fos gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of c-Fos gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of c-Fos genes. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of cancer, proliferative diseases or conditions, inflammatory diseases or conditions, allergic diseases or conditions, infectious diseases or conditions, autoimmune diseases or conditions, or transplantation/allograft rejection in a subject or organism.
US07910708B2
The present invention relates to human anti-IL-13 binding molecules, particularly antibodies, and to methods for using anti-IL-13 antibody molecules in diagnosis or treatment of IL-13 related disorders, such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
US07910698B2
The present invention provides, in part, NPC1L1 from various species. Methods of using the NPC1L1 polypeptides and polynucleotide set forth herein, e.g., in screening assays, are also set forth.
US07910694B2
The present invention relates to peptides which selectively or preferentially home to areas of a heart. The invention further relates to conjugates of the homing peptides and uses thereof.
US07910685B2
Conjugates between a protein and a water soluble polymer comprising multiple degradable carbonate linkages are provided.
US07910684B2
A thin film transistor device includes a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer includes a compound comprising a chemical structure represented by: wherein each R is independently selected from hydrogen, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon, and a hetero-containing group, each Ar is independently selected from optionally substituted aryl and heteroaryl groups, each M is an optional, conjugated moiety, a represents a number that is at least 1, b represents a number from 0 to 20, and n represents a number that is at least 1.
US07910682B2
Disclosed are a curable composition characterized by using a curable composition including an organic polymer (A1) having one or more silicon-containing functional groups capable of cross-linking by forming siloxane bonds in which the one or more silicon-containing functional groups capable of cross-linking by forming siloxane bonds are silicon-containing functional groups each having three or more hydrolyzable groups on one or more silicon atoms thereof; and a method for controlling the recovery properties, durability and creep resistance of the cured article. Herewith, the present invention provides a curable composition capable of giving a cured article excellent in recovery properties, durability and creep resistance, and a method for controlling the recovery properties, durability and creep resistance of the cured article.
US07910679B2
Provided are bulk homogeneous polymerization processes for producing ethylene propylene random copolymers. The process includes contacting in a reactor or in a series of reactors propylene monomer, ethylene comonomer with one or more catalyst systems and optional solvent (present at less than 40 wt %), wherein the reactor train is at a temperature of between 65° C. and 180° C. and at a pressure no lower than 10 MPa below the cloud point pressure of the polymerization system and less than 1500 MPa, and wherein the polymerization system for the reactor train is in its dense fluid state to form a polymer reactor effluent including a homogeneous fluid phase polymer-monomer mixture in the reactor train; and wherein the resultant copolymer product comprises between 10 wt % and 20 wt % randomly distributed ethylene and the concentration of total region defects in the continuous propylene segments of the random EP copolymer is between 40 and 150% greater than in a copolymer of equivalent melt flow rate and wt % ethylene polymerized by a solution polymerization process.
US07910675B2
A process for producing water-absorbing polymeric particles comprises conducting the polymerization in at least two parallel continuous polymerization reactors under substantially identical conditions and further processing the reaction products conjointly in at least one process step.
US07910664B2
Disclosed is a novel radially multi-branched polymer. The radially multi-branched polymer includes a central molecule to which side-branches are bonded in at least three positions and has an average molecular weight of 500 to 100,000, the side-branch being selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene oxide, a polyacrylate, a polyester, a polyamide and derivatives thereof. The radially multi-branched polymer is used for manufacturing a low dielectric insulating film to provide a low dielectric insulating film having easily controllable micropores.
US07910662B2
The invention discloses improved processes to halogenate polymers. In particular, the invention discloses to improved processes to halogenate polymers made from C4-1012 isoolefins.
US07910647B2
Non-ionic surfactants are used to reduce the adhesion of microorganisms to surfaces of materials by coating such surfaces with the surfactants or incorporating the surfactants into the materials.
US07910643B2
A polylactic acid resin composition in which polylactic acid is blended with dibasic acid bis(benzoylhydrazide) represented by general formula (I) below; and a process for producing heat-resistant polylactic acid resin moldings, wherein after the polylactic acid resin composition is melted, the polylactic acid resin composition melted is filled in a die of a molding machine and molded accompanied with crystallization, in which the temperature of the die has been set in a range not higher than the initiation temperature of crystallization and not lower than the glass transition temperature determined with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). (In the formula, R represents a alkylene, alkenylene, cycloalkylene, alkylene having an ether bond, or alkylene interrupted with a cycloalkylene, the groups each having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and R1, R2, R3, and R4 each represent a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or alkylaryl, the groups each having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or R1 and R2 and/or R3 and R4 bond to each other to form a five- to eight-membered ring.)
US07910638B2
A semiconductor-encapsulating epoxy resin composition comprising (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a phenolic resin curing agent, (C) an inorganic filler, and (D) carbon black is prepared by mixing a carbon black feedstock and the curing agent with an organic solvent, filtering off coarse particles of carbon black which remain over a mesh sheet with an opening of 20 μm, removing the solvent from the filtrate to yield a premix of curing agent and carbon black, and kneading the premix with the remaining components.
US07910636B2
The invention relates to cured (meth)acrylate based adhesive composition, comprising at least two co-continuous phases of interpenetrating networks and at least two types of polymeric inclusions, in which one of the co-continuous phases comprises a polymer or copolymer based on at least one acrylic or methacrylic acid monomer or a derivative thereof. These compositions exhibit better facture toughness, especially at low temperatures.
US07910634B2
Disclosed are aqueous dispersions of polymer-enclosed particles, such as nanoparticles. Also disclosed are methods for making an aqueous dispersion of polymer-enclosed particles, polymerizable polymers useful in such a method, powder coating compositions formed from such an aqueous dispersion, substrates at least partially coated with such a composition, and reflective surfaces comprising a non-hiding coating layer deposited from such a composition.
US07910633B2
The invention relates to liquid compositions that include an aqueous asphalt mixture and polyurethane dispersion. The polyurethane dispersion includes a polyurethane that is based on an aliphatic polyol backbone based on polytetramethyl ethlene glycol and/or polycaprolactone. The aqueous asphalt mixture in the liquid composition generally constitutes a majority volume percent of the liquid composition. The polyurethane dispersion generally constitutes at least about 0.1 volume percent of said liquid composition.
US07910611B2
A therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for restenosis, which comprises a thiadiazoline derivative represented by the general formula (0), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: [wherein, n represents an integer of 1 to 3, R0 represents aryl, —NR1CONR2 (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, and R2 represents lower alkyl or the like) or the like, R3 represents lower alkyl, R4 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, and R5 represents aryl or the like].
US07910610B1
The present invention relates to methods involving avoiding adverse drug interactions with fluvoxamine and pirfenidone or other moderate to strong inhibitors of CYP enzymes.
US07910605B2
Use of a compound of formula (A), wherein: W is a residue which imparts antagonistic and/or agonistic activity at histamine H3-receptors when attached to an imidazole ring in 4(5) position; R1 and R2 may be identical or different and represent each independently a lower alkyl or cycloalkyl, or taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, a saturated nitrogen-containing ring (i) as defined, a non-aromatic unsaturated nitrogen-containing ring (ii) as defined, a morpholino group, or a N-substituted piperazino group as defined for preparing medicaments acting as antagonists and/or agonists at the H3-receptors of histamine.
US07910603B2
Compounds of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl or alkyl, all optionally substituted; R2 is H; or aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkylalkyl or alkyl, all optionally substituted; R3 is aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl, all optionally substituted; X is a bond, —(CH2)m—N(R7)—(CH2)n—, —(CH2)m—O—(CH2)n—, —(CH2)m—S—(CH2)n—, —C(O)—, —CH(OH)—, —C(O)N(R7)—, —C(O)N(R7)-alkylene or —N(R7)C(O)—; R7 is H or alkyl; and m and n are each 0-6, provided that the sum of m and n is 0-6; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use of said compounds in the treatment of cough, pain, anxiety, asthma, depression, alcohol abuse, urinary incontinence and overactive bladder are disclosed.
US07910602B2
The invention relates to 6-amido substituted pyrazolopyridine derivatives of the formula (I) useful as inhibitors of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (βARK-1), compositions containing such compounds and their use for the treatment and prevention of chronic heart failure, hypertension, myocardial ischemia and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and for the prevention of opiate addiction.
US07910594B2
This invention relates to vitamin-mitomycin conjugates, to a method of using the conjugates to selectively eliminate a population of pathogenic cells in a host animal harboring the pathogenic cells, and to a method of preparation of the conjugates. The conjugate is of the general formula B-L-X wherein the group B is a vitamin, or an analog or a derivative thereof, that binds to a surface accessible vitamin receptor that is uniquely expressed, overexpressed, or preferentially expressed by a population of pathogenic cells, wherein the group L comprises a cleavable linker, and wherein the group X comprises a mitomycin compound, or an analog or a derivative thereof. An additional therapeutic agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent, can be administered in combination with the conjugate.
US07910585B2
Novel pyrimidine derivatives of formula I to processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US07910576B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I, in which R1; R2; R3; R4; R5; R6; R7; R8; R9; R10; R11; R12; R13; A; B, D and E have the meanings indicated in the claims. The compounds of the formula I are valuable pharmacologically active compounds. They exhibit a strong anti-aggregating effect on platelets and thus an anti-thrombotic effect and are suitable e.g. for the therapy and prophylaxis of cardio-vascular disorders like thromboembolic diseases or restenoses. They are reversible antagonists of the platelet ADP receptor P2Y12, and can in general be applied in conditions in which an undesired activation of the platelet ADP receptor P2Y12 is present or for the cure or prevention of which an inhibition of the platelet ADP receptor P2Y12 is intended. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of compounds of the formula I, their use, in particular as active ingredients in pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical preparations comprising them.
US07910575B2
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of allergic ophthalmic diseases or allergic nasal diseases, which comprises 7,8-dimethoxy-4(5H),10-dioxo-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine, 2-(1-isopropoxycarbonyloxy-2-methylpropyl)-7,8-dimethoxy-4(5H),10-dioxo-2H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention has few side effects, exerts strong prophylactic and therapeutic effects in the late phase exhibiting pharmaceutical resistance to conventional instillations, and can be used appropriately for topical applications.
US07910571B2
The invention relates to the use of compounds to ameliorate or treat an condition such as a cystic fibrosis, neutropenia or other exemplified conditions. Exemplary compounds that can be used include 3β-hydroxy-17β-aminoandrost-5-ene, 3β-hydroxy-16α-fluoro-17β-aminoandrost-5-ene, 3α-hydroxy-16α-fluoro-17β-aminoandrost-5-ene, 3β-hydroxy-16β-fluoro-17β-aminoandrost-5-ene, 1α,3β-dihydroxy-4α-fluoroandrost-5-ene-17-one, 1α,3β,17β-trihydroxy-4α-fluoroandrost-5-ene, 1β,3β-dihydroxy-6α-bromoandrost-5-ene, 1α-fluoro-3β,12α-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene-17-one, 1α-fluoro-3β,4α-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene and 4α-fluoro-3β,6α,17β-trihydroxyandrostane.
US07910567B2
The invention relates to the use of an agent that promotes class III SLRP activity in the manufacture of a medicament for the inhibition of blood vessel formation. In addition the invention relates to the use of an agent that promotes class III SLRP activity in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of conditions characterized by excessive activity and/or migration of monocytes and/or macrophages. Suitable agents may include class III SLRPs such as opticin. Methods of treatment using agents able to promote class III SLRP activity are also provided.
US07910561B2
The present invention is directed to compounds which contain substituted naphthyridines which inhibit the activity of Akt, a serine/threonine protein kinase. The invention is further directed to chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for treating cancer comprising administration of the compounds of the invention. These substituted naphthyridines have unexpected advantageous properties when compared to other naphthyridines reported in PCT publication WO2003/086394, such unexpected advantageous properties may include increased cellular potency/solubility, greater selectivity, enhanced pharmacokinetic properties, lack of off target activity and so on.
US07910557B2
A substance having a testosterone 5α-reductase inhibiting action, a hair papilla cell growth promoting action, a fibroblast growth factor-7 production promoting action, a vascular endothelial growth factor production promoting action or a bone morphogenetic protein-2 production promoting action, and a hair care product having this substance blended therein. A hair growth tonic, a testosterone 5α-reductase inhibitor, a hair papilla cell growth promoter, a fibroblast growth factor-7 production promoter, a vascular endothelial growth factor production promoter and a bone morphogenetic protein-2 production promoter each having this substance, such as corosolic acid, as an active ingredient thereof.
US07910553B2
A method of treating a patient for a condition wherein the bioactive agent of choice is DRUG, wherein DRUG is a substrate that is effluxed by the P-gp transporter, is provided, the method comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound of formula (I): DRUG-X—Y(n)—Z(n′)—Z′(n″)—R (I) wherein each X, Y, Z, and Z′ is independently Met, Val, Thr, Tyr, Trp, Ser, Ala, or Gly; R is H or an amino-protecting group; n is 1, and each n′, or n″ is independently 0 or 1; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with the proviso that DRUG is not acyclovir or ganciclovir and that DRUG is non-peptidyl.
US07910549B2
Identified herein is the location of the MN protein binding site, and MN proteins/polypeptides that compete for attachment to vertebrate cells with immobilized MN protein. Such MN proteins/polypeptides prevent cell-cell adhesion and the formation of intercellular contacts. The MN protein binding site is a therapeutic target that can be blocked by organic or inorganic molecules, preferably organic molecules, more preferably proteins/polypeptides that specifically bind to that site. Therapeutic methods for inhibiting the growth of preneoplastic/neoplastic vertebrate cells that abnormally express MN protein are disclosed. Vectors are provided that encode the variable domains of MN-specific antibodies and a flexible linker polypeptide separating those domains. Further vectors are disclosed that encode a cytotoxic protein/polypeptide operatively linked to the MN gene promoter or a MN gene promoter fragment comprising the HIF-1 consensus binding sequence, and which vectors preferably further encode a cytokine. The MN gene promoter is characterized, and the binding site for a repressor of MN transcription is disclosed. Further, the hypoxia inducibility of the MN gene and the uses of such inducibility are disclosed.
US07910520B2
The present invention relates to a porous membrane formed by curing at least one type of anionic monomer by UV irradiation in the presence of a photo-initiator wherein said porous membrane has at least 0.1 meq negative charges per m2, preferably between 0.3 and 5 meq negative charges per m2. The invention further relates to image recording materials, in which these porous membranes are used.
US07910517B2
A catalyst for gas-phase reactions which has high mechanical stability and comprises one or more active metals on a support comprising aluminum oxide as support material, wherein the aluminum oxide in the support consists essentially of alpha-aluminum oxide.Ruthenium, copper and/or gold are preferred as active metal.Particularly preferred catalysts according to invention comprise a) from 0.001 to 10% by weight of ruthenium, copper and/or gold, b) from 0 to 5% by weight of one or more alkaline earth metals, c) from 0 to 5% by weight of one or more alkali metals, d) from 0 to 10% by weight of one or more rare earth metals, e) from 0 to 10% by weight of one or more further metals selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, osmium, iridium, silver and rhenium, in each case based on the total weight of the catalyst, on the support comprising alpha-Al2O3. The catalysts are preferably used in the oxidation of hydrogen chloride (Deacon reaction).
US07910510B2
The present invention relates to dielectric ceramics, thin and/or thick layers produced therefrom and a method for the production thereof and the use of the dielectrics and of the thin and/or thick layers.
US07910509B2
The invention intends to provide a dielectric porcelain composition for use in electronic devices, in which the relative dielectric constant ∈r is high, the Qf value is high and, the temperature coefficient τf can be controlled while maintaining the temperature coefficient τf at the resonant frequency small and the Qf value high. According to the invention, when, in an LnAlO3—CaTiO3-based dielectric porcelain composition, a molar ratio of LnAlO3 and CaTiO3 is optimized and Al is substituted by a slight amount of Ga, a structure that has an LnAlO3—CaTiO3 solid solution as a main phase and a solid solution of Al—Ga-based oxide as a secondary phase and does not substantially contain α-Al2O3 in the structure can be obtained, and the temperature coefficient τf can be controlled while maintaining the temperature coefficient τf at the resonant frequency small and the Qf value high.
US07910505B2
The invention provides a method for producing a glass ceramic comprising the steps of melting a starting glass that is free from alkali, except for incidental contamination, and that contains at least one garnet-forming agent and at least one oxide of a lanthanoid; grinding the starting glass to produce a glass frit; molding by pressing and sintering the glass frit until at least one garnet phase containing lanthanoids is formed. A glass ceramic produced in this way may contain 5-50 % by weight of SiO2, 5-50 % by weight of Al2O3 and 10-80 % by weight of at least one oxide selected from the group formed by Y2O3, Lu2O3, Sc2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Ce2O3, as well as 0.1-30% by weight of at least one oxide selected from the group formed by B2O3, Th2O3, and oxides of the lanthanoids, except Lu2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Ce2O3. Such a glass ceramic is suited especially for down conversion of excitation radiation in the blue and in the UV region of the spectrum.
US07910498B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) forming an energy cured resin layer on a semiconductor substrate having an electrode pad and a passivation film; (b) fusing the resin layer without being cured and shrunk by a first energy supply processing; (c) forming a resin boss by curing and shrinking the resin layer after fusion by a second energy supply processing; and (d) forming an electrical conducting layer which is electrically connected to the electrode pad and passes through over the resin boss.
US07910490B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is not complicated and by which cost can be suppressed, by forming a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film typified by zinc oxide, and a manufacturing method thereof. For the semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a substrate; a gate insulating film is formed covering the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the gate insulating film; and a first conductive film and a second conductive film are formed over the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region.
US07910485B2
A method for forming a contact hole in a semiconductor device includes forming an insulation layer over a substrate, forming a hard mask pattern over the insulation layer, forming a first contact hole by partially etching the insulation layer, forming a spacer on sidewalls of the first contact hole, forming a second contact hole to expose the substrate by etching the remaining insulation layer within the first contact hole, forming a third contact hole by horizontally etching the second contact hole, wherein a line width of the third contact hole is wider than that of the first contact hole, and removing the hard mask pattern and the spacer.
US07910480B2
Disclosed herein is a method for insulating wires of a semiconductor device. One embodiment of the method includes forming first bit line stacks over a cell region of a semiconductor substrate and second bit line stacks over a peripheral region of the semiconductor substrate, and forming a Spin On Dielectric (SOD) layer to fill between the first and second bit line stacks. The method also includes etching back the SOD layer to expose upper side portions of the first and second bit line stacks, selectively removing a portion of the SOD layer present on the peripheral region, and depositing a High Density Plasma (HDP) insulation layer to cover a portion of the SOD layer present on the cell region, and to fill between the second bit line stacks present on the peripheral region.
US07910477B2
Methods for forming dual damascene interconnect structures are provided. The methods incorporate an ashing operation comprising a first ash operation and a second overash operation. The ashing operation is performed prior to etching of an etch stop layer. The operation removes residue from a cavity formed during formation of the interconnect structure and facilitates better CD control without altering the cavity profiles.
US07910476B2
A method and apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate including depositing a capping layer upon a conductive material formed on the substrate, reducing oxide formation on the capping layer, and then depositing a dielectric material. A method and apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate including depositing a capping layer upon a conductive material formed on a substrate, exposing the capping layer to a plasma, heating the substrate to more than about 100° C., and depositing a low dielectric constant material.
US07910475B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a surface region. The surface region includes one or more layers overlying the semiconductor substrate. In addition, the method includes depositing a dielectric layer overlying the surface region. The dielectric layer is formed by a CVD process. Furthermore, the method includes forming a diffusion barrier layer overlying the dielectric layer. In addition, the method includes forming a conductive layer overlying the diffusion barrier layer. Additionally, the method includes reducing the thickness of the conductive layer using a chemical-mechanical polishing process. The CVD process utilizes fluorine as a reactant to form the dielectric layer. In addition, the dielectric layer is associated with a dielectric constant equal or less than 3.3.
US07910474B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device which comprises a barrier film having a high etching selection ratio of the interlayer insulating film thereto, a good preventive function against the Cu diffusion, a low dielectric constant and excellent adhesiveness to the Cu interconnection and a manufacturing method thereof.The barrier film (for instance, a second barrier film 6) disposed between the interconnection or the via plug and its overlying interlayer insulating film is made to have a layered structure made of a plurality of films containing silicon and carbon (preferably, silicon, carbon and nitrogen), with different carbon contents, and, in particular, a low-carbon-concentration film 6a with a small carbon content is set to be a lower layer therein and a high-carbon-concentration film 6b with a large carbon content is set to be an upper layer therein, whereby the effectual prevention against the Cu diffusion, a high etching selection ratio and good adhesiveness to the Cu interconnection can be certainly provided by the presence of the low-carbon-concentration film 6a, while the overall dielectric constant can be well reduced by the presence of the high-carbon-concentration film 6b.
US07910470B2
An embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for contacting at least one electrical contact surface on a surface of a substrate and/or at least one component arranged on the substrate, especially a semiconductor chip. The method includes the following steps: at least one insulating film consisting of an electrically insulating plastic material is laminated, under a vacuum, onto the surfaces of the substrate and the component including the contact surface; and the contact surface to be contacted on the surfaces is bared by opening a window in the insulating film. An embodiment of the present invention further comprises sheet contacting the bared contact surface with at least one metallisation on an insulating film.
US07910450B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor structure including a buried resistor with improved control, in which the resistor is fabricated in a region of a semiconductor substrate beneath a well region that is also present in the substrate. In accordance with the present invention, the inventive structure includes a semiconductor substrate containing at least a well region; and a buried resistor located in a region of the semiconductor substrate that is beneath said well region. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such a structure in which a deep ion implantation process is used to form the buried resistor and a shallower ion implantation process is used in forming the well region.
US07910447B1
A system and method are disclosed for providing a self aligned bipolar transistor using a simplified sacrificial nitride emitter. An active region of a transistor is formed and a silicon nitride sacrificial emitter is formed above the active region of the transistor. Then a physical vapor deposition oxide layer is deposited over the silicon nitride sacrificial emitter using a physical vapor deposition process. The physical vapor deposition oxide layer is then etched away from the side walls of the sacrificial emitter. The sacrificial emitter is then etched away to form an emitter window. Then a polysilicon emitter structure is formed in the emitter window. The self aligned bipolar transistor architecture of the invention is compatible with BiCMOS technology.
US07910445B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the invention includes: forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate through a gate insulating film; forming offset spacers on side surfaces of the gate electrode, respectively; etching the semiconductor substrate with a channel region below the offset spacers and the gate electrode being left by using the offset spacers as a mask; forming a first epitaxial layer made of a crystal having a lattice constant different from that of a crystal constituting the semiconductor substrate on the semiconductor substrate thus etched; etching at least a portion of the first epitaxial layer adjacent to the channel region to a predetermined depth from a surface of the first epitaxial layer toward the semiconductor substrate side; and forming a second epitaxial layer containing therein a conductivity type impurity on the first epitaxial layer thus etched.
US07910444B2
A forms spacers in a electronic device integrated on a semiconductor substrate that includes: first and second transistors each comprising a gate electrode projecting from the substrate and respective source/drain regions. The process comprises: forming in cascade a first protective layer and a first conformal insulating layer of a first thickness on the whole electronic device; forming a first mask to cover the first transistor; removing the first conformal insulating layer not covered by the first mask; removing the first mask; forming a second conformal insulating layer of a second thickness on the whole device; and removing the insulating layers until the protective layer is exposed to form first spacers of a first width on the side walls of the gate electrodes of the first transistor and second spacers of a second width on the side walls of the gate electrodes of the second transistor.
US07910443B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive material layer for forming a gate over a substrate including a cell region and a peripheral region, forming hard mask patterns over the conductive material layer, forming a mask pattern over the resultant structure in the cell region, exposing the peripheral region, trimming the hard mask patterns in the peripheral region, removing the mask pattern, and etching the conductive material layer to form gate patterns using the hard mask patterns.
US07910441B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate (20), a source region (58) formed over the substrate, a drain region (62) formed over the substrate, a first gate electrode (36) over the substrate adjacent to the source region and between the source and drain regions, and a second gate electrode (38) over the substrate adjacent to the drain region and between the source and drain regions.
US07910436B2
An isolated-nitride-region non-volatile memory cell is formed in a semiconductor substrate. Spaced-apart source and drain regions are disposed in the semiconductor substrate forming a channel therebetween. An insulating region is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. A gate is disposed over the insulating region and is horizontally aligned with the channel. A plurality of isolated nitride regions are disposed in the insulating region and are not in contact with either the channel or the gate.
US07910431B2
On a surface of a Si substrate, a nonvolatile memory cell, an nMOS transistor, and a pMOS transistor are formed, and thereafter an interlayer insulation film covering the nonvolatile memory cell, the nMOS transistor, and the pMOS transistor is formed. Next, in the interlayer insulation film, there are formed plural contact plugs connected respectively to a control gate of the nonvolatile memory cell, a source or a drain of the nMOS transistor, and a source or a drain of the pMOS transistor. Thereafter, there is formed a single-layer wiring connecting the control gate to the sources or drains of the nMOS transistor and the pMOS transistor via the plural contact plugs.
US07910429B2
Conventional fabrication of sidewall oxide around an ONO-type memory cell stack usually produces Bird's Beak because prior to the fabrication, there is an exposed sidewall of the ONO-type memory cell stack that exposes side parts of a plurality of material layers respectively composed of different materials. Certain materials in the stack such as silicon nitrides are more difficult to oxidize than other materials in the stack such polysilicon. As a result oxidation does not proceed uniformly along the multi-layered height of the sidewall. The present disclosure shows how radical-based fabrication of sidewall dielectric can help to reduce the Bird's Beak formation. More specifically, it is indicated that short-lived oxidizing agents (e.g., atomic oxygen) are able to better oxidize difficult to oxidize materials such as silicon nitride and the it is indicated that the short-lived oxidizing agents alternatively or additionally do not diffuse as deeply through already oxidized layers of the sidewall such as silicon oxide layers. As a result, a more uniform sidewall dielectric can be fabricated with more uniform breakdown voltages along it height.
US07910428B2
A capacitor includes a pillar-type storage node, a supporter filling an inner empty crevice of the storage node, a dielectric layer over the storage node, and a plate node over the dielectric layer.
US07910426B2
An imager device that has an isolation structure such that pinned photodiode characteristics are maintained without increasing doping levels. The invention provides an isolation structure to maintain pinned photodiode characteristics without increasing doping levels around the photodiode. By creating a substrate region surrounding the charge-collection region of the photodiode, the photodiode may be electrically isolated from the bulk substrate. This region fixes the depletion region so that it does not migrate toward the surface of the substrate or the STI region. By doing so, the region prevents charge from being depleted from the substrate and the accumulation region, reducing dark current.
US07910425B2
A process for forming bipolar junction transistors having a plurality of different collector doping densities on a semiconductor substrate and an integrated circuit comprising bipolar junction transistors having a plurality of different collector doping densities. A first group of the transistors are formed during formation of a triple well for use in providing triple well isolation for complementary metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors also formed on the semiconductor substrate. Additional bipolar junction transistors with different collector doping densities are formed during a second doping step after forming a gate stack for the field effect transistors. Implant doping through bipolar transistor emitter windows forms bipolar transistors having different doping densities than the previously formed bipolar transistors. According to one embodiment of the present invention, bipolar junction transistors having six different collector dopant densities (and thus six different breakdown characteristics) are formed.
US07910424B2
A semiconductor memory includes memory cell transistors including a tunnel insulating film, a floating gate electrode, a first insulating film, a control gate electrode, and a first metal salicide film; low-voltage transistors having a first p-type source region and a first p-type drain region, a first gate insulating film, and a first gate electrode of an n conductivity type having the same dose of a first p-type impurity as with the first p-type source region; and high-voltage transistors having a second p-type source region and a second p-type drain region, a second gate insulating film thicker than the first gate insulating film, and a second gate electrode of an n conductivity type having the same dose of a second p-type impurity as with the second p-type source region.
US07910422B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit having an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor is disclosed. The method includes performing pre-gate processing in a NMOS region and a PMOS region over and/or in a semiconductor body, and depositing a polysilicon layer over the semiconductor body in both the NMOS and PMOS regions. The method further includes performing a first type implant into the polysilicon layer in one of the NMOS region and PMOS region, and performing an amorphizing implant into the polysilicon layer in both the NMOS and PMOS regions, thereby converting the polysilicon layer into an amorphous silicon layer. The method further includes patterning the amorphous silicon layer to form gate electrodes, wherein a gate electrode resides in both the NMOS and PMOS regions.
US07910416B2
In annealing of a non-single crystal silicon film by a linear laser beam, it is performed so as irradiation tracks caused by the linear laser beam do not remain in the silicon film. Laser light is partitioned by an integrally formed cylindrical array lens, and is composed into a single uniform laser beam on an irradiation surface by a cylindrical lens and a doublet cylindrical lens. The integrally formed cylindrical array lens is used, and therefore cylindrical lenses structuring this array lens can be made very fine. It thus becomes possible to partition the laser light into a large number of partitions, and the uniformity of the laser beam on the irradiation surface is increased. Very few laser irradiation tracks remain on the silicon film annealed by the very uniform laser beam.
US07910410B2
An integrated low leakage Schottky diode has a Schottky barrier junction proximate one side of an MOS gate with one end of a drift region on an opposite side of the gate. Below the Schottky metal and the gate oxide is a RESURF structure of an N− layer over a P− layer which also forms the drift region that ends at the diode's cathode in one embodiment of the present invention. The N− and P− layers have an upward concave shape under the gate. The gate electrode and the Schottky metal are connected to the diode's anode. A P− layer lies between the RESURF structure and an NISO region which has an electrical connection to the anode. A P+ layer under the Schottky metal is in contact with the P− layer through a P well.
US07910409B2
In one embodiment, a transistor is formed to have a first current flow path to selectively conduct current in both directions through the transistor and to have a second current flow path to selectively conduct current in one direction.
US07910407B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a first electrode, a diode steering element, at least three resistivity switching storage elements, and a second electrode. The diode steering element electrically contacts the first electrode and the at least three resistivity switching storage elements. The second electrode electrically contacts only one of the at least three resistivity switching storage elements.
US07910398B2
In a method of forming a phase-change memory device, a variable resistance member may be formed on a s semiconductor substrate having a contact region, and a first electrode may be formed to contact a first portion of the variable resistance member and to be electrically connected to the contact region. A second electrode may be formed so as to contact a second portion of the variable resistance member.
US07910386B2
The present invention provides a method for the preparation of organic light-emitting devices comprising a bilayer structure made by forming a first film layer comprising an electroactive material and an INP precursor material, and exposing the first film layer to a radiation source under an inert atmosphere to generate an interpenetrating network polymer composition comprising the electroactive material. At least one additional layer is disposed on the reacted first film layer to complete the bilayer structure. The bilayer structure is comprised within an organic light-emitting device comprising standard features such as electrodes and optionally one or more additional layers serving as a bipolar emission layer, a hole injection layer, an electron injection layer, an electron transport layer, a hole transport layer, exciton-hole transporting layer, exciton-electron transporting layer, a hole transporting emission layer, or an electron transporting emission layer.
US07910380B2
The present invention relates to a structure (a solution introducing structure) for introducing a plurality of solutions (a sample and/or a reagent solution) in highly accurate volume, in high amount and simply, into a channel, in particular a channel of a micro fluidic device, a micro fluidic device having said structure, a method for introducing a solution using said device, a method for separation of a substance, and a method for separating a complex between an analyte or analogue thereof, and a substance binding to said analyte or analogue thereof (hereinafter may be abbreviated as a complex forming substance or CFS) which is obtained by reacting a plurality of solutions introduced by these, and said CFS or analogue not involved in formation of said complex, rapidly, simply and in high accuracy, along with a method for measuring an analyte or an analogue thereof in a sample in high sensitivity.
US07910378B2
Methods and reagents are disclosed for pretreating a sample suspected of containing a hydrophobic drug for conducting an assay method for detecting the hydrophobic drug. A combination is provided in a medium. The combination comprises (i) the sample, (ii) a releasing agent for releasing the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites from endogenous binding moieties, and (iii) a selective solubility agent that provides for substantially equal solubility of the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites in the medium. The selective solubility agent comprises a water miscible, non-volatile organic solvent and is present in the medium in a concentration sufficient to provide for substantially equal solubility of the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites in the medium. The medium, which may further comprise a hemolytic agent, is incubated under conditions for releasing the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites from endogenous binding moieties. For conducting an assay for the hydrophobic drug, the above pretreatment is performed and to the medium is added reagents for determining the presence and/or amount of the hydrophobic drug in the sample wherein the reagents comprise at least one antibody for the hydrophobic drug. The medium is examined for the presence of a complex comprising the hydrophobic drug and the antibody for the hydrophobic drug, the presence and/or amount of the complex indicating the presence and/or amount of the hydrophobic drug in the sample.
US07910374B2
A method of determining the condition of a bulk tissue sample, by: positioning a bulk tissue sample between a pair of induction coils (or antennae); passing a spectrum of alternating current (or voltage) through a first of the induction coils (or antennae); measuring spectrum of alternating current (or voltage) produced in the second of the induction coils (or antennae); and comparing the phase shift between the spectrum of alternating currents (or voltages) in the first and second induction coils (or antennae), thereby determining the condition of the bulk tissue sample. An apparatus for determining the condition of a bulk tissue sample, having: a first induction coil (or antenna); a second induction coil (or antenna); an alternating current power supply connected to the first induction coil (or antenna), the alternating current power supply configured to generate a spectrum of currents (or voltage) in the first induction coil (or antenna); and a measurement system connected to the second induction coil (or antenna), wherein the measurement system is configured to measure a phase shift difference in the spectrum of currents (or voltages) between the first and second induction coils (or antennae) when the first and second induction coils (or antennae) are positioned on opposite sides of a tissue sample.
US07910371B2
A method of monitoring residual treating agent in treated water wherein fluorescent tracers are used to determine the concentration of treating agent in the water at two different treating agent dosages and the difference in the measured concentrations of the fluorescent tracer at the respective doses are correlated with the residual concentration of the treating agent. The fluorescence response at the different treating agent dosages is used to determine whether the system is overdosed or underdosed on a continuous basis and to control treating agent dose accordingly.
US07910362B2
A reporter vector which can evaluate the ability of a drug to induce CYP1A2 or both of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 and a method for evaluation of the ability of a drug to induce CYP1A2 or both of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 by using the reporter vector. A reporter system which can evaluate the ability of a drug capable of inducing CYP1A2 or both of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 is completed by constructing a reporter vector having a reporter gene linked to the 3′ end of a region between CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 or a reporter vector having different reporter genes linked to the both ends of the region, respectively, so as to sandwich the region, and a reporter vector having a deletion mutation in the region, and confirming that the expression of a reporter molecule is increased by the drug capable of inducing CYP1A2 or both of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in the reporter system using the reporter vector.
US07910347B1
An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in the ratio of peracetic acid formation to peracetic acid hydrolysis specific activities (PAAF/PAAH ratio). The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.
US07910336B2
This invention relates to methods of detecting extracellular hTR RNA and hTERT RNA in blood, plasma, serum, and other bodily fluids. The invention thereby provides an aid for the detection, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, or evaluation of neoplastic disease.
US07910335B2
The present invention relates to methods for the labeling of nucleic acid polymers in vitro and in vivo. In particular, the methods include a [3+2] cycloaddition between a nucleotide analogue incorporated into a nucleic acid polymer and a reagent attached to a label. Such methods do not require fixation and denaturation and therefore can be applied to the labeling of nucleic acid polymers in living cells and in organisms. Also provided are methods for measuring cellular proliferation. In these methods, the amount of label incorporated into the DNA is measured as an indication of cellular proliferation. The methods of the invention can be used in a wide variety of applications including clinical diagnosis of diseases and disorders in which cellular proliferation is involved, toxicity assays, and as a tool for the study of chromosomes' ultrastructures.
US07910333B2
The invention provides methods for detecting alpha-synuclein. The invention also identifies preferred epitopes of alpha synuclein for use in such detection, and provides antibodies specifically binding to such epitopes.
US07910328B2
Novel calcium-independent phospholipases A2; genes encoding the same; an antibody against them; an inherent promoter or a regulator gene which comprises a base sequence occurring in intron and inducing site-specific expression in response to an external stimulus; a method of expressing a target protein in response to an external stimulus; and an organism having this gene transferred thereinto. Novel calcium-independent phospholipases A2 having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5 or an amino acid sequence derived from such an amino acid sequence by the substitution, deletion or addition of one or more amino acids; a gene having a base sequence occurring in an intron and being capable of initiating RNA transcription due to an external stimulus such as a stimulus with kainic acid or an electrical stimulus; a method of regulating expression by using the gene; and an organism having the gene transferred thereinto.
US07910315B2
A variety of methods, compositions and kits are provided for the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of hemangiosarcoma in dogs and angiosarcomas in humans.
US07910310B2
This invention relates to the relationship between infection with an adipogenic adenovirus, such as adenovirus-36, and obesity-related disease. In particular, this invention relates to assaying a subject to determine the adipogenic adenovirus infection status and then determining the subject's predisposition to developing an obesity-related disease based on the adipogenic adenovirus infection status.
US07910304B2
The invention relates to methods and devices for analyzing single molecules, i.e. nucleic acids. Such single molecules may be derived from natural samples, such as cells, tissues, soil, air and water without separating or enriching individual components. In certain aspects of the invention, the methods and devices are useful in performing nucleic acid sequence analysis by probe hybridization.
US07910299B2
The invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing SLE. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing SLE, diagnosing severe SLE, and assessing a mammal's susceptibility to develop severe SLE. For example, the invention provides nucleic acid arrays that can be used to diagnose SLE in a mammal. Such arrays can allow clinicians to diagnose SLE based on a simultaneous determination of the expression levels of many genes that are differentially expressed in SLE patients as compared to healthy controls.
US07910287B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a relief printing plate for forming a high-definition pattern by a printing method, having a convex part comprising a resin layer, a base material supporting the convex part and a light reflection controlling layer, the light wave length being in range of 400 nm-800 nm, and the layer being between the convex part and the base material.
US07910282B2
In order to improve a resist pattern shape in a semiconductor lithography process, which is a factor largely affecting on a processing precision, an integration degree and yield, a copolymer for semiconductor lithography where a composition of a hydroxyl group-containing repeating unit in a low molecular weight region is controlled, and a method of producing the same are provided.According to the invention, in a copolymer for semiconductor lithography, which is obtained by copolymerizing a monomer having a hydroxyl group and a monomer having no hydroxyl group, when a copolymer of which composition of a hydroxyl group-containing repeating unit is controlled is used, the object can be achieved.
US07910271B2
An organic EL device includes a substrate body, a plurality of organic functional layers arranged on the substrate body in a given pattern and a partition for partitioning the plural organic functional layers. The partition includes at least a first partition part with a substantially trapezoidal cross-section provided on the substrate body and a second partition part with a substantially trapezoidal cross-section provided on the first partition part. The partition is formed so that a lower base of the cross-section of the second partition part can be shorter than an upper base of the cross-section of the first partition part.
US07910269B2
A photomask for integrated circuit production comprising a substrate, one or more layers and a detector for monitoring a process parameter of the integrated circuit production in combination with one or more of the following: communication circuitry for communicating with external equipment for the integrated circuit production, a computational processor for analyzing the monitored process parameter, and a data storage component. In addition, a method of integrated circuit production comprising the steps of providing a photomask in the integrated circuit production process and monitoring a process parameter of the integrated circuit production using the photomask, in combination with one or more following steps: analyzing the monitored process parameter using the photomask; communicating the monitored process parameter from the photomask to external equipment involved in the integrated circuit production; and storing the monitored process parameter in the photomask. For example, the photomask embodying aspects of the present invention may monitor and track the process parameter of a stepper during the integrated circuit production. The monitored data may be analyzed against the production information to determine possible adjustment or alteration to the integrated circuit production steps.
US07910261B2
A cell voltage measurer of a fuel cell stack and a fuel cell system using the same, the cell voltage measurer including a plurality of terminals electrically connected to a plurality of separators of the stack, respectively; and a plurality of wiring lines coupled to at least one of a plurality of fastening mechanisms and electrically connected to the plurality of terminals, respectively. With this configuration, at least one of the wiring lines is blocked or prevented from being short-circuited by heat generated in the fuel cell stack, and has a sample structure to ease an wiring operation. Since the cell voltage of the fuel cell stack is stably measured to thereby measure (or check) the deterioration of a certain cell (or cell unit), the fuel cell stack is blocked or prevented from being suddenly stopped due to excess deterioration of the certain cell (or cell unit).
US07910256B2
The present invention provides a method for supplying fuel to a fuel cell, in which a monitoring period is determined for monitoring the fuel cell, and then a feeding amount of fuel is determined by integrating characteristic value generated from the fuel cell in the monitoring period. In another embodiment, it is further comprising a step of determining the variation profile associated with the characteristic value during the period so as to judge whether it is necessary to feed the fuel into the fuel cell or not. By means of the present invention, the supplying of fuel to the fuel cell under dynamic loadings can be effectively controlled for optimizing the performance of the fuel cell as well as reducing the cost without installing any fuel sensor.
US07910253B2
Disclosed is a reformer for a fuel cell. The reformer for a fuel cell includes a reforming reactor generating reformed gas having abundant hydrogen gas by reforming fuel and steam and a standing shape of a water gas shift reactor coupled to the reforming reactor for lowering the concentration of carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas. The water gas shift reactor has an opening. A pipe is coupled to the opening and has a portion located below the opening. Liquid water which may stay in the inside at the time that the operation stops can be drained out of the water gas shift reactor to prevent the water gas shift catalyst from being submerged in liquid water.
US07910246B2
The object of the invention is to provide positive electrode material in which a discharge rate characteristic and battery capacity are hardly deteriorated in the environment of low temperature of −30° C., its manufacturing method and a lithium secondary battery using the positive electrode material. The invention is characterized by the positive electrode material in which plural primary particles are flocculated and a secondary particle is formed, and the touch length of the primary particles is equivalent to 10 to 70% of the length of the whole periphery on the section of the touched primary particles.
US07910231B2
Chromium plating from the trivalent state is relatively environmentally friendly as compared to a hexavalent chromium bath. Incorporation of non-metallic and metalloid elements into the coating should lead to enhanced properties. The relationship between composition, structure, and properties of annealed Cr—C—P layers electrodeposited from chromium-based trivalent baths is discussed. These coatings are amorphous in the as-deposited state, but upon thermal treatments, chromium nanocrystallization, as well as precipitation of carbides and phosphides occurs. Incorporation of phosphorous strongly influences the structural evolution and mechanical properties. Electroplated Cr—C alloy coatings exhibit significant increases in hardness and strength, when exposed to temperatures up to about 600° C., owing to the evolution of their nanostructure. This evolution can be shifted to higher temperatures (approaching 850° C.), through a ternary addition of phosphorous. The resulting Cr—C—P coatings may be suitable for applications at higher service temperatures, where more conventional Cr-based coatings soften rapidly.
US07910216B2
A process for forming a composition comprising organosilsesquioxanes, comprises the following steps: 1. partially hydrolysing hydrolysable inorganic monomer precursors comprising at least 50 mole % of first hydrolysable inorganic monomer precursors having the formula RSiY3, in which R is an organic group, the R—Si bond is a non-hydrolysable bond, each Y group is the same as or different to one another and is selected from chemically-reactive groups such that each Si—Y bond is hydrolysable to form a Si—OH bond, to form inorganic monomers and allowing partial condensation of the inorganic monomers to form a liquid composition comprising inorganic oligomers; 2. prior to complete condensation of the inorganic monomers, quenching the liquid composition with an amount of water which, in combination with the water used in step (1) and any water liberated by condensation of the inorganic monomers in step (1), is in excess of the stoichiometric amount of water required to achieve complete hydrolysis of all the hydrolysable inorganic monomer precursors present; and 3. drying the composition.
US07910209B2
Cellulose granules small enough such that they can be retained in a cigarette filter and capable of carrying sufficient amounts of volatile functional substance and vaporizing it easily. The cellulose granules are obtained from an extrusion granulating step and a spheronizing step, with smaller variability in particle diameter than that of conventional cellulose granules.
US07910207B2
The islands-in-sea type composite fiber of the present invention comprises a sea part containing an easily soluble polymer and 100 or more island parts containing a hardly soluble polymer, per fiber. In a cross-sectional profile of the composite fiber, each of the island parts has a thickness in the range of from 10 to 1,000 nm and the intervals between the island parts adjacent to each other are 500 nm or less. The islands-in-sea type composite fiber is produced by melt spinning the sea part polymer and the island part polymer mentioned above through a spinneret for an islands-in-sea type composite fiber and taking up the spun fiber at a speed of 400 to 6,000 m/min. Dissolution and removal of the sea part polymer from the composite fiber gives a group of fine fibers having a thickness of 10 to 1,000 rim and useful for clothing, industrial materials and other applications.
US07910205B2
This invention relates to a composition suitable for the formation of a release layer in an in-mold decoration or thermal transfer printing process. The invention also relates to a process for the formation of a release layer comprising dispersing or dissolving the release layer composition of the present invention in a solvent followed by curing said composition.
US07910198B2
The present invention provides a resinous porous article having a high interconnected hole porosity and capable of retaining a large amount of a lubricating oil and does not rust iron and steel, even though an unextracted portion of a pore-forming substance bleeds out when the resinous porous article is used as parts which contact a metal portion or the like and a method of producing the resinous porous article. The resinous porous article is formed by a producing method of molding a resin containing the pore-forming substance into a molding, and extracting the pore-forming substance from the molding with a solvent which does not dissolve the resin therein. The resinous porous article has an interconnected hole porosity not less than 30%. The pore-forming substance consists of an alkali compound.
US07910183B2
An intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes a first polyimide substrate layer and a second layer of a polyetherimide/polysiloxane polymer.
US07910180B2
A novel liquid crystal comprising a first liquid compound having bent structures and a second liquid crystal compound. A liquid crystal phase formed by the first liquid crystal compound exhibits ferroelectricity or antiferroelectricity while a liquid crystal phase formed by the second liquid crystal compound exhibits neither ferroelectricity nor antiferroelectricity. A smectic liquid crystal phase formed by the first liquid crystal compound has a tilted structure while a smectic liquid crystal phase formed by the second liquid crystal compound has no tilted structure. The first liquid crystal compound is represented by the following chemical formula (m=16) and the second liquid crystal compound is represented by the following chemical formula (m=4).
US07910176B2
An electrode is used to perform discharge surface treatment of a work piece. The electrode is made of a green compact obtained by compression-molding an electrode material including powder of any of a metal, a metallic compound, and ceramics. The discharge surface treatment includes generating an electric discharge between the electrode and the work piece in an atmosphere of a machining medium and forming a film consisting of a machining material on a surface of a work piece using energy produced by the electric discharge. The powder has an average particle diameter of 5 micrometer to 10 micrometers, and contains 40 volume percent or more of a component not forming or less easily forming carbide as a component for forming the film on the work piece. The electrode has a hardness in a range of B to 8B tested with a pencil scratch test for a coating film.
US07910166B2
A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a material and a carrier gas into a heated chamber. The material may be a semiconductor material, such as a cadmium chalcogenide. A resulting mixture of vapor and carrier gas containing no unvaporized material is provided. The mixture of vapor and carrier gas are remixed to achieve a uniform vapor/carrier gas composition, which is directed toward a surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrate, where the vapor is deposited as a uniform film.
US07910165B2
A method of ruthenium layer formation for high aspect ratios, interconnect features is described. The ruthenium layer is formed using a cyclical deposition process. The invention generally provides a method of forming a film on a substrate surface including positioning a substrate within a process chamber, exposing a ruthenium-containing compound to the substrate surface, purging the process chamber with a purge gas, reducing the ruthenium-containing compound with a reductant to form a ruthenium layer on the substrate surface and purging the process chamber with the purge gas. The ruthenium-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of bis(dialkylpentadienyl)ruthenium compounds, bis(alkylpentadienyl) ruthenium compounds, bis(pentadienyl)ruthenium compounds, and combinations thereof.
US07910163B2
A process for producing an adhesive tape with single- or double-sided crosslinked pressure-sensitive acrylate hotmelt adhesive layer, wherein a crosslinker is added in the melt to a polyacrylate copolymer (“polyacrylate”) based on acrylic and/or methacrylic esters, the polyacrylate with crosslinker is conveyed to a coating unit, where it is applied to a web-form layer and following application is homogeneously crosslinked, where the crosslinker is a thermal crosslinker and some of the acrylic and/or methacrylic esters contain primary hydroxyl groups and addition takes place preferably in an extruder.
US07910155B2
A method for manufacturing a high-temperature superconducting conductor includes translating an elongated substrate through a reactor. Further, a high temperature superconducting layer is formed on the substrate translating through the reactor by deposition of a reaction product of metalorganic precursor materials onto the substrate. Further, partial pressure of oxygen is monitored to indirectly monitor supply of metalorganic precursors into the reactor.
US07910141B2
The present invention provides an antiallergic composition that is moderate for the human body and skin, and has reduced side-effects; the antiallergic composition comprises a cold-water extract from hop tissue or flavonoid glycosides separated from the cold-water extract.
US07910136B2
The present invention relates to a method of treating osteoarthritis by administering a mineral composition in the form of a nutritional supplement, where the mineral composition may contain Smectite, Gypsum, Quartz, Feldspar, Jarosite, Kaolinite and/or Zeolite.
US07910120B2
A cosmetic composition where a linear, block ethylenic copolymer is dissolved in a physiologically acceptable medium, wherein the linear, block ethylenic copolymer improves the hold of hair lacquer, increases the adhesion of a nail varnish and improves the hold and adhesion of makeup.
US07910119B2
Low-viscosity, finely divided oil-in-water emulsions with long-term stability, comprising an emulsifier combination of noncarbohydrate polyol partial esters of linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated fatty acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms (emulsifier component A) and emulsifiers based on carbohydrate (emulsifier component B), one or more oils, and preservative are provided. Additionally, the present invention provides for the preparation of the emulsions from concentrates, the corresponding concentrates, and the use of the emulsions according to the invention for producing cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical preparations, in particular for producing impregnation emulsions for wet wipes.
US07910111B2
Methods and compositions for blocking exocytosis by inhibition of proteins that regulate exocytosis, such as N-ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor (NSF), are provided. The compositions include multidomain fusion peptides containing a domain that causes the fusion peptide to cross the cellular membrane (e.g. a domain from the TAT protein of HIV) and a domain that inhibits NSF (e.g. a domain of NSF). Administration of the fusion peptide promotes anticoagulation, attenuates thrombosis, and decreases heart attack severity.
US07910109B2
There is provided an MHC class II peptide epitope from 5T4 antigen. In particular, there is provided a peptide epitope of 5T4 which comprises one of the following: (i) the minimal epitope from the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID No. 2; (ii) the minimal epitope from the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID No. 3; (iii) a minimal epitope from the region 281-420 of 5T4. There is also provided a vaccine comprising such a peptide (or precursor thereof) and its use to treat and/or prevent a disease, in particular a cancerous disease.
US07910100B2
The present invention relates to a particularly advantageous antibody, antibody fragment or derivative thereof, which specifically binds to/interacts with at least one epitope of the extracellular or intracellular domain or the mammalian EAG1 ion channel and to nucleic acid molecules encoding these anti-EAG1 antibodies, antibody fragments or derivatives and to vectors comprising such nucleic acid molecules. The invention additionally relates to methods for the preparation of such anti-EAG1 antibodies, antibody fragments or derivatives thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these antibodies, antibody fragments or derivatives, and methods of using the antibodies, antibody fragments or derivatives or the compositions for a variety of purposes, such as diagnosing disease, treating disease, assessing for the presence of EAG1-expressing cells, or blocking EAG1 function in cells.
US07910098B2
The invention herein provides isolated antibodies that bind to VEGF. The invention further provides methods of making anti-VEGF antibodies, and polynucleotides encoding anti-VEGF antibodies.
US07910092B2
It is described the use of the long pentraxin PTX3 (PTX3) or one of its functional derivatives, for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of viral diseases and/or for inhibiting virus activation.
US07910089B2
A sialogogue characterized by comprising polyglutamic acid or its salt. This sialogogue is blended into an oral composition and a food product. This sialogogue is capable of rendering the oral mucosa pleasant even in the case of severe xerostomia.
US07910088B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
US07910084B2
A compound oxide manufacturing method includes: dispersing micelles, in each of which an aqueous phase is formed, in an oil phase; producing primary particles of a precursor of compound oxide in the aqueous phases in the micelles; synthesizing secondary particles by causing the primary particles to aggregate; and causing the secondary particles to aggregate by breaking the dispersion state of the micelles, or by causing the micelles to coalesce. In particular, polarization is produced in each of the micelles with the use of a cation having an ionic radius larger than that of a metal ion at least when the secondary particles are synthesized in the micelles.
US07910078B2
The present invention relates to a method for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for removing CO2 from a gas stream by a liquid absorbent having an amino alcohol derived from 4-amino-2-butanol. In comparison to conventional amines, the amino alcohols of the present invention have been found to provide a higher CO2 absorption capacity and a higher cyclic capacity for CO2 removal.
US07910076B2
A process for the removal of heavy metals from flue gas deriving from combustion processes comprising the following steps: a) optional removal by filtration of solid particles or of particulate of heavy metals or their compounds, having an average diameter higher than 10 micron; b) flue gas washing performed with an aqueous phase and transfer of the heavy metals or their compounds to the aqueous phase; c) flue gas cooling and partial condensation of the steam contained in the flue gas and separation of a condensed phase; d) discharge of the flue gases substantially free from heavy metals or their compounds into the environment; f) discharge of the aqueous phase substantially free from heavy metals or their compounds into the environment.
US07910069B2
Methods and systems for preparing alkylene glycols are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of alkylene oxides with water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time.
US07910062B2
A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and detection system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.
US07910053B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, an Al alloy film electrically connected to the semiconductor layer, and a transparent electrode layer directly contacting with the Al alloy film at least over an insulating substrate. The Al alloy film includes one or more kinds of elements selected from Fe, Co and Ni in total of 0.5 to 10 mol %, and a remaining substantially comprises Al.
US07910051B2
In various embodiments, large-area sputtering targets are formed by providing a plurality of sputtering targets each comprising a backing plate and a refractory metal layer disposed thereon, and spray depositing a refractory metal powder on an interface between the sputtering targets, the refractory metal powder consisting essentially of the same metal as each refractory metal layer, thereby joining the refractory metal layers of the sputtering targets.
US07910050B2
The invention relates to a stopper for a metallurgical melting pot with. Stoppers of this type serve to control the discharge of a molten metal in the area of an outlet of an associated melting pot, for example, a tundish.
US07910044B2
A method and an injection mold for the production of profiled and at least partially elongated components out of liquid or viscous solidifying molding compounds, by said injection mold, the molding compound being injected into the mold cavity and transported away under steady extension of the mold cavity and under steady elongation of the component to be formed after the initial filling of the mold cavity. The molding compound transported away is transported out of the mold while molding compound is continuously being injected until the forming component reaches its final length. The mold has at least one mold insert whose surface is part of the peripheral surface of the mold cavity and which is supported in the mold in a movable way in longitudinal direction of the component to be formed so that the mold cavity forming the component can be expanded to the desired size and shape of the component inside and outside of the mold by a movement of the mold insert. Thus the invention makes it possible to produce components that have complex contours, are elongated, at least partially, and have a finite size in a high quality at a low expenditure.
US07910039B2
A press includes a pressure chamber filled with a substantially incompressible medium that at least partially encloses an elastomeric vessel filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the same fluid. Method and systems employing the press are also disclosed.
US07910027B2
It is intended to provide a semiconductor ceramic composition capable of shifting the Curie temperature to a positive direction as well as of obtaining an excellent jump characteristic while suppressing an increase in room temperature resistivity to a minimum value. There is provided a semiconductor ceramic composition in which a portion of Ba of BaTiO3 is substituted by Bi—Na, the semiconductor ceramic composition being obtained by sintering a mixed calcined powder of a BT calcined powder containing (BaR)TiO3 or Ba(TiM)O3 (wherein each of R and M is a semiconductive dopant), wherein a part of BaCO3 and TiO2 are remained therein; and a BNT calcined powder containing a (BiNa)TiO3 powder.
US07910025B2
To provide a solution composition having a significantly high viscosity comprising one or more solvent(s) and one or more polymer(s) having a polystyrene-reduced Z-average molecular weight of 1.0×105 to 5.0×106, and the solution composition allows to easily obtain a film having a favorable film formability and high uniformity.
US07910008B2
The invention relates to a sealed, sterile system for filtering fluids, in particular whole blood. The system comprises a first collapsible container for receiving the fluid to be filtered and a second collapsible container for receiving the filtered fluid, both containers interconnected by a fluid line, in which a filter and a third container, for deaeration, are located. The first collapsible container contains a predetermined quantity of air, which is sufficient to ensure that no blood remains in the filter and the adjacent tube line sections when the whole blood is transferred from the first container into the second container. The air that is present in the second container, after the whole blood has been filtered, is transferred to the deaeration container.
US07909987B2
For manufacturing micro-structured reactors with passageways loaded with catalyst using the pre-coat method, a method is provided which comprises the following method steps: a) producing reactor layers having bonding areas as well as passageway areas in which the passageways are formed, b) applying at least one bonding layer onto the reactor layers in the bonding areas, c) loading the reactor layers in the passageway areas with the catalyst and d) bonding the reactor layers, the bonding layer being applied and masked before the reactor layers are loaded with the catalyst. As a result, it is ensured that the efficiency of the catalyst will not be affected during manufacturing. The reactor may be used as a methane and methanol reformer in particular.
US07909983B2
Methods and devices for automatically distinguishing between a control solution and an actual patient/user sample in a biosensor are provided. The solution is introduced into an electrochemical cell having a working and counter electrode. Electric pulses are applied to the cell and resultant signals are measured. Based on a comparison of the measured signals, a meter can determine whether the sample is a control solution or an actual patient/user sample.
US07909977B2
A method of manufacturing a substrate for a microelectronic device comprises providing a dielectric material (120, 220, 920) as a build-up layer of the substrate, applying a primer (140, 240, 940) to a surface (121, 221, 921) of the dielectric material, and forming an electrically conductive layer (150, 250, 950) over the primer. In another embodiment, the method comprises providing the dielectric material, forming the feature extending into the dielectric material, forming the electrically conductive layer over the dielectric material, applying the primer to a surface of the electrically conductive layer and attaching a dielectric layer (960) to the primer.
US07909976B2
It is characterized in that in the case of filling a through hole formed in a substrate with a plated metal by electrolytic plating, the electrolytic plating is started by a high current density higher than Constant Current Density capable of fully filling the through hole when the electrolytic plating is performed with a current density held constant as a current density of the electrolytic plating, and the electrolytic plating is continued by being changed to a current density lower than the high current density by the time of reaching formation of a seam diameter in which an inside diameter does not decrease even when the electrolytic plating is continued after the electrolytic plating at the high current density is started.
US07909975B2
Disclosed is a system for recovering gas produced during electrodialysis of a saline solution, from gas entrained in an electrolyte solution circulating through anode and cathode compartments of an electrodialysis (ED) unit. In one embodiment, the system provides separate catholyte and anolyte towers within a closed, re-circulating loop between the cathode and anode compartments. Each tower comprises an inlet at which the entrained gas separates from the electrolyte solution and flows into the headspace. One can recover residual gases from the electrolyte solution in one more additional apparatus. Preferably, hydrogen gas is separated from the catholyte solution and, more preferably, further purified for use as a fuel source in alternative power generating devices, such as a fuel cell or bio-fuel generator, useful in the unit operations of a water treatment system.
US07909969B2
A gas diffusion layer with a micro protective layer is utilized in the electrochemical cells. The cell mainly includes end plates, current collectors, flow field plates, gas diffusion layers, catalyst layers, a proton exchange membrane and a circuit unit. When the cell functions as a fuel cell, hydrogen reacts with oxygen to generate electricity and water. Reversely, when the cell functions as a water electrolysis cell, water was decomposed electrolytically to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. In this manner, the present invention particularly has the gas diffusion layer to be coated with a micro protective layer so as to prevent the gas diffusion layer from being corroded by active oxygen species generated within the oxygen electrode under the catalysis during water electrolysis operation.
US07909967B2
An electro-chemical processor for making porous silicon or processing other substrates has first and second chamber assemblies. The first and second chamber assemblies include first and second seals for sealing against a wafer, and first and second electrodes, respectively. The first seal is moveable towards and away from a wafer in the processor, to move between a wafer load/unload position, and a wafer process position. The first electrode may move along with the first seal. The processor may be pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation, for loading and unloading a wafer, to a substantially vertical orientation, for processing a wafer.
US07909962B2
The present invention refers in one embodiment to a method of manufacturing multilayer coated papers and paperboards, but excluding photographic papers and pressure sensitive copying papers, that are especially suitable for printing, packaging and labeling purposes, in which at least two curtain layers selected from aqueous emulsions or suspensions are formed into a composite, free-falling curtain and a continuous web of basepaper or baseboard is coated with the composite curtain, and paper or paperboard thereby obtainable.
US07909959B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a separation method of an adherend capable of easily and reliably separating an adherend stuck using an adhesive, a method for recovering an electronic part from an electronic part laminate, and a separation method of laminate glass.The invention provides a separation method of an adherend, which is a method of separating an adherend stuck by using an adhesive, and comprises the steps of: air-tightly sealing the adherend together with a fluid being a gas at a normal temperature and normal pressure in a pressure resistant container, making the inside of the pressure resistant container in a high pressure state, and releasing the pressure of the inside of the pressure resistant container.
US07909957B2
The recording medium comprises at least a first (L1) and a second (L2) micro-structured stage assembled by an adhesive layer (4) and arranged between micro-structured bottom (2) and top substrates. A polymerizable layer forming the adhesive layer (4) is deposited on the first stage (L1). Then a micro-structured transparent matrix (5) is provisionally placed on the adhesive layer (4) so as to micro-structure the adhesive layer (4). Polymerization of the adhesive (4) is performed by exposure, through the matrix (5), with a polymerization light. Then the matrix (5) is removed and the second stage (L2) is deposited on the micro-structured adhesive layer (4). Then an additional adhesive layer (9) is deposited on the second stage (L2) and the micro-structured matrix (5) is definitively placed on the additional adhesive layer (9) so as to form the top substrate.
US07909951B2
The method of assembling a light scanning apparatus is capable of fine-adjusting a scanning angle and resonance frequency of a mirror section. The method comprises: a step of measuring the scanning angle and resonance frequency of the mirror section, with actuating a vibration source, in a state where a substrate holding member is temporarily fixed on a base member; a step of moving the substrate holding member, in the longitudinal direction of a substrate after releasing the temporarily-fixed state of the substrate holding member; a step of fine-adjusting a substrate-holding position by repeating the step of moving the substrate holding member; and a step of fixing the substrate holding member after the substrate-holding position is set. The substrate-holding position of the substrate holding member provided on the base member can be varied, without varying the position of the mirror section with respect to the base member in the fine-adjusting step and said fixing step, when the light scanning apparatus is assembled.
US07909947B2
High strength heat treatable aluminum alloys that can be used at temperatures from about −420° F. (−251° C.) up to about 650° F. (343° C.) are described. The alloys are strengthened by dispersion of particles based on the L12 intermetallic compound Al3X. These alloys comprise aluminum, copper, magnesium, at least one of scandium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium; and at least one of gadolinium, yttrium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, and niobium.
US07909936B2
An overall dishwasher operation cycle includes a washing cycle and a final rinse cycle including steam generation. During the final rinse cycle, a dishwasher tub is filled with fluid, heated and utilized to rinse dishware within the dishwasher. After partially draining the tub, a heating element is actuated so as to transform fluid in the tub into steam for cleansing dishware within the dishwasher. After the steam cycle, the final rinse cycle is completed, with the dishwasher being drained. Optionally, when a heated dry cycle is actuated, the heating element continues to operate to provide drying heat to dishware for a period of time before being deactivated. With this arrangement, a single heating element is utilized for heating washing fluid for washing, rinsing and steam generation, as well as for the heated dry cycle.
US07909929B2
The invention provides dispersoids having metal-oxygen groups which are suitable for the production of metal oxide thin-films at a low temperature of 200° C. or below and for the production of homogeneous organic-inorganic hybrid materials. The invention also provides metal oxide thin-films and organic-inorganic hybrid materials endowed with various capabilities, particularly organic-inorganic hybrid materials having a high refractive index and high transparency. Use is made of a dispersoid having metal-oxygen bonds which is obtained by mixing a metal compound having at least three hydrolyzable groups with at least 0.5 mole but less than 2 moles of water per mole of the metal compound in an organic solvent, in the absence of an acid, a base and/or a dispersion stabilizer, and at a temperature at or below the temperature at which the metal compound begins to hydrolyze, then raising the temperature to at least the temperature at which hydrolysis begins.
US07909925B2
A penetration inhibitor includes a rosin-series resin having weight-average molecular weight of at least about 16,000 and at most about 50,000. The penetration inhibitor is to be added to a solvent ink for an inkjet printer.
US07909918B2
An intense field dielectric air filtration system includes a perimeter frame for wall or ceiling mounting at the inlet of a return air duct for an air conditioning apparatus. A door including a grille disposed thereon is mounted for movement on the frame between working and non-working positions for access to an air filter unit, a pre-filter unit and an intense field particle charging unit. Contacts on the filter unit and the field charging unit engage cooperating contacts on an enclosure mounted on the frame when the door is closed to supply electrical power. An interlock is provided to interrupt power when the door is moved to an open position or the grille is removed. A control system disposed in the enclosure includes user control features accessible when the door is in an open position. An alternate embodiment includes a support frame for positioning the filtration system in ductwork or the like other than a return air inlet.
US07909904B2
A method for producing a ceramic honeycomb structure comprises providing a honeycomb body having a side surface, a first cut end surface, a second cut end surface opposite the first end surface, and a maximum width (W), and removing material from at least one of the cut end surfaces of the honeycomb body to reduce the length (L), wherein the step of removing material comprises abrasively removing material from at least one of the ends with a rotating abrasive tool, such as by grinding, and wherein L/W is greater than 0.75. The method may achieve end flatness, parallelism, surface roughness and length accuracy, or combinations thereof which heretofore, were unachievable. Face finished ceramic honeycomb structures having low surface roughness (Ra), high degree of parallelism and accurate lengths are also disclosed.
US07909896B2
An improved process for the production of smokeless (low CO2—CO emitting) boiler fuels which have been obtained by careful temperature control and the addition of waste, trash or other carbonaceous material during carbonization of various coal materials such as tar sands, bituminous coal, peat lignite, and oil shale.
US07909887B2
A novel process for dyeing human keratin fibers in the presence of an oxidizing agent, comprising applying to the fibers at least one anhydrous composition (A) comprising at least one fatty substance, at least one organic amine having a pKb less than 12 at 25° C., and at least one surfactant, at least one composition (B) comprising at least one oxidizing agent, and at least one composition (C) comprising at least one dye chosen from oxidation dyes and direct dyes; a multi-compartment device or kit, wherein at least one first compartment comprises the at least one anhydrous cosmetic composition (A), at least one second compartment comprises at least one composition (B), and at least one third compartment comprises at least one composition (C); and a ready-to-use composition for dyeing human keratin fibers, comprising at least 35% by weight of at least one fatty substance, at least one organic amine having a pKb less than 12 at 25° C., at least one surfactant, at least one dye chosen from oxidation dyes and direct dyes, and at least one oxidizing agent.
US07909875B2
An artificial spinal implant for placement between adjacent vertebrae to replace disk material and to stabilize the involved vertebrae is described. The artificial disk may be disassembled for installation and/or removal for repair, replacement or adjustment, and may be assembled from the front of the spine as individual component parts, thereby permitting alignment of the spine during the assembly process, and the stabilization of the involved vertebrae once assembly has been completed. Further, the components may be chosen from a set of similar components having different sizes, thereby enabling the implant to be tailor fit to the requirements of the patient.
US07909866B2
Anatomical orifice sizers that are optimally proportional to an associated prosthetic device such as a heart valve, and methods of use are provided. The sizers are desirably slightly larger than the rigid mounting diameter of the corresponding heart valve. The heart valve sizer may be cylindrical and have a diameter about 0.3 mm larger than the valve mounting diameter. The sizer preferably has a length of between about 19 mm to 22 mm, and the edges are desirably rounded to a minimum 1 mm radius. The method includes providing a set of cylindrical sizers having varying diameters; sequentially inserting at least two of the sizers through the annulus; measuring the push force needed to pass each sizer through the annulus; selecting a valve corresponding to the sizer for which the measured push force is between about 150 and 300 grams.
US07909851B2
A soft tissue repair device. The device includes an inserter having a distal portion, a first anchor carried externally onto the distal portion, a second anchor carried externally onto the distal portion, and a flexible strand coupling the first and second anchors and forming an adjustable knotless loop.
US07909842B2
Lancing devices are provided for use with a lancet. The lancing device includes a housing and a carriage assembly slidably disposed within the housing. A depth adjustment mechanism is coupled to the carriage to move the carriage and lancet carrier forward and backward in response to user movement of the depth adjustment mechanism.
US07909841B1
Co-axial actuated scissors for slidable positioning along a nerve for cutting the nerve or other anatomical surgical structure in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the scissors and away from the surgery site without harming adjacent tissues includes a first scissor portion having an offset handle attached to a slotted cylinder and a second scissor portion having an offset handle attached to an inner cylindrical member with the inner member telescoped within the slotted cylinder for concentric rotation therewith and the slotted cylinder and rotating member defining the longitudinal axis such that the cylinder and the rotating member include a loop end comprising a pair of cutting jaws whose cutting action is normal to the longitudinal axis and which are movable from an open position to a gripping position to a fully closed position for cutting the nerve through rotatable concentric actuation of the rotating member relative to the slotted cylinder and with detents positioned on an arcuate arm of the first scissor portion successively engaging a receiving notch located on the handle of the second scissor portion for holding the cutting jaws in each position as needed in order to effectuate the surgical operation.
US07909834B2
A self retaining screw inserter for inserting, positioning and removing a set screw of a spinal fixation system, includes an active reverse-collet retainer. The active reverse-collet retainer has fingers configured to move outward to engage and retain a set screw. When engaged, the fingers flare outward to engage the set screw.
US07909832B2
A lordotic guard and method for guiding a bone removal device to form an implantation space in the human spine and, if desired, for inserting a spinal implant into the implantation space.
US07909830B2
A method for performing spinal fixation and instrumentation. A first incision may be made through the skin and a passageway may be created to the spine. A screw may be inserted through the passageway and into a vertebrae. The screw may have a head portion including a channel. An insertion guide may be operable connected to the screw. The insertion guide may have first and second longitudinal slots. Additional screws may each be inserted through separate incisions or through the first incision. Insertion guides may be operably connected to a head portion of each screw. A sleeve may be positioned into one insertion guide in a first position to guide a rod through at least one other insertion guide. The sleeve may be rotated to a second position to allow the rod to move down the slots of the insertion guide(s) and into the head portion of the screw.
US07909826B2
Methods and devices for treating spinal deformities are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a low-profile spinal anchoring device is provided for receiving a spinal fixation element, such as a tether, therethrough. The device generally includes a staple body that is adapted to seat a spinal fixation element, a fastening element for fixing the staple body to bone, and a locking assembly for coupling a spinal fixation element to the staple body. In one embodiment, the locking assembly includes a washer that is adapted to couple to the staple body such that the spinal fixation is disposed therebetween, and a locking nut that is adapted to engage the staple body to mate the washer to the staple body.
US07909821B2
A deflectable interstitial ablation device includes an elongated housing, an electrode mounted within the elongated housing, a driver coupled to the electrode, an imaging device integrally mounted within the elongated housing and a deflection system disposed within the elongated housing. The elongated housing has a proximal end, a distal end, and a deflectable segment. The electrode is deployable from a first position within the elongated housing to a second position a predetermined distance beyond the distal end of the elongated housing. The electrode further has a flexible portion capable of deflecting with the deflectable segment of the elongated housing, and can be deployed by the driver with a sufficient force such that penetration of the urethral wall occurs in a single motion. The imaging device further has a flexible portion capable of deflecting with the deflectable segment of the elongated housing. The deflection system has a proximal end in communication with a steering mechanism, for controllably deflecting the deflectable segment of the elongated housing by any angle. The deflection of the deflectable segment allows deflection of the electrode and the imaging device, thus facilitating proper placement of the electrode.
US07909819B2
A monopolar electrosurgical return electrode to prevent unwanted thermal effects in monopolar electrosurgery, accomplished in one aspect by volumetric incorporation of temperature-resistive material of positive nature into a flexible and adhesive return electrode pad is provided. The incorporation of positive temperature coefficient resistance with low resistance at room temperature will increase the local electrical resistance of the pad with an increase of the local return electrode temperature corresponding to a switching of the resistance from low to high value which in turn will lead to a reduction of the local current density. The switching temperature of the positive temperature coefficient return electrode is low enough to prevent significant thermal heating of the patient's tissue.
US07909815B2
A guide is provided for use with an imaging instrument, the guide including a first portion, a second portion proximate the first portion, and a cavity at least partially formed by the first and second portions, the cavity having a cavity width and configured to retain an instrument therein. The cavity width is selectively changeable to accommodate a plurality of diameters by sliding the second portion along a path with respect to the first portion.
US07909812B2
A catheter comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The elongate tubular member comprises a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section. The proximal section includes an inner tubular liner, a first stiffener comprising a metal alloy, and a second stiffener comprising a non-metal alloy. The first and second stiffeners are coaxially wound exterior to the proximal inner liner. The distal section includes a distal inner tubular liner and the second stiffener coaxially wound exterior to the distal inner liner. The first stiffener terminates before reaching the distal section.
US07909809B2
Various embodiments of bulking or cushioning agents or material and related medical devices and methods are disclosed. For example, a method of performing a medical procedure in a tract of a body may include injecting a material in a liquid phase proximate a target site between a first tissue layer and a second tissue layer, allowing the material to transition from the liquid phase to the gel phase in response to a raise in temperature of the material to approximately at or above the predetermined temperature, and performing a surgical procedure on the target site. The material may have the liquid phase at temperatures below a predetermined temperature and a gel phase at temperatures approximately at or above the predetermined temperature.
US07909802B2
A device for inserting a drain (5) into a wound includes a needle (1) and a handle (2) for holding the needle. The needle (1) has a sharp front end (3) and a rear end including a connector (4) for connection to a drain (5) for leading the drain (5) through a perforation in skin tissue made with the needle (1). The handle (2) projects in a longitudinal direction and detachably mountable to a portion (8) of the needle (1) extending in an axial direction. If the handle (2) is in mounted condition, the longitudinal direction in which the handle (2) projects is oriented at an angle (α) to the axial direction of the portion (8) of the needle (1) to which the handle (2) is mounted, so that operation of the needle (1) is facilitated.
US07909800B2
Ophthalmic drug delivery devices useful for delivery of pharmaceutically active agents to the posterior segment of the eye are disclosed.
US07909799B2
A system of rotate-to-advance medical devices including catheters, dilators, occluders, stents, suprapubic catheters and camera introducers configured with external screw threads and depending substantially on rotation for means of advancement and emplacement in mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages and organs.
US07909780B2
For use with a surgical tool for making incisions in the sclera of an eye to form a scleral pocket to receive a scleral prosthesis, a system and method is disclosed for determining a position on the sclera for locating the scleral pocket. The system and method determines an optimum location for the scleral pocket. The system and method determines a location on the sclera that represents the intersection of the lens equatorial plane with the external surface of the sclera. The front of the scleral pocket is placed at a location that is four hundred fifty microns posterior to the intersection of the lens equatorial plane with the external surface of the sclera.
US07909773B2
A media-dispensing apparatus for testing body fluids and a method of using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having a lower portion and an upper portion, and an elongated tubular member having a distal opening adjacent a distal end thereof. The elongated tubular member includes a first lumen within the elongated tubular member extending from the lower portion of the housing to the distal opening and includes a second lumen within the elongated tubular member extending from the upper portion of the housing to the distal opening. A media strip is dispensable from the lower portion of the housing, through the first lumen, out the distal opening of the elongated tubular member, through the second lumen and into the upper portion of the housing.
US07909767B2
A method for minimizing tracking system interference caused by a motor driven ultrasonic imaging device is disclosed herein. The method includes providing an ultrasonic imaging device adapted to obtain a generally real time three-dimensional image. The ultrasonic imaging device includes a motor configured to rotate a transducer array within a catheter housing. The method for minimizing tracking system interference also includes estimating a noise signal produced by the motor, selecting a tracking system signal strength and/or frequency adapted to minimize a tracking system interference, and implementing a field generator to produce a tracking system signal at the selected tracking system signal strength and/or frequency.
US07909766B2
The present invention is generally directed towards an imaging transducer assembly. Generally, the imaging transducer assembly includes an imaging transducer located within the lumen of a sheath, wherein the sheath is configured such that an energy beam emitted from the imaging transducer narrows as it exits the sheath, resulting in an image with a higher resolution.
US07909765B2
A method and apparatus for measuring intraocular pressure of an eye use an empirically derived function wherein an inward applanation pressure P1 and an outward applanation pressure P2 obtained during a corneal deformation cycle caused by a fluid pulse are separately weighted so as to minimize cornea-related influence on the intraocular pressure value calculated by the function. In one embodiment, the function is optimized, at least in part, to minimize change in calculated IOP between measurements made before surgical alteration of the cornea and measurements made after surgical alteration of the cornea.
US07909764B1
Methods and system are provided for monitoring a patients venous blood oxygen saturation (SvO2). At least one signal indicative of electrical activity of a patient's heart is obtained. Such a signal can be, e.g., an IEGM or ECG signal. In specific embodiments, such a signal(s) can be obtained from implanted electrodes, and thus, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by an implantable system. Additionally, there are measurements of at least one metric of cardiac cycles represented in the at least one signal indicative of electrical activity of the patient's heart, where the metric changes with changes in SvO2. Examples of such metric include T-wave metrics and PR intervals. SvO2, and changes therein, are monitored based on the measured metric(s).
US07909757B2
A blade for a laryngoscope having a handle, the blade having an elongated body having a central axis, and having a distal tip symmetric about the central axis; a downwardly convex arcuate central portion including a first flange and a second flange is disclosed herein. Each flange has a distal flange tip and a proximal base, the first flange tip being a mirror image of the second flange about the central axis. The outer edge of the base of the first flange is convex and the outer edge of the base of the second flange is concave with respect to the central axis. A light attachment area is provided along the central axis. The distal tip may have any one of a variety of shapes, including having outer rounded lobes, being generally rectangular, or having a spoon shape.
US07909755B2
The endoscope applicator according to the present invention allows lubricant to be supplied uniformly to the entire inner surface of the endoscope applicator without increasing the diameter of the endoscope applicator because the lubricant supply path is laid on the outer surface of the endoscope applicator extending from the base end portion to the tip portion of the endoscope applicator and a plurality of openings are formed in the lubricant supply path and endoscope applicator at predetermined intervals in such a way that their opening areas of the opening increase from the base end portion to the tip portion. Moreover, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention can improve the maneuverability of the insert portion and applicator during pull-in operation. Furthermore, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention makes it possible to determine pull-out force quantitatively.
US07909749B2
A boxing device may include a substrate, at least one impact sensor carried by the substrate for detecting impacts from the at least one user, a user input device for receiving personal characteristic data for the at least one user, and a controller coupled to the impact sensor and the user input device. The controller may be for determining performance data based upon detected impacts, and weighting the performance data based upon the personal characteristic of the at least one user.
US07909741B2
Devices, systems and methods for receiving, recording, and/or displaying information related to physical exercise are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an instrumented weight pin for use with a stacked weight exercise machine includes a shaft portion extending outwardly from a handle portion. In this embodiment, the shaft portion is configured to be removably positioned adjacent to one or more weights of the exercise machine to selectively engage the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine. The weight pin can further include a load sensor and/or an accelerometer. The load sensor and/or the accelerometer can provide information associated with an exercise set to a data storage device carried by the weight pin. The data storage device can be operably coupled to a user computer or other display device so that information relating to the exercise set can be displayed for viewing by the user.
US07909738B2
A trampoline swing has a swing assembly, a trampoline assembly and a trampoline to swing connection member connecting the horizontally oriented trampoline frame to a trampoline connection end of the swing assembly. The trampoline swing has a top bar having a pair of apexes, namely a left apex and a right apex. The left apex is at a left side of the swing assembly and the right apex is at the right side of the swing assembly. There are four main body leg supports, namely a front left leg support, a front right leg support, a rear left leg support, and a rear right leg support. The left apex receives the front left leg support and the rear left leg support. The right apex receives the front right leg support and the rear right leg support. A plurality of swing connectors are mounted on the top bar.
US07909735B1
A safety system for a motor vehicle which prohibits the sudden acceleration of the vehicle as a result of hydraulic brake pressure. The throttle-control system of the vehicle is bypassed by providing an ignition switch connecting a starter to a battery, the battery providing voltage for an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. A brake pressure switch is connected to the ignition switch and to a brake master cylinder for receiving brake fluid under hydraulic pressure upon actuation of a brake pedal. An ignition coil means transforms and increases the voltage for the engine. Finally, a limiter set at a specific revolutions per minute (RPM) to limit output of the engine is connected to the brake pressure switch and to the ignition coil, the limiter reacting to the voltage when the brake pressure switch is closed by the hydraulic pressure from the brake pedal.
US07909732B2
A selectable drivetrain control for a vehicle includes a controller configured to receive input signals and issue predetermined output command signals corresponding to the status of the input signals. A first sensor is configured to provide an input signal to the controller relating to the actuation status of a brake pedal. A second sensor is configured to provide an input signal to the controller relating to the actuation status of an accelerator pedal. A stability control selector is configured to provide an input signal to the controller relating to the engagement status of a stability control system of the vehicle. A drivetrain is configured to receive output command signals from the controller. The controller issues output command signals to the drivetrain to control the operational characteristics of the drivetrain, responsive to the engagement status of the stability control system while the brake and accelerator pedals are simultaneously actuated.
US07909720B2
The present invention is directed to timing belts having improved fabric adhesion to the tooth facing can be achieved by the use of a combination of a RFL treated fabric and an EPDM body provided the RFL treatment or the body include ZDA or the RF latex is an X-HNBR latex.
US07909719B2
A belt assembly is provided for use as an endless belt traveling relative to a frame structure. The belt assembly comprises a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer having an outer surface that at least partially forms a bottom surface of the belt. A composition comprising polyvinyl chloride is adhered to the inner surface of the first fabric layer. A composition comprising polyurethane is adhered to the inner surface of the second fabric layer. A coating composition comprising polyvinyl chloride is disposed between the inner surfaces of the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer for joining the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer. An at least substantially solid lubricant composition is impregnated in the second fabric layer and at least partially forms the bottom surface of the belt.
US07909718B2
A seal chain in which a sealing member having a shape of a “plus” in section is steadily twisted (turned) and deformed into a shape of an “X” and whose abrasion resistance and flexing torque are improved. The sealing member is formed such that inner diametric side end faces of third and fourth lip portions extending in a transverse direction from a center base portion extend in a direction orthogonal to a radial direction and outer diametric side end faces thereof are formed as tapered faces such that width of the lip portion is widened from an edge face toward the base portion. A diagonal distance of the center base portion is within a range of 0.8 to 1.0 of a clearance between inner and outer link plates.
US07909717B2
Tensioning roller device including a non-rotating central part around which is rotatably mounted a pulley-forming rotating part, and a protective cap mounted on one end of the central part and extending radially outwards so as to form a narrow passage and/or a baffle with the rotating part, the cap including means for axial fastening to the non-rotating central part and means for angular fastening to the non-rotating central part.
US07909716B2
A dual-ratchet wheel transmission apparatus includes: a drive wheel set, having a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel coaxially integrated with a drive shaft; a driven wheel set, being coaxially set with a driven shaft in which the driven shaft is connected to an output for transmission, the driven wheel set including: a first driven wheel being centrally integrated with a unidirectional ratchet wheel, in which the first driven wheel engages with the first drive wheel for transmission, a second driven wheel being centrally integrated with another unidirectional ratchet wheel, in which the second driven wheel is connected to the second drive wheel via a transmission element. By the aforementioned configuration, whether the drive wheel set rotates forward or backward, the transmission set rotates in only one direction.
US07909708B2
A golf club head having a multi-material face. The golf club head has a hard, wear resistant material as the ball-impacting face surface coupled to a softer material, allowing the multi-material face to be joined to a soft body material such that the body can be bent and customized. The multi-material face allows for improved playing characteristics by allowing the club designer to use a thinner face and lighter body material while still providing improved face wear resistance and durability.
US07909707B2
A putter comprising a grip having an anatomically correct shape to promote proper grasping of the putter, a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the grip is attached to the first end of the shaft, a hosel attached to the second end of the shaft, a head attached to the hosel, the head having a striking face, and an alignment feature of the putter adapted to ensure correct assembly of the head onto the shaft.
US07909706B2
A golf club head includes a body having a front face for impacting a golf ball and a hosel having a bore for receiving one end of a golf club shaft. The body including the hosel may be made of a material such as steel. A hosel weight mounted on the hosel may be made of another material such as tungsten which has a greater density than the material forming the body.
US07909703B1
A trampoline apparatus with an attached safety net for use by young children of toddler age that provides them with the ability to stand on the apparatus and bounce up and down on their feet is herein disclosed. The apparatus does not allow a child to flip or jump through the air as do conventional trampolines. The safety bounce apparatus is approximately two (2) to three (3) feet in diameter and is supported with a bouncing surface six (6) inches from the floor. The apparatus provides the child with grasping handles and safety net sides being affixed thereto a plurality of vertical extension rods attached to a padded upper ring. An entry/exit opening is provided in the vertical configuration and is secured with hook-and-loop fastening means. The complete apparatus may be disassembled for storage and transporting and includes a handled carrying case.
US07909695B2
The present invention relates to a system and a method for interactive entertainment involving a game. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for playing a game involving interactive generation of a visual image and a lingual definition of a precursor constructed phrase and image portion by a plurality of participant-users, and a method and system for sharing the same via a world wide interactive computer system. The computer system enables different participant-users, or teams of participant-users, to post generated visual and lingual definitions for the same precursor constructed phrase and image portions enabling comparison entertainment of the same and supporting selection of a preferred construction for awarding a prize.
US07909691B1
Use of the present invention provides a method and system for generating the winning combination of numbers in a lottery game. The method determines a winning number combination from among a plurality of number combination entries submitted by a plurality of players, each of which could submit their entries from a plurality of locations. A unique algorithm assigns significance to the position of the numbers in each number combination entry by presenting the players with a template comprised of a plurality of sections. After all number combination entries have been received, the winning numbers are generated by a hybrid process. In at least one of the sections, the winning selection is the selection in that section that received the least bets among all the possible selections in the current game cycle. The winning numbers for the remaining sections are generated by a traditional random drawing. Concatenating the winning selections in all sections thus forms the winning number combination.
US07909690B2
A gaming device having at least one target reel having target values, a plurality of value reels each having accumulative values, and a processor programmed to cause a spin of the target reel and value reels, accumulate the accumulative values generated on the value reels to form a cumulative value, compare the cumulative value to a designated one of the generated target values on the target reel, and provide an award to a player if the cumulative value meets a predefined mathematical threshold with respect to the designated one of the target values.
US07909688B2
Steps of accepting a first bet for participating in the first card game, accepting an optional second bet for participating in the second card game, disclosing as cards for the first card game a prescribed number of cards randomly selected from cards including cards having a first color as a color of a face showing a suit and a rank and cards having a second color as a color of a face showing a suit and rank, settling the first bet according to game rules of the first card game based on ranks of disclosed cards for the first card game, and determining a generation of a prize for the second card game based on colors of the faces of the disclosed cards for the first card games are included.
US07909687B2
A device and method for stripping leaves from the stems of herbs and plants and a method of stripping leaves using the device. The device includes a container that supports a lower plate carrying a number of closely spaced flexible tines. An upper plate is pivotally attached to the lower plate and is movable toward and away from the tines. A scalper blade, that is attached to the upper plate at an angle, moves with the upper plate such that when the upper plate engages the tines the scalper blade is spaced below the tines, and when the upper plate is spaced above the tines the scalper blade is adjacent the tines. The method of stripping leaves from the stems of plants is practiced with the device.
US07909677B2
A method of transferring a wafer is disclosed. The method comprises providing a pedestal and at least one spray orifice extending through the pedestal; disposing a wafer above the pedestal using a first robot, wherein the wafer has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface faces the pedestal, a fluid is sprayed onto the first surface simultaneously to avoid a contact of the first surface with the pedestal, and the fluid contains a charge-forming chemical substance dissolved therein; and taking the wafer using a robot for delivery. Due to the charge-forming chemical substance dissolved in the fluid, the waterfall effect to cause discharge damage on the wafer is avoided in the spraying of the fluid.
US07909675B1
A breast garment for stabilizing breast implants includes a body surrounding the wearer's mid to upper torso, left and right built-in implant stabilizers positioned at the front of the body for applying medium to firm downward and lateral pressure on a wearer's breasts, and an adjustable front closure provided at the front edges of the body for making the body tighter or loose for adjusting the amount of downward and lateral pressure. The implant stabilizers have top, bottom, front, and back edges, with a cut-out in the front edge shaped to permit the areole and surrounding area of the breast to protrude therethrough. The body and the implant stabilizers are made of a stretch compressive fabric.
US07909671B2
A dual emitting device includes a transparent substrate and an array of pixels. The array of pixels is disposed on the transparent, and each pixel of the array includes at least one first sub-pixel and at least one second sub-pixel. The first sub-pixel includes a first OLED driven by a first TFT, and a first sheltering layer on the first OLED. The second sub-pixel includes a second OLED driven by a second TFT, and a second sheltering layer formed between the transparent substrate and the second OLED.
US07909670B2
A marine propulsion system includes an engine, propellers rotated by the engine, a transmission mechanism arranged to transmit a driving force of the engine to the propellers with a speed thereof shifted to at least a low speed reduction ratio or a high speed reduction ratio in forward travel and reverse travel, and a gear shift switch operable by a user to shift speed reduction ratios of the transmission mechanism to the low speed reduction ratio in at least the reverse travel. This arrangement provides a marine propulsion system in which both of acceleration performance and a maximum speed can approach levels that a user desires.
US07909669B2
A differential displacement electromagnetic device providing motion over a support frame. Permanent electromagnets are fixedly mounted to a carriage and angularly oriented relative to the support frame lengthwise axis. Upright anchor columns project transversely from the support frame, and are interconnected by tension springs. A movable block is slidingly carried over both rails including a pair of opposite side spring loaded arms, carrying floating electromagnets. A bracket mount carries two spaced pivotal axles, and pivotally mounted rocker arms carrying corresponding permanent magnet. The rocker arms are sized in such a way as to be pivotably movable between a first limit position, where the permanent magnets abut against the angularly oriented electromagnets, and a second limit position, where the permanent magnets abut against the floating electromagnets.
US07909665B2
An improved electrical connector for use with a glazing is disclosed. The glazing preferably comprises a ply of glazing material having a first electrically conductive component mounted thereon, and a second electrically conductive component, joined to the first by a solder. The second component comprises first and second connector feet linked by a bridge portion, the bridge portion being at a height h above each of the connector feet, and each of the feet comprises at least one protrusion having a height d. At least one of h or d is chosen to maximise the adhesion between the second electrically conductive component and the first electrically conductive component. Preferably, the glazing is an automotive glazing.
US07909662B2
A battery clamp for use with (a) top post terminal connections and (b) batteries with side post terminal connections includes a first and a second jaw handle. The first and second jaw handles each have a handle portion and a clamping portion. The first and second jaw handles are pivotally coupled to each other and are biased with the clamping portions in a closed position. The battery clamp further includes a side post adapter. The side post adapter is coupled to the handle portion of one of the jaw handles. The side post adapter includes a load pad and a volt rod. The load pad has an aperture, through which a portion of the volt rod protrudes.
US07909658B2
The invention relates to a plug connector (1c) with a plug (11) which has a handle element (13) which has at least one snap-in unit (19) and one contact support (14) oriented in the plug-in direction (X), and with a bushing (12) whose handle element (40) forms a contact support holder (45) and an opposing snap-in means (44) corresponding to the snap-in means, said opposing snap-in means cooperates with the snap-in means to secure the plug and the bushing in the connected state, wherein the contact support (14) and the contact carrier holder (45) form mutually corresponding positioning means (23, 49) which allow insertion of the plug into the bushing only with the snap-in means facing the opposing snap-in means. The problem of the invention is to create a plug connector which improves in particular the blind insertion of plug and bushing and thus improves the ease of assembly. This problem is solved by a plug connector with the characterizing features, such that one of the positioning means of the plug or bushing has a guide section (27) which cooperates with an opposing guide section (57) of the bushing or plug, so that during the plugging process, both plug and bushing are forced to move relatively toward each other to attain the corresponding position of the positioning means (23, 49).
US07909653B1
A high-speed plug connector has an insulating housing, a mounting bracket, multiple first terminals, multiple second terminals and a shell. The first terminals are mounted on the insulating housing. The second terminals are mounted on the mounting bracket. Each terminal has a mounting section, a soldering section and a contacting section. The soldering sections are arranged in a transverse row instead of two rows to make the high-speed plug connector compact and reduce mounting surface areas of a PCB on which the soldering sections is soldered.
US07909652B2
An electrical connector (2, 3) provides an interface compatible with an internal micro Serial ATA connector. The electrical connector (2, 3) includes an insulated housing (21, 31), a first number of contacts (221, 222, 223, 321, 322, 323) assembled to the insulated housing (21, 31); and a second number of contacts (224, 225, 324, 325) assembled to the insulated housing (21, 31). The first number of contacts (221, 222, 223, 321, 322, 323) constitute a power segment and a signal segment compatible with the internal micro Serial ATA connector. The second number of contacts (224, 225, 324, 325) is used for mating with a new type of mating connector (3, 2) when higher transfer speed is needed.
US07909651B2
A multifunctional connection cord having data and power interfaces for a personal computer and audio interface for an earphone is provided. A multifunctional connection cord of the present invention includes a stem; an audio plug mounted to protrude from one side of the stem for establishing audio signal lines with a multimedia device; a data/power connector mounted near the audio plug to protrude from the stem for establishing data lines and power charge lines with an external device; a USB connector electrically connected to the audio plug and the data/power connector through a cable by means of the stem; and a socket holder mounted on one side of the USB connector and having an audio socket for receiving an audio plug.
US07909641B1
A cable retraction mechanism for displaying merchandise mounted on a display post in a retail location. The cable retraction mechanism includes a cable assembly having a coiled or equivalent elastically stretchable section. The mechanism also includes a coaxial housing that is connected to a portion of the cable assembly. The reciprocating motion or action of the shuttle within the housing facilitates extension and retraction of the cable assembly in a manner that is independent of the coiled section.
US07909640B2
A console (1), particularly for the hospital sector, with a support device having, in particular, two vertical support tubes (2), has an assembly device (25), which is used to mount at least one tray (5) to the support device. The tray (5) has an upper wall (15) and a lower wall (16). There is at least one storage space (17) between the walls (15,16), and the storage space (17) is provided to accommodate electric cable (18), preferably along with a power plug (19), or another line. In this manner, interfering sections of cable or lines are avoided in the work area.
US07909638B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a first and a second connectors to be mated together, and a Connector Position Assurance (CPA) device installed on one of the first and second connectors. The CPA device is fixed to a pre-lock position when shipped together with said one of the connectors and before the first and second connectors are mated. At the pre-lock position, a locking lever on the second connector can be deformed so that primary locking members of the first and second connectors can be engaged. When the first and second connectors are mated, a rib formed on the first connector acts on a release member provided on the CPA device, to allow the CPA device to move to a final lock position at which, a secondary locking member restricts the movement of the primary locking member of the second connector to prevent the primary locking members from being disengaged.
US07909637B2
A mating force sensing coaxial cable connector is provided, the connector comprising: a connector body; a sensing circuit positioned on a face of an sensor insulator, the sensor insulator located at least partially within the connector body; a capacitive space in immediate proximity with the face of the sensor insulator upon which the sensing circuit is positioned; and a flexible abutment member having a portion thereof forming at least one boundary surface of the capacitive space, said flexible abutment member being movable due to mating forces.
US07909630B2
An electrical connector is to be connected to a flat conductive member. The electrical connector includes a housing; a terminal held in the housing; and a pressing member supported on the supporting portion to be rotatable for pressing the flat conductive member against the terminal. The terminal includes a base portion, a contacting arm extending from the base portion, and a supporting portion facing the contacting arm. The contacting arm is arranged to form a space for receiving the flat conductive member between the contacting arm and the supporting portion. The contacting arm includes a first contacting portion and a second contacting portion. The first contacting portion is situated at a position closer to the supporting portion than the second contacting portion. The second contacting portion is situated at a position closer to the base portion than the first contacting portion.
US07909623B2
A wedge of a cable connector grounding device includes a body. One side of the body is formed with a spirally conjunct seat inside which a concave spirally conjunct slot is formed. Two concave slots opposite to each other are formed. At the bottom of spirally conjunct slot, a position limiting groove is formed from the concave slots towards the center and a concave camber is formed along the circumferential wall toward the center. A wedge crest line is defined at a section of connection between the concave camber and the position limiting groove. A packing unit is provided and spirally connected to the spirally conjunct slot. The packing unit may be used to tighten the lead wire passing through the position limiting groove for achievement of the longitudinal position limiting. The wedge crest lines are used to wedge the lead wire transversally and tighten the lead wire.
US07909619B2
A cassette includes a shell having a housing and a cover mated together to define an inner chamber. The housing has a plurality of plug cavities configure to receive plugs therein. A contact subassembly is received in the inner chamber. The contact subassembly has a circuit board and a plurality of contacts coupled to the circuit board. The contacts are arranged in contact sets that are received in corresponding plug cavities to mate with different corresponding plugs. A latch member couples the housing to the cover. The latch member has a latch element configured to secure the shell to a panel.
US07909616B2
A hybrid connector used for connecting different package modules includes an insulative housing, a plurality of first type of contacts, and a plurality of second type of contacts. The insulative housing has a first area with a plurality of first openings and a second area with a plurality of second openings. The first contacts and the second contacts are received in the first and the second openings respectively. The first and the second contacts both have a base received in the opening, a spring portion upward extending from the base. A lower portion downwardly extends from the first contact base, and a soldering pad downwardly extends from the second contact base. The first contacts connect with one package module and the second contacts connect with another package module.
US07909614B1
An anti-rotation connector for shielding structure, including: a sleeve having an internal stepped receiving hole; an insulating assembly disposed in the stopped receiving hole, the insulating assembly including a first insulating member and a second insulating member; a contact member having a contact section arranged in the first and second insulating members; and a first anti-rotation structure. The first anti-rotation structure includes multiple first splines and multiple first splineways disposed between the sleeve and the first insulating member for securely connecting the sleeve with the first insulating member. The anti-rotation connector further includes a second anti-rotation structure disposed between the first insulating member and the contact member for securely connecting the first insulating member with the contact member.
US07909612B2
A mounting means (1) for RF connectors (6) to be connected to a substrate (20) comprises a base plate (2) having an upper surface (2a) and a lower surface (2b). The base plate exhibits electrically leading material at least on part of its surfaces. Ground pads (3) are provided on the upper surface (2a) of the base plate (2) and arranged for support and electrical contacting to the substrate. A plurality of through holes (4) for electrically isolated reception of inner conductors (5) of RF connectors. By means of this mounting means, quick, secure, and space-saving mounting of RF connectors is achieved.
US07909611B2
A memory card connector, within a slot of a host device, for receiving a first memory card having a first row of contact fingers and a second row of contact fingers and a second memory card having only a single row of contact fingers. The memory card connector includes a first row of contact pins, a second row of contact pins and a protrusion. The first row of contact pins are configured to mate with the first row of contact fingers of the first memory card. The second row of contact pins are configured to mate with the second row of contact fingers of the first memory card. The protrusion is received within a contact finger in the second row of contact fingers of the first memory card to allow full insertion of the first memory card into the connector, and abuts against a distal end of one of the contact fingers of the second memory card to prevent full insertion of the second memory card into the connector.
US07909594B2
The invention relates to a machine for processing residual material, comprising at least one actuator which acts mechanically upon the residual material and at least a portion of the surface of which is movable relative to a corresponding surface of an adjacent component of the machine.
US07909593B2
A lube pump is provided for supplying lubricant to various components of a power transmission unit of the type used in motor vehicles. The lube pump includes a pump assembly and a coupling mechanism for releaseably coupling the pump assembly to a driven shaft. The coupling is operable to release the pump assembly when the rotary speed of the shaft exceeds a threshold value.
US07909579B2
A rotor head includes a hub and two joint members. The hub has opposite tubular end portions, each formed with a socket that extends inwardly from an end face thereof along a tube axis and that has inner and outer socket sections. Each of the joint members includes a link and a vibration absorbing component. The link has a hub coupling segment retained rotatably in the inner socket section of a respective socket, an intermediate segment extending from the hub coupling segment and disposed movably in the outer socket section of the respective socket, and a blade coupling segment extending from the intermediate segment and outwardly of the outer socket section. The vibration absorbing component is mounted on the intermediate segment, and is disposed in the outer socket section.
US07909576B1
A rotor blade assembly is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a rotor blade component, and a fastening device for fastening the rotor blade component to the rotor blade, the fastening device comprising at least one button associated with one of the rotor blade or the rotor blade component and at least one mating groove associated with the other of the rotor blade or the rotor blade component, wherein the at least one button and the at least one mating groove are configured to fasten the rotor blade component to the rotor blade.
US07909575B2
A wind turbine blade assembly includes at least one local load sensor disposed on and/or within a surface of the wind turbine blade and at least one active flow modification device disposed on and/or within a surface of the wind turbine blade and configured to alter the aerodynamics of the wind turbine blade in response to real time local load sensor measurements such that a difference between a current angle of attack and an optimum angle of attack on the wind turbine blade is substantially minimized.
US07909572B2
A shroud includes a body portion 5B, a mount 7 positioned at a center of the body portion 5B and supporting rotary vane wheel driver 6, and multiple support beams 10 radially extending from the mount 7 and joining the mount 7 and the body portion 5B, where each of the support beams 10 becomes thicker from an upstream side of a flow direction of air toward a downstream side thereof, and an edge portion 10ti of each of the support beams 10 on the downstream side of the flow direction of the air discharged by the rotary vane wheel 8 is oriented in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the rotary vane wheel 8, and the edge portion on the upstream side is oriented in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the rotary vane wheel 8.
US07909570B2
An integrated duct, baffle and knife edge seal arrangement employing the radially inner distal edge of the baffle for sealing the radially inner stator/rotor interface of an inter-stage cavity.
US07909563B2
A fork positioner, usable alternatively either as an attachment to an existing load-lifting carriage with forks, or as part of the original equipment of a load-lifting carriage, has a pair of elongate hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies mountable in an interconnected parallel relationship between an upper transverse fork-supporting member and a lower transverse member of the carriage. Each of a pair of fork-positioning guide members has a fork-engagement surface movable by a respective piston and cylinder assembly and connectable thereto so that the fork-engaging surfaces face substantially perpendicularly away from an imaginary plane containing the respective longitudinal axes of the piston and cylinder assemblies. An exemplary carriage mounting the fork positioner is also disclosed.
US07909560B1
A flatbed vehicle carrier assembly comprising a carrier body subassembly including a carrier floor supported by a carrier body slide enabling sill frame. An intermediate subframe subassembly is capable of sliding and being pivotally integrated with a slide enabling tilt and pivotal control subassembly, which is pivotally secured therebetween to a mounting platform support assembly. A pivot control device provides a means to rotate and rearwardly transfer and posture the intermediate subframe. The carrier body sill frame is slideably assembled to the intermediate subframe, being driven by a longitudinal control actuator. A ramp can be pivotally integrated into a loading end of the carrier body subassembly. The carrier and ramp floors are fabricated of a series of interlocking extrusion members.
US07909559B2
The invention relates to a system for operating storage units. The inventive system enables quick storage and removal therefrom and exhibits an optimum redundancy capacity. In order to counteract shortfalls in individual shelf operation devices, the inventive load receiving means acts as a support for a system for operating storage units, especially high shelf storage units, comprising means for mechanical connection to shelf unit, a lift device and a device arranged thereon for the transversal movement of loads, whereby the means for connection to a shelf unit has an electric drive unit with a pinion gear, driving a toothed rack and the toothed rack is arranged and embodied in such a way that when the pinion gear is rotated said toothed rack moves laterally outside the load receiving means, and the toothed racks are respectively provided with means which protrude from the ends thereof above the load receiving means, engaging into corresponding receiving devices on the shelf units.
US07909557B2
The invention concerns an arrangement for filling and/or emptying receptacles filled and/or to be filled with articles, essentially including at least one handling device for transporting receptacles that have been and/or are to be filled between a reservoir and a device which alters the level of the receptacles, at least one device which alters the level of the receptacles, and at least one reservoir for holding receptacles that have been and/or are to be filled, which is distinguished in that the arrangement is designed as a closed unit, such that the handling device is surrounded in cell fashion by the at least one device altering the level of the receptacles and by the at least one reservoir.
US07909556B2
A charging device for a shaft furnace comprises a distribution chute for bulk material and a drive mechanism for the distribution chute. The distribution chute has a trough-shaped main part with an open impact section and an outlet section. The main part provides a sliding channel between the impact section and the outlet section. The drive mechanism for the distribution chute is capable of rotating the distribution chute about an essentially vertical axis and pivoting the distribution chute about an essentially horizontal axis so as to allow distribution of bulk material on a charging surface of the shaft furnace. According to the present invention, the distribution chute comprises a circumferentially closed funnel portion which tapers in the direction of flow and is arranged downstream of the impact section and with its outlet at the downstream end of said trough-shaped main part.
US07909550B1
A swivel spindle head with gear device driven by multiple torque motors is disclosed, which comprises: a tool spindle, having a first shaft and a second shaft being radially disposed at two opposite sides of the tool spindle while sharing a common axial line; a plurality of torque motors, radially disposed at a side of the tool spindle; and a reduction gear set, radially disposed at a side of the tool spindle opposite to the plural torque motors, composed of a plurality of driving gears and a driven gear; wherein the amount of the plural driving gears is the same as that of the plural torque motors while enabling each of the plural driving gears to connect with a rotor shaft of its corresponding torque motor, and the same time, connecting the driven gear on the second shaft of the tool spindle.
US07909547B2
Tool elements, such as, bits, auger bits, concrete bits, etc. are provided. The tool elements include a body and a cutting element removably connected to the body. The cutting element may be removably connected to the body in a variety of manners. The body and the cutting element may be made from a similar material or from different materials. The tool element may also include a second cutting element removably connected to the body or to the first cutting element. In some aspects, the second cutting element is a feed screw. In other aspects, the second cutting element is a continuation of the first cutting element.
US07909546B2
In this thread cutting insert, on a common edge section of front and back faces of an insert main body, there is formed a pair of cutting edge sections that project from the edge section when seen from a direction facing the front and back faces, and on at least two of four projecting faces that respectively face the front and back face sides of the pair of these cutting edge sections, there is formed a thread cutting edge with the projecting face serving as a rake face.
US07909545B2
A machining tool, such as a ballnose end mill, a flat end mill, or a drill, which has a center area that is designed for improved ejection of chips produced during cutting of a workpiece. The machining tool has an edge on the end or tip of the tool starting proximate to the central rotational axis of the tool at a position located a distance above the x axis and to the right of the y axis.
US07909538B2
A pipelaying vessel comprises storage (502) for a number of pipe units to be assembled into a pipeline and S-lay apparatus (312, 314, 316) for fabricating and paying out of a pipeline by repeated addition of new sections (506). The end of said pipeline being laid is held aligned with a fabrication axis closer to horizontal than vertical, the S-lay apparatus including a stinger (312) for supporting the pipeline in an arcuate path to a departure axis which is more vertical than horizontal. Auxiliary apparatus (318/810) is provided for use in fitting singular items to one end of the pipeline. The supporting structure (320/802) of said auxiliary apparatus is located above a lower end of the stinger of the S-lay apparatus, substantially aligned with said departure axis, so as to facilitate handing over of the suspended pipeline and singular item from one of said apparatuses to the other. The auxiliary apparatus may be an A-frame (810) or a complete J-Lay apparatus (318-322) for additional laying tasks. The fabrication axis may be located above and to one side of the main deck, permitting a large radius stinger to be carried. The vessel and/or its design may be adapted from a standard container vessel.
US07909537B2
Existing underwater networks are formed using telecommunications cable technology designed for intercontinental links. The network is formed by a continuous series of transport segments that are connected in the factory by repeaters or bypasses and deployed continuously from the surface by a cable ship.
US07909534B1
An endgate comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be attached to a screed assembly, a pivoting plate adapted to be pivotally attached to the mounting bracket, a sliding plate, a pavement contacting surface and a support adapted to be pivotally moved with the pivoting plate, a means for applying force to the pavement contacting surface disposed between the support and the sliding plate, a first adjustment means adapted to adjust the amount of force applied by the means for applying force to the pavement contacting surface and a second adjustment means adapted to adjust the angle of the pavement contacting surface. A method comprising providing such an endgate, adjusting the angle of the pavement contacting surface and adjusting the amount of force applied by the means for applying force to the pavement contacting surface.
US07909531B2
A surface drainage structure formed above a subgrade may include an elongate drain conduit disposed partially within the subgrade. The elongate drain conduit may define at least one drain slot extending through a wall thereof. The structure may include a pavement layer with an exposed top surface and a drainage channel extending therefrom. The drainage channel may be in fluid communication with the drain slot of the elongate drain conduit. A method of forming the surface drainage structure includes placing the elongate drain conduit in the subgrade, forming the pavement layer, cutting an upper channel along the elongate drain conduit, and cutting a lower channel and the drain slot in the elongate conduit.
US07909529B2
A hand-held paint tool has an integral adjustable masking guide adjacent to at least one edge of a painting material such that paint being applied to a surface is not simultaneously applied to adjoining or abutting surfaces. The paint mask guide is adjustable through the action of a lever or trigger connected thereto and positioned under a handle of the painting tool.
US07909527B2
A dispensing container for application of a fluid film forming substance to a surface, particularly a therapeutic film to a user's skin comprising a reservoir of a fluid film forming substance, a dispensing nozzle for the film forming substance, and a pump to send the substance from the reservoir through the dispensing nozzle. The dispensing nozzle comprises an elongate slot shaped aperture, and the dispensing container is adapted, particularly by a support extending from the side of the dispenser, so the nozzle can move adjacent to the surface in a direction transverse to the length direction of the slot whilst the substance is flowing through the aperture.
US07909518B2
An optical assembly includes an optical package having a wall with an aperture and includes a laser device capable of emitting a laser beam through the aperture and a collimator including a sleeve defining a first and a second end, the collimator including a terminating portion of an optical fiber. In addition, the assembly includes a joint element having a first and a second surface, the first surface contacting the wall around the aperture in a first contact area, and the second surface including a convex surface contacting a portion of the surface of the sleeve in correspondence of its first end in a second contact area, the convex surface being at least partially inserted in the sleeve, so that the collimator is aligned with respect to the laser beam.
US07909513B2
A groove is formed on one end face side of a cage including a plurality of pockets for holding individually rolling elements which extends circumferentially along a full circumference of the cage about a rotational center thereof and has a bottom portion which communicates individually with the plurality of pockets, and a distal end portion of a nozzle of an oil supply unit is inserted into the groove, whereby the generation of disturbance to airflow and negative pressure in the vicinity of an opening of the nozzle is suppressed when a rolling bearing rotates, so that lubricating oil supplied from the nozzle is allowed to reach the rolling elements in an ensured fashion.
US07909506B2
The invention relates to a method for determining a temperature profile and the integral mean temperature and/or axis temperature in a thick wall or shaft. In order to determine a mean integral wall temperature during heating or cooling processes in a multilayer model, the mean integral wall temperature is calculated from the mean temperature of each layer. A multilayer model is used for determining the mean integral wall temperature during heating or cooling processes and draws upon the mean temperature of each layer.
US07909499B2
A track light module for use with a low-voltage track carrying a pair of elongated conductors transversely spaced from each other and accessible through a longitudinal slot in the track. The module includes a first housing that contains a printed circuit board carrying an LED and forming an aperture permitting light from the LED to be radiated beyond the first housing. A second housing carries a pair of electrical conductors adapted to extend into the low-voltage track to make contact with the conductors within the track. The second housing also includes surfaces for fastening the second housing to the track when the second housing and the track are moved relative to each other. A pair of electrical contacts on the printed circuit board contact the conductors carried by the second housing and thereby receive electrical power for the LED. A connector attaches the first and second housings together.
US07909496B2
The present invention combines point light sources in combination with a light guide element and light redirecting elements into a system which can emit light across one or more extended surfaces of the light guide and may be designed to be able to emit light uniformly across the extended surfaces. The system comprises one or more light-emitting elements and a light guide in which are defined one or more voids. The light-emitting elements are optically coupled to the light guide by positioning them adjacent to a surface of the light guide, or by positioning them proximal to one or more of the voids. One or more light-emitting elements can be optically coupled to one void such that they emit light into the light guide substantially through that void and not through any other void of the one or more voids. Optically coupled to the light guide are a plurality of light redirecting elements for altering of the propagation of light through the light guide, thereby enabling light to be emitted from the surface of the light guide in a desired pattern, for example in a uniform illumination pattern.
US07909490B2
The present invention provides a lighting apparatus with an elongated housing which accommodates a light source. The housing may be pivoted to rotate between a stored position and a deployed position. The housing may be maintained at a plurality of desired positions within its range of rotation. In addition, according to a feature of the invention, the elongated housing may be relatively rigid, yet also articulated, so that it can flex transversely in response to an applied force. In an embodiment, the housing may be provided with a swivel portion that can be used to change the direction of the light. Various electrical features may be provided as well, such as a brightness control feature and an auto-off feature that switches off the light in the stowed position.
US07909488B2
A lamp holder comprising a lamp holder base, a lamp holder housing and a microswitch. In a preferred embodiment, the lamp holder base is substantially cup-shaped around a longitudinal axis and has an arcuate actuator finger coupled to and shielded within the lamp holder base. The lamp holder housing is removably coupleable to the lamp holder base, and the microswitch is mounted within the lamp holder housing, wherein the microswitch is activated by the arcuate actuator finger when the lamp holder housing is coupled to the lamp holder base.
US07909487B1
A retrofit can lighting system is disclosed. The retrofit can lighting system may be configured to be mounted in an opening in a ceiling above a plane of the ceiling, wherein an existing fixture ceiling ring is proximate the opening and also is above the plane of the ceiling. The system may include a lighting can, and a plurality of spring clips configured to couple between the lighting can and the ceiling ring. Each spring clip may include a can engaging portion configured to couple to the lighting can, a retainer clip engaging portion extending outwardly with respect to the can engaging portion, a fixture engaging portion configured to engage a portion of the ceiling ring, wherein the fixture engaging portion is angled upwardly with respect to the retainer clip engaging portion, and a hook portion configured to engage a portion of the ceiling ring, wherein the hook portion extends outwardly and downwardly with respect to the fixture engaging portion. The system further may include a plurality of retainer clips, wherein each retainer clip is configured to couple to retainer clip engaging portion, and further wherein each retainer clip is configured to secure coupling the lighting can and the ceiling ring.
US07909476B2
A light source module of light emitting diode includes a substrate having circuits, a light-converted component, and several of light emitting diodes. The light-converted component includes a transparent substrate and a fluorescence material layer positioned on the transparent substrate. The fluorescence material layer is divided into a central region and several of surrounding regions surrounding the central region. The central region has a greatest concentration of fluorescence material. The concentration of fluorescence material in the surrounding regions decreases from the center to the outer periphery of the fluorescence material layer. The light emitting diodes form an array and are positioned on the substrate between the substrate and the fluorescence material layer. Each of the light emitting diodes is electrically connected to the circuits.
US07909475B2
An apparatus for rotating a lamp set is provided. The apparatus includes: a motor; a shaft which is rotatable by the motor and includes screw threads formed thereon; a sliding unit which includes a hole having screw threads formed therein that are engaged with the screw threads of the shaft and an insertion ball, the sliding unit being movable along the shaft upon rotation of the shaft; and a holder unit which includes a groove, the insertion ball being inserted into the groove.
US07909470B2
An image projection method and a projector are provided to be able to change aspect ratio or resolution of a projection image, without setting of keystone correction again. The projector sets a displayable region with a shape according to an aspect ratio and a resolution of the projection image. The projector converts coordinates of the displayable region into coordinates in a screen coordinate system, and generates a rectangular area with a desired aspect ratio in a region corresponding to the displayable region in the screen coordinate system and a portion included in a projecting range. The projector converts the coordinates of a rectangular area into coordinates of a range corresponding to the rectangular area in the panel coordinate system, forms an image in a range corresponding to the rectangular area, and projects the projection image on the screen.
US07909468B2
A reflective or light redirecting device has a base with an overlaying pattern or light redirector. The pattern can be selected from a collection of masks, templates, or reflective appliques. The device is arranged to reflect or redirect light, for example sunlight, in a beam that projects a corresponding design. A motor rotates the device and reorients its directional axis to reflect light toward a surface to circulate the design on a path on the surface.
US07909466B2
A projector includes an ultrasonic speaker, a visual information generation unit that generates visual information relating to a sound reproduction range of the ultrasonic speaker, and an image projection unit that displays the visual information generated by the visual information generation unit on a screen.
US07909453B2
An ultraviolet irradiation device includes: a light source which irradiates ultraviolet curable ink with ultraviolet rays; and a jetting port which jets gas to form a gas film facing the light source in an irradiation direction.
US07909450B2
In a line type inkjet printer, a method for cleaning a nozzle effectively reducing the occurrence of clogging of nozzle. In a nozzle of a printing apparatus having a fixed print head of line type, the method includes a first process for counting the number of times of non-ink jet work operations of the nozzle in each print head from image data for printing, a second process for operating a period to flush based on the number of times of non-ink jet work operations, and the third process for producing a control signal of printing including the period to flush.
US07909447B2
An inkjet-recording method of recording an image on an ink-receiving layer, includes the steps of ejecting ink droplets of a water-soluble ink containing a water-soluble phthalocyanine dye on the ink-receiving layer of an inkjet-recording medium having a substrate and an ink-receiving layer which contains a water-soluble bivalent metal salt in an amount of 0.01 to 2 g/m2 formed thereon.
US07909445B2
A system for an ink delivery system of a phase change ink imaging device comprises a feed chute having an insertion end and a melt end. An ink stick transport is configured to move at least one ink stick between the insertion end and the melt end of the feed chute. At least one sensor is positioned in the feed chute for detecting a coded sensor feature of the at least one ink stick moving along the feed chute between the insertion end and melt end. The system includes at least one nudger positioned in the feed chute that is configured to influence a position of the at least one ink stick moving along the feed chute so that the coded sensor feature of the at least one ink stick is in a sensing position with respect to the at least one sensor.
US07909444B2
A head cartridge has a print head which discharges ink, and an ink tank which contains ink which is supplied to the print head. A sensor which detects residual ink amount in the ink tank is provided in the ink tank. The print head includes a detection circuit which detects the presence of residual ink amount using the sensor, a judgment circuit which judges the presence of residual ink amount on the basis of an output from the detection circuit and outputs ink zero information when judging that there is no residual ink amount, and nonvolatile memory which stores ink zero information when the ink zero information is outputted from the judgment circuit.
US07909443B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes: an inkjet head that ejects a liquid functional material toward a recording medium based on image signals; a recording medium conveying unit that conveys the recording medium to a position opposing the inkjet head; a supply path that supplies the liquid functional material to the inkjet head; a reservoir that communicates the supply path, and that reserves the liquid functional material; and a degassing mechanism that is provided in one of the inkjet head, the supply path and the reservoir, and that includes a degassing device and a vacuum pump, wherein the liquid functional material comprises compounds having minimum boiling point of approximately 110° C. or more, and the degassing vacuum degree of the degassing mechanism is approximately 0.06 atm or less.
US07909441B2
An image recording apparatus including a housing; a recording head which ejects droplets of one or more sorts of inks; a carriage which is provided in the housing and which carries the recording head and reciprocates in opposite directions; one or more ink supply tubes which are connected, at respective one ends thereof, to a tube connection portion of the carriage so as to supply the sorts of inks to the recording head, and is fixed, at respective fixed portions thereof, to the housing such that respective intermediate portions thereof located between the respective one ends thereof and the respective fixed portions thereof forms respective curved portions that are each convex in one of the opposite directions, wherein the ink supply tubes have respective flexibilities assuring that when the carriage reciprocates, the ink supply tubes follow reciprocation of the carriage while the respective curved portions thereof change respective shapes thereof; a pivotable support member which is supported by the housing such that the pivotable support member is pivotable about a supporting point, wherein the pivotable support member includes an arm portion which extends from the supporting point and has a support portion that supports respective portions of the respective curved portions of the ink supply tubes; and a biasing device which biases the pivotable support member in a biasing direction to cause the pivotable support member to pivot in a direction to decrease respective radii of curvature of the curved portions of the ink supply tubes.
US07909439B2
A liquid ejecting head includes: a flow passage forming substrate which is provided with a plurality of liquid passages each having a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening for ejecting a liquid and a communication section communicating with the plurality of liquid passages; an elastic film which is formed on one surface of the flow passage forming substrate and has an opening in an area opposed to the communication section; a pressure generating unit which applies pressure to the inside of the pressure generating chambers; and a reservoir forming substrate which is adhered onto the surface of the flow passage forming substrate on a side of the pressure generating unit and is provided with a reservoir section communicating with the communication section to form a part of a reservoir. An intermediate layer patterned inward from the opening of the elastic film is formed in an area which is a periphery of the communication section on the elastic film and corresponds to the liquid passages, and the flow passage forming substrate and the reservoir forming substrate are adhered to each other through the intermediate layer. An end portion of the intermediate layer on a side of the opening of the elastic film is formed as a tapered portion of which a thickness is gradually smaller, and a cross-section shape in a direction which the thickness of the tapered portion is gradually smaller is a concavely curved plane.
US07909437B2
A liquid discharge head includes a substrate having a plurality of energy generating elements for generating heat energy for use in discharging liquid and a plurality of nozzles provided correspondingly to the plurality of energy generating elements. Each of the nozzles includes a chamber provided with the energy generating element, a second discharge portion, and a first discharge portion. The central axis of the second discharge portion is offset from the central axis of the first discharge portion in the nozzle arrangement direction.
US07909433B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus including a head unit that has a plurality of heads along a first direction, in which a plurality of nozzles that eject a liquid onto a medium are lined up in the first direction, and that ejects the liquid while moving relative to the medium in a second direction, which intersects the first direction, the head unit having a width in the first direction that is greater than a width of a medium in the first direction, a movement mechanism that makes the head unit move relative to the medium a plurality of times alternately in the second direction and the first direction, and a control section that forms a raster line group by forming each raster line.
US07909420B2
A pull-out guide for a dish rack of a dishwasher includes a guide rail which can be fixed to the body of a dishwasher, and a running rail which can be connected to a grid-like dish rack which is composed of wires, and a central rail which increases the pull-out length. The running rail is provided with two rows of clamp-like holders which lie one above the other and in which two wires of a dish rack which lie one above the other and run horizontally can be fixed, with the result that the dish rack is held in a dimensionally stable manner.
US07909417B2
A braking control system and method for a vehicle improves vehicle stability and steerability. When a braking torque is being applied and a road disturbance is detected, the braking torque may be reduced as the vehicle traverses the road disturbance. Subsequently, when the road disturbance has been traversed, the braking control system may allow the application of braking torque as requested by a braking device. The reduction in braking torque when traversing road disturbances minimizes the physical impact experienced by the vehicle wheels.
US07909414B2
A hydraulic circuit includes a spring applied-pressure released brake, a hydraulic motor, and a control in fluid communication with the brake and the motor. The control is operative between a first position and a second position. When in the first position the brake receives pressure from a first brake pressure source. When in the second position the brake receives pressure from a second pressure source and the motor is short circuited in relation to a motor pressure source. The control can be automatically reset upon pressurization of the hydraulic circuit.
US07909407B2
A vehicle seat comprises a seat bottom with a frame with a slot or a pivotal connection. A seat back has a frame with the other of the slot and the pivotal connection to cooperate with the seat back for collapsing the seat back upon the seat bottom. A receiver is mounted to one of the seat bottom or the seat back with a first locking component and an insert is mounted to the other with a second locking component. The seat back is assembled to the seat bottom by pivoting the seat back to align the receiver and insert and translating the seat back along the slot until the insert is inserted into the receiver and the locking components are locked. The vehicle seat connection permits the seat bottom and seat back to be fabricated at separate facilities and then shipped to an assembly facility.
US07909405B2
An arrangement of operation unit in one upper corner portion of seat back of automotive seat is disclosed, in which an operating lever of the operation unit is accommodated in a housing fixed to a connecting bracket disposed in such one upper corner portion, and a shape retaining bracket is fixed to the connecting bracket to retain the peripheral edge region of opening of a trim cover assembly through which an operating lever of the operation unit projects outwardly. The peripheral edge region is inserted between the shape regaining bracket and a bezel, and further, the connecting bracket, housing and trim cover assembly are connected with one another at a connecting point, thereby effectively retaining the peripheral edge region of opening of the trim cover assembly in a predetermined shape conforming to outer contour of the one upper corner portion of seat back.
US07909404B2
A height adjustment system for a seat assembly of a machine includes a first support member and a second support member vertically spaced from the first support member. A pneumatic bladder is operatively connected to the first support member and the second support member for adjusting a distance between the first support member and the second support member. At least two guide pins interconnect the first support member and the second support member at opposing ends thereof. A locking device maintains an adjusted distance between the first support member and the second support member. The height adjustment system is preferably independent from and may be positioned in series with a suspension system for the seat assembly.
US07909400B1
A child safety seat system and the corresponding method of using a modular child safety seat assembly to compensate for the stature changes of a growing child. The child safety seat system utilizes a base shell that is strapped into an automobile using the automobile seat belt restraints. A plurality of interchangeable seating inserts are provided. Each of the seating inserts has a cushioned seat. The thickness of the cushioning used depends upon the targeted age of a child and is engineered to maintain the child's shoulders within a specific range of heights relative to the base shell. An attachment mechanism is used to attach a selected seating insert to the base shell. As a child outgrows a seating insert, that seating insert is removed from the base shell and is replaced with a seating insert sized for a larger child.
US07909398B2
A personalised reading light (11) for aircraft passenger seats (3) is disclosed. The reading light forms part of a personalised visual display monitor assembly (5) that is mounted to a back (7) of a passenger seat. The reading light is mounted to direct light rearwardly into a space immediately in front of a passenger facing the seat back. In one embodiment the assembly is adjustable in relation to the seat back and the reading light is adjustable in relation to other components of the assembly. Consequently, the direction of the light can be varied considerably.
US07909389B2
A work vehicle includes a frame, a cab structure pivotably connected to the frame and an implement connected to the frame. A body is disposed between the cab structure and the implement to sufficiently limit pivotal movement of the cab structure with respect to the implement to prevent damage to the cab structure by the implement.
US07909382B2
In an automobile having a seat cushion supporting the hip, and a seat back supporting the back, of a seated person wherein the seat back in its use position with the seat cushion folded thereon is lifted up to its non-use position in an upper part of the cabin, the seat back when moved from the use position to the non-use position is prevented from interfering with a seat disposed in its front. There is a guide means for guiding the seat back 12 so that it moves rearwards gradually when it is moved from the use position to the non-use position.
US07909381B2
A tailgate assembly is provided for a cargo bed of a vehicle. The tailgate assembly includes a support panel and a tailgate panel. The support panel is configured for attachment to a vehicle such that the support panel is selectively pivotable between horizontal and vertical positions. The tailgate panel is attached to the support panel. The tailgate panel is configured to selectively define an end wall for the cargo bed when the support panel is in the horizontal position. The tailgate panel is configured to selectively define a step when the support panel is in the vertical position. A vehicle including a cargo bed having such a tailgate assembly is also provided.
US07909370B1
A root-repellant underground drain-pipe coupling, which may be made of the same resilient rubber-like material as sleeve-type drain-pipe couplings of known art, is made somewhat longer than conventional coupling sleeves and is fitted internally at each end with a thin collar of root-repelling material such as copper sheet. Each collar is located just inside the outer entrance to the interfacing regions, held in place by a clamp strap around the sleeve, and optionally made with a portion extending outwardly as an extension or flange for purposes of inspection and increased effectiveness.
US07909339B2
A vehicle stabilizer bar assembly having a pair of stabilizer bar members that are selectively uncoupled via a clutch. The clutch includes a moving element that can be selectively moved via an actuator to effect the uncoupling of the stabilizer bar members. The actuator is configured to apply a force to the moving element concentrically about the axis along which the moving element translates. The clutch is configured to transmit torque from one of the stabilizer bar members to the other stabilizer bar member concentrically about the axis. A method for operating a vehicle stabilizer bar assembly is also provided.
US07909334B2
A sealing arrangement for a non-hermetic seal between a stator and a rotor includes a brush gasket having a plurality of bristles wound around a core element and affixed to the core element with a clamping element. The brush gasket is disposed at least partially in a receiving space delimited by a support element and by a cover element. The support element, the cover element, and the brush gasket are secured using at least one fitting element in at least one recess, especially in an axial groove or bore, in the stator. In addition to being positioned by using the at least one fitting element, the components may also be affixed to the stator using an attachment element.
US07909333B2
A seal assembly has an inner wear sleeve with an axially extending tubular body. A flange extends radially outwardly from the body. An outer seal component has an axially extending tubular outer wall with a flange extending radially inwardly therefrom to support at least one dynamic seal lip in sealing engagement with the inner sleeve body. The outer seal component includes an annular retention lip disposed axially outwardly of the wear sleeve flange. The retention lip extends radially inwardly of a radially outer edge of the flange and is deflectable in an axial direction to enable the flange of the wear sleeve to be forced axially thereby during assembly, whereupon the retention flange returns to its non-deflected position to inhibit removal of the wear sleeve in the reverse axial direction. The annular retention flange has at least one axially extending debris expulsion slot for the escapement of debris.
US07909329B1
A slingshot-like skill game device comprises a body and a handle attached to the body. The body includes an opening designed to permit a ball to pass therethrough. When the slingshot-like skill game device is outfitted with a ball attached thereto by an elongated elastic cord, a user may grasp the handle with one hand, grasp the ball with another hand, pull the ball away from the body, and then release the ball with the object of getting the ball to pass through the opening on release. A ring-shaped insert may be attached to the opening, so as to decrease the diameter of the opening and thereby increase the level of difficulty required for a user of the slingshot-like skill game device to get the ball to pass through the opening. Additional ring-shaped inserts of varying diameters may also be provided to further increase the level of difficulty for a user of the slingshot-like skill game device. The body may include one or more light sources that may be activated when a ball passes through the opening.
US07909328B2
A card game with a set of different playing cards or a multiple thereof wherein each playing card is linked to a ball from the pool billiard game, possibly with the exception of the cue ball. In addition to the playing cards the card game can also contain action cards as for instance turn cards, cards that indicate missing a turn, fault cards and jokers. A number of different playing cards can be linked to balls from eight-ball pool billiard. Each playing card can carry a picture of a ball from eight-ball pool billiard with which the card is linked. A combination of pool billiard with such a card game is described, which makes it possible to play pool billiard also with more than two players.
US07909326B2
Methods, systems and apparatus are described for producing lottery products and conducting lottery games. In one embodiment, a method for producing a lottery product comprises producing a lottery sub-product that includes a concealed indication of a redemption value of a different lottery sub-product. In one embodiment, a storybook allows a player to win by matching words from a paytable to revealable dialog or other story elements on a respective page of the storybook.
US07909324B2
A sheet conveying system which is capable of preventing a jammed sheet from being mixed with processed sheets, reducing waste in sheets and toners, and further alleviating the user's operations, when jamming has occurred during passing of a sheet between respective sheet conveying devices of upstream and downstream apparatuses. A puncher control section of a puncher as an upstream apparatus of the system issues a passing completion notification as to the passing of a sheet to a staple stacker control section of a staple stacker as a downstream apparatus of the system. Upon reception of the notification, when the staple stacker control section determines that the parameter of auxiliary information of the notification indicates an abnormal discharge of the sheet from the puncher, the staple stacker stops the conveyance of the sheet.
US07909323B2
A skew correction device including a first guide member which supports the sheet transported from a lower side thereof in a vertical direction by the transport roller and which guides the sheet to the gate member and a second guide member which is provided on an upper position from the first guide member in a vertical direction and which guides the sheet to the gate member. Here, the second guide member includes at least one rotating member which faces a transport passage of the sheet interposed between the first guide member and the second guide member and is rotatably provided at least in the center of the second guide member in a width direction intersecting a transport direction of the sheet.
US07909321B2
A linkage arrangement for handling sheets in a sheet accumulator including an accumulation gate and a locking over center mechanism. The accumulation gate pivotally mounts to a support structure of the accumulator and includes a stop surface for traversing the sheet path. The stop surface is movable between an interference position and a release position wherein the interference position inhibits the travel of sheets along the sheet path, and the release position releases the sheets for continued travel along the sheet path. The locking over center mechanism includes longitudinally aligned actuating and connecting arms. The actuating arm pivotally mounts to the support structure about a rotational axis while the connecting arm pivotally mounts to the accumulation gate at one end and pivotally mounts to the actuating arm at the other end. The locking over center mechanism inhibits motion of the accumulation gate in response to a force applied to the accumulation surface. In response to a moment load applied to the actuating arm, the locking over center mechanism releases the accumulation gate from the interference position to the release position.
US07909315B2
A non-power operated clamping apparatus is disclosed which is made up of a top section, middle section, and bottom section. There are first direction clamps located on the left side and right side of the middle section and the bottom section is positioned within the first direction clamps and the sides of the middle section. There are second direction clamps between the bottom section and middle section and between the top section and middle section. The workpiece, comprising members of wood glued edge-to-edge, is placed between the top section and middle section and subjected to a first direction compressive force and a second direction compressive force perpendicular to the first direction compressive force.
US07909312B2
A vibration-shock absorbing mechanism that protects an object disposed in a housing includes a shock-absorbing member that is disposed in the housing and absorbs a shock, and a resonance-damping member that is disposed between the object and the shock-absorbing member and dampens a vibration and shock in a predetermined frequency range including a resonant frequency of the object.
US07909304B1
A fuel pump nozzle holding device for allowing a user to engage a trigger handle of a fuel nozzle and pump gas without having to hold the trigger handle comprising a ring having a first half and a second half, wherein the first half and the second half are connected via a hinge at one end. At the second end, the first half and the second half can be connected by inserting a locking mechanism. A magnet is disposed on the ring that allows the device to be temporarily attached to a fuel tank cover of a car.
US07909301B2
A grip including at least two hinged monopods, each having an independent telescoping leg, the monopods in the closed position forming a hand grip, and a mounting assembly for mounting the grip on a device, and a method for forming the grip. Preferably, the telescopic leg includes a housing in each of the monopods and at least one spring biased leg telescopingly mounted in the housing.
US07909294B2
A switch stand for a railroad switch permits the switch to be locked against unauthorized movement of the switch. The switch stand permits trailing operation, even if locked. Passage of the rolling stock through the locked switch is permitted by allowing temporary movement of switch points of the switch when contacted by wheels of the rolling stock. The switch stand can also be unlocked and the position of the switch points changed manually to an alternate position from the normal or set position and then locked against unauthorized movement of the switch.
US07909293B2
This invention relates to a derail assembly used in the railroad industry for derailing the wheel of an undesirably moving railed vehicle and, in particular, relates to derailing a moving locomotive having a pilot at the front of the locomotive. The derail assembly includes a full rigid derail plate which is in direct contact with the entire upper surface of the rail. An upright derail bar is securely mounted on the derail plate and the derail bar is angled outwardly for engaging a wheel of the locomotive when moving undesirably for causing a desired derailment. The derail includes longitudinally spaced rigid hooks at opposite ends of the derail. The hooks secure one side of the derail assembly to the rail. On the opposite side of the rail, a clamp assembly is provided on the derail shoe from the hooks. The hooks and the clamp cooperate to secure the derail assembly to the rail. The derail has an overall height which is less than three inches measured from the upper surface of the rail to the highest point of the derail assembly so a clearance is always provided between the pilot of the moving locomotive and the highest point of the derail assembly.
US07909268B2
A container for a substance to be sprayed, wherein the container comprises a reservoir for the substance, wherein the container is provided with operable spraying means connected to the reservoir for spraying the substance, wherein the spraying means are provided with at least two spaced apart outflow openings which can be brought into fluid communication with the reservoir for spraying the substance in at least two spray beams to surroundings. The invention further relates to a cap, evidently destined for such a container. Additionally, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing such a container.
US07909267B2
An applicator includes a bore for containing a sealant component, a piston moveably positioned in the bore, a plunger member connected to the piston with a distal end disposed within the bore and a proximal end depending from the bore, a distal outlet communicating with the bore and connectable to a gas source, and an actuating member carried by the proximal end of the plunger member to move with the plunger member as the plunger member moves along the bore. The applicator may be used in a system with a gas source connected to the distal outlet, and a control unit connected to the actuating member and the gas source, the control unit adapted to supply gas to the distal outlet from the gas source essentially simultaneous with a force applied to the actuating member.
US07909242B2
A method for crediting a customer account maintained by a vendor of services in response to payment received from a customer is disclosed herein. The method includes issuing, to the customer, a membership account number associated with at least the customer account. A membership account number and a payment corresponding to a requested amount of a service offered by the vendor are received from the customer at a point-of-sale. The method further includes generating, at the point-of-sale, an authorization message including at least the membership account number and embedded transaction information identifying the service offered by the vendor and the requested amount. The embedded transaction information is then communicated from the point-of-sale to a database server. The customer account is credited, in response to the embedded transaction information, based upon an amount of the payment. The method also includes electronically transferring funds based upon the amount of the payment from a first account associated with the point-of-sale to a second account associated with the vendor.
US07909240B2
Embodiments provide systems, apparatus, methods, computer program code, and means for performing manual authorizations.
US07909238B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates identifying relationships between two or more trade cards. A schema component can implement a portion of user-assisted schema to create a trade card that represents a distillation of a document with document-specific data. A relationship component can identify at least one of a hard link or a soft link associated with the trade card in connection with at least one of a network or one or more trade cards, wherein the hard link is a source that derived the trade card and the soft link is directed toward a disparate trade card with a portion of substantially similar document-specific data.
US07909235B2
A carton for containing a plurality of articles such as cans, the carton comprises a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall and end closure panels for at least partially closing the ends of the carton, wherein the top wall is of multi-ply construction and the carton further comprises an access means defined by a series of weakened lines in the top, side and end walls, the access means including at least one initiating means formed in the top wall, each initiating means including a pair of weakened lines which form a displaceable tab and each initiating means being of single-ply construction to facilitate easy opening of the carton access means.
US07909227B2
A vacuum insulation tube assembly which is utilized as a component in a cryosurgical probe. The vacuum insulation tube assembly includes an inner tube; and, an outer tube concentrically positioned about the inner tube. The outer tube is securely soldered at end portions of the inner tube and forms a vacuum space between the inner tube and the outer tube. The vacuum tube assemblies may be conveniently mass produced using a special fixture.
US07909222B2
Described herein are endoscopic staplers used to apply one or more fasteners to body tissue. In one embodiment, a fastener-applying device, which is preferably a stapler, is passed transorally into the stomach and used to plicate stomach tissue by engaging tissue from inside of the stomach and drawing it inwardly. In the disclosed embodiments, the tissue is drawn inwardly into a vacuum chamber, causing sections of serosal tissue on the exterior of the stomach to be positioned facing one another. The disclosed staplers allow the opposed sections of tissue to be moved into contact with one another, and preferably deliver staples for maintaining contact between the tissue sections at least until serosal bonds form between them. Each of these steps may be performed wholly from the inside of the stomach and thus can eliminate the need for any surgical or laparoscopic intervention. After one or more plications are formed, medical devices may optionally be coupled to the plication(s) for retention within the stomach.
US07909218B2
This invention provides a safety apparatus for a spring powered stapler, the safety apparatus comprising a lock plate holding up a power spring for storing energy when in a first position, and releasing the power spring when the lock plate being moved substantially horizontally to a second position, a safety pin substantially vertically movable between a third and fourth position, the safety pin being in the third position when the stapler is not pressed against an object, and the safety pin being in the fourth position when the stapler is pressed against an object, wherein when in the third position, the safety pin stops the lock plate from being moved to the second position, and when in the fourth position, the safety pin makes room for the lock plate to be moved to the second position.
US07909217B2
A pneumatically operated stapler that has a single selectively operable adjuster operatively associated with a staple leg diverter. The single selectively operable adjuster is constructed and arranged to be adjusted within a range of leg deflecting positions to affect the lateral movement of the staple leg diverter. The different leg deflective positions effects an amount to which the diverter will deflect the legs of the driven staple during a drive stroke. A single operation of the single selectively operable adjuster both moves the adjuster and retains the adjuster in an adjusted position within the range of leg deflecting positions.
US07909213B2
A bicycle carrier for a vehicle includes a support holder for holding a bicycle aligned transversely to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle. A retaining bracket connected to the support holder has a guide holder and retaining bracket sections. The bracket sections are movably connected to the guide holder to move transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction. The bracket sections hold respective wheels of a bicycle held on the support holder. Fixing elements are respectively connected to the retaining bracket and a corresponding bracket section. Each fixing element includes a locking member movable between a locked position in which the fixing element locks the corresponding bracket section in place and an unlocked position in which the fixing element unlocks the corresponding bracket section. Actuating mechanisms respectively associated with the fixing elements are operable to move the locking member of the corresponding fixing element between the locked and unlocked positions.
US07909212B2
A closure for a receptacle of a type having an open top and a closed bottom is provided. The closure comprises a base configured to be coupled to the top of the receptacle and a cover coupled to the base and rotatable relative thereto. The cover includes a flap having an outer edge with a downwardly extending skirt and is configured for selective movement between an open position and a closed position. The closure further comprises and an insert supported between the base and the cover. The insert defines at least one dispensing aperture and is rotatable relative to the base. Rotation of the cover rotates the insert relative to the base.
US07909198B2
A tamper-evident enclosure for the storage and transport of bank notes comprises a frame spanned by a membrane of elasticated material. The frame is located in the top of an open-topped container and bank notes are pushed through the frame, deflecting flaps, until the membrane is fully distended. A cover plate is then slid through channels on opposite sides of the frame to close the “bag”. When the “bag” is fully closed a tongue at the leading end of the cover plate enters a hollow formation at the trailing end of the frame. Either the tongue has fins which dig into the interior of the hollow formation, or the channels and opposite sides of the cover plate have saw-tooth formations permitting movement of the cover plate only in one direction. By either arrangement the cover plate can only be removed from the frame by first breaking off the tongue and bending down the hollow formation.
US07909191B2
A modular tray and lid combination for use in configuring a containment case includes one or more trays and a single lid. When a plurality of trays are used they are connected together either end-to-end or side-by-side or both. The lid includes a plurality of slide latches that secure the lid to the tray or trays.
US07909189B2
A bulk packaging support structure for supporting a radially flexible container during filling includes first and second foldable members each having a bottom portion and a side portion. The side portion includes a first wall section that is pivotally connected to the bottom portion along a primary fold line. The side portion further includes a second wall section that is pivotally connected to the first wall section along a secondary fold line that extends perpendicular to the primary fold line. The first and second foldable members are releasibly engaged with one another such that the bottom portion of the first foldable member is disposed between the second wall section and the bottom portion of the second foldable member.
US07909182B2
A sheet material dispenser has at least two compartments (37) for accommodating sheet material, which are formed by module components which can be joined together and released again. In order to provide a sheet material dispenser which has at least one divisible module part for accepting sheet material, the module components include at least one tray (1) for accommodating the sheet material, at least one front plate (34) and at least one partition wall (2), the tray (1) consists of a rear wall (4), two side walls (5, 6) and an end wall (7) forming its lower end, and the tray (1) is provided with longitudinal slots (8) in the region of its rear wall (4) for the attachment of the partition wall (2), which has hooks (27) that can be inserted into the longitudinal slots (8), for dividing the tray.
US07909170B2
A vibratory separator including a housing having a drilling material inlet and at least one basket, at least one screen assembly configured to be disposed in the at least one basket, an actuator connected to the at least one basket, wherein the actuator provides vibratory motion to the at least one basket, a sump configured to receive drilling material that passes through the at least one screen assembly, and at least one spray nozzle for cleaning the vibratory separator is disclosed. A method for cleaning a vibratory separator including providing instructions to a programmable logic controller to activate at least one spray nozzle disposed on the vibratory separator is also disclosed. A method of retrofitting a vibratory separator including installing at least one spray nozzle in a vibratory separator, installing a programmable logic controller on the vibratory separator, and providing instructions to the programmable logic controller to activate at least one spray nozzle disposed on the vibratory separator is disclosed.
US07909168B2
A disposable shippable display apparatus for use in displaying products, samples, premiums, messages or the like comprises an inner sleeve containing products, samples, or the like, slidably located within an outer sleeve and configurable between a closed or an open position. After shipping the display apparatus to its end destination in the closed position the display is easily and quickly user deployed by moving the inner sleeve to the open position, where multiple catches and supports lock the inner sleeve in an immediately useable display configuration. The products and samples are now in full view for consumption by patrons and customers.
US07909159B1
A conveyor including a plurality of individual conveyor units associated with a common conveyor frame and adapted for independent lateral and vertical position adjustment. The conveyor units form independent conveyors capable of conveying an object. The position of each conveying unit is adjustable along the conveyor frame in a direction substantially transverse to the conveying direction. The height of each conveying unit is also independently adjustable. Consequently, the conveying units may be arranged to form overall conveying surfaces of different configuration. The conveyor may also include a frame lift assembly capable of simultaneously and uniformly raising or lowering one end of all the conveyor units present.
US07909158B2
A walking-beam conveyor has a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel, and transversely spaced fixed support rails, at least one walking beam between and generally parallel to the rails, and at least two lifters underneath the walking beam and operable to raise the walking beam from a return position generally below the rails to a conveying position generally above the rails. In accordance with the invention a first longitudinally extensible hydraulic actuator has opposite longitudinal ends one of which is secured relative to the rails. A second longitudinally extensible hydraulic actuator has opposite longitudinal one of which is secured to the other end of the first actuator and the other of which is secured to the walking beam.
US07909157B2
There is described a machine for forming groups of ordered products, each group including products disposed according to superposed layers. The machine includes a succession of conveyors aligned according to a principal direction of alignment, with a feed conveyor and a delivery conveyor. The feed conveyor receives single layers of products aligned with and spaced from one another; and the conveyors are disposed and controlled so as to distribute layers of products on a predetermined number of levels at different heights, and to unload onto the delivery conveyor a predetermined number of layers, superposed on one another, equal to the predetermined number of the levels at different heights.
US07909155B2
Systems and methods for accumulating articles on transport conveyors, for efficiently merging articles, and for automatically controlling sortation speed are disclosed. Transport conveyor beds upstream of an accumulation conveyor bed may be controlled to more densely pack articles, as well as to more timely deliver articles to the downstream subsystem when accumulation terminates. Slugs of articles in a merge subsystem may be released based on a prioritization scheme that heavily weighs the ability of the slug to attach to the next-most downstream slug. A combination of closed and open-looped control of the slug's movement may be used to accurately position slugs on the merge bed. A downstream sortation speed may be automatically adjusted based on the amount of merge traffic.
US07909154B2
A pallet exchanger capable of providing a sufficient operation space on an operator's access side, for example, in front of a machining space, without increasing the size of the exchanger is provided. An arm is formed in a chevron shape in a plane view including two forks as pallet supporting parts, which are arranged radially from a turning spindle with less than 180° angle between them such as 120° . Further, by means of a table, the arm is slidable between a stand-by position in front of a machining space and a retreating position laterally separated by a predetermined distance from the stand-by position in a horizontal position. By moving the arm on the retreating position side, an operation space can be provided in front of the machining space.
US07909153B2
A conveyor system includes an extension section that slides inwardly and telescopes outwardly of a main section of conveyor. The extension motion is powered by at least one hydraulic ram. The conveyor has a stem that lowers to a loadable height by the retraction of double hydraulic rams upon a steel internal core. The conveyor then lifts vertically in a cantilevered manner upon a vertical ram and then rotates 360 degrees parallel to the plane of a truck bed using a cooperating gear plate and a hydraulic motor with a chain. Paddles push material secured to a chain drive or alternately a belt and the chain drive or belt moves through a series of sprockets or rollers in a continuous manner. The paddles eventually return to their initial location.
US07909151B2
The present invention provides a lock-up clutch mechanism for a torque converter, comprising a lock-up piston and a front cover having an engagement surface capable of being engaged with the lock-up piston and in which a friction material is stuck to wither one of the lock-up piston and the front cover and in which engagement and disengagement are performed in accordance with a hydraulic pressure difference between the front cover and the lock-up piston and wherein the friction material includes a first flat friction surface disposed at an outer diameter side and a second tapered friction surface disposed at an inner diameter side and further wherein, when the lock-up piston and the front cover are slip-controlled, the first friction surface is engaged with uniform face pressure, and, when the lock-up piston and the front cover are substantially integrally joined with a great hydraulic pressure difference under slip control, maximum face pressure is generated at a border between the first friction surface and the second friction surface.
US07909149B2
A luggage system is provided for simultaneous transportation of attached suitcases. Two side-by-side suitcases are secured together by providing a male connector on a side of a first suitcase and a female connector on the side of a second suitcase which faces the side of the first suitcase. The male connector and female connector inter-engage to secure the two suitcases and prevent them from displacement or disengagement during transportation.
US07909144B2
Since the elevator type is varied, a set value used for judging car oscillation must be set for each elevator, which requires much time and labor. Also, if the criteria of all elevators are represented by one set value to eliminate the time and labor required for the setting, variations in detection occur. A car oscillation detecting device includes a means in which a set value, which is used as a criterion for judging car oscillation, is stored in advance as a table or a relational expression in which an elevator specification is used as a parameter, and the set value is selected automatically by using the information of the elevator specification, by which the time and the labor for setting are eliminated. Further, since the set value is a value suitable for that elevator, variations in detection can be restrained, and hence the reliability is high.
US07909142B2
A braking device for an elevated platform assembly comprising a platform moveable along a generally vertical mast supporting an upright rack comprises an input gear assembly in mating engagement with the rack, a centrifugal actuator communicating with the input assembly and a spring-loaded brake responsive to the centrifugal actuator. The spring-loaded brake engages the rack and arrests the platform when the platform descends the mast at a rate above an upper threshold limit.
US07909135B2
A silencer that reduces a noise from a noise source in a first housing that houses the noise source in a first internal space includes a second housing that houses the noise source in a second internal space, and is provided in the first internal space of the first housing, and a connector that is provided in the second housing and connects the first internal space to the second internal space, a space inside the first internal space but outside the second internal space being used to reduce the noise and wider than the second space.
US07909121B2
Polycrystalline ultra-hard compact constructions comprise a polycrystalline ultra-hard compact having a polycrystalline ultra-hard body attached to a substrate. A support member is attached to the compact by a braze material. The support member can have a one-piece construction including one or more support sections. The support member has a first section extending axially along a wall surface of the compact, and extending circumferentially along a portion of the compact. The support member can include a second section extending radially along a backside surface of the compact, and/or a third section extending radially along a front side surface of the compact. In one embodiment, the support member includes a second and/or third section and the compact disposed therein is in an axially compressed state. The support member is interposed between the compact and an end-use device.
US07909120B2
A gripping tool includes a body assembly and gripping assembly with a grip surface adapted to move from a retracted position to an engaged position to radially engage a work piece in response to relative axial displacement. A linkage is provided to act between the body assembly and the gripping assembly which, upon relative rotation in at least one direction, of the body relative to the grip surface results in relative axial displacement of the grip surface to activate the gripping elements. This tool was developed for use on drilling and service rigs having top drives, and supports rapid engagement and release, hoisting, pushing, and rotating.
US07909119B2
Core drill bits with long crown heights are described herein. The core drill bits have a series of slots or openings that are not located at the tip of the crown and are therefore enclosed in the body of the crown. The slots may be staggered and/or stepped throughout the crown. As the cutting portion of the drill bit erodes through normal use, the fluid/debris notches at the tip of the bit are eliminated. As the erosion progresses, the slots become exposed and then they function as fluid/debris ways. This configuration allows the crown height to be extended and lengthened without substantially reducing the structural integrity of the drill bit.
US07909107B2
A high capacity running tool sets and internally tests a casing hanger packoff during the same trip. The running tool has a stem and a body. The body is secured by threads to the stem of the running tool so that rotation of the stem relative to the body will cause the stem to move longitudinally. An engagement element connects the tool body to the casing hanger by engaging the inner surface of the casing hanger. Longitudinal movement of the stem relative to the body moves the engaging element between inner and outer positions and lines up ports in the stem and in the body for setting and testing functions.
US07909106B2
A spooled tubing unit is provided which permits simultaneous translation and rotation of continuous tubing to drill or conduct other downhole operations in a borehole in subterranean formations.
US07909098B2
An oil recovery process utilizes one or more membranes to remove silica and/or oil from produced water. In one method, the process includes separating oil from produced water and precipitating silica. The produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a membrane, such as a ceramic membrane, which removes the precipitated silica from the produced water. In some cases, residual oil is present and is also removed by the membrane.
US07909091B2
An apparatus for flexibly restraining service loops in an oil derrick to prevent entangling of the loops, including a plurality of identical apparatus wherein each apparatus is positioned at different longitudinal level to restrain the service loops. The apparatus contains multiple improved interlocking units having a shape of the sleeve. Each unit includes first and second members and intra-unit affixing members in addition to an adhesive to affix the members and service loop together. Each member is an insert steel enhanced rubber structure. A transverse interconnecting ring is connected to the inner insert steel through which service loops are retained together by a cable.
US07909088B2
A screen section has a valve assembly to control flow through it. The valve is open and has a closure spring held compressed by a shape memory material that responds to the presence of a specific well fluid or fluids so that its property changes to allow the spring to deliver the stored potential energy to the valve member to close it when the specific well fluid or fluids are detected. The preferred material is a shape memory polymer that, for example, is sensitive to the presence of water or methane and gets softer to release the potential energy source to operate the downhole tool.
US07909082B2
A zippered together shower curtain and valance in which the valance remaining on the shower support rod after the curtain is unzipped for laundering masks the upper zipper track from view and has other attendant benefits.
US07909077B2
A heavy duty tire comprises a bead filler disposed in each bead portion (4). The bead filler (8) comprises: a main layer (13) having a complex elastic modulus E*2 of from 2.0 to 6.0 Mpa; and a fastening layer (12) having a complex elastic modulus E*1 of from 20 to 70 Mpa. The fastening layer comprises a base portion (12B) and an axially inner portion (12A) to have a L-shaped cross section. The height Ha of the axially inner portion (12A) is 35 to 100 mm and not more than the height Hb of the main layer (13), and the radial height Hb is 40 to 100 mm, each from the bead base line. The thickness of the axially inner portion (12A) gradually decreases towards the radially outside so that, when measured along a straight line X1 drawn perpendicularly to the axially outer surface of the bead filler from a point P1 thereon at a distance of 25 mm radially outward from the bead base line: the thickness Tb from the axially outer surface of the bead filler to the interface between the axially inner portion (12A) and the main layer is 7.0 to 13.0 mm; the thickness Ta from the interface to the axially inner surface of the axially inner portion (12A) is 1.0 to 4.0 mm; and the ratio Ta/Tb is 0.1 to 0.35.
US07909072B2
An adjustable stop plank for a power tool includes a drive mechanism connected to the stop plank for continuous adjustment of the angle of the stop plank with respect to the work surface and has a display for indicating the current angle of the stop plank. In one form, the micro-adjusting device for the stop plank of a power tool includes a hand wheel unit provided on the holding frame operable to continuously adjust the angle of the stop plank. The power tool may include indicia to indicate a plurality of angles for the stop plank and an index for indicating on the indicia the current angle of the stop plank.
US07909071B2
A method for the contamination-preventing transferring bulk material between a container having a flexible opening and a connecting tube using a tubular film is placed around the connecting tube; the tubular film is tied beyond the connecting tube leaving a free end of the tubular film beyond the tying point; the flexible opening and the tubular film are connected; the tying points of the outlet and the tubular film are untied, and the bulk material transferred; the free end of the tubular film, is constricted and additional tubular film is pulled from a tubular film supply until clean tubular film is available beyond the connecting tube; the tubular film is closed at two points in the clean section and cut in two between them; additional tubular film is pulled from the tubular film supply, and tied at a tying point located at a distance from the cutting point.
US07909067B2
Production of a reinforcement mesh comprising reinforcement bars (3), which are tied together by means of twisted wires (1, 2), may take place according to the invention by a method wherein two wires (1, 2) are rolled up on their respective wire coils (4, 5), which are mounted opposite each other on a rotatable shaft (12), and wherein each of the wires is guided by a wire guide element (6) downwards in a direction toward the common twisting point of the wires (1, 2). Meshes of surface-treated, coated, wires and bars may be made in this manner, there being no external impact that can damage the surface.
US07909055B2
A valve provided with a passage for conveying a medium, the passage having at least a first closable aperture, and with a closing device that is suitable for closing at least the first aperture. The valve is provided with a holder element that is movably included in a holder element house chamber of the holder element house. The closing device is capable of being supported by the holder element or forms an integrated part of the holder element, and the closing device is controllable by the medium. The holder element is controllable, only by the medium, for releasing at least the first aperture by means of the closing device.
US07909049B2
An operating mechanism used in an umbrella is disclosed to include a telescopic shaft, first and second screw nuts fixedly mounted in the telescopic shaft at different elevations, a third screw nut is fixedly mounted in the runner of the umbrella, a first screw rod threaded through the first screw nut, a second screw rod threaded through the second screw nut and axially slidably connected to and rotatable with the first screw rod, a third screw rod threaded through the third screw nut and axially slidably connected to and rotatable with the second screw rod, and a transmission mechanism connected to the first screw rod and operable to rotate the first screw rod.
US07909046B2
Dish washing machine that includes a steam generator, which supplies steam during a washing operation, to aid in the washing of dishes and other items in the dish washing machine. The dish washing machine further including one or more dish washing racks that effectively orient the dishes, and other items to be washed, in such a way so as to avoid inhibiting the steam from being evenly distributed around each of the dishes and other items to be washed. The dish washing machine also including a steam zone indicator to aid in effectively positioning the dishes and other items to be washed by visually distinguishing the region or zone within the dish washing machine that corresponds with high-intensity steam.
US07909041B2
A double-stick adhesive tape (10) for fixing a wig (100) to a head, of which the surface of at least one side (12) of both sides of adhesive layers (12, 13) on a core material (11) is deglossed by forming minute concavity and convexity (12a), one side of adhesive layer (12) is formed to have a thickness to bury at least more than half of a wire diameter of the filament (103) used as a net member of a wig base (101), thereby one side of adhesive layer (12) is set inside of a network (104) of the net member, and bonded to the net member, a filament (103) is peripherally bonded with the adhesive layer (12) and the other adhesive layer (13) is bonded to the head.
US07909025B2
The present invention relates to a method of controlling an indirect-injection engine, notably a supercharged engine, in particular a spark-ignition engine, comprising at least one cylinder (10) including a combustion chamber (12), at least two air intake means (14, 16) comprising each a pipe (18, 20) controlled by an intake valve (22, 24), at least one fuel injection means (26, 28) associated with each intake means and at least one burnt gas exhaust means (30) with an exhaust valve (32), said engine running according to two intake modes, a mode with burnt gas scavenging and a mode without scavenging, characterized in that it consists in: supplying, in intake mode with scavenging, non-carbureted air through one (16) of the intake means then, in the vicinity of the scavenging end, in supplying carbureted air through the other (14) intake means, supplying, in intake mode without scavenging, carbureted air through the two intake means (14, 16).
US07909022B2
A fuel supply system for a boat minimizes and prevents deterioration in combustion efficiency of the engine. The fuel supply system includes a throttle body that is connected to an engine and that supplies air to the engine, and an injector that injects fuel to the throttle body. The injector is configured to inject fuel to a direction opposite to an airflow direction in the throttle body.
US07909013B2
An internal combustion engine includes in one aspect a source of a pressurized working medium and an expander. The expander has a housing and a piston, movably mounted within and with respect to the housing, to perform one of rotation and reciprocation, each complete rotation or reciprocation defining at least a part of a cycle of the engine. The expander also includes a septum, mounted within the housing and movable with respect to the housing and the piston so as to define in conjunction therewith, over first and second angular ranges of the cycle, a working chamber that is isolated from an intake port and an exhaust port. Combustion occurs at least over the first angular range of the cycle to provide heat to the working medium and so as to increase its pressure. The working chamber over a second angular range of the cycle expands in volume while the piston receives, from the working medium as a result of its increased pressure, a force relative to the housing that causes motion of the piston relative to the housing.
US07909012B2
The piston is connected to the crankshaft via a connecting rod, while the crankshaft is disposed between the wrist pin and the combustion chamber. This way the combustion is shifted to the slow dead center, enabling the diesel to perform at higher revs, improving the spark engine efficiency and making HCCI combustion easier. Though the crankshaft is of one piece, more connecting rods can be used for a piston. As opposed piston, the PRE engine further combines top specific power, top thermal efficiency, built in scavenging pumps, and compactness.
US07909010B2
An intake pipe of an internal combustion engine includes a main flow passage allowing air introduced into the engine to flow therethrough, an upper branch flow passage branching off from the main flow passage and communicating with #2 cylinder, #4 cylinder, and #6 cylinder, a lower branch flow passage branching off from the main flow passage and communicating with #1 cylinder, #3 cylinder, and #5 cylinder, and a partition wall allowing the upper branch flow passage and the lower branch flow passage to be apart. The partition wall has an end portion that faces the main flow passage. The end portion is formed of a spherical surface. With such a configuration, the intake pipe of the internal combustion engine, which intake pipe provides sufficient improvement in intake efficiency, is provided.
US07909009B2
An internal combustion engine has a cylinder which has a cylinder longitudinal axis. The internal combustion engine has at least one cooling fin. In order to route the cable in a defined fashion so that the internal combustion engine can be arranged even in a constricted installation space, a cable retainer is provided which is arranged on at least one cooling fin of the internal combustion engine and which retains at least one cable. A cable retainer for securing at least one cable to an internal combustion engine has at least one receptacle for at least one cable and at least one means for positioning the cable retainer on the internal combustion engine.
US07909001B2
The present invention relates to methods of raising crustaceans, comprising maintaining crustaceans in low salinity water having a Calcium-sensing Receptor (CaSR) modulator(s), and adding feed that contains an agent that contributes to modulation of a crustacean CaSR to the water.
US07908995B2
A stage apparatus in which a rectangular substrate which is levitated over a stage is transferred such that a pair of sides of the rectangular substrate are substantially parallel to a transfer direction and the other pair of sides of the rectangular substrate are substantially perpendicular to the transfer direction. The stage includes a plurality of gas spray ports to spray a gas and a plurality of suction ports to attract the rectangular substrate by suction. The rectangular substrate is levitated at a predetermined height from the surface of the stage in a substantially horizontal posture by means of suction of a suction mechanism through the plurality of suction ports and gas spray of a gas spray mechanism through the plurality of gas spray ports. The plurality of suction ports are arranged on the stage such that, when the rectangular substrate is being transferred over the stage, the leading end of the rectangular substrate in the transfer direction does not simultaneously cover not less than a predetermined number of suction ports and the trailing end of the rectangular substrate in the transfer direction does not simultaneously open not less than a predetermined number of suction ports to the atmosphere, so as for variations in suction pressure in the suction ports to fall within an allowable range.
US07908994B2
The piston dispenser for the measured supplying of material to the atomizer of a painting robot is arranged in the hand joint of the robot. Various feasible embodiments of the dispensing cylinder of this piston dispenser are described.
US07908991B2
A portable air horn apparatus includes a housing, an air horn assembly for generating a warning sound, a switch for activating the air horn assembly and a power source. A microprocessor is provided in communication with the switch, the air horn assembly and the power source. The microprocessor includes at least one port for receiving an electronic component and is capable of automatically loading and executing software of the electronic component.
US07908973B2
The disclosed system, device and method for deploying a sub-module from a carrier vehicle generally includes: a sub-module projectile (100) housed within a carrier vehicle; a rolling diaphragm (115) sealed between a first pressure chamber volume (145) and a second sub-module containment volume (e.g., substantially formed on the opposing side of rolling diaphragm 115 relative to pressure chamber 145); and a release mechanism (500), wherein the sub-module projectile (100) is secured until releasable deployment from the carrier vehicle. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve ejection, deployment and/or dispersal of a variety of sub-modules from a variety of carrier modules. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide for the ejection and dispersal of kinetic energy rod warheads from a kill-vehicle.
US07908970B1
A Dual Initiation Strip Charge (DISC) apparatus is initiated by a single initiation source and detonates a strip of explosive charge at two separate contacts. The reflection of explosively induced stresses meet and create a fracture and breach a target along a generally single fracture contour and produce generally fragment-free scattering and no spallation. Methods for making and implementing a DISC apparatus provide numerous advantages over previous methods of creating explosive charges by utilizing steps for rapid prototyping; by implementing efficient steps and designs for metering consistent, repeatable, and controlled amount of high explosive; and by utilizing readily available materials.
US07908969B2
The present invention relates to a safety system comprising at least two stationary detector elements each defining a respective first safety zone, said first safety zones not coinciding, a moving detector element, and a control unit connected to the stationary detector elements. The control unit is adapted to detect the presence of the moving detector element in one of the first safety zones. The invention is applicable to rotary printing presses.
US07908958B2
The invention relates to a ballistic resistant laminated structure comprising at least three glass sheets (1, 3, 5) a polycarbonate sheet (11) which are bound by adhesive layers (2, 4, 10) and a shielding insert (20), wherein a space delimited by said insert (20), the end face of the sheet (5) and the edge of the sheet (11) are provided with a material (30, 31) for absorbing the energy of a projectile. Said materials (30, 31) are embodied in the form of an yielding material (30) for degassing during assembling said stricture and an encapsulating material (31). A highly ballistic resistant glazing for a building or a transport vehicle comprising the inventive structure is also disclosed.
US07908954B2
During the manufacture of a bandsaw blade, a rotary hone forms, in a clearance side of each tooth, a narrow flat land. A leading edge of the land defines a sharp cutting edge. The land has a width no longer than ten percent of the pitch distance of the teeth.
US07908949B2
A windshield removal assembly, method and blade for same, with the thin metal blade having a unique delta-shape. The blade connects at its narrowed shank portion to the shaft of a reciprocating power tool. The blade has front and rear ends, the front end being substantially straight and wider than the blade rear end. The top edge of the blade forms a non-sharpened top edge on the front end and arc portions, while the bottom edge of the blade forms a sharpened bottom cutting edge which extends across the front end of the blade and along at least half of the arc portions. The blade has sufficient rigidity to cut the urethane bed when reciprocated, and sufficient lateral flexibility to conform to the curved surface of the windshield when pressed thereagainst.
US07908945B2
The present invention relates to embodiments of a cutting tool holder having at least one insert pocket, wherein at least one insert pocket comprises a side surface and at least one antirotation stop protruding from the side surface. The antirotation stop may comprise at least two substantially planar surfaces. In certain embodiments, the cutting tool holder may have a pocket which comprises a bottom surface and an antirotation stop having three substantially planar surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface.The antirotation stop may be integral to the tool holder or may be produced separately and attached, either permanently or temporarily, to the tool holder. Embodiments may further comprise additional antirotation stops if desired by the machining application.In one embodiment, the cutting tool holder includes an insert pocket in the tool holder and at least one antirotation stop protruding from at least one of a side wall and the bottom surface of the insert pocket, wherein the antirotation stop comprises at least two substantially planar surfaces. A cutting insert may be secured in the tool holder, wherein the cutting insert has a recess having a shape that is non-complementary to the shape of the antirotation stop and may be made from tungsten based carbide or cermet.
US07908944B2
One embodiment of the invention relates to a locking pliers. The locking pliers include a pair of handles and a pair of interconnected jaws coupled to the handles. The jaws are movable between a retracted position within the handles and an extended position extending from the handles. The jaws are slidably coupled to the handles and configured to slide between the retracted position and the extended position without opening the handles. When the jaws are in the extended position, the jaws have an unclamped configuration in which the jaws are adjustable by a user to permit the jaws to lock onto objects of various sizes and clamped configuration in which the jaws are releasably locked onto an object.
US07908941B2
A steering wheel has a ring portion, spoke portions and a hub portion. The steering wheel is provided with a thermoelectric reversible heat pump to heat or cool a fluid. A closed hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic pump and at least one duct extending along the ring portion of the steering wheel. The fluid is heated or cooled by the thermoelectric heat pump and is circulated by the hydraulic pump within the ring portion of the steering wheel to heat or cool the ring portion.
US07908937B2
A method and an apparatus for detecting, locating, and quantifying contamination in a fluid flow system like a pipe or duct. This characterization technique uses a conservative and one or more interactive tracers that are injected into the fluid flow system and then monitored at another location in the system. Detection, location, and quantification are accomplished by analysis of the characteristic features of measured curves of tracer concentration.
US07908930B2
This disclosure relates in general to methods and systems for measuring multiphase flows in a pipeline using a combination of venturi, microwave and radiation techniques, where the pipeline is configured to transport hydrocarbons. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems in which low activity radiation sources may be used in combination with one or more microwave transmitter-receiver pairs and pressure differential sensors to measure the flow rates and fractions of phases in multiphase flows in a pipeline, such as may be encountered in producing hydrocarbon wells. Additionally, other embodiments of the present invention provide for the arrangement of one or more microwave transmitter-receiver pairs, one or more radiation source-detector pairs and/or one or more pressure sensor ports in the same cross-section of the throat of a venturi to measure multiphase flow in a hydrocarbon transporting pipeline.
US07908929B2
One embodiment of a testing device is disclosed having an expansible element that expands radially outwardly upon the application of an axial force. In one form the testing device includes two bellows forming a deflection surface that expands radially outward upon the application of axial force to the testing device.
US07908916B2
A testing machine includes a frame and a roadway assembly. The roadway assembly includes an endless belt and a carriage supporting the endless belt for rotation on the carriage and providing flat portion in the endless belt. The carriage is pivotally coupled to the frame to move relative to the frame about at least one axis. The carriage includes a bearing arranged to support an inner surface of the flat portion of the endless belt. A spindle carriage has a spindle arranged to support a tire and wheel assembly. The spindle carriage is movably mounted on the frame to move the spindle toward and away from the flat portion. A drive is operably coupled to the roadway assembly or the spindle. An actuator controls pivotal movement of the roadway assembly about said at least one axis. A method of ascertaining rolling loss of a tire mounted to such a machine is also provided.
US07908908B2
Disclosed herein are surface force microscope probes comprising living cells adhered thereto, as well as methods of making same. Also disclosed is a system for high throughput screening of nanostructures having biological relevance through use of surface force microscope probes comprising living cells. Further disclosed are methods of screening for biointeractive nanostructures.
US07908907B1
A method of matching a golfer's skills to a particular brand of golf balls by first testing a golfer's skills using a golf launch monitor, the data derived from this test being entered into an extensive computerized system of research databases. Further test results are taken for putting comparisons between all brands within the system. A final category known as “the feel index” is also tested and entered into the computer database. Based upon the results and golfer preference towards distance, accuracy, putting and feel, the top brand is selected for that person. This brand is then subjected to a series of air cannon tests to determine the performance characteristics of each ball. The balls are then subdivided into groups and performance rated for consistency.
US07908905B2
The present invention is directed to an improved rheometer which provides direct visualization, and to a rheometer that can be used in conjunction with shearing devices, such as rotational, torsional, sliding plate, and other type rheometers.
US07908904B2
This method makes it possible, with highest possible precision and without any major expense, to determine the air tightness of an enclosed space. Specifically, it introduces a method which, on demand and in effective yet easy-to-implement fashion, permits at any time the updated determination of the existing air tightness of the enclosed space without requiring a complex test series. To that effect, the first step according to the method is to define a concentration gradient between the internal air atmosphere of an enclosed space and the ambient air atmosphere by setting the physical concentration of at least one constituent component of the space-internal air atmosphere, in particular of oxygen, at a value that differs from the physical concentration value of that minimum of one corresponding component in the ambient air atmosphere. This is followed by a determination of the concentration change rate in that, in the space-internal air atmosphere, the time-based change of the physical concentration of the minimum of one constituent component is measured. Finally, taking into account the previously determined concentration change rate, the air-tightness value of the enclosed space is calculated.
US07908903B2
An oscillatory measurement system is disclosed that includes a visual recorder for detecting irregularities such as bubbles in a fluid to be measured. Techniques are provided for scanning the recorder across the oscillatory tube.
US07908891B2
A knitted glove made by creating each of the sections of the glove using a separate knitting course on a flat knitting machine providing variable stitch dimensions. Each of these sections provides its own designed stretch characteristics so that the glove fits tightly, yet provides flexibility and ease of movement. The variable stitch dimension is achieved by 1) varying the depth of penetration of a knitting needle into a fabric being knitted by a computer program, 2) adjusting the tension of yarn between a pinch roller and a knitting head by a mechanism controlled by a computer, and 3) casting off or picking up additional stitches in a course. The glove includes a plurality of finger components made from at least ten separately knitted sections, two palm components, each of which is made from at least two separately knitted sections, and a wrist component made from at least one knitted section.
US07908883B2
A heat exchanger for a refrigerator includes a dividing wall that bifurcates the heat exchanger into first and second airflow passages. The fins include apertures therein, allowing for both horizontal and vertical movement of air through the heat exchanger. The dividing wall extends through the heat exchanger at an angle, which decreases the cross-sectional diameter of both the first and second airflow passages and results in accelerated air flow through the air passages. In use, air from the refrigerator is directed into the first airflow passage of the heat exchanger for heat exchange, and is then directed by curved baffles into the second airflow passage for further heat exchange. Air exiting the second airflow passage is then directed into a compartment of the refrigerator.
US07908882B2
A refrigerator door is provided. The refrigerator door has an outer case forming a shape of the refrigerator door, an inner case provided within the outer case to configure a backside of the refrigerator door wherein a space between the inner case and the outer case is charged with a foaming liquid, an ice making unit provided to one side of the inner case to make ice, a fixing unit provided to the space charged with the foaming liquid between the inner case and the outer case and fixing the ice making unit to the refrigerator door, and a dispenser provided to one side of the outer case to discharge the ice supplied by the ice making unit.
US07908879B1
A multifunctional ceiling air-conditioning circulation machine includes a base having a square fixing frame mounted around the periphery of the base and a concave circular groove formed at the middle of the base, a circular evaporator installed on the concave circular groove, a fan installed in the evaporator, and a water pump installed in an extended area on an external side of the concave circular groove for discharging condensate water dripped from the evaporator to the concave circular groove to the outside through a drain pipe. The machine integrates the multiple of functions including a circulation fan, an air conditioner, an air guide and an air re-circulation into the machine mounted onto a ceiling or a light steel frame.
US07908877B2
A method of controlling a HVAC system for a hybrid vehicle having a refrigerant compressor driven by an engine is disclosed. The method may comprise: determining a requested air conditioning operating point for a passenger compartment; estimating a time to reach the requested operating point; based on the previous steps, estimating a maximum allowed compressor off time; determining if the allowed compressor off time is greater than a minimum engine off time; if the allowed compressor off time is greater than the engine off time, determining if the vehicle is entering an allowable engine off mode; if so, commencing engine shut-off mode; if engine shut-off is anticipated, prior to commencing the shut-off mode, adjusting the HVAC system to maximize cooling of the passenger compartment with minimum energy usage; and if the engine shut-off is commenced, monitoring the HVAC system to determine when engine restart is needed to maintain comfort.
US07908871B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for producing and dispensing aerated and/or blended products, such as food products.
US07908867B2
A ceramic hybrid structure (207, 502, 602, 608) that includes a wavy ceramic matrix composite (CMC) wall (214, 532, 603, 609) bonded with a ceramic insulating layer (230, 538, 604, 610) having a distal surface (242) that may define a hot gas passage (250, 550, 650) or otherwise be in proximity to a source of elevated temperature. In various embodiments, the waves (216, 537, 637) of the CMC wall (214, 532, 603, 609) may conform to the following parameters: a thickness (222) between 1 and 10 millimeters; an amplitude (224) between one and 2.5 times the thickness; and a period (226) between one and 20 times the amplitude. The uninsulated backside surface (218) of the CMC wall (214) provides a desired stiffness and strength and enhanced cooling surface area. In various embodiments the amplitude (224), excluding the thickness (222), may be at least 2 mm.
US07908864B2
A combustor nozzle is provided. The combustor nozzle includes a first fuel system configured to introduce a syngas fuel into a combustion chamber to enable lean premixed combustion within the combustion chamber and a second fuel system configured to introduce the syngas fuel, or a hydrocarbon fuel, or diluents, or combinations thereof into the combustion chamber to enable diffusion combustion within the combustion chamber.
US07908860B2
For an internal combustion engine having two cylinder banks forming a V-shaped cylinder block, a turbocharger system including a high pressure turbocharger disposed in a valley between the cylinder banks, a first low-pressure turbocharger disposed adjacent an outer side of one of the cylinder banks, and a second low-pressure turbocharger disposed adjacent an outer side of the second cylinder bank. Intake and exhaust ducts connect the components of the engine and turbocharger system to and electronically controlled valves associated with the ducts permit the system to operate either in a split series mode or a low-pressure-only mode.
US07908858B2
A turbocharger control system is disclosed. The control system may have an engine and a fuel system configured to regulate fuel flow into the engine. The control system may further have an air induction system configured to regulate air flow into the engine and a sensor situated to sense a speed value of the air induction system. The controller may also have a controller configured to receive the speed value and regulate fuel flow into the engine as a function of the speed value.
US07908853B2
A method of allocating hydraulic fluid between two or more actuators in a machine processes a first command intended to provide a first requested fluid flow to a steering actuator for steering the machine, and a second command intended to provide a second requested fluid flow to a non-steeling actuator, such as a lift or tilt actuator. The system modifies the first and second commands to produce modified first and second commands corresponding to modified first and second fluid flows, such that the sum of the adjusted first and second fluid flows is less than or equal to a currently available flow and the modified first fluid flow meets or exceeds the lesser of the first requested fluid flow and a threshold curve that is a function of a machine variable such as engine speed or other variable or parameter.
US07908847B2
A method of starting up a fuel-fired burner of an emission abatement assembly includes lowering the fuel rate being supplied to the burner once flame ignition is detected. The fuel rate is maintained at this lower level as the assembly preheats. Once preheated, the fuel level is ramped up to a predetermined operational fuel level. An emission abatement assembly is also disclosed.
US07908846B2
A method for controlling injection of a substance in a diesel engine exhaust after treatment system includes generating a feedforward signal as a function of a desired output signal, the desired output signal corresponding to an output sought to be achieved through injection of the substance. Actual system output is measured and an actual output signal is generated corresponding to an output actually achieved through injection of the substance. The desired output signal and the actual output signal are compared and an error signal is generated corresponding to a difference between the desired output signal and the actual output signal. A control signal is generated as a function of the error signal and the feedforward signal for controlling an amount of the substance to inject, and the feedforward signal is adjusted by an adaptive factor, the adaptive factor being a function of the error signal. A diesel engine is also provided.
US07908844B2
In an internal combustion engine, a first exhaust passage and second exhaust passage branched from an exhaust passage are provided. An NOx storing reduction catalyst and a particulate filter are arranged in each exhaust passage. For example, when NOx should be released from the NOx storing reduction catalyst in the first exhaust passage, fuel is added from a fuel addition valve in the state with exhaust gas allowed to flow into only the first exhaust passage, while when the added fuel sticks to the NOx storing reduction catalyst, the first exhaust control valve is temporarily closed and the exhaust gas is made a rich air-fuel ratio.
US07908836B1
The draper canvas of the header includes a strip of a resilient material that stands outwardly and forwardly of a front edge thereof and has an outer barrier surface, an inner barrier surface, and a front barrier surface received and contained in structure of a cutter bar and a front draper support plate having a plurality of barrier elements in face-to-face closely spaced relation with the barrier surfaces to form a multiple sided barrier interface between the cutter bar and draper fabric for excluding cut crop from the interior of the header. The strip runs within the container structure with minimal contact to reduce friction and wear.
US07908830B2
A stretch wrap assembly comprising a base, a turntable mounted on the base, a column on the base and a carriage movable upon the column. The carriage includes a first nip roller, a first pre-stretch roller, an idler roller, a second pre-stretch roller and a second nip roller. The carriage is configured to have stretch wrap threaded through the carriage from a roll of stretch wrap, around a portion of a circumferences of the first nip roller, the first pre-stretch roller, the idler roller, the second pre-stretch roller, and the second nip roller and to the package. The first nip roller and the second nip roller can be on a chassis to be able to move rotationally and laterally relative to the first pre-stretch roller and the second pre-stretch roller.
US07908824B2
An individual package of an absorbent article permits a base end of a tape to be bonded with sufficiently large bonding strength without complicating packaging process and increasing manufacturing cost. The absorbent article is wrapped by a package sheet having side edge portions and end edges, and one end edge is overlapped over the other end edge. The package sheet is sealed along the side edge portions, a base end of a tape is fixed on the surface of the package sheet located outside in an overlapping portion, and a free end of the tape extends across one end edge and is releasably adhered on the outer surface of the package sheet adjacent one end edge. The package sheet has a surface, on which the base end of the tape is fixed, the surface being smoothed by a smoothing process.
US07908818B2
Methods of manufacturing acoustical sound proofing materials with optimized fracture characteristics
Laminated structures for use in building construction are fabricated by a manufacturing process such that the laminating steps to not require elevated drying temperatures or an extended dwell time at any point. The process employs stock materials that simultaneously reduce cost and improve performance. This is accomplished using a specially formulated viscoelastic glue and ambient temperature drying apparatus. As a result, the production capacity of the manufacturing facility, cost of goods, and delivered performance are greatly improved over existing methods.
US07908816B2
Disclosed is a device for connecting and locking building boards comprising a top face (10) and a bottom face (11), especially floor panels (1, 2) that are provided with a core made of a wood material as well as a groove (3, 4; 5, 6; 18, 19) on two opposite lateral edges (I, II). Said building boards further comprise an insert (7; 8; 9) that is used for locking and can be inserted into the groove (3 or 4; 5, 6; 18, or 19) of one of the lateral edges (I, II). The boards (1, 2) are connected by displacing the boards in an essentially horizontal direction (Q) towards each other. The inventive device is characterized in that the insert (7; 8; 9; 17) is provided with at least one springy lip (7a, 8a; 9a; 17a) which extends towards the top face (10) or the bottom face (11).
US07908810B2
The present invention relates to a sound rated floor system for inhibiting sound transmission between floors. The system includes a corrugated steel deck; a first layer of cementitious material or board or sheet applied over the corrugated steel deck; a sound insulation mat or board applied over the first layer; a second layer of cementitious material applied over the sound insulation mat or board. The floor system has an IIC rating of at least 25 and the corrugated steel deck provides at least 50 percent of the ultimate load carrying capacity under static and impact loading of the floor system with a floor deflection of at most 1/360 of the floor span.
US07908797B2
A gutter cover comprising a sheet having a front portion, a rear portion, and a central portion extending between said front portion and said rear portion; said central portion having a plurality of openings for passage of water therethrough, said front portion comprising an upper wall segment, a bend segment, and a lower wall segment, wherein said upper wall segment extends forwardly from said central portion to said bend segment, said bend segment joins said upper wall segment and said lower wall segment, and said lower wall segment extends rearwardly from said bend segment and underneath said upper wall segment, wherein a space is formed between said upper wall segment and said lower wall segment, wherein a first fastener extends through openings in said upper wall segment and said lower wall segment, and wherein a distance between an upper surface of said upper wall segment and an upper surface of said lower wall segment is greater than or equal to an axial height of a head portion of said first fastener.
US07908792B2
A lawn decoration comprising edging and a clip connected to the edging, the clip including a rope light accepting portion.
US07908778B1
The present invention comprises a system of labels located on wrapping and containers for individual food items. Each label contains an alphanumeric and/or graphic design that instantly brings to mind of restaurant personnel and to an unsophisticated customer (i.e., someone with no knowledge of the English language, children, or adults with limited education) the food item to be wrapped with the wrapping or container. In a preferred embodiment, a graphic device occupies a majority of the surface of the label, where the graphic device is a drawing or photograph of the food item to be wrapped or contained. For instance, a label for a double cheeseburger would include a picture with the food item disassembled sufficiently so that a viewer could instantly appreciate the presence of two hamburger patties and two slices of cheese with the typical bun in the presence of the wrapper in the background. In a preferred embodiment, all the labels comprise such a disassembled food product picture or drawing in the clear presence of the wrapper or box in which it is contained.
US07908773B2
A snowshoe (1) made of a frame (2) holding a deck (3) meant to hold the user's boot, the aforementioned boot being held on the deck by a binding, characterized in that the snowshoe includes a transverse retaining element (4) extending transversely at the front of the user's foot, the aforesaid transverse element (4) being held by its lateral ends to the frame (2), while the aforementioned transverse element (4) is made of the combination of an upper transverse element (4a) and a lower transverse element (4b) so that the frame (2) is sandwiched between the ends of the respective transverse elements (4a, 4b).
US07908770B2
Apparatus and methods secure an open-backed shoe during use. The apparatus prevents the bottom of a pant leg from slipping between a person's heel and a shoe bed of the shoe when walking. The apparatus is external to the shoe and comprises an anklet, which is worn around the ankle and adjustable to the size of an individual's ankle. The anklet is coupled to a heel strap that couples to a heel loop, which attaches to a heel of the shoe.
US07908761B2
A method and system for installing shakes on a building comprising a ledger board and a shake jig for assisting with installation of shakes. The shake jig comprising a base member supporting an adjustable member with a releasably fastener facilitating releaseable retention of the adjustable member in a desired relative position with respect to the base member. The base member has a shake shelf for abutting against a surface of a shake to prevent further insertion of the base member, between an installed topmost shake and an at least partially overlapped shake, and facilitate desired alignment of the shake jig with respect to the installed topmost shake. The adjustable member has a ledger shelf for engaging with the ledger board and retaining the ledger board in a desired horizontal orientation with respect to the shake shelf and assisting with installation of shakes.
US07908758B2
The invention concerns a profile measuring fixture for the measuring of the profile of a surface of a narrow body, especially the profile of the surface of the wall of a tube end with a holding fixture (8) for the body (7) and at least a first measuring arm (4) with at least a moveable measuring arm (4), the probe head (9) scans the surface during the measurement and one of the first relative movements between at least the first probe head (9) and the at least first measuring arm (4). At least one probe head sensor (26) is provided during the measurement of the relative position between at least the first measuring arm (4) and the surface in a one dimensional travel direction (L), which changes travel fixture (2,3) whereby the first relative movement direction (S1) is provided inclined to the travel direction (L).
US07908757B2
A coordinate measurement device comprises an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of jointed arm segments therebetween. Each arm segment defines at least one axis of rotation. A laser scanner assembly is coupled to the second end of the arm and is rotatable about a last axis of rotation of the articulated arm. The laser scanner assembly comprises a laser and an image sensor. The laser is positioned on an opposite side of the last axis of rotation from the image sensor.
US07908750B2
The system and method for decorating cakes and confections includes an adjustable stand for a laser, which is used to project cake decorating guidelines. The stand includes a base member and a removable vertical rod member that extends from the base. A generally horizontal rod may be attached to the vertical rod by an adjustable clamp or other device, so that it may be secured to the vertical rod at any point, so that the height of the horizontal rod above the base may be adjusted to any desired position. Further, the clamp for the horizontal rod may pivot, so that the horizontal rod may be rotated angularly from the vertical rod upwardly or downwardly, as desired. A laser line generator includes a clamp member, or similar device, so that the laser may be positioned along either the vertical rod or the horizontal rod in any desired position.
US07908740B2
A method and apparatus for assembling bearings and a stub into a bore of a hub. The apparatus includes a block defining a receiving position for the hub. A feed mechanism arranges plurality of bearings in the form of an annular array. A first mandrel is axially displaceable toward one side of the hub to push the annular array of bearings into the bore of the hub. A second mandrel is axially displaceable toward an opposite side of the hub to push a stub within the annular array of bearings in the bore of the hub. The stub includes at least one outwardly biased detent for retaining the bearings in the hub.
US07908714B2
In an apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, especially a flat card, roller card or the like, for the purpose of monitoring, a clothed, rapidly rotating roller lies opposite to at least one clothed and/or non-clothed component, and the spacing a between the components lying opposite to one another is changeable. To avoid contact between the components lying opposite to one another in a simple manner, in order to monitor the spacing, there is located opposite to the clothing of the roller, spaced therefrom, a sensor that is arranged to respond in the event of contact between clothing and sensor.
US07908706B2
A vacuum cleaner dirt container having a chamber with an upper opening, and a removable filter element. The filter element has an upper portion with an opening and a peripheral edge that engages an upper edge of the chamber. A filter portion extends from the upper portion, and a handle extends across the opening. The filter portion extends into the chamber when the filter element is mounted thereto. Also provided is an upright vacuum cleaner with a base unit, body unit , and dirt chamber removably mounted to the body unit. A combined filter and lid is mounted to the dirt chamber, and includes a filter member, and a mounting ring extending from the filter member to a sidewall of the dirt chamber to hold the filtration device at a fixed location away from the chamber sidewall. Also provided is a cyclone lid having an annular wall, filter, and handle.
US07908705B2
The invention relates to a bare floor cleaner capable of wet pickup through a first nozzle opening with the aid of a squeegee, wet scrubbing with an agitator, and dry pickup through a second nozzle opening. The bare floor cleaner comprises a dual-path nozzle assembly having a wet suction path in communication with the first nozzle opening and a dry suction path in communication with the second nozzle opening. A diverter valve selectively controls fluid communication between a suction source and one of the first and second nozzle openings for conversion between wet and dry modes. The bare floor cleaner further comprises a single actuator that controls the positions of the agitator and of the diverter valve. As a result, the cleaning mode of the bare floor cleaner can be controlled with a single switch that is preferably located on the handle assembly for convenient access by a user.
US07908699B2
An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a tissue cleanser. The tissue cleanser may be a pad composed of an elastomeric material. The pad is disposed on the head on a surface opposite the tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of nubs extending for cleaning between the papillae of the tongue. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of conically shaped nubs. A tissue cleanser can be used to reduce oral malodor problems and remove oral epithelial cells.
US07908696B2
A swimming pool cleaning assembly that has at least one ultrasonic generator, a swimming pool cleaning machine including a support frame, a housing shell provided with a bottom wall and arranged around the support frame, a driver located in the housing shell, advancer supported by the frame and arranged to be place, in use, on a surface to be cleaned of a swimming pool and driven, at least one water suction opening provided in the bottom surface of the housing shell, which is designed to be put in fluid communication with water suction, driver being tightly sealed in the housing shell and electrically connectable to the supply, the ultrasonic generator being arranged at the bottom wall facing, in use, the surface to be cleaned.
US07908694B1
A sealed mattress cover assembly (100) is fabricated having a plurality of seal assemblies (110) disposed upon a mattress cover (102). The mattress cover (102) is formed having a top sheet (103) a bottom sheet (104) and a side sheet (105) extending between the two. An opening (closed via a cover closure (106)) is incorporated within the mattress cover (102) allowing the cover to be placed over the mattress. The seal assemblies (110) are formed having an outer frame (112), an inner frame (120) and a seal membrane (114) sandwiched between the two frame members. A seal aperture (116) is formed in the center of the seal membrane (114). Functionality interfacing conduits (108) are placed through the seal aperture (116), allowing the seal membrane (114) to form a seal about the exterior of the conduits (108).
US07908693B2
A mattress innerspring having coil-in-coil springs arranged in an array. Each coil-in-coil spring an outside helical coil and an inside helical coil, wherein the outside helical coil has a greater height and diameter than the inside helical coil, each coil having a dual spring rate between that of the outside helical coil and the combined spring rates of the outside and inside helical coils. The coil-in-coil springs may be pocketed or unpocketed in a mattress innerspring.
US07908686B2
A changing table for use with a playard includes a platform that is sized to support a child and at least one changing table mount arranged relative to the platform to releasably engage the platform to the playard. The changing table mount includes a release actuator. When the changing table is engaged with the playard, the changing table is configured to remain engaged with the playard when a force of less than or equal to 25 pounds is applied to a location on the changing table other than the release actuator.
US07908685B2
A water trap for sanitary appliances of the kind having an inlet (5) and an outlet (12) and including a housing (1) with an upper portion (4) provided with the inlet opening (5) adapted to receive the outlet pipe (6) of the sanitary appliance, a central portion (3) adapted to be connected to the upper portion (4), provided with a cylindrical passing through space (10), the outlet opening (12) connected to an evacuation pipe (13) situated in a lower extension of the central portion (3) and a valve housing (11), situated in the upper part, incorporating an air admittance valve (8) located above the outlet opening (12) and leaving between its lower part and the upper surface of the outlet opening (12) an air admittance area (17); a lower portion (2) connected to the central portion (3) and in which the main part of the water trap or seal is formed by use of a separation wall (20) extending from the central portion (3) into the lower portion (2).
US07908684B2
A bathing system with a molded shell has hollows in the shell. A canister installed in each hollow with jets mounted upon the front jet plate of the canister. The canister is of simple construction that is mounted in a hollow and is removable and interchangeable for easy upgrading and repair of the bathing system.
US07908683B1
A bath accessory collection, holder, and storage device includes a base, and a scoop, removably couplable to the base, having a drain for draining liquid therefrom. A handle is attached to the scoop, which is used to wield the scoop. A hanger is carried by one of the base and the scoop, which is used to suspend at least one bath accessory thereon. In another embodiment, there is a clamp carried by one of the base and the scoop, which is capable of grippingly holding at least one bath accessory. The base is furnished with a shelf for receiving and supporting bath accessories thereon. An engagement element is carried by one of the base and the scoop, and a detachably engagable complemental engagement element carried by the other of the base and the scoop. Preferably, the device presents the appearance of an object or thing designed to promote interest in the device by children and for encouraging use of the device when the scoop is attached to the base.
US07908674B2
The present invention provides body-shaping apparel designed to lift and support the lower portion of a person's buttocks relative to the top of the person's thighs that include a pair of loop straps that are dimensioned to encircle and engage the top of a person's thigh at the juncture of the thigh and buttock and to lift and support a buttock upwardly relative to the top of the person's thigh.
US07908672B2
A glove includes a glove body including opposing dorsal and palmar side panels, opposing proximal and distal ends, a wrist portion formed in the proximal end, and finger stalls formed in the distal end. An elongate strap has an inner end secured to the wrist portion of the glove body and an opposed free outer end, and a plurality of weight-receiving pockets formed in the elongate strap between the inner end of the elongate strap and the outer end of the elongate strap. Corresponding engagement and complemental engagement elements are carried by the elongate strap. The elongate strap is movable between a first position extending away from the wrist portion and a second position wrapped about the wrist portion engaging the engagement element to the complemental engagement element securing the elongate strap in the second position.
US07913314B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for controlling capabilities of a user software application. A user software application is provided, the user software application including a set of disabled operations. Content capable of being operated on by one or more of the disabled operations in the set of disabled operations is received. Application rights information operable to enable an operation in the set of disabled operations to operate on content within a context specified in the application rights information are received and the operation in the set of disabled operations is enabled to operate on the received content. Methods and apparatus for providing content to be operated on by a user software application and methods and apparatus for providing a configurable, context-dependent user software application are also described.
US07913313B2
A method and system for embedding into a text document generated by a licensed software a License Identification Signature of the software.
US07913302B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide solutions (including inter alia, systems, methods and software) for dealing with online fraud. In particular, various embodiments of the invention provide advanced responses to an identified instance of online fraud. Such advanced responses can incorporate one or more of a variety of strategies for defeating an attempt by a server to filter and/or otherwise avoid responses to its fraudulent activity. Merely by way of example, in accordance with some embodiments, one or more HTTP responses to a server's request (such as an online form, etc.) may be submitted and/or transmitted for reception by the server. In some cases, each of the submitted responses may appear to comprise valid information responsive to the server's request. In other cases, one or more countermeasures may be implemented to defeat an attempt by a phisher (or any other operator of an illegitimate server) to filter responses.
US07913296B2
An encrypted communication system according to the present invention comprises an authentication server in which a user password and an encryption key of a server were registered, a client involved in utilization by a user, and a server providing a service. According to the encrypted communication system, shared credentials for the client and the server to conduct encrypted communication are generated separately by the authentication server and the client based on mutually shared information, a ticket is generated in which the credentials that were generated by the authentication server are encrypted with the encryption key by the authentication server, and the client encrypts information to be sent using the credentials generated by the client and attaches the ticket that was acquired from the authentication server to the encrypted information to send the encrypted information and the ticket to the server.
US07913286B2
An ITV application definition language (ADL) used to generate ITV applications for different types of target platforms and devices. The ADL provides a plurality of core data structure types upon which one or more data structures may be built. Data structures storing ITV content presentation and behavior information are referred to as resources. A resource is associated with a globally unique identifier that allows the data structure to be efficiently stored and retrieved from a hash table. A resource is also associated with an expiration time stamp that indicates when the resource is to be freed from memory. A resource is of arbitrary length, and contains values that differ from the default values stored at a receiving client device. Resources are also packaged into a module that may be catered to a platform and/or profile of a receiving client. The client may quickly determine whether the module is relevant to it by examining the platform and/or profile ID contained in a header of the module.
US07913278B2
An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions.
US07913273B2
A system and method for purchasing broadcast audio and/or video (audio/video) works. According to one embodiment, the system includes a data stream processor that receives a broadcast audio/video data stream and produces from the broadcast audio/video data stream a first audio/video output data stream and a second audio/video output data stream, wherein the broadcast audio/video data stream contains information corresponding to an audio/video work and the first audio/video output stream is in a format that can be recognized and processed by conventional audio/video reproducing equipment; a storage device that stores data included in the second audio/video output data stream, wherein the data corresponds to the audio/video work; and a user interface that enables a user of the system to input to the system an indication that the user desires to purchase the audio/video work.
US07913271B2
A broadcast program processing apparatus that enables a user to acquire evaluation data provided by others who have already watched a broadcast program when the user intends to play back the recorded broadcast program. A broadcast program receiving apparatus records the broadcast program. Before playing back the broadcast program, the broadcast program receiving apparatus acquires the evaluation data concerning the broadcast program provided by others using a cell phone unit. The acquired evaluation data is outputted in connection with the recorded broadcast program. The user can determine whether he or she wants to watch the broadcast program with reference to the evaluations made by others.
US07913260B2
A data processing apparatus is constructed by an input device for inputting an instruction for causing a job processor to perform a job, an analyzing unit for analyzing the instruction inputted by the input device, a discriminating unit for discriminating a processing ability of the job processor which performs the job based on the instruction inputted by the input device, and a controller for controlling a supply of the instruction inputted by the input device to the job processor in accordance with a result of the analysis by the analyzing unit and a result of the discrimination by the discriminating unit. The job processor performs a job to transmit input data to another apparatus, and the input device inputs an instruction including a designation of destinations to transmit data by the job processor.
US07913246B2
A system and method of provided for automatically update a system's software. In one example, the software is updated without requiring user intervention. Further, a system is provided that is capable of performing a software update on a non-PC system, such as a networking device, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or other system. In another example, a system and method is provided for updating multiple components of a system by a proxy system responsible for downloading and applying updates.
US07913244B2
SOAP requests can contain version related information. The version related information of the SOAP request can be checked and based on the version related information, the SOAP request can be sent to an old or new version of the web service.
US07913232B2
A method of collecting information includes retrieving a criterion for certifying software for use on a safety-critical system, receiving user input information associated to the criterion, determining if the input information satisfies criterion for certifying the software for use on the safety-critical system, and providing output information to the user where the output information is identifying if the criterion is satisfied.
US07913230B2
A computer-implemented method for generating and managing test documentation for a software product may include steps of generating a test template; generating at least one test scenario for each of a plurality of functional areas, each test scenario being configured to test a business flow that mimics how an end user would use the software product; associating the generated test scenario(s) with the generated test template; generating at least one test case that includes a plurality of test steps; associating the generated test case(s) with the generated test template; copying the test template to generate test results, the generated test results being independent of the generated test template, and carrying out a test cycle by executing the test scenario(s) and the test case(s) associated with the generated test results of the generated test template and storing the results of the executed test scenario(s) and the executed test case(s) in a database.
US07913229B2
A method for testing software includes the steps of creating a software program using a software development program executing on a first computer; the first computer generating a source code file from the software program for testing; receiving the source code file by a second computer, the second computer executing a test generation program that is independent of the software development program; and executing the test generation program to generate a test file from the source code file.
US07913228B2
A software documentation system is provided. This includes a selection component that detects a project component within a context of a current language. A translation viewer displays alternative language documentation associated with the detected project component, where the translation viewer can be associated with an editor that is linked to the context of the current language. Other aspects include providing components to switch from a current language to an alternative language within the software documentation or development system.
US07913227B2
Techniques for managing a plurality of configuration items in an information repository are provided. Lifecycle state transitions of the plurality of configuration items are regulated in accordance with one or more lifecycle state transition diagrams and, when a life cycle state transition involves a protected life cycle state, one or more request for change identifiers.
US07913225B2
Use of declarative constraints in an error validation framework of a graphical modeling tool. The declarative constraints define one or more rules that objects of a graphical model should adhere to. When enforced against the graphical model, objects that do not conform to the rules may be identified. A declarative relationship between the non-conforming object and its visual representation in a graphical diagram may be used to allow for visually identifying the visual representation in the graphical diagram.
US07913222B2
Methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for automatically generating hardware description language code from a model. The hardware description language code may be generated from a graphical program/model, such as a block diagram model. The hardware description language code may also be generated from a text-based program/model, such as a model created using MATLAB® tools. In particular, the present invention provides for the automatic code generation of an interface between components in the model. The present invention may provide options for selecting at least one of multiple types or styles of the component interfaces in the model. The selection of the interface types or styles may be controlled by the user or inferred by other parameters, such as implementation parameters.
US07913215B2
A memory macro includes a first set of cells disposed in a first area of a memory array, and a second set of cells, which differ from the first set of cells in physical dimensions, disposed at an edge of the first area for improving robustness of the cells at the edge of the memory array.
US07913212B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a shielded wire line and a shielding wire line provided for the shielded wire line and divided into a plurality of segments in a longitudinal direction of the shielded wire line.
US07913210B2
A method is provided that includes: determining a minimum clock cycle that can be used to propagate a signal about the critical cycle in a circuit design; wherein the critical cycle is a cycle in the design that has a highest proportionality of delay to number of registers; determining for a circuit element in the circuit design, sequential slack associated with the circuit element; wherein the sequential slack represents a minimum delay from among respective maximum delays that can be added to respective structural cycles of which the circuit element is a constituent, based upon the determined limit upon clock cycle duration; using the sequential slack to ascertain sequential optimization based design flexibility throughout multiple stages of a design flow.
US07913208B2
Methods and systems are provided for determining redundancies in a system model such as a complex circuit design including gates that are state components. A candidate redundant gate is selected, and a merged model is built that eliminates the candidate redundant gate. If the candidate redundant gate is within the merged constraint cone the pre-merge model is used to validate redundancy of the candidate redundant gate. However, if the candidate redundant gate is not within the merged constraint cone the merged model is instead used to validate redundancy of the candidate redundant gate.
US07913200B2
A precharacterized cell library for EDA tools includes driver model data includes output current signals indexed by output voltages. The driver model can then generate a model output by interpolating the output current signals using the output voltage to generate an output current. The output current can then be used to generate an updated output voltage across a predetermined time increment. The output current signals can then be interpolated using the updated output voltage to generate a new output current, when can be used to update the output voltage once again across the next time increment. By repeating this process across a time frame for the model output signal, a model output current and output voltage signals can be generated that match the actual output current and voltage signals from a driver in a multi-driver system.
US07913199B2
A design structure for a Duty Cycle Correction (DCC) circuit is provide in which pairs of field effect transistors (FETs) in known DCC circuit topologies are replaced with linear resistors coupled to switches of the DCC circuit such that when the switch is open, the input signal is routed through the linear resistors. The linear resistors are more tolerant of process, voltage and temperature (PVT) fluctuations than FETs and thus, the resulting DCC circuit provides a relatively smaller change in DCC correction range with PVT fluctuations than the known DCC circuit topology that employs FETs. The linear resistors may be provided in parallel with the switches and in series with a pair of FETs having relatively large resistance values. The linear resistors provide resistance that pulls-up or pulls-down the pulse width of the input signal so as to provide correction to the duty cycle of the input signal.
US07913194B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed including receiving a netlist of an integrated circuit design; executing a first copy of an integrated circuit design program with a first processor associated with a first memory space to independently perform work on a first portion of the integrated circuit design; and executing a second copy of the integrated circuit design program with a second processor associated with a second memory space to independently perform work on a second portion of the integrated circuit design; wherein the second memory space is independent of the first memory space.
US07913189B2
There are provided an image processing apparatus, an image generating apparatus, and an image processing method, capable of automating assignment of keys to functions and registration of macros provided by the image generating apparatus and presenting an index such as a shortcut key associated with one of the registered functions to a user at the timing when the user uses that function. To achieve this, first an operation command issued by a user through a control panel 1000 is received and history information about the operation command is stored in a storage device 900. A controller unit 200 detects history information about an operation command received through the control panel 1000 from among the history information, creates and registers a shortcut key for performing a operation command received through the control panel 1000 on the basis of the result of the detection, and presents the shortcut key to the user at a predetermined timing.
US07913180B2
A zone control panel that is easy and intuitive to use and to program. In some embodiments, a zone control panel may be configured to have an easy to use, single level menu structure with, for example, a configuration mode and/or a checkout mode. The configuration mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. Likewise, the checkout mode may, if present, include a number of menu screens sometimes without any sub-menu levels. A mode selector may be provided to select a particular mode, after which, the menu screens that correspond to the selected mode may be sequentially displayed to the user. Other features and aspects are also disclosed.
US07913176B1
Senders of instant messages may inspire perception by a recipient of avatars capable of being animated in order to customize or personalize communication exchanges from the sender. The avatar, an animation of or associated with the avatar, an object associated with the avatar, or another component of the avatar or communication may be inappropriate, or otherwise objectionable, to the recipient, the recipient class or category, or an identity associated with the recipient. In one example, a parent of a minor who is the intended recipient of an avatar (or a component of the avatar or communication) may object to the minor being exposed to the avatar (or the component of the avatar or communication). In such a case, the communication may be discarded or the perception of the objectionable avatar (or component associated with the avatar or the communication) by the intended recipient may be disabled, replaced or modified.
US07913162B2
A method and system for collaborative annotation by team members of a master document using a digital pen system is described. At least one hardcopy printout of the master document is printed on digital paper used with a digital pen system. Using the digital pen, annotations are made to the hardcopy representation. The user may then select which of the annotations may be shared with each of the particular team members. In another example, the user may select annotations for promotion onto an action item cover sheet.
US07913155B2
A synchronization system and method. Text data is received by a computing device. The text data is associated with audio/video data. The audio/video data is generated during a related performance. The audio/video data and the text data are discrete data. The text data is synchronized to correspond with the audio/video data during the performance. The synchronized text data is displayed by the computing device during the performance.
US07913154B2
A method and apparatus for the implementation of reduced state sequence estimation is disclosed, with an increased throughput using precomputation (look-ahead), with only a linear increase in hardware complexity with respect to the look-ahead depth. The present invention limits the increase in hardware complexity by taking advantage of past decisions (or survivor symbols). The critical path of a conventional RSSE implementation is broken up into at least two smaller critical paths using pipeline registers. Various reduced state sequence estimation implementations are disclosed that employ one-step or multiple-step look-ahead techniques to process a signal received from a dispersive channel having a channel memory.
US07913147B2
Method and apparatus to scrub memory is disclosed. A patrol request, for example a read/write request, may be raised to the memory command scheduler in an out of order memory controller to scrub the memory. The patrol read/write request may be raised as and when patrol interval timer expires. The patrol read/write request may also be raised based on presence of a transaction in-flight to the memory, retry response from the memory command scheduler and correctable or non-correctable error response from the memory command scheduler. An interrupt may be raised to a processor upon completion response from the memory command scheduler.
US07913136B2
The present invention relates to a method for performing a logic built-in self-test (LBIST) on an electronic circuit with a plurality of logic circuits (18, 20, 22, 24) and storage elements (14, 16) connected serially to a number of LBIST stumps (10, 12) between a pseudo-random-pattern generator (26) and a multiple-input-signature register (28), wherein at least one constrained logic circuit (18) requires constrained values as input signals. Said method comprises the following steps: scanning the LBIST stumps (10, 12) with the pseudo-random-pattern generator (26), deactivating the multiple-input-signature register (28), performing a functional update in order to propagate legal values into those storage elements (16), which require constrained values, activating or resetting (51) the multiple-input-signature register (28), and setting or programming a start value in a counter (42) for activating a loop back circuit (34) in order to avoid an overwriting of the well-constrained values in the storage elements (16).
US07913126B2
Provided is a semiconductor memory device in which it is possible to conduct a parallel test by comparison with an expected value after replacement with a redundant cell. The memory device includes a logic circuit for outputting an activated redundant hit signal when at least one determination circuit of determination circuits corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of redundant addresses is activated; a logic circuit for outputting an activated signal when all outputs of the circuits are inactive; and a selector for outputting a test-result mask signal when a redundant area is tested, and outputting the output of the logic circuit when a normal area is tested. The test result is forcibly passed when a memory array is tested and when a redundant address is accessed.
US07913125B2
A BISR mode and associated method for testing memory. All redundant elements of the memory including the ones which are not used are tested, and interaction between redundant elements of the memory and adjacent functional memory are checked. Repair information is used to repair the memory. In addition, redundant elements which are not needed to be used for repairing the memory are forced to be used, such as by faking defects to remap good elements with redundant elements.
US07913122B2
A memory hub includes an on-board diagnostic engine through which diagnostic testing and evaluation of the memory system can be performed. The memory hub includes a link interface for receiving memory requests for access to memory devices of the memory system and a memory device interface coupled to the memory devices for coupling memory requests to the memory devices. A memory hub diagnostic engine is coupled through a switch to the link interface and the memory device interface to perform diagnostic testing of the memory system. The diagnostic engine includes a maintenance port that provides access to results of the diagnostic testing and through which diagnostic testing commands can be received.
US07913120B2
A data processing system 2 has a memory 6 with a memory address space incorporating a plurality of domains, each domain comprising a set of memory addresses as defined by programmable domain specifying data 32. A processor core 8 executes program instructions fetched from the memory 6. Diagnostic control circuitry 20 is responsive to the domain in which a currently executing program instruction is stored to selectively disable diagnostic circuitry 14, 16, 18 used to perform diagnostic functions upon the data processing system 2. The diagnostic control circuitry 20 is responsive to diagnostic-capability-defining data 36 associated with the domains to indicate which diagnostic circuitry 14, 16, 18 is enabled for which domains.
US07913115B1
A core file that may be generated when a data storage system encounters a problem can be automatically and securely sent to a remote (e.g., offsite) support enterprise. Moreover, given the size of such files and the additional requirements associated with sending such files securely, the transmission of the core file may be monitored such that, if a problem occurs during the transmission, the pieces of the file that have been successfully transmitted are not resent, but merely those pieces that still need to be (successfully) transmitted. In this manner, the time and resources required to securely transmit such large files are more efficiently utilized.
US07913113B2
A processing device may automatically provide protective services and may provide backup services for backing up and restoring user files, system files, configuration files, as well as other information. The processing device may be configured to check one or more performance conditions and perform an action to improve performance based on the one or more performance conditions. The processing device may monitor configuration and file changes and provide a user with a capability to persist or discard configuration changes and/or file changes made by an application during a session. The processing device may include a recovery button or switch, which when selected or pressed may cause the processing device to be restored to an operational state. The processing device may automatically detect instabilities and may automatically attempt to repair possible causes of the instabilities. The processing device may also include an additional chipset, which may perform backup and recovery services.
US07913111B2
In a write-once media, by using a selected area such as an area starting from a postscript-recording point in the main data area as an alternate area, by determining whether or not an address specified in a request such as a write request is an address at which data has been recorded on the basis of information on a sequential recording range and by recording pieces of alternate-address management information for replacing defective locations on the media and for renewing data recorded on the media in a table by letting the pieces of information coexist in the table, defective locations on the media can be replaced with other locations and data already recorded on the media can thus be renewed even without providing pre-allocated alternate area on the media. In addition, if the media is provided with an alternate area and the alternate area becomes insufficient for alternate-address processing, a selected region in the main data area can be used as a region supplementary to the insufficient alternate area. An example of the region is an area starting from a postscript-recording point mentioned above.
US07913094B2
In an information reproducing apparatus having an open architecture, a secure module stores first information, and has a structure which does not allow access to the first information from outside, and a memory has a structure which can be accessed from outside. A decryption unit loaded in the memory decrypts an encryption applied to the first information by using a predetermined key. A key supply unit implemented in the secure module supplies the predetermined key to the decryption unit. An authentication unit implemented in the secure module supplies second information to the decryption unit, refers to third information returned in response to the second information, and checks for authenticity of the decryption unit. A key-supply stop unit implemented in the secure module stops supply of the predetermined key by the key supply unit when the authentication unit does not authenticate the decryption unit.
US07913093B2
A method and system for providing access to information on an article to which a tag is coupled. A local server reads the tag containing a virtual ID that includes an encryption of a bit string. The bit string includes an article ID containing a manufacturer ID. The local server is coupled to an ONS server, an ONS proxy server, and a PML server via a network. The local server sends to the ONS proxy server an ONS service request that includes the virtual ID and requests a network address of the PML server. The local server receives, from the ONS server, the network address of the PML server. The local server sends to the PML server, at the network address of the PML server, a PML information request that includes the virtual ID and requests article information. The local server receives, from the PML server, the article information.
US07913090B2
An authentication system and method thereof are provided. A threshold value determination unit determines a threshold value Xth so that a Mahalanobis distance defined by a mean value μt of a true profile and a standard deviation σt and the Mahalanobis distance defined by a mean value μo of the other profile and a standard deviation σo coincide.
US07913086B2
The invention relates to a method for remote attestation. In the method is created a first asymmetric key pair in a trusted platform module in an electronic device. A first public key and software platform state information are certified with an attestation identity key associated with the trusted platform module to produce a first certificate. A second asymmetric key pair is produced in an application within the electronic device. The second public key is certified with said first secret key to produce a second certificate. A message is signed with the second secret key to provide a message signature in the first electronic device. The message and the message signature, software platform state information, the first certificate and the second certificate are sent to a second electronic device.
US07913082B2
A method for authenticating address ownership using a Care-of Address (CoA) binding protocol, the method includes a comparison of two hash-function-processed result values, i.e., a first hash-function-processed result value transmitted from a home agent, the first hash-function-processed result value encrypted by a public key of a correspondent node and decrypted by a secret key of the correspondent node, and a second hash-function-processed result value piggybacked in a binding update message transmitted from a mobile node. The hash-function-processed result values are obtained by applying hash functions to a care-of address of a mobile node to be used in a foreign link, a random number generated by a home agent and a secret key shared by the home agent and the mobile node.
US07913076B2
A configuration of a media drive apparatus is stored as a plurality of configuration settings in a non volatile memory of a media drive apparatus. A removable storage medium is identified as a reconfiguration medium, and data is read from the removable storage medium, where the data includes an identifier of one configuration setting of the plurality of configuration settings and a value for the one configuration setting. The one configuration setting is updated with the value read from the removable storage medium.
US07913066B2
A programmable “early exit” of an iterative refinement algorithm is implemented by effectively disabling read after write dependency stalls of newer instructions, as well as disabling the register write enable of these instructions, for the remainder of the algorithm, in addition to disabling the register write enable of these instructions. In addition, programmable logic is provided to enable a custom early exit condition to be specified for the iterative refinement algorithm so that the underlying hardware can be configured for optimal execution of particular iterative refinement algorithms. By doing so, the latency of the algorithm is reduced and the performance is increased without the complexity and potential poor performance of compare and branch instructions that might otherwise be required.
US07913063B1
A first performance indicator associated with a first agent is received from a workforce management system. A second performance indicator associated with a second agent is also received from the workforce management system. The first agent and the second agent are ranked in a queue of available agents based upon at least the first performance indicator and the second performance indicator. This produces a first queue rank associated with the first agent. An incoming call directed to the queue of available agents is received. An agent to service the incoming call is selected from the queue of available agents based upon the first queue rank.
US07913047B2
There is provided a method for optimizing a data backup. The method comprising determining a backup project size, the backup project size identifying the quantity of data to be backed up; detecting available recording devices for transferring the data backup to storage media; receiving an input corresponding to at least one user specified optimization variable, wherein the at least one user specified optimization variable comprises an upper limit on the length of each of the calculated plurality of data streams; utilizing the at least one user specified optimization variable to calculate a plurality of data streams for performing the data backup; and assigning subsets of the plurality of data streams to the available recording devices to optimize the data backup.
US07913040B2
A processor cache is indexed by a group of distinct page colors. The use of this cache by different working sets is controlled using page coloring. Translations of virtual addresses of the instructions and/or data of a working set are constrained to physical addresses the page colors of which are in a subgroup of the group of distinct page colors.
US07913038B2
A data storage apparatus and associated method is provided wherein a software system is resident in a memory space and is configured to encode data retrieved from a first number of logical units into a single channel in order to store the data in a second number of logical units.
US07913029B2
According to one embodiment, an information recording apparatus has a control unit configured to control mutual transfer of information between each of a disc-shaped recording medium, a cache memory, and a non-volatile memory and the outside, control mutual transfer of information between the disc-shaped recording medium, the cache memory, and the non-volatile memory, and control to set a substituting region corresponding to a defect region generated in the disc-shaped recording medium in the non-volatile memory.
US07913027B2
A configurable storage array controller can be configured to either a single-processor configuration or a multi-processor configuration by configuring a data bus switch system.
US07913026B2
Provided is a data transfer apparatus having a system bus interface 20 connected to an MC 51, a high-speed I/O bus interface connected to a high-speed I/O bus switch 54, a history selection controller 10 that selects part of transmission/reception data transferred between the MC 51 and high-speed I/O bus switch 54, a buffer section 11 that is connected to the history selection controller 10 and retains the part of the transmission/reception data selected by the history selection controller 10, and a low-speed bus interface that outputs the part of the transmission/reception data retained by the buffer section 11 to an observation apparatus 200.
US07913024B2
Mechanisms for differentiating traffic types in a multi-root PCI Express environment are provided. The mechanisms generate a first mapping data structure that, for each single-root virtual hierarchy in the multi-root data processing system, associates a plurality of traffic classes with a plurality of priority groups and maps each traffic class in the plurality of traffic classes to a corresponding virtual channel in a plurality of virtual channels. Moreover, a second mapping data structure is generated that maps each virtual channel in the plurality of virtual channels to corresponding virtual link in a plurality of virtual links of the multi-root data processing system. Traffic of a particular priority group is routed from a single-root virtual hierarchy to a particular virtual link in the plurality of the virtual links based on the first mapping data structure and second mapping data structure.
US07913021B2
A processing system is disclosed with a sending component and a receiving component connected by a bus. The bus may be configured with first and second channels. The sending component may be configured to broadcast on the first channel read and write address information, read and write control signals, and write data. The sending component may also be configured to signal the receiving component such that the receiving component can distinguish between the read and write address information, the read and write control signals, and the write data broadcast on the first channel. The receiving component may be configured to store the write data broadcast on the first channel based on the write address information and the write control signals, retrieve read data based on the read address information and the read control signals, and broadcast the retrieved read data on the second channel.
US07913019B2
In a server composed of a server module having a processor in it, an I/O module having an I/O extension slot for accommodating an I/O extension adapter to expand the server's I/O capability, and a management module managing the entire server, the server module and the I/O extension slot (and through it, ultimately the I/O extension adapter) are interconnected using a PCI Express interface and the I/O module and the management module are interconnected using a special interface carrying detection information indicating whether an I/O extension adapter is actually mounted on the I/O extension slot. In the event of a link failure on the PCI Express interface, link recovery is attempted by grasping the status of the link based on the detection information obtained through the special interface.
US07913016B2
A method of determining request transmission priority subject to request source and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework in which the communication device determines whether the received requests have the priority subject to the respective source and also determines whether there is any logical operation condition established, and then the communication device transmits the received external requests to the connected slave device as an ordinary request or priority request, preventing the slave device from receiving an important external request sent by the main control end or manager at a late time.
US07913014B2
The present invention relates to a data processing system is provided which comprises at least one first processing unit (CPU), at least one second processing unit (PU), at least one memory module (MEM), and an interconnect. The memory module (MEM) serves to store data from said at least one first and second processing unit (CPU, PU). The interconnecting means couples the memory module (MEM) to the first and second processing units (CPU, PU). In addition, an arbitration unit (AU) is provided for performing the arbitration to the memory module (MEM) of the first and second processing units (CPU, PU). The arbitration is performed on a time window basis. A first access time during which the second processing unit (PU) has accessed the memory module and a second access time which is still required by the second processing unit (PU) to complete its processing are monitored during a predefined time window by the arbitration unit (AU). The second access time is compared to the remaining access time in the time window and if the remaining access time is larger than the second access time, the arbitration unit (AU) allows said at least one first processing unit (CPU) to access the memory module in said time window. Otherwise, the arbitration unit (AU) restricts the access of the at least one first processing units (CPU) and allows the at least one second processing unit (PU) to access the memory module (MEM).
US07913009B2
Example operations related to deferring interrupts are herein disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method includes, but is not limited to, writing a message to a memory location shared between a sender and a receiver; and requesting that an interrupt be transmitted to the receiver after a specified latency has elapsed, wherein an interrupt that is pending is stored in a trigger memory. It can be appreciated by one of skill in the art that one or more various aspects of the disclosure may include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein-referenced aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the herein-referenced aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
US07913006B2
Systems and methods for improving the performance of a multimedia processor system by dynamically evaluating the current performance of the system and, if necessary, updating the configurations of the individual processors to improve the performance of the system. One embodiment comprises a method implemented in a multiprocessor system, including evaluating the performance of each of a current set of configuration objects installed on the processors, selecting a preferred set of configuration objects, and replacing one or more of the configuration objects in the current set to conform the current set to the preferred set. The method may evaluate the performance of each configuration object according to user preferences and may select preferred configuration objects according to a selectable strategy that can, for example, favor unification or diversity in the types of preferred configuration objects.
US07913004B2
A portable data exchange device including a storage memory for storing data, a USB interface, and a device controller having a file-selection-and-transfer mechanism is disclosed. Upon coupling of the presently disclosed data exchange device with a USB flash drive (UFD), the file-selection-and-transfer mechanism is operative to automatically select for transfer a set of files residing in the data exchange device and/or the UFD, and to effect an inter-device file transfer between the data exchange device and the UFD of only the selected files. In exemplary embodiments, the data exchange device has at most a minimal user interface, no video display, and only one or two data ports. Optionally, the presently disclosed data exchange device automatically modifies names of files copied from the USB flash drive to the data exchange device in accordance with an identity of the source USB flash drive.
US07913003B2
A processing device stores fragmented files in a nonvolatile memory that are tracked in RAM as direct pointers. The initial file is stored in memory and data edits are stored in new memory locations and tracked as file offsets in the header structures associated with the memory blocks. The new reclaim/collapse algorithm collapses data into a reserved memory block using the edited file offsets.
US07913002B2
A test apparatus includes a bus switch unit capable of switching the output ports to select which of the output ports an input signal is output from, a control unit for inputting a plurality of control signals, according to a test program for testing the electronic device, to the bus switch unit and controlling which of the output ports each of the control signals is output from, a plurality of slots provided corresponding to the plurality of output ports, and a device interface capable of switching the connectors, which couple the plurality of slots and the electronic device, to select which of the connectors the slot is coupled to, wherein the device interface further includes a diagnosis decoder for sequentially supplying each of the test modules with a diagnosis signal via each of the connectors, and the control unit detects which of the test modules the diagnosis signal received via each of the connectors is supplied to and which of the connectors each of the output ports is coupled to based on a result of detecting the module.
US07913001B2
Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US07912997B1
A direct memory access engine is described. The direct memory access engine has a transmit channel coupled to a transmit interface, a receive channel coupled to a receive interface, an arbiter coupled to both the transmit channel and the receive channel, and a set of queues coupled to the arbiter. The set of queues has command buffers, transmit buffers, and receive buffers. A direct memory access-to-processor bus interface is coupled to the set of queues. The transmit buffers are for first separate read and write requests. The receive buffers are for second separate read and write requests which are independent of the first separate read and write requests.
US07912989B2
A network interface is provided, in which it has an active mode and at least one of a disconnect mode and a suspend mode, and performs a predetermined process when a release condition of the disconnect mode or the suspend mode is satisfied. The network interface includes a driving control circuit for stopping at least a part of driving clock generation circuits included in the network interface until the release condition of the disconnect mode or the suspend mode is satisfied from the time when the disconnect mode or the suspend mode is established, wherein the driving control circuit operates irrespective of a clock signal.
US07912988B2
A mechanism for offloading the management of receive queues in a split (e.g. split socket, split iSCSI, split DAFS) stack environment, including efficient queue flow control and TCP/IP retransmission support. An Upper Layer Protocol (ULP) creates receive work queues and completion queues that are utilized by an Internet Protocol Suite Offload Engine (IPSOE) and the ULP to transfer information and carry out send operations. As consumers initiate receive operations, receive work queue entries (RWQEs) are created by the ULP and written to the receive work queue (RWQ). The ISPOE is notified of a new entry to the RWQ and it subsequently reads this entry that contains pointers to the data that is to be received. After the data is received, the IPSOE creates a completion queue entry (CQE) that is written into the completion queue (CQ). After the CQE is written, the ULP subsequently processes the entry and removes it from the CQE, freeing up a space in both the RWQ and CQ. The number of entries available in the RWQ are monitored by the ULP so that it does not overwrite any valid entries. Likewise, the IPSOE monitors the number of entries available in the CQ, so as not overwrite the CQ.
US07912985B2
The invention relates to a method of processing a request coming from a first communication apparatus connected through a communication network to a remote second communication apparatus, the method comprising a step of receiving the request for obtaining digital data of a compressed digital signal that comprises header data and a signal body comprising in particular data packets, wherein the processing of the request comprises a step of determining the position, in the body of the signal, of at least one data packet corresponding to the request according, on the one hand, to the length of the header data and, on the other hand, to at least one pointer marker present in the signal and adapted to provide the length of the part of the body preceding the data packet under consideration.
US07912984B2
System and method for creating a wireless application from a web service definition language employs an algorithm that analyzes each message of the web service definition an maps the message to a wireless application message and a wireless application data structure. The message maps are used by a proxy at an edge of a wireless network to convert web service messages to wireless messages, and vice versa.
US07912981B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to premise, fire, security, or access control systems and their associated communication devices that can receive data routing commands from a security programming or monitoring center, and to a lesser extent, those devices that receive and transmit those data routing commands. The data routing command may instruct the premise communication device to route data to a specific destination address. The data routing commands may instruct the premise communication device to redirect, repeat, or send the data to multiple destinations. More specifically, the data routing command may instruct the premise communication device to route audio/video (A/V) data streams or files to a specified server, monitoring center, or other security address destination. By intelligently routing incoming data to a specific location on command, the data can be redirected to areas of greatest need. This technique enables the monitoring center to process the incoming data efficiently.
US07912980B1
Techniques are described for setting a maximum prefix limit within a network device. A network device, for example, is described that includes an exterior routing protocol module and an interior routing protocol module. The exterior routing protocol module exports network routes to the interior routing protocol module. The network device further includes a management interface to receive a command that specifies an export limit, and a control unit that prevents the exterior routing protocol module from exporting more than the export limit of the network routes to the interior routing module.
US07912969B2
A technique for use in a client, wherein the client supports a state-based signaling protocol (e.g., Session Initiation Protocol or SIP), includes initiating a given session state between the client and a server that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and refreshing the given session state in a randomized manner. Further, a technique for use in a server, wherein the server supports a state-based signaling protocol (again, e.g., SIP), includes randomly assigning an expiration time duration for a given session state between the server and a client that also supports the state-based signaling protocol, and reporting the randomly assigned expiration time for the given session state to the client. By randomizing various behaviors of the client, the server, or both, bursty traffic in the communication network is reduced or eliminated.
US07912968B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to e2e SLA support in a network of both manageable and unmanageable portions and provide a method, system and computer program product for e2e SLA compliance across both managed and unmanaged network segments. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for e2e SLA compliance across both managed and unmanaged network segments can be provided. The method can include identifying both a managed segment and an unmanaged segment of an e2e network for a communications path implicated by an SLA, determining an observed delay for the unmanaged segment of the e2e network, computing from a desired delay for the communications path and the observed delay a differential delay, and constraining the managed segment to meet the differential delay in order to assure meeting the desired delay for the communications path implicated by the SLA.
US07912964B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that refactors a port of a node in a graph, wherein the node has one or more input ports and one or more output ports. During operation, the system identifies an input port of the node to be refactored. The system then creates a pass-through node, wherein the value on an output port of the pass-through node equals the value on an input port of the pass-through node. Next, the system connects the output port of the pass-through node to the input port to be refactored, so that the refactored input port receives a value that is set on the input port of the pass-through node.
US07912958B2
The present invention relates to a Network Management Card enabling communications to supported devices, for example, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to a network. The Network Management Card operates to provide IP allocation according to BootP and DHCP processes, to automatically select an appropriate process, and apply it automatically and intuitively without specific operator interference or configuration. The Network Management Card further utilizes vendor specific codes in the DHCP process to limit the IP addresses assigned to UPSs in order to maintain information about the location of the UPSs on the network.
US07912955B1
Resources are provisioned for shared services in a resource-on-demand system. A model representing an observed state of resources in the resource-on-demand system allocated to the shared services and a model representing a desired state of the shared services are stored. At least one policy applicable to provisioning the resources for the shared services is determined. The policy and information from the models are applied to automatically provision the resources for satisfying the desired state of the shared services.
US07912954B1
A system and method for load balancing a plurality of servers is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of servers in a video-on-demand or other multi-server system are divided into one or more load-balancing groups. Each server preferably maintains state information concerning other servers in its load-balancing group including information concerning content maintained and served by each server in the group. Changes in a server's content status or other state information are preferably proactively delivered to other servers in the group. When a content request is received by any server in a load-balancing group, it evaluates the request in accordance with a specified algorithm to determine whether it should deliver the requested content itself or redirect the request to another server in its group. In a preferred embodiment, this determination is a function of information in the server's state table.
US07912938B2
Method and apparatus for tracing operations of and interactions between components of a composite web service. An identifier code is generated at the initiation of a web service, and the identifier code is propagated in messages transmitted between components of the web service. The identifier code and message-description data are logged in a correlation database when a component receives a message and when a component sends a message.
US07912932B2
Service request information in a first format for use by a first computerized system is synchronized with the service request information in a second computerized system that utilizes a second format by using an service request common object data model.
US07912929B2
A GUI (Graphical User Interface) Manager is used by a network administrator to fill-in predefined templates. The administrator does not need to compile, debug or write a single line of scripting code. The GUI manager has a “select the box” and “point and click” and “fill-in the blank” approach for selecting computer settings. The predefined configuration and/or template(s) are used by a logon script program on a client system to manage the configuration of resources on at least one client. There are three levels of resources that can be managed. The first type of resource is an operating system. The second type of resource is an application resource. And the third type of resource is to redirect a resource on the client to a resource on a network such as a drive letter mapping.
US07912910B2
A communication system, which facilitates distribution of electronic communications for a user account, includes an emergency auto-reply agent that scans each received communication addressed to the user account for a particular communication sent from at least one emergency address specified for the user account separate from the address of the user account. Responsive to the communication system detecting the particular communication sent from one of the emergency addresses, the emergency auto-reply agent parses the content of the particular communication to detect whether the particular communication comprises a required password. Responsive to detecting the required password within the content of the particular communication, the emergency auto-reply agent directs the communication system to compose and send auto-reply communications from the user account in reply to received communications addressed to the user account.
US07912909B2
The invention includes, in various embodiments, a method for archiving an electronic message which includes the steps of scanning the electronic message to determine whether at least a portion of the message is encumbered, disencumbering the encumbered portion of the message if it is encumbered, storing a copy of the disencumbered electronic message, and transmitting the electronic message to a recipient. Once stored, the disencumbered message can be accessed and reviewed by a supervisor, for example, without having to request a password from the sender or recipient. Encumbered messages include messages, or portions of messages, which are password protected, encrypted, and/or otherwise structured to prohibit unauthorized access thereto.
US07912907B1
A similarity measurement manager uses n-gram analysis to identify spam email messages. The similarity measurement manager tokenizing an email message into a plurality of overlapping n-grams, wherein n is large enough to identify uniqueness of artifacts. The similarity measurement manager employs feature selection by comparing the created n-grams to n-grams of known artifacts which were created according to the same methodology. Created n-grams that match an n-gram of a known artifact are ignored. The similarity measurement manager compares the remaining created n-grams to pluralities of n-grams of known spam email messages, the n-grams of the known spam email messages being themselves created by executing the same steps. The similarity measurement manager determines whether the email message comprises spam based on whether or not the n-gram comparison indicates that it is substantially similar to a known spam email message.
US07912894B2
An engine identifying segments or portions of one source material or source file common to or found in another source material or file. The engine may receive a first data stream in binary form as well as a second stream in binary form. The engine may include a data stream processor or pre-processor programmed to translate the first and second data streams to generate respective first and second processed data streams. The commonality between the first and second processed data streams may be greater than the commonality between the first and second data streams themselves. Also, a comparator may be programmed to compare the first and second process data streams and identify binary segments found in both the first and second processed data streams.
US07912893B2
A system, method, and computer program product is provided for publishing transcoded media content in response to publishing service requests from end users. A user request for media content is processed intelligently, either by directing the processing of the request to one of a set of transcoding servers so as to effectively balance the load among the servers, or by directing the processing of the request to an appropriate alternative means for satisfying the request. Transcoding tasks can be prioritized. In order to facilitate server selection, the current load on any particular transcoding server can be monitored in conjunction with a determination of the load to be created by a transcoding task. Transcoding can be performed on-demand or in a batch mode. Alternatively, a request can be satisfied by distributing media content that has already been transcoded and is resident in cache memory in anticipation of such requests.
US07912885B2
A system processes discrete digital data according to a function, the discrete digital data including data values and time stamps, the time stamps being at non-uniform time intervals according to a time scale. The system comprises a processor having program instructions for implementing the function in terms of state space equations, using system design and data flow language software; inputting the discrete data into the implementation of the function; and outputting the result as an output discrete data stream of new data values and time stamps.
US07912883B2
Embodiments of exponent processing systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises performing a first table lookup using a first address to provide a first value corresponding to the first component part, setting an integer exponent to provide an integer-based value corresponding to the integer component, performing a second table lookup using a second and third address to provide a second value and a third value corresponding to the second component part and the third component part, respectively, expanding and normalizing the second and third values to provide expanded and normalized second and third values, combining the expanded and normalized second and third values to produce a first product, and computing the exponential function by combining the first value, the integer-based value, and the first product.
US07912875B2
A computer implemented method includes receiving a data filter from a first panel of filtering categories. The data filter is applied to a dataset wherein a resulting data subset is created. One or more further data filters is displayed within a nested second panel of filtering categories.
US07912872B2
Data representing a visual form of data is received. The data including content data and format data indicating the manner in which the content data is to be visually represented. At least some of the content data is identified in accordance with a template, which includes one or more extraction instructions. The retrieved data may then be stored in the identified content data. Or, in response to the data, an action may be taken such as initiating a process. A template may be applied to several data files, storing visual forms of data and the information from those files may be stored in a database in association with the visual forms of data. A user may input an extraction instruction by visually identifying a region of a sample visual form of data and selecting a manner to extract the content data in reference to the identified region.
US07912852B1
Users can be notified when information becomes available, such as when an item is available for purchase at some point in the future. Users can indicate to receive information about the item using a desired notification type, such as an email message or text message. A notification then can be sent to the user using the indicated type of notification when the item, or information about the item, subsequently becomes available through the system.
US07912849B2
In a method for determining contextual summary information across documents retrieved in response to a user query applied to a collection of documents the documents matching the query are identified. A query-dependent subsection of each of the matching documents is selected. Document properties associated with the document subsection are selected and associated with localized structures within the document. Relationships between localized document properties and user queries are determined and used to compute contextual summary information, whereby localized document properties are profiled across the retrieved documents in a contextual manner. The method allows a user query to select localized structures within a matching document and is generally applicable in information retrieval and the analysis of retrieved information.
US07912847B2
A system and method for a comparative web search engines, search result summarization, web snippet processing, comparison analysis, information visualization, meta-clustering, and quantitative evaluation of web snippet quality are disclosed. The present invention extends the capabilities of web searching and informational retrieval by providing a succinct comparative summary of search results at either the object or thematic levels.
US07912838B2
A system for retrieving stored data and/or index pages, receives a database request, generates an access plan for the database request for accessing data rows and/or index entries according to the statement, and generates a priming process by selecting a set of data and/or index pages. The set of data and/or index pages is a super-set or the exact set of the pages needed for accessing data rows and/or index entries according to the access plan. The present system retrieves the data and/or index pages of the set before executing the database request according to the access plan. The execution of the database request is performed by scanning the index and data pages preloaded into the cache. This reduces the number of necessary disk reads during execution.
US07912830B2
A method and system is provided to access one or more historical incident databases, for example, CDC, CPSC, DTI, AAPCC and the like, for standardizing the potentially differing categories and coding among the databases. The standardizing includes recoding of the categories by providing a unified set of categories reflective of similar categories found among the one or more databases, if any. Submission of search queries allows users to obtain unified data across the databases so that incident history statistics for one or more products tracked by commonly available databases may be easily acquired. The resulting reports and statistics may be used by various entities to understand historical incidents from multiple perspectives including, for example, injury and fatality statistics as a function of age group, type of injury, time periods, diagnosis, injury outcome, severity, and the like. Data may be presented in standardized formats or in any of the native database formats.
US07912825B2
A method and system is described for building a document using a configurable plug-in architecture. In one example, a configuration file containing information of building the document with one or more components is received. The one or more components execute to modify or manipulate the document. The document may further be passed from one component to another component, where each of the components performs a function on the document. The sequence of execution of the components, the type of function or activity executed by each of the components, and/or configuration data of the components may be provided by the configuration file. The document may further be output to a user or stored.
US07912822B2
The invention provides a system and method for a client connected to a server in a computer network to access a resource, such as an application, database (either local, server, or web-based), service and/or a file, stored in the network. The system comprises: the client in the network; the server in the network; an instance of the resource stored in at least one of the server and the client; a file associated with the application stored in at least one of the server and the client; and an access module operating to provide the client with access to the server. In the system at the client, a first icon associated with a said resource is provided and if the instance of the resource is stored at the server, the application is automatically accessed when the icon at the client is activated.
US07912819B2
A system and/or methodology to track and organize database application data in response to a delete, insert or update procedure. More specifically, a system and/or methodology that employs a version-based retention and linkage approach with respect to triggering implementations is provided.
US07912812B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for populating a data cache on a server. Data requests received by the server are collected in a repository. A data mining algorithm is applied to the collected data requests to predict a set of data that is likely to be requested during an upcoming time period. It is determined whether the complete set of predicted data exists in the data cache. If the complete set of predicted data does not exist in the data cache, the missing data is retrieved from a database and added to the data cache.
US07912803B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for creating a session log for a computing device being studied for usability by a plurality of usability experts that include: displaying, by a usability engine to a plurality of usability experts, a usability observation video of a user interacting with a computing device during a usability session for studying the usability of the device; detecting, by an event listener on the computing device, an event generated as a result of user interaction with the device; notifying, by the event listener, the usability engine of the event; recording, by the usability engine, a description of the event in a session log; receiving, by the usability engine from at least one of the usability experts, usability observations regarding the usability of the device; and recording, by the usability engine, the usability observations in the session log.
US07912797B2
Monitoring and/or controlling analytical effectiveness of a plurality of analysts in an analyst network is provided. In one embodiment, information concerning treatment of information elements (i.e., discrete quantities of content suitable for analysis by one or more analysts) within an analyst network by the plurality of analysts is provided to a management terminal. Based on this treatment information, the management terminal determines information concerning achievement of analysis goals. In another embodiment, the management terminal receives modifications to the analysis goals that are used to provide modified analysis goals, which modified analysis goals are subsequently provided to the routing controller. In this manner, the present invention provides the ability to determine whether the available analyst resources are being used in the best manner to address the universe of available topics in the most efficient and productive manner.
