US07998611B2
A first row of batteries and a second row of batteries both consisting of the same number of cylindrical batteries (2) arranged in parallel are held at both axial ends using holder frames (3). The holder frame (3) is formed as a rectangular parallelepiped by detachably coupling together an inner frame (4) and two outer frames (7, 8). On both lateral sides of the inner frame (4) and on the sides of the two outer frames (7, 8) opposite the inner frame (4) are provided the same number of holding parts (4a, 7b, 8b) as the rows of batteries, the holding parts being semi-circular cut-outs in which halves of the cylindrical batteries (2) can fit. Each two adjacent cylindrical batteries (2) are electrically interconnected via inter-battery connection plates (9).
US07998603B2
A transparent conductive film which is amorphous, has a high transmittance of light in the visible region of short wavelengths, and is hard to beak with respect to bending is provided. The transparent conductive film is an amorphous oxide film composed of Ga, In, and O, in which a Ga content ranges from 35 at. % to 45 at. % with respect to all metallic atoms, a resistivity ranges 1.2×10−3Ω·cm to 8.0×10−3Ω·cm, a film thickness is 500 nm or less, and a transmittance of light at a wavelength of 380 nm is 45% or more.
US07998602B2
An appliance transparency includes a first substrate defining a No. 1 and a No. 2 surface and a second substrate spaced from the first substrate and defining a No. 3 and a No. 4 surface. A first coating is deposited over at least a portion of the No. 2 surface and is free of metallic layers. A second coating is deposited over at least a portion of the No. 4 surface and has at least one metallic layer. A protective coating is deposited over at least a portion of the second coating.
US07998591B2
A tape yarn, woven fabric or carpet backing produced from a polymeric film material formed from an impact copolymer and having increased toughness relative to films that are monoaxially-oriented at conventional temperatures.
US07998588B2
A process for producing a room temperature vulcanizable organopolysiloxane composition comprising: (A) 100 parts by weight of a diorganopolysiloxane having in one molecule at least two hydroxyl groups and/or hydrolyzable groups connecting to silicon atoms; (B) 0.2 to 10 parts by weight of an alkylene oxide compound having silicon atoms in a molecule; (C) 0.5 to 100 parts by weight of a silica; and (D) 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of a silane and/or condensate of partial hydrolyzate thereof, wherein said process comprises steps of hot-mixing component (A), component (B), and component (C) together, and subsequently mixing component (D) thereto.
US07998584B2
A high-purity carbon fiber-reinforced carbon composite includes a matrix, a carbon fiber, and sulfur. The matrix includes a crystalline carbon-based powder and glassy carbon. A content of sulfur in the high-purity carbon fiber-reinforced carbon composite is 5 ppm by mass or less.
US07998583B2
Nanoparticulate silicone organo copolymers exhibit controlled hydrophobicity in composite thermal insulation systems.
US07998580B2
A wood particle mixture is described especially made from raw wood for an extruded or injection-molded wood-plastic composite material, especially manufactured from wood-plastic compound, which significantly improve the strength properties in a wood plastic composite material. Each wood particle has certain dimensions and certain shaping.
US07998575B2
The invention relates to a continuous dry spinning process for preparing a fiber from a polymer solution having concentrations of polymer, salt, solvent and water. After the fiber is extruded and quenched, the fiber is placed in contact with a conditioning solution comprising concentrations of solvent, salt, and water. The conditioning solution acts upon the fiber to plasticize the fiber prior to being drawn. The conditioning solution has concentrations of solvent, salt, and water so that the fiber is plasticized to the extent necessary for drawing but does not plasticize the fiber to such an extent as to re-dissolve the fiber into a polymeric solution. A heat-treated fiber manufactured from this process has improved shrinkage and can be colored to darker shades.
US07998573B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to diamond-silicon carbide composites, superabrasive compacts including such diamond-silicon carbide composites, and methods of fabricating such diamond-silicon carbide composites and superabrasive compacts. In one embodiment, a superabrasive compact includes a substrate and a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate. The superabrasive table comprises diamond-silicon carbide composite including a matrix comprising nanometer-sized silicon carbide grains and micrometer-sized diamond grains dispersed through the matrix. In another embodiment, a method of fabricating a superabrasive compact is disclosed. An assembly comprising a mixture including diamond particles and silicon is formed. The silicon comprises amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon crystallized from amorphous silicon formed by a milling process, or combinations thereof. A substrate is positioned in proximity to the mixture. The assembly is subjected to heat and pressure to form a superabrasive compact comprising a superabrasive table bonded to the substrate. The superabrasive table comprises diamond-silicon carbide composite including diamond grains dispersed through a matrix of silicon carbide grains.
US07998570B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a fire retardant composite, a composite of a foamed polymer having a coating with fire retardant properties, and also the use of such composites. The method according to the present invention comprises the following steps: i) providing beads of foamed polymer, ii) applying a coating on the beads of step i) and iii) shaping the thus coated beads into said composite.
US07998563B2
A protective film for polarizing plate comprising k layers (k is an integer of 2 or more) of thermoplastic resin layer laminated, wherein a refractive index ni(380) at a wavelength of 380 nm and a refractive index ni(780) at a wavelength of 780 nm in the i th thermoplastic resin layer as well as a refractive index ni+1(380) at a wavelength of 380 nm and a refractive index ni+1(780) at a wavelength of 780 nm in the i+1 th thermoplastic resin layer have a relationship in ∥ni(380)−ni+1(380)|−|ni(780)−ni+1(780)∥≦0.02 (where, i is an integer of 1 to k−1). A polarizing plate is obtained by bonding the protective film for the polarizing plate and a polarizer. And a liquid crystal display comprising the polarizing plate and a liquid crystal panel.
US07998552B2
A dicing die-bonding film in which the adhesive properties during the dicing step and the peeling properties during the pickup step are controlled so that both become good, and a production method thereof, are provided. The dicing die-bonding film in the present invention is a dicing die-bonding film having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on a base material and a die bond layer on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, in which the arithmetic mean roughness X (μm) on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer side in the die bond layer is 0.015 μm to 1 μm, the arithmetic mean roughness Y (μm) on the die bond layer side in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is 0.03 μm to 1 μm, and the absolute value of the difference of the X and Y is 0.015 or more.
US07998550B2
On-site binding for carpets and the like wherein a covered welting material is provided with a strip with adhesive on both sides. One side is covered with peel-off wax paper which is removed to adhere the welting material flush against the edge of the carpet's pile. The adhesive underside of the paper has an extension of the welting material adhered thereto. A thermal plastic glue is applied between the carpet pile and welting material whereby the welting material binding is secured the carpet by the underlying strip (with adhesive on both sides) and the thermal plastic bead.
US07998543B2
A novel dioxetane compound is provided having a cationically polymerizable oxetane group, which compound is excellent in compatibility with a liquid crystalline compound and a non-liquid crystalline compound. An optical film is also provided with excellent liquid crystal orientation retention properties and mechanical strength, produced by aligning a composition of the dioxetane compound and a cationically polymerizable compound in a liquid crystal orientation and fixing the liquid crystal orientation by polymerization. Further, a liquid crystal display device is provided with the optical film.
US07998541B2
The present invention relates to benzochromene derivatives of the formula I where the various parameters have the meaning indicated in the text, and to liquid-crystal media which comprise these compounds, and to the use of the media in electro-optical displays, in particular in TN, OCB, LCOS and/or IPS-LCDs, and to the use of the compounds and physiologically acceptable derivatives thereof as therapeutic active ingredients.
US07998539B2
A method of forming thin-film structure by oblique-angle deposition is provided. The method includes the steps of: evaporating target source in a chamber by an electron beam evaporation system, and introducing process gas into the chamber and adjusting tilt angle of the evaporation substrate and controlling temperature in the chamber during evaporation to form thin-film on a evaporation substrate by oblique-angle deposition, and then annealing the evaporation substrate to form a thin-film having porous nanorod microstructure.
US07998533B2
The present invention provides a highly corrosion-resistant plated steel sheet that can achieve excellent surface smoothness and formability and, according to the process of the present invention, a hot-dip galvanized steel product excellent in surface smoothness and formability having on the steel product surface a zinc alloy plating layer composed of 4 to 22% by mass of Al, 1 to 5% by mass of Mg, 0.000001 to 0.1% by mass of Ti, 0.000001 to 0.5% by mass of Si and the balance of Zn and unavoidable impurities, the plating layer of the plated steel product having a metal structure in which an [Mg2Si phase], an [Al phase], a [Zn2Mg phase] and a [Zn phase] are present in a mixture in the matrix of an [Al/Zn/Zn2Mg ternary eutectic structure], and the plating layer containing a Ti—Al base intermetallic compound in the [Al phase] and/or the [Zn2Mg phase] and/or the [Zn phase], is produced.
US07998515B2
Coffee beans are roasted with heated air in a roasting chamber, and contaminant-laden exhaust air including caffeine entrained therein is discharged from the chamber. While roasting is in progress, the exhaust air from the chamber is heated, directed through a catalytic converter and cooled to a temperature between about 250° F. to 325° F. Thereafter the cooled exhaust air flows through a cooler or condenser where the temperature of the cooled exhaust air is further lowered to between about 100° F. and 155° F., and it is then directed through a HEPA filter to remove caffeine particles that are present in the cooled air. Substantially caffeine-free clean exhaust air can then be discharged from the HEPA filter directly to the surroundings of the roasting machine such as a closed room, e.g. a retail establishment, frequented by persons.
US07998510B2
A method of colonic cleansing that includes administering orally a first dose and a second dose of a liquid osmotic colonic evacuant composition. The second dose includes an amount of the liquid osmotic colonic evacuant composition that is 55% to 95% of the amount of the first dose.
US07998505B2
A method for the preparation of microcrystalline cellulose containing tablets by roller compaction followed by tabletting is disclosed. A tablet formulation is converted to a dry granulate by roller compaction, and the dry granulate is lubricated and compacted to a tablet. The tablet formulation comprises at least one active, an microcrystalline cellulose containing material, and, optionally other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The microcrystalline cellulose containing material has a maximum primary compaction tensile strength of at least 9 MPa or at least 9.5 MPa and a secondary compaction tensile strength of at least 5 MPa, at least 5.5 MPa, or at least 6 MPa. A method for evaluating binders is also disclosed.
US07998504B2
A composite material comprising a substrate and a deposition product and the use of a deposition product for providing an antimicrobial effect. The substrate of the composite material is a medical device. Further, in each of the composite material and the use, the deposition product consists essentially of at least one oxidized silver species and wherein the deposition product is comprised of a compound having the formula Ag7O8X, where X is an anion.
US07998503B2
The invention relates to a nasally applied, film-shaped, bioadhesive pharmaceutical form of administration containing at least one agent-containing layer that is based on crosslinked hydrophilic polymers comprising up to 60 percent by weight of Lidocaine, the percentage being in relation to the total quantity of crosslinked hydrophilic polymers. Also disclosed is the use thereof for controlling primary headaches, preferably migraine.
US07998498B2
This invention provides a modified catheter biomaterial that provides both immediate, and long-term microbiocidal effects on otherwise antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms. The material, which exhibits good mechanical performance characteristics for medical devices, is composed of a hydrophobic polyurethane (PU), a hydrophilic polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), a soluble silver salt and a sparsely-soluble silver salt. The hydrophobic polyurethane provides the good physical properties, the PEVA the hydrophilicity necessary to allow some water ingress into the catheter, the soluble silver salt for an immediate burst effect, and the sparsely-soluble silver salt for sustained-release over many months postimplantation.
US07998494B2
Perfuming or flavoring microcapsules that include a fireproofing agent in addition to a perfuming or flavoring ingredient and a carrier material, so that the microcapsules can reduce the occurrence or an explosion of reduced violence when suspended in hot air during their preparation. Also, methods of making these microcapsules and their use in perfumed, food, beverage or pharmaceutical products.
US07998493B2
The invention relates to novel cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical compositions for topical use which are used to prevent the symptoms of cutaneous slackening and, more specifically, to treat the visible signs of ageing and fatigue, such as bags and circles under the eyes. The inventive compositions comprise, in a cosmetically-acceptable medium, a combination of at least two, and preferably three, components selected from: a) hesperidin or the derivatives thereof; b) A.C.E. enzyme inhibitor dipeptides; and c) oligopeptides R2-(AA)n-Pro-Arg, wherein (AA)n is a peptide chain, (AA) is any amino acid or any derivative of any amino acid, n is included between 1 and 3, and R2═H or an alkoyl chain having a carbon length of between C2 and C22.
US07998483B2
The invention describes the LAGE-1 tumor associated gene, including fragments, allelic variants and splice variants thereof. Also included are polypeptides and fragments thereof encoded by such genes, and antibodies relating thereto. Methods and products also are provided for diagnosing and treating conditions characterized by expression of a LAGE-1 gene product.
US07998472B2
This invention provides novel stem cell-based methods for treating a number of conditions. These methods employ CD34− stem cells, and have a tremendous advantage in that they do not require myeloablation in the subject being treated. The CD34− stem cells used in the instant methods can be genetically modified or not, depending on the disorder treated.
US07998466B2
The disclosure relates to compositions for medical/surgical synthetic adhesives and sealants. Adhesive compositions include a functionalized triol and functionalized diol, while sealant compositions further include a multifunctionalized polyol and at least one amine cross linker.
US07998444B2
The present invention is a method for selective reduction of nitrogen oxides in a gas stream with ammonia wherein the ammonia is vaporized prior to contacting it with the carrying fluid. The present invention also comprises a reducing agent dispersion system for use in substantially uniformly mixing a reducing agent with nitrogen oxides in a flue gas stream comprising a header and a plurality of lances. Further, the present invention comprises a novel reactor design for use in selective reduction of nitrogen oxides in a gas stream.
US07998442B2
The invention relates to a sound-insulating board, in particular a footfall insulating board for laminate floors or similar applications. The sound-insulating board is distinguished by a continuous transition of its density from the one large-area side to the other large-area side of the board and comprises a mixture of unglued wood fibers, a binder and/or supporting fibers and a mixed plastic, such as arises from the dual system during the recovery of plastic parts.
US07998441B2
A method for selective removal of cadmium from a feed solution also containing other metals such as nickel (Ni) and/or cobalt (Co), utilizing a thiourea based ion exchange resin, and a method for eluting cadmium adsorbed on the thiourea based resin.
US07998440B2
An outstandingly low environmental impact wet process recovers the lead content of an electrode slime and/or of lead minerals in the valuable form of high purity lead oxide or compound convertible to highly pure lead oxide by heat treatment in oven at relatively low temperature, perfectly suited for making active electrode pastes of new batteries or other uses. The process basically comprises the following treatments: a) suspending the impure lead containing material in an aqueous bath containing at least a lead oxide dissolving acid; b) reducing any insoluble lead dioxide to lead oxide by introducing in the suspension either hydrogen peroxide, a sulphite or sulphurous anhydride; c) converting all dissolved lead oxide to lead sulphate in the aqueous bath; d) obtaining a solution of lead sulphate obtained in an aqueous solution containing an acetate salt; e) precipitating and separating a purified lead compound in the form of either carbonate/oxycarbonate or of oxide/or hydroxide by adding to said acetate salt solution a carbonate salt or a hydroxide of the same cation of said acetate salt, respectively. Exemplary flow sheets according to several alternative embodiments and related processing plant diagrams are disclosed.
US07998439B2
A separation and recycling method for recycling uranium and fluoride from a waste liquid sequentially and separately is disclosed. The method comprises a uranium-recycling process and a fluoride-recycling process. In the uranium-recycling process, an alkali metal compound or monovalent cation and a coagulant aid are added into the waste liquid to promote the precipitation of uranium. In the fluoride-recycling process, an alkaline earth metal compound, a strong acid and a coagulant aid are added into the uranium-removed waste liquid to precipitate fluoride. By means of the method of the present invention, the uranium and fluoride contents of the uranium-removed and fluoride-removed waste liquid are compliant with the effluent standards of the environmental laws.
US07998432B2
The device comprises reaction unit cuvettes (22) for different types of tests, a vertical axis rotor (7) which is associated with a rotation drive means and provided with a horizontal gear-teeth crown (8) delimiting radially outwardly open cavities for receiving the reaction unit cuvettes (22), a device (20) for supplying the gear-teeth crown with the reaction unit cuvettes (22), a device (6) for supplying cuvettes with analyzable biological liquid samples, stations (13, 19) arranged around the crown for carrying out measurements and/or analysis and an automation for managing the sequences of a desired process for each cuvette.
US07998430B2
A reactor 20 has a plurality of tubular downcomers 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and risers 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, joined by sections 86, 88 in a continuous serpentine path the tubes dimensioned to provide substantially plug flow conditions for solid and liquid reagents fed into a first downcomer 24 with the products extracted from final riser 52. The reactor 20 is designed for a desired residence time by the number, height and diameter of the tubes. The downcomers 24, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 may include a bend to improve residence time and to thereby reduce the number of tubes required for a desired overall residence time. The reactor 20 can be used in a leaching operation for producing synthetic rutile, where a pre-treated feedstock including ilmenite, leucoxene or titania slag is leached with hot HCl.
US07998427B2
A method for carrying out chemical reactions in so-called pseudo-isothermal conditions and in a predetermined reaction environment, for example a catalytic bed, comprises the step of arranging in the reaction environment at least one heat exchanger crossed by an operating fluid along a main direction.
US07998426B2
A pumping system comprising at least one pump unit (2) with a vacuum pump casing in which there are multiple pumping stages that includes at least one pumped gas treatment system is provided. The pumped gas treatment system compromises at least one plasma source located inside the vacuum pump casing of the pump unit, to generate a plasma that at least partially decomposes certain gases passing through the pump unit. This reduces the size of the pumped gas treatment system and improves its efficiency so that a gas pumping and treatment system can be created that is sufficiently small as to allow it to be placed in close proximity to the process chambers.
US07998424B2
An exhaust system for a lean-burn internal combustion engine comprises a catalyst for oxidising carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons comprising a flow-through substrate monolith comprising a first platinum group metal (PGM) zone containing at least one PGM supported on a surface area-increasing washcoat component, a second PGM zone containing at least one PGM supported on a surface area-increasing washcoat component, a third PGM zone containing at least one PGM supported on a surface area-increasing washcoat component wherein both the PGM loading in the first PGM zone and the PGM loading in the third PGM zone is greater than the PGM loading in the second PGM zone and wherein the first PGM zone comprises a washcoat loading that is less than a washcoat loading of the third PGM zone.
US07998418B1
An evaporator and concentrator in a reactor and loading system concentrates ions such as fluoride ions in some embodiments, and evaporates micro- to milliliter volumes of liquid solutions including intermediate and final product in other embodiments. It efficiently re-dissolves the evaporated solution generating a product, which is transferred to an external system as desired. The external system may be a micro-fluidic reactor system and/or loading system. The evaporator/concentrator has an input port for introducing liquids and solids. A capillary tube introduces gas, such as nitrogen gas, into a volume of solution contained within a v-vial, which produces an evaporating micro bubbler. A concentric tube, surrounding the capillary tube in some embodiments, introduces gas into the empty volume above the solution inside the v-vial, which is referred to as a vapor sweep. The vapor sweep assists in removing the evaporated solution from the v-vial through a vacuum tube.
US07998393B2
Methods for making components having improved erosion resistance including providing a component having a surface, applying at least one layer of an erosion system to at least a portion of the surface of the component, each layer of the erosion system containing a support, and a toughened resin applied to the support, and co-molding the component having the applied erosion system to produce a coated component having from about a 50% increase to about a 400% increase in erosion resistance per layer of the erosion system.
US07998392B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing and installing a fairing on an aircraft. In one advantageous embodiment, a composite fairing is installed on the aircraft. A composite sheet having a form of the composite fairing is formed. A plurality of cured composite tiles is created from the composite sheet, wherein spaces are present between the plurality of composite tiles. The plurality of composite tiles is cured to form the composite fairing. The composite fairing is attached to a surface of the aircraft. The spaces between the plurality of composite tiles are filled with a flexible filler.
US07998389B2
A method of fabricating and using a honeycomb core structure for aircrafts. The honeycomb core structure may comprise a septum positioned within and integral to a honeycomb core. The method may comprise sandwiching the septum between two sections of a die. Each section of the die may comprise a plurality of spaced apart columns, each having a hexagonal cross-section. The method may further comprise injecting melted thermoplastic throughout both sections of the die between the columns and cooling the thermoplastic, thereby hardening and integrating the thermoplastic and the septum together to form the honeycomb core structure. The method may also comprise affixing the honeycomb core structure within an aircraft structure to provide a structural load path for a primary component of the aircraft.
US07998388B2
A thin, uniform membrane comprising polymeric fibrils or a combination of fibrils and particles, wherein the fibrils have randomly convoluted cross-sections, and a process for making the membrane are disclosed. The membrane may be on the surface of a substrate as part of a composite sheet, or as a stand-alone structure.
US07998385B2
A transparent multilayer stretched product is produced through a process including: providing a resin laminate including at least on layer of polyglycolic acid resin, heat-forming and cooling the resin laminate, reheating the resin laminate until the polyglycolic acid resin is crystallized to be opaque and then stretching the reheated resin laminate. The thus-obtained multilayer stretched product is excellent in gas-barrier property in addition to the transparency and is suitable as a packaging material or container.
US07998379B2
The invention relates to a process for the production of alginate-containing porous or sponge-like moulded articles, and to the moulded articles obtainable thereby and their use.
US07998374B2
A taper angle of a self-written optical waveguide to be formed is increased or decreased at a desired position. A range of light (aperture number) condensed by a focusing lens 31 is adjusted by an iris diaphragm 22′ in which the hole diameter can be changed from 1 mm to 12 mm. An image of the self-written optical waveguide 51 being fabricated is taken with a CCD camera 70, and image processing of the image is executed in real time by an image processing device 71. The taper angle of the self-written optical waveguide 51 is measured, and the taper angle of the self-written optical waveguide 51 can be desirably increased or decreased by changing the diameter of iris diaphragm 22′.
US07998371B2
Described herein are a silicon semiconductor device and a conductive silver paste for use in the front side of a solar cell device.
US07998369B2
An electrically conductive composite comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer or copolymer and carbon nanotubes is provided. Preferably, carbon nanotubes may be present in the range of about 0.5-20% by weight of the composite.The composites are prepared by dissolving the polymer in a first solvent to form a polymer solution and then adding the carbon nanotubes into the solution. The solution is mixed using an energy source such as a sonicator or a Waring blender. A precipitating component is added to precipitate out a composite comprising the polymer and the nanotubes. The composite is isolated by filtering the solution and drying the composite.
US07998365B2
The present invention relates to a thiogallate phosphor which is excited by ultraviolet or blue light to emit light with a relatively longer wavelength than that of the ultraviolet or blue light. The phosphor is expressed as a general formula of (A1-x-yEuxMIIIy)(B2-yMIIy)S4, wherein 0.005
US07998362B2
A main component of a piezoelectric substance is PZT which has a perovskite type structure expressed as Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3, in which x expresses an element ratio Zr/(Zr+Ti) of Zr and Ti in the formula, an element ratio Pb/(Zr+Ti) of Pb, Zr and Ti of the piezoelectric substance is 1.05 or more, an element ratio Zr/(Zr+Ti) of Zr and Ti is 0.2 to 0.8 inclusive, and a Curie temperature Tc of the piezoelectric substance and a Curie temperature Tc0 in bulk at an element ratio of Zr and Ti of the piezoelectric substance satisfy a relation of Tc>Tc0+50° C.
US07998361B2
A soft magnetic material includes: a plurality of composite magnetic particles formed from a metal magnetic particle and an insulative coating surrounding a surface of the metal magnetic particle and containing metallic salt phosphate and/or oxide; and a lubricant formed as fine particles added at a proportion of at least 0.001 percent by mass and no more than 0.1 percent by mass relative to the plurality of composite magnetic particles. With this structure, superior lubrication is provided during compacting and desired magnetic characteristics can be obtained after compacting.
US07998360B2
Provided is an electrolyte containing tetrafluoroaluminate ions, which is advantageous in that the electrolyte can be prevented from leaking from both the cathode and the anode in an electrolytic capacitor.An electrolyte for electrolytic capacitor, which comprises: (A) a tetrafluoroaluminate ion, and (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a phthalimide, a quinoline, a dioxime, a nitrophenol and an amino group-containing aromatic carboxylic acid; (2) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an aluminum complex, a boric acid ester and a silicic acid ester; (3) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a monocyclic quinone compound and a bicyclic quinone compound; (4) a tricyclic or higher polycyclic quinone compound; and (5) at least one compound selected from a heteropoly acid and a salt thereof, an electrolyte for electrolytic capacitor containing a tetrafluoroaluminate ion, which has a self-potential of −0.95 V or more with respect to aluminum in the electrolyte, relative to an I3−/I− reference electrode, and an electrolytic capacitor using the same.
US07998353B2
A filter candle 100 as subject of the present invention comprises: an elongated mesh pack 200 for filtering a fluid, comprising an end fitting 206 securely fixed to a filter medium 205. Further, a hollow core tube 300 is provided having a fluid permeable wall 310, the core tube being positioned within the axial opening of the mesh pack. The core tube 300 has an end flange 340 fixed to the outer end surface 312, which end flange is suitable for engaging the end fitting 206 on the mesh pack. A ring-shaped seal 500 is provided between and making contact with the outer end surface of the core tube, the end fitting and the end flange. The seal is a porous ring-shaped structure comprising a multitude of pores, which pores have an average pore size being equal or less than the filter rating of the filter medium.
US07998352B2
Disclosed is a method of inhibiting and/or removing deposits from internal surfaces in a hot water system. The method includes controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to alter the dynamic between deposit constituents and the bulk water of the system to inhibit deposition or initiate deposit removal. The method is equally effective for a system undergoing a wet layup sequence or in an online operational system. The invention further includes a multi-component deposit inhibition and/or removal device, including a receiver, a processor, and a transmitter that work in unison to alter the system dynamics to inhibit or remove deposits.
US07998349B2
The present invention relates to a device having two or more separate filtration layers that can be independently tested for integrity yet which allow for serial filtration through the two or more layers to obtain the desired characteristics such as retention. The device is made of two or more filtration areas, each containing one filter layer. Each area has one filtration layer and a first endcap bonded to a first end of the filter and a second endcap bonded to a second end of the filter. The areas are arranged concentrically around each other such that the first area is inward of the second area which is inward of a third area and the like. Each area is formed separately and integrity tested separately before final assembly. The first area is slid into the inside of the second area and then the two endcaps are either bonded to each, bonded to a third overall endcap or overmolded by a third endcap.
US07998339B2
The invention relates to a process for producing a new type of high-quality hydrocarbon base oil of biological origin. The process of the invention comprises ketonisation, hydrodeoxygenation, and isomerization steps. Fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters based on a biological raw material are preferably used as the feedstock.
US07998336B2
A biosensor comprises a space part for sucking and housing a sample formed of two upper and lower plates, the two plates being stuck together by an adhesive layer, the space part for sucking and housing the sample being constituted so as to be partially opened in the peripheral part and partially closed by the adhesive layer, and has a working electrode having at least glucose oxidase immobilized thereon and a counter electrode on the same plane of the plate.
US07998333B1
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium having high recording density. The magnetic recording medium manufacturing method of the present invention is directed to a manufacturing method including: disposing at least a silicon layer on a substrate; disposing an uneven structure including regularly arranged projections on the silicon layer; disposing magnetic material on the upper surfaces of the projections and within recessed parts of the uneven structure; and allowing the magnetic material disposed within each recessed part to be changed into silicon compound by heat treatment.
US07998329B2
A porous nickel foil for a negative electrode of an alkaline battery formed by an electrolytic deposition method, wherein the porous nickel foil is flexible and has a thickness of 10-35 μm and a Vickers hardness of 70-130. An electrodeposition drum for producing porous metal foil by an electrolytic deposition method including a drum having a surface onto which metal foil is deposited, a plurality of holes formed in the surface and an insulating resin filled in the holes, wherein the ratio of depth L and diameter D (L/D) of the hole is at least 1 and no clearance, into which deposited metal otherwise cuts in a wedge shape, exists at the boundary between the insulating resin filled in the hole and an opening edge of the hole.
US07998324B2
A Si sputtering target that in the measurement of crystal face orientation of sputtering surface according to X-ray diffractometry, exhibits a ratio of peak intensity of (111) face (I(111)) to peak intensity of (220) face (I(220)) of Si, (I(111)/I(220)), falling within the range of 1.8±0.3. The Si sputtering target comprises, for example, an Si sintered material of 70 to 95% relative density. With respect to sputtering films such as Si oxide film, the film thickness characteristics, film formation cost, etc. can be improved by the use of this Si sputtering target.
US07998322B2
A liquid treatment chamber having an elongate housing through which liquid flows longitudinally from an inlet port to an outlet port thereof is disclosed. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency and a predetermined electrode potential to ultrasonically energize and electrolyze liquid within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other. The horn and agitating members are constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the liquid being treated in the chamber.
US07998317B2
A glycerol preparation method for preparation of medical grade glycerol from a by-product of a bio-diesel process includes a first stage phosphoric acid chemical reaction process and a posterior by-product centrifugal separation process to have the phosphoric acid chemical reaction by-product be separated into free fatty acid, potassium phosphoric acid, and a crude glycerol and methanol mixture. The crude glycerol and methanol mixture is further processed through a first step of thin film evaporation process where methanol is reclaimed, a second step of thin film evaporation process where the mixture is dehydrated, a third step of molecular distillation process where an industrial grade glycerol of purity over 95% is extracted, and a fourth step of molecular distillation process where a medical grade glycerol of purity in exceed of 99.75% that meets USP/BP standards is extracted.
US07998304B2
Methods configure a proximity head for conditioning fluid flow relative to a proximity head in processing of a surface of a wafer by a meniscus. The methods configure the head in one piece while maintaining head rigidity even as the head is lengthened for cleaning of large diameter wafers. The one-piece head configuring separates main fluid flows from separate flows of fluid relative to the wafer surface, with the separation being by a high resistance fluid flow configuration, resulting in substantially uniform fluid flows across increased lengths of the head in a unit for either fluid supply or return.
US07998303B2
A method of assembling a wind turbine blade comprises providing a first blade segment comprising at least two first spar cap segments; providing a second blade segment comprising at least two second spar cap segments; inserting the second blade segment into the first blade segment wherein a spar cap cavity is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments; injecting an adhesive into the spar cap cavities to bond the blade segments together, wherein a scarf joint is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments.
US07998299B2
A composite truss structure employs a sandwich-in-sandwich construction in which a composite fluted core is sandwiched between two facesheets, and at least one structural foam stiffener is sandwiched within the core or between the facesheets and/or the core.
US07998294B2
In a label manufacturing method, at least a part of a heat sensitive adhesive sheet is heated to develop adhesive properties by using a thermal head having heating elements and by using a transporting unit that transport the heat sheet to pass through a position contacting with the heating elements. Image data is generated on an image area of the sheet and an image editing process is performed so as to divide the image area into at least two types of parts that are set as heated and non-heated parts, respectively. An edited image obtained as a result of the image editing process is input as a heating pattern. The thermal head and the transporting unit are driven based on the input heating pattern and the heating elements are selectively operated in timed synchronization with the transportation of the sheet. In the image data generating step, the image area is displayed on a display as a binary image including a colored part and a non-colored part. The image editing process arbitrarily adjusts shapes, sizes, and positions of the colored part and the non-colored part, and sets one of the colored and non-colored parts as the heated part and the other of the colored and non-colored parts as the non-heated part.
US07998291B2
A thermite torch formulation that includes a metal fuel in the form of a magnalium alloy and an oxidizer in the form of MoO3. When the thermite formulation is reacted, a torch may direct at least one reaction product onto a certain region of an object to deliver a large amount of energy to that region of the object.
US07998288B2
A heat exchanger use high strength aluminum alloy fin material having a high strength and excellent in thermal conductivity, erosion resistance, sag resistance, sacrificial anodization effect, and self corrosion resistance, characterized by containing Si: 0.8 to 1.4 wt %, Fe: 0.15 to 0.7 wt %, Mn: 1.5 to 3.0 wt %, and Zn: 0.5 to 2.5 wt %, limiting the Mg as an impurity to 0.05 wt % or less, and having a balance of ordinary impurities and Al in chemical composition, having a metal structure before brazing of a fibrous crystal grain structure, a tensile strength before brazing of not more than 240 MPa, a tensile strength after brazing of not less than 150 MPa, and a recrystallized grain size after brazing of 500 μm or more.
US07998283B2
The disclosure provides a rare earth anisotropic hard magnetic material, which has, on atomic percent basis, a composition of (Sm1-αRα)xFe100-x-y-zMyIz, wherein, R is Pr alone or a combination of Pr with at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y; M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Mo, Al, and Zr; I is N alone or a combination of N and C; 0.01≦α≦0.30; 7≦x≦12, 0.01≦y≦8.0, 6≦z≦14.4, and which anisotropic rare earth hard magnetic material is crystallized in a Th2Zn17-type structure, of which crystalline grains are in a flake shape with a gain size ranging from 1 to 5 μm, and c-axis of the crystalline grains, an easy magnetization direction, being oriented along the minor axis of the flake crystalline grains. The disclosure also provides a process for producing the powdery rare earth anisotropic hard magnetic material and a process for producing anisotropic calender flexible magnet.
US07998275B2
A method for cleaning a circumferential surface of a cylinder of a printing press provides for improved cleaning to be achieved during a short time. In order to clean the circumferential surface, a cleaning fluid is first applied to the circumferential surface. In order then to remove contaminants, the contaminants a broken up mechanically after the cleaning fluid is applied and before a cleaning apparatus acting on the circumferential surface is set into operation.
US07998272B2
A method of fabricating a plurality of freestanding GaN wafers includes mounting a GaN substrate in a reactor, forming a GaN crystal growth layer on the GaN substrate through crystal growth, performing surface processing of the GaN crystal growth layer to form a GaN porous layer having a predetermined thickness on the GaN crystal growth layer, repeating the forming of the GaN crystal growth layer and the forming of the GaN porous layer a plurality of times to form a stack of alternating GaN crystal growth layers and GaN porous layers on the GaN substrate, and cooling the stack such that the GaN layers self-separate to form the freestanding GaN wafers. The entire process of forming a GaN porous layer and a thick GaN layer is performed in-situ in a single reactor. The method is very simplified compared to the prior art. In this way, the entire process is performed in one chamber, and in particular, GaN surface processing and growth proceed using an HVPE process gas such that costs are greatly reduced. In particular, since GaN is self-separated from the substrate through cooling, a GaN wafer of good quality without the occurrence of cracks can be produced on a large scale with a high yield.
US07998268B2
A method of making durable, non-vitrified masonry units comprising fly ash, the method comprising mixing fly ash comprising a minimum of 15% CaO by weight and no more than about 10% loss on ignition, water, and an air entrainment agent to form a fly ash mixture; compacting the fly ash mixture in a shaping device by applying pressure of at least 1000 psi to the fly ash mixture; and curing the compacted fly ash mixture to cause the mixture to harden and gain strength.
US07998255B2
An electrostatic phase change generating apparatus is described. The apparatus causes a change of state to occur in an input gas, for example, ambient air. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus removes moisture from air, and may be used to generate water from air, dehumidify air, cool air, and the like. The ability to generate water from air has global importance as the need for clean water increases each year. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus uses high voltage but low current allowing for very energy efficient operations. The electrostatic phase change generating apparatus uses a phase change vessel containing a liquid, a bubbler immersed in the liquid for conveying a gas, and a high voltage source to bias the liquid with respect to an upper electrode.
US07998252B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide an apparatus and method for certifying a filter in a containment system without decontaminating the containment system prior to certification. The apparatus generally comprises a valve assembly selectable between at least three operational states. A first state prevents flow from prevents flow through a port of a housing. A second state fluidly couples the port to test equipment necessary to test a filter disposed within the housing. A third state seals the port but fluidly couples the test equipment to a decontamination system.
US07998248B2
Process for the dehydration of gases, comprising: absorbing water vapor by means of a hygroscopic liquid consisting essentially of one or more C2-C8 glycols and an additive capable of forming a minimum type azeotrope with water; distilling the glycol/water/additive mixture to obtain a top product consisting mainly of the water/additive azeotropic mixture and a bottom product consisting mainly of glycol and additive (hygroscopic liquid); recycling the regenerated hygroscopic liquid to the absorption stage.
US07998229B2
The polishing composition contains polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-fatty acid ester, silicon dioxide, water soluble cellulose, an alkaline compound, and water. The content of polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-fatty acid ester in the polishing composition is less than 0.0025% by mass. The polishing composition is appropriate for final polishing of silicon wafers.
US07998226B2
An appliance is provided having a waste receptor module and an energy generation module for converting household waste into energy. The receptor module has a rotary drum with an opening for receiving the household waste and a steam reforming means for converting the waste into synthesis gas. A swing arm is attached adjacent to the opening in the rotary drum and a sealing door is mounted on the swing arm for sealing the opening when the waste receptor module is in operation. An outer door is used to cover the sealing door. The steam reforming means includes a tube mounted within the rotary drum for receiving the volatilized organic waste and an internal heater for heating the organic waste to temperatures to convert the waste into the synthesis gas. The energy generation module has an inlet in fluid communication with the waste receptor module for receiving the synthesis gas and a fuel cell for converting the synthesis gas into electrical energy.
US07998224B2
A melt of a material is cooled and a sheet of the material is formed in the melt. This sheet is transported, cut into at least one segment, and cooled in a cooling chamber. The material may be Si, Si and Ge, Ga, or GaN. The cooling is configured to prevent stress or strain to the segment. In one instance, the cooling chamber has gas cooling.
US07998222B2
A cosmetic composition suitable for use on mammalian skin, hair, and nails. These compositions contain a polymer and a colorant. The polymer of the composition mitigates staining caused by the colorant, and the polymer and colorant are opposite in charge. The present invention is also directed to methods of mitigating skin staining through using the cosmetic compositions.
US07998211B2
An intervertebral disk prosthesis is provided. The prosthesis comprises: a first plate for engaging a first vertebral body, said first plate comprising a first slot formed through the first plate; a second plate for engaging a second vertebral body, said second plate comprising a second slot formed through the second plate; a first anchor member, said first anchor member positioned and slidable through the first slot and having a sharp edge for penetrating into the first vertebral body; and a second anchor member, said second anchor member positioned and slidable through the second slot and having a sharp edge for penetrating into the second vertebral body. The first plate and the second plate engage with one another by way of complimentary concave and convex spherical cap portions to provide relative movement between the first plate and the second plate.
US07998209B2
This invention relates to implants formed from donor bone for use in lumbar interbody fusion procedures and instruments for performing such procedures. The implants are formed to include a concave surface formed from a portion of the medullary canal of a long bone. The concave surface defines a recess in the implant that serves as a depot for osteogenic material. Specific instruments for inserting the implants prepared according to this invention and for preparing the intervertebral space to receive the implants are also provided.
US07998205B2
The invention relates to an artificial meniscus part for a knee-joint prosthesis that has on an upper side at least one femoral joint surface for the movable mounting of an artificial, natural or machined condyle of a femur, wherein the at least one femoral joint surface is configured in the form of a depression facing away from the meniscus part wherein the depression has an anterior and a posterior end region and a width of the depression has a minimum between the anterior and the posterior end region.An improved meniscus part set, an improved knee-joint prosthesis and an improved knee-joint prosthesis set are further proposed.
US07998194B2
An improved hood provides for the attaching of endoluminal prosthesis within corporeal lumens. The hook is integrally formed with framing structure and is preset into an outward bend, but is resiliently flexible so as to form a substantially straight profile when compressed. The hook is capable of impinging upon the corporeal lumen and thereby securing the prosthesis. The hook may be configured for intraluminal delivery and deployment. A novel method of manufacturing said hook is also provided.
US07998190B2
An intravascular miniature stent pump comprising an intravascular stent for implantation at an implant site within a blood vessel and a miniature pump mounted on the stent, wherein the pump allows an adequate blood flow to prevent clotting within a lumen of the stent, and wherein the blood flow is equal to or greater than a blood flow at the implant site before implantation.
US07998183B2
A heat generating body wherein three or more plural sectional exothermic parts are provided at intervals via a sectioned part which is a heat seal part. The sectional exothermic parts have a heat generating composition capable of causing heat generation upon contact with oxygen in air and are at least constituted of three kinds of a low temperature sectional exothermic part, a middle temperature sectional exothermic part and a high temperature sectional exothermic part. A maximum temperature of the high temperature sectional exothermic part is higher than a maximum temperature of the low temperature sectional exothermic part. A maximum temperature of the middle temperature sectional exothermic part is between a maximum temperature of the high temperature sectional exothermic part and a maximum temperature of the low temperature sectional exothermic part. The middle temperature sectional exothermic part is constituted of plural sectional exothermic parts having a different maximum temperature.
US07998177B2
Superior and/or inferior facets of one or more facet joints may be replaced by superior and/or inferior facet joint prostheses. In one embodiment, a kit of superior or inferior prostheses is provided, in which the prostheses have at least two dimensions that vary among members of the kit independently of each other. Each prosthesis may have a bone engaging surface having a surface that is polyaxially rotatable against a corresponding resection of a vertebra. Each prosthesis may also have an articulating surface shaped such that, after attachment to the spine, the replaced or partially replaced facet joints provide a larger medial-lateral range of motion when the spine is flexed than when the spine is extended. Crosslinks may be used to connect left and right prosthesis together in such a manner that they are stabilized in a position in which they are seated directly against the vertebra.
US07998176B2
A method and apparatus of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebral body, an inferior vertebral body, and an intermediate vertebral body that is disposed between the superior and inferior vertebral bodies of a patient. The method can comprise: advancing a distal end of a stabilization device into a pedicle of the intermediate vertebral body; positioning a proximal portion of the stabilization device such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between the superior vertebral body and the intermediate vertebral body by contacting a surface of the superior vertebral body; and advancing a distal end of a fixation device into a facet of the intermediate vertebral body and into a facet or pedicle of the inferior vertebral body for stabilizing the intermediate vertebral body and the inferior vertebral body.
US07998174B2
An apparatus includes an elongate member having a portion configured to be deformed from a first configuration to a second configuration. In one variation, the apparatus includes an outer body, defining an interior region, and an inner body. A portion of the outer body is configured to be disposed between adjacent spinous processes. The inner body is disposed within the interior region of the outer body. A distal end portion of the inner body is coupled to a distal end portion of the outer body. A proximal end portion of the inner body configured to removably receive a tool to move the outer body between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
US07998172B2
Devices and methods for altering the spacing and motion at the facet joints of the vertebral column are provided. One embodiment of the invention comprises a prosthesis with surfaces configured to articulate with the facets of the facet joint. A retaining member for anchoring the prosthesis within the facet joint is optionally included. Methods for surgically and less invasively implanting the prosthesis and securing the prosthesis to the articular processes or surrounding soft tissue are also provided.
US07998164B2
Devices and methods for centering an intravascular filter within a blood vessel are disclosed. A filter system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an intravascular filter, a filter sheath adapted to contain the intravascular filter, and a centering member adapted to assume a preset shape when deployed within a blood vessel. The centering member may comprise an elongated wire having a hoop section adapted to radially expand against the inner wall of the blood vessel when deployed. In some embodiments, multiple centering members can be employed to facilitate centering of both the intravascular filter and the filter sheath within the blood vessel, if desired.
US07998157B2
A surgical tool system including a handpiece with a power generating unit and a control console for supplying energization signals to the power generating unit. Based on the data in a memory associated with the handpiece, the control console supplies energization signals to the handpiece power generating unit in either a motor drive mode or a direct drive mode. In the motor drive mode the signals are supplied to windings integral with the power generating unit based on the position of a rotor also part of the power generating unit. In the direct drive mode, energizaiton signals are supplied to the power generating unit independent of rotor position.
US07998145B2
A locking element comprising a frame defining a central lumen through which a portion of the elongate member fits; one or more levers extending in the second direction from the frame able to be moved between a locking position and a releasing position; and one or more tabs extending in the first direction from the frame able to be moved by the one or more levers between a locked position and a released position; wherein when the locking element is disposed on an enabling elongate member in a second direction from a second cross section, the one or more tabs prevent the locking element from moving in a first direction beyond a first cross section when disposed in the locked position and do not prevent the locking element from moving in the first direction when disposed in the released position.
US07998136B2
A radiation emitting apparatus is disclosed that emits a substantially homogenous beam of radiation from an irregularly shaped output end. As described herein, a radiation emitting apparatus includes a bundled fiber guide coupled to an energy distribution tuner. The bundled fiber guide is coupled to the energy distribution tuner to receive a substantially uniform distribution of high power energy. The bundled fiber guide is configured to distribute the energy to emit a substantially uniform distribution of lower power energy toward a target surface, such as a body surface. The bundled fiber guide may include a plurality of fused optic fibers, a plurality of beam splitting mirror elements, or tapered waveguides.
US07998128B2
A medical device for delivering material through tissue into a defined area of a patient may comprise: a material delivery element through which the material may flow out of a delivery end; the delivery end having an opening that can be inserted through a surface of the tissue; and a sealing system proximal to the delivery end that can extend away from the material delivery element along the surface of the tissue and apply pressure to the tissue after the material delivery element has been inserted through the surface of the tissue. A physical barrier may be provided on the material delivery device to reduce back flow loss of delivered material.
US07998120B2
A prefilled syringe composed of a barrel having a luer tip at one end and an open proximal end, the barrel having at least a three layer structure of an innermost layer, an outermost layer, both made of a polyolefin resin, and an intermediate layer made of a resin with a barrier property and sandwiched by the innermost layer and the outermost layer. The barrel is produced through the sequential steps of: (a) injecting a specific amount of a polyolefin resin inside a cavity; (b) injecting a specific amount of a resin excelling in barrier property; (c) injecting a specific amount of the polyolefin resin again; and (d) separating the luer tip surface and an injection unit by pushing off a valve pin provided inside a valve gate or an inner nozzle of the injection unit, which injects the resin excelling in barrier property, toward the direction of the luer tip surface as desired.
US07998115B2
A medical fluid machine includes an enclosure; a disposable unit accepted by the enclosure, the disposable unit including a conduit through which a medical fluid can flow, the conduit including a viewing portion; a light source configured and arranged to emit light onto the viewing portion of the conduit; a camera focused on the viewing portion of the conduit; and a processor configured to determine a speed of a particle entrained in the medical fluid based on at least two images of the particle in the viewing area taken by the camera.
US07998103B2
A shunt system for implantation of retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunts to establish a water tight connection that drains excess cerebrospinal fluid from hydrocephalic brain ventricles and delivers it, against the direction of blood flow, in a dural sinus comprising a valveless shunting catheter and a styforator. Retrograde ventriculo-sinus shunts mimic natural drainage of cerebrospinal fluid; they utilize natural forces to regulate the intraventricular pressure and to maintain it more than the sinus pressure, to prevent regurgitation of blood in the shunting catheter as a result of changes in posture or intra-thoracic pressure, to maintain a steady flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the venous circulation at a rate equal to and dependent upon the rate of it's formation, to discourage stagnation and clotting of blood at the venous end of the connection and to prevent siphonage in the erect posture.
US07998101B2
Disclosed are devices and methods for the control of body fluid flow in the extracorporeal treatment of body fluid. Body fluid flow through on of a body fluid flow circuit 10, 50, 60 100, or 250 is controlled by alternatingly applying vacuum pressure and positive pressure to the circuit through a pumping chamber 30, 51, 66, 102, or 200 coordinated with flow control valves 40, 42, 44, 62, 114, 116, 118, and 120 to effect a net downstream flow of body fluid through the circuit.
US07998092B2
A force sensor system for use in monitoring weight bearing on a location. The force sensor system comprises at least one a foot force sensor, a palm force sensor, and a knee force sensor. The foot force sensor comprises a flexible insole containing a plurality of inflatable pockets that are inflated with air or liquid. The palm force sensor and knee force sensor each comprise a wrap to be worn around the palm and knee, respectively. Each wrap comprises a pocket. Each pocket is connected to a tube that, in turn, connects with a pressure sensor and a connector coupling that is remote from the pocket. Each coupling contains a valve. The valve opens to allow inflation and deflation of each inflatable pocket. The pressure sensors measure the air or liquid pressure within each of the inflatable pockets, and convert the corresponding pressure signal into a suitable output signal medium, usually electrical signals. The output signal from the sensors provides accurate real time input data to a weight bearing biofeedback system or to control a stimulator for activation of an electronic orthosis to normalize dynamic gait patterns.
US07998068B2
An instrument access device (500) comprises a distal O-ring (11) for insertion into a wound interior, a proximal member for location externally of a wound opening and a sleeve (12) extending in two layers between the distal O-ring (11) and the proximal member. The proximal member comprises an inner proximal ring member (25) and an outer proximal ring member (24) between which the sleeve (12) is led. A seal housing (300) is mounted to the inner proximal ring member (25). A gelatinous elastomeric seal (302) with a pinhole opening (303) therethrough is received in the housing (300). An instrument may be extended through the seal (302) to access the wound interior through the retracted wound opening in a sealed manner.
US07998065B2
A device including at least one image sensor and a circuit board having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. The image sensor is disposed an a rigid section of the circuit board. The circuit board may be folded into a housing configured for in vivo sensing. An illumination source is electrically connected to a ring shaped rigid section and at least one battery is positioned between two of the rigid sections.
US07998060B2
Lumen-traveling devices capable of controlled material release and associated methods and systems are described. Lumen-traveling devices capable of traveling within a body lumen may include a propelling mechanism to produce movement of the lumen-traveling device within the lumen, as well as additional components such as a sensor, a material release portion, and/or control circuitry. In some embodiments, a sensor may be used to detect a local condition, and a material may be released from the device in response.
US07998053B2
A transcranial magnetic stimulation induction coil device (“TMS coil device”) is manufactured to contain coil windings of a predetermined size and shape and fixedly positioned at a predetermined location within and orientation in relation to a casing of the TMS coil device. In one embodiment, the coil windings are encased in a casting at a predetermined location within and orientation in relation to the casting, and the casting is fixedly positioned at a predetermined location within and orientation in relation to the casing. The size and shape of the coil windings and the casing within, and the location and orientation of the coil windings in relation to each other and the casing of, the TMS coil device are known with a high level of precision, such that navigated brain stimulation can be performed with the TMS coil device with a high degree of accuracy. In another embodiment, the TMS coil device defines a space interposed between the coil windings and the casing and containing a gas which absorbs heat energy generated at the coil windings, thereby reducing the rate of transfer of heat energy from the coil windings to the casing during operation of the TMS coil device.
US07998052B2
A rotor having variable volumes adapted for collecting and centrifuging biological fluids including an impermeable flexible body having a cylindrical shape with stretchable vertical walls and semi pliant base and a rigid circular member seamlessly joined to the top of the flexible body.
US07998051B2
In a centrifugal separator comprising a first and second separator part having a centrifuge rotor and rotates during operation relative to the first separator part. A space connecting the first and second separator parts houses a rotating liquid body during operation. A mechanical sealing device is provided at the space and includes a first sealing element on the first separator part having a first contact surface, and a second sealing element on the second separator part having a second contact surface. The liquid body on the first sealing element or the second sealing element and displaces the same axially so that the first and second contact surfaces are pressed against each other. A pre-tensioning element exerts force on the sealing element which acts to displace the first contact away from the second contact surfaces so that a gap is formed, forming a throttling.
US07998049B1
The cartoner has been designed to form cartons from blanks, whereby the formed cartons have tapered concave sides. A unique series of elements, including capture lugs which hold and “bow” the carton blank, together with plow rods and oscillators which have curved metal plates are used to “pre-break” the score lines of the blank. Travelling pressure blocks having convex outer surfaces are used to press the concave sides of the carton while hot glue dries, whereby the unique, tapered cartons are properly formed.
US07998044B2
Combined push pad and fixed handle accessory for use with elliptical cross training exercise machine
An accessory device for use with an elliptical cross training machine comprises two like-configured attachments, each of with generally comprises a handle attachment bracket, a substantially horizontal stabilizer bar, a combined palm push pad/handle attachment bracket, a fixed handle, and a push palm pad. The fixed handle and the palm pad are fully and rotatably movable around and about the stabilizer bar. Each is also longitudinally movable along the stabilizer bar to provide inward and outward movement of the fixed handle and the push palm pad relative to the original handle positions of the elliptical cross trainer to which they are attached. The accessory device allows the user to have a combined platform to push from, in a form that is similar to doing a push up from the floor, as well as a fixed point handle that presents to the user at a more natural shoulder angle.
US07998039B1
An abdominal exercise device comprising a seat back pivotally attached to a base that includes a foot plate, wherein a spring or other resistive element is attached between the seat back and the base, which is capable of simultaneously exercising a plurality of muscle groups while standing, in a hands-free manner. While the user is standing on the foot plate, abdominal and other muscles are exercised when the user presses in a backward direction against the seat back, and then releases the pressure on the seat back such that the seat back returns to an upright or near upright position. The exercise device includes the capability of tension adjustment on the seat back, such that more or less force can be applied to cause the seat back to move in a backward direction.
US07998037B2
An adjustable resistance training apparatus that is provided with one or more elongated elastomeric members that are supported by a carrier. The adjustable resistance training apparatus also includes a slide that is configured to be moved along a guided path in response to a force exerted by a user's body. The slide includes an engagement member that is configured to permit selective engagement to the second end of one or more of the elastomeric members, once positioned by the carrier, to cause the selected elastomeric member or members to be stretched along a second plane in response to movement of the slide along the guided path. The adjustable resistance training apparatus can be coupled to isotonic weights in the form of a selectable weight stack that moves along a second guided path in response to a force exerted by a user's body or used with plate loaded devices. The combination of resistance tubes and weights results in progressive resistance regardless of the speed of movement of the weight stack.
US07998035B2
A kung fu training device of the present invention mainly includes a base portion, a body portion and two arms. The body portion is disposed on the base portion. The body portion includes a vertical rod, a lateral rod and a wrapping element. The lateral rod is firmly disposed on the vertical rod. The wrapping element covers the rods. The arms are disposed on the body portion. The arms are height-adjustable and relative-distance-adjustable. As such, the kung fu training device is suitable for trainees with different body sizes, and almost whole training device can be attack by trainees without injury.
US07998034B1
The runner arm training apparatus provides feedback to a user and help for a user in establishing a correct upper arm to lower arm, or elbow, angle. Typically, this angle is about 90 degrees. However, the apparatus may also be used to aid in preventing a 90-degree elbow bend, for perhaps a different athletic or rehabilitating pursuit.
US07998031B2
A device and method of use for the same adapted for aquatic exercise. The device includes an inner member and an outer foam member, each having a length much greater than its respective average outside diameters and both the inner member and an outer foam member having approximately the same length. The inner member adapted to be water-tight and being located substantially within the outer foam member. Where the inner member is more rigid than said outer foam member.
US07998009B2
The present invention relates to a mechanical and hydraulic composite transmission device which includes an engine, a transmission, a planetary gear case, a variable displacement hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor and a transmission gearbox. The planetary gear case distributes the power driven by the engine to drive the variable displacement hydraulic pump and the center gear respectively. The variable displacement hydraulic pump is connected with and drives a hydraulic motor and a half shaft orderly. The half shaft converges a mechanical power flow driven by the center gear and a hydraulic power flow driven by the hydraulic motor, and extends out of the planetary gear case so as to export power. The special vehicle can run at stepless variable speed under the mechanical and hydraulic composite transmission means while the working device on the vehicle is driven under the mechanical transmission means to work.
US07997993B1
A central junction in a generally Y-shaped configuration has a primary leg and first and second secondary legs with a recess formed in each leg. First and second elastic cords have interior and exterior ends. An essentially rigid shaft has an elastomeric grip on its interior end. First and second clips each have a base with a recess and a resilient finger with a free end. Two connectors are located between the interior ends of the cords and the recesses of the secondary legs. Two connectors are located between the exterior ends of the cords and the recesses of the clips. One connector is located between the exterior end of the shaft and recess of the primary leg.
US07997990B2
A direct torque flow constant velocity joint collet connector includes an outer joint part having outer ball tracks, an inner joint part having inner ball tracks, a cage and a plurality of balls. The inner joint part is articulately secured in a rotationally fast way to the outer joint part with the plurality of balls held in the cage. The inner joint part includes a front portion, an inner bore, a collet extension and at least one slot. The collet extension extends from the inner ball tracks to the front portion of the inner joint part. The slot extends into the collet extension from the front portion between an outer surface and the inner bore of the inner joint part, wherein the collet extension of the inner joint part is compressible for selective attachment to a journal shaft of a supplied drive unit.
US07997986B2
A steering wheel-shaped joystick of an arcade game machine is provided. The steering wheel-shaped joystick is rotated to generate a direction signal and send it to the arcade game machine. The steering wheel-shaped joystick includes a plurality of rods which are radiantly distributed, and includes at least one button at the end of the rods. The button is used to generate a function signal and send it to the arcade game machine so as to control ship-related electronic games of the arcade game machine.
US07997980B2
A gaming system and method of playing a gaming device by a user. The method includes inserting a voucher having a voucher value into the gaming device and accessing a database having voucher data associated with the voucher. The voucher value is verified. The user is queried for a credit value of a base wagering denomination. Calculations of full game credits and partial game credits are performed based upon the voucher value and the credit value. The full game credits, the partial game credits, and the voucher value are displayed on a game display. The method allows partial or all credits to be played at any time. The method provides for recording of game events to a database. The method also allows for the user to change the base wagering denomination during game play.
US07997972B2
A gaming system includes: (i) a base wagering game requiring a wager to made by a player; (ii) at least one winning outcome for the base wagering game; (iii) a paytable for the at least one winning outcome; a secondary award provided randomly to the player, the secondary party award provided by a secondary award provider and kept separate and apart from the paytable; and (iv) advertising for secondary award provider, the advertising provided in exchange for the provision of the secondary award.
US07997971B2
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for implementing a video poker game allowing a player to double (or increase) his or her initial bet. After the initial deal, the player can decide to double the initial bet before drawing new cards. Both the initial bet and optional doubled bet are paid to the player.
US07997965B2
An air distribution system for an air conditioning system includes an air supply and a plurality of air distribution units. The air distribution units are arranged in a side-by-side configuration. The air supply is operably connected to at least one of the air distribution units. Each air distribution unit includes a delivery feature for delivering air from the air supply through the air distribution unit and into an adjacent air distribution unit.
US07997963B2
A powder spray booth (2) with a powder recovery system having an overspray intake (18) communicating with the interior of the booth. A vertically extending duct (20) leads from the overspray intake to a powder recovery system such as, for example, a cyclone. The vertically extending duct may have doors (32) opening to the interior of the booth to provide access to the vertical duct for cleaning. The doors may have holes (120) to aspirate air from the booth interior to optimize air flow patterns within the booth. A diverter plate (26) within the booth (2) defines with the booth floor (10) a floor duct leading to the overspray intake (18). The diverter plate has apertures for allowing oversprayed powder to be collected through the plate. The diverter plate may be provided as two or more diverter plates held at different elevation levels within the booth to define a floor duct which is larger in parts of the floor duct which are closer to the overspray intake than parts of the floor duct which are farther from the overspray intake. The coating system may include an air assist which provides jets of air across a portion of the interior surface of the booth. The surface may be one or more sloped portions (22) of the floor and/or one or more portions of the diverter plate. The air supply may be pulsed to produce periodic bursts of air across the interior surface.
US07997962B2
A belt sander is disclosed that may include a sanding assembly having a first roller and a second roller, the sanding assembly being configured to receive a sanding belt around the first roller and the second roller to define a sanding surface therebetweeen. The belt sander may include a motor operationally coupled to the sanding assembly and opposite the sanding surface, the motor being configured to rotate at least the first roller and thereby rotate the sanding belt around the first roller and the second roller, as well as a handgrip formed around at least a portion of the motor and substantially encasing the motor.
US07997960B2
An abrasive disk assembly is provided for a floor resurfacing machine wherein the floor machine has at least one shaft configured to rotate about an axis substantially orthogonal to a work surface, the abrasive disk assembly including a head assembly of predetermined dimension configured to be coupled to one end of the shaft of the floor machine proximate the work surface, the head assembly including a central portion to be coupled to the shaft and a carrier portion for receiving at least one abrasive pad thereon, the carrier portion including at least one coupler in the form of a hook, a tab, a finger, a flange, and a tab extending from a peripheral edge of the carrier portion. At least one abrasive pad assembly is detachably coupled to one of the central portion and the carrier portion, and includes a first end received over the coupler and an opposite end to be attached to one of the central portion and the carrier portion.
US07997953B2
A precision machining method enabling grinding with high accuracy is provided. The method includes a first step of producing an intermediate ground workpiece by roughly grinding a workpiece (a) with a diamond grinding wheel (b), and a second step of producing a final ground workpiece by grinding the intermediate ground workpiece with a grinding wheel for CMG. In the first step, feed of the rotator (6b) and the base (3) is controlled in multiple stages with different feed speeds according to control based on the amount of movement, and in the second step, movement of the rotator (6b) and the base (3) is controlled with a constant pressure or in multiple stages having different constant pressures.
US07997948B2
An apparatus includes an upper portion, a sole and a fin. The upper portion is configured to at least partially cover a foot. The sole is coupled to the upper portion and defines a cavity. The fin has a first portion and a second portion. The fin is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. When in the first configuration, the fin is substantially within the cavity defined by the sole, and the first portion of the fin at least partially overlaps the second portion of the fin. When in the second configuration, the fin extends substantially outside the cavity defined by the sole.
US07997947B2
System of a hydrocarbon transfer buoy and a vessel, the buoy having a length of at least 50 m and a length-to-width ratio of at least 10:1, and including a submerged buoyancy member having a length of at least 30 m and being situated at a depth of at least 10 m below water level, another support frame protecting above water level being connected to the top of the buoyancy member and carrying a support deck and a mooring buoy connector for attaching to a mooring arm connector of the vessel, which mooring arm connector is situated on an arm projecting outboard from the vessel's hull, the buoy being anchored to the sea bed via anchor lines which extend at an angle to a vertical direction, at least one hydrocarbon riser being attached to the buoy. The buoyancy member being connected to the sea bed via at least one substantially vertical taut tendon. The riser has a length of at least 500 m, and includes a steel riser part attached to the buoy, the riser extending up to the mooring buoy connector and being closable by a valve, the riser at its end including a connecting member for releasably attaching to a duct on the mooring arm connector.
US07997931B2
In one possible embodiment, a waterproof connector is provided having a unitary compressible housing comprised of a waterproof material encasing a finger board. The finger board is constructed to receive interconnect wires and corresponding electrical contact pins, which are secured to the finger board. The housing has a well portion within the housing, the electrical contact pins extend through the waterproof material from the finger board into the well. Partition portions within the well extend between the electrical contact pins. A sealing lip portion is around the well on a mating side. The housing also has a compressible backing portion behind the finger board. The unitary compressible housing may be constructed to be seated in a structural housing, which may be a recess or the like in a structural member or component of an apparatus.
US07997926B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors. Specifically, the methods and systems relate to isolation and compensation techniques for minimizing alien crosstalk between connectors for use with high-speed data cabling. A frame can be configured to receive a number of connectors. Shield structures may be positioned to isolate at least a subset of the connectors from one another. The connectors can be positioned to move at least a subset of the connectors away from alignment with a common plane. A signal compensator may be configured to adjust a data signal to compensate for alien crosstalk. The connectors are configured to efficiently and accurately propagate high-speed data signals by, among other functions, minimizing alien crosstalk.
US07997915B2
An electrical pin or socket terminal includes a vertical tubular body portion, and a spring clip portion connected with the upper end of the body portion. The spring clip portion includes two opposed electrical contacts at least one of which is resiliently biased toward the other. A separating arrangement is operable between a separated condition retaining the contacts in separated spaced relation for longitudinally receiving therebetween a conductor bare end, and a released condition in which the contacts are released for resilient electrical engagement with diametrically opposed surfaces of the conductor bare end. In one embodiment, the spring clip portion includes a pair of parallel spaced struts the upper ends of which are reversely bent toward each other. In another embodiment, a leaf spring electrical contact biases the bare conductor end against a stationary electrical contact.
US07997914B2
An assembly for a receptacle for an electrical connector plug, including a chassis for inserting an electrical connector plug therein, two slideable grooved latches mounted on two opposite side surfaces of the chassis, that slide along the two opposite sides under applied force, two springs fastened to respective ones of the two slideable latches, mounted on the two opposite side surfaces of the chassis, a bar mounted between the two slideable latches, and a receptacle for the connector plug, mounted on the bar and including a plurality of contact pins for electrical contact with the connector plug, wherein (i) when the connector plug is pushed into the receptacle, the two slideable latches are pushed away from respective ones of the two springs, causing the two springs to stretch and to exert tensions thereon, and (ii) when the connector plug is pushed a second time, the two slideable latches are released, causing the connector plug to be partially ejected from the receptacle.
US07997912B2
A three-dimensional connector, which is used by a coordinate input device of a touch pad, has a flat conductor cable with an end being connected to the touch pad and another end forming a soldered conductive contact head perpendicular to the flat conductor cable to pass through a support to shorten a length of said conductor cable and enhance electro-conductibility of the connector.
US07997903B2
A medical training apparatus comprises a frame defining a work space simulating a body cavity and having an access opening to allow introduction of a medical instrument to the working space from externally of the working space. A sensor platform is rotationally mounted in the working space for rotating the platform to select angular positions for performing a series of simulated medical procedures. A plurality of modules are mounted around a perimeter of the platform. Each module comprises a different model upon which an associated medical procedure can be performed with a medical instrument. A plurality of sensors are each operatively associated with one of the modules for sensing progress of the associated medical procedure. A control unit is coupled to the sensors for monitoring progress of the medical procedures and providing an indication of status of the medical procedures.
US07997899B2
In a dental, dental-medical or dental-technical handpiece, having an elongate grip sleeve there are provided at the rearward end of the grip sleeve coupling elements for the connection of the handpiece to a supply hose to be connected with a dental supply arrangement, and there are provided at the forward end of the grip sleeve a head section with a tool receiver for mounting a tool to be put into rotation. The handpiece further has an electric motor for driving a tool held by the tool receiver, which motor is completely integrated into the grip sleeve such that grip sleeve and motor form a unit.
US07997889B2
A hard mold and method of preparing the mold is disclosed. The hard mold is designed for manufacturing articles having various shapes and patterns. The shaping mold includes a layer of hardened material provided over the entire surface of the selected master. The inventor has found that a polyurea coating or other polyurethane hybrid is preferred. Once the layer of hardened material has dried, the surface of the hardened material is sanded with a 20-40 grit sandpaper and a layer of polyester resin is then applied to the layer of hardened material. Once the polyester resin is applied, multiple layers of vinyl ester are applied to the polyester resin to prevent the polyester resin from shrinking. In the preferred embodiment, the application includes at least three (3) layers of vinyl ester.
US07997888B2
A die for forming a honeycomb structure is provided with back pores through which a forming material is introduced and slits through which the forming material is extruded into a lattice-like shape, and the die comprises a first plate-like member made of a super hard alloy containing tungsten carbide and a bonding agent and provided with the back pores extending in a thickness direction; and a second plate-like member bonded to the first plate-like member, made of the super hard alloy containing tungsten carbide and the bonding agent, and provided with the slits connected to the back pores, wherein the bonding agent is dispersed in a lesser amount in a bonded part between the first plate-like member and the second plate-like member than in the other part.
US07997884B2
An oil pump has: a base part having a working chamber; and a rotor provided rotatably in the working chamber. The base part is configured by a plurality of split bodies. At least one of the plurality of split bodies is made of aluminum alloy, and on which an opposed sliding surface made of a ceramic film is formed. The ceramic film of the opposed sliding surface has a hardness of approximately Hv 500 to 1100 and a surface roughness of approximately 2 to 8 micrometers, and contains α-alumina and zirconia.
US07997881B2
A combined prime valve and electrical pressure control apparatus including a prime valve actuator, an electrical pressure control actuator, and a control housing containing the actuators, with each coupled to a single shaft having a cam assembly for selectively actuating the control apparatus to one of a prime mode and a spray mode and the electrical pressure control is operable within a range of pressure settings by movement of the shaft while the control apparatus remains in the spray mode. The actuators are oriented diametrically opposite and offset along an axis of the single shaft with respect to each other, and contact the cam assembly and respectively contact a lever for a prime valve and a pressure switch carrier. A setscrew in the carrier provides adjustment of the pressure at which the switch is actuated.
US07997877B2
A scroll compressor for compressing fluid has a common terminal block for electrical hook-ups. The compressor includes a compressor section; a drive unit operative to drive the compressor section for compressing fluid; a protection module; and a power connector for connecting electrical power to the drive unit to facilitate operation of the scroll compressor bodies. The common terminal block provides for connection to the protection module and the power connector for the compressor.
US07997860B2
A nozzle blade comprising radially inner and outer walls with an airfoil portion extending therebetween; the inner and outer walls formed with alignment features on respective oppositely-facing surfaces aligned with a longitudinal center axis through the nozzle blade.
US07997855B2
A wind turbine is provided having a gearbox containing a lubrication medium, a pump for circulating the lubrication medium, and a gearbox lubrication suction pipe for transporting the lubrication medium from the gearbox to the pump. A heater is in thermal connection to, at least a portion of, the gearbox lubrication suction pipe. This heater is used to heat the lubrication medium contained within the gearbox lubrication suction pipe to a temperature where damage to the pump is avoided.
US07997851B2
A new apparatus for processing substrates is disclosed. A multi-level load lock chamber having four environmentally isolated chambers interfaces with a transfer chamber that has a robotic assembly. The robotic assembly has two arms that each can move horizontally as the robotic assembly rotates about its axis. The arms can reach into the isolated chambers of the load lock to receive substrates from the bottom isolated chambers, transport the substrates to process chambers, and then place the substrates in the upper chambers. The isolated chambers in the load lock chamber may have a pivotably attached lid that may be opened to access the inside of the isolated chambers.
US07997850B2
A small vehicle loading and transport deck for pickup trucks which includes a box-like frame which is positioned within the bed of the truck and which has a deck movably mounted thereon which is movable from an inclined and rearwardly extending loading/unloading position to a transport position wherein the deck is positioned on the top of the frame. The box-like frame provides a storage area beneath the deck so that articles or objects may be stored therein. A winch is provided for moving the deck between its loading/unloading position and its transport position and vice versa. The winch may also be used to load a disabled vehicle onto the platform.
US07997845B2
A sheet handling device for handling large sheets of glass or other sheet material, the device comprising a wheeled trolley having an upright support shaft (2), a carriage movable along the shaft (2) into a selected position, and at least two vacuum grips mounted to the carriage to engage the sheet at positions displaced in the height direction of the sheet. In another embodiment the carriage is movable by operation of a winch. The trolley is normally used in conjunction with a second like trolley so that the vacuum grips of the two trolleys engage the sheet at spaced positions along the length of the sheet. The two trolleys are preferably interconnected by releasable bracing which can be stored on the trolleys for ease of transportation. In a further embodiment there is also disclosed a glass installation guide to facilitate guidance of a large glass sheet into a frame during installation.
US07997840B2
The present invention is directed to a self locking tensioner that can be used to place a piston or stud in tension. The present invention is directed to a tensioner comprising slip wedges positioned between a piston and a body which houses the piston and the slip wedges.
US07997835B2
A tool (10) including a drive shaft (36) having an axis of rotation, and a plurality of bit holders (28,30) interchangeable with one another at a position of use. The bit holders (28,30) being mounted on a turret (26) which is rotatable around an axis (k) set at an angle to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft (36). The drive shaft (36) being in drive connection with a respective bit holder (28,30) at the position of use, wherein the tool (10) includes means (20x) for engaging a clutch (46) which activates a drive train (44) to establish a drive connection between the drive shaft (36) and the turret (26) so that subsequent operation of the drive shaft (36) rotates the turret (26) to interchange the positions of the bit holders (28,30) at the position of use, and wherein after the turret (26) has been rotated the clutch (46) is disengaged to deactivate the drive train (44) to prevent any further rotation of the turret (26).
US07997828B2
Retaining wall device, comprising at least one first retaining wall member (5) and a support (3, 4) for it, wherein the first retaining wall member and the support have first and second longitudinal edges, respectively, extending in longitudinal direction of the retaining wall, which longitudinal edges have been formed for connection to each other by a tilting or rotary motion about one or several axes that are parallel to the longitudinal edges, wherein the longitudinal edge that is opposite the first longitudinal edge (8) of the first retaining wall member is designed corresponding to the second longitudinal edge, wherein the first and second longitudinal edges can be provided with stop surfaces for limiting the tilting motion to mutual abutment of the first and second longitudinal edges in a retaining position of the first retaining wall member.
US07997827B2
A watercraft support and tote device having a frame sub-assembly having a first frame member and a second frame member and at least one support member; a power output member; a hydraulic sub-assembly having a hydraulic vessel, a control system, and a conduit; at least one ground engaging wheel; a drive member; a winch; and a plurality of watercraft support members.
US07997825B2
An apparatus and a method for disabling a ground engaging traction device of a land vehicle includes at least one penetrator configured to breach the traction device, an articulated strap configured to move between a retracted arrangement and an extended arrangement, an inflatable bladder configured to deploy the articulated strip to the extended arrangement, and a retractor configured to retract the articulated strip to the retracted arrangement. The articulated strip includes a plurality of plates coupled to the penetrators and a plurality of joints, wherein individual joint couples individual adjacent plates.
US07997820B2
An immersion-type multi-applicator system, comprising a single container and a single handle. The container has two or more adjacent openings and each opening is capable of receiving its own applicator. Also provided is a selection mechanism that articulates the handle with exactly one applicator. The selection mechanism may be a rotary cam system, a rotary magnetic selector system, a sliding cam system, etc.
US07997817B2
A keypad lifting mechanism includes a first board, a second board and a third board. The second board is positioned between the first board and the third board. The first board has a plurality of wedges. The third board has a plurality of protrusions. The second board has a plurality of resisting members. When the second board is pushed away the first board and the third board, the second board is raised relative to the first board by engagement of the wedges and the resisting member, and the third board is raised relative to the second board by engagement of the resisting members and the protrusions.
US07997815B2
A printer includes a feeding device that feeds a tape-like print medium along a length direction of the print medium and a printing device that prints a character on the print medium. The printer further includes a storage device that stores original data including unit data, line feed data, and line height data. The printer also includes a tape width detecting device that detects a tape width. Further, the printer includes a maximum number of lines calculating device that calculates a maximum number of lines that can be accommodated within the tape width when the height of the line is unchanged, and a print data generating device that generates print data corresponding to the maximum number of lines from the original data, and a printing control device that controls the printing device based on the print data.
US07997808B1
A camera mount, comprising a camera mounting portion, wherein a camera can be removably coupled to the camera mounting portion, such that a photographic plane of the camera is parallel to a photographic plane of the camera mounting portion; a rail portion, wherein the rail portion extends from the camera mounting portion substantially perpendicular to the photographic plane of the camera mounting portion; and a frame, wherein the frame is adapted to receive one or more reference scales such that a photographic plane of the one or more reference scales is parallel to a photographic plane of the camera mounting portion, and wherein the frame is coupled to the rail portion such that a photographic plane of the frame is parallel to a photographic plane of the camera mounting portion elements.
US07997801B2
Linear roller bearing, for carriage (1) which is longitudinally displaceable along rail (2). Carriage (1) has an endless channel (8) for endless circulation of rolling bodies (9). Channel (8) has load section (10), return section (11) and two deflection sections (12) which connect load section (10) to return section (11). Rolling bodies (9) roll in load section (10) on raceways (10a, 10b), and returned, without load, in return section (11). Bodies (9) are deflected in deflection sections (12) between load section (10) and return section (11). Deflection sections (12) have one inner deflection means (14) with inner deflection race (16) and outer deflection means (13) with outer deflection race (15). Inner deflection means (14) and outer deflection means (13) are connected, integrally to one another.
US07997800B2
A mounting plate is used to install any optional accoutrements or attachment on a linear motion guide unit. The mounting plate is made of a molded product which is inexpensive in production cost and easier in its accurate conjunction with a slider to get the attachment bringing out the best in function. The mounting plate is made to have surfaces opposite to each other, one of which is a first mounting surface inward coming into mating with the one end surface of the slider and another is a second mounting surface outward coming into mating with the attachment. The mounting plate is made of a molded product. The mounting plate is made of an injected mold product of synthetic resin which is composed of a major part of synthetic resin and a metal core centrally embedded in the major part.
US07997796B2
This invention relates to x-ray imaging, especially to an imaging arrangement used in intra-oral x-ray imaging, to a wireless imaging sensor and to a base station for the sensor as well as methods for using the sensor and transmitting the information to the sensor and from the sensor wirelessly, in which invention such a wireless power transmission link is used, which is arranged to be used for supplying at least part of the energy needed by the sensor in connection with the imaging process.
US07997794B2
A temperature sensor circuit whose output voltage has high precision is provided. The temperature sensor circuit includes a Darlington circuit having bipolar transistors, a constant current circuit, and a current control circuit. Emitter currents of the bipolar transistors are made equal to one another by the constant current circuit. Base currents corresponding to the emitter currents of the respective bipolar transistors are sunk by the current control circuit.
US07997785B2
A linear tube night light with changeable light patterns includes a light source selected from the group consisting of at leas one LED, strobe light, neon light, gradation light, black light, LED inside tube, high voltage discharge light, arc light, fluorescent light, EL wire, EL twisted light, EL panel light, and/or EL strips, with changeable light patterns being effected by automatic or manual control means to obtain light patterns such as chasing, random, fade in and fade out, pair flashing, scan, flashing, steady on, gradation neon effects, lighted length changing, color changing, sequential flashing, and any other combinations of conventional market available functions. The linear tube night light with changeable patterns further may incorporate a light sensor, sound sensor, or timer to get the predetermined light effects and duration.
US07997782B2
A lamp for emitting light, comprising a transparent sheet-like lightguide, with at least one light receiving side, a light emission front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface. The lamp further comprises a plurality of light sources, positioned in an array and optically coupled to at least one light receiving side. The back surface of said lamp comprises a plurality of optical extraction structures, for example provided in parallel curved lines. Furthermore, the lamp is substantially free from light scattering structures in a light path of the light to be emitted.
US07997779B2
In a vehicle lamp unit that is configured to be mounted on a vehicle, a semiconductor light source can be substantially covered with a first reflector and, therefore, the semiconductor light source is not visually observable (or, is difficult to see) from outside the lamp unit even when a projection lens is disposed in front of the opening of the first reflector and spaced from the first reflector so as not to contact the first reflector. Thus, a vehicle lamp unit having a novel design can be provided in which the projection lens appears as if it is floating in air and in which the semiconductor light source is not visually seen or is difficult to be seen from the outside.
US07997778B2
A vehicle light can include a reflector and a light source. The reflector has a reflection surface formed by at least part of a parabolic cylindrical surface obtained by moving a parabola by parallel displacement, where the parabola has a coefficient of 0.5, a focal length, and a focal point. The light source includes at least one set of at least two light emitting devices that have respective light emission surfaces facing toward the reflection surface. The at least two light emitting devices include a front light emitting device and a rear light emitting device spaced apart by a predetermined distance along an illumination direction of the vehicle light, with the focal point interposed between the front and rear light emitting devices.
US07997766B2
The invention relates to a light-emitting display including a front plate, N heat-conducting/dissipating apparatuses, and N light-emitting apparatuses, wherein N is a natural number. The front plate has N formed-through apertures thereon. Each of the N heat-conducting/dissipating apparatuses, corresponding to one of the N formed-through apertures and one of the N light-emitting apparatuses, is inserted into the corresponding aperture via a neck portion thereof. Each of the N light-emitting apparatuses is mounted on the flat portion of the corresponding heat-conducting/dissipating apparatus. Thereby, the heat generated during the operation of each of the N light-emitting apparatuses is conducted by the corresponding heat-conducting/dissipating apparatus to the back side of the front plate, and then it is dissipated by the corresponding heat-conducting/dissipating apparatus.
US07997755B2
A flashlight assembly includes an outer housing, an inner housing received in the outer housing, a cover partially received in the outer housing, and a base disposed in a top of the outer housing. The base has a protrusion extended into the inner housing via the outer housing. The base has two side grooves respectively defined in a lateral of the protrusion. The inner housing has two male projections. The cover has two female recesses. Each male projection engages with one of the two female recesses. The cover has two side protrusions. Each side protrusion engages with one of the two side grooves. The outer housing, the inner housing, the cover, and the base are firmly assembled.
US07997752B2
A lighting device includes a light collecting unit, a solar cell panel, a storage battery, a lighting element and a control unit. The light collecting unit includes a lens exposed to outside light, and an optical leveling element. The optical leveling element includes a light guide plate having a dot pattern arranged thereon and facing toward the lens module. A refractive index of the dot pattern gradually increases from a center to a periphery. The solar cell panel is aligned with the optical leveling element, and is configured for receiving light transmitted through the optical leveling element and converting the light into electrical energy. The control unit is connected to the solar cell panel and the storage battery, and is configured for controlling the solar cell panel to power the storage battery and controlling the storage battery to power the lighting element.
US07997751B2
A pressure-actuated light device (1) with a holding portion (2) that allows a user to hold the pressure-actuated light device in a user's hand. The pressure-actuated light device comprises a housing (3) which houses a light emitting diode (“LED”) (6) having a cathode (11) and an anode (10) extending from it. The cathode has one end permanently connected to the LED and a second end in constant contact with a negative terminal (8) of a battery (7). The anode has one end permanently connected to the LED and a second end separated from a positive terminal (9) of the battery by a spacer (12) which prevents the anode from making contact with the positive terminal while the device is not in use. When pressure is applied to a button (4) on the housing, the button presses the anode against the positive terminal thereby creating an electrical circuit which activates the LED. The holding portion may take alternative forms, including a fin (13), clip (14), ring (15) or elastomeric loop (16).
US07997747B2
In a discharge tube, a conductive ferrule is provided on an end portion of a glass tube. The ferrule includes a body that is to be mounted to the outer circumference of the glass tube and has a contact portion to be electrically conductively fixed to a relay connector (or a bearing device). Further included is a conductive portion that extends from the body so as to have elastic contact with an outer lead. The outer lead will not be under load due to the weight of the discharge tube, but the conductive portion solely has elastic contact therewith. Thus, stress concentration on the outer lead can be prevented.
US07997737B2
A projection display device enhances reliability and reduces speckle noise. A blue laser, a red laser, and a green laser emit blue laser light, red laser light, and green laser light, respectively. A spatial light modulation element modulates the blue laser light emitted from the blue laser, the red laser light emitted from the red laser, and the green laser light emitted from the green laser. A projection lens projects the laser light modulated by the spatial light modulation element onto a screen. First and second light diffusing elements are arranged on an optical axis between the blue laser, the red laser, and the green laser, and the spatial light modulation element to change the degree of diffusion of the blue laser light, the red laser light, and the green laser light temporally and electrically.
US07997736B2
A projector comprises: a cooling fan for sucking ambient air through a filter; switching means for switching the operational mode of the cooling fan between a lowland mode and a highland mode; and control means adapted to obtain current fan voltage to determine the normal rpm value for that current fan voltage in reference to a highland voltage-rpm characteristic when the switching means is in the highland mode, obtain current fan rpm, and enables alarming means to issue a filter clogging alarm in the event that the current fan rpm is larger than the normal rpm value plus a predetermined value. Thus, filter clogging can be detected with precision in highlands.
US07997726B2
A method for determining by optimization a set of progressive ophthalmic lenses for a given user for whom a near vision power addition (Addn) has been prescribed includes the following steps: measuring the user's near vision individual physiological parameters; determining an ergorama associating, on each lens, a target point in each look direction in worn conditions; determining a target power defect and a resulting target astigmatism for each direction of look under worn conditions, the target power defect and the resulting target astigmatism being determined from the user's measured physiological parameters; computing the power required for each lens for said ergorama by successive iterations to reach the target power defect and the target astigmatism for each look direction.
US07997725B2
A method of slowing the progression of myopia in a person, comprises applying to the eye of the person contact lens or lenses each including a vision correction area for correcting in use the myopic vision of a wearer, and a myopic defocus area having a less negative focal power, to simultaneously present a controlled myopic defocus to the retina both when viewing in the distance and also when viewing at near. Contact lenses and their use are also claimed.
US07997724B1
This invention relates to an illuminated eyeglass, in which temple arms are respectively hinged on both sides of frame, and lighting apparatuses are provided in the interiors of the temple arms. The light emitting bodies of the lighting apparatuses are disposed in front ends of the temple arms such that the direction of light beam emitted from the light emitting bodies is in conformity with user's view direction. Additionally, the switch members for the lighting apparatuses are projected out to the flanks of the temple arms so that users are easy to operate the switch members to turn on the light emitting bodies. In this manner, the eyeglass can fully display the benefit of helping the people to see clearly all things around.
US07997718B2
A substrate having an IR-absorbing metal-cyanine dye disposed thereon. The dye is a metal-cyanine complex of formula (I): with axial ligands of formula (III): wherein: C1 represents a core unit having two or more branching positions; each P1 is independently selected from H or a hydrophilic moiety; g1 is an integer from 2 to 8; q1 is 0 or an integer from 1 to 6; and each p1 is independently selected from 0 or an integer from 1 to 6.
US07997714B2
A system and associated methods for printing matte and glossy images on a glossy media substrate including an ink set that includes at least one pigmented ink-jet ink including an anionic surface charged pigment dispersed in a first liquid vehicle and a substantially colorless matting liquid with at least one matting agent dispersed or solvated in a second liquid vehicle. Additionally, when the pigmented ink-jet ink is printed on the glossy media substrate alone, the pigmented ink-jet ink has a glossy appearance, and wherein when the colorless matting liquid is overprinted or underprinted with respect to the pigmented ink-jet ink on the glossy media substrate, the pigmented ink-jet ink combined with the matting liquid exhibits a visually perceptible matte appearance compared to the glossy appearance of the ink-jet ink printed alone.
US07997706B2
A printer for a web substrate, having a casing, a plurality of printhead tiles arranged adjacent each other, each of the printhead tiles having a printhead integrated circuit formed to dispense fluid, a printed circuit board to facilitate communication with a processor controlling the printing, and fluid inlet ports to receive fluid and, a plurality of fluid channel members within the casing adjacent the printhead tiles, each of the fluid channel members having a plurality of ducts such that each of the ducts are in fluid communication with one of the fluid inlet ports respectively. The fluid channel member is provided with a female end portion and a male end portion complementary to the female portion for fluid communication between the fluid channel members.
US07997705B2
An ink cartridge includes a case having an ink chamber and a wall, an air communication portion having a first opening, and an ink supply portion having a second opening. The air communication portion includes a first lid member that moves between a first position not covering the first opening, and a second position covering the first opening, and a first biasing member that applies a first biasing force to the first lid member. The ink supply portion includes a second lid member that moves between a third position not covering the second opening and a fourth position covering the second opening, and a second biasing member that applies a second biasing force to the second lid member. When the first lid member is in the second position and the second lid member is in the fourth position, the first biasing force is less than the second biasing force.
US07997704B2
A print media and printing fluid cartridge is provided removably mounted to a support structure of a digital photofinishing system in juxtaposition with a printer mounted to the support structure together with a digital processor and print media drive mechanism. The cartridge has a roll of print media, a print media delivery arrangement arranged to couple with the drive mechanism so as to feed the print media from the roll to the printer, and at least one removable printing fluid first cartridge for feeding printing fluid to the printer. The digital processor is arranged to receive digitised data that is representative of a photographic image and to process the data in a manner to generate a drive signal that is representative of the photographic image for the printer. The printer processes the drive signal and page-width prints the photographic image on the fed print media using the fed printing fluid.
US07997700B2
An ink cartridge includes a bottom wall, a first surface having a first intersection with the bottom wall, a second surface having a second intersection with at least one of the bottom wall and the first surface, an ink chamber bounded, at least in part, by the bottom wall, the first surface and the second surface, and an ink supply opening for supplying ink in the ink chamber to a location outside of the ink chamber, the ink supply opening being provided in the bottom wall. The first intersection has a first curvature and the second intersection has a second curvature and the first curvature is greater than the second curvature, and at least a portion of the first intersection is closer to the ink supply opening than at least a portion of the second intersection.
US07997698B2
An ink delivery system having at least one off-axis ink supply container and an on-axis printhead assembly. The on-axis printhead assembly includes at least one reservoir and a corresponding standpipe separated by a particle filter. At least one tube connects the off-axis ink supply container to the on-axis printhead assembly. A first valve is configured to selectively open a flow path between the tube and the reservoir. A second valve is configured to selectively open a flow path between the standpipe and the tube.
US07997687B2
A printhead nozzle arrangement is provided having a wafer defining a chamber for holding ejection fluid, an ejection port supported by a plurality of bridge members which extend from the ejection port to sides of the chamber, and a plurality of heater elements interleaved between the bridge members for causing ejection of fluid held in the chamber through the ejection port.
US07997686B2
A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a wafer substrate defining an inlet channel; a nozzle chamber wall and a roof wall positioned on the wafer substrate to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the inlet channel, the roof wall defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber; a paddle positioned in the nozzle chamber and reciprocally displaceable to eject ink from the ejection port; and an actuating arm extending through the nozzle chamber wall and connected to the paddle, the actuating arm comprising an actuating portion having a pair of actuating members, one of the actuating members including a heating circuit. On receipt of an electrical signal to the exclusion of the other actuating member, the actuating arm is displaced in a first direction. The actuating arm is comprised of a resiliently flexible material, whereby on cessation of the electrical signal, the actuating arm is displaced in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US07997684B2
A flexible circuit for use within a printhead assembly and to connect a printhead body to an external circuit includes a substantially planar portion having one or more layers of conductive material and having a top surface substantially parallel to a top surface of the printhead body. One or more integrated circuits can be mounted onto the planar portion. Multiple leads extend from each integrated circuit, the leads electrically connected to the printhead body. One or more arms are attached to, and substantially perpendicular to, the planar portion, each arm including one or more external connectors configured to connect to the external circuit.
US07997679B2
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a print head (4) having an ink emitting surface (6) in which there are formed a plural number of ink emitting openings (13). An ink is emitted from the ink emitting openings (13) for forming an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus also includes an emission controller (41) for controlling the ink emission from the ink emitting openings (13) formed in the ink emitting surface (6). The emission controller (41) is responsive to an input image signal to control the quantity of preliminary ink emission from one or more of the ink emitting openings (13) or to select one or more of the ink emitting openings (13). In this manner, the quantity of the preliminary ink emission from the ink emitting openings (13) is controlled, or one or more of the ink emitting openings (13) is selected, responsive to the image signal, to diminish the wasteful ink emission and to clean the ink emitting openings (13) or the vicinity without damaging the ink emitting surface (6).
US07997678B2
A method and recording apparatus including discharging ink to record an image, storing a parameter relating to a cumulative recording amount of the recording apparatus, setting a detection interval based on the parameter relating to the cumulative recording amount, and detecting a discharge state of the ink discharged from the recording head based on the set interval.
US07997665B2
A brake control apparatus includes a brake unit. The brake unit includes: a first port set hydraulically connected to a master cylinder via a first fluid line set; a second port set hydraulically connected to a wheel cylinder set via a second fluid line set; a first fluid passage hydraulically connecting the first port set to the second port set; a first switching valve arranged to vary a state of fluid communication through the first fluid passage; a fluid pressure source arranged to produce a fluid pressure supplied to the second port set; a fluid accommodating section adapted to accommodate a variable amount of brake fluid; a branch fluid passage hydraulically connecting the first port set to the fluid accommodating section; and a second switching valve arranged to vary a state of fluid communication through the branch fluid passage.
US07997661B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a high impact resistant excavation pick having a super hard material is bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The cemented metal carbide substrate is bonded to a front end of a cemented metal carbide frustum. A tapered bore is formed in the base end of the carbide frustum opposite the front end and a steel shank with a tapered interface is fitted into the tapered bore.
US07997656B2
A holding structure of a vehicular seat for holding an electric wire member has a shield. The shield is made of a resin and has a main body that can be integrally formed with a bending portion and a cover portion arranged on an inner side of the main body. The holding structure further includes a locking portion capable of locking the cover portion on the inner side of the main body. The holding structure is capable of accommodating a wire member between the cover portion and the main body.
US07997646B2
A removable headrest cover for a seat is described having improved features for securing and attaching the cover to a headrest. The improved features include integrated elastic elements that serve to secure the cover to a headrest, eliminating the need for engaging receptacles on the seat. The positioning and placement of attachment points for the elastic provide versatility to the headrest cover that allows it to be used with many different seat configurations. Methods for efficiently manufacturing and packaging the cover are also described.
US07997638B2
A door structure of a vehicle, in which between the outer surfaces of a first garnish at a first door and a second garnish at a second door, a garnish gap, which joins a door gap between the door, is provided; the first door has a first garnish attachment part, and at an end of this part, the end facing the second door, an expanded part is provided, which protrudes toward the second door; the second door has a second garnish attachment part, and at an end of this part, the end facing the first door, a recessed part is provided, which is recessed in a direction away from the first door; and with respect to the garnish gap, a door joint between the first garnish attachment part and the second garnish attachment part is offset toward the second door in a direction in which the doors are arranged.
US07997635B2
An opening/closing device includes a bistable device having a fixed member (24) delimiting one side of an opening providing access to a compartment, and a flexible mobile member (18), articulated on the fixed member proximate the ends of the access opening. The fixed and mobile members (24, 18) delimit jointly the entire access opening, and the mobile member (18) has two stable positions, one wherein it is adjacent to the fixed member (24), the other wherein only its ends are adjacent to the fixed member (24). The mobile member (18) is elongated and has naturally two stable positions with opposite convexities. The invention is applicable to vehicle passenger compartments.
US07997633B2
Elevating a handle of the lifter tool creates a clamping force between a bottom support plate and a top clamping plate operatively attached to the handle, allowing a worker to transfer, simultaneously, a number of stacked pavers, or similar block-like objects, quickly, efficiently and safely. A push-off plate facilitates unloading of the pavers from the tool.
US07997630B2
A locking system is mounted to a door with three rods extending therefrom. The rods have a locked position extending beyond the periphery of the door and an unlocked position not extending beyond the periphery of the door. Three rod receivers are adapted to receive the three rods in the locked position. A handle rotatably engages cam plates which are operatively engaged with the rods whereby rotation of the handle rotates the cam which moves the rod ends from one position to the other. A locking tab extends forwardly from the lower cam plate into a recess and is engaged by a circular lock while the recess prevents movement of the engaged circular lock. A second locking tab extends forwardly from the rod-locking link and a stationary locking tab is aligned thereto. Both locking tabs are engaged by a padlock preventing movement of the rod-locking link.
US07997629B2
A knot tying apparatus for tying a pair of fishing lines to one another is provided. The apparatus includes a tubular body having a through passage extending between opposite first and second ends with a slot extending from the first end toward the second end. Further, the apparatus has an actuator coupled to the tubular body for sliding movement between the first and second ends. The actuator is moveable between the first and second ends via application of an external force to removed loops of the one of the lines from the tubular body onto the other of the lines.
US07997628B1
An apparatus, system, and method for the secure attachment and restraint of a pipe end within a fitting is disclosed. The invention includes a mechanical restraint apparatus that is integral and monolithic with the flange of a bell of a spigot-and-bell joint architecture, along with one or more internally disposed grooves within the bell that receive a circumferential gasket, in order to maintain a seal about the pipe end when it is inserted into the bell. The inventive apparatus combines features of mechanical connections and push-on connections.
US07997627B2
A threaded joint for steel pipes comprises a pin (1) and a box (2). The pin has male thread (11), a sealing surface (13), and a shoulder surface (14) located on the end face of the pin. Correspondingly, the box has female thread (21), a sealing surface (23), and a shoulder surface (24) which can mate or contact with the corresponding portions of the pin. The shoulder surface (14) of the pin (1) is provided at an end face of the pin. The sealing surface (13) of the pin (1) is located on a pipe end side near the male thread (11). A a nose portion (15) is provided on the pin (1) between the sealing surface (13) and the shoulder surface (14), the nose portion (15) being not in contact with a corresponding portion of the box (2).
US07997623B2
A frac tank, configured for containerized handling, stacking and shipping in container cargo stacks, includes rear over-the-road axle and wheel support, a rear adapter for selectively exposing the rear wheels to enable mobile transport with a fifth-wheel equipped vehicle, and a front adapter for selectively exposing elements at the front of the tank during on-site use of the tank.
US07997614B2
Intended is to always provide effective impact reduction by releasing gas at a timing of pushing into airbag.An airbag (10) has a vent hole (18) in one side end portion. One end of a third base fabric (20) is sewn to the airbag (10) through a first sewn portion (23) that closes the vent hole (18), and the other end of the third base fabric 20 is sewn to the other side end portion of the airbag (10) through a second sewn portion (24). The first sewn portion (23) has weaker binding force by sewing than the second sewn portion (24) so that the first sewn portion (23) is separated to open the vent hole (18) when tension force is applied from the third base fabric (20) to the first and second sewn portions (23) and (24).
US07997601B2
A roll-up bicycle fender is mounted on a frame pipe of a bicycle. A fender main body of the roll-up bicycle fender can be pulled out into an operative position to act as a fender to protect rider from dust, mud and road debris when in use, and can also be rolled up into a cylinder member when not in use.
US07997599B2
A suspension system of the present invention pivotally supports a wheel of a motor vehicle. An upper control arm and a lower control arm are cooperable with a spindle, which supports the wheel. A vibration damper is cooperable with the upper control arm. A link interconnects the lower control arm and one of the terminal ends of the vibration damper thereby defining a common axis bisecting the link. The vibration damper moves along the common axis to absorb vibration transferred from a road surface and through the wheel.
US07997596B2
Left and right actuators (14) for a vehicle are provided that include a first housing (31) and a second housing (32) connected in a direction of an axis (L), a coupling flange (31a) of the first housing (31) and a coupling flange (32a) of the second housing (32) being connected by a plurality of bolts (35) disposed at equal intervals on a circumference having the axis (L) as the center, and since a component mounting part via which a stroke sensor (102) is mounted on the second housing (32) is provided at an intermediate position between two bolts (35) of the plurality of bolts (35) or at a position of any one bolt (35), the stroke sensors (102) of the left and right actuators (14) can be disposed at positions that are mirror-symmetric relative to a central plane (P) of a vehicle body while reducing the number of components by using in common for each of the left and right actuators (14) the second housing (32) on which the stroke sensor (102) is mounted.
US07997595B1
A wheeled and collapsible disc golf caddy system to facilitate the pleasure of playing a game of disc golf. The system comprises an elongated frame member mounting a handle at one end thereof for towing the system behind the user thereof. Intermediate the frame member is a pair of collapsible wheels for easy transportation. The remote end of the frame member mounts a pivotal rim for removably receiving a drink containing chest that can be removably secured to the frame member by means such as VELCRO fastening members. Additionally, the system includes a housing, preferably U-shaped, mounted to the frame member and containing plural shelves for storing a variety of discs.
US07997594B1
A transportable caddy for sports equipment provides multiple storage containers and structures for storing sports equipment in a secured frame, providing a ball rack with a release means allowing for the balls to be intentionally released into the playing arena, storage containers for clean and dirty sports gear, sports markers and hardware, refreshment containers, and other items associated with a particular sport, primarily soccer, basketball, baseball or other sport which requires the transport of bulk equipment to and from the practice or playing venues.
US07997586B2
The invention relates to an oscillatory drive having an output shaft that can be driven to perform a rotationally oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis and that comprises a free end, a holding fixture at the free end of the output shaft comprising a contact surface for attachment of a tool, a mounting section on the holding fixture, raised relative to the contact surface, that projects to the outside in the direction of the longitudinal axis and that is designed for form-locking connection with a mounting opening of a tool placed in contact with the contact surface, and having a securement for fixing the tool with its mounting opening on the holding fixture, the securement permitting the tool to yield in axial direction under the action of a torque, against a pre-stress, and the mounting section permitting the tool to rotate by a certain angle of rotation when the tool gives way axially.
US07997582B2
An audio game system and method playable with a website server having an online connection on a network such as the Internet to a plurality of computers for respective participants employs a website enabled to receive from each participant's computer a music file entry selected in response to a game question or challenge issued by the website and determining an ordering by time of response of a first-in-time music file entry and sending it for audio playback on the participants' computers as a winning entry to the game question or challenge. Preferably, a participant's time-of-response is measured by a client applet on each participant's computer, and sent with the music file entry to the website server to enable the server to determine at least a first-in-time response accurately despite differences in bandwidth and connection speeds of the participants' computers.
US07997580B2
The present invention provides new player excitement during the play of a game of chance by providing a controlled random event during the execution of a secondary or bonus round. When bonus game play is invoked during play of the primary game, an amount to be issued during secondary game play is generated. This amount is not awarded directly; instead a plurality of possible winnings is available, each equal to or less than the amount to be issued. A random event separate from the primary game is used to pick one of the plurality of possible winnings which is awarded to a player. The separate random event may be a mechanical event or an electronic event. The difference between the amount given to a player and the original amount to be issued may be used to generate further bonus game play, or may be used to fund a progressive.
US07997579B2
A medium conveying device includes a conveyance path that is used for conveying medium; a medium guide that is furnished on the conveyance path and has at least one swing supporting portion; and a supporting section that supports the swing supporting portion to swing along a separation direction separating from the conveyance path so as to make the swing supporting portion support the medium guide to swing.
US07997577B2
An image forming apparatus including a sheet loader, the sheet loader including: a discharger configured to discharge a first sheet and a second sheet after the first sheet; a tray configured to support the second sheet on the first sheet; a support configured to support the first sheet on the tray; a controller configured to control the support to lower a first angle than a second angle, the first angle being an angle of the first sheet against a direction to which the discharger discharges the second sheet at a position where the second sheet hits on the first sheet, the second angle being an angle of the tray against the direction at a position where the first sheet hits on the tray.
US07997574B2
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body which includes an attachment portion, a standby tray which is provided adjacent to the attachment portion of the apparatus body and stacks a paper thereon, a paper feeding tray stacks the paper thereon, a movement mechanism which moves the paper from the paper feeding tray located at the mounted position onto the standby tray along the paper conveying path, a holder member which moves to a first position so as to hold the paper at a predetermined position on the paper feeding tray and moves to a second position so as to recede from the paper conveying path, and a lock mechanism which engages with the holder member so as to hold the holder member at the first position when the paper feeding tray is located at the withdrawn position.
US07997571B2
A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, a fold reinforcing unit that includes a reinforce roller, moves the reinforce roller along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and reinforces the fold line, and a control unit configured to transport the sheet bundle from the fold unit to the fold reinforcing unit and to control to stop the fold line of the sheet bundle at a position of the reinforce roller, and the control unit changes, according to a thickness of the sheet bundle, a transport distance from a specified position in the fold reinforcing unit to the position where the sheet bundle is stopped.
US07997570B2
The sheets are supplied interfolded by two folding rollers, on a table on which they are piled up forming a stack. When the stack achieves a predetermined height a first plurality of separators and a second plurality of separators, arranged for all the length of the stack and from opposite sides are inserted into the stack to provide the disengagement of the stack already formed from a stack being formed, leaving between them of a wing of sheet hanging. The stack formed is then withdrawn quickly from the stack being formed by means of a table, which translates vertically, and is subject to a blow of air for stretching a possible last sheet. Then, the stack formed is left on a longitudinal conveyor belt located underneath. At the same time, a sheet stretching board moves under the stack of interfolded sheets, for all its length, for provisional support thereof and for stretching completely the wing hanging from the stack being formed with a portion of wing that exceeds sheet stretching board. Then the separators and withdraw laterally and an element moving from a direction opposite to the sheet stretching board, for example a blow of air, stretches the portion of the exceeding wing of sheet just before that the table comes back.
US07997566B2
The liquid seal type fluid-filled mount comprises a cup-shaped housing (1) having a flange (1A) provided with a mounting hole; a stud (3) disposed along a central axis of the cup-shaped housing so as to be positioned in a central opening of a fixed damping unit; a flexible seal cap (7) sealing fluid-tight between the upper end of the stud and the cup-shaped housing; a high viscosity liquid (2) for being filled in a chamber formed by the cup-shaped housing (1) and the flexible seal cap (7); a movable damping plate (4) mounted to a lower end of the stud (3); a fixed damping unit (10) being fixed between the flexible seal cap (7) and the movable damping plate (4) and placed in the high viscosity fluid; and a spring (13) disposed between a bottom of the cup-shaped housing (1) and the movable damping plate (4).
US07997564B2
The combined waterwheel oxygen-increasing machine pertains to the area of life-saving and facilitation equipment in aquaculture development. The existing waterwheel oxygen-increasing machine is a floating body with brackets integrally connected, inconvenient for assembly and disassembly and for general use. The present invention comprises of floating bodies, a power device, a reduction gearbox and impellers, wherein the power device is connected to a reduction gearbox, which then drives said impellers via an output shaft. The floating bodies are hollow, closed, bodies including longitudinal floating bodies and transversal floating body connected vertically with each other, wherein one end of the longitudinal floating bodies are connected to transversal floating body. The floating bodies bear an output shaft. The impellers are located in the midst of the area surrounded by the longitudinal floating bodies and the transversal floating body. Moreover, said impellers are overlapping impellers connected in a series by a plurality of single impeller bodies.
US07997563B2
There is provided a micro-bubble generator including a swirling-flow generating vane nozzle and vortex breakdown nozzle connected coaxially to each other. The swirling flow generating vane nozzle produces a swirling flow of a liquid having a gas introduced to the center thereof from a gas feeding unit. The swirling flow is supplied to a flow constricting section included in the vortex breakdown nozzle to provide micro bubbles from a vortex breakdown section also included in the vortex breakdown nozzle.
US07997558B1
A lifting apparatus which removably attaches to the front tubular bumper of a go-kart, allowing a person lifting the front of the go-kart to lift more easily and without excessive bending of the back. The lifting apparatus has a handle member, and a bumper engagement structure which depends from the handle member. The bumper engagement structure is configured to removably attach to the parallel-oriented upper tube and lower tube which make up the front bumper of the go-kart.
US07997556B2
A finely adjustable firing valve for rapidly discharging compressed air or compressed gas, for the purpose of generating a pressure wave in silos or containers of granular materials, comprising a pneumatic main valve (1), a pneumatic secondary valve (9), arranged to control the main valve (1), and a pilot valve (16), arranged to control the secondary valve (9), said main valve (1) comprising a main valving element (7) of membrane type.
US07997555B2
A planar rotation mechanism of supporting device including a base seat; a supporting rack; a retaining member having a first, a second and a third guiding slots with different curvatures and lengths; and a rotating member respectively provided with a column hole with respect to initial positions of the first, the second and the third guiding slots for allowing a first, a second and a third guiding columns respectively pass through corresponding column holes and corresponding guiding slots. The guiding columns can respectively slide within the corresponding guiding slots. When the rotating member is operated with a planar rotation with an object to be supported provided in front of the rotating member, the plural guiding columns slide within the corresponding guiding slots. The object to be supported is selectively switchable between a horizontal status and a vertical status.
US07997553B2
A movable floor system for use with a rotating gantry in a radiation treatment facility is provided that comprises a carriage assembly slidably supported within the gantry to maintain a substantially constant orientation while the gantry is rotating. An extendable/retractable panel assembly is supported on the carriage assembly that includes a plurality of non-movable floor panels and a like plurality of movable floor panels slidably mounted over corresponding ones of the non-movable panels. The movable panels are sized to span a distance between the carriage assembly and a fixed floor of the treatment room. Each of the movable panels has a platform surface for supporting a person for access to and from the patient table situated within the gantry. A control system coordinates the extension and retraction of the movable floor panels to prevent collisions with the radiation nozzle as it rotates during the patient treatment.
US07997550B2
The invention relates to a mount (A) for holding at least one display device, comprising a first mounting arm (1) which has an essentially vertical mounting arm segment (1a) and at least one second mounting arm (2) which extends essentially in a horizontal direction across from the mounting arm segment (1a) of the first mounting arm and is provided with at least one connecting element connecting said second mounting arm to the device (B). In order to improve the mount (A) so as to better position the at least one mounting location for the at least one display device (B), at least one side wall of the second mounting arm (2) is shaped in a converging manner.
US07997549B2
A mounting bracket for installing an electrical junction box to an R-panel, the mounting bracket comprising a mounting plate having a first surface for interfacing with a portion of the housing of the electrical junction box, one or more sidewalls extending from the mounting plate; and one or more attachment tabs extending laterally from each of the sidewalls, wherein the mounting bracket is positioned between R-panel and the electrical junction box to space the electrical junction box at a distance away from the R-panel such that the electrical conduit may interface with the electrical junction box without having to bend the electrical conduit.
US07997545B2
This invention is to an apparatus and method using a pivoting support structure to support mail boxes, newspaper tubes, information signage or decorative materials near a road while being less susceptible to damage from passing vehicles. The invention may be attached to a post, pipe or other vertical structure. Even after the apparatus is installed, the invention has an inherent flexibility to change the original starting position of the mail box relative to the road. Furthermore, the invention acts as a self-centering hinge allowing the support structure to swing in excess of 90-degrees to 180-degrees depending upon installation even while supporting single or multiple mailboxes and/or decorative or aesthetic items. The invention then automatically returns the mail box to its original starting position through the cooperative effort of a spring, gravity and inherent hinge design. This invention allows the structure to be temporarily cantilevered away from the vertical structure to assist in item placement or removal and allows the items such as mail to be removed without standing in traffic.
US07997544B2
A movable hand/wrist support for use with a computer mouse is comprised of a flat and constant thickness sheet of material with an aperture there through. Aperture can be configured to be used with a mouse of any size or shape. Aperture may be configured to entirely surround a mouse so that it rests loosely within the aperture or it may be sized merely to allow the optical communication device of a mouse affixed to a top surface of movable support to communicate with an underlying surface. An secondary layer on which a mouse can rest loosely or be affixed can be affixed to a bottom surface of the sheet of material. Movable support may also include a forearm protector. Various layers may be affixed onto the sheet of material to provide additional comfort and support to the user. The hand/wrist support may be provided as a kit.
US07997533B2
When a fire breaks out, air flows that promote the spread of fire may occur in the region between the load bay and the skin of the aircraft. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fire barrier is disclosed that allows rapid decompression of the passenger cabin in the normal operating mode of the aircraft and prevents flashovers in case of a fire. In this case, the fire barrier may be arranged at different positions in the intermediate wall space of the aircraft.
US07997523B1
A dispenser for spools, reels or coils of electrical wire or cable, or other linear products, such as rope, twine, string, fishing line, etc. It comprises a turntable, a central inner spindle, and various attachments. The attachments can be placed on the floor, and then selected attachments can be fitted to the inner spindle. Attachments are selected based on the size of the spool, reel or coil of wire or cable. The attachments include a small pipe spindle for use with smaller spools, a large pipe spindle for use with larger spools or reels, and a coil clamp assembly use with for coils. The wire or cable can pay out in all horizontal directions from the invention. If more wire or cable is pulled out than is needed, the excess can be rewound and will return to the dispenser with the aid of a sloped outer edge of the turntable.
US07997519B2
A recording tape cartridge is provided with a case rotatably accommodating a reel around which a tape is wound and including an opening from which the tape may be drawn out, a leader portion including guard portions disposed at both ends thereof in a width direction of a tape, recessed housing portions formed in the case as a vertical pair that face the opening and that allow the guard portions to be inserted, and a pair of leader holding members that form part of respective pin receiving portions together with the recessed housing portions. Each leader holding member includes, integrally, a fixed portion fixed to the inside of the case, a retaining spring that engages with one of the guard portions in one of the recessed housing portions from the opening side thereof, and an overhanging portion that covers the guard portion in one of the recessed housing portions.
US07997508B2
A spill-proof aerator is disclosed that is adapted to flamelessly diffuse a liquid solution into the atmosphere. The device comprises a liquid solution having less than 20% volatile organic compounds housed in a vessel with at least one wall, wherein an opening is disposed in the wall. The device further includes a wick assembly including at least a wick of porous material capable of being disposed in the opening of the vessel for at least partial submergence in the liquid solution. The wick is further disposed for drawing up the liquid solution thorough capillary action. The wick assembly is reusable and adapted to removably seal the opening in the vessel.
US07997507B2
A supporting device for supporting a flat panel display device includes a base, a sliding member, a supporting member, and a holding member. The base defines a pair of guiding grooves extending along a lengthwise direction of the base. The sliding member includes a first pedestal and a second pedestal. The first pedestal and the second pedestal are slidably received in the guiding grooves. The supporting member is hinged to the sliding member, and configured for supporting the flat panel display device. The holding member is slidably engaged with the base, and defines a holding cavity for receiving the supporting member.
US07997505B2
A bypass valve for a cooler connected downstream from a hydraulic aggregate. The bypass valve includes a housing with ports for connection to the hydraulic aggregate and the cooler. A closure element is located in the housing for closing and opening a bypass. A spring pushes the closure element into a closing position, and thermo-sensitive means causes the closure element to open if the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is below a threshold temperature. The thermo-sensitive means are formed by the valve spring, which is made of a memory-metal alloy with a transition point close to the threshold temperature such that below the threshold temperature it no longer exerts a force and allows the closure element to open.
US07997503B2
The invention is an improved transaction verification method comprising a document, card or electronic apparatus with a transparent optical pattern visible to the user on a transparent window display. The verification process is performed by a user aligning the transparent pattern over a synchronized pattern image. The optical combination of these patterns induces a visual code, to be apparent to the user, which is then manually entered into a remote terminal or directly to the electronic apparatus to verify the transaction.
US07997497B2
Trading cards (1, 2) each include part (17, 18) of a circuit. When the trading cards are inserted into a game card (3), a circuit is completed. Depending on the circuit, one of four light emitting diodes (291, 292, 293, 294) on the game card is lit. No semiconductor chip is required in the card.
US07997493B2
A dual-aperture barcode scanner with tether-free housing. The scanner includes vertical portion including switches and a housing adjacent to but separated from the switches.
US07997492B2
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit, an image forming unit, a determining unit, an analyzing unit and a control unit. The receiving unit receives image data. The image forming unit performs a predetermined image forming process based on the image data received by the receiving unit. The determining unit determines as to whether or not the image data contains a barcode pattern. When the determining unit determines that the image data contains the barcode pattern, the analyzing unit analyzes as to whether a drawing direction of the barcode pattern is a vertical direction or a horizontal direction. The control unit that controls, based on an analyzing result of the analyzing unit, the predetermined image forming process being performed for the barcode pattern by the image forming unit.
US07997483B2
A method of providing and processing a plurality of stored-value cards includes providing a stored-value card assembly including the plurality of stored-value cards in a housing. The plurality of stored-value cards includes a first stored-value card and a last stored-value card. Each of the plurality of stored-value cards is associated with a different account identifier linking each one of the plurality of stored-value cards to a different financial record or account. The different account identifiers collectively define a series of account identifiers. The method further includes scanning the different account identifier associated with the first stored-value card using a point-of-sale terminal, and scanning the different account identifier associated with the last stored-value card using the point-of-sale terminal. The housing indicates which of the different account identifier associated with the first stored-value card and the last stored-value card should be scanned first. Other card assemblies and associated methods are also disclosed.
US07997474B2
In one embodiment a medical device comprising an interface, a portable component and a controller is provided. The interface is configured for receiving identification data of a user, the portable component is configured for storing configuration data and the controller is configured for retrieving the configuration data based on the identification data and for configuring the medical device based on the configuration data.
US07997473B2
A method of friction welding comprising providing a first workpiece (24) having a first weld surface (38) and a second workpiece (26) having a second weld surface (40). In a first region (42) adjacent the first weld surface (38) the first workpiece (24) is arranged at an angle (α) of substantially 90° to the first weld surface (38) and in a second region (44) adjacent to the first region (42) the first workpiece (24) tapers away from the first weld surface (38). The first workpiece (24) is arranged such that in the second region (44) the first workpiece (24) is arranged at an angle (β) greater than 90° and less than 180° to the first weld surface (38). The first and second workpieces (24, 26) are arranged such that first weld surface (38) of the first workpiece (24) abuts the second weld surface (40) of the second workpiece (26). The first and second workpieces (24, 26) are moved relative to each other such that the temperature increases at the weld surfaces (38, 40) to create a weld interface (46) and then the movement is stopped to cool to weld the first and second workpieces (24, 26) together.
US07997469B2
A staple drive assembly includes an actuation sled and at least one staple pusher. The staple drive assembly is adapted to fit within a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples and a corresponding number of retention slots. The at least one staple pusher includes at least one pusher plate for releasably engaging a backspan of a staple. The staple pusher may include a plurality of pusher plates that may be laterally and longitudinally spaced apart. An actuation member has at least one angled camming surface for engaging a complimentary angled surface of the at least one staple pusher. Camming engagement between the actuation member and the at least one staple pusher causes vertical movement of the at least one staple pusher. Lateral and longitudinal offset of the actuation member camming surfaces and the corresponding staple pusher following surfaces improves stability and control of the staple pusher during firing.
US07997467B2
A driving tool that has a driver support base. The driver support base includes a transmitting portion having a V-shape in cross section. The driver support base can be pressed by a press member to cause the transmitting portion to wedge between a pair of left and right drive wheels, so that a friction force is produced to move the driver support base.
US07997458B2
A metering valve (1) is provided for a pressurised container (14) containing a pharmaceutical formulation. The valve has a stem (2) with a central flange (11) and a hollow open end (19) with a side port (20). The stem slides in a body (3) having larger and smaller diameter portions, and being closed off by a seal (4) against which the flange (11) rests in an inoperative position. A second seal is located around the stem on the opposite side of the flange and trapped by a spring (6) which urges the stem into its inoperative position. When the stem is depressed, the inner seal (5) forms a sliding seal with the smaller diameter portion of the body to define a metering chamber (13) filled with the pharmaceutical. Continued depression opens the side hole (20) to allow the contents of the metering chamber to be dispensed.
US07997456B2
An apparatus converts rotary motion of a motor drive shaft into oscillatory motion of a work piece, for example, in a power tool. The apparatus comprises a planetary gear assembly connected to the motor for rotating an output gear. The output gear meshes with a drive gear including a drive pin. The drive pin fits in a yoke slot for reciprocation of the yoke upon rotation of the drive gear. The yoke is operatively connected to the work piece. An air flow system cools the power tool housing. The housing has an inlet aperture in the handle portion and an outlet aperture for placing the interior of the housing in communication with the atmosphere. A wall integral with the handle portion engages the body of the motor housing between a first end and openings in the body. The wall provides a barrier to minimize air flow between an intake air portion of the interior of the housing and an exhaust air portion. A fan on the motor drive shaft induces air flow from the intake air portion and exhaust air portion of the interior chamber into the motor housing through openings in the end walls. Air is discharged from the openings in the body.
US07997454B2
A liquid dispensing device includes a storage container and dome pump mechanism attached thereto for metered dispensing. A one-way valve is employed to pull liquid from the storage container into the dome for metering. An exit passageway serves as an output valve. Each time the dome pump housing is depressed, a substantially equal volume of fluid is dispensed from the container. To prevent accidental dispensing, the one-way valve in the dome pump remains normally open and unsealed to allow backflow of liquid back into the storage container pouch when pressure is placed on the dome. The user squeezes the dome and base plate together to seal the one-way valve to urge liquid out through the exit port for actual dispensing. Also, interior pouch force creates backflow through the exit port back into the containment chamber to further prevent leakage.
US07997452B2
A refrigerator includes a dispenser including a moving chute configured to move from a stored position in which an outlet of the moving chute is positioned in a space defined in a refrigerator door to an operable position in which the outlet of the moving chute is positioned outside of the refrigerator door.
US07997438B2
An elongated container tapered inward and rounded on both ends. The recessed interior is segmented by five recessed slots, spaced at three inch intervals. The anti-shifting bar and lock notches creates' the locking system when the buffet server is place in support stand, there by stopping the buffet server from shifting front to back or sliding side to side while cradle in the support stand. The insertable-removable dividers, containers and sectional lids provides for a variety of set up weather mixing or matching keeping your liquid and solids separated if need be. The tabs and sockets, along with push button mechanism allows the buffet server to be taken apart and easily put together again for usage, storage or ease of shipping and handling.
US07997436B2
A re-closable pouring element for liquid foods packaged in cardboard/plastic composite packages, comprising a base encircled by a flange and having both an inner thread and an outer thread, an opening element having at least one cutting edge as well as perforations and a screw cap formed as a threaded lid. The opening element has an outer thread and is arranged inside the base. The opening element is formed so that when the screw cap is operated for the first time it cuts an opening in the package material located under the pouring element. At least one window opening is provided as an aperture, each window opening is arranged so that it points to one side after opening for the first time and after re-closing and repeated opening for emptying residues of the composite package points to the opposite side.
US07997429B2
An article for storing and supporting pots and pans wherein said article is formed of more than two identical vertical members, each vertical member having a plurality of respective horizontal support members incorporated thereon for supporting a plurality of respective horizontal shelves.
US07997420B2
A filter apparatus capable of releasing air from a filter body, comprising a filter body held by a holder. The filter body includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The filter body is disposed in the holder so as to rotate around an axis of rotation that passes through the fluid inlet. The holder includes a front panel. The front panel comprises engaging portions, for temporarily engaging the fluid outlet at either an air releasing position or at a filtering position, and a fixing means for fixing the filter body at each position. The filter apparatus further includes means for rotating the filter body.
US07997407B2
A side-opening hinge-lid container includes a body portion and a lid portion, each having a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The lid portion is connected to the body portion along a hinge line for pivotal movement between a closed position and an open position. A body liner is mounted in the body portion and projects sideways into a space covered by the lid portion in the closed position. An outwardly extending ear is mounted on the liner. An inwardly extending flap is mounted to the lid portion for pivotal movement relative thereto. During pivotal movement of the lid portion between the open and closed positions, the flap engages the ear to produce a sound.
US07997395B2
A strut suspension includes a shock absorber, and a bearing portion that connects the shock absorber to a vehicle body such that the shock absorber can rotate. The bearing portion includes an inner race and an outer race. The thickness of the inner race increases toward the outside of the vehicle body in a vehicle-width direction. The thickness of the outer race decreases toward the outside of the vehicle body in the vehicle-width direction. As a result, a rotational axis of the bearing portion tilts outward in the vehicle-width direction, with respect to an absorber-axis of the shock absorber. Also, the rotational axis tilts inward in the vehicle-width direction with respect to a kingpin axis.
US07997394B2
A piston coupled to a piston rod is fitted in a sealed cylinder in which oil is contained. During an extension stroke of the piston rod, a damping force is generated by an extension-side valve body, and at the same time, a valve-opening pressure of an extension-side main valve is adjusted by an inner pressure in an extension-side backpressure chamber. During a compression stroke of the piston rod, a damping force is generated by a compression-side valve body, and at the same time, a valve-opening pressure of a compression-side main valve is adjusted by an inner pressure in a compression-side backpressure chamber. A simple structure is realized by using a common guide bore for guiding the extension-side valve body and the compression-side valve body. Check valves are provided at both ends of the guide bore and communication passage are provided through the extension-side valve body and the compression-side valve body so that an amount of excess oil due to a movement of the extension-side valve body and the compression-side valve body can be expelled, thereby improving responsiveness of the shock absorber.
US07997393B2
A magnetorheological (MR) rod guide assembly includes a nonporous MR-rod-guide-assembly housing, annular first and second seals, and a non-annular, porous filter plug. The housing has a through bore. The first and second seals are positioned in the through bore, are adapted to sealingly contact an MR piston rod, and are longitudinally spaced apart defining an inter-seal portion of the through bore. The filter plug is positioned in the housing, has a longitudinal first end in fluid communication with the through bore longitudinally outside the inter-seal bore portion, and has a longitudinal second end in fluid communication with the through bore longitudinally within the inter-seal bore portion.
US07997385B2
The present invention is to provide a machine tool in which appropriate warm-up operation can be performed. Unnecessary warm-up operation before machining is not carried out and damage of bearings caused by the warm-up operation is prevented. A controlling unit stores data of a supply amount of lubricant to bearings and a rotation speed of a main spindle in a memory unit as time-series data. When rotation of the main spindle is started, the time-series data stored in the memory unit is used to calculate an amount of remaining lubricant in the bearings and determination of necessity of warm-up operation is made based upon the stored data. A rotation speed at a start-up time of the main spindle is controlled according to the determination result.
US07997384B2
A multilayer board for reducing solid-borne sound radiation with improved mechanical stability when subjected to a load, comprising a first cover layer, a second cover layer, and at least one core layer, wherein the at least one core layer is arranged between the first and the second cover layer, and wherein the at least one core layer comprises at least one first sloped slot.
US07997378B2
The invention concerns a hydraulic steering with a steering initiator, a steering unit with feedback properties, which can be activated by the steering initiator, the steering unit having a supply connection arrangement with a pressure connection (P) and a tank connection (T) and a working connection arrangement with two working connections (L, R), an auxiliary-force operated steering valve, which is located in parallel with the steering unit between the supply connection arrangement (P, T) and the working connection arrangement (L, R), and a feedback suppressing device, which is active, when the steering valve is active. It is endeavoured to find a simple manner of ensuring the priority of the steering initiator over the steering valve. For this purpose, the steering initiator interacts with an activation sensor, which deactivates the feedback suppressing device on an activation of the steering initiator.
US07997377B2
A case structure of an integrated package module for a hybrid vehicle is provided. A front case of the integrated package module is formed of a first front case having a receiving groove on a upper portion thereof and a second front case. The case structure can stably mount and support the integrated package module on a vehicle body in a safer and cost-effective manner.
US07997365B2
The power output apparatus of the invention increases a tentative engine power demand Petmp required for an engine, during a catalyst degradation detection time when degradation detection of an emission control catalyst is performed according to a variation in output of an oxygen sensor provided downstream of the emission control catalyst. The smaller between an increased power demand Peu by increasing the tentative engine power demand Petmp and an upper limit of a chargeable range of a battery is set to an engine power demand Pe* of the engine. Upon satisfaction of an auto engine stop condition that the engine power demand Pe* decreases below a preset reference power Pref, the engine is controlled to be driven at idle.
US07997364B2
On condition that a motor temperature is lower than a preset reference temperature and that a vehicle speed is lower than a preset reference speed, a booster circuit is controlled to adjust the voltage level of a high voltage system to be not higher than a certain low voltage. On condition that the motor temperature is lower than the preset reference temperature and that the vehicle speed is not lower than the preset reference speed, the booster circuit is controlled to adjust the voltage level of the high voltage system to be not higher than a maximum input voltage. On condition that the motor temperature is not lower than the preset reference temperature, the booster circuit is controlled to adjust the voltage level of the high voltage system to be not higher than the maximum input voltage, irrespective of the vehicle speed. This arrangement effectively improves the overall energy efficiency in a vehicle where the adjustment of the voltage level of the high voltage system to be not higher than the certain low voltage has the higher energy efficiency than the adjustment of the voltage level of the high voltage system to be not higher than the maximum input voltage.
US07997363B2
A vehicle control system calculates driver-required wheel torque, correction wheel torque to stabilize vehicle motion, required output shaft torque, alternator base torque, target engine torque and alternator torque to realize the output shaft torque. The required output shaft torque is required to realize vehicle motion, and the alternator base torque is required to maintain amounts of electric power in batteries. In order to realize the torque including wide band frequency torque, a torque division unit divides the sum of the torque into each torque actuator response frequency torque. Therefore, the target alternator torque is calculated by the alternator base torque to maintain electric power in batteries and high frequency band torque required by vehicle motion control.
US07997359B2
An abrasive wear-resistant material includes a matrix material and a plurality of −40/+80 ASTM mesh dense sintered carbide pellets. A rotary drill bit having an exterior surface and an abrasive wear-resistant material disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the bit body is provided. Methods for applying an abrasive wear-resistant material to a surface of a drill bit are also disclosed.
US07997354B2
Expandable reamer tools include an outer body, a fluid passageway extending through the outer body, and at least one blade configured to slide relative to the outer body between a retracted position and an expanded position in a direction oriented at an acute angle of less than ninety degrees (90°) to a longitudinal axis of the outer body. In some embodiments, the tools may include a moveable inner sleeve member configured to selectively allow hydraulic fluid pressure within the fluid passageway to act directly on the at least one blade. Methods for enlarging a borehole using such expandable reamer tools and methods for removing such expandable reamer tools from a borehole are also disclosed.
US07997349B2
To make it easier to collect litter which is captured and deposited in a mesh member of a beach cleaner which scrapes up the litter along with sand and captures and deposits the churned up litter and sand in the mesh member. In a second beach cleaner which captures and deposits in a mesh member litter scattered around in the sand by churning up the litter along with sand while traveling by being towed by a towing vehicle, the mesh member has an encircling member open on at least one side and is attached to the frame such that the mesh member is pivotable with respect to the frame.
US07997347B2
A handheld tool for straightening coiled tubing in a continuous manner. The tool is configured to straighten coiled tubing that has undergone plastifying deformation, for example, during winding about a coiled tubing reel. The tool is of enhanced mobility and may be employed to provide a straightened portion of coiled tubing without resorting to intermittent reverse kinking or corrugating of the coiled tubing. Rather, the substantially continuous character of the straightened portion of coiled tubing is well suited for stably and reliably accommodating a downhole tool for use within a well during hydrocarbon recovery applications.
US07997341B2
An apparatus for testing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising a tool having a sample flow line an inlet disposed with the tool and configured to establish fluid communication between the formation and the sample flow line to draw a fluid sample into the sample flow line, and an active filter positioned in the sample flow line and providing a filter flow route and a bypass flow route in the sample flow line.
US07997325B2
A first method for producing a half Heuslar alloy includes quench-solidifying a molten alloy at a cooling rate of 1×102 to 1×103° C./sec to produce a half Heuslar alloy having a ratio of strongest peak of the half Heuslar phase of 90% or more in an as-cast state, the alloy having the formula: ABC (wherein A and B each is at least one member selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Hf, Nb, Mo, Ta and W, and C is at least one member selected from Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge and Sn). A second method is one in which the half Hueslar alloy has the formula: Ti1-xAxNi1-yBySn1-zCz (wherein each of A and B is at least one member selected from Co, Ni, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Hf, Nb, Mo, Ta and W, C is at least one selected from Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge and Sn).
US07997318B2
A heavy-load tire has a wind bead structure in which a turned-up portion of a carcass ply is wound around a bead core, in which a bead portion is equipped with a bead reinforcing layer having a U-shaped cross section and a bead apex rubber having a triangular-shaped cross section. The turned-up portion has an auxiliary turned-up portion passing through the vicinity of a radially outer side of the bead core. The bead apex rubber includes a high complex elasticity modulus inner apex portion disposed at a radially inner side and a low complex elasticity modulus outer apex portion disposed at a radially outer side.
US07997315B2
A rubber tread of a tire includes cavities spaced radially inwardly from a running surface of the tread when new. Each cavity includes an incision, and a groove communicating with a radially inner end of the incision when the tread is new. The incision has a radially outer generatrix following an undulating profile having an amplitude of at least 20% of a maximum height of the cavity. A width of the incision is not greater than 2.5 mm, and the groove width is greater than 2.5 mm.
US07997313B2
A guide bar assembly (10) for use in a T-slot (20) of a woodworking table (22). The assembly includes a top member (12) slidably disposed on a bottom member (14). The top and bottom members include cooperating pairs of wedge shapes (24) that cause a change in width (W) of the assembly in response to relative longitudinal (L) movement between the top and bottom members. Contacting angled side surfaces (30, 32) of the male and female wedge members (26, 28) provide area contact between the top and bottom members that functions to maintain the top and bottom members parallel during tightening of the fasteners (34) used to lock the assembly at a desired width.
US07997311B2
A self-propelled climbing apparatus for performing a maintenance operation on a palm tree comprises a climbing section that moves up and down the tree and a maintenance section that performs the desired operation. The climbing section has a main support frame with climbing mechanisms attached thereto. The climbing mechanism has upper and lower wheels that engage the trunk and are operated by a drive mechanism that rotates the wheels. Springs pull the upper and lower wheels toward each other to maintain their engagement with the trunk. The maintenance section rotatably and detachably mounts to a head support rail supported above the climbing section. In one embodiment, the maintenance section is a cutting head having a cutting mechanism at the upper end of a pivoting cutting arm to cut wrapping and/or fronds from the trunk. A tent assembly directs debris directly downward to prevent injury or damage and ease cleanup.
US07997309B2
A system for measuring the length of a tree being processed through a delimber including a log feed roller mechanism for moving the tree, a delimbing head for delimbing the tree that is movable in a forward and reverse direction relative to the log feed roller mechanism, a measuring wheel resiliently mounted on the delimbing head, and a trimsaw movably mounted on the delimbing head. The length of the processed tree extending beyond the delimbing head may be calculated from signals encoded by the log feed roller mechanism and the measuring wheel. Logs may be cut from the tree by the trimsaw. Two photosensors located at known positions may be used to calculate the total length of the tree.
US07997307B2
An apparatus for positioning a fill nozzle includes an elongated fill pipe assembly. An annular seal is operatively connected within the fill pipe assembly and defines a center aperture. The annular seal is sized to seal around the fill nozzle. First and second annular restrictions are provided within the fill pipe assembly. The first and second annular restrictions define first and second apertures that are sized to sufficiently restrict lateral movement of the fill nozzle within the fill pipe assembly to maintain sealing contact of the annular seal around the fill nozzle.
US07997305B2
A drink layering potion machine reliably creates undisturbed air bubble free multiple drink layers. The potion machine includes a flat bottom hollow cylinder, a top with an integral conical pouring cup having a central aperture at its bottom tip. A thin rod passes through the aperture with a small clearance. A second aperture displaced from the first aperture supports thin rod providing wobble free movement. The bottom end of the thin rod carries a float. The drink layering potion machine is placed with a hollow cylinder encircling a glass and stabilizing it from tilting. The float rests on the liquor in the interior of the glass as liquor is poured into the conical pouring cup. The liquor runs down at a slow volumetric rate through the small clearance, down the thin rod, over the float external surface into the glass forming layered undisturbed drink free from air bubble entrapment.
US07997299B2
A structure of a bubble prevention buffer tank of a fuel cell vehicle is provided that comprises at least one mesh and at least one lattice inside the buffer tank so as to remove air bubbles inside the buffer tank by breaking the air bubbles.
US07997298B2
Device for the regulation of the concentration of a product in a liquid and, most specifically, of an alcohol used in the composition of a varnish contained in a varnishing vat for optical glasses or other substrates. The vat comprises an overflow tray and a sealed alcohol reservoir. The reservoir is installed higher than the overflow tray so that when level of the varnish in the overflow tray drops sufficiently low, an air bubble is created that rises to the alcohol reservoir, thus creating additional pressure in the alcohol reservoir and forcing a drop of alcohol into the overflow tray until the level of the varnish in the overflow tray recovers its normal level above the junction point between the second pipe and the overflow tray.
US07997292B2
A portable structure includes first and second support poles, each having one lower end for resting on a ground surface. First and second connectors attach at upper ends of the first and second support poles, respectively and two or more linking poles connect the first support pole with the second support pole via the first and second connectors. The linking poles form obtuse angles with the first and second support poles at the first and second connectors. The linking poles form an eye shape between the first and second support poles when joined with the connectors.
US07997291B2
A hunting chair with a hunting blind attachment that encircles the chair is disclosed, as well as an attachable camouflage roof covering, all of which may be folded and disassembled in such a way that it fits into a self-contained pack that may be carried on a hunter's back. The chair includes an adjustable, pivoting backrest, a pivoting gun rest with telescoping legs for height adjustment, folding legs, a pouch to contain the disassembled elements, and shoulder straps for carrying the apparatus. In its disassembled state, the roof poles, roof fabric, and blind fabric are packed into a pouch on the back side of the backrest, and the chair is folded into a carrying position. Detachable shoulder straps may be attached to the underside of the seat section, so that the entire chair and blind combination may be carried on a hunter's back into the field.
US07997282B2
A smoking article such as a cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a filter component having a cavity filled with spherical beaded carbon. As mainstream tobacco smoke is drawn through the filter component, targeted gas phase smoke constituents are removed as the smoke passes through the carbon. During the filter manufacturing process the spherical beaded carbon flows like a liquid and substantially completely fills the cavity. Point-to-point contact between the spherical beads together with substantially complete filling of the cavity produces minimal channeling of ambulatory gas phase as well as maximum contact between the gas phase and the carbon surface of the spherical beads during smoking.
US07997278B2
Methods of ablating tissue in an alimentary tract are provided. The methods include advancing an ablation structure into an alimentary tract while supporting the ablation structure with an endoscope. The methods further include a step of moving at least part of the ablation structure with respect to the endoscope and toward a tissue surface, before activating the ablation structure to ablate a tissue surface.
US07997275B2
In order to prevent tainting of a cougher's hand with germs, the product from a cough is carried in contact with a germicide inside a hollow article, and is vented out of the hollow article, in directions away from the user's face and hand holding the article. More specifically, the cough catcher has a hollow region for accepting the product from a cough therein. This hollow region has a filter element containing a germicide mounted therein, and a series of channels formed between the filter element and a bottom surface of the hollow region. The channels communicate with vent ports around a rim portion of the cough catcher. The vent ports are oriented away from both the mouth opening and the outside surface of the cough catcher for conveying the product from a cough away from both the face and the hand of a user.
US07997274B2
A device for maintaining an airway in a patient. This device includes a mask having a resilient conformable peripheral portion that is shaped such that the mask forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx. The peripheral portion of the mask define at least one cavity for providing fluid communication to the esophagus when the mask is inserted into the laryngo pharynx. An airway tube is connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx. The airway tube preferably is curved as it leaves the mask.
US07997268B1
A veterinary anesthesia monitor system useful in establishing, maintaining, and reporting upon the anesthesia gas mixture delivered to or exhaled by a patient.
US07997264B2
Increased utilization of solar power is highly desirable as solar power is a readily available renewable resource with power potential far exceeding total global needs; and as solar power does not contribute to pollutants associated with fossil fuel power, such as unburned hydrocarbons, NOx and carbon dioxide. The present invention provides low-cost inflatable heliostatic solar power collectors, which can be stand-alone units suitable for flexible utilization in small, medium, or utility scale applications. The inflatable heliostatic power collectors use a reflective surface or membrane “sandwiched” between two inflated chambers, and attached solar power receivers which may be of photovoltaic and/or solar thermal types. Modest concentration ratios enable benefits in both reduced cost and increased conversion efficiency, relative to simple prior-art flat plate solar collectors.
US07997257B2
For operating a internal combustion engine a first characteristic value is determined depending on a distance integral of at least a portion of a control signal of an oxygen sensor control based on control reference signal characteristics across a given time period. Depending on the first characteristic value (KW—1) a quality value (GW—1) is determined. Depending on the quality value (GW1) either the existence or the non existence of an error of the exhaust sensor is detected.
US07997252B2
A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed.
US07997248B2
The present invention generally relates to a new valve guide for use in an exhaust valve system. Specifically, the invention is related to a valve guide that prevents acidic corrosion between the valve and the valve guide. The valve guide includes a number of contact portions, which engage the channel that is formed in the cylinder head near the exhaust port. The valve guide also includes a recess portion, situated in relation to a water jacket and between the contact portions. The recess portion and contact portions are sized and shaped to maintain the surface temperature of the valve guide to prevent condensation of acidic gases between the valve stem and the valve guide.
US07997244B2
An internal combustion engine includes a control shaft, an actuator, and an oil accumulation portion. The control shaft is configured to vary a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with a rotational position of the control shaft. The actuator is configured to drive the control shaft to make the lift amount of the engine valve to be a start lift amount before the engine is started. The actuator includes a worm wheel and a worm. The worm wheel is provided at the control shaft and is disposed in an engine body. The worm is disposed below the control shaft and engages with the worm wheel. The oil accumulation portion is provided at at least one of the control shaft and the worm wheel and is configured to drop oil onto the worm in accordance with the rotation of the control shaft when the engine is started.
US07997240B1
An energy conversion and free hydrogen producing system including a electromagnetically energized reciprocating piston motor, a plurality of lead acid flow through batteries, each consisting of a plurality of individual flow through lead acid cells, and a hydrogen burning internal combustion engine. With concentrated sulfuric acid as the primary fluid, the electromagnetically energized reciprocation piston motor, and the hydrogen burning internal combustion engine provide a rotational torque output.
US07997236B2
A water heater (10) including a tank (12) adapted for mounting with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical and a duct (32) adapted for mounting with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical. The duct (32) is positioned within the tank (12) and extends through at least most of the height of the tank (12). The duct (32) defines a first volume (34) within the duct interior and a second volume (36) between the duct exterior and the tank interior. The first volume (34) being smaller than the second volume (36). The duct (32) has at least one upper opening (38) at or near the top of the duct (32) and at least one lower opening (40) at or near the bottom of the duct (32). The heater (10) also has a heating element (44) within, or forming all or part of, the duct (32). The element (44) extends at least substantially through the upper half of the duct (32). The heater (10) also has an inlet (24) at or near the bottom of the tank (12) and an outlet (22) at or near the top of the tank (12). In use, energising the heater element (44) causes water to flow from the first volume (34) to the second volume (36) through the upper opening(s) (38) and water to flow the second volume (36) to the first volume (34) through the lower opening(s) (40).
US07997234B1
A combined climate-controlled kennel supporting enclosure and carrying kennel for providing a safe and comfortable environment for an animal during transport procedures may include a carrying kennel to safeguard an animal therein and a supporting enclosure. The enclosure may include a body and cavity centrally formed therein. The body further may include a base member to maintain the carrying kennel elevated above a ground surface. A plurality of storage compartments may be housed within an uppermost region of the cavity. Each storage compartment may be independently toggled between open and closed positions while the carrying kennel remains statically nested within the cavity. Further, a mechanism may be included for automatically regulating a real-time internal air temperature level within the cavity. The mechanism may operate such that the real-time internal air temperature level may be constantly maintained within a predetermined and safe temperature range during transport procedures.
US07997233B2
A system for demarcating an area comprises a movable demarcating element, and a control system for determining the magnitude and/or the moment of a next move of the movable demarcating element. The system furthermore comprises one or more observation devices for observing an entity near the movable demarcating element, such as a position of a dairy animal or an amount of grass in the area. The observation devices are operatively connected to the control system for transmitting a signal from the observation means to the control system. The control system is designed to receive and process the signal from the observation means to determine the magnitude and/or the moment of the next move of the movable demarcating element.
US07997229B2
A water sprinkler specifically designed for exercising and entertaining dogs that is composed of a highly-durable, non-toxic, flexible, plastic, or like material having perforations for water to spray. Dogs entertain themselves in water sprinklers, however, water sprinklers are often not durable and do not withstand dogs biting them. Dogs can also harm themselves by biting sharp material used to manufacture most standard water sprinklers. This invention is a durable rubber or similar material bone water sprinkler that connects to a standard garden water hose. Dogs can pick it up in their mouths to move it around, nip at the spraying water, and chew on the water sprinkler safely. The body of the sprinkler is shaped in a manner that encourages play even without water spraying from the perforations. The water sprinkler for dogs addresses the chewing and biting issue characteristic of dogs when playing with water sprinklers.
US07997221B2
The invention is an apparatus and method for reducing the drag that a vessel hull experiences when moving through the water by interposing air bubbles between the skin of the hull and the stream of water that the vessel is moving through. The invention delivers compressed air to the bottom of the vessel without the need for a high energy air compressor.
US07997218B2
An agricultural implement includes a seed drill row unit with an arm and an opener disc assembly rotatably mounted on the row unit arm. A soil strip assembly includes a mounting bracket with a mounting bracket base and first and second bracket arms. Each of the bracket arms has a front end attached to the bracket base and a trailing back end. The base is attached to the row unit arm in front of the opener disc assembly. Each of the mounting bracket arms extends rearwardly from the base along a respective side of the disc assembly. First and second flexible soil strips are attached to the first and second mounting bracket arms respectively and extend downwardly and rearwardly therefrom along either side of the disc assembly.
US07997210B2
An improved rail car door closer system is provided wherein the movement of a number of appropriately positioned closer wing plates into contact with a number of open rail car hopper doors, is accomplished with hydraulic cylinders and motors. The system incorporates components that direct both the rotation of the wing closers (around a cylindrical frame so as to position the wing closers in and out of position for door closure), and the translation of the wing closers (along the longitudinal cylindrical frame so as to effect the actual closing of the hopper doors). The system is arranged to close more than one door at a time and in the preferred embodiment includes three simultaneously operated door closer wing structures. The heavy duty cylindrical frame incorporates a number of cylindrical outer segments sized to fit around and on the inner cylindrical frame. The segments are directed to rotate and translate on the inner cylindrical frame. Heavy duty coil springs are used to link the movable outer segments, one to the other, and to serve as force dampening structures during operation of the system. A double acting hydraulic cylinder is arranged to direct the translational movement of the closer wings while a low speed hydraulic motor is used to direct their rotational movement. The system may operate manually through the use of a number of hydraulic valves or may be operated semi-automatically through a programmed sequence of closer wing movements.
US07997209B2
There is provided a differential propulsion mechanism including two or more concentric and mutually counter-rotating first wheels (4, 6, 8, 10), mutually reacting and balancing the torque of a motor drive (20) interacting with the wheels. The motor drive has a stator attached to one of the first wheels to power a first wheel over a first track (12, 14, 16, 18), a rotor coupled to a mechanical link, at least indirectly connecting the rotor with a second of the two or more first wheels to power the second wheel over a second track, and a concentric connecting device affixed for coupling a payload thereto or for coupling the mechanism itself to another device.
US07997194B2
A method for printing and decorating packaging materials, such as paper, paper board and various flexible polymer films by electron beam exposure of plural layers of curable inks and coatings which do not substantially change viscosity during the printing process. The inks and coating are essentially free of volatile components such as organic solvents, inorganic solvents, water and low molecular weight fractions before, during and after exposure to electron beam irradiation. The method involves applying multiple layers of ink and an optional coating onto a substrate. The ink is an admixture of a colorant, and an unsaturated component such that the inks have a maximum of 10% volatile components. Thereafter these layers are simultaneously exposed with electron beam radiation to cause the ethylenically unsaturated components to polymerize or crosslink such that they become dried.
US07997184B2
Briefly, the invention comprises a vibrator with an on-demand start-up system, that inhibits fouling the atmosphere, with one embodiment of the invention including an integral non-fouling start-up system wherein at least one of the bearing surfaces contains a surface adhered lubricant so as to provide an on-demand static start-up system and in another embodiment the on-demand start-up system is a dynamic system that can unbalance the differential forces on the piston therein to ensure that the vibrator will begin vibrating “on-demand”. Thus, two types of start-up systems are available one an on-demand static start-up system and the other an on-demand dynamic start-up system with either of the systems can be used alone or if desired in combination to provide redundant start-up systems.
US07997181B1
A multi-layer ballistic or armor panel system includes a hard component strike layer that is a continuous planar assembly of tile elements, the planar assembly having a strike surface and a rear surface. Seams between the tile elements are substantially non-perpendicular to the strike surface, thereby tending to deflect incoming projectiles. Grooves may be formed in one or more of the strike surface and the rear surface of the tile elements to provide a preferential weakness. The armor panel system may also include a reinforcing layer on at least one of the strike surface and the rear surface. A backing layer may be provided after the rear surface.
US07997178B2
The present invention proposes a novel method for producing powder charges with a high charge density consisting of a granulated powder lying loosely in the charge. In accordance with the invention, the powder is vacuum-packed in airtight pouches made of a combustible and preferably flexible packaging material.
US07997176B2
Throat plates for table saws and table saws including the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the throat plates and/or saws include at least one securement mechanism adapted to secure and prevent inadvertent removal of the throat plate from the throat of the saw. In some embodiments, at least one of the securement mechanisms also provides a height adjustment mechanism and/or prevents vertical removal of the throat plate. In some embodiments, the throat plate includes an accessory mounting port that provides a portal for accessories, including safety accessories, to extend through the plate from beneath the table of the saw. In some embodiments, the port extends from the plate's outer perimeter to divide the plate's rear end portion into a pair of spaced-apart members. In some embodiments, these members are independently secured to the table saw and retained apart from each other by one or more of the securement mechanisms.
US07997174B2
A device for trimming an osteochondral plug graft to an implantable configuration includes a blade assembly terminating in a configured leading cutting blade and a plug graft housing comprising a substantially longitudinal holding sleeve having a bore and oriented complementarily to the longitudinal structure of the blade assembly to receive the longitudinal structure within the sleeve bore with the assembly cutting blade in close tolerance along an inner bore surface of the longitudinal housing structure.
US07997159B2
The present invention broadly comprises a gear selector assembly including a tube with at least one engagement feature, arranged to be disposed within a drive shaft for a transmission, the transmission including at least one gear and the drive shaft including at least one gear actuation assembly; and a differential rotation element coupled with the tube and arranged to be coupled with the drive shaft so that the tube is differentially rotatable with respect to the drive shaft. The tube is arranged to differentially rotate such that the engagement feature engages the actuation assembly and the transmission engages a respective gear from the at least one gear. The assembly includes a means for displacing a portion of the differential rotation element such that the tube axially and rotationally displaces with respect to the drive shaft. The portion axially and rotationally engages with an interface element to controllably position the tube.
US07997156B1
A F.O.G. water sampling apparatus includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a floor that slopes downward from the inlet to the outlet and an open top. A first insert placed in the housing for normal operation includes a pipe having end flanges making a friction fit within the housing and connecting the inlet and outlet and spanning above the housing floor. A second, substitute insert to receive a F.O.G. sampling jar has a floor that slopes downward from the inlet to the outlet and at the floor of the housing.
US07997155B2
A load sensor includes a base substrate having two holes as two fixing portions to a frame member as a detection object, a pair of strain detecting elements provided on a surface of the base substrate, and input-output terminals provided on the surface of the base substrate. The strain detecting elements are arranged in a region that is between the holes and is opposite the input-output terminals with respect to at least one of the holes.
US07997139B2
A method for the nondestructive inspecting of coated or uncoated pipeline, using ultrasonic guided waves excited on the outer or inner pipe surface, wherein at least one or more transducers are individually or simultaneously excited to generate ultrasound, wherein multiple received signals with different focal spot positions are processed and combined to produce a reduced number of final waveforms that show defect axial positions in the pipe, wherein a data calibration scheme is utilized to adjust velocity variability for all the guided wave modes at different frequencies, and wherein the hardware arrangement has at least one pulser channel and one receiver channel for the collection and storage of signals.
US07997132B2
A capacitive sensor assembly for detecting relative movement or position between objects, such as liquid level in a tank or reservoir, movement of one machine component with respect to another, and so on, includes one or more antenna probes connected to an integrated chip normally associated with touch-screen displays. Each antenna probe operates independently and may be formed as insulated conductive wires or conductive traces between layers of a stiff or flexible substrate, such as a PCB, with the substrate material serving as the insulating layers. Each antenna probe has a different length representing different measurement positions or locations between the objects being measured to provide dynamic calibration of the measurement under changing environmental conditions.
US07997130B1
A monitoring system for monitoring a test article includes a scanning system and a computer system. The test article may be positioned within a fluid tunnel. The scanning system may be configured to scan the test article and record positional data of at least one point on an article surface of the test article. The computer system is in communication with the scanning system for receiving the positional data and being operative to determine at least one of the following: a position of the test article, an attitude of the test article, and deformation of the article surface.
US07997129B2
A split mold for vulcanizing a tire is held at a mold holding section, which is held on a rotatable base, and then a measuring section measures distances to an inner surface of the split mold in the inside diameter direction and in the axial direction. An operating section acquires two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold from the distances measured above, and further acquires geometric data over the entire circumference by rotating the rotatable base, and the data are combined to acquire three-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold and make reference geometric data for tire inspection.
US07997123B2
A dispensing device has a cantilever comprising a plurality of thin films arranged relative to one another to define a microchannel in the cantilever and to define at least portions of a dispensing microtip proximate an end of the cantilever and communicated to the microchannel to receive material therefrom. The microchannel is communicated to a reservoir that supplies material to the microchannel. One or more reservoir-fed cantilevers may be formed on a semiconductor chip substrate. A sealing layer preferably is disposed on one of the first and second thin films and overlies outermost edges of the first and second thin films to seal the outermost edges against material leakage. Each cantilever includes an actuator, such as for example a piezoelectric actuator, to impart bending motion thereto. The microtip includes a pointed pyramidal or conical shaped microtip body and an annular shell spaced about the pointed microtip body to define a material-dispensing annulus thereabout. The working microtip may be used to dispense material onto a substrate, to probe a surface in scanning probe microscopy, to apply an electrical stimulus or record an electrical response on a surface in the presence of a local environment created around the tip by the material dispensed from the tip or to achieve other functions.
US07997118B2
The invention provides, in one embodiment, a device for performing scrub testing on a plurality of samples simultaneously, including a plurality of scrubbing devices. A stage is provided which positions the plurality of samples in contact with the plurality of scrubbing devices. The scrubbing devices can individually be provided with different weights to produce different forces on the samples. A motion producing device produces one or both of linear and rotational motion between the brushes and the samples. The scrubbing devices are held in the stage so as move freely vertically.
US07997113B2
A hemming system and method is taught. The system and method employs tool platen assemblies comprising an anvil and one or more beam assemblies which are configured on the tool platen assembly and which tool platen assembly can be removed and replaced in the hemming system without the need for reconfiguration of the tool platen components. This allows for relatively rapid change over for the hemming system to hem different components. Further, the lift table of the hemming system includes a lift plate which moves the anvil through a predefined constant vertical stroke, but the start and end positions of that constant stroke length can be changed by inserting and removing a set of spacers from the anvil lift path. When the spacers are in the lift path, the lowered position and the raised position of the anvil are both higher than the corresponding lowered position and raised position when the spacers are removed from the lift path. The beam assemblies on the tool platen assembly include mounting surfaces to which both the preliminary hemming beam and the final hemming beams are mounted, one above the other, and the beam assemblies operate to move the hemming beams between a retracted position and a hemming position. The lift table design, and the beam assemblies, combine to provide relatively fast cycle times for complete hemming operations.
US07997105B2
A push-push appliance door, e.g., for a front-load automatic laundry washer, includes a peripheral frame having a first cut-out configured to receive a push-position indicator member that designates a push-position for opening the door. The frame may include a second cut-out located on an opposite side of the frame from the first cut-out. The door may further include a cut-out filler piece. The first and second cut-outs may be configured to interchangeably and interlockingly receive the indicator member and the cut-out filler piece, to thereby allow the indicator member to be properly positioned in relation to a selection of a hinge/latch location.
US07997104B2
A laundry drum comprises a drum having a cylindrical band (2), at least two rows of receptacles (4) defined on the cylindrical band (2), said receptacles (4) arranged in a staggered sequence along a central line (6) therebetween; and at least one paddle (3) fastened to the cylindrical band (2) on an inside of said drum by means of two corresponding rows of elastic clips (5) extended from the paddle (5) and being held in said receptacles (4). Such arrangement of the receptacles (4) provide a possible larger area a long the peripheral direction of the receptacles to distribute the stresses formed when the drum spins at a high speed in operation of washing, rinsing or the like.
US07997099B2
A system for use with a consumable beverage.
US07997098B2
An adsorption heat exchanger (20) is constituted by a fin-and-tube heat exchanger. In the adsorption heat exchanger (20), a first tube column (41), a second tube column (42) and a third tube column (43) are formed in order from upstream to downstream in air flow. The adsorption heat exchanger (20) is formed of a first column part (21) including the first tube column (41), a second column part (22) including the second tube column (42) and a third column part (23) including the third tube column (43). In the adsorption heat exchanger (20), a first adsorption layer (36) is formed on the fins (30) in the first column part (21), a second adsorption layer (37) is formed on the fins (30) in the second column part (22) and a third adsorption layer (38) is formed on the fins (30) in the third column part (23). The amount of adsorbent contained in each adsorption layer increases in order of the first adsorption layer (36), the second adsorption layer (37) and the third adsorption layer (38).
US07997097B2
An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the invention includes a refrigerator cycle unit having a variable speed compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression device, an indoor heat exchanger, and an accumulator sequentially connected to one another, a bypass pipe that connects the discharge side of the compressor and an outlet of the accumulator and has a two-way valve in the middle thereof, a discharge temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the compressor, and a controller that opens or closes the two-way valve, and limits the number of rotations of the compressor to a predetermined value or less, on the basis of the temperature detected by the discharge temperature sensor when the compressor starts.
US07997089B2
Ice condensed in a portion in a case in which a cryogenic refrigerator is installed, which is cooled by the cryogenic refrigerator, is melted by increasing a temperature of the ice to a melting point of the ice or higher. Then, while the temperature of the melted ice and a pressure thereof are kept to be equal to or higher than a freezing point of water, the pressure is reduced by rough evacuation so as to vaporize water. At a time at which the water is discharged, the pressure is further reduced so as to discharge water vapor. In this manner, regeneration of water is performed in accordance with a state of the water (i.e., a solid state, a liquid state, and a gas state), thereby shortening a regeneration time.
US07997088B2
The problems of reducing the torque required to turn the valve, eliminating wear dust, and extending the life of the valves in Gifford McMahon (G-M) type multi-port pulse tube refrigerators are solved by using a rotary spool valve having radial clearance to control flow to and from the regenerator, and using face seal ports on the end of the spool to control flow to and from the pulse tubes.
US07997082B2
A turbine engine arrangement includes an electrical machine that acts as a generator or motor. During initial start-up, the electrical machine acts as the motor to drive shaft rotation. The arrangement includes a compressor fan that generates an airflow utilized by an air turbine to drive the electrical machine as a generator. A duct directs airflow exhausted from the air turbine to a heat exchanger to exchange heat with a bypass flow from the compressor fan. In such circumstances, the generator can operate substantially independently of a rotational speed of the engine shafts within the core, whilst bled air through the valve acts to cool the electrical machine during initial start-up. A gearbox is provided for matching air turbine rotation with generator requirements whilst also allowing for connection to the primary drive shaft of the core to allow engine start-up or driving of the generator.
US07997075B2
A master cylinder 1, especially for a controlled brake system, includes at least one piston 3, 4; 53, 54 displaceable in a housing 2, which is sealed in relation to a pressure chamber 7, 8 by means of a sealing element 5, 6 arranged in an annular groove 23, 24 of the housing 2, said pressure chamber being connectable to an unpressurized supply chamber 11, 12 by means of transverse bores 9, 10; 50, 51 provided in the piston 3, 4; 53, 54. Several recesses 15, 16, 17 are arranged on an inside surface 13, 14; 59, 60 of the piston 3, 4; 53, 54 into which the transverse bores 9, 10; 50, 51 open.
US07997066B2
The diagnosis of the heating of a catalytic converter situated in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is described. The system includes monitoring the actual ignition angle intervention. A current ignition angle is acquired over a specified time and converted into a torque model used for catalytic converter heating. Using the torque model, a degree of fulfillment of executed catalytic converter heating measures is obtained and an error signal is generated by comparing the obtained degree of fulfillment to a limiting value.
US07997065B2
A device for estimating the loading state of a NOx storage catalytic converter. The device includes a module for determining the oxygen concentration difference between an oxygen concentration present in the exhaust gas upstream of the NOX storage catalytic converter and an oxygen concentration present in the exhaust gas downstream of the NOX storage catalytic converter, and a controller for estimating the loading state of the NOX storage catalytic converter on the basis of said oxygen concentration difference.
US07997062B2
A gas turbine engine includes a fuel-oil heat exchange system in which the fuel is continuously heated by a primary hot oil flow in a primary fuel-oil heat exchanger and the fuel is selectively heated in a secondary fuel-oil heat exchanger by a secondary hot oil flow selectively passing through or bypassing a secondary fuel-oil heat exchanger, controlled by a thermal valve.
US07997054B2
The invention relates to a fiber strand (10) for an implantable supporting body (100) comprising at least two individual fibers (12). The at least two individual fibers (12) are each shorter in their longitudinal extent than the longitudinal extent (14) of the fiber strand, and in their transverse extent they are each thinner than the transverse extent (16) of the fiber strand.
US07997052B2
Stationary compacting, bagging machine comprising a structure intended to compact sorted or unsorted waste inside bags manufactured in laminated polypropylene adequate for this purpose, in which said equipment can perform high compaction of waste, extracting the liquid arising from compaction and eliminating empty spaces between the different kinds of materials, in such a manner that these bags can be deposited in proper landfills with no leaks into the atmosphere nor contamination of the groundwater.
US07997051B2
A method of folding a sheet (2) of packing material about a group (3) of cigarettes; the method includes the steps of: bringing a first end wall (8a) of the group (3) of cigarettes into contact with the flat sheet (2) of packing material, so that the major transverse edges (10) of the group (3) of cigarettes are parallel to the long sides of the sheet (2) of packing material; folding the sheet (2) of packing material into a U about the major transverse edges (10) of the first end wall (8a), so that the sheet (2) of packing material partly covers both the major lateral walls (6) of the group (3) of cigarettes; folding the sheet (2) of packing material about the minor transverse edges (10) of the first end wall (8a), so that the sheet (2) of packing material completely covers both the major lateral walls (6) and the minor lateral walls (7), and forms a tubular package having one open end at a second end wall (8b); and folding the sheet (2) of packing material onto the second end wall (8b) to complete the folding of the sheet (2) of packing material about the group (3) of cigarettes.
US07997048B2
Container filling plant, such as a beverage bottling plant, for filling containers with a liquid beverage and for closing filled containers. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): “A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.” Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US07997040B2
A door comprising first and second door skins secured to each other to form a cavity therebetween filled with expended foam. Each of the door skins has an opening therethrough for receiving a glass insert and a flange portion. Distal ends of the flange portions of the first and second door skins engage each other in an overlapping relationship by the expansion pressure of the expanded foam. The door further comprises a glazing rim member having a leg portion snap-locked between the flange portions of the first and second door skins. The method for assembling the door comprises the steps of filling the cavity between the door skins with foam material, then inserting the glass insert through the openings in the door skins and mounting the glazing rim member to the first door skin by snap-locking between the flange portions of the first and second door skins.
US07997039B2
A cast veneer wall panel includes a facing panel having at least one design element. The facing panel is made from a cast material. In addition the wall panel includes a backing panel including a series of spaced apertures. The series of spaced apertures receive a portion of the cast material in order to key the facing panel and the backing panel together.
US07997037B2
An integrated window sash includes a sash frame having a base between first and second sheet supporting surfaces and first and second sheets each having a first surface and an opposite second surface. The marginal edge portions of the first surface of the first sheet are secured to the first supporting surface, and marginal edge portions of the first surface of the second sheet are secured to the second supporting surface. The first surface of the second sheet faces and is spaced from the second surface of the first sheet to provide a compartment therebetween. A desiccating medium carried in a groove, or on the base communicates with the compartment, and the base and the desiccating medium define an interior opening in the sash frame, wherein the first sheet is sized to pass through the interior opening to the first sheet supporting surface without contacting the desiccating medium.
US07997025B1
A photo-bioreactor module adapted for stacking a plurality of such modules for producing algal bioproducts includes at least an upper and a lower light-transmitting member each having a plurality of openings. The upper and lower light-transmitting members are spaced apart from one another and at least one of the upper and lower light-transmitting members includes at least one light connection terminal for coupling in light from a light source and transmitting the light laterally. A plurality of photobioreactor conduits each extending from respective openings in the upper and lower light-transmitting member define algae containment interior spaces, wherein the plurality of photobioreactor conduits contact the upper and a lower light-transmitting members along areas of contact. The light transmitted laterally by the upper and lower light-transmitting members couples into the plurality of photobioreactor conduits along the areas of contact.
US07997020B2
A firearm having a receiver housing an action-cycling mechanism, a barrel having a muzzle opening on a distal end, a shroud coaxially surrounding at least a portion of the barrel, the shroud having a distal portion extending beyond the muzzle opening defining a shroud front region having a distal end portion, a proximal portion extending proximally from the muzzle opening defining an annular region between the barrel and shroud, a front wall disposed at the distal end portion of the shroud, the front wall having an opening to allow passage of a projectile fired from the gun barrel, a firewall disposed in the annular region of the proximal portion of the shroud, the firewall moveable relative to the gun barrel between a forward, at-rest position, and a rearward, compressed position, the firewall mechanically engaged with the action cycling mechanism, and heat-dissipating fins in the annular region extending longitudinally along, and radially outward from, the gun barrel to the shroud, the fins defining channels, the firewall disposed in at least one of the channels. Gases generated during a fire compress the firewall rearward to operate the cycling mechanism.
US07997012B2
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a midsole element, an upper sheet, and a lower sheet. The midsole element has an upper surface and an opposite lower surface. In addition, the midsole element defines a plurality of bores extending from the upper surface to the lower surface. The upper sheet is secured to the upper surface and extends over at least a portion of the bores. The lower sheet is secured to the lower surface, and the lower sheet is positioned to correspond in location with the upper sheet and extend under the portion of the bores.
US07997007B2
The invention provides a compactly contained multiple-component sensing device for detecting toe-walking and other physical conditions and providing repetitive positive reinforcement stimuli to correct the same. A comprehensive software system enables therapeutic management of the sensing and stimulus device and easy changes in therapy, stimulus content, stimulus frequency and other factors. A variety of circuit and housing arrangements allow adaptability to manufacture, user, and treatment professional demands.
US07997005B2
A blower system to remove precipitation from an antenna may include a blower air plenum extending substantially completely along one side of the antenna. A vent is in communication with the blower air plenum and extends substantially completely along the one side of the antenna to direct an airstream across a surface of the antenna to remove precipitation from the antenna. The vent may include a contour to conform to a contour of the one side of the antenna. The blower system may also include an air compressor to force air into the blower air plenum and out the vent to form the airstream flowing across the surface of the antenna.
US07996992B2
A method for mounting one or more ropes on a rope pulley includes fitting a first end of the one or more ropes into one or more corresponding rope grooves of the rope pulley, attaching a rope holder to the rope pulley to press the first end of the one or more ropes into the one or more corresponding rope grooves of the rope pulley, and winding the one or more ropes at least partially around the rope pulley by rotating the rope pulley.
US07996991B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid jet head is provided, which includes: a preparation step of preparing a substrate array which is provided with a first substrate having formed therein a first flow path, a second substrate bonded to one side of the first substrate and having formed therein a second flow path, and a separation layer partitioning the first flow path and the second flow path; a sealing step of sealing the first flow path by adhering a sealing film onto a side of the first substrate opposite to the second substrate using an adhesive layer; and a removal step of removing the separation layer after the sealing step is performed, wherein in the removal step, the separation layer is removed in a state in which an internal pressure of the first flow path is lower than an external pressure.
US07996985B2
A method of making a relay includes: preparing a relay core member; coupling first, second and third terminals to the relay core member by moving the same horizontally relative to the relay core member such that terminal portions of the first, second and third terminals enter notches formed in the relay core member in a horizontal direction; and enclosing the relay core member, the first terminal, the second terminal, and the third terminal within a housing, and sealing the housing with resin.
US07996982B2
A method (10) of forming an electrically conducting feedthrough. The method (10) comprises a first step (11) of forming an electrically conductive structure (21) comprising a sacrificial component and a non-sacrificial component. At least a portion of the non-sacrificial component can then be coated with a relatively electrically insulating material (35) prior to removal of at least a portion of the sacrificial component from the electrically conductive structure. The structure of the feedthrough provides electrical connection through the wall of a housing of an implantable component while preventing unwanted transfer of materials between the interior of the component and the surrounding environment.
US07996978B2
A method for producing a product includes the steps of taking heated and cooled extrusion, preferably aluminum, and reheating a selected area of the extrusion. There is the step of requenching the extrusion. There is the step of forming the reheated area into a desired shape. A method for producing a ladder.
US07996976B2
A medical device for use within a body of a patient includes at least two retention members located at a first end of an elongated section of the medical device. The retention members are adapted to limit longitudinal movement of the elongated section when the medical device is placed within the body of a patient. The elongated section can define a passage and at least one opening in communication with the passage to facilitate passing fluid.
US07996969B2
In a multilayer ceramic substrate having a built-in capacitor provided in a ceramic laminate including a plurality of ceramic layers laminated to each other, the built-in capacitor being formed of a first capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrode, and one of the dielectric glass ceramic layers, the capacitance value of the built-in capacitor is adjusted by performing laser trimming of the first capacitor electrode. The one dielectric glass ceramic layer is made of a TiO2-based dielectric glass ceramic layer in which the amount of dielectric grains including TiO2 is about 10 percent to about 35 percent by volume.
US07996967B2
System for variable-angle cutting of a suture to create tissue retainers of a desired shape and size
A system for manufacturing a self-retaining suture is disclosed. The system includes a cutting bed which supports the suture during cutting. A cutting device makes cuts in the suture thread having a preselected geometry. A cutting arm is articulated to allow change of the angle of the cutting device during cutting. The change in the angle of the cutting device is used to control the depth of cut and/or elevate a tissue-retainer away from the suture to better engage tissue.
US07996965B2
A clip 20 is provided on a clip support member 30, and one end of a main link member 53 and one end of a sub-link member 54 are pivotally connected to a first shaft member 51 at the clip 20 side of the clip support member 30 to constitute a reference linkage at the clip 20 side.
US07996964B2
A buckle device for a motor vehicle is provided. The buckle device comprising a locking tongue for inserting into a buckle and a deflecting body connected to the locking tongue, which is configured to subdivide a safety belt into a shoulder portion and a lap portion and to deflect said safety belt such that the two portions extend away from the deflecting body in different directions. The deflecting body is connected to the locking tongue via at least one elongate element, which is at least partially wound around the deflecting body.
US07996960B2
A hinge for doors or windows, comprising a hinge-pin (26) defining an axis of rotation (28), a first hinge element (22) and a second hinge element (24), which are articulated to one another about said axis (28) via said pin (26), the hinge including a reinforcement kit comprising an extension element (32) that can be applied by shape fit to an end of the pin (26), and a third hinge element (30) connectable to the first hinge element (22) in a pre-set position and having a hole (82) that can be engaged by said extension element (32) of the pin (26).
US07996939B2
A collapsible hydraulically operated ambulance cot having a support frame, a wheeled base, a support mechanism disposed therebetween, and a lift system for hydraulically moving the upper frame relative to the lower frame is disclosed. The lift system permits a single attendant to raise the cot from a lowered position to a raised position, and an infinite number of positions therebetween, and to raise the wheeled base relative to the support frame to situate the cot onto an elevated surface such as the transport deck of an ambulance. A manual override is also provided to conserve battery power and as a back-up in no-power situations. It is to be appreciated that the above described manual override mode may be used when raising or lowering the cot without power assist, dropping the undercarriage when unloading from a vehicle, and lifting the undercarriage when loading into a vehicle.
US07996938B1
The lift is attachable to a foot end of a bed beneath a mattress. Elongate arms extend up from a base portion of the lift. Sheets or other bed covers are supported above an upper end of the elongate arms to define a clearance space beneath the upper ends of the elongate arms. The elongate arms are preferably provided as a pair of first arms and a pair of second arms which can be moved from a lowered position to a raised position by action of a driver. When the arms are raised the clearance space keeps the bed covers off of feet of a user resting on the bed.
US07996936B2
A climate controlled seat, bed or other assembly configured to receive a person includes a blower and two or more thermoelectric devices or other conditioning fluid modules. According to one embodiment of an operational scheme, a control system for the seat or bed is configured to continuously discharge air from the blower through the thermoelectric devices. In one arrangement, the thermoelectric devices are sequenced between an activated and a deactivated position. Consequently, the desired cooling and/or cooling effect can be maintained while reducing energy consumption of the climate control system.
US07996932B2
A spa wall mounted head rest directs a curved sheet of water against a user's neck and shoulders. The head rest is fed by two laterally spaced apart water flows and includes an internal manifold to uniformly direct the flows across a curved outlet. The resulting curved flow is uniformly directed against the user's neck and shoulders. The head rest has a curved back to allow mounting in a corner of the spa wall and includes an easily removable and replaceable head rest cover allowing easy maintenance.
US07996927B2
The discharge valve has a valve housing (14) which has an outlet opening with a valve seat (16) and also a closure body (12). A two-quantity actuator (4) has a connecting rod (10) which is connected to the closure body (12) and by means of which the closure body (12) can optionally be raised by different displacement distances. A top activatable partial-quantity float (13) is provided for partial flushing and a bottom, full-quantity float (20), which is mounted in a pivotable manner on the valve housing (14), is provided for full flushing. The full-quantity float (20) has a blocking element (22) which, once partial flushing has been triggered, engages with the closure body (12) and blocks the latter against further displacement. This prevents the situation where, once partial flushing has been triggered, the closure body (12) is raised further and full flushing takes place.
US07996926B2
A foldable, hanging urinal includes a back surface, hooks and a receptacle. The foldable hanging urinal is made from cardboards stock and folds flat for transportation, inventory and disposal. Hooks on the back of the foldable hanging urinal fold out for hanging the foldable hanging urinal on a toilet fixture. The receptacle folds out to form a cup to accept urine.
US08001599B2
A method for providing an alert when a potentially or likely malicious web site is browsed to by a user. The method maintains web site identification details. If a web site purporting to be a known, previously identified, encountered and utilized web site is browsed to and requests information, the user is alerted to the precise differences between the stored web site historical identity and the identity of the present requester.
US08001597B2
A fraud detection and protection method and system are disclosed. The method and system utilize a fraud detection and protection server to monitor online commercial transactions between a webserver and a client computer, and generate a risk assessment of a user associated with the client computer. The system and method further utilize a number of beacon servers geographically dispersed in an area. Each beacon server is configured to receive packet header information associated with the online commercial transactions, analyze the packet header information for authenticating information, and send the authenticating information to the fraud detection and protection server for the risk assessment.
US08001595B1
A security data structure, method and computer program product are provided. In use, computer code is received. Furthermore, functions in the computer code that control a behavior of the computer code when executed are statically identified.
US08001577B2
An interactive entertainment and information system using a television set-top box, wherein pages of information are periodically provided to the set-top box for user interaction therewith. The pages include associated meta-data defining active locations on each page. When a page is displayed, the user interacts with the active locations on the page by entering commands via a remote control device, whereby the system reads the meta-data and takes the action associated with the location. Actions include moving to other active locations, hyperlinking to other pages, entering user form data and submitting the data as a form into memory. The form data may be read from memory, and the pages may be related to a conventional television program, thereby providing significant user interactivity with the television.
US08001572B2
A reception system includes a baseband processor receiving a broadcasting signal including mobile service data and main service data, the mobile service data including first service data and second service data, a table handler parsing a table from an RS frame and extracting signaling information of the second service data, a frame handler extracting the second service data from the RS frame on the basis of the extracted signaling information, and a conditional access handler releasing the conditional access of the extracted second service data on the basis of conditional access information of the extracted signaling information.
US08001566B2
A digital broadcasting receiving apparatus which receives broadcasting signals corresponding to a plurality of channels, the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus including: a first tuner that tunes one of the broadcasting signals; and a controller that controls the first tuner to successively tune the broadcasting signals for each channel, captures image information for a program of a tuned broadcasting signal at a predetermined time interval, and storing detailed program information comprising the captured image information.
US08001562B2
An apparatus includes unit acquiring comment information items related to video content, each of the comment information items including a comment, and a start time and an end time of the comment, unit dividing the comment into words by morpheme analysis for each of the comment information items, unit acquiring an estimated value of each of the words, the estimated value indicating a degree of importance used when the scenes are extracted, unit adding the acquired estimated value of each of the words for each of the words during a period of time ranging from the start time to the end time of the comment that contains a corresponding word to acquire estimated value distributions of the words, and unit extracting a start time and an end time of one scene and to be extracted from the video content, based on a shape of the estimated value distributions.
US08001557B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot-in type disk apparatus in which a moving position of a disk is precisely guided when the disk is inserted or discharged, thereby preventing the disk from coming into contact with an objective lens and further reducing the thickness of the disk apparatus. In the slot-in type disk apparatus, a base body 10 and a lid constitute a chassis sheath, a disk-insertion opening 11 into which a disk is directly inserted is formed in a front surface of the chassis sheath, a traverse base 30 is disposed on the side of a front surface of the base body 10, a pickup 32 held by the traverse base 30 is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the base body 10, the pickup 32 is provided with an objective lens 32A and an ACT cover 32B, the traverse base 30 is provided with a traverse base 30 cover 32B, and a protection cover 32B is provided on an upper surface on the side of an outer periphery of the traverse base 30 cover 32B, the protection cover 32B also extends above the ACT cover 32B and is disposed closer to the disk-insertion opening 11 than the objective lens 32A.
US08001546B2
A system and method for allowing transaction callback processing to be synchronized or to take effect prior to completion of a transaction or message. Additional objects that will take part in the transaction can be registered on any server during the transaction's active phase. After the commit function is called, each synchronization object is called during the transaction preprepare processing. A synchronization object can register another object, call a server not previously involved in the transaction, or involve a new resource in the transaction. The effect is to provide a circular pattern of request passing that allows additional resources to be added into the loop prior to commit.
US08001537B1
During compilation of a user logic design in a first type of programmable logic device (e.g., an FPGA), a log is kept of at least certain steps where choices are made. When that logic design is migrated to another type of programmable logic device (e.g., a mask-programmable logic device) the logged steps are taken into account to make sure that the same choices are made, so that the target device is functionally equivalent to the original device.
US08001535B2
A target computing system 10 is adapted to support a register window architecture, particularly for use when converting non-native subject code 17 instead into target code 21 executed by a target processor 13. A subject register stack data structure (an “SR stack”) 400 in memory has a plurality of frames 410 each containing a set of entries 401 corresponding to a subset of subject registers 502 of one register window 510 in a subject processor 3. The SR stack 400 is accessed by the target code 21 executing on the target processor 13. The SR stack 400 stores a large plurality of such frames 410 and thereby avoids overhead such as modelling automatic spill and fill operations from the windowed register file of the subject architecture. In one embodiment, a target computing system 10 having sixteen general purpose working registers is adapted to support a register window architecture reliant upon a register file containing tens or hundreds of subject registers 502.
US08001534B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable program code are provided to validate software compliance for a set of technologies. A request is received to validate software. Responsive to receiving the request to validate the software, a selection of a number of technologies is received from the set of technologies for which the software is to be validated. Responsive to receiving the select of the number of technologies, a set of traces is exercised of the software for the selected technologies. The exercise of the set of traces continues until stopped. Responsive to tracing stopping, a set of trace log files of the set of traces is created and sent to a validation server. The validation server then analyzes the submitted trace log files and generates a report detailing what technologies were successfully used.
US08001529B2
A test harness system and method of functionality testing of wireless component applications is provided. The test harness system comprises at least one testlet for testing at least one target application log event and at least one event handler for validating at least one comparator against the at least one target application log event. The method comprises the steps of listening for target application log events, receiving a target application log event, receiving a testlet and validating the target application log event based upon the testlet.
US08001526B2
A property storage structure is provided that is configured to store properties for a display object. The property storage structure includes a property object that corresponds to a property of the display object. The property storage structure is identified according to a key (e.g., the key identifies the property object as a fill style object that corresponds to a fill style property for the display object). The property object hierarchically includes a value designating what type of object for the property object identified by the key (e.g., the fill style object includes a value that designates the fill style object as a solid color fill type).
US08001523B1
A system and methods are provided for implementing an explicit interface member in connection with a computer programming language. Thus, a mechanism is provided that prevents conflicts between independently developed interfaces, enables privately implemented interface members and enables specific versions of generic interfaces that are free from conflict.
US08001514B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that computes a routability estimation across a collection of local routing regions associated with a circuit layout. This system first selects a first local routing region associated with a route overflow, wherein a respective local routing region is associated with an estimation of a number of route overflows for routing layers in a region of the circuit layout. Furthermore, a respective routing layer is associated with a preferred direction variable D. Next, the system transfers an overflow value k in direction d away from an overflowing routing layer for the first local routing region to a second local routing region, which has the capacity to handle an overflow of k or more routes in a direction d. Finally, the system computes a global routability estimation as a function of a global overflow cost and an adjacent overflow cost.
US08001512B1
A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for using pattern-dependent models at early stages of the design process. This addresses the key disadvantage of prior approaches which are restricted to using such models later in the design process for IC designs that are nearly complete. Pattern-dependent manufacturing effects are extracted from early stage designs and using the extracted pattern-dependent effects to efficiently and effectively design the integrated circuit. One or more contexts are built around one or more units of the design, with examples of units being a block or cell. The units are then used in the context to generate pattern-dependent data as a basis for one or more pattern-dependent models.
US08001494B2
Disclosed is a system and method for integrated circuit designs and post layout analysis. The integrated circuit design method includes providing a plurality of IC devices with various design dimensions; collecting electrical performance data of the IC devices; extracting equivalent dimensions of the IC devices; generating a shape related model to relate the equivalent dimensions to the electrical performance data of the IC devices; and creating a data refinement table using the equivalent dimensions and the electrical performance data.
US08001493B2
An efficient method and computer program for modeling and improving stating memory performance across process variations and environmental conditions provides a mechanism for raising the performance of memory arrays beyond present levels/yields. Statistical (Monte-Carlo) analyses of subsets of circuit parameters are performed for each of several memory performance variables and then sensitivities of each performance variable to each of the circuit parameters are determined. The memory cell design parameters and/or operating conditions of the memory cells are then adjusted in conformity with the sensitivities, resulting in improved memory yield and/or performance. Once a performance level is attained, the sensitivities can then be used to alter the probability distributions of the performance variables to achieve a higher yield. Multiple cell designs can be compared for performance, yield and sensitivity of performance variables to circuit parameters over particular environmental conditions in order to select the best cell design.
US08001486B2
A method for automatically verifying one or more features of file-based media content (108) is disclosed. This file-based media content includes one or more media content files. The method includes customizing (204) a test plan on the basis of the one or more features. Customizing the test plan includes creating, modifying or utilizing at least one media content check of one or more media content checks. A media content check verifies at least one feature of the one or more features of the file-based media content. Further, the method includes verifying (206) the one or more features, based on the customized test plan. The method also includes documenting (208) the results obtained from the verification of the one or more features.
US08001469B2
Systems and methods are described that automatically generate interactive systems configured for collecting dialog data of human-machine interactions in dialog systems. The systems and methods comprise receiving a task flow that describes operations of a dialog system. A formal description of the task flow is generated, and an interactive system comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) is automatically generated from the formal description. The GUI consists of templates for control of the dialog system and real-time collection and annotating of dialog data during a live dialog between only the dialog system and callers to the dialog system. The dialog data consists of data of the live dialog.
US08001468B2
Disclosed is a method and system for capturing a user action on a user interface and fetching user interface elements in the user interface into a first list and operations of the user interface elements into a second list. A test case for the user action is created in an automation accelerator by selecting a user interface element from the first list and an operation of the user interface element from the second list. An automation accelerator script of the test case is created by the automation accelerator.
US08001456B2
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for communicating data between a web application running on a server and a browser running on a client in a network environment. Information is requested at the client from the server. The requested information is received at the client. The requested information is separated into a data portion and a markup portion.
US08001452B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for soft decision decoding using reliability values based on a log base two function. A signal is processed to determine one or more reliability values for a soft decision decoder by computing one or more log-likelihood ratio (LLR) values using a log base two function. The soft decision decoder may employ, for example, a belief propagation algorithm. The soft decision decoder can decode, for example, Low-Density Parity Check codes or turbo codes.
US08001451B2
A trellis encoding device includes a plurality of trellis encoders to perform trellis-encoding of a transport stream into which a supplementary reference signal (SRS) has been inserted, and performs a memory reset in a region that precedes an SRS; and a parity compensation unit to compensate for parities of the transport stream in accordance with values stored in memories included in the trellis encoders. The plurality of trellis encoders may be implemented in diverse types. The trellis encoding device can perform a memory reset selectively using the stored value of the memory and the inverted value thereof, or selectively using the stored value of the memory and a fixed value. By properly resetting the memory in processing the transport stream into which the SRS has been inserted, DC offset can be reduced.
US08001450B2
The data memory cell array and parity memory cell array in the memory cell array has a constitution that is capable of corresponding with a plurality of ECC code lengths. An input-side parity generation circuit that generates parities from write data, an output-side parity generation circuit that generates parities from read data, and a syndrome generation circuit that generates a syndrome bit that indicates an error bit from the read parity bits and generated parity bits are constituted so as to be capable of switching, according to the plurality of ECC code lengths.
US08001434B1
A self-testing memory module includes a printed circuit board configured to be operatively coupled to a memory controller of a computer system and includes a plurality of memory devices on the printed circuit board, each memory device of the plurality of memory devices comprising data, address, and control ports. The memory module also includes a control module configured to generate address and control signals for testing the memory devices. The memory module includes a data module comprising a plurality of data handlers. Each data handler is operable independently from each of the other data handlers of the plurality of data handlers. Each data handler is operatively coupled to a corresponding plurality of the data ports of one or more of the memory devices and is configured to generate data for writing to the corresponding plurality of data ports.
US08001406B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for managing power of a portable information device. The apparatus includes: a display unit displaying a power management mode picture when a wake-up signal is input during a low-power consumption state of the portable information device; and a processing unit setting the portable information device again in the low-power consumption state when a user's input, as a response to the power management mode picture, is not received within a predetermined time after the power management mode picture is output to the display unit. Accordingly, even when a button on the portable information device is accidentally pressed, battery thereof can be prevented from being needlessly consumed.
US08001405B2
Power management techniques include a method for power management of a processor chip which comprises the following steps. An initial operating level is set for the processor chip. After a predetermined time interval, slack is calculated. If the slack is greater than zero, the initial operating level is increased to a next higher level, otherwise the initial operating level is maintained. After the predetermined time interval, the slack is re-calculated and further includes accumulated slack. If the re-calculated slack is greater than zero, the operating level is increased to the next higher level if the processor chip is being operated at the initial operating level, otherwise the operating level is returned to the initial operating level if the processor chip is being operated at the next higher operating level. The steps to re-calculate the slack and either increase the operating level to the next higher level or return the operating level to the initial operating level are repeated.
US08001403B2
An exemplary method for managing power consumption of a data center includes monitoring power consumption of a data center, assessing power consumption with respect to a billing equation for power, based on the assessment, deciding whether to implement a power policy where the power policy reduces instantaneous power consumption by the data center and increases a load factor wherein the load factor is an average power consumed by the data center divided by a peak power consumed by the data center over a period of time. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US08001394B2
A computer-implemented method and a system for managing power in a multi-core microprocessor are provided. A power management control microarchitecture in a chiplet translates a first command comprising a power setting. A chiplet comprises a processor core and associated memory cache. The power management control microarchitecture comprises power mode registers, power mode adjusters, translators, and microarchitectural power management techniques. The power management control microarchitecture sets microarchitectural power management techniques according to the power setting. The global power management controller issues the first command. The global power management controller may reside either on or off of the microprocessor. The global power management controller issues commands either directly for a specific chiplet out of the plurality of chiplets or to the plurality of chiplets and the control slave bus translates the command into sub-commands dedicated to specific chiplets within the plurality of chiplets. Each chiplet may be set to separate power levels.
US08001392B2
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) of a UPS system including a plurality of UPSs connected in parallel at a load bus and configured to provide power thereto from respective batteries of a plurality of batteries is operated such that a difference between a variable, for example, battery voltage, indicative of battery capacity for a battery associated with the subject UPS and an average value of the variable for the plurality of batteries is determined and a power flow between the subject UPS and the load bus is controlled responsive to the determined difference. Controlling a power flow between the subject UPS and the load bus responsive to the determined difference may include, for example, controlling a phase of an inverter of the subject UPS responsive to the determined difference.
US08001376B2
A tamperproof ClientID system to uniquely identify a client machine is invoked upon connection of a client application to a backend. Upon initial connection, the backend issues a unique ClientID containing a checksum. The client application prepares at least two different scrambled versions of the ClientID and stores them in respective predetermined locations on the client machine. Upon subsequent connection to the backend, the client application retrieves and unscrambles the values at the two locations, verifies the checksums and compares the values. If the checksums are both correct and the values match, the ClientID value is sent to the backend, otherwise the client application sends an error code.
US08001374B2
A method for protecting data between a circuit and a memory is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a particular address among a plurality of addresses for accessing a particular area among a plurality of areas in the memory, (B) determining a particular key among a plurality of keys associated with the particular area, (C) generating a cipher stream from both the particular address and the particular key and (D) modifying a data item with the cipher stream such that the data item is encrypted during a transfer between the circuit and the memory.
US08001369B2
An information processing unit is provided, which includes a first memory, a second memory, and a controller. The first memory stores a BIOS program beforehand that is executed at a startup of the unit so as to allow peripheral devices to operate normally. The first memory also stores initial BIOS data beforehand. The second memory stores BIOS data with which the BIOS program is executed. The controller is configured to: (a) if the initial BIOS data is updated, read the updated BIOS data including updated data from the first memory and writes the updated BIOS data into the second memory; and (b) execute the BIOS program using the updated BIOS data written in the second memory.
US08001360B2
A system and software for improving the performance of processors by incorporating an execution unit operable to decode and execute single instructions specifying a data selection operand and a first and a second register providing a plurality of data elements, the data selection operand comprising a plurality of fields each selecting one of the plurality of data elements, the execution unit operable to provide the data element selected by each field of the data selection operand to a predetermined position in a catenated result.
US08001354B2
A computer system, computer program product, and method implement dynamic physical memory reallocation. A system management interface (SMI) Handler and an Operating System (OS) are arranged for exchanging communications. Periodically the SMI Handler queries the operating system to identify a percentage of available memory currently being utilized. Responsive to the identified percentage of available memory currently being utilized, physical memory is dynamically reallocated.
US08001352B1
Technologies are described herein for providing networked RAID in a virtualized storage cluster. The storage capacity of a storage cluster having two or more storage nodes is organized into tiers. A portion of the available storage capacity is allocated to one tier that is organized using chained declustering. Another portion of the available storage capacity is allocated to another tier that is organized using a networked RAID configuration. The storage cluster monitors the frequency at which data in the storage cluster is accessed. Frequently used data that is stored in the network RAID-configured tier is promoted to the chained declustered-configured tier. Infrequently used data that is stored in the chained declustered-configured tier is demoted to the network RAID-configured tier. The zone size for zones stored in the chained declustered-configured tier may be different than for zones stored in the network RAID-configured tier.
US08001350B2
A main memory and a hard disk include predetermined serial numbers. A flash memory registers the main memory and hard disk together with their serial numbers. A BIOS reads the serial numbers from the main memory and hard disk. When a read-out serial number is not registered in the flash memory, the BIOS places the information processing apparatus in an unusable state.
US08001344B2
Disclosed are a storage control apparatus, a storage control program, and a storage control method that collect the backup of storage data in units of generation at low cost.A storage control apparatus that creates a generation backup of a storage, comprising: a first copy section that creates a snapshot of at least one of all data stored in the storage at an indicated time point and difference data stored in the storage in an indicated time period; a second copy section that creates a mirror of at least one of all data stored in the storage and difference data stored in the storage in an indicated time period; and a controller that causes one of the first and second copy sections to copy all data stored in the storage and causes the other to copy difference data between generations stored in the storage.
US08001339B1
A virtual data storage system stores data as data objects to a plurality of storage devices in accordance with storage management policies. The system manages multiple copies of stored data objects on multiple media types over time. Storage pools define groups of media that are to be treated in a uniform manner. A policy is composed of a series of policy copy/delete rules that direct movement of data objects into the storage pools. A rule defines a destination storage pool, a length of time that the data objects are to remain in the destination storage pool, and a data source for the data objects. Copy and delete actions are performed to manage copies of data objects among the storage pools in accordance with the policy.
US08001329B2
A system and method for partitioning a data stream into tokens includes steps or acts of: receiving the data stream; setting a partition scanner to a beginning point in the data stream; identifying likely token boundaries in the data stream using the partition scanner; partitioning the data stream according to the likely token boundaries as determined by the partition scanner, wherein each partition of the partitioned data stream bounded by the likely token boundaries comprises a chunk; and passing the chunk to a next available token scanner, one chunk per token scanner, for identifying at least one actual token within each chunk.
US08001326B2
A management apparatus including a portable terminal identifying module to receive card information from a non-contact IC card processing unit having a module to communicate with an IC card without contact.
US08001319B2
A semiconductor storage apparatus is coupled with a system bus to receive a write request accompanied with first and second blocks of data, which are stored in nonvolatile semiconductor memories. A control device sends a first erase command to one of the nonvolatile memories to initiate a first internal erase operation of data within the nonvolatile memories. After the first erase command has been sent, the control device sends a second erase command to another one of the nonvolatile memories, to initiate a second internal erase operation of data within the other nonvolatile memory.
US08001318B1
Described herein are method and apparatus for performing wear leveling of erase-units of an LLRRM device that considers all active erase-units. Wear counts of all active erase-units (containing client data) and free erase-units (not containing client data) are tracked. Wear counts are used to determine low-wear active erase-units having relatively low wear counts and high-wear free erase-units having relatively high wear counts. In some embodiments, data contents of low-wear active erase-units are transferred to high-wear free erase-units, whereby the low-wear active erase-units are converted to free erase-units and may later store different client data which may increase the current rate of wear for the erase-unit. The high-wear free erase-units are converted to active erase-units that store client data that is infrequently erased/written, which may reduce the current rate of wear for the erase-unit. As such, wear is spread more evenly among erase-units of the LLRRM device.
US08001316B2
A controller for one type of NAND flash memory device that emulates another type of NAND flash memory device. The controller may include a host NAND interface to receive host data from a NAND host device, and a data aggregator for aggregating the host data with complementary data, to thereby create device data that is storable in a device page of an array of NAND flash memory cells of the NAND flash memory device. After creating the device data the controller writes the device data into a device page of the NAND flash memory cells. The controller also includes a data parser to parse host data from device data when data read operations are executed by the controller. If required, the controller uses the data parser to parse complementary data from device data to create device data when data writing operations are executed by the controller.
US08001306B2
An interface unit is provided for a communication system comprising a master unit and a plurality of slave units serially connecting the master unit via a double ring structure comprising a first communication path and a second communication path. The interface unit comprises a first switching unit, which is configured to output information signals received by the master unit as a first information signal to the first communication path and as a second information signal to the second communication path; and a second switching unit, which is configured to forward the first information signal circulating on the first communication path and second information signal circulating on the second communication path to the master unit.
US08001304B2
A non-volatile storage device has first and second controllers that provide external access to non-volatile memory using different protocols. In response to a request from the first controller, the second controller retrieves parameters from the non-volatile memory and provides the retrieved parameters to the first controller. In one embodiment, the device parameters are USB descriptors, which may include a vendor ID, a product ID, a product string, and/or a serial number. The first controller may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) card reader controller. Examples of the second controller include a Secure Digital (SD) controller, a CompactFlash (CF) controller, a MemoryStick controller, or a different type of controller that is able to provide external access to the non-volatile memory. The first controller provides the device parameters to a host during enumeration of the non-volatile storage device. The device parameters may be used to establish settings for the first controller.
US08001299B2
Two or more electronic devices are connected via a bus system, wherein one of the network devices controls other network devices. A first control application is uploaded from a first controlled device to the control device and a second control application is uploaded from a second controlled device into the first control application. The first and second controlled devices can be operated simultaneously using a single user interface shown on a display of the control device. The user interface of the first device is displayed as main user interface and the user interface of the second device is rendered within the main interface as reduced user interface, which includes only operation elements necessary for operation of the second device in combination with the first device. The generation of combined user interfaces is also possible when the second controlled device comprises features, which are not known at the production of the first controlled device.
US08001290B2
A vehicle computer system has an audio entertainment system implemented in a logic unit and audio digital signal processor (DSP) independent from the host CPU. The audio entertainment system employs a set of ping/pong buffers and direct memory access (DMA) circuits to transfer data between different audio devices. Audio data is exchanged using a mapping overlay technique, in which the DMA circuits for two audio devices read and write to the same memory buffer. The computer system provides an audio manager API (application program interface) to enable applications running on the computer to control the various audio sources without knowing the hardware and implementation details of the underlying sound system. Different audio devices and their drivers control different functionality of the audio system, such as equalization, volume controls and surround sound decoding. The audio manager API transfers calls made by the applications to the appropriate device driver(s). The computer system also supports a speech recognition system. Speech utterances are picked up by a microphone and sampled at an internal sampling rate. However, the speech recognition system employs a lower sampling rate. The computer system converts microphone data from the higher internal sampling rate to the desired sampling rate by piggybacking the microphone data on command/message streams to an SPI (serial peripheral interface) of the audio DSP. The DSP performs normal low-pass filtering and down sampling on the data stream and then uses the SPI to send out the microphone data at the lower sampling rate.
US08001289B2
An audio/video (AV) apparatus such as a digital television set and a digital set-top-box device, which can perform additional operations such as an electronic album, MP3 and FIMS, and an additional operation performing apparatus appropriate for the digital AV apparatus. The digital AV apparatus can include an AV decoder to output video and audio data, a scaler to adjust resolutions of video data output from the AV decoder and additional information video data provided from an external video source and to output the adjusted resolution, an audio processor to process audio data output from the AV decoder and additional information audio data provided from an external audio source, and a controller to receive a command provided from an external commander and to control a selection operation of the scaler and the audio processor based on the command.
US08001288B2
A method and system for enabling personal digital assistants (PDAs) and protecting stored private data. Specifically, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a removable expansion card about the size of a postage stamp which plugs into a slot of a personal digital assistant. The removable expansion card, referred to as a personality card, is capable of storing all of a user's private information and data which is used within their personal digital assistant. By removing the personality card from the personal digital assistant, all of the user's private information and data may be removed from the personal digital assistant. Furthermore, the personal digital assistant may also be rendered totally or partially useless once the personality card is removed from it. There are several advantages associated with a personality card system in accordance with the present invention. For example, one of the advantages is that a user is able to restrict access to their stored private information and data by simply removing their personality card from their personal digital assistant. Furthermore, as personal digital assistants equipped with personality card slots become increasingly more common, a user will be able to continually carry around their personality card and enable a spare and locally available personal digital assistant with their private information when desired.
US08001285B1
Method and apparatus for reducing host processor activity during interaction with peripheral devices
A system includes first memory for storing data and a processing core for executing software instructions on the data that is received from the first memory. The system also includes a peripheral device configured to communicate with the processing core through a peripheral control module. The peripheral control module, also referred to as a peripheral control device, includes second memory. The peripheral control module also includes a comparator for governing data transfer transactions, without interrupting the processing core, based on a comparison. The comparator therefore compares expected responses to command sequences and received responses to the command sequences. The command sequences and responses to command sequences are associated with data packets to be exchanged between the first memory and the peripheral device.
US08001281B1
A customization program for use in customizing a baseboard management controller used for monitoring operation of various computer system components is disclosed. A user interacts with the customization program to customize the baseboard management controller based on a configuration of components specified for the baseboard of the computer system. The customization program provides a user interface having a repository of icons and a design page. The icons represent various components that may be connected, directly or indirectly, to the baseboard. The design page is used for constructing a model representing the specified configuration of components. As a user drags icons onto the design page, the model is updated to reflect selection of the components corresponding to these icons. Further, the customization program creates a configuration file that identifies and describes each of the selected components. The configuration file is loaded into the baseboard management controller to effectuate the aforementioned customization.
US08001278B2
Methods and apparatus relating to network packet payload compression/decompression are described. In an embodiment, an uncompressed packet payload may be compressed before being transferred between various components of a computing system. For example, a packet payload may be compressed prior to transfer between network interface cards or controllers (NICs) and storage devices (e.g., including a main system memory and/or cache(s)), as well as between processors (or processor cores) and storage devices (e.g., including main system memory and/or caches). Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08001274B2
An accessory device (33) to a mobile device (31) is described that enables enhanced internet content viewing experience, where internet content is enhanced using data from accessory device (41). This is achieved by combining an embedded web proxy server (37) into the accessory device (33) with enhancements that support merging data from the accessory device (41) into internet content. This enables accessory devices (33) to be used with both closed and open mobile devices (31).
US08001271B1
A system is provided that polls one or more caching nameservers and compares their results to a trusted or standard set of data. The set of data may be, for example, stored in a computer system or distributed among several computer systems. In one aspect, the system comprises a discrepancy detector that detects discrepancies between one or more copies of mapping information. Mapping information may be, for example, mapping stored on a Domain Name System (DNS).
US08001269B1
Redundant gateway methods, apparatus and systems using more than one gateway device in a gateway device group for communications directed outside of a LAN. Failover services are thus provided in the event that an active router or other gateway device fails. Network address translation (NAT) services are provided simultaneously by having all gateway devices in the redundancy group create and maintain IP aliases and static NAT mappings, while disabling all gateway devices operating in a non-active mode from replying to address resolution protocol requests from hosts. A gateway device may be configured to operate in a redundancy group in an active operating mode or a non-active operating mode. The gateway device handles transmissions into and out of the network to which it is connected only when the gateway device is in the active operating mode so as to avoid system corruption due to ARP activity and message transmissions by non-active gateway devices.
US08001265B2
A method for transmission of a user data record to a user station. The method features the following steps: (i) transmitting the user data record as a broadcast data record via a network system including at least two networks capable of data transmission, of which at least one is designed as a broadcast network in which a network identification of the broadcast network used for transmission is added to the broadcast data record prior to transmission in the respective broadcast network; (ii) extracting at least the network identification last added to the broadcast data record at reception of the last used broadcast data records from this broadcast data record; and (iii) forwarding at least the last network identification to the user station for allowance of at least the last network identification in connection with the user data record usage.
US08001249B2
The present system uses dynamic assignment of key codes to select options of response content in request messages prior to transmission from an application server to a communication device. Dynamic assignment of key codes to selection options can occur according to a list of key codes having a predefined order also known as a predefined key code series. A key code series could be ordered according to ergonomic considerations or other considerations such as according to an alphabetic or numeric ordering. Communication occurs between one or more server applications running on an application server and a particular communication device, such as a cell phone. Dynamic key code assignment addresses problems raised when one communication device is concurrently carrying on more than one session with one or more server applications since the communication device identifier, such as a phone number, will be the same for all sessions.
US08001248B1
A method and system provides quality of service in a DSL network interfaced with the Internet. A connection engine determines whether a connection from an internet endpoint has an associated IP layer 3 quality of service or ATM layer 2 quality of service and provides the internet network quality of service parameters to a mapping engine. The mapping engine references a quality of service map to associate the layer 3 or layer 2 quality of service with a DSL layer 1 quality of service. The mapping engine provides the DSL quality of service parameters to the DSL network which establishes the DSL connection between a DSL endpoint and the internet endpoint with the appropriate quality of service. To provision services to a DSL network, the quality of service map is updated to associate quality of service parameters for the service, including its association with other network quality of service parameters.
US08001247B2
Computing resources are dynamically provisioned to virtual and physical systems. In one embodiment, a control system manages the provisioning of computing resources for multiple client systems. A request for resource provisioning can be sent to the control system as a trigger. The control system converts the information in the trigger into a demand curve that specifies the rates at which resources are to be provided to a client system. The control system then causes the resources to be provisioned to the client system based on the demand curve and a dynamic provisioning profile. The dynamic provisioning profile can be created by a system administrator based on the amount and characteristics of the resources available for provisioning the client system. The dynamic provisioning profile can also specify one or more gate points that indicate the thresholds at which dynamic provisioning can be stopped.
US08001239B2
A web host intrusion prevention system includes a filter engine [302] and comparison tables [303]. The comparison tables [303] are populated with the set of valid commands that are to be received at a server. The filter engine [302] looks up received commands in the comparison tables [303]. Received commands that are not in the comparison table are rejected.
US08001235B2
A system for managing patient medical data derived from at least first and second medical devices acquiring respective medical data from a patient includes a proximity detector, for use by the first medical device, for detecting proximity of the second medical device. A command processor responds to the detection of proximity, by initiating generation of signals: (a) to associate patient medical data acquired by the second medical device with patient medical data acquired by the first medical device, and (b) to process patient medical data acquired by the second medical device together with medical data acquired by the first medical device to provide a composite representation of patient medical data.
US08001233B2
There is disclosed a method of providing subscription services, the method comprising: establishing a subscription dialog to activate a subscription; terminating said subscription dialog upon establishment of said subscription; and establishing a notification to a subscriber by the steps of: determining the location of the subscriber; establishing a notification dialog to notify the located subscriber; and terminating said notification dialog upon completion of the notification.
US08001229B2
A management apparatus has a control unit for realizing a management function through a comprehensive process of characteristic information of a storage apparatus, a connecting apparatus and a computer. The management apparatus also has an interface for receiving characteristic information from the storage apparatus, connecting apparatus and computer, depending on the standard protocol among the management apparatus, storage apparatus, connecting apparatus and computer. Moreover, an integrated management apparatus is also provided for integrated management based on the result of realization of a plurality of management functions. This integrated management apparatus includes an interface for receiving the result of realization of the management function from the management apparatus, depending on the standard protocol between the management apparatus and integrated management apparatus.
US08001218B2
The present invention, generally speaking, provides a broad-based solution for acquisition, processing and distribution of media objects including pictures (images), movies, videos, graphics, sound clips, etc via the Internet or the like. And specifically, it is a solution to such systems for use in applications wherein there are multiple originators of media objects that will be viewed in multiple web sites having different viewing requirements. A browser-based prepare and post tool prepares and submits media objects from inside a standard browser to a remote server. A Media Acquisition, Processing and Distribution (MAPD) system receives these media objects, processes them to meet specific requirements, and delivers them for integration into remote databases. MAPD system services include media object submission, processing, hosting and mirroring. The hosting service delivers a media object URL to a remote database, allowing the media object to be requested and served by the media object server. The mirroring service delivers the actual media object to multi-point remote databases to be stored and served by the customer.
US08001214B2
A method for processing a request sent over a network. The method includes receiving a first request sent by a client over the network at a physical server hosting a first application. The method further involves processing the first request using the first application to generate a second request. The method further involves the addressing and sending of the second request to a software-implemented distributed service delivery controller (SDC) on the physical server, where a loopback interface Internet Protocol (IP) address and a port associated with the distributed service delivery controller (SDC) are used to address the second request. The method further involves determining, using the distributed SDC, an IP address for a destination server hosting the second application. The method further involves processing the second request on a network layer of a network protocol stack of the physical server and sending the second request to the destination server.
US08001211B2
A system integrates standards-defined multimedia storage system and an Internet browser. In one example, Universal Resource Locator (URL) information corresponding to web sites accessible by the browser is stored in fields within the DVD data. When a user actuates a DVD element that has a corresponding URL, the web browser displays information from that site. When the user actuates an HTML menu or other browser-implemented feature, the DVD system accesses a portion of the DVD data specified in the menu. This arrangement provides for two-way communication, i.e., HTML in the browser is able to control DVD content and vice-versa. Having WWW information embedded in the DVD brings a number of benefits, the foremost of which is the ability to write a “one size fits all” template web page that can interrogate the DVD for URL information and present WWW content corresponding to the URL synchronized with the DVD information.
US08001210B2
A cellular phone does not store information unnecessary for displaying a screen and transmits a screen display request including an identifier of a screen to be displayed next to a server apparatus. In response to the screen display request, the server apparatus reads a display information file including screen elements for configuring the screen from a database and sends the file to the cellular phone. The cellular phone generates a screen using the screen elements included in the display information file and displays the generated screen on a display device. The display information file is prepared as one file for each screen displayed on the cellular phone. The file includes information of all screen elements necessary for the screen and does not include information of any screen elements unnecessary for the screen.
US08001208B2
A device manager (2205f) of a broadcast receiving apparatus includes a device basic information management unit (3201) operable to hold a type and the number of devices handled by the device manager (2205f), and information regarding the individual devices, a device object management unit (3202) operable to manage one-to-one correspondences of objects representing devices, a device physical connection management unit (3203) operable to manage hardware configuration physical connection information of devices, a device logical connection management unit (3204) operable to manage logical connection statuses of devices, a device logical connection unit (3205) operable to logically connect devices, and a device logical connection cancellation unit (3206) operable to perform cancellation of a logical connection of devices.
US08001206B2
Methods, apparatus, and products for broadcasting data in a hybrid computing environment that includes a host computer, a number of accelerators, the host computer and the accelerators adapted to one another for data communications by a system level message passing module, the host computer having local memory shared remotely with the accelerators, the accelerators having local memory for the accelerators shared remotely with the host computer, where broadcasting data according to embodiments of the present invention includes: writing, by the host computer remotely to the shared local memory for the accelerators, the data to be broadcast; reading, by each of the accelerators from the shared local memory for the accelerators, the data; and notifying the host computer, by the accelerators, that the accelerators have read the data.
US08001201B2
Based on user configuration, a main messaging user interface screen on a messaging device either presents a list of references to messages stored on the device based on a complete index of references to the stored messages or based on a filtered index of references to the stored messages. References to stored messages of a predetermined type are not maintained in the filtered index.
US08001199B2
An electronic message may be reconfigured to effect an enhanced notification using an input interface to receive at least one electronic message created by or on behalf of a message source for delivery to an intended recipient. A matching engine determines whether the electronic message corresponds to a predetermined definition of an enhanced notification. An enhancement engine reconfigures the electronic message to the enhanced notification if stored information related to the intended recipient indicates that the intended recipient is subscribed to receive the enhanced notification. Reconfiguring the electronic message may include reconfiguring the message to provide special handling, routing or presentation.
US08001193B2
A data communications system which communicates data via a data communications network, includes: an information extraction unit configured to extract an extraction target from received data; an comparison information generator/transmitter unit configured to generate and transmit comparison information including the extraction target extracted by the information extraction unit; a comparison unit configured to compare the received comparison information with the received data; and a cancellation processor unit configured to delete the received data, when the received comparison information agrees with the received data.
US08001187B2
A system and method to allow chat modules in a peer network to share active content. A sender peer includes an application module to activate a media content file from a content repository. The sender peer also includes a chat module to detect active content on the common peer and send information about the active content for display at a recipient peer. The recipient peer includes a chat module to receive active content information and an application module to active the media in substantially synchronous to active media at the sender peer. A content enhancement server provides supplemental active content information for display at the recipient peer and previews of the active content. The content enhancement server also enables a transaction related to the active media content file such as a purchase of an MP3 copy of the active content.
US08001181B2
Method, system and apparatus for messaging between wireless mobile terminals and networked computers
A system is disclosed for messaging between wireless mobile terminals operating on wireless carrier networks and networked computers. The mobile terminals and computers include client applications for communicating messages to one another using push-to-talk modality. A server, located on a packet network outside the wireless carrier networks, forwards messages between the mobile terminals and the computers. The messages consist of text or streaming voice. The server can also include gateways for forwarding messages from the mobile terminals and computers to external email and instant messaging (IM) users. By placing the server outside wireless carrier networks and using conventional packet network protocols such as the Internet protocol (IP), the system provides seamless inter-carrier push-to-talk and/or instant messaging between mobile terminal, networked computers, and users of third-party email and IM services.
US08001179B2
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring a first inference data indicative of an inferred mental state of a first authoring user in connection with a particular item of an electronic document, acquiring a second inference data indicative of an inferred mental state of a second authoring user in connection with the particular item of the electronic document; comparing the first inference data with the second inference data; and presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the inferred mental state of the first authoring user and the inferred mental state of the second authoring user based, at least in part, on said comparing. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08001176B2
The invention concerns a device, method, and program for exposing one or more Web Services via a Web Service access protocol. Each Web Service comprises multiple Web Service actions for accessing the functionality of a device. The Web Service access protocol allows the exchange of information in a decentralized, distributed environment and encompasses multiple Web Service actions and multiple different communication protocols. Each listening endpoint exposes a grouping of Web Service actions, such that a first endpoint exposes a first grouping of actions and a second endpoint exposes a second grouping of actions. Each request handler handles requests at a respective endpoint, and each request handler is specifically configured to handle requests received at that endpoint. Because the invention can handle requests encompassing each message type differently, it can achieve improved performance when handling any message type.
US08001174B2
An application process to process communication system is provided in which seamless communication between onboard processes and off-board processes are provided. The off-board processes are typically remote and/or mobile relative to the onboard processes in which a central process maintains communication between the processes.
US08001173B2
An information processing apparatus includes a code converting portion that converts a scan code output from a keyboard into a corresponding key code, a data converting portion that converts the key code into packets, and a changing portion that changes an output destination of the scan code from the code converting portion to the data converting portion, when an application software to operate a server apparatus remotely located is activated in the information processing apparatus, which is in connection with the server apparatus over a network.
US08001163B2
When performing access relating to a first type storage device among a plurality of storage devices in the storage system, the database management system specifies a second type storage device that stores a backup of data that are stored in the first type storage device if an error relating to the access is detected and issues a power conservation cancellation instruction to cancel the power conservation of the second type storage device.
US08001162B2
A computer identifies a first candidate document at a first data source and a second candidate document at a second data source in response to a request from a user, wherein the request includes one or more keywords. The computer generates a first node stream for the first candidate document and a second node stream for the second candidate document using data packets received from the respective first and second data sources. The computer alternatively processes the first node stream and the second node stream until a candidate chunk matching at least one of the keywords is identified therein, wherein the matching chunk includes a set of nodes within a respective data source.
US08001160B2
A system for managing construction projects includes at least one processor and electronic data storage device containing a database, the database having construction information saved therein and being in data communication with the processor. The system includes an input device for inputting contractor information, manager information, and job information into the database and associating respective job information with respective manager information. The processor includes programming to select particular contractor information from the contractor information and associate the particular contractor information with respective job information, to output the particular contractor information, to select particular construction information from the construction information and associate the particular construction information with respective job information, and output the particular construction information. The processor includes programming to allow communication between at least one contractor corresponding to the particular contractor information and a manager corresponding to the manager information associated with the job information.
US08001154B2
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for performing a federated search using a library description file to locate multiple data sources. For a federated search, a library description can be used to describe a set of data sources searched, and may further be used to describe how search results should be presented to a user. The format of such a library description file can include multiple elements, some of which provide information on how to display the library and others that define which data sources are included in the library. The library description file can be created according to library description template.
US08001146B2
A vast amount of information currently accessible over the Web, and in corporate networks, is stored in a variety of databases, and is being exported as XML data. However, querying this totality of information in a declarative and timely fashion is problematic because this set of databases is dynamic, and a common schema is difficult to maintain. The present invention provides a solution to the problem of issuing declarative, ad hoc XPath queries against such a dynamic collection of XML databases, and receiving timely answers. There is proposed a decentralized architectures, under the open and the agreement cooperation models between a set of sites, for processing queries and updates to XML data. Each site consists of XML data nodes. (which export their data as XML, and also pose queries) and one XML router node (which manages the query and update interactions between sites). The architectures differ in the degree of knowledge individual router nodes have about data nodes containing specific XML data. There is therefore provided a method for accessing data over a wide area network comprising: providing a decentralized architecture comprising a plurality of data nodes each having a database, a query processor and a path index, and a plurality of router nodes each having a routing state, maintaining a routing state in each of the router nodes, broadcasting routing state updates from each of the databases to the router nodes, routing path queries to each of the databases by accessing the routing state.
US08001145B1
State information for a page can be stored and restored using a component state manager to extract and set state information for various components on a page. Each appropriate component can register with the state manager, such that when a user requests to store state information, the state manager can extract state information for each registered component and store the state information accordingly. The user can be provided with a tag or other identifier that allows the user to subsequently request recreation of that state. In response to receiving the identifier, the state manager retrieves the stored state information and sets the state of each respective registered component on the page. The identifiers can be shared with other users to allow those users to also quickly access the same state.
US08001144B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a system and a method for detecting relationships described in unstructured text-based electronic documents. The system and method incorporate the use of an input file that contains one or more text patterns that represent particular relationships. The text patterns each include regular text expressions that describe the particular relationship and slots for the location of each entity in that relationship. Document(s) are selected by a user and scanned by a proper noun tagger that identifies and tags every occurrence of proper names within the document(s). Then, a pattern matcher scans the document(s) to match text patterns. If a text pattern is matched within a document a relationship detector extracts all pairs of proper names found in the slots for each matched text pattern. The output from the relationship detector includes the names for each entity in the relationship, the type of relationship, and the identity of the document and the location of the sentence describing the relationship in the document.
US08001143B1
A method includes receiving characteristic information pertaining to respective portions of content from each of a plurality of users. Aggregate characteristic information is updated based on the received characteristic information. The aggregate characteristic information is communicated to a user to assist the user in navigation of the content.
US08001141B1
Methods and systems for configuring the display of items in a network-based merchandising environment are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention identifies items within a catalog of items, computes a browse relevance score for each item, and configures the display of a Web page such that items with the highest browse relevance score are prominently displayed. In at least one embodiment, browse data, such as category fit data, popularity data, newness data, etc., are used to compute the browse relevance score for each item.
US08001137B1
A method of identifying connected data in relational database by receiving relational database, receiving data components from relational database, initializing a first table and a second table with data identifiers and connection information, initializing a third table with data identifiers, initializing a transition table; replacing each entry in the third table with a user-definable relationship of its corresponding identifier in the second table, its corresponding connected data component identifier in the second table, and the identifier to which an equivalent identifier transitioned in the transition table; updating the transition table, updating the second table, returning to the replacement step if the third table changed, and, otherwise, identifying the received data components as connected that correspond to entries in the third table that are equal.
US08001120B2
The present invention provides a method and system of displaying items that gives the user the ability to easily access recently accessed items. The recent items list includes both incoming and outgoing correspondences that are attempted to be matched to the corresponding contact stored in the device. The user can access the recent contact list and reply using any communication method available. For instance, the user could reply by phone, email, send an instant messenger message, send an SMS message, and the like. The recent items list may also include items such as communications, contacts, folder, files, messages, applications, and the like. A coalesced list of the recently used items is shown so that an item is only shown once in the recent list. Any matched item in the recent list may also be shown in the alphabetical list that appears below the recent list.
US08001116B2
A method and apparatus for retrieving information relevant to tracked objects appearing in a display of a video signal is disclosed. The method is performed by a viewing computer having stored thereon an augmented display tool. In response to a user requesting the video signal, a content directory storing content information relevant to the tracked objects is acquired from a video-overlay server. The augmented display tool causes the viewing computer to acquire and display the video signal and record a time measurement and spatial coordinates of each point selected by a viewer using a pointing device. The augmented display tool uses the content directory to find an object identifier corresponding to each selected point and extracts relevant information from a global object directory maintained at the video-overlay server.
US08001110B2
An obtaining request requesting that information is obtained from a structured database by using multiple loops is received. A unique identifier is assigned to each of records in element tables each having been created for a different one of the loops. A cross product joined table is created by performing a cross product joining process on the element tables, so that the information specified as an obtained target in the obtaining request is obtained from the element tables. For each of the loops, a single-loop table storing therein records in which the obtained information, the identifiers, and the elements are brought into correspondence is created. An inter-loop joined table is created by joining the plurality of single-loop tables. A correspondence between the records in the cross product joined table and in the inter-loop joined table are controlled, based on the identifiers contained in the cross product joined table and the inter-loop joined table.
US08001102B2
Techniques for integrating instant messaging with Internet search features are provided. An instant messaging (IM) application allows users to launch a search of the Internet or the World Wide Web for information about another IM user or another topic. If an IM user wishes to locate information relating to a friend, a search is performed through a database of registered IM members to locate a user profile for the friend. If the friend's profile is found, the profile is displayed to the IM user. An IM application can link to an Internet search engine to search the Internet for web sites relating to the topic or person. Search results from an Internet search can be sorted based on information about a friend that is stored in the friend's user profile.
US08001086B2
A system for sharing files among different virtual machine images includes a processor, a memory, and an input/output subsystem. The processor is configured for: a) creating a first virtual image; b) determining whether there exists a second virtual image similar to the first virtual image; c) comparing the files of the first and second virtual images to determine a set of common files; d) creating a common file collection; f) creating a second version of the first virtual image with files in the first virtual image that are not in the common file collection; g) creating a second version of the second virtual image with files in the second virtual image that are not in the common file collection; h) receiving a request for modification of the file within one of the virtual images; and i) determining whether the file to be modified is in the set of common files.
US08001085B1
A method, system, and computer-readable medium to maintain consistent, up-to-date copies of primary data. Primary data is maintained on a primary node, and point-in-time snapshots of the primary data are maintained on a secondary or remote node. Read operations can be directed to read some or all data from the remote node. When part of the data on the primary node becomes unavailable due to corruption, device failure, or communication failure, unavailable data can be read from the secondary node. When the determination is made that an unavailable portion of the data exists, a third data storage accessible by the first host can be created. Each subsequent change to the data in the first data storage can be written only to the third data storage. If an updated portion of the data is to be read, the updated portion can be read from the third data storage.
US08001080B2
Real-time execution of transactions can be managed between network devices. A method for managing real-time execution of transactions can comprise receiving one or more transactions, storing details associated with the one or more transactions, and synchronizing the details from a first network device to a second network device. Synchronizing details can comprise checking network connectivity between devices. Synchronization middleware can comprise a command engine, a synchronization engine, and a request-response engine. Synchronization middleware can be configured to process transactions, comprising checking network connectivity and determining whether transactions have expired. A method for managing real-time execution of transactions can comprise receiving real-time transactions from applications running on a network device, determining whether a network connection to a second network device is operational, if the connection is operational synchronizing the transactions, and if the connection is not operational delaying synchronization.
US08001079B2
The invention generally describes a system and method for data backup and recovery, in particular for backing up an entire server (i.e., system state and data) in substantially real-time. The invention provides high availability by failing a source server over to a target server if the source server fails, where the target server is reconfigured nearly identically to the source server. The invention does not require the source and target servers to have identical hardware or operating system versions. The invention further allows for rapid, automatic, restoration of a source server.
US08001075B2
Log file amnesia detection is accomplished by associating a unique identifier with each record in a log file, where each record receives a unique log sequence number. Multiple time intervals are associated with the log file with different events triggering the beginning of a new time interval. The log file implementation marks the beginnings of these multiple time intervals with a unique identifier. Every time an event occurs that triggers a new time interval a new unique identifier is generated. This unique identifier will be associated with the records in the log file that are created thereafter until the next unique identifier gets generated, marking the beginning of a next time interval. Log file amnesia can be identified when a log client requests information about a record and then comparing the unique identifier and log sequence number of the record with all records in the log file.
US08001073B2
A semantic network includes a number of nodes are interconnected to one another through links (e.g., in a subject/verb/target form) representing relationships between the nodes and one or more of the links have one or more variants representing qualifications of the relationships between the nodes. For each link having one or more variants, the variants may be ordered in configurations. Such ordering of the variants in the configurations may be self-described within the semantic network and may determine precedence of those links belonging to the variants. Some of the links of the network may be nodes of others of the links. The interconnection of at least some of the nodes may define a meta-meta model that defines terms in which particular meta models can be defined, each meta model comprising meta facts regarding the nodes of the semantic network.
US08001063B2
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for reward-based learning of improved systems management policies. One embodiment of the inventive method involves obtaining a decision-making entity and a reward mechanism. The decision-making entity manages a plurality of application environments supported by a data processing system, where each application environment operates on data input to the data processing system. The reward mechanism generates numerical measures of value responsive to actions performed in states of the application environments. The decision-making entity and the reward mechanism are applied to the application environments, and results achieved through this application are processed in accordance with reward-based learning to derive a policy. The reward mechanism and the policy are then applied to the application environments, and the results of this application are processed in accordance with reward-based learning to derive a new policy.
US08001061B2
A data processing apparatus includes first and second unsupervised learning process units and a supervised learning process unit. The first unsupervised learning process unit classifies data of a first data group according to unsupervised learning, to perform dimension reduction for the first data group and to obtain first classified data. The second unsupervised learning process unit classifies data of a second data group according to the unsupervised learning, to perform dimension reduction for the second data group and to obtain a second classified data group. The supervised learning process unit performs supervised learning using, as a teacher, the first classified data group obtained by the first unsupervised learning process unit and the second classified data group obtained by the second unsupervised learning process unit to determine a mapping relation between the first classified data group and the second classified data group.
US08001055B2
According to one aspect, the invention provides a system for validating an identity of a user to enable or prevent an occurrence of an event. In one embodiment, the system includes a first device including a wireless transmitter which is configured to transmit validation information, a second device including a wireless receiver, where the second device is configured to receive the validation information and further transmit the validation information; and a secure system in communication with the second device. According to one embodiment, the secure system includes a database. In a further embodiment, the secure system is configured to receive the validation information transmitted from the second device, and to transmit additional information to the second device following a receipt of the validation information to assist the second device in either enabling or preventing the occurrence of the event.
US08001048B2
An electronic fund transfer system is disclosed wherein commissions for point-of-sale purchase transactions are determined and distributed to members of an organizational network for promoting use of a non-cash payment device that is tangible for effecting purchase transactions. Purchase data is electronically transmitted from the point-of-sale to an automated clearing house for effecting fund transfers to prepare the purchase, and also to a commission management system. The commission management system maintains an electronic database reflecting the structure of the organizational network, and further determines the distribution of purchase commissions according to a predetermined schedule of proportions relating to the position and business volume of each member of the network. The commission management system further comprises a payment processor for effecting commission payments to the members or to a designated sponsor on a scheduled basis.
US08001031B2
Systems and methods of capital-adequacy filing and assessment for determining compliance with capital-adequacy rules include an authorized-entity computer and a processing computer in electronic communication with the authorized-entity computer. Such systems and methods can include an analysis-rule-configuration component, a data-reception component and a rules engine.
US08001026B2
A method and system for creating a stock index for a group of investment management companies is disclosed. The method may include obtaining first trade information for each security representative of the group of investment management companies during a first time period, aggregating the first trade information for a predetermined time period, storing the aggregated first trade information, calculating from the aggregated first trade information an index for the group of investment management companies, determining a standardized measure of the index based on the aggregated first trade information obtained in the first time period, and periodically recalculating the index based on second trade information for each security representative of the group of investment management companies during a second time period.
US08001018B2
Automated mapping of part numbers associated with parts in a bill of materials (BOM) submitted by a BOM originator to internal part numbers assigned to those parts by a BOM receiver is performed by one or more computers connected to one or more networks through one or more network interfaces. A first receive component receives one or more data sets containing historical data on bills of materials received in the past by the BOM receiver. A second receive component receives one or more data sets containing known mappings between internal part numbers used by the BOM receiver, and part numbers used by various BOM originators. A third receive component receives one or more data sets containing information of various parameters and their values describing the parts to which the BOM receiver has assigned internal part numbers. A fourth receive component receives one or more methods of automatically learning models for predicting internal part numbers from the above mentioned historical BOM data, mapping data and part parametric data. A learning component learns the models from the data. A fifth receive component receives a BOM from a requesting process. The BOM has one or more parts with a missing internal part number. A mapping component applies the learned models to the received BOM to automatically determine internal part numbers for all unmapped BOM originator part numbers. A release process assigns internal part numbers to all unmapped parts in the BOM and releases the BOM to the requesting process.
US08001017B1
An Internet-based computer-assisted supply-chain management system (SCMS) replaces the archaic commerce systems presently in use. It coordinates just-in-time distribution of items purchased by consumers from a plurality of merchants whereby the inventory in the distribution pipeline is reduced to inventory in transport. It uses regional distributions centers and neighborhood order aggregation facilities for an efficient transfer of items to consumers. Consumers can pick up aggregated orders at an order aggregation facility or have them delivered at a residence. The SCMS phases out conventional checkout registers in favor of web browsers with automatic transaction execution. Retailers can operate with little or no inventory. Window shops facilitate promotion of items and help consumers make selections and decisions with respect to purchases they may be contemplating. The SCMS provides real-time consumption monitoring and forecasts, significantly reduces supply-chain costs and retail prices, promotes economic growth, and minimizes undesirable cyclic economic fluctuations.
US08001016B2
A method of verifying the authenticity of a product includes reading data from a data storage device which forms part of the packaging of the product, determining from the data an identity code for the data storage device, a random first identifier allocated to the data storage device by the product manufacturer and a digital signature of a parameter which is based on at least a second identifier not derivable from the data, communicating with the product manufacturer or an entity associated therewith using the random first identifier as a reference, receiving from the product manufacturer or the entity associated therewith the second identifier, and verifying the digital signature using the second identifier.
US08001015B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums, consistent with principles of some embodiments of the present invention provide for dynamically generating a document including storing a plurality of static content, information related to a user of the document, and a plurality of dynamic content associated with each of a plurality of categories associated with user information, storing a template including predetermined areas for static content and dynamic content, selecting at least one of the stored dynamic content based on the user of the document, and dynamically generating the document including the plurality of static content and the selected at least one dynamic content, wherein the dynamically generated document is displayed on a display.
US08001014B2
A system and method for enabling a user to transact an anonymous on-line transaction, wherein a form of on-line payment is requested at a transaction interface is disclosed. The method may include providing an anonymous user interface that enables a user to initiate an on-line payment, accessing a first profile comprising user data when the user activates the form of on-line payment, generating a second profile linked to the first profile wherein, the second profile comprises anonymous data, and communicating the anonymous data from the second profile to the transaction interface to enable completion of the transaction.
US08001006B1
Embodiments of a computer system, a method, a graphical user interface and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for use with the computer system are described. These embodiments may be used to present income-tax information to a user. In particular, the user can provide aggregate values for one or more parameters in an income-tax return for the user by adjusting user-adjustable icons in the graphical user interface. In response to these user inputs, the computer system updates the displayed user-adjustable icons and determines summary information for the income-tax return which is associated with the user inputs. This summary information is displayed using a qualitative-tax-estimator icon in the graphical user interface and/or by displaying a numerical value for the summary information in a quantitative-tax-estimator window in the graphical user interface.
US08000990B2
An automated system uses a decisioning system to schedule service attendants to service events at patron locations. The decisioning system schedules the events for servicing using various factors to establish the priority of different events. Service attendants are paged by the system to inform them of a service to be provided.
US08000986B2
Methods and systems are provided for processing claims. A hierarchy is created including a claim management case level and a policy level. The claim management case level includes a claim management case node. The claim management case node relates to a designee under a first insurance policy. The policy level includes one or more policy nodes. Each of the policy nodes is associated with an insurance policy relating to the designee. At least one process for the claim management case is performed at the claim management case level. The process applies to at least one insurance policy relating to the designee.
US08000984B2
An apparatus for communicating health care data from a sender to a receiver is provided. The apparatus has a first computer system, a second computer system, and a rules engine. The first computer system has health care data stored therein. The second computer system is in operable communication with, and is configured to extract the health care data from, the first computer system. The rules engine normalizes the extracted health care data to a predefined format. The rules engine defines a plurality of health care data fields in the predefined format, as well as a plurality of relationships between fields of normalized data.
US08000979B2
A system for making the process of registering at and receiving treatment in a healthcare facility more efficient and safe has been developed. The system utilizes computer communications network-based systems, software, various input and output stations, and a patient identification card (e.g., Loyalty Card) that work together to allow (a) providers to direct, track, and optimize the efficiency of patient activity and (b) patients to have ready access to their status and, in some cases, control of the healthcare process.
US08000974B2
According to the present invention, a method for integrating processes with a multi-faceted human centered interface is provided. The interface is facilitated to implement a hands free, voice driven environment to control processes and applications. A natural language model is used to parse voice initiated commands and data, and to route those voice initiated inputs to the required applications or processes. The use of an intelligent context based parser allows the system to intelligently determine what processes are required to complete a task which is initiated using natural language. A single window environment provides an interface which is comfortable to the user by preventing the occurrence of distracting windows from appearing. The single window has a plurality of facets which allow distinct viewing areas. Each facet has an independent process routing its outputs thereto. As other processes are activated, each facet can reshape itself to bring a new process into one of the viewing areas. All activated processes are executed simultaneously to provide true multitasking.
US08000970B2
The present invention can include a method of call processing using a distributed voice browser including allocating a plurality of service processors configured to interpret parsed voice markup language data and allocating a plurality of voice markup language parsers configured to retrieve and parse voice markup language data representing a telephony service. The plurality of service processors and the plurality of markup language parsers can be registered with one or more session managers. Accordingly, components of received telephony service requests can be distributed to the voice markup language parsers and the parsed voice markup language data can be distributed to the service processors.
US08000966B2
A word prediction method and apparatus improves precision and accuracy. For the prediction of a sixth word “?”, a partial analysis tree having a modification relationship with the sixth word is predicted. “sara-ni sho-senkyoku no” has two partial analysis trees, “sara-ni” and “sho-senkyoku no”. It is predicted that “sara-ni” does not have a modification relationship with the sixth word, and that “sho-senkyoku no” does. Then, “donyu”, which is the sixth word from “sho-senkyoku no”, is predicted. In this example, since “sara-ni” is not useful information for the prediction of “donyu”, it is preferable that “donyu” be predicted only by “sho-senkyoku no”.
US08000965B2
An information-processing device and method that attains speech-recognition to recognize data input via speech. The information-processing device and method includes analyzing speech-recognition-grammar data, generating data on a template used to input data by speech based on the analysis results, and displaying the generated speech-input-template data.
US08000963B2
The sound reproducing apparatus includes a replay section receiving unit that receives a request for reproducing a specific part of sound file from a user, a replay section determining unit that determines a replay section based on the request and conversation structure information stored in a sound data holding unit, and a reproducing unit that reproduces the replay section determined by the replay section determining unit.
US08000962B2
A method and system for using input signal quality in an automatic speech recognition system. The method includes measuring the quality of an input signal into a speech recognition system and varying a rejection threshold of the speech recognition system at runtime in dependence on the measurement of the input signal quality. If the measurement of the input signal quality is low, the rejection threshold is reduced and, if the measurement of the input signal quality is high, the rejection threshold is increased. The measurement of the input signal quality may be based on one or more of the measurements of signal-to-noise ratio, loudness, including clipping, and speech signal duration.
US08000960B2
A technique is described for concealing the effect of a lost frame in a series of frames representing an encoded audio signal in a sub-band predictive coding system. In accordance with the technique, a first synthesized sub-band audio signal is synthesized, wherein synthesizing the first synthesized sub-band audio signal comprises performing waveform extrapolation based on a stored first sub-band decoded audio signal. A second synthesized sub-band audio signal is also synthesized, wherein synthesizing the second synthesized sub-band audio signal comprises performing waveform extrapolation based on the stored second sub-band decoded audio signal. The first synthesized sub-band audio signal and the second synthesized sub-band audio signal are combined to generate a synthesized full-band output audio signal corresponding to a lost frame.
US08000957B2
The present invention relates to a methodology to translate exact interpretations of keyword queries into meaningful and grammatically correct plain-language queries in order to convey the meaning of these interpretations to the initiator of the search. The method includes the steps of generating at least one grammatically valid plain-language sentence interpretation for a keyword query from a generated sentence plain-language sentence clauses, wherein the grammatically valid plain-language sentence is based upon differing matching elements, and presenting at least one grammatically valid plain-language sentence interpretation for the keyword query to a keyword query system user for the user's review.
US08000955B2
Embodiments are disclosed for automatically generating a banner given a first scroll sentence and a second scroll sentence of a Chinese couplet. The first and/or second scroll sentence can be generated by an automatic computer system or by a human (e.g., manually generated and then provided as input to an automated banner generation system) or obtained from any source (e.g., a book) and provided as input. In one embodiment, an information retrieval process is utilized to identify banner candidates that best match the first and second scroll sentences. In one embodiment, candidate banners are automatically generated. In one embodiment, a ranking model is applied in order to rank banner candidates derived from the banner search and generation processes. One or more banners are then selected from the ranked banner candidates.
US08000954B2
This invention features an FPGA emulation system including an FPGA device under test having a plurality of pins. A bus functional model circuit responsive to signals representing predetermined input characteristics of the FPGA device under test and configured to apply one or more signals to the FPGA device under test corresponding to the predetermined input characteristics and configured to receive one or more signals representing output characteristics of the FPGA device under test to emulate the operation of the FPGA device under test in a predefined selectable and flexible electrical operating environment. This invention also features an FPGA emulation system including an FPGA device under test having at least one component and a plurality of pins operating in a predetermined native target environment, a bus functional model engine for simulating and capturing output characteristics of the at least one component of the FPGA device under test and simulating and releasing input characteristics of the at least one component of the FPGA device under test, and a bus functional model circuit embedded in the FPGA device under test configured to receive one or more signals representing the input characteristics of the at least one component and configured to release one or more signals representing the output characteristics of the at least one component such that the bus functional model engine emulates the operation of the at least one component of the FPGA device under test in the predetermined native target environment.
US08000950B2
Latches in a net of a simulated integrated circuit design are initialized to known logical states prior to application of a reset signal at the beginning of the simulation. The logical states may be set by generating a list of the latches, sorting them in random order, and then dividing them into two groups based on the random order with high and low logical states respectively assigned to the two groups. In a specific implementation the latch states are set using an HDL force command prior to applying the reset signal, and the force command is removed after applying the reset signal using an HDL release command. If the circuit description is a gate-level netlist, then logical states of gates within the storage elements are also set.
US08000949B2
The process of System Reconstruction is used to integrate sequence data, clinical data, experimental data, and literature into functional models of disease pathways. System Reconstruction models serve as informational skeletons for integrating various types of high-throughput data. The present invention provides the first metabolic reconstruction study of a eukaryotic organism based solely on expressed sequence tag (EST) data. System Reconstruction also provides a method for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers using network analysis. The initial seed networks are built from the lists of novel targets for diseases with the high-throughput experimental data being superimposed on the seed networks to identify specific targets.
US08000945B2
A computer-implemented inversion method for determining characteristics of a bottom roughness field using a numerical wave model is provided. Measured wave heights over an area of interest are compared to predicted wave heights calculated by a wave model using an estimated bottom roughness parameter. If the error between the measured wave heights and the predicted wave heights is within a specified tolerance level, the analysis ends and the value of the bottom roughness parameter used in the wave model is retrieved. If the error is not within the specified tolerance level, an Influence Matrix IM is used to obtain a revised estimated bottom roughness parameter. The wave model is re-run using the revised roughness parameter and the resulting predicted wave heights are compared to the measured wave heights. The inversion continues until the wave height error is within the specified tolerance level. When the inversion ends, the bottom roughness field that produced those predicted wave heights is retrieved.
US08000936B2
A data analysis program operable for displaying at least one representation of a buried pipeline in a geographical area and associated on-pipe current values at various locations along the pipeline. The data analysis program is storable in a memory device and executable by a processor to generate a display on a display device. The data analysis program includes instructions for displaying a digital map representing at least a portion of the buried pipeline extending across the geographical area being surveyed. The program further includes instructions for displaying a current plot of current values associated with the various locations in the geographical area, and instructions for displaying a table having a plurality of fields including the leakage current values and associated geographical coordinates where the current values were measured in the geographical area being surveyed.
US08000930B2
The present disclosure is concerned with the identification of fault origins of slowly degrading systems such as industrial gas turbines. Following the initial input of some parameter values, exemplary procedure comprises a number of steps which are repeated periodically during the operation of the gas turbine. First, for each potential fault such as e.g. a contamination of compressor blades, erosion of turbine blades or corrosion of machine parts, a pre-symptom fault probability, characteristic of the specific gas turbine considered, and a symptom-conditional fault probability are calculated. In a second step, on-line data from the monitoring devices are loaded in order to update information about symptoms such as e.g. reductions in polytropic efficiency and in flow capacity, changes in vibration spectrum, or other machine condition indicators, and a post-symptom fault probability is calculated. In a third step, the calculated fault probabilities are displayed and transmitted to a planning system for scheduling of gas turbine operation or maintenance actions.
US08000920B2
Procedure to diagnose an electrical circuit for the operation of actuators of an internal combustion engine, in which the circuit is checked for electrical errors, and whereby information from a misfire recognition is additionally taken into account.
US08000919B2
A method useful for the characterization of a fixture splits a partially symmetric THRU structure into portions which may then be mathematically removed from both ports of a 2-port measured structure, leaving only the desired device under test (DUT).
US08000918B2
A method for compensating for a temperature-related error in an electrochemical sensor without using separate sources of temperature measurement by measuring sensor current, temporarily lowering sensor voltage to a first level below a reaction-sustaining threshold, measuring a first offset current, adjusting sensor voltage to a second level below the threshold, measuring a second offset current, calculating a difference between the offset currents, deriving a temperature compensation value from the difference based on empirical data, and adding the value to the measured sensor current. A computer system may execute the method as an algorithm stored in memory, provide automatic control of the sensor, and provide continuous display of corrected output values.
US08000910B2
A voltage analysis algorithm for automatically determining anomalous voltage conditions in an electrical system monitored by a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and automatically making recommendations for ameliorating or eliminating the anomalous voltage conditions. The electrical system hierarchy is determined automatically or manually, and the algorithm receives voltage data from all capable IEDs. The voltage data is temporally aligned or pseudo-aligned to place the voltage data in both spatial and temporal context. The algorithm determines anomalous voltage conditions systemically by comparing measured voltage values against nominal or expected ones across the system. Based on the spatial and temporal context of the IEDs, the algorithm automatically identifies a source of the voltage deviation in the hierarchy, and recommends a modification associated with the source for mitigating the anomalous voltage condition. The algorithm checks its recommendation to determine any adverse effects on the electrical system and adjusts the recommendation accordingly.
US08000909B2
Methods, systems, and programs for monitoring operation of one or more pressure relief valves, each relief valve containing an internal flow passage with a valve seat and valve plug disposed therein. The temperature of a fluid is sensed in the internal flow passage downstream of the valve seat. A valve temperature signal is generated representative of the temperature of the fluid downstream of the valve seat. The valve temperature signal is monitored to detect a rate of change in the temperature of the fluid downstream of the valve seat. The internal pressure of an inlet pressure line is sensed, connected to the internal flow passage upstream of the valve seat. A line pressure signal is generated representative of the internal pressure of the inlet pressure line. The line pressure signal is compared against at least one expected line pressure value to determine a line pressure status. Operational status of the pressure relief valve is determined based at least in part on the detected rate of change of the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat and at least in part on the determined line pressure status.
US08000906B2
A controller for a flowmeter includes an input module operable to receive a sensor signal from a sensor connected to a vibratable flowtube. The sensor signal is related to a fluid flow through the flowtube. The controller also includes a signal processing system operable to receive the sensor signal, determine sensor signal characteristics, and output drive signal characteristics for a drive signal applied to the flowtube. An output module is operable to output the drive signal to the flowtube and a control system is operable to modify the drive signal and thereby maintain oscillation of the flowtube during a transition of the flowtube from a substantially empty state to a substantially full state.
US08000903B1
Methods for using modified single wall carbon nanotubes (“SWCNTs”) to detect presence and/or concentration of a gas component, such as a halogen (e.g., Cl2), hydrogen halides (e.g., HCl), a hydrocarbon (e.g., CnH2n+2), an alcohol, an aldehyde or a ketone, to which an unmodified SWCNT is substantially non-reactive. In a first embodiment, a connected network of SWCNTs is coated with a selected polymer, such as chlorosulfonated polyethylene, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polystyrene and/or polyvinylalcohol, and change in an electrical parameter or response value (e.g., conductance, current, voltage difference or resistance) of the coated versus uncoated SWCNT networks is analyzed. In a second embodiment, the network is doped with a transition element, such as Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, Os and/or Au, and change in an electrical parameter value is again analyzed. The parameter change value depends monotonically, not necessarily linearly, upon concentration of the gas component. Two general algorithms are presented for estimating concentration value(s), or upper or lower concentration bounds on such values, from measured differences of response values.
US08000901B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US08000898B1
A method of collecting weather data includes determining probable occurrences of weather events. Contact information corresponding to a plurality of users is maintained. Weather collection devices are sent to the plurality of users prior to the occurrence of the probable weather event. Data is collected by the weather collection devices upon the actual occurrence of the probable weather event.
US08000888B2
Disclosed is a system and a method for collecting various road traffic information, road image information, and position information of a position information generation device carried by an object, the position of which is to be tracked, by interworking with an information provision means and using the collected information to provide service subscribers with real-time traffic information, traffic prediction, or position information of the object via wireless Internet, satellite broadcasting, DMB, or cable data broadcasting. The system and method can provide detailed traffic information service regarding a specific region or location on a nationwide scale, predict traffic to properly deal with it, and easily provide position information of an object to be tracked.
US08000887B2
A method of directing and/or alert vehicles during an emergency or other event. The method may include providing messages and other information to the vehicles through wireless communications. The message may detail the emergency and/or an evacuation strategy for avoiding the emergency. Different vehicles may receive different messages and instructions depending on vehicle location and other parameters.
US08000878B2
An exemplary controller includes one or more processors, memory and control logic to individually control at least one of two exhaust valves of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine to either provide exhaust from the cylinder to a single exhaust turbine or to provide exhaust from the cylinder to two exhaust turbines where the two exhaust valves are mounted in a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. For example, such a controller may call for operation of one exhaust valve to provide exhaust to a single exhaust turbine and call for operation of two exhaust valves to provide exhaust to two exhaust turbines. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US08000873B2
A braking system, including a brake control arrangement in operational communication with a braking arrangement for braking a vehicle, and a penalty power source to deliver current or power to the brake control arrangement through a brake interface circuit. The brake interface circuit includes a main positive current switch urged to a closed position and configured to open upon loss or interruption of a penalty hold-off signal, and a main negative current switch urged to a closed position and configured to open upon loss or interruption of a penalty hold-off signal. Upon opening of either of the main positive current switch or the main negative current switch, the braking arrangement will automatically brake the vehicle as controlled by the brake control arrangement.
US08000872B2
An anti-skid brake control system and its control method for vehicle has a signal collection unit and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a data receiving module, a data processing module and a data control module. The data receiving module receives the data collected by the signal collection unit. The data processing module calculates sideslip angles and slip rates for wheels. The data control module sets target slip rates based on the slip rates corresponding to the friction coefficient μ for different sideslip angles. The device emits control commands after comparing the calculated slip rate to the set target slip rate, so that the ABS control is real time.
US08000854B2
A system for transitioning navigation data on a mobile platform (such as a train, ship, aircraft or automobile) is provided. The system includes a source of navigation display data and an image control module. The image control module generates image data from the navigation display data based on a position of the mobile platform. The image data includes at least one first navigation display data at a first opacity and at least one second navigation display data at a second opacity. The second opacity is computed based on the position of the mobile platform. The system also includes a display device disposed within the mobile platform that displays the image data.
US08000850B2
An electric vehicle is described herein which includes a microprocessor based interface module which is used to control electric motors coupled to drive wheels. The interface module is configured to include a backup communications link to allow an operator to control the vehicle in situations where control information is unavailable over a primary communications network.
US08000839B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system actively cancels vibrations in a computer system. During operation, the system monitors vibrations in the computer system. Next, the system analyzes the vibrations to identify one or more harmonics in the vibrations. The system then actively cancels one or more of the identified harmonics.
US08000834B2
A method using a computer for generating a spiral-like tool path for milling a region of a workpiece is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: creating a family of concentric indexed circular arcs at each of two or more separate and distinct selected points within the region; determining parameters of a first set of blends to connect together the circular arcs of adjacent families of the circular arcs having an identical index to form a plurality of isoloops; determining parameters of a second set of blends for blending between adjacent isoloops to form the spiral-like tool path, and generating instructions for controlling the milling cutter in accordance with the generated tool path.
US08000830B1
A method of manufacturing multi-color hosiery comprises at least the steps of: a. providing a pattern knitter which has a main control computer to process color differentiation and set up yarn feeding commands according to a knitting color layout of hosiery; b. selecting total number of colored yarns and color types of pattern color yarns, and mounting the colored yarns on yarn racks, and arranging all knitting sets of a feeder support of the pattern knitter to match the colored yarns up to forty six different color types; and c. controlling yarn fingers through the main control computer according to sequence of the yarn feeding commands to perform knitting operation to finish a hosiery body. Any pattern color on the hosiery can be knitted to one row of the hosiery body. Up to nine to eleven color types can be deployed through the yarn fingers of each knitting set by adopting knitting operation without changing colored yarns on the same row, and up to twenty to forty six color types can be deployed through the yarn fingers of each knitting set for knitting the entire hosiery body by adopting knitting operation with changed colored yarns on the same row, thereby enhance aesthetic appeal and color diversity of the hosiery.
US08000829B2
An apparatus, method and simulation program for performing a realistic loop simulation of a knitted fabric using empirical rules during a loop simulation while keeping the calculation load within a feasible range to express three-dimensional bulges, curls and so on of a knitted fabric.
US08000821B2
An audio communication unit comprises a receiver for receiving an audio signal, a sigma-delta modulator operably coupled to the receiver and arranged to modulate the received audio signal, and a class-D amplifier stage operably coupled to the sigma-delta modulator and arranged to amplify the modulated received audio signal. One or more feedback path(s) is/are arranged from an output of the class-D amplifier stage to the sigma-delta modulator. The provision of one or more feedback path(s) from the output of the class-D audio amplifier to the sigma-delta modulator facilitates smaller die size; higher power efficiency and power supply rejection ratio/intermodulation cancellation performance.
